Following the steep descent, the path leveled and turned into the main track through the town. In the center was an open area that served as the town square. In response to the assembly call, the residents of Glorhumm had already gathered. All the dwarves, young and old, stood in silence staring at the human strangers.
As the troupe walked toward the crowd, Swiggum signaled for them stop about twenty yards away. Swiggum went forward alone to be met by an elderly looking male, his hair and beard very long and completely white. The two dwarves exchanged greetings, the elderly one giving Swiggum a solid slap on the shoulder. No one else spoke but these two. It was a moment mixed with joy and high drama at Swiggum’s unexpected return, but the silence of the crowd added a doleful element.
While the two dwarves carried on their conversation, Nevin studied the gathering. There were at least three hundred residents of all ages standing behind and to the sides of the white-bearded leader. A small number of children clung to the nearest adult. Most of the males had beards of some length; some wore skull caps. Their clothing was very simple and made of heavy material to match the cool temperature of their underground environment; without exception, the clothing of everyone in sight was quite dirty. A pungent odor became increasingly apparent, indicating their bodies were as unwashed as their clothing.
The most striking feature to Nevin about the assemblage of dwarves was the woeful look on their faces. The sight of four humans in the town had to be extraordinary for them, and with one over six feet in height it was doubly so. Mixed with the excitement from these visitors had to be a fear of the unknown: were these upgrounders dangerous or well-meaning? Muting these emotions was a preponderant look of desperation—a look of dire, wide-eyed need such as one might see in pictures of starving children. Nevin remembered it was just such a need that had brought their alliance about in the first place. Now he was glad he had come to Glorhumm, for the need was plainly great. He would use whatever knowledge or scientific reasoning he could muster to help the Dwarves of Glorhumm.
Swiggum finally turned to the four humans and waved for them to come forward. As they did, the eyes of those assembled moved as one. Swiggum called out their names one at a time, in both Dwarvish and common speech. Nevin was the last to be introduced; Swiggum stood next to him and grasped hands to show they were fast friends. Then with a dramatic flair that drew all eyes to him, Swiggum pointed to Nevin and Anson and made a loud, but very brief, pronouncement that caused the entire crowd to stir. For the first time, low talk broke out among the townspeople. They went silent, however, when the white-haired elder raised his hand and spoke.
“I am Bekar, elected leader of the Moot of Elders. Swiggum says that two of you are mages—high mages—who have come to help us. If you are skilled so and are well-meaning, we have a great need. But I doubt you are what Swiggum says. I have shared company with the Council of High Mages and none of you were present. Explain this deception.”
Anson stepped forward to respond. “The explanation is simple, Bekar. I am a mage from Antrim though I make no claim to have high skills in magery. This is Sir Nevin the Reasoner, whom you have not seen because he has travelled here from a far land, a place with wondrous inventions and machines, and a race of tall humans. Sir Nevin does not claim to be a mage at all, but he is a sage, one with vast knowledge and insight unlike any I have met.”
“We have met such a man,” interrupted Bekar. “He made the same claims for himself.”
“You refer to John Stryker,” said Nevin, stepping forward. “We have reasons to believe that his motives are not honest and his mission here is sinister. I have come with my friends to confront Stryker and expose his intentions. We are no threat to you. We would like to use whatever knowledge or skills we have to help you.”
Everyone present heard Nevin, but it was impossible to know how many of the dwarves could understand his speech. The sincerity and forthrightness of his tone came across, followed by a look of hopefulness in many of their faces. This effect did not escape Bekar’s notice.
“Well met, Sir Nevin,” said Bekar, whose eyes showed a faint change at Nevin’s words. “If you speak truthfully, you have said the words we welcome, we do. We welcome all of you to Glorhumm. Our need is great and your own mission appears urgent, says Swiggum, so we have little time to act. I order a meeting of the Moot to take place here in the city center. Prepare for the meeting!”
Swiggum explained that there would soon be chairs brought for them and the ten elders who made up the Moot. He would not be allowed to sit with them, so he bid each of them a friendly good-bye and bounced off to a waiting crowd. His time had come to regale his people of his adventures and tell the tale of how he helped the mages produce water from stone.
In a very short time, a setting of chairs was arranged for ten dwarves and the four humans. Before they sat, Nevin was surprised by a tug on his pants. A young dwarf child looked up at him and spoke something Nevin could not understand. Bekar observed the interaction and came over. “The child, Bisi, wants to know if you can help us find water so she can drink and wash herself again.”
Nevin bent down to pick up the child and gave her a tender hug. The child’s mother looked on with apprehension as the giant stranger picked her up.
“My dear,” Nevin said. “Your Uncle Nevin and his friends are going to do everything they can so you can bathe in the freshest water you have ever seen.”
The child smiled at Nevin and responded with a single word. Nevin look to Bekar for a translation.
“She asks if ‘tomorrow’ is they day this will happen.”
Corissa took Bisi from Nevin and cradled the child herself. “Have faith in your tall ‘Uncle,’ child. He can do remarkable things.”
