The Tiger's Time

by Marc Alan Edelheit

  Stiger took Misty’s reins and handed them to a passing legionary.

  “Hold my mount,” Stiger told the man. “Would you take her over to where the century will be forming up?”

  “Yes, sir,” the legionary said, taking hold of the reins and leading the horse off.

  Stiger turned to face the thane.

  “We’re ready to depart,” Brogan said, without any preamble.

  The thane looked tired and haggard. Stiger was sure that he appeared just the same himself.

  “Almost there ourselves,” Stiger said, glancing over at the wagons where the wounded were being made comfortable for their journey back to the legion. He was able to see into the bed of one of the wagons, where two men had been laid out. A legionary climbed into the bed and began covering each in a thick wool blanket. Stiger was reminded of a father tucking children into bed.

  “As discussed,” Brogan said, “Theo will guide you back to the valley.”

  “And you go to hurry along your army,” Stiger said. “I wish we were not splitting up, but I understand the necessity.”

  “You get back to your legion quicker and I to Old City. Time is no longer on our side,” Brogan said. “I will send word of my progress.”

  “How will I reach you?” Stiger asked. “At some point, we will need to coordinate our actions.”

  “Send a messenger to Old City,” Brogan said. “Your message will find me and I will respond as soon as I am able.”

  “That will work,” Stiger said.

  “Good,” Brogan said. “I will meet you in the valley. You can expect me sometime within the next fortnight.”

  “Just make sure you don’t take too long,” Stiger said, with a sudden grin. “Depending on how fast Therik moves, we may need help sooner rather than later.”

  “I will come just as soon as I am able.”

  “I can ask no more,” Stiger said and then glanced over at Theo. “Are you certain you wish to part with your advisor? Cragg offered to guide us back to the valley.”

  “Yes, yes,” Cragg said, sounding eager. “I guide. No worries.”

  Brogan gave a highly amused laugh, though Stiger thought he read irritation in Brogan’s eyes. “You’d never get there with this bandit. He has a warped sense of humor. You’d be lucky if he doesn’t march you in circles.”

  “I am no bandit,” Cragg said in his squeaky voice, sounding like an indignant child. He tapped himself on the chest. “I am kluge. I guide him to valley. My word is good. You know.”

  With a laugh, Brogan held up his hands.

  “I only jest, Cragg,” Brogan said to the gnome. “You people aren’t the only ones with a sense of humor. Your word has always been good for me. But that is not the point. Theogdin is a liaison between my people and his.” Brogan gestured at Stiger. “Since I’m sending him anyway, he can easily enough guide the humans to where they need to go. So, you can see there is no need for you or your people to go out of their way. You have done enough already.”

  Cragg did not look too terribly pleased but seemed somewhat mollified by the explanation. He gave an unhappy hiss and shook his head, but then nodded his understanding and acceptance.

  “Theogdin goes with you,” Brogan said firmly, turning back to Stiger. “When this is all over, you can return him. That is, if you so desire. I have no doubt that just as soon as he takes up his post, he will drink me poor.”

  “Brogan, you wound me,” Theo said. “You know very well you will gladly do it with me.”

  Brogan gave a low chuckle. “I should have made you my advisor years ago.”

  The thane looked about, clearly ready to depart. He hesitated a moment and then offered his hand, which Stiger took and shook firmly.

  “Good travels,” Brogan said.

  “You as well,” Stiger said.

  Brogan turned away, then stopped. “Theo, do try to stay out of trouble.”

  “Where is the fun with that?” Theo asked and when Brogan scowled, he gave a great sigh. “In light of the importance of my new position, I will endeavor to do as you ask.”

  Brogan gave a satisfied nod and moved off toward the ponies and his waiting escort.

  Theo shifted his feet. Stiger glanced over at his friend.

  “He aims to make something of me,” Theo said. “I fear he has made it his project.”

  “I see,” Stiger said.

  “You should’ve asked him for something more than you got,” Theo said as they watched the thane. “Brogan is rich beyond your imaginings. His mines are the deepest and have the strongest veins of gold and silver. It is why his family has held onto the reins of power for so long. They can buy most anyone they need, and those they can’t . . . well, they can hurt economically.”

