by Rick Brown
“Noo… His new guards are poor company though. Besides, the man is rather unpredictable. I would hate for him to have another accident,” Benlok said with a laugh. “Oh, this toast is good. My compliments to your chef.”
“What are you doing, Benlok? What is your plan?” asked the King.
"Are you sure you wouldn't like some bacon?" The Ambassador asked. After a pause, he continued. "Apparently, you are in for a treat. High Priest Grenlow is on his way here to pay a visit to his new territory. I suspect he is also anxious to place King Eberon on an altar for sacrifice. We volunteered to have him hauled to Dommeran, but Grenlow doesn't trust us to keep King Eberon prisoner while transporting him. To be honest, I wouldn't trust us either. You should have seen what he did to one of our priests."
“Grenlow is coming here?” the King asked. “When?” Good question, I was wondering that myself.
“The Priests caravan travels swiftly. I would think he could be here within a fortnight. I would suggest you be on your best behavior. I’ll recommend using you as a figurehead to keep these dwarves in line, but it will be the High Priest that makes that decision,” the Ambassador recommended.
“I see. Well, now that you have eaten all my food, is there anything else? I am feeling weary,” the King asked, frustration in his voice.
"That is all," Benlok replied. "Thank you for breakfast. It's been charming." A moment later, I heard the door shut.
“Miellin!” the King called out. I heard another door and the bustle of feet.
“Is he gone?” Miellin asked.
“He is, and we are running out of time,” the King answered.
“I’d say we are,” I agreed as I slid out from under the cart.
“Who is this, what is going on?” the King asked angrily.
“Sire, this is Brianna Wellborn, one of King Eberon’s people,” Miellin answered hurriedly.
“Eberon’s people?” The King asked excitedly. “Have you heard from the King then?”
I shook my head. “We know where he is being held, and that he is guarded by werewolves.”
The King leaned back. “Werewolves, you say. So that is what Benlok meant. I fear there will be no rescuing him then.”
“Actually, Your Majesty,” I said with a smile, “we have a plan…”
Chapter 24
(Orlik)
“It’s been over a week now, haven’t we waited long enough?” I asked.
“I agree with Orlik,” Whilhoit stated. “There’s been no word on what is happening outside this cell. We don’t even know if the King is ok.”
"If something happened to Lee, the top half of Olingard would have blown apart," Lenux disagreed. "Being a sneak, we are trained in patience. What if we escaped and ran directly into the Dommerian army? That wouldn't do any good."
“Does it do Lee any good, us being hostages?” Abigail asked. Good girl, I thought with a smile. “All we are doing in here is giving leverage to the Dommerians.”
“My patience is wearing thin as well,” Father Yagen added. “As much as I hate to admit it, I fear for our mission.”
Lenux sighed. “It seems like I’m out voted. Does anyone have a plan?”
“Aye, we go out there and start killin’ Dommerians!” I stated with a shake of my fist.
“Anyone else?” Lenux pleaded.
“There must be a resistance. We just need to find it,” Father Pild Volunteered. “Orlik, if you were a resistance leader, where would you hide?”
I never considered invading my own home before, I sat down and started mulling over the options. "There's always outside the mountain, but that's a long way to go iffin' you want to strike. There's the air tunnels, but it would be hard to mass any sort of resistance in them. They'd be great for strike forces though."
“Anywhere that you could accumulate a lot of people, but not under the eye of the Dommerians?” Lenux prodded.
“The Lake! I doubt the Dommerians ever consider where the water comes from. There be a massive lake over the city supplying water. That’ll be where any resistance is gathering,” I answered excitedly.
“Then that’s where we will go,” Father Pild said as he slapped his hands together.
“Orlik, how difficult will it be for us to get there?” Farloc asked.
I shook my head. “Not difficult at all, almost all the service halls eventually lead to the Lake.”
“Ok, so we have a plan. Any reason to delay?” Lenux asked. No one spoke. “Then I guess it’s up to me to pick this lock.” Lenux bit at the bottom of his shirt, tearing a hole into the seam. Wiggling his fingers along the cloth, he finally worked out two wires hidden in his clothing.