Corissa whispered to Nevin that she did not want to sit in on the council meeting. She wanted to stay with Bisi and get to know more of the people of Glorhumm, while he did “what was necessary” to solve the water problem. Besides, she said, she found the chill air rather uncomfortable and wished to find a place to warm up. As Corissa set the child down and walked slowly away, Nevin told her to get some rest. It was evident their travel had taken a toll on her.
Nevin turned his attention back to the meeting which was getting under way. Everyone sat on wickered backless chairs made of woody plant fibers, except that a large rock had been rolled up for Nevin. It forced a laugh when he realized they were politely holding the meeting in the street because he was too tall to fit in their buildings and their chairs would not support his weight. Graciously he took his assigned place and the meeting that was to change the future of Glorhumm commenced.
Chapter 16
Water
Bekar started the meeting by announcing their purpose was to determine how the visitors might help in restoring their well. He deferred to another member of the council, a rotund female dwarf named Milseth, who recited the history surrounding their village water supply up to their current dilemma. She used common speech with some difficulty, but Nevin got enough of the story to realize that the well, which was located some distance behind them in the center of the street, had been dug generations earlier. A few years ago, they started detecting changes in the composition of the water. It gradually grew cloudier and grittier until reaching a point where the water had to be stored in large clay settling jars before use. As the well water receded to lower and lower levels, it progressively developed an undesirable taste until they had to hold their noses to drink it.
The water shortage was at a critical stage when Stryker came upon the scene a year ago. He studied their problem and offered two solutions. After the one involving upula did not work, he told them to dig at a spot about thirty yards away, which they did eagerly. They had to dismantle a house to start the new well, which was disturbing to some as it was one of the oldest homes in the village. With a large crew digging nonstop into a hard rock layer, they did reach new water and thought their problems were solved. Unfortunately, this water supply was even grittier and more unwholesom
e than the main well, and, even worse, was depleted in a matter of months.
Now, each pail from the main well brings up a solution of muddy consistency that does not readily settle out. The population is limited to one drink a day per person. No one is allowed to wash clothing or person.
Bekar added that the limited ration of poor water was having very serious effects. Their population is declining, both in numbers and lost interest in labor. Once proud of their workmanship with metal and stone, the pleasant sounds of a hammer and pick are seldom heard any more because workers will not exert themselves. The rising smell of waste and poor hygiene has started some to talk of leaving the city for a life on the surface, a tragic fate for a Glorhumm dwarf.
A commotion off to the left interrupted the meeting. All heads turned toward someone noisily making his way toward the circle of chairs. It was a male dwarf, bent over with age and hobbling with the aid of a walking stick. So that he would not have to veer from his path, he whacked anyone in his way with his stick to move them aside.
“Smeker!” exclaimed Bekar. “You have not been invited to this council.”
“I am the Lorekeeper,” the old dwarf said defiantly. “I will attend any meeting I choose, even a congress of lackwits.”
Smeker took a few more steps and looked over the circle before returning his glance to the white-haired dwarf leader. “There is little reason to abide your foolish forbiddances, Bekar. You and these other dotards still plan to ignore me and heed the advice of outsiders who have never heard of Glorhumm, no doubt. It is a wonder there are any dwarves left to hear you at all, it is.”
“This dwarvish relic is Smeker, our Lorekeeper,” said Bekar with more than a hint of exasperation. “He does not approve of outsiders.”
Smeker made his way into the center of the circle and eventually tapped over to Anson and Nevin. “Another oversized human,” he spat. “That can bode no good fortune.” The Lorekeeper spoke ostensibly to himself, but loud enough for all to hear. “‘Tis not outsiders I disapprove of anyway. More ‘tis insiders who follow the accursed outsiders.”
Smeker banged his walking stick against the rock on which Nevin was sitting. The resulting sound was startlingly loud and made Nevin flinch.
“Is this tall human full-witted enough to behold the truth?”
Nevin grimaced and whispered to Anson, “Why does everyone here expect large people to be stupid?” Anson shrugged.
Bekar rebuked Smeker for the intrusion. “You are not entitled to address anyone at this meeting!”
“Please, Bekar,” said Nevin. “I would like to hear what your Lorekeeper has to say, that is, if it is all right with you and him.”
“You’ll hear what I have to say whether it is all right with that white-haired old gowk or not,” snapped Smeker. “There is no great secret at work here. There is water to be found in the same place we have always had it, save we must go deeper. Deeper, I say. These old fools will not believe this lore of their ancestors. What do the new fools believe?”
“I think you may be right,” answered Nevin. “But then, what does it matter what a fool thinks?”
Smeker raised his head in notice of Nevin’s retort, then snickered before replying. “Hmmm. ‘Twould be twice foolish not to listen to what you have to say, it would. Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and again, he does.”
Nevin did not take offense at the surly dwarf’s reproval. He was deep in thought, mulling over a method to locate the aquifer that had to exist if there was rainfall in these highlands. Right now, he needed more information and less political sniping. “Bekar, could we take a look at the old well? I need certain information to formulate a plan,” said Nevin, then adding, “It might prove helpful to have Smeker along as well. Someone who knows the long history of the well could be helpful.”
