Lieutenant Yasland laughed. “Wise decision. I’ve had to sleep in the inner guard’s barracks before. It was built by the dwarves over eighty thousand years ago, and it was built for defense, not comfort. The less time you’re there, the better in my scroll.” With that, the young lieutenant led them through the city as he explained its history.
Amir acted as interpreter for Richard, doing his best to keep his teammate informed. The man said little back but seemed genuinely interested in what was around him.
Although Amir hadn’t thought all that much of the sloop’s commander when they’d been together on the Mengaza, he found Yasland to be a different man when Mia wasn’t around. The lieutenant was knowledgeable about his city’s history and told it with just the right amount of humor to make it sound interesting. As they walked through the streets, Amir found out that a group of dwarves under a Queen Emerald had built the original city eighty-four thousand years ago as a jumping off point to take her people to the continent of the elves. The mass migration had taken years to complete, and the dwarves had spent those years and part of their massive wealth building up the city’s defenses. Yasland told him the inner barracks with its ten-pace high walls of magic-reinforced granite were part of those defenses. According to the sloop’s commander, the inner walls had never been successfully breached.
After three hours of touring the city and a hasty lunch, Yasland led them to a part of the town near the docks. It was there Amir got his first look at the inner guard’s barracks. The cluster of buildings was more a citadel than a barracks. He sensed magic in the tall black walls. Unlike the city fortifications, only a few soldiers lined the parapets of the inner guards’ barracks.
“There aren’t many soldiers here,” Amir said to the lieutenant.
Yasland shrugged. “Most of the garrison has been stripped to man the city’s outer walls. The inner guard’s citadel will be a last line of defense if the outer walls are breached. You’d best pray that doesn’t happen.”
Amir expected the lieutenant to pass them off to one of the citadel’s guards. He was surprised when Yasland led them through the open gates and toward a three-story tall building a hundred paces from the main entrance.
“Are you taking us to the others in our party?” Amir asked.
With a friendly laugh, Yasland shook his head. “Oh, you can’t get rid of me that easy. I have one more thing I’d like to show you. It’s the inner guards’ museum. Some of the items are so old, they have preservation spells to keep them in one piece.”
With an army of mercenaries sitting outside the city gates, Amir didn’t think wasting their time in a dusty museum was a good use of their time, but he forced a smile on his face. He was a guest after all, plus he had nothing better to do.
Once inside the building, Yasland led them through hall after hall of old suits of armor, tapestries, and paintings. The naval lieutenant was especially proud of an ancient parchment leasing the city from the dwarves to the humans. According to Yasland, the original city fathers had kept a profitable trade going with Queen Emerald and her dwarves after they’d moved to New Drepdenor on the continent of the elves.
Looking away from the ancient document, Yasland said, “That only lasted a few hundred years. The dwarves under Queen Emerald suddenly returned to our lands armed to the teeth. According to our histories, our forefathers thought they’d returned to claim their city. They hadn’t. The dwarves’ queen had left part of their treasure here, including magic weapons and armor. Legend has it that we were to keep them until they were needed. Then they left for Old Drepdenor. They never came back. Our forefathers lost all contact with them.” The lieutenant shrugged his shoulders and smiled. “At least that’s the legend. I’ve never been much of a history man myself, although I must confess I’ve wondered where they disappeared to.”
Amir looked with interest at the parchment. “I know the story of New Drepdenor and the dwarves well. According to our legends, they left and never returned. Their home is still there with all their treasure, guarded by a three-headed dragon, or so the story goes.”
Yasland shook his head. “Not all their treasure. I told you they left some here.” He glanced out a window at the sun. It was noticeably lower. “We’ve still got some time before supper. Would you like to see some of their treasure? It’s here in the museum.”
Turning to Richard, Amir explained the lieutenant’s offer.
Shrugging his shoulders, Richard said, “Why the hell not? I’ve got nothing better to do.”
