by Dave Hazel
“Should I be fearful?” She asked with a slight pout.
“One of the reasons you were sent away was because of the rumors that had started. Now it seems things have taken a strange twist. I do not know how safe you are here and I do not know what changes may have taken place. I have my personal suspicions and that is why I wish to keep your identity a secret. Be patient child,” Towbar said and reached his large hand out to gently stroke her cheek.
“Yes Towbar,” she agreed with a childlike pout. “A few more moments will not hurt.”
Mykal had never seen the giant’s gentle side. Towbar’s interaction with Doninka impressed him. Mykal didn’t know what to expect next, but kept his hand on the butt of his revolver.
Towbar opened the large double doors, the noise from within rushed out surrounding them with the sweet smelling smoke of a tasty tobacco product. It appeared to be a bar and dining area. Many soldiers who were eating and drinking, laughing and having a good time filled the large room. The doors had been opened briefly, revealing many soldiers who appeared to be intoxicated. Mykal assumed the soldiers were off duty and feared they would face trouble if Towbar left them with the rowdy soldiers.
“Silence!” A soldier yelled once he caught sight of their gigantic leader. “I order for Silence. It is Lord Towbar.” The noise didn’t stop instantly but it died down quickly.
They followed Towbar into the smoke filled tavern. “Thank you,” Towbar spoke when he had their attention. “Who is in charge here?”
“It is I, my Lord,” replied a superiorly muscular red headed man. Though he was probably the largest soldier in the room, he stood small compared to Towbar.
“These three are very good friends of mine,” he turned and waved for them to come closer. “I am leaving to speak with the King. You are responsible to make sure they are well treated,” he looked into the red haired man’s eyes. “Anything they desire, it will be your responsibility to ensure they are happy and comfortable. I see some have had much drink. I will hold you personally responsible should something happen that should not. These three are very important to the King and to myself.”
“Yes my Lord,” the soldier snapped to attention and gladly accepted the task. Towbar left and the redhead introduced himself. “I am Bangda.” He stretched out his mighty arm.
“I am Norg,” the small but powerful Dwarf clasped onto the leader’s wrist to greet each other in the common manner of greeting others.
“And I’m Mykal,” he said when the redhead looked at him. Everyone in the room became silent. They eyed the three in an attempt to discover their importance. “This is Donna,” Mykal lied. He hoped none of the soldiers would recognize her. Mykal felt as out of place as Norg looked.
“The two of you look very strange,” Bangda commented while he eyed them. “Please, take no offense. I only meant to say that your appearance is much different.” Bangda spoke his native language to several men. “My men have agreed to give up their meals and drinks that will be ready in a few minutes.”
“Thank you,” Mykal said with a smile.
“Once again,” Bangda spoke softly. “I meant no offense. I only meant that your appearance is not like that of the normal people around here.”
“We different,” Norg said with pride, showing Bangda no offense had been taken. “I Dwarven race. My people live in mountains in Pass. Same Pass Sosos fight to take. Dwarven people stay hidden many generations. Now my--”
“I have heard of the Dwarven race,” a drunken soldier said loudly. “I have always thought they no longer existed. The only time I’ve heard of the Dwarven race is late at night around camp fires. Some say they never existed and they are only a myth,” he explained and curiously stared at Norg.
Norg gave a gruff laugh. “I look like myth? I real,” Norg said and thumped his fist on his own chest to show he was real. “Dwarven people real. Dwarven people hope hoomins welcome us. We help hoomins at Pass. We help fight Sosos.”
“I do not understand,” Bangda said, and looked perplexed. “We have been told there is a truce with the Sosos. There is no longer any war. It is time for celebration.”
“Not so,” Norg replied and shook his head. “Dwarven people, my people,” he tapped himself on the chest. “Hoomin people, your people,” he lightly tapped Bangda’s arm. “Fight Sosos. Fight as one,” he said and clasped his hands together, interlocking his fingers to show unity. “Fight Sosos,” he added and knocked his two fists together.
