by Jason Sander
“Why did you create these monsters?”
“I needed to test my skills and power. Now come with me. I have work to do.” He held out his hand again but she still refused to touch him.
The bloodkin darted into the tunnel ahead of the commander and he pushed her gently after them. Sullenly she walked into the darkness thinking of Jack and Isabella.
As they disappeared up the tunnel the slits of Jack’s eyes widened and he screamed in agony, letting out the pain he had been holding inside. Tasha’s brief touch had saved his life but had not healed him completely.
In the tunnel only silence reigned.
CHAPTER 83
Dagar
On the eve of the death of a king the dwarves would gather around the statue of their fallen leader to crown the next ruler. This time however they gathered around Magdar’s statue.
During the ceremony that created the statue in the image of the fallen king not all the material was used, always a small amount remained that could be used to forge a new crown by the best smiths and runemasters. They spent the day hammering and enchanting the crown while the women and children prepared the feast for the crowning ceremony.
Dagar as the newly elected king waited on his knees below the statue for the procession of smiths to arrive.
His father had reluctantly accepted the position of war master for the transition period as he called it and was dressed in full armour with the helm that proclaimed his position.
Carthus was deep in discussion with Hanbar on the opposite side of the hall. Tagier stood guard over Amelia and kept a wary eye on Cane where he stood silent beside Gabriel. Laisarus had disappeared to find some air as the chamber became congested.
Cane eyed the gathering dwarves with pain in his heart. He saw the sadness in their eyes, the pain from the wounds they held within and the guilt grew inside him. He closed his eyes and the screams of dwarves filled his mind. Gabriel held him steady as he almost collapsed. A few dwarves looked at him anxiously and that hurt more than any accusation could. Amelia had seen his distress but Tagier held her firmly by the arm when she tried to get to him.
Such kindness was never meant for a murderer like him, only justice would serve, he thought to himself.
The ceremony carried on as the smiths walked up to Dagar and unveiled the crown for all to see. The light swirled across its surface in rainbow patterns revealing runes within the metal. A few gems adorned the helm but only to accentuate the rune stones that ran around its circumference.
The master of ceremonies lifted the crown from the elaborate cushion and called out the kingmaker’s verse. “This crown is a link in a chain that goes back to the first king. The metals and minerals within have traces from every crown created since the first king and it will in time be remade into another link in the chain. Today it will be passed on to our new king.”
The master of ceremonies turned to address Dagar and asked of him, “Why are you here?
“I have been chosen,” answered Dagar.
“Who chose you?” asked the master of ceremonies.
“The people,” answered Dagar.
“Why are you here?”
“I am here to serve.”
“Your people need a leader not a servant, Dagar.”
“Then I will lead them.”
“Do you accept this token of their faith,” asked the master of ceremonies preparing to lower the crown on Dagar’s head.
“I will earn their faith by my actions, but I will accept the crown as my pledge to them.”
The master of ceremonies placed the crown on Dagar’s head and pushed it down.
Dagar gritted his teeth as the inner ring of sharpened teeth within the crown cut into his flesh. The blood and pain were symbols of his acceptance of leadership and bond to his people. He allowed himself a moment to feel the weight of the crown then rose to his feet. “The time has come for us to begin a new journey, just as our ancestors left the Citadel and their ancestors travelled between worlds. Tomorrow we will break free of these chambers and secure a route to the surface. We hold Broken Pass Keep and the Citadel below it. We will be safe behind the walls of the Citadel until spring and then we will march north into the unknown. The Wolf King has offered an alliance that cannot be refused, with his aid we will build a great city in the northern mountains far from wraithlords and goblins. We will become strong again.”
Cane felt the mood lighten as Dagar gave the dwarves hope again, but guilt still burned deep within him. Dwarves pounded the floor with the butts of their axes until Cane had to cover his ears.
When the noise died down Dagar moved to a hastily constructed throne and sat down. The real one had proved to be too large and heavy to move from the audience hall. The war master stood at his left side his axe at the ready while the master of ceremonies took one step forward from his right side to address the populace, “The king will now hear all and judge all.”
A line formed quickly and ran barely three quarters of the way to the back of the chamber.
One at a time, under careful watch of the guards, the people approached and bowed from the hip in their various armours. Each had a tale of how they had lost something or someone. The king listened and occasionally the master of ceremonies would lean in close to give him advice. Those who had nothing he offered freely from what remained of the king’s treasury, to those who sought help he gave freely and for those who had lost loved ones he expressed his condolences and their names were written in the new Book of the Dead which the master of ceremonies held in his hands.
