The Demon's Chamber

by Brian Spielbauer

  Tegan paused, and then then looked to Erol and said, “Go find my brother, and please bring him back. If he goes to aid the enemy…” Tegan looked to Quelna, unable to finish his thought.

  Erol did not question the order and quickly left on his mission. He knew Telon would be making for the mountain. Erol hoped it was to save Timo, and that he wasn’t going to join the other side.

  Chapter 24: Thief in the Night

  Erol snuck through the bushy lower mountains and woods, being as sneaky as an ogre can, as he searched for Telon. He heard ahead of him grunting from a large beast, so he worked his way through the hedges and along a dried-up ravine to see what was ahead.

  Climbing up to the ridge of the bank he saw a small dragon feasting on several Tolltier. Erol was amazed at what he saw, for it was the dragon he had set free in what seemed like a lifetime ago. The dragon stopped eating, and quickly turned to the familiar smell in his nose, looking directly at Erol. Seeing him, the dragon immediately dropped its prey and trampled toward the ravine, lunging at Erol. Erol was too slow and too surprised to defend himself, and before he knew it, he was pinned to the rocky ground by the large creature. Erol thought he was about to be eaten, but instead the dragon proceeded to thoroughly lick his face.

  “Oh, dragon breathe,” Erol sputtered, trying to get away from the slobbery bath. The dragon was grateful to Erol for its second chance at life, and only knew one way how to show it. “Stop…please,” Erol asked in between tongue lashings.

  The dragon stopped, giving Erol room to stand. Erol had barely gotten up when there was a loud roar. Telon, astride Bramble, leapt into the ravine. Bramble moved between the dragon and Erol, ready to fight the beast.

  “You will not eat ogre today!” Telon commanded as he drew his axe and readied Bramble for the attack.

  “Wait!” Erol shouted. “He… he did not attack me! I think he… I think he likes me,” Erol stuttered. He was not exactly sure what to make of all of this.

  “What?” the confused Telon asked, keeping his axe drawn, but pulling Bramble back a little.

  Erol walked around Telon and approached the dragon. “Why are you here?” asked Erol, putting his hand on the dragon’s neck. The dragon made no sound, but gave a grimacing look to the Tolltier.

  “You don’t like them either?” Erol asked. The dragon nodded. Erol looked into the dragon’s eyes and said, “I call you Gile. You are my friend.” Erol again rubbed Gile along his neck.

  “Erol and Gile!” Telon proclaimed as he raised his axe above his head in tribute. “Gile and Erol!” he said in reverse. “Now that will make a formidable team. I wonder if he can get into the mountain,” he said jokingly, but then tuned more serious. “I need to get going,” he continued. “Why are you out here?”

  “Tegan sent me to find you, and bring you back,” Erol said.

  “I can’t go back. My own brother doesn’t trust me, nor does anyone else,” Telon replied, and then grew quiet.

  “He wants you to come back, and those are my orders,” Erol said, challenging Telon even though they were friends. He was not comfortable doing so, but orders were orders.

  Telon pulled Bramble back again, and then squared up on Erol. “I will not go back, and we will fight to the death if you try and take me.”

  Gile moved behind Erol, ready to aid his new friend.

  Telon spoke again, his tone a bit softer, “There will be nothing I can do to earn back their trust if I am there, and their doubt will always remain. I was to go and get Timo, and that is what I will do. You can leave now, or if you desire, you can try to make me go with you. What will it be, old friend?” Telon hoped Erol would just go back.

  Erol thought for a bit, “I will go with you into the mountain and help get Timo back.”

  “No, that will not do,” said Telon. “I must do this on my own, and prove to myself and all others that I am capable and trustworthy. I will enter the mountain alone. Besides, you are a little big to be sneaking around in those tunnels.” At the last part, Telon risked a quick smile.

  Erol thought again, and said, “I will make sure you get in the mountain, and then I will return and let the others know that I found you.”

  Telon grudgingly agreed to his escort. He needed, as much for himself as anyone else, to do this alone. In truth, he was very happy to have the company of Erol on the rest of his journey.

