Dwarven Ruby (18 page)

“Stars,” shouted Alex as one of Wylan’s arrows flew past him and imbedded in the chest of a charging goblin.

The three Rangers dropped their swords and filled their hands with Lanoirian Stars. The Stars started flying. The small group of goblins that had been closing on the Rangers fell to the first barrage of Stars. The Rangers continued throwing Stars as fast as they could extract them from their pouches.

“I am out of Stars,” Tanya announced as she bent and retrieved her sword.

“Me too,” echoed Arik as his last Star flew into a goblin.

“Then let us take the fight to them,” decided Alex as he grabbed his sword.

Darok gained the ledge as the three Rangers charged into the goblin horde. He shouted to his men and charged after the Rangers. Wylan’s arrows continued to fly past the Rangers, but he had to stop firing when the dwarves crowded in front of him and charged towards the goblins.

Arik, Tanya, and Alex drove a wedge into the goblin ranks, their swords striking flesh on each swing. Dwarven throwing axes began whittling down the outer edges of the goblin force. In moments it was over.

“There are half a dozen that are only sleeping,” chirped Prince Midge as he swept down onto Arik’s shoulder. “It was the best I could do.”

“Show me the way,” grinned Arik. “I wondered why their archers never joined the battle.”

Darok stood and surveyed the battlefield as Tanya and Wylan gathered up Lanoirian Stars. Jenneva walked up and stood by Alex’s side.

“Is everyone alright?” she asked.

“Yes,” nodded Alex. “The reach of our swords gave us a great advantage. “That was quick thinking down there.”

“Thinking is what I do best,” smiled Jenneva. “Tanya was worried about Wylan getting hurt.”

“Wylan is a smart lad,” Alex said as he turned and watched the new Ranger helping Tanya. “He has good skills with the sword, but he knows that he needs more instruction yet. His bow was very helpful. This battle pleases me.”

“Why?” asked Jenneva. “We have faced greater odds.”

“Yes, we have,” nodded Alex, “but only with planning before we struck. We did not have the opportunity to plan this time, yet everyone worked as a team. It was an effective approach with each player quickly choosing his role. I am proud to be a part of these Rangers.”

“Rangers, you say?” asked Darok as he stepped up beside Alex. “I have heard of the Targa Rangers before. Is that who you humans are?”

“Alcea Rangers,” corrected Alex.

“Well, whatever you call yourselves,” grinned Darok, “I will call you friends. I would gladly stroll through the goblin fields with you again. I thought we were in great trouble down there.”

“We could have been,” nodded Alex. “It is good that you halted the column when you did. Any later and we would not have had a chance.”

“Dwarves have learned the foul smell of the goblins,” chuckled Darok as he turned to face Jenneva. “You did not tell me that you were a mage.”

“And you did not tell me that you were a dwarf,” smiled Jenneva. “I guess that makes us even.”

Darok’s face puzzled in a frown for a moment and then he laughed heartily, “Aye, I guess you are right. Well, whatever you did to the boulders that were raining down on us, you have earned my respect. All of the Rangers have earned my respect,” he added as he turned to survey the battlefield again. “This could have turned out very differently. We should continue on to Lanto before another band of these foul beasts decides to visit.”

“That sounds like an excellent plan,” agreed Alex. “Lead the way.”

Darok shouted orders and reformed his column. The dwarves fell into line around the humans, and Darok proceeded along the trail. Prince Midge flew above the column and scouted the mountain for more goblins. Within half an hour, the column greeted the sentries and entered the tunnel to Lanto, the original dwarf settlement from the Vasta Universe.

Darok knew the tunnels of Lanto like only a dwarf could. He maneuvered the column through a maze of dimly lit, twisting passages. Soon the music of singing dwarves filtered through the air, as the group passed through a working area of the mine. Large carts loaded with ore were being pushed through an intersection ahead of the group, and Darok was forced to stop until the path was clear.

Darok continued onward and eventually halted the group at another intersection. Giving the signal to stay put, Darok disappeared down the connecting passage. He returned moments later and led the group into a large rectangular room. The room had benches along the wall and colorful cushions scattered across the floor. There were about a dozen dwarves at one end of the large room who were lounging on the cushions. Darok proceeded towards the small group and then turned and signaled to his men to withdraw.

