“Sela?” Thorin called out. “Are ye all right?”
“I'm fine,” she replied.
“Can ye see anythin'?”
“Fljota-villieldr,” she said. A floating orb of light materialized before her. “Now I can! Tvennr!” she said, and another orb appeared. She threw the second orb down the passage. It flew past the two dwarves, floating in the air, illuminating their way.
“Let's move!” she cried, and all three began running down the passageway. Above them, they could hear the muffled shouts from the soldiers.
“That's not going to hold them for long,” Floki said. “The necromancers are going to follow us.”
“I know,” said Sela, still running. “Prepare yourselves. We're going to be in the fight of our lives.”
Part 2: Forgiveness
The Return to Persil
Elias and Nydeired flew through the night. They passed over the Elburgian mountains and continued east. The forest below grew thicker, and soon there was nothing but evergreens below them.
Elias recognized the terrain. He had spent years exploring this forest as a child, and memories flooded back. Just before dawn, Elias noticed a familiar village on the horizon. His heart jumped.
“See that little settlement over there? That's Persil; I used to live there.” As they approached, Elias looked down and was shocked by the town's appearance. Most of the houses had been destroyed. Nearby fields, once neatly cultivated, were overgrown and neglected.
What happened here? said Nydeired, as they flew over what remained of the small settlement. Where are all the people?
“Well, it's not dawn yet, maybe they're sleeping,” said Elias, but his voice betrayed him. Something awful had happened, and they both knew it.
Do you want to stop? asked Nydeired, slowing down.
“No-no. We really shouldn't. Tallin said it was dangerous.”
Are you sure?
Elias looked down again. He saw the charred remains of his grandmother's cabin, and his breath caught in his throat. The memory of Carina's death still haunted him.
The cabin's roof had collapsed, and the exterior was overrun with weeds. As they continued on, Elias noticed entire blocks of damaged houses: their windows shattered, doors torn off their hinges. There wasn't a soul in the street. Persil was abandoned.
Then, off in the distance, Elias noticed smoke rising. “Nydeired, go north-I see smoke in the air. Maybe someone is still here.”
I see it; it's that house at the edge of town: the one surrounded by all the garbage. Do you see it?
Elias saw it too, and his blood ran cold. The only house left occupied-the only person still living in Persil-was Frogar, the loathsome merchant who had betrayed him to the emperor. This was the man responsible for his beloved grandmother's death.
Elias, is something wrong?
“Yes… that's Frogar's house. He's the only one left in the city.”
How do you know him?
“He's a junk merchant. After I found the dragon stone in the forest, I showed it to my grandmother. She warned me not to tell anyone, but I wouldn't listen.” Elias swallowed the lump in his throat.
What happened? Tell me.
“We were so poor… I tried to sell the stone and give the money to my grandmother. So I took the stone to Frogar, but he refused to buy it. Instead, he got angry and threw me out of his shop. I thought that was the end of it, but a few days later, empire soldiers came to Persil looking for the stone. The soldiers attacked my grandmother. She died trying to save me, and I barely escaped with my life.” Elias felt his anger rise. “Frogar betrayed us. No one else knew about the stone. More than anyone else, I blame him for my grandmother's death.”
What do you want to do? said Nydeired.
Elias fell silent for a moment. “Tallin specifically ordered us not to stop, and yet… this might be my only chance to confront Frogar for what he did.”
Nydeired didn't respond. He simply circled down. The sun was rising, but Elias didn't bother casting a concealment spell-there wasn't anyone else here. They touched down right in front of Frogar's shop. Nydeired made a good landing, but there was so much refuse on the ground that his wings knocked over some metal boxes. The boxes clanked against each other and then toppled to the ground. The noise was loud, and a light went on inside the filthy shop.
“What in bloody hell? Hey! Who's there?” called a gruff voice from inside.
Frogar.
Elias' heart pounded. It's now or never, he thought, dismounting the saddle and hopping to the ground. He stepped forward and waited for Frogar to exit.
