Perhaps it was only because of enduring apprehension due to their encounter with the chamois, but Ivy wasn't about to admit that.
Following Ivy's lead, the barbarians stretched out under the stars near the circle. Ivy did not even bother to lie down but only sat, watching the others sleep, trying to ease the tension out of her aching muscles. What was the point of trying to rest when she never slept peacefully? Besides, someone had to keep watch. Might as well be her.
So she watched as her barbarians slept, envying those who slept smoothly, wishing she could help those who slumbered fitfully.
More clouds crept across the sky, blotting out more light, but she did not need her eyes to hear. A faint buzzing sound persisted, and Ivy stilled. No. It couldn't be.
It was.
Like a madwoman, Ivy raced from sleeping barbarian to sleeping barbarian, tapping their throats to wake them. Without a word, she corralled them away. The clouds shifted some, and Ivy's fears were revealed.
The destroyer dreads were chasing them. A huge haze trailed them, like a shadow. The barbarians kept Ivy's frantic pace. All through the night and into the day, the dreads pursued them, not even being deterred when they passed a few grazing chamois.
Gradually the Blood Stones crept into view. Mountains ringed around volcanoes comprised the structure, the soil red from the enormous heat.
"How are we getting inside?" Helm asked as they approached, the first time a barbarian had spoken since Ivy awoken them.
The barbaroness pointed toward the sky, and soon the barbarians were climbing as fast as they had run. Thankfully, the mountain wasn't as hot as the sand had been, but now the buzzing was even louder, the dreads closing the distance. Ivy scrambled, climbing with both her hands and her feet, and she paused to swat even though none of the dreads were quite that close.
It would have taken humans days to scale the mountain, but by nightfall, the barbarians already reached the pinnacle. Down Ivy pushed the first barbarian, and he tumbled, disappearing from view. Ivy followed next, the remaining barbarians only seconds behind. The nearest volcano was close enough that she jumped onto it and resumed climbing. The barbarians hesitated.
"Come!" she screamed, her voice drowned out by the buzzing.
Katar leapt next. Gradually, they all did and soon they stood at the ridge of the volcano, able to stare down at the molten lava within it.
The dreads stayed above the mountain for a long time, hours most likely. Between the buzzing and the heat, Ivy couldn't accurately pay attention to the passage of time, but eventually, the dreads flew off to find victims who did not have a wish to burn themselves.
Ivy slid down the volcano, trying to separate herself from the oppressive heat. So much destruction she and Lukor had wrought upon the world. Could their union truly be a good thing?
A fierce pain gripped her chest, and she gasped. "G-g-good," she managed to mutter, and the agony released.
The notion that the elf was keeping so close to her thoughts worried her. Was he only listening in when she thought of Lukor? How she hoped that was the case. Magic from across such a long distance had to be tiring. Indeed, the more she thought about it, the more her notion made sense, for if the elf knew they were seeking out the dwarves, the elves would never have allowed them to venture so close.
Helm stared at her. "I thought the dreads had not been seen for years now. How did they come to be near here?"
Ivy averted her gaze.
He coughed slightly, his face red from the heat. "How are we getting inside?"
Ivy surveyed around them. Somewhere in these mountains lay the entrance to the Blood Stones. She started to stand when a figure appeared out of nowhere above the ridge of the mountain.
Short, stout, with a scowl that would kill dreads, the dwarf glowered down at them. "Who be you and why be you here?"
The barbaroness gulped. A more ungracious welcome they could not have received.
Lukor had only stepped four times on the bone drawbridge before a wall of trolls appeared within the doorway of the trollish fortress.
"Halt," the centermost troll commanded, his voice guttural, the word almost unrecognizable. He lifted his arm as if to bar them, the bones in his armor clanging together. Unlike the trolls they had fought against during the battle, none of these trolls wore cloth over their bone armor. Instead, their emblem had been painted directly onto their armor.
