Skyler, Taylor, and Quigle went back to the perch overlooking the small ridge. Most of the dwarves were deep in slumber, with only a few moving below. Then the calls started down in the valley. They were very weak at first, but soon grew stronger. It sounded like a bunch of wild boars were having a meeting in the woods below the ridge. The snorts bounced and echoed throughout the valley.
The heads of the sleeping dwarves, one by one, started to pop up. They went over to the edge of the rocky ridge, trying to see how many were down there.
“I’m-a hungry. Roasted hog sounds perty good,” one said.
“Nuttin’ like a late night-a snack!” answered another.
Many of the dwarves gathered their swords and axes, preparing for the hunt.
“Why’s can’t I smell ‘em? I usually can smell hogs pretty good,” another asked.
“Maybe they’s clean hogs, just bathed?” the first one answered, his stomach winning the argument over his brain.
“Somt’a you need ta stay, Mylar’ll have yer hides if’n you’s gone long,” the guard watching Mylar’s tent said. “Five need ’ta stay, the rest’n need’t hurryin ‘long and get dose hogs a-roast’n!”
The dwarves, all except five, ran to the woods on a hog hunt.
Δ
“My throat’s starting to hurt,” Meril complained, he was not as practiced for snorting like a pig as he used to be.
“Don’t stop now, you are snorting like a champ! The dwarves are coming after us,” Shalkar ordered as the three turned to lead the dwarves farther into the woods. They ran just ahead of the hungry dwarves, leading them farther and farther away from their camp. Their plan to give Skyler enough time to free the captives was working.
They came to a stream and stopped, as the snorts had attracted more than the dwarves. Crossing the stream, and coming toward them, was a large pack of very wild boars. Each of the boars was larger than the boys.
“I guess I was snorting like a female pig!” the terrified Meril wailed in disgust. Even with everything that was happening, he was pained at the thought of sounding female.
“They are getting close behind us, we are trapped,” Balthar uttered desperately, his head jetting back and forth between the approaching hogs and the following dwarves.
“At least Lizzy will be safe,” Shalkar wisped, accepting his fate. Then added after a delay, “and the baby.”
A sound that stiffened the spine of everything in the river bottom, a mountain panther, roared from the trees just above them. The panther could not believe his luck at the feast that was brought to his table tonight.
The panther leapt down, landing solidly on a rock between the hogs and the dwarf boys, his only decision was who to take down first. All were frozen for a second, the silence then broken by the dwarfs in pursuit crashing through the brush. They too heard the panther, and did not want it stealing their prize.
Shalkar stole the chance, grabbing his two friends he violently pulled them into the stream below the water fall, escaping the fray. Before the hogs or panther could react, the rest of the dwarves plunged through the brush and joined them in a three-way battle at the stream to see just who would get a late-night snack.
Skyler, leading Taylor and Quigle, crept down by the camp. The five remaining soldiers were looking over the ridge, watching for the return of their friends with the hogs.
The guard watching Mylar’s tent said, “The only thing that a-made ‘em move faster was if they thought women were down there. Heck, we all would have left for that!”
Taylor smiled and looked at Skyler, who only brushed him off with a wave of his hand. Skyler scurried across an opening to where the closest tent was, now left unguarded. He was happy to find Lizzy in there. She was tied up with a wrap around her face and in her mouth. He loosened her bindings quickly, “Where is Jedrek?”
“He is with Mylar, we must get him!” Lizzy answered, hopeful they could get away.
Quigle poked his head through the tent, “Something is happening below, we heard a horn and several other of the dwarves took off. There are only two now. I think the rest are returning though, we need to go!”
“Take her, I need to get Jedrek,” Skyler answered, and then to Lizzy, “Go with Quigle, I will find him.”
“Please save him!” Lizzy begged, and then Quigle lead them back to the rocks after checking the way.
