Verdunmull

by Jared Zakarian

  The two dwarfs glanced at each other with more serious expressions.

  “Do you have the written request with you?” the dwarf with the battle-ax inquired.

  “I have it,” Treasach said with the parchment held up in one hand.

  The dwarf with the heavy battle-ax walked over and grabbed the piece of parchment from the prince. He read what was on the parchment and then glanced over the small procession with an eye of suspicion. His inspection of the group finished with Faolan. The dwarf handed the letter back to Treasach and stepped in front of the young guardian. He whipped the heavy battle-ax up onto his shoulder and stood with a judging expression.

  “Are you in charge?” the fearsomely armored dwarf asked with a penetrating stare.

  “Yes, I am,” Faolan said, slightly fazed by the dwarf’s intensity.

  “Zael sent an elf so young?” The dwarf spat. “A mere child cannot fell a dragon.”

  “King Zael sent a Shadow Guardian, a general of the renowned elven army, two healers, Caedmon Conn, and the prince himself to aid the dwarfs in their time of need,” Faolan retaliated.

  “The great wolf guardian of the races accompanies you?” The dwarf stood strong, but the muscles in his face relaxed. He peered over Faolan’s shoulder and searched for the unmistakable blue figure as if he had missed it. He was disappointed when he did not find the old beast.

  “I do not see him,” the dwarf grumbled.

  “Caedmon will be here soon. There was another matter he had to tend to before following us. I assure you he is coming,” Faolan said.

  The dwarf looked over the lacking reinforcements and shrugged his shoulders with discontent. “Fine. You mentioned healers accompany you?”

  “Yes, two of the best,” Faolan assured him.

  “Some of our men confronted a Greenback several days ago, and they are in need of a more skilled healer. A good friend of mine was among those injured. Can your healers aid them?” The dwarf asked the young leader.

  Faolan looked over his shoulder at Aili and Leith, and in return, they gave him an affirmative nod.

  “Yes, they can. Where can we find the injured men?” he said.

  The dwarf pivoted back and pointed toward the east. “They are housed across the Scar at Ardara. The quickest route is by taking the scout’s rope bridge spanning the Scar. It cannot hold much weight, but your only alternative is several days’ ride around the north or south rims of the Scar. The fewer who cross, the safer it will be.”

  “Understood. Then we shall be on our way,” he told them.

  “I am grateful,” the dwarf confessed.

  “You are welcome. I am glad we can aid our dwarven allies.”

  The dwarf’s battle-hardened face softened, and he gave a quick chuckle. “Right, aid . . . just take this main road through town, and the scout’s rope bridge can be found on the far side.”

  Faolan nodded. “Very well.”

  The dwarfs stepped aside. “We shall send word to King Kvaran of your arrival.”

  “Thank you,” Faolan said, ending the conversation. He began walking, and the others followed. When the dwarven warriors were beyond earshot, Kellen moved his horse beside Faolan.

  “You fared well back there, Faolan. That was the first time I have seen such confidence come from you. I am very proud of you, son,” Kellen acknowledged.

  “Thank you, Father.” Faolan smiled.

  The group moved through Odemar and saw numerous houses, the local barracks, and an armory. A few buildings had been destroyed, more than likely by the Greenback the dwarfs had mentioned. There were no women or children walking the streets of Odemar. The only dwarfs they could see were men, and every dwarf was dressed in heavy battle armor and wielded some type of intimidating weaponry.

  “They have no female soldiers?” Faolan wondered.

  “They do,” Gavina answered.

  “I do not see any.”

  “They are down in the caves.”

  “Why?”

  Auvelia spoke up. “If there was an attack on their lands, the female warriors would protect the young and the king should the front lines fall.”

  “Are they not as strong?” Faolan asked.

