The Second Escape

Lyzzar watched the crossbow wielding figure who was backing away from him. The anger that coursed through his veins was larger than the pain he felt as the bolt had entered his back. He knew that he was lucky that his rough hands had then fed him the healing potion but his anger was stronger. He had to get away, and maybe kill the bastard while he was at it.
 
His captor snarled over the loaded crossbow
 
Get up and no muttering or moving your arms, you are coming with me or not going anywhere.
 
 Lyzzar looked at him with disdain as he got up, making sure that he didn't look like he was going to try anything and he turned in the direction the hooded figure was pointing at with his crossbow and started walking, making sure to glance back and listen to what the figure was doing. As soon as it got distracted Lyzzar would pull out a potion of invisibility and get away, to a safe distance at least.
 
His chance came quickly as his captor noticed a farmer who had been watching the encounter and tried to ascertain whether or not he was a threat. That small distraction was all Lyzzar needed, his hands went into his bag and retrieved the potion of invisibility and he drank it right away, we was not to be seen by the time his captor looked back in his direction. He started moving away, as silently as he could to keep the hooded figure from following him. Lyzzar watched as the figure looked around for him, frantically searching the ground for any sign of where he had gone. It picked up a bottle and looked at it, examining the contents. He cursed aloud as he pulled out a finger that had turned invisible.
 
Lyzzar kept moving away, he was not safe until he could put distance between himself, the town and his past captor. He moved silently through the fields until the black hooded figure was out of sight. Once he was sure he could not be heard he moved more quickly in the direction of the city. It was early morning by now, maybe his companions would be somewhere in the area though he seriously doubted it. He knew his invisibility would run out soon so he when he could he went to hide behind a tree. There he quickly cast a disguise spell. He was close to a farmers house and it seemed that he a\was just coming in from the fields. He made himself look like a wanderer, leather coat, a bow and arrow, and a face that was slightly scarred yet handsome and warm.
 
In this form he approached the farmer. When he got within earshot he hailed the man, who turned around surprised, having not seen anyone approaching. The man waved and Lyzzar approached. The farmer was a human, hunched yet strong from so many years of working in the fields. He had a square jutting jaw and a calloused hand which he held out to Lyzzar.

 

Lyzzar took his hand and shook it firmly.

Greetings my friend, I am a traveler from a long distance away. I explore the routes less traveled, hence you find me by your homestead this fine morning. Would you happen to know any places for a man such as myself to visit?

Roads less traveled eh? You do look the type, and your scars and weapons go to prove that you are who you say. Now there is a main road to the east but I suspect that is not a place for you. There is a small village of Faire to the southwest of here that is rarely traveled.

Lyzzar’s face brightened at the mention of such a village.

This village, is it far from here?

The farmer thought for a moment

It has been a long time since I have gone in that direction and it has gotten more dangerous lately. I suspect it is about a day and a half traveling on foot from here.

Lyzzar wanted to go to the village but on foot it would take a while.

Are you by any chance selling a horse, I have not found one for sale in the area and a horse makes travel much easier.

It was the farmer’s face that brightened this time.

 I do happen to have a horse that is no longer of any use to me, it can no longer pull a plow but it can sure carry a traveler. Come with me.

He motioned for Lyzzar to follow him to the barn. As the farmer opened the door to the barn the stench of manure and animals hit Lyzzar. He walked in and followed the farmer to where a speckled mare was standing. She seemed to be getting on in age and not in the best shape but as the farmer has said, she seemed good enough for his purposes.

Isn’t she a beauty, she has been with me for many years but alas even the best horse gets old. So how about it traveler? How does 250 gold sound?

Lyzzar’s face took on a shocked experssion.

For a nag like this, 250?! Outrageous, 150 at most.

The two bartered finally deciding on a price of 196 gold for the horse and some riding gear. The farmer led her out and saddled her for Lyzzar. As he was mounting the mare the Farmer took the reins for a moment.

I almost forgot to tell you, be careful; I have heard rumors of the drow attacking the villagers to the south.

Lyzzar’s ears perked up at the mention of his race.

Have you heard anything else about them?

My neighbor at the bar said something about his family in the dwarven city being attacked or in danger of attack by the drow but that is the extent of which I have heard about them. Truth be told, I didn’t know any of them were even living in the mountains around here until just recently. It seems their swords got sick of slashing each other and started thirsting for the blood of others. He shuddered. Be careful with those drow, them dangerous folk.