Why indeed? Amir thought. I’ve going nothing better to do either. At least not until noon tomorrow. That’s assuming the mercenaries attack then like they threatened.
After telling the lieutenant they accepted his offer, they followed him down several meandering halls that led deeper into the barrack’s complex. They passed several guards positions along the way. Yasland was obviously well known because even accompanied by two strange humans, the guards waved him through. After a while they came to a hall with cases made out of glass. Some of the cases contained intricately carved statues of dwarves in various heroic poses that were made out of precious metals. Other cases contained swords, hammers, axes, and spears. Each of the weapons had a blue gem in its pommel or on its hilt. Suits of dwarf-sized armor and shields were inside other cases. Most of the armor and shields also had blue gems embedded in them.
Amir sensed magic from every weapon and piece of armor and even from the material of the glass cases. He looked at Yasland. “The glass has spells cast on them.”
Nodding his head, the lieutenant laughed. “That they do. Some of the spells are preservation magic. Others are protective shields to prevent thieving hands from temptation. You don’t think we’d leave this stuff lying around without guards if they weren’t protected, do you?”
Amir had wondered about it. “If all of this stuff is from Queen Emerald’s time, I’m surprised someone hasn’t sold it off long ago. It puts King Ironfist’s treasury room back in Ecaria to shame.”
“I’m sure a lot of my forebears were tempted,” admitted Yasland. “But it was part of the lease document’s stipulation that we keep the dwarves’ treasure until they or their representatives came to retrieve it. We’re an honorable people. We always have been.”
The thought of the human that had murdered Glory came to Amir. He doubted any humans were honorable. He glanced over at his human teammate. Maybe there are exceptions, he decided.
“Well, that’s the end of the tour,” said Yasland. “I’ll take you to the rest of your party now.”
Amir’s stomach growled. “I’d just as soon you take me to get something to eat. I haven’t had a decent meal in a while.”
“Then it’s off to the kitchens,” said Yasland. “Follow me.”
The sloop’s captain headed for a different door than the one they’d used to enter the dwarves’ treasure room. “This way’s a shortcut,” he said with a wink. “I’ll make sure you get something in your belly before I take you back to your friends.”
As they headed for the door, they passed a glass case with a neatly folded set of black leather in it. A strange looking helmet made out of something that wasn’t metal sat on top of the folded leather. Next to the leather and helmet was a belt with strange metal items attached to it. None of the items looked like weapons, but Amir was intrigued nonetheless.
“What’s in here?” Amir asked pointing at the case.
“Oh, that,” said Yasland. “According to legend, it’s the armor and weapons of one of the dwarves’ heroes. Whoever it belonged to died helping them take back their home in Old Drepdenor when it was taken over by vampires.”
“Vampires?” Amir asked.
Lieutenant Yasland smiled. “It’s only a legend. Vampires are just a type of undead parents made up to scare children before sending them off to bed. All I know is that if that pile of leather is supposed to be armor, it’s no wonder the owner died. It’s too thin to stop a dull dagger much less a sword wielded by someone
who knows how to use it. Regardless, according to our legends, the dwarves were adamant the armor be preserved and kept here with their treasure. They said someone would come for it one day.” He laughed. “It’s been over eighty-thousand years. I’d say if anyone was coming, they’d have come by now.”
Amir turned to Richard and translated the lieutenant’s words. As he spoke, his teammate looked closer at the folded leather and helmet. The man’s face took on a blank look as if he were in deep conversation with someone.
The sloop’s captain nodded at the folded leather. “If you want a good laugh, take a look at what the old timers called that flimsy piece of leather. It’s written on the plaque at the bottom of the case.”
Amir glanced at a brass plaque attached to the case. Two words were written on it in dwarf.
BATTLE SUIT
Chapter 36 – Armor
____________________
Under Sergeant Aganish’s direction, the dwarves, Telsa, and Rembis got the weapons and armor off the ships and loaded onto the carts in record time. Not long after, they were traveling through the streets of Port Departure led by a squad of humans wearing light chainmail covered by blue tunics.
