Sauragia: Journey to the Red Mountain

Chapter 10

The days passed slowly into weeks, and the weeks into months. Through the deep winter, dinosaurs across Cardolin huddled around fireplaces and warm meals to try and ward off the cold that enveloped their world. Most avoided going outside when they didn’t have to, as the ground was frequently covered in thick sheets of crystalline snow. In fact, it was said that so much snow had not fallen in the realm of Cardolin for more than a century.

This applied equally to Oric and his g**g living in their stolen cabin. There were still large stores of food in the pantry, as well as in the shed out back, thanks primarily to Oric’s strict rationing. It was not the most popular move he had ever made, but it did keep the need to go hunting in nasty weather down to a minimum. And his other disciplinary efforts seemed to be paying off as well. The Red Claw were starting to look like a bandit g**g again: lean, fit, and properly dangerous.

No longer were they Oric’s primary concern. He was too busy laying his plans for the coming spring. With warmer weather coming on, he and his lot would soon be able to move about freely. As soon as that was so, they would leave this confined little cabin and seek out further treasures elsewhere. These two young ones were a good start, and he would certainly bring them back to his fortress with him. But he needed more. He had gotten to know the geography of this region much better than at the start of the winter, and a spark of an idea had finally struck. He now devoted most of his energy night and day to thinking it out.

The Red One had often heard of Saurahall in his travels. Dinosaurs often talked of how wonderful it was, and how folks everywhere considered it a jewel in the rich crown that was Cardolin. For one reason or another he had never had the opportunity to delve deeper into the realm before, just passing by on the outer fringes of the region. Of course, he did not care about the land or even the dinosaurs of this kingdom, but its wealth. He knew that as the capital, Saurahall was the most likely place to find loads of treasure if it was to be found at all. He also knew that many armies had tried to take this wealth in the past and all crumbled before the gates of the city. Sure, some had come close, but none had succeeded.

But then, he was not like those others. No, he did not come with an army to conquer Cardolin and rule over it. He just wanted the money—or at least most of it—and to get it, he would use cunning and subterfuge. Cleverness and wits were all that were needed, and he certainly had both. For he was Oric, the Red One. No one could do this if he couldn’t, and he intended to try. But first he would need a plan, and that was slow in coming to him.

There was no doubt that this would be a challenge, but he would figure it out. In the meantime, he had to get things ready for a long trek back to the Sauragian Mountains.

“Bandor!” he addressed the Gorvosaur scout, who had just returned from a run through the woods. Bandor walked right over. “What’s the situation out there?”

“Looks pretty good, Oric. The snow’s melting fast with all this sunshine. Might turn to slush by tomorrow so we can start moving again, assuming no more comes in the meantime.”

“Very good. We will do so then.”

“Back to the hideout?” spoke Bandor.

“Eventually.” He paused as Bandor c****d his head questioningly, then continued. “I intend to make a little side trip on the way.”

“I see.” Bandor perked up with interest. “Where is it this time, boss?”

Oric smirked. “Saurahall.”

Bandor’s initial excitement dissipated.

“Saurahall? But that city is impenetrable, even to an army of hundreds. We’re less than thirty. How are we supposed to get in and take over?”

“We’re not trying to take the city, you dolt. We’re only trying to get inside. We don’t need a lot of us to do that. In fact, I’d say our smaller number makes it easier.”

“How so?” asked Bandor. For although he knew many things and could spot a clawmark in the least likely places, when it came to making plans or solving problems quickly, he was utterly hopeless.

“Because, with so few of us, we can easily slip right through the main gates without anyone taking much notice.”

Bandor paused to think about this. It did make sense, really.

“But what about the two captives?” he asked. “Won’t they slow us down a bit?”

“Not at all.” Oric shook his head. “I’ve already figured that part out. You see, when we get near Saurahall, I’ll send ten of ours ahead with the young uns and a message that we’re still alive. With just fourteen of us left over, it will be all the easier to enter the city unnoticed.”

“Brilliant plan, Oric!” exclaimed Bandor, truly impressed.

