by Alan Mundle
He proceeded with his team and boarded the car to help load the containers. He and two others pulled them on after they were shoved over the threshold of the train. In a moment, the Instructor's container was next. The Rune continued to flash, and there was nothing he could do to keep the First from noticing. Sure enough, one of them drew her sword and started advancing on Borin's position. There was only one thing he could think to do. He kicked the leg of his team member that was supporting the container, causing all of them to fall on the car deck. Prepared for the fall, Borin landed with only a thud on the back bulkhead. He kept himself low and scrambled to get a replacement Rune from his belt before the First Warrior arrived, who he had no doubt doubled her speed on seeing the collision. His gauntlets flew over the failing Rune to eject it from its slot, but in his panic, it fell from his grasp and slid along the deck plates to the back of the car. Borin had to ignore it. He scrambled to bring a new Rune into its slot and just when he could feel the shadow of the First Warrior upon him, the Magic gem slotted into place and glowed with red power. The next thing he knew a sword had pierced the armour bellow this right shoulder, pinning him to the deck. Borin honestly didn't know what he was suffering from the most, the pain of his impalement or that he had most likely failed in his duty. Warriors from both companies surrounded Borin and his attacker, all with swords drawn, ready to start attacking each other. Borin, well used to great pain, found it within him to call out.
'All prison guards, stand down!' At first, none of them moved, all intent to intercept the blow that would start a bloodbath. So Borin gritted his teeth and made another attempt. 'I said, STAND DOWN!'
Slowly and reluctantly, the guards began to lower their weapons. The First were quick to react, disarming the guards and putting them on their knees. The First Captain approached the female Warrior who's sword remained lodged in Borin's shoulder. They brought their helmets close enough to touch one another, but if they spoke, Borin couldn't hear them. The Captain indicated to Borin, clearly demanding an explanation.
'Merely a mistake, Sir. I lost my footing when carrying the container aboard.' The Captain came round to Borin's side, inspecting the container as he went. The female that stabbed him withdrew her weapon and Borin could feel blood exit his armour, followed quickly by the deathly cold. The pain was becoming more intense than even he could handle. He instantly felt the cold seeping through his body and into his brain. If Borin succeeded couldn't tell. His vision began to whiten before everything became dark.
CHAPTER 19
APPROACHING
Treygen couldn't help but smile. Despite the circumstances, he was glad he managed to kill one of the black armoured warriors before they shoved him in the metal monstrosity that would take him away from the Great Rock. He knew he should probably be frightened, incensed even to be removed so entirely from this world and the next. But as the blood dripped from his armoured gauntlets, he didn't feel so bad. Ten dwarfs were needed to haul him into the train, surrounding him from all sides. He, of course, had no weapons or even any hope of getting away, but he refused to leave the land forever without making the occasion memorable. As he approach the open car, he broke free of his restraints, knocking his captors back. Those that reached him first tried to tackle their prisoner again into submission. Treygen managed to bend one of the Warriors arm back towards her head and pressed the gauntlet controls. The First Warrior stopped instantly as her wrist blade made contact with her head. Blood poured from the victim's helmet and down Treygen's gauntlets. His victim started to convulse against his grip, but he held it, while other Dwarves pulled every part of his own armour. In seconds his body went limp, and Treygen let go. The Warriors around inflicted every blow they could without using their sword, but Treygen didn't care. It was worth it.
The black Warriors carried his now limp body to the open car of the train, threw him in and sealed the door shut. There was no light inside, but Treygen knew he was being locked in as various bolts outside were being slammed into place. He also knew that many weapons were being pointed in his direction still by guards who were boarding land vehicles that would follow the train just in case he managed to get out. He loved the idea of proving that he could, just to see their faces, but even he knew when to quit. By the time he recovered from his beating, the train would be halfway across the great bridge. No, his only hope of escape lay at his destination.
Try as hard as he might, Treygen couldn't pretend that he wasn't worried about where he was going. He remembered when he was being sentenced. It wasn't the Empress that had done it, oh no. Bring the most dangerous male in Tridas to the heart of the Empire and close to the Empress Herself? No, the honour of sentencing had passed to the next worst person he could think of. The one he never got a chance to kill and would always sorely regret it. Regent Canara.
He expected death. After his actions, he was exposed for the world to see. Caught with the blood of his victims on his hands, he expected nothing less. He and his friends were cornered, and he knew it. He wasn't going to deny it. He knew the only thing he could do was celebrate his deeds for the whole world to see, to spread fear as far and wide as he was able. At least he knew that when he died, the Great Rock would bless him as its strongest Warrior among those who would see blasphemers expelled from this life and into the Void. But it didn't happen. The vile servant of the beast declared that he would live. At the time, the heathen public seemed about as outraged as he was, more even. Some males tried to break through the trial security that they might get close enough to attempt the deed themselves upon hearing the verdict. Swords were thrown at him, females grasped to claw his eyes out, others even tried to slay Warriors of the First to get to him, but Canara had blown a horn that sounded for miles that made everyone want to pry their ears off. Silence was soon hers. Taking off the helmet that protected her from the blast she gave the Empress’s decree that a place would be built for Treygen and others like him, one far across the sea and separate from the land itself. A cold shudder seemed to reverberate through the whole crowd. All except Treygen. A fire burned in him at that moment that still kept is soul aflame, born of vengeance and would only die when Canara, the Empress and the whole of the Empire lay in ashes at his feet.
