Forging Destiny

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  Wondering on the king who was buried here, Tovak glanced over at the crypt. With the torchlight, he saw that the webbing over the doors had been torn away. The metal doors stood ajar, forced open, and recently too, if he was any judge. He could see the Vass’s tracks in the dust, leading up to the door. He looked over at Greku and felt a wash of hot anger that the crypt had been desecrated, broken into. Was Greku nothing more than a grave robber? That thought had not occurred to him. Dvergr tombs were sacred. His anger, like a bird in flight, soared.

  “I do not wish to fight you, paladin.” Greku met his gaze levelly. “If you make me, I will.”

  “What did you take?” Tovak asked.

  “Nothing of consequence to you, but something that long ago was ours. It belonged to my people and we—I have spent years searching for it. Rest assured, I did nothing to disturb the king’s rest, only took what was rightfully ours.”

  “Tell me,” Tovak insisted, taking a step forward. “What was it?”

  “No,” Greku said firmly. “That was not part of our agreement. For better or worse, you gave me your word on letting me go. There will be no renegotiating now.”

  Tovak closed his eyes in frustration. He did not want to fight Greku either, but Legend was at stake here, his people’s Legend, even if these people were not his own by blood. It fell to him now to uphold their honor. By breaking into the tomb, Greku had crossed a line, an inviolate one.

  He took a deep breath through his mouth and let it out through his nose. He recalled what Thulla had told him to do and he searched his feelings on the matter, for he wanted to find a way out that did not involve fighting. He was so exhausted, he wasn’t sure he had the energy to challenge the Vass.

  The spark within flared, and with it, Tovak felt his exhaustion, aches, and pains lift ever so slightly. There was no compulsion to contest whatever it was the Vass had taken. In fact, it seemed the opposite. Thulla clearly wanted him to help Greku. He was sure of it, for there was a friendly warming sensation when he thought on the Vass. What was going on here?

  “I will not fight you.” Tovak released his hold on the spark and opened his eyes. “Whatever you took, you can keep it.”

  “Your god does not mind?” Greku seemed surprised by that.

  “Not that I can tell,” Tovak said. “In fact, I think he wants you to take it. Perhaps our paths were meant to cross down here.”

  Greku gave a relieved nod and relaxed. “In a way, I suppose that makes sense.”

  “I hope whatever you found was worth it.”

  Greku bared his teeth at Tovak in a wicked-looking grin. He issued forth a low growl.

  “Very worth it.”

  “Great,” Tovak said. “I am happy for you.”

  He glanced up the webbed tube that led to the surface. He was not looking forward to going through it. But getting out was what mattered.

  “Can we go now?”

  “Yes, but not that way.” Greku had followed Tovak’s gaze and then pointed to a dark passage off to their left. Tovak had not seen it before now. Clearly eager to leave, Hess was already moving towards the passageway. “We go that way.”

  Tovak turned and started walking. Greku fell in at his side.

  “Was that your first krow?” Greku asked.

  “And krata too,” Tovak admitted. “Hopefully, that will be the end of it. I can go the rest of my life without ever coming across another.” He glanced back over his shoulder at the monstrosity they had felled. He still had the foul taste of it in his mouth. “I don’t think I will ever be able to bring myself to eat spider again.”

  Greku gave a huffing laugh and slapped Tovak on the back. “Never say never, friend.”

  “The worst I’ve ever faced was a near full-grown murinok,” Tovak said, “but I think this krow was worse, much worse.”

  “You killed a murinok?” Greku seemed surprised by that.

  As Tovak glanced over at the Vass, he expected disbelief. Instead, he saw no skepticism in the other’s gaze. There was just a growing respect.

  “Aye,” Tovak said. “It almost took my life.”

  “You survived,” Greku said as they came to the entrance to the passageway. They both stopped, with Greku turning to face him. “That’s all that matters. ‘Almost’ has nothing to do with it. You survived and lived to tell the tale, just as we both did today. Take heart in that.”

