A Whisper After Midnight (11 page)

“We’re running out of options, Boen.”

Boen folded his arms across his massive chest and gestured with his chin towards the wizard. “Have you come up with an answer yet?”

“This isn’t exactly easy reading,” Anienam snapped, tired of being interrupted. “It was written in a dead language that I could hardly recall properly if I had all of the resources of Ipn Shal at my use. This takes time, Gaimosian.”

He snorted. “Time which, according to you has already come to pass.”

Anienam slammed the book shut and rose to confront Boen. “I would expect nothing less from a professional murderer. Do you wish to hear I made a mistake? Is that it? You have this overpowering urge to know I was wrong about something? Fine. I was mistaken. I misread some of the key passages.”

“Enough of this. We don’t have time to see who’s got the bigger ego,” Bahr said and stepped between them. “Anienam, have you been able to decipher anything?”

“Yes. No, some of it, surely, but my initial calculations were too far off the mark to provide any use here.”

“You got some of it correct. We found Venheim when no one else could. I need you to keep trying. We have to know when the dark gods will attempt to reenter Malweir.”
Otherwise we’re just wasting our time and running from death
.

Leaving his darkest thoughts unsaid, Bahr resumed his argument with Boen. “Just because we don’t have a definite answer doesn’t give us the luxury of burning time. I say we push through the mountains and reach the river.”

“The passes are sure to be filled with snow by now! Attempting a crossing would be tantamount to suicide. And let’s not forget the Dwarves. They won’t take kindly to us marching across their territory uninvited.”

Damnation. I’d almost forgotten about them
. “Everything I know of Dwarves says they won’t bother us if we don’t bother them.”

Boen barked a laugh. “Believe that if you wish, but I have known many Dwarves. Fought with them and even made a few friends. Fought against them too. They’re mean little bastards when it comes down to it and I’d just as soon avoid them altogether. Besides, Dwarves hold grudges that travel from clan to clan. We’d have every Dwarf in Malweir out looking for us.”

“What’s another few thousand hunting us?” Nothol asked. He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever dark powers were active in the north were sending every tool at their disposal after the small band.

“He’s got a point,” Boen said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we don’t need a legion of Dwarves after us. You can kiss your precious hammer good bye that way.”

“The Kergland Dwarves won’t bother anyone,” Anienam said suddenly.

“How can you know this?” Bahr demanded.

The wizard shrugged casually. “I have friends as well. They will know me. We should be quite welcome.”

Bahr doubted that. The wizard was a quirky old man, but he was off his rocker. Given his track record, Bahr decided Anienam was just as likely to draw someone’s ire as their friendship. He couldn’t take that chance. “We need to avoid contact. The fewer know about us the better.”

“But the Dwarves…”

Bahr pointed at Groge. “Have no love for him. Do you want to start a war?”

“All right, all right! Have it your way. I’m going back to my book.”

He ambled back to his already cold seat and picked the book back up, leaving the other two with bemused looks.

“We should scout the nearest pass. If it’s blocked we go around,” Dorl suddenly added. “It’s the only way to end your arguments and keeps us moving forward.”

Bahr hid his smile as Boen unfolded his arms warily. The decision to bring along the sell swords continued to pay off, making Bahr glad of what few friends he had. They’d proven themselves invaluable a dozen times over since first leaving Delranan and he held every expectation they would continue to do so in what was sure to be dark days ahead. Still, the decision to enter the mountains or go around weighed heavily.
I need the wizard to give me an accurate timetable. We’re trapped until he does
.

They travelled east for another two days. Ahead, the jagged fangs of the Kergland Spine continued to rise higher. Shadows cast about their base, locking the closest land in semi darkness. Tensions continued to rise as well. The group was decidedly torn between which approach best suited their needs. Boen adamantly championed marching around the northern edge of the mountains. So unlike his usual self, Bahr had to wonder what the Gaimosian knew and wasn’t telling. That worried him more than anything else since leaving Fedro.