Skyler peered out the tent, indeed the rest of the dwarves were climbing the hill to the ridge. He needed to act fast. He crept to the next two tents, finding them empty. He then went for the last tent, pulling his knife for what was sure to be there. The reflection of the blade from the fires drew the attention of the two dwarves that remained. They turned to walk over and check out what was going on.
Skyler stepped lightly inside the tent. He could see two humps covered with blankets, one far larger than the other. He knew what he needed to do. He raised his blade high, knowing he would only have one shot without getting a fight. He jumped and brought the blade down on Mylar with everything he had, the blade sinking deep and quickly into the unsuspecting dwarf. Only it was not him, nor any dwarf.
The blade sliced through the rolled-up blankets and broke on the rock below the tent. Mylar had slipped out in the night in secret with Jedrek. Skyler was surprised as the tent flap opened, and the massive head of the dwarf guard pushed in. Skyler quickly grabbed a loose rock, and spinning with all his might brought the weight of the rock flat against the dwarf’s head, knocking him cold. Much to Skyler’s surprise, two dwarves fell in, knocked out.
Taylor watched as the two dwarves went to the tent Skyler was in. He knew he needed to do something. Even Skyler was no match for two fully grown warrior dwarves.
Taylor was great at throwing rocks, and he needed to act fast. He grabbed a rock of good weight, unleashed a wicked toss the caught the second dwarf against the back of his head. Much to Taylor’s surprise, both dwarves fell forward, into the tent. He then saw Skyler climb under the back side of the tent, and scuttle over to the rocky cliffs where Taylor was still hiding.
Both boys proudly announced in unison, “I knocked them both out!” They paused, and then said, “What?” again in unison. Each could not believe the other was prepared to take credit for his victory.
Taylor broke the silence. “Where is Jedrek?”
“He and Mylar are gone,” Skyler said. “They must have gotten out hours ago. I pray that baby stays alive.”
“No, he can’t have taken Jedrek!” Lizzy pleaded hopelessly.
Skyler hushed Lizzy. He looked out and saw the growing hoard of dwarves with their bounty of hogs, and a panther to boot. Skyler and Taylor could not believe their eyes, and had many more questions than answers at what they saw.
“We need to go,” Skyler said, “This night is getting stranger by the minute.”
The dwarves were content at their feast, and only the next morning discovered the two dwarves knocked out, one on top of the other, in Mylar’s tent. They had no answers for where or why Mylar had left, nor did the two dwarves have answers why they decided to sleep together. The blows to their heads erased any memories of Skyler sneaking around the tents, and anything they said to explain their sleeping arrangement brought sarcastic laughs from the rest of the company.
Skyler and Taylor eventually met up with the rest of their group. They marched throughout the night, telling stories of what had happened and of all their narrow escapes. Lizzy was devastated at the thought of where Jedrek was, and paid no heed to the boys.
Lizzy knew Mylar, and whomever he was working for, wanted that baby. He was too valuable to kill, so she felt certain he would survive. The thought of Jedrek in their hands was too much for her to take, and she would not talk. Her only thoughts were to get back to Telon, so he and Tegan could make this right.
Skyler thought it too dangerous to go straight back to Tunder Bin, and Lizzy wouldn’t allow them to travel back to the Ring Mountains. He decided to veer in another direction to hide their escape. While
he succeeded in throwing off the followers that did eventually come, he succeeded even more in getting them hopelessly lost.
Chapter 21: The Demon’s Chamber
At first, they lay in total darkness, but soon their eyes began to see a faint blue glow coming off the walls. It was given off from algae living on the damp walls of the inner mountain. It certainly wasn’t bright, but it did allow for sight. Timo quickly bandaged his friends, with Tegan’s help, as best they could. Erol was very hurt, barely able to lift his left arm. He needed rest, but there was no time for that. They decided it was best to splint it up against his body, hoping he wouldn’t need to use it for a little while at least.
“We need to go, we didn’t come this far to sit here until the gargoyles come by! Milan and my son are waiting,” Tegan urged his friends on. He was driven even more than before, as he knew he was close to his prize. They began to walk, slowly and quietly, hoping to conceal their presence for as long as they could. Kyrie’s map showed them the way, and they trusted it would get them to the right place.
