Site hosted by Angelfire.com: Build your free website today!
Home Friend's sites Construction Help

Chapter 12

     It was near noon when we came upon a traveling party camped long the road. Our quiet approach allowed us to hear them long before we could see them around the next bend.
     Diranth lead us into the forest. We followed him, sure that it was those who were ahead of us that he was afraid of. He led us around to where they were camped but did not continue past as I assumed he would have. Instead he led us closer and we got a good look at them.
     At first I almost laughed. They didn’t look like people at all. For one thing they were shorter then any men I’d ever met, but what they lacked in height they made up for in beard. Each had a beard that hung down past their waists of various colours. Some had grey beards, some yellow and one even had green one. I could count 6 of them. They had friendly faces and loud voices.
     They were so loud that we, now standing 10 feet away, could have talked to each other very loudly and they wouldn’t have heard a thing. They spoke in friendly tones in a language I couldn’t understand. I sensed magic working around Diranth and assumed he was using a spell and understood every word that was said. They didn’t seem to fear anything on the road, for they were camped all across it as they enjoyed their midday meal.
     Diranth stood silently staring. I followed his gaze and noticed the trading carts piled high with goods. Diranth continued to stare, even as Danny broke a tree branch in his attempt to get a better view. The sound was loud, but not loud enough for the whatever-they-were to hear. Still Diranth stared, only this time his mouth moved like someone who is counting their coins. He no longer seemed to fear these creatures and a devious look came across his face. Are we going to trade with them? I wondered, but seeing the look on his face I felt I preferred his look of fear.
     Suddenly Diranth pulled back deeper into the trees. We followed him and we weren’t even out of normal hearing range when he stopped and turned to us.
     “So what were they?” I asked carefully ignoring the disturbing look on my brother’s face. Danny, standing beside me still looked towards the camp in wonder.
     “Those”, Diranth replied, “are dwarves.”
     I studied his face, hoping for some clue to his plans. Taking a wild guess I asked “What do you plan too buy from them?”
     “The two of you need better protection. Dwarven metal is the best, but I do not intend to purchase it….Stay here.” He was off before I could say a word. Danny and I followed him to the edge of the wood. Before we got up however he cast a spell which made him invisible. Invisible to the eyes that is, but I could still feel where he was through my magic.
     “Where’d he go?” Danny asked me in a hushed whisper.
     “He’s heading towards the cart there,” I pointed, “as long as they keep on eating they’ll never know.”
     I could feel Diranth as he made his way around the dwarfs who were sitting on the road, loudly eating cheese, meat and ale. When I saw the cover of the cart lift I knew he was there. He was rummaging among the goods when a dwarf (the one with the blue beard), who had obviously had too much ale, came stumbling towards him. Diranth didn’t seem to notice.
     Diranth was about to return when the dwarf who had been stumbling about tripped on a rock. The action caused the ale from his mug to fly through the air and strike Dir on the leg as he was lifting to the air.
     “Ahhh!” screamed the dwarf on his way to the ground. The others turned to laugh at their drunken comrade and saw the deep red ale dripping down Diranth’s leg. Two of them got up and before I could call out, they had grabbed Diranth by the leg and pulled him down.
     Danny and I exchanged glances, each not knowing weather to laugh at or fear for Diranth. By this point all the dwarves had crowded around to hold the invisible person down. The drunk one seemed about to pour more ale on him, but he ended up drinking it instead. Diranth knew he was beat and had ended his spell. As he came into sight so did the goods he had tried to steal. At this sight the dwarves were prepared to beat him to death, but just then one of the dwarfs, the one with the green beard, cried out, “Diranth? Is that you?” These were the first words any of them had spoken in our language.
     The others seemed to recognize him as well. The backed away from him as if they were afraid to touch him any longer.
     “Diranth, have you become a common thief?” asked the green-bearded dwarf, “What would your mother say?” He frowned and continued, “Why are you in these parts anyways? You know your mother promised that her people wouldn’t bother us anymore.
     Diranth stood and spoke to this short creature as an old friend. “I am just passing through I assure you. I am bringing my lost sister home.”
     The dwarf narrowed his eyes at Diranth. “You could have done that without stopping to steal from us.”
     “But my sister you see, she needs protection. I would have paid for it, but I have no money. We are about to journey through dangerous lands, and I know that your armor is the best there is. Why, I know many people who would want to wear only your armor.” I think I missed something because the Dwarves got quite angry at this.
     “We’ve already told you! We want no part in your war! We the Dwarves have no dispute with the Magi! No reason to fight or help you in your war!”
    War? I glanced at Danny in concern which was reflected upon his face.
     “Your mother’s at war with the Magi?” Danny asked in alarm. “I don’t know. She’s Magi herself.” I answered him.
     “Get going! Leave our lands and don’t ever try to steal from us again or there will be war!” The Dwarves were yelling in anger now.
     “But what about my sister? She will not be safe without this armor.”
     “I see no sister!” Yelled one of the dwarves. “Yes Diranth, where is this sister you speak of?”
     “I guess that’s our cue.” I told Danny. Together we left the shelter of the woods. Dir was the only one who noticed us. He gestured towards us and said, “Sir Dwarves, meet my sister Andrea and her companion Danny.”
     The dwarves were startled at our appearance. They had been so sure that Diranth was lying. They managed a few mumbled words and a few bows.
     The green bearded Dwarf looked us over then said, “I can’t deny that the same blood runs through the two of you, but I am interested to know how one manages to lose a twin.”
     I glanced at him in annoyance. “We aren’t twins, I am older. I was left behind when our mother f –”
     “– First passed through this region.” Diranth interjected smoothly. I had been about to say ‘fled over these mountains’. For some reason Diranth didn’t want to bring attention to our mother’s crimes.
    
     We stayed with the Dwarfs long enough to convince them to give us armor. In return Diranth and his people would never pass through this area again; a promise that had already been broken before. They agreed reluctantly not wanting to give in to Diranth but agreeing that the mountains were bad place to journey in unprotected.
     As we were departing one of the Dwarfs said to me in low tones, “Beware of that mother of ours, she may not be what you’re expecting.” No, I thought to myself, she doesn’t seem to be.
    
     We were now two days away from the next mountain and on the other side of that was the valley in which my mother was. We were coming up to a raised connection between the two mountains, which I remembered seeing on the map. Danny apparently remembered it as well. We spoke as Diranth was out hunting.
     “Andrea, I know where we are.” said Danny in hushed tones.
     “I do too. Do you understand what’s going on?”
     “What, with this war? It’s simple; your Mother is leading a war against the Magi. So if we go with your brother then we’ll end up fighting too won’t we?”
     “I think so. Danny, we can’t let them fight the Magi! People will die!”
     “We can’t stop them either. Who knows how strong your mother has become? There’s no way we could beat her and her people on our own. Do you think that the Magi know that they’re coming?”
     “I can’t be sure. I have a feeling that they have no idea. In which case, we’d have to warn them. Danny, can you find your way to Sinopha from here?”
     “I think so. Are you saying we should leave? How will we be able to get away? Your brother seems determined to take us to your mother.”
     “Not us, me. I don’t think he cares one way or another about what happens to you. You’ve got to leave! You’ve got to warn the Magi about my mother before it’s too late!”
     “I told you I wouldn’t leave you Andrea. I go where you go remember?”
     “Danny, you’ve got to it’s their only chance! Don’t you see? I’d never make it, you must go without me. I’ll be ok. When this is all over I’ll find you again.”
     “Alright, ok.”
     “Quick, grab your pack, here take this food. Hurry now before he comes back! I’ll miss you!”
     “Bye Andrea, we’ll meet again.”