A Frozen Destiny

by Alan Mundle

  'Then get to the Communications Cabin and inform them of all that has happened. In the meantime, send someone back with three more boxes of Runes.'

  CHAPTER 14

  THE GRIFTIN'S TALE

  'Why do you keep me here? Can I not breathe the free air? Am I to be your prisoner forever?'

  'Understand things form our position,' said Torbin. 'We found you with hardly any idea what you are, had no idea if you were hostile, a threat to the safety of everyone here or on the main lands. Would you have done any differently?'

  The Griftin considered Torbin's thoughts before giving a brief nod. 'Your actions, for the most part, are understandable. Ignorance is one of the greatest enemies in existence. It has worked against us both these past cycles.'

  'Then shall we agree to start again and tell each other what we know?'

  'Agreed.'

  Torbin's dialogue with the Griftin had become more civil since its last feed. It took the power from all three boxes of Runes in seconds, restoring colour to its head feathers and some to its wings. The creature seemed content to listen to Torbin, sitting calmly.

  The First Battalion was not as flexible. Orders had come back from the Empire, stating that questioning the creature be done with the strongest security the prison was capable of. Torbin was sure it was unnecessary. He was confident that the beast would hold to its promise. But he was the only one. Everyone in the expedition, even Tenabin and Dalara thought his actions were risky. He had heard rumours that many of his guards thought Torbin should kill the beast, that the gold from the body alone would be enough to secure wealth for everyone and still come out of this as heroes. Maybe they would, Torbin thought. For a while. He believed that the danger posed by its silence would bring more risk than keeping it alive. His friends supported his actions though he was sure Tenabin had ordered security be maximised tenfold throughout the entire facility.

  Dalara agreed with Torbin in the need for answers but was very weary feeding it more Magic, that too much too soon would strengthen the Griftin beyond their control. His only complete support came from Soraba. The guard stayed by her love's side and refused to leave even for Rune replacement. They would both have to leave soon if they both wanted to avoid another trip to the Healers. Forin remained at Torbin's side too. Whenever the Commander had to talk with Soraba or one of his aides, he noticed the Griftin looking at the boy as if he was the most interesting thing in the chamber. Torbin was glad to have his young friend back, pleased that he had suffered no ill effects from whatever Magic had taken him, a topic he was going to bring up in his communion with the Griftin, which it was clearly eager to start.

  'The Children of the Rock have changed much. Very few of your people lived on the surface. It is clear you have advanced far. To come to this place, so removed from the land itself with so sophisticated armour, weapons, instruments of knowledge that rival some of the uses of Magic. How did this come to be?'

  Torbin explained how his people found all the other races on the planet had vanished. Many teams were sent out to find them but had found nothing. Convinced they were alone, the Dwarves spread out across the continents, learning some of the ways of the surface races. The Smith and Scholar Guilds advanced their skills in automation, metal purification, steam power, all with their own understanding of Runes to increase their technological abilities. This led to a mass population boom that spread across the world. Many believe it to be the holiest moment in the history of the Dwarves. He explained how The Last King unified his race across the world by starting the new religion of the Gods, each governing a continent where each Rune came from. It was in Torbin's land, Saphrada, that his people had discovered the sapphire and names their new God appropriately. The land had once belonged to Humans, their great cities spanning across the horizon. The Dwarves redeveloped and advanced what was left behind. They learned agriculture and astronomy, naming Sapphire the God of Knowledge and Power with command over water.

  All achievements in the various lands brought about the Four Nations, all controlled by the Dwarven Empire that continued to remain in the Mountain from which his kind came from, receiving all the rewards the surface had to offer. It houses and protects the old royal blood of all Dwarvingdom, preserving the heart of their traditions, not to mention the source of their power, the fabled Treasury of Ages. While containing the monetary might of the Four Nations, it houses shrines made to all the gods, constructed entirely of the discovered gems, sapphires, emeralds, rubies and diamonds. From these shrines the Regents are the right arm of the Empire, enforcing Dwarven law and religion.

