by P. G. Thomas
The rock statue shook his head, “Your word, on Mothers’ life, you’ll heal him.”
“Threaten us you can—”
Tranquil cut off her brother’s angered response, “No stone will be left unturned. What was will be again. Would you like something for Earth Mother?”
“No, not right now. She needs to work this out of her system naturally.” Then Ryan laid Logan at his feet, transformed back to normal, spoke one word, “Zack’s,” and they both stepped through.
Chapter 30
When Steve and Eric stepped through the portal, the stables were already filling with the dwarven families of those who had gone to help. Yes, they were dwarf, revering honor more than air, but when dead bodies are returned to families, pride is replaced by grief. As such, horror filled gasps, screams of pain, and sobs of relief now filled the large room: a scene that reminded Steve of being an honor guard for the fallen heroes. Bor walked over to them, instructing one of the stable hands to take the legends to the guest quarters.
Waiting on the terrace, Steve began to strip off the weapons borrowed from Ironhouse, “I don’t think I’ll need these anymore.” After he had laid them out on a table, he walked over to where Eric sat, “Two months ago—damn, it feels like a lifetime right now. I’m not going to wake up tomorrow from a coma in a hospital, finding out this was a pain- killer induced dream or nightmare, am I?”
“No,” replied Eric, “but the dreams and nightmares, those are the souvenirs you purchased on this trip and non-returnable. When you’re having a bad day, you’ll think back to this—adventure? As you remember the awesome, from the fringes of those memories, the forgotten horrors you forced into the dark recesses of your mind will crawl out. Robbing your pleasant thoughts, like the pickpockets on the dock stole our gold. The good news; you’re now an official member of the Legends Club; the bad news, you can never tell anybody.”
“I’m already a member in a similar one, but I don’t have stories like this that I can’t tell you.”
Eric nodded, “If we survive Nevermore, any thoughts on what you’re going to do when we get back?”
“Well, after seeing what Lauren and Ryan went through for their children, I’ve been feeling like a jerk. Figured I would make an attempt to find my kids, seeing if I can find a way to undo some of the wrongs, maybe make a few of them right.”
“I thought you couldn’t undo wrongs?”
“Yeah, and I thought you couldn’t travel through portals.”
When the door to the terrace opened, Bor, Fen, with Fodu walked out, followed by three other dwarves: two carrying a keg, one the glasses. After all six had been seated, Bor raised his mug, “To Ironhouse!” Even though the five did the same, it was not a victory toast, being more of a farewell to the fallen.
Fen, the bald dwarf who was the Master Weapon Smith Apprentice, nodded to the table with the borrowed weapons, “Did they serve you well?”
“The best knives I’ve ever fought with.”
“With them, what should we do?”
Bor walked over to the table, “They are plain, so will melt them down.”
“I thought all great weapons,” started Eric, “were returned to the Smith, who made them.”
“That tradition is true, but I do not see great here.”
Steve walked over to the table, picked up the three-foot long sword, “I killed a trollmare single handed with this.”
Bor called to Fen, “This mark, who made it?”
“Beltok,” replied Steve.
When Bor called out, a dwarf opened the terrace door. “Bards and Beltok get.” He then picked up the sword, heading back over to the table, and looked at Fen, “Why did he make it so long.”
Eric smiled, tapping the six-foot long sword leaning against the table, “Tradition?”
Bor raised his mug, “Tradition,” and the rest did the same. While they waited, he began to explain the preparations to honor the fallen. Twenty minutes later, three dwarves carrying a paper covered tablet and quill entered, followed by Beltok, who had black sweat-smeared stains on his face.
Fen saw the look from the others, “He cannot concentrate in class, so his punishment is to clean the forge.”
Bor shook his head, calling out for more mugs, and invited the four to the table. When they all had drinks, he turned to Steve, “Your words you will now speak.”
