by P. G. Thomas
Raising an eyebrow, “And?” asked Lauren.
Aaro stood up, “Apology they do owe us. They thought our Pappy mad. Their words in person we want to hear, not read by post.”
“Pintar, my good friend, Ironhouse seeks to reduce your revenues. Will you stand for this?”
“The lineups are already too long. I have had to hire more, and I have to increase my prices. I will have to start a service to the east. John quit on me. You may have saved the west, Earth Mother, but you have destroyed my life. With all the money I make, my wife pesters me to take her shopping all of the time. I should have moved when I first thought of it, but if it were not for the profits, I probably would.”
“John, did you quit the post office? Why?” asked Lauren.
“I promised Gayne and Mirtza, if they showed me their magic, I would show them mine. They want to understand what I know.”
“Gayne, Mirtza. Do you think you will ever be able to understand the one called John Ironhouse?”
Mirtza shook his head, “All. There is not enough time in the world. We just want him to open the door and show us the path.”
“From there, we will continue to learn on our own. We just need a push in the right direction,” replied Gayne.
Lauren smiled in a devilish way, “Well, if he ever wants to use the cliffs to demonstrate his point, I suggest you decline.”
“I was upset. You and Logan were in a coma, and the magic wouldn’t show up. Damned Blood Bond.”
“Chief Council, Supreme Ruler of Magic, Tester of Gravity, please calm down, and climb back off of that ledge,” replied Lauren, who was smiling.
“Once they start, John, they won’t stop. It’s like howling at the moon, it is always there.” When Nur pinched Zack, he winced, “They keep finding new ways to rub you the wrong way, you can’t hide. They’ll sniff you out. Burrowing doesn’t help. They just keep up with the digs. There, did I miss any?”
“Bor, our brother, his sense of humor to new heights rises. Just like an eagle on a fresh breeze,” joked Aaro.
“You missed one,” replied Lauren. “Panry, my Earth Guard, my friend, what of you? What will you do now?”
“Earth Mother, you are still my charge. I expect you will find ways to ensure my life does not lack excitement. It is your style.”
“No, Panry, I see quiet in the future for your Earth Guard. If it isn’t, I’ll be very upset.”
“That is the part that will keep my life free of quiet,” and a round of laughter embraced all at the table.
Lauren wiped away her happy tears, “What of John? Why does he still have an Earth Guard?”
“He is power,” advised Panry. “It is not a gift from Mother or other, but he fought for her children, so we proclaimed him such. Should he fall into hands wrong, all could suffer, so we protect and serve him.”
Lauren still enjoyed John’s reaction. “But did you have to proclaim him an Earth Mother?”
Panry snorted his drink. “Dwarf have their traditions, and Earth Guard have our own. If we protect and serve, we call them Earth Mother.”
“Bastard,” replied John, who was glaring and smiling at the same time.
“What?” asked Logan.
Everybody laughed again.
“You said you wouldn’t call me that in public. You’ll call me John.” He was blushing a bright shade of red.
“Fodu is it done?” asked Lauren.
He walked up to her “Yes, but to John, I will not give it.” Fodu turned to John, “Order me she does. She is Earth Mother, decline I cannot. John, brother, I did not want to do it. Choice also was not given to me.”
Lauren rolled the stickpin between her fingers, which was crested with a mithril lightning bolt, “Don’t worry Fodu, when the Earth Mothers get together for tea, we’ll present it to our new member.”
“I’m not wearing it. You can’t make me wear it. Your Earth Bonds don’t affect me. I’ll never wear it. Never!” When John stormed out of the Inn, his Earth Guard followed, smiling.
“Brook, Arora, Lindo, Fritza, Nur. Will I have to drink alone now? Tea or otherwise? I would like the opportunity to review the entire story with you.”
“You can tell it to dwarf,” began Brook. “Your stories are too long. Not again, or we shall issue an Earth Bond, and only permit you to tell stories short. We finally got Arora to drink only tea, and we have taken her silver flask away. Should you start a new story, her health we does all worry about.”
