by Allan Joyal
I glanced back at the sleds. Heather and Victoria stood only a short distance away as they waited in their harnesses. I looked ahead and could see that the first ten feet or so in front of the cave was now bare rock. One of the dwarves was using tongs to pick up the stones they had thrown to melt the snow. "What about our sleds?" I asked.
The dwarf smiled. "We came prepared for that," he said as four of the dwarves removed packs from their backs and started pulling out tools and parts. "Bring them down here and we can deal with them."
I waved to Heather. "Heather, Victoria, bring down the lead sled."
I could hear the sled start to slide through the snow. I walked forward to meet the lead dwarf and took a closer look as I approached.
The dwarf was much like the ones I met in Linktrum. He had a massive chest and well developed muscles on his arms. His thick beard of brown hair flowed down to his waist, and matched the greasy locks that stuck out from under the metal skullcap he was wearing. He seemed to be slightly uncomfortable standing in the snow, but said nothing as I put the spear on my shoulder and held out my hand.
"I am Ron, leader of Daytona Trade. I must thank you for what you are doing. It is far more valuable than the little service we have been able to do for you," I said.
"You were allied with Werlyn when you visited the academy," the dwarf stated definitively.
"I don't know if I can call it allied," I admitted. "I did provide a couple of items specifically to him, but other than that, we were kept out of the conflict."
"The earth spirits say otherwise," the dwarf said. "Your presence was the reason that Werlyn's faction was able to avoid the first strike and to counterattack effectively. Werlyn and his faction have been friends to Clan Skyve for generations. We thank you for your additional help."
"So you are a member of Clan Skyve?" I asked.
"I am Mertiln of Clan Drugn, we are a client clan to Skyve," the dwarf said.
Heather and Victoria brought the sled to the edge of the snow, just a short distance from the entrance to the cave. Eight dwarves immediately swarmed around the sled. One put a hand on Heather's hip.
"Get out of the harness," he said brusquely.
"What?" Heather said, her voice rising in pitch.
I closed my eyes as the dwarf pushed Heather toward the sled. "You are in the way. We are going to modify the harness," the dwarf said. "I need you out of the harness."
Heather slowly took in a long breath. I jumped away from the lead dwarf. "Heather, no!" I shouted. "Don't argue. They are only offering their help."
Victoria was already out of her harness. She grabbed Heather and held her. I could see her whispering in Heather's ear. My blond vixen stomped her foot one last time, but then got out of the harness and laid it on the ground. The two ladies walked over to me. Both watched over their shoulders as the dwarves drove wedges under the runners, raising them off the snow.
"Thank you for that," the dwarf said to me softly. "Could you get the other sleds lined up behind this one and your people out of the harnesses?"
"Henck!" I shouted. "Could you get the other sleds lined up behind this one? The dwarves are going to modify them so we can take them into the cave."
"Into a cave?" Hencktor called back nervously.
"Fuck," Heather said. "Ron, remember Hencktor's past. He barely survived a cave-in back in his home village's mine. It's going to be hard to get him into the cave."
I nodded. "Lydia! Can you make sure that Henck will enter the cave? Get Steve and Verval to line up the sleds."
"Can do," Lydia called. "I'll make sure that Hencktor is willing to enter the cave."
"Your man isn't comfortable in caves?" Mertiln asked.
"He was a child helping in an iron mine when a cave-in killed his uncle," I replied. "For days he refused to enter any building. He's been willing to enter buildings in the past, but a cave represents one of his worst fears," I said.
"He's stronger than he thinks," Victoria said as she walked up to join us. "I expect he will be fine. Lydia understands him very well."
"I hope so," I sad absently.
"Where was this?" Mertiln asked. "I thought we knew all the mine accidents for the last three human generations."
It was…" I paused to think. "Heather, was it Tralvien who found the ore? I can't remember the name."