  Tovak gave a nod. He held up the torch, shining the light down the passageway. Hess was several yards ahead. The gnome had stopped and with an impatient air was looking back at them. Along either side of the passageway, there were burial alcoves. A draft of air was blowing strongly down the passageway. Tovak could smell the outdoors. He longed for a return to the sky.

  “How far is the exit?” Tovak asked.

  “Maybe a hundred yards,” Greku said.

  Tovak thought on all that waited above on the surface for him. He had no idea on how the assault on the wall had gone. Had the warband been successful? Was it even now pouring into the valley in strength? Had Gorabor reached help? Were they attempting a rescue effort? Tovak had no idea on how long he had been in the catacombs. At the very minimum, it had been several hours.

  He knew there would shortly be a return to authority. He wasn’t quite sure how he felt about that, especially after all that had happened. He was a holy warrior of Thulla now. How would his people react? He had so many questions.

  Turning, he glanced back at the crypt. In the shadows, he could just make out the bulk of the krow’s body. To get this far, he had faced terrible, almost nightmarish trials. Tovak understood keenly that even more difficult ones lay on the journey ahead. Thulla had even told him that.

  Tovak nodded to himself and started forward into the passageway, moving to catch up with the impatient gnome. Greku followed after him.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Tovak stepped out into daylight, and as he did, he breathed out a sigh of relief. Though he had grown up underground, that had been a Dvergr city and not a long-abandoned catacomb filled with nightmarish monsters come to life.

  He glanced around and saw he was inside the remains of what had once been a large structure now badly overgrown with vegetation and dotted with trees. What it had once been, he had no idea. The passage of time had erased any hint of that.

  The foundational walls were thick and tall. They had clearly been designed to hold significant weight. The remains of all four walls were higher than he stood, with a gap on the far end. That had likely once been an entrance of some kind.

  The interior of the ruin, despite being heavily overrun with vegetation, was littered with large stone blocks that Tovak recognized as carved granite. There were also the shattered remains of clay tiles lying all about. Those had likely come from the roof.

  Tovak set the magical torch down on a large stone block. Rubbing at his tired and weary eyes, he breathed in, enjoying the clean smell of fresh air. No one was about or in view. He wondered how far he was from where he had fallen into the underground catacomb system. Hopefully not too far.

  He looked up at the sky, judging the position of the two suns. They were already well along in making their descent for the evening. Tovak realized with a start he had been underground most of the day. He figured it to be about an hour or two from nightfall.

  Behind him, Hess emerged with Greku following close behind. The Vass stopped and took a moment to gaze about before stepping over to a large block. He shrugged off his pack and set it down at his feet. He bent rather painfully and then opened the pack, rummaging through it for several moments.

  At first, Tovak thought he was searching for a bandage, but the Vass pulled out what looked like a large brown river stone that, under different circumstances, would have been unremarkable. That the Vass was carrying it around made it a curiosity.

  Greku brought the stone to his lips. He seemed to whisper to it for several moments before returning the stone to his pack. Then he straightened and looked up. Their eyes met.

  Had T
ovak just witnessed a religious ritual? He did not know. Afraid he might have intruded in something personal, he turned away and walked over to the nearest wall. Several large blocks had fallen down next it. Tovak was able to climb up onto them without too much trouble, until he could look over the wall.

  He found himself in the same ruined town where he had fought the two orcs, before falling through the hole into the underground. In fact, he could see the main square, just forty yards off.

  He felt his heart leap. There were several pioneers, along with a number of skirmishers, gathered around the small hill and hole he had fallen into. One of them was coming up with a coil of rope. To his right, motion drew his attention. Through the trees, about a hundred yards off, a company of strikers was moving by in a long column of two. They weren’t Greng’s boys either. A standard with a murinok symbol told him that. Tovak felt his heart soar. The warband had successfully taken the enemy’s wall and now they were moving into the valley in strength. Otherwise the company of strikers would still be outside the valley and on the Grimbar.

  Tovak wondered how the strikers of the Baelix had done. Was Struugar still alive? Had he been injured leading the main attack? There was just so much he did not know. Though it had only been a number of hours, he felt like he had been cut off for ages.