Arora pulled out a silver flask, “Well, maybe one last story, Earth Mother.”
Laughter once again filled the inn.
As they stood to leave, Zack stayed back, “Earth Mother, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Zack, call me Lauren. We’re forever in your debt, as we couldn’t have done any of this without you. What do you want?”
“Nur is with child. I want to build a house, and I need to build quarters for her Earth Guard. I have no money, yet I need to support the one I love and my child.”
“Have you…”
“We’ve talked about it. We’ve talked to the other Earth Mothers, but what happens is between Nur and me, none else.”
“We owe you a great deal of back pay. You’ll have more than sufficient funds for you and your family. I’ve so many questions.”
“Those will have to wait for a few months, but thank you.”
Panry was waiting outside for Lauren, “Speechless, I like this side of you.”
“Did you know?”
“Yes, but the news did not threaten the west.”
“What is Mother up to?”
“Do you think she will ever tell me anything again?”
“You could—”
“Earth Mother, I pushed my luck once, and I will not test Mother again. Mother will act, like Mother wants to. I can live with that,” replied Panry. “There is one more thing that you need to know. After they captured you, Ryan attacked me in anger and rage. I understood, and his anger helped me to clear my head. For that, I was thankful. He said something that night, and the words you need to know.”
“What is it Panry?”
*******
The black-clad soldiers stayed to help with the reclamation of the lands and the burials. Even though they never started the war, they needed to help repair the lands for what they had done. People started to migrate back to the east so that they could rebuild. Some of the soldiers went home to their country of Darkpaye, but over half of them stayed since the damage was great.
The Ironhouse brothers went back to their mine after a few months, and many of their clan joined them. John gave them pieces from his laptop, telling them to lock them in the room where they named Tranquil Fury, and if he needed to visit, that he would come by magic.
Nur and Zack built a large house outside of Alron, surrounded by forests, and he spent a great deal of time in them, as pregnant Nur was different from frisky Nur, but Zack always stayed close.
Panry took Lauren often to visit Alron, and she cried every time. On the day they went to retrieve Gor, she cried even more.
Logan went to the Earth Mothers one day, as young lads were showing up, looking for the Bastard, looking for guidance. They extended Mothers arms to him and his charges.
John was gifted a large house in town for himself and his Earth Guard, and he even started taking tea with the Earth Mothers. By day, he taught Gayne, Mirtza, and the other magic students science, math, and magic, but at night, he worked in his basement.
Gingaar came to terms with her title, and her healing powers came into full bloom, as there was nobody that she was unable to help. Receiving the healing he needed, Ryan once again walked without assistance. The machine inside of him went quiet; the rage and anger were now gone, but the curse remained, which haunted him.
Gayne’s magic students made weekly trips to the Ironhouse mine, as none wanted to travel the road north, and Pintar was still trying to convince John to help him expand the post service, though he declined as did Gayne.
They visited Ironhouse often, they had to; Bor, Fen, Fodu all took wives, and Hakk died in a battle with frost beasts. The weddings were grand; the funeral was sad. However, absent from all of the ceremonies, the Ironhouse clan leader, as the whereabouts of Aaro was unknown.
One day the magic student brought John an invitation from Ironhouse, requesting his attendance at the first dwarf performance of the saga none could name. (There was a working title, but it took over a day to read.)
Opening the portal, they all saw the oversized fireplace in the small room. With Tranquil Fury resting on the mantel, the armor kept watch beside the fireplace. Eric had given both back, as all great weapons were returned to the Master Weapon Smith who created them. He was dwarf, and it was tradition.
Brook, Arora, Eric, Ryan, Lauren, Logan, and Gingaar all followed John into the little room, including the five Earth Guard squads. Nur and Zack stayed back, refusing to risk the magic travel while she was pregnant.
When they opened the door, the corridor was filled with dwarfs, elves, and midlanders. The Ironhouse Mine was what it should be, alive. No longer would the empty halls echo single footsteps, as laughter and life now filled them.
