Path of the Mother (Book Three)

Chapter 3 Getting the Feet Wet

When Duncan first saw the old canal, he thought it was amazing. It had trees and vines growing between the stones, but he could still tell where it was. It was at least fifty feet wide, with sides that sloped up to the position of the old bank on either side, and it had a flat bottom ... or it used to have a flat bottom anyway. The stones continued down into the lake on this end and it was still intact where it didn't have the trees and vegetation growing up through it.

Trac came with them. If they couldn't find a door in, maybe they could use his skills to help them through the stones of the mountain. He was excited when they came back, and he met them at the brewery. That was about the best place for him to hang out, while they tried to see about working their way into the mines. He was also ready to do something besides waiting around for them to show back up.

This time, when they saw him, Trac wasn't completely naked. He had a bag made from the skin of what looked like an elk, hanging from a wide leather belt that went over one shoulder. A few hand-made tools hung from the belt. He didn't look nearly as much of a monster as he did when Duncan first saw him. Now he looked more like a giant with long arms and maybe an uglier face. But he still looked more like a person than a monster. Maybe clothes do make the person.

They were in the vicinity of where they were supposed to be. "The map shows that the opening should be right around here somewhere, but I don't see anything that's even close to what's drawn on there," Duncan said. "Lilly, so you see anything with that magical sight of yours?"

"I don't see anything," she said. "Brannon said that it was a long time ago when he saw the map, so he could be pretty far off."

Trac didn't understand what Duncan said, but he could see that he was trying to compare a map to the ground by the way he was pointing at terrain features and at the map. The Dwarves used maps all the time. They would make detailed plans for everything they made ... or wanted the Rock Trolls to make for them. He'd seen maps plenty of times. When he saw that it was creating frustration in the Human, he said, "Too much water."

"What do you mean," Lilly asked him.

"Water too big. It not like it used to be," he said back to her.

"Let me see that map," she said to Duncan. "Trac says that the water is bigger than it used to be. What we're looking for may not be up here where we can see it. It might be underwater. I don't know if the water rose, or maybe what we're looking for sank a little bit in that earthquake that busted up the canal."

He wasn't getting anywhere anyway, so Duncan handed it over. "Alright," she said, looking at the map. "This shows that there was a big road on this side where they loaded the barges in the canal. The mountain over there is off with the map, but no matter what, we should be able to see the remains of the road. I mean, the Dwarves used stone for everything, and they would have made a road with it too."

"So, what do you want to do?" he asked.

"I think I need to get my feet wet," she said.

"I'll hang out up here with the big guy," Duncan said. "Want me to build a fire?"

"Might as well. See if you can find us some supper while I'm gone. I bet Trac would like something too."

"I thought he eats bad guys. I don't think the Goblins or Kobolds are going to show their face with that brute out here," he said. "I'll see what I can find though. Be careful down there. Oh, wait ... let the big guy know what's going on before you go."

Duncan set off with his bow as Lilly was getting ready to get in the water. She left her armor and kit where Trac could watch over everything. She only took her knife with her and stripped down as much as she dared. The look didn't leave very much to the imagination and Duncan had a grin on his face as he left out to hunt.