As they walked through the doorway and it was swinging silently closed, they could hear the king saying with great irritation in his voice “What do you need so urgently brother.” And the door sealed shut behind them.
It was completely dark. Nick could see no sign of light, color or shape. “This way” called Owengar.
“I can’t see.” Said Nick “What way?”
“Oh, sorry, I forgot you can’t see like we do in the dark. Owengar apologized. Suddenly Nick saw in front of him sparks and then an oil dipped torch burst into flame.
Nick could now see the sides of the tunnel they were in. It was very crude compared to the other workmanship inside the dwarven kingdom. The floors were not the polished smooth floors he had seen throughout the kingdom. They were roughly cut, and the walls and ceiling were jagged. It reminded him more of the old mine tunnels he had seen in Park City. His family had taken a drive on a Saturday to visit the old mining town when they had first moved in to Evanston.
“What is this tunnel for?” Nick said, “It doesn’t seem like it fits here.”
“This is exactly what Velengar had it built for, escaping. I know it is rough, but it is only for a situation just like this. He had it built in secret when he was first crowned king. Only ten of us know that it even exists and that is because we made it.” Said Owengar. “Now come quickly, we have a long way to go.”
It seemed like they had been following the tunnel for hours when it finally came to an end at a clean carved door. Nicks hands and back were aching from carrying the bag that the two dwarves had handed him when they left the throne room. “We must do this in the darkness my friends. I am sorry. The floors on the other side of the doors will be the clean polished floors you saw before. It should be easy to follow me without tripping. We just can’t risk the light drawing attention by any of the passage guards. We aren’t sure who is on the king’s side and who is on Orthen’s.” said Owengar quietly. “Here you can hold onto this and I will guide you through the dark. I will pull it to the side you need to walk on and then you pull it for him.” Owengar said pointing to Rhen. He pulled a five to six-foot-long rope out of the bag on his back and handed the end to Rhen and the middle to Nick.
Owengar put out the torch and all went black. Nick heard a click and the he could feel air rushing past him. He could see a faint light in the shape of an open doorway. He couldn’t see anything else. They couldn’t see but they could hear muffled distant voices conversing.
Nick felt Owengar tug on the rope in the dark direction of the door. They slowly moved out through the doorway and to the right. Nick could feel the stone slant upward as they moved forward. He could feel a slight movement of cold air coming toward him down the tunnel. The air was cool and fresh. It did not have the pungent smell of mold and moss as the kingdom had down in the city streets. The air was dry. It was refreshing and eased his soul and lungs.
They continued winding through this new tunnel for a few minutes. As they moved forward, they could see more light with ever step. Nick could almost make out the shape of Owengar in front of him, but still not enough to keep Nick from running into him when he stopped to whisper quietly to them.
“Sorry.” Nick whispered.
“Please don’t speak.” Owengar answered in a very quiet voice. “We will reach the guards ahead. They are stationed at the overlook at the mountain pass. It will be very light there so you could easily be seen. There is a cave where they watch out over the pass below. This tunnel leads up to the cave and just off to the right side is a tunnel that leads to the back gate. When we get close, I will throw a rock down the tunnel to distract the guards. When they have turned to look down the tunnel you two will need to slip quietly into the tunnel to the right. Wait there in the darkness. I will present myself to the guards a few moments later. I will tell them that I am there to exit the gate on business for the king. At that point we can open the gate and leave without them knowing you are leaving with me. Do not make a sound!” Owengar commanded.
Owengar went silent and then tugged on the rope so that they knew to move forward. As the moved around the next bend, the light grew much stronger. Nick could now make out not just the shape of Owengar, but he could see him in the dim light. Up ahead Nick saw the backs of the two guards and could hear them talking. Nick felt relief when he could see the natural light from outside and feel the cool breeze on his face.
The guards were standing on a raised platform that had a wall around it. It was open to the outside of the mountain in the direction they faced. Nick could make out gray clouds framed by the parapet wall they were looking over. He could also see the finely carved walls of the tunnel behind them.
“I would love some Mutton with carrots and onions.” Said one of the guards. “Don’t talk about food when all I have are these dry ration crackers in my pocket.” The other said irritably.
Owengar stopped against the wall about thirty feet from the guards. He pulled what looked like a small sling shot from his pocket. It was a stick with a “Y” in it with two stretchy straps and a leather strap to hold stones. He put a stone into the leather strap and aimed it down the tunnel past the guards. Before he let it fly he made sure Rhen and Nick were close at his side in the shadow of the tunnel.
When he was sure they were out of sight, Owengar let the stone fly. Nick was amazed at the speed and the accuracy of the shot. The stone shot straight ahead and down the center of the tunnel. The stone clacked against the floor a good thirty feet past the guards. Their heads turned toward the sound immediately.
“What was that?” asked one to the other.
“Duno? Go and see.” Said the other pushing his thumb down the tunnel.
Reluctantly he walked down the three steps and turned down the tunnel. He lit a torch on the wall and started to walk in the direction of the sound. “Who’s there?” he called out. As he did the other guard crouched on that side of the platform and looked down in the direction he was headed with the torch.
