by Eric Vall
Haragh grabbed me by the arm as he passed and hurled me from the makeshift tunnel. The two of us flew the last few feet through the air and landed in the gaping mouth of the cave as dust billowed out after us. The rumbling continued to reverberate through the peak above, but nothing more fell from the walls. We all held our breath as the mountain settled itself.
When silence finally returned, no one spoke a word or moved a muscle. The mages were huddled near the locomotive with their eyes wide with terror, and the tradesmen held on to the cave floor as they shook from head to toe.
I could see from Cayla and Aurora’s faces that they thought I wasn’t going to make it out. I would definitely be getting a talking to tonight.
Right now, however, all I could think of was how completely numb my body felt. I patted it to make sure it was still connected in the right places, but my heart kept trying to leap right out of my throat. It couldn’t seem to find a steady rhythm.
I hadn’t been in the Serin mine when it caved-in, but I couldn’t imagine how those mages had returned to work so quickly. If I were a lesser man, I’d have shit myself.
“Is everyone ok?” I demanded.
“Aye,” Haragh coughed. He was posted against the wall of the cave, and his breath was ragged as he tried to clear the dust from his lungs. “We were the last.”
“Holy shit.” My back fell flat against the ground.
“This isn’t safe, Mason,” Aurora said, and there was an edge I’d never heard in her voice before. It actually sounded like fear.
I nodded but didn’t say anything.
Shoshanne spoke next, and her voice was steady and alert. “Is anyone hurt?”
No one spoke, so I assumed they’d all shaken their heads. Then I heard the Aer Mage walk to each person, and I glanced over at her.
She moved through the group of mages and traders, studied their pupils closely, then she instructed a few of them to sit.
I recognized the shock position and decided to prop my own legs up on the rock nearest to me as well. The tremor in my limbs immediately began to ease up.
The only words in my mind at that point were fuck, fuck, fuck, shit, fuck. What the hell was I going to do? I forced my mind to regroup and reached back to the tunnels I’d seen and to the mines we’d built, but I got nothing back.
Then a voice broke into the harried silence of the cave.
“What’s that?” Deli asked abruptly.
I jolted upright and looked toward the rubble of the tunnel, but nothing was there.
“What? Where?” I demanded. I flipped my head in every direction, and then I found it.
At the mouth of the cave, tiny white orbs formed an irregular stream as they bobbed in the air like fireflies. They weren’t like the flames Aurora provided for us. These emitted a strange bluish hue.
The world outside had begun to darken to dusk, and the orbs flitted into the dim cave silently. Their icy light was sharp against the backdrop of darkness, and the tradesmen were the only ones whose mouths weren’t hanging open at the sight.
“Don’t worry,” Durigh said, but he didn’t raise his voice above a whisper as he shakily came to his feet. “I seen ‘em before. They don’t do nothing, just sorta … float around ye, real quiet like.” He extended his lanky arm, and a few orbs bobbed gently toward his palm.
I stood slowly and made my way to his side.
As I got a closer look, I could see the bluish light pulsed as it floated, almost like a heartbeat. They got bluer between the pulses and sparked to a bright white in the interim. One neared the tips of Durigh’s fingers, then touched down for the briefest moment. The man’s body gave a light jolt, but he didn’t remove his hand.
“What does it feel like?” I asked, stunned by the strange sight.
A light smile had come to the trader’s face. “Cold,” he muttered. His eyes were wide with wonder as he watched them all dance around his outstretched palm, and he reminded me of the kids I’d seen at the renaissance fair when the fire dancers came down the street.
I reached out as well and realized the cave had become filled with hundreds of pulsing, icy orbs. They floated above and around the other mages, and a few of them stood to take in the beautiful sight. I was focused on the nearest orb as it neared my fingertips when I noticed a movement beyond the mouth of the cave. It was only for a second, but it had been a distinct shadow.
I dropped my hand and instinctively pulled out my revolver.
