A Frozen Destiny

by Alan Mundle

  Torbin led Soraba, Forin and Dalara onto the tram and commanded it forward. Within a minute, they arrived at the chamber entrance, a tram-full of the First right behind them.

  The Dwarves entered to find a contingent of the black Warriors standing in perfect formation, their projectile weapons trained on the Griftin.

  'By all the Gods!'

  Dalara was entranced, looking at the creature like it was made of the purest gold. But Torbin could see tears welling up behind the visor, and he understood why. The Griftin was in a sorry state. While its wounds were indeed healed, its feathers were nearly all white and torn. It's head awkwardly positioned beneath its right wing, but all could hear it giving low rasping squawks. It was dying, there was no doubt.

  'Please Commander, for the God's pity, let me take some Runes to it!'

  The longing in her voice moved Torbin. He too didn't want the thing to die, despite what happened. But as always, their safety came first.'

  'I'm sorry Professor, we must be sure before we act. '

  'Surely one Fire Rune won't be too much, if we leave it much longer, there will be no chance.'

  'Then we better get started. Please, bring your notes and let us start on the inscriptions.'

  Torbin knew it was harsh but necessary. By the end of the day, both the Scholars agreed that the inscriptions were not a language. Forin continued to draw them. Sometimes Dalara would watch the boy as though he was as fascinating as the chamber itself. She turned back to Torbin

  'Does he always do that?'

  'Do what?' asked Torbin, looking up from his notes.

  'That.' She gestured to Forin. The boy was dancing.

  'He did that last time we worked in here. He'd draw something from the stone and start doing a strange dance. It keeps him happy and out of the way. He's my best friend, but he's a few gold pieces shy of a treasure chest.'

  'Is it true you openly defied a Lord of the Empire, his First Father, to keep him here?'

  'Yes, and I don't regret it one single bit. Trust me, it was the right thing to do.'

  'Come on, let's go see what he's done.'

  'We are still working.'

  'Let's take a break and see what he's done. Then we can find some food, I'm starving.'

  Torbin consented. They walked over to Forin and looked at his collection of drawings. Torbin had to admit, he sketched well. Every following line was exact. Seeing them like this, Torbin was still no closer to understanding their meaning. He watched his young friend having such fun and found it impossible to resist the question he'd been putting off out of politeness.

  'Forin, come here for a moment.' The Dwarf stopped his intricate dance and came over to his leader. 'Why do you do that?'

  The boy looked at his friend with a troubled look, worried that he was testing him. 'Do what, Torbin?'

  'That, what you are doing, that strange dancing.'

  Forin looked as if he was putting all his concentration into understanding his leader, but he eventually answered. ‘I'm telling the story.’

  ‘What story?’ Both Scholars said together before looking at each other, both of them failing to understand what the boy was talking about.

  ‘The story on the walls, Torbin.’ Forin pointed around the chamber. ‘One bit starts here, the other bit starts there and it all comes to the middle.’ He finally pointed to the centre platform where the Griftin lay.

  Torbin laughed. ‘Oh my dear friend, I’m definitely checking your part of the cabin for any mead you’ve stashed away. Come on everyone, let's stop and come back tomorrow.’

  Everyone made to pack up. Except for Dalara. She stood looking back and forth between the drawings and the wall inscriptions. She turned to Forin with a look of madness and excitement in her eyes. ‘What does the story say, Forin? Can you show me?’

  Forin suddenly looked very bashful. ‘You’re making fun of me.’

  ‘No, as the Gods as my witness, I am most serious. I want to know the story, we all do.’

  Torbin had no idea what the two of them were talking about, but when Forin looked to him for support, he nodded, giving his consent.

  Forin ran back over the where he had laid out all his drawings, examined the all, then went over to the other side of the chamber. The Scholars, workers and guards began watching the boy in wonder. All except the First, who maintained their vigil on the Griftin, their dangerous range weapons still aimed at it. Forin took a breath. Then he started dancing. He performed some gestures Torbin found truly weird and the guards started laughing, making the boy stop.

