by Thomas Rath
The guard that opened the door took the lead while Teek’s original two guards flanked him on either side and dragged him forward. He got a quick glimpse of two larger and more imposing doors to his left as they turned and moved up the center of the room between the ominous troll pillars. Those doors must have been the main entrance while the small door they came through was obviously meant for prisoners.
It was then that he noticed the large dais commanding the far end of the room. It was made of three tiers of marble slabs that supported an imposing throne at the pinnacle. Each tier was twice his height making it impossible for anyone short of a giant to take the steps up to the throne from the front.
The first tier held a pair of statues on either side fashioned to depict giant wolfs with teeth bared and a paw extended in attack. The second tier was left empty while the third held the throne. It was pure gold and inlaid with large sparkling gems the size of Teek’s head. With the amount of light reflecting off the polished walls the gems created a kaleidoscope of flashing color that made his head swim. On either side of the throne there was a large battleaxe that curved in a long S-like shape with a spiked point at the top. He had the ominous feeling that these were not mere decoration. Taking in the room as a whole it was obviously meant to cower and intimidate any who was unlucky enough to require an audience. It was working.
Finally, resting his eyes on the one commanding the thrown, Teek felt the room a simple decoration compared to the chiseled dwarf sitting above him. He didn’t particularly look much different than the other dwarfs he had seen—the same long, red hair, the same piercing blue eyes, the same large nose and rough features—but there was a sense of authority about him that was almost tangible. More than any of the carvings or light or flashing gems, this dwarf was what commanded the room. There was the source of all forebodings felt within these walls. There was real power.
Teek was brought before the dais and then unceremoniously dropped. “Kneel and bow yer head before the king,” the dwarf with the eye patch boomed.
Without the tiniest thought of resistance, he did as he was commanded even going so far as to prostrate himself full out on the floor.
A soft but firm voice glided down from the throne above giving him a sudden chill. “Usually I don’t be wastin’ me time with matters like this. But, because of the nature of the crime, I be makin’ an exception. Ye be charged with theft of a royal article, which may be punishable by death, so choose yer words carefully. How do ye plead?”
Teek looked up slowly at the piercing blue eyes glaring down at him. He immediately thought of a raptor ready to take down its prey. He stammered. “Your M-m-majesty, I haven’t stolen anything, Highness. There must be some mistake, Your Grace.”
The king hammered his fist into the arm of the throne. “Do ye be callin’ me and me men a liar then?” he hissed.
“N-n-no, Your Greatness. I-I really don’t even know what it is I was s-s-supposed to have stolen, Exalted One.”
A dagger suddenly stuck into the stone floor in front of Teek’s face making him jerk away in surprise. “M-m-my dagger.”
“Yer dagger?” the king’s voice boomed through the hall. “That dagger be havin’ the mark of the royal seal of Axegrinder and belongs to me son, the high prince. So, the question be, how be it that ye have it?”
“It was a gift from my mother, Sire. She got it from a dwarf named Helgar years ago when she was on an appeasing journey for my father and twin brother. She gave it to me before I came on my appeasing journey for my friend, Twee. Please, Your Lordship, I have never stolen anything in my life; especially from dwarfs.”
The king scratched his long beard and then pulled at it. His dark face didn’t reveal anything as to whether he believed Teek’s story or not. Finally he spoke again, his voice controlled but still lethal. Teek knew his life teetered on the edge. “Ye be a Waseeni then?”
“Y-y-yes, Master.”
“I have heard of yer appeasing journeys as ye call ‘em. But yer story about the dagger be soundin’ too much like a yarn fer wee lads. And, since we be havin’ no political ties with yer people it be against no treaty fer me to be takin’ yer head for thievin’.”
“B-b-b-but, Lord, I’m telling the truth!”
“Hold yer tongue!” the king snapped.
Teek cowered back, the guards stood as still as the stone pillars not having moved since the king started talking.
“It do be curious that ye know the name, Helgar. How came ye by that name and mind yer tongue boy, I be in no mood fer tales.”
Just then one of the large doors behind them opened and another dwarf entered flanked by two more of the black leather clad guards. Without hesitation they quickly approached the dais and the king where the lead dwarf stepped in front of Teek leaving the two guards back with the others. Although most dwarfs looked alike to Teek, this one looked very much like the king. His hair and beard were a little bit shorter and he was obviously younger, but besides that they were almost identical.
Unlike the rest of the dwarfs in the room, this one had a battleaxe and large hammer on either hip. He also had a dagger tucked into the back of his belt. The dagger caught Teek’s eye. It was exactly like the one still stuck in the stone floor in front of him.
“Father,” the intruder said without ceremony, “I must be speaking with ye this moment.”
“Ye be interruptin’ a trial, boy!” the king boomed, turning his steel gaze to the young dwarf.
“But, Father,” the intruding dwarf insisted, “this be requirin’ yer immediate attention.”
“And the theft of me son’s dagger be not?”
The young dwarf reached back and grabbed hold of the dagger behind his belt. “What be ye sayin’ da?” he said pulling the dagger free to show his father. “Me dagger be right here.”