Reluctantly, the Sea Wolf agreed to send Dorl and Nothol forward to scout the passes. Deep down he knew enough snow had fallen to block their passage, though he refused to believe it until the report came back. He needed to be right. He needed to know he was still capable of making the right decision. So much had gone wrong since the night Harnin came to him and besieged him to rescue his niece. Bahr looked back at Maleela and found any ill will difficult to maintain against her. She was just a pawn.

Dark had been his thoughts the further away from Delranan they travelled. He began to see things in his dreams; terrible things beckoning the doom he felt he couldn’t prevent. The world burned around him and all he could do was laugh. Bahr felt a foulness clutch the edges of his soul, waiting, watching. The notion was absurd. He’d never been superstitious and held no beliefs in another world lurking in the shadows. It took much to swallow what the Old Mother had foretold and even that didn’t sit well with his principles. Magic and fantasy might be well and fine for Men like Anienam, but Bahr was grounded in the inescapable reality of the harshness of life.

He tried to push those thoughts away and refocused on the nearing mountains. Much of the day had already passed when he ordered a halt. They’d come to the foothills and he agreed not to proceed further until Dorl and Nothol returned. Guiding the wagon into a small stand of ash and pine, he took first watch as the camp was made. Cold winds blew in fresh snow, light and non-sticking. More than two feet of snow already blanketed the lands. He was confident they wouldn’t need to worry about it once they reached the river and started moving south.

“Any sign yet?” Boen asked, moving silently up behind.

Any traces of their argument vanished. He was back to being his usual obstinate self, for which Bahr was grateful.

“Nothing. I told them to be back by sundown. We can’t risk having them caught in the mountains tonight,” Bahr replied.

“Wise. They are good lads. Bringing them along was the second smartest thing you’ve done.”

“What’s the first?”

Boen grinned, savage and terrifying. “Bringing me.” He stiffened suddenly and pointed. “Look, movement about a hundred meters out.”

Bahr followed the line of Boen’s finger and squinted against the dying light. He could barely make out the shapes bobbing towards them. Any elation faded when he noticed more than two. “Get everyone prepared. I don’t think it’s them.”

“I knew it!” Boen grumbled. “Gods damned Dwarves. We’re in for it now.”

He slunk back down the large boulder Bahr had taken up the watch on and quietly roused the others for battle. The camp came alive. Rekka drew her weapons and headed towards the tree line as Skuld and Maleela, secretly, drew swords and headed to the far right flank. Even Anienam rose and headed to the line, though with far different intent. He was certain he could reason with the Dwarves and avoid any unnecessary conflict. Too much death trailed them already. More would just hang around their necks like a plague. If they survived. Only Ionascu remained docile.

“Fifty meters,” Bahr hissed and drew his sword. He could make them out clearly. Dorl and Nothol were afoot, their horses nowhere to be seen. A score of Dwarves surrounded them. Each was girded for war.

Golden face masks presented a fierce image. Long beards of every color hung down their broad chests. Plated leather armor protected their torsos and upper thighs. Hobnailed boots gave them traction as they marched. Massive, round shields were slung over their backs, gilded with different runes and Dwarf patterns. Each bore a two-headed battle axe, thick fingers curled around the hafts. Bahr immediately had a sinking feeling.

The Dwarves halted at the edge of the trees, planting their feet shoulder width apart and lowering their axes just enough to appear slightly less threatening. Bahr moved quickly, knowing Boen wouldn’t hesitate to strike if he saw the right opportunity. The Giant, on the other hand, remained an unknown. One Bahr couldn’t take a chance on. Lowering his sword, he stepped into the open with arms wide.

“We don’t bring trouble,” he started.

The Dwarf captain stepped forward and cut him off. “You are intruding on the Dwarf kingdom of Drimmen Delf. Turn around now and depart or else.”

