Lizzy noticed their actions, and rolled her eyes. Normally she would have found these antics funny, but today she just needed to go home.
They stayed together and marched toward the hopeful end of the valley with the terrain slowly falling as they went. This allowed them to move more quickly which Lizzy greatly appreciated. While the mountains were full of the trees, the valley floor was mostly grassland on both sides of river.
Skyler was certain they weren’t being followed and had no reason to fear anything else for the moment. He was not aware their every movement was being tracked from above on the mountain side.
In mid-afternoon, they reached a quick drop where the valley walls closed in around the stream, and the slow river turned into bubbling rapids. “We must be getting closer to the end of the valley. The river is dropping quickly.”
Meril then asked, “Should we try to manage it, or go through the woods?”
“It would take us too long to try to travel the river, let’s go through the woods. We will have to get up pretty high, but it will still be safer than trying to navigate those falls,” Skyler replied.
“Let’s go then, and be done with this,” Lizzy added, letting them all know there would be no rest yet.
They decided to cross the river and enter the woods to the north. Marching up the mountain quickly wore them down, their travel slower with every trudging step. Still not worried about being watched or followed, they were being careless about the noise they were making and the tracks they were leaving.
Quigle froze at the sound of a whistle. He knew the exact sound of a lark, and even more so he knew the exact sound of a goblin trying to sound like a lark. They were in trouble.
The others saw Quigle and could see the hair standing on his arms and neck. All of them quickly armed themselves. Lizzy grabbed hold of the nearest tree for support on the steep hill, and a hiding place.
The twang of a bow, which followed by the whizzing of an arrow cutting through the air made them duck. The sound ended with a thud as the arrow stabbed into the tree right next to Lizzy’s hand. She slid a little farther behind the trunk hoping for more cover. The dwarf boys sat lower to the ground, finding anything for cover. They didn’t know how many attackers there were and weren’t eager to use too many arrows until they did.
Slowly they began to see the advancing goblins, numbering far too many for them to deal with. “Stay low,” Skyler ordered his crew, “fire only enough shots to keep them honest. We need to find a way out of here.”
They started backing their way out, retreating from tree to tree. Every time one of them moved backward another boy would let loose an arrow to help guard their retreat. The arrows sent forth by the dwarf boys were very efficient, never missing their targets. The goblins were too many though and would not be stopped.
Seeing the retreat of the dwarves, and not wanting his prey to escape, the humongous green colored goblin leader ordered the pursuit of the dwarf boys to quicken, “Cut them off at the river, they must not get away!” He was easy to tell apart from the others as he had a large black patch covering one eye. His hair had not been combed, maybe ever, and hung loosely in a knot of rope in the back. While he ordered the pursuit, he could not partake in it. He walked slowly and carefully down the steep hill, breathing heavily. His girth was immense and not easily carried by his much smaller legs.
Lizzy was ahead of the others, but unable to help defend them. She helped them find good shelter for the retreat so they could keep their eyes focused on the goblins and arrows that sought to land in their flesh. She was the first to notice their calamity. “Skyler, we are at the cliff to the river!”
Skyler turned around the trunk from where he was hiding, and quick as lightning unleashed two arrows that found their mark. Then he turned and fled to Lizzy as the other dwarfs stood to guard his retreat. Although they had been careful, most of their arrows were gone.
Skyler saw there was no way to jump off the cliff, for sure death awaited them far below in the rocky rapids. He looked in both directions and saw they were already cut off by the advancing goblins that outnumbered and outflanked them. His friends soon retreated to him, and one by one they each saw the same thing.
“What should we do?” Quigle worriedly asked.
Before Skyler could answer, Lizzy said, “It is me they are after. Let me run and have them chase me, it may give you time to break away.”
“No, you mustn’t!” Shalkar pleaded, for he could not bear any harm coming to her. He took a stance in front of Lizzy, ready to take on the first goblin that reached them.
