by Tom Liberman
“We think this thing with the children has been going on for a while,” said Mike looking over at Marianna. “Marianna was under the control of Pillswar for a number of years. We think they are using the children. They are fanatics. We had to kill a little girl who was coming at us with a knife. They’re crazy and Sunbringer is probably one of them. He claims he’s the chosen savior of the gnolls, sent by the gods to enforce their will upon the world.”
“He probably believes he is such,” said Scar. “We’ve had dealings with these children’s camp in the Five Nations. My family is not curbed by the ideas of personal freedom espoused by the Gray Lord and deal with such swiftly and violently.”
“My father has his reasons,” said Jane with lips tightly pressed together.
“I agree with your father, as I’ve told you many times,” said Scar looking at Jane and smiling at the girl. Her plain face and square jaw were anything if beautiful but she had a toughness about her that was obvious. “That is why I forsook my birthright and took the Gray.”
“So you don’t think we should break up these houses of horror?” asked Jane.
“I think we should disperse them when there is evidence of mistreatment but I lived in the Five Nations long enough to see violence carried out against those who did not deserve such, who had done no wrong. Violence begets more violence. That is what your father believes and I agree. Those children who are being treated so will grow up knowing violence as the solution to their problems. It is an endless cycle. More violence will not stop it.”
“Yet we allow Sunbringer and his kind to threaten us,” said Jane shaking her head. “I hear you, Scar, but I sometimes think my father is a bit idealistic. What do you three think?” she said looking over to the trio of girls.
“Pillswar should die,” said Marianna simply her jaw tightened into a grim line. “The sooner the better.”
Jane nodded her head, “I like a woman who can make up her mind. It comes from living with my brother for all those years. I’m not sure if he actually has an opinion about anything. Just theories and postulations,” she said and winked at Scar.
“Your older brother is a thinker,” said the orc with a laugh.
“And my younger brother is a largely nothing more than enormous attachment to his member,” said Jane with a grin. “Do we even know where he is?”
Scar shook his head and laughed, “I’m not privy to such information, I’m afraid.”
Jane turned her gaze back to Mike and Rhia, “You two?”
Rhia shook her head, “I’ve traveled through many lands and I largely agree with your father and Scar. When power is wielded too heavily and without thought it ends up causing far more harm than good. Marianna has been released from the power of Pillswar and there are no more children in that house. If evidence comes out that he is plotting to overthrow Tanelorn through violent means I think then action would be warranted, but not otherwise.”
Marianna fixed her eyes on Rhia but the half-orc girl, although aware of the gaze, chose to continue looking at Jane.
“And you?” said Jane looking closely at Mike. “You look familiar to me.”
“I think we should burn Pillswar’s house to the ground. We should launch a strike against the gnolls before they can gather in sufficient force. We should gather the Gray Druids and destroy the Rock Lord once and for all. Then the only threat would be the dragonkin to the south and they will not be able to mount any sort of effective campaign against us.”
“Also a fiery one,” said Jane. “I sympathize with your point of view and I’ve argued as much to my father, but for now we still follow the rules he laid down upon forming this nation. Thank you for all this information. I will talk with my father and my brother, the older one, about these things. Does Lofo have you doing anything else at the moment?”
Mike shook her head, “No, he said that once they read the notes there might be more for us to do.”
Jane nodded her head, “Lofo is a good man. I think I’ve got something a little more immediate for you to do that will keep you out of the city until the maneuvers are over at least. Pillswar is a dangerous fellow and if he’s out to get you, then you need be careful.”
“Why not just arrest him?” asked Marianna. “He wants to kill us, isn’t that a crime?”
“Wanting to kill someone is not a crime,” said Scar with a laugh. “If it were such, I suspect there would not be a free person left in all of Tanelorn, or all the world for that matter.”
Jane gave forth a deep and hearty laugh while pounding Scar on the back, “Who is it that you wish dead, my friend?”
“I’ve had moments of anger,” said Scar. “But now that I live as a free man in Tanelorn they are fewer and less intense.”
Jane laughed again, “All right, enough of this talking, we need to get some food in our bellies and get back to drilling the men. If there is to be war then we must be as prepared as possible.”
“What about us?” said Mike looking up at the woman who stood more than a foot taller than the girl.
Jane looked down at Mike and squinted her eyes as the sun shone down brightly, “I do know you. But that doesn’t matter. War is coming and we’ll need allies. I was thinking about sending you to talk with the elves of Acanthus and the dwarf enclave to the west. Feel them out and see where they stand on things.”
Mike looked at the ground and said nothing for a moment.
Rhia stepped forward, “We can do that. Thank you, Captain Gray. We’ll do our best.”
Mike seemed to snap out of her reverie and looked over to Rhia, “Yes, thank you,” she said although her tone was anything but.
Jane motioned with her head, “Come on, Scar. Let’s get some feed.”
Scar stood up and followed behind Jane.
“What’s your problem?” said Rhia to Mike.
“She just sent us to do this because she recognized me.”
“So what?” said Rhia. “You are who are you and the sooner you accept it, the better off you’ll be.”
