The great River Luumic occupied a vital position in the history of Donothor. The source of the river was the springs in the mountains north of Lyndyn. The river divided into three branches at Three Forks, the bustling town situated at the trifurcation, was now the third largest in Donothor, only behind Lyndyn and the dwarves’ city Hillesdale. The great river’s eastern branch flowed from Three Forks, entered the Southern Mountains, exited to the East, and was thought to reach a great sea far away. The middle branch widened south of Three Forks, merged with the marshes of the Lachinor, and was impassible. The western branch flowed past Fort Luumic and meandered to the Great Western Sea. The western branch was well known to the peoples of Donothor.
Barges carried finished goods from Lyndyn to Three Forks and places south including Fort Luumic and communities such as Tindal, Prille, and Kanath. The flow of the river facilitated the transportation of finished goods. Traveling upriver was another story. Beasts of burden carried raw materials, and titanosteers, oxen, and sometimes the strong backs of river men pulled barges upstream.
The journey from the Fane to the Luumic was only an hour by horse and wagon. Deron grudgingly remained behind and grumbled about Boomer’s being “too old” under his breath.
They chose to ride on two barges. Knarra, Roscoe, Eomore, Cara, Boomer, Big Jon Loxly, Lyana Rikmon, and Nigel rode on the first barge. Eyerthrein, Kyrsstina, Dael, Cyttia, Vanni, Erinnia, and Cade rode on the second.
The river flowed briskly but smoothly. To their left they saw the Iron Mountains in the distance. Rich farmlands bordered the river. To the right they saw the Misty Forest. The low peaks had a deceptively peaceful appearance. Hamlets cropped up frequently on both sides of the river, but those on the right were always walled. Barges laden with raw goods were drawn upriver. Not that many generations ago brigands threatened any river traffic. The Aivendars and their allies created a milieu of peace and prosperity.
This was in jeopardy.
Everything was in jeopardy.
Three Forks was two days down river. The barge stopped and made deliveries to several small hamlets and the group refreshed on the stops. Boomer and Nigel found the nearest ale and usually dragged the youths with them. Knarra and Cara did not insist on temperance, only moderation. Cade’s stories always got better after the treks to the taverns. They spent the night under the stars because the weather was pleasant and they wanted to continue to make progress down the river.
They arrived at Three Forks at midday and disembarked.
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