Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing and the Quest for the Holy Grail ❯ The Druid's Altar ( Chapter 12 )

Chapter 12: The Druid's Altar

In the morning, they discovered that the gap in the trees produced by the clearing allowed the fog to sink all the way to the ground. It was very damp and very cold and no amount of fire-breathing on Wu-Fei's part could get so much as a twig to light. It was a wet and shivering group that resumed the trail after eating a cold breakfast. Roku was the only one who seemed in reasonable spirits as they plodded along the muddy trail.

“Are there any tracks from those damn sprites?” Heero asked.

“No, Papa Heero, just the people.”

Heero rubbed his arm and muttered to himself.

“Look at the bright side,” Hagrimore said with as much cheer as he could muster, “scars are manly.”

“Then Heero's about as manly as they come,” Duo said. “You wouldn't believe some of the places he has scars.”

“That's true,” agreed Wu-Fei. “There's that big one on his…”

“Shut up, Wu-Fei!”

“Doesn't he usually say that to me?” Duo whispered loudly to Wu-Fei.

“Usually,” Wu-Fei whispered back, equally loudly. “And I was only going to mention the scar on his knee where you broke his leg and he decided to set it himself.”

“Oh? You weren't thinking about the big scar right above his…”

“Shut up, Duo!”

“That's more like it,” Duo said with a smile.

“Are you sure we are traveling in the right direction?” Olwin asked. “Everything looks exactly the same.”

“There are no hoof prints ahead of us,” Percival said, “so we must be going the right way. But I agree; it is hard to tell.”

“Here's another sign post,” Roku announced.

Wu-Fei studied the post as he rode by. “The distance is right with respect to the posts we've passed so far.”

“Can you tell what the distances are being measured toward?” Trowa asked.

“As near as I can tell,” said Wu-Fei, “the top number tells us how far we've come and the bottom number indicates how far it is to where we're going. But that number changes every now and then, along with the symbol beside it, so I think there are at least three different destinations being measured. I suspect the farthest one is the other side of the forest. One of the others may be the druid's altar.”

“What kind of distances are we talking about?”

“Well, I'm not exactly sure, but given the era, I think the distances are probably in furlongs, which is about two hundred meters. That sign post had a distance value of one hundred and eighty. If that's furlongs, then we've come about thirty-six kilometers, which, given how long we've been riding through this wretched, soggy forest, means we're making about 6 kilometers per hour, which seems about right to me.”

“Show off…” Duo muttered.

“It's just arithmetic.”

“I think Master Wu-Fei is correct in his assumption,” Percival said. “Furlongs are most likely the measurement. What is the distance to the nearest destination?”

“Three hundred furlongs.”

“We've barely come half way!” Sir Olwin exclaimed.

“And we have no idea if that's the distance to the druid's altar,” Hagrimore added. “What's the next nearest distance?”

“Five hundred furlongs.”

“We can't make that until tomorrow afternoon,” Heero said flatly.

“We better hope the first stop is the druid's altar,” Trowa said.

A long damp morning of travel brought them to a crossroads. A thick post stood in the center of the intersection with runes carved on all four sides. Wu-Fei dismounted and examined the post carefully.

“Well, I have good news and bad news,” he said finally. “The bad news is, I'm pretty sure we're standing at the first destination. The good news is, I'm pretty sure the second destination is the druid's altar.” He pointed at a symbol on the side of the post facing the direction from which they'd come. “This is the same symbol that I took to mean the edge of the forest. We know that's the only thing back that way and the distance matches what we just covered to get here.” He walked around the post, pointing at the same symbol on two of the other three sides. “Both of these paths have the same symbol with different distances, so that must indicate how far it is to the edge of the forest in these two directions.” He stopped in front of the last symbol, which was on the side of the crossroads leading to their left. “This symbol matches the other symbol I was seeing, so it must be the druid's altar, and the distance is right: two hundred furlongs.”

No one seemed particularly happy to receive this news.

“Papa Wu-Fei,” Roku spoke up, “you said we passed a symbol for the distance to the edge of the forest. Which way do you suppose they meant?”

