Darkin A Journey East - By Joseph A. Turkot Page 0,93
prisoner’s shackles,” Terion ordered.
“But, your kingship, he is the Key!” Merol retorted defiantly in a high gravelly voice that cracked in pitch.
“Do as I say Merol!” Terion commanded, scorn in his voice for the public questioning of an order. Merol groaned, but did as the king said, and Slowin once again was able to move unrestricted. Adacon realized it had been the black dwarf’s magic staying the might of Slowin.
“Now if you don’t mind, good king, I have a bit of catching up to do,” Slowin said. “We leave tomorrow morning, correct?”
“At first light, new friend,” Terion responded.
“Then you won’t mind if I go off to spend some time with my old friends,” Slowin said. Swiftly the silver golem stomped out of the chamber before Terion could answer, and Adacon and Remtall quickly followed after him.
“Pleased to have met you, King Terion,” Adacon called back. Remtall paid no such courtesy, and the three left of their own accord, out through the king’s corridor and into the main hall. Ulpo stood with Gaiberth and Iirevale, respectfully waiting for instruction from the king, who stood up from his throne. Merol waited patiently along with the others for Terion’s orders.
“Gaiberth, tomorrow we march to perhaps our doom, but I am heartened to have your valiant company with us,” Terion exclaimed. “Go, make use of my kingdom, take whatever you need so that your troop is ready for the journey to Dinbell, and the battle that is to come.”
“Great thanks, good lord,” Gaiberth said, and together with Iirevale he bowed. A dwarf guard came to escort them from the chamber. Once all the visitors were gone, Merol looked to the king, and after a brief moment of silence he spoke.
“Forgive me great Terion—but have you gone to madness? The scripture describes him perfectly, he is the key!” Merol pleaded.
“It would seem so, conjurer, but trust in your king is all that I ask from you in our hour of darkness,” Terion answered.
“Certainly I trust you, lord, but also in the Prophecy I trust,” Merol cracked.
“Me too, Merol, me too, but the situation is such that a greater priority is pressing us, and that is the invasion of our country,” Terion reflected.
“Some would say both matters equally concern the safety of our people, master,” sulked Merol, but the king did not respond, and Merol limped out of the chamber.
X: THE DINBELL WALL
Slowin, Adacon, and Remtall sat together at a slate table in a dimly lit tavern that was carved from the rock wall of the main hall. In the tavern were only two other patrons, and a lone dwarven bar tender who stood nearby cleaning mugs. Slowin had chosen a table as far as possible from the other customers, both because it was the only table big enough to seat Slowin, and because the other patrons would not overhear their conversation.
“Alright then Slowin—out with it,” Remtall said between gulps of dwarven ale. Adacon had decided not to drink—wishing to keep his wits sharp—as the coming day brought with it a great march, and possibly battle with the Feral Brood. After two painful hugs, Slowin began to tell his tale, and how he had come to survive the Kalm Ocean shipwreck:
“At the very moment when you and Adacon were thrown from the ship, it appeared as if time had frozen for Flaer, Erguile and me,” Slowin told. “I can’t say how it happened, but the entire ship was enveloped in a kind of bubble—just as it was cracking apart—but not before you two were both thrown from the rail. The next thing I knew, the ship was whole again, floating on calm waters.”
“Impossible!” Adacon cried.
“Not even Weakhoof was harmed. We talked for a long time afterward, whether we’d hallucinated the lightning and ice—only did your missing bodies tell us it was no trick of the mind,” Slowin went on. “Next thing we knew, we had anchored at a beach, set underneath massive cliffs, and we had no idea where in Enoa we were. A jungle was to our south, massive cliffs to our north, and a small trail that curled into a meadow formed between. We didn’t know that you two had survived. In fact, we mourned your deaths…”
“It must have been Krem! How else could that bubble have happened?” Adacon said.
“I wouldn’t doubt that…so we set forth on the trail, leaving everything behind but our weapons and some food. And then it happened,” Slowin said with a deep tremor of dread in his voice.