Bahr shook his head. “We can’t turn back. Our mission lies to the east. We must be allowed to pass.”

“Turn around and find another way or spend the rest of your lives in a dungeon,” the Dwarf insisted.

Bahr glanced back over his shoulder, looking to the others for help. Especially Anienam. He needed the wizard to come out and smooth things over. Otherwise…

Making a show of clearing his throat, Anienam drew all attention. “If you think you can take us all then go ahead and try. Otherwise let us pass so we may be on our way.”

Bahr’s mouth dropped. Swords raised. Axes readied and the Dwarven front rank dropped into battle stance. They were going to charge. Bahr tossed down his sword and jumped between the two groups. “Wait! He doesn’t speak for us.”

“Too late, Human. Lower your weapons and surrender.” He put his fingers to his mouth and whistled loudly. Another score of Dwarves popped up from the opposite side of the grove and leveled their dark wood crossbows.

“Your weapons,” the Dwarf demanded.

Boen acted first, flipping his great broadsword around and handing it over to the Dwarf. He bore a told-you-so look reserved only for Bahr. Fighting the Dwarves wasn’t an issue. He’d had more than his share of run-ins with the taciturn people, but he was impossibly outnumbered and outgunned.

Seeing the Gaimosian surrender so easily prompted the others to follow. Rekka removed the arrow from her bow and handed both bow and quiver over. Even Groge, who could have easily crushed half of the Dwarves without effort, stood with hands clasped submissively at his waist. Rough hands grabbed them and forced cruel metal cuffs around their wrists. Dorl and Nothol watched helplessly, already prisoners. Luck had run out. One by one the members of the group were taken into custody and hustled off towards the now grim-looking mountains. Dwarves swarmed up from the snow-covered rocks and from behind trees to rein in the horses and wagon. Soon everything was on the road to Drimmen Delf.

They halted deep in the foothills. Dwarves swiftly surrounded the captives and blindfolded them with daft fingers, giving Bahr the impression not all was well within the Dwarven kingdom. Speaking only got them beat, a fact both he and Boen learned the hard way. The Dwarves were taking every precaution to ensure their prisoners were treated well but brokered little tolerance when it came to following instructions. For now Bahr counted his bruises and contemplated revenge.

The air around them changed suddenly. Harsh winds swirled to a stop and warmth flushed their skin. Acidic smells of sulfur and brimstone choked the air along with the combined taint of different metals. Small fires could be heard to their left and right.
We’re inside. No escaping now. I hope that damned wizard knows what he’s doing or I’ll slit his throat myself
.

“Where did you find these?” a gruff voice demanded.

“Wandering along the western border approach.”

Bahr could sense the speaker looking them over. Disdain bled through his words. The message was clear. Humans were not welcome in Drimmen Delf.

“So many. Is it a scouting party?”

Dwarves shuffled nervously. “They are girded for war and dangerous but we do not know whose side they are on.”

“We can’t take the risk of them being spies. Take them before the king. He will want to interrogate them personally.”

More prodding guided the weary band through the halls of the mighty Dwarven kingdom. So many twists and turns along the way made it impossible to keep track of the exit. Bahr quickly relented and accepted his current position. This wasn’t the first dungeon he’d been in since the quest began though he hoped it was the last. Finally, after what felt like hours, they were pulled to a stop and told to stand quiet.

Long moments passed when the imagination took hold and started to run wild. All manner of foul creatures lurked just beyond reach, waiting for the command to shred them to pieces. A dark hole, inescapable and forever, beckoned to them. Despair mocked each in a different way. The very whisper of movement was the sound of Giants casting boulders from the mountaintops.

“Well well. It has been a long time since I last laid eyes on a mountain brother,” the deep voice of the king rumbled through the throne room. “And here I find one in the company of Men. Strange times indeed have befallen us. Who speaks for you?”

Bahr immediately stepped forward and was disappointed to hear the rustle of clothes from someone else doing the same.