with one another,” Coïra answered. “We have decided that I shall use and guard the magic source in the former älfar realm. I shall do this together with the two elves. It is regrettable but I shall have to govern Weyurn from a distance. Goda will protect the source in the Blue Mountains.”
“The new king of Gauragar may not like that idea.”
“She will,” said Mallenia. “The new king is going to be a queen.”
“You?” Ireheart bowed in her direction. “You have really earned it after so many cycles fighting for freedom. I offer my hearty congratulations, Queen Mallenia. Is our actor friend going to be taking Idoslane under his wing perhaps?” He winked.
“No. I’m happy for her to reign in both those lands. I’m applying for Urgon,” Rodario answered calmly. “The assembly there is interviewing candidates; I’ll address it on my way home. What with my heroic deeds and the legendary theater tours I’ve undertaken, the throne should be in my pocket.”
Mallenia and Coïra both laughed at him. “And he really believes it, the poor thing,” the Ido woman teased.
“Yes, I do!” Rodario pouted. “You’ll see! I’ll be ruler there!”
“In your dreams or your next life,” joked Coïra. “You should have enough on your plate, going to and fro between your two women. You wouldn’t have time for such an important office.” She put on a sad face. “Or are you saying that we don’t mean as much to you as a throne?”
Rodario burst out laughing. “If you ever get fed up with running a country and being a maga you can always get a job in my theater.”
Mallenia only grinned, one hand on the hilt of her sword. “Let’s go. Goda and Ireheart must have things to talk about.”
The two women and Rodario shook hands with the others and left.
“The long-uns are a strange lot,” said Ireheart, kissing Goda on the forehead. “Sometimes just the one of you is too much for me, but the actor wants to take on two women.”
Goda grinned and sent the children out to help with the packing. “You will make a good king. Your children will support you.” She kissed him. “As I do.”
“Do you?” he blurted out the question.
She started to reply but instead stroked his silvery black hair. “It is the only issue we disagree on, dear husband. Kiras was right to do what she did.”
Ireheart looked deep into her eyes. “You know I see things very differently. We won’t mention it again.” He turned away, teeth clenched, so as not to say more, not to hurt her. He loved her too much for that.
Ireheart heard her sigh and leave the room.
Relieved to be alone with his thoughts he turned to the table, where two items waited for his attention: The casket and the drinking pouch.
He strode over, touching first the cool vraccasium and then the leather drinking vessel. He took his own flask out from under his chain mail and was disgusted to hear the black liquid inside swill thickly about.
It’s this stuff that caused Tungdil’s death. This and the curse that rests on me.
Ireheart took his crow’s beak, stepped over to the huge fireplace and started to feed the blaze, putting log after log on the pile of burning wood until the flames rose high. He went over the events of recent orbits in his mind. So many of his questions would stay unanswered forever. You and I shall meet again in the eternal forge. Then we shall have time to talk.
“I don’t need to ask the elf goddess for mercy,” he said quietly, throwing his own drinking pouch into the flames. The heat scorched and blackened the leather and the black liquid seeped out. When it touched the glowing wood it bubbled away to dark smoke. “I am Boïndil Doubleblade of the clan of the Ax Swingers, a child of the Smith and king, from the tribe of secondling dwarves.” He hurled the second vessel into the fire. “Vraccas made us out of stone and gave us life. I will overcome the curse on my own, as true as I stand here!”
He watched fascinated as the second vessel was devoured by the flames. Resting his hands on top of the crow’s beak, he drew himself up tall and straightened his back, looking every inch the born ruler.
Then he turned round and went back to the table, contemplating the vraccasium urn that shone in the reflected firelight, as if it had an inner strength. He placed a hand on
The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 1 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 2 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 3 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 4 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 5 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 6 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 7 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 8 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 9 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 10 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 11 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 12 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 13 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 14 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 15 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 16 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 17 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 18 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 19 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 20 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 21 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 22 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 23 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 24 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 25 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 26 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 27 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 28 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 29 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 30 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 31 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 32 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 33 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 34 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 35 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 36 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 37 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 38 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 39 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 40 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 41 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 42 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 43 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 44 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 45 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 46 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 47 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 48 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 49 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 50 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 51 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 52 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 53 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 54 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 55 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 56 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 57 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 58 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 59 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 60 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 61 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 62 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 63 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 64 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 65 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 66 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 67 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 68 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 69 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 70 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 71 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 72 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 73 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 74 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 75 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 76 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 77 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 78 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 79 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 80 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 81 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 82 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 83 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 84 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 85 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 86 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 87 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 88 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 89 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 90 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 91 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 92 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 93 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 94 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 95 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 96 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 97 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 98 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 99 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 100 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 101 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 102 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 103 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 104 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 105 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 106 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 107 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 108 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 109 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 110 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 111 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 112 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 113 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 114 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 115 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 116 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 117 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 118 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 119 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 120 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 121 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 122 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 123 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 124 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 125 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 126 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 127 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 128 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 129 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 130 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 131 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 132 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 133 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 134 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 135 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 136 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 137 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 138 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 139 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 140 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 141 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 142 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 143 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 144 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 145 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 146 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 147 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 148 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 149 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 150 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 151 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 152 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 153 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 154 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 155 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 156 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 157 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 158 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 159 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 160 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 161 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 162 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 163 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 164 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 165 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 166 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 167 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 168 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 169 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 170 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 171 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 172 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 173 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 174 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 175 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 176 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 177 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 178 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 179 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 180 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 181 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 182 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 183 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 184 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 185 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 186 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 187 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 188 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 189 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 190 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 191 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 192 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 193 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 194 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 195 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 196 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 197 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 198 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 199 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 200 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 201 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 202 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 203 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 204 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 205 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 206 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 207 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 208 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 209 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 210 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 211 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 212 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 213 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 214 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 215 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 216 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 217 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 218 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 219 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 220 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 221 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 222 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 223 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 224 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 225 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 226 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 227 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 228 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 229 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 230 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 231 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 232 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 233 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 234 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 235 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 236 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 237 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 238 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 239 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 240 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 241 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 242 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 243 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 244 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 245 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 246 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 247 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 248 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 249 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 250 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 251 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 252 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 253 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 254 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 255 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 256 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 257 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 258 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 259 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 260 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 261 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 262 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 263 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 264 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 265 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 266 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 267 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 268 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 269 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 270 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 271 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 272 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 273 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 274 The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz - Page 275