by Sam Ferguson
“That’s incredible,” Ziegler commented.
Dignar nodded. “Just to be clear, this river is NOT one of the clean sources. I wouldn’t risk even a drop from here.”
They continued on until the hallway veered away from the underground river and into a large antechamber of sorts. A pair of tables and some chairs were on the left hand side of the chamber, while a long bench of stone was on the other. Dignar pointed to the bench.
“The tables are for buying and selling,” Dignar said. “The bench is for visitors.”
“Buying and selling what?” Jason asked.
“Gems of course,” Dignar said as if the answer should have been obvious. “Wait here, I’ll go and let her know we’ve arrived.” Dignar walked through a heavy, bronze door, and then closed it behind himself. Jonathan and the others took a seat on the bench.
“Poisonous fish and carnivorous butterflies,” Jason mused aloud. “Now I have seen everything.”
Jonathan smiled. “I gave up trying to make sense of it after a giant fish-like thing swallowed Rourke,” he put in.
Ziegler sighed. “Well, between giant trolls and great big fish-demons that spit acid, I think I’ll take the butterflies. Sounds like they leave you well enough alone as long as you don’t eat them first by mistake.”
The door opened and Dignar emerged, cutting the conversation short. “She will be ready in a few minutes,” he said. Dignar then rubbed his hands together and gestured for Ziegler and Jason to make space between themselves for him. “Now, about that favor, my tall friend, how are you with women folk?”
Jason frowned and Jonathan scoffed.
“Excuse me?” Jason asked.
Dignar shrugged. “You see, Cayda has not taken a husband, though she is of the appropriate age. She refuses everyone’s advances. I have seen her shut down miners, smiths, and even a fellow gemologist.” Dignar raised a finger. “She once even turned down the king’s own son! Can you imagine?”
“And you want me to… what?” Jason pressed.
“I may have joked about Lysander’s bow, but I do actually know of a prophecy of sorts that you might be able to fill.”
“Me?” Jason asked as he glanced to Jonathan. He turned back to Dignar and thumbed at his little brother. “Why not him?”
“No,” Dignar said with a shake of his head. “You mean the one who has blood sausages instead of fingers and big, puffy eyes that look like someone poured durbin pepper juice on him? No. Even if he wasn’t in his current state, your brother is too young. Besides, you offered to do a favor for me, remember?”
Jason nodded. “What do you want me to do?”
“Well, since she has turned down all of the other suitors, I thought perhaps she might like… taller folk. If you can get her to agree to dinner with you, then I shall consider the favor paid in full.”
“Have dinner with her? Well what kind of favor is that?”
Dignar shrugged. “That is my offer. If you want to impress me, then that is what you will have to do.”
Just then the door opened. A beautiful young dwarf stepped out and smiled at them. She had long brown hair pulled into rows of braids along the side of her head and gathered into perfect little knots atop her head. Then somehow all of it was collected into a single braid down the back that hung over her right shoulder. In her nose she wore a diamond stud. Two gold studs were placed in her cheek as well, and she wore a tiara of golden squares turned on their corners to look like diamonds made of metal. In the center of the middle square was a large sapphire, but she didn’t need to wear any of her jewelry in order to impress Jonathan with her beauty. He had always understood dwarves to be short and fat, but Cayda showed him that was not the case. She was shorter, yes, but nearly as tall as some of the shortest women he had seen in some of the cities back in his homeland. She was lean and curvy, wearing a sleeveless shirt that displayed her well-formed shoulders and arms. Her nose was straight, neither pointy nor bulbous, but somewhere in between with the perfect proportions. Her eyes were deeper blue than the jewel in her tiara, and a smattering of freckles softened her face even more.
“I’ll be out in just a moment, just wrapping something up,” she said. Then the door closed.
Ziegler let out a soft whistle. “You could do worse than have dinner with such a woman,” the captain said to Jason.