“Yes, I know. The rest will come later. For now, I want you and the others to make ready. Take only what we can carry from the food stocks in the shed and bag it up. Tomorrow we’re on the road!”

But at their destination several miles away, things were not looking quite so nice. In fact they were looking downright dismal, as Rob noted while looking out a window of the top storey.

“Looks like winter’s not through with us yet, old boy,” he commented to Astron. “There’s a dratted storm headed this way. And a mighty big one at that.”

“I’m afraid you’re right there, Rob. Best go about and tell everyone to stay indoors for this one. I’ve never seen clouds so big.”

And so, several runners were sent out advising the inhabitants to seek shelter inside soon. Most did not do so right away, but as the biting winds picked up they began to make for their homes, and even the cellars in some cases. And it turned out to be right on time, too. For no sooner had the last Saurahaller taken cover than the first snowflakes began to blow in on increasingly gusty winds.

From inside the Palace study, Astron watched as the view of the city began to darken with the setting sun and increased cloud cover. Beside him were Rob and Johnny, who were promptly joined by Alyssa.

“I just checked on father,” she said. “He’s all safe and sound.”

“Good. And the children?”

“Still in their room, presumably sleeping.”

“Glad to hear it. With any luck they’ll be able to sleep right through this one.”

The wind increased in speed until they could actually hear it howling through the window. The roof started moaning beneath the pressure as the storm continued to build in strength.

“Or I could be wrong.”

And indeed, not two minutes later, Frederik and Rose came creeping in, looking a tad uneasy. Arnor slipped in behind them carrying Violet, trying not to look too perturbed.

“Mum, is it going to stop soon?” asked Frederik above the clamour.

“I don’t know, dear. Were you all frightened?”

“They were,” replied Arnor bravely. “Me and Vi just came along to…you know. To make them feel safe. Right Vi?”

“Wight!” exclaimed the youngest.

“How very courageous of you two!” remarked Rob.

“Daddy, is the woof gonna’ bweak?” asked Violet quite calmly upon hearing yet another horrible squeak.

“No Violet, don’t worry. It always creaks like that during especially heavy storms.” He then murmured to Johnny, “Though, I don’t ever recall it creaking this loudly.”

“Can you tell us a story, father?” asked Frederik politely.

“All right. May as well. What do you want to hear?”

They all spoke at once, then eventually settled on the story of when Astron had visited the governor of the South Country with his family as a boy. It had been an exciting venture for such a little fellow, and it proved just as exciting to his own young in the telling. He could not remember the reason for the visit exactly, but his description of the mansion and the many fine gentlesaurs he had met there proved both colourful and bizarre to the four who had never been there.

“We’ll have to go back there this summer,” he remarked to Alyssa. “It’s been a couple of years since I’ve seen anything but letters of mom and dad.”

As he told on, the storm raged on outside. There were a couple of times when it sounded as though something had exploded or broken in the high winds, but in their increasingly sleepy state, the children were not apt to notice. By the time Astron was out of things to tell them, they were sound asleep where they sat.

“You must have a way with words, old chap,” remarked Rob.

At last, around midnight, it began ever so slowly to lighten up. The winds didn’t blow quite so hard, and the snow wasn’t quite a thick as before. The roof still creaked and the wind still howled, but the worst, Astron could tell, was over. After a little while longer, Rob and Johnny decided to retire to their quarters for the evening.

“Good night, sir. Good night milady,” bade Johnny.

“Night, Johnny,” replied Astron drowsily. “We’ll go out and check on the damage in the morning, shall we?”

“First thing, mate,” replied Rob. “I can’t wait.”

“Should we take them back to bed now?” asked Alyssa, motioning towards the sleeping young ones.

“No, leave them be. I’ll stay on with them just in case they waken, but you go on.”

Alyssa gave a weary smile. “Thank you, dear.” She kissed him. “Good night.”

Astron had barely managed to respond in kind before the door closed. His head bowed to his chest, and within seconds he had joined his offspring in the world of silent slumbers.