Mertiln nodded. "Ah, that lode. I've heard of it. We refused to mine it because there was no safe way to approach the ore from below. It's surrounded by soft rock that collapses if you tunnel through it."
"So you can assure Hencktor that these tunnels are safe," I affirmed.
"They have been around since my great-great-grandfather assisted in the digging of them," Mertiln said. "We used to trade with the forest spirits here for nuts and fruit in the clearing you sheltered in. Until the empire fell and the spirits fled the chaos that followed."
I nodded and looked back at the dwarves surrounding the first sled. Once the wedges had raised the sled from the snow, they knelt down and started attaching some pieces of metal to the tops of the runners. Long rods of metal were threaded through these assemblies. As soon as they were satisfied with the fit of the rods, wheels were attached and fastened in place with some clips. The wheels were about nine inches in diameter, and only protruded a short distance below the runners, but the dwarves smiled as they tested to make sure all the wheels could spin freely.
At the same time, another dwarf was attaching some leather and metal structure to the harness. From a distance, it looked a bit like a cheese grater. I looked closer and realized it was an array of small hooks. They appeared to be quite sharp and I had to wonder what the plan was.
"Ready?" one of the dwarves asked.
"Everything is set up," another called back. "Let's pull this one forward."
Mertiln was watching the cave entrance. I looked over as a large black creature emerged. It looked like a giant beetle and was being herded by a pair of dwarves. The creature clearly disliked the sunlight, but was prodded forward until it was at the front of the sled.
The dwarves coaxed the creature into turning around. I watched the enterprise as they settled the unwilling beetle into position in front of the sled. Then, the dwarves who had modified the harness stepped forward and carefully slipped the hooks of the harness into a number of eyelets mounted on the back of the beetle.
Another dwarf tugged on the harness to make sure it was secure. "Secure," he called out.
"Remove the wedges," the leader of the team around the sled called.
The wedges were carefully pulled out and the sled settled onto the wheels. The herder dwarves then released the beetle and started guiding it back to the cave. The large beetle dragged the sled out of the snow. Once the wheels rested on the cleared ground, it rolled quietly into the cave.
"Wow," Heather said. "That was fast. I hope we don't lose the sled."
"Never," Mertiln called out. "On the honor of my clan and clan Skyve, all of you and your goods will be escorted in perfect safety and will arrive at our trading post at Purahomp while the snows still fly. From there, you will find the journey to Saraloncto much easier."
I had a thought. "Shaylin! Gertrilla! Bring the puppies and the small sleds please!"
"You have new sleds?" Mertiln asked.
"We had two men join us a few days ago. Brothers from a village we rested in. They brought a pair of small sleds."
Mertiln started stroking his beard. The dwarf looked out over the snow, where his fellow dwarves were adding wheels to the second of our three large sleds. As he did, Shaylin and Gertrilla strode through the snow, dragging the two smaller sleds behind them. I could see the puppies frolicking in the snow around their legs as they approached.
Mertiln seemed to relax as he spotted the sleds. "Oh, that kind of sled. I'm afraid we only prepared to convert three sleds, but the wheels and the beetles should allow you to load those goods on your sleds."
"Should we do that now?" I asked.
Mertiln waved a ha
nd in negation. "Not until a sled is converted. There is no reason to add weight. But if you want to, bring some stuff into the cave. The first sled should be just inside."
Heather smiled and turned to look out over the snow. "Al! We'll need to unload the small sleds. Can you come over here with Corwar and anyone else who is free?"
I looked at Heather. "We should probably drop our packs onto the sleds as well. Why carry extra goods on our backs when the sleds can carry all of it."
"Can they?" Heather asked.
Victoria giggled. "Think of all the firewood we had on the sleds when we started. Of course we can put the packs on them now. The only reason we did not was the weight."
"You mean we won't have packs?" Heather asked. "I won't know what to do. I've hiked with a pack since we arrived on Jord."
I turned to Mertiln. "I guess I should ask about our journey to your outpost and then to the trading post. We will be putting our trust in you. Can you give me any useful information?"
