Skyler looked to his wordy friend, but Kylee was already asleep, exhausted from the events of the day. He hoped saving Kylee was a good thing, but he was growing unsure about the whole series of events.
Balthar was on guard up front and came rushing back to the others not long after the rest fell asleep. He ran to Skyler, “There are trolls coming and they have Daril captured! He looks badly hurt.”
“Put out the fire,” Skyler ordered. They extinguished the small light of the fire. The dwarves and Kylee hid in the dark forest. Off to the east, the hint of a sunrise began to grow in the far-off sky. It was not more than a few moments before the trolls could be heard tramping through the woods, their torches lighting the way.
The first one stopped, with his hand in the air as he inhaled deeply, “Quiet! I smellz a fire.”
The leader scolded him, “You’re holdin’ a torch, ya ‘diot! But wait, I smellz anudder fire too tho!” They pulled their swords, dropping Daril to the ground with a thud. He did not move.
Skyler could not believe what he saw as Kylee stepped out of the shadows, “There are dwarves here! I have been tracking them!” Skyler was sure Kylee was going to give them all up.
“Good job, youngin’! Where’z they?” The leader grumbled.
“This way, follow me,” Kylee yelled the trolls, frantically waving his arm for them to follow as he started leading them away. He proved himself worthy to his friends, providing them a path of escape.
The dwarves leapt from the shadows, unleashing their skills on the surprised trolls who ran past. There were four trolls in all and each was quite eager for more dwarves to eat. Together they were a tall order for the boys as these were trained warrior trolls, not the hapless fools who were with Kylee earlier.
“Dey’s sneaked ‘round’uss to da back!” the torch carrier roared as he dropped the torch and pulled his shield. The dry leaves and dead pine needles around the torch quickly ignited as the fire spread through the tinder ready underbrush.
The battle was fierce as Taylor, Meril and Skyler each took on a troll. Shalkar and Balthar fought with the other, the clang of sword on shield ringing through the early morning forest. Skyler hoped other trolls weren’t in the area, for they had all they could handle before them.
A harsh troll forearm knocked Shalkar to the ground, with only Balthar standing between the youngest of the dwarves and death. The strong troll easily deflecting the dwarf swings.
Kylee pulled his sword and attacked from behind as the troll then knocked Balthar down with a massive crush and readied to drive him through. The young troll drove his blade though the back of the old troll, the bony ribs stopping his deathly spike toward Balthar.
As Kylee tried to recover his sword, the troll fell back on him, trapping him underneath. He was not hurt but was unable to move further.
Balthar hurriedly got to his feet while Shalkar still lay on the ground, having injured his sword arm. He quickly attacked the goblin fighting with Taylor slicing it from behind to the back of the leg. The troll screamed in pain and then grunted as Taylor ran the distracted troll through.
Skyler skillfully landed a knife to his troll’s neck with a deadly throw. The troll dropped to his knees trying to withdraw the knife, Skyler took off its head and a ghastly swing.
The fire continued to spread across the ground around them. It seemed the entire forest was starting to roar with flame, attempting to take the dwarf boys to the grave and stealing every hiding place available to them. Skyler began thinking of a way out, hoping to get his men to safety. Smoke filled the air, making breathing difficult as all the combatants began choking on the filth.
Meril needed help as he took on the leader. The troll saw his fellow trolls fall and tried to slide out of the circle of dwarves. Meril stepped in his way, blocking the troll’s retreat. The others engaged the troll from behind, with Skyler embedding his sword in the troll’s massive leg. It would take more than that to stop the veteran warrior, as the troll pulled the sword out. The beast now wielded two blades against his far smaller foes. The wound caused him a slight limp and little more.
In desperation, the troll spun and came down on Meril. The dwarf blocked the first blow, but the second landed hard on his shoulder. Meril screamed as he fell to the ground, the pain of the wound pulsing through his body. Taylor feared he would lose another brother and attacked the troll with a vengeance from behind as it fled deeper into the woods, with Skyler also in chase. Balthar stopped to help his wounded brothers.
