(This story actually precedes A Second Report to Tur Elisbeth)
“There is a blizzard coming in, Storm-caller,” Lithrovail said as he hovered before Lilleduil. “Haven’t we had enough snow this spring without your help?”
Lilleduil chuckled, since this was what passed for humor among eagles. “I won’t take the blame for this one, my friend, “ she answered, pulling the hood of her cloak more closely about her face. The sky was indeed lowering and the wind had picked up.
They were making our way along the southeastern edge of the Northtarn. Uneasy behavior among the wolves and wyrms there had made Lilleduil think that they might be close to one of the unnaturally huge monsters that had invaded the Hithaeglir. “Just a little farther, Lithrovail, of your courtesy. I want to get up on that vantage point there and take a look around.” She pointed to the rock outcropping above the southern end of the lake.
“Very well, but we haven’t much longer,” the eagle warned, and winged his way upward once more, fighting the increasing winds.
Braigsul picked his way up the slope with delicacy. He was sure-footed, nimble and swifter than most war steeds, a most admirable mount. Lord Elrohir had in fact bred him for himself, only the black had not grown to sufficient size to carry him. But trained for war nonetheless, he had made a princely present to a certain small Loremaster upon her becoming Leutha Maethor of the Warband. Within a short time they were upon the outcropping, Braigsul shifting his feet uneasily upon the icy rock.
Lilleduil took a look all about her. There was no sign of the Guaradan or the two giants she had seen earlier, much less the rumored giant beast. She had half-expected to find the Guaradan here, among its more normal kinsmen in the camps below. Noting the sightings of the creatures upon a map of the area as she went, she hoped to discern habitual paths or territories, that they might be found and destroyed.
Lithrovail’s job was to scout from above and report to her, whereupon she could follow his directions to the locations of the creatures. She was about to signal him down when the eagle stooped suddenly, whizzing past her head with a scream of alarm.
“Behind you! RUN!”
She looked over her shoulder to where the forest grew up to the edge of the rock and there at last was the Beast, breaking cover with a roar.
When she’d first seen the giant Guaradan, she’d thought he must be the source of the beast rumors. Clad in furs and skins, from a distance he might have been taken for a beast, particularly given the peculiar Guaradan form of locomotion. And then she’d thought it might be some sort of gigantic warg, or perhaps even one of the werewolves from the oldest legends. Never had she considered the obvious, that it would be a snow beast four times larger than the normal ones. And swift, its rough soles giving it traction on the ice as its long legs closed the gap between them. Wargs on the brain, that’s your problem, Lilleduil. You’ve been obsessing too much on getting that population down.
Braigsul jibbed, and actually tried to turn to face the creature. Aptly named, he was sometimes possessed of more courage than sense. Elrohir liked his war mounts that way. Some said it was because he was much the same himself… Lilleduil had to force the steed about with leg and voice.
A huge arm swiped at them, the wind of its passage alone nearly knocking her off the horse. Braigsul seemed to realize the danger then and began to scamper off the rock, slipping and sliding as he went.
With a shriek, Lithrovail did as eagles were wont to do and threw himself at the creature’s face, buffeting the snow beast’s head with his wings and pecking at its eyes in an effort to buy Lilleduil time to escape-at the cost of his own life if necessary.
“Lithrovail! GET OUT OF THERE!” she cried, even as she and Braigsul fled. Another swipe of the creature’s huge arm. Braigsul screamed and she felt him jerk beneath her momentarily, but he managed to right himself and fled on, seemingly uninjured. Hurt my horse, will you! I think NOT! Lilleduil turned in the saddle and threw fire at the beast. She saw a snarl of black hair from Braigsul’s tail snagged about one talon before she was forced to turn her attention again to the treacherous path.
The courser slid down into some drifts and floundered through them, before finally finding some hard packed snow upon which he could travel more swiftly. The snow beast, momentarily daunted, had dropped back. Braigsul leapt into a full gallop and before long they were some distance away from it.
“The creature has given up the chase,” Lithrovail said, flying down to join them when Lilleduil finally pulled Braigsul up.
“Are you all right?” Lilleduil asked, relieved beyond words to see her friend.
“I am unscathed,” the eagle said. “Can the same be said of you and the steed?”
“We are unharmed.” A sudden blast of stinging ice crystals hit Lilleduil in the face.
“I must fly to shelter while I still may,” Lithrovail said apologetically.
“By all means, do so and swiftly! And thank you, my friend! I can find my way back to Hrimbarg.” The eagle departed and Lilleduil turned Braigsul’s head towards the northwest.
The blizzard soon descended upon the pair with full fury. Is Spring ever going to arrive up here? It’s a couple of weeks late already. Lilleduil was grateful she’d spent so much time in the area of late, otherwise she might very well have been lost. As it was, Braigsul plodded forward, head down and ears flattened against the wind, until they finally climbed the slope that led to the Naugrim outpost.
There, she spent some time with him in the sheltered stable, fixing a hot mash and seeing that he was covered with a rug and his legs wrapped. When the stallion was settled in drowsy contentment, she fought the wind to enter Thorgest’s Haven.
There, the air was close and perhaps a bit too redolent of dwarfish laundry. Chill, except for right before the fire, but infinitely preferable to what was outside. Begging the use of the table, Lilleduil composed a new report to Tur Elisbeth as the wind shrieked and howled, audible even through the thick stone.
If this blizzard sets in seriously, I don’t know when I’ll be able to get out and deliver it. But she needs to know that the Beast has been found.
