by Jeff Inlo
"Then why are you worried about the sword?" Ulet demanded.
Strog's eyes appeared near wild with frustration and his anger bubbled over as he looked up at the battle commander with scorn.
"We are not ready! The attack has to begin first. That is what I'm trying to say to you. You cannot possibly be that dense. Don't you see? We are only days away." Strog threw up his arms. "Why am I surrounded by incompetence?!"
"You sound a great deal like Yave," Ryson pointed out.
Strog did not even attempt to control his anger. He kicked the delver hard in the back and then shouted out his orders.
"Take him to the goblins in the mines! Have them kill him far from Sterling. We can't have any connection to his death that the wizard might be able to trace. And make sure you're not seen."
He stepped up to Ulet and placed his face right up to hers, his stout nose almost touching hers.
"Find the elf, take the sword, and then do the same to her. Be quick about it!"
Chapter 21
Crouching in the shadows, Holli knew she had no alternatives. The goblins were getting closer, she could sense them. It wasn't a full horde, or even a sizable raiding party, but rather a small scouting patrol of two or three. They were deeper in the mines ahead, but they were definitely headed towards her.
To compound her problems, the dwarves weren't slowing. They just continued to drag Ryson through the tunnel toward the oncoming dark creatures. They kept a very quick pace, as if they wished to be rid of the delver as soon as possible. Luckily, there were only three dwarves in the passage, perhaps to follow Strog Grandhammer's order of staying out of sight.
She managed to remain hidden. She had followed the dwarves utilizing her stealth and spells of shadow. They had no idea she was tracking them and the goblins ahead were too far out of sight to spot her even if she stood in the middle of the tunnel under a blazing torch.
The drawbacks to her situation, however, were many. She could only hide for so long. Though she used spells along with her guard training to hide her presence, she had used up much of her magical energy in moving through Sterling. Eventually, a dwarf would hear her, or if they dropped the delver and turned about, they would most likely bump into her even if she used the last of her magic to turn completely invisible.
She believed she would have to strike the dwarves before they turned over their prisoner, but the surroundings did not work in her favor. The tunnel was narrow and dark, perfect battle conditions for dwarves. She was behind them, following in their wake, but once she made her move, Ryson would be caught in the middle between the goblins and the dwarves. He would not last for long under such circumstances.
If she hoped to save him, she would have to kill the dwarves quickly. If she didn't, the situation would spiral further out of control. Once the dwarves realized they were under attack, they would utilize the delver as a shield or simply demand her surrender by threatening to kill him. She knew that was not Strog's order, but if she only managed to wound the dwarves, they would disregard such instructions in an instant.
She moved up as close as she dared and readied three arrows. She had watched the motions of each dwarf during their procession. She knew when and where to strike. She fired the arrows in quick succession, each time aiming for the neck above the chest plate. Two found their mark and the dwarves crumpled to the ground. The third also would have reached its target, but fate intervened.
The arrow flew strait and true, but the dwarf decided to scratch an itch at just the right instant for him and the very worst moment for Holli. As the dwarf twisted and lifted his shoulder, his chest plate rose up just enough to protect the vulnerable spot. The arrow shattered on impact, and only managed to knock the dwarf off balance.
Holli drew another arrow, but the dwarf had dropped into a defensive crouch. He used his helmet, his chest plate, and the surrounding rocks to completely cover his body. He placed his heavy gauntlets over his face and peered through the slits between his fingers. His dwarf vision cut through the darkness of the tunnel and quickly spied the outline of the elf. Her shadow spell began to fade, and he identified his foe.
"You'll die for that," he warned in a muffled voice through his hands.
"Not by you," Holli responded. "Move your hands for one instant and you'll have an arrow in your face."
"Fah, I can wait like this for days. A goblin patrol will find us before that happens."
"Then they die next."
"And when they don't report back? The horde will come down this tunnel. Do you have enough arrows for them all?"
