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Chapter 1 by dwelle, literature
Literature
Chapter 1
Chapter 1
Horn Hill was the kind of feature that will always be given a name if there are people in its vicinity. A distinctive shape, that of an upside-down drinking horn, as well as its size determined this. Its peak was the highest point for many miles in all directions, offering unrivaled views of its surrounds, but the hill had few human visitors. One who did sometimes make the effort to climb to its treeless, rocky crown was a young hunter and dreamer known to his community as Telli. He came there on days when he knew the weather would allow him the clearest of views. On one such day, in his fifteenth year, he came to say farewell to h
Chapter 2 by dwelle, literature
Literature
Chapter 2
Chapter 2
The huge peaks of the White Mountains were turning slowly orange with the setting sun, and the sky was changing color from a light blue to an eerie, glowing pink. Telli and Brakis watched a sight they had never seen before with wonder and in awe.
"The Gods are fine artists," said Brakis, and could have been reading his companion's thoughts.
They watched the changing scene in silence for a while. The mountains looked so near, but the travelers had already realized that this was something of an illusion due to the range's great height, and Brakis had guessed that they had at least another three or four days' walking before they ha
chapter 3 by dwelle, literature
Literature
chapter 3
Chapter 3
Telli regained consciousness slowly, becoming aware of the sound of running water, then of flickering light around him. He could sense that he was lying on his back on what felt like hard rock. As his memory began to come back, he struggled to sit up, and realized that his wrists and ankles were bound. Managing to sit after a fashion, he started to take stock of his surroundings, trying to ignore a dull aching heaviness in his head and a bitter taste in his mouth. He seemed to be in some kind of cave, the light coming from torches carried by hooded figures in dark robes. His movement had obviously attracted some attention, as two o
Chapter 4 by dwelle, literature
Literature
Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Slaves. Words like "slave" and "mining" were nearly forgotten in Elneside. People who were doing arduous jobs, chopping firewood or harvesting a crop, might still declare themselves to be "working like slaves," a reference passed down through generations from a distant time and place. But after their experiences that day, the meaning of Seth's words was fairly clear to Telli and Brakis. The motives of the cave creatures in capturing them, without inflicting unnecessary injury, were explained. So was the high stone wall around the village, not there to keep wolves out, but to keep people in.
Seth busied himself for a while, serving
Chapter 5 by dwelle, literature
Literature
Chapter 5
Chapter 5
Telli and Brakis were leaving their hut the following evening as the last of the daylight faded when they heard a long horn-blast, which they knew to be the signal for their work team to assemble. As they made their way to the meeting place, Telli felt a nervous anticipation at the prospect of his first night as a slave-worker for the Khrelling. On arrival, they were approached by Anolph, whom they had not seen since the afternoon of their arrival in the camp two days before. In his dour manner, he stated that he was the foreman of the team, and called over two other men whom he introduced.
"This is Brent who is in charge of the m
Chapter 6 by dwelle, literature
Literature
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Two weeks after his conversation with Brakis by the river, Telli was ready to try out his escape plan. Now on an afternoon shift, he entered the caves with the other workers, butterflies in his stomach and a nervous sweat on his palms. He knew that there were sometimes random searches of the slaves as they came in and out of the caves, although these were rare, and he would be unlucky to be caught out at this stage of his plan. Concealed under his goatskin clothes was enough food to last him several days, and a long, sharp knife. The food he might be able to explain away, but the knife was of a description strictly forbidden to the