  ‘SHUT IT!’

  Torbin’s shout rang through the chamber and quickly replaced by silence, save for the moans continually coming from the creature. Torbin walked over to Dalara and pulled her to the side. ‘What is the meaning of all this?’

  ‘Look at these drawings!’ Torbin saw the same lines he had examined for days and saw nothing new. ‘They are not writings, Commander, they are movements! When Forin dances, his body assumes the shape of the pictorials, don't you see? The Griftins were literally speechless, communicating with each other through Magic, through expression. Your Second as somehow seen this and is about to show us all!’

  Torbin felt like his stomach was about to fall out. If she was right, it could change everything. He turned to his young friend and tried to make his voice as reassuring as he could. ‘Forin, it's ok, do the dance. The rest of you, silence, that's an order!’

  Content, Forin started again from the beginning. He stretched his arms forward, he ducked, dived, spun on the spot. And then Torbin heard it. The voices he had heard the first time he found the chamber returned. The pictorials on the stone lit up as they had done on Torbin’s first time in the chamber. Torbin looked around and saw that the others were clearly hearing it too. Soraba, the guards and all the First looked around, searching for an enemy to fight.

  ‘Stand down Warriors!’ It was difficult, but they obeyed. Forin continued to dance, but faster, almost violently. What happened next truly terrified Torbin. Forin spun round in a dance, facing towards the group. His visor was glowing brightly with the same colour of light as the pictorials. ‘Forin! Forin stop!’

  But the young Dwarf continued, and the echoing words changed. Now Torbin could understand them.

  'We banish this one who stands alone, betrayer of the Song, who would bring silence and end us all. We keep you here, bound by our melody. May you never again fly. May you never again see the sky. May you never again Sing to those of the land. By this chant, we hold you for all time. In silence.'

  The Griftin gave an ear-shattering whale. Light sprang from the pictorials and surrounded the creature, taking hold of its large wings, it's strong arms and powerful legs, dragging it back to where it had exploded out of the ice before. Torbin saw it thrash and pull with all its strength, but it could not resist whatever power had now ensnared it. The First made ready to fire their weapons, but Torbin got there first. He activated one of his fire jets and shot flames in-between them and the creature. When the Warriors halted, Torbin turned off his jet, ran at full speed and crashed hard into Forin, lifting them both off their feet and onto the hard stone. The instant he made contact with the boy, all energy coming from the pictorials vanished, releasing the Griftin, which fell helplessly to the ground alongside the two Dwarves, completely immobile. Though he was sure everyone's ears were battered, Torbin shouted as loud as he could.'

  'WARRIORS STAND DOWN!'

  The First recognised his command and laid down their arms. Torbin gathered himself and examined his friend, finding the Dwarf face down on the stone.

  'Forin!'

  Dalara rushed over to the boy, turning him over.

  'Is he alive, Dalara?' he shouted.

  'Yes, he's breathing. I think he's just unconscious.'

  Relieved, Torbin ran to Soraba. Like her fellow guards, his love was shaking her head, try to make her ears work properly again. She took Torbin's arm, giving him the signal of being ok. Torbin allowed himself a seco
nd to breathe then turned round to another guard. 'Go back to the facility and bring the nearest box of Fire Runes. Take my Second up with you and tell the Healers to look after him. Double time!'

  'Torbin, what are you doing?' called Dalara, who was now cradling Forin.

  'What I should have done the second you said it's just hungry.'

  The Guardsman soon returned from the prison with a crate of Runes, along with Tenabin. Torbin took them to the creature, now sprawled over the centre platform in a real mess. The First did not take any chances, their weapons still trained on the beast. Soraba stood ready at Torbin's side, her axe raised, ready to chop the creature's head off if it tried anything.

  'Torbin, think about this a moment,' said Tenabin.

  'I have, believe me, I've thought of little else.'