The troll darted from tree to tree, trying to lose his chasers. The large beast could hardly lose the nimbler dwarves, as they closed in step by step. The troll finally cleared the burning brush and sought for a place to hide in the shadows, but even they were quickly disappearing as the sun began to rise higher with the onset of morning. The wound to its leg slowing him further. Finally, with no other option, it turned to fight.
He hardly raised his sword as Taylor reached his desire and rushed hard into him, driving his blade deep into the chest of the far larger troll. The blast from Taylor took the troll backward. Skyler watched as the two fell into the deep, waterless, ravine behind them. The two disappeared into the darkness below.
Skyler peered over the edge, his fear of losing Taylor growing as the silence rushed in. Skyler heard a huffing sound as Taylor’s hand reached over the edge. He grabbed Skyler by the leg, almost pulling him over. Skyler hastily reached down and pulled up his friend, who was barely able to hold onto a root to avoid crashing into the rocks below. The jagged rocks surely would have ended him.
Taylor shook off the leaves that covered him as he stood next to Skyler, the growing light of the early morning revealed the broken body of the troll below.
“Let’s get back,” Skyler urged, pulling Taylor from the edge. Taylor followed quickly, fearing the worst awaited them when they reached the others. Flame and smoke had doubled since they left. They hurriedly searched the blaze for their friends and found them in the low clearing where the battle took place. “The trolls are coming, we need to go!” Balthar yelled to the others. Even as he said the last word, they heard the crushing steps of a horde of loud trolls searching the flames.
“Damn trolls!” Kylee accursed, wiggling his way out from under the dead troll. He began coughing as he stood into the smoky cloud that covered the air in the higher space. He again bent low, trying to stay under it.
Taylor was relieved to find both Meril and Shalkar sitting up. They were injured, but still alive. He helped them as Skyler ran to Daril, who was crawling toward one of the dead trolls.
“Hurry, we need to go! The trolls are coming,” he told the others as he stopped to help Daril. Skyler rolled him over and saw Daril was covered in blood and badly beaten, but wearing a determined look. Skyler doubted he would survive much longer, as he struggled for every breath. Daril rolled back over onto his stomach, and with a hard push reached for a large pouch that lay next to one of the dead trolls.
He finally reached it and with great effort pulled it close to him. Blood ran from his mouth and nose as he looked to Skyler, forcing his gurgled speech, “Must go to Tunder Bin … for safe keeping …” Every word was a fight, the sounds mixed with the ever faster dripping blood.
Skyler took the bag from Daril, who then muttered his last sentence, “Orders … of the King …” Daril said no more, his body gave way to death and fell limp. The others were also sitting around Daril’s body, praying for his soul. The fires continued to rage and close in on them. Skyler looked to his friends, tears pooling in his eyes for the dead warrior of Tunder Bin. His voice cracked as he spoke, “Leave him, we need to go before we are all caught.”
He stood and slung the bag over his neck and shoulder, not risking a look at the important prize. He led the boys through the smoke and fire, barely escaping the maze of death that was before them. His injured friends needed help to limp out. Only the flame and approaching trolls drove them forward in haste. Finally, they crossed the ravine where the dead t
roll lay and were free of the danger behind. The smoke covered their scent and the fire ensured the trolls could not follow their tracks.
They found a spot to rest, and as Taylor attended to the injured, Skyler reached inside the pouch given to him by Daril. He pulled out a wrap and the large heavy item held within.
“What is it?” Balthar asked.
“A moment and then we will all know,” Skyler said as he continued to unwrap it. Soon he saw the leather casing and then the axe. He pulled it out and was amazed as the glow from the stone filled their eyes. A surge of energy took his body and washed away his weariness.
“It’s Tegan’s axe!” Taylor gasped, “Why would he send it back to Tunder Bin? He will need it now more than ever!”
“We need to take it back to him,” Shalkar said, nursing his injured arm.
“No, Daril had orders to take it to Tunder Bin. I am not sure why, but that is what we need to do,” Balthar argued.
Meril countered, “We need to let Tegan know of the army that is waiting for him, or they will be slaughtered!”
