The Greystone Chronicles Book Two: The Dire Lands

by Dave Willmarth

  “Citizen volunteers, yes. Thank you, Majesty. We’re accepting adventurers by invitation only. The gang are out about town right now, delivering invitations to likely prospects. And that reminds me, Majesty. We’ll be throwing a feast tonight for all the volunteers. You are, of course, always welcome in our home. The food will be catered by the Ogre, and Brick’s supplying the refreshment.” He grinned.

  “Ha! I just might attend!” the king chuckled. “If only to see if you’re stealing all my best citizens. And for Lady O’Malley’s cooking, of course!

  Alexander’s face fell. “Only fifty or so citizens, Majesty. Maybe less. I’ll not risk any more than that. And no children, at least for now. I don’t think I can take the death of another child.” The others were all silent.

  Shaking himself, he continued. “I plan to visit King Thalgrin next. To ask the same from him. Dwarves built the keep, and we think dwarves should be the ones to repair it.”

  The king looked thoughtful. “Alexander, how would you feel about taking my son with you?”

  “Majesty?” Alexander began to panic. He was already worried about defending civilians. This was… insane!

  “Relax, Alexander. Let me explain. My son must grow and learn if he is to become a good ruler in his own right. I don’t expect any wars in the near future; we live in very stable times. Especially now that we’ve made alliance with the Dwarves. Whom, by the way, I’d like him to get to know, as well. Going with you to the keep, he’ll get to watch a settlement being built. You did an excellent job with Whitehall, and I’m sure you’ll do the same with Dire Keep.”

  “But, Majesty! I’ve just painted a giant shining target on the keep. Practically dared our enemies to attack! I… cannot guarantee the safety of the Prince.”

  The king just chuckled. “Aye, that you did. And I’m aware of the risk. But as I said, my son must learn. Not only about politics and economics, but about being a warrior. And if I must place him in harm’s way, I much prefer to do so where he’ll be surrounded by loyal friends, in a fortified keep, with a dragon and a crusty old wizard to watch over him.”

  Captain Redmond spoke up as Alexander was about to object again. “It’s a sound idea, Alexander. Much better than sending the boy off to a friendly nation with a border conflict he can observe. This way, he can learn a mere ten miles from here, and if necessary I can have a small army there in minutes to help defend him.”

  Suddenly Alexander understood. The king was putting some skin in the game. Risking his son in the process. And Fitz and the captain agreed with him. Still, the responsibility…

  “Fitz, I’d have your oath that if things go badly, you’ll teleport the prince back here,” he said.

  The king laughed. “Fitz took an oath centuries ago to protect this family. And he loves my children as he’s loved Lydia and myself. When they were small, he hovered over them like a mother hen. Would have spoiled them rotten if I’d let him. You need not worry about that, Alexander.”

  Fitz harrumphed and twisted his beard. “Aye, lad. The prince will be safe. I’d challenge the gods themselves to make it so.”

  “In that case, I humbly accept, Majesty.” Alexander was still a bit worried, but not overly so.

  “Thank you, Alexander. And before I forget…” the king reached for a box, handing it to Alexander, “I hereby grant to you the Dire Keep, and the surrounding lands, as laid out in this deed. I charge you to defend them well, and to maintain them. Bring the mine back to life. Cull the dire wolf population so that my farmers, and your own, may plant and harvest without fear. But most importantly, take good care of its people.”

  “Thank you, Majesty. I give you my oath that I, and mine, will give our utmost to fulfil your trust.”

  “It is trust well earned, Alexander. Now, we’ve both got a lot to do today. The quartermaster will deliver supplies to you by day’s end. If I don’t see you at the feast, good luck to you!”

  As Alexander rose to leave, he remembered something. “Captain, in addition to the quartermaster, there will be a large number of vendors and crafters making deliveries at the keep today. I was hoping you could spare a small squad to screen them, and give them access through the wards? There was a pair of guards at the cemetery dungeon the day we were attacked by PWP. They were very observant. I think they were… Jenkins, and Foster?”

