Lizzy scrambled for her footing, and finally found some rocks on which to stand. She emerged from the stream and looked behind to see if anything followed them. She heard nothing, and couldn’t fathom what the dwarf boys were muttering about. As Lizzy turned, Skyler hurriedly pulled her behind a tree. The other boy handed Jedrek back to her so she could console him. There was rustling in the trees beyond the stream, and soon the voices of goblins followed.
“How’d ’ya let da girl ’n baby get’way? If we don’t-a find ’em, we’ll all see da dungeon before da day’s out!” the fattest of the goblins growled as they searched the stream’s banks.
“They’re bein’ helped! ‘Tisn’t me fault!” bolted the goblin who was in charge of searching the tunnel.
Another goblin knelt, looking at the bank, “They crossed here. There was two of ’em!”
“Only two of ’em… this’ll be easy,” the leader sighed as he eyed the one that Lizzy narrowly escaped on the steps. “Let’s get ’em!”
The goblins started wading across the stream, the water reluctantly washing away months of refuse that called their bodies home. They were completely unaware of what awaited them on the other side.
Skyler urged Lizzy farther into the woods for her protection, and then he and the other boys stepped out from the trees to address their foe.
“There might be more than three. Do you still think it will be easy?” Skyler asked sarcastically. He enjoyed toying with goblins.
“They sent babies!” The lead goblin stated with a deep laugh. “I like nothing more than roasted dwarf babies!”
The goblins climbed out of the deepest part of the stream, reaching for their swords as they approached the side. Not one of the goblins had time to lift his blade as the boys let loose with their wicked weapons. Skyler threw his knife, solidly lodging it in the leader’s throat. There were five other boys in all, with two of the smallest using cross-bows to kill their goblins. The biggest three dove off the bank and into the stream, burying their axes in the remaining goblins.
Within seconds, the dwarf boys took care of the veteran guard of goblins, decisively proving their worth to Lizzy. The only noise left over from the quick battle was the constant sound of the rushing river, which urgently carried the dead goblin carcasses downstream, cleansing the area of their filth.
Lizzy watched the quick, furious, battle from the safety of the trees, gaining a far higher level of respect for her guides. They did not have the maturity she was hoping for, but they were highly skilled. For the time being, Lizzy felt as though she and Jedrek were safe.
“Lizzy, we must keep going, no time to rest,” Skyler said as he smugly strode right by her. He felt very proud with what had just occurred and knew Lizzy was impressed.
The group marched late into the night, stopping only once to feed Jedrek. When they stopped to sleep Skyler made a fire while the others checked the area. Finally, they sat down to rest for the night. Lizzy sat and watched as the young dwarves secured the camp and was amazed by how thorough and efficient they were, like a regular army unit. Perhaps they were the hardened warriors they portrayed themselves to be?
As the boys sat down to warm themselves, Lizzy asked, “Skyler, can you introduce me to your friends?”
“Pardon my manners. Of course, I can. These are my friends from the Ring Mountains. This is Taylor, Meril, and Quigle. They are brothers, with Taylor the oldest and Quigle the youngest. The other two are Balthar and Shalkar. They, too are brothers, and have been by my side since we were children.”
As Skyler announced each name, the boy stood forward and waved with varying levels of sheepishness at Lizzy. All of them found her attractive, and only one of them had the courage to say it. The last, and littlest, of the dwarves, Shalkar, approached Lizzy. He took her hand and bent low, kissing it. He then began to recite a poem:
“You are more beautiful
Than my loyalty is dutiful.
Your complexion more lovely,
Than the stars above me.
Your sparkle in your eyes,
Brighter than the brightest skies.
And your hand forever mine,
If you would be so very kind.”
His friends grimaced as he began his routine, one they had witnessed many more times than was necessary or pleasant.
“How old are you?” Lizzy asked, partially impressed by the boy, but also a bit disgusted by the thoughts that must have been going through his mind.
“Love knows no boundaries, and age has no affect. But if you must know, I am already nine years of age,” Shalkar boasted, certain his new lady would think nine was quite old enough.