Wu-Fei patted Roku on the head. “Good question, Roku.” He stepped around to the side of the post opposite the direction from which they'd entered. “These runes here translate to one thousand, two hundred furlongs.” He moved to the side opposite the direction to the druid's altar. “These runes translate to seven hundred and fifty. The last distance marker we passed put the edge at fifteen hundred furlongs.” He looked at Roku expectantly.

Roku pointed down the continuation of the trail they were following. “It's that edge.”

“Correct.”

“So we don't know how far it is to the forest's edge on the trail to the altar,” Quatre pointed out.

“Quite true,” Wu-Fei agreed.

“What if this trail dead-ends at the altar?” Duo asked. “We'd have to backtrack to here to get out of the forest.”

“If we go in this direction,” Mendelere asked suddenly, “won't we run into that river?”

“We've turned about so much,” Hagrimore said, “I am no longer sure of the direction in which we travel.”

“None of that matters,” Heero interrupted. “We still have to go to the altar. Let's get moving. We have to find some place to stop for the night. There's no way we're reaching the altar before tomorrow afternoon.”

“Let's get out food now,” Duo demanded. “I'm not riding all day on an empty stomach again!”

Everyone but Heero agreed with that sentiment, so food was unpacked before they resumed riding.

“You know,” said Duo, “this place is not so depressing if your belly's full.”

“I would have to agree with that,” said Hagrimore cheerfully.

They made good time and sunset found them entering another manmade clearing. This one had a small stream running swiftly along one edge, cutting across the trail.

Roku took a long drink. “I think this is the same stream we saw before we entered the forest,” he said. “It tastes the same.”

“Really?” said Trowa. “That's interesting.”

“But it also means we are much closer to that large river we encountered,” Percival said.

“Maybe the trail turns,” Damodin said.

“I hope so,” said Sir Olwin. “I do not like the idea of trying to ford that river.”

“Neither do I.”

When darkness fell, Roku nodded toward the trees. “The eyes are back.”

Everyone looked.

Heero swore. “Get lost!” he shouted.

The eyes moved about, but they didn't leave.

“Quatre, can sprites talk?” Wu-Fei asked abruptly.

“Merlin's book didn't say. Why?”

“Well, I was thinking that Heero could ask the sprites how many druids are at the altar. If we outnumber them, we're less likely to have trouble when we get there.”

They looked expectantly at Heero. Heero glared back.

“You expect me to talk to them?”

“It can't hurt.”

Heero swore again. He jumped to his feet and stamped over to the nearest set of eyes. “How many druids are at the altar?” he demanded.

A small shape edged out into the firelight. It looked a little bit like a small child, except it had grayish-green skin and a bald head. Its small eyes glowed bright green above a long, thin, pointed nose and a small triangular mouth.

It pointed up at Heero. “Ask nicely, Man with Many Faces!” it trilled.

Heero looked over his shoulder at the others with an angry glower.

Quatre waved toward the sprite and lifted his eyebrows.

Heero frowned darkly and turned back to the sprite. “Can you please tell me how many druids are at the altar?” He sounded like each word was dragged out of him with great pain.

The sprite giggled. “Five times five have walked this path,” it said and dashed back into the darkness.

“So much for outnumbering them,” said Wu-Fei.

“Maybe they'll be reasonable about it, if we get there before nightfall,” Trowa said. “All we want to do is read the words on the altar.”

“Oh, sure!” said Duo. He assumed a high-pitched voice and batted his eyes. “Oh, sir! Do you mind terribly if I walk into the middle of your most sacred grove and read the most sacred words off your most sacred altar? I promise not to desecrate anything!”

“I think Master Duo has the gist of it,” Percival said. “No doubt the grove where the altar stands is indeed sacred. We must proceed with great caution to avoid giving offense.”

“What kinds of weapons are they likely to have?” Heero asked with his usual practicality.

“Spears and knives, most likely,” Hagrimore replied.

“No match for swords, then.”