  But Tenabin continued to press. 'From what i heard, its kind meant this place as their own prison for this criminal, and you want to revive it?'

  'The message said it's here because it tried to help the people of the land. Dwarves, Humans, Elves, everyone. It will give us the knowledge we seek about what happened to the other races. I'm sure of it.'

  'If you're wrong Commander, the Gods themselves will not be enough to protect you from the Empress.'

  Torbin looked back to Tenabin. There was a great fear in his eyes. Torbin knew the risks. The weight of the world was upon him, and if he was wrong, the wrath of the Empire would imprison him and his family. A small part of him suspected that was the real reason why the Empress had invited them all to the Royal Place. But he had a feeling. The Griftin had been unjustly locked up, and Torbin had burned it and impaled it twice with his blades when all it tried to do was defend itself. He looked

  over to Soraba, silently looking for guidance. They stared into each other's eyes, Soraba sending him a look of, I trust you, do what is right.

  So Torbin took the box of Runes, brought it over to the central platform and spilt them all out next to the Griftins head. It showed no signs of awareness. Its eyes had become grey, barely alive. Come on, Torbin thought. He picked up one of the Runes and waved it in front of the creatures huge eyes. Nothing. He then walked round to its great left paw and placed the Rune in it. Nothing happened.

  'Perhaps we're too late. We waited too long.'

  Dalara's words cut Torbin to the core. Tenabin and Soraba approached him from behind.

  'Perhaps we've gone as far as we're meant to go,' said Tenabin.

  Torbin was starting to think he was right. There was no movement at all. Soraba put a gauntlet on her lover's shoulder plate. 'I suggest we go see how Forin's doing.'

  But at Soraba's words, a crackling light flickered in the creatures paw, flowed quickly by a red glow before rapidly going out. Torbin went back over to the creature's eyes. Slowly, they were beginning to achieve their usual black. He picked up another Rune and repeated his task. The Runes blazed red and, like the first, disappeared. With colour now wholly returned to the eyes, it started blinking and slowly raised its head, letting out a low, painful squawk. Torbin came back round to the head and held another Rune for it to see.

  In an instant it spun to its front, landing on all fours. Soraba came out of nowhere and pushed Torbin off the platform along with herself. The Commander turned around the moment he hit the floor to see what was happening. The Griftin eyed the Runes laid out before it. Putting its massive paws on top of them, it snuffed them out, taking their Magic. Its wing feathers started to knit back together, the tail beginning to move back and forth.

  The Runes were used up in seconds. It looked around the ground for more. When no more could be found, it raised its head back to Torbin. The most innocent expression seemed to radiate from it. It needed more.

  Torbin stood up and walked to Dalara. 'I don't want to give it more till we have answers. How can we tell it that?'

  Dalara had to snap herself free from the sheer impact of what was happening. 'I'm not sure. Let me try something.'

  Dalara walked close to the creature. It eyed her, slowly moving back from her. Its experience with its new Dwarven jailers had taught it to fear. Dalara made gestures, tapping the top of her helmet. The Griftin cocked its head, considering her. It looked back to Torbin and locked eyes with him before resting on all fours again, lowering its great head on its front paws. And then it happened.

  The creature made slow squawks and, as if out of nowhere, a voice could be heard, not through the air, but in Torbin's mind, the same deep and loud voice that he had heard in the chamber from his first time.

  'More.'

  The impact of this one word sent Torbin's head spinning, but he fought to maintain control. 'You can't have more... not yet.'

  'Why do you then feed me, Child of the Rock? Do you wish more sport from me before ending my life?'

  'I don't seek that, only answers.'

  'Your needs are of no concern. Somehow you have captured and brought me here and to the point of death.'

  'What's happening Torbin?' Tenabin's voice was like a faint whisperer, but Torbin tried his best to answer him.

  'It ok, it's speaking in my head.' Apart from Dalara, this did nothing to calm the other Dwarves. If anything, it made them more nervous. Torbin couldn't concern himself with that right now. It was strange and difficult for him to do, but he knew he had to keep this dialogue going, and he decided that it was best to be honest, for now.

