Eolh Of North Carr

EOLH OF NORTH CARR

by Tom Rogers 

Kobe kept a respectful distance behind Ka-li as they padded together along the track.  It was dawn and the early morning light glinted through the trees, blazing their eyes when the canopy line cleared.  The stones marked their way back to the caves and they both needed rest.  It had been a long night, during which their searches had turned up empty.  Little or nothing had been found that could reveal to the pack the identity of whoever had left the signs on the burned trunks along the ridge line.  It would now be up to Ka-Mon to decide what the pack should do.

Indeed, Ka-Mon was already waiting for them when they returned, and it was he who sniffed both arrivals in recognition.   To Kobe, the elder seemed like a giant towering over them.  A blow from just one of his massive hind legs could kill any one of them and he had effortlessly killed other pack members who dared to cross him or challenge his leadership.  Hearing the commotion, the Council quickly gathered round and sniffed the arrivals too, as Kobe crouched before his masters.

“My Ka-li, you have returned with nothing to show for your labours.”

“It was a sign, that I am sure of, Venerable Ka-Mon.  But we found no traces.”

“No scent?  No particles?”

“Nothing, Venerable One.  As you know, Kobe is our finest tracker and he would know with certainty.”

“It is most unfortunate, my Ka-li”, replied Ka-Mon, placing one pad on Ka-li’s back.

“Venerable Ka-Mon….” a nervous Councillor interrupted, “…are we sure…I mean to say…How do we know that these signs on the burnt trunks at the ridge line are not the work of Man?”

Ka-Mon paused and looked down, then looked around, and the other councillors turned away from Ka-Mon as he met their eyes.  “Man is a diabolical fool, Councillor Ka-wi, but no, these signs are, I am sure, put there by one of our kind.  It is not any sort of man who has done this.”

“I agree, Venerable One, the symbols are native to us.  We must act”, said another.

“It is no use Ka-li”. Ka-Mon continued, now stretching himself to an imposing height and looking down with his nose inches from Ka-li, who cocked his head slightly and averted his eyes.  “You must learn to interpret the signs.”

“Venerable Ka-Mon, if I may”, ventured the Mystic of the pack, “we know that man is capable of diabolical signs that seek to mock our faith and trick us.  Are we sure that these signs on the burnt trunks are not the work of a Magus or Warlock?”

“Mystic, what talk is this?  The pagans are among our few friends in menfolk!  Their faith is our faith.  Do not bring such nonsense here, Mystic”.  The Mystic bowed in apology.  Dusk was approaching and a thin streak of bright yellow light entered the cave as the sun descended.  Ka-Mon looked through them all towards the cave’s mouth, then as if talking to himself, addressed them again, this time in a long, slow voice: “Remember when we were on the island.  Man came one day riding great monsters while we slept, and the monsters landed on the beach, carrying Man, and Man brought with him sticks that could fire.  We had to flee our home and swim across water, and we swore by Fenrir then that we would heed the signs and omens that reveal Loki’s plan.”

“What do you propose Venerable One?”, Ka-li ventured nervously.

“You and Kobe must go to Eolh.”

“The old Briton?”

“Aye, the wizard.  He must be brought to the burnt trunks to see and interpret the signs for us.”

“He is at North Carr”, replied Ka-li.

“You will set off in the morning.  Now time for rest.  And rest well.  You have a long journey ahead of you.”