With that he let go of the reigns and turned back to his house where his wife was calling him for second breakfast. Lyzzar turned to the southwest and aimed for the village of Faire. He did not know if he could make it this day but he had to try. His eyes were drooping and his body was exhausted from all of the spells he had cast and his trek throughout the whole day today. The holes where the bolts had been pulled out of him after the two bolts had embedded themselves in him were starting to ache even though they had been healed up. He would go as far as he could today.

By midafternoon he could barely keep himself on the horse. He knew that he was not going to be able to make it to Faire that day without collapsing upon entering the town and he did not have the strength to cast any other spells. He spotted a farm nearby and decided he would try to spend the night there.

He approached warily, donning his gloves and covering his face as best he could. There was a farmer in his fields tending to what seemed to be some kind of tuber. He approached, now off of his horse and hailed the man. He looked up from his work, standing up straight and brushing the dirt off of his hands. Lyzzar approached, he tried his best to hide his face but he could not hide his exhaustion. As the farmer reached out and shocked his hand he was shocked to find that Lyzzar’s gloved hand pressed a few coins into his, they were the size of gold coins, he knew, and Lyzzar said.

I am an exhausted and hungry traveler, a place to sleep and some food would do me well as well.

The farmer looked at him knowingly, It seems you have something to hide, I will not inquire and the barn is open for you to rest your weary body traveler.

Lyzzar’s shoulders dropped ever so slightly and he let out a soft sigh of relief.

Thank you friend, I appreciate your hospitality.

He released his hand leaving the coins in the hand of the farmer who counted them, 7 gold coins was no small amount for a farmer and a smile crossed his face. He said

Right this way, I will bring your dinner to the barn of that is alright with you. Better not to alarm the wife.

The barn was large and housed a few horses and a wagon. There was hay piled up on the loft and the farmer pointed up to the loft saying

It would be most comfortable up there but you are free to sleep wherever you like. I will bring your food shortly.

Lyzzar thanked the man. He waited for him to bring the food, barely able to keep himself awake. When the farmer returned he brought a hearty stew of vegetables and some meat as well as a small wine skin. Lyzzar ate quickly and gratefully drank the wine. He thanked the man once more and waited for him to leave before he climbed up to the loft and woke his sleeping raven. The bird had been injured not long ago and had been recovering inside a large pocket in his robes. He instructed the bird to keep watch over him as he fell into a blissful sleep. He slept through the night and didn’t wake up till he heard the sound of the barn door opening. He put his robe on quickly and chanted a quick disguise spell, changing his appearance to that of a human with roughly the same physical features as him.

He climbed down from the loft to where the farmer was waiting with breakfast. He ate gratefully and started talking to the farmer.

What villages lie around here?

The village of Faire is the closest one. Other than that there are two more about a day’s travel toward the main road.

The village of Faire is where I am headed; can you tell me anything about it?

I figured as much. There are many figures like you who gather in Faire. I have learned not to pry so I don’t know much other than the fact that they buy large quantities of grain and other foods such as my beets. It is a bit too much for such a small village but as long as they keep paying well it is not worth the trouble to investigate who they are feeding.

Do you have any idea why they gather in Faire?

I dunno, I don’t like to pry into what ain’t my business.

Well I guess I should be on my way then, thank you for your generosity and information.

Thank you as well traveler, good luck.

Lyzzar mounted his horse once more and turned her toward where the village of Faire could barely be seen in the distance. It would take a few hours still to get to town.

The Long Road to Faire

Nosk let out a sigh as he and the drow, made it out to the fresh air. They paused a moment to catch their breath, they could not hear the guards behind them but it was better not to risk it. The drow put on his cloak and checked the pockets of his bag and pouches. When satisfied he turned to look at Nosk. The two of them looked at each other not saying a word. Half of the job was done, the drow was out of the prison. Now to take him back to Faire. Come, we must go.
The drow looked at him without moving a muscle. Why should I go with you? Where are you trying to take me? Nosk looked at him and glanced at the tunnel where they had just exited from. He thought he heard the guards now coming closer. He had no time for the drow’s games. We are not safe here now move
 
He waited and the drow eyed him suspiciously. Nosk was getting fed up. Did I save you or did I not? Now forward. His raspy voice deepening in pitch to a growl as he finished his sentence. The drow narrowed his eyes and looked at him but he flipped his hood over his head and started moving.
 
Nosk followed the drow, he did not know why he had been asked to free him nor did he care. All he cared about now was delivering him to Faire and getting his reward. They both said little as they moved quickly away from the clearing. Under the cover of night they could make it quite a distance before morning and he was loathe to stop then.
 
