by Alan Mundle
Still, they remained stationary. Torbin's eyes widened, comprehension catching up. He was hesitant, but he dared to try something. 'Warriors of the First!' shouted Torbin. 'Step to!'
The black Warriors drew their swords and assumed a battle readiness. Zentin had jumped back in fright, desperate to comprehend what was happening. 'What is this mutiny? The Empress herself put you under my command. You obey me, not some bloody Scholar.'
'But,' Tenabin put in, 'they all owe him a life debt.' Zentin turned to Tenabin, speechless and fuming. 'You said it yourself, Lord Zentin, they owe the lives of some of their ranks to the Commander for saving them and doing what many of them could not. It is rare, I grant you, but the Code of Honour is clear. The First live by it, as do we all.'
Zentin looked to the deck. He was defeated and knew it. He headed to the cabin door, but just before reaching it he shouted again. 'I will send word to the Empire. I will have my orders met! I'll put Torbin in chains and have these traitors cut their own throats when the Empress reaffirms my authority. And even if she doesn't, I will see you hang, Tenabin!
'You can try,' Torbin said,' but until you get your powers of control, Tenabin and your son are under my power, and you will not touch them or any of the First. Now, my Lord, get out of my sight and let us to our business.'
Zentin was incensed. He exited the cabin, barely remembering to activate his Runes before stepping through into the cold. Tenabin made to speak to his friend, but Torbin had rushed off and headed for Soraba. The Healers at her side were still working on her, the poor Warrior shivering violently from head to foot with shock inside a thermal blanket. But her eyes were open. He knew his next action would have everyone wonder, but he didn't care. He grasped Soraba's hand with both of his leaning in to speak with her.
'Soraba? Can you hear me?'
The sick Dwarf's hands were ice cold, but her shivering had lessened with Torbin's touch. She managed to move her eyes to look into Torbin's, a message of 'still here' passing between them. Unexpectedly, one of the Healers on the other side of the bed started to undo his uniform.
'What are you doing?' asked Torbin.
'We need to get her body temperature back up slowly, Commander. We can't use thermal heaters or Fire Runes, they are both too much, too quickly. No, the only way is to share body heat with another Dwarf, it is the best and only method at this point if the guard is going to live-if any of them are.'
Again, throwing caution to the wind, Torbin started to take off his own coverings.
'Ah, Sir?' Tenabin said, uncertainty in his tone.
'I'll help heat this guard, good Healer. You help one of the others.'
The Healer hesitated before answering. 'But Sir, such a thing is beneath your...'
'That is an order, now help me get her ready.'
Torbin stripped off completely. The Healers opened Soraba's thermal blanket and both they and the Commander striped off the guard's armour, contending with her violently shaking body. When finished, Torbin climbed in quickly, the Healers sealing the blanket behind him. He knew everyone's eyes were on him and sure that at least one of them must have wondered what happened to the injuries that had so clearly stained his coverings, but he knew they wouldn't dare bring it up now. He would deal with that when he had to, probably by claiming to be protected by Sapphire. Torbin wrapped his arms, legs and body against Soraba, clenching his teeth against the cold that would pass through him. But none came. All he could do was put on a painful face for all the others to see, which wasn't hard. The Dwarf he loved was inches from death, giving him plenty to suffer over. The other Healers did the same for the other expedition members, but the First would only permit those of their ranks to help their own comrades. Torbin could see that they had stripped off everything apart from their helmets. Even with their new allegiance to him, the Commander knew that they would never remove their helmets unless he ordered them to do so. Slowly the mass amount of shivering and moaning in the Healing Cabin began to double as the healthy strove to help the sick.
'Commander,' said one of the Healers watching him from another table. 'It is important you do not let the guard sleep before her temperature normalises, or she will certainly die.'
All Torbin could do was nod his head. He barely understood what the Dwarf said, the sound of Soraba's hard breathing and unyielding teeth grinding against his ear. Tenabin came round the table to put himself in the view of his Commander.