The golock gestured for his goliaths to remain behind, but he continued another few paces. "I am Lukor Dalthu Cagan Ig Lob Tog Yambul Wraog Grukk Uzul, Golock. I have something for the skuleader."
The troll bristled, nostrils flaring, the bone through his septum not moving. "What is it?"
"Words." Lukor bared his teeth. "And a gift."
The troll gestured him forward. Lukor held out his arms, so they could determine he had no weapons on his person. When they came across the skuleader's head in a pouch tied around his waist, they became much rougher in their handling of him, but Lukor showed no signs of discontentment.
While most of the trolls stalked the drawbridge to give the other goliaths the same treatment, five flanked Lukor, forcing him forward. Each was shorter than Lukor, with long arms that dangled down to their knees. All of them were bald, every eye color that Lukor noted were various shades of gray, even black with no pupils visible.
The interior of the fortress continued the bone theme. Hip sockets were used as torch holders on the wall. Arm and leg bones constructed chairs and tables. While the goliaths had their plants and trees, they also had a few painting within their Orda Citadel, and he had seen a few within Barbarian Fortress. Here, however, was no sign of any artwork.
The talker troll manhandled Lukor, grabbing his forearm. That crossed the line, and Lukor eased himself free.
"I will come," he said calmly, staring down the brute.
The troll's gnarled teeth gnashed, but he did not grab Lukor again.
Down a hallway that narrowed to the point that Lukor's broad shoulders brushed against the cold bones on the walls, the group entered a circular war room that also doubled as the trolls' throne room. Only skulls were used for the throne, each perfect and without a chip that Lukor could see. His view of the throne was unimpeded as the new skuleader did not sit upon, but rather stood beside it, holding onto a cane, the base actually fashioned out of wood, but the top was — surprise — a massive skull.
"Leave us," the skuleader said.
With growls and grunts, and a few bumps, the trolls left, ushering out the other goliaths who had finally arrived, leaving the two rulers alone.
"Why here?" The skull leader ran his fingers over the painted dead roses on his chest.
Lukor tossed the former skuleader's head at his feet.
The skuleader did not even look at it. "I know you kill."
"What have the elves promised you?" Lukor crossed his arms, purposely showing off his muscles. "Do not pretend they haven't."
"That is us and elves."
"Considering that you used enchanted blades upon my men, it's not just between the trolls and the elves." Lukor lessened the distance between them slightly, although half the room still stretched between them.
"You not here."
"Too late for that now. I am here. And you are going to talk to me."
"Or else..."
"I'll kill you with my own hands."
Footsteps sounded behind him. Lukor didn't have to turn around to know the troll guards had returned.
Lukor bared his teeth at the skuleader. "If you strike me down, you start a war between your people and mine. Is that what you want?"
"What elves want."
The golock snorted. "You honestly believe the elves want the trolls to be the only 'lesser' race to survive?"
The skuleader nodded. His skull helm looked like patches of many different bones welded together, grotesque and yet appealing in a dark and twisted manner. Only his eyes and lips remained uncovered.
"The elves wish for the destruction of
the barbarians, yes?"
"Do not you?"
"I did at one time," Lukor admitted, "but not now. Too much has happened."
"What?"
Too much to go into, not that any of it was the business of a troll. "The elves wish for the destruction of the goliaths, don't they?"
After a long moment, the skuleader nodded, although not as eagerly as he had previously.
"And were you guaranteed the trolls will live long and prosperous lives?"
The skuleader slammed his cane onto the ground. "No speech. Listen."
Now Lukor nodded, hands clasped behind his back.
"Elves tricky, yes. Elves think too much. Trolls think too."
"You know the elves aren't your true ally."
"We not stupid."
So the trolls had genuinely wanted to slay all of the barbarians and used the elves to accomplish their joint goal. "Where does that leave you now?"
"I glad you come."
Considering how roughly he had been treated, Lukor didn't want to know how trolls received lesser-desired guests.
