At the End of My Rope

Day 5

The Dwarf—and none of them ever learned the Dwarf's name, unless it was Grimshaw, who wasn't telling—showed them through a maze of tunnels that lead out into a wooded valley on a cold, clear morning. The sun shone bright and the breeze blew fresh, but none of the party were happy. Despite the bright morning a shadow fell on them all and only grew stronger as the day progressed.

The Men seemed to have made up, for the moment, and were riding side by side a little apart from the rest. Sassenac, who never wanted company, was riding with the Halfling and Gnome, making awkward conversation. And Grimshaw rode a little apart, holding an unfinished sword, a faraway look in their eyes.

The land did not justify their unease. The woods were open and clear; the path gently descended to a quick stream that babbled over rocks and through cool glens. They might have been a pleasure party, searching for the prettiest place for a noon lunch.

Yet as they followed the path, climbing alongside the stream to the head of the valley, the trees grew close and the shadows thicker. The trees grew taller also, until they were picking their way through dense underbrush, the stream a continual presence on one side and a steep bank on the other. At last they had to get off and lead their horses through the tangle. At length they came to a place where the path opened out into a small clearing; the trees stood back, all but one giant that stood across their path, its roots making an alcove under the trunk itself.

And within the alcove, three shapes. Three people of some sort, whether male or female it was hard to tell. They busied themselves with handwork that they passed back and forth without looking, for they seemed completely blind. Not so blind, though, that they were unaware of the party's arrival.

"Who have we here, sister?" asked one.

"Too many. Send them away," replied the other.

"They seek what they should not find. They give what they cannot lose," said the third.

"We seek only what we must," Sassenac interjected, trying and failing to draw his mismatched outfit around him to give him some dignity. "Help us, sisters, on our way, or let us proceed without your favor."

"We have no favor," said the first of the sisters to speak. "You of all persons should know that."

"Yet we can show favor," said the second. "All know we can."

"No bias, no favor," said the third. "That is, unless..."

"Unless."

"Unless!"

"We seek the Lord of the Forests, the Horned King," said Sassenac. "You sit at his gates. Let us through. Merely let us pass and that is favor enough."

"Enough for you. And what of us? In times past we were offered rich gifts. What have you?"

An awkward silence while the party looked at one another. And then the Halfling, Rosa, stepped forward.

"I see you weaving there. I have a kit from my grandmother. I believe anyone who works in fabric would find it useful."

She waved a small pouch, intricately embroidered. Sassenac rolled their eyes, as though such an offering was beneath such personages, but—

"What is it? Let me see." The sister with the hand-loom leaned forward. She took the pouch, opened it, rifled briefly through its contents, then tucked it away.

"This for me," she said. "There's a long life of toil and caring in there. And you, sisters?"

"These have nothing for us," they said.

"Yet we do." This was, of all creatures, the Gnome, Beautiful.

"And what do you have?" asked the oldest.

"An eye."

"We have an eye."

"So you do... And where is it?"

"Well. I have it not. Sisters, who has the eye?"

"Not I."

"I gave it you last."

"I think not. Sister, you have it."

"No, I—"

"Just so," said Beautiful. "An eye cannot see itself. But with another eye, you are never blind."

"Do we need an eye?" asked the youngest.

"We do."

"We do."

"Give us the eye, then."

The Gnome pulled out a knife and stepped away, but Cedric followed them.

"Don't be a fool, man, you don't have to do this."

"This is what they need."

"But—an eye? No, we'll figure out another way."

Beautiful shook their head. "It's not so bad. I'm a Gnome. We can regenerate a lost body part. It will be painful, and take some time to regrow, but it's not permanent. Not like it would be for one of you."

"But—"

"No. Now if you want to help, hold my head tight. I don't want to flinch."

It was bloody, but it was soon over. Beautiful, a bit of cloth tied over their face held out the eye to the sisters and one took it.

"This for me."

"And for the third?" asked Sassenac. They all heard the bitterness in their voice. "What will you demand?"

"Nothing but your deaths."

And then the eldest of the sisters went off into a cackle of laughter at the expressions on their faces.

"Which are already mine and which you will bring to me at the appointed time. I require nothing now. Go, children. Go."

And she leaned over from her seat and lifted a root, revealing a passage that lay beyond.

"Go," she said. "I will see you all again, soon enough." She patted Sassenac on the fanny as they passed her. "Yes, even you. Go now."