by Brent Evanger
from World Guide
***
Adelo shivered as the cold wind bit into his face. The halfling bard was not used to such frigid conditions-especially in the summertime! Feeling his companion’s eyes upon him as he struggled with his footing, Adelo continued up the narrow mountain trail. One false step and it would be a long tumble down the steep, rocky slope. Thankfully it was a slope rather than a sheer cliff. There would be at least a chance of surviving the tumble. Then you’d have to really struggle, climbing all the way back up to the trail. Upon further consideration of his aching back and sore feet, perhaps a quick drop to a certain death was preferable. Adelo thought it best not to dwell on such grim prospects.
Drin had mentioned a place to rest up ahead, where they’d be able to get out of the damnable wind. The old dwarf had convinced him that seeing the hold of his ancestors would provide enough inspiration for a lifetime of stories and tales. It sounded like a grand idea at the time, when they were warm and well fed in the cozy common room, smoking pipes and drinking ale. Such a comfortable existence seemed like a lifetime ago.
Drin took the lead, oblivious to the thin mountain air and the bone chilling gusts. They’d been hiking above the tree line for hours and Adelo was freezing, exhausted, and famished. Finally the rising trail flattened into a ledge. Rounding a bend the steep mountain slope to his the left gave way to a breathtaking drop-off. On the right, set into the rocky outcropping, was a small cave entrance. A proud smile across his face, Drin gestured at the impressive view from the ledge. The hours of struggle temporarily forgotten, Adelo stared in awestruck wonder at the dangerous beauty of the Black Forest, expanding outward from the base of the Alps, thousands of feet below. The leafy forest home of the deep elves appeared strangely exotic and wonderfully mysterious even from this great height.
Another gust of wind swirled and Adelo shivered. He turned, following Drin into the cave for a much needed rest. Humming to himself, Adelo was already composing the opening stanzas to a new ballad.