When they entered the hall, no one recognized them because Eric had stayed in the room, wanting to spend a few minutes talking with his old friend above the fireplace. Even though he knew Tranquil and Fury were absent, they had been through so much, and he hoped they would hear his words. As his six foot six inch frame came out the door, one dwarf lady holding a baby daughter smiled and ran down the hall. Returning, she was dragging Aaro who held a young son.
“Yes. Champion and brother he is. He is Ironhouse, Eric Ironhouse.” Aaro nodded to the group, “Pleased I am to introduce my wife to my friends, Ruby is her name.” He pointed to the child his wife held, “Our daughter Lauren.” He then held forth the small bundle in his arms, “My son Logan. Twins, first dwarf born, so fitting the names we thought.”
With Panry behind Lauren, he started to speak, but she elbowed him in the ribs. Apologizing, he cursed Alron under his breath, as he felt that Alron had somehow played a part in it.
Lauren held out her hands, “May I?” She cradled the little bundle of joy, smiled, “How can this be? Nur is still with child.”
Aaro looked up, “Wait I could not.”
Ruby kicked him, “Born in west, our arrival back is recent.” Taking the children in her arms, she walked back to the main hall.
“Aaro, you need to explain this to me.” It was not the voice of Lauren; it was the voice of Earth Mother, and anger burnt in her eyes.
“The west mine we did meet, and swept me off my feet she did. Of you, I did tell. Told her all I did. I wanted to invite you, bur Ruby did not want your present. She was afraid more would fuss over you than her.” Aaro looked up, “She is my Earth Mother. If she wants, she gets. I am sorry, but Ruby is pleased.”
Understanding, she smiled at the clan leader of Ironhouse, “Your Pappy would be proud of you, Aaro. You and all of your brothers both.”
There was a noonday feast. Dwarves, midlanders, and elves had traveled for weeks to see the play even though it was incomplete. Eric was the standout attraction, as dwarves crowded him so thick, he was unable to move. After an hour, Aaro and Bor entered the hall carrying the sword that no dwarf could ever use. When Eric raised it above his head, the crowd all saw it and cheered.
Several sought out Gingaar, having heard of her powers. Even though the attention overwhelmed her, she never shied away from it, but she still wished to feel the soft mud between her toes.
From the back of the great hall, Ryan watched the crowds form around Lauren and Logan.
John stood on the far side of the hall, wearing his long black cloak. Little dwarf, elf, and midlander children, smiling, would run up to touch him, and then run back to their parents.
Standing in the middle of the room, where Lauren and Logan. All eyes were on her, as they stared upon the legend in disbelief.
Leaning over, he whispered into her ear, “They came to see you, so I’ll meet up with you later.” Kissing her cheek, he tried to leave.
She grabbed his hand, “Your sister needs you.”
“No, she has been quiet lately.”
“Stupid bastard, I need you, not Sister. We came into both worlds together, and we’ll share this moment together, but I know now why you came second. You’re so slow. I don’t know how Sister ever put up with you.”
“Hold on, which sister are we talking about?”
Even though the first part of the play was done, it would take three nights to watch. Before each performance, great feasts were prepared to honor Gor Ironhouse. As such, dwarven clans in the middle mountain spine had sent their most skilled cooks to do battle in the kitchen, seeing if any were worthy of the floors that Gor Ironhouse walked on. However, of all the dishes served, not one was the fluffy pancakes with the special sauces and fried meats. In the quiet of her room, late at night, Lauren thought she still heard the words that made her smile, ‘Lauren, please you, what would?’
With the great hall filled, only the first chapters were complete, which recorded the events at the Ironhouse Mine: the making of the sword, the naming ceremony, and the possession. So much cold water, it gave all of the dwarfs’ chills. On a fourth night, they performed a shortened version of the final battle, which only lasted six hours— by dwarf standards, hardly worth watching.
