by P. G. Thomas
The bartender looked at the floor, “No.”
“Good!” Eric turned and saw one of the thief guild leaders. He went over, “Should any form of discrimination be practiced here or any other place in town, the watch will increase their patrols, and it will not be good for your business. Reports of discrimination will not please me, and I will return to end it.” Eric, feeling sure the message was understood, returned to his friends at the door, as the young dwarf already had joined his group. “Brothers, friend, let’s go to Pintar’s so our young friend can tell us his story.”
“Stay we should as dwarf they serve,” suggested Aaro.
Eric spit on the sidewalk, “They may now serve dwarf, but none will want to drink here. I don’t know what was in that glass, but it tasted like piss.”
Once outside, Bor asked, “Brother, your voice sounded different.”
“I think the sword formed the thoughts, which I translated.”
After spending the night at Pintar’s with Firek Jemfire, they returned to the house, introducing their young friend to the Earth Mother.
The next day, when the sky elf made their regular visit, he remained airborne, which meant they had no new sightings to report. With no bad news on the horizon, John convinced Lauren to let him join Eric, Aaro, and Bor when they returned Firek to the Jemfire mine. They left a few days later, anticipating a quiet weeklong ride to the south, ending a day’s ride north of the south port town. When they passed the massive graveyard beside the road where Eric had fought the army marching north, Aaro and Bor told Firek of the Royal House, the plague hoax, and the battle preparations they were making. On the sixth night, they camped beside the trail going to the Jemfire mine, but in the morning, Eric remained behind, wanting to double back to make sure none followed, and advising he would meet them later in the day.
The other four went up to the Jemfire mine, reuniting young Firek with his clan. Sad news greeted the young dwarf, as his father had never returned. They had searched for them in the south port town, but none knew that they had gone north to trade, and no search party ever visited Newtown. When the clan leader Ral asked if there was any way to repay the favor of freeing Firek, returning him to his clan, John’s eyes lit up.
Bor pointed to John, “My brother, crystals he seeks.”
“Brother? Dwarf he is not. Are you sure?” asked Ral.
“Battle orphan, dwarf tradition, adopt we did.”
Ral shook his head, “Orphan he maybe, dwarf he is not.”
Walking up to John, Aaro put his arm around him, “Tradition only mentions orphan and absent is dwarf status. Adopt we did.”
“Ironhouse, your clan forged that huge sword?” asked Ral.
Bor looked down, “That we did.”
“Madman…father I mean,” began Ral. “Spells gone are they?”
“Father is now with his forge,” replied Aaro
Bor looked up, “As for the sword, battle it wins. The road north with graves many was filled by the Ironhouse sword.”
While Ral had an odd look on his face, Firek confirmed it, explaining on their travels south, they had passed a section of road that had miles of graves, and that many of the markers had helmets or broken weapons on them.
“Army, battle. What happens?” asked Ral.
Bor was surprised at the question, “Royal House invades the east and now seek the west. You need to get out more often.”
“When Firek and father return not, reasons to leave we had none. Crystal traders come, here, so we stayed. The road with graves, I will check. South port, there I will inquire. One sword, slay one army? Boasts bigger than sword I fear. Firek is home, and our clan is whole. Reward in crystals you shall have.”
With that, Ral took John, Aaro, and Bor deep into the Jemfire mine. Even though John had watched numerous videos online about cave exploration and mines, he swore he could feel the pressure increase the deeper they went. He marveled at the brilliant construction methods, including how they illuminated the dark, and circulated air throughout the mine. Taking over four hours to get to the bottom level, they finally stopped in front of a large locked wooden door, which Ral opened. What John, Aaro, and Bor saw was unbelievable. The cavern was huge, filled with crystals beyond the imagination. They were mesmerized by the room they looked into, which was chaotically beautiful, having both towers growing from the floor and beams running horizontally across the room, and every imaginable angle was present, as few actually were perpendicular to each other. The colors were like looking into a room where somebody had smashed a rainbow or captured the exploding rays of a star, freezing them in time. As they had been staring into the room, Ral had released oil into a trough, and when he determined that sufficient filled the rock conduit, he raised his torch, setting the oil on fire. Flames raced deep into the cavern, waking the darkest reaches, and the simple track of oil light danced through the translucent crystals, showing that the cavern was ten times larger than first seen.
