Emerald of the Elves (8 page)

“The honor is truly mine,” smiled Boris. “The elves of Sorelderal have always been a model for other races to follow.”

Boris stepped onto the rope ladder and descended. Elandros was right behind him. Elandros led the small group of elves that escorted the humans. Boris let the younger humans precede him. He watched how Bin-lu walked with his new boots and smiled inwardly. The elves set up a fairly fast pace, and the trip to the tunnels took only a few moments. The dwarves must have had an unseen lookout somewhere along the trail, because they were not surprised when the party arrived at the entrance to the mine.

Elandros sent the elves back to the elven village, but he remained with the humans and entered the dwarven mines. Boris explained where he wanted to go, and the dwarves nodded knowingly. A messenger was sent on ahead while one dwarf guided the humans through the intricate tunnels of Dorgun. After a few hours of the twisting passages, they came upon a dwarf standing at an intersection. Boris recognized him as Zemo.

“I see you have reunited your party,” Zemo said with a toothy dwarfish smile. “I am to be your guide through the tunnels.”

Boris nodded as the other dwarf turned and headed back the way they had come from. Zemo turned and led the party deeper into the mines. Some of the tunnels ran straight for long distances, while others were constantly twisting and turning. Eventually they came to an intersection, which forked the path they were on. The left fork climbed steeply, while the right fork ran level. Zemo took the left path. The dwarf’s sturdy legs carried him swiftly up the steep incline, and Zemo stopped and waited each time the path turned.

Eventually, the tunnel exited onto a wide ledge where a pair of dwarves stood in the shadows gazing over the forest below. The dwarves turned and watched as Zemo led the humans onto the ledge. When they stopped, Boris noticed that Elandros was still with them. Boris cast his tracking spell and faced the direction Tedi was coming from. He could see nothing except the trees. Elandros walked up alongside Boris and followed his gaze.

“There has been nobody about today,” offered one of the dwarf sentries.

Zemo nodded and eased back into the shadows because the bright sunlight hurt his eyes.

“This doesn’t look like an easy path down,” commented Wylan as he looked over the edge of the cliff.

“That is not the way down,” chuckled Zemo. “We came here first so that we can see when this Tedi is coming. The lower tunnel provides the exit into the forest.”

“How large of an army does Tedi have?” asked Elandros.

“I do not know,” shrugged Boris. “I suspect that he will be alone. Why do you ask?”

“Because I see an army approaching,” replied the elf as he pointed towards the distant forest.

The dwarves immediately became alert and shuffled out onto the ledge. Their eyes scanned the forest for any signs of movement, but they could see nothing. The humans also were unable to see anything.

“Describe what you see,” said Boris.

“I see hundreds of wagons,” Elandros began. “Many, many riders also, and thousands of horses. Can you not see them?”

Boris strained his old eyes, but he could not see what the elf was describing.

“How far away is this army?” asked Zemo.

“At their rate of travel,” the elf said as he stroked his hairless chin, “two hours at the most. Probably closer to one hour.”

“That must be Tedi then,” frowned Boris, “but who is he traveling with?”

“And is he traveling with them of his own free will?” added Fredrik. “He could be their captive.”

“Alert our people,” Zemo said to one of the sentries. “We shall take no chances with our homeland.”

The dwarf sentry nodded and ran into the tunnel. Zemo and the other dwarf moved back into the shadows. Everyone else continued to stare out over the forest below them.

“I think I see them,” Wylan said excitedly fifteen minutes later.

“You are not the only one who has taken notice of them,” frowned Elandros as he pointed slightly to the right. “A small band of goblins has just noticed them.”

“I would think that an army will not be deterred by a small band of goblins,” offered Fredrik.

“You do not understand goblins very well,” sighed Elandros. “The small band of goblins that I see are scouts. They will not engage the travelers, but a host of goblins will before they reach these mines. Those horses alone will feed the goblins for months. It is something they will not be able to resist attacking.”

Boris was finally able to spot the approaching army, and he studied them carefully.

“That is not an army,” stated Master Khatama. “Those are gypsies. Certainly a larger grouping of gypsies than I have ever seen, but they are gypsies nonetheless. They must be warned about the goblins.”

“I shall go,” offered Elandros. “I can move through the forest undetected.”