  The Griftin was utterly motionless. Torbin could neither tell nor sense what it was thinking on this new information until it finally interrupted. 'None of my kind have come down from the sky?'

  'Not since the other races disappeared. We thought they went back to the skies, but even your people had to come down sometime for something. The fact that you didn't, meant to us you were all gone like the others.' The Griftin lowered its head on its front paws, dwelling on the news. It was Torbin's turn to ask questions. 'The pictorials all over the chamber. How and why did they take possession of my friend?'

  The Griftin looked around, considering them. 'It seems my kind inscribed them with Magic into the stone. They maintained the prison that kept me here for so long. It is remarkable that any land kind could understand them.' The Griftin looked to Forin, who was sitting on the stone, in awe of the creature. 'You say the words took him?'

  'Yes,' replied Torbin, 'It was one of the strangest things I've have ever seen.'

  'The children of the Rock should not be affected by such things. It is... curious. You must release me.'

  The moment Torbin had dreaded had come. 'You must understand. The choice is not mine.'

  'You are the leader of this place are you not?'

  'Yes, but I must answer to my leaders, the decision is theirs, and before anyone even thinks of such a thing, we would all know what happened to your people and why they imprisoned you here.'

  The creature blinked. 'My kind are... were, the greatest in the world. Our talent with Magic, the source of all life, made us practically invincible. Many felt that keeping our domain to the Sky limited our potential, claiming we should make the land our own. We had made good kinship with the Humans and the Elves, teaching them Magic, bringing us together under a common bond. My kind asked them if they would let us share their land in exchange for an even deeper understanding of Magic. They all refused. This was viewed by many of my kind as selfish, we who had given so much, given aliens direction in life, influencing their way of living, only to be refused. Others claimed that since we were by nature immortal, we had nothing to lose and everything to gain by waiting for the land kind to die out entirely that, without further guidance from us that they would destroy themselves, leaving us the spoils when their bones were nothing but dust.'

  Torbin could barely take it all in. Most of what the creature was saying was horrible. For a long time, he didn't want to hear anymore, until a realisation hit him. Though they had no ill will, the Dwarves had done precisely what some Griftins wanted to do, profit from foreign lands that were not theirs.

  'The other side countered this by saying it would be kinder to the landers to save them from war and bloodshed by getting rid of them immediately. Somehow they developed a plan using unknown, hideous Magic that would take every lander all at once...'

  'Take them how?' Torbin asked, feeling that he was finally getting to the crux of the great matter.

  'The Magic the rouge Griftins used is not known to me, nor would I wish to use it. I was against the plan as I felt the land kind should be allowed to live their lives in their own homes. I led the opposition to battle those of the vile plan. But we were in the minority. I was captured. The last thing I remember after being overpowered was other Griftins taking me, flying through cold, harsh air... then seeing you and being ravaged by an insatiable hunger.'

  Torbin was mesmerised by the Griftin's tale. 'You ri
sked everything to save us all. That's what the pictorials on the wall meant.'

  'But I failed. Not only are the Humans and Elves gone, but something has happened to my kind. That's why I must leave, to return to the Sky. I must know.'

  Torbin couldn't help but feel for the creature. He knew he would want the same if the circumstances were reversed. But there were rules. There was the Empire. 'I have to go and consider what you have said. In the meantime, enjoy these five boxes of Runes. You have my thanks for… singing with me.'

  The Griftin merely blinked. For all Torbin knew, his reward for the creature was but table scraps, but it was the best they could do until another shipment came from the mainland.

  Torbin walked away from the Griftin towards Tenabin, Dalara and the Warriors. Torbin found Soraba's eyes, communicating in their silent fashion that all was well. Now he just had to convince the whole world. 'Warriors of the First, stand visual. The rest to you to the Command Cabin, right now.' He looked behind him to find Forin and the creature staring at each other. For a moment, Torbin wondered if they to were in communion.

  'Forin, with me.'