Ral led the way into the underground light show, “Pride of Jemfire, few have seen.”
When John approached the room, he felt a cool breeze greet him, “It should be hotter in here, almost unbearable.”
“Correct you are. When first found, none could enter,” advised Ral, “Years it took, shafts were long, but ventilate it we did.”
Bor, amazed, walked in, “Such place, how can it be?”
“Created how, we do not know. Metal we expected, gems not. None can explain,” advised Ral.
Science long forgotten by John exploded in his mind, much like the oil firelight that now danced in the crystal-filled room. “A long time ago, like millions of years, this chamber was under the ocean. As tectonic activity happened, plates that form this planet pushed against each other. Some were directed back into the core while others went up, forming this mountain range. With the intense heat causing the water to evaporate, Anhydrite, a chemical that does not have attached water, would’ve brought chemicals like sulfate and calcium down to this chamber. The heat would cause the anhydrite to evaporate, leaving only those chemicals to build these incredible structures. Then, over millions or even billions of years, this chamber evolved into what we see now.”
“Your brother shares your father’s spells? Ocean, two days ride and lower. Contagious is he?” asked Ral.
Bor had enough, “Your humor and cavern, both are dry. Later, adopted brother first we will introduce you to.”
“So how do we harvest these crystals?” asked John.
“More than you can carry, stored in upper levels we have. You should return to the fresh air. The depths when not familiar, sickness they can bring, so you can choose upstairs. Should others you seek, we shall harvest for you.”
The entire trip back to the surface, Ral kept up with the jokes and puns. However, when they arrived at the top of the mine, the room was dark, as the opening to the outside was blocked, and Ral was surprised to see that the door was still open.
Bor called out, “Brother Eric, step back. You block the suns.”
Going outside, Ral looked up at Eric and rubbed his own neck.
Aaro stepped forward, “Ral Jemfire, this is Eric Ironhouse, adopted brother one.”
“Your father, his passing, sorry I am,” began Ral. “Great things I heard of him.”
Both Aaro and Bor smiled.
Going to the residential part of the mine, though cramped, Eric did fit. None of the dwarves could believe the size of the giant that sat in the little chair in front of them. He showed them the sword but only told them part of the story, and warning them of the impending war, he suggested that they should send somebody to Alron to get news.
Then they brought out the crystals in carts, baskets, trays, and more. Round, oval, square, octagon, every color of the rainbow, thick and thin. John felt like a dwarf at an ale tasting ceremony, sampling every type, making sure that each was flawless. Having so many brought out, a single day was insufficient, and even after a week, John wanted to stay, but Eric insisted they h
ead back. By that time, John had over a hundred different crystals that he hoped would help him find the magic he sought. When the crystal treasures were loaded onto Firek’s pony, the four said their farewells and headed back to Alron.
*******
It happened one day, a series of bad circumstances. Panry was late getting out of bed, and when Cethail Highbreeze and Erust Huntinghawk passed the Dawnfalcons in the front room, they asked where the Earth Mother was, hearing the reply, ‘She just went outside with Ryan and Logan.’ Opening the front door, they saw Ryan looking to the sky at three Mountain Eagles flying away, and Lauren and Logan were absent, but the powerful elf eyesight spotted them on the back of the giant birds. When Erust whistled, Panry came busting through the front doorway, seeing the three looking up at the eagles.
There was alarm in Panry’s voice, “What happened?”
Ryan was dumbfounded, “When the eagles landed, one sky elf talked to Lauren, and she screamed ‘show me.’ I think it was an Earth Bond, and the sky elf helped her onto the back of his eagle. Logan barely jumped on the back of the last one before the three took to the air.”
When a carriage showed up a few minutes later, Brook, Arora, and Nur stepped out.
“What happens? We felt the Earth Bond?” advised Arora.
Panry was on his knees, praying to Mother. He looked at the Earth Mothers, “Sky elves landed, and Earth Mother flew away.”
Arora’s eyes went wide, “What!”
“I do not understand. Ryan, did you hear anything?” asked Panry
“No, I was standing by the house, and it happened so fast.”
“Earth Mother is alone?” asked Arora.
Panry rubbed his forehead, “No, her brother is with her and three sky elves.”
“I do not understand,” began Brook. “What is so important that Earth Mother will leave like this?”
