Chapter 27

The angry roaring thundered out across the land, the enraged fury of lithic giants hammering throughout Darda Erynian and under the Rissanin River and into the Greatwood beyond, the earth juddering for miles uncounted-loam, soil, detritus, muck, glades, hills, vales, fens, streams, pools, meres, swards, bushes, trees, all shuddering in response. And on the very edge of the aggregate, Tip, Beau, Rynna, Pysks, and foxes, all were knocked from their feet in the jolting, bellowing blast of wrath. Warrows and Pysks slapped hands over their ears, while foxes turned their own back and down, yet the roaring thundered through flesh and bones to deafen them regardless. And just over the crest of the vale and down in the woods below-horses and Harlingar, foxes and Pysks, and War-rows afoot-all reeled under the onslaught, and animals tried to flee, those who had not run away during the death throes of the Gargon.

Exactly how long the rage lasted, none on the ridge or beyond could say, yet of a sudden the bellowing ceased altogether, to be replaced by a low, anguished groaning. And in distant places throughout the forest and elsewhere in Mithgar, other aggregates of Eio Wa Suk took up the mournful cry.

On the valeside, as Pysks stroked foxes and soothed them, the animals wide-eyed and jittery, Tip struggled to his feet and helped Rynna to stand as well. He then called out to Beau, but Beau sat on the ground and looked down into the vale and paid him no heed, for with their hearing aggrieved neither Tip nor Beau nor Rynna could comprehend a word said. Tip stepped to the buccan and held out a hand, yet Beau waved any aid away and simply remained sitting, though he did say something that neither Tip nor Rynna understood.

And so, Tip and Rynna took places beside him, and all peered down into the aggregate below, seeking any sign of movement, Tip with his arm about his dammia as they waited for their hearing to return.

Moments later, up the back of the ridge came three Pysks riding, shadow gathered 'round. Coming after was Farly the Warrow as well as Linde and another Harlingar, the Vanadurin astride horses.

The gathered darkness about one of the Pysks vanished as she stopped before Rynna and said something, but Rynna touched her ear and shook her head.

The Pysk nodded in understanding, and called out to the others, and Farly turned and spoke to the Vanadurin and then sat down beside Beau, Jordians and Pysks dismounting to wait as well.

As April stars wheeled through the dark velvet sky above, they sat and gazed into the valley where Groaning Stones mourned. How long they waited, none could strike a mark, yet after a lengthy while, again the Pysk stepped before Rynna and said, "Ya e a va dep a vis eh ve crued a Eio WaSuk."

Although the Fox Rider's voice seemed muted, Tip realized he could now discern the words.

Rynna turned to Tip. "The Fox Riders are going down into the aggregate to see what has befallen the Groaning Stones."

"Then we should also go," said Tip. "You never know what might be lurking therein."

"You need not worry about the Pysks, love," replied Rynna. "Those tiny arrows of theirs are quite lethal."

"Should they face danger," said Linde, "Sten and I ride with them." She gestured toward the male Vanadurin who had ridden back with her.

"Nevertheless…" said Tip, rising to his feet and helping Rynna up. Then he turned to Beau. "We're going back down into the vale, bucco."

An unwilling look swept over Beau's features, but he stood, though reluctantly, and laded his sling with a nearby pebble and said, "If we must."

The Pysk spoke again to Rynna, and she in turn said to Linde, "Leave your horses behind. Their heavy tread might anger the Stones. And walk softly, please."

Linde nodded, then said, "It is dark down there and unlike Waldana and Pyska, Sten and I will need light to see by."

Beau took a small hooded lantern from his pack and lit it, raising the shield a crack. "Here," he said, and held it out to Linde. But Sten stepped forward and took the light.

Then Tip, Rynna, and Farly all nocked arrows, and Linde and Sten each took a saber in hand.

And so, stepping lightly, down into the aggregate they went-six shadows, four Warrows, and two Jordians-while all about them arose a dolorous collective groan.

"Oh my," said Rynna, disheartened, as she looked through the starlight at the huge, vine-covered Stone, the great long monolith broken in twain where it had fallen to the ground. Lying on its side, some eight feet up and eight feet across it was, and nearly sixty feet in length altogether, including the ten feet or so that had ripped out of the valeside when it had pitched forward and down. And now it lay sundered-like a toppled broken obelisk from an ancient age unknown.

And the vale was filled with a low moaning, grievous in tone and timbre.

No longer enshadowed, Pysks had dismounted to step to the Stone and touch it and lay their cheeks against it, and tears coursed down their faces. One looked at Rynna and spoke awhile and then turned back to the monolith. Rynna then stepped to Tip and Beau, and above the doleful groaning she said, "Tynvyr tells me that this was one of the greater Stones. She named it the Grandsire of the Vale, saying it always seemed to be the patriarch of this aggregate, standing as protectorate over all. She tells me that many a warning did this Stone relay, many a summons too-musters, rallyes, conclaves, assemblies, forgatherings. It will be sorely missed by all the Hidden Ones and by those it sheltered so well."

"Sheltered?" asked Beau.

"In its covering of vines," replied Rynna, gesturing at a half-formed nest a pair of springtime birds had begun.

"Oh," said Beau.

" 'Round here!" called Farly above the lamenting of Stones, the buccan and Harlingar on the opposite side of the broken monolith.

To the near end and around went Tip, Rynna, Beau, and the Fox Riders, to find Farly and Linde and Sten staring by lanternlight at the remains of the Gargon, the monster crushed by the fallen Stone, only its head and shoulders and one arm out from under. And the smell of vipers rose up all 'round, foxes snorting as if to rid themselves of the foul odor.

"Lor' but it's ugly," said Farly, peering down at the dead creature.

"Huah!" exclaimed Beau. "It looks just like the one Tip and Imongar slew back at Dendor."

Farly looked at Tip in wonder. "You slew a Gargon?"

Tip shook his head. "Imongar did. Shot it with a great ballista. Put a spear through its heart."

"She couldn't have done it without Tip, though," said Beau.

"And it looked like this one, you say?" asked Farly, peering back at the creature.

"Yes," said Tip, "ugly thing that it is."

"King Agron put its head on a pike and carried it into battle," added Beau. "It seemed to dishearten the Foul Folk to see such a powerful one of their own be reduced to nought but a pate on a pole."

Linde glanced at Rynna. "Would you like to do such?"

"Oh no," replied Rynna, looking at Tip and Beau and Farly, the buccen all shaking their heads, No.

"Well then, if you have no use of it…" said Linde.

"Please…" responded Rynna, stepping aside and sweeping a hand at the remains not crushed.

Linde waved them back and with Sten holding the lantern nigh, she took her saber to the monster, with little effect. She looked at her blade and then back at the creature. "Hmm, this is like hacking a log."

"It took a Dwarven battle-axe to lop through the other one's neck," said Tip.

Linde turned to Sten and took the lantern and said, "Ride and tell the others what we have seen, that the Gar-gon is slain by this Stone. Tell them as well the Spawn have fled, though some did not live to escape this vale. When that is done, fetch Thurl. He yet has an axe. Though not Dwarven, mayhap 'twill do."