Arik examined the room and then looked at the collection of dwarves on the cushions. The dwarves were old and unremarkable, and Ark figured they were past the age of mining. Figuring that this room was where the Rangers were to wait until the king was ready to see them, Arik plopped down on a cushion. His face turned red when Darok spoke.

“Queen Lywen,” bowed Darok, “these are the humans you were informed of. This one,” added Darok as he pointed to Arik, “is the one who has been identified as the Garala.”

Arik rose sheepishly and bowed to the group of dwarves. He scanned their faces looking for the queen. The group was evenly divided between males and females and Arik did not know whom he was bowing to.

“Pardon our informality,” Queen Lywen said as she rose to greet the humans. “I have long ago given up the pretense that crowns and jewels can make me any wiser. It is this Council of Lanto that adds to my wisdom. Welcome to Lanto.”

The queen was a remarkably unremarkable woman. Her white hair was thin and straight, and her nose was small by dwarf standards. She was dressed in a simple green smock.

“I apologize for my entrance,” recovered Arik. “I thought this was a room for us to rest from our journey.”

“I have heard about your battle,” smiled the queen. “I can understand your need to rest. Perhaps it is rude of me to have had you brought straight here. Let me provide some refreshments so you may rest. We can talk when you are ready.”

“No,” explained Arik. “That is not necessary. It is I who was rude. We do not require rest. It was just my misconception of why we were brought here. I am pleased that you would see us promptly.”

Queen Lywen smiled broadly, “Be at ease, Garala. You are among friends and we will not judge you on your entrance. Introduce me to your party.”

Arik performed the introduction of the Rangers, and Queen introduced her council of advisors. A dozen dwarves entered with trays of refreshments and the Rangers were invited to make their selves comfortable.

“I was heartened to hear of your battle prowess,” said the queen. “It appears that the goblins have learned a painful lesson today. Should every day be as fruitful. We have been working on an underground connection between Lanto and Dorgun since the Collapse. I fear it is still a few years off.”

“Do the goblins ever come into the tunnels?” asked Jenneva.

“They did shortly after the Collapse,” nodded Queen Lywen. “There is nothing worse than attacking dwarves in their own tunnels. We have tried many times to get them to repeat their mistake, but the battles are now on the surface. You are the mage of the group?”

“I am a mage,” nodded Jenneva.

“I heard that you were able to turn boulders into dust somehow,” smiled the queen. “Such a spell would enable us to greatly accelerate our connecting tunnel to Dorgun. Is it possible that you could teach it to us?”

“Are their mages among you?” asked Jenneva.

“We have mages,” answered the queen. “Their skills are in the tempering of metals mostly, but I am sure there must be some among them that would understand the principles of the spell. I am imposing upon you though.”

“You are not imposing,” smiled Jenneva. “We all must work together to defeat the Dark One. Perhaps I can learn something of your spells while I am at it.”

“So it shall be then,” smiled Queen Lywen. “I understand that the purpose of your trip is to study the scrolls of our history. What is it that you seek?”

“We need to look for any information regarding the Shield of Oykara or the homeland of the goblins that King Astel pursued,” answered Jenneva. “Any clue at all about where we should begin our search.”

“I will provide dwarves to help you in this endeavor,” offered Queen Lywen. “Whatever the people of Lanto have, will be put at your disposal.”

*  *  *

Rax smiled as Tedi exited the wagon.

“And here I thought that you would sleep all day,” chuckled Rax.

Tedi squinted up at the pink clouds created by the rising sun. He shook his head and sat on a log next to Rax.

“You rise early,” Tedi said groggily. “Seldom do we have the need to rise so early unless someone is chasing us.”

“We?” questioned Rax. “Whom are you referring to?”

Tedi frowned in confusion. “My friends and I,” he answered. “I can picture them, but I cannot place their names. What is wrong with me?”

“You have had a bad knock to the head,” comforted Rax. “It is good that your memory is returning. I had expected it to be completely back by now, but a day or two more will not hurt. At least you are beginning to remember. It will progress swiftly now.”

“I hope so,” frowned Tedi. “I feel a sense of urgency, but I cannot figure out why.”

“You keep getting him up early,” greeted Natia. “You should let the lad sleep a bit. Here Tedi. I have some tea for you again this morning.”

“Thank you, Natia,” smiled Tedi as he accepted the cup from Natia.