Lizzy could not believe what she was hearing. First boys were sent to save her, and now one of them was pining for her in the most disgusting and annoying fashion. The other boys were giggling out of control, quite used to Shalkar’s antics. Shalkar could not take his eyes of Lizzy, the ravishing target of his unquenchable desire. It made Lizzy want to cover up.
She left the fire and the boy’s attention, and laid down with Jedrek. She was ready for sleep, and made sure to cover up. The boys took turns taking watch, keeping Lizzy and Jedrek safe through the night. The next morning Lizzy woke, and much to her surprise she found Skyler feeding Jedrek. “What are you doing? What are you feeding him?”
“It is the juice from several plants mixed together. I have fed it to my little sister many times. I didn’t want to wake you, you were sleeping so soundly.”
Lizzy sat up and wiped the sleep out of her eyes as she watched Jedrek drink down the last of the bottle. “Jedrek doesn’t usually eat all of his bottles, he really likes your drink.”
Shalkar walked up carrying a flat rock with an arrangement of wild flowers tied together and berries he found in the woods. “Beautiful flowers for the beautiful lady,” Shalkar said, as he bent low to deliver the morning breakfast to his hopeful companion.
Lizzy was still uncomfortable with his attention, but she was very hungry. She also had to admit the flowers were beautiful. “Thank you Shalkar, some girl will be lucky to have you,” she said with sincerity, for she had never been courted so. She wished Telon were here to see it, and wondered if he would be jealous.
Shalkar would not take the hint, “But Lizzy, it would be unfair to waste time with another, for my heart will forever be filled with thoughts of you.” His mind was made up, and he would not easily alter his desired destiny.
“Lizzy, I will save you for the moment,” Skyler said as he butted in, “You must eat quickly, for we need to move fast today. If we do not reach our home by tonight, I fear we will regret it.”
Lizzy got her and Jedrek’s things together as she ate her remaining berries. She took one of the flowers she was given and placed it in her hair, which greatly pleased Shalkar. Soon they were off, and trouncing through the woods on their journey.
They marched most of the day, with Skyler and Lizzy marching together. Taylor, Meril, and Quigle watched the rear, which is where they expected an attack would most likely come from. Balthar and Shalkar took the lead, and picked their path through the forest.
Around midday they came upon the South Road that led to the Flats. Much to Lizzy’s chagrin, they scurried across the open road and back into the forest on the other side. Every so often during the march one of the brothers would come to Skyler and give an update, and it was late in the afternoon when Skyler ordered them to stop and rest. He gave two short whistles to let the others know to come to him.
Balthar and Shalkar came quickly, but the three did not. “Shalkar, let’s go and see what is keeping them. Balthar, stay with Lizzy. If you hear me whistle like a quail, you must go fast and wait for nothing.”
“Yes sir,” Balthar stated proudly. It was difficult for Lizzy to know if any of these boys understood this was not a game, as for the most part, it looked like they were playing.
Lizzy and Balthar waited in the opening, ready to move. Out of the silence they heard a low whistle that quickly rose to a high pitch, th
e sound of a quail.
“We must go!” Balthar said, his concern obvious as he grabbed Lizzy’s hand. Before they even made it out of the clearing the screams of goblins could be heard from behind. Lizzy turned to look, but once again Balthar pulled her forward.
“We are mighty warriors! My friends and brother will catch up to us, fear not!” Balthar said as he quickly navigated the thick underbrush. They made their way to a high point on a hill.
Lizzy was getting very nervous as the raucous behind them was getting closer and louder. Her only comfort was every scream she heard was a goblin’s. Close to the top of the ridge they came to a clearing where Lizzy could turn and see below. She could see many goblins chasing them, darting here and there through the trees. Regularly one after another would vanish from sight as her new dwarf friends picked them off from hidden positions.
Her heart ached as she pulled Jedrek very close to her bosom, trying to protect him. She knew there was no way only a few dwarf boys could hold off so many goblins.