Bekar thought a minute then sniffed his assent as he and the rest of the Moot rose from their seats.
The group reconvened at the well, including the old Lorekeeper who had limited himself to barely audible mutterings as he used his stick to keep his position next to Nevin. The well itself was about six feet square with smooth masonry walls serving as a fence to keep debris and dwarves from falling in. Nevin asked Bekar how often in the past they noticed the water level decline.
Smeker interrupted, further exasperating Bekar, by saying that it was the Lorekeeper’s duty to keep a history of such things. Without waiting for the invitation, he proceeded to explain. As long as he could remember, the water level had gradually declined but without causing concern. They had even evolved an annual rite in the winter when they replaced the pail rope with one slightly longer.
“Hmmm. I need to know exactly what Stryker did before he told you to dig a new well,” said Nevin. “If possible, I would like to trace his steps if you can remember.”
Bekar said, “He was guided both upground and down by Smeker. Since Lorekeepers are practiced in the art of long memory, he should be able to repeat the same steps.” Smeker merely frowned at the rebuke.
Nevin was unsure how to respond. He did not want to cause the old Lorekeeper embarrassment by expecting him to make a strenuous walk, but he wanted to move quickly. Before he could say anything, he received a painful rap on the shin from Smeker’s walking stick.
“I know your doubts about me, troll man,” Smeker snapped. “Let your sore leg be a reminder not to underestimate the endurance of an old dwarf. We shall not waste any more time. The troll man shall follow me, he shall.”
Nevin limped along as he followed Smeker around the huge cavern. He saw the separate tunnels where all their industry involving fires was carried out. The prevailing draft drew all the smoke away from the village, thus protecting the white coating of calcite. Along the way, Nevin saw storage grottos, workshops and nurseries, plus many interesting facets of life in this underground city, but he had to contain his curiosity to concentrate on the geological features of this fascinating place.
It was well into night when the underground tour was finished. Nevin was very tired, but Smeker showed no signs of failing under the strain of walking and Nevin’s unending questions. Smeker left Nevin at a building used by the townspeople for festive purposes. It was the only structure large enough to accommodate Nevin, Orris and Anson. Corissa had chosen to spend the night at one of the nurseries.
“I will return at the first hour of dawn and we will trace Stryker’s steps upground. Be ready,” Smeker said as he tapped away, showing no interest in exchanging even gratuitous good-nights.
Nevin rubbed his bruised leg as he entered the hall, finding Orris and Anson already asleep. His bedroll was laid out for him, but Nevin’s mind was too active to allow for sleep. He was full of thoughts and calculations about the structure of the cavern and the possible location of water to support such a large population. He finally dozed off while attempting to calculate the volume of water and length of time required to erode the limestone walls which formed the huge cavern. His trailing thought was “the aquifer has to be there…”
* * *
A loud rap at the entrance of the building startled Nevin so that his whole body twitched. Smeker was outside calling for the “troll man to make haste!” Nevin stretched before shambling toward the door. Half-awake, he banged his head on the top of the doorway.
“That is a painful way to clear the sleep from your head, even one hardened by troll ancestry,” said Smeker with thinly veiled amusement.
Nevin followed the Lorekeeper as they left the cavern out the opposite side of the mountain from where they entered yesterday. After an hour, Smeker said they had covered exactly the same paths taken by Stryker a year earlier. Nevin stopped at a precipice where he could further survey the surrounding geological formations all the way to Adel’s Mountain looming in the distance.
Noticing that Smeker was having difficulty enduring the trek, he insisted that the dwarf stay put. Smeker hissed a complaint but willingly sat down in some shade created by a large overhanging rock. Nevin made sure the old
Lorekeeper was all right then scurried down the side of the small mountain. He spent another hour walking around the mountain’s base, taking time to survey and visualize the travel of water he knew must be present somewhere. Finally, he climbed back up to the spot where he had left Smeker and they returned to the cavern.
When they reached the central square of the main street, the elders of the Moot had grouped together awaiting Nevin’s return. Orris and Anson were seated and Corissa stood to the side holding Bisi. Gathered around in lethargic inactivity was the entire population of Glorhumm.
Bekar stood when Nevin reached them, but it was Anson who spoke, “What have you discovered, Sir Nevin. We are all anxious to hear.”
“I understand what Stryker figured out. He knew there had to be more water around here because this is a limestone cavern that sits halfway between the higher mountains to the northwest and the river valley we crossed to get here. These people have not been getting their water from a true aquifer. When a river originally formed this cavern, some of the water percolated into a large cistern. The Glorhumm well was dug into this cistern and eventually the water got used up. The grittiness and cloudiness of the water is due to calcite suspended in the water. That’s the same white stuff that coats these walls. The solution became contaminated with sediment as the water level got lower.
“What of Stryker finding the second well?”
“I figured that out last night. From the location of those tunnels over there,” Nevin pointed, “Where they do all their burning, you can see by the formation of the cavern that there could be some small cisterns near the first. In effect, they are smaller bubbles that held the same water for many years without flowage. That explains why the second well was even more highly concentrated with calcite.”