Sure enough, the old man came to the door. “What in blazes is going on out here?” he said, yanking open the door. Frogar's mouth dropped open when he saw Elias and the enormous dragon on his doorstep. Frogar screamed, slamming the door shut. Elias heard the sound of furniture being dragged around inside. Frogar was trying to block the door.
Elias waited for a moment. Then he looked at Nydeired. “Can you take care of this for me?”
Absolutely, said Nydeired. The dragon reached out with one enormous clawed foot and yanked open the door, tearing it off its hinges. The door sailed through the air, landing on the roof with a thud. Frogar screamed again and rushed behind an old cabinet, trying to hide.
“W-what do you want? I don't have any money!” he screeched, his voice desperate.
Elias stepped into the shop and stared at the old man, who was literally quivering with fear. Frogar looked withered and shrunken, dressed only in a threadbare nightgown and a tattered woolen cap. Elias couldn't believe this was the same person who had frightened him so much when he was younger.
“Don't you recognize me?” said Elias, inching toward the old man. Elias' skin tingled, and his hands began to glow with blue flame. The power surged through him; he knew that he could kill Frogar with a single word.
“I don't know you! I live here alone-I don't bother anybody!” he said.
“Look into my eyes, Frogar. You do know me.”
The old man stared, confused. Slowly, a look of terrified recognition crossed the old man's face. “Elias?” he whispered. “But that's impossible! I thought you were dead,” he said, stepping back. This time, the old man tripped over a pile of old baskets. He went tumbling to the floor, his spindly legs sprawling upwards.
“I'm not dead, despite your best efforts,” said Elias.
Frogar screamed again and covered his face with his hands. “Please! Don't hurt me! Just tell me what you want!”
Elias clenched his teeth and dropped to one knee. His face was a hair's breath away from Frogar's, and he could smell the old man's foul stench-a mixture of cheap whiskey, sweat, and fear. Elias felt fury coursing through him; his whole body glowed with the mage's flame.
“I'll tell you what I want, old man. I want my grandmother Carina back. Can you bring her back to life?” said Elias, reaching out to grab Frogar by the collar. The old man yelped, and then shrank down even further, like a turtle trying to hide inside its shell.
Frogar said nothing-he just trembled, his bloodshot eyes wide.
Elias pointed a single finger at Frogar and said quietly, “Now you're going to answer some questions for me. And you'd better tell me the truth, or I'll fry you to a crisp! Are we understood?”
Frogar gulped and nodded. “I'll tell you whatever you want to know.”
“Good. First, tell me what happened here. Why is the city empty?”
“Vosper wanted that stone. After what happened to your grandmother, the emperor wasn't happy. More soldiers came. And then more. They rifled through your grandmother's cabin, looking for the stone in the ashes of the fire. When they couldn't find it, they assumed one of the townspeople had taken it. The soldiers ransacked the entire village, searching every house.”
“I have the stone in my possession. I always have,” said Elias.
“I figured that, and I told them so, but the soldiers wouldn't listen to me! They broke windows, doors, and even burned some of
the houses down. They killed anyone who tried to resist. The townspeople thought that was the end of it, until…”
“Until what?” asked Elias.
“Until the necromancer came,” said Frogar quietly.
“A necromancer came here? To Persil?” said Elias.
“Yes,” said Frogar. “It came here searching for you. I've never seen anything so frightening in my entire life. Its eyes and fingernails were black. Its teeth were red-sharpened into points. And when it spoke to you, you felt like you were drowning.” Frogar shuddered. “The necromancer kept babbling about some prophesy. It questioned everyone in the town, even the children. Some went mad-they simply started screaming and never stopped. No one was the same after that. People just left-one by one. It didn't take very long. The town became deserted.”
“So why are you still here?” said Elias.
“I… don't have anywhere to go,” said Frogar, his voice choked with emotion.
Elias stared at the old man. “Why did you do it, Frogar? Why did you tell the empire about the dragon stone?”
“I did it for the money!” Frogar sobbed. “There! I said it! There was supposed to be a reward! But there wasn't. I never imagined this would happen. I didn't think they would kill anyone! I've lived here my entire life, and now Persil is destroyed. I know it's my fault. No one is ever coming back here, and I'm all alone!” The old man put his face in his hands and wept bitterly.
