by Jeff Inlo
Jure did not yet have Enin's ability to transverse dimensional planes, but his own faith was strengthened by what the magic had taught him. His awareness had grown with his use of the energy. Life was so much more than what surrounded him on a physical plane. He knew the journey started well before birth and continued on after death. They were not alone, left to their own devices. He understood the true force of benevolence, and that the magic was meant to return to Uton. He held to that faith, and he looked for his own purpose in serving the land… and in helping Heteera.
He wished he could break through to her, but it wasn't simply a matter of reaching out and waking her from a deep sleep. She didn't sleep. She just stared up at the ceiling, blinking every now and then to remind the elder wizard that she was still alive, reminding him that she deliberately withdrew from life and hid from her self-doubts.
She had such natural power-the inherent ability to absorb and cast out magic of each hue. Her aptitude in this regard far surpassed Jure's, but the capacity for power was a gift to her, probably at birth. She never had to work to increase it, to strengthen it.
What she was not given was control. The energy was always there, but it defied her will. The more she tried to shape it, the more it raged against her. It was almost as if she was blessed with a beautiful singing voice but was made tone deaf.
Jure was not as blessed… or as cursed. He developed his natural sense for magic and worked diligently to extend his talents. He earned the ability to cast a pure circle of power, and eventually, he gained the capability to cast equally with each hue. His casting in white magic was developed through time and practice.
For whatever reason, they had been brought together. Jure had utilized Heteera's energy to defeat an extremely powerful wizard. Although he had to cast the barrier which added to Heteera's current state, he believed that he had done what he needed to do, what he was meant to do.
He could not, however, accept that Heteera would pay for that course of action, and if she did, she would not do so alone. His decision to attend to her went far beyond Enin's wishes. He made it based on his own convictions. He would accept total responsibility for his decisions, even if the consequences were ultimately altered by Heteera herself. He would not walk away from the sorceress, and he would not simply allow her to remain in a suspended state.
Just like Sy Fenden, Jure knew he was not alone, but his view of assistance and allies went beyond the mortals that walked the land of Uton, even beyond the enormously powerful Enin. Not every step had purpose, but certain aspects of life had to be faced with a devotion to faith, regardless of opposing hopes and desires. Just as he had been brought together with Heteera and Holli to defeat an arrogant and dangerous wizard, he would be guided to his next purpose. He would have another moment of fate, a moment to do what was right. With all his heart, he believed providence would not only lead him there, but direct him in exactly what to do… and so, he waited.
Chapter 20
"Why did you bring another scent bag?" Ryson asked, as he almost gagged at the overpowering stench.
The delver staggered backwards out of the tunnel that led to Sterling and back into open air. They had initially been met by dwarves that guarded the entrance, but they were allowed to pass, even encouraged. It was only when they took several steps into the tunnel that they were confronted by another half dozen dwarves in battle gear rushing up the passage. One held a putrid smelling sack and waved it about vigorously upon reaching the opening.
"We were alerted to the presence of a goblin." Ulet Bulharp explained, the same dwarf battle commander who met Ryson and Holli once before near the hillside entrance to Sterling. She quickly took command of the situation and demanded information from the dwarf guards at the entrance.
"Only these three?"
"That's all," one replied quickly.
Ulet was not satisfied.
"Recall all outer patrols. Search the surrounding hills only, but leave four guards at the entrance. Secure the pass. No one goes through without being checked and no one else gets into Sterling until I say so."
"We were not followed," Holli assured the dwarf commander.
Ulet ignored the elf and instead focused on the delver.
"Do you smell any other goblins in the area?"
"All I can smell is what's in that bag," Ryson revealed.
Ulet appeared satisfied by the response, but Holli remained confused and realized the dwarf had not answered the delver's question adequately. She repeated it.
"Why would you bring a goblin scent bag to confront another goblin?"
Though she obviously did not appreciate having her deeds questioned, the dwarf battle commander offered an explanation.
"We do not want goblins sniffing around our tunnels. We thought it would be best to confuse it with a scent from its own kind."
"The goblin is our prisoner," Holli noted. "We brought it here with a warning."
Ulet quickly examined the goblin that was blindfolded and bound, but then placed a suspicious glare upon the elf.
"What kind of warning?"
"Goblins have infiltrated a dwarf mine under the human town of Huntston. This goblin was one of many that were stealing precious minerals from the mine. There is an entire horde within the shaft, and we are concerned that they might eventually obtain access to Sterling itself."
"Sterling is well guarded," Ulet replied in a near growl. "This is why you brought a dark creature to the entrance of our city?"
"We brought it here so you could question it," Holli defended her decision. "As you can see, we took precautions. The monster has been blindfolded for most of the journey. It has no idea of its location."
"Question a goblin? A feeble reason to risk the sanctity of our home."
"Risk? A blindfolded goblin a risk to Sterling? Goblins in the dwarf mines seem a much more brazen act."
"We do not like any such risks," Ulet stewed.
Holli remained confused over the dwarf's reaction, but as she hoped to gain her assistance, she quickly offered an apology.
"You will have to forgive me then. I believed a prisoner would have been useful to you."