Jason was shaking his head and unable to speak, but Jonathan knew what was going on inside his brother’s head. On the one hand he had Ma’at’s prophecy wherein he is supposed to impress Dignar. On the other, he was already betrothed, and dinner with another would be inappropriate.
“I can’t,” Jason said at last. “Sorry, but I can’t.”
Dignar’s eyes shot open wide and his mouth hung open. “You can’t?” he repeated.
Jason shook his head.
“Well why not? You like women don’t you?” Dignar pressed.
“I am to be married upon returning home,” Jason said. “I can’t do what you ask because it wouldn’t be right.”
Dignar smiled and put a finger to his nose. “Ah, well we never go into the human lands. Your secret will be safe with me.” Dignar glanced to Jonathan and Ziegler. “They won’t tell either. Come on, give it a go. Impress me.”
There were those words again. Jonathan was feeling as anxious inside as Jason likely was.
“I’ll do it for him,” Jonathan offered.
Dignar shook his head. “Sure, every dwarf maiden swoons at the sight of red, puffy eyes and swollen fingers.” Dignar made a show of wiggling his digits in the air. “Besides, I want Jason to impress me. He said he would do a favor for me.”
Jason slapped his knees. “I can’t do this. It isn’t right. Don’t ask again, the answer will always be no.”
Dignar sat silently and tugged at his black beard for a moment. “Well now, that is impressive I suppose. Your fiancée is a fortunate woman.” Dignar stuck his hand out and clapped Jason on the shoulder. “Let’s speak no more of this.”
Jonathan wasn’t sure if Jason had failed or passed his test, but before he could decide, the door opened and Cayda was walking out toward them. Jonathan watched Jason, and then looked to Dignar as Cayda approached. An idea struck the young warrior then as he watched how closely Dignar’s eyes were following Cayda.
“Oh, bother, I forgot my pen. One moment.” Cayda turned and went back into the room beyond the door.
“No worries,” Dignar said with a sheepish smile.
He leaned close to Jason’s ear and whispered. “Ask Dignar if he likes Cayda.”
“What?” Jason asked as he pulled away.
Jonathan motioned with his chin. “Do it,” he whispered harshly.
Jason glared at Jonathan, and didn’t look as though he was going to engage Dignar at all on the subject. So, Jonathan took over.
“Dignar, I have a question for you,” Jonathan said.
The dwarf leaned forward to peer around Jason. “What?”
“You mentioned all of the other suitors who have been rejected, but you never said that you were one of them.”
“Jonathan!” Jason growled in a whisper through clenched teeth.
“What, ME?” Dignar shook his head. “Preposterous.” He sat back against the wall and focused his eyes straight ahead.
“You know, Pa always said that if you protest too much…”
“She would never take interest in me,” Dignar said softly.
Jonathan nudged Jason in the side. His older brother smiled and nodded. Jason then turned to Dignar and whispered something into his ear.
Cayda returned and walked toward them once more.
“Sorry about that,” she said. “Now, I heard you had a question about some crystals?”
Jason nudged Dignar and the dwarf pushed Jason back.
“Stop, that’s enough!” Dignar snarled.
Cayda stopped and frowned. “Something the matter Dignar?”
“No, no, nothing at all,” Dignar said as he rose to his feet and straigh
tened his clothes. “This man here has questions about some sort of crystal they say was found in a secret chamber guarded by trolls.”
Cayda turned to Ziegler and narrowed her blue eyes on him. “Trolls?”
Ziegler nodded and stood up. “There was a red crystal,” he began. Over the next few minutes he told her of their entire mission, how they had started out looking for Raven, and ultimately stumbled upon something far more sinister than they had expected. As he spoke of their encounters in each city, and the hardships they faced along the roads, Cayda listened intently. When he got to the part about the secret chambers they had found underground with altars and trolls, she gasped and held a hand to her mouth.