"This shouldn't take long," he said as he squatted before the door. Shoving one wire into the top of the lock, the other he started wiggling inside the lower portion. In what seemed only a few seconds, there was a click, and the door swung open. "Here we go," he announced as he stepped out into the hall.
Olingard prison was not a pleasant place. There were very few torches lighting the hall and puddles of water sat in on the poorly carved floor. The hall we stood in was long and narrow, making room for plenty of cells. I was the next out the door, following Lenux as he led our way down the hall. As we passed, I could hear shuffling in some of the cells by the other prisoners.
“Orlik?” Whispered a voice from one of the cells. “That be you?”
I stepped to the door to find General Kellic staring back at me in shock. “General, what are you doin’ here?”
“I’d ask you the same question?” The General stated. “I didn’t even know you be back in Olingard.”
“Aye, we arrived just before the invasion. Actually, we be why they invaded.” I admitted.
"You can explain later, just get me out of here!" the General ordered. I looked to Lenux, who shrugged and started picking the lock. He was getting better, because it seemed he barely bent over when the lock snapped open. The General stepped out and hugged me. "I'm glad you’re back, Boy. Now let's check these other cells, I'm sure I'm not the only one they rounded up."
We spent precious time checking the other cells, but eventually freed ten other military leaders. Finally, we continued our way towards the guard's quarters, a trail of escaped inmates following behind us. Lenux raised his hand, using our signal to stop. Cocking his head to listen, he paused for a moment, then indicated ten men were in the room ahead. Abigail and Father Yagen pushed their way to the front, Abigail took a deep breath as she readied herself, then nodded to Lenux.
The three of them crept forward until they were at the guard’s door. I trailed behind them, ready to fight. Lenux quickly bent over and quietly picked the lock. Taking the handle, he looked again at our magic users and waited for them to prepare. When they both nodded, he swung the door wide.
It was over in a moment. Father Yagen barely had time to prepare his first fireball when Abigail stepped through the door way, lightening shooting from her fingers. Within the moment of a bright flash, all the guards lay dead across the floor. The priest let his fireball puff out as he looked at the girl. “Remarkable!” he said as we all streamed into the room.
As amazed as I was by the girl’s magic, it didn’t touch my elation of seeing Slayer hanging on the weapons rack. Racing forward, I retrieved my old friend. Grabbing my harness that hung next to it, I returned it to the familiar place on my back. “Ahh... Now, I’m home.” I said with a smile.
Lenux didn't seem to be excited as his eyes glazed over while he listened. "We’ve got trouble. There's a big group coming down the hall towards us."
“What is that boy? Clairvoyant or something?” asked General Kellic from the door.
"It's more ‘or something,'" Abigail answered as she walked to the door.
“Don’t think you’re leaving me out of this, Lass. This is my home, and I’m fighting too.”
“Suit yourself,” Abigail answered.
“Hold on,” Lenux stated. “Something about this isn’t right. Give me a mom
ent to figure it out.” He paused, his ear pointed to the exit. “…They’re dwarves.”
"Dwarves!" I shouted. Stepping forward, I swung the door open. From down the hall, a small army of dwarves was lit by their torches. Even better, they were led by Lillia marching out front.
“Orlik!” She called out. “What are you doing free? I’m marching down here with an army to free ya, you daft dwarf!”
"Ha ha! Sorry to ruin your fun, but I don't need saving, Woman!" I rushed forward and gave her a hug. It felt good to hold her again after all the centuries.
“We should have known you would escape,” Barad stated as he and Brianna stepped forward.
“We waited as long as we could for you,” Lenux said with a laugh, “but we finally got bored of waiting and escaped for ourselves.”
“What about Lee?” Abigail asked.
Brianna smiled. Reaching behind her, she pulled out a bundle and started unraveling it. Soon, she exposed an elegant hilt. Under the cross guard of the sword, lay open a pocket that appeared would just fit Alynon’s Tear perfectly. “He’s next.”