As the guard crouched Owengar gave Nick and Rhen the signal to move. Quickly and quietly, with his heart pounding in his throat, Nick slipped across the tunnel and turned right into the black tunnel like Owengar had instructed them. Rhen followed close at his side.
Just as they reached the dark shadow of the tunnel, they heard Owengar’s voice boom through the tunnel with the light of a new torch surrounding him. “Ensel, so good to see you again!”
“Is that you Owengar? How long has it been? Good to see you my cousin.” Said Ensel. Once Ensel had turned around, Nick could make out his facial features. Ensel had a long face with a gray beard. His face was covered in deep wrinkles and two beady eyes. His nose was long and hooked. His eyes were full of sincere happiness to see his cousin Owengar. This made Nick feel much safer.
Owengar and Ensel exchanged pleasantries for a moment and then their attention was brought to the other guard coming back up the tunnel. He was holding the stone in his hand that Owengar had used to draw away their attention. “The noise was this.” Said the other guard.
“Oh, that was me. I have to keep you on your toes you know.” Owengar said with a broad smile at his cousin.
“I will admit, it did make me a little jumpy. We never have visitors at the back gate anymore. Speaking of that, what are you doing here?” Ensel asked his cousin.
Owengar made up an excuse that he was to communicate with the elven king information about Mortes and to collect information that they had regarding the outside world. The other two dwarves didn’t seem to question his duty at all. After a few more minutes of discussion, Owengar excused himself and gave his cousin a pat on the back.
Nick and Rhen pushed deeper into the tunnel as the light of Owengar’s torch would expose them as he came closer. When they were around the next corner they stopped and waited for him. Owengar hurried past and waved to them to follow him.
The tunnel ahead slowly led downward to a grand stair case. The hand rails were full of masterfully carved designs and the bottom
of the polished stairs flared outward before two massive stone doors. The workmanship of the dwarves continued to amaze Nick. Everything they did seemed to be overdone and extravagant. As they reached the doors at the bottom, Nick wondered how they would move such a massive stone door. His question was answered as Owengar pulled a key from his pocket and slid it into the key hole and gave it a turn. There was a mechanical sounding click and then the door slowly swung outward about four feet. Just enough for a person to pass single file. The light from outside came crashing through the opening and even though it was overcast, it seemed blinding to Nick and Rehn. Even Owengar held a hand up to his eyes as they stepped out through the door. Once they were out, Owengar turned back to the door and put the key back into the other side of the door. This side looked just like the cliff face it had opened from. The key hole was hidden somehow in the cracks of the rock.
Owengar turned the key and the door swung back into place. As it fit back in to its original position, the same mechanical click sounded, and the mountain was sealed shut. Nick stood looking over the mountain face in front of him baffled at how the cracks of the door had disappeared somewhere in the cracks and imperfections of the rock face. There was no sign of an entry. It was apparent why the humans on Terran had no idea that the dwarves existed. There was no trace of them in the world.
“This way.” Said Owengar leading them down a narrow trail to the right. They were high above the tree lines and all that was visible was rock and patches of dirt. Nick looked back in the direction of the watch tower where the other dwarves should be but could not see the opening in the rocks. He did see what it was they had been watching. Off to the left down about five hundred feet was a mountain pass. There was a wide trail that wound its way up from the valleys below and crossed between these two granite peaks. Nick assumed it was the only passable road through these mountains. There seemed to be no other passable route except for through this gap between the two peaks.
Down below them they could see the green of pine trees reaching towards them. The air was very cold this high in the mountain peaks. Nick became nervous as he looked down below and saw nothing but cliffs in every direction. His stomach tightened as he realized how high they were and that there didn’t seem to be any way down from these heights.
“Stay close to me” called Owengar quietly “I don’t want you to wander into their line of sight.”
Nick went quickly to Owengar’s side. Rhen was soon there as well. Owengar led them along one of the cliff faces, to what looked like jagged steps. One side of these rough stairs dropped straight to the valley below. A gray granite face backed the other side. Nick kept his shoulder tight to the cool granite. With each step, he could feel a tingle shoot from his foot up through his leg and to his chest. His head was almost spinning from the unreal height of the mountain they were on.
The stairs continued down and started to curl around to the right. The sight didn’t ease Nicks fear of heights as it just highlighted how high they were as the stairs were outlined by the gray of the sky on the horizon. Just as he thought he might have to sit down for a second, the stairs curled down to a flat landing with two ornately carved stone doors.
“Here we go” said Owengar. “We should be able to move about freely in these tunnels. They are to the ancient mines of my people. We have not used them in years. We keep them locked. King Velengar started new mines that are closer to the kingdom for convenience.”
Owengar pulled out his key ring again and fumbled through the five or six keys on the chain. He stopped at the roughest looking of the group. The metal was dark and rusted. He separated it from the others and placed it between his oversized finger and thumb and inserted it into the door in front of him. With the same mechanical click, as before, the door unlocked and swung into the mountain inviting them to pass into the dark tunnel before them.
