“All these years, I’ve been hated and feared. Today was the first time a person looked at me as if I wasn’t a freak. I had forgotten what it felt like to be accepted.”
The two continued on. The road wound around a small mountain with steep sides. For some distance, the roadbed was wood planking supported by heavy timbers propped against the steep rock.
“I suppose that can be collapsed for defense?”
“You’re getting the hang of it.”
When they came around to the mountain’s backside, the view opened suddenly to two massive mountains straight across from the one just circled. Situated in the ‘V’ between the two dominant peaks was the massive fortress and metropolis of Hador. Hador, the city, was nestled between the peaks and dominated by Castilyernov Hadorhof.
Astorax stopped and stared. “How did they ever build that?”
“The Hadorians employed dwarves to quarry stone from the adjoining mountains to build the city and fortress. The dwarves cut the stone from outcrops that could be footholds from the tops. The mountains’ twin peaks are polished smooth. See there,” Hendrel said, pointing. “No organism can get a foothold up there, so there’s no possibility of attack from above. To cross the mountains, the traveler has to go through the Hador Pass.”
Astorax marveled at the spectacle. “Yesterday, in these mountains, I crossed the deepest gorge I’ve ever seen. Now, in front of me, are by far the highest peaks I’ve ever seen. These must be the most spectacular mountains on the Powterosian peninsula. No wonder their fame has spread over the continent.”
Between them and the city was a deep gorge forming a huge lake.
“Would you look at that?” Astorax exclaimed, gazing down at the lake.
“No one knows how deep it is, but it’s too wide to span with a bridge.” Hendrel started down the road. “Come on. We’ll have to hike down and take the ferry across the lake to the road on the other side.”
“No wonder no one has ever broken into Castilyernov Hadorhof,” Astorax said. “It’s impregnable from the southern side; I can see that.”
The two travelers continued along to the city. Arriving after the soldiers with the orc, they weren’t challenged at the city gates but passed through to the commercial district. Behind the gates was a single line of warehouses that supplied the town and fortress. Hendrel stopped and pointed to the massive storehouses.
“In a siege, we can fill them with rubble to double the walls’ thickness. The homes of the townspeople are inside the circle of warehouses. Inside that is a circle of shops.”
“What do the people do for a living up on this rock?”
“There’re a few manufacturing businesses that finish products for local use – potters, weavers, jewelers and clothing makers, as well as butchers and bakers. Let’s keep moving.”
The town’s center was a plaza set at the foot of Castilyernov Hadorhof. Hendrel continued his monologue, “They cut the pass threw solid granite and built the castilyernov over it. The castilyernov’s dwarf-hewn stonework is so fine that the stones fit together with almost invisible seams. They used no mortar; they cut each stone as an interlocking puzzle piece. The outer surface is polished so the sun and moon reflect off the northeastern face, lighting the rocks below.”
*
Hendrel and Astorax passed through the streets among the citizens’ stares and suspicious glances until Hendrel found his shop on Okken Street. They entered, to the excitement and welcome of Hendrel’s wife and two sons.
“Where’ve you been?” Hendrel’s wife, Persnella, asked. “The children and I thought you lost.” She alternated between hugging him for coming back and chastising him for his absence. Worn out, she finally noticed Astorax and stopped dead still, staring first at the Astorax and then at Hendrel.
“What’s this?”
“My name is Astorax. I came along to help your husband.”
She stood staring for a second.
“This is Persnella, my wife,” Hendrel said. “And these two are Hendrel, Jr. and Meklin, my sons.”
Persnella scurried back behind the counter. The boys just stared up at the Astorax. One went over and touched his furry leg. Astorax smiled at the curious boys, who smiled back without fear.
“You boys, come over here this instant,” Persnella said.
“Astorax will be staying with us, my dear.”
“Oh, he will, will he?” Persnella asked in a huff. She pulled Hendrel aside. “What will the neighbors say? If you bring such visitors home, the neighbors will ruin our reputation. No one will patronize our shop. No shop, no income.”
