by Thomas Rath
Neither opponent seemed to have heard him, both still tense and ready for blood.
“Call off yer Roc,” the squat man demanded, his eyes still locked on Tchee.
“My what?” Teek asked, genuinely confused.
“The bird you dolt,” the man responded. “What else?”
“You’re a dwarf,” Teek said dumbly his heart pounding with excitement at the prospect. He would know a dwarf anywhere from his mother’s description of the two she met on her own appeasing journey. He had always hoped to see one himself someday but had never really thought the opportunity would ever come stuck in the swamplands as he was.
“Congratulations,” said the dwarf, his axe still held at the ready, his eyes hard focused on Tchee.
Tchee suddenly spread out her wings and cried an awful sound that sent a chill rushing through Teek’s body. He had to stop this. Sheathing his dagger, he rushed forward ducking under Tchee’s enormous wing and coming up short between the two combatants. Holding up his arms he shouted. “I said wait!” Facing the dwarf he said, “Put your weapons away. She won’t back down until you do. She thinks I’m in danger. Put them away!”
“And how do I know she won’t take me head the minute I do?”
“I don’t know, but she’ll take your head if you don’t. You can be sure of that.”
The dwarf hesitated for a moment as if playing it all out in his mind. Teek turned his back on him and faced a terrifying looking Tchee. His heart skipped at the ferocity burning in the giant bird’s eyes. Holding out his hands to either side he called to her in as calm a voice as he could, though his words still trembled.
“Tchee, it’s alright. He won’t hurt us.” Tchee brought her wings in slightly as the sound of metal hitting the ground suddenly rang in Teek’s ears. Then, as if nothing had happened, Tchee folded her wings back behind her and cooed softly at him before bouncing away to the water’s edge for a drink.
CHAPTER TWO
Teek stared at the three dwarfs sitting across from him. Never in his life would he have imagined a day like he was having. After Tchee had determined that Hilden, the first dwarf he met, was not a threat she trotted off to the lake shore and settled in for a nap. When Jancar and Segford descended on them from a rugged hill to the west, Teek almost boiled over with excitement; Tchee just eyed them quickly and then went back to sleep.
Three real live dwarfs eating lunch with him—Teek, just an insignificant Waseeni boy. His mother had only met two; he had three. He had spent the past hour with them and his awe still had not worn off. They were everything he had imagined dwarfs to be. Not much was said at first as he helped them start a small fire for cooking their lunch and then watched with fascination as they trapped two small animals they called rock chucks. At first he passed on the offered meat, his stomach still feeling queasy from his earlier flight. But after a bit of prodding he agreed to try some and was glad he did. He enjoyed the tender meat having never tasted anything like it before. It was nothing like the crustaceans and fish he was used to eating at home.
The conversation picked up after all had eaten and were lounging about enjoying the spring sun and full bellies. Hilden and Segford pulled out pipes and were both blowing smoke rings into the gentle mountain breeze that came gliding off the lake. The rings started out small and then grew quickly in size before they were carried off by the wind and disappeared. Teek watched them in wonder as one after the other Hilden and Segford puffed out the rings in quick succession.
Teek couldn’t get over how much Segford and Jancar looked like Hilden. In fact, the similarities were so incredible he felt a little confused at first as to who was who. All three boasted long red beards that draped from their chins down to their bellies as well as shoulder length hair that cascaded out of identical helms of silver. Their noses were the characteristic big and round size that, from what Teek could ascertain, were typical of all dwarfs. Their clothes consisted of dark leather pants and wool shirts of dark brown that imitated the rocks and rough mountains around them. But Jancar and Hilden both carried axes while Segford preferred a large hammer.
It wasn’t until after mistaking their names three or four times that Teek finally picked up on some of the subtleties of each that distinguished them from one another. It was mostly the eyes that clued him in. Hilden’s were blue, Jancar’s were gray, and Segford’s were brown. Jancar’s hair was also a lighter shade of red compared to the fire that escaped the helmets of the other two. They were all three very rough around the edges but were amiable enough to not make him feel overly uncomfortable. He did feel an extra sense of safety being in their company, although after seeing Tchee’s ferocity toward Hilden, Teek knew he had no need to fear for his life while the large bird was near.