The dwarf battle commander frowned, but then issued an order to the several dwarves that accompanied her up the tunnel.
"You three, take the goblin beyond the entrance to the edge of the pass. Guard it carefully. I will return and handle the interrogation myself. The rest of you accompany me to the palace." She turned her attention back to Holli. "You will also have to come with us. You must give a full accounting of what you have seen."
"I understand."
The delver lifted his hand from his mouth and nose long enough to make a request of his own.
"Can they leave the sack outside. It's going to make me sick if I have to walk near it."
"I'm afraid not, my friend. I don't wish to leave it out in the open. I will send it ahead first, but you will have to adjust your senses to the smell."
Holli was about to question the decision, but Ryson spoke first.
"If you can get it as far away from me as possible, I'd appreciate it."
Ulet nodded to the dwarf holding the sack, and the foul smelling bag was carried quickly away from the delver. The dwarf commander allowed a few moments to pass before following, but then urged them all to move quickly down the tunnel.
The thick goblin scent hung heavy in the air, and Ryson choked out a cough on several occasions during their descent. He placed his hands over his nose and mouth, even pulled up his shirt to act as a filter, but he could not avoid the pungent aroma.
The odor was strong, nearly unbearable for Holli as well. It overwhelmed everything in the tunnel and the elf couldn't comprehend why it was necessary to pollute their path with such a stench. She understood that dwarves utilized ventilation with superior talents. Perhaps they believed fresh air rushing through the passage would quickly flush away the abominable odor, but she felt no breeze from either end of the tunnel. She almost openly questioned the
dwarf commander's choice of tactics when the tunnel made a sharp break to the left.
After the turn, the passage spilled out into a wide open expanse that allowed for a stunning view of Sterling. The dwarf city sprawled out before them like a welcoming oasis. Thoughts of the foul odor died quickly away as the vastness of open space consumed the lingering traces and a breath of clean air billowed into their faces. With but a few steps, they walked into a gigantic cavern which served as a foundation for the spectacular dwarf sanctuary.
For the delver, the experience brought sheer joy to his heart. Ryson had only witnessed one other dwarf city, and that was Dunop near Dark Spruce Forest. Entering that city was a moment etched into his mind, for witnessing dwarf construction on such a scale was a view that could only be matched by the most stunning displays of nature. The revelation of a second dwarf city actually surpassed his expectations, something he did not think possible.
Sterling seemed the most appropriate name, as the city filled the open cavern with reverent majesty, and Ryson wondered if he had stepped into a dream. The brightness of everything about him defied the ceiling of rock over their heads. Ryson gaped at the magnificence of every structure and the radiant beauty of the city as a whole. His concept of a dwarf city had been based on his exposure to Dunop's sculptured excellence, but Sterling widened his expectations of dwarf construction to include painted brilliance. He tried to put the two cities in perspective, but making comparisons was a daunting task.
As he recalled the dwarf city in Dark Spruce, he remembered that Dunop was entirely carved from stone. Every home, shop, and tavern was formed from the rock deep below the surface. The dwarves used iron to support certain structures and bridges, but the city appeared as a perfectly refined and ornately detailed stone sculpture. Dunop's castle stood as the centerpiece, an intricate collection of spires and towers reaching up from a foundation of granite. The citadel, the city itself, was a testament to strength, like the mighty fist of a warrior giant.
For the delver, his vivid memory of Dunop would always be synonymous with the return of magic-a realization that his life, as well as the entire land, had changed forever-but walking into the expanse that allowed a full view of Sterling was like entering a fantasy. While Dunop radiated power, Sterling conveyed beauty that seemed to echo the dreams of artists. If Dunop was the carved testament to a closed fist, Sterling was the open hand of glory.
Beams of light streamed down from unseen shafts far overhead and sparkled from every rooftop. Each road leading off into the distance and each vista through rows of intricately designed structures offered a dazzling view of picturesque splendor. Every pole and every post rose up in harmony. The streets before them flowed away in subtle curves so it appeared as if no path ever ended. It seemed as if the city offered continuous possibilities and infinite hope.
In Dunop, wood was used for fuel and furnishing, not to be wasted on elaborate exterior designs. Sterling took the opposite approach. Timber was used generously throughout the underground city. It formed lines and borders across half-timbered buildings with side and front gables. It gloriously trimmed every corner and edge with delicately carved moldings. It was used to mark shops and taverns, and for enhanced doors that appeared suited for the most distinguished entrances.
Just as with Dunop, Sterling's palace served as the central focal point, but it did not stand as a monument of might. The dwarves designed Sterling's palace as if inspired by an angels' chorus and directed by the words of a poet. It did not tower over the city like some angry guardian ready to smite any invader. Instead, it rose up through the cavern like clouds woven into stone and wood, placed lovingly at the city's heart for all to enjoy.
Ryson could not imagine a more peaceful setting. Only his memory of the foul goblin stench convinced him he remained in Uton as opposed to stepping into the mystic beauty of an afterlife.