Balthar pulled her again, and they turned to ran over the top of the ridge. As they started down the other side Lizzy saw a large river at the bottom of the steep hill, it made the last one they crossed look like a small creek. They were bouncing from tree to tree, using them to slow their momentum and keep them from rolling down the hill. Lizzy took a beating as she moved Jedrek to save him from hitting the trunks.
“We need to get across the river, the goblins will never be able to cross it!” Balthar huffed between heavy breaths, urging Lizzy forward.
The high-pitched scream they heard stopped Balthar in his tracks and he turned to look, concern halting him. “My brother, they got Shalkar!”
He then turned back in anguish toward Lizzy, barely able to speak, “Make for the river, find a way across and you will be fine. I must go to find Shalkar and the others, they need my help!”
Balthar turned and started up the hill, drawing his cross-bow even as the goblins started over the top. He aimed carefully and using each shot to take down another goblin. He was too mad to stop and too strained in his heart to give much thought to his own care. Lizzy left her bag and kept going, knowing her only duty was to save Jedrek. She didn’t allow herself to think of what was happening to the little boys, which for but a little while, were her personal protectors. If not for the dwarf boys she would be already dead.
Lizzy heard the arrows zipping by her. Several arrows stuck into the trees as she ducked in and out behind them. They were closing in as she finally reached the river. It was far larger and louder than it seemed from above, the water was crashing so hard from boulder to boulder that she struggled to find out the direction it was flowing. She was sure there was no way she could make it across to safety.
A spear sliced across her arm, ripping her sleeve, and drawing immediate blood. She screamed and the pain shot through her like a bolt of lightning. It was a deep cut that, if she was lucky enough to survive the day, it would be hard to mend.
With all the courage she could muster, Lizzy did the unthinkable and jumped into the rushing water. The freezing river bit at her a thousand times, but she paid no attention as she tried to hold Jedrek above the rush. He too was wide awake now from being splashed by the frothy flow. Lizzy saw a large log stuck in the rapids and grabbed onto it as she raced down river, carried by the freezing mass of water. Lizzy wrapped both of her arms around it, and used it to stay afloat, propping Jedrek into a crook in it. The tide of the river threatened to rip her from her anchor.
Lizzy turned back to the shore she came from and noticed the goblins as they ran along the bank. They were searching for a way to get to her, but there were far less of them than she saw before. The dwarf boys were nowhere to be seen, she hoped they were still alive.
Exhaustion stole her courage and zapped her last strength. Lizzy didn’t know if she could hang on much longer. Thoughts raced through her mind as her fingers weakened. Did she do the right thing? Should she have gone another way? Lizzy knew she had failed, and was ready to embrace her death.
Turning back again, she noticed the goblins taking fire from the across the river. She looked to the far side to see who was firing and noticed dwarves of the Hills. They were trading fire with the goblins as hope rose again in her heart, at least for the death of her pursuers. She recognized a dwarf on the edge of the river as Mylar, son of Kilgore. Mylar held a rope in one hand and dove into the churning water.
She gave no attention to anything else, watching only for Mylar to come up out of the river. He dove into the fastest current, and she doubted even he would be strong enough of swimmer to make it to her. Jedrek cried out as if calling for help himself, but Lizzy could offer him neither help nor solace.
Exhausted, her grip gave way, and she surrendered to the relentless torrent of the river. “Sorry,” she whispered just before going under, though none would hear. She started to swallow water quickly, as she desperately was gasping for air. Lizzy closed her eyes and gave in.
As if by a ghost, Lizzy was jerked back above the current. Her head jolted above the airless water, and she choked and coughed the freezing fluid from her lungs. She opened her eyes to see Mylar standing waste deep in the current, bracing himself, Lizzy, and Jedrek against the fierce current. Lizzy could not understand what he was saying to her, she could only nod her head in agreement.
Mylar swam the width of the river and saved Lizzy, but they still had to make it back. The boys, still alive and arriving to the river, slaughtered the marauding goblins. The only issue left for Mylar was getting back to his side of the shore. He put his mighty arm around Lizzy and held her around her chest, while carefully holding Jedrek to keep him above the water. He already tied the rope around his waist and held on as his men pulled him quickly across the flowing water to safety on the other side.