  The boy looked back to his leader and then to the Griftin before running off. Torbin clapped him on the shoulder before looking back at the creature himself. He wasn't sure what was happening between the two of them. But he intended to find out.

  *****

  Torbin held a meeting in his office. He sent advanced word for food and drink to be sent. Communing with the creature was exhausting for Torbin, but he knew the others wouldn't object to the meal, despite the seriousness of the situation.

  Torbin’s company ate and drank hungrily until finally, Tenabin spoke up. 'Why is it that the creature only communicates with you, Commander,' he said.

  It was Dalara who stepped in to answer. 'Griftins respect honour as much as we do,' she said. 'The Commander was the only one to achieve a significant blow to it, therefore more deserving of an audience. The rest of us are mere servants.'

  'Well, whatever the reason, I would know what it said,' demanded Tenabin.

  Torbin listened while watching his Second closely. The boy continued to eat his fill, utterly oblivious to the whole discussion. He knew something had passed between him and the creature, but without being telepathic himself, he couldn't be sure if it was unspoken words or just a fleeting fascination with one another. Torbin was convinced that if he asked Forin about it that he'd most likely not have a clue what he was talking about. He decided finally that the boy would have told him if it was something important. Forin had never ben able to hide any emotions from him, even when wearing his helmet. Instead, Torbin decided to fill everyone in on his 'conversation' with the Griftin.

  Of all the other Dwarves in the room, none were more captivated than Dalara. 'It's all quite fascinating.' she said. 'A civil war amongst a race of immortals that inhabit the skies over the fate of the world. It all sounds quite epic.'

  Tenabin was nowhere near as jubilant as the Professor. 'You're saying these things conspired to commit mass murder on a global scale, leaving no one but themselves?'

  Torbin nodded. 'There was a majority movement, who banished the one in the chamber because it felt compassion for us. Then something went wrong. Whatever Magic they used to get rid of everyone somehow backfired on themselves.' Even as Torbin repeated the story to his fellows, he still found every word as remarkable as when he had first heard it.

  'That is speculation, Commander,' said Dalara.

  'It makes sense, Professor,' Torbin countered. 'If the plan had worked, we'd have been enslaved by the Griftins or confined to Mordabinn mountain for being resistant to Magic...'

  'Which we're aren't any more. That's what it said isn't it?' asked Tenabin.

  'Yes, but it doesn't know how or why, merely that it was 'curious.' Listen, all of you. I sincerely believe that this creature was locked away for trying to save us. It means us no harm and should be released.'

  'But how can you know that, Torbin?' Tenabin demanded. 'For all we know, it could be deceiving you, saying anything to be free and if it does, how do we know it won't fly off and try to get rid of us like the other races, now that we're no longer resistant to Magic.'

  The room fell silent. It was the big question.

  'In any rate, my friends,' Dalara said, 'it is not our choice. The Empire must be informed, we cannot act on behalf of the whole world. We don't have the right.'

  Torbin knew she spoke the truth, though he felt a great compulsion to feed the Griftin with all the Runes he could find and let it decide for itself. He considered keeping the creature there against its will dishonourable. He looked to his right for Soraba. She had a mouthful of meat but held her attention to the meeting. Torbin thought if anyone decided his fate or his love's in some other place in the world without him having, at last, some idea of what was going on, he would have been angry. Very angry.

  'It is decided,' Torbin said, 'The Empire must be informed, and we must obey.' He said the words, but he didn't like it. 'Tenabin, send word to them at once. Tell them all that's happened and ask for our instructions... as well as more supplies. Gods know I could use the mead.'

  'Commander, I ask permission to send the message myself,' said Dalara. Everyone in the room turned to her, somewhat surprised. 'Forgive me, I know I'm only a guest

  here, but I must send my own report to the Empress. The discoveries we've made here are profound, they must be documented-'

  'I hope you are going to include us in this message too, Professor.'

  'Why of course, I would never dream of taking full credit-'

  'I know you wouldn't, Professor, I am only teasing,' Torbin chuckled, along with others in the cabin.