“Those are some of the inner guards,” said Rembis as he walked alongside Telsa. “We’ll be staying in their barracks tonight.”
“Is it comfortable?” Telsa asked, hoping for a good night’s rest in a soft bed. “The mattress on my bed on the ship was so thin, the boards kept rubbing against me. I swear I spent most of the voyage picking splinters out of my—”
“You did no such thing,” said Raj over the battle helmet’s external speakers. “You slept in your battle suit. I adjusted it each night for maximum comfort, and there isn’t a wood splinter made that could penetrate your suit’s armor.”
Telsa laughed. “You’re too sensitive sometimes, Raj. Did I ever tell you that?”
“Yes, you have. You have mentioned it six—”
“Spare me the details,” Telsa said laughing even harder. She glanced at Rembis. “See what I have to put up with? You should be glad you’re not a wizard scout.”
The old gnome grinned back. “Oh, believe me. I’m glad. My magic rarely talks back to me.”
The horses and carts the city had provided made good time through the streets. As they traversed the different parts of the city, Telsa was impressed by the newness and cleanliness of everything. Plus, unlike many cities she’d been in, it wasn’t crowded. While a few people roamed the streets going this way and that, the city was far from overpopulated. She said as much to Rembis.
“Oh, that’s because the city was built to house both humans and the entire population of Old Drepdenor. We’ve only been gone a few hundred years. I suppose the birthrate of the human citizens hasn’t quite caught up with the empty spaces yet.”
“Well, that makes for easier traveling for us,” Telsa said. “How much farther are we going?”
Rembis pointed at a black wall a full ten meters high a couple of blocks ahead. “That’s our destination there.”
“That’s a barracks?” Telsa said. “It looks more like a fortress.”
Laughing, Rembis said, “That it is. We sometimes call it the citadel. It was the first fortification Queen Emerald built when we came to the city. As you can imagine, after the Dragars bombed a lot of the cities during the rebellion, there was lot of turmoil. Everyone was trying to find someplace safe, and some of the people didn’t mind taking it from those who were already there. Emerald built the citadel to protect the citizens of Point Departure during those terrible times. The stone we used for the walls and buildings have strength and resistance spells cast on them. I doubt it can ever be breached as long as there are dwarves, gnomes, or even humans with strong hearts to man the ramparts.”
As they passed through the massive gates of the citadel, Telsa had to admit they looked impressive. So did the buildings inside. Before long, the carts stopped in front of a long, three-story-tall building made out of the same black stone as the citadel’s walls. Telsa found herself unloading equipment from the carts with the others and carrying it inside the building. She didn’t mind the work. After spending weeks doing nothing on the ship, it was nice to have a purpose no matter how menial.
Loaded down with an armful of swords and shields, Telsa followed their human guides through a maze of halls and stairs to a large room with display cases made out of glass. Some of the cases were already filled with statues of dwarf heroes made from precious metals. Others held boxes of jewelry, coins, and gems of every color of the rainbow. Most of the display cases were empty.
Sergeant Aganish had his troops place the weapons, armor, and shields in the empty cases. When they were nearly done filling the display cases with the dwarves’ gear, Shandria and Carndador showed up. The high priestess walked up to one of the glass cases, waved her free hand, and chanted words Telsa heard but quickly forgot. Both the equipment inside the display and the case itself glowed blue. The glow subsided and disappeared, but Telsa sensed the powerful magic continue to reside around the glass case.
“What’s the spell for?” Telsa asked, directing her question at Rembis.
Shandria turned and gave one of her radiant smiles. Her molten-silver eyes swirled, seeming to draw Telsa in. Used to being around Jeena, she forced herself to look away for a second. When she looked back, the high priestess laughed.