All his life he knew that The Great Rock cursed Dwarves that set out into the world beyond the mountain for their blasphemy, that there could be no redemption until they were made to know the error of their ways. But Treygen knew at that moment that there could never be any atonement that would save them now. To build a place away from the land itself was heresy beyond imagining, the Empire had forever dammed their souls to the Void as surely as they were damming those that would be sent to that place. But go there he would, and he would show them that not even their strongest Warriors or heretical Scholars could construct a place that would contain a pure Dwarf from the Great Rock. In that, he found some comfort.
Months had passed since that day. Treygen knew that was more than enough time for Canara's speech to make its way back to his own people. He didn't have faith in many things, but he did have some in them. He knew that they would be exploring ways to help, putting plans and people into motion. He waited and waited for some secret word to reach him, but the security that surrounded him day and night was total and unyielding. No word reached him in the cell that kept him a prisoner. But he did know it was moving. He was bound by chains and could only eat and relieve himself with the assistance of his captures. At first, he seethed with anger at being so helpless and at the mercy of the enemy. But all his humiliation only served to fuel the fire that burned within him. He made himself eat what was forced on him, knowing that it was the only way he could keep his strength. They fed him at the same time one other had the job of cleaning up his mess. He knew there were always four. He never saw them as they kept his eyes shrouded at all times. But he was never afraid. He was raised in the darkness of the True Home and had long learned to rely on his other senses to survive.
But today the train transporting him s
topped. For the first time in months, his body and chains no longer shook. He had grown so accustomed to the feeling that it took a long moment to get used to being still again. The door to his moving cell opened wide, spilling light in all at once, stinging Treygen's eyes. Three figures walked in, and he immediately felt shame at showing weakness. Once his eyes adjusted, he saw a robed Dwarf flanked by two guards. It didn't take Treygen long to figure out that a Lord stood before him. The male wore a very clean green and silver robe with enough gold bracelets through his long hair and beard that he could only be a Noble. But he was content with one thing about his visitor. Through all the pomp and glamour, he saw something in his eyes that made him smile inside. Fear.
The Noble approached Treygen very slowly, looking back a few times to make sure his guards were still there. 'It is finally time to for you to leave, monster,' he said. One of the guards signalled to someone outside, and Treygen's ears picked up the sound of a great many swords being drawn. The other guard in the cell proceeded to unlock the various chains that held Treygen in place. After the public spectacle of his trial, it was ordered that Treygen be equipment in the most basic armour to avoid some fool getting lucky and killing him. Fools, he thought. When he was ready, the Lord before him sneered. 'I'd rather you try something and give me a reason to run you through.'
Treygen almost laughed. The thought of this pampered, sorry excuse for a Dwarf fighting him would almost make his long confinement worth it. But he was not prepared to do anything that would justify an early death. A Noble’s death was definitely the right way to go about it, but no, the slaying of a First Battalion guard was enough to leave his mark on the land, should he fail and never return. His sore body painfully rolled over as he felt his new transport lurched forward. He was on his way. There was nothing to be done, expect to heal and prepare. The Void was coming.
CHAPTER 20
SACRIFICE
Torbin undertook work constructing a cell that was to house the most damned of prisoners, Treygen. It was to receive every possible security device that Smiths could create. Torbin didn't relish the thought of an insane criminal in this place, but his imminent arrival did present him with the opportunity he'd been looking for. His only problem was Borin.
He went straight to the Healing Cabin on hearing that he'd been injured, but how it happened was unclear. He arrived to find him in a very sorry state, bleeding from a stabbing through his armour after being out on the surface. He found him being treated by the Healers for blood loss and exposer. Two days had passed before he became conscious. His arm had been treated, but during that time, Canara was out for her own blood. It took many debates and confrontations, but the Commander managed to convince the Regent that he would handle the situation. When Borin was lucid, Torbin wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter of why he was even out there in the first place. The First had reported to Canara that Borin was acting on his orders to escort them and their cargo to the train. Torbin agreed, of course. He never ordered any such thing, but he wasn't about to let Canara sink her fangs into his friend. It took some prying, but Borin admitted to deceiving to the First. Somehow he had managed to smuggle something back to the mainland for a friend that he owed gold to. Torbin was furious and promised that if things were different, he'd beat him again and making sure he spent the rest of his life scrubbing prison lavatories. But Torbin needed him.