  Captain Redmond smiled. “Of course. And those two would make good recruits for your keep, as well. I’ll assign them with six other guards to your compound. You can speak to them yourself about joining you.”

  “Speaking of the keep, Captain.” Alexander pulled the journal and gems from his bag. “We found a room in the barracks that belonged to a Captain Artemis. These were his. I know the chances are small, but if he has descendants here in the city, we thought they might want these.” Alexander handed the items to Captain Redmond. “The journal’s last entry said that he was going to try and kill the baron.”

  “Thank you, Alexander. We’ll have someone check through the records and see what can be found.”

  His business in the palace settled, he and Fitz moved on. Next stop, Broken Mountain.

  The two of them teleported back to the Greystone compound, then used the portal to Broken Mountain. As usual, their arrival was met with momentary aggression, quickly followed by recognition, and they were passed through to the citadel. A runner was sent ahead to alert the king.

  “Bah!” Fitz said. “Waste of time, walking all the way there. We’ve got much to do today!” In a blink, the two of them had teleported to the Great Hall. This time, they caused a much greater fluster, as they’d arrived at the heart of the citadel with no warning. Around the hall, weapons were drawn and shields taken up. The hall went dead silent.

  “BWAHAHA!” A great laugh rang out as King Thalgrin entered from a side chamber. “Fitz! Ye always did know how to make an entrance!” With that, the room relaxed. Dwarves being dwarves, if there was no longer the prospect of a fight, they were mostly disinterested. They went about whatever they’d been doing.

  Fitz and Alexander bowed to the king. “Majesty, my apologies. I couldn’t resist stirring things up a bit. When you’re as old as I am, you take every opportunity for excitement.” He waggled his eyebrows.

  The still-laughing king motioned for them to move to one of the long tables, where he took a seat. At his nod, they sat themselves on either side of him. “If ye’ve come fer Brick’s weekly shipment, it be waiting by the main gate. Ye’d have seen it if ye’d approached like normal folk!” He winked at Alexander. “Master Ironhammer be about ready to head back with his six masters and their supplies, as well.”

  “Thank you, Majesty. But I’m afraid that’s not why we’re here. Though, since you brought it up, I’d like to double the weekly shipment, if that’s possible? I will, of course, pay for the second one.”

  Thalgrin grinned. “The old wizard be drinkin yer entire supply so quickly?”

  “No, Majesty, though he is making a dent. The extra supplies have to do with our reason for coming here today…” He went on to tell the king of their adventures at the keep, and their plans for rebuilding. And the feast they’d be holding for volunteers.

  Just as he was finishing, the young runner that had been sent from the portal burst into the hall. Out of breath, he approached the king. “Me King! Sir Alexander and the wizard be…” He stopped, seeing the two men already seated with the king. He looked confused.

  Deciding to have some fun with the boy, King Thalgrin said, “Aye! Ye could’ve warned me they be comin!” He gave the boy a stern look.

  “But… Me King…” the lad stammered, “I… I runned all the way–”

  “BWAHAHAHA!” Thalgrin’s laugh echoed through the Great Hall, interrupting the poor dwarf. “It be fine, lad. The wizard likes his jokes. He teleported hisself here. Now, catch yer breath, then run ‘n’ tell Ironhammer to double Brick’s shipment.” The boy bobbed his head and took off.

  “Me grand-nephew. Easily confused. Never st
ops bein funny!” The king grinned.

  “Right! Back to business. I’ll call the council and spread the word. Any volunteers will be gathered at the port by mid-afternoon. I expect ye’ll see more’n a few miners. And there be some masons were disappointed they’d not been chosen for the new quarry.”

  Alexander began to offer the same warning he offered King Charles, but Thalgrin held up a hand. “I’ll make sure they know the danger, lad. But ye must know by now. Dwarves love danger!” He grinned.