  Tovak looked back towards the pioneers and skirmishers gathered around the hole in the hill. He recognized Gorabor and Dagmar amongst them, along with Lieutenants Benthok and Brund.

  Tovak cupped his hands to his lips. “Over here. I am over here.”

  Gorabor turned and pointed. Tovak waved. Almost instantly, they started moving in his direction.

  “Why’d you do that?” Greku demanded harshly as Tovak climbed back down. With his pack at his feet, the Vass had sat down on the stone block. He was nearly hunched over, his hand pressed tightly to his wound. As he spoke, he grimaced. “You just had to complicate things, didn’t you? Now they won’t let me go.”

  Tovak had not thought about that possibility. There was a strong chance Greku and Hess would not be allowed to leave. But, as he gazed upon the Vass, he knew without a doubt the wound was a serious one. Greku’s pant leg was slick and dark with blood. He needed help, and the only ones who were near at hand and could assist him were Tovak’s own people.

  “You need medical attention,” Tovak said. “You are losing a lot of blood, too much I am thinking.”

  “I am,” Greku admitted sourly. “The spider got me good.”

  “If you don’t get help soon,” Tovak said, “I think you might bleed to death.”

  “Has anyone ever told you that you are a true master of observation?” Greku asked.

  “Master of obvious, he is,” Hess said.

  “You don’t have bandages in there, do you?” Tovak asked.

  “No, I don’t,” Greku said, with a breath laced heavily with exhaustion. It seemed to Tovak that the Vass was weakening. “But help is on the way, isn’t it?”

  “My people may be able to help you,” Tovak said. “We can find you a healer.”

  “Your people?” Greku said. “That’s a laugh. I ask you, who amongst your people has ever treated one of my kind?”

  “It’s better than no treatment at all,” Tovak said.

  “The thought of a Dvergr treating me makes me ill.”

  Tovak considered Greku before he replied. “I don’t want to see you die. I will get your wound tended to, then see that you are free to go, as we have agreed.”

  Greku eyed him for a long moment. There was a sad look in his gaze. “Do you think your people will honor our arrangement?”

  “I will do what I can,” Tovak said, then felt a firm resolve steal over him. “No, I will make them honor our agreement.”

  “It seems I am in your power, paladin.” Greku glanced skyward, as if searching for something. “At least for the moment.”

  “Tovak.”

  Turning, he saw Gorabor approaching at a jog. He had come through the entrance to the ruins. Behind him were Dagmar, Benthok, and Brund, along with Iger. Dagmar was limping badly.

  Gorabor slowed to a stop when he saw Greku and Hess. His mouth opened in astonishment. Then his gaze slid to Tovak, clearly for the first time seeing the armor and sword strapped to his back.

  Dagmar and Iger drew their swords. Greku did not react. He continued to sit there, his yellow-eyed gaze resting sullenly on the newcomers. Hess, on the other hand, began backing towards the entrance to the underground. It looked like he might flee back into the darkness.

  “It’s alright,” Tovak called hastily, placing himself physically between them and holding his hands up, palms facing the Dvergr. “They are with me.”

  “Move aside, son,” Iger said. “That there is the enemy.”

  “No,” Tovak said, “they are friends.”

  “Tovak, what is going on here?” Brund demanded, his eyes on the Vass and the gnome. There was horror there and worry too. Then his gaze shifted to Tovak. “What are you wearing?”

  “It’s alright, sir,” Tovak said again. “They don’t mean any harm. They are with me.”

  Benthok seemed to take it all in, his gaze studying the Vass and then the gnome before moving to Tovak.

  “Put your swords away,” Benthok said in a steady tone.

  Dagmar and Iger looked to the lieutenant in question. They were surely wondering if he had lost his mind.

  “There’s a gnome,” Iger said. “Need I remind you what they did to Struugar and his boys?”

  “I don’t need any reminding,” Benthok said.

  “Then there is the Vass, sir,” Iger said. “They are dangerous.”