Only when they reached land was Lizzy able to get the last of the water from her congested lungs. Mylar still held Jedrek as Lizzy was finally able to speak, “Thank you Mylar, you saved both of us!”
Mylar looked strangely at Lizzy and the other dwarves who were present, “You are welcome,” he said awkwardly, “I couldn’t leave you out there, I am glad you are safe.”
Lizzy did not enjoy the exchange, she thought something wasn’t quite right. She stood to look across the river. All the boys were lined up on the bank to see if she and Jedrek had survived. She waved to them, and they waved back. It was no use yelling. The sound would never carry over the roar of the rolling river.
“We must go now,” Mylar said. “There could be more goblins coming,” he continued as he handed Jedrek to the dwarf next to him. “We need to make our camp by evening.”
Lizzy reached for Jedrek, but the dwarf carrying him withheld him from her.
“Please give him to me,” Lizzy pleaded. She knew she could not take him by force.
The dwarf looked to Mylar for permission, which he nodded in agreement reluctantly. She was not comfortable with these dwarves. She wished now that she were still with the boys on the other side.
Both Lizzy and Mylar waved to the boys to go on, which they did. Mylar’s dwarves turned and marched up the mountainside, away from the river. They soon disappeared into the thick forest.
Skyler led his troops, trudging up the steep hill, away from Lizzy and Jedrek.
“I can’t believe the maiden of my dreams is gone!” Shalkar agonized, feeling like a part of his soul had been stolen.
“Please, Skalkar. I can’t believe you let such a dumb creature get you with a knife!” Skyler lamented. He was disappointed in losing Lizzy and Jedrek, but thankful they were safe from the goblins.
“There were many, but there are none now,” Shalkar rebutted, staring into an empty space above Skyler where in his mind he could still see the battle. He held his wound with his good hand and tried to stop the bleeding. His future scar would be most impressive. Nearly as impressive as the story that would surely grow over time.
“It was a fat and slow slug of a goblin,” Q
uigle said with a giggle as he mimicked the exploding goblin, “he popped like a tick when I jabbed him in the back.” The others also laughed at the thought.
“You would have suffocated if we hadn’t rolled him off you in time!” Taylor said, jumping into the bashing.
Skyler stopped and turned, bringing the others to a halt. “We are not out of this yet,” he chastised, reminding them of the peril they were still in. “I trust not the likes of Mylar, or any dwarves of the Hills. We were sent here by Dorir, he would not have sent two groups. Why were they here, and on that side of the river? It makes no sense. We need to cross and find out! The future king may need us now more than ever.” Skyler was very stoic as he spoke, as he was never one to underplay a situation.
Seeing his chance, Shalkar stood forward, “Yes, the future king needs us!”
“Uh huh,” Meril started with a grin, “you really care about the baby, don’t you?”
Skyler cared not about ribbing Shalkar, “We are going after the dwarves of the Hills. They will be moving fast, so we need to move faster.” Skyler rushed his friends back down the mountain. They ran as fast as they could, trying to catch up to Lizzy and Jedrek. It didn’t take long for them to find a place to cross the rushing river, and quickly they picked up the trail of the dwarves on the other side. Their young legs and hearts would be put to the test to catch up to the veteran war soldiers of the Hills. Skyler didn’t know what he would do when, or if, they caught up to Mylar. He would figure that out later.
Chapter 18: Of Myths and Legends
The glowing white summer dress swirled around Milan as she strolled idly through the Garden of Fountains and Streams which meandered around the base of the mountain just below the Great Hall. The flowers of many colors adorned her long hair like a crown of summer. The sun of the early summer day was just rising in the east, opening the valley as though it were the first daylight to ever see it.
Milan bent low, placing her perfect hand across Tegan’s rugged face. Her soft touch brought him awake, “My love,” her voice floated through his head. “It is time for you to rise, set aside your doubt, and believe we will make it through.”
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