'Sir, you know this is highly irregular...'
'Enough!' Torbin spoke, making his voice as forced as he could. 'Every Dwarf in this base is my responsibility, and I will help them as they helped me. Honour demands it. Bring one of the First to me, now.' Tenabin disappeared from view for a moment and came back with one of the black Warriors. 'Hear me, First. You will escort Tenabin to the Communications Cabin, ahead of Lord Zentin. You will delay the Lord somehow until Tenabin sends his own message to the Empire in his own words of what happened today. Put both of your seals on the message. With any luck, the Empire will see the truth and tell Zentin to rot in a hole. Go now, quickly!' They obeyed. Forin came into view next, tears in his eyes. He alone knew the truth about him and Soraba and seemed to understand the reality behind his leader’s orders. If he could comprehend that, Torbin knew the boy could do more.
'Forin, come here.' Forin came closer to Torbin. 'Listen very closely. You have to go to the Command Cabin. Everyone will be waiting for orders. Tell them, from me, that they must finish the access tram in the passage to the Griftin's chamber, that is priority. Tell the First to increase security threefold in the chamber and the passage and must only use their new weapons if the creature moves. Tell the expedition leaders to send the auxiliary teams to the new weapon towers on the surface and have them completed fast. When you have said all this to them, come back here with more Fire Runes.'
Forin looked like a sword had struck him. 'Torbin... they won't want to talk to me. They all think me stupid, they won’t-'
'You are my Second, Forin!' Torbin said, as loud and as serious as he could. 'They will know from what you say that these are my orders and they will not dare go against me. Now go!'
Everyone received instructions. Torbin turned to Soraba, who he was relieved to find, had stopped shaking so hard. He turned to meet his lover's eyes, and Torbin was so happy to see her smile a little. 'You... you will... use any... excuse... to be... naked with me,' whispered Soraba.
Torbin laughed. 'If anyone else had climbed in with you, I'd have killed them.'
Soraba smiled again. 'I love... it when you... talk dirty.'
'Shhh, don't speak, save your strength.'
'I need... to tell... to tell you... something. In case... this doesn't work.'
Torbin brought his voice to a whisper. 'Shut up! You're going to make it guardswoman, that's an order.'
But Soraba didn't care.' Before you... found the chamber... I used... used to notice you... a lot. I remembered... wishing I could... could be as smart as you... could be... something... more than a... more than a grunt. When all this... happened and... you took me to... your bed... I thought myself... the luckiest grunt... in the world.' Tears had started running down Torbin's eyes. He wanted to make Soraba stop, to plead with her to save her energy. But he couldn't. 'So I... just wanted to... say something. Thank you... Torbin... and... I love you.' Soraba slowly started to close her eyes.
'No! Wake up, please wake up, Soraba!' Torbin was panicking. The thought of losing this Dwarf that had come to mean so much to him so soon, that had become his companion, and his soul mate was too much.
'Soraba... I love you too.' But Soraba had closed her eyes. Her body stopped moving. Completely. Torbin yelled at the top of his voice.
'SORABA!!!'
Healers came running from elsewhere in the cabin. They opened the thermal bag, pulled the two bodies apart that had become stuck together with cold sweat and examined the guard. 'Please, help her!'
The Healers examines the immobile Dwarf. One put his head to he
r chest and listened. The Healer rose and smiled. 'The Gods favour you both, Commander. She only sleeps and is in no danger of dying.' Torbin closed his eyes in blessed relief. 'You will have to stay with her tonight Commander, to ensure her body temperature remains contrast. But you have duties to perform. I'll have one of my assistants...'
'That will not be required, good Healer, I will remain with this guard for I will not leave a job half done. As for my duties, you will permit my Second only to approach me for the rest of the night. He will carry out my orders.'
