Beyond Elfspring by Ferguson Samuel

Author:Ferguson, Samuel
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ravensong Publishing
Published: 2026-02-17T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

Jonathan helped tie down the boat when they reached the northern shore of the lake. He and Jason dragged a large log over to the bank as an anchor point, though Jonathan was doubtful they would ever use the boat again. Still, Ziegler assured him that it was better to conserve supplies than waste them, for one never knew what the future might bring.

The captain had been ghostly quiet after Moose had fished him from the water. He had been unresponsive at first, but Bull’s technique of giving breaths and compressions had brought the captain back to consciousness within just four rounds. Other than complaining about a sore chest and a broken wrist, the captain said he was feeling better than he had in years. Luckily, Bull was able to construct a solid splint for Ziegler the night before. That, at least protected the injury, but Jonathan knew it would do little to dampen the pain until it was entirely healed. The captain’s battle with the last trolls had been a terrible thing to watch.

Each time Jonathan looked out to the gently tossing waves, he still saw the flaming boat capsizing with Ziegler on it, dumping him down into the lake and then slamming on top of him. It was a miracle that he had survived - a testament to just how tough Captain Ziegler was.

When Jonathan finished with the boat, he joined with the others in making camp for the night. The sun had dropped fully behind the horizon only half an hour after Ziegler’s fight with the troll on the boat. Even had the sun still been up when they reached the shore, it seemed none of them were in the mood for continuing the journey without a break. They all sat silently, gazing at the fire and eating their meager meals before breaking off for sleep. Moose insisted he take the first watch, citing Ziegler’s bad wrist as a good reason for the change in traditional roles. When Ziegler agreed without an argument, Jonathan knew that the day had been a very rough one for him as well.

When the morning sun broke upon the camp, Jonathan stood and looked to the north. It was a strange sight to see, for the Nahktun Mountain Range came right up to the eastern shore of the lake here. The brown and rugged peaks jabbed at the sky with their rocky spires and threatening cliffs. This mountain range, Jonathan knew, marked the boundary between two very different worlds. On the west side, one would find the kingdoms of men and elves, but on the eastern side of the range one would discover a terrible valley shrouded in eternal darkness. It was the place where the first great wars had taken place. A realm where the very gods who had created Terramyr had clashed and swept up the mortal armies along with them. So many had perished, and so much blood had been spilt that the land itself was cursed now, a place where only nightmares could survive.

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