  'We didn't bring you here, I found you in this place.'

  The creature blinked rapidly. 'You lie.'

  'You're in my head. You must know I speak the truth.'

  The creature remained still and silent. Torbin got the impression it was struggling as if the effort to communicate was as hard for it as it was for Torbin to bear. 'How long have I been here?'

  'I don't know. No one has seen anything like you for a very long time. We dug a long way to make our facility just under the surface. I fell many meters before finding this chamber by accident.'

  Silence passed for a while, the Griftin considering the news.

  The others used the opportunity to move closer to their leader. 'Torbin, what is happening, are you alright?' asked Soraba.

  'I'm fine. It's just intense to hear it. Like having your brain squeezed by a Smithing vice.'

  'What are you telling it?' asked Dalara, completely beside herself with wonder.

  'The truth, or as much as I'm willing, about how it was found. It thought we brought it here and imprisoned it. I'm trying to set us all on the same parchment... or at least convince it we are not a threat.'

  'Not an easy task with all the Warriors around here,' said Dalara.

  Torbin knew the Warriors were not helping, but he couldn't take the chance with any of their lives. The Griftin spoke into his mind again. 'Please, send word to Miranace, the Eleven High Council. They will come for me and give you however much gold you require. Please, in the name of Magic, release me.'

  Torbin wanted to lie, to say that he needed time to consider its request, to get a message to the Empire for instructions. But the creature was in his mind, and he knew he could do nothing but be as honest and sincere as possible if he had any hope of gaining its trust.

  'There are no more Elves.'

  The Griftin blinked at him. Though it knew Torbin could only be truthful, it still found this concept hard to grasp. 'I don't understand.'

  'No Dwarf has seen an Elf, a Human or a Griftin for over fifty thousand years.'

  The Griftin stared at Torbin for a long time before responding. 'How did this come to be?'

  'No one knows. It is the greatest mystery in the world. We were hoping you would tell us-'

  'Torbin don't reveal too much, you're playing into its hands, paws... you know what I mean,' said Tenabin.

  'Trust me as you have done, my friend,' replied Torbin, struggling to keep focus.

  'Feed me, and I will tell you my story, young Rock child.'

  'If I feed you, you will gain in strength and Magic. How do I know you will not use your powers to es
cape, to attack us?'

  'It was you who struck the first blow against me with you crude use of Magic, your blades and your strange flying metal. I am starving, my life in the balance and you are capable of defending yourself. The power of Magic has never had much effect on Dwarves. It is curious how you can even sense my Song... You have nothing to fear from me. I give you my oath.'

  It was all very strange for Torbin. Just as he knew that the creature could sense the truth in him, he somehow knew the Griftin was sincere. But one thing had become evident to them both. Whether by accident or not, it was by Magic that the creature healed Torbin and how it managed to communicate with him, which could only mean one thing. The Dwarves were no longer immune from Magic. This one fact alone had the power to send the whole world into a panic, the likes of which they had never known. Before he could even speculate how this had happened, Torbin knew he needed to know more and that it was in everyone's best interests to get all the knowledge he could from the creature. 'I will find food for you, and then you will tell me all you know.'

  The creature released Torbin from its mind. He fell to the ground, his fellow Dwarves circling him, Dalara and Tenabin at either side with Soraba standing guard, axe raised in defence.

  'Hold Soraba, all is well!' Torbin said, grasping his helmet and struggling to breathe.

  Soraba lowered the axe but didn't take her eyes off the creature, calling back behind him. 'Are you alright... Sir?' she asked.

  'Nothing some strong mead wouldn't cure, but there's no time. I convinced it to tell me everything in exchange for more Runes, and don't look at me like that, Tenabin. I know what I'm doing.'

  'That may be so,' replied Tenabin, 'but the Empire must be informed about all of this, they must have some say in the matter, or it will go badly for all.'