by J D Dench
Kayla was the one to answer him. “Not yet. We need to know more about his leaders. Galruman was the ruler of BlueCrest, and Golvannor was going to take the Elven Kingdom. So it’s only safe to assume he has other leaders in place somewhere in the Realm. Finding them will tell us our next move.”
Thero was always frowning, but his frown seemed to intensify at Kayla. He snarled and walked to the Demon, kicking him hard in the chest to wake him up. “The Hell?” Golvannor looked up at them with his empty eye sockets. “You’re all still alive?”
Liz grinned and knelt down close to Golvannor. “Yes, I killed Galruman.”
“That’s impossible,” Golvannor breathed, but he knew it was true when he looked around. The ashes that had slowly been falling to the ground were thinning, returning to the Demonic lands. The trees were filling with life once more. The sun shined down on the land, bathing it in a beauty BlueCrest had not felt in a long time. “Galruman is dead?”
Liz nodded her head, her eyes never meeting his own. “And you’re going to join him with Igrath, Umin and Sarozz unless you start talking. No more games. No more traps. Galruman was stronger than the others. Are there Demons like him? Who are they? Where are they?”
Golvannor didn’t say anything. Thero hit him hard on the top of his head. The Demon hissed at him, but still he didn’t answer. As Thero reached for his blade, the Demon finally spoke. “Rezuman will be who you want next. He rules over what’s left of the Dwarven Kingdom.”
“The Dwarven Kingdom?” Matias stepped forward, grabbing the Demon by its throat. Liz and Kayla stepped up to stop him, but Thero held them back, ignoring their strings of curses directed at him. “You mean this whole time my brothers have been under attack and you didn’t say anything? Give me a reason to not kill you, you worthless skeleton!”
Matias’ voice was filled with venom, his nostrils flared and his eyes full of fire. He squeezed the Demon’s bone-covered neck harder and harder. Golvannor lashed out in pain, the bones showing indications of cracking from Matias’ strength. Kayla had not seen the look in Matias’ eyes in a long, long time. Not since she was poisoned over a year ago by the assassins who had kidnapped her. He was like a Demon possessed.
That thought scared Kayla.
“Matias,” she said. Her voice felt so small. She felt so small. I can’t let him become like Tony. “Matias, don’t. It’s not you. I know why you’re upset, but killing him won’t bring them back.”
His grip loosened a little. His composure seemed to come back a little. She continued, “We will avenge them. We will go to the Dwarven Kingdom, and we will take down the Demon that brings them harm. But killing Golvannor won’t solve anything, and you know it deep down.” She took a deep breath to calm herself. Her hands wouldn’t stop shaking. “We need him, Matias.”
“I know,” he said suddenly, his voice sounding much more like his own. His hand left the Demon’s throat and dropped him to the ground, gasping for air. “I’m sorry, love.”
“You should be,” the Demon hissed.
As soon as his feet touched the ground, he used them to push Matias aside. He ran at Kayla and Liz as his bones managed to cut through the ropes restraining his limbs. His arms aimed at them to take them both. Thero turned to face the Demon and was grabbed by eight arms at once, each pulling in a different direction with all his force. And with a scream of pain, Thero felt his arms break in two places before his neck was twisted around.
Thero fell to the ground in nothing short of a moment. Golvannor turned to Liz and Kayla, the darkness of his eyes sweeping over both of them. “You think Azzaan did everything? I was his messenger. I was his scout. I did all the dirty work he wouldn’t do!” A hiss escaped his teeth. “You two should have just stayed in the Palace and let the Realm fall faster. All you did was step in Azzaan’s way. You’re a pebble that fell into the stream of Azzaan’s quest. You will sink.”
Leif turned away from Olap to help but realized he was too far away. It was Hanika and Ti’a that were fast enough to stop the Demon. Their daggers were as fast as light, their precision of attacks absolutely perfect. The bone was weaker than they had expected. It was more like flesh than bone, and in the blink of an eye Golvannor was no more than a pile of shredded bone on the ground inches away from Kayla and Liz.