“There’s not much to tell. After our first visit here, we went to that forest. The Guardians had picked up the scents of trollmares and engaged them. Then I heard one behind us, pushed Eric out of the way, and cut off its head.”
The three bards all looked up waiting for the next sentence.
“That’s it,” advised Steve.
The two junior bards stood, shaking their heads, headed back into the mine.
Bor also shook his head, “Earth Mother Ironhouse has no influence over you?” Then he looked at the last bard, “When she returns, her version you will ask, and you will not have paper sufficient.”
The last bard nodded, “Named is weapon great?”
Bor, Fen, and Fodu all looked at Beltok, whose simple response was, ‘No.’
Then Bor turned to Steve, “Legend New, your keen eyes saw greatness overlooked. You should name it.”
Steve remembered the look of shame from Beltok about his failing grade, and he thought of all of the F’s on his report cards until the Navy SEAL’s gave him an A for marksmanship, “Beltok’s Revenge.”
Bor looked at the bard, “The name is strange, but legend gifted it is.”
The bard shook his head, “You can make it longer, as I have much ink.”
“No, I like it,” replied Steve.
After the bard had left, two more dwarves walked out onto the patio carrying a large wooden box. With Bor nodding, both advanced, and when the first stood in front of him, he pulled a dagger from his belt, cutting off the bottom half of his rope beard, placing it in the box. Then Fodu undid his from the back of his neck, cutting it very short, and after depositing it, he parted the remaining so the large dwarven necklace could still be seen.
“What’s happening?” asked Eric.
“We could not find the Granite Guardian beards, but we will not permit them to rest without honor. Our beards we will place in the in the mountain, so the Guardian Mountains will know they brought no shame to their families.”
Walking over to the table, Eric grabbed one of the knives Steve had used, and after dragging it across the long stubble on his face, he gathered it up in his hands, adding it to the box.
Steve seeing this changed his face to hard metal, leaving the lengthy soft whiskers in place, and then changed one finger into a razor and also shaved. However, when he went to place his stubble into the box, the dwarf pulled it away, looking to Bor.
“He understands our tribute, is legend, is dwarf, is Ironhouse.”
Eric smiled, “Welcome to the clan.”
After Steve dropped his offering into the box, the two dwarves left.
Bor stood, “Tomorrow, we need to go to Alron. We need to bring Aaro back.”
“Why?” asked Eric.
“Only our Granite Peace remains unbroken, and our scout’s report many dwarf battles. Nevermore advances this way.”
Steve noticed that Eric seemed to stiffen up, as he turned to look at the mine, but he remained focused on Bor, “You wouldn’t break it, would you?”
“We carved our words in granite, and we will not make war.”
“Can I see it?” asked Eric.
*******
“Dude, I have a front door.”
Ryan laid Lauren who was still crying uncontrollably on the couch. “Get Nur.”
Gingaar came running out of the kitchen, “What is wrong?”
“The sight of Logan made her—I don’t know. I think the berry she made when we thought he died has worn off. Do you have someplace she can rest?”
“Dude, take her up to John’s old room.”
“Would you like me to gift her gentle
sleep?” Gingaar asked.
“No,” replied Ryan, and he carried the one he loved to the desired bed so he could comfort her.
*******
The next morning, with Careel helping him, John cautiously worked his way down the stairs, and they both headed into the kitchen.
“Dude, back in the land of the upright?”
Wrapping his hands over his ears, John was afraid that Zack might sound off another loud outburst, “Less enthusiasm, please.”
“We have a visitor,” he said, heading to the front door. He opened it. “Well if it isn’t Quick Silver. Where’s Eric?”
“He took Aaro and Bor back to Ironhouse,” then Steve smiled. “Is that what the dwarves are calling me?”
“No idea, Super Dude. Just thought I would welcome you to the club. Come on in. The bean juice is on but talk quietly.”
“Kids still asleep?”
“No, John. His hearing is back.”
When they entered the kitchen, Gayne and Mirtza were also present. A few minutes later Ryan, Lauren, Nur, and Gingaar all arrived.
