We ate, geared up and headed out in the morning. I left behind my normal armor � a very special suit of studded leather � since it didn't seem that any armor would be much good. You never know when a little armor will come in handy though, so I took some light leather armor instead. Edwyn � and the weasel of course � had none. The weather was fair, but the previous adventure had taken up the better part of the summer and the leafed trees had already begun to change colors. The pines remained ever green, and a warm breeze whispered through them. We traveled as lightly as possible, both to make as quick a trip as possible and because there would be much to carry on the way back. We took the path from my house some ten miles to where it meets up with the road, and we followed that for next few days as far as it went on our course. We traveled openly, by day and night as our weariness allowed, and without fear. Wilderness roads like this one are, for most, traveled safely only with an armored escort, but brigands fear me (rightly so) and there are few in the animal kingdom that would wish to harm, or dare assault, Edwyn and his companions.
At the place where the hills give way to the steep, rocky slopes of the mountains we left the road, turning north, and trekked the narrow valley in-between the mountains and the hills, watching for the telltale landmarks on my map. Though covered in green, the terrain is very rocky and marked with massive rocks that have apparently slid down from the mountains. We followed the stream to the reflecting pool with the mossy Resting-Bear Boulder watching over it; passed the Crouching Lion Boulder; found Hidden-Wolf Rock; and, after a half a dozen more landmarks named for animals doing something, came to the clearing with the Old- Man Willow. This took several more days of travel, during which Chuk hardly emerged from his satchel � where he slept, curled up in a little ball � except to poke his head out now and then to complain about the bumpy ride and ask if we were almost there yet. "All right then, whatever. Wake me up when we get there," he said.
Edwyn was more quiet than usual. I hoped it was because he was coming up with a plan, as I had only back-up plans.
We stopped there, under the drooping, thin-leafed branches of the Willow, to rest up and camp before approaching the lair of the Cockatrice. "We're very near now," I said as we ate "If we leave early, we should be there before nightfall, late afternoon, maybe."
Edwyn swallowed a bite. "Good. Better to attack by daylight, when we can see His eyes and thus avoid them."
"Indeed. But it would be better still if we were fresh, and not attacking after a full day of hiking."
"I think we'll be fine. Besides, the one doing the actual fighting has had plenty of time to rest up," he nudged the weasel, who was nibbling on a bit of bread.
"Which reminds me: I've been wondering, Chuk, how exactly does a weasel combat such a beast? It seems a rather unlikely match," I said.
"Well�you, um, just have to know where to hit them, really. I am afraid that is all I can tell you," Chuk said.
"I see. Trade secret?"
"Umm, yes, right."
"Tell me again, how much are you paying him?" I asked Edwyn.
"More than he can carry. Why do you ask?"
"Say," the weasel interrupted, "What do you want to collect a bunch of stone corpses for anyway? That sounds like it might be a little, eh, evil to me."
"Many reasons. They deserve to be protected and preserved, a job I trust more to myself than anyone else. They already quite valuable as rare, beautiful works of sculpture, and their value can only increase once the only creator of this sculpture is destroyed. They are worth more than money, I'd say, and I would not have them be pawned and haggled for in market places and auctions, nor would I sell them. They deserve a place of respect, and I can give it to them. I would not call them corpses, but because they were once alive they ought not be reduced to rich men's baubles. They have a dignity that should be maintained after the Cockatrice is gone, and I believe it is my duty to do this."
"Why not just bury them?" Chuk chuckled.
"That would be a waste. They might still be alive, and besides, they would make beautiful additions to my gardens." I thought about returning to the subject of just what exactly Chuk would be doing on this adventure � I had concerns about him � but it now seemed rather late in the journey to press the matter any further, so I decided not to question Edwyn's choice.
My companions slept little and restlessly that night. We were all anxious. I allowed myself to sleep, but not to deeply. I never heard of the Cockatrice going so far from his home, but I thought it best to be wary, even just beyond the border of His territory.