They set out from BlueCrest with a slow pace. They traveled in slow bursts, making camp often to tend to their wounds. Kayla was extremely cut up, and Matias was walking, but his internal injuries would take time to fully heal. Liz had minor injuries, and Leif had his swollen eye that he was tending to.
Olap’s injuries left him close to death.
Hanika was more silent than usual. Kayla assumed she was mourning her comrade Thero. Losing him and Aega in the same day. Kayla couldn’t imagine the pain going through Hanika’s heart. She only spoke to Ti’a in their sign language. They spent a lot of time together as they tended to one another’s wounds.
The men that were freed from the BlueCrest dungeon were left behind. Leif told them to look for survivors in any city. He told them there would be no more Demons, and that they needed to start regrouping and rebuilding their Kingdom in case Azzaan came back. And the men that were left listened to him. There were twelve survivors of the initial thirty.
The path they traveled was directly North. After leaving BlueCrest, they found themselves beside the ocean. They stopped there for the longest time, Leif boiling water over the campfire and letting it cool to destroy the bacteria. Hanika and Ti’a collected food for the camp.
They made camp longer than they had intended. Olap took two full days to wake up and be able to move on his own. The first thing Olap did was speak to Liz, Kayla and Matias. He told the three of them what had happened to his group. He told them about the man who called himself Jam’aal, but who they later learned was Azzaan. He described in detail the death of Jonn. It was so sudden that nobody had any time to react.
Following Olap’s story, Liz told him what had happened with the Portal. Olap was the only person who had not worked on the project but knew about it. He learned about the traitor Golvannor, as well as the attacks from the gargoyle Umin and the snake Igrath. Matias added his story to the end of Liz’s, explaining how Umin and his brother, Sarozz, had gone through the Portal to attack him in the other world.
Kayla told Olap about the new powers granted by Hamerst and Lillian. She told him about their meetings, and about the incredible power of Arrieta’s Bow.
Matias and Olap stood watch through the night. The two sat beside one another looking up into the stars.
“Why did you do it?” Matias’ voice was the first thing said between the two of them in the past hour. The night was silent, interrupted only by the occasional call of a distant bird.
The Dwarf turned his head a little, not quite looking at Matias but turning in his general direction. “Do what?”
“Take the hit.” Matias took a deep swig of water from his pouch and cleared his throat. “You saved my life. But you almost died. Why would you do that?”
The Dwarf took a long time to gather his thoughts. He stared over the ocean at the stars in the night sky. “Matias, you’ve heard about my comrades, right?”
Matias nodded and Olap continued, “My shield brother was a man named Crowley, who wasn’t the greatest fighter but was incredibly intelligent. He was assigned to me, but really I felt much closer to a man named Reginald. Reginald was stealthy, smart, brave, and an incredible warrior. And he killed himself to save me in that Elven city. He pushed me toward the portal and fought the woman alone, knowing it might mean he will die.
“He was my personal choice of shield brother. They paired him with Lemeldo because they had a lot of traits in common, much like how they paired me with Crowley because of how different we were. But Reginald and me were very close, and when he died it broke my heart. But then I met you.”
The Dwarf actually met Matias’ gaze this time, and a sad smile crept on his lips. “You remind me a lot of Reginald. You are
brave and selfless. You fight for others despite your own safety. You battle incredibly. In my eyes, before you left, you were like my shield brother.”
Matias didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry,” is all he said. “Why?”
Matias listened intently to what the Dwarf said. “I’m sorry for leaving without a goodbye. You were an amazing comrade, and you fought bravely from what Liz told me. But I had no idea you felt so close to me.” He played with his fingers and continued. “Liz told me about you training the other Elves. It’s incredible you would take on such responsibility. And it makes me proud to know that you and I, no matter how distantly, are related in some way.”
Neither man had anything else to say after that. They stood watch until Liz and Kayla woke up and relieved them, both quickly dosing into sleep. To everybody’s relief, there were no attacks through the night. In the morning, the group packed up their hastilyconstructed camp and set out for the Dwarven Kingdom.