  Alexander chuckled. “Very true, Majesty. Also, I’d like to invite you to tonight’s feast. I know it is short notice. But we are moving quickly.”

  “I canno’ attend, I’m afraid,” Thalgrin said, regretfully. Dwarves also love parties. “I can offer ye some guards, if ye’ll have them. Me lads’d appreciate some fresh air and the chance to kill darklings!”

  “I’ll accept any volunteers, Majesty. Up to say, fifty? But please don’t order any to come with us. And no children, for now. My conscience is already heavy at the loss of the child at Whitehall.”

  “That be no fault of yours, lad. None! Ye’ve done much to try and help both the villagers, and me own folk. Maybe more than any since Fitz, here. Ye’ve opened up trade that’ll help feed Broken Mountain fer years. Ye’ve fostered an alliance with Stormforge, securing our longest and closest border. T’was a stray arrow, fired by a murderous servant of this ‘Dark One’. And if he indeed be Baron Dire, still alive, then he were an enemy o’ the dwarves long before ye were born!”

  “I appreciate the kind words, Majesty. We must head back now to make more preparations. But before I go, I wanted to seek your guidance on something.”

  “Ask away, lad.” The king leaned back in his chair.

  “We recently added Prince Kaibonostrum as a member of our guild. And we’ll be inviting Lady Lydia, as well as some other citizens of Stormforge. I wanted to offer Thea, Harin, Garen, and Dvorn membership as well. But I did not want to do so without your permission.”

  “Aye. Thea and the young’uns came to ask me permission a few days back. I gave ‘em me blessing, as long as ye were willing to have ‘em.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “I think Thea be settin her sights on yer paladin friend.” He winked.

  “Majesty, I think the ladies of the guild have already decided to help make that happen. Brick’s fate may be sealed, and he has no idea.” He grinned.

  “Ha! Good then. As for the guild, and the keep, me people be free to choose fer themselves, and make whatever oaths they be wantin’. As long as ye don’t try to steal one o’ me masters, I’ll not object.”

  “Thank you, Majesty. Speaking of crafting, I’d like to make you a gift before I go.”

  Alexander pulled a piece of obsidian from his bag. He shaped it into a tube, just as he’d done the night before. This time, though, he did not add the lens at the end. Fitz nodded his approval at that.

  Closing his eyes, he pushed the healing light spell through his hand, infusing it into the stone of the wand. He wrapped the magic as tightly as possible around the tube, over and over. Again, he stopped when he’d reached 3,000 mana. Feeling that there was some capacity left, he added Fitz’s “Undying” spell that would keep the wand’s owner alive after what should be a fatal blow.

  When it was finished, he handed the wand to the king. “I hope you never need this, but if the need arises, this will keep a few of your people alive. Though I’m afraid the Undying enchantment only works once.”

  The king took the wand and examined it, eyes wide.

  Redeemer

  Item Level: Unique, Epic

  Stats: Intelligence +10, Wisdom +10, Stamina +10

  This wand will cast a burst of regenerative light magic, healing a friendly target for 2,000hp. Undying: Should the bearer receive a mortal blow, the wand will maintain bearer at 1% health, preventing death.

  Charges: 20/20

  Skill Level up! Enchanting +5 You have created a unique, epic level enchanted item. Your skill level has increased to Journeyman.

  “Thank ye, lad.” Thalgrin’s voice was soft, his face solemn. He held the wand gently in his open hands.

  “Bah!” Fitz broke the mood. “The boy’s just showing off. I told him to practice, not make an old dwarf all misty-eyed!”

  “Ha! Shut it, ye ornery goat! Yer not one to be callin’ others old! This mountain be younger than you!” The king was grinning again. Fitz waggled his eyebrows and grinned right back.

  Taking their leave of the king, who was already calling for his council to gather, Fitz teleported them back to the portal courtyard. Informing the guards that they’d open the portal again two hours past noon for Ironhammer and any volunteers, they activated the portal and stepped through.