“No,” Boris shook his head. “We do not know if the gypsies are familiar with elves. Or dwarves for that matter. Besides, we should send someone who knows Tedi. Is there a horse available?”

“We can get you a horse,” Zemo nodded to the other sentry. “Who is to go and warn them?”

“I will go,” offered Wylan. “I may not be able to move undetected, but they will never catch me.”

“Be careful,” advised Elandros. “Goblins can be very quick to react if they hear you coming.”

“We need to know if Tedi is being held captive,” declared Boris. “You will find something shiny and signal us up here if Tedi is coming of his own free will. If we do not see your signal, we will assume that both you and Tedi are captives. Do you understand?”

“Perfectly,” Wylan said as a shiver coursed down his spine. He had not even thought of the possibility of being captured by the gypsies.

“If Tedi is safe,” continued Boris, “make sure the gypsies know that the dwarves and elves are friendly. We do not want friends attacking friends.”

“I understand,” nodded Wylan.

The dwarf sentry nodded to Wylan, and they ran into the tunnel together.

“What do we do with the gypsies when they arrive here?” asked Fredrik. “We do not want them boxed in alongside the mountain.”

“The northern side of the mountains is a bit safer from the goblins,” offered Zemo. “If we are sure that they are friendly, we can route them through the mine and out the other side. We must be sure of their intentions beforehand though. We will not allow an enemy into our homeland.”

“I think it would be safe to let the wagons and horses through,” suggested Boris. “The armed riders will be kept outside until your fears are resolved.”

“That sounds reasonable,” nodded Zemo. “They would be hesitant to attack us if their wagons and horses were already at our mercy.”

“There goes Wylan,” pointed Niki. “He is riding fast.”

“And our army assembles as well,” commented Zemo as he pointed off to the right.

Elandros looked to the right and saw scores of dwarves filing onto a ledge below them. Farther off in the distance he saw the gathering goblin horde.

“The goblins are gathering as well,” he said dryly as he pointed. “As I suspected, there are many of them. This will be close.”

“And bloody,” scowled Zemo. “Dwarves do not care much for warfare in the open.”

“Especially in daylight,” nodded Elandros. “I sympathize with you. Dwarf eyes were not meant for the brightness of the day. I wish there was time to alert my own people. Elven archers on that ledge would wield great destruction on the goblins.”

“Can’t you send for them?” asked Niki.

“There is no time for that,” Elandros shook his head.

“We are not without tricks of our own,” smiled Boris. “Fredrik and I will do what we can to discourage the goblins.”

Elandros smiled knowingly. He gazed back at the approaching gypsies and saw that Wylan was almost upon them. The lead gypsies also saw Wylan approaching and signaled to the rest of the gypsy riders. The wagons slowed to a halt, and the riders reached for their swords. Wylan called out a greeting and slowed to meet the lead gypsy riders.

“Wylan!” shouted Tedi. “What are you doing out here? Is Arik with you?”

“You know this lad?” asked Adan.

“Yes,” Tedi nodded excitedly. “He is one Arik’s people. Hold your weapons.”

Adan gave a signal to his men as Wylan rode up and stopped in front of Tedi, Adan, and Natia.

“Are you safe, Tedi?” Wylan asked as he stared into Tedi’s eyes.

“Safe?” chuckled Tedi. “How much safer could I get with a thousand gypsy warriors around me? I am glad that I am in time to catch up to you and Arik.”

“Actually you aren’t in time,” Wylan replied. “Arik left already, but you are in trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” asked Adan.

“Goblins,” answered Wylan. “They are planning to attack you. I need something shiny to signal to Master Khatama that you are safe.”

Natia frowned, but she handed Wylan a mirror from her pouch. Wylan looked up at the sun and then towards the mountains. He scanned the mountainside until he saw what he thought was the ledge he had been standing on. He held the mirror up and moved it back and forth until it shined in the direction he wanted.

“How do you know about the goblins?” Adan asked impatiently.

“We saw their scouts from a ledge high on the mountainside,” replied Wylan. “Let’s keep moving, and I will explain what I know. It is not safe to dally here.”

Adan signaled for the gypsies to continue forward. “Talk quickly, lad,” he urged. “I am responsible for the safety of my people.”

“Master Khatama knew you were coming this way,” Wylan said to Tedi. “We left the elf village early this morning and went through the mountain to a ledge where the dwarves said we could look for you.”

