The Key of Ban
Magee and Norbert showed the stress of riding all day. Their throbbing legs, aching backs and saddle sores were causing a crescendo of complaints. Pacer had been concerned about the soft palace residents making the trip in the first place.
Now, the group must deal with the possibility of traveling at a slower pace. With Crossmore’s large army in pursuit, time was an important factor.
He would not allow anybody’s soreness to slow down the progress of the group. He thought to himself, “Character is built by overcoming adversity. Now is not the time to threaten success by yielding to pain.” He looked at Magee and Norbert with compassion, but also with the stern eyes of a leader facing possible failure and death.
By nightfall the group was ready for a rest. Fatigue and pain, in different degrees, distorted the faces of each traveler. The fading light of day revealed miles of flat terrain. The outline of the Sadden Mountains was the only contrast to be found in the broad expanse of the grassland and scrub trees. With the instincts of a seasoned outdoorsman, Pacer guided the group into the mouth of a ravine hidden in a grove of trees. Everybody in the group was surprised when the ravine appeared through the cover of trees. The gully was out of place in the flat, formless land. As the travelers entered the deep cut, they had the impression it had been gouged by an angry surge of power. The wedge in the earth disappeared into the horizon toward the Sadden Mountains. Towering walls gave the members of the group an uneasy feeling of being captured in a prison.
Pacer said, “We have arrived at our destination. We will set up our camp in the opening of the ravine. I do not plan to travel into the ravine because it could be a dangerous trap.”
Magee and Norbert had to be helped from their horses with gentle hands. Both of them could not walk for several moments. They stood with discomfort etched onto their faces. Their legs were numb and raw from being wrapped around the fat horses in an unnatural position. As Magee finally started walking, she softly laughed at herself. She had always been a woman who took pride in behaving in a stately manner. Magee found great humor in contrasting her pathetic physical condition to the dignity she had always maintained in the palace. She also found delight at being thrust into an exciting adventure after many years of a passive, sedentary existence.
The camp was set up in a rocky alcove on the south wall of the ravine. Magee cringed at the cold dinner of hard bread and dried meat, eaten without the blessing of a fire. Pacer did not want any unwanted visitors to find their campsite. After guard duty was assigned for the night, each person quickly fell asleep. Coaldon was on duty when the light of the rising moon revealed the haunting landscape of the gorge. As the night progressed, the shadows and shapes cast in the gully by the moonlight created a mood of foreboding. His mind drifted into thoughts about the events of the past few weeks. Coaldon was especially delighted by the joy he shared with Noel. It was as if they had been friends all their lives.
As he glanced down the ravine, he saw movement among a pile of large rocks. At first, he let the motion pass as a figment of his imagination. He became alarmed when he saw more movement in the shadows near the camp. Coaldon barked like a blue fox to alert his companions. Pacer, Brother Patrick and Earthkin responded by slipping out of their sleeping blankets and drawing their swords. Coaldon explained to them he had seen movement in the rocks. Armed with this information the three warriors crept away from camp on their hands and knees. A half hour passed without anything unusual happening. Coaldon began to assume it was only his imagination that had triggered the alarm.
A grip of terror suddenly ripped through him as a large face appeared directly in front of him. The cold, gray eyes of his visitor burned with intensity and determination. With a quick move to his right, Coaldon tried to gain room to pull his knife. Before he could move his hand toward the knife, the powerful body of the visitor smothered him. Coaldon was quickly controlled by the raw physical strength and quickness of the intruder. He tried to struggle, but his captor’s advanced fighting skills overwhelmed him. Out of desperation, he gave the warning call of a screech owl. A rough hand closed around Coaldon’s mouth. Then silence covered the campsite like the presence of death. Magee, Norbert and Noel slept through the attack without any indication there was a problem.
Coaldon’s captor quietly said, “Do not move or make a noise. You do not smell like the vile creatures invading my realm. You would be dead if I thought you were evil. What are you doing here?”
Before the intruder could say more, six powerful hands restrained him. The prowler gave an animal like scream of defiance as he was quickly bound by ropes and gagged. The scream awoke the three sleeping travelers.
The captive had the physical appearance of a dwarf with a short stocky body, powerful muscles, a round face, an unusually big nose and a large mouth with outsized teeth. The captive’s eyes frantically darted back and forth between the seven faces looking at him. His panic increased as he struggled to gain freedom. His instinct to escape raged through his body as he twisted to break away from his bonds.
After the stranger finally yielded to his captivity, he carefully observed his captors. His body relaxed when his eyes finally rested on Earthkin’s face. With excitement, he tried to speak but only grunts could be heard through the gag. Earthkin reached down removing the cloth from his mouth. The captive looked at Earthkin, saying several words in the guttural dwarf language.