“Well,” she started after hearing the whole story. “It seems there are several things at play here. The first, of course as you have already deciphered, is that the crystals can be used in necromancy. Infusing elf hearts into trolls is a new one though,” she said as she bit her lip and shook her head. “There is something else. These crystals you have described can be used in scrying for magical items. If they absorb enough energy, and someone has the proper knowledge of how to use them, they could be used to scry for objects over long distances.”
“The Astral Crystal,” Jonathan said somberly. “They are scrying for its location.”
Cayda frowned and turned to him. “It’s possible, though the last I heard of that particular gem, it was lost long ago. Hidden by a gnome. Jaeger has powerful magic. I am sure he has hidden the Astral Crystal.”
“But the scrying crystals could break the gnome’s spell,” Ziegler commented.
“It’s possible I suppose, but anyone foolish enough to search for the Astral Crystal would find more than they bargained for.”
“What do you mean?” Ziegler asked.
Cayda shook her head and her mouth curled up into a grin. “Surely you know that the crystal killed Lysander, don’t you? Anything that can kill a son of the gods is far too powerful for any mere mortal to control.” She pointed a warning finger at Captain Ziegler. “I would caution you to stay away from this madness. If you want to disrupt the scrying crystals, or perhaps find the elf responsible for the death of your friends, fine, but don’t attempt to take or even look for the Astral Crystal. If you do, it will bring havoc and destruction down upon you, I promise. Best to leave it alone.”
“If you know so much about it, then come with us,” Ziegler said. “We could use someone with your knowledge.”
Cayda put a hand up and turned back to Jonathan. “Bad reaction to the sedatives eh?”
Jonathan sighed and turned his face to the floor.
“No, no, don’t look away, let me see it,” Cayda said as she walked over to him. She reached over and cupped his chin and gently tilted Jonathan’s face up. “My my, that stuff did not sit well with you at all now did it? Do your eyes itch?”
Jonathan shook his head. “No. I can’t feel it. My hands have become a bit tender though.” He pulled out his hands and showed them to her. Cayda nodded.
“Come with me, I have something that can take this away.”
“We can leave him,” Dignar said. “The swelling will go away on its own.”
“Sure, but by the time it does, the entire mountain will have seen him. You know how the others will jump at any chance they get to mock a human.” She turned back to Jonathan and smiled. “Come into my laboratory. The rest of you, please wait here, I will only be a moment.”
Jonathan followed Cayda toward the large doors. He was sure to throw a mocking wink at Dignar for good measure along the way. The movement hurt a bit, like stretching skin after a sunburn, but it was all worth it to see the look on Dignar’s face as the dwarf folded his arms crossly and gave a snort.
As the two went through the doors, Jonathan noted that the temperature in the room was quite a bit cooler than the other areas of Shuldern he had been in. There were long tables with rows of gems and large crystals displayed atop them. A pair of work benches stood along the far wall. He saw all manner of precious stones, and several kinds of crystals that he didn’t recognize.
“Over here, please,” Cayda called out.
Jonathan stopped gawking at the riches to see her standing next to a large, egg-shaped crystal that had a swirling pattern of blue and white. It stood upon a pedestal of pink granite, but was somehow lit from the base.
“There is a glowstone in the pedestal,” Cayda said. “Heat activates the crystals. That’s why this room is kept cooler. I allow all of the crystals to sleep until they are needed. This one, which will help with the swelling, I had already put onto the diffuser for activation. I cut myself a short while ago while shaping a gem stone for a client.” She held up a finger, showing Jonathan the cut. It wasn’t a large wound by any means, just a small nick that had managed to draw a bit of blood. Cayda put her hand on the top of the crystal and waited for a few moments, then she pulled her finger back and showed it to Jonathan. She took her other hand and wiped away the dried blood to show that her flesh had been entirely healed.
“It’s magic,” Jonathan said with a nod. “And it will help my hands and eyes?”
Cayda frowned. “It isn’t magic,” she said. “The stones and crystals are alive. They each resonate at different frequencies, and if we wish, they can use their energy to help us in many ways.”