“I am not my mother!” said Mike. “I am not my father.”
“No,” said Rhia nodding her head in agreement. “But you’re not Mike either.”
Chapter 16
It took them five days of steady walking to arrive at the outskirts of the dwarf citadel near the western border where Tanelorn abutted against the lands ruled by the Rock Lord. Ironhome was a massive stone edifice with thick walls standing thirty feet high and only a single massive gate bound with iron. Stout dwarves in heavy plate armor and wielding long halberds stood guard at the gate and more patrolled the walls above.
“This is impressive,” said Rhia looking at the fortifications. “If only the Gray City had such.”
“It’s not nearly as big as Tanelorn,” said Mike. “I’m not sure if such a thing could be built around a large city but it would stand up against any gnoll attack, that much is certain.”
They decided during the course of their journey to pretend to be adventurers planning on heading into the lands of the Rock Lord and hoping to gather information about that region.
“Hail the gate,” shouted Mike, her voice failing to carry any distance as always.
If the guards heard they gave no indication of it and simply stood at their posts immobile and expressionless.
“Go ahead,” said Mike with a sigh turning to Rhia.
“Hail the gate!” boomed Rhia in a voice that projected so loudly it seemed to echo off the massive stone wall.
The two guards immediately turned their heads to the girls, “Hail, travelers!” shouted one of the two back at them. “What is your business in Ironhome?”
“Adventurers,” shouted Rhia. “Looking for a place to resupply and rest.”
The first guard motioned them over with a wave of his long weapon. It took only a matter of seconds to bridge the gap and come face to face with the fearsome dwarf warriors. Their armor glinted in the sun as if polished just that morning and thick helms with faceplates hid their f
aces. One of them lifted his faceplate revealing a thick beard and small dark eyes. “Welcome to Ironhome. Adventurers and their gold are always welcome but trouble is not. Do you understand the laws of our land?”
“Well enough,” said Mike once again taking charge. “We will not cause trouble.”
“You may pass,” said the sentry with a nod of his head although his eye caught the knife sheathed at Mike’s side. “That’s a fine knife you have, dwarf forged.”
Mike looked down at the blade that had come from her father and her grandfather before him. She did not know its origin. It had been a gift for her birthday and she could not even remember which one. “Thank you,” she said.
“Might I see it for a moment?” said the guard bowing his head slightly. “It was not forged in Ironhome that is certain.”
Mike paused for a second but then pulled out the little knife. Rhia took a close look at it for the first time and noted the blade had been sharpened many times and the entire thing was quite worn down although razor sharp.
The dwarf took the proffered knife and ran his finger along the edge and then brought it close to his eye for examination. He pulled a little hammer from his belt and gave it the slightest of raps producing a clear ting sound. Finally he nodded his head and smiled, “A fine blade indeed. It has clearly provided many years of service to its owners, more than a lifetime and yet it is still strong. I do not recognize the mark upon it so I cannot tell you where it was forged but it was made with love.”
He passed the knife back to Mike and bowed low, “I honor fine steel and those who carry and care for it. Go inside and go with luck, friend.”
Mike took the blade back and stared at it for long seconds before finally putting it back in its sheath. The three girls then waited as the heavy door slowly slid open just enough for them to pass through.
“That was weird,” said Mike glancing down at the blade.
“Your father is a dwarf,” said Rhia looking at her with a smile. “Have you not been here before?”
Mike shook her head, “My grandfather was from Stav’rol, as I told you before. This place was never his home. I’ve been to Acanthus and the elves a few times but never before have I visited this place.”
“Dwarves the world over honor fine craftsmanship,” said Rhia glancing again at the blade by Mike’s side. “I’ve met any number on my journey to Tanelorn. Of course they tend to think only those weapons crafted by a dwarf can be considered fine work, but that is another matter. What’s the story of that blade?” she asked as they walked down a wide street paved with perfectly aligned red bricks.
Mike shook her head, “I don’t know. My father gave it to me when I was girl and I’m sure it was my paw-paw’s before that, but I never asked about it.”
“Oh,” said Rhia and nothing more was said as they passed a number of stone buildings with placards out front. They were written in a strange language on top but then underneath stood the writing of Tanelorn, so that the travelers could easily read them. “First order of business is to find an inn. The second order of business is to have a beer. I’ve never known a dwarf who didn’t enjoy a good stout!”
Mike laughed and Marianna gave a strange sort of smile.
Rhia looked to the archer, “What’s wrong?”
“I’ve never had dwarf-made beer. I never had any kind of alcohol until you saved me. I was just thinking about how much my life has changed in the last month.”
Rhia smiled, “Well freedom is free, but as Lofo said, it isn’t safe. So maybe we shouldn’t get too drunk. It could be that Borrombo fellow has friends here in Ironhome. They are all dwarves, after all.
Mike nodded her head, “Still, one beer won’t hurt. I have had dwarf-made stout before and more than once. Paw-paw says it makes your hair grow!”
“I thought you didn’t want your hair to grow,” said Rhia with a smile and chucked Mike on the shoulder.
“I’ll put up with hair growing as long as I get to drink the stout!”
