Page 47 of Storms & Sacrifice
We remount the horses, walking a slow trot next to the dirt path to the city. We get close to the bridge and see where the cart’s tracks go off the path, continuing to follow along the river. I can’t see anything after that, but Khazak and Arik are still staring at the ground intently. The forest gets thicker, and soon I know we’re back in orcterritory.
“Captain—” Arik starts, and I look around Khazak’s torso to see whathe found.
“I see it,” Khazak is already headed toward the cart in thedistance.
We dismount once we’re closer. It’s just a simple wooden cart, plain as can be. A horse is even still attached. The animal seems alright, if not a little spooked. The cart is alsonotempty, like you would expect after a cart-jacking. Both orcs look just as puzzled as I do.
“Is it just me, or does this seem kinda...” I wave my hand in the cart’s general direction. “Full?”
“No, we will need Farmer Stouthand to confirm, but this is very odd.” He looks up from the cart and off into the distance. “I am also disturbed by how close we are to the city. Keep a distance from the cart until we can be sure no traps have been set, magical or otherwise.”
I peer off into the same direction he is, and faaaaar off in the distance, I canjustbarely make out the city’s wall.Weare close.
“Ranger Deepfist, David, please search the area but remain nearby.” Khazak moves to mount his horse again. “I will return with reinforcements.”
“Yes, sir.” Arik salutes.
“Yes, Sir.” I tryto salute.
The two of us split up, each slowly searching one half of the forest, making sure to keep the cart in sight. It’s completely silent out here, and no matter how hard the two of us look, we both come up empty. About twenty minutes later, Khazak returns along with another horse and threeofficers.
“The immediate area is clear, sir,” Arik reports as he approaches.
“Thank you, Ranger Deepfist.” Khazak nods as they all dismount. “A search party is on the way to help comb the area. Officer Frostsong, please check the cart for any potential traps before you assist the others.”
“Yes, sir.” The forensic mage steps forward, already scanning the cart withhis magic.
After he gives us the all clear, the rangers conduct a very careful physical inspection before deeming it safe. It’s decided that the best thing to do is to bring it back into the city so that the farmer can check the contents. I volunteer to drive the cart back with Khazak riding his horse alongside me. Steering one of these is a lot less intimidating than riding them.
I take note of the horse pulling the cart. Bist, I think the farmer called him. He’s older but not unhealthy. The same breed as Khazak’s, just a little smaller. Definitely a workhorse, probably not used to doing more than pulling this cart around. Poor guy got more of a workout today than he has in a while.
“I didn’t realize you had horses here in Nova.” I know plenty of people brought horses with them, but I didn’t think any were native.
“There are a few species of wild horses on the plains in the west, butthesehorses were actually a gift, or at least the original herd was.” Khazak pats the mane of the black horse he’s riding. “They were originally from Northern Albion, gifted by a visiting delegation of elves almost a century ago. Farmer Stouthand’s family has been responsible for raising them.” Then he pauses, turning to me. “‘Nova...’ Is that what you call this part of the world?”
“Yeah, ‘Nova Mundus.’” I nod my head.
“You know those words literally just mean ‘New World’ in Ancient Elutian, right?” He looks over, one eyebrow cocked.
“No, I did not.” I shake my head.Why would I know that?“Why, what doyoucall it?”
“It goes by many different names.” I groan at his answer. “Most of them hold the same meaning. We call it ‘Avural Ug’dol.’ It means ‘turtle island.’
“Why is it called that?” I have seensometurtles but not like a ton.
“Its shape resembles a turtle. Or so I am told.”He shrugs.
We return the horse to the stable and take the cart back to the station. The farmer comes in a little later to inspect it, but he’ll need time to do a full inventory. He agrees that it looks like most of his items are still inside, and he’s just as confused as we are. It’s the afternoon by the time the search party returns, and unfortunately, it’s empty handed.
“No luck, sir. We could not find a sign of anyone or thing out there,” Arik reports to Khazak in his office.
“Damn.” Khazak wipes his hand down his face in frustration, fingers combing through his beard. “Spirits help me, what is happening in this city?”
It’s late in the evening and almost time to go home when the officer helping the farmer returns with a list of what is actually missing. Onlyone thing.
“Flauk? All the stole was some dammed flauk?” Khazak asks in frustration.
“That is what he said, sir,” the officer confirms from acrossthe desk.