She didn't. With time running out and a stalemate unacceptable, Holli stepped closer to the dwarf. An arrow remained nocked in her bow and the string drawn.
"That's it," the dwarf laughed, "come closer."
Holli knew that was exactly what the dwarf wanted, but there was little else she could do. If she retreated, Ryson was dead. If she waited, they would both be dead.
She stepped as close to the dwarf as possible while remaining out of his short armed reach. She was hoping to goad him into a mistake, but he refused to move. If he lunged, she would have her shot, but he remained crouched and low to the ground. He showed monumental patience, surprising for a dwarf.
By closing the gap between them, however, Holli ultimately obtained a clear line of fire to another vulnerable area. The side of the dwarf's calf just above his boot was no longer protected by the surrounding rock. All Holli had to do was step slightly to the left and release the bowstring. The strike would create a serious wound, probably cripple the dwarf for life, but it wouldn't be enough. An arrow plunged into the dwarf's leg would be painful but not fatal, and he was sure to counterattack instantly.
Watching the elf closely, the dwarf remained as still as the rocks. He knew his legs were vulnerable, if the elf took the right angle, but he had plans of his own. He could try to reposition himself, but he would risk losing his balance. He resigned himself to the exposure and forced the elf to make the ultimate decision.
Time quickly became a factor, and Holli had committed herself. If she turned, the dwarf would leap for her. If she tried to back away, she would only be deserting Ryson to certain death. The leg was her only option, but she knew how the dwarf would respond. She crafted her own plan to protect Ryson and ensure her own survival. What would follow would be disturbing, but all the choices had been made. She stepped to the side, released the bowstring and let the arrow fly.
The shaft cut through the air and the razor sharp tip found its mark. The arrow head plunged deep into the dwarf's flesh. The damage was extensive, but not enough to alter the dwarf's plans or to keep Holli from enacting hers.
Ignoring the pain, the dwarf used all of the strength of his uninjured leg to propel himself into Holli's midsection. The elf only held a bow, and once he had her in his grip, he would tear her apart. He barreled into her just as he hoped and felt her fall back from the momentum of his lunge. He expected her to strike down with her bow and perhaps attempt to pry him away using the weapon as a lever. Such a tactic would be useless, but to his surprise, she simply tossed the bow aside.
Holli knew the dwarf would leap for her the moment her arrow was released. She also knew there was nothing she could do to escape his grip. The tunnel was too narrow for her to dodge the inevitable attack, and once the dwarf had his hands on her, he was too powerful to dislodge. If she was to live, there was but one thing to do.
Just as the dwarf struck into her stomach, she released her hold on her bow and allowed the force of the attack to press her back against the tunnel wall. She buried the dwarf's face in her midsection as she leaned over the top of him and draped her upper body down his back. With both hands, she took hold of the arrow shaft still lodged in the dwarf's leg. Whispering strange words, she focused a deadly spell upon the arrow and reanimated the once living wood.
Emerald energy fused into the fibers, and the long arrow became flexible. The shaft twisted and turned like a root snaking through the soil
. Still connected to the razor sharp head, the arrow sunk deeper and deeper into dwarf flesh. The shaft turned the point upwards as it wriggled its way behind the knee and up into its victim's thigh. The feathers at the end of the arrow disappeared completely into the now gaping wound at the calf.
The dwarf erupted with pain. His eyes opened wide and he screamed in agony. He no longer cared about the elf, and he released her as he sprung to open space. He took hold of his leg, but there was nothing to grab beyond the wound itself. The arrow was now totally embedded inside of him and still working its way upward with relentless motion.
Once the arrow broke through the leg and into the dwarf's torso, his life was near an end. He wished it would be quick, but it was only marginally so. He felt his insides being sliced to ribbons, and only when the arrow finally reached its target—the heart—did the dwarf collapse.