Even though Lauren’s face was tear-stained, she was smiling.
Before any conversation could start, the four Earth Mothers all sat straight up, exclaiming in unison, “NEVERMORE,” and the triplets also began to cry at the same time.
Lauren turned to Gingaar and Nur, “What just happened.”
John, Gayne, and Mirtza all had covered their ears, cringing in pain.
All of the Earth Guards and Granite Guardians had rushed into the room, looking for the reason for the excited call.
Gingaar lowered her head, “The last granite has broken.”
“No,” began Steve. “Ironhouse said they would never break it.”
“Sons of a bitch.” Everybody looked at Lauren, “Fury must have influenced Eric!” While five in the room nodded their heads, the rest never understood the reference.
Standing, Gingaar raised her hands, “Ironhouse that have injury, sleep,” and Lauren felt the Earth Bond.
Nur turned to Zack, “Go scout the mountains to see what the dwarves are doing.”
“SOMEBODY—”
“Scream quietly,” pleaded John.
In a whisper, Lauren began again, “Somebody had better tell me what the hell’s happening.”
“Nevermore arrives,” began Gingaar, “Such a journey the injured Ironhouse cannot make, so I made them sleep.”
Zack had already headed into the backyard before Nur began her explanation. “He has seen numerous fights break out in the middle spine between neighboring clans, but I have no idea on what will happen now.”
Steve looked down at one of Gingaar’s Guardians, “Will the rest of Ironhouse in Alron head out to Nevermore?”
The mithril-clad dwarf nodded in agreement.
Heading towards the door, Lauren called out, “Panry, keep my daughters safe.”
When John, trying to stand, lost his balance, Careel helped him to sit back down.
Then Ryan and Steve chased after Jasmine and the other two Earth Guards, who were chasing after Lauren. By the time they arrived at the end of the street, Lauren was talking to Edrock mounted on his blood wolf, and they all heard the words she spoke, “Take me to Nevermore.”
He smiled, “Get mounts and follow.”
“No, I don’t have that much time,” and she pulled off the bracelet, handing it to the dwarf. “Grasp it and tell it where you want to go.” After he had, a portal opened, and taking the bracelet back, she issued an Earth Bond, “Stay with your clan.” Then Lauren, Ryan, Steve, and the Earth Guards all stepped through.
They all scanned the rolling grass covered fields in the vast circular valley, which measured hundreds of miles across, and in the distance, snow-capped mountains formed an outer perimeter. Dead center in the valley sat a one-mile-high granite mountain measuring two miles at the base, having a crude set of carved stairs that led to the top. Being the only significant indication that dwarves had been present before, they headed up to the top, hoping that some clue waited for them. They were wrong, as only an inspiring panoramic view of long grasses blowing in the wind, looking like storm generated waves heaving and swelling on a large sea, waited for them. The same kind one would expect to see when the sky darkened, as the elemental forces of wind and water united before they collided with those of land.
“What now?” asked Steve.
Then they all saw the look of concentration on Lauren’s face. She had called to her gift from Mother, telling it to show her the dwarves, and a large map started to form in her mind. It took over an hour for the Magic to reach the extents of the lands, forming the green paths of marching dwarves that all headed to the spot where she now stood. Then she tasked it a second time, telling it to identify the major battles, thinking they might be able to stop the bloodshed, but the vision in her mind cleared. “I don’t know what’s happening. All of the dwarves are marching here, yet none of them are fighting.” Then she took off the bracelet, “Zack’s,” and they all stepped through it.
John was sitting on the couch, “What did you see?”
After Lauren had inquired about the others, he explained that Gingaar and Nur were tending to the injured Ironhouse warriors, and that Sam and Hope were in their room. Before asking Panry and his squad to take the triplets to the master bedroom, she asked the remaining Earth Guards to wait outside of the house. When only those present had been to the First Forest, she quickly explained what had happened, including the conversation she had with Tranquil and Fury.