“What if they summon spirits?” Damodin asked. “Our swords will be of little use then.”

“It would be better if we could gain their cooperation,” Percival said. “I do not like the idea of disrupting their ceremony or injuring any of them under these circumstances. We are in their territory.”

“I'd prefer that, too,” said Heero. “But I like to be prepared.” He began checking the sharpness of the various knives he had secreted about his person.

The night was uneventful and the next morning found them making an early start in the hope of reaching the altar well before sunset. Their plan met with disaster almost immediately.

“I smell water,” Roku announced, trotting along in the lead. “A lot of water.”

“How can you tell?” Duo exclaimed. “The entire forest is dripping.”

Five minutes later, Roku stopped. “I can hear water now. It sounds big.”

“What do you mean, big?” Heero demanded.

“It sounds like the stream sounded, only bigger.”

“Shit!” Heero growled.

“The river!” Percival and Hagrimore exclaimed in unison.

“Get moving, Roku,” Heero ordered. “Let's have a look at this big water.”

Five minutes farther down the trail, everyone could hear the sound of rushing water. It got louder and louder, until the thunder of it blocked out the sound of their horses hooves in the mud.

“This is SO not good!” Duo muttered.

Finally, they rode out from the trees into a tiny clearing nestled against the bank of a wide, deep, swift-flowing river. The water surged in ferocious rapids over tumbled rocks and broken logs.

“There is no way we are fording that,” Wu-Fei stated matter-of-factly.

“But this is where the trail goes,” Damodin said. “The druids must have a way across.”

“There it is,” Heero said. He pointed up river. A slender and rather delicate-looking rope and wattle bridge was strung across the river between two sturdy trees.

“We can't take the horses across that,” Olwin said, sounding alarmed.

“No, we can't,” agreed Percival. “They will have to stay here. Some of us will have to stay behind with the horses and supplies. The rest can proceed on foot.”

Everyone dismounted and they sorted through their supplies. Water skins were refilled and food transferred to pouches that could be carried on backs or over shoulders.

“How far do we still have to go, Master Wu-Fei?” Percival asked.

Wu-Fei pointed at a sign post at the edge of the clearing where the trail continued along the river bank to the bridge. “Fifty furlongs.”

“That's not too far,” Hagrimore said, trying to sound encouraging. “Surely we can make that by midday.”

No one looked like they believed that.

“Olwin and Mendelere, why don't you stay with the horses?” Percival suggested.

The two named men immediately nodded in agreement. Mendelere at least appeared to be trying not to look too relieved, but Olwin made no attempt to hide the relief on his face. The rest of the group marched along the trail to the bridge.

A ladder of sorts had been nailed against the side of the tree, leading up to a small platform from which the bridge hung. Heero quickly climbed the ladder and stepped onto the platform. It creaked ominously.

“This thing is only going to be able to take one of us at a time,” Heero said. “And I'm not sure it will handle Hagrimore's bulk.” Heero grinned down at them. “Maybe Quatre could turn us all into birds and we can fly across.”

Hagrimore and Damodin went pale.

Quatre frowned. “That's not funny, Heero. And it's not a good idea. It takes time to learn how to fly.”

“We can wait here,” Hagrimore said quickly. Damodin nodded vigorously in agreement.

Heero stepped out onto the bridge. “You might want to leave your armor behind, Percival.” He trotted across the bridge. Trowa climbed up and followed him. Wu-Fei went next and then Duo, while Hagrimore and Damodin helped Percival out of his armor.

“I feel naked,” Percival said sheepishly when he stood there in nothing but his under-tunic, trousers and boots.

“You look naked,” Hagrimore agreed cheerfully.

Percival climbed up the ladder slowly and stepped gingerly onto the platform. It groaned loudly, but held up. He made his way slowly across the bridge, gripping the rope hand rails tightly. When he made it safely to the other side, Quatre glanced at Roku.

“Shall we take a shortcut?”

“Ok, Mama!” Roku grinned and shimmered into a little hawk.

Quatre turned into a larger hawk and the two of them skimmed across the river and landed on the farther bank.