“It can only be one thing.” Panry fell forward, his forearms in the dirt road, his head resting on his fists.
“A new threat they spotted. Earth Mother, her fears spoken aloud, war?” asked Brook.
Ryan lowered his head into his hands, “That would be my first guess, but for Lauren to fly off like that it has to be….”
Nur held her hands in front of herself, like she was trying to grasp an answer floating in the air, “She is not going to fight it herself, is she?”
Raising himself up, Panry brushed the dirt off, “I do not know.”
Arora turned to one of her Earth Guards, “You will find Pintar. Tell him to send dispatches to the north and south. Warn all, war comes this way.”
“When I was with the sky elves and issued my Earth Bond, it never made them flinch,” began Nur. “Why would they answer Earth Mother?”
Arora was searching her pockets for a silver flask, “Core Wood. It increases the power of the bond.”
When Arora and Brook arrived after the midday meal, seeing if there were any updates, they saw Panry’s stressed appearance, which meant she was still absent.
Brook went to him, “You need rest. She is Earth Mother, protected by Mother, staff, and brother. You inflict unnecessary anguish on yourself. If she does not return this day, then tomorrow she shall arrive.”
He flexed his fingers, making and unmaking fists, “Then tomorrow, I will spank her, and I shall get delicate chains made that will hobble her, so no bird or horse she can ride. I will then…”
“You will not, and chains delicate or not, they also will not stop her,” replied Brook
Panry brought his hands together, so his fingertips met, and pushing back on his fingers so hard, his knuckles turned white, “Earth Mother, she was doing so well, listening, letting others act, guiding, but… Then…then…”
“Panry, she shall act like she has to.”
“That is not true,” began Panry, “That was why we raised our army. She even said she was not here to fight but to purchase time.”
“Mayhap, more time we need?” asked Aaro.
“If I was there, I could protect her. Now, Earth Mother shall take action. It is her style,” advised Panry.
Brook was talking to Gingaar and Ryan, asking about John and Eric.
“They left almost three weeks ago to return Firek Jemfire. I thought they would be back by now, but I guess they should be back any day,” replied Ryan
“Arora, There is nothing that we can do here except worry,” began Brook, “and Panry does enough for all. We shall return tomorrow.”
As Panry paced the street, the other Earth Guards sat in front of the house, being uncertain of what they should do, since there was nobody to guard. None would approach Panry, nor would they ask him for orders, as his wrath, though not directed at them, they would receive. When the cook brought out a meal for them, their appetite, much like their charge, was also lost.
Unable to sleep that night, Ryan waited in the courtyard with the Earth Guards. With each house in that section of town having a hitching rail in front, Ryan watched Panry go from one to the next; attacking it, venting his rage, frustration, and anger. Even though the town watch came to investigate, when they saw Panry, they left. When Ramy showed up a few hours later that night, he watched to make sure that Panry sought no others to vent his irritation on.
Chapter 21
Just after the first sun had risen, Gingaar screamed. The Earth Guards and Ryan rushed into the house, as she stumbled down the stairs, holding her head crying and screaming.
Ryan grabbed her, placing her on the couch, “What’s wrong?”
She screamed like hot irons were being stabbed into her, “They torture Earth Mother,” and then she convulsed, passing out.
Nur, having wandered over for an update, was struggling to hold onto the doorframe with one hand, and her forehead with the other, as her expression was even more pained than Gingaar’s. As Panry helped her into the house, Ryan pulled up a chair, and sitting down, she grabbed her head, squeezing it like she was trying to stop if from falling apart. “Earth Mother has been captured, and they torture her.” Squeezing her temples harder, she gritted her teeth and groaned.
Ten minutes later, Panry and Ryan turned as Earth Guards helped Brook, almost doubled over in pain, through the open door.
“Where are the others?” asked Panry
Between gasps, Brook advised, “Back at our house.”
Panry called to Erust, “Earth Mothers you need to check with.” He then bent down on one knee, looking at Nur, “What do you mean, Earth Mother has been captured, tortured?”
“She has uttered Earth Bonds in anger.” Nur grabbed her head, trying to force the pain from it, “Worse yet, she Cursed, and the power was great. Panry do your job, and find Earth Mother! Rescue her!”
“Tell me where she is, and I will ride to save her.”
