Chapter II
The Council at D’arr
Wind rippled through King Nalim’s braids and beard as he clung tightly to the hard scales of the dragon beneath him. He turned his head to the side so as to be able to breathe more easily. The cold air in the sky did not affect him. A dwarf’s skin was hardened and tough and could withstand the elements. Nalim’s fear of great heights was a different matter. He hated flying, as did most of his race. Landing can’t come soon enough.
The dragon’s massive wings flapped gracefully as she flew toward MurDair. Her steady breathing calmed Nalim some. Ynell was her name. Though a young dragon, she proved quite competent. She soared through the sky in the lead of the group of fire breathing beasts relishing the power of her wings.
“There,” said King Nalim pointing to what appeared to be a vacant spot on the ground.
Gradually, Ynell descended. She spread her wings out wide to soar lower to the grassy meadow. Golden grass with specks of green waved in the breeze. Ynell landed with a soft thump. Such gentleness surprised King Nalim who believed that her massive size would not allow it. The remaining dragons set down beside them awaiting their orders.
“Where is this great city?” asked Ynell. The dragon surveyed the surrounding landscape. Nothing resembled a city among the grassland. Pillars of multicolored stone provided the only structure. The misshaped pillars formed a circle around a triangular table covered in runes.
“Beneath you,” replied King Nalim.
The dwarf strode to the triangular table. He ran his hand over the markings muttering to himself in his native tongue. “Jôk’lar,” he said aloud.
A loud, grinding sound echoed through the air. Slowly, the table turned in a circle as it rose from the ground. The dragons watched in awe as it transformed into a doorway. Dancing torchlight spilled from the dark caverns beneath the earth.
King Nalim beamed with pride. “Welcome to the city of D’arr.”
“We will not fit through there,” said Ynell.
King Nalim frowned. The dragon was right. The doorway was too narrow for the beasts to slip through. “You must wait out here,” he said.
“How are we to assist you if we must stay out here?” asked Ynell.
“You will assist me best by staying here,” said King Nalim, “Our previous encounters with dragons did not go well. To prevent bloodshed, you will wait here.”
Ynell backed away relenting. Smoke spurted from her giant nostrils as she snorted in response.
“I will be quick,” King Nalim assured her.
The dwarf king stepped into the archway and walked down the stone steps. His boots tapped the hard rock with each step he took. Memories flooded him as he entered his home. Familiar smells of roasting pork, potatoes, and beer filled his nostrils. King Nalim inhaled deeply taking pleasure in the aromas. His stomach grumbled reminding him that he had neglected to eat earlier that day.
The stairwell gave way to a vast underground expanse. Smooth, black marble spread out before him covering the cavern floor. Great pillars with the crest of MurDair stretched to the top of the high ceiling. Lit chandeliers dangled from the cavern ceiling shedding light on the entire city. Water trickled down the stream that flowed through the center of the underground city providing a soft melody. Despite the lack of sunlight, patches of grass grew in various places providing splashes of color.
Dwarves strolled across the city center as King Nalim made his way to the council chambers. He trotted across the enormous expanse to the other end. He climbed the winding stairs that led to an upper level courtyard. Panting slightly, King Nalim dashed across the courtyard. On any other day he would have admired the moss covered pillars that lined the foot path he trod on. But he hadn’t the time.
A bell stood outside the doors to the council chambers. He grasped the coarse rope. With a huge yank, King Nalim tugged on the rope causing the bell to swing back and forth. A loud clang rang through the city forcing everyone to stop in their tracks. Eyes stared at him as he rang the bell.
After the bell sounded a few more times, King Nalim entered the council chamber and waited. One by one, fifteen dwarves entered and took their respective seats.
“Why have you summoned us?” asked a black bearded dwarf.
“Lord Tyron,” greeted King Nalim, “I have called the council because we have need to go to war. You are all aware of the orcs that have ravaged the lands of Sym’Dul and Belyndril. Little is left of them. I have made an alliance with the other kings to defeat this threat.”
“Why should we care what happens to the other kingdoms?” asked a dwarf with bright red hair and twin braids in his knee length beard.
“The orcs care little of our quarrels with the other four kingdoms,” answered King Nalim, “They only wish to destroy.”
“Then let them destroy our enemies,” said the red haired dwarf. A series of nods weaved through the group.
King Nalim studied them. He knew he could order them to war, but he wished to have their consent. That is what made dwarves different from the other races. In MurDair, the king was held accountable for his actions. Having the council’s approval made going to war easier.
“And if we do, what then?” began King Nalim, “After the other four lands have fallen where will that leave us? The orcs will be here as sure as the sun rises each morning. If we follow your course, Gloniv, we will stand alone. And we will fail.
“An alliance with the other lands is our only chance to defeat this threat. Together we can achieve victory. Together we can make certain that our way of life does not die. The other kings and I have named a man general over our armies. He commands them all.
“He has asked us to meet him in Drynelle where we will crush the orcs once and for all.”
“Who is this man?” asked Lord Tyron.
“His name is Tesnayr,” replied King Nalim.
The council whispered Tesnayr’s name among themselves. King Nalim smiled. He knew that even in MurDair Tesnayr’s name was known.
“But it will take us at least a month to cross the mountains,” said another dwarf. “And longer still to reach Drynelle. Surely, he cannot wait that long for us to arrive.”
A smile crept across King Nalim’s face. “He will not have to. Tesnayr commands the dragons. They await us outside the city.”
“Dragons,” said Lord Tyron. “He commands them? No one commands them.”
“General Tesnayr does,” said King Nalim, “Selexia herself gave him her horn to summon them. By Tesnayr’s orders, they are to carry us to Drynelle.
“I called the council out of respect. We either put our quarrels aside and join with the other kingdoms or wait for the orcs to invade our lands when we are too weak to withstand them.”
“And afterwards,” said Lord Tyron, “What will happen then?”
“No one can predict the future. I hope and pray that the newly formed alliance between the five lands continues after this war with the orcs. But I do know this. If we do not join them, then we will have sentenced ourselves to death. What say all of you?”
More murmurs rippled through the council as each dwarf made their decision. A female dwarf rose to her feet. “The council has decided,” she said, “We stand with you King Nalim and approve of joining our army with those of the other kingdoms to defeat these orcs.”
Joy welled up inside King Nalim. He contained his composure instead of letting his emotions spill out of him. “Sound the horn,” he ordered.
One of the council members walked over to a gold-covered, narrow tube sticking out of the marble wall. He placed his lips around the end and blew. A deep note reverberated off the walls of the underground city of D’arr. Instantly, dwarves clad in armor dropped their tasks and gathered at the city entrance awaiting their king’s orders.
King Nalim watched from the council chambers as dwarves from all around answered the call to battle. He promised Tesnayr soldiers and that was what he would deliver. After the army had gathered, King Nalim left the coun
cil chambers walking regally through the city to the head of his fighting force. He surveyed the crowd.
“Dwarves of MurDair,” he bellowed over the crowd, “War has come to us. A threat unknown to the five kingdoms has swept over the lands like locust. The great General Tesnayr has asked for our assistance. We will heed that call. Outside these gates are dragons waiting to take us to Drynelle. There we will fight the vile creatures that threaten us. There we will die as dwarves.”
A cheer rose through the army as various dwarves raised their weapons in response.
“Ynell,” said King Nalim as he walked up to her, “I hope your dragons can carry us all.”
“You’re late,” Ynell said in reply.
The sky blackened as the dragons took to the sky. Each bore four dwarves on their back. They glided over the tallest peaks of the Ársa Mountains toward Sym’Dul and toward their destiny.