Chapter 25
(Lee)
The last two days had been terrifying. I could barely take a step without a werewolf snapping at me. Especially the big gray one. It tracked my every move in the now crowded room. Its eyes were always on me. I had my suspicions that it was Lord Hannen.
Every once in a while, I would try to talk to the beast, but it would just lunge at me, knocking me to the ground. After a few attempts, I decided not to repeat that again. The wolves no longer allowed me to do my exercises, I guess they saw it as a threat. Instead, I spent my time reading the books available in the room.
Dommerian writers left a lot to be desired. There was no joy in their books, only despair and the worship of Gorath. All in all, the whole situation was rather depressing. I would even take a visit from Ambassador Benlok over this.
A knock on the door indicated it was time for the one bright spot of my day, food. Eating three times a day ended when the werewolves took over. Now, my meal was just delivered once by a poor scared dwarf.
Walking slowly, as not to trigger the werewolves, I made my way to the door, knocking back to signal I was there. The servants refused to enter the room with the beasts. I couldn't blame them. I wasn't fond of being there myself.
A moment later, I heard the key turn as the door was unlocked. Through the opening, the servant girl quickly pushed in the cart and shut it again. I bent down and took a deep breath of the food. It smelled like some sort of fish.
The large gray wolf stood and walked over to the tray, sniffing over the cart, as he usually did. Not smelling any person hiding within, he went back and lay on my bed, which was now his. I’ve spent the last two nights sleeping on the floor. Just when I was getting used to having a soft bed again.
Wheeling the cart over to my chair, I sat and pulled it in close, banging my knee on whatever was under the sheet covering the cart. Ignoring the pain, I dug into my meal. Dwarven cuisine was spicy, but it was growing on me. As my fish disappeared, I noticed a message scratched into the plate.
‘We are safe,' the first part read. Looking around, the werewolves were no longer paying any attention to me. I casually kept eating to reveal the second part. ‘Look under cart.'
Sliding my hand carefully down to my sore knee, I felt the object I bumped into early. Trying not to draw the beasts’ attention, I felt through the fabric. My heart started pounding when I realized what I was holding.
The gray wolf sensed something. It's eye's locking onto me from across the room. I was only going to have one chance at this. Reaching under my shirt, I acted as I was rubbing a full belly, not likely with the pittance food I was allotted. Casually, I reached into the pouch with two fingers. Pinching Alynon's Tear in a precarious grip, I slid it from the bag. The gray werewolf rose onto its front legs as its suspicion grew, a slight growl coming from its throat. Knowing my time was almost up, I pulled the stone from beneath my shirt. Grabbing the tablecloth from the cart, I threw it towards the giant beast as it sprung from the bed, becoming entangled it in the sheet as it spun through the air.
Grabbing the sword grip, I pulled it from the cart, slamming the stone into the empty mount. A flash of light filled the room as time seemed to stop. The sword was the most beautiful weapon I had ever held. The pommel and guard were gold. The hilt was of a blue stone that matched the colors of Alsselya while golden flakes in the stone made it shimmer. Alynon's Tear was locked firmly into its mount, almost like it had never been removed. I could feel its warmth as my palm pressed against it. The blade glimmered from some inner light that drew me in, bonding me with its power.
With just a quick flick of my wrist, I struck down a werewolf that was pouncing at me from behind. With no resistance at all, the blade cut the beast in half. Reaching for my power, the lake where I once felt my magic now seemed infinite. I was almost overwhelmed by the flood as I pulled from it. A slash with the sword behind me quickly decapitated another of my jailers. Another tried to run, but there was nowhere to go. This was now their prison. Raising the sword, I shot a bolt of lightning from the tip, killing the beast instantly.
It all happened so quickly. The gray wolf was just pulling itself from underneath the tablecloth as the last of its fellows died. We stared down one another as it circled me.
