A Whisper After Midnight (20 page)

He rubbed his chin ruefully. “It hasn’t worked yet.”

“Nonsense. Every good plan begins somewhere,” Thord encouraged. “Captain Ironfoot, select ten Dwarves to accompany you. I want them ready and inspected within the hour. We’re going to break them tonight and put an end to this damned war. Come, let us feast before this great adventure.”

They filed back into the trenches in silence. Each man contemplating what might happen once the sun went down and the vagaries of warfare took over.

Drimmen Delf

Maleela strode through Drimmen Delf with caution and respect even though most Dwarves bowed politely to her. Word had already spread that she was a princess and all who encountered her did so with reverence. She’d blushed at first but had gotten to the point where she hardly noticed. Drimmen Delf was packed with Dwarves. She smiled back and returned the bows. An emissary from King Thord had arrived not long after Bahr and the others had been taken away. The former prisoners were now officially guests and allowed the liberty of exploring the mighty Dwarven kingdom. Maleela grabbed Skuld and took off exploring. The others chose to stay and rest. The unexpected freedom could only mean one thing: a deal had been made and the time for action was fast approaching.

“This is a wondrous place,” Maleela commented. She’d been in total awe from the moment they stepped into the smoothly planed corridors.

Skuld couldn’t help but agree. “I expected a hole filled with worms and nasty dirt. I never knew anyone could make something like this underground.”

“They are masters of their craft. Look at the designs in the columns and on the ceiling. We have nothing like this in Delranan. And do you see how polite they all are?” she breathed in wonder. “I would love to have such freely given adoration but my father’s rage and greed have stolen that from me. I am as unwanted as the cold winter storm.”

“You have majesty about you,” Skuld said suddenly. “I am glad you are my princess.”

She halted and looked him in the eye for the first time since abandoning Delranan. It was hard to think of him as a man. He’d been a naïve boy when they first met aboard the Dragon’s Bane, but the combination of experience and necessity had turned him into a man. Ordinarily she never would have bothered with one like him. Born to the streets, Skuld represented everything wrong with the kingdom. Or so she had believed.
How wrong have I been, and about how much? This boy thinks unselfishly and I struggle to find a way to look past my prejudices. What does that say of me?

“Why, Skuld, I believe you are growing up on us,” she said lightly. “It feels good to have someone my age to talk to. The others are older and already jaded by their experiences. I think the world needs more people like us.”

He gave her a queer look. Life was anything but kind, especially to people like him. He’d been pushed to the edge of starvation and had to steal everything he owned. What good could possibly come out of that? She, on the other hand, was born into a life of luxury and had been pampered for the majority of her life. Until now he felt good chastising people like her.

“I didn’t think the world wanted anything to do with the dregs,” he replied, careful to guard his true feelings. He knew he shouldn’t but he resented her all the same. Born into wealth and power, it was only chance that left her abandoned by fate. True, Maleela suffered from the abject hatred of her father but it wasn’t technically her fault. She didn’t choose to be born. Deep down Skuld recognized the shortcoming in his thoughts, but that didn’t stop him from despising everything she stood for.

Maleela offered a sympathetic look. “Skuld, you are a very special young man. The others see it as well, else you wouldn’t be here. Anienam chose wisely when he assembled this group. Even if they are misfits and conspiratorial outcasts,” she added with a sly wink.

He couldn’t keep from laughing. The idea of being lobbed into a group of like-minded misfits encouraged him. They walked on, exploring as much of Drimmen Delf as their legs could take. Dining halls and kitchens the size of Chadra Keep were strewn, seemingly at random, throughout the city. Fresh baked bread beckoned from giant ovens. A collage of smells clung to the walls and high ceilings. For such a diminutive race the Dwarves enjoyed towering ceilings and spacious rooms.

They’d been wandering for hours when Maleela finally guided them into a kitchen and, after a brief exchange with the cooks, sat down to a small meal of bread, cheese, and ale. “You know, I feel more at home here than I ever did in my own.”