  'Ah,' said Dalara, looking somewhat amused at herself. 'I see your point.'

  'You may send the message to the Empire and include your own report on behalf of us both, to be revealed when they feel the time is right.' The meeting ended. Dalara made for the Communications Cabin, Soraba went back on patrol duty, leaving Torbin, Tenabin and Forin to get back the work regarding the building of the facility. But Torbin found it hard to focus on issues concerning cell building and prisoner rationing systems. Torbin felt a little uneasy by letting Dalara communicate such important information to the Empire. She had done nothing wrong, other than being overly enthusiastic to the point of being obsessed. She did manage to solve the riddle of the pictorials and make their breakthrough with the Griftin. He dismissed this worry, putting it down to the frustration of having to deal with the comparatively menial task of building a prison.

  *****

  Dalara walked through the door of the Communications Cabin. She checked if there was anyone else there. Satisfied, she began composing her message.

  'My great Empress, all is going to plan, I have not been suspected. Target is stable. Recommend full examination before termination is considered. The suspect is of greater intelligence than expected. Recommend extreme caution on arrival. End of message.'

  CHAPTER 15

  FALL FROM GRACE

  Torbin stared out onto the fast frozen landscape of the Wastes. He sat on one of the prison's high walls, his legs dangling over the side. The guards on the towers periodically watched him, ensuring his safety. Torbin was sure they thought him mad for being there, doing nothing, not to mention wasting Runes. He didn't care.

  There was too much happening to deal with, the Griftin, the prison, Dalara and all on top of having mysterious new abilities. He looked around to see if he was being watched. When he knew it was safe, he deactivated his left gauntlet and removed it. Nothing. His hand should have been in agony, being ripped by the cold wind. All he felt was the breeze. And confusion.

  He reached into a compartment in his armour and took out a piece of parchment. He looked at it, realising it had been a while since he had read anything in natural daylight. His First Father's words covered every inch of the message. He was surprised that the Empire was still allowing messages to be transmitted back and forth be
tween the prison and the mainland since he and Dalara sent their reports to Mordabinn four days ago. The First would surely screen them to make sure no sensitive information was released, but if it were up to him, all communication between to the mainland from the expedition members would stop. Though it was harsh, the stakes were just too high. Still, he was grateful for news from home, even if his father's words were both welcomed and troubling.

  'Torbin,

  By the Great Rock and all the Gods, tell me what has happened! It has been several days since the Empire approached our House and changed all our lives. They say that your actions have been worthy enough to elevate us to the rank of the Nobles. While I have prayed to Sapphire to one day hear those very words, my heart is filled with fear for you. News is spreading through all the Nations that something is happening at the prison, but the Empire is keeping quiet. Our elevation to the Nobles has everyone bombarding us with questions about what we know that could tell some truth on this matter. Thank the Great Rock we now have guards to protect us, or no one here would get a moment's peace.

  But our new fortune is not all bad. The night the Lords told us of what happened, we were hosting negotiations with House Bardin for your marriage to Serna. After the Lords left, your Second Mother told the lot of them to get out, that 'no noble son of ours would marry so beneath himself.' Bardin was naturally outraged, but there was nothing he could do except bow with the rest of his family and leave. I would only admit to you of the private satisfaction of seeing that family of idiots leave with their heads to the ground. Do not, however, think your marriage troubles have ended. They have exploded like Rune bombs. We have had Noble Houses from our city and many others making bids to negotiate a First Wife for you, including some from Mordabinn itself! For once, your First Mother doesn't know what to do, except tell me to press upon you the urgency for you to come home and sort through all the likely candidates before she chooses one on your behalf. All your brothers insist that they be allowed to join you as your personal guard, as is their right, but the Empire is refusing to answer our request on the matter. So instead, both your Mothers have started to marry them off too. Your two sisters who are already married have both come back asking if they can have their present unions annulled, but I have told them no. Honour demands that they make the best of what they have, but I would expect them both to write to you soon to aid them in their effort, to which I hope you will give them the same answer as I.