  Gavina chuckled and explained in better detail for the young guardian. “Perhaps not in muscle, but rest assured they are fierce fighters. I would dare any man to face a female dwarven soldier; their ferocity in battle far surpasses their male counterparts. The male dwarven warriors fight with endurance and strategy to weather the storms that assail their borders in numbers and formations. The female dwarven warriors fight for supremacy in tight corridors. Knowing they are the last line of defense, they train to fight few in number or lone combat. They both have their merits and proficiencies, but the females are much more savage in one-on-one combat.”

  Faolan was surprised by her explanation. “The dwarfs are quite interesting, and I would have never known. This is my first time to the Verdunmull Scar. The only experiences I have had with dwarfs are when one came to Darnum for trade.”

  He realized Leith had not been exaggerating when describing Odemar. It indeed was a town with the sole purpose of protecting those lower down in the Scar from a western assault. They traversed the main road of Odemar from west to east, and after a decent amount of time, they neared the western edge of the gorge. The rope bridge came into view, and when they looked at it, they understood why the dwarf had given them words of warning. It was indeed unfit for their weight. It was about five feet wide and only supported by incredibly thick rope. The ropes were comprised of multiple twisting strands with very thick diameters, but they were intended for supporting the long length of the bridge, not a heavy load. The rope bridge was tied to numerous large wooden pillars, and its wooden planks looked to be well maintained. The group stopped before the bridge and peered out across the vast gorge.

  Faolan turned toward the others and thought about the course of action they should take. He glanced from face to face and thought about who should go across to Ardara.

  “Aili, Leith, and myself shall cross the bridge to help the injured in Ardara. I will ask everyone else to protect Ireli as she is our foremost responsibility. We cannot let anything happen to her. I will leave Kellen in charge until we return,” he told them.

  Kellen nodded and became even more impressed with his son for coming into his own and fortifying his position as leader.

  Aili and Leith climbed down from the front bench of the wagon. The healers gathered some medical supplies from the back and then joined Faolan. The three of them stepped toward the rope bridge, and they all stared in awe at the vast gorge before them. The Verdunmull Scar was deeper than they could see. The bottom was shrouded by mist and fog, which were produced by the numerous waterfalls along its gigantic cliffs. Almost all the waterfalls originated halfway down the gorge’s walls or lower, where underground springs filtered out of the rocky faces.

  Faolan made sure his weapons were secure, and Leith produced a low whine under his breath.

  Aili whispered into Faolan’s ear. “You are sure about this?”

  He glanced at her and then her brother and took a moment to think. The young guardian peered across the gorge and could see the eastern wall, though an atmospheric haze made it hard to see. He moved closer to the bridge and tested the stability of one of the many large wooden pillars. It was sturdy and had to be buried deep in the ground. He grabbed and tested one of the ropes by trying to shake it, and the multistrand rope did not budge from his force.

  “I believe it is safe. The ropes feel sturdy, and the bridge seems to be quite strong,” Faolan said. “Leith, you should go first, so I can be between the two of you and have the ability to help either of you, should anything go wrong.”

  Leith breathed deeply and mustered his courage as he tried to forget his fears. He cautiously stepped out onto the first plank of the bridge, and it was sturdy due to the nearby bridge’s anchors. A slight tightening sound could be heard in the ropes as Leith moved farther out ont
o the bridge, and the old ropes stretched against their will. The bridge held firm, and Leith continued forward one board at a time with slight, plank-testing partial steps.

  After Leith was a good distance away from the gorge’s edge, Faolan took his first step onto the planks. He was not as wary as Leith and moved confidently forward. Aili followed him a moment later and proved by far the slowest of the three. She was not sure about their crossing, and the slightest sway or movement of the bridge caused her to stop.

  As the three of them distanced themselves from the western cliff, the bridge dipped farther down into the Scar. The great length of the bridge caused a deep bowing in the ropes, and the wind proved to be a greater issue for stability the farther they walked away from the western wall. The slightest gust of wind made the bridge sway several feet and made Aili wary of her steps.

  The gorge’s bottom was very far below and obscured by dense water vapor, but Faolan felt strangely comfortable so high up in the air. His strides were long, and a slight smile crossed his face as the wind rushed around him. Neither Aili nor Leith felt the same, and both were nervous with each step they took, believing the wood might break beneath them.