Chewing a chunk of bread, Skuld decided to ask, “What was it like? Growing up in a castle with a king for a father?”

If she took offense she didn’t show it. “Torture. My father and I never saw eye to eye. He blames me for the death of my mother and still had the audacity to use it as a basis for his war against Rogscroft. Men are wicked creatures, Skuld.”

“Bahr and the rest seem good enough,” he countered.

Maleela saw the insult burning his cheeks and quickly corrected herself. “I didn’t mean men as in males. I mean our entire race. Men. We could learn a lot from Dwarves and Giants.”

He was about to reply when the most beautiful sound echoed into the kitchen. Even the cooks stopped what they were doing to listen. Skuld became instantly mesmerized. Even Maleela felt the dizzying effects. Soon she began to sway to the sound. Her eyes grew droopy and she felt like crying.

“What is that?” she asked dreamily.

One of the cooks ambled over and took up their empty mugs. “That is the sound of our mothers singing to the newborn. You will never hear a greater chorus in any land.”

“It’s beautiful,” she agreed.

Skuld broke into a wide grin. His heart felt light for the first time he could remember. The simple song stole his tiredness and despair. His pains were forgotten. He felt like a new man; one capable of conquering the world in the name of freedom and justice. He was no longer Skuld the street urchin, but something else. Unnamable. Changed.

“Take a care though,” the cook warned. “Dwarven women are stronger than men and twice as mean when it comes to the children.”

He stomped off, leaving Skuld and Maleela free to wander on. Without even communicating the pair started to follow the sounds of the music. Both wanted, needed to see what could possibly produce such god-like sounds. Dwarves brushed past on their own business. They’d grown up hearing it and were nearly immune to the charms. Several sniggered and barked deep laughs at the Humans. Skuld didn’t care. He pushed on as if in a trance until he reached the entrance to a great hall larger than any he’d seen thus far.

What they found in the hall defied logic. Massive chandeliers filled with oil lanterns hung low, bathing the room in heat and light. Grand tapestries covered the walls. Most depicted epic moments in Drimmen Delf’s history. Others portrayed the basest form of enjoyment for children of any race. Pillows and mattresses filled the room with opulence. Dwarf mothers ambled around the room, most holding young to their shoulders as they sang. There was an undeniable atmosphere of warmth, love. The luxury of the Dwarf nursery surpassed every expectation the pair might have held. Maleela felt her mouth drop. Skuld whistled low.

The nearest Dwarf nurse spotted them and smiled before walking towards them.

“I…we didn’t mean to intrude,” Maleela said once the initial shock began to wear off.

The Dwarf bowed. “Nonsense. You would know if you intruded upon us, Princess.”

“You know me?” she gasped.

The Dwarf laughed. “Of course. This is a small hold. Word travels fast, especially when it concerns royalty. Be welcome here. You as well, young Skuld. We have learned of you too.”

Skuld couldn’t do much more than blush and look down at his oddly shuffling foot.

The Dwarf gave Maleela a wink. “The lad needs a good woman to strip away that shyness. I know a few girls who might be willing to help.”

Shock ripped open Skuld’s eyes. “No! Er, I…. I couldn’t!”

“Relax, Skuld. I am merely trying to lighten the mood. Do not be so quick to take all matter so seriously. Life is very short, even for us with long lives. Time goes by so fast, too often we stand on death’s door wondering where it all went and what we can do to buy another day or two.”

“We have seen much death on our trip,” Maleela echoed.

“Such is the way of things. There is but one thing you can do. Meet death with arms wide open and accept the fact that you have done all you wished to do. No true warrior is afraid of death. The brave are favored by the gods.”

Dreams sparked in Skuld’s mind. Buoyed by the intensity of his current feelings, he imagined storming across distant battlefields, armed with sword and righteousness. He knew he wasn’t a great warrior, nor was he much of a fighter, but he also knew he was destined to make a difference. He just didn’t know how.

“We should be going,” he said to Maleela.

“So soon? Is it our singing?” the Dwarf chided.