“We must be far from the front of the mountain, or surely they would have heard the rock slide,” Jaric mused.
The gargoyles certainly trusted the Tolltier to do their job, leaving that end mostly abandoned. Tegan’s thoughts were only on Milan. He knew where he would probably find Milan, but had no idea how he would get her out.
The halls were much smaller than those in a dwarf city, and much rougher. It was more like a bee hive, with many openings everywhere, and seemingly little order. Every so often they encountered a gargoyle that they either hid from or killed, whichever was easier. As they got closer to the main area of the hive these encounters grew more frequent, and they were running into several gargoyles at once.
After hours of walking through the dank tunnels, they finally came upon an opening that looked down into a large hall. Far below them on the main floor there were many ranks of gargoyles standing at attention. It appeared they were receiving instructions.
Then the one gargoyles stood, and all the others knelt. Tegan knew this must be Sain as he was enormous, even bigger than Kyrie. There were guards standing at a door on the far side, Tegan guessed Milan must be in that room. He tried to think of a way to get in there, and out, with Milan and Jedrek.
“Let’s go, we need to get closer,” Tegan said, and they made their way down to the level of the guarded door. It was a windy path downward, and it took them quite some time. Often, they needed to hide from an oncoming gargoyle. They finally reached the main floor which was mostly empty, all the troops from before dispersed. Sain and his guard were nowhere to be seen.
The one room was well guarded. It had to be the room they were looking for. Timo stepped forward and said excitedly, “I have an idea!” He took off his hat, and waving his hand over it, a quick flash of light streamed forth covering them all in a cloud of smoke. As it dissipated, Tegan couldn’t believe what he saw. Timo turned Erol, Jaric, and himself into gargoyles. Then Tegan looked down and saw he was not excluded, and was no longer amused.
“Timo, what were you trying to do,” Tegan exclaimed, as he had no time for games.
“This, this is what I was doing, now we can sneak around without being noticed,” replied Timo, proud of his accomplishment. “This should work fine!”
“When will we turn back to normal?” Erol asked, very concerned.
“Not sure, a while at least, I think?” Timo replied, realizing he forgot that important detail.
They walked straight across the main floor and right up to the guards at the door, doing their best to walk like gargoyles.
“Let us pass,” said Tegan, wishing he could have thought of something more official to say.
“By whose orders?” the guard demanded, already suspicious. His orders were that no one was to be allowed in the room unless Sain was with them.
“Mine!” Erol growled as he stepped forward, pinning one of the guards against the wall with his good arm. Jaric and Tegan went after the other guard, who was well trained and the battle was fierce. It was all Jaric and Tegan could do to take down their guard. Erol kept his helplessly pinned while Timo took out his sword and ran it through, but it took several stabs to finish the job.
“My first kill!” said Timo, feeling proud of it.
“Maybe Erol can hold down more things for you to stab like a woman,” chided Jaric.
Tegan had no time for it, and took keys off the guards and unlocked the door. They quickly slipped in and closed the door, leaving the two dead gargoyles outside. There were several more gargoyles in the room, standing watch over a motionless body lying on the floor. It was Milan.
Tegan went right for his axe, but was stayed by Jaric, “Easy, we will get her, but let’s play this right.” Tegan took his hand off the axe, but he would not be able to hold himself back much longer.
They walked slowly across the room and approached the four guards that were standing by Milan. One of them turned as they approached, “Who are you,” he asked sharply as he reached for his sword. Tegan could not be held a back any longer and he quickly launched his axe at the guard, knocking it off his feet. He then went for another guard as the fight broke loose. Jaric and Erol joined him as Timo went back to the door. The battle was quite loud and Timo heard others yelling outside. He reached the door as more gargoyles approached, but he locked it just in time. The hall they had crossed earlier was now flooding again with gargoyles. Whatever they were going to do, they needed to do it fast!