Skyler did not know what to do. Looking back up the hill he had more goblins than he could count approaching them. The goblins ceased firing arrows, knowing the dwarves were out of ammo and worried more about accidently hitting Lizzy. Skyler looked back toward river below. He had not been really scared of anything for many years, but he was scared now. He wished his father was here, more so that he had his father’s courage to fight this enemy.
He looked as his friends, “Lay your weapons down, maybe they won’t kill us.” They couldn’t believe what they heard.
“What? We can’t just quit!” Taylor compelled, pulling his sword out. His axe was already carried in his right hand.
“We can’t fight our way out, and they bar our escape. We need to try to live to keep Lizzy safe. Lay down your weapon!” Skyler answered sternly. Though they were only boys, with Taylor being the oldest, none of them had ever questioned Skyler. They would not start now.
A raspy voice cut the silence, “Better do as yer leader says, boy! Any guff from ya and that’er be da end of it! We’s ‘ere for da girl, for da queen dat is!” The rest of the goblins cheered as they believed that Lizzy was Milan. If the goblins found out otherwise, they would all die quickly.
Quigle strode forward, always full of spunk, “Listen Patch, or Fatso, or whatever these toads call you! You ain’t touching our queen!” Quigle presented his blade, ready to fight to the death. The little dwarf brought a round of laughter from the crowd.
Skyler had enough, “Quigle, lower your blade! These goblins know the debt that would be repaid to them if they harmed any of the escort of the queen.” At the last part, he locked eyes with the green goblin, trying to convince him that Lizzy was indeed the queen.
“I’z care little for yer ‘lil guard, queen. We’z a-ready got yer son, but orders was ta scurry da hills lookin’ fer ya’s. A nice payment we’z’ll get too, ‘less we’z need ta damage you in da takin’. As fer ya guard, they willn’t last da day!” The goblins started chanting in unison, “Cliff, cliff, cliff!” They liked watching things die, and making their prey jump off the cliff to their death was a fun way to pass their time.
Skyler took one more look over the edge as his friends stared at the goblins, and reluctantly lay down his weapons. His friends followed suite. Skyler spun quickly, grabbing Lizzy from behind by both of her arms. “I care not for the queen, and if you want her alive you need to retreat or I will throw her over the cliff myself!”
The goblin chant ceased, and Patch the Goblin (as he was known after) laughed alone, “You willn’t trow ‘er over, yer bluffin!” he said to Skyler. Then to his soldiers, “Get dem!”
Before they took one step toward them, and much to Lizzy’s shock, Skyler whirled her around and threw her over the cliff. Her scream quickly died in the sound of the rapids below. The other boys couldn’t believe what had just happened.
Patch was aghast, “What’yer doin?” This question was shared by his warriors, not knowing what had overcome Skyler.
The sound of flapping, at first hidden by the rushing water and now overwhelming their ears, hummed from below the edge. It was sound the goblins knew all too well, and one they hated more than any.
“Harpy ‘tack!” Patch howled as the armed goblins switched their focus. The harpies rose from the cliff with their spears ready, unleashing their fierce tosses toward the goblins who were slow moving and easy targets. The dwarf boys
saw their moment and quickly gathered their weapons and loose arrows to chase the overrun goblins. Trying to run away, and uphill at that, from the flying harpies was too large of a task. Most of the goblins soon were taken down. The only ones to escape were Patch and his closest guard, who darted to the right and disappeared into a cave entrance hidden in the forest.
A harpy landed as the chase continued, carrying Lizzy, whom she had caught shortly after the throw. It had all happened so fast to Lizzy, that only after being set down did she begin to understand they were being saved.
“Thank you,” was all she could muster.
“You are most welcome. We have been tracking this company of goblins for a few days, and only yesterday did we notice your group as well. I am Bella, head of this squadron.”
Skyler and the other dwarf boys returned. They had chased the goblins in flight and recovered a good many of their arrows. The boys were in awe of the harpies. None of them could raise their eyesight above the bosoms of the beautiful women. The harpies knew this reaction well. Bella walked up to Quigle and lifted his chin so their eyes would meet. “Young warrior, who is your leader?” she asked.