“There’s an inn,” said Marianna pointing to a large building with a wood roof that seemed odd in this place made almost entirely of stone. “The Dancing Bear’s Delight,” she said reading the placard out front which also showed a dancing bear drinking a beer. “I would guess they have beer there!”
“I do believe Marianna is right,” said Rhia with a grin.
They looked at each other and laughed before heading into the establishment. It was clean, sturdy, and filled with dwarves drinking beer. The men all wore beards with older citizens having longer beards and more bands around them. Everyone looked up at the three as they entered the main room but after a short pause went back to drinking and talking. A young dwarf lad came over with a grin, “Adventurers? Headed into the Rock Lands for some excitement?”
“That’s right,” said Mike. “Any advice?”
“Bring a hammer,” he said looking at Marianna. “That bow of yours isn’t going to be much good against the rock creatures. You’ll just break all your arrows.”
“I suppose you know where we can buy a good hammer then?” said Rhia with a smile.
The boy laughed, “My uncle owns a store ….”
The girls laughed with him. “We’ll need three of your stouts.”
The boy nodded his head, “We’ve got an Old Froth Stout, a Black Stout, and an Iron Stout,” said the boy. “Why not one of each and you can try each other’s and make a decision for future stouts?”
“A good plan,” said Rhia nodding her head and looking around the tavern. “Not too many adventuring types around today. This is our first time in Ironhome. Is this not an inn for adventurers?”
The boy shook his head, “Most of those folks headed north when they heard the news of Grelm. If it’s to be war there will be plenty of work for your type.”
“We heard about that,” said Mike and smiled at the boy. “Any idea if the dwarves will support Tanelorn if it comes to war?”
The boy shrugged and said, “That’s up the Elder Council. I can no more predict them than I might fly to the moon. You look hungry as well. We’ve got an excellent sausage plate as a starter and I can bring you the menu while we’re waiting for them to draw your beers.”
“That boy is going to go far in life,” said Rhia after he left to put in their order. Then she looked at Mike, “I hope you brought plenty of silver because all this isn’t going to be cheap.”
“We’re adventurers with pockets full of gold and gems, we’ve got all the loot we took from Sunbringer’s place,” said Mike leaning back in her chair and fingering the pouch at her side. “At least we have to pretend to be wealthy adventurers. Do you know anything about this Elder Council?”
Rhia shook her head.
“I do,” said Marianna.
Both girls looked at the archer with wide eyes, “You do?” they said in unison.
“Pillswar talked about them a lot. And the queen who is ruler of Acanthus. I didn’t really understand what he was talking about but now I think I understand. He wanted this war and knew that he had to prevent the elves and dwarves from coming to help Tanelorn.”
“That makes sense,” said Mike. “Pillswar is a horrible person but he’s not an idiot. I doubt he has enough money to bribe the dwarves and there is no way he can convince the elves of Acanthus not to support Tanelorn. My mother is a Gray Druid,” she went on shaking her head. “He has to be offering something else to these dwarves.”
“I didn’t know your mother could cast spells also!” said Rhia remember the beautiful woman.
“Also?” said Mike her tone suddenly turning cold. “What is that she does besides cast spells?”
Rhia opened and shut her mouth but said nothing.
“Exactly,” said Mike. “Nothing.”
Rhia looked at Marianna who rolled her eyes but they did not broach the topic again. Eventually the boy returned with their drinks which they shared equally, eventually determining that all three preferred the Old Froth and they ordered a second round even
as they enjoyed the sausage plate and studied the menu which seemed heavy on meat and potatoes but offered a number of other tasty looking options.
They ate and drank into the day and tried to listen to the other tables for gossip about the Elder Council and the plans of Ironhome in case of war between Tanelorn and Grelm but did not overhear anything of significance. The young boy who served did prove a font of knowledge and provided several excellent suggestions for their stay in Ironhome.
“Do you have horses?” said the boy at one point. “There’s an excellent stable not far from here. They’ll give you a good price if you mention my name, Ordo Brimcap.”
“We don’t have steeds,” said Rhia. “But if we’re ever back this way with horses we’ll keep that in mind.” After the boy left she looked at the other girls. “We should look in at the stables. Marianna, you know what sort of horses Pillswar, Adusko, and the others ride, yes?”
Marianna nodded.
“We should see if any of those are in the stable and then we’ll know if Pillswar or his allies are here,” said Mike.
“That’s a good idea,” said Rhia. “Why don’t we do that right after we eat while there’s still some light in the sky?”
The meal proved less expensive than Rhia expected and it was certainly quite filling. That and the three stouts each the girls drank left them feeling well and hearty. There were all a little drunk as they emerged from the tavern into the city as the sun was just beginning to set in the west.
“This way,” said Rhia pointing to where she had remembered the boy telling them the stable waited.
None of them remembered exactly the directions, or if he had even given any, but the town was not that big and after a few trips down wrong streets they found the stable in question. It was good-sized affair but nothing to compare with the Gray Stables back in Tanelorn.
“We really should think about buying horses,” said Rhia as they watched the place from across the street trying to appear as nonchalant as possible.
“Someday,” said Mike.