Nick and Rhen stepped into the darkness as Owengar encouraged them in with the wave of his hand. The air was stale and damp. It was obvious that these caves had lain quiet for some time now. The darkness was broken by the newly lit torch Owengar now held in his hand. The floors were the rough floors of the escape tunnel. The walls were not the nice squared or shaped tunnels of the kingdom. They resembled more the mine tunnels that Nick had worked in for the last few months. This thought brought back a memory of the Dead ones and of the misery of the mines. Nick shuddered involuntarily as the thoughts crossed his mind.
Owengar took the lead and pushed them far into the tunnels. After another hour, Nick had no idea how Owengar could know where they possibly were. They had taken so many passages that had split off from the main tunnel. It was so quiet in the mine and no one had spoken since they entered. All they could here were the shuffling of their own feet over the cold stone floors. Soon Owengar stopped as the tunnel opened into a very large cavern.
“This is it, this is the first mine of my people. This is where they started our mountain home. The very crown the king wears was fashioned from gold mined here.” Owengar said in awe. I have not been here many times, but each time has been on a special occasion. I find our journey to be one of these special occasions.” He finished very matter of fact.
“Nick and Rhen, we must arm you before we leave this kingdom. What is your weapon of choice?” Owengar asked.
“A long sword would be fine for me.” Answered Rhen.
“I am not sure.” Said Nick.
“Then we shall get you a long sword Rhen, and for you Nick, I think a short sword would be best.” Owengar said as he inspected Nick head to foot. “I think a mail shirt would be smart as well. Not a mail shirt of men, but from the forges of the dwarves. “Come this way then.” Said Owengar leading them to a darkened archway to the left. There should be something that will work in here.
As Owengar passed through the archway with his torch, Nick took in a deep breath. There before him was the most amazing display of armor and weapons he had ever seen. Full suites of intricate plate-mail, shields, battle axes, war hammers, maces, swords, bows and helmets were all on display and neatly organized into alcoves in the large room. In the middle of the room were smooth faceless dwarven statues that had beautiful suites of armor strapped to them for display. Ornate racks were neatly organized with swords, lances, spears. There was a table with a black velvet covering that had a display of daggers and knives. Everything Nick looked at was made of the finest of detail and craftsmanship. Each piece was a work of art.
Everything had a hint of dust upon it, but other than that, it was all just like new. There were no signs of battle scars on the plate-mail, not a scratch on a single blade. “It’s like new.” Nick said, “It is all so amazing.”
“So it is.” Owengar said in a choked voice. Nick swore he saw him brush a hand past his eye. “This is the Kings Guard Armory. Only the finest of our soldiers can arm themselves here. King Velengar has ordered me to have you pick for yourselves from only the best. I want you to understand, this is the greatest of honors my people can receive. Please do it with respect and know of the respect my king has for you Keeper.” With this Owengar bowed deeply to Nick.
Once again Nick felt undeserving of the respect that Velengar and Owengar were showing to him, but he did not want to offend them. “Thank you for the honor.” he said. “Yes, we are deeply honored.” Said Rhen.
There was a short silence that was broken with the ring of a metal blade being drawn from one of the racks. “This will do nicely.” Rhen said as he put his second hand to the sword he had drawn from one of the racks. The handle was large enough for him to hold both hands comfortably on the hilt. The blade was long and thin. Rhen deftly swung it into the air and with a spin the blade whistled through the air. In several swift motions, he sliced the air into imaginary bits as he stepped, lunged and swung the blade. It was amazing to Nick. All the time the blade hissed through the air. He never imagined that someone his age could handle a sword like this.
Nick continued to look around. He followed the instruction of Owengar and f
inally settled with a narrower blade that allowed for only one hand on the hilt. Owengar showed him a light wooden shield that had a convenient strap that he could use to carry it on his back. It had comfortably molded leather straps on the back of it for his arm and he showed him the basics of how it could be used against an attacker to ward off their blows. “This way you can keep yourself safe while you learn to use that sword.” Owengar said after his demonstration.
Nick understood what Owengar was trying to tell him nicely. Defense would be better suited for him until he learned to fight properly. Nick could hardly imagine fighting with another person face to face. The thought didn’t sit well with him at all. He knew it was a new reality in this world, but he still wasn’t wired for it. How would he learn to fight like that? He just wasn’t sure he could do it.
“We will stay the night here in the armory. We are safe here. As you saw when we came in, no one has been here for a long time.” Owengar held the torch to the floor and waved his hand to show them their own footprints in the light dust that had gathered there. They could see only their footprints and no sign of any others.
They unraveled bed rolls that Owengar had found in another room. He also found three packs for them to load with supplies. They rolled out the bedding and arranged their things for later that night. Owengar had them open the bags they had carried all the way from the throne room. They transferred everything from the bags into the packs. Owengar showed Nick how to fasten the shield onto his pack properly so that he could easily remove it and protect himself in case of an attack. Nick smiled to himself as he realized he would look like a turtle with the shield and pack on his back. Owengar helped him to fit a belt and a proper scabbard for the sword around his waist. Nick felt a strange sense of pride once the sword hung at his side and he felt the weight tug at the thick leather belt. The scabbard was balanced just right so that as he stepped the sword stayed out of the way and made it easy for him to move.
The Scent of Death Page 19