Quigle could not answer. He only smiled and blushed. He pointed his finger at Skyler, who was completely enamored with a young brunette harpy to his left.
The girl harpy said to Skyler, “What is your name?”
“Quigle,” Skyler answered. “I-- I mean Skyler. I am Skyler! You are at my service! I mean… I am at your service!” He fumbled with the words. He tried to sound right, but knew full well that he had not.
“Skyler? Is that your name?” Bella asked, trying to make sure.
For once, Lizzy stepped in to save her escort. “Yes, Bella, his name is Skyler, and he leads this bunch of very immature boys!” Lizzy was a little jealous of the fact that she had lost all their attention.
Even Shalkar seemed oblivious to her standing there, his attention securely focused on two darker skinned harpies that appeared to be twins. Most of the harpies in this squadron were well beyond their years, but that didn’t stop the wild imaginations of the young dwarves. They were fast approaching the time when they would be ready for use by the women.
Skyler regained his composure, finding it easier to concentrate on the task at hand if he didn’t look directly at any of them. He instead stared at a tree just past them, “Ma’am, I am a dwarf of the Ring Mountains. I was sent here by King Dorir to escort the queen and her son back. We found Lizzy several days ago with Jedrek, the son of Queen Milan and King Tegan. They were being chased by a group of goblins when we found and rescued them.”
Lizzy interrupted, “I am the nanny for Jedrek, not the queen. Jedrek was taken by the turncoat dwarves of the Hills and King Kilgore. These boys saved me from them also, but we were unable to save Jedrek. Have you seen the dwarf Mylar? He would have been alone with Jedrek in the forest.”
Balthar clumsily stumbled toward three harpies almost un-noticed, for a closer look. He put his hand on the arm of a particularly large harpy as if she were a statue in Tunder Bin rather than alive. “We saved her, for who knows what would have happened!” He thought they would think highly his courage.
Meril, who could think of nothing else to say, blurted, “I was the pig!” He wanted so badly to say something that would earn some attention. This brought giggles from the women standing around. That brought Meril happiness. He thought they were very impressed by his actions.
Bella was impressed with them. “Lizzy,” she said, “if what you say is true, these boys have some outstanding potential.” As she said this, she patted Skyler on the head, which made him dizzy with excitement.
Skyler was embarrassed for Meril, even if he wasn’t embarrassed for himself, and started again, “Bella, we need your help to get back to our city. We must warn our people of what has happened.”
“Young dwarf, we could take you there, but few still reside in Tunder Bin. Many of the warriors, dwarves and men, have departed toward the gargoyle stronghold.”
This brought a pause to the dwarves’ wonderment of the women. This recent news brought more questions than answers.
“Men? Human men? Gargoyles?” Skyler asked, speaking for all of them. “What are you talking about?”
Bella answered, “It appears that much has happened while you have been wandering through the forest. I can help you with many answers, but not all of them. There is no time now for us to stay, though. Some of the goblins did escape and will be back. We will take you to our land and find a way to get you back to your people. Do you agree to go?”
The boys, in unison, answered “yes,” even as Lizzy said “no,” but she was outnumbered and overruled.
Chapter 23: The Point of the Sword
Telon walked through the cold cavern. It was dark and damp, full of echoes and emptiness. His heartbeat thundering through his body. He felt the presence of evil and reached for his axe, but it was not there. He tried to run, but could not move. Something he could not see was holding him in place. He stopped as he heard a slow roll of laughter ahead, but try as he might he could not see who it was.
“Who are you, what do you want?” Telon demanded.
“Who am I, do you not know? I come to you every night. I am doubt, I am fear, I am the ender of dreams and murderer of hope!” The voice bellowed through the cavern as Telon curled down and covered his ears, wanting to hear no more. Then he looked up as the source of the voice came down on him like an avalanche, knocking him onto his back.