Elias stared. This wasn't the reaction he had expected. Elias tried to stay angry, but he couldn't. Even after everything Frogar had done, Elias felt sorry for him.
Nydeired tucked his head inside the doorway. Elias? Are you all right?
“Yes, I'm fine,” he said. Then he turned toward Frogar and offered the old man his hand. “Get up, Frogar.”
Frogar looked up, startled. “Are you going to kill me?” he asked.
“No, I'm not going to kill you,” Elias said. He grabbed Frogar's wrinkled hand and lifted the old man to a standing position. Frogar, still terrified, continued to tremble.
Nydeired peered through the doorway. What are you going to do with him? he asked, blinking his pebble-black eyes at the old man.
Elias looked at Frogar. The old man was hunched over, staring timidly at Elias and his dragon. Elias came here wanting revenge, but even after everything that he had suffered, he knew that he couldn't kill an unarmed man, especially one as wretched and miserable as Frogar.
“Nothing,” said Elias. “I'm not going to do anything to him.” Elias turned to Frogar, looking him directly in the eye.
“Frogar, I've hated you for a long time. More than anyone I've ever hated in my entire life. I hold you directly responsible for my grandmother's death. She's gone because of what you did. But I don't believe you're an evil man-just greedy and foolish. You'll have to live with the consequences of your actions for the rest of your life, and I think that's punishment enough.”
Frogar's lower lip trembled, and he started sobbing quietly.
Elias turned to leave. Once he reached the doorway, he paused for a moment, still struggling with his emotions. Elias caressed Nydeired's head gently, thankful for his precious friend. Elias felt a great weight had been lifted. Without looking back, Elias said, “Frogar… I forgive you. Farewell.”
Behind him, Elias heard Frogar crying softly. Nydeired crouched down, and Elias mounted the dragon saddle. Nydeired spread his enormous wings, getting ready to take off. Just then, Frogar rushed out, scurrying down the stairs. “Wait! Elias! Wait!” In his haste, the old man stumbled on a broken chair in the walkway. Frogar fell down, landing face-first in the dirt.
Elias waited for him to rise. “Yes? What do you want?”
“Here,” said the old man, reaching out to hand Elias an ornate crossbow. “Take it-I've had it for years. It's just collecting dust.”
Elias reached down to accept the weapon. It was lovely-the most exquisite crossbow that he'd ever seen. The wood felt as hard as stone, but it was as light as a feather. It had an ornate gold casing, inlaid with five precious stones: diamond, onyx, sapphire, carnelian, and emerald-all the colors of the dragonkin. “How did you get this?”
Frogar shrugged. “People sell me all kinds of things. I've had this crossbow at least a dozen years. An empire soldier sold it to me for a few silver coins. The fool wanted drinking money. He had no idea what he had. It's a peerless weapon-it's made by elvish hands, I know that much. You'll never find another one finer, you can bet on that.”
“It's beautiful, but why are you giving this to me?” said Elias.
Frogar looked down for a minute. His slippered foot played absently with a piece of trash. When he finally spoke, his voice was a whisper. “I'm no saint, that's for sure. And I'm not good at apologies. I'm sorry about what happened to you and your grandmother. I know this gift doesn't make up for what I did, but I hope it aids you on your journey.” Then Frogar turned around and disappeared back into his shop.
“Thank you,” said Elias, but Frogar was already gone. Elias looked at the crossbow again. It was truly magnificent. He tucked it into his saddlebag, and Nydeired took off into the sky.
“We've lost some time, so I'll cast a concealment spell around us, and we'll make up the hours before we stop to rest. Hud-leyna!” he said. The spell surrounded them, and they disappeared from sight.
There's magic in that weapon, Elias. I can feel it, said Nydeired.
“I know. I can feel it, too,” he said. “It's enchanted somehow, just like my grandmother's dagger. In spite of everything, I feel better. I'm glad we came.”
I'm proud of you, said Nydeired. I wouldn't have been so forgiving, but then… I'm a dragon.