“Sorry,” said Shandria. “Sometimes I have no control over my abilities. As for your question, I cast two spells on the case. The first was a preservation spell. Queen Emerald said directions from the Oracle were not very clear on how long the items will be here. I want to make sure the equipment is in good shape for whomever it is destined.” She smiled again, her eyes swirling mischievously. “I think you will be interested in my second spell, Wizard Scout. I have set traps on the display cases to protect the items inside. I have connected all of the traps together. Each of the traps would have to be deactivated in turn before any of the display cases could be opened.”
Telsa looked at Shandria but avoided looking directly into her eyes. “I suppose that’s good, but why did you say I’d be interested?”
The high priestess glanced at her bondmate. They both laughed.
High Lord Carndador cleared his throat. “Because your Rick helped my bondmate write the spell. Shandria told me they spent a lot of time together when they were recovering the seed parts. She taught your Rick how to defend links, and he helped her rewrite some of her spells.” He glanced at his bondmate and winked. “I suppose I should be jealous you spent so much time alone with another male, but you chose me in the end, so I guess I am safe.”
Shandria smiled. “Oh, you are safe. Rick and I are like brother and sister. I will always be fond of him.”
Carndador nodded. “I know you will, and I am not jealous. He and you are linked. From what you have told me of him, I believe Rick and I could have been good friends.”
Before Telsa could ask another question, two dwarves came in carrying the chest bound with magic chains. The dwarves placed the chest on the floor near an empty display case and left.
Major Nekash and Rembis exchanged grins.
“I suppose it’s time we showed our guests what’s inside,” Major Nekash said looking at Rembis. “Would you like to do the honors?”
Rembis laughed. “I suppose it’s only proper since I cast the security spells on the chest in the first place.” He glanced at Telsa. “Follow me.”
Growing more curious by the moment, Telsa followed the major and the gnome to the chest.
With a wave of his hands, Rembis chanted a series of words Telsa heard but quickly forgot. The chains on the chest wavered and disappeared, then the lid of the chest popped opened.
Telsa stared at the contents for a couple of heartbeats before looking at the grinning gnome. “It’s a battle suit and battle helmet. How? What are they doing here?”
“I can answer that,” said Raj over Telsa’s battle helmet speakers. “I have just con
nected to this battle helmet’s local network. The slot for the battle computer is empty, but I recognize the helmet’s serial number. This gear belonged to Wizard Scout Gaston Myers. The battle helmet was controlled by Wanda. She was a friend of mine. We now know that Wizard Scout Myers destroyed Wanda. It’s a very sad story.”
Telsa frowned. “That doesn’t answer my question. What’s the suit doing here?”
“Actually,” said Rembis as he began taking things out of the chest, “there’s also a phase rod, grenades, and a Deloris phase blaster. You may remember that Rick gave Wizard Scout Myers one of his battle suits embedded with Holy Metal before the raid against the vampires. This is Myers’s original suit and weapons. Myers couldn’t take it with him during the recon of Old Drepdenor since he was wearing Rick’s, so he left his old gear with the dwarves. Queen Emerald kept it stored in her treasury until the Oracle told her to bring it here.”
Telsa watched Rembis place Myers’ equipment in the display case. When he finished, Shandria cast her spells on the case. She looked at Telsa. “I have linked the traps on all of the display cases together. The trap around the battle suit’s case is the keystone. As long as its trap stays intact, no one will be able to break into any of the displays.”
“That’s all well and good, but why bring the stuff here in the first place?” Telsa asked. “I mean, other than the fact the Oracle said to do it. Who’s the stuff for? I don’t like the idea of leaving a battle suit lying around? Maybe we should take it with us.”
“I would advise against that,” said Raj. “I think they were brought here for a purpose and for someone in particular. I calculate that someone is not you.”
“Then who?” Telsa asked, puzzled even more by her battle computer’s reply. “Who’s supposed to find it?”
Her battle computer remained silent for a full five heartbeats. Finally, the external speaker crackled. “I have no idea, Wizard Scout. We can only hope the one who finds it will be a friend.”
Wizard Gigantic (Intergalactic Wizard Scout Chronicles Book 9) Page 32