“Cheaters!” Duo said.

“Well, we already know how to fly,” Quatre replied with a superior smile.

“Quit jabbering,” Heero growled. “We've got a lot of walking to do.”

The group set off down the trail.

“This is absolutely disgusting!” Wu-Fei announced after a few squelching footsteps. “I think this is even muddier than the trail on the other side of the river.”

“It sure is,” Roku agreed happily. “It squishes right up between your toes.”

“That is not an image I want in my mind,” Wu-Fei moaned.

“I don't know,” said Duo. “It sounds kind of kinky.” He winked at Wu-Fei. “I could be up for a little mud-wrestling later.”

“I need a bath,” Wu-Fei muttered.

“Just don't fall down,” Trowa advised.

They squished, squelched and slipped their way along the muddy trail. The thick, deep mud clung to their boots and made the footing treacherous. Everyone but Trowa and Roku fell down at least once. Poor Percival slipped so many times, he was eventually coated with mud. It made for very slow going.

“We're not going to get there before sunset,” Percival said worriedly. “I think the sun is already going down.”

“I think you're right,” Trowa agreed.

Roku slowed down. “I hear people.”

“We must be close,” Quatre said.

“Roku and I will scout ahead,” Heero said. “Wait here.” He immediately moved ahead with Roku beside him.

Quatre stopped with a frown. “I think he could at least have asked me if I minded if he dragged my son into mortal danger.”

“I doubt the druids are dangerous, Quatre,” Trowa said.

“What about the spirits?”

“Roku will be fine.”

“Hmph!”

Heero and Roku were only gone a few minutes. They came gliding back down the trail silently. “Come on,” Heero said, “but keep it quiet. They've already started.”

The trail ended in a large clearing with towering trees all around the edge. In the center of the clearing was a ring of standing stones, where each stone was twice the height of a tall man. In the center of the ring, a massive granite slab rested on two large boulders, forming a giant table. Inside the circle, two dozen or so people knelt around the stone table, looking up at a man standing on top. The man had a long, intricately carved staff in one hand, which he waved through the air as he chanted an incantation.

“What are they doing?” Duo wondered.

“They are trying to invoke spirits,” said a woman's voice.

“Holy crap!” Duo exclaimed. “Don't scare me like that!” He stared at the woman who had spoken. She was standing beside a tree to their right, just inside the clearing. She smiled.

“Forgive me,” she said. “I am Lorene. You are not here to worship, I take it?”

“No,” said Quatre. “We came to read the words carved into the stone altar, but we don't want to interrupt the ceremony.”

“I'm afraid you'll have to,” Lorene replied. “The sacred words only appear when the full moon's light is directly overhead.”

“Why am I not surprised?” Duo muttered.

“Have you seen them?” asked Quatre.

“No. Only the master of the circle is allowed on the altar. But it wouldn't matter if I had. They are written in the old tongue, I've been told, and none of us can read those runes.” Lorene looked at Roku curiously. “Are you a spirit, Striped One?”

“No, ma'am. I'm a little boy.”

“Ah. The spirits often appear in the form of animals, so one can never be sure.” Lorene returned her attention to the druids. “Idiots!” she said softly. “That is no way to call the great ones.” Then she shrugged. “Perhaps it is just as well. They would not be able to control a true great spirit and it would consume them.”

A thunderous roar shook the trees and all the druids leaped to their feet.

“What the hell was that?” Heero demanded.

“A great one!” Lorene exclaimed in surprise. “A great one comes! That has not happened since I was a girl! Come quickly! The great one will surely consume anyone outside the stone circle!” She dashed toward the standing stones with the six men and Roku on her heels.

“Did you feel that?!” Duo exclaimed as they raced between a pair of stones.

“Yes!” Trowa replied. “It felt like cobwebs.”

“It was a magic field,” Quatre said. “This area is shielded with magic.”

They skidded to a halt among the surprised druids.

“Lorene!” the man on the altar shouted. “What is the meaning of this?”