  Alexander had had an idea when speaking to King Charles about housing the volunteers. He pulled up guild chat.

  “Sasha, have you already spoken to the O’Malleys at the Ogre?”

  “Not yet, why?”

  “I was thinking that with the feasting tonight, we might have more than a few who won’t be able to stumble home after. Offer the O’Malleys an extra 150 gold if they’ll rent us all their rooms for the night. Then we can just drop off a wagonload to sleep it off.”

  “Okay. Though it might be better to do that at the inn by the palace gate. So we’re not transporting drunks across half the city.”

  “Good idea! Let’s do both. The Ogre can have those who are sober enough to get there, we’ll roll the drunks to the closer inn. I’ll go there now and make arrangements.”

  With an easy mission to undertake, Alexander headed out the gate. He’d not set foot in the inn down the block. Didn’t even know its name. Always good to meet the neighbors though, right?

  The sign at the door read ‘The Prancing Stallion’. Alexander wasn’t sure if that was the name of the inn, the restaurant, or both. Stepping inside, he found a lavishly decorated lobby with an intricately carved wooden reception desk. Behind the desk was an attractive and sharply dressed young woman, who smiled at him as he entered.

  “Can I help you, Sir Knight?” she asked cheerfully.

  “I… yes, I hope so. I’d like to see about renting some rooms for this evening.” He decided a little formality was appropriate for this setting.

  “Very good, Sir. How many will you need?” She opened a ledger and lifted a pen from the desk.

  “All of them, Miss….?”

  “Oh! My name is Shari.” She curtsied prettily. “And, did you say ALL of them?”

  “Yes, Shari. I’m afraid I did. You see, I’m hosting a feast this evening at our guild house down the street. We’ll be serving dwarven ale and spirits, and I’m afraid a significant portion of our guests may be… less than able to find their way home, afterward.” He gave her his best smile.

  Shari covered her mouth to suppress a giggle. “I understand, Sir. If you’ll wait just a moment? I’ll go fetch the owner.” She ducked through a doorway and was gone.

  A few moments later, a tall, thin man appeared through the same door, Shari trailing behind. The man bowed slightly to Alexander.

  “Sir Knight. I am Hobson, owner and proprietor of the Stallion. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

  Alexander nodded in return. “You as well, Hobson. We’re neighbors now, and I feel remiss in not having to come to introduce myself sooner.”

  “Ah, you need no introduction, Sir. Knight-Advisor to The King. Leader of the Greystone Guild. Savior of Whitehall, and as of last night, Master of Dire Keep, I believe?”

  “Ah, yes. But please, just call me Alexander.” He shuffled a bit, slightly uncomfortable.

  “Of course. Shari has informed me that you wish to secure all of our available rooms for the evening. Is that correct?”

  “It is, indeed,” Alexander confirmed. I’m sorry for the short notice, but we find ourselves a bit rushed. The attendees of tonight’s feast will mostly be leaving in the morning for Dire Keep. We must prepare its defenses before our enemies organize an attack.”
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  Hobson nodded his head. “And I understand there will be dwarven spirits flowing at this feast?”

  “Ah, yes.” Alexander thought he knew where this was headed. “I’m afraid our guests may be a bit, rowdy? I hope that’s not too much of a problem?”

  “Oh, no! Pardon me, Alexander. I wasn’t suggesting anything of that sort. I’m actually interested in acquiring spirits for my establishment.” Hobson hastily responded. “Currently, twenty-five of our thirty suites are available. And as you plan to utilize all of them, I’m sure a bit of rowdiness can be… accommodated.”

  “Thank you, Hobson. I appreciate that. As for the dwarven spirits, can you not purchase them from the crown? I know the king has a supply coming from Broken Mountain that he intended to sell to local vendors.”

  “Yes. That is correct. And we have purchased all that the king’s factor will allow. However, supplies are limited, and there are many establishments in the city who wish to purchase them. And several of my regular customers have developed a taste for them…”