“That’s quite enough,” Hendrel said.
“I understand, madam,” Astorax said.
“Astorax is my friend, and people will just have to get used to that. That includes you, my wife. This man has had a series of traumatic misfortunes that resulted in his present condition. It’s not his fault. You might at least try to understand before you make hasty judgments. He has already saved my life.”
“The man,” Persnella said.
“The man!”
“You have a lot to explain after supper, Hendrel.” Persnella felt a moment of shame. She turned aside, then turned to Astorax and looked up at him.
“Welcome to our home, Mr. Astorax. I’m sure I don’t understand about such things, but I’m sorry for my rudeness. Please accept my apology.”
She cast a glance at Hendrel, who smiled. I just hope he doesn’t sleep in a bed, she thought. I know those hooves will ruin my good sheets. And those antlers, the headboard would be in splinters by morning.
“Has a Saxthor Claremendak been here asking for me?” Hendrel asked.
“No one has been here asking for you except our usual customers. They’ve wondered if you were ever coming home, as did I.”
Hendrel looked over at Astorax. He sat by the door, and the two little boys were seated on either side of him. One was checking out his hooves, and the other was touching his antlers. Persnella looked at him, then the boys.
“Hendrel, Jr.! Meklin! You two get over here this instant.”
Persnella, with the struggling children, fled up the stairs at the back of the shop to the second-floor living quarters.
*
“She’s a lovely lady,” Astorax said.
“Sorry, she’s so rude. She’s not always like that. It’s just that I’ve been away far longer than anticipated, and she felt abandoned.”
Astorax kept his sad gaze on the floor. “I understand.”
It didn’t lessen the hurt. Why did children have the gift of acceptance, and grownups have the curse of fear?
13: The Fortress Guarding the Hador Pass
Treachery Averted
Saxthor and his companions were still thinking about the dwarf kingdom’s splendors after they left. Tonelia had never seen or even imagined, anything like it. Never were there so many elegant clothes, so many rich fabrics encrusted with so many jewels. The gold in that one audience chamber was a match for the wealth of the peninsula’s royal and noble houses. She couldn’t put the sights out of her mind. Bodrin’s mind fixed on the incredible metalwork in forged iron, cast brass, and bronze and finely worked gold and silver.
Seeing their faces, Saxthor worried.
“Remember that what we’ve seen, we should never have seen. To mention it to others would fire people’s greed and lead to war and many deaths on both sides between man and dwarf. We must never speak of it to others.
Now let’s find the road to Hador. That road is the only way to the city, and we have to get there soon. We’re already late meeting Hendrel at his shop.”
They hiked along the rocky ledge for a mile when they first spotted the road just heading up into the mountains.
“What if Hendrel isn’t at the shop when we get there?” Tonelia asked.
“We’ll find accommodations until he arrives. If he doesn’t make it in a few days, we’ll have to go on without him. Our time is short, and we’re behind schedule as it is.”
>
Bodrin grimaced. “Why are we even going there if we already have what we came here for?”
“We must study everything we pass along the way. We’ll need to know the people and places we travel through, since one day we’ll need them as allies in the war against the Dark Lord. We need to know the strategic defensive places. When we plan strategy later, knowledge of Hador Pass will prove invaluable in our decisions.”
The four were hiking along a decent road – for a change.
“At least here in Hador, the orcs wouldn’t have infiltrated the defenses,” Bodrin said.
“There’ll be watchers in the city, I’m sure,” Saxthor warned. “We need to remind ourselves of that all the time.”
The troupe passed over the bridge at the great ravine and stopped at the rest station late in the afternoon. They found the locals and travelers still chattering about the man and the Astorax. The conversations were interesting but not recognizable until someone described the man.
“Does that sound like Hendrel’s description?” Tournak asked Saxthor.
“Yes, sounds like they got here first – but what’s an Astorax?”