“I may not like you, Lord Hannen, but I do pity you. This is no way for a man to live.” With a growl from its throat, the beast lunged. I barely had time to raise my sword before it impacted into me, impaling itself upon the blade. We both fell to the floor from the blow. I lay on my back, the werewolf slowly slid down the blade as it flung about in its death throws. Then, morphing as it slid, it finally stopped at the guard, its form now that of Lord Hannen. He mouthed his last word, ‘Marcus’ as the light left his eyes.
Walking out into the hall, I was met by a lone figure waiting across the doorway from me. Barad smiled in greeting, stepping forward to give me a hug. "It's about time you decided to get off your butt."
“I was being guarded by five werewolves,” I complained.
"King's aren't supposed to be bothered by dogs," He replied as he pulled something from beneath his cloak. "Here, that sword's going to be in the way without this," he said as he handed me a beautiful gold scabbard.
Attaching it to my belt, I slid the sword home, my hand resting naturally on the pommel. “That is better,” I said with a grin. “How did you retrieve the sword?” I asked.
“That’s a long story for another time,” he said with a shake of his head. “If you listen carefully, you can hear the clashing of swords from just about every corner of Olingard. I think you are needed.”
Chapter 26
(Orlik)
When Barad and the Embassy girl went to rescue Lee, or more correctly set up an opportunity for him to rescue himself, the rest of us returned to the lake. The time had come for the dwarves to fight back. Though there was little risk in the service tunnels, I held Slayer tightly in my hands. For three hundred years I had waited for the dwarves to stand up, and it was about to happen. Never before had I ever felt so nervous. Not that I feared failure, or that we may lose. I feared that my people no longer had the will to fight.
I secretly harbored ill will towards my father. Ignoring that was hard. While I could understand in principle that he was just protecting our people, cowering was not the dwarven way. Better to die fighting. My grip on Slayer tightened as I tried to chase away my anger. Now was not the time.
Entering the lake was like entering a dream. Everything I wanted to see from the dwarves was here. The clashing of swords as the soldiers practiced. Dwarves were running around as they prepared for war. My heart overflowed with emotions. I wiped a tear from my eye in the pride I felt for my people.
Lillia led me to a grandstand so I could address the crowd. Walking up the stairs, my eyes fell on the hundreds of dwarves that had gathered to defend their homes. I stood for a moment, speechless with em
otion.
"Dwarves of Olingard!" Lillia announced as she stepped forward to save me from embarrassment. "The time has come for us to take back what be ours. Behind us stand the military leaders of our army," she said as she motioned to the rescued soldiers standing behind us. "They shall each be assigned a unit to lead in battle. And here, here before you be our great Prince, Orlik! He is here to lead us against this enemy!"
The crowd cheered as Lillia turned to me, her eyes ordering me to step up. Clearing my throat, I looked at my people. "Dwarves of Olingard, I have returned," I yelled out to a roaring cheer. "I want you to know, I missed me home. I am glad to have returned. For three hundred years, we dwarves have bent a knee to Dommeran. That stops today! We be a strong people! A good people! No longer shall we allow tyranny against us. Olingard be ours. No damn Dommerians shall take that from us. We are dwarves! And we will fight!" With that, the crowd roared in excitement. I looked on with pride at these people who would risk death going against the might of Dommeran rather than risk a life of servitude.
Lillia stepped up to me and took my hand. “There be the dwarf I love.”
“I’ve never stopped loving you, Lillia,” I answered shyly. The crowd roared again as she leaned forward to kiss me on the stage.
I gave an embarrassed wave to the crowd as we made our way back off the platform. Lillia turned to the military leaders. “General Kellic, there are five units of soldiers ready. Assign your men as leaders and get them moving. Most importantly we want control of that gate. I want no more Dommerians within our walls. Allow them to leave, but none shall enter. Send a unit to protect the King and free Prince Henlark. If he’s able, he may join the fighting. Other than that, it be your job to push those Dommerians out of Olingard and do it now. We already have plans in action that can no be reversed.”
“Aye, Councilor Lillia. I shall do it now,” the General snapped to attention. He gave me a quick salute and pulled his dwarves away for assignment.
“What shall we do?” Brianna asked.