“Quiet! You people talk too much, let Skyler think!” Kylee blasted his friends, “I care too much not to tell you such!”
Skyler sat in thought. “Most of you are right. Daril had orders and we need to get word to Tegan.” The next words pained him deeply, as he carefully studied his own men before him. “We need to split up.”
The dwarves looked in amazement at each other, for that was something they had never done.
“Skyler, we have injured, we can’t,” Taylor insisted, trying to reason with Skyler.
“Balthar, you will take Shalkar and Meril and go to tell Tegan of the army that is coming, and of Daril’s death. Taylor, Kylee, and I will take the axe back to Tunder Bin,” Skyler ordered, speaking as if Taylor had said nothing.
Taylor again interrupted his friend. This time he stepped in front of Skyler to gain is full attention. “You can’t just send Balthar with them. What are you doing? We need to stay together!” Taylor tried to convince Skyler, who quickly raged back.
“You want to stay together but we need to split. We are not now, and never have been, here for ourselves. We are here for the kingdom and for the King. I have made the decision, we are splitting.” Skyler had enough of the nonsense and brushed angrily past Taylor.
Taylor was not finished. He measured his next move carefully, pulling his sword on Skyler. The mere sound of the metal rubbing against the leather scabbard sent chills up Skyler’s spine. He never had one of his friends draw on him.
“Arrogant dwarf, you think you know everything! Balthar can’t do it, at least send me. If for no other reason than to free me of you!” Taylor’s thoughts were boiling, with many things he did not intend spewing out of his mouth.
Skyler turned slowly but did not draw. He stood staring at Taylor, his friend’s blade pointing at his chest. The distant forest fires danced in his angered eyes. “So, it has come to this. Many years of training has made you spiteful and jealous of my position. You have second guessed me ever more as of late, so this moment should not, and does not, surprise me.” Though Skyler started slowly, he picked up speed and steam as he continued.
The others stood still, afraid to move for either side, wanting this to pass. They kept waiting for one of them to start laughing, or slap the other on the back and apologize, anything to cut the tension. That would not happen.
Skyler went on, “Shalkar and Meril are injured and need aid quick. Balthar is more than skilled enough to lead them back to Tegan. The troll army will have no concern for them and they have the safest route. We carry the most priceless weapon in all Tunder Bin and we also take Kylee. If you have not taken the time to notice, he is a troll. That will take some explaining and probably will be easiest to explain to the compassionate women at Tunder Bin than the impatient, ignorant, warriors marching to battle. So, for however unneeded I think this explanation was, have I given you enough information to understand my thinking?” Skyler peered into Taylor’s eyes as he said every word. Taylor’s sword seemed to melt in his hands, lowering with every tear that built in his watery eyes. Skyler thoroughly dressed down Taylor and he deserved it.
Meril stepped in, “Taylor, this if for the best. We will be fine.” The truth for Taylor was that he feared separation from Meril. He could not consider losing another brother, having lost Quiggle at the battle for the Demon’s Chamber several years past.
Skyler grabbed his meager pack and said to Balthar, “We will then catch up to you, hopefully before you cross the ice to Calonia. There should be little trouble for you between here and the gargoyle mountain, but you will need to travel fast.”
“We will go quickly and stay with the army until you return.” Balthar said as he helped Shalkar to his feet. There was still an uneasy tension as Taylor sheathed his sword and helped the others get their things.
Skyler and Taylor fitted Shalkar and Meril with slings to hold their injured arms. The three dwarves readied to depart, but not before Shalkar and Balthar approached Kylee.
“You are brave. You saved us!” Shalkar spoke with admiration to Kylee. “You are one of us for certain, thank you.” They embraced Kylee, who began to cry.
“Brothers,” was all Kylee could mutter and urged them off.
After seeing the three leave, Skyler looked to Taylor and Kylee, “Our new mission is to deliver this to Tunder Bin. All our lives are worth the cost of this treasure. We must be ready to forfeit them if needed.”
Taylor stopped Skyler, “I was out of line.”
