The Fate of the Dwarves - By Markus Heitz Page 0,72

mother again and tried to read in her eyes what the queen was thinking.

“I was telling the truth, Präses,” said Rodario. “But what if the orcs don’t agree? How reliable are they?”

“If it turns out they are sure that it was indeed Coïra who was responsible for the attack on the prison, Wey will suffer the consequences.” Girín sounded indifferent. “Those are the terms of the treaty you signed,” he told the queen. “The Dragon insists the terms are strictly observed and does not want to be the only one to keep to the agreement. You can thank your own flesh and blood.”

“No. She won’t have to. Coïra had nothing to do with it,” Rodario repeated. He was dragged to one side by the orc and forced to stand next to the desk.

“Mother, what do you say?” asked Coïra, her hands on her belt that lay loosely round her hips. “The älfar would not stop for Präses if they encountered him and he were to stand up to them?”

“Hardly,” said the queen. “And we’d have to ask the Dragon for support immediately to help us get rid of the invaders who threaten our island.”

“What are you talking about?” barked Girín, switching his gaze from mother to daughter and back. “There are no älfar here, and they certainly would not dare to attack an envoy of the mighty Lohasbrand. The consequences would be unthinkable.”

Wey got up slowly from her chair, her hands folded in front of her, like Coïra’s. “I have waited so long for the opportunity to be freed from these fetters, Präses,” she announced with dignity, pride in her eyes. “The gods listened and sent them to me. On this notable orbit. Thanks to you and to the älfar.”

Girín guessed what was coming and sprang up from his chair. “Quick! Kill them both!” The orc drew a huge sword and was about to attack Coïra, while the four guards pulled at the chains holding the queen’s collar. The circumference of the ring narrowed.

Rodario tripped up one of the orcs, but not sufficiently to bring the creature to the floor. It stumbled, though, and took a couple of moments to regain its balance.

Red lightning hit face and breast; the orc let out a shrill scream of pain and fell burning onto the marble flagstones. Even the dark blood issuing from its wounds was in flames. Rodario could not tear his eyes away.

White trails of energy laid themselves round the ring and prevented it being pulled any tighter. Then the flashes worked their way along the chains to the hands of the Lohasbrander guards. With a hiss their fingers caught fire, as if they were made of dry wood.

The flames traveled up with amazing speed, slipping under the armor. Smoke issued from the guards’ collars. The soldiers dropped the chains and beat at their clothing trying to extinguish the flames. Seconds later they were on the floor, burned black.

The iron ring around Wey’s neck burst open with a clang and fell, glowing, to her feet. The queen looked at Girín, who had drawn his sword and was standing by the great window, trembling all over. “Did you really think I had no more magic power, Lohasbrander?” she said angrily.

“The Dragon will come and annihilate you!” he said. “He will destroy the whole of Weyurn; it will be overwhelmed in a sea of fire and the lakes will boil away.”

“The Dragon will learn nothing of this. But he will be told about you and the älfar who fought you. In the palace. You will be portrayed in a heroic light. You should be pleased about it.” Coïra smiled and stepped over to Rodario. A quick flash and his bonds were released. “We shall implore him to seek out the älfar. Because, of course, we care about the future of Weyurn, just as he does, even if for different reasons. He will take up our offer, that much is certain.”

“But before that,” Wey went over to him, “you must die, to bring our story to a fitting end.”

Girín struck the window with his sword, shattering some of the panes. A strong gust of wind swept in through the opening, blowing objects around. The curtains flapped, papers and cloths and empty glasses landed on the stone floor. The air was filled with noise. “Never!” he screamed and jumped out, knowing that though it was a considerable fall he would eventually hit the lake waters.

Rodario did not want to leave it to chance as to