“Wait a minute,” scowled Adan. “Elves? Dwarves? Is this some type of story that you are spinning? Tedi, is this Wylan reliable?”

“He is, Adan,” nodded Tedi. “Let him finish.”

“I am telling the truth,” promised Wylan. “The elves and the dwarves are friendly. In fact, this is a dwarf horse. They lent it to me so that I could warn you about the goblins. The dwarves are readying their army to help you battle the goblins. We should hurry as fast as your wagons can go.”

Adan looked behind him until he spied Mandal. He waved to the gypsy to come forward, and Mandal immediately complied.

“Mandal,” commanded the king of the gypsies, “I want you to ride hard along this trail until you reach the base of the mountain. See if there are any dwarves there and determine if they are friendly. Go swiftly my brother.”

“Wait,” Wylan said hurriedly. “You will not find the mine entrance without me. I will lead you.”

Mandal looked to Adan for direction, and the king of the gypsies nodded. Wylan and Mandal took off at a gallop.

“How sure are you of this Wylan?” Adan asked Tedi.

“Very sure,” declared Tedi. “I believe what he says. Plus if you look closely at the mountainside, you will see people up there watching us. The one in the center is Master Khatama. I think we should get these wagons rumbling along this trail because we are going to be attacked by goblins.”

Just as Adan was staring at the figures up on the mountainside, one of them raised his arms, and a streak of lightning flashed to the ground some distance to his left. He heard guttural screams in the distance and looked up at the ledge on the mountainside again.

“Is this Master Khatama a mage?” asked Adan.

“Yes,” answered Tedi. “He is the one who gave me the staff that I carry.”

“Riders to the sides,” shouted Adan. “Let the wagons through, and be quick about it. Move as if your lives depended upon your speed.”

Adan, Tedi and Natia moved to the side of the trail with the rest of the riders. The wagons started rolling past, and Adan waved them on furiously, shouting and yelling for them to move faster. Wylan and Mandal returned while the wagons were still flowing past.

“There are dwarves up ahead ready for battle,” confirmed Mandal. “It is not us that they seek to harm. They have opened their mine to our wagons and herd. We can pass straight through the heart of the mountains to the other side and make camp there.”

“Take Hortice with you, and lead the wagons through the mine,” commanded Adan. “Set up defenses for the camp on the other side. We cannot be sure if the goblins will come over the mountains after us. Be swift, brother.”

Mandal nodded and whistled for Hortice. The two gypsies wheeled and galloped alongside the wagons.

“He said the wagons and the herd,” commented Natia as more bolts of lightning split the air. “He said nothing about our riders.”

“The dwarves do not know you,” responded Wylan. “For their own safety they want your innocents to go through first.”

“So that they have captives if we decide to attack them inside their mine,” frowned Adan. “Fair enough. I would do likewise in their position. If they allow our families to get to safety, I have no arguments with them.”

The last of the wagons passed by, and Adan ordered the herd handlers to follow right behind them.

“How far is this mine entrance?” Adan asked Wylan as the lightning got progressively closer.

“A few minutes gallop,” replied Wylan.

Adan looked back at the huge herd of horses being driven by. “If the lightning strikes are an indication of where the goblins are,” frowned Adan, “we are in for a battle real soon. We don’t have a few minutes.”

“We could start riding through the woods,” suggested Tedi. “We won’t make good time, but neither will we be just sitting here.”

“I probably should have sacrificed the herd and gotten the riders into the mine,” scowled Adan, “but I think like a gypsy. Let’s ride through the woods.”

Adan signaled the riders of his intentions, and then moved cautiously into the woods. The lightning strikes were getting uncomfortably close, and Adan caught his first glimpse of the goblins as bodies were tossed into the air from the lightning. A few minutes later, Adan saw the last of the herd pass by. He shouted for the riders to return to the trail.

The gypsy riders hit the trail and galloped after the herd. The guttural shouts of the goblins could be easily heard now, and Adan kept looking over his shoulder. He slowed down a bit and urged the stragglers to catch up. In the distance he saw goblins piling onto the trail and running after the riders. As he watched, a bolt of lightning streaked down from the sky and landed in the center of the trail. Goblin bodies flew into the sky, but others quickly replaced them. As the last rider neared, Adan urged his horse onward and raced towards the mountains.