Goblin Diaries, Vol 31: Udo Falls
2nd
day of Ice Moon, 1219th Year, Human Age of Magic …
I’ve gotten used to riding on the back of
Erin’s horse, and I must admit we’ve been making better time since she insisted
we travel thus. Yesterday, the trail we’ve been following made a westward turn
away from the desert and ascended into the mountains proper, so I suppose I
should be grateful to be relieved of a strenuous climb.
Still, I’d prefer to be on foot. A
goblin’s sense of connection to the world begins at the soles of his feet, as
the saying goes, and I am no exception.
But I’ve held myself back from expressing
any displeasure to Erin. In fact, I’ve become increasingly aware of the
disparity between the extent of her kindness to me and how little I am
contributing as a traveling companion. She has not only saved my life and
offered to safely convey me to the East Road, but she continues to provide food
for both of us from her hunting and does most of the cooking, too. Honestly,
I’m becoming a little uncomfortable with the mounting social debt I’m
accumulating.
Thankfully, I had the opportunity today to
pay off some of that debt.
It was mid-afternoon, and we’d been
ascending switchbacks along a steep slope since morning, when the trail leveled
off onto a plateau where we beheld one of the most beautiful waterfalls I’ve
ever seen.
An uninterrupted silver cascade fell at
least two hundred longspaces from the forested cliffs above into a deep, clear lake
covering most of the plateau. Upon consulting her map, Erin informed me it was
called Udo Falls.
“Ah,” I said. “It is well named. My friend
Bokdu has a granddaughter called Udo.”
She gave me a curious look.
“He told me the name means peace,”
I elaborated.
She gave me a nod of understanding as she
looked around. “This looks like a perfect place to spend the night. Why don’t
you start a fire while I hunt us some game?”
“Why don’t we have fish tonight?” I
offered.
“I have nothing with which to catch fish,”
she frowned.
I grinned at her. “That’s not true. You
have a goblin.”
I vaulted from the back of her horse and
waded into the lake. She’d barely unpacked when I emerged a few minutes later
clutching half a dozen large trout. I think I truly surprised her with my
fishing prowess, which pleased me, I can tell you.
Resisting the urge to devour them raw, I
borrowed her knife and fileted them while she built a cooking fire. Soon, I had
them sizzling over the fire, and we both enjoyed a pleasant change of pace from
our usual fare.
I’ll sleep well tonight with a full belly
and the knowledge that I may have eased some of Erin’s burden of responsibility
for me.
