by Alan Mundle
He got up to his feet and looked for Soraba. Energy was leaving her armour too, but the cold had her. She was withering on the stone floor and looked like she had trouble breathing. The Griftin's head was pointing to the ceiling, basking in the energy from the Runes, oblivious to Torbin's actions. The Commander tore inside. He wanted to go to Soraba and get her and the others out, but he couldn't do that alone. Cursing, he ran up to the alarm panel and beat it hard with his gauntlet. The whole chamber filled with a repeating wine.
The deafening sound had distracted the Griftin. It stopped taking energy from the Runes, but both Dwarves barely had any left. The creature eyed Torbin, cocking its head to the side, considering him. Torbin wanted to run to Soraba, but he dared not take his own eyes off the creature. Their only hope was for him to distract the beast until help arrived. So he ran, away from Soraba, from the other Warriors, praying that the creature would deal with the only moving target in the chamber. The Great Rock heard him. The Griftin flexed its wings again, sending another gust of wind, blowing Torbin to the floor once more. Torbin was quicker to get up, but this time, with a plan. Taking a deep breath, he ran straight for the Griftin. It responded by summoning more wind, but Torbin was ready. Just as Forin did, he dropped to his knees and sank his grappling blades into the stone floor. As soon as the wind dissipated, he got up and ran, retracting his blades and activating his fire jets. Fire issued towards the creature, it shrieked in surprise and agony until, after a few seconds, the flames went out.
The Rune Magic in the armour had depleted, but it was enough. The creature burned, spinning on the spot, trying to put out the searing flames. Torbin moved in before it got the chance. He retracted the jets and activated his blades upon contact with the creature's stomach, sinking deep. Its scream could be heard over the alarm, tenfold. It wailed around the chamber, desperate to be free, but Torbin twisted his blades, determined to do as much damage as possible, locking his legs around the creature's mid-rift, determined to hang on. He expected blood to issue from the creature's wounds. Instead, light poured through the gaps where the blades met the flesh. The creature's legs buckled with the pain, falling to its knees. But now it was capable of reaching the Dwarf. It grabbed Torbin by the shoulders and pushed back, sliding the blades out if its body. Torbin tried to resist, but the creature's powerful claws quickly pierced the armour and sank through to the flesh. Torbin was in blinding pain, but the beast quickly threw him across the chamber. Torbin hit the chamber wall and collapsed against the stone, nearly landing on one of the First. He felt two of his ribs break on impact. In agony, he turned back to look at the creature. Light still poured from its wounds, more so with the extraction of the blades. It shook and stumbled. Torbin thought he might have pierced one of its lungs, for it looked as if it was suffocating too. But it found the strength to move and headed towards Torbin. It started to pick up speed, rounding on the Dwarf. The Commander activated his blades, but only one responded. He crawled back on the ground, holding his blade out. It came to a meter in front of him and held one massive paw aloft, claws out and glowing with energy. Then the whole room erupted.
Small explosions filled the chamber. Warriors in black appeared everywhere, running around the creature with swords in one hand and smaller, stranger weapons in the other. They held them aloft, loud bursts of smoke issued from the pointed ends facing the Griftin, striking the creature with what Torbin thought must have been small, unseen projectiles of some kind. It lay on the stone platform screeching in pain, energy issuing from multiple holes in its body. 'Don't kill it! By the Great Rock, leave it be, that's an order!' And the First Battalion submitted to Torbin's command. They still pointed their weapons and held their swords aloft and stood their ground. Torbin staggered slowly to his feet and used what little speed he had to reach Soraba, his ribs screaming as he went. Her Runes had depleted. He shook her, called her name, desperate for some signs of life. Very faintly, he could still see the smallest clouds of warm breath issuing from the mouthpiece of her helmet. 'Get the Crawlers, our people need the Healing Cabin, NOW!!!'
But the Crawlers were already emerging through the chamber entrance. Dwarves ran around Torbin, getting a hold of Soraba's limbs. Torbin helped as best as he could to carry the guard alongside three others, putting her onto the back of the first vehicle. Torbin told the driver to get off, that he would pilot it up to the facility himself. Prison guards ran up to him as he sat down and readied the controls. 'Commander, what shall we do if it-'
Torbin pressed the control levers forward and headed up the passage as fast as it could go. Once he reached the beginning of the facility, he kept the machine going, yelling at everyone nearby to get out of the way. Dwarves ran in front of him, ducking through doorways, the crawler barley able to fit through the narrow passages. But Torbin didn’t care. He kept his eyes forward and prayed to Sapphire to keep Soraba alive.
CHAPTER 6
ORDERS
Fire roared from Borin's rods, melting the ice before him. When the flames are blasting, there is little chance of hearing what else is going on around you. You struggle on, knowing that the only way of being stopped is a hard pull on the rope that binds you to your workmates. So when Borin felt the rope yank hard on his back, he knew there was something amiss. That and he knew he wasn't lucky enough to be reprieved from work in the middle of a rotation.