He arranged for Tenabin, Borin, Forin and Soraba to work in the same area. But Canara was as sharp as her sword. She always made sure that someone in her company watched every move the leading expedition members made. But Torbin was no fool. They worked inside the cell, testing every security device. All but one. Though they could only meet briefly, he had enough time with his allies to plan the first move in what was sure to be a very long day. If someone had told him two months ago what he was planning, he would have had them sectioned and shipped back to the mainland for study. But he had no time to dwell on it. This was happening, and he needed his wits, more than ever.
Torbin checked his suit’s chronometer frequently and, when the time came, he nodded to Forin, praying to the Great Rock that the boy fully understood his instructions. Though he looked worried, Forin walked over to where the First Warrior that was stationed to them stood at the cell door. 'I need to go and get some Runes for the door mechanism. Please, can you help me?' The First Warrior looked at him, not responding, as expected. But Forin knew what to do. 'That's ok, I'll get it myself. Don't want the room to run out of power and lock us in with no heat.'
The Warrior considered for a moment. He then indicated that he would help, apparently not too fond of the idea of a frozen death. He bayed Forin leave first and followed close behind the boy. Torbin could only hope that Forin could keep the guard distracted long enough. He assessed the control panel outside the cell. For his plan to work, he needed sole control of the cell's primary locking mechanism. He needed to reset all the dials so that the machinery would respond to his control from the Command Cabin. Then he would lure the gold-plated bitch in there and as much of the First that would follow her. Once he had dealt with the lingering black Warriors, they would decide what to do with Canara and the creature. Was it honourable? Probably not, Torbin thought, but neither were the Regent’s intentions. The only uncertainty was Dalara. Torbin needed her if he was going to get out of this alive. All his allies argued that she was not to be trusted, that it would be safer to lock her up with the Regent and avoid any possibility of her coming to the assistance of her leader. Torbin had no option but to take the gamble on her loyalty.
Torbin accessed the panel, exposing a series of cogs and dials, along with a set of Fire Runes installed in a row of five. He was not worried about the technical challenge ahead of him. As the genius behind thermal Rune Tech, he had frequently worked with many of the prison Smiths in the facility concerning its construction. The problem was delicacy. If he managed to trip the wrong mechanism, he'd either kill himself or worse. He began to block out the sound coming from Tenabin and Borin's labours, trusting in both them and Soraba to let him know if something was wrong. Each Rune supported one of the main cogs with numbers ranging from one to five. The trick was to change the cog positions when the corresponding Rune had finished its power cycle. If he changed one at the wrong time, not only would they explode, but also certainly set off alarms in the Command Cabin, bring Canara running.
The light on the first dial went off, and Torbin immediately started turning the cog. He had only seconds to do it, and it was by no means easy doing it when wearing a gauntlet. When he had set the dial, its Rune flashed back on, leaving Torbin a second to breath easy. He would never have thought it possible to sweat in a frozen wasteland, but he could feel perspiration trickling down his face and threatening to get into his eyes. He allowed himself a moment to shake his head and adjust one of the dials on his helmet to turn down the heat. An unthinkable move for anyone else in the prison, except for him. He made a mental note to turn it back up again later before anyone had the chance to see what he had done.
Time for the second dial. It took ten seconds for the Rune to turn off and another five to come back on. One, the light went dark, and he started to turn the dial, his gauntlet already poised in position. Two, he turned it to the correct position. Three, it clicked into place. Four, Torbin withdrew his gauntlet. Five, the Rune reactivated.
Two down, three to go.
He wanted to turn around to check on Soraba and the others, but he carried on, determined to get it all done quickly. One, the Rune light turned off. Two, he turned the dial. But before he could finish setting it, Forin came crashing through the corridor. 'Torbin, look out!'
Torbin pulled his gauntlet free and spun round to see that the First Warrior had come back early and headed straight for him, sword extended. He had just enough time to move before the sword tip met armour. Instead, the blade plunged into the mechanism. Power surged back along the metal and made contact with the black armour. The Warrior's gauntlet clamped down
on the hilt, unable to release, power surging through the Dwarf's body. The Runes on his armour also pulsed with power, sending red sparks of energy everywhere. The Warrior's free gauntlet, either through intent or shock reaction, grabbed Torbin's breastplate. Energy ran through the Commander's armour, but Torbin felt no pain. He instead felt a rush of life as the power coursed through him. But the sensation quickly ended. Borin had come out of nowhere and crashed into both him and the Warrior. Torbin was sent skidding across the cell and took Soraba and Tenabin crashing down with him. When he had stopped, Torbin quickly turned around and looked for Borin. When he found him, he and the First were locked together, power surging through both of them. At once, the Dwarves suddenly stopped convulsing and dropped to the ground. In the same instant, the cell door fell from its shaft in the ceiling. Torbin tried to move quickly, but it was too late. The security door plummeted down and cut both Borin and the First in half. The three remaining Dwarves looked in horror at the sight of their dead friend. Torbin hardly even notice the banging on the other side of the door.
The Commander rose from where he had fallen and banged on his side of the cell. 'Forin, can you hear me? Get help, find someone, anyone, HURRY!!!'