“You really think Eric broke the last Granite Peace?” asked John.
Steve nodded, “Bor’s exact words were; in granite our word we carved, and we will not make war, or something like that. From what I understand, it doesn’t get any more serious than that. In fact, I wish a few countries back home would adopt the same policy, but instead, they sign treaties like they were written in sandstone, changing with the political winds.”
“Why would he do it?” asked Ryan.
“Kid, I understand even less than I did on the first day here. When we were sitting at Ironhouse, he looked straight at the mine hearing those two words, asking if he could see it. If I didn’t know better, I would think one of your forest friends placed a program in him, like you did with me. In hindsight, Fury did say he needed the last one to break for his future to arrive.”
“Can we go to Ironhouse?” asked John. “See if we can stop them?”
“They’re already on the move,” replied Lauren.
John thought for a second, “They had most likely prepared for it.”
“If Fury placed a program in Eric or the sword,” began Ryan, “wouldn’t Tranquil have known and been able to alter it?”
Lauren nodded, “She probably would, but if it was her idea…”
“Yeah,” Steve agreed, “When she said the Champion’s mind was in agreement, she might have been planting a seed for her brother.”
“Why?” asked John.
“I wish I knew that answer,” replied Lauren, “Tranquil said something about understanding the paths of Mother and Father and then said to trust Mother. Our only hope is that she wakes before they all meet at Nevermore.”
That night, when Zack arrived, he confirmed the dwarven battles in the middle spine had stopped, and that all were now on a peaceful pilgrimage to the final bloody conflict.
*******
The next day, heading back to Gayne’s, Panry suggested that they should relocate to the inn by the forest, advising that it would be safer for the young Earth Mothers.
Gayne’s household servants had attempted to clean up the chaos from the previous weeks, but being uncertain of what would happen next, they were unsure of what they should do; other than to stock the wine cellar and remove the latrine pails. After offering his houseguests magic carriages, Gayne also said he would send over a few more bracelets, and then happily welcomed their departure, advising if they needed any more assistance, to visit him when necessary. Gatherin
g up their few possessions, they went into the stables for the deer mounts, and then opened a portal to the forest. Once there, Jasmine materialized the carriage. Lauren, Ryan, and Steve entered, each holding one of the triplets, followed by John. The Earth Guards trailed it to the inn, and when they arrived, the innkeeper stood holding the door opened, as it sensed the five Earth Mothers, informing him of their approach.
That night after the rest had gone to bed, Jasmine knocked on Panry’s door. Picking up the various bags, which contained the Crimson Shield gear and the Swords of the First Champions, they headed to the vault.
Walking down the stairs, Jasmine asked, “Your gift to me at fortress. What was it?”
“When elf first embraced Mother, legend said she cried with joy. One elf captured the tears, and for many years he protected them. When we brought the treasures rare to the academy, her tears were included. They were her pure emotion of love, virtue, and innocence, but to Zymse, I hoped they would be like a disease.”
“One so foul,” began Jasmine, “emotions so pure, it stings him. What if he threw it away or stepped on it?”
“I knew he would sense Mother, and his desire to destroy such magnificence would overpower him, which purchased our chance to strike back.”
At the bottom of the stairs, all of the special doors that had lent gifts were open, and Panry walked to the first three, replacing the swords. After lowering the Crimson Shield bags, they headed to the middle of the room.
Panry spoke first, “The Cloaks of Invisibility are spent, and the Tear of Mother is no more.” The lights in the two caverns darkened as the doors closed. Then he added, “Only one Crimson cloak is returned.”
“Shadow Guards are no more,” and the last door closed.
“Wards, the house of Moonshadow thanks you.”
“The same is true for the house of Ironwood.”
With the lights fading away, they both headed back to the upper levels, but Jasmine did not walk back to her room, and instead, she waited for Panry to open his door, smiling when she followed him inside.
*******