"Only few barbarians live. Kill them. Then we kill elves. Life perfect." The skuleader smiled, revealing two rows of gnarled, twisted teeth.
Lukor gulped. He could not agree to such a treaty. Time to twist and change things slightly in his favor.
"The elves are powerful. So strong," Lukor said. How he wished this wasn't the truth. Elves were by far the most intelligent of the races. They might even have suspected this conversation would take place. Would know Lukor would not be able to accept. Might guess how the skuleader would react upon hearing his negative.
Which was why he had to turn it into a positive.
"We need all the help we can get with the elves, don't you think?"
The skuleader narrowed his eyes to the point that he looked like a sewn together skull with no eyes.
"We need those barbarians to help us. Otherwise, we risk too many lives. The elves are too much for the trolls and the goliaths." Lukor held still, willing himself not to show any sign of how important such an agreement was to him. A muscle in his jaw twitched.
"No. Barbarians must die." The skuleader slammed his cane down several times, chipping away at the bone beneath it, sending shards in every direction.
The golock refrained from rolling his eyes — barely. This was the leader of the trolls? A brat who could not contain his temper?
"Let me explain further." Lukor held out his hands defensively as he stepped toward the other leader. "I did not say the barbarians did not have to die. I mean it could be... delayed. After the elves are taken care of."
"But elves help..."
"Until you no longer serve their purpose," Lukor pointed out, still advancing at a slow pace. "Think of it. The elves wiped off the earth. No more barbarians. The dwarves are scarcely here as 'tis, and the humans are too concerned with fighting amongst themselves. We, the trolls and goliaths, will have free reign of the land."
The skuleader stroked the chin portion of his mask. "You do have a point."
"We would have to sign a treaty," Lukor pushed. Not that he believed the trolls would honor it, but it still had to be said, and written. Besides, the goliaths were already planning on reneging it, considering no goliath or goliatha would dare harm a barbarian for Lukor, or Ivy, would smite them before the barbarian's body had fallen to the ground.
"You help destroy elves? Barbarians?"
Lukor nodded, even though the simple movement felt like a betrayal. Every troll would die before they could harm his barbarian people.
From within his bone armor, the skuleader flashed a blade. He cut his palm and motioned Lukor over. A flick of the sharp blade, and Lukor bled too. They shook hands, and the treaty was signed.
Do the trolls even have a written language?
He laughed to himself, knowing well they did — considering the events with Ivy, of course he would — but the trolls did seem the most primitive of the races, although he had to wonder how the bones held together for the various structures, the furniture, the walls, the floor, the entire bastion. The golock saw nothing to bind the bones together.
"You convince barbarians fight."
"I will," Lukor promised, the words heavy as they left his mouth.
"Good." The skuleader shoved the cane into a skull on the floor and clapped his hands, the cane remaining imbedded in the bone.
The other trolls moved forward as one. It was almost impossible for Lukor to see distinguishing marks between them. All of the trolls looked the same to him.
"Eat." The skuleader motioned them away.
Lukor did not have time to react before two trolls grabbed his arms and dragged him out of the room. Down the hall, almost causing him to trip on the stairs, they brought him into a small dark room. Shoved him onto a bone bench so hard it buckled, several of the bones breaking. They handed to him an upside down skull, some kind of foul-smelling slop inside. As the trolls remained at the doorway, watching him, Lukor had no choice but to eat it. Or, he attempted to sip it. The liquid wasn't completely horrid, but a clump of something slammed against his lips. Combined with the stench, Lukor couldn't bear anymore.
He held it up to them. "You. Enjoy."
The troll guards looked at one another before the taller one stepped forward. He shoveled it in with his fingers before slurping down every last drop. With a flourish, he finished the meal with a resounding belch that resonated throughout the small room.
Once again, Lukor was brought back to the skuleader, although this time, they stood near the bastion entrance. Through the opening, Lukor saw the other goliaths standing beyond the lowered drawbridge. All seemed to be fine, Lukor was pleased to see.
