The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz Page 0,218

in you. Keenfire is warning us of a different danger. It can’t mean you.

A slim silhouette appeared at the cave entrance, a spear in his left hand.

“Black-eyes,” yelled Ireheart, leaping to his feet and brandishing his crow’s beak. “The Zhadár sentry must have gone blind! I’ll…”

“Slow down, Boïndil Doubleblade,” the älf said, striding forward into the light of the campfire. The armor incorporated into his body was unique: Aiphatòn! “I am not here to cause you any harm but to inform you what is about to take place.”

Tungdil was on his feet, but looking relaxed. “I have been expecting you, emperor.”

“Oh, you have, have you?” grumbled Ireheart, thumping his crow’s beak down at his feet. “So how did he find us?”

Aiphatòn pointed to the entrance. “My scouts reported a small group approaching the Blue Mountains from the west. I guessed it would be you, so I followed your tracks.” He swept his gaze over the assembled company. “Is this all you are?”

“Yes. We lost many Zhadár in battle and the Black Squadron did not join us,” answered Tungdil. “Have you heard anything from Hargorin Deathbringer?”

“No. He’s not with us.” Aiphatòn turned his slender älf face to Tungdil. “The attack starts tomorrow. Word has got round that the rebellions in the west of Girdlegard have spread to Gauragar and to my other possessions. It’s said that the thirdlings have left their positions and have withdrawn to their strongholds in the Black Mountains. The älfar want to open the gates to allow reinforcements in, to get the situation under control before the uprising turns into a prolonged civil war.” He sat down, because the low ceiling was making it uncomfortable to stand. “Is it true that Lohasbrand is dead?”

“Yes. And has been for a long time.” Tungdil gave a concise account of their recent experiences, not hiding the fact that they had killed one of the Dsôn Aklán.

“But there are still two of the triplets alive.” Aiphatòn looked at Mallenia, who was cursing under her breath. “Tirîgon survived the shot and has been convalescing back in Dsôn Bhará. I shall kill him for you, Princess. It will be on my way…” he said amiably. “But I have heard nothing more of Firûsha. She is apparently at the bottom of the lake.”

“May Elria ensure she sinks further down than the heavi est of stones, to be eaten up by fishes,” murmured Ireheart. “Oh yes, and may Lakepride crash down on her while we’re at it.”

Aiphatòn went into detail about his planned attack. It sounded worryingly simple. “We storm them. From three sides at once.”

“He’s got two famuli left for his defense. We killed one of his other two and another is on our side. They’ll bombard you with spells.” Tungdil took a seat opposite the älf. “You’ve got fifty thousand with you?”

Aiphatòn nodded. “And if we get only ten thousand of them into the tunnel system, that’s all right with me, as you know. I shall be leading the attack,” he said, his left hand against his armor. “And the spells they cast on me I shall catch and send back, as I did before when fighting Lot-Ionan.”

“They are more likely to send their magic against your warriors.” Tungdil looked at him. “Won’t they take flight when they see the attack is bound to fail?”

“I have told them we must act swiftly if we want to escape death. And älfar can be extremely fast,” said Aiphatòn calmly.

“No wonder, with those long legs.” Ireheart played with his beard. “Anyone could run fast with legs like that. But you’ll bang your heads in those low-ceilinged tunnels!”

The emperor grinned at Ireheart. “Still the old Boïndil!”

Tungdil had come up with a new concern. “Your soldiers are sufficiently fired up to get into the tunnels. But then you’ll have no control over them. What if they find Lot-Ionan and kill him? You know we need the magus alive.”

“I’ve told them we need him alive to open the gate for us. That’s incentive enough.”

Ireheart cleared his throat. “What if the incentive is so great that they actually do it? How are we going to get the magus out of the clutches of ten thousand älfar?” He stroked his crow’s beak. “Now, don’t think I’m a coward, emperor of the black-eyes. I like a challenge and I like to have a good few opponents. But does it have to be that many? And ones with those… skills?”

“I’ve just been thinking about that,” Tungdil admitted, tapping his left forefinger against his