Elias laughed, despite himself. He took a deep breath, looking at the horizon. The day was warm, and the sky was cloudless and beautiful. Elias raised his arms to the heavens and closed his eyes. All his past sadness fell away. He knew, at that point, he was ready to face the future.
Tallin's Arrival
Tallin and Duskeye arrived at Mount Velik late in the evening. Rali and Hergung were waiting for them outside the mountain, dressed in formal attire. There were hundreds of other dwarves in the crowd, which included Hergung's sizable entourage, as well as a large group of curious onlookers.
“Look! It's him!” cried one dwarf. “It's the dragon rider!”
“It's Tallin! It's Tallin!” yelled another, running down into the caverns to alert the others.
Here we go, said Duskeye, landing in a prepared area near the entrance to the dwarf caverns. The ground was littered with flowers in anticipation of their arrival.
“Let's get this over with,” said Tallin quietly. He hated these ceremonies. Unfortunately, it was one of the things that the dwarves were known for. Tallin raised his hand, and a hearty cheer went up from the crowd.
Tallin did not dismount. Instead, he stayed seated and entered riding Duskeye. Inside the mountain, hundreds of dwarves lined the walls, cheering and banging shields as they passed. “This is ridiculous,” said Tallin under his breath.
Do they always act this way? asked Duskeye. The last time we were here, I don't remember there being so much hullabaloo.
“No, they never act this way, at least with me. The last time I was here, there were hundreds of dragon riders. Now there are only a handful of us. They're celebrating because I'm the only remaining dwarf-rider. Considering the way the dwarves treated me before, it's absurd.” Tallin's mood soured as he thought about his past.
This was the first time that Tallin had returned to Mount Velik since the last war. Because he was a half-ling, Tallin had been teased mercilessly as a child. The dwarves save their cruelest bigotries for those of mixed blood, and Tallin suffered persistent bullying throughout his youth.
When he reached puberty, his magical gift was discovered, and the public mockery stopped, but he was still treated like an outsider. It wasn't until Tallin was accepted to Aonach Tower and was matched with Duskeye that he finally felt some measure of happiness and
acceptance. But his happiness was short lived.
The Dragon War changed everything. Tallin and Duskeye were captured, tortured, and then forced into hiding in the desert. He hadn't returned to Mount Velik in years.
Now the dwarves welcomed him like a forgotten son. After everything he had endured, their reception seemed hollow and fake. Tallin couldn't forget the past.
King Hergung raised his arm. “Dragon rider, we greet you!” The king waved his hand in a high arc, pointing at endless rows of tables set up for a lavish banquet. Dancing women in ornate costumes whirled in the center of the vast hall, and musicians played a jolly tune that echoed through the caves.
More cheers rose from the crowd, which had now become a mob, all of them squeezing forward to catch a glimpse of the dragon and his rider. After living in quiet isolation for so many years in the desert, all of this attention made Tallin deeply uncomfortable.
The crowd moved even closer, surrounding them, touching them. Dwarf women lifted their babies toward him, crying out for a blessing. Duskeye struggled to move forward, and then stumbled as dozens of children attempted to climb his legs. It was too much, and Tallin became more and more agitated. Finally, he couldn't take it anymore.
“Enough! Everyone move back! Prongva-hrofkkva!” he said, and the crowd collapsed and fell, as if pushed away by an invisible barrier. People screamed, stumbling backwards and falling on top of each other. Hergung gasped, horrified.
The crowd fell silent.
Tallin raised his chin, defiant. “We are not here to celebrate. We returned to Mount Velik because our land is at war. Is this how my people prepare for battle? With lavish banquets and ceremonies?”
“Tallin, we meant no disrespect,” said Hergung.
“King Hergung, this is not a time for celebration. Vosper will attack-of that, you can be certain. It's just a matter of time. When he finally comes to our mountain, he will show no mercy. He will slaughter every man, woman, and child. None will be spared. All of you will die. Vosper wants to wipe the dwarves from the face of this earth.”
Vosper's Revenge Page 10