“Alive?” Jonathan echoed. He wasn’t sure he bought that, but if the stone took away the swelling he suffered from, then he didn’t care whether the stones were alive, or simply had magical energy.
“Well, they aren’t alive in the same way you and I are, but yes, alive is the best way to think about it. They have energy that interacts with ours, but only if we invite them to help.”
“So, what do I do?” Jonathan asked.
“You place your hands on top and think of the stone healing you,” she said.
Jonathan put his hands atop the crystal and was surprised to feel not only that it was warm, but it was vibrating softly as well.
“Go on, close your eyes. It will help you focus,” Cayda said.
The young archer focused on his swollen hands and felt a wave of warmth come into his body. It lasted only for a few seconds, but that was all that it needed. When he took his hands away, the swelling was entirely gone.
“There, all better, and now I can see your eyes too,” Cayda said with a smile.
Jonathan returned the smile. “Thank you, very much,” he said. “That was amazing.”
“Don’t mention it,” Cayda said. “Now, before we go out to talk with the others, I want to show you one more thing” She turned and went to the back of the chamber where another large, brass door stood closed. She pulled a key from a necklace and unlocked the door, then motioned for him to follow her inside.
Jonathan went into the room and saw a large office with books filling shelves that lined the walls on either side. In the middle of the room was a table of sorts with plush black velvet covering it. Several different types of magnifying glasses sat upon a smaller table to the side of the black one. Behind the tables was a large desk made of polished green granite. Behind that were several shelves filled with metal boxes. Each shelf had five boxes, except for the top shelf, which had only four boxes.
“Another party came here a short while ago, inquiring about the same red crystals you are speaking of,” Cayda said. The pretty dwarf walked around her desk and sat down, smiling softly at Jonathan. She reached under the desk with her right hand and there was a strange click!
A moment later, the large brass door closed and locked behind him.
“What are you doing?” Jonathan asked.
“That depends entirely upon how you answer my questions,” Cayda replied. The light in the room dimmed slightly, and Cayda’s smile faded. “You looked to the shelves behind my desk, why?”
Jonathan shrugged. “I was just looking around,” he said.
“You aren’t a thief?” Cayda pressed. “Because, the last party that came asking these questions stole somethi
ng from me. They stole a box. Do you know what was inside?”
Jonathan shook his head.
Cayda pulled open a drawer and put on a thick leather glove that covered her up to her elbow. “They stole a migot.”
“A what?” Jonathan asked.
“A migot. Don’t tell me you’ve never heard of migots?”
Jonathan shook his head. “I haven’t, and I don’t know who came to take your things, I promise. We don’t mean any harm.”
Cayda tilted her head and watched him for a moment. Then she reached into the drawer once more and pulled out a large, black stone, grasping it firmly in her gloved hand. “The migot looked a lot like this one,” she said.
Jonathan glanced to the door nervously.
“Oh don’t try to escape. The door is sealed. Also, I should warn you that even if you were to scream at the top of your lungs, they will never hear you. No sound will make it out of this room, for it is built to be entirely silent, that way I don’t get distracted with the thumps and slams of the forges and other loud noises.”
“Your guards captured us and took our belongings,” Jonathan said. “You can go and look for yourself. We don’t have any rocks like that. We aren’t associated with whoever stole from you.”
“Do you know what is so special about a migot?” Cayda asked, ignoring his words.
Jonathan shook his head. “No.”
“It can trap the energy of a living creature,” she said. “There is a spell that can be used to protect yourself and master the migot. From that point on, all you have to do is think of taking the living creature’s soul and throw the migot near the target. It works much like the healing crystals, except it is always hot, and that is why I wear this glove. So, one last time.” Cayda stood up and readied her arm to throw the rock. “Are you sure you don’t know who stole from me?”
“I swear, I don’t know,” Jonathan said.
Cayda threw the stone at Jonathan. Jonathan turned and pounded on the door, screaming to be let out. The rock bounced off the floor and struck him in the calf. As the stone touched him, he dropped down into a crouch and covered his head and face with his hands.
