Of Honor and Justice
The young red headed Dwarf hefted his travel sack over his shoulders and headed towards the mountains. The village men folk were at the new mithril mine as the Priests gave blessings to Brobbet for the bounty bestowed on them. The mine would provide Clan Grimbattle a rich source of income for years to come. Today however, he was to carry a message to his Father. His Mother had gone to her birthing bed and a new clan member was soon to arrive. He set his pace at a quick ground-eating trot as he climbed towards the pass, excited at the prospect of seeing the mine and gaining a new brother or sister. It was a good day to be alive and he murmured a quick prayer to Brobbet as he climbed.
Reaching the crest of the pass he paused for breath and felt a chill wash over his body. Looking back down at the village below him he gasped in horror! Smoke was rising from several buildings and two large dragons circled above. Taking turns they would dive down breathing fire on another building then swoop skyward once more. Fumbling in panic at his belt he unhooked his horn and gave three long blasts into the cool mountain air. The men-folk! They were all at the mine! Fear leant wings to his feet and he flew over the narrow trail, heedless of the drop-off on his right or the rocks in his way. As he ran he blew again and again on the horn, calling of danger and a battle to come. Why? Why did the drakes attack? There was talk of a peace treaty between all the races to combat the advent of the Withered Aegis, an evil far worse then any they had ever seen. So why attack now? Did they covet the mithril?
His breath was labored and a stitch had developed in his side when he finally seen figures coming down the trail towards him at a run. The men! They had heard his horn and headed to the village, weapons in hand. His Father, the Thane stopped before him waiting for an explanation! ?Dragons Papa! Two of them! And Mama has taken to her birthing bed? That was all he had breath for and he dropped to his knees as he gasped to fill his lungs in the thin mountain air. The men doubled their pace and sped down the mountain trail and soon were out of sight. He rested until his breathing was once again steady then stood and set off after them, fearing what he might find.
He came down the trail to a scene of utter destruction. Fire and smoke raged from houses and workshops. Men, women and children were forming lines frantically dousing fires as quick as was possible. His home! His home was ablaze and he ran full out. Several men grabbed him before he plunged into the flames, holding him back. A shape appeared through the smoke, staggering from the smoke and a burden in his arms. His Father! Smoke trailed from the Thanes? beard and his clothing was burned and smoldering. Tears ran down the old Dwarfs? cheeks as he laid his burden on the ground. The restraining hands let him go and he ran to his father, crying out when he saw who his Father had carried from the fire. His Mother! His Mother and a small bundle held tightly in her lifeless arms. The Cleric looked up from the lifeless body and shook her head. There was nothing to be done. ?A sister Lad, his Papa sobbed. You had and lost a sister.?
The gathered crowd slipped away giving the two the space they needed to mourn. A crackling and snapping came from the house behind them and the smell of smoke hung heavy in the air. The young Dwarf felt he was choking on smoke, drowning in it. He fanned his hands frantically in an effort to breath. Strong fingers gripped his and held him fast.
?Wake up Bori!? said a voice in his head. ?Bori Grimbattle! Wake up now!? He opened his eyes and looked into the Gnomish eyes of Arirabeth Quickfingers, his adventure companion. ?Ye are havin? that dream again!? Sitting up in his bedrolls he glanced at the smoldering campfire then to the sky in the east. Dawn was almost upon them and the smoke from the fire had once more given rise to his nightmares. He shuddered again at the clarity of his memories.
He would never forget that day or the following one, when they had buried his Mother and baby sister in a single grave. His Father had shaved his beard during the night and spoke not a word by his side. To a young Dwarf it felt like he had lost his Father as well and for a long time after it was the truth. It was Bori who would travel to Dralk to meet with the Dragon leaders to seek Justice for the Hearth and the Clan. He had walked unafraid into the mountain bowl where the Dragons held council, had stood straight and proud as he read the demands for Wergild and for Justice. He had remained unblinking and stoic as the huge Dragon proffered up a chest of mithril coins and he got angry when they refused to offer up the two Drakes that had destroyed his village for punishment. They would take care of it the huge Dragon had promised with a tooth baring smile, but he knew the answer for what is was. A lie meant to mollify him and his Father and Clan but still a lie. The ink was barely dry on the newly signed treaty between the races. The Dragon had smiled again as he emptied the chest of mithril coin on the floor of the mountain bowl and turned to walk away. His father had told him one thing before he left and he remembered it then, ready to dive aside at a moments warning. ?Never trust a smiling Dragon? had been his Fathers? words to him and he had not trusted the one behind him. He spoke loudly as he walked out, in a strong, unshaken voice. ?Without Honor there can be no Justice!? and murmured under his breath the remainder of the creed, ?Without Justice there can be no Future.? The future for Clan Grimbattle looked bleak back then and he still sought Justice for his Clan. He had taken the path of a Paladin, sworn to Brobbet and vowed to search for the two Drakes until Honor, Justice and the Future were satisfied.