Timo barred the door, but it would not hold long. He turned to see Erol on his back with a gargoyle on top of him. Jaric was going around with one of the guards, while Tegan was letting the intestines out of his foe. Tegan then went for the one that was on Erol, only to realize Erol had already choked it death with his one arm. Tegan recovered his axe from the neck of the first gargoyle, and used it to slash the back of the filth that was on Jaric. The beast wailed in pain, the distraction gave Jaric the opportunity to hatchet the neck of the monster, gashing it to death.
The guards taken care of, Timo rushed to Tegan’s side. They looked at Milan lying motionless on the ground, surrounded by a field of magic. Timo knelt and tried to think of how to break the field, it would only be a matter of time before the gargoyles outside the door poured into the room. Jaric and Erol went to secure the chamber as best they could, trying to further bar the door. Tegan took out his axe and held it in front of him and the stone began to glow, low at first and then greater. Milan’s stone also began to glow again, and then Milan’s hand began to move. Soon Milan lifted her head slightly, and looked at Tegan with a hint of a smile. The weakened field of magic Milan sustained was almost gone, and Sain’s spells were ready to take her last strength.
“We will get you out, Timo, can you do anything?” Tegan said to Milan and Timo, frantically trying to think of any way to free her.
“I can try,” Timo responded, knowing he was their only chance. He tried many spells to free Milan, but none were strong enough. The sound of the gargoyles outside continued to grow louder. They were banging on the door and trying explosives, but could not break the seal. Milan lay still, trying to maintain her strength. She was comforted by having Tegan so close. Outside, the noise ceased, and all was quiet as the dwarves looked toward the door. They wondered what was to happen next, and then it came.
The door was ripped from the wall with a deafening explosion, taking a large portion of the wall with it. As the smoke cleared, there stood Sain, King of the Gargoyles. Sain walked triumphantly through the clearing dust with a very satisfactory grin on his face. All his plans had come through, as standing before him was the mighty King of Tunder Bin. His sinister laugh echoed off the walls, causing more rock to fall. They crashed to the floor and kicked up even more dust. Even Erol was cowed by the gargoyle, for he now knew what had waited for him in the forest the day of the attempted kidnapping at the river. Sain stopped his laugh and said, “So… Tegan… King of the Dwarves. He… who sneaks like a rat
thief into my house to save his beloved Milan. The plan succeeds, and the end is near.”
The dwarves and Erol stood tall, forming a protective ring around Milan as other gargoyles poured into the room behind Sain. They mustered the last of their courage, realizing there was no way out. Tegan drew his axe while the others armed themselves, his exhausted and beaten down friends at his side, one last time. In Sain’s presence, all their gargoyle disguises disappeared. Timo started thinking of ways he could out-magic Sain, but it seemed far from possible.
Sain looked directly into Tegan’s eyes, searching his soul, and spoke, “You are proud and strong, but your fate is decided. You will not survive this day. Your only choice is whether your friends will die with you, or you alone.” Tegan new Sain was speaking the truth.
“So, what is my choice?” Tegan demanded, striding at Sain, fearlessly.
“You may make your stand, and all of you will be wiped out instantly, or you alone may surrender to me. If you do so, I will allow your companions to leave. They will be unharmed and freed, for now.”
“And what of Milan?” Timo asked, waiting to hear Sain’s answer.
“She will go with them, also unharmed.”
“We can’t allow you to die here, we will fight to the death!” argued Jaric, coming up to stand by Tegan.
“We fight!” Erol said as the anger grew inside him, snapping the bindings on his injured arm. He limped up beside his friends.
“Think, my offer will soon expire. My generosity has limits,” Sain said, prompting Tegan to make a decision.
“I accept your offer to surrender, let them go now,” Tegan answered, accepting his fate. He knew it was Milan’s only chance to get away. At that moment, the field around Milan dropped and Tegan rushed to her.
“You came, I knew you would find a way,” she said weakly.
“Yes, and now we need to get you out of here, where is Jedrek?” Tegan asked, praying she knew where his son might be.
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