  “I already got what I needed,” Stiger said. “There was no need to ask for more.”

  “You got what you needed?” Theo narrowed an eye at him, while cocking his head. “And what was that exactly?”

  “His army,” Stiger said, “and his help at defending the valley.”

  To kill the minion, Stiger understood he needed all the help he could get. Castor’s servant would come at him with Therik’s army.

  “He would’ve given you his army regardless,” Theo said with exasperation. “Well, he wouldn’t really have given it to you, of course. He would just have sent it and used it alongside yours to evict the orcs from the valley.”

  “Really?” Stiger asked, turning his gaze upon Theo.

  “Though we allow you humans to live there, you forget the valley is our land. Brogan is obligated to defend it. Since it falls under his own clan holdings, the valley’s defense is tied to his personal legend. Then there is Grata’Jalor and the World Gate that need defending too. So, what exactly did you get?”

  “An ally.”

  “Having Brogan as an ally is no small thing,” Theo conceded. “I will give you that.”

  “In the end, it’s the same thing,” Stiger said, “isn’t it?”

  “For pulling his bacon out of the fire, you could have asked for gold, jewels, and still gotten his assistance,” Theo said, seeming disgusted by the lack of opportunism. “You should have wrung him for everything he was willing to give, just like Cragg here. You could learn something from this former bandit.”

  Stiger glanced down at the gnome, who had been standing there silently, watching them. Cragg’s black eyes shone under the magical light from above. Stiger got the impression the little gnome was exceedingly pleased with himself. He nodded his agreement to what Theo said.

  “And Brogan needs you to help get his revenge,” Theo said. “Additional leverage there, and you cast it aside.”

  “I have no need of riches,” Stiger said, turning his gaze back to Theo. “Not at the moment, anyway.”

  “Of course you do,” Theo said. “Everyone has need of money.”

  “Perhaps,” Stiger said, and his gaze swung back toward the gnome. He regarded the little creature for a moment, thinking on what lay ahead.

  “What?” Cragg asked.

  “More orcs are coming,” Stiger said. Here before him was another potential ally. Despite Brogan’s disregard and disdain for them, the gnomes had already proven their worth to Stiger, both here in this time and in the future. “They come to take the valley.”

  “So?” Cragg said. “What means to me?”

  “You enjoyed killing the orcs we brought,” Stiger said. “Do I have that right?”

  Cragg gave a tiny shrug, as if killing orcs mattered little to him.

  “Don’t let the murderous little bastard tell you otherwise,” Theo said, gazing down at Cragg. “He and his kind hate the orcs more than us dvergr. They love killing their former allies.”

  “Never,” Cragg spat back, becoming heated. He shook an angry fist at Theo. “We never allies. We slaves. Now we free. We kill, we murder, we hunt orcs for sport. Good sport too when dwarves allow.” Cragg turned a nasty smile upon Theo. “And sometimes when they don’t.”

  “Then
come and help me,” Stiger said. “Join me. Together we will kill thousands of orcs.”

  Cragg turned his black-eyed, pupil-less gaze on Stiger. He brought a tiny hand up and scratched the back of his head.

  “We no fight for little people,” Cragg said and pointed at Theo. “We no fight for thane.” Cragg swung his tiny finger to Stiger. “We no fight for you. We no fight for anyone. Not anymore. I am kluge. I have what I want. Like he said, you should have asked thane for more. Stupid human.”

  The gnome spat on the ground between Stiger’s feet.

  Stiger restrained his anger.

  “I’m not asking you to fight for me or the dwarves or anyone else,” Stiger said. “I am asking you to fight with us, and for yourselves. I am giving you that opportunity.”

  Cragg did not immediately reply. He appeared to be mulling over Stiger’s words.

  “I think about,” Cragg said. He gave a little shrug of his shoulders. “We come, we don’t, I don’t know.”

  “Fair enough,” Stiger said, “but don’t think about it too long or we will kill all the orcs without you. There will be none left for you and your people.”

