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‘Don’t be daft!’ Riv snorted at Skald’s question about the provisions. ‘Of course we’ll not be packing it all to our meeting with the Elves. I was thinking we would do as you said in the second part of your suggestion. Place at least half of it in the shallow cave along the mountain base. And leave three of our fellows to keep watch over it.’
‘If there are Orcs about we may end up retreating back to them, hopefully with the Elves in tow. It’s a fairly defensible place, being a little above the narrow plain between the foot of the peak and the lake shore. I’ll make arrangements for the guards that keep look-out above the Eastern Doors to watch for our return. They can raise a hue and cry should we be pinned in by foe.’
He looked to Bror, making sure his brother had gotten his armor secured. Others in the small company had also taken time to see to their equipment, he noted. Riv spoke quietly to the Dwarf captain whose men were manning the doors that day, letting them know where they were going and when they expected to be back. Arrangements were made with him as Riv had outline to his brother, and the captain cautioned the group that there had been signs of increased Orc activity in the area.
‘Mahal’s hammer strike down any who come against you!’ the captain said, motioning for his men to open the gates.
The little company made its way down the stairs to the path that ran along the edge of the Mirrormere, the Kheled-zâram, and headed south toward the head of the valley. At the mid point of the path along the lake, they stopped as planned and stowed most of their provisions in the cave. Dari Glitterfist and the two young apprentices, Egil Deepdigger and Odi Ironforge agreed to stay there and keep watch for the returning Elves and Dwarves. They would raise the alarm if needed, keeping watch for the signal Riv and they had agreed on - Brand would shoot a polished, silver-shafted arrow high in the air by day or a flaming one by night to signal for help.
'Let us hope we do not need such measures,' grunted Afi Glitterfist, following his brother and Riv out of the cave and back down the path . . .
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