“This can not be,” Bangda said and quickly rubbed his face. He looked like he tried to clear his mind from the intoxicating drinks with his hands. “Why would the King have all our forces stand down and idle the time away if there is a threat at the Pass?”
“We don’t know why,” Mykal replied. “That’s one of the reasons why Towbar brought us here. Towbar expected a large army and only received a smaller force.”
“Who are you and where do you come from? If I may ask,” Bangda said politely and stared at Mykal.
“That’s not really important,” Mykal replied. “You probably wouldn’t believe me anyway.”
“From I learned,” Norg replied. “He from different world. Towbart think he be god. Sent by gods to help fight Sosos.”
“No, no, I’m not a god,” Mykal laughed and started to blush when everyone seemed to look harder and move closer.
“It was Mykal here who saved us from total defeat,” Doninka picked up where Norg left off. “Towbar met with him and his men who are less than one hundred strong. Together they went to Gartolin to warn us of the Soso invasion. We were surely doomed because the soldiers had not arrived,” she explained to the complete silence of the devoted listeners. “Since the soldiers did not arrive in time we had to hold the Pass with women, children, old men and Mykal’s people. Mykal is a great warrior. Even Lord Towbar was surprised by the fighting ability of Mykal and his people. They are all great warriors.”
“A warrior?” A voice called out. “I mean no disrespect. He does not look like a fighter. Yet you call him a great warrior?”
“Ah, do not allow his appearance to fool you,” Doninka said. “As I said, Mykal’s people are less than one hundred strong, yet they defeated several attacking forces of Sosos that numbered into the tens of thousands. They have killed thousands upon thousands of Sosos in less time than we have been speaking. I witnessed this with my own eyes.”
Mykal wanted to shrink away because the attention he received. He didn’t want to have another experience like he had with Gan or Metz. He didn’t want one of the drunken soldiers to challenge him because of his size or appearance.
“Me see countless Soso bodies,” Norg said.
“How can this be?” Bangda asked Mykal with a puzzled look. “Please take no offense, you do not look like our fighter type of warrior. To hear that you have killed thousands is hard to accept, not having witnessed it myself.”
“It’s…” Mykal paused because he didn’t want to tell them about his weapons and give away his secret. “It’s complicated to explain. You would find it hard to believe. I’m going to leave that question unanswered for now,” he shyly looked away felt embarrassed with all the attention he received.
“Is it magic you possess?” Bangda asked hesitantly.
“No, it’s not magic,” Mykal chuckled.
“When Towbar returns, ask him. He will remove your doubt. Towbar knows what a great warrior Mykal is,” Doninka offered.
“How do you fit into this group of three?” Bangda asked.
“It is not important for now,” she answered.
“Fair enough, fair lady. So, the Sosos have attacked the Pass?” Bangda asked as his large body collapsed into a chair. His face awash in sadness and surprise. “We were led to believe there is a truce. This indeed is ill news.”
“News not good,” Norg agreed. “Not know what happened since depart. Dwarven King put Dwarven forces against Sosos. We not want Sosos to take Pass. You not want Sosos take Pass. We agree. Work together. Towbar
t say you must thankful to Mykal. If not Mykal, if not Mykal people, Sosos have Pass.”
The room fell silent and remained quiet. Most went back to tables and stools at the bar to sit quietly in thought as they drank in the news they were still at war with the Sosos. A heavy gloom filled the air as well as a heavy fog of smoke. Windows were opened, but the smoke would not float out of the building. Many became fearful of loved ones since peace wasn’t truly at hand. If the Pass fell to the Sosos, they all knew the Great Walled City of Beramus would be the first battle front. Not only did the news turn out to be bad, it was sad news as well.
3.
Towbar returned some time later but Mykal fought to stay awake in the large comfortable chair. “Mykal, Doninka, Norg, come. The King wishes to see you,” he said with a warm smile.
Doninka jumped up first. She was the most excited since she hadn’t seen her father in some time. All three of them said their goodbyes to the soldiers who were now worried about the Soso invasion taking place.