  They climbed the low hills back to the entrance where Tegan and Erol escaped a few days earlier. The sun was setting when they reached the opening to the mountain. They were approaching from above it to avoid being seen and could look down below. There they saw the vast army of the gargoyles, alongside the equally large army of goblins. Telon was confused, as he also saw dwarves. They were from the race of King Kilgore.

  “They have taken dwarves as prisoners, you must get word to Tegan,” Telon told Erol.

  “They are not guarded,” Erol pointed out, and indeed they were not. They joined with the enemy.

  Telon was taken aback, but Erol was right. There were several hundred dwarves that appeared to have taken up sides with Sain. “They have chosen, there will be no going back.”

  Erol looked to the entrance. He saw the thousands of goblins and gargoyles below, and asked, “How will you get in?” focusing on the task at hand.

  “I won’t be able to sneak in the front door. That much is for certain. Look around. There are many ways into our city. Perhaps there are more ways into this rat hole as well.” Telon scurried through the rocky outcroppings in hopes of finding another way in. He found a vent with warm air emanating from it. The vent had to lead deep into the mountain. He didn’t know where it ended, but it was the best chance he had of sneaking in.

  A roar from below interrupted the comfortable silence. Gile was in trouble. Erol and Telon ran to him. A growing throng of gargoyles and goblins were rushing over the dragon like ants. Gile had lost his footing and rolled down the hill, into full sight of the evil army.

  “You go, “Erol commanded Telon boldly. “I will help Gile.”

  “They will get you too!” Telon begged his friend to let him help.

  Erol knew what must be done. “No time,” he said. “You must go now while they are distracted.”

  Telon conceded, and turned to his mount. “Bramble, go with Erol, and help him free the dragon. We will be together soon.”

  Bramble did not want to leave his master, but went reluctantly with Erol.

  Δ

  Erol saw Gile struggling with the number of assailants crawling over him. There were many arrows flying, and spears too. Erol wasted no time as he grabbed a small tree that was felled by the rolling Gile. He bounded down the hill and came upon the creatures that were fighting his new friend. Erol smashed several of the beasts with his feet as he landed and then began freeing Gile of the maggots that were latched on his back. Bramble too entered the battle, tearing down goblin after goblin.

  Gile, with some weight off his back, was finally able to show his true strength. He turned on his enemy with vengeance, for he was often tortured by the goblins that raised him. His hatred was well earned and not easily shed!

  The dragon reared onto his hind legs, spewing forth terrible amounts of fire onto the gathering crowd of goblins. Instantly everything within range of Gile burst into flames. The burning goblins rolled on the ground, trying to put out the flames, but the fire would not exhaust. Gile then went back onto four legs, with Erol mounted the dragon from behind. He rode Gile like a horse, a very big horse! While they won the immediate skirmish, a very small number of the enemy had been dealt with. Gile was already injured, with many spears and arrows stuck in his hide. Erol reigned in Gile, and the two turned and galloped off through the forest to escape before more goblins arrived. Bramble followed them into the woods, just after he beheaded to more goblins just for the sport of it.

  Much to Erol’s surprise, there were no followers. They were allowed to go, for they were not the prize the enemy sought. As they picked their way back to t
he plains and Tegan’s camp, Erol hoped Telon would succeed. He thought Telon would have a good chance, if he could make it safely into the mountain.

  Gile was covered with plate-like scales, and only a few of the arrows and spears had penetrated past them. He could handle a lot of pain, and so was not damaged too much in the short fight. They hurried through the trees at the base of the mountain range for most of the day, until they finally closed in on the army of the dwarves that camped ahead on the plains. The sun was setting in the west. Erol halted Gile while they were still within the trees, Tegan’s massive army marched across in the grassy plain. The thousands of dwarves amassed from the four races alongside the men of Calonia was a remarkable sight.

  Erol dismounted and looked to Gile, “Wait here.” Gile stood his ground as Erol and Bramble departed toward the camp.