His scrambled out of his bedroll and set to packing up the camp. Arirabeth was busy at the fire, readying a quick breakfast and humming softly to herself. He smiled as he looked at the wee Gnome and thanked Brobbet for her companionship. She had made it clear when they had met that his Quest was hers and she would help her Dwarven cousin gain what he sought. Many times her Clerical skills had saved him from near death and beyond but the Dwarf knew she was also yearning for a romantic relationship as well. That would have to wait however, until Brobbet was satisfied with him and gave him leave. For now, he served his God first and Clan second. There was no room for himself or romance until the first two were met and Justice still remained elusive. Completing his packing he stepped to the fire to grab a proffered plate, eating quickly, eager to be off. Something had drawn him to these mountains near the boarder of Dralk and Kirasanct. Something tugged him ever upwards like a string pulling at his soul. Arirabeth had said not a word when he had told her of this latest journey, she had just packed her travel kit and met him at the portal in Jambi ready to go. He could not and would not dissuade her for she went where she willed and secretly he was thankful for it. Finishing his meal he helped clean and pack the remainder then hitched his pack over his shoulders and stared up at the mountain, waiting for the tug on his soul to tell him what direction to take.
?We head west? he said, to Dralk. Picking a careful path through the boulders he started climbing with the nimble footed Gnome following easily behind. They climbed for hours, the only sound being Arirabeths? low humming. She hummed always it seemed, even when fighting though the tone of the tunes she hummed changed. The pull on him grew suddenly stronger as they entered a narrow steep walled canyon. Strange rock formations thrust themselves up from the canyon floor casting grotesque shadows across the far wall. The Gnomes? humming grew louder and he scanned his surroundings carefully. That was always a sign that something was amiss. Somehow she sensed things that he did not, even if she was unaware of it. He drew his sword from its scabbard, a wondrous two handed great sword. A bright blue glow radiated from the blade as the magic within activated. The sword had been passed to him from his Father, a Glimmel Lake sword, rare and no longer made. He sensed Airiabeth behind him readying her war hammer and pulling her shield from her back to her forearm. ?Something is not right he? whispered, then the stones moved!
?Golems!? he yelled and brought his sword up to the ready. Arirabeth positioned herself at his back facing one of the behemoths while he faced the nearer of the pair. Quickly he launched his attack, his footwork fluid as he sidestepped a descending fist of solid granite. The sword came up catching the Golem in the right hip, the enchanted blade biting deeply into the solid rock. Wrenching it back to the defense he parried another blow, the shock traveling along the blade sending tingles into his palms. He glanced quickly at Arirabeth as her war hammer sent chips of granite flying from a Golems knee then chuckled as she scurried between its legs to strike another blow at the same knee from behind. Still he could hear her humming a song as she danced with her adversary. He turned his attention back to his foe just in time to take a hit on his left shoulder. The pain was intense but he gritted his teeth and swung quickly around catching the offending arm as it was raised up for another blow. The arm separated at the elbow, the hand clutching vainly as it fell to the rocky ground. A rumble sounded from his opponent as it tried to stomp on him with a huge foot. Calling upon his innate abilities he unleashed a flurry of blows in succession to the leg and smiled when the Golem slowly toppled. Grasping the Glimmel Lake blade tightly in stepped up on the golems shoulders and brought the sword down across the neck, sending the head rolling across the canyon floor. He turned quickly to the Gnome only to find her leaning on her shield grinning at him. ?If ya did not stop to be looking at me Mister Grimbattle you would have killed that thing long ago and would not be needing me healing skills!? He grimaced as he remembered his shoulder and the blow he had taken but smiled when he felt the warmth of Aris? touch upon it. ?I be thanking ye, Miss Ari? he bowed. ?Remind me not to be looking? at ya in the future will you?? and chuckled when the Gnome blushed a deep red.