Towbar stopped them as they proceeded down a hallway. “Before we see the King, there is something you must know,” he said and turned his attention to Doninka. “Your father is ill. The doctors are not sure what his ailment is. He is very ill.”
Her excitement and happiness were drained from her and replaced with fear. “Is he, is he going to die?”
“That I can not answer. Come, let us go see your father. He does not know that I have you here with me,” Towbar said. “It will be a great surprise for him.”
Mykal and Norg followed Towbar and Doninka who moved swiftly through the complex. They knew their way through the corridors and could have probably walked it blindfolded. They passed many guards who quickly snapped to attention when Towbar approached their position. Two guards opened a set of large white doors trimmed in gold.
The beauty of the lavishly furnished room went almost unnoticed when their eyes caught sight of the ailing King. The King lay on a very large bed. His flesh had a greenish yellow color and his belly looked so bloated that it seemed as if pillows had been stuffed under his blankets. The King looked like he could burst at any moment. The King’s face and hands bore large hard bumps. The King had mentioned to Towbar his entire body had the hard painful bumps. The King’s face seemed to be in a constant state of moaning discomfort.
The Queen sat dutifully by his side to comfort her ailing husband. The only time she left his side was when he would order her away so he could conduct the business of his throne. The Queen’s beauty caught Mykal by surprise. She had to be as old as the King but her age had been masked wonderfully by her beauty. She looked almost as young as her daughter Doninka. The Queen had been adorned in a gorgeous dress and layered in jewelry. She had a very expensive ring for every finger. Her slender wrists were wrapped in gold. Her ears stretched under the weight of heavy gold earrings.
Mykal’s first impression, based on appearance, was that she would be ‘a snobby rich bitch’. Just the opposite revealed true.
Doninka stopped in her tracks when her eyes caught sight of her father’s awful condition. “Poppa,” she blurted out and tears filled her eyes. Her voice took both her mother and father by surprise. Their surprise turned to joy when they realized Doninka returned home.
“Come my daughter,” the King gasped for air and weakly gestured her to his side. “Come to me my dear,” he gasped again when she hesitated to move closer.
“It is okay,” the Queen assured her.
Doninka rushed to her father and gently hugged him. She feared inflicting pain or discomfort. “Poppa I missed you so much,” she started to sob. “I missed all of you so much,” she said as tears trickled down her cheeks. She reached over to hug her mother, but stared at her father who seemed close to death.
“We missed you too, my sweet,” the King pushed his words while forcing a smile on his face. “Towbar, this is indeed a wonderful surprise. I do not know how to thank you enough, my dear friend. This is the best medicine I could have received.”
Mykal saw the eyes of the King and Queen studying him more than they gazed upon Norg. ‘I hope Towbar didn’t tell them I’m a god or sent from the gods stuff.’ He felt self-conscious.
“This is my friend Mykal,” Towbar introduced and placed a hand on Mykal’s shoulder. “He is the one the gods have sent to help us. I present King Loankore III and Queen Ralsunda.”
“Hi.” Mykal smiled and felt foolish. It wasn’t just the statement of supposedly being sent here by the gods, but he had never met royalty before and didn’t know the protocol. He feared he did something wrong. He got the impression they were expecting him to do something.
Towbar nodded to the Dwarf. “This is Norg. Norg is of the Dwarven race and he is here representing the Dwarven people, sent here on behalf of King Krago of the Dwarven people.
Norg bowed down to one knee on the floor. He slowly lowered his head until it almost touched his raised knee. The King and Queen gave an approving smile and nod.
In attempt to make the uncomfortable situation right, Mykal quickly bowed at the waist. “I’m sorry your highness. I never met a King before. Except for King Krago. So I’m new to all this bowing and being proper before royalty stuff. The biggest person I ever met before was just some lowly captain in the Air Force, and they come a dime a dozen, so they ain’t really shit. Oh excuse me,” he quickly put his hand to his mouth when he realized he cussed in front of royalty. “All we have to do with them is just salute them,” he explained and threw up a quick salute. Clearly they didn’t have any idea what he was talking about. He feared he blew his chance to make a good first impression.