Mertiln frowned. "We have established tunnels to both locations. The outpost is about two days' journey from here. The trading post will take about ten days."
"Twelve days underground," I said with a shiver. "I'm guessing that there are places to camp along the routes. What about the sleds? Will they be able to navigate the tunnels?"
Mertiln snorted. "Do you think we'd make modifications that wouldn't work? Your sleds are a bit longer than we are used too, but our ore carts use the same wheels. Many tunnels don't have high ceilings."
I groaned. "Why do I expect we'll be crouching quite often?" I muttered.
Victoria shook her head at me as Al and Corwar passed, carrying casks and packages they had pulled from the small sleds. "Inside the cave you'll find the first sled," Heather called out.
"Will we be able to see it?" Al asked.
"The herders have lanterns," Mertiln replied. "They'll give you enough light to see."
"Can we use this?" I heard Shaylin ask from behind us. I turned to look and watched as she reached into a pouch at her waist. She pulled out a small piece of leather folded around something the size of her fist. Heather hissed as Shaylin opened the leather to reveal the glowing rock Shaylin had created a few days before.
Mertiln snorted. "An Everlight stone. Where did you get it?"
"Shaylin created it," I said proudly.
"That girl?" Mertiln asked. "Did you really?" The dwarf was fingering a strange necklace he was wearing.
Shaylin blushed. "Yes," she whispered. "Ron had some glow grass so I made two. We traded one at the last village we stayed at."
Mertiln nodded. "I had heard we had given you a few vials of glow grass. However, there hasn't been a female wizard since the Empire fell. It is hard to credit that one exists."
"I'm no wizard," Shaylin said. The young woman blushed and kicked at the snow. "I have the ability, but have never been trained fully. Everything I know I learned from some books my father was able to find."
"And he was willing to send you with these folks," Mertiln said with a nod. "I had heard they were more willing than most to give credit to women."
"News about us traveled fast," Heather said.
"Clan Skyve owed you a debt of honor," Mertiln said. "Without your informing them of the loss of the armor, it might have taken years to recover. Or it could have ended up in the hands of the Wizards at the academy. They would have demanded quite a bit before returning the armor to its rightful owners."
"It was the honorable thing to do," I said. "We did that without expectation of payment or reward."
Mertiln laughed loudly. "That is why we owe such a great debt. And we can repay it by protecting you and providing shelter while we help you move closer to Saraloncto."
"You know about that?" Victoria asked.
The dwarves had the conversion as the second sled was finished. I watched as another giant beetle was herded out of the cave and attached to the harness. This one was clearly more upset about the light. The instant the herders started to allow it to return to the cave, it charged forward, knocking one of the dwarves into the snow in its haste. The other dwarf was able to get it to slow as it entered the cave.
The dwarves working on the conversions had paid no attention to the antics of the beetle. They had already moved to drag the last sled over to the edge of the snow and were lining up the wedges used to raise it from the snow. Steve wandered over to stand near me. "Lydia has convinced Hencktor he will be safe," he said. "But Esme, Aine, and Kariy are going to walk with them to help keep his spirits up."
"We should probably all stay together," I said. "Shaylin has her stone, and we can use that for light. At least Mertiln here has said it is acceptable."
Mertiln snorted. "Good, you understand how things will work underground. Yes, the stone is perfectly fine in the caves. The light cast won't ruin the vision of any dwarves or bother the beetles. The other light we use will be the lanterns, and we are careful to keep the light from shining directly at someone."
Mertiln turned to look at Shaylin. "If you have a crystal, keep it in your pouch. That you must not use while we are in the caves. Am I understood?"
"Ye ... yes, Lord," Shaylin sputtered. Heather reached out to put her arms around the flustered girl.
"I'm no Lord," Mertiln said, clearly pleased. "Just don't use that crystal. The wizard's light from one of those is too harsh."