“So where did ye get the big pet, laddie?” Jancar asked pulling out a pipe to join the other two.
Teek glanced down at Tchee who was venturing forth into the frigid mountain lake for a bath. “She picked me up really. Actually, she really did pick me up.” Teek spent the next few minutes explaining his meeting and eventual companionship with the giant bird. All three of the dwarfs seemed impressed with the story or at least were polite enough not to show any outward doubt.
“It’s a rare thing ye got there, lad,” Jancar said between puffs from his pipe.
“Aye,” Hilden agreed. “Rocs not be evil creatures, but they keep to themselves, preferring the solitude of a life alone excepting, of course, when they mate.”
“Rocs?” Teek asked looking somewhat puzzled.
“Aye, Rocs,” Jancar answered while the other two dragged on their pipes. “That big bird ye’ve been callin’ Tchee be a Roc.”
Teek looked at his large friend now ruffling her feathers in the water and making quite a splash. “I’ve never seen the like in my life.”
Jancar eyed him for a moment. “Course not, ye being from the swamps an’ all. I don’t be guessin’ ye get much o’ them down there. Truth be, this be only the second one I seen in me own lifetime. Though, I never heard o’ one attached to anyone else but their mate.”
“Really?” Teek asked, the excitement evident in his voice.
“Rocs mate fer life, Teek,” Hilden supplied. “They live to be up to a thousand years but have only one mate.”
Teek’s eyes widened considerably.
Hilden continued. “If their mate dies, they won’t pick another fer the rest o’ their days.”
Jancar motioned to Tchee. “That bird is probably the most loyal friend ye’ll ever have. An’ I can easily see why she be so attached to ye. After savin’ her life an’ all you’ll be stuck with her until the day ye die.”
“Or she’ll die protectin’ you,” Segford added.
Teek stared in wonder at Tchee now fluffing her feathers and drying them in the noontime sun. He figured she had been treating him so well because he had saved her life but he never imagined it would continue for a lifetime. He thought that after a day or two he would just wake up one day and she’d be gone. What was he going to do? What could he do? Then it hit him. “You mean she won’t pick a mate now because of me?”
Three red heads nodded in unison. “She’d fight to the death with any Roc male that tried to woo her now,” Segford said. “She’s picked ye as her mate, in a sense. She won’t have another.”
Teek was overwhelmed. “But she can’t. I mean she should have her own family. I can’t take that from her.”
Segford looked down and shook his head. Then he smiled. “Ye ain’t be havin’ no say in that decision, lad. Ye’re hers and she be yours. It’s time ye get used ta havin’ her ‘round.”
Teek stared at the fire suddenly feeling sad. He hadn’t wanted this for her. But what would have been the alternative? Had he not saved her when he did she would be dead.
“So what brings ye to the Dorian Mountains?” Hilden asked, changing the subject and trying to lighten the mood of the conversation. “Ye be a might ways away from the heat o’ the swamplands.”
Teek l
ooked briefly at Tchee now sound asleep. “I’m on an appeasing journey,” he half whispered.
“Appeasing who?” Jancar asked.
Teek blink at the dwarf as if just noticing he was there. “It’s part of the Waseeni way,” he began to explain. “My dearest friend died not too many days past and I was chosen to seek out a gift to appease his ancestors so he can enter the afterlife.”
“Aye,” Hilden said as all three nodded. “Then ye be on a holy quest.”
Teek shrugged. “I guess.”
“What sort o’ gift be ye searchin’ fer then, lad?” Jancar asked, pounding his extinguished pipe against his knee and knocking out the remaining ash.
Teek shook his head. “I don’t know. That’s part of the journey. It’s said that the ancestors will choose their gift and lead the seeker to it.” Teek got noticeably more excited. “My mom got a gift from a dwarf on her journey.”
All three dwarfs looked somewhat surprised. “Really, now,” Hilden said, the disbelief obvious in his expression and tone.
