I know? I’m still trying to understand all this. I suppose we could go to the Dragon Wastes and find out.”
Markus laughed. “Not a chance! Ships won’t go there. None that I’ve heard of, anyway. And even if you had your own ship and a crew willing to risk it, the trip would take months. It’s on the other side of the bloody world.”
“First things first,” said Jonas. “There’s still the matter of King Halvar and the prophecy. Once that’s sorted out, then we can move on.”
“Speaking of moving on,” observed Markus.
The dwarves had begun to gather their gear, ready for another march.
Ethan spent most of his time during the journey in quiet thought. The voices in his dreams were continuing to grow stronger and ever more urgent.
Come to us. Time is running out.
By the time they arrived in Elyfoss, his nerves were completely frazzled. He’d hardly slept for more than a few hours at a time and was finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate. He hoped he would not be forced to confront King Halvar in this condition, but knew it was likely. The king had sent out assassins, who were now returning as protectors of the very person they were meant to kill. This was sure to cause something of a sensation.
The former assassins surrounded him and marched through the street as if they were an honor guard on parade. People rapidly gathered on the sidewalks and followed them as they made their way to the king’s manor.
On reaching it, the two guards at the door stepped forward and shouted for them to halt.
“You have no business here,” one of them said, his eyes centered on Ethan. “The council is still in session.”
“Step aside,” commanded Birger. “We come bearing important news.”
“I don’t care what news you have,” he shot back. “You’re not getting in. King Halvar was very clear that…”
Birger took a menacing step forward. “King Halvar will see us now whether he wishes to or not.”
The guard’s eyes shifted past Birger and moved along the line of armed dwarves staring at him unflinchingly. The crowd in the street behind them was growing by the second. It was an intimidating scene.
“Wait here,” he said after a brief hesitation, then turned sharply and disappeared inside. He returned a few minutes later, pale-faced and with an uncertain expression.
“Only Ethan Dragonvein may enter,” he said.
The dwarves lurched forward, shouting their objections. Ethan held up his hands until they had calmed.
“It’s fine,” he told them. “I will meet with King Halvar alone.”
“He’s already tried to kill you once,” objected Jonas. “Who’s to say he won’t try again?”
“I don’t think he will,” said Birger. “He knows what will happen if he does. All the same, you should be careful.”
“I will,” promised Ethan.
He allowed the guard to usher him inside. The council chamber door was already wide open with a line of council members filing out. Ethan spotted Lady Thora among them. She gave him an almost imperceptible nod and a smile.
When he stepped inside, the chamber was completely empty apart from King Halvar, who was still sitting in his chair. The monarch’s eyes bore dark circles beneath them and he was rubbing his chin as if in deep thought.
He pointed to a chair on the opposite side of the table and took a deep breath. “I see that in spite of my best efforts, you are still among the living.”
Ethan nodded, but remained silent.
“I hear that the dwarves I sent after you have actually escorted you back, and at this very moment are ready to charge in should they suspect your life is in danger.”
Ethan nodded again.
“Then it is safe to assume that something extraordinary has happened to change their minds.”
Ethan considered his words for a moment. “Your Highness, I understand why you tried to have me killed. If I were in your position, I might do the same thing.”
The king huffed a disdainful laugh. “You would, would you? Let me tell you something, boy. You can’t begin to imagine the responsibility I bear. I live to see my people endure. And regardless of what anyone says, enduring is the best we can hope for. The life my people are speaking of, now that you have appeared, is not possible. Even so, they are beginning to believe that it is. You have them preferring death to the life we have. The life we have had for centuries. The life that has prevented us from being driven from memory.”