take this. You’ll get more use out of it than I ever will.”
Ethan strapped on the sword. “Let’s hope not.”
Birger led them right up to the cliff face, then over to a spot where there was a small opening in the rock. “This way is not widely known to anyone but the miners,” he said. “It should buy us some time.”
“I think not,” called a voice from inside the tunnel.
The group instantly drew their weapons and backed several steps away from the entrance. A few seconds later a lone dwarf emerged. His red beard was tied in a single braid, as was his waist length hair. He wore black leather armor and carried a large, two-handed axe. He glowered at Birger while resting the weapon on his shoulder.
“Rumhold,” said Birger. “Why have you come?”
“To stop you from making a terrible mistake. I knew where you would go the moment I saw you leaving the manor. You’re not the only dwarf who knows the secrets of the mountains.”
“So you would support King Halvar’s decision to assassinate an innocent?” Birger challenged.
“Innocent?” Rumhold scoffed. “He brings with him certain death for us all. The council members who refuse to see this are fools. They should trust in our king’s wisdom.”
“There is no wisdom in murder. And the king has no right to do this. There is a reason why we have a council. To prevent a king from falling from grace when his mind becomes clouded.”
“It is not the king’s mind that is clouded. He sees quite clearly what this false hope will bring down upon our heads. I implore you to turn back, Birger. I will say that you had a change of heart. Leave the humans to me. I’ll deliver them to the king’s guards.”
“I think you may find it’s not so easy to take us,” cut in Markus. His tone was dark and dangerous. “Unless you have an army behind you, we’ll be leaving now.”
Rumhold drew a short wand from his belt. “I don’t need an army, human. So unless your sword can halt a bolt of lightning, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.”
“Leave this to me,” said Birger.
“So you would fight me?” A heavy frown creased Rumhold’s face. “For the sake of these humans you would bear arms against your own kind? Against a friend?”
“No,” he replied sadly. “I would do it for the sake of our people’s honor.”
“Honor will not save us from Shinzan.”
“You’re wrong. In the end, honor is the only thing that will save us.”
Putting away the wand, Rumhold gripped his axe with both hands. “So be it.”
Birger crouched and broadened his stance. Ethan could see the muscles in his powerful arms quivering with tension, ready to burst into life.
With uncanny speed, Rumhold charged in, swinging his axe upwards from the hip. Birger spun left, easily avoiding the blow and brought his own much lighter weapon down in a deadly backhanded strike. Rumhold only just managed to dive away in time, rolling and instantly regaining his feet.
Rumhold nodded approvingly. “You’ve practiced.” Without waiting for a reply, he feigned right and then stepped left, thrusting the axe head at Birger’s midsection.
Birger swatted the heavier blade down and jumped back, poised to parry. But Rumhold had already matched his movement and was striking at his legs in a tight arc. Birger tried to evade this, but the tip of the blade slashed across his left thigh. In a wild flurry of strikes, he drove his opponent back, then limped out of range. Blood was pouring from the wound and soaking the leg of his pants.
“Don’t make me kill you,” said Rumhold.
Birger glanced down at his injured leg and spat. “I’m not beaten yet, my friend.”
Ignoring the handicap and pain of his wound, he let out a feral roar and ran headlong at Rumhold who, caught off-guard by this unexpected display of aggression, could only raise his weapon and block a series of blows with the flat of his blade. Birger drove him back several paces before planting his boot hard into Rumhold’s chest. A human would have been sent sprawling, but Rumhold’s sturdy legs and low center of gravity kept him on his feet.
Birger advanced again, pressing his advantage. In another hail of strikes he managed to open a deep gash in Rumhold’s right shoulder. Clutching at his wound, the dwarf dropped to one knee.
Seeing an opportunity to finish it, Birger moved in. But the instant he came within striking distance, he realized his mistake. It was