The Endurlon

Chapter Six: Cold Stone, Colder Heart.

ChapterVI

ColdStone, Colder Heart

Three days had almost passed, when Riona came to the borders of Antul. A wide barren land of rolling hills and small vales lay before her. Golden grasslands swayed under the sun, and from the east a mild gentle wind drew fresh, bright white clouds upon high. Steadily walking her horse into the breeze, she looked towards the dark mass of land that reared up from the distant. Pale grey sharply in ever increasing steps, and sloped away northwards. The western edge of the Greyridge climbed before her.

"We have not far to go now, then we shall rest." And she stroked the mane of her horse as they walked.

She struck out South-eastwards and guided by both land and stream it was not long before she came upon a small lake. Cool clear water lay before her in a shallow dell, and reeds swayed and hissed in the breeze. Her horse she led to the water's edge and together they drank. Reaching for her water-skin she uncorked it and slowly filled it. The sun rising to midday warmed her, and the air filled with the song of birds tempted her to stay a while. And she would have done so if not for a commotion to the south. Shouting and clashing of steel drew her forth, and slowly she rode to the top of the swelling of the land and dismounted. Creeping low towards a small outcrop of rock she peered out and looked down upon the eastern road. A party of Dwarves lay dead, but one stood firm against four assailants. His back to the wain and horse panicked he raised his sword in defiance, as others lay dead at his feet.

"This is not for your taking! Leave alone or die!" He cried out.

"Throw down your weapons and I shall spare your life!" a tall slender man shouted and dismounted his horse. "Throw them down, give us your quarry and we shall let you go. All we want is what is on your cart." He said as he drew his sword.

"You shall have neither!" the Dwarf replied with a growl.

"Then you leave me no choice!" The man said and nodded to his companions. Two rushed in to attack, which the Dwarve sidestepped and the closest felt the blade of his hand axe. He fell and was silenced. Facing the second he did not see the third approach from behind. With a sudden thud and a scream of pain an arrow pinned the man's hand to the cart next to the shoulder of the dwarf.

The men swung round and before them Riona stood atop the embankment.
"Take your horses and go! To linger would be your death!" and another arrow struck the ground inches from the tall man's foot. "This is your only warning!" she said and with the blink of an eye she had set arrow to bow.

"You are friends with this, dwarf?" The man asked with a smirk.

"No, but I am no friend of yours!" She replied.

"You should be, we could do with an archer of your skill. Would you not join us?" He asked.

"I would kill thee first! Now go, leave these lands. This dwarf I have need of alive!" She replied and stood firm.

"Then a payment we should receive for our losses!" He suggested.

"Would an arrow in your heart suffice?" She asked and pulled the bowstring back further.

Slowly he walked to his horse and mounted it. His companion freed his hand from the arrow and cursed with pain as he climbed upon his steed. West they turned and the three raiders galloped away along the road under the close eye of Riona. Not until they were beyond range did she lower her bow, and quiver her arrow. Calling for her horse she walked down the sloping embankment above the road, and her horse followed.

"Thankyou fair maiden, I am in your debt!" The dwarf said and bowed his head as Riona approached him.

"Indeed you are, but I had a need, not a kindness." She replied curtly. "I have need of King Gammok's ears, and you shall be my payment."