I waved over to Lydia. She was standing by Hencktor. Her man shook like a tree facing gale force winds, but began to walk towards the cave. I pointed at the cave opening and looked down at Gertrilla, who was holding onto the two puppies. "Let's move so we can stay between the second and third sled while we travel in the caves," I suggested.
The rest of the group groaned, but we all started to walk toward the cave. Mertiln shouted something to the dwarves still working on the sled and then trotted forward to get in front of me. He turned around and held a hand up.
"Daytona Trade people," he called out. We all slowed and he nodded. "I have a few things to say before we enter. First, we will be traveling down an established trade path. The paths are considered by the majority of the races of the underworld as neutral territory. There are savage races that do not abide by the peace, but most will. However, you must remain on the path. Second, I know humans like to use torches for light. That is forbidden on the path. Your young wizard has an Everlight Stone, and we also have specialized lanterns. Those will be your light. Do not use anything else."
I put my own hand up. "Everyone, please listen to Mertiln and the other dwarves. We are their guests. Hencktor, will you be able to handle the cave?"
"I can do it," the man said with a groan. "I just don't want to."
"He'll be fine," Lydia said. "He's stronger than he thinks."
Mertiln nodded and then turned back to face the cave. We all started to walk forward, heading into the dark opening in the cliff.
The ceiling at the entrance was about seven feet. We stepped inside and found ourselves in a tunnel that was about eight feet wide. We were able to walk in about twenty feet before we reached the back of the second sled to enter. It was rocking slightly and I could see the shadows of someone putting their hands on the frame.
Steve hissed as he noticed the movement. He took half a step forward, but I grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back. "No," I whispered. "We must trust the dwarves in this. Otherwise we show them a lack of respect. Mertiln promised on his clan's honor that we would arrive at Purahomp with our goods intact."
Steve glared at me and then sighed. "Sorry," he muttered, "but I hate to see our sleds shaking like that and to be unable to see who's handling the cargo."
The shaking stopped. There was a strange scraping sound. Light burst forth from something on the ground. It spread out in a half circle around a shadowy piece of metal resting on the floor of the tunnel. I shielded my eyes in surprise as the light rose and finally settled about five feet off the ground. A moment later a second light lit up on the other side of the sled and
rose as well. Beyond these two points, I could see similar lights above the first sled.
"Wow," Victoria gasped. The lights were set up so that the sleds and the area between each sled were in shadow. Instead the lights covered everything to the left and right of the sleds, at a height of about five feet. We could see what was happening around us and finally got a good look at the tunnel.
In fact the tunnel was not exactly a perfect name. We were standing in an enclosed space with a ceiling of about seven feet and walls about eight or nine feet apart, but just ahead the walls flowed outward and the ceiling rose, leaving a large chamber. The light did not show the far side, but I could see that the path we stood on crossed the chamber and continued into the darkness.
"The floor is so smooth," Steve said.
I glanced down and realized that the floor was as flat as any freshly laid sidewalk back on Earth. In the tunnel, the floor went all the way to the walls, but I looked ahead and could see that in the larger chamber, the flat surface did not grow much wider than the tunnel itself.
"The beetles are specially bred for pulling carts in the mines," Mertiln said. "They are powerful and can pull for hours but they don't climb. We started to use them to move goods between outposts, but had to create special paths for them to follow. We will be following this to our outpost."
I nodded. We heard a scuttling sound behind us and the third sled was pulled into the cave by another beetle. Esme and Kariy moved forward as the massive jaws of the beetle approached them.
Mertiln snorted. "It will only bite if attacked or we command it. You are safe."
"Beetles scare many women from our lands, and these are far larger than any beetle that lives where we are from," I said quietly as I stared at the sharp jaws.
Mertiln just snorted again. "We go now. We have a long journey ahead of us."
The dwarf shouted something I could not understand. The lights above the first sled started to move away. They illuminated the cavern as the sled began to pull away.
