Dwarven Ruby (49 page)

“Aye, Colonel,” nodded Sydar. “Archery is something that I have kept well versed in. I won’t let them get near you.”

“I know,” smiled Alex as he removed his sword and placed it on the ground at Sydar’s feet. “You wouldn’t be a Red Sword without an excellent aim.”

Alex picked up the long stick he had gathered along the way and headed out onto the tongue of the cliff. He secured one end of the long rope around a large boulder and walked to the very end of the tongue. He gazed down the mountainside and saw the bodies of the two Tor soldiers at the top of the path from the pass. No goblins were in sight. Alex lowered the free end of the rope over the edge of the tongue. When the rope fell taught, he pulled on it to ensure that the boulder would hold. Quietly he grabbed the rope and began lowering himself towards the cavern mouth below.

Alex landed lightly on the ground under the tongue of the cliff. He held the rope as he walked under the tongue and saw the old rock wall that sealed the cavern. He also saw the small half ledge that ran above his head, just as King Devon had described. He tossed his long stick up on the small ledge and tied the free end of the rope around his waist. He jumped up and grabbed onto the small ledge and hauled himself up on to it.

Alex took the long stick and started poking it into the old rock wall. He cringed as the noise echoed through the mouth of the cavern. He heard goblins shouting and knew he had been detected.

“Hurry,” called Sydar. “They heard you.”

Alex furiously jabbed the long stick into the old rock wall again and again. Dirt and mortar started falling to the ground. The goblin shouts grew louder, and an arrow flew into the cavern from outside it fell harmlessly to the ground after striking the wall. Alex heard a goblin scream.

Alex concentrated his strike with the long stick on one section of the wall. Every few seconds he heard the death scream of another goblin. Finally, one of the stones in the old rock wall gave way. Black oil dribbled out of the small hole as the rock fell to the ground. Alex jabbed the stick into the hole and felt more rocks behind it. He edged close to the old rock wall and began shoving the stick harder.

A goblin archer ran into the cavern and Alex reached for his pouch. The goblin stared at the old rock wall and saw the long stick. His eyes followed the stick upward and saw Alex on the ledge. Alex threw a Lanoirian Star into the goblin’s face. As the goblin tumbled to the ground, Alex removed another Lanoirian Star and placed it on the ledge alongside him. He then continued to shove the stick into the hole. After a few more minutes of working the stick, the second stone worked loose. A steady stream of black oil surged out of the hole.

As Alex listened to the screams of the goblins outside the cavern, the old rock wall began to bulge. Alex swiftly slid backwards away from the wall. The bulge grew to obese proportions and then exploded outward from the force of the oil behind it. A tremendous gush of oil carried the remains of the old rock wall out of the cavern. Alex backed up as far as he could on the ledge as the surging oil rose steadily towards his small ledge. The rush of the oil drowned out any sounds from outside the cavern.

Carefully, Alex reversed positions on the small ledge so he was facing the pass and looking up at the edge of the tongue. He abandoned the long stick and grabbed the rope as high as he could reach. While holding the rope and lifting his body off of the small ledge, Alex used his feet to propel himself out of the mouth of the cavern. The rope swung violently and a pair of goblin archers fired at him. Alex pulled himself up furiously while the rope was still swinging. He heard one of the goblins die to Sydar’s arrow.

Another goblin arrow slammed into the tongue of the cliff just as Alex reached the top. Tiny slivers of stone peppered Alex’s arm as the goblin screamed and fell. Alex pulled himself onto the top of the tongue. He glanced over at Sydar, who was still firing at the goblins below. Alex untied the rope around his waist and gathered it up. He untied it from the boulder and coiled it over his shoulder. He looked over at Sydar and waited.

Sydar continued to kill goblins for a few minutes and then finally signaled to Alex to run. Alex ran off the tongue and raced to Sydar’s position. He slid down behind the log that Sydar was using for cover.

“It seems there were a few goblins waiting for me,” frowned Alex.

“A few?” chuckled Sydar. “It is a good thing that you left me your arrows. I ran through all of mine long before the oil started flowing. They knew someone was coming back to that cavern.”

“They are not totally stupid,” nodded Alex. “Is the oil spreading as it should?”

“It is spreading just fine,” grinned Sydar. “It went down that mountainside like a black waterfall. The Castle of Man is another story though,” he frowned. “It looks like ogres have taken over the first five levels already.”