  Leith moved more quickly than his sister due to one single thought, which had entered his mind as soon as he had stepped onto the bridge. It was the understanding that the quicker he moved, the sooner he would reach the eastern cliff and the sooner he would find himself on solid ground again. Aili had not come to the same conclusion, and she continued stepping ever so slowly and cautiously as she added her weight to each plank.

  The gorge was very wide, and at their current location, both the western and eastern cliff faces were massive walls rising high overhead. The only evidence that there were northern and southern cliffs was a perpendicular rope bridge, which passed underneath them at one point. These bridges were not meant for travel and were precarious at best. Their name was apt to their purpose; only a lone dwarven scout should race across the gorge in times of need, in order to alert the other towns for aid and defense. A single rope bridge connected each city to the others for rapid, though dangerous, communication.

  As their bridge began to ascend back out of the Scar, Faolan glanced back over his shoulder to check on Aili and noticed she was quite some distance behind him. He stopped and watched her for a moment. Observing her anxious steps, he called out to her. “The bridge is sound, Aili. You do not need to fear falling.”

  She glanced up at the sound of his voice and gave a nervous smile.

  “Faolan! Dragons!” Leith’s distant shout barely reached his ears.

  Faolan looked skyward, and his eyes widened as he saw a dozen or more dragons approaching from the northwestern sky. He glanced toward the east and noticed they were still a fair distance from the eastern cliff, though Leith was much closer to safety than he was. Faolan looked back at the dragons and realized they would be upon them very soon.

  “Run! You must get off this bridge!” Faolan yelled.

  “What about Aili?” Leith shouted back.

  Faolan glanced back, and his jaw dropped when he realized her distance from the cliff.

  “Aili! Run to me! Dragons are coming!” He cried out at the top of his lungs in desperation.

  She shook her head in confusion and screamed back, “What?”

  He could barely hear her voice due to the distance and the gorge’s winds.

  “Dragons!” he shouted as he pointed to the northwestern sky.

  Aili followed the directional cue, and a scream rang from her lips, which came in loud and clear even at Faolan’s distance. She pulled up the front of her dress so she would not trip on the loose fabric and moved as quickly as she could manage. She desperately tried running, but she was met with a wobbly opposition. She stumbled, and as she tried to steady herself a bag of medical supplies fell out of her arms. The bag burst open from the impact, and a portion of the supplies slid off the bridge and into the gorge below. She managed to save a couple of items and slipped them back into the bag before standing back up.

  “Aili, are you all right?” Faolan cried out in concern.

  She did not answer as she was concentrating on maintaining her balance as she ran. The bridge shifted beneath her feet as her pace quickened, and the gap between them began to close. A minute more and the gap had narrowed to one hundred yards. Faolan looked back toward the east and began running because they both had some distance to cover before they reached the eastern cliffs, and if they tried to run together, their unsynchronized footsteps might cause the other to stumble and fall.

  All three of them raced onward as a few unnerving minutes passed. Leith was the first to reach the eastern cliff, and when he stepped onto solid ground, he turned around. He stared in growing unease as the dragons neared, and for the first time his eyes were able to see details. The dragons’ scaled hides were dark green in color, and they had pale bellies. They had no horns, and their bodies were fat while their necks and tails were slender and long. As the dragons moved over the northern gorge, they split into several smaller groups and headed in different directions.

  “Faolan, they are separating!” Leith yelled.

  The young guardian glanced over his shoulder and saw what Leith meant.

  “Warn Ardara! Hurry!” Faolan shouted.

  Leith sprinted off toward the east and out of sight.

  Faolan’s pace quickened as he neared the eastern cliff. The thick wooden posts provided greater stability as he neared the gorge’s eastern wall, making it easier for him to run. When he reached the end of the bridge, he stopped and assessed the situation. He observed the dragons’ speed and direction. He figured they would strike Ardara in moments and noticed several dragons had already begun attacking Odemar back across the Scar. Worry seeped into his heart as he wondered how his parents fared on the other side.