  Tegan, riding Elard, lead his army forward. Out from the trees came Erol and Bramble. The sight of Bramble without his brother made Tegan lose his breath. He called for the army to break, and he rode hard to Erol. Tegan was happy to see the ogre, but was disappointed Telon was not with him.

  “What news do you bring Erol, where is Telon?” Tegan asked as he dismounted his steed, as Elard and Bramble came together.

  “I tried to bring him back, but he refused to come. He was set on entering the mountain to get Timo back. Telon got in, but it was not possible for me go with him,” Erol answered, hoping not to upset Tegan.

  “I know in my heart he could never turn on me, I wish I could take what I said back,” Tegan said, for he felt horrible for how Telon left.

  “He knows how you feel, going in the mountain alone was something he had to do. Telon wanted to prove his worth to you,” Erol reassured and consoled Tegan.

  “He will never know, and so could never prove, his worth to me,” Tegan said sadly, praying for the safety of his brother.

  “I do have good news, I brought help!” Erol announced with a smile, hoping to change the mood.

  “We can use all the help we can get, where are they? Are there other ogre’s? We could…” Tegan was interrupted as Erol turned and whistled, bringing forth Gile from his hiding. The dwarves from the camp heard, felt, and saw the dragon running toward their king. They quickly scrambled to come to his aid. Tegan ran to calm them down as Erol ran to defend his new friend.

  After Tegan assured his legion that all was okay, he went back to Erol. “What have we here?” he asked as he cautiously approached Gile, rubbing the dragon’s neck, which it seemed to really like.

  “He is Gile.”

  “Yes, the dragon you spared back at the goblin attack. He is grateful for what you did! Your mercy teaches me a strong lesson, Erol. Gile will be a mighty ally for us, we are glad to have him.”

  Erol was pleased at Tegan’s words, and then showed Gile to the river where he could take a good drink and rest. Erol returned to Tegan’s meeting tent, and saw the leaders all sitting around a fire as they planned the attack. Tegan was going over the details of his plan, “now that Darrow’s people are here, we are only waiting for Kilgore.”

  “He will not come,” Erol interrupted. His statement surprised everyone, and drew their attention.

  “Why? How do you know?” Tegan asked, disturbed by the statement.

  “We saw them, they fight with the gargoyles,” Erol said, as he watched each of the dwarf kings to see their astonished reaction.

  “What?” Tegan questioned again, not believing what he heard.

  “They are with the gargoyles, Telon saw them too,” Erol said reluctantly, knowing it would be another blow to Tegan who had already taken plenty.

  “Then the treachery of Sain reaches farther and wider, perhaps Deyanira had something to do with this also. Is it not enough to fight an evil enemy, do we need to fight our own too?” Tegan said, his anger rising again.

  The news of the defectors was almost too much for the dwarves to take. Their disappointment was only eclipsed by their anger. As they had their battle plan laid out, the leaders went back to their tents, save the four kings of the tribes of the dwarves. Tegan, Fiji, Dorir, and Darrow stayed up to discuss what should come of Kilgore, if they were to be victorious in the battle. Their hope would be to capture him, dead or alive mattered little.

  Chapter 25: The Phantom Voice

  Milan was startled awake by the sound of a baby’s cry, one she longed desperately to hear. Realizing where she was, she was certain it was just in her dreams and laid back down. Then, unmistakably, she heard him again. She couldn’t comprehend how it was possible, but her baby Jedrek was near! She hastily left her tent. Milan frantically wandered her area of the camp, wearing only her nightgown. She mumbled inaudibly for Jedrek, her eyes darting back and forth, searching for her son. The echoes in her head told her he was close. The guards followed her and tried to gain her attention. The call of their voices did not reach her ears. Jedrek’s cries were all that were within reach of her hearing.

  “Where is my baby? Do you hear him crying?” she mumbled to the guards sleepily as she walked right by them, paying them little attention. She appeared to be sleepwalking, and they were unsure how to respond.

  “We have heard nothing Lady Milan. What do you hear?” the guard asked, with no reply.

