The soldiers leave about an hour after they arrive, to escort the main body of their troops to Dusin's farm. Thragga leaves for his mission back to the caravan, as the riders disappear over the hillside to the east. Without a look back, he slips away to the north, racing as fast as his thick legs can carry him. Snow begins to fall just as he departs, drifting down from the gray sky, as night comes on.
From his farmhouse window, Dusin watches the last rider disappear over the hillside, and turns to Kane. "More to you than meets the eye, that's plain."
Looking to the falling snow, Khom-bei shakes his head, "I'd hoped to get the people to safety before the snows came."
Kane says, "You have my thanks Dusin. And to answer your question, yea and no."
Here, inside the snug farmhouse, a fire burns. Dusin seats himself before it again and stuffs pipeweed into his briar pipe. "Didn't think you wanted to get mixed up with that lot. Fancy weapons, and horses, and an Urag to boot. You're as like to get conscripted as you are to get killed by 'em."
Kane seats himself in the chair offered him, then begins by saying, "You have taken a risk for us. Men you have just met. Not many would show such kindness or courage. We are basically what we have claimed to be. Travelers passing through. We bare no love for the Vorghol or those who follow them. We only seek safe passage through this land causing as little notice as possible."
Dusin lights his pipe with a stick from the fire. "You remind me of a man helped when me and mine needed it. Never told you why I left Idris, son."
Kane says, "I'd be pleased to hear the tale Dusin."
Dusin thinks a long moment. "When a Vorghol has a thirst, nothing can stop it. Don't matter who, or what, all he knows is that thirst. One of the Lady's Spawn was like that, one day, took Letha over there by surprise." He indicates his dark-haired wife, who sets goblets of ale before you and goes pale at the story. "Didn't matter who I was, or what I did for the Lady...all he knew was his thirst. Made me beg for her life."
Kane says, "You were lucky. Barely have I seen them show any sign of mercy."
Dusin snaps, raising his voice for the first time, "Mercy? He taunted me. Laughed at me and told me he'd hang her over a bucket and drain her dry."
Letha consoles her husband with a gentle hand. "It's an old story, papa."
Khom-Bei leans forward in his chair, "Yet she is here. How is it so?"
Kane says, "I am sorry if I have misspoken, yet she lives."
Dusin nods by way of apology to Kane. He continues, "There was a man. Told me not to worry, he'd save her for me. A little taller than you, Kane, dressed in black, with a fancy sword. Went into the Tower in Idris and brought her out alive, and told me to get out of town. Didn't ask for aught. To this day, don't know how he did what he did, and he left before I got a chance to thank him proper."
Kane says, "You are fortunate indeed."
Khom-Bei nods slowly, "And your good fortune has turned to ours, Dusin. You have done us a great favor this day and we shall not forget it."
Dusin looks only towards his wife, who he clearly adores.
Letha says, "Taggart slew that Vorghol, turned him to dust with a blow, and cut my bonds, and he didn't look back."
Khom-Bei looks to Kane with an eyebrow raised. "His name was Taggart, you say?"
Kane simply nods, "This Taggart seems like a good man."
Letha says. "He was. But we never saw him again."
Dusin puffs on his pipe. "I'd never forget that name. Seen a lot of cruelty, working at the Tower...swore I'd never do it again and maybe one day, help like Taggart did me and Letha."
Kane says, "Well, it is said that the best way to return a good deed is by doing one. I thank you and Taggart." He looks to Khom-Bei and then back to Dusin, "I am afraid there is more I must ask of you. You see, we do not travel alone, but with a small company including women and children. We need to pass through these lands quietly and unnoticed."
Dusin says, "We do what we can for those who need it. Taught my daughter how to read, taught her a little history as I learned it, so she knows what's what. Once a season, someone comes through here, roughed up by the Masters or those who serve them. We feed them, maybe put them to work for a few days, let them find their feet. Then they can make their way elsewhere. Women and children, you say? With his Lordship's men on their way here?"
Kane says, "My Urag friend has gone to warn them that it is not safe to approach."
Dusin says, dryly, "Good, he was like to eat me out of my winter stores."
Kane laughs at this."Apparently you know him well."
Dusin says, "They all like that?"
Kane says, "At least all of them that I have met are."
Dusin tells Khom-Bei, "Your tribes, they're in mutiny, the Sergeant says. You know aught of this?"
Khom-Bei frowns, "There is trouble to be sure. The Beast of the North has massacred many of my people and it is now becoming widely known. He made a poor bargain with a necromancer and it cost him his life. The necromancer was the force behind the massacres, but the Clans know only that The Beast was behind what happened. It will not be a crippling blow to the Cold Ones, but it will be a blow to them nonetheless."
Kane puts in, "If you kick your dogs long enough, eventually they will bite you."
Dusin studies you both. "More t' you than meets the eye, indeed," is all he says.
Letha settles next to her husband, looking at the Hunters with wide eyes. "They are very like Taggart, papa."
Dusin says, "With that trouble afoot to the west, there'll be nothing but trouble for you both when the soldiers return."
Kane asks Dusin, "How do you think our chances are of laying low for a few days until they leave?"
Dusin pulls his pipe from his mouth. "Here?"
Khom-Bei says, "I do not think it wise to stay here, Kane. The people need to move south and the soldiers are too close to hide from for days."
Kane looks around him and says, "No, not here. Somewhere safe. I have an idea if all else fails but I'd rather explore other possiblities first."
Dusin says, "His Lordship's men only claim to stay the night...if that business to the west is urgent, then they'll be moving on, come sunup. How many women and children have you?"
Kane replies to his host,"We are about five score, men women and children."
Dusin looks toward Letha. "Are you people Dorje?
Kane laughs, "Not by the size of us, but we travel as the Dorje do."
The Tobon farmer puffs on his pipe. "You could follow the Bitterroot Stream south. It's a walk to the west of here. With his Lordship's men spending the evening here, I think me that they will not trouble you." He pauses. "Don't tell where you're headed."
Kane says, "Wise counsel. The less we tell, the less others will be able to. How is the stream reached?"
"The snow will make for slow going..." Dusin says, glancing at the window. "Melone knows the way. Come here, girl!" he calls. Melone, close by, approaches. "The Bitterroot." he tells her. "Take 'em and show 'em. Take Grivaine with you."
Letha looks towards the window with alarm. Moons' light now glints off the newly fallen snow, revealing a line of riders approaching the farm. The battalion returns. "Papa..." she warns her husband.
Dusin says "Best be on your way. I'll tell 'em the Sergeant scared off my guards and took my dragons with them. Worthless, the three of you."
Kane stands and offers Dusin his hand, "I wish I had more to offer than my thanks, Dusin. You have been a true friend."
The old Tobon shakes Kane's hand, gruffly, and asks, "You knew him, didn't you?"
Kane says, "He was like a father to me. I will tell his daughter of her father's good deed."
Dusin blinks. "Was. So he's fallen now?"
Letha reminds her husband, "Papa! The soldiers!"
Kane says as he heads for the door, "We buried him last winter. Remember him well, he was of the line of Palladians, a true keeper of the flame."
The farmer and his wife are saddened and amazed, but don't seem to know what to say. Maybe they have forgotten the words. Palladians, for true?
As the group exits, Khom-bei looks back to the farmer and his wife, "The circle is now complete. The favor that Taggart did for you, you have done for us now. We will not forget it."
Melone tugs at your sleeves. The little black dog races to the door and pushes it open, then dashes outside into the snow. Kane and Khom-Bei follow Melone out into the night.