“Tedi’s memory has started to come back,” announced Rax. “Soon he will be his old self.”

“That’s wonderful,” Natia said sadly.

Rax looked at Natia quizzically and shook her head.

“What are we going to do today?” Tedi asked Natia. “Another picnic?”

“Perhaps,” smiled Natia. “Maybe I can teach you how to throw knives. It might come in handy if the tribe is attacked.”

“Are you sure that Adan would approve?” frowned Rax.

“Posh,” pouted Natia. “If Tedi is to be a gypsy, he must learn our ways.”

“Does that mean that I am not a gypsy?” Tedi asked with a confused look.

“I mean a gypsy of this tribe,” Natia recovered quickly. “I am sure that you will learn quickly. Finish your tea so we can go.”

Tedi gulped down his tea and chased after Natia as she pranced towards the woods. Rax sat staring after them for a long time. Finally she pushed the dark thoughts out of her mind and returned to her sewing. An hour later Adan came by and she called to him.

“Where is the lad this morning?” greeted Adan.

“Sit for a moment, Adan,” offered Rax. “There is something that is troubling me.”

Adan’s face turned serious as he sat next to the old healer.

“I am worried about Tedi,” opened Rax. “His memory should be back by now, but something is blocking it.”

“Could the bump have left permanent damage?” asked Adan.

“The bump, as you call it, could have killed him,” frowned Rax. “Someone should control that huge ox, Caroom. I do not think it was that serious though. Each morning he shows signs of his memory returning, but each evening he is back where he started. I have never seen anything like it.”

“Perhaps he just needs more time,” suggested Adan. “He is causing no trouble here. Let’s just wait.”

“Trouble comes in many forms,” retorted Rax.

“What do you mean by that?” frowned Adan. “Do you think there is a danger to our people by keeping him here?”

“It depends upon who he is,” replied Rax. “Do you know that he spends each day with Natia?”

“She has not complained to me that he is bothering her,” countered Adan. “Has she complained to you?”

“Complained?” chuckled Rax. “Hardly. She encourages him. In fact, I think I smell romance in the air each time they pass by.”

“Tedi is a very likeable lad,” nodded Adan. “He is always willing to help anyone who needs help. He never complains no matter how hard the task. I do not see any harm in it.”

“What about when he regains his memory?” questioned Rax. “Have you thought of what may happen then?”

“What can happen?” asked Adan. “I find it hard to believe that he is some evil force that will bring the Lanoirians down upon us.”

“That is not what I meant,” continued Rax. “What of Natia then? When he does remember things in the morning, it always has a sense of urgency about it. When he finally recovers his memory, he will leave us quickly. What will Natia do?”

“Now you have gotten to the heart of the matter,” Adan finally understood. “You think Natia would leave with him? I find that hard to believe. Her whole life is with the tribe. I cannot imagine that her thoughts concerning Tedi are more than an amusement. Do not worry about it.”

“I wish I had your ability to push it out of my mind,” frowned the old healer, “but I do not. I am also not so naïve as to see things through your eyes. I know the look on Natia’s face each morning when she comes running over here. This may be an amusing time for Tedi, but Natia’s face speaks of love when she sees him. You are blind not to notice.”

“Perhaps I am,” admitted Adan, “but what harm is there in it? As you say, the day will come for him to leave.”

“This is true,” nodded Rax. “Someday he will leave. I fear that she will leave with him. Should anything happen to you this tribe will need Natia. We cannot afford for her to leave and have the likes of Caroom leading us.”

“Natia will not neglect her obligations to the tribe,” retorted Adan. “I know her better than that. Where are they now? Perhaps I should have a talk with her.”

“Another picnic,” replied Rax. “And she is going to teach him to throw knives. What do you think of that?”

“I doubt he will be able to come close to her skill,” chuckled Adan with more levity than he truly felt. “Still, I am not sure that we can put that much trust in a stranger.”

“You would not be wise not to underestimate this stranger,” warned Rax. “Remember the supply of weapons we found on him?”

“I remember them,” nodded Adan, “but you also said that he shows the marks of a fisherman. Perhaps his urgency is that he was supposed to be delivering the weapons to someone? Only the staff is identifiable to him, and that is only true if it indeed it belongs to him. It is quite possible that he was delivering the weapons to someone named Tedi.”