As the golden light of the sun peeked over the mountains to the south and the town of Forathon was just an outline on the eastern horizon they stopped. Nosk handed the drow a water skin and the drow smelled it suspiciously before taking a sip, then he drank enough to quench his thirst. They had passed a few streams but they barely stopped Nosk wanted to get as far away as possible. He had decided that 5 minutes of rest would be appropriate now and the drow looked like he had seen better days.
 
The drow now approached. What is your name and where are you trying to take me? He asked to which Nosk responded, You don't need to know, just go. The drow looked at him, I am not going anywhere else until I know where you are trying to take me and who hired you to do so. Nosk scowled, You will be going where I tell you to go and you will stop asking questions, now move. The drow looked at him challengingly, I am not going with you until you tell me where we are going and even then it is a long shot.
 
And where will you go? Challenged Nosk You can't go back to the city whose prison you escaped, you have little choice in the matter. The drow simply replied, I have friends who will find me I'm sure and if not I can go anywhere I please. It seemed that at that pint the drow was through listening to him and started walking in another direction. Stop right there we are going the other way you idiot!
 
Nosk took out his crossbow, silently and notched a bolt, aiming for the back of the drow who would not listen to him. He pulled the trigger and the bold flew true and embedded itself into the drow's back. He fell to the ground, limp. It seemed that he was already weak from the escape and the time he had spent in jail.
 
The hobgoblin walked over to the limp body, giving the drow a solid kick in the ribs before pulling out his bolt. He was not about to drag him all the way to Faire but maybe he had learned his lesson now. He rummaged through the drow's bad and found a healing potion that hadn't been taken out of his bag. He rolled the drow over and holding his crossbow in one hand he poured it into the mouth of the drow whose eyes shot open, Nosk now backed away pointing his crossbow at the drow. Get up and no muttering or moving your arms, you are coming with me or not going anywhere.
 
The drow eyed the crossbow and Nosk with angry eyes but he got up and started walking in the same direction as they had been walking. Nosk noticed that a farmer had noticed this whole confrontation but had kept his distance, cautiously peeking over at them but never getting any closer. Nosk turned back to the drow in front of him but to his surprise and shock there was no one there, the drow had disappeared. Nosk cursed out loud and started listening intently but he could hear nothing and as he examined the ground he found no traces of the drow.

 

The Gathering

The clouds gathered just as the people did. Slowly at first but more and more quickly until both the sky and the field were about to burst. We sat in the middle, eyes closed but minds open, seeing what our eyes didn’t. A hush fell over the world as everything waited expectantly. A hand gripped a stick and held it up, a raindrop fell from the sky, and it hit the stick straight on the tip. Now earth and sky met. There was no stopping it. The stick fell onto a drum of wood and skin and with the first soft beat the sky added to the rhythm, soft raindrops fell from the sky, a prelude for things to come. Another drum joined the first, this one louder and deeper than the first, as if to keep pace with the drums the rain suddenly got harder. A soft hum could be heard all around us, coming from the mouths of the thousands gathered around us. The rain, the voices and the drums now beat in unison.

A third drum now joined, this one with a higher timbre and we could feel the electricity in the air. I raised my arm high and brought it down onto the large drum in front of me. The sound came from the sky and the drum, everything else was drowned out but we all knew that no one stopped. The first two drums intensified their drumming as the rain drops turned into a stream of water falling from the sky. The high timbre drum chiming in over the hum, the rain, and the drums. My arm fell time and time again using the heavy rod of bone to deafen the world for one small moment before the hum, the rain, and the drums rushed back into our ears.

The drums and the rain waxed and waned. Sometimes it was so soft that it sounded like it was over while at others even the thunder could barely block out the intensity of the drums and falling drops that seemed to want to pound the earth and all on it into submission. The people hummed, the drums beat, the rain fell, and the thunder clapped with a never-ending certainty. The world lost to all but those you felt round you.

I heard the drum and felt the air electrify once more and I raised the bone high p above my head and brought it down once more. As my arm arced downwards the bone I clasped in my hand shattered and as my hand fell to the skin of the drum a soft peal of thunder erupted and then he drum was silenced forevermore as the bone pierced through the skin that used to be its own.

I could tell that the high drum had also been silenced, having played its last. My arms dropped to my side, unable to move. The rain now beat on me as I did the drum creating its own rhythm on my skin as it fell. A private rhythm that was unique to each person in the world. Soon the other drums slowed, then the second drum played its last as the rain slowed. Soon the melody on my skin began to fade and the soft drumming became even softer until it stopped.

We opened our eyes to see a man with a white beard and scarred skin holding a stick up into the air as the last raindrop fell and landed on the tip. He then took his drumstick, the bark now worn off and as we faded the old man stood and broke the stick, his drum would drum again while it was our time to fade.