  “Usually that would be correct,” Greku said, drawing their attention. He lifted his hand off his side and displayed his wound for all. “But, as you can see, I am injured and slowly bleeding out. A krow stuck me when I wasn’t looking.” He gestured towards Tovak with a bloodied hand. “We ended up killing it.”

  “A krow?” Iger’s gaze went to Tovak. “You killed a krow?”

  Tovak gave a nod. “Not to mention an orc and three krata. You could say it’s been a challenging day.”

  They all looked at him in apparent disbelief, all except Lieutenant Benthok. The lieutenant was studying Tovak’s armor. Tovak could almost see him mentally piecing things together.

  “Dagmar, Iger, put your swords away,” Benthok snapped in a brusque tone. “I should not have to ask a second time.”

  “Yes, sir,” Iger said, and with clear reluctance, he and Dagmar sheathed their weapons. Iger moved around behind them. He placed himself between the underground entrance and the Vass. Hess did not appear too pleased by the move, for the gnome’s eyes were on the pioneer.

  Benthok took several steps nearer to the Vass, eyeing him carefully. Greku had placed his hand back over his wound and pressed down hard. The Vass met Benthok’s gaze levelly.

  “Iger,” Benthok said, glancing over. “Go fetch Fenton. Tell him we have a patient that needs his attention. Have him bring his bag. He should be with the captain, back where we left the rest of the detachment in that smaller square.”

  “Are you sure, sir?” Iger asked and jerked his head towards the underground.

  “I am,” Benthok said firmly. “Go now.”

  “Yes, sir,” Iger said and moved away, returning the way they’d come at a steady jog.

  Having sensed the tension pass, Tovak suddenly felt a wave of exhaustion settle over him. He took several steps to a large rectangular block that had fallen over on its side. He sat down across from Greku, facing the Vass. He noticed Dagmar staring in what Tovak took to be concern at Hess.

  “Don’t worry, Dagmar,” Tovak said, “Hess doesn’t bite. At least, I don’t think he does.”

  “He better not,” Dagmar replied guardedly and patted the hilt of his sword. “He bloody better not.”

  The little gnome looked between them, then abruptly smiled at Dagmar, showing tiny needlelike teeth. Dagmar took an involuntary step back and his h
and came to rest on the pommel of his sword.

  “You really killed a krow?” Gorabor asked, stepping nearer Tovak. His friend kept shifting his gaze from Greku to Hess with a mixture of nervousness and curiosity.

  “Aye,” Tovak said, tiredly. “I helped, at least.” Tovak glanced down at himself. He was fairly coated with gore and spider guts. His new armor needed a good cleaning. Heck, he needed one too.

  “He delivered the final blow,” Greku said, looking over at Tovak, “after drawing its attention to him. It is one of the bravest things I’ve ever seen.”

  “Tovak,” Benthok said, almost gently, as he came nearer. His eyes roved over Tovak. “Are you okay? Are you injured in any way?”

  “Tired is all,” Tovak said, looking up at the lieutenant. He could hear the bone-numbing fatigue in his own voice. “I am exhausted, really. The last few hours have been very trying, to say the least.”

  “I am beginning to see that,” Benthok said with a glance over at Greku. “What matters is that you made it out, understand? You are back with friends.”

  “Did the warband take the wall, sir?” Tovak asked. Having seen the heavy infantry, he thought that was the case, but he still felt the need to ask. He wanted to hear it said.

  “The warband was successful,” Benthok said, “and it seems we stopped any word from getting out about the assault. As we speak, the warband is moving through the canyon and into the valley.”

  Tovak gave a weary nod and then gestured over at Greku. “He says there is a hidden pass into the valley and the enemy is planning on using it. They are coming in strength, sir.”

  Benthok looked over sharply at Greku. “Is this true?”

  “It is,” Greku said.

  “Tell me where this pass is located,” Benthok said.

  “Tovak and I came to an arrangement,” Greku replied after the barest hesitations. “If it is honored, I will divulge the information you desire. If not … well, you will just have to live with the consequences.”

  “I promised we would let him go, sir,” Tovak said. “In return, he will tell us where this pass is located.”