This was a way of remembering the departed and it was believed that the book held the souls safe from the goblin gods under the Allfather’s protection. Somewhere hidden within Stronghold was a room where the original book lay hidden.
Lost to the dwarves now, some tried to protect the souls of those written in the original book by getting them rewritten in the new one.
When the last of the dwarves disappeared into the crowd and the master of ceremonies prepared to dismiss the gathering a disturbance caught his attention. Racing down the corridor came Cane but a well placed boot sent him tumbling to the ground. Guards surrounded him instantly, pinning him to the floor while other guards scanned the area for more threats.
The king walked down the stairs to stand above Cane and asked, “What are you trying to do, Cane?”
“I need justice!” shouted Cane.
“You wish me to arbitrate and pass judgment over a crime?” asked the king.
Distantly Dagar heard Amelia struggling with Tagier but he ignored them. This felt more important. Cane answered, “Yes.”
“Who do you accuse?” asked the king.
The struggle seemed to go out of the human as he said, “Me.”
“What is the crime?”
“Murder,” said Cane.
“Do you want someone to speak in your defence Cane?”
“No, I want only justice.”
“Very well,” said Dagar and addressed the gathering. “The human has asked for justice and will receive it.” Ordering the guards to fetch a chair for Cane the king returned to his throne.
When Cane was seated with two dwarven guards watching him Dagar ordered, “Tell me your story Cane. I want only the truth, I will punish lies as harshly as I punish crimes.”
Cane bowed his head and began to tell his story from his first encounter with goblins. He finished with falling unconscious as the timer counted down to zero on the antimagic bomb. The populace murmured amongst themselves as they heard how the pulse of energy from one weapon had destroyed their entire world. A few dwarves stood up in anger and began shouting at Cane where he sat dejected before the king.
The master of ceremonies stepped forward and shouted for order, staring down the more aggressive instigators.
When peace was restored the king stood up.
He stood looking at Cane for a moment then asked him, “Do you still want justice, Cane?”
Cane looked up with tear stained
eyes and said, “Yes.”
The king nodded and smashed his fist into Cane’s face, the ridges on his metal gauntlets tearing through the flesh of his cheeks leaving deep gashes. “That is for the pain you have caused, Cane.”
The guards held Cane as he gritted his teeth to stop himself from crying out. When Cane lifted his head again the King continued, “You also owe the dwarven nation countless lives. Will you accept your punishment?”
“Yes!” said Cane holding his head up as best he could as blood dripped onto the floor.
“Then let all hear my judgment!” shouted Dagar turning his gaze around the hall to catch every eye, “Cane owes us a life debt a thousand times over and he will pay it. From this day forth, he will be my bondsman until the debt is repaid.” Without another word Dagar left the hall surrounded by his guards.
CHAPTER 84
Gabriel
Gabriel struggled to reach Cane as the guards dragged him after the king but the dwarven guards were far too strong for him, eventually he tried to locate any dwarf he knew well enough to question and his eyes locked on Hanbar.
He forced his way through the dwarves ignoring their distrustful glares and finally reached him.
Gabriel practically shouted at Hanbar, “What just happened?”
“King’s justice,” answered Hanbar.
“Why?” asked Gabriel.
“Cane wanted forgiveness, but a king deals only in justice.”
“What kind of an answer is that. He hit the man wearing gauntlets - what kind of justice is that.”
“Blood for blood, life for life. Those are two cornerstones of justice, a king can take them to mean whatever he wants. Cane is in pain but he is still alive and under Dagar’s protection. No one will dare seek vengeance against him.”
From behind Gabriel came a command, “Take me to Cane, Hanbar.”
Gabriel turned to find Amelia and Tagier behind him. Tagier was standing uncertainly behind her and she had a furious look in her eyes. “I need to see him,” said Amelia.
Tagier made as if to say something then though better of it when Amelia glared at him. Hanbar appraised the two then replied, “As the king’s bondsman Cane is subject to his commands. You will have to ask permission from the king first.”
“You mean he’s a slave?” asked Gabriel horrified.
“No, he is not a slave. He cannot be bought or sold, he will serve his master until the debt is paid or until he is released from service. During his bond period he cannot be beaten or endangered and must be well cared for in terms of food, clothing and sleeping quarters.”
“Sounds like indentured slavery to me,” said Gabriel.
Hanbar ignored Gabriel as Amelia asked, “Will you take me to see the king, Hanbar.”
Tagier finally broke his silence. “We cannot endanger our alliance with the dwarves over a petty matter of one human, Amelia.”
