Not only was Meb an orphan but he was the last of the northern desert tribe. His father had died in an orc raid the day before he was born and his mother had died hauling him south to safety. The rest had died in the raid.
The maidens all were leading a donkey. Each donkey had two wicker packs. The packs contained their dowries and the weapons that Galahad had purchased for the Gabriel family. Good weapons were expensive and hard to come by. These were the finest weapons that dwarfs could make. There were heads for boar spears built for men, axes, short swords, some small crossbows and three very tall weighty crossbows that were designed for two warriors. Meb could put them together in a minute. He had paid attention to his teachers and could build just about anything. Zeek and Luke had brought whiskey, rum, plum brandy, wine, steal ingots, iron wood and potatoes into the desert to pay for everything. Dwarfs need alcohol to keep their blood running and they loved potatoes. Galahad did the trading, after all who could out trade an elf? He had a thousand years of experience. He got the most for each bag of potatoes but the iron wood was the most valuable.
Iron wood was rare but when carved into the shape one wanted and then soaked in salt water it was almost as strong as steal. Dwarfs liked to turn it in chain mail.
Zeek purposely strode up to Meb and commented on their timing, “It looks like we are a little late, the scouts say that three armies came out of the north gathering troops and it looks like they are headed to the canyon.”
“Doesn’t stop us does it?” They both knew that Meb’s life started after they had crossed the plains and went through the mountain, so it was no surprise to Zeek that an army wouldn’t deter Meb.
Zeek gave Meb a water bag, “Don’t get too far ahead of everyone else.”
Meb took a drink and after the first swallow pulled the bag away, swallowed a second time, looked down and tried not to cough. His eyes were wide. Zeek gave a short laugh. Meb’s head came up, he gathered himself and warned “You should warn a fellow, be a shame to waste something that strong,” handing the bag back he continued, “Two swallows of that and I feel like I can run the whole way.”
Zeek said “Five days across the plains then two to get over and through the mountain, its not a sprint.”
Meb replied “The army makes it easier for us they will have swallowed up all of the fighters in the villages. I think Merry’s luck is holding. We might be halfway across before any of the pig lovers notice us.” They both looked over as Micah and Zeph seemed to glide over the ground at a distance eating pace and start across the plains. Each held a boar spear in his right hand and a longbow in his left. Meb nodded his head to his friend in salute and started after them.
Zeek watched as about a fourth of the warriors spread out among the maidens. The rest broke into three groups and everyone started across the plains. One group of warriors positioned themselves on each side of the caravan moving out at an angle and the third headed off after the two elves led by Galahad.
Zeek turned back to see the two elves slow down for Meb to catch up and then the three of them headed out as a group. Merry was leading the first donkey that passed Zeek, she smiled at him and she must have heard Meb’s last comment because she said “With those three in front I don’t expect to see a pig lover unless it dies in our path.”
Zeek nodded his head to Merry. He smiled and handed a water bag to the maiden at Merry’s side. He said “Take two swallows and pass it down the line. We don’t stop until the donkeys need a rest.”
All but five warriors had passed Zeek when he motioned to them to bring up the rear and they all started after the caravan.
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