The Healer looked somewhat surprised but nodded in submission. Torbin repositioned himself in the thermal bag as it was sealed back up. Soraba’s body was no longer freezing to the touch when he wrapped her again with his arms and legs. The guard stirred, and Torbin felt her hand very gently close around his. There was no strength behind her grip, but Torbin couldn't have been happier. He doubted the Healers or anyone else would say anything. If no one had figured out was between them by now, he thought, they were just plain stupid. He thought there was nothing more to do, but put the sugar on the pie and kiss his love. With that, he drifted off into what he was sure would be a short and interrupted sleep.
CHAPTER 8
BEHIND THE SHADOWS
‘But why can’t we go to the mess for food? Surely they won’t let us starve tonight?’
Borin was so tired of everyone complaining that he wanted nothing more than to take off his helmet and smash it over their heads. ‘Listen, you bunch of airheads, we have our orders. Tenabin has told us to pack up and get out, so stop bellyaching and get your rumps moving! Now!’
The workers disbanded and went to their respective tunnels to shut down their operations. Borin’s sudden spurt of authority had not gone down well with the other workers. He had never been a leader in his life. He followed orders and did his best to keep his head down and his ears open. Many of the questions thrown at him included those like, ‘are we still getting paid for the rest of the day,' and ‘what happened to the Commander and the rest of the First?’ Sadly, many of them also had echoed the last of the questions about whether or not they would get to eat for the rest of the day. It was like the old saying goes, Borin thought, ‘never get between a good Dwarf and his food.’ He felt no pity for the blasphemers, but he was careful not to show it.
With his own rumbling belly, Borin walked down the frozen network of tunnels and found his gear dumped out of his pack onto the frozen floor by his teammates. He looked up at the workers, each one with their eyes firmly on their packing. He would let it go. He knew that there was nothing he could do, and they needed to let their anger out somehow. He could almost feel their vindictive eyes on him as he set to work. He got halfway through packing his ropes and tools when another worker walked towards him.
‘Hail, brother,' the worker said.
Borin froze. He looked at the chronometer on his gauntlet. Precisely on time, he thought. He knew that voice, even through a helmet. He hesitated at first, not sure what to do and immediately cursed himself for it. He knew better. He put his tools down at his feet and turned to his teammates. ‘Lads, do me a favour and help team three with their pack-up. We’ll finish up here.’
They looked at him and his new companion before moving slowly away. After what had happened today, none of the workers felt like doing him any favours at all, but they were more than happy about leaving all their work for him to do. Not that any of it was his fault. They moved off, leaving Borin and the worker to start packing things away. Once he knew they were alone, he regarded the familiar presence. He wore the armour of a Smith, the disk of a hammer and anvil inserted into the chest plate. He even wore a sash across his belt to indicate his family and status. Though hardly surprised, Borin’s associate had gone to full lengths to look the part.
‘Meet me when you can in the Power Cabin. I must learn what has happened before I can make my report to the others.’
They kept working. Borin looked down the tunnel to make sure that they were still not in danger of being overheard. ‘I stand by my last message, Sir. Torbin is an honourable Dwarf and has proven he is willing to die for his men. I believe he can be trusted.’
The worker kept packing tools, doing his best to be unnoticed. ‘For what it’s worth, I believe you. His speech last night came from the heart, and I was almost moved by his actions when he took the young boy under his protection. I know enough stories about the poor wretch’s First Father that would put stone in your gut. But Torbin is a Scholar with a thirst for making a name and wealth for himself among his circle. Can we really have faith that he will support us, after becoming the Empire’s new shiny bit of gold? Loyal as he may be to his fellows, corruption fills his mind. Don’t forget that it is he and his inventions that made this blasphemous pace possible. I am not convinced he would support us.’
Borin laughed in his helmet. ‘I, like many others here, are proud to call him friend after his words at the celebration. The Empire gave him power, as well they should have done, and his first act with it were not of greed or corruption, but of the safety and welfare of his Dwarves. Those like Zentin would have been too much involved with themselves to give a copper about his fellow brother. He has passed the test of power and came out with honour. We owe it to him to take the risk… not to mention his sponsor.’
