Free Against the Giants by Ru Emerson - (ebook by Flandrel, Undead)

thirst for vengeance.

 
 

     
     
    The preparations for departure took even longer than choosing
the company had. Lhors spent much of his daylight hours helping Malowan set up a
staging area in the stables. They acquired horses and pack animals, tack, packs,
and bags that could be fitted on saddles and racks. He and the paladin went over
the food and drink, which then went into bags that would be checked a final time
by Pferic, a stolid, middle-aged soldier who would serve them as horseman and
cook. Lord Mebree provided a small company to travel with them by horse as far
as Flen, where a flatboat was being readied to take them to Istivin.
    “It’s our best choice,” Vlandar told the company on the
second evening when they all gathered. “From Cryllor to Flen is a reasonably
easy ride, two days without pushing the horses. The river Davish—”
    “The river,” Rowan objected, “goes from its joining with the
Javan River due west, and the last time I saw it, Vlandar, it was a fast-moving
stream.”
    “Then you saw it in the spring,” Vlandar replied. “This is
late autumn. Not only is the water low and not nearly as swift, but this time of
year the wind most often sets from east to west, flowing into the westernmost
corner of Sterich where the Crystalmist Mountains and the Jotens meet up. Lord
Mebree has ordered a flatboat for us with sails in case there is wind—and there
should be. The south bank and the lands beyond rapidly move into the Jotens
where the Steading is, but most of Sterich is flat and we will be able to see
far in three directions most of the time. I need not remind you that there will
be bandits, pirates, giants, and all manner of unpleasant folk watching the
Davish?”
    “Pirates?” Nemis murmured and rose to his feet. “Your pardon,
Vlandar, but I fear I must decline this journey. You warned me of giants and
other monsters and horrors, but you said nothing about pirates!”
    Lhors simply stared at the mage, astonished—as did several of
his companions. But this seemed to be Nemis’ idea of a joke. Malowan and
Vlandar broke into laughter, and the mage grinned. “That is well though,
Vlandar. Personally, I prefer a boat under my feet to a horse between my knees.
But what if there is no wind?”
    Vlandar shrugged. “We pole. This time of year, the water will
be shallow and slow. It won’t be so bad.”
    That evening was given over to readying for the chance that
they might become separated. Bread and other rations were divided up and put in
separate small packs that each of them would carry at all times. Individual tins
of flint and tinder were also stowed.
    The next morning, Lhors went with Vlandar, who had him fitted
for thick trousers of brown boiled wool, a soft tunic to match, and a
knee-length cloak and hood of waterproofed wool that could also serve as a
blanket. The warrior then took him into the armory and acquired a leather
harness and case for javelins, then had it cut down so it fit snugly. Seven
short throwing javelins, each tipped with sharp steel, went into the case, which
could be covered over and tied down so that he wouldn’t lose the weapons if the
case tipped. To Lhors’ surprise, Vlandar also bought him two long-bladed
daggers, a sling, and a bag of hurling stones.
    “The blades are for defense and only as a last resort. The
sling is as good at a distance as the javelins—possibly better since they work
at greater distance with less effort. Mal is better at the sling than I. I’ll
get him to show you.”
    During those three days, Malowan and Vlandar also found the
time to track down people who knew the land near the Steading. They even found
one fellow who’d been taken prisoner by one of the hill giants but had managed
to escape. None of them had any desire to return no matter how great the reward,
but they talked freely and answered questions that Vlandar incorporated into his
precious maps. He now had four. The first was a general