The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz Page 0,181

torn holes, and the forest floor had stained it. The man was wearing a greasy leather cap on his dark blond hair.

“What is your name?” she demanded.

The man cringed and crawled further back inside the room. As he did so, ash and charcoal crunched under his hands and feet.

Rodario caught sight of four costly rings on his fingers. “He’s no beggar, that’s for sure.”

“Perhaps he managed to escape the fire but lost his mind?” Mallenia kicked the wall sharply. “Where is the queen?” At the gate Tungdil was arriving with the other dwarves; she told him quickly what they had found.

Rodario climbed in through the window and slowly went up to the man. “Don’t be afraid. We won’t hurt you.”

“Says who?” came Ireheart’s voice from the open window. “If he’s a villain, then we will.”

“But you aren’t a villain, are you?” Rodario crouched down by the man. “You’re some rich man who has lost his way? Perhaps you were robbed? Or have magic plants been your downfall? Have you caught sight of a woman with long dark hair? In a dark-blue dress?” Behind him there came a crash and metallic clang, and gray dust rose up, settling on the sweaty face of this unknown figure.

It was Tungdil, who had just jumped in at the window. The man whimpered and cowered, his arms round his head for protection.

Tungdil grasped the man’s right hand and pulled it hard, then brushed the dirt off the man’s sleeve to reveal an embroidered symbol. He frowned and his face grew dark. “You are one of Nudin’s followers,” he challenged the man, grabbing him by the throat. “You have the effrontery to copy his style of dress and even his rings!”

Rodario stood up and placed a hand on his sword hilt. “One of Lot-Ionan’s famuli?”

“Ha!” said Ireheart, triumphantly. “What a good thing I didn’t agree we wouldn’t harm him.”

“He looks like one.” Tungdil dragged the man over to the window and hurled him out into the courtyard. “We’ll find out what he was doing here. And how much magic he still has.” He instructed the Zhadár to increase their vigilance, then climbed back out. “Did he tell you his name?”

“No.” Rodario followed the two of them outside and stood by Mallenia. “I wanted to try the gentle approach first. He seemed very distressed so I thought rough and loud treatment wouldn’t prove helpful.”

Tungdil drew Bloodthirster, placing the weapon’s tip at the man’s throat. “Talk!”

“Franek,” he stammered. “My name is Franek.”

Ireheart grinned. Occasionally there was something to be said for the dwarf-technique of interrogation.

“What brought you here? Why are you dressed like Nudin?” Tungdil gave him a kick that had him over on his back. “I don’t have time to waste. We’re looking for a woman…”

“I saw her!” Franek said quickly, raising his hands. “Please don’t! I saw her! I know which way she went.”

Ireheart had his crow’s beak ready. “He could have been sent by Lot-Ionan to lead us into a trap.”

“But how would he know we were coming?” Rodario studied Franek. “Shouldn’t we hear his story first?”

“For me the queen is more important,” interjected Mallenia. “And the same should go for all of us, surely?” She addressed the putative famulus. “Tell us! Where did she go?”

He slowly lifted his arm and pointed east. “To the Votons. She’ll be dead by now.”

“Who are the Votons?” Tungdil did not remove Bloodthirster from the man’s throat.

“Hideous beings. Chimera, the result of Vot’s experiments. He was one of Lot-Ionan’s famuli,” he explained, breathless with fear. “They used to be humans but he equipped them with the limbs of animals. They broke out of his laboratories and fled here.”

Tungdil gave orders to Barskalín in a language they did not understand and the Zhadár raced off; then he turned to Rodario. “You stay and keep an eye on our friend here. He’ll have a few more questions to answer when we get back with the queen.”

Ireheart shook his head doubtfully. “We’re setting an actor to guard a famulus?”

“If he could still do magic he probably wouldn’t look like a dog that’s been beaten half to death.” The one-eyed dwarf indicated the quiescent runes on his armor as evidence there was no magic activity present. “Slîn can keep you company. The rest of you—come with me.” He charged after the Invisibles, leaving the three of them alone in the courtyard.

Slîn closed the gate and lit a fire. Rodario handed Franek something to drink and brought over a few old timbers to sit