  Cragg laughed at him. It was a dark sort of cackle, devoid of mirth. “Don’t think me stupid, human. I think on your words. I promise nothing.”

  With that, Cragg turned and walked off toward the wagons and another gnome.

  “Your effort was wasted on him,” Theo said after the gnome was out of earshot. “He will come.”

  “You think so?” Stiger said.

  “I do,” Theo said.

  “Why?”

  “Brogan just gave the little bandit everything he’s ever wanted but had not been able to get for the past century. When Cragg became kluge, he refused to bend knee to the thane. For that he was exiled. It created what you might call a bit of tension between my people and his. Now he doesn’t have to bend the knee and swear fealty. Even better for his people, by recognizing him as kluge, Brogan has given the gnomes a place once again on the thane’s council. For that alone, his people will think him a hero.” Theo paused and glanced at Cragg’s back as the gnome talked with another of his kind a few yards away by a wagon. “As Cragg himself said, he’s not stupid. He’s quite intelligent and as conniving as Brogan. Best you keep that in mind.”

  “So,” Stiger said, “how do you know he will come?”

  Theo gave Stiger a strange look. There was some calculation there, but also something else he could not identify.

  “I tell you this, so you understand who you are dealing with,” Theo said. “Despite what Brogan says publicly, he will want the gnomes to send their fighters with his army. Cragg, on the other hand, cannot allow us to fight without his people taking part. Sitting on his ass will reflect badly, not only amongst his own people, but on the council as well. If that happens, Brogan will hold a serious grudge against the mean-spirited bastard. No one—and I mean no one—holds a grudge like Brogan. Negotiations for the gnomes will be much more difficult than before. Brogan will hold their little noses to the grindstone on all sorts of contracts. Cragg’s people will blame him for that and also the lost opportunity at killing orcs. So, he either joins the fight when Brogan calls, or he won’t last long as kluge.”

  “Huh,” Stiger said, suddenly feeling a little foolish. He had misread the situation. Never again would he make the mistake of underestimating a gnome or, for that matter, Brogan.

  Theo suddenly grinned. “Besides, it’s not often that orcs stray out of their territory and into ours. By treaty, the gnomes have long since been prohibited from hunting orcs on orc lands. Despite their disagreeable nature, they’ve abided by that little restriction we set upon them.” Theo paused. “Brogan would not want you to know this, but our leverage with the gnomes is one of the things that has allowed us to keep the peace with the orc tribes. They fear the little bastards, and with good reason. I feel certain Cragg will come. When the call goes out, gnomes will eagerly pour up from the depths in numbers not seen since the Gate War.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Stiger said, “for I fear we will need all the help we can get.”

  “I am,” Theo said with conviction.

  The thane’s party had mounted up. Riding at the head of his escort, Brogan wheeled his pony around and came by Stiger and Theo. The thane raised a hand in parting as he rode past. Nothing more was said, and nothing need be said, for each knew what the other had to do.

  Theo watched his cousin ride off into the tunnel, a strange expression on his face.

  After several moments of silence, Theo spoke. “Since we have all the supplies we need and are not burdened by wagons or the wounded, we should be able to make good time. We have a two-day trek from here that will lead us up and out of the tunnels to a small mountain trail. I chose this way for a very specific reason. Two hours on this trail will see us come out near Bowman’s Pond. You’ll be in Sarai’s arms before you know it, and we may even have time to pick up that fishing rod you left the last time we visited.”

  Stiger was elated to hear that and laughed as they watched Brogan ride off down the road.

  “If I recall,” Theo said, “it was her fishing rod to begin with.”

  “Yes, it was,” Stiger said, thinking how good it would be to see Sarai. He turned back to Theo. He saw a look of unhappiness there. It was quickly covered over.

  “What’s wrong?” Stiger asked Theo.

  “In all honesty,” Theo said, “I am somewhat disappointed I will not be returning to my company. Life is about to get very complex. Becoming entangled with my cousin is something I’ve been trying to avoid for a very long time.”