“Don’t shoot ‘em,” Durigh cut in quickly.
“There’s something watching us,” I hissed back.
I heard Cayla whip her own revolver out, and Aurora unsheathed her blade. The others squinted hard through the white light of the orbs, and two more shadows shifted against the almost blackened sky.
“There!” Haragh said.
I took aim in the direction of the most recent shadow and pulled the trigger. The shot clapped painfully in my ears as it echoed off the walls, and the sound of the bullet hitting a boulder came soon after.
“Hold it!” Yaxin shouted.
“What?” I demanded, furious at the obstruction of my sight. The sound had made the orbs frantic, and they darted in every direction and left streaks of blazing blue light all around us.
Everyone looked around in a panic before Yaxin spoke up again.
“Thrungrig! That you?” he hollered.
I looked in confusion to the mouth of the cave. After a moment of silence, an answer came from the shadows behind a boulder.
“Yaxin?”
“Put that damn thing down,” Durigh growled at me, and I dropped my arm but kept the revolver cocked. “Thrungrig, show yourself. You out there?”
“Like hell!” the voice shot back.
Yaxin sighed and began to swat at the orbs in front of him as he made his way toward the voice. “Come on out Thrungrig, we ain’t gonna shoot ye.’”
I could barely make out the small black lump that appeared above the top of the boulder.
“You ain’t gonna what?” the shadow asked.
Chapter 10
The orbs finally found their way back into the night, and their light was replaced by a swarm of flames sent out by the Ignis Mages. Yaxin and Durigh spoke to a group of shadows in front of the cave for several minutes while the rest of us all stood together and waited uneasily. Between the tunnel collapse, the strange fireflies, and shooting at the shadows, most of us were about ready to put our heads in the sand.
I knew these must be the dwarves the two men had a trade arrangement with, and I realized I needed to put my best foot forward. My revolver was now back in its holster, but I was a little worried I’d just ruined our one chance at an easy in with the reclusive race.
In my defense, there had been a fair number of people trying to kill us in the last few weeks, so the dwarves would have to forgive me for being a little on edge.
Cayla placed a reassuring hand on my arm as if she could sense my thoughts. “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll smooth this over.”
I admired her diplomatic zeal, but I couldn’t imagine how a princess, no matter how drop dead gorgeous, was going to miraculously distract from this misunderstanding.
Cayla returned to the locomotive, followed by Aurora, who hadn’t spoken to me since the fireflies appeared. As I watched the women move a few boxes out to the floor of the cave, I realized she wouldn’t look at me either. I was about to go and pull the half-elf aside when Yaxin made his way back to the light.
“See?” he called over his shoulder. “Just fine, look.” He gestured for me to join him.
I did as he said and decided to put my hands up to prove I was unarmed.
Yaxin nodded his approval. “This is the guy, Mason Flynt. He’s not really an asshole, just quick on his toes, that’s all.”
I nodded in return and sent an apologetic smile toward the shadows. “I’m Defender Mason Flynt, Metal and Terra Mage of the Order of Elementa in Illaria. I’m sorry for almost killing you. I’m not gonna do it again, you have my word.
I was just trying to protect my crew.”
I heard a snort from the dark. Then the shadows came closer and were slowly illuminated by the flames of the Ignis Mages. There were eight dwarves, flanked by Durigh, whose heads reached no higher than the man’s waist. They wore boiled leather breeches and boots, but their torsos shone smartly with ornate silver armor more beautiful than anything I’d seen in this land. Well, aside from my lovers, of course. They glowered at me with creased faces, and each of them wore their hair in a long braid down their backs.
Durigh gestured toward me. “Metal Mage, like I said. Here, show him that gun of yours.”
I raised my eyebrows at the command but slowly reached to my hip. The dwarves stopped walking, so I carefully emptied the bullets where they could easily see.