Gingaar sat up and screamed, “They beat her, Panry. Pain great they inflict. She will die.”
Nur stood, “I will give her berries to help her sleep. Ryan, can you help Gingaar to her room?” Then she fell to her knees, clutching her head. “The moths have your flame, Panry. They try to extinguish the light.” Nur’s Earth Guards came over, helping her up the stairs, as Ryan led the way carrying Gingaar.
“Tell me how to find her, now!” exclaimed Panry to the other Earth Mothers.
Pulling out a silver flask, Brook took a long drink. Through labored speech, she said, “Do you not feel her Earth Bonds? Her pain? Can you not sense her presence?”
He beat the wall with his fist, “I do not feel her Earth Bonds, so tell me where to find her.”
“She does not call to you?” asked Brook.
“Naught. If she did, I would not be here.”
“Why?” Brook screamed back at him.
“She tries to protect us, and does not want to see us die like Alron and Gor. It is not her call,” and Panry stormed out of the house.
*******
When Lauren woke, she screamed, and then screamed again. Realizing that she was stretched out on a large board, as her eyes began
to focus in the dark room, pain from her right wrist exploded into her brain. Screaming again, she heard a voice to her right.
A head looked back at her, which had a purple veil draped across the nose, covering the lower half of his face. The eyes were mad and evil at the same time. “Hello, friend, or should I call you Thorn?”
Lauren struggled, screamed, and hurled what she thought were insults at him.
The man in purple shook his head, “This will never work. Branding is a delicate art, and her struggles will destroy my masterpiece.”
A large bare-chested man walked over beside him, having his hands sheathed in metal gloves. With one hand holding two long nails, the other held a hammer. Lauren felt it pierce the flesh on her side, sliding down the inside of her skin, exiting at the bottom. He then hammered it into the table, repeating his actions on her lower bare thigh.
“You are brilliant and resourceful,” replied the man who wore purple. Lowering his head, he continued to apply the hot brands to Lauren’s side, as she continued to struggle and scream, but his canvas remained motionless.
“Branding is such a lost art. Even though anybody can inject ink into flat skin, branding gives the body art new dimensions. You have to be careful to ensure the burns are the right depth, or the blisters will destroy the work, as you are unable to cover mistakes like you can with ink. With ink, you can rush a job, fixing it later, but with branding, you have to take your time. However, Thorn, you are lucky since I have had much practice. I have just never had such a wonderful canvas to work on before. Your skin, so delicate and pale, I only wish you were taller.”
The man in purple had to work his sentences around Lauren’s screams, waiting for her to breathe before he could apply a new hot brand. Dabbing a liquid on the fresh burns, Lauren shrieked louder. “Calm down, Thorn. We need to prevent them from becoming infected, which will destroy the work.” He then moved to a section of the canvas closer to the far nail, starting a new segment of his art, causing Lauren to yell again. “Thorn, calm down, as there are none that can hear you. Your screams land on deaf ears but do not worry, as we gave you a special gift for the pain. Well, maybe you should, as the pain medication was designed to intensify it, and if the pain is so great, it blocks the mind’s ability to pass out. My good man here is very talented when it comes to his gruesome arts, as I prefer the more refined ones like branding.” She felt a large, hot iron dragged along her skin. “Thorn, I need to thank you for those birds, which were quite tasty. The meat had a unique wild flavor, but it challenged our cooks on how to prepare them, yet they surprised me this morning. They kept one alive, slaughtering it just when I sat down. The heart was raw, still beating, when they uncovered my plate. The blood, still warm, was delicious.” With another brand running down Lauren’s side, she shrieked more insults at him. “Your little friends, they were interesting. Even though we tried to put them in a cell, they were so small that they could fit through the bars. We had to seek alternate accommodations for them, so we used the dog cages. When I went to check on them this morning, they were missing, but I guess that is my own fault. I should have told the guards to move the dogs to another cage.” A large hot brand caressed the canvas, which made Lauren scream again, as tears rolled down her face. With her brain exploding with the pain, the medication began to take hold. It seemed to be like a freight train, and she was the stalled car on the tracks, which was unable to move. “The one that looks like you, I could make you wait, begging for the news, bartering for it, but there is nothing you have that I want. Since he lacked the fighting spirit that you have, we buried him last night—”