  Stiger was silent for a long moment. He had the sudden feeling Theo was acting. It was no different than an officer putting on a show for his men during a tense moment. The dwarf seemed to be overdoing it. Why was that? Stiger decided to probe a little.

  “In exchange for giving up your old life . . . did you get what you wanted? From the thane, that is.”

  Now that Stiger thought on it, Theo was certainly not a typical grunt. Stiger wondered if Theo had ever really been a member of Captain Aleric’s company. Throughout the entire journey to Garand Kos, he came and went at will. He was accountable to no one other than Brogan. Taithun hadn’t even tried to order him about. Theo was far too smart, intuitive, and perceptive for a common soldier. He also seemed much better educated. There were so many signs he had not seen until this moment. It was something he would think further on. Stiger suddenly felt saddened. He would have to be on his guard with Theo.

  Theo had not answered the question. He was studying Stiger with an amused expression. Stiger wondered if he had inadvertently given his suspicions away.

  “Did you get what you wanted?” Stiger asked again.

  “Oh, I got that and more,” Theo said. “Don’t worry about me.”

  “And what was that?”

  “Do you really expect an answer?” Theo gave him a look of disapproval. He suddenly brightened, changing the subject. “I’m afraid you’re stuck with me, at least for a few more days.”

  “Right,” Stiger said, getting the hint. He turned his gaze to Sabinus and Mectillius, who were making sure the wounded were comfortable. Father Thomas was working alongside them.

  The paladin had woken from his slumber when the gnomes had brought down the roof of the tunnel. Stiger supposed the blast would have been impossible to sleep through. Shortly after waking, Father Thomas had explained he was not recovered enough to attempt a healing on the injured. Still looking like an old man, the paladin seemed almost spent. Though he had regained much of his color, he moved about with a lethargy that Stiger felt was worrying.

  Stiger started walking over toward them. Theo fell in beside him, as did Dog. The paladin gave Stiger a tired nod as he climbed down from a wagon bed and moved on to the next one.

  “Sir,” Sabinus said, clambering out of the same wagon.

  Mectillius, standing by the wagon’s side, straightened.

 
“How is it coming with the wounded?” Stiger asked.

  “We’ve loaded all of them. They’re as comfortable as we can make them, sir,” Mectillius said. “The dwarves have assured us the gnomes will care for them on their journey to Old City.”

  “Once they reach the city,” Theo said, “Brogan will arrange for surgeons to see to their needs. When they are well enough, they will complete the journey back to your camp. Your wounded will have the very best care we have to offer.”

  “I’m personally grateful for that,” Mectillius said. “These men are my family. Thank you.”

  “Will the gnomes cause any problems for the wounded?” Stiger asked. He had some concerns about how the gnomes might treat the legionaries.

  “Gnomes may not be the most pleasant of races, but your injured should be well cared for,” Theo said. “Cragg gave his word, and to a gnome, one’s word is all that matters.”

  “All right,” Stiger said, feeling a little better about leaving the wounded in gnome hands.

  “I’ve detailed the walking wounded to accompany them and help care for our boys, sir,” Mectillius said. “Just to be sure, sir.”

  “Very good,” Stiger said, glancing over the carts and wagons. Gnomish teamsters were sitting on the drivers’ benches, waiting for the humans to finish their preparations. They looked neither impatient nor bored. In fact, he couldn’t tell what they were thinking.

  “Well then,” Stiger said, looking at Sabinus, “if all is in order, I would like to get a move on. The sooner we return to the legion, the better.”

  “Yes, sir,” Sabinus said. “I believe we are ready.”

  “Centurion Mectillius,” Stiger said, “would you be kind enough to have your men fall in and prepare for march?”

  “I will, sir.” Mectillius drew himself up and saluted before turning on his heel and shouting, “Fall in.”

  The legionaries began to assemble a small column for march. Stiger looked them over. They had been through a terrible ordeal. Still, they were of the legion and held themselves proudly. Looking upon them in their antique armor, Stiger felt pride and a sense of belonging. He, too, was of the legion, and these men before him were some of the best soldiers that ever marched.