Olap was the first one to see his home lands. He walked toward his lands eagerly, slowing down when he finally saw it.
“What…”
“...happened?” Matias finished for him.
Kayla and Matias had been near these lands a year ago in the final battle with Tony. It had taken place outside the Dwarven Kingdom in a land named Minicule, which was only a short distance away. They had been close enough for Olap to blow into a Dwarven horn and summon allies to battle the incredible army of Demons.
But what they saw now was far different than what they had seen before. It had been a land full of mountains and green grass. Waters stretched between the mountains and hugged around most of the Kingdom’s borders, making a few lakes with small dry paths between them.
Now, the land contained no grass. The grass was under feet of ash. The waters were dried up and full of pools of ash. The mountains still stood, but the beauty they used to represent was no more. They were dark and dull, a lot like the sky above them. The morning sun dawned on all of the Realm, but it didn’t reach the Dwarven Kingdom. It was hidden behind something. It wasn’t clouds, but it was gray.
“The Demons.” Kayla reached for her Sword. “They’re here. They’ve been here for a while.”
Leif nodded his head, pulling out his deadly dagger slowly. “Yes, this is how BlueCrest would have looked if we hadn’t arrived when we did. But how long have they been here?”
“Who knows?” Olap reached for his hammer and took a few steps forward. Figures appeared in the distance. They were short and bearded, bearing weapons like axes and hammers. “But those are Dwarves. I have no doubt.”
I do, Lillian whispered in Kayla’s ear.
Chapter Fourteen
The Dwarves approached Olap’s group from all directions. Twelve appeared from the lands in front of them while twelve more appeared behind, as if they had been waiting for the group to arrive. There were many things extremely abnormal about these Dwarves to Kayla. They were all silent as corpses with skin as white as snow. Their eyes showed no spark of life, and Kayla swore she couldn’t even see them take a breath of fresh air. None of the Dwarves carried weapons, but she felt they didn’t need to. Their appearances were threatening enough. Even when Olap spoke to them, none responded to him. And the most important observation Kayla had was that their bodies were wounded, covered in cuts and dried blood.
“What happened here?” Kayla tried to ask the Dwarf beside her again. And again he ignored her, his eyes glued to the mountains they were approaching.
The Dwarves served as escorts, but where were they being escorted to?
Kayla turned to Matias and took a step toward him so she could speak quieter. “I don’t like this. Where are we going? Where are they taking us?”
“I don’t know,” Matias answered just as quietly, “but we have no other choice but to go with them. We have to assume Rezuman is here. If he rules here like Galruman ruled at BlueCrest, we have to assume these Dwarves will guide us to him.”
“But why would they do that?” They hadn’t seen Olap standing near them. His face was unreadable as mixed emotions swam through him. His shattered hammer thumped against his side with each step. Kayla couldn’t help but wonder what condition he was in after their fight with the Demon of BlueCrest. “They’re Dwarves, not Demons.”
Matias sighed and looked at the Dwarf. “That’s true, but Rezuman has some hold over these lands. Just look at what he’s done.” He gestured to the lands around them with his hand. “We have to assume they are his prisoners. If we take out the Demon, maybe we can free them from his grasp. Whatever grasp that may be.”
The Dwarf Kayla had spoken to before let out a dry laugh. It sounded as if his lungs were full of dust. The Dwarf turned to face them, and Kayla saw a darkness in his gaze. “Good luck. You will need it.”
None of them spoke after that. They followed the Dwarves to the mountains and allowed them to guide Kayla’s group up the twists and turns of the mountain until they reached a large hole in the mountain’s side. Only then did they stop their ascent, turning their direction toward the large entrance into the cliffs.
“The Hole,” Olap remarked with a small smile. “At least this hasn’t changed.”
They were led into a gigantic chamber that seemed to make up the remainder of the mountain. The Dwarves made holes in the mountains for their homes, but none were as incredible as the Hole. The Hole was the equivalent to the Palace for the Dwarven people. This chamber had holes scattered along the walls, which led to emergency escape routes for every other mountain in the area. This way, if any Dwarves needed to leave their homes in case of an emergency, they could come straight to the Hole and speak to the leaders right away about the immediate threats to their land. They could then take an emergency tunnel to another mountain in the Dwarven Kingdom and hide for reinforcements.