Ignoring the pain surging through his self-mutilated body, he deactivated and retracted his jets, lowering his arms. He heard it immediately. The emergency alarm cut through his helmet like it was nothing but a bed cap. Borin knew this could mean only one thing. Torbin. He looked at his workmates who had almost unbound themselves from their work ropes.
'What is Sapphire's name is going on?' shouted Borin.
The Dwarf at the end turned to him and shouted, still moving back through their newly melted passage. 'The new chamber alarm has gone off, something's happened with the creature!'
He knew it. While the workers had gone off to continue making new tunnels, the newly arrived Smiths were set to work, putting all sorts of new gadgets to guard against Torbin's discovery. They were clearly working. Borin could only hope that his friend fared better than his first encounter with the creature. He dropped his work line and ran as fast as the ice would let him. Borin scrambled passed Smiths gathering up their equipment in the tunnels, many of which had already been kicked around and broken in all the ruckus. He didn't want to think about the gold needed to replace them. He focused on getting through to his friend and was sure of the place he would find him. The Healing Cabin.
But he didn't get very far. Guards had started stationing themselves by access ways that allowed for direct access to the Healers. A standard emergency procedure, Borin thought, but also terribly inconvenient. He tried to look over the shoulders of other workers that had already gathered at the doorway that allowed access to the rest of the facility. Guards were running as fast as they could down the corridors and past the workers. From what little Borin could glimpse, most of them were carrying stretchers. The sight of who lay upon them sent a shiver up Borin's spine. The Warrior's of the First appeared dead and immobile. Borin struggled to get a better look and saw that not only had the black Warriors been incapacitated, but all their Runes were dark.
'Sapphire save us!'
One of the other Dwarves blocking Borin's view of the action spoke for all to hear.
'We should all get out of here,' another said. 'If the creature can do this to the First, there's no hope for us. We should go, now before the Great Rock completely forsakes us all.'
Borin sighed. He knew that many Dwarves felt the same way the moment Torbin first fell through the ice. There were not many who came here of their own free will, Borin least of all. But he fought the desire to agree with his brothers and knocked their helmets.
'Stand fast, our friends need us, and all you can do is whine like Dwarflings.'
Though not comfortable with having been put in their place, the workers fell silent and
moved aside so Borin could get a better look. He listened hard, trying to hear what the guards were saying to each other amidst the din of the alarms. All he caught were bits and pieces.
'… stand by for more incoming…'
'… had ordered it to be sealed off before…'
'… all over the place, get these wretches out before they…'
'… to the Healing Cabin, Torbin is there already with…'
It was these last words that caught Borin's attention. He knew that voice and saw Tenabin approaching his position.
'Commander Tenabin, Sir! What news? What has happened?'
Tenabin spun around and managed to find Borin amongst the growing crowd.
'Ah, good Borin, there you are! Let him pass!'
The guards at the corridor entrance stood aside and let the worker through. All the others started shouting at their former leader with similar questions, but Tenabin ignored them and took Borin by the shoulder and practically yelled in his ear as they proceeded towards the Healing Cabin.
'I have need of you, good Borin. We are going to turn off these infernal new alarms of the Smiths and try to establish some order. I need you to gather all the workers in a meeting under my authority. Tell them to secure the tunnels they have been working on then proceed to their cabins for further orders. There will be no more work today. Stand them down, instruct all to pack up their gear and call it a day with a minimum of fuss, or they'll answer to me. Is this understood?'
Then tone in Tenabin's voice made Borin uneasy, but he tried his best to hide it. 'Sir, it would be easier to rally my fellows if I could tell them what's happened. What news of my good friend Torbin and the creature…'
'No time for that, son. Tell them that their Commander lives after another battle with the creature and will issue orders soon. When all of the workers have departed, get back to the Healing Cabin and ask for me.'
'I obey.'
Borin turned round on the spot and struggled through the chaos of the crowds and the wounded First Warrior's. He ducked and dived, sometimes getting pushed back. On his way through, he made out another ruckus at an adjoining corridor. Borin recognised the silver and gold plated Lord Zentin arguing with a guard that stood in his way with an axe.
'You know who I am, solider, and if you want to get off this frozen ice bucket, you'll let me pass!'
Borin couldn't help but laugh in his helmet at seeing a Lord being denied, but couldn't afford the luxury of enjoying himself. He had to carry out Tenabin's orders. And some of his own.
CHAPTER 7
HEALING
They finally reached the Healing Cabin. It could have been the noise from the Crawler, or someone had sent word, but the Healers were ready to receive their charges. Torbin never left Soraba's side. They persisted in telling him not to get in the way, only to be yelled back to do their job rather than shouting orders at their Commander. Torbin helped the Healers carry Soraba through the cabin and up onto an examination table. More of the wounded came in. It wasn't until all the injured had arrived that one of the Healers asked if Torbin was hurt. At first, he didn't answer, still watching Soraba and all the while aching for her to open her eyes. From what he could hear over all the noise, she was suffering from severe exposure. Torbin told them that he was fine, to keep helping others. So the Healers left him alone. It wasn't until they did so that Torbin realised just how alright he was. With the other's backs turned, he felt for the ribs he was sure had broken. He rubbed, pushed and even hit against them. Nothing. Not one bit of pain. He then examined his arms. The Griftin had sunk its claws in through his armour into them. He stuck his hands through the holes and out again. There was no blood. Even if the wounds had frozen, the heat of the cabin should have produced some blood.