The voice bellowed again, “I am Sain, Lord of the Gargoyles, coming to take all that is and has been. The earth shall fall under me! Telon, brother of Tegan, Kings of Tunder Bin, your fear is obvious and your weakness repulsive!” Sain’s words rattled through the rock tunnels of the underground, mocking all that Telon ever believed. “Your choices are misguided, for you try to fight where you cannot succeed.”
“Whether I succeed or not matters little, for we will succeed,” Telon retaliated, trying desperately to defend all that he knew.
“You have been betrayed,” Sain said as he knelt to look the dwarf in the eye, “In time you will know, and the pain will never leave you. It began long ago. The sins of your father will haunt you forever! My master wishes your father was alive to see the end of his kingdom, and how he caused its undoing.”
“Name your master, and the betrayer!” Telon demanded.
“It’s a pity, really,” started Sain, making sure he had Telon’s full attention as he locked into the little dwarf’s eyes, “that the betrayer was wrong not long ago. Your brother was supposed to die in the ambush, but instead it was your father.”
The words burned in Telon’s ears, driving him mad. He would have fought Sain hand-to-hand, but he was frozen in place and unable to move.
“Name your master, and the betrayer!” Telon commanded for the second time.
“As you wish… it matters not to me,” Sain began, his grin dripping with contempt for his foe. “The betrayer is…”
Δ
Telon woke, soaked with sweat as the reality of his dream flooded back to him. Pain from a wound he could not mend shook his entire body. He could not get back to sleep and with every moment his dream drifted farther from his memory, with only bits remaining. The harder he tried to hold it, the faster it sifted through his hands.
A guard entered his hut and addressed Telon. “Lord, your brother and several others approach. They are marching from the direction of the gargoyle castle.”
Telon quickly jumped up and went out to meet Tegan as he entered the camp. His appearance raised hope in the souls of all the men who witnessed him. Even the humans under Bryon could see it was Telon’s brother and knew him to be the king. The dwarves ran out to meet him, roaring loudly at his return and chanting his name. The cheers thundered deep into the night and across the plains, proclaiming the coming of a great storm that would sweep to the very steps of the Demon’s Chamber.
“Tegan, you saved her! Milan lives!” Telon shouted
as he ran to his brother, his anger from moments ago barely a memory. “How did you escape?”
“Timo saved us,” Tegan said with reverence for his cousin. “He sacrificed himself for us. As soon as we can, we must go after him. Help me get Milan to a tent. She needs food and rest. She is wearied beyond reckoning.”
The dwarves rejoiced at the sight of their king and queen back with them. Their hearts lifted and their resolve was hardened for the battle to come.
King Dorir emerged from his tent. He broke into tears the moment he caught sight of his daughter. He ran to her. He held her as they both lost control from the worry each of them carried.
“Father, is Jedrek with you?” Milan asked, hoping with all she had that her plan succeeded. “Lizzy was to bring him to you.”
Dorir had a horrid look on his face, “I know not what you mean, I sent several young dwarves to meet you in case of an attack. They had not returned when I departed. Hearing of your capture, I thought little more of them. When was she to arrive, for we had no word of her?”
It was too much for Milan. She fainted in her father’s arms. “Quickly! Let’s get her to a bed,” Dorir said. He then looked to Tegan and said, “Think the best, she could have gotten there after I left. Think the best,” He said the words to others, but tried to convince himself.
“I will not rest until I know both are safe. We will send for word from your tribe,” Tegan replied, feeling lost again at the thought of his son in enemy hands.
Telon realized there was no way Tegan could go after Timo with all that was on his mind, and he said, “I will go after Timo. You must stay and lead our people. Trust that Lizzy made it, if not to Dorir’s mountain, at least to somewhere safe.”
Tegan thought for a moment, and then answered, “Jedrek must be safe, and I am ready to take the crown again. It is time to wash these creatures from our land and have them gone forever!”
Telon was relieved to not be king anymore. “Mother will be happy to see you again.”
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