Skyler, usually quick to forgive, was short with his friend. He stepped close to Taylor, so Kylee would not hear, “Don’t you ever do that to me again. When we get back to the mountain we are going to finish this!”
Skyler then stepped back, looking at both his companions, “This is going to be a hard march if we have any hopes of getting back to our friends before they cross into Calonia. Tighten your belts and let’s go.”
Taylor nodded his head in approval, as did Kylee. Taylor knew he had greatly overstepped and wondered if things would ever be the same.
Kylee, as usual, was oblivious to the tension and argument, saying, “That’s the nicest wood chopping axe I have ever seen!” Skyler had no time or interest in answering as they raced back to Tunder Bin, hoping for no more enemy to battle on their journey. He also hoped to avoid the enemy within his group, which seemed to be falling apart at the most important time.
Chapter 15: Nubari
Gulac stood like a statue on the steps overlooking the scarred land below the Castle Klar, as if Deron and the dwarves had carved him into the very landscape. He closed his eyes, not wanting his sight to interfere as he concentrated on the feel of the cool morning breeze as it washed over his face. Gulac absorbed the warmth of the sun at the break of another day’s dawn. Telon watched from a short distance, jealousy overtook him, as it seemed Gulac was joyfully experiencing his first day ever. So many days in Gulac’s life were without sight of the sun, without feeling the breeze, without seeing a smile on someone’s face. Those and many other things most people failed to take time to notice, he never took for granted again.
“Are you ready to go?” Telon asked. He was sorry to break Gulac’s trance, interrupting the old dwarf’s enjoyment. He took Gulac’s hand, pulling the old dwarf fully from his meditation to lead him to the wagon below where Quelna waited. The army was almost ready to depart, the soldiers still rolling up the last of the tents and stretching their sore legs. The weather was getting colder the farther north the journey took them, so the men were getting out their warmer dress and long boots. They would soon be trudging through the desert sands, with the deep snows of Calonia following directly.
“Yes,” Gulac simply replied as he opened his eyes and basked his sight on the man standing before him. Often throughout his imprisonment, Gulac imagined what Telon looked like and what his son had become. He could not be more proud of the man Telon turned out to be. Telon noticed a twinkle in th
e dwarf’s eyes as Gulac looked upon him, one that he mistakenly applied to Gulac’s appreciation of glorious morning.
“Is it the beautiful morning that has your eyes dancing?” Telon inquired, well aware of the days of imprisonment endured. He wondered what such a time could do to a man’s mind. He wanted to tap the wisdom of one who had survived so much.
Gulac’s deep desire was to let Telon know that he was his father and that Moro was not. He deemed the time, as he had countless moments, was not yet right. Would it ever be so? Would he ever be able to free himself of the secret whose chains were harder to escape than the dungeons of Herrog? He eased in a slow, steady, deep breath to calm his quaking nerves. The words of the secret beginning to form in his head, rushing fast toward his tongue. His mouth began to make the words, but at the last moment, he squelched the sound. He suffered through another, far deeper and shaky sigh, one that served to abort the phrase. The secret remained within him, the chains unyielding and secure.
“You have your mother’s eyes and that is for certain,” Gulac said wistfully, wishing he could go back and make things different. Then, thinking more as he looked at the beauty around him, he realized that if things had gone differently, if he had married Deyanira and lived out his entire life, this moment likely wouldn’t have occurred. He would hopefully have had many other terrific times, cherished moments that would be a memory by now. Perhaps, in the strangest of ways, this moment was worth the many horrific ones endured to make it happen. Perhaps only through the withholding of many ordinary moments can appreciation of every moment be achieved. Perhaps.
“Thank you, I have been told that many times. I dearly wish she was still here and that she had never been subdued to the desires of Herrog. Some days I wake to think she is still here. I even look for her as I go through the busy market of the city. Of course, she is never there. Did you know her well?” Telon still pained at the thought of Deyanira. He often wondered when she first fell under his unbending spell and if he had really ever known her true self at all. Even if controlled by the evil wizard, Telon knew a mother he loved.
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