about the size of a man’s fist that glowed dimly with yellow light. At the far end were two iron doors. The one on the left was flung wide. Beside it stood their rescuer.
The dwarf was clad in a dark brown leather vest over a green shirt. His trousers were tan cloth – dingy and torn – and his boots rode high up his short thick calves. Narrow dark eyes surrounded by deep lines stood out clearly in a face that was otherwise ghostly pale. Dense wiry hair which fell down to the top of his chest was divided into three braids, held together at the ends by a silver bead. In his right hand he held a small axe, though a much larger one was strapped across his back. On his belt hung a green glowing rod about a foot in length.
“Which one of you calls himself Dragonvein?” he demanded.
Ethan stepped forward. “I do.”
The dwarf scrutinized him for a long moment. “Why did you come here?”
“We seek sanctuary,” Jonas interjected.
The dwarf huffed. “And why should I give it?”
“Because you are obliged to do so,” Jonas stated firmly. “Will you not honor the agreement made between your people and the Dragonvein family?”
“Ha! You must think me a fool. The Dragonvein’s have been gone for more than five hundred years.”
“Then why open your door to us in the first place?” Jonas challenged. “It is obvious you heard us speak the name, did you not?”
“I did. And the name Dragonvein is not unfamiliar to me. My grandfather spoke of it often. Yet I do not see how this boy can be of that line. I saved your lives because I was curious, nothing more.”
“Will you honor the oath?” asked Jonas.
The dwarf gave Ethan another long look. “If he is not who he claims to be, then you will all wish you had died in the cavern.” He jabbed a finger at the drawn weapons. “Do not think me defenseless. Treachery will only guarantee your death.”
Ethan put away his blade. After a brief hesitation, Markus did the same.
Jonas bowed low. “I am Jonas. This is Ethan, Markus and Kat. We thank you for your aid.”
He gave a slight nod. “I am Birger. And do not thank me yet. I do not offer you sanctuary. Only the king can do that, and he may not suffer your presence. Just pray that you can prove this boy to be who he claims.”
With that, Birger turned and stepped through the open door.
“You see?” said Jonas. “Our luck has held after all.”
Markus shrugged. “For now.”
“At least we’re still alive,” Ethan offered.
“True,” Markus replied. “But I wonder how you propose to prove you’re a Dragonvein? I get the feeling the king won’t just take your word for it.”
“You let me worry about that,” said Jonas.
Birger’s voice called out. “I will not wait for you.”
Ethan slapped Markus on the back and smiled. “Let’s go, buddy.”
Markus shook his head. “The Krauts, the Empire…and now the dwarves. Hell, why not?”
Chapter Fifteen
FOR SEVERAL HOURS they followed Birger through a labyrinth of halls and passageways that twisted and turned ever deeper into the mountain. Occasionally they could hear the clanking of hammers or the echo of distant voices, but Birger paid no attention to these and pressed resolutely on. Everywhere they passed through, the construction was superb. The walls and floors were smooth and highly polished, lit by the same round stones they had seen in the first area. Ethan asked the dwarf what they were, but he did not appear interested in conversation.
“I think they’re rajni stones,” Jonas told him. “Though I’ve never seen them so big. And I’ve never heard of them being used to light rooms and hallways.”
“What are rajni stones?” Ethan asked.
“Mages used them to store spells,” he explained. “In fact I used one to bring you to Lumnia.”
The dwarf looked over his shoulder and snorted. “You know nothing, human.”
“I’m sure you know a lot more,” admitted Jonas. “But as you have chosen to stay silent…”
“Rajni stones are vessels for magic,” he said, cutting him short. “Human mages stored spells, but we use them as they were intended.”
“To make torches and light rooms?” Jonas gently chided.
“The stones you see here are of a very low quality,” Birger informed him. “Not that you would know the difference. Lights are all they’re good for. With quality rajni stones we construct objects of great power.”
“Like what?” asked Ethan.
“That you don’t know these things does not bode well for your case,” the dwarf