The ground rumbled again and they turned to face up the canyon, their eyes widening in fear! ?Obsidian!? cried the Gnome! Saying a silent prayer to Brobbet the Dwarf called upon Divine protection and waded into the advancing creature, sword sending sparks flying from where they struck. The immense beast centered its? attention on the raging Dwarf, wanting to smash this creature that had destroyed his brethren. Blow after blow it rained upon the red bearded Dwarf with no effect as that terrible sword bit deep into its rocky skin. Arirabeth was behind it, war hammer pounding into its legs sending fist sized chips skittering across the canyon floor. The huge beast turned to swipe at the pesky Gnome and the Dwarf saw his chance. Calling once more on his innate skills he unleashed a terrific blow at the Golems chest splitting the rock like one would a slab of butter. The creature turned back, surprised that such a small creature could unleash such damage then with a rumble tumbled backwards crushing the Gnome beneath it! ?Miss Ari? yelled the Dwarf and dropping his blade he bent down and grasped the now still Golem. Straining mightily he heaved the rock construct off the Gnome, frantic to see if she was still alive. Dropping to his knees he called to Brobbet and his hands glowed white as he raised the crumpled Gnome up. Furrowing his brow, he concentrated, sending the Divine power into the broken body. Slowly, her color returned, the bones knitted themselves together and she opened her eyes. ?Why thank ye, Bori Grimbattle, does that mean ya do care a bit for me?? she said just as things went black.
He awoke to the sound of Aris? humming, a tune he had heard before when the battle was done. One day he would have to find out what song she was humming. ?Ah, yer awake Bori Grimbattle! Next time don?t be expending all yer energy on me. I can be doing a bit of healing as well you know!? she said in a stern voice with her hands firmly planted on her hips. The twinkle in her eye however gave her away. He sat up and looked around at the carnage. She had already searched the dead stone constructs and had laid out the spoils in front of her, carefully examining each piece. One item caught his eye, an iridescent orb that shifted and moved when one looked directly at it. She caught the direction of his stare. ?Don?t rightly know what that be, Bori. Doesn?t do anything except look purdy!?
He stood up and bent to pick up his sword, sheathing it in a quick movement. ?Best we were off Lass, before the light fails us.? Hitching his pack over his shoulder he waited patiently while she packed up her spoils and headed up the canyon, watching for any sign of more Golems. As they walked his mind went over the years he had spent searching for Justice and the two dragons that had destroyed his village and his family. He had listened carefully to any thread of information he could find. He had questioned and befriended other dragons who could offer little in the way of information. There was the caustic tongued Mist, the stalwart Ebel who would drop anything to fly over to lend a claw or a wing if called, Radzy, who knew more Dragon Lore than any other he had met, HeavensShadow a close friend of the Blades and the wise Sephiranoth. There were even dragons living in Jambi where he had built a house, Adramaleck the great red and Arydun his mate, as well as several hatchlings who had decided that Jambi would be a good place to live. He had come to know and therefore trust these Dragons but still had no word of the two he sought. Even the Great Drake Amadan, with whom he had many a mock battle, even defeating him once, could offer up no clues. He chuckled lightly at the memory; he still teased the Drake with the sword he had used to win the battle, even though he knew the Drake had let him win. The huge Wyrm did not have to know that however, it was fun to tease.
The shadows were lengthening across the canyon floor when they came to an abrupt stop. Although the pull on him was strong from the direction they had been traveling the canyon ended in a rock wall. He stepped forward and ran his hand over the surface. As smooth as polished obsidian it was, with not a rough spot to be found except for a circular depression in the center. A faint line around the edges gave a hint to what it was, a door. The two travelers puzzled over its opening. They pushed and prodded, pried and felt carefully for secret switches to no avail. Tired from the days adventures Ari sat down on a nearby boulder and pulled the iridescent orb from her pack, hoping to discover its secret. It did have a nice way of glowing, yet if she looked directly at it the surface would shift as if it was attempting to get away from her prying eyes. The Dwarf chuckled and went back to examining the rock face for any clue on how to open it. Rolling a nearby boulder to the center of the rock face he scrambled up to examine the circular depression. He pressed the center with his hand and was about to poke at it with his sword when he abruptly stopped and glanced back to the Gnome and the orb then back to the depression. ?Miss Ari! The orb! Bring me the orb!? Glancing up as if the Dwarf had suddenly gone daft, the Gnome bounced to her feet, jumped down from the boulder she had been perched on and scurried over, passing Bori the orb. Carefully the Dwarf placed the orb in the center of the depression. Long unused hinges somewhere squealed in protest but slowly the door opened inwards. A blast of air, smelling of death and decay wafted out of the opening as fresh air rushed in to take its place. Jumping down, the Dwarf rolled a couple large boulders in the doors path in case it accidentally closed then climbed another and removed the orb. Nothing happened. Circling the door to the inner side he glanced upwards to see an identical depression. This side of the door was not smooth though. Huge claw marks marred the surface, some deep into the stone where something large had fought to get out. ?I see how it be working Lass! This orb ya found be the key to open or close the door, dependin? on which side ya be usin? it on and what position it be in!? Scrambling down from the rock he stowed the orb-key in his pocket and reaching in his pack brought forth his sunscope and flicked it on. Light from the Gnomish invention flooded the inside revealing an immense cavern and death!