Teek caught on to their skepticism. “No, really. She got two gems and this.” He pulled the dagger from its place at his side. Three pairs of eyes narrowed beneath furrowed red brows as Teek presented the blade.
“Might I be takin’ a closer look at that blade?” Jancar asked, leaning forward to snatch the outstretched knife from Teek’s hand.
“It was given to my mother,” Teek went on excitedly not noticing Segford’s hand moving to the hammer at his side. “She gave it to me just before I left. Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Aye,” Jancar said, eyeing it carefully before placing it into Hilden’s outstretched hand. “It be.” Both dwarfs gave each other a knowing look and then Jancar suddenly glanced past Teek to Tchee. A frown creased his lips as he looked back to Hilden and slightly shook his head.
Teek was ignorant of the exchange but the following silence was quickly becoming uncomfortable. He looked at the dwarfs eagerly, expecting a little more excitement from them than they were showing.
Hilden suddenly smiled and handed the dagger back to him. “Mighty fine indeed, me lad.”
“Aye,” Jancar agreed. “Mighty fine.” He slipped a quick look at Segford who released his grip on his battle hammer and merely nodded his head.
Teek took the dagger and returned it to its place at his side. “A dwarf named Helgar gave it to her.”
All three heads snapped at the mention of Helgar. Hilden cleared his throat. “Helgar, ye say?”
Teek smiled. “That’s right. Do you know him?”
Segford and Jancar turned blank stares to each other while Hilden slowly answered. “Well then lad, that be dependin’. What be his second name?”
Three sets of dwarf eyes set on Teek as he dropped his head, a thoughtful look on his face. “You know,” he said rubbing his chin, “I don’t really know. She never told me that.”
The dwarfs glanced quickly at one another but didn’t respond.
Hilden forced a small chuckle. “Well, I guess it be hard ta say then if we be knowin’ him or not.”
Teek looked up and laughed. “I guess you’re right.” He shrugged. “I was just thinking that I would like to meet him is all.”
Hilden flashed a quick look at Jancar who raised an eyebrow. Segford glanced at Tchee again. “Well, then. Maybe ye ought to be comin’ with us for a spell,” Jancar spouted, “and maybe we could be findin’ him fer ye.”
Teek’s countenance brightened briefly before suddenly becoming dark. “I can’t.”
“Why not?” Segford asked, leaning forward, a flash of anger in his eyes.
“Well,” Teek started slowly, “I have to be on my way to complete my journey. Twee is waiting and I can’t let him down. Plus, my mother is waiting for me at home.”
Segford opened his mouth as if to respond, the anger growing in his dark eyes, but Jancar cut him off. “Aye,” he said in a kind voice, “that do be a problem. Ye must be finishin’ yer holy quest and that right quick.”
Teek only nodded, his disappointment obvious.
Jancar brushed a hand through his beard a serious look on his face. The other two dwarfs watched him closely as if trying to understand where he was going with all of this. Suddenly, he brought his hand up. “I got it!” he roared making Teek jump. “Ye come with us to see if we can’t be findin’ Helgar and maybe he would be givin’ ye a gift fer yer journey like he did fer yer mum.”
Teek’s face flashed excitement but was quickly overrun again by concern. “As much as I want to meet him, I can’t ask him for a gift to give the ancestors. It’s not the right way. The gift must be found or freely offered, not begged for.”
“I’ll give ye a gift,” Segford spat, his voice edged with roughness.
Hilden shot Segford a piercing look as Teek turned his eyes onto the dwarf.
Segford cleared his throat and forced a smile. “I got jist the thing fer ye, lad.”
Teek’s expression brightened slightly. “But I couldn’t really ask you for anything, Segford. It wouldn’t be right.”
Segford waved a hand. “Ye ain’t askin’ fer nothin’, Teek. I want to be helpin’ ye. Plus, I think this Helgar fella would be might happy to meet with ye.”
Teek looked at the other dwarfs who nodded enthusiastically. “Well,” he said, a bright smile breaking on his face. “I guess that would do.”
