Chapter 10: The High Pass

When we led the team of horses out the gate there were dwarves that lined the way. As we walked we looked at the stunning colors of fall. Little One scampered out of a bush with Charles chasing her. She ran right up my body as Charles detoured to leap up into Ellie’s arms.

Four days later we stopped early to camp beside the entrance into the dwarven tunnels. Ellie had purchased sacks of grain and I put feed bags on each horse before heading out to gather wood for a fire. Tiny light snow flakes began falling before I brought the first arm load of wood in. She glanced up and grinned, “We have company.”

She nodded to the new thick door into the dwarven tunnel that was open now and I smiled to see Tolivar. He came out carrying a big pot of what looked like stew, “I was up here checking on the new door and decided to stick around until you came by.”

I grinned with Ellie and set the wood down. It was a nice evening but after eating it began to snow a little harder. Little One and Charles both grumbled about wet feet and went to hide in the wagon. I had moved a few warm furs to the bed a few days before when it began getting cooler at night.

Tolivar looked at the drifting snow, “Be careful going through the pass.”

He stood and headed for the doorway without looking back. It was still snowing lightly the next morning as we headed towards the pass. It was not a blizzard but I knew it could get bad. I had Ellie sit in the driver’s seat of the wagon while I guided the horses. I was a little worried one of the horses might slip and break a leg but they seemed to do fine.

Even the extra horses behind the wagon carrying more grain did okay. We stopped for a lunch under some tall pines. I made a small fire and smiled at her amazement when I made grill cheese sandwiches. Ellie walked with me during the afternoon. By the time we stopped for the night in a thick stand of evergreens it was snowing a little harder.

Little One and Charles went out to explore while I gathered wood. We fed the horses grain warmed in a mash before cooking our own dinner. Ellie surprised me by walking around our camp and whispering a spell. She smiled and told me it was to ward off wild animals. We were just getting ready to climb into the wagon.

A whisper of sound came to me and Ellie spun in surprise and glanced out into the darkness, “Who is there?”

The creature that stepped out surprised me. It was only two feet tall and covered in fur. Then I realized it was wearing a type of fur robe or overcoat. Ellie knelt, “How may we help little one?”

The voice that answered was high and almost squeaky, “We are traveling over the pass to the Deep Forest.”

I looked at Ellie as she smiled and glanced at me and then back at the little person, “How many travel with you?”

It seemed to smile, “My family, four adults and six children.”

Ellie nodded and smiled at me, “We can take them with us?”

I smiled at her, “I do not think they will take up much room.”

She nodded and turned back to the little person, “Bring your family in and warm yourself at our fire.”

It almost sounded like a ritual and the little man bowed, “Thank you.”

Ellie stood and moved back to the fire and added another few sticks. I sat on a fallen log and waited. She finally turned to face me, “They are Gnomes. Very timid and rarely seen. They normally live in heavy forests.”

I nodded, “and use some type of poison on their weapons.”

She looked surprised but nodded, “That is a closely guarded secret.”

I shrugged, “The fur he was wearing told me.”

She smiled and looked towards where the gnome had been, “mages tend to help them when we can.”

I nodded, “Makes sense. They can ride the wagon to stay out of the snow.”

Ellie grinned, “They can be very fast on snow.”

I smiled, “Moving through snow can be tiring no matter how big you are.”

“You are right human.”

I glanced over at the small group pulling what looked like a sled. I bowed, “Come, be welcome at our fire.”

An older looking female bowed slightly and led they way. She held her hands out to the flames but looked at me, “The whispers tell us you are responsible for the troll’s death.”

I nodded slowly, “The death of even one such as it is not something I am proud of.”

She actually smiled, “You are strange human.”

The others had gathered around and a younger female busied herself cooking. I sat beside Ellie as they ate and cleaned up before looking around. I smiled and stood to walk to the wagon. I pulled out a couple of bison skins I had been using on the floor. I laid one out and folded the other before walking out to look for what I needed.

When I came in I was carrying several sticks. I pulled out some leather strings I had started collecting and made a dome shaped frame. I went to the fur and set the frame down and draped the second skin over it. I turned and bowed, “It should stay nice and warm.”

Ellie stood and bowed, “Sleep well. We can speak again in the morning.”

I followed Ellie into the wagon and undressed before slipping in beside her. She shivered and held me tight as the blankets slowly warmed. Little One meowed and crawled under the blanket and then Ellie squeaked as Charles did the same against her back. I woke to Little One purring and kneading my chest.

I pet her and rubbed her face as Ellie shifted and woke behind me. The two bond cats climbed out when we got up to dress. The chill made me wish for an electric heater. I dropped from the wagon and walked to where the fire had been but it was covered in snow and more still fell.

I squatted and used a pine branch to brush some of the snow away before building another fire. Once it was going, I went to check the horses and feed them some grain. When I came back to the fire the gnomes were up and moving around. Ellie was beside the fire toasting bread and cheese. Little One and Charles were both being petting by the gnome children.

I squatted beside Ellie, “If this snow keeps up it is going to make the other side of the pass dangerous.”

The elder gnome woman snorted, “Only if you do not know what you are doing human.”

I smiled, “I have news for you little mother, not only am I just learning about horses, I am also new to this world.”

She looked at me with questions in her eyes and then nodded, “We will travel with you as far as the forest and help you if you need it.”

One of the male gnomes cleared his throat, “Your frame was very efficient.”

I smiled and accepted toasted bread and melt cheese from Ellie, “If I had a liner for the inside it would be even warmer.”

He nodded and turned away. After breaking our fast, I harnessed the horses while Ellie helped the gnomes into the wagon. She rode on the wagon seat most of the time, talking to the gnomes. I was careful leading the horses on the snow covered trail. I was carrying my bow and managed to kill several rabbits along the way.

I skinned them and cleaned them before handing them up to Ellie. I knew they would last a long time in this cold. She gave the skins to the gnomes who cleaned them as we traveled. We reached the highest part of the pass just before I decided to stop for the night. I picketed the horses in front of the wagon while Ellie and the gnomes started a fire beside it.

After putting a blanket on each horse and fitting a feed bag over their heads I went to help Ellie. She smiled and stood to stretch before starting a walk around the camp with her staff. I left to gather wood for the fire as the gnomes pulled a bison fur under the wagon. I returned with my arms full of tree limbs and pulling a large heavy branch behind me.

The gnomes had the tent I had made set up with another skin fitted over it. As we ate dinner the elder gnome man talked about switching the horses on the trail down. Putting four horses to pull if needed and the others behind the wagon to resist or act as brakes. I was a little surprised when Little One and Charles went into the gnome tent to sleep.

Ellie shivered as I slipped into bed and held her. It was awhile before we warmed up from the chill of being in the snow all day. I woke in the middle of the night with Ellie shifting around. She whispered, “Something is near.”

I slid out of bed ignoring the cold as I quickly dressed. I grabbed my rifle before climbing out of the wagon. I switched the thermal sight on and slowly turned as I looked through the scope. The small shape that appeared was familiar. Ellie touched my shoulder, “Do you need light?”