He shook his head fiercely.

Maleela stepped in to prevent further embarrassment. “Your singing is divine. What do you sing about?”

The Dwarf watched Skuld for another moment. “We sing the songs of our mothers, back through time to the beginning. Our heritage is most important and we honor the past by continuing the simplest traditions. Each Dwarf maiden is taught the song from youth and trained to sing it for years. There is no higher honor than to be selected to attend the youth rooms and sing. I have been here for nearly five years.”

Maleela watched the women cradling their children, not sure that any were actually paired correctly, and felt her heart swell. Several children ran about and played. There didn’t seem to be a care in the world. She felt as if she could stay here for the rest of her life but Skuld was right. They needed to get back to the others. No doubt Bahr had returned and plans were already being made.

“Thank you for granting us the opportunity to experience this,” she said. “The honor is ours and I can speak for both of us when I say that we will be changed for the better because of it. Thank you.”

The Dwarf smiled warmly and placed a gentle hand on Maleela’s forearm. “You are quite welcome, Princess. Be safe on your travels and may the sun never set on you.”

Maleela bowed, forcing Skuld to follow suit. The Dwarf returned to the nursery already singing. Satisfied for reasons neither truly understood, Skuld and Maleela all but skipped back to the hall.

They found the others right where they’d left them, with the addition of Bahr, Anienam, and Groge, who’d returned some time ago. A few heads picked up when Maleela and Skuld entered but went right back to what they were doing. Weapons were being sharpened. Packs lightened. Dark paints were being applied to exposed skin, faces and arms. Armor was piled neatly on the tabletops. Maleela noticed the handful of Dwarves busy conducting the same preparations on the opposite side of the hall.

“What have we missed?” she asked her uncle.

Bahr scarcely looked up from the small map Ironfoot had provided. “The king has granted us permission to end his war, or so that’s what we hope will happen. We have to be ready shortly.”

Rekka raised her freshly darkened blade up to the light and carefully inspected it for any spots she missed. Satisfied, she sheathed the weapon and went to her gear.

“We’re fighting their war now?” Maleela asked, stunned.

“No, just helping turn the tide and break the stalemate. Maleela, we need to get to the river and this is the only way. The dark Dwarves have us sewn in.”

“But I thought he agreed to let us go?”

Bahr set down his pencil and looked at his niece. “Maleela, we must do this if we plan on getting to Trennaron on time. All other options are far too time consuming. If this works we’ll be on our way by tomorrow night.”

“If not?” she argued.

He shrugged. “It won’t matter.”

“Enough talk. We have much to do if we’re to make it by the deadline,” Boen grumbled from across the table.

Maleela felt instant rage at being casually dismissed by the Gaimosian. “I am speaking to my uncle.”

“No, you are wasting his time. Much needs to be planned for if we are to come back with as many as possible alive, young princess.”

Bahr stepped between them. “I’m sorry but he’s right. Maleela, you’ll be staying behind along with Skuld, Ionascu, and Anienam. Don’t fight me on this either. My decision is final. We’re going behind their lines and none of you have any battle experience. Captain Ironfoot is bringing a small troop with him to support us so we should be fine.”

He grabbed her by the shoulder before she could protest and pulled her close. “I know you wish to fight. It makes you special but it also damages your perception. I need you here to watch over the wizard and our broken spy. We are still being hunted by more than just the Harpies. I believe Ionascu is still working for Harnin. Think what damage he might cause if he slips a blade in the old wizard’s heart when no one is paying attention. You are the most capable one I have.”

She didn’t like it one bit but reluctantly admitted the logic of it. The few hours of casual sword training weren’t remotely comparable to what the others had gone through. She watched Boen roll his shoulders, stretching out his muscles. He swung his sword in great loops. The whooshing sound filled the hall. Cold dread suddenly filled her as she realized they were preparing to go to war. She’d been wrong to want to go. Despite the strength of her desires, she knew she didn’t have the inert ability to slaughter others. Maleela calmly walked over to Bahr and wrapped her arms around him.