“There,” I assured them. “It’s not loaded, so it can’t do anything. It’s called a gun. I invented it.” They didn’t move an inch, so I placed the revolver on the floor of the cave and slid it forward. It scraped to a stop a few inches from the dwarves’ feet.
One of them eventually reached down and picked it up. He turned it over in his palms, and the curiosity of the others must have taken over, because they gathered closer. Several of them raised their eyebrows to the one holding it after they’d gotten a good look.
When the dwarf with the gun raised his eyes, he looked me square in the face and said, “This is impressive.” His voice was low and guttural, with the lilt of an accent I’d never heard before.
I grinned, and a flutter of pride in my chest helped me stand a little taller. “Thank you. That means a lot coming from someone with armor as beautiful as yours.”
I could tell by the expression on the dwarf’s face that the compliment was unexpected, but well received. Still, he only grunted and looked back at the weapon. He studied it a little longer, so I decided to slowly approach as I explained the mechanics.
“The bullets I took out go in those holes,” I explained and pointed to the part I was referring to. “That part’s the cylinder. It rotates around the axis when you pull that hammer on top back, and that readies the bullet to be fired. Then you aim and pull the trigger. That’s the lever by your thumb. It causes a spark in the back of the barrel that propels the bullet forward. The bullet itself is kind of like a crossbow bolt, only much smaller and much more deadly.”
“And you call it a gun?” the dwarf asked.
“Yeah, well that’s the general term,” I replied. “That one’s a revolver. I’ve got another design that’s longer, and it’s called a rifle.”
The dwarf nodded and slid the revolver back across the floor. Then he looked pointedly at the large train that stretched into the cave.
“And what the hell is that?” he demanded. His voice was still hostile, but the wonder on his face eased my nerves a little.
I gave a proud pat to the side of the rail car. “It’s my masterpiece. It’s called a train.”
“Does it have bullets in it?” the dwarf asked with a scowl.
I had to chuckle. “No, it’s not a weapon, don’t worry. It’s for transportation. Those tracks beneath your feet are what it runs on. It’s for traveling across land quickly. Here, take a look,” I offered, and then I stood aside.
Durigh led the way and knocked against the metal siding for good measure. “Sturdy as a mountain, too,” he chimed in.
The dwarves huddled close to the wheels to get a good look at the way they connected to the steel tracks. They touched the brake drums and ran their hands along the chains, and I could tell from their faces they were keenly tracing the mechanics of the rig.
“That’s the brakes,” I mentioned. “They stop the train.”
One dwarf turned as I spoke while the others continued to inspect the train. They were already spread out around the entire contraption, and they eagerly explored the length of it.
The dwarf who’d looked up rose and came toward me, his face like stone. Then he stood in front of me, his gaze hard and unreadable, before his hand extended.
“Name’s Thrungrig,” he finally said.
I grinned and heartily shook the stout and calloused hand of the dwarf. “Mason Flynt. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He grunted and turned back to the locomotive. “How does it work?”
“Here, I’ll give you a tour,” I said, pleased and eager to keep things moving in a positive direction.
Thrungrig followed me as I boarded the locomotive, and the other dwarves climbed up to join us with their brows furrowed. I had Aurora join me at the engine, but I gave everyone a brief explanation of its inner workings. I was probably showing off a little bit, but I didn’t care. If there was ever a time to do it, it was now that I’d caught the attention of the dwarves. I definitely didn’t want to lose it.
Their armor clanked against each other when they bent forward to inspect the engine, and I took the opportunity to get a closer look. The metal plating was ornately decorated with symmetrical designs that glinted like well-polished cutlery. I could just make out the intricate hilts of the swords at their belts as well. A few of them were inlaid with magnificent gems in every color and shape, and I turned to catch Haragh peeking around the edge of the locomotive as he eyed the swords.
I cleared my throat. “So yeah, it’s powered by the flames of the Ignis Mages. You may want to step back a bit, it gets loud. Aurora, will you do the honors?”
