Contents
53. The Oxbone Walls
Overview
The party bribes through Molrova’s Oxbone Walls and enters Oustrim, meeting refugee caravans fleeing giants and hearing rumors Queen Mireya still lives. Camp tensions erupt when Yorbez maims Bizh for stealing bread, prompting debate over the value of the three assigned musicians. Norrigal senses latent magic and persuades the group to keep them.
Summary
The group reaches the imposing Oxbone Walls of Molrova and bribes past a small bronze gate manned by hard-eyed guards, one marked by sewn-lip scars and a blackened hand. Emerging into a cold, mountainous corridor, they confront choked roads and streams of refugees fleeing the giant-driven ruin spreading through Oustrim.
Among the displaced, a Gunnish clan led by a chief with a Holtish wife shares dire news: Hrava is broken and abandoned by kynd, farms are trampled, and giants push into the valleys. The Holtish wife says Queen Mireya is rumored alive and praises her care for the countryside, contrasting her with King Hagli. Galva listens, and the party presses on into Oustrim.
As autumn light gilds the foothills, the group camps among pale-barked trees. During Kinch’s watch, Yorbez catches Bizh stealing bread from her open pack and, with a lightning cut from her spadín, slices the tip of his nose. Bizh admits he cannot resist bread; Nazh and Gorbol shield him while Galva defers to Yorbez, who ultimately sheathes her blade after an insult.
The next day, away from the three supposed musicians, the core party debates their usefulness. Yorbez and Galva see only burden; Kinch mocks their terrible playing. Norrigal counters that the trio radiate unsettling magic and that harming or abandoning them would be dangerous. On her counsel, they keep the musicians—for now.
Who Appears
- KinchNarrator; observes Oxbone Walls, refugees’ reports, and mediates after Bizh steals bread.
- YorbezSpanth swordmaster; catches Bizh stealing bread and slices the tip of his nose.
- NorrigalMagicker; questions refugee woman, senses latent magic in the musicians, argues to keep them.
- GalvaIspanthian warrior; questions refugees about Hrava and the queen; skeptical of the musicians.
- BizhDrummer among the three musicians; steals bread and is maimed by Yorbez, then protected by companions.
- NazhOne of the musicians; defends Bizh and explains their weakness for bread.
- GorbolOne of the musicians; stands with Nazh to protect Bizh after the theft.
- Holtish wifeWife of a Gunnish clan chief; reports Hrava’s fall and rumors Queen Mireya lives.