Doninka giggled at Mykal’s awkward discomfort and rushed to his side wrapping her arms around his arm. “I must tell you Poppa, Mykal has saved my life and protected me on more than one occasion. I would not be here if not for him.”
Mykal saw them stare at the way she eyed him, creating another awkward silence. He didn’t want to make matters worse.
The dead silence lasted only a moment when a man walked into the room and broke the uncomfortable scene. The King’s personal chef entered the room carrying a large tray of food. As soon as he caught sight of Towbar and the others he dropped the tray with a loud crash sending food in all directions. The man suddenly became fearful and panicky. He trembled visibly. He looked as if he had seen a creature from the deep.
“What is it Dibb? What is the matter with you?” The Queen barked at him for startling them with his strange behavior. “You have never done this in twenty-one years.”
“I am sorry, I am sorry, my Queen.” He humbly lowered his head. “The tray slipped from my hand,” he explained but fought hyperventilating. “I shall clean it up right away.”
“Leave it Dibb,” the King gasped. His words were barely above a whisper. “Tend to it later. We are busy.”
“Yes my Lord,” the older, balding Dibb bowed and backed to the door looking terrified. “I will return at a later time.”
“We must leave,” Towbar said to the King as he eyed the strange actions of Dibb. “I must take Mykal to meet Nidious. I shall return quickly. I will leave you to converse with Norg of the Dwarven people. He will explain the present situation at the Pass. I will fill in the details when I return. Doninka is fully informed. Your daughter has fought valiantly during the battles we were faced with. I am proud of her as should you be.”
The little man quickly turned and ran away and slammed the door behind him.
“What has gotten into him all of a sudden?” The Queen asked after the door slammed. “You fought Sosos, my dear?”
“Very well Towbar,” the King spoke softly. “I hope we will have some time to speak with you Mykal.”
“I sure hope so too, Sir,” Mykal said and gave an amusing bow before turning and walking off. Once outside the closed door, Mykal wanted to burst out with laughter at his actions. He embarrassed himself. “Damn Towbar, I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to do in there. You shoulda told me what to do. I felt
like an idiot in there,” he laughed again.
“You need not worry my friend,” Towbar replied. “They know you are from a different world and they know you are not aware of our customs.”
“Just do me a favor and let them know I wasn’t trying to be disrespectful or anything, okay?”
“They understand,” Towbar replied but he seemed distant.
“Please, just do me the favor and tell them. It’ll make me feel a whole lot better.”
“If you insist.”
“I do,” Mykal laughed off his embarrassment. “And why do you keep telling everyone I’m sent here by gods? They all think something great of me. They think I’m special, but I’m not. I’m just an average Joe Blow down the street.”
“You are someone special,” the giant argued. “To my people you are a great man. Let me ask you this, my friend. Do you know how you actually arrived here?”
“Well, no, not really. Something to do with the green fog.”
“Then how can you say you have not been sent here by the gods to help us? The green fog could have been the craft the gods used to bring you here.”
“Well, I can’t argue that, cuz I really don’t know” he replied and wished Ski was here. With Ski’s knowledge of God and the Bible Ski would be able to set the record straight. Mykal didn’t believe God would send them here. Their being here still didn’t make any sense.
“Understand my friend, whether you were sent here by the gods, or if it is just coincidence that you were brought here, my people were in desperate need of help and here you are. I tend to believe more that the gods brought you here for a purpose than to believe it to be just a coincidence.”
“Okay, just for the sake of argument, let’s say these gods did use the green fog to bring us. Why didn’t they bring more of us here? Here’s one better, why didn’t they bring some US Marines, or Green Berets, or some Army Rangers? These are our special warriors who are constantly training for war and fighting. We’re just a bunch of Air Force Security cops. I’m just a janitor with a gun,” he joked. “Why didn’t these gods have some people come here with bigger and more powerful weapons that could finish the Sosos once and for all?”