The half-elf’s face was turned from me, but she placed her hand to the engine port and brought the metal beast to life. The dwarves lurched at the roar of the engine, and a few left the locomotive eagerly to look at the wheels against the track.
I instructed Aurora to slowly move the locomotive out of the cave, then bring it back in and cut the engine.
Conversation broke out immediately among the dwarves, and the meaning of it all was lost in a language I didn’t recognize. Aurora and I jumped down from the locomotive and joined the dwarves who had formed a cluster beside the wheels. By the tone of their voices, it sounded like they were at least enthusiastic, so I waited with my shoulders tall and expected congratulations, especially after their interest had been so easily caught by the revolver.
Then Thrungrig let out a firm and growling word, and the dwarves went silent. I held my breath and watched as the lead dwarf scowled at the floor of the cave. He scratched at the back of his neck and muttered a few more words that were too low to be heard by anyone other than the dwarves around him. After a minute, the group nodded soberly, and turned as one.
“So, what do you--” I began.
“You must halt this railroad,” Thrungrig interrupted. “Now.”
My pride fell through my ass.
“Wha--” I stared as I tried to figure out what the hell had happened. “Why?”
Thrungrig raised a hand, and the other rested in a noble way on the hilt of his sword. “By the rules upheld in the name of the elders of Orebane. If you continue this rail without the permission of the elders, you will start a war.”
I crossed my arms and tried to process this. So far, I’d laid this railroad through village after village, but this had been done with the express permission of the kings of Cedis and Illaria. Their people had no choice but to allow the rails and stations to be built, but Orebane was a nation all its own, with a race entirely different and truly capable of denying my entrance. I couldn’t argue with the truth of it, but I was still confused.
I considered my next words carefully. “I thought you and your men valued and sought trade with--”
“I speak for my group, not for the capital or the elders,” the dwarf clarified. “I’m not stupid enough to think letting you go on would be excusable. They’d have our heads if they knew we’d met you and waved you on. You must meet with the elders before you can continue this rail. That’s all.”
The finality of his words honestly crushed me for a minute, but I considered everything he’d said carefully. I needed the permission of the elders, fine. But I could still carve the way to the capital an
d make construction quick once I’d gotten their blessing. With the help of the dwarves, that trek could be easier and less dangerous to my own crew.
So, I decided to yield immediately.
“I can honor that,” I told Thrungrig, and then I bowed to show my consent. “I’ll stop the rail and seek the elders first. But can you and your men bring us to the capital? We’re tunneling through this peak, but beyond it we could use your help, as well as at the capital. Maybe if you came with us to speak with the elders, and explained what you’ve seen of the locomotive, and vouch for--”
The lead dwarf held up a hand to stop me again. “I do not vouch for you, Mason Flynt. I know nothing of you or these contraptions. All I know is you’ve brought a strange magic to our region and want to overrun our mountains with it.”
What the hell?
Things had been going so smoothly, and now it sounded like these dwarves considered me an intruder. I looked at Durigh and Yaxin, but they didn’t say a word. The tradesmen kept their eyes on Thrungrig with their hands folded patiently at their fronts.
The dwarf followed my gaze and spoke to the tradesmen next. “And you. I gave you riches. I gave you more than the world has ever seen of the work of my people, and you return with this … this--”
“This,” Cayla chimed in.
Beside me, the princess pried open the wooden top of a box, then another, and another. Four boxes were wrenched open before the princess bowed her head and offered the contents to the dwarves, who eyed her movements skeptically.
Thrungrig approached a box and began to root around. He set aside books, blankets, and jars filled with every color of plant matter. The other dwarves joined him and soon emptied the full contents of the boxes all around them. As they worked, they muttered to each other and occasionally turned to show one item or another to the dwarf beside them.
Cayla watched them, pleased to see their enthusiasm return. “Offerings from the kingdom of Cedis, as a thank you for your generosity, and as a means of ensuring further trade between your nation and our own. Whether or not this train is approved by the elders.”