Ryson had remained silent. He was completely helpless, wrapped in chains, so he felt it best not to distract the elf. As he watched the dwarf take his last breath, the delver could hold his voice no longer.
"That was horrible," Ryson gasped.
"Yes, it was."
Holli said nothing else on the matter. She felt no honor in casting the spell. Instead, she turned to her objectives as there was still much to be done. She stepped over to Ryson and took hold of the two locks that held the chains in place around his body. She closed her eyes and focused her last remaining emerald energy on releasing his bonds. Once the locks snapped open, she pulled them free and helped Ryson unwind from the heavy chains.
She let him rise slowly, but only after a brief moment, it was time to move again.
"We can not go back to Sterling and there are goblins ahead of us, but there has to be other passages in these tunnels. We will go forward as quickly as we can. We need to find a surface access. If we are blocked by any goblins, I will dispatch them."
She spoke with the authority of an elf guard charged with reaching safety. There would be no argument about her tactics or her decisions. The situation had become dire, and they both knew it. She took the lead, moved with elf speed, and expected Ryson to follow without hesitation.
He did, but his delver curiosity forced him to ask the obvious question.
"What happened to you?"
"Not now. I will explain it all when we reach safety."
She said nothing more. The path was dark, but not entirely. Light reflected strategically through all dwarf tunnels. She kept her focus on their path and the goblins ahead. Within moments, she was forced to stop.
"There are goblins just ahead," she whispered. "Can you tell me exactly how many?"
It was hard to distinguish them by scent, but Ryson could hear their not so subtle movements. They were careless in the tunnels, believing they were safe.
"Only two."
Holli took two arrows from her quiver and gave a stern warning to the delver.
"No arguments. Do not interfere."
Ryson fought back the hesitancy in taking a life, any life, even a goblin life, and focused on the bitter truth. The goblins were going to kill thousands of innocents. They might have been the pawns of Strog Grandhammer's plan, but they were willing participants. The first assault had not yet taken place, but the invasion had already started. They were at war, and so, he said nothing.
Holli stalked forward with an elf guard's skill. The goblins never knew she was in the tunnel until they heard the bowstring release. By then, it was too late. Two arrows streaked through the tunnel, and the goblins were no longer a threat.
Holli turned and waved Ryson to follow. She raced further up the passage sensing greater light and fresher air. Reaching a crossed path, she turned to the delver.
"Which way to open ground?"
Ryson sniffed the air and pointed to the elf's right.
"That way. Not far."
They raced ahead and soon reached the foot of a steep incline. They both could see the light at the end of the passage ahead and felt warmer air brush across their skin. Holli stopped and issued one last command.
"We should still be in the hills and the entrance will more than likely be hidden in a heavily wooded section. There will be guards, definitely dwarves. Perhaps goblins as well, but that is doubtful. Fighting them at this point is not the best course of action. We will race out of the tunnel and take to the trees. We will use speed and surprise. Escape and avoiding conflict is now our priority."
Ryson nodded in approval.
"I'm going to lead. Once in the trees, I will head west, at least two hilltops away. When we clear the second hilltop, use your senses and find a secure spot. Inform me of where we should go. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
Holli then remembered the dwarves had taken the delver's war blades.
"You are unarmed. It is time to take back your sword."
Ryson looked past Holli to the light ahead, nearly ignoring her, but ultimately responded by refusing.
"Not yet," he said.
"This is not the time to argue."
Ryson still would not look at the elf.
"You're right, it's not. We have to get going."
Holli wanted to remove the sword from her own back and place it in the delver's hands, but she wondered if he would just drop it where he stood. Something was keeping him from reclaiming the sword, but debating the issue in the narrow pass would only lead to a larger predicament. She gave in reluctantly, mostly because conflict was no longer part of her plan. She didn't want either one of them to use a weapon, and allowing the delver to move unencumbered was a benefit she could not ignore. She placed her bow over her shoulder, checked her gear, and took one heavy breath.