“You fool, Keb!” Lorene shouted back. “What do you plan to do now that the great one comes? What task will you set for it? You cannot summon a great one without a task for it to perform!”

“This is none of your concern!” Keb replied haughtily, but he sounded a little flustered. “I am master of this circle now!”

“Only because our true master and his disciple perished,” Lorene said harshly. “You know nothing and now we will all die. The stone circle may not be enough to keep the great one out.”

“This does not sound good,” Duo said.

The ground began to shake to the ponderous foot falls of a mighty creature. Branches snapped as something massive forced its way though. Trees groaned as a huge shape lumbered into the clearing.

“That is the biggest fucking bear I have ever seen,” Duo said flatly.

“Are you sure it's a bear?” Wu-Fei said.

“No.”

“It doesn't smell like anything,” Roku said.

“It's looking at us,” Quatre noted.

“We are doomed!” cried one of the druids.

“Silence!” Keb thundered. “I shall control the beast!” He lifted his arms with the staff in one hand and began to chant.

The bear-spirit began to snarl.

“I don't think the bear likes that,” Duo said.

“Neither do I,” Trowa agreed. He took three quick steps, leaped into the air, twisted in a graceful flip and landed on his feet in front of Keb. “I'll take that, if you don't mind.” He removed the staff from the startled Keb's lax grip.

“Wha…?!” Keb began, but his exclamation was cut off when Trowa unceremoniously shoved him off the altar.

“What sort of task would appease a spirit like this one, Lorene?” Trowa asked.

“Set it to make travel clearings on the north road,” Lorene whispered quickly.

“Is that all?”

“Yes! It needn't be a difficult task, just one men cannot readily do.”

“All right.” Trowa thumped the end of the staff on the altar loudly. “Bear-spirit! Hear me!”

To everyone's complete surprise, the creature quit snarling and promptly sat down on its big haunches.

“I thought so,” Trowa said quietly. “Since it's in the form of a bear, it speaks bear.” He raised his voice and spoke again, repeating the instructions Lorene had given him. The bear growled back. Trowa looked at Lorene. “He wants to know what happened to someone named Lorman.”

Lorene clasped her hands together. “That was my father! He was our master when I was a girl. He was the last head druid to successfully summon and control a great spirit. He died many years ago.”

Trowa repeated this to the bear. It growled back.

“He says, in honor of your father's memory, he won't eat anyone tonight except the fool who woke him.” Trowa glanced down at Keb. “I guess that would be you.”

Keb went pale. He stared around wildly, but the other druids all backed away. He looked at Lorene. She pointedly turned her back on him. With a terrified wail, Keb turned and fled, racing across the clearing away from the bear and into the trees.

The bear threw its head back and made a deep grunting sound. Then it looked at Trowa and growled out several phrases.

Trowa began to laugh. “He says he was just kidding, but he's not sure the sprites will be so gentle. Anyway, he'll be glad to make the clearings, but he's wondering if you'd mind entertaining him first with a few songs and dances, since he's here.”

Lorene bowed. “We would be honored.”

Later, when it was getting on toward midnight, Wu-Fei and Duo sat side by side on the edge of the altar, watching the druids dance and waiting for the moon to reach its zenith. Quatre was asleep on his side on a patch of dry ground with Roku curled up against his tummy. Trowa was stretched out next to them, looking up at the stars. Percival was sound asleep leaning against one of the standing stones. Heero was crouched between the others and the bear-spirit keeping watch, just to be on the safe side.

“I must say,” Duo said, “these druids do know how to party.”

“I agree.” Wu-Fei looked over his shoulder. “Hey! I think something's happening.” He stood up and walked into the middle of the table. “Look at this. I can see runes.”

“Finally! Can you read them?”

“I think so.” Wu-Fei walked back and forth, reading the shimmering symbols as they appeared in the light of the full moon.

“So what does it say?”

“It looks like: Treasures untold lie In the Wizard's Cave on the Western Sea.”

“That's it?”

“You expected detailed directions?”

“It would be nice for a change.”

“Keep dreaming.”