Laying next to each other, in the center of an immense pile of jewels, coins, weapons and other treasure were the skeletons of two huge dragons. Their unseeing eyes faced the doorway. Somehow the orb-key had fallen out of the inner depression and rolled outside before the door slammed closed, sealing them in. The two travelers could only imagine the horror the two drakes must have felt when they realized their fate. It was a terrible way to spend eternity.
The Dwarf felt his gaze being pulled away, to the side of the larger of the skeletons. Something glowed from beneath the pile, a pure white light that cut through the yellow of his sunscope. A strange look of excitement washed over the Dwarfs? face as he approached the object. Bending low he gripped the protruding edge with his hand and pulled. The white light flared brightly then muted to a barely discernible glow. He looked at what he held, a large ornate shield etched with fantastic scenes of Dwarves and Gnomes, Dryads and Elves. Every race of Istaria was represented on the face of the shield. He read the inscription around the edge, ?Without Honor there can be no Justice, Without Justice there can be no Future? and below that the mark of the person who had made the shield, which read simply, Clan Grimbattle!
It had been a difficult clean up after the fires were out. Many buildings were destroyed beyond repair. The Dragons had taken everything of value they could possibly carry with them, including the symbol of Clan Grimbattle, a large ornate shield that hung over the door of the Clan Hall. His Father never forgave himself for losing his Wife, his Daughter and his Honor. He had shaved his beard that first night after the attacks and his face was still bare to this day. As Thane it fell upon him to insure the safety of the Clan. Though many years had passed and many a Dwarf would have taken a new Wife and begun again, his Father could not face the shame he had brought upon Clan Grimbattle. He had stepped down the following day, passing the Leadership to his Brother. He lived now in the back of his forge, a broken man, trying over and over to replicate the shield he had lost.
The red-bearded Dwarf dropped to his knees when he realized what he held in his hands. Tears ran unashamed down his face and a sob broke deep within his barrel chest. The watching Gnome nodded silently to herself and quietly slipped out the doorway. She could hear the sobs of the Dwarf inside as he gave thanks to Brobbet for leading him to this place. Humming happily to herself she moved further down the canyon and began to set up camp and to ready a meal.
How long he sat there he could not tell, but he both marveled and shuddered at the Justice of Brobbet. His God could be cruel when angered and once again he thought of the horror the two Dragons must have felt being entombed alive. He must have decided to take action after Justice was denied to the Grimbattle Clan, mused the Dwarf, but it was still a horrible way to die. However, he now had the Shield. His Father would regain His Honor and the Grimbattle Clan could once again look to the Future instead of dwelling in the Past. He wiped his face and beard free of tears and a smile brightened his craggy features. He would offer the orb-key to his Dragon friends so they could come and Honor their own. What was done was done. He cared nothing for the riches that surrounded him, he had the Shield. Perhaps the trove could go to hatchlings to help them on their way to adulthood. Perhaps by doing so the schism between the races would be narrowed. Perhaps the Peace Treaty would continue long after the Withered Aegis was defeated. Yes, there was a Future to look forward to.
Carefully rolling away the rocks he had placed in the way of the door the Dwarf clambered up and placed the orb-key in the outer depression. He jumped quickly down and scurried out as the door closed behind him. Regaining the orb-key he turned towards Aris? campfire and singing happily went to see what she had cooked up for supper. Seeing her smile and hearing her humming he grinned broadly. Yes, there was a Future to look forward too.
Bori Grimbattle