“How did they get in?” asked Alex as he gazed towards the Castle of Man.

“They catapulted onto the first battlement,” replied Sydar. “How do we start the oil burning?”

Alex removed a small container from his pouch and placed it on the ground. “Fire Glue,” indicated Alex. “We just stick an arrow in it and shoot it into the pass. It will create an inferno down there.”

“Then we have a problem,” frowned Sydar. “We don’t have any arrows left.”

“That is a problem,” frowned Alex, as he gazed at the Castle of Man. “They don’t have much time left either. It won’t take the ogres long to lower the drawbridge. I doubt the stones that the Tor soldiers roll down the staircases will slow the ogres down much.”

“I messed up again, didn’t I?” frowned Corporal Sydar.

“Not at all,” Alex shook his head. “I should have told you the plan beforehand. Your arrows saved my hide down there. Maybe I can throw the container into the pass somehow?”

“Not from here,” Sydar shook his head. “Maybe from the end of the tongue, but you would never make it there without taking an arrow. There are still goblins down there looking for you.”

“I have to try,” insisted Alex as he reached for the container of Fire Glue. “Everyone I care about is in that castle. I cannot let them down.”

“Wait!” Sydar said suddenly. “I just remembered something.”

“What is that?” asked Alex.

“The goblins were shooting arrows at me, too,” declared Sydar. “Some of them went over my head. All you have to do is find one of those arrows. We will ignite the pass with their own arrow,” laughed Sydar.

“Must have had a good strong arm to shoot over your head,” stated Alex as he rose and ran towards the woods behind him.

Alex scanned the ground for the goblin arrows, but could not find any. He heard a noise and turned to see Sydar running towards the tongue. The corporal had the container of Fire Glue clutched in his hand.

“Don’t!” yelled Alex.

“For the Prince,” Sydar yelled back. “Make sure those boys are properly cared for.”

Alex watched as Corporal Sydar charged out onto the tongue. A goblin arrow soared past the Red Sword. Sydar ran right up to the edge of the tongue and hurled the container of Fire Glue with all of his might. As the container soared through the air, a goblin arrow pierced Sydar’s chest. Sydar teetered on the edge of the tongue for a second, and then plunged over the cliff.

Alex watched as a gigantic fireball rose out of the pass. The fire spread like lightening as screams filled the air. Thick black smoke billowed into the air.  Alex saw the fire racing up the mountainside. He picked up his bow and sword and ran as fast as he could. He had run about three hundred paces before the ground rumbled and the cavern exploded skyward. The force of the blast threw Alex through the air. He dropped his sword and bow and curled his body into a ball. He slammed into the ground and rolled with the shockwave.

“So you are leaving us?” Captain Grecho asked Fredrik.

“Yes, I am,” nodded Fredrik. “I am not ready for the city life just yet.”

“I am not sure it is wise for us to return to Cidal,” frowned the mercenary captain. “I think the Lanoirians are soon to be heading north.”

“Stay in Tagaret,” suggested Fredrik. “In fact, stay right here in my mansion. What better place to run a mercenary company than from one of the world’s greatest cities?”

“You would not object to that?” asked Captain Grecho.

“Treat it as your own,” smiled Fredrik. “I have grown a fond admiration for you and your men. I cannot think of anyone who deserves this estate more than you do.”

“You are most gracious, Lord Wason,” nodded Captain Grecho. “What of the others? Are they going with you?”

“Niki and I will be leaving with Master Khatama,” declared Fredrik. “Bin-lu is trying to meet up with the Alcea Rangers. I understand that they were in the city, but left mysteriously. Do you think he could stay with you until he finds out where they are?”

“Bin-lu is most welcome to stay with us,” grinned the mercenary captain. “Already he joins in practice with my men. His fighting style is most interesting to observe.”

“So I have noticed,” chuckled Fredrik. “I think he can be a most worthy opponent in a battle, especially one with no weapons.”

“Oh he does fairly well with staffs and stars, too,” declared Captain Grecho. “It is the sword that he needs practice with. I am sure that he will master it though. When are you leaving?”

“Right away,” answered Fredrik. “I see no reason to delay.”