"Very well, are you ready?"
"Yes."
"Now," she said, and she bolted with an elf's speed up the last leg of the access tunnel.
Ryson followed close behind. Holli was faster than any other human Ryson ever encountered, but he could match her speed with marginal effort. He stayed close, but allowed enough room for her to maneuver once they broke through the entrance. He did not wish to crash into her if she slowed to make a quick turn.
Holli broke into the light and swiveled her head to take in her entire surroundings. She spotted two dwarves at opposite sides of the tunnel entrance, but their attention was focused on the woods surrounding the cave, not what was coming out. The opening sat within the cover of several trees, and the elf scampered up the closest one without slowing down. Her climb was so fluid it almost appeared as if she simply ran up the trunk.
Once in the branches, she knew they were out of dwarf reach but not yet entirely safe. An angry dwarf could drop a fully mature oak with one swipe of an axe. She would not give them the opportunity. She didn't have to gaze at the sun to gain her directional perspective—she already knew by the shadows at the cave opening. She darted westward across branches, ignoring the shouts of the bewildered dwarves.
Ryson climbed up the same tree as Holli and maintained his distance from the fleeing elf. He allowed her to choose the path as he drank in his surroundings. He saw the dwarves at the tunnel, heard a few more behind them around the curve of a hill, but sensed nothing ahead of them. Holli had picked the right direction.
Once they passed the second hilltop, Ryson pointed to a cluster of heavy pines.
"Over there!"
Holli liked what she saw and made a direct path to the spruce trees. She moved deep into the center of the cluster and stopped in the middle of heavy branches.
"This will do," she exclaimed, and then turned to Ryson.
"How close is the nearest dwarf?"
"Well behind us, just a few paces from the cave. They didn't chase us for long."
Pleased with the report, Holli turned to other factors.
"Are you injured?"
"A little late in asking, aren't you?"
"It would not have mattered in the tunnels. Injured or not, you had to move. Now, do you have injuries I am unaware of or not?"
"Just sore... my back hurt
s."
"From Strog's kick?"
Ryson was surprised by the question.
"You know about that?"
"I saw it."
"How?" Ryson asked, recalling he was alone with the dwarves in a locked room at the time.
"A sight spell. Before I left you in Sterling, I placed an anchor on you."
"An anchor? What are you talking about?"
"It is a spell that creates a point of energy, a reference point, somewhat like the beacon stones, but it does not send out a signal in the same way. It allows me to link a spell to you so that..."
Ryson erupted.
"You put a beacon on me?"
"Not a beacon, an anchor."
"I don't care! Is it still on me... this spell, is it still there?"
"Yes."
"Take it off!"
"It can't hurt you."
"Now!"
Holli did not understand the delver's outburst, but his outrage was clear. She focused on a spell of removal and withdrew the anchor from the delver.
"It is gone."
"Are you sure?"
"Why would I lie to you?"
Ryson's anger, as out of character as it was, actually swelled. His voice was almost trembling as his outburst grew in intensity.
"Why would you cast it in the first place? What were you thinking?!"
"I had to keep track of you."
"You wouldn't have had to keep track of me if you didn't just run off. I can't believe this!"
"Something was not right...," Holli explained, as she thought she might have understood the delver's fury, though only slightly. She did leave him, but she felt it was the best strategy. She tried to explain. "...not right in Sterling, I mean. There was no reason for Ulet to meet us with the goblin scent bag unless she was trying to hide something. Then, there was the mine itself back in Huntston. We both saw that it was relatively new, but still dug by dwarves. Why would dwarves build a mine shaft under a human town so recently... and then abandon it? I was concerned the goblins might be a threat to the dwarves, but I realized that was ridiculous. Regardless the size of the horde, goblins would never raise the courage to attack a dwarf city. If anything, I should have questioned why goblins would risk entering dwarf mines, not worried about warning dwarves."