The dwarfs smiled. “Good, then.” Jancar said, rising to his feet. “Let’s git this fire out an’ be on our way.”
“Wait,” Teek said, stopping Jancar as he started stomping the fire out on the rock ground. “What about Tchee?”
Jancar looked at Hilden. Hilden cleared his throat and stood up. “Well, the Roc can’t be goin’ with us underground. She’s too big.”
“Underground?” Teek looked surprised.
“Of course,” Jancar answered. “Where else?”
Teek rubbed his hand through his bright blond hair. “Oh.”
Segford leaned forward, the look on his face turning sour. “Where else did ye think we lived?”
Teek looked at him for a moment starting to feel a bit uncomfortable before Jancar suddenly stepped between them drawing Teek’s eyes to him. “What Segford be meanin’, Teek, is that we be miners. Where else would we be livin’?”
Teek blinked at Jancar who smiled back at him. “Well,” he started, “that is, I mean…I didn’t mean any offense, it’s just that when my mother said that you lived in the Dorian Mountains I didn’t realize she meant that you lived in the Dorian Mountains.” Teek looked down. “I’ve never been inside a mountain before.”
Jancar glanced back at Segford shooting him a heated look before turning back to Teek, a warm smile spread across his rough features. He laughed. “There be no need fer ye to worry now there, Teek. These mountains be more beautiful on the inside than the out. Jis because we be rough folk don’t mean we don’t know how to be livin’ nice. You come with us and we’ll be showin’ ye some things ye’ve never seen.”
Teek looked over at Tchee still sitting quietly, soaking up the sun.
“Ye won’t be long, Teek.” Jancar reassured him. “She won’t hardly be missin’ ye before ye’ll be back.”
Teek nodded slowly and then looked back at Jancar. “All right,” he finally said, a smile creeping across his face. “This will be a story to match my mother’s I’m sure.”
Jancar smiled back at him as Segford grunted out from behind, “Ye can bet it will be, lad.”
* * *
Teek looked up again just to check that Tchee was still hovering high above. She seemed to understand what was going on and had made no attempt to stop him from traveling with the dwarfs. She just sprang into the air and circled about as they made their way through the rugged mountains. Teek was confident that should they run into any trouble the dwarfs and Tchee would protect him. Once they put out the cook fire and gathered their gear, Hilden lead out in front with Teek and then Jancar and Segford behind.
They had been hiking
through the mountains now for an hour and his interaction with them had become considerably less and even felt suddenly cold. He had tried to ask questions about the dwarfs’ home but had only received grunts and curt answers before they became extremely quiet and somber. The dwarf’s behavior was beginning to slightly alarm him. They had seemed so affable before.
He looked up again at Tchee and wondered if he shouldn’t just forget Segford’s offer and go elsewhere for his appeasing gift. Although, meeting Helgar was something he had ached for since the first time his mother had told him her story. He probably would not ever get another chance like this one. He glanced up again at Tchee. The dwarfs wouldn’t dare try to hurt him with her around. But why would they want to hurt him at all? By what his mother had told him, dwarfs were a rough lot to begin with but they were not evil. Why would these three be any different? He was being silly. They’re dwarfs. How else do you expect them to act? He laughed to himself shrugging off his apprehensions. Everything was going to be just fine. He looked up again at Tchee.
The sun was beginning to descend quickly below the mountain peaks when the small group dropped down next to a tiny stream that inched its way towards a massive rock wall that was cracked right down the middle. It was as if the mountain had split itself in two just to let the tiny stream continue on unobstructed. As they approached the opening, Teek could see that it was just wide enough for a dwarf to walk into if he turned himself to the side. He would be able to make it going straight in. Without a word, Hilden led the group forward into the stream and towards the crack. Tchee suddenly screeched from above and dropped down into the water in front of them blocking the narrow opening and bringing the group to a halt.
“What’s going on?” Segford grunted moving up next to Hilden.
“She doesn’t want me to go in there,” Teek guessed, “because the opening is too small for her to fit.”
“Well, tell her ta move,” Segford growled. “That’s the way we got to be goin’.”