KINGDOM OF THE STONE -- a Wattpad featured novel

Chapter Sixteen

They did not hear the drwg pursue them further that night. But the trail itself turned treacherous as they passed through the hills dividing the Pelavale from the southern farmlands. They had first to climb ice-covered boulders, then descend a steep and twisted ravine. The moons rose late, spoiling their night vision with splashes of reflected light while at the same time concealing their footing in the shadows of the overhanging brush so that the reavers, or spear men, were forced to sit on their haunches at the top of the ravine, worrying about drwg while the women and children slipped and squealed down the dangerous slope.

They arrived at Korion-Sotso a couple of hours before dawn, surprising a few early-risers with their tales of angorym and drwg and the abandonment of the entire valley. On hearing the news, one of the locals exclaimed, "We must flee to N'shia-Potoma!"

"No," Gerron insisted. "We are going to Har-Tor. That sprawling town cannot be defended. If they're smart, they'll join us on the tor."

The village's chief elder shook his head. "The stoma there is large, but one could not fit the whole town in it."

"Where you find one stoma, you usually find more," Gerron said.

"Perhaps, but who knows how deep those things go or what you will find there?"

"I'd rather enter the womb of the world then the belly of a drwg," Jomel said and some of the men laughed, before cringing from the glares of their women.

"At least rest here for a little while and eat something warm," the chief elder insisted.

"I'd rather not. We took a long time passing through the Coradra Ravine. Who knows how long before the angorym fall on us?"

The villagers of Korion-Sotso looked at each other nervously.

"Unless they followed you on the trail south--and they would probably have caught you in the ravine if that were true--I think it unlikely they will come here soon," their elder said. "It is a rare thing for even one angoran to enter the Pelavale. One coming to the farmlands is unheard of. An occasional lone drwg, yes, but the angorym have never come this far south."

Karux watched a woman try to pull a child to his feet, but the little boy collapsed in limp defiance.

"I'm sleepy," he whined.

"You can't sleep in the snow," his mother chided. "Come on. Stand up for Madra."

Jomel put a hand on Gerron's shoulder and indicated the sleepy child with a tilt of his head. "We have been walking all night and we probably have half a day further to go before we are done. A short rest might be a good idea."

"I've done it in two hours," one of the local boys offered helpfully.

"Yes, but that was in good weather and you were fully rested." The village elder looked up at the dark crag at the top of Har-Tor, silhouetted against the faint glow of the approaching dawn. "In this weather, you'll be lucky to make it by noon and some of these women and children may not make it at all," he told Gerron. "I think you will travel faster after a little rest and some food."

Gerron nodded. "Very well, but I'd feel better if you sent some men to watch the trail from the ravine, just to ensure we were not pursued."

"Consider it done." The elder addressed one of his men standing nearby. "Urdan, see to it, and send a couple of runners to N'shia-Potoma. They may not seek refuge at Har-Tor, but they should at least hear what has happened in the valley."

Karux turned a relieved smile on Macander who nodded. Theris scowled, as if nothing would make him happy.

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