* * *

Alex surveyed the devastation as he entered the Castle of Man. Most of the bodies on the lowest level were Tor defenders, but the remains of ogres were evident as well. Lieutenant Montbalm hurried over to great Alex.

“You mission was a great success,” grinned Montbalm. “Any later and we would have been in serious trouble. Where is Sydar?”

“He didn’t make it,” replied Alex. “Is the castle secure now?”

“It is,” nodded Montbalm. “The enemy catapulted ogres onto the lowest battlement. The fighting was fierce. The men down here were trapped. We fared much better on the levels above the ogres. They could not climb the stairs well at all. Come, let’s get you to the roof.”

Alex let himself be led silently to the lift. As the lift rose, he gazed out at the destruction the battle caused. With his mind lost in thought, Alex numbly followed Montbalm until they were on the roof. Tanya ran towards him when he stepped onto the roof. She threw her arms around him and frowned when he winced from the pain.

“You are hurt,” gasped Tanya. “What happened?”

“Where is Sydar?” Jenneva asked calmly as the others gathered around.

“Corporal Sydar gave his life to light the fire,” Alex reported solemnly. “He died for his prince and his country.”

“And my country as well,” interjected King Devon. “His sacrifice will be honored here in the Castle of Man. Let me get you a healer for your wounds.”

“Tanya and I can care for him,” declared Jenneva. “Is there a place where we might have some privacy?”

“Of course,” nodded the king. “Use my chamber. Nobody will disturb you.”

Jenneva nodded and led Alex down the stairs and into the king’s chamber. Tanya followed and closed the door.

“Get his weapons off, Tanya,” ordered Jenneva.

“I can handle it myself,” Alex shook his head.

“I am surprised that you can walk,” retorted Tanya as she carefully removed Alex’s sheath. “You are probably in shock.”

“It was just the force of the explosion,” explained Alex. “I was thrown through the air. It is nothing.”

“Nothing?” scowled Jenneva as she pulled a knife and cut off Alex’s tunic. “There is not much left of the skin on the back of your arms and legs. Be quiet and get down on the floor, face first.”

Alex groaned as he obeyed his wife. Jenneva opened her pack and brought out several jars of ointments while Tanya knelt by Alex’s side and began casting a healing spell.

“He did it for us as much as he did it for Prince Arik,” Alex stated softly.

“What do you mean?” asked Jenneva. “Are you talking about Sydar?”

“Yes,” replied Alex. “He knew about Tanya somehow. He knew she was our daughter. In a way he was envious, but his actions were meant to deny me the risk he took for himself. He wanted this family to stay together. Still, he was concerned for the boys. I promised him that Darin and Daevo would be taken care of.”

“And so they shall be,” soothed Jenneva. “They shall have the best that Tagaret can afford.”

“Your wounds looked worse than they really are,” commented Tanya. “It is mostly abrasions with some burns in exposed areas. You will be sore for a while, but there is no permanent damage.”

“Except for your clothes,” smiled Jenneva. “I will ask King Devon if he has some spare clothes.”

“What about the Shield of Oykara?” Alex asked Tanya as Jenneva left the room.

“Arik found it,” answered Tanya. “King Devon has given us leave to take it with us.”

“So we are free to leave Tor then?” questioned Alex.

“Yes,” nodded Tanya. “Whatever you said to King Devon about the outside world has given him pause to reflect on Tor’s isolation. I suspect that travelers will soon be welcome here.”

“Then we leave first thing in the morning,” declared Alex. “The attack on Tor shows that Sarac is escalating this war. We do not have time to waste. The Sword of Heavens must be restored quickly.”

Jenneva returned with clothes for Alex and he got dressed. The Tork family left the king’s chamber and returned to the roof. Alex walked to the edge of the roof and gazed through the crenel to the pass below. Great billows of smoke rose to merge with the Darkness, while the fires devoured every living thing in the pass. Other than the flames, nothing moved.

“It was effective,” King Devon stated as he stepped up alongside Alex. “It is something we cannot repeat though.”

“The devastation is immense,” nodded Alex. The fires will burn for some time. Hopefully, it will be long enough to dissuade Sarac from continuing his march through Tor.”

“We have learned a valuable lesson from this attack,” declared King Devon. “Our supplies in the Castle of Man will be increased tenfold. We are also making modifications to prevent the unusual method of attack the ogres used. I think we will be more prepared when they return.”