Earthkin smiled, saying in the common language, “Yes, I understand your language. I am Earthkin, a dwarf warrior of the Clan Long Beard from great halls of Rockham. We are on a mission to save the Empire.”
The captive responded, “I am Ripsnout of the Clan Hardstone. Our clan retreated to the deep caves in the northern Sadden Mountains during the First Quarter Age. We have remained isolated out of the fear of being conquered. It is my understanding from ancient history that the clans Hardstone and Long Beard are close relatives. You might be my cousin.”
Earthkin could not speak for several moments as tears ran down his face. He composed himself before he said, “The ancient legend tells the sad story of your clan being destroyed in the Battle of East Nome. I pray we can once again be family.”
A long silence ended when Coaldon said, “I suggest we untie our new friend and greet him with the respect due a member of Earthkin’s family.”
At first Ripsnout responded to the hospitality of his guests with the restraint of a shy forest animal. All his life he had been taught not to trust anybody from the outside world. He debated if he should stay or run away. He knew his clan was being destroyed by the encroachment of the invaders. Many of his clan members had already died defending their homes from the beasts invading the subterranean caves. As he watched his hosts talk to each other, he detected honesty and caring. He found himself bonding in friendship with Earthkin. It was like finding an old friend after many years of separation.
He thought to himself, “I was sent by the elders to seek help from the outside world. I have wandered many days searching for an answer to the survival of my clan. Maybe I have been guided to these people. Maybe, I should trust them.”
Coaldon said, going against his better judgment, “Sometimes we need to take a risk. Let’s build a fire. I am cold.”
Saying very little, the group gathered around the fire. With heat from the flames reaching into their tired bodies, everybody except Ripsnout and Earthkin drifted into sleep.
Ripsnout looked at Earthkin with a curious gaze. He said, “My clan needs help to escape from the wickedness that has invaded our land.”
Staring into the flames, Ripsnout continued, “Do you think you could help my clan? We are slowly being destroyed by the war.”
Earthkin responded, “I do not know what to say. We can talk to the rest of the group at day light.”
Morning was greeted with groans from Magee and Norbert as they slowly started to move. The rest of the group was up and ready to begin a new day. Pacer pulled Magee and Norbert to a standing position with a gentle tug. Magee laughed softly as she walked aroun
d the campsite to loosen her sore muscles. Norbert did not find his aching body worthy of mirth.
When everybody was ready to continue the journey, Coaldon asked, “Do we need to discuss anything before we depart?”
Earthkin replied, “Our new friend has a question for us.”
Shyly, Ripsnout looked around the group. He finally said, “I have decided to trust you. You are the first people any clan member has communicated with for many centuries. I was sent by my elders to seek help to fight the army invading our home. Would you consider helping us?”
Like all dwarves, Ripsnout did not use many words to communicate his ideas. The practical nature of dwarves did not allow for wasting time on excessive words. An old dwarf adage states, “Say it and be done.”
Coaldon and Pacer looked at each other seeking counsel. Coaldon finally said, “We need to discuss this request as a group. What are your opinions?”
Noel’s voice erupted with excitement, “We do not need to waste valuable time discussing this plea for aid. These people need our assistance! We will help them!”
Pacer laughed, “Your abruptness, caring and honesty are refreshing. I agree with you, but I believe this must be a group decision.”
Coaldon responded, “At first, I thought our top priority was to reach Rockham. But now, I believe we should offer our assistance to the Hardstone Clan.”
The silent nods of the group gave Coaldon the final decision.
Coaldon continued, “What do we do next? Maybe we should take counsel with Ripsnout.”
All eyes then turned to Ripsnout for guidance. Ripsnout, because of his quiet nature, found it difficult to respond.
He finally said, “I accept your offer of help, but first you must realize you are in great danger. If you continue traveling along your current path you will be attacked before this day is over. Wicked beasts have invaded this land. I believe you have already been detected and an ambush is waiting for you. If you are going to survive, you must trust me.”
Coaldon and Pacer tried to talk at the same time. Pacer won out, stating, “If we are to assist your clan, then we must first escape this new threat.”
Ripsnout thought for several minutes before responding, “The best path into the Sadden Mountains is through this ravine. The ravine will hide our movements until we reach a secure route into the caves. If we travel quickly the beasts will be caught off guard. We must move rapidly.”
Coaldon responded, “We place our well being into your hands. We can discuss the details of our involvement with your clan when we reach your stronghold. Now, we must travel with both caution and speed. I will leave a message written in high elf telling Topple about our plans.”
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The Bowl of Doom