The skuleader handed the cane to Lukor. "Token. Take. When meet? Where?"
"At Lunar Ford. A week from today. At dusk." Lukor dipped his head to hide his smirk at his broken speech that matched the troll's. For only a second, he hesitated. What if the this cane was enchanted in some fashion? Could he touch it as he could trollish weapons without falling ill or dying? Knowing he had not choice but to accept it, he gripped it. Nothing happened, and he breathed easier.
He pivoted on his heel and rejoined his goliaths, not bothering to tap the bones with the cane. The gesture of camaraderie from the skuleader was unexpected but not unwelcomed. Lukor could only hope the cane would provide some use for them at a later date.
The goliaths fell into step behind him. It did not take long for them to regroup with the goliaths, far from the Skull Bastion.
"You made a deal with them," Karrina surmised, rushing forward to touch Varo's arm.
"I learned the elves are indeed helping them and that the trolls wish the entire world for themselves. I managed to convince the new skuleader that they need our help, as well as the barbarians', to vanquish the elves. The trolls plan on turning on the barbarians then, but we will turn on them instead."
"The elves?" a goliath from the back cried out. "They will slaughter us all and swim in our blood."
"The elven numbers have been dwindling over the years," Lukor countered. "We shall succeed."
"What gives us the right to?" a slow voice asked. The goliaths and goliathas parted, and Gremma eased through the opening to stand before him.
"Now is not the time to be weak," Karrina said before lowering her head. "Apologies for speaking out of turn."
So shocked was he that Lukor almost forgot to nod and accept her word. It seemed the goliatha truly was on his side. Good. He had far too many enemies against him to worry about one within his own camp.
"The elves wish for the destruction of the 'lesser' races. I will not stand for it." Lukor raised his axe in one hand, the staff in the other.
"We will not stand for it!" every other goliath and goliatha cried out, save for Gremma.
She shook her head. "What proof have you for what you say?" she scoffed in her slow, aged voice. Arm raised shoulder height, she pointed a long, gnarled green finger at him. "The humans and dwarves
will not stand for one of the elder races falling, I can assure you that much."
Lukor shook his head. His people's safety was his only concern. Dimly, he wondered if the elves felt the same way, if that was why they had pledged their aid to the trolls in the first place. The elves surely shared the barbarians' desperation to remain alive at all costs, to survive. The elves would be an incredibly powerful foe, one they could never hope to defeat by themselves, but together, perhaps they could.
"There has to be another way," Gremma mouthed before turning her back on him and walking away.
Mayhap there was, but right now, Lukor did not wish to remain so close to the Land of the Skulls. "Come. Let us return home, refuel, and refocus before we march to Luna Ford."
The goliaths and goliathas fell into straight rows and lines and marched off. Lukor lingered behind a moment and removed a crumpled leaf from his pocket. Before they had ventured to this desolate land, he had grabbed several in case he should have need to send Ivy a message, a need he now had. Once written, he rushed to the front of the group. As soon as he could locate a burrower, he would send his love a message. If he had claimed every leaf in the entire world, he would still not be able to express how much she meant to him. Instead, he had written of the deal he had made with the trolls, the meeting location, and a simple, I hope your clothes are not too bloody.
Seven days at the most until he could see her again.
Seven long days and nights.
He could not wait to hold her again, to kiss her.
To wed her.
Out of nowhere, ten more dwarves appeared, fanning out on either side of the first dwarf, every face twisted with fury, almost looking as if they had bloodlust themselves.
To think we share no blood.
Ivy took in their dirty clothes, tanned hides, shiny armor. Grunts, the lot of them, guards. She almost felt insulted by their presence. Every one had shades of gray skin, some lighter, some darker, looking like their beloved stone. One the back of one's hands, she noticed a strange growth made from bone and stone. A few of the other's had them as well, one on their leg, another near one's ear.
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