  Movement caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. He switched his gaze toward the sudden motion and gasped. A dragon separated from the Ardara-bound group and headed straight toward Aili. The swaying bridge had caught its attention, and his heart dropped as fear slipped into his mind—not for his own sake, but for hers. He sprinted back toward the bridge and shouted at the top of his lungs.

  “Aili! Run!”

  She heard him, and her speed increased with every consecutive step. The boards shifted less dramatically as she neared the cliff edge.

  Faolan watched the dragon as it approached from the north, and his mind echoed. Please, no. Not her.

  He jumped and waved his arms wildly, calling out to the dragon at the top of his lungs. “Over here! Come get me, you stupid, ugly beast!”

  Then he whistled and waved his swords around, hoping the glinting light would catch the beast’s attention.

  The dragon glanced in his direction but paid little mind to the efforts.

  The beast dropped into a steep dive, and its wings folded along its back while its massive form plummeted toward the rope bridge. The lizard’s jaws parted, revealing its sharp teeth. Aili was nearing the cliff, but Faolan knew the dragon’s descent was too fast. As she sprinted across the last few yards, the dragon’s gaping maw wrapped around the bridge and sliced the ropes as it plummeted into the gorge. The bridge was torn in two, and the severed halves quickly fell, swinging toward their respective walls of the gorge. The wooden boards dropped from beneath Aili.

  “Faolan!” Aili screamed in fear as she extended an arm toward him.

  He dashed toward the bridge and desperately reached out for her hand as he teetered on the cliff’s edge. The young guardian grasped her hand, but in doing so, he forfeited his own stable footing. His feet scraped across the ground as he tilted forward. He tried frantically to regain his footing, but to no avail. Her weight pulled him over the edge, and he dove headlong into the gorge. His eyes locked onto hers, and their overwhelming fear was shared in the split second that his feet disappeared over the cliff edge.

  A gale rushed and swirled around them as Faolan felt a strong tug on his ri
ght ankle, almost as if a hand had grabbed him. Their downward momentum reversed briefly and then stopped altogether. He peered up at his right ankle and noticed it had been caught up in the ropes of the bridge. He breathed a sigh of relief and looked back down at Aili’s fear-stricken face.

  “Aili, you must climb up,” he shouted.

  “I do not know if I can,” she cried, shaking her head as her hands slipped.

  “You must try!” he pleaded as he grabbed her arm with both hands to maintain hold of her.

  She swallowed her fear and swung her other dangling arm up to him. She grabbed onto his arm and pulled herself up. The healer began to climb up his body one hand at a time, trying to maintain a firm grip. Faolan assisted her as best he could.

  As she neared the top of the cliff, her hand hit a hard object strapped to his leg. He glanced up and watched his honorary dagger slip from its sheath. It descended past his waist, and he desperately reached out for the king’s gift. He missed with one hand and frantically swung his body as he reached out with the other. The dagger descended past his head, and his hand raced after it, barely catching its hilt before it descended beyond reach. He sighed in relief and relaxed when he successfully caught the dagger.

  Aili scrambled up and over the cliff to safety. She turned around to lie down on the ground and reached over the cliff edge to offer her hands in assistance.

  Faolan raised his torso upward and grabbed the rope holding his ankle. He carefully unraveled it from around his leg and freed himself while maintaining a strong grip on the rope. He grasped for Aili’s support, and she helped pull him up over the edge. They crawled a short distance away from the cliff to where they would be safe. Deep breaths filled their lungs as they recovered from the frightful experience.

  “Thank you, Faolan,” Aili said as she calmed.

  He nodded and smiled as his heart still beat rapidly. “I would never forsake you, Aili. I will always protect you.”

  She admired his innocent resolve to care for her and was grateful he would risk his own life for hers so freely. The gesture was more than she had received from anyone before, and her attraction to him grew. She placed her hand on his and looked into his eyes. “I hope so, Faolan,” she whispered.