Holli was almost equally overcome, but as she looked upward, she saw only rock, a barrier to the open skies. Despite Sterling's beauty, the enclosed nature of the cavern made her think of a prison. It seemed a great shame to bury such a marvel deep below the surface.
As they began their journey through the city streets toward Sterling Palace, she reminded herself of her duty. She understood she was deep underground, and it made her reconsider the mines under Huntston. She brushed aside the striking splendor surrounding her and focused on the full scope of her mission. She thought of the valleys and all of the mysteries she encountered. In that one moment, she looked beyond the buildings of Sterling and saw the dwarf city as part of the problem as opposed to a possible solution.
She began to realize that the puzzle was not coming together as she had hoped. With each step, she ticked through a different question in her mind. The confusing aspects could not be connected, not in the way she initially imagined. She was forcing the pieces together, and her efforts had led her to new suspicions. As she placed goblins, dwarves, magic, and mines together, she saw where she was. She was entombed underground, and that would not bring her to an answer. Halfway to the palace, she decided she needed to free herself.
At that same moment, Ryson believed he saw a flash of green light. It existed for only the briefest of instants. It was more like a stray thought than any true observation, but it grabbed his attention nonetheless. He looked to the elf and noticed a hazel gleam in Holli's eyes.
She placed a firm hand on his shoulder, and before he could question her, she made one quick proclamation.
"Do not worry about me. I will meet you outside."
Abruptly she turned to Ulet.
"I am sorry, but this is too much for me." Her voice quivered and her eyes lost any sparkle. Her expression revealed palpable distress. "I have to get outside. This is too much for any elf. I cannot even wait for an escort."
Without another word, she turned and raced back the way they had came. Even as Ulet called for her to stop, Holli ignored all those she left behind. She stopped, but she did not look back. She appeared completely panicked and dashed down a cobblestone street which was not part of their previous path.
Ryson could not understand Holli's frantic outburst. When the elf ran out of sight, he believed she had already become confused and would be lost in the dwarf city.
"I should go after her. I can catch her. I may be the only one who can."
"No, you stay with us. You're not going anywhere." Ulet commanded in an angry tone. She then caught herself and rephrased her decision. "I don't need two of you lost in the city."
"Trust me, I won't get lost. I can use the palace as a landmark."
Ulet cursed under her breath, looked about in dismay as if Holli's panic had spread. The dwarf, however, quickly contained her exasperation and issued immediate orders to the dwarves around her.
"Go to the sentries' barracks and put them all on alert looking for a runaway elf. Place guards at each exit. She is not to be harmed, but she must not be allowed to leave. Capture her and bring her to me at the palace."
Ulet then turned back to the delver who was impatiently waiting for an answer.
"I cannot let you go unescorted through the streets."
"I can catch her before your guards even get to a barracks," Ryson explained.
"And if the elf has already made three more turns down roads you have never traveled, will it be so easy to find her? How long will I have to wait here wondering if you found her or if you're still chasing a delusional elf?"
"I don't think she's delusional."
"She's obviously lost her mind. She said it herself. The cavern was too much for any elf."
"But that doesn't make sense. I think there might be something else wrong."
Ulet's eyes narrowed on the delver.
"Is there something you're not telling me? What would be wrong?"
"I don't know, but she's an elf guard. She just wouldn't lose her senses like that, and certainly not because she's in an enclosed space. She even…"
"Of course she would," Ulet interrupted in a gro
wing display of impatience. "She's an elf. Elf guard or not, she broke… like all elves would break. It is well known that elves do not do well in enclosed places."
"You won't let me go after her?"
Ulet offered several reasons for resisting the offer.
"There's an elf running through the streets of Sterling. Now you want to follow her. Do you have any idea of the panic that would cause? And what of the king and queen? How long do I have to keep them waiting before I explain this disaster? You have brought a goblin to the entrance of our city and now this. They will want answers. Perhaps you would be willing to take all responsibility for any damage caused by this… this… what shall I call it? A misunderstanding?"
"If something goes wrong, I'll take responsibility," Ryson assured the dwarf.
"Something has already gone wrong!" Ulet stated with finality. "You are a guest here. It is not yours to decide. You will accompany me to the palace and explain everything that has happened."
Ulet ended the argument as she turned away from the delver and marched toward the palace. She didn't even look back. She expected Ryson to follow her.
Not wishing to simply leave Holli behind, Ryson almost allowed the dwarf to walk away completely. Unfortunately, his options offered two very divergent paths. He could follow the dwarf or he could race after the elf.
If he ignored Ulet, he would incite conflict with every other dwarf in Sterling. He believed he could find Holli, but then what? He heard Ulet's orders. Guards were being stationed at the exits. The conflict would grow. He couldn't walk that path.
Holli's bizarre behavior made the choice even more difficult. It was her idea to come to Sterling. She wished to warn the dwarves about the goblins in the mines under Huntston and to obtain their assistance in tracking the stolen treasure. He wasn't sure exactly how that would help, but that was her plan. They had already warned Ulet of the goblins, but the news seemed inconsequential to the dwarf commander. The only thing left to do was to accompany Ulet and explain the situation as he saw it. He could only hope the dwarves might shed some light on everything that was happening.