“I know, boy,” the king replied. “I not be daft. I be talkin’ of the dagger ye lost those years back when ye and Bardolf went afield to Gildor. The dagger be found in the hands of this Waseeni caught on our borders, no doubt seekin’ more booty.” The king glared at Teek who had been following the conversation with interest and hope.
Could this be Helgar?
The king continued. “The dagger be right there.” He pointed at the blade still sticking out of the stone where he’d thrown it. His son looked a little perplexed. He gave Teek a strange look and then pulled the blade free from the stone. Turning it in his hand he compared it to his other one—a perfect match. Suddenly, his eyes widened and he looked back at Teek staring hard at his face. “Ye must be Teek,” he breathed and then smiled.
Teek nodded his head slowly. “And you are Helgar?”
“What be goin’ on here!” the king’s voice boomed. “Ye be knowin’ this boy?”
Teek wanted to shout, “I told you so,” but felt it better to remain silent.
Helgar turned slowly to his father, a sheepish look on his face. “I never really said that me dagger was stolen.”
The king threw up his hands and let out an exasperated breath. “I was jist about to take the head from this boy fer stealin’ yer dagger and now ye be tellin’ me he didn’t take it!”
“I gave it to his mother fer helpin’ me save Bardolf’s life.”
“What!” the king’s face fluctuated between the colors red and purple as he strained to contain the rage boiling over inside him.
Helgar suddenly realized he had said too much and rushed on before his father could say anything else. “It was jist a scratch, Da. Nothin’ to be getting all troubled about.”
The king exploded. His fist came down so hard on his throne Teek was sure he must have broken his hand. “Nothin’ to be troubled about?”
“Now, Da, if ye’ll jist let me be explainin’.”
“Enough!” the king roared. “I have heard all I be carin’ to.” Turning to Teek’s guards he growled, “Untie the boy and get ‘im somethin’ to fill ‘is belly. He’ll be stayin’ here with us fer as long as he cares to make up fer bein’ treat
ed unjustly.” The king glared at Helgar who just bowed and shrugged. “When ye be feelin’ more like yerself,” he continued, addressing Teek, “we’ll be talkin’ again to see if we can’t be helpin’ ye with this appeasin’ journey ye be on.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Teek squeaked.
Helgar looked at him questioningly. “Appeasing journey?”
But before Teek could answer, the guards had untied his hands and were whisking him away. Helgar stared after him as they left through the front doors this time and then disappeared.
“Now, me son,” his father’s voice was cold and menacing, “let’s you and me be havin’ a little chat.”
* * *
Teek sat at the window staring out on the magnificent city below while waiting for his summons from the king. When they left the throne room he was taken into the deeper interiors of the palace where he was given over to a lady dwarf whose first look made her more frightening than the guards. In fact, the guards were very anxious to be rid of him and away from Headmistress Mudrin. She commanded the palace staff and seemed rather put out to have to give up her precious time to coddle a palace guest as lowly as Teek.
It was the first time Teek had seen a female dwarf and he could well see why they lived underground. Besides her ample bosom that seemed to gyrate with her every move, there was not much else that made it obvious that she wasn’t a man. Of course, she didn’t have as much facial hair, although there was a good amount in some places, and her nose was slightly smaller than the men, but her build was just as rock solid and stocky as any of the males he had seen thus far. Her eyes were a steel gray that flickered and cut when she was angry—which was almost always—her hair was long and red and was braided down her back past her tailbone and she wore a sturdy canvas dress that was drab and without ornament but clean and well kept.
With a snort she announced in a voice like stone rubbing against stone, “Come with me then, lad, and we’ll be cleanin’ that filth from yer body. I won’t be havin’ ye runnin’ about me palace and droppin’ dirt on me floors.”
The palace was like something out of a dream. Never in his life would Teek have imagined anything so grand and spectacular. It was all hewn right out of the mountain. Everything, except for the doors, was carved right into the rock. The floors were smooth and polished to a shine that reflected almost without distortion anyone who walked on them. The walls were also smooth but not as polished and dotted with reliefs like those in the throne room. But these were also inlaid with different types of rocks and gems giving the pictures magnificent color and life. The ceilings were also smooth and polished like the floor to reflect the light that shined from large white gems tucked right into the stone. The gems glowed giving the rock an almost warm feel making him forget that he was actually in the belly of a huge mountain.
Occasionally, they passed a small alcove where a statue or depiction of nature had been carved out of the wall. Each had a single gem above it bathing it in soft light in a way that invited the passerby to pause and take it in. Many times, Headmistress Mudrin had to call him along and away from one of the works that fascinated him and seemed to demand his attention.
He was given a private room in the palace’s upper reaches where a bath had been drawn and a hearty meal set out to relieve his famished state. At first he had baulked at the bath when he found out that dwarfs bathe in cold water—something to do with toughening the hide he’d been told. But Headmistress Mudrin was not going to leave until he cleaned himself, threatening to do the job herself if he didn’t get busy. It was less than a pleasurable event to be sure but he had to admit that he felt much better after the grime had been scrubbed from his body. When he emerged from his bath the Headmistress was gone, as was his loincloth, but a large fur robe had been left for him to keep him decent and warm.