They asked the inspector to describe the man, and when he did so, they knew Hendrel had been there only two days before. The travelers were able to pick up other information about the area, the increasing numbers of orcs caught slipping around the mountain pass, and the two strange travelers two days before.
At Hador, the exhausted trekkers passed through the great bronze gates as merchant friends of Hendrel of Okken Street. They passed the warehouses, the homes of the outer district, and finally, with directions, they found Okken Street. From outside Hendrel’s shop, they could look over the other houses and see the grand plaza of Hador and the Castilyernov Hadorhof looming over all.
“If ever there was a military presence, that formidable place is it,” Saxthor said. Tournak and Bodrin nodded and continued staring at the Hadorhof’s dark granite walls.
“It’s late; let’s see if Hendrel’s here,” Tournak said.
*
“Good afternoon, gentlemen and madam.” Persnella beamed, looking from face to face, thrilled to see potential new customers. “You’re not from Hador, are you? I can tell about these things, you know. I could see when you entered that you’re exhausted from our thin mountain air.”
“Can you tell us if Hendrel the Wizard is at home?” Saxthor asked. “We’re to meet him here.”
“You’re friends of my husband’s, then? I’m Persnella, Hendrel’s wife. It’s so good to see normal friends of his. I’ll fix you some refreshments. You must wait until Hendrel returns, which should be any time now.” Persnella turned to Tonelia. “My goodness, dear, your hair … well, it’s a … well, that wind in the plaza will destroy any hairdo, won’t it?”
She cleared her throat; lips pinched in a smile as a cat caught with a bird in its mouth. I thought I handled that well, letting the girl know her hair was a mess. Tonelia gave Persnella a look that should kill. Persnella turned back to Saxthor.
“Hendrel took that associate of his on a tour of the city. Have you and your companions met Hendrel’s associate?” Her arms crossed in front of her chest as she reared back and looked at each of them in turn.
“Why, no, we’ve not met his friend, but he must be a person of excellent character if he’s Hendrel’s friend,” Saxthor said.
“Character, well yes indeed, he’s quite a character, let me tell you.”
Apparently, they didn’t note my insinuation and ask for an explanation, she thought. How annoying. They’re in for a surprise. They’ll agree with me; that thing has to go. I’d tell them straight out, but Hendrel would divorce me if he found out I tried to warn them.
“I was the victim of malicious court gossip as a child,” Saxthor said to Tournak. “I’m sorry to see Hendrel’s wife thrives on it.”
“What’s that?”
Persnella stopped rambling. Had she missed something?
Saxthor poked Bodrin. “Perhaps we should tour the city and return later.”
“Suit yourselves, but Hendrel should be back any minute.” Persnella’s most intimidating look of disappointment did not affect them.
*
Twit sat bobbing above the shop’s door, hearing the wife’s endless chattering within. He flew up to the roof to escape it. Years ago, he’d offered his services to Memlatec as Saxthor’s guardian to escape just such scolding and chattering from his mate. Wrens were a haughty lot.
*
The travelers thanked Persnella for the refreshments and left their gear at the shop.
“We’ll work our way around the city and get to know its buildings and layout,” Saxthor said.
“The tradesmen seem friendly enough, but they’re suspicious of everyone,” Tournak said. “Caught up in wars over generations, I think they’re always suspicious of anything unusual that could have a connection to Dreaddrac.”
“Why’s the whole city dark granite?” Bodrin asked.
“In Hador, all exposed buildings must be granite to prevent Dreaddrac from burning the city,” Tournak said. “Also, by law, the roofs are slate.”
“The stone or clay pots with autumn flowers all around the city add a cheerful touch making it more welcoming,” Tonelia said. “They must require a lot of water. Where do they get water up here?”
“If I remember correctly,” Tournak said, “the former mountain peaks on each side of the city are cisterns that hold snow melt supplying water year-round to city fountains. The constant flow of water flushes the drains avoiding disease that could wipe out defenders in a siege. The duke thought of everything in defense of this fortress town.”
They walked on, eyes wide.