  The sound of another cry brought Milan even more awake, “Jedrek, I am coming for you,” Milan exclaimed! The sound of her son so clear, he had to be so close. The guards still heard nothing but continued to follow their queen obediently. “He is crying for me, you must help me find him,” Milan demanded. Hearing Jedrek again she began running frantically toward the woods. The guards gave chase, finding it difficult to keep up with the fleeing queen.

  “Lady, let us get others to help,” one guard protested. They continued running after Milan as she disappeared into the thick foliage of the woods. They soon entered behind her, trying to find Milan.

  Δ

  Tegan went to check on Milan, hoping she was improving before he left for battle. Approaching her tent, he noticed the guards were absent. He quickly pulled back the flaps covering the tent door, and saw it was empty. He frantically searched for signs of where Milan might be, overturning the contents of the tent. He then bent low to look for tracks, and saw where she left and ran toward the woods with the guards behind her. Tegan could not believe what he was seeing, his heart sank farther with every step. Just inside the forest, he found the bodies of the guards with several goblin knives stuck in each.

  He went further, fearing she had perished. How could they have come through so much only to lose her now? He could not find Milan. Then, there in the dark of the forest, sat a fat goblin on a log. The goblin was quite amused as he marked Tegan’s approach. He sat there, using a stick in one hand to pick at his teeth, the other clearing his belly button of some unknown disgustingness.

  The goblin looked up at Tegan and smirked, “I’ve been axed ta’let ya’know yer brudder is dett. Yer wife‘ll soon be too, if yer don’t take yer army ‘n go. Yer also post’ta giv over yer gargoyle friend. Fer dat, we’ll deliver yer wife ‘n child to ya on yer way back ta yer wretched mountain!”

  Tegan knew to not trust the goblin, or anything it would say. He had enough of the whole situation and was beginning to go mad. To the goblins surprise, Tegan dropped his axe to the ground. He then pulled his sword and knife, eyeing and fingering each of his marvelously dangerous weapons. Looking toward the nervous goblin, and considering what to do next, he also dropped those. The goblin rose with his sword pulled. He began to have thoughts of delivering the great prize, the great king of all Lemuria, directly to Sain and Herrog himself.

  The goblin lifted his sword to take down his mark, dreaming of the praise and riches that would be showered upon him. He would not, however, live to see his glory, or even to drop the nasty blade. Tegan lurched into the goblin, quickly wrestling it to the ground and latching a hold around the goblin’s neck that it could not break. Tegan had no plans to suffocate the beast, as he pulled with all his might to rip the hea
d of the hideous body. In this endeavor, he did succeed.

  All looked with amazement upon Tegan as he entered the camp, which had not yet become aware of his absence or the missing queen. He was covered in the blood of the goblin, while he held the scraggly hair in his hand and drug the grotesque detached head to his tent. His soulless look and blank eyes frightened even those that knew him best. He stopped for a second, and turned to address his army that stood by in silence.

  He raised the head of the goblin and cried out to his dwarves, his hoarse voice quivering with anger, “They have taken Milan, and if she is not dead, they will kill her soon.” He had to stop to steady himself, “I have little hope of seeing her again, but I will go in search of revenge for what has been done to mine. Many will fall before me even as I fall to my death. Any that survive my death will be cursed by my ghostly soul until all have passed!” As he said this last part, he dropped the head and entered his tent to prepare for battle.

  There was a nervousness that gripped the camp. They knew there would be no sleep at the end of this day, and perhaps for many days. The women who traveled with the army, which were few, would stand watch over all the things that were not needed for battle. There would be few tents left set up, some of which were to help the wounded that might make their way back from the battle, but most would either survive or perish on the field of battle.

  The dwarves were hardened at the loss of Milan, none more than Dorir. The fire in the soul would be unquenchable, but he was not ready to concede the life of his daughter and grandson. She had only recently been won back, and her disappearance wrought much pain.

  The army formed up and prepared for the final march on the Demon’s Chamber. They had barely started when something approached high in the sky to the east. The approaching force was silhouetted in front of the rising moon as it closed in.

  Deron screamed, “Gargoyle attack!” and the men quickly formed ranks to battle the onslaught. The dwarves quickly prepared for the early attack.