The pleasant smells of roasted mutton and warm bread with cooked onions and carrots on the side beckoned him to the feast that had been laid out for him. A large draught of honey ale and a pitcher of water were also left for him to wash it all down. He drained most of the pitcher of water with one long drink before setting upon the food as a man half-starved—which he was. The ale he left alone after having a small taste that almost made his dinner come back up.
Fully satisfied, he sat and sleepily stared out at the wonders of the dwarf capital. Like the palace, the whole city was carved out of the heart of the mountain. Every building had been chiseled and hewn from the rock into a magnificent form complete with the tiniest decorations. The streets and squares had trees, flowers and grass growing in them in a spectacular mixing of mountain rock and living nature. The sunlight, that was quickly beginning to fade, was let in through large shafts cut up and out to the surface above. Some of the shafts had been cut at an angle so the light shone in and then reflected off the highly polished outer walls of the city. Others came in straight on top of trees or gardens or other areas to give a greater amount of direct light.
A large underground river flowed out of the side of the city’s far right wall and cascaded down in a large waterfall to a channel that carried it out and down many different satellite channels feeding every nook. A multitude of bridges were scattered about giving free access over the river adding to the city’s beauty. The roof, high above, was covered in more white gems that were just beginning to sparkle against the torches now being lit below mimicking the stars of night as the sun went down outside.
Teek sighed. Never would he have imagined such a place existed and that dwarfs were the makers of it. They were a rough and hardy lot of people to be sure but it was evident that they were also great craftsmen with an eye for beauty.
A knock came at the door interrupting his musings and Headmistress Mudrin walked in with a torch in one hand and his loincloth draped over the other. Tossing the loincloth at him she commanded him to put it on and then went around the room lighting the torches protruding from the walls before tossing her own torch into the fireplace and igniting the dry wood stacked there.
“Ye better be hurrying up and be putting that thing on. The king don’t like to be kept waitin’. Oh, and don’t ye be getting nothin’ on it now neither. I spent half an hour personally scrubbin’ the grime from it.”
Teek checked it quickly searching for and finding the medallion Twee had given him before turning away from Headmistress Mudrin and slipping it on. Dropping the robe on the bed he turned back to her and blushed at the slight grin on her face. “I’m ready.”
The Headmistress paused for a moment as if to say something but then just snorted and turned around and headed out the door. Teek followed without another word. She led him back the same way they had come earlier in the day and again he found himself drawn to the statues and carvings they passed. As before, the Headmistress had to hurry him along even physically pulling him with her at times.
He didn’t pay any attention to the direction they were going far too interested in the architecture of the palace and the beautiful carvings to really care. In fact, he was quite disappointed when they eventually reached their destination at a single door. The headmistress knocked once and then physically pushed him inside quickly closing the door behind him as if he might try to run back out.
It was a small room, compared to the one in which he was staying, but his family’s hut still would have fit in it quite easily. A large fireplace took up most of the opposite wall and was obviously too large for the room should the fire ever be brought up to full capacity. A small, cozy flame, winked in its mass seeming almost comical and out of place for such a huge hearth but gave off the right amount of heat to keep the room comfortable. Two large chairs with high backs made of polished marble were turned away from him and faced the fire but he couldn’t see whether or not they were occupied. Nothing else was in the room. Even the walls lacked any ornament save for torches in sconces to either side that pushed back the darkness.
“Ye have eaten then,” the low rumble of a voice rose from one of the marble chairs, “and be a bit more
rested?”
Teek played nervously with his hands. “Y-yes, yes sir I am…that is, I have. I have eaten and am rested, sir. Thank ye…uh, you. Thank you, sir.”
There was a chuckle from the other chair and then Helgar poked his head around smiling at Teek. “No need to be so anxious me friend. There be no more reason to be fearin’ fer yer head.”
The king’s head popped around from the other chair a half scowl half grin playing on his face. “That be right, lad. The only head that need be fearin’ is that of me son fer not tellin’ me the whole truth at the start.”
“Yes, well,” Helgar quickly chimed in, “let’s not be borin’ our guest with that now, Da. I’m sure young Teek here would like to be on his way home, now wouldn’t ye lad?”
“Yes, I sure would mister Helgar, sir, but I still need to finish my appeasing journey.”
Helgar’s face clouded and his voice softened. “Might I be askin’ who ye be appeasin’?”
He was a little surprised by the question but felt no harm in revealing the answer. “Why, it’s for Twee, my oldest and dearest friend. He was the oldest and greatest Waseeni to ever live. He was like a father to me.”
Helgar let out a heavy sigh of relief and smiled. “I don’t be meanin’ no disrespect to yer friend their, Teek. It was jist that I was worryin’ that it might be fer yer mother.” Helgar’s face reddened a bit taking on an almost whimsical look as he looked off at nothing. “She be a magnificent lady, she. You be seein’ that ye take good care o’ her.”