Only the Dwarven leaders could tell each hole in the wall from the next. Each was the same size and seemed to head in the same direction. They were carefully carved for this purpose. Everybody in the Realm knew that the Dwarves had taken generations upon generations to perfect their Kingdom in this way, and they prided themselves immensely upon their accomplishments.
The two dozen Dwarves that escorted Kayla’s group to the Hole stood in the entrance. Nobody could enter, and nobody could leave. Despite the Hole being a carving in the mountain, it was surprisingly bright. There were no torches, but the mountain seemed to illuminate some kind of faint blue light, as if the mountain were built of light itself.
Five figures climbed out of one of the holes and approached the group. Kayla didn’t recognize them, but she didn’t have much experience with the Dwarves. Matias and Liz didn’t show any signs of recognition. Only Hanika and Olap knew the Dwarves, Hanika’s mouth shooting open.
Olap’s eyes went wide enough to fall out of his face. Tears trickled down the old Dwarf’s injured face. He took a deep, shaky breath, his fists clutched at his sides, and his knuckles feeling like they would break through the skin.
“It’s Switzel,” he finally answered her. “It’s my group.”
“Impossible,” Hanika muttered, her head slowly moving left and right. “There’s no way. We were sure they were dead.”
Kayla recalled the year before. Olap’s group had gone missing, so Liz sent out a group of Elves to investigate an ancient Elven city and find the Dwarves. The group returned with no good news.
But there they were. Switzel led the other four, with Elphred and Reginald on his right and Crowley and Lemeldo on his left. The wounds on these Dwarves were much more severe than the two dozen escorts. Switzel, Elphred and Reginald had cuts all around their faces in a full circle, as if their faces were masks stitched onto their heads. Crowley had arrow holes in his chest, and Lemeldo had so many stitches, it appeared he had been taken apart and put back together again.
“You two,” Switzel said after gesturing to Matias and Kayla, “come with me. The rest of you stay here.”
“That’s not his voice.”
; Olap’s eyes grew dark. His jaw clenched and he reached for his hammer.
Hanika walked beside Olap and rested her hand gently on his strong, toned shoulder. “Look at their wounds, Olap. They aren’t here. It’s not them.”
“What are you talking about?” Reginald stepped forward. His face looked legitimately hurt. “Olap, it’s me. Reginald. You carry my weapon around, remember? Or do you remember when I saved your life?”
Olap looked down at his broken hammer. It had belonged to Reginald. He had taken it from the Dwarf after losing his own weapon. Reginald had stopped a vicious Demon to bide time and save Olap, killing himself in the process.
Crowley stepped forward. His jaw was clenched as he glared at Olap.“Or how you wanted him over me? You never wanted me as your shield brother. Did our bond mean nothing to you?”
“Of course it did!” Olap knew logically it wasn’t them, but he still felt he needed to defend himself. “I wanted to avenge you after your death, but the ambush was too much! Those assassins—”
“Save it,” Crowley snarled, spitting on the ground. “You want Reginald? Take him. I don’t care about you anyway.”
Olap is getting lost in the illusion.
“Hey!” Kayla yelled at him. She pulled out her Sword and pointed it at him. “Apologize to him! Olap is a hero and my friend. Nobody talks to him that way, so you apologize or—”
“Kayla, forget it,” Olap said quietly. His voice was full of defeat. He stepped away from the others across the room. “It’s not worth it.”
Switzel cleared his throat. “Come with me you two. Now.” His eyes glared at Kayla and Matias.
Rezuman did all of this. How powerful is he?
Lillian’s voice actually sounded scared, a tone Kayla had never heard from the elf.
“Wait here,” Kayla reassured the others. “We will be right back.”
“You better,” Liz grumbled.
“We’ll call if we need you,” Matias muttered to Liz as he walked past. Before they were out of earshot, he called out, “Look after Olap.”