Gabriel watched fascinated as Amelia rounded on Tagier with such violence in her eyes that Tagier took a step backwards, “Our alliance with the dwarves will not be affected by one human. If it is then the fault would lie with them, not us. Besides, our mission is to build an alliance with the humans. If we allow one to be persecuted then we gain nothing, if we help sort out this problem then we may gain favour with them.”
Weakly Tagier tried one last approach, “Cane is obviously not from one of the new human arrivals. Helping him will not aid us.”
Amelia’s eyes lost their fire but she remained firm, “We will help him regardless.” She turned towards Hanbar and waited to hear his reply.
“I will take you, Amelia, but Tagier will remain outside the king’s quarters,” he said. When he felt Tagier tense he said, “You are quick to anger, Tagier, and new kings are even quicker while the weight of the crown settles.”
Tagier visibly reined in his temper and stalked off.
Gabriel watched as Hanbar escorted Amelia through the crowds of dwarves preparing for the coronation feast. He had much to think about. Cane was from another gate that had opened somewhere over the mountains in the west. They had advanced technology that used rune magic instead of circuits which they called script. They were also apparently warlike, if they condoned a city scale bombing to cover a kidnapping. Gabriel needed to learn more about these technos as they seemed to be expanding eastwards but for now he wanted to find out more about the elves and dwarves.
CHAPTER 85
Commander
The commander ordered the bloodkin to keep Tasha out of sight while he spoke to General Allister. The General was sitting in his usual place drinking what passed for alcohol on this planet. Stubble was threatening to become a beard and the commander considered for a moment the wisdom of allowing Allister to take command of Central.
But just then the General stirred from his slumber and saw the commander. “What do you want commander?” the General blurted. His bloodshot eyes searched for the glass beside him.
The commander decided honesty would serve him best, “I have killed General Esperanza.” He lowered his head in feigned shame.
The news woke the General from his stupor and he sat up straight showing some of his former strength. He didn’t bother with the details of Esperanza’s death but leapt immediately at the opportunity. “How do we use this to take control, commander?”
The commander smiled and then lifted his head to look Allister in the eye. “I will order a few goblin bodies strewn about Esperanza and his body guards. Then we will sound the general alarm and search for the rest of the goblins, to no avail. You will humbly accept the position of power while I seek out and remove any opposition. At least that is my suggestion, sir.” He bowed his head again as the General Allister considered his plan.
General Allister picked up his glass for a few seconds then placed it back on the table without drinking. “Did I ever tell you that my family name used to be McAllister, commander?”
The commander was taken off guard by the change in subject and answered, “No sir.”
“My father was a general for the great British Empire. He was famous in his time and steadfast in his duty. They crucified him for doing his duty and stripped him of his proud name. They even banished my family from England.”
“What did he do?” asked the commander intrigued.
“He burnt a city in Ireland to the ground to end a riot,” said Allister. “The survivors called him Black Allister when his name was stripped from him but he laughed in their faces. He died penniless leaving only me as his legacy.” The General paused a moment tapping the glass with his nail. “I think I shall bring back the name.”
“McAllister?”
“No,” said Allister standing up with fire in his eyes. “Black Allister is the name my father earned, and I shall live up to his legacy.”
As he listened to the General the commander wondered if Allister had become more of a burden than an ally. A thread of thought broke his concentration as it reached out to him from one of the bloodkin, “A human is missing from the cave master. The big one.”
The commander sent back a command to all the bloodkin. “Find his trail, hunt him down and leave no trace of his body.” He felt their joy as the thrill of a hunt filled their minds. The commander broke contact with them to catch up with what Allister was planning.
CHAPTER 86
Dagar
Dagar sat in his fathers chair with his head hanging. Blood still stained his gauntlet but no longer dripped on the floor. “I shouldn’t have hit him,” he said.
At his side Galdar ran a finger over the indentations ringing his own forehead. “You are king now Dagar. I would have had him executed for his crime.”
“I should have forgiven him,”
Galdar gripped his son’s shoulder and said, “He didn’t ask for mercy or forgiveness son. He wanted to be punished for his crime and you found a way without killing him.”
Galdar tried to catch Dagar’s gaze but failed. “This bondsman business must run its course or the human will be killed
by one of our people and it will never end.”
“I know. Perhaps death would have been more merciful,” said Dagar still looking at the blood stain.
“No!” shouted Amelia entering the room. “There has been enough death. I understand why you did it and I thank you for it. Let him have his justice, it may be the only peace he will find.”
The master of ceremonies stood up and challenged, “Why do you come unannounced, priestess?”