'Torbin?'
Forin had found him. The boy was in tears, apparently devastated from learning of what had happened. 'Where have you been, Forin?'
'I'm sorry, Torbin, I woke up in Soraba's cabin but I couldn't find any Fire Runes for my armour.'
'Never mind that, I need you to keep watch for your First Father, Tenabin or anyone else that looks like they want to see me.'
And Forin obeyed, running to the entrance of the cabin. Torbin quickly started taking off his armour, which was difficult with it bring so bent and out of shape in places. When he got all the pieces off, he examined his under coverings. They were blood stained with holes in many places. Good, he thought, at least he didn't imagine his injuries. He took off his top shirt and examined himself in a mirror. Nothing. Not a scratch, a blemish, anything. The only thing different was his massive new scar from his first encounter with the creature. He noticed that many chest hairs around the wound had turned grey. He considered to himself that if he came away from a fight like that with nothing but frightened chest hair, he'd take it. He thought it best to put his bloody shirt back on to prove that he was actually there, but didn't know how he was going to keep anyone away that wanted to heal the wounds that should have been there.
It was just in time too. Forin came running back in a panic. 'My First Father's coming with the black guards! He looks really angry!' The boy came round the back of the table to hide behind his leader, though Torbin's frame could hardly hide the boy. Zentin came in with six of the First at his heel. The Lord stopped at the sight of Torbin and his blood stained coverings.
'It looks worse than it is, Lord Zentin, believe me.' Ironically the truth, though Zentin barely looked at his supposed wounds before catching the sight of his cowering son and regarded them both with a look of utter loathing. 'Things can hardly be worse, Commander. They say the beast came to life and overpowered eight of the First Battalion with Magic. Magic, I tell you!'
'You don't have to tell me this, my Lord, I was there!'
'Yes, you were. Tell me, Commander, do you intend to take all the glory from your people?'
'Excuse me?'
'From what I hear, you fought the beast in single combat and survived while the rest of your fellows, including the best-trained Warriors in the world, were bested. I'd like to know how a Scholar did this!'
Everyone one except the Healers were looking at Torbin, some with reverence... some with fear.
'I honestly couldn't tell you, my Lord. I was struck down like everyone else, but somehow I got up and went on blind instinct, surviving the moment as best I could. But if it hadn't been for your reinforcements with those new weapons, we'd all surely be dead.
'So what you're saying is... you got lucky?'
'There was no luck involved in that chamber, Lord Zentin,' said Tenabin, striding towards the Lord. 'Commander Torbin is strong, blessed by Sapphire, who gave him the strength to challenge the creature. You should be in awe of him, not put a sword in his back.'
At his words, the Warriors of the First beat their chest plates in unison, a great and most honourable salute of respect for the Commander.
Zentin's face was in a fury. 'You will hold your tongue, Tenabin, or I'll have it cut out. I am a Lord of the Empire, I will have answers, and I will have obedience!'
A Healer rushed to the group. 'We are trying to save you fellows, please shut up and get out, or their blood is on your hands!'
The Healer's words irked Zentin, but he relented. 'There will be no more outbursts, good Healer,' said Zentin. 'Return to your work with haste.' As the Healer sped off, Torbin tried to get a look at Soraba, but too many Warriors were in the way. 'Fine, you managed to equip yourself well in battle, Commander Torbin, but this does not answer the most pressing question of how did it defeat the rest of the Dwarves down in that chamber with Magic? We know little of the Griftins before they left, but what we do know, what all Dwarves know, is that Magic cannot harm us. None of the other races and their powers could touch us with it, the Great Rock gave us protection from its effects.'
It was indeed a fact that Torbin knew since childhood that Magic could not hurt them and that neither could they use it directly. They could fashion Runes to summon the power of the elements at w
ill with their speech, but they had no power in their blood to conjure it themselves. So what had changed?
'Listen, everyone,' said Torbin. 'I have no answers for what happened today. I only know that I did my best to save my fellow Dwarves and subdue the creature. If it weren't for the rest of the First, and their new weapons, I would not be here.’ The company went silent again. Everyone hung on Torbin's words, and he was getting tired of it. 'Now please, in the name of the Great Rock, will you let me tend to these brave souls, get back down to the chamber and try to figure out what is going on?'
But Zentin was having none of it. 'No, I am holding you here, pending a formal review. I am taking charge of this mission, and you will resume your previous position, stripped of everything you and your family have gained-'
'You can't do that, my Lord!' shouted Tenabin. 'The Empire has given him his new title and powers, not you. He is your equal until a Regent or the Empress herself commands it! You can do nothing, except get in the way.'
Zentin had gone white as a sheet. Torbin was sure that no one had ever spoken to him like this in his long life. 'I will not stand for this! I tell you I won't! Warriors take the former Commanders to their cabins and make sure they stay there!' But the First Battalion didn't move. Zentin looked back at them, dumbfounded. 'What are you waiting for? Obey me!'