They stayed for three more days, trying to answer all of the questions from the dwarf bards and minstrels. When one would disbelieve their words, they would send for the Ironhouse brothers, who would vouch for the legends. Midlander, elf, and dwarf all came to them, thanking them.
Then, after they said their farewells in the hall, John opened a portal. The last thing that Aaro heard was Panry. “Why did they not name one Panry?”
“Be quiet, one Panry in this world is enough.”
“Two Laurens—that does hurt, Earth Mother.”
The portal winked out.
Shortly after they returned to Alron, they summoned Gingaar to aid Nur in her delivery, but everyone went. Being a long birth all were worried, but in the end, Zack held a son; ten toes, ten fingers, no tail, but he did have his mother’s ears. There were no extra furs or odd skins, but all Zack and Nur wanted was healthy.
Having been thinking about it for too long, Lauren went out to the front porch where Ryan was sitting. Seeing Zack smiling as he held his son, she could keep her silence no longer.
“I hear you have a secret?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you fought Panry, after I was captured, you told him something about me.”
“I don’t remember. That was such a long time ago. I was upset. I’m sorry if I said something I shouldn’t have.”
“Ryan, do you remember after Alron died, and you tried to help me grieve? Helped me to see the truth?”
“Yes.”
“You asked me questions that I didn’t want to answer. You wouldn’t stop until I spoke the truth. Ryan, if you were Lauren, and I was you, and there was a truth that had to be spoken aloud. What questions would you ask you, to get me to speak the truth?”
“What?”
“It sounded better in my head. Look, let’s cut to the end. Tell me what you told Panry,” replied Lauren.
Ryan looked down, “I think I told him that I loved you. I may have told others also.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Sam. How could I? Your sister’s blood, it’s on my hands.”
“We both know that wasn’t your fault.”
“I keep thinking I could have done something different.”
Lauren smiled, “Been there, done that.”
“Then the accident. Everything stopped. I only asked Sam out to find out about you. She used to get so mad at me, it was Lauren this, Lauren that. Then red, then black.”
“I asked Nur about that night, and she told me that you thought we would get home, and if my parents found out
that I had died, they would bury two empty coffins. You said they wouldn’t see John, Eric, or Zack, and only see you. Blame you.”
“I was scared, upset, angry.”
“Nur told me, as you scared the crap out of all of them.”
“I wasn’t myself.”
“Yes, I’ve heard about your other side. I look forward to seeing how the dwarfs portray you on stage. Twelve feet tall and hard as rock and at the final battle, forty feet tall. You, my friend, will test those actors.”
“When we rescued you, you should have seen Zack when he went through those gates, a freaking dinosaur! Do you think he passed any of his talents on?”
“That’s between Zack, Nur, and Mother. My job is done, and my time is free.” Lauren leaned over, kissing Ryan on the cheek, “You do know you saved my life.”
“It was for selfish reasons. When we get home, I would be in therapy for years. I hated it, all of those questions. I had to do something. How could I ever explain what happened here? They would lock me up, thinking me mad.”
Lauren raised her finger to Ryan’s lips. He went quiet. “When I visited you in the hospital, I said terrible things to you, which I should never have said. I’m sorry.” Even though Ryan tried to speak, Lauren leaned forward, kissed him on the lips, and at that moment, in the silence, the curse shattered. Then Zack’s son began to scream, shattering the silence, and the moment was broken, much like the curse. Before they went to check on the new family member, she looked at him, “Do you think we’ll get home?”
“Seriously, how long do you think John can go without the Internet? He’ll get us home sooner or later, as he’ll tire of using pencil and paper. Yes, here he’s a genius, but he’s also a technology junkie. Why do you think he didn’t sacrifice his smart phone to rescue the innocents? He needs technology. He has to have it.”
Chapter 31
It was well past the second year after the final battle. Nur and Zack had brought a girl into the family. Logan was busy teaching the Bastards about Sister’s magic, including how to protect the innocents. Eric went back to the Ironhouse Mine, as he liked it there. The nights were quiet, and the days were busy playing with young dwarves.