Borin watched his companion consider his words before answering. ‘I will include your opinion with mine in the report. But things have changed. What has happened here will force the Empire to increase its presence tenfold. Our operation, as important as it is, may not be possible if all the eyes of the world are looking here. We need to bide our time. As soon as we learn more from your next encounter with Torbin and Tenabin, I will leave in the morning with the news. I will be up to the others what is to be done.’
‘Very well,' said Borin. His voice was unsure, and his companion immediately picked on it.
‘You have doubts, brother?’
‘Many, since the discovery of the creature, Sir, too many to mention here. I have been thinking of home. Is there any word for me from my sister?’
‘Do not speak of such things here!’ The stranger hissed these words and looked back down the corridor to see if anyone heard. Convinced of their safety, he pulled Borin’s helmet to his own. ‘You have been trained better. Find Tenabin now, keep your eyes open, your ears alert and your mouth shut! You know what’s at stake. After we’ve talked later, we can discuss sentimentality later, now go.’
Borin jumped to his feet, sealed his pack and ran as fast as he could down the corridor and through the new network of tunnels, ignoring his teammates who tried to bombard him with another assault of questions. Silently he swore at himself. He did know better. His training back home had been nothing if not methodical and efficient when it came to keeping his guard up around the enemy and especially around those of his own. His sister had handpicked him for this very ability and would be ashamed at such a sentimental lapse. He knew he would receive another scolding from his friend later that night, but Borin was sure he could convince him not to reveal his weakness to the others. His life depended on it.
Living in the frozen Wastes had taken its toll on him. Like many other soldiers in the facility who had been through rigorous endurance training, there weren’t many Dwarves here who could easily claim they had come to the Wastes and not been affected. Borin was by no means a soft touch, but even he found himself experiencing moments when he yearned for the comfort and warmth of home. He amused himself a little at this thought. No one he knew growing up would ever claim that his or her lives were comfortable, but after living out here, anything back home became a luxury. ‘Shut up! Focus! Obey!’ His sister’s words drilled into his brain and snapped him back to the job at hand. He exited the new network of tunnels and proceeded to the Healing Cabin. He had a job to do.
CHPATER 9
HONOUR
Forin woke Torbin at least five times in the night with news of what was happening, but mostly to make sure his l
eader and Soraba were all right. Three of the Warriors of the First who suffered the Griftin's attack had died overnight in the Healing Cabin. Torbin ordered the bodies to be taken by their fellow Warriors and to carry out the rights required for their order. Each of them cut their arms three times in respect for the fallen. The Commander also ordered the Healers that were left clutching dead, naked bodies to their flesh to be sent to their cabins to rest after the horrifying experience.
Lord Zentin departed from the facility, taking the next available train in the morning back after it had offloaded supplies and personnel. Both messages reached the Empire in the night. The Empress herself had written back, favouring Torbin's command and recalling Zentin back to Mordabinn. The broken Lord had made a last request to be able to take his son home with him, but Torbin refused, claiming that he was the only member of Zentin's House to be giving it honour, the lifeblood of all Nobility. But both Dwarves knew the real reason behind Torbin’s refusal. So with no ceremony, the Lord left on the next train to the mainland, alone.
Torbin sat at the desk in his cabin, holding a message from the Empress in his hands. Though he read it many times, he still couldn't believe he had a letter from his sovereign, the chosen vessel of the Gods. Every so often, he looked over to the bed to make sure Soraba was well.
No one in the facility was under any illusion about the two of them now, yet no one spoke up against them. There were many bonded Dwarves in the expedition team that had wives in their family groups, though all had been lawfully bonded to husbands beforehand. But all were loyal to their great hero, conquer of the beast and stronger than the First Battalion. So he ordered Soraba be moved to his cabin to continue healing. A Healer came by every so often to check on her, but she was doing well.
Content, he turned back from Soraba and read his message from the Empress for the hundredth time.
'Torbin, Son of Rafarin, Commander.