“This is the first time we’ve been near a city since leaving Graushdemheimer,” Tonelia said. They were passing several shops with ladies’ clothes displayed in the window. “Do you suppose we’ll have time to shop?”
“You wanting a new outfit, Tonelia?” Saxthor asked.
Tonelia brushed down her traveling clothes as if there was dust on them. She gazed back at the last store window.
“You men must be getting tired of seeing me in the same old clothes.”
The luxurious gown she wore to King Grekenbach’s reception awakened something in her, Saxthor thought. Seeing the response from the Graushdemians, she isn’t satisfied with men’s clothes anymore.
The men exchanged smiles.
“Bodrin, take Tonelia and go look for ladies’ shops off the central plaza. Tournak and I will explore more. The four of us will meet back at Hendrel’s shop late this afternoon.”
“Late this afternoon when we’re sure Hendrel’s back,” Bodrin said. “No one wants to listen to that chatter if we don’t have to.”
While they were out, Tournak bought supplies for the next leg of the journey and gear for traveling in wet areas. The well-stocked shops beckoned with reasonably priced goods considering someone had to haul them up the mountains.
“What do you think of Hador?” Saxthor asked.
“It’s well prepared for war,” Tournak said.
“Tournak, you don’t speak a lot since we returned. I hope you don’t resent my taking over leadership of our band.”
“You’re rising to fill the role you’re destined for, Saxthor. That was our hope.”
“I try to make wise decisions and be willing to listen to the others’ suggestions, though I did admit to getting stubborn. I hope you’ll keep me on the right path.”
Tournak put his hand on Saxthor’s shoulder. “We respect each other and each other’s talents and shortcomings. I like to think we complement each other, and that’s made our relationship more stable over the years.”
“So it has. I don’t thank you enough for your guidance and support.”
They rounded a corner into the central plaza, and the Hadorhof leered up across from them. The massive castilyernov stood ever vigilant over the mountains, cradling the city at its foundation.
&n
bsp; “We need to meet the duke and get a tour of the Hadorhof,” Saxthor said. “I want to know as much as possible about it for future reference. We need to develop a relationship with Duke Jedrac. In the coming years, we’ll need each other to survive.”
“How will you get to see the duke, and what do you expect to get out of the encounter?”
“I’m not sure how to how to get an audience, but we need to know his strength and that he can hold this pass when the Dark Lord sends his armies against it. We know from the orcs we encountered coming here that the enemy will hit this pass hard.”
“Since these defenses prevented Dreaddrac’s armies from using a pincer move in the last war, the Dark Lord will be determined to smash this gate early in the coming confrontation.”
They continued to stroll through the city, looking at shops, houses, and warehouses but also looking at the city layout, its walls and defenses. They noted the water system, the warehouses, and the nature of the people. Late in the afternoon, they headed back to Okken Street and Hendrel’s shop. There they found Bodrin grinning like a child.
“Tonelia found two outfits that she couldn’t live without. She was emphatic; she needs both. I never stood a chance in the argument.” Bodrin laughed.
“I’m sure she looks lovely in both,” Tournak said.
“Indeed, one’s dressier for court receptions, and the other is more practical for our trek. She’s upstairs with Persnella now trying on the clothes. They’ve been giggling since we got back.”
Saxthor enjoyed Bodrin’s excitement. Anything that pleased Tonelia pleased Bodrin. “How long have they been up there?”
“At least half an hour, there’s no need to bother them. They’re having such a good time.” Bodrin’s face stiffened, watching Saxthor. “Hendrel still hasn’t returned.”
“Still not back?”
“What did you think of the city?” Tournak asked.
“I think the city is one great fortress. The commercial activity is a surprise,” Bodrin said. “There’re lots of shops filled with goods from everywhere. You wouldn’t think this garrison town would have so much activity.”
The Neuyokkasinian Arc of Empire Series: Books 1-3 Box Set High, Epic Fantasy on a Grand Dragon Scale! Kindle Edition Page 58