Baldrik had chosen the smallest and oldest of the stone
huts, set far back and away from the rest of the way-station. Like the others, it was intricately carved
with the blocky designs and patters common to the dwarves. The snake-like dragon Rigzban could be seen
curling his way from the depths of the Black Mountain, a retelling of the
exodus of the dwarves from their homeland thousands of years past. Other stories dotted the building, scenes
both considered true and fictional but important to the dwarvish history
nonetheless. Time and weather had faded
them, but it did not take from their beauty.
Alec brushed his hand over the carvings as he entered,
stopping for a moment to allow his eyes to adjust to the dark interior. Baldrik had covered the lone window with a
cloth and lit a fire, its smoke making the hut hazy and rather stifling to the
human's nose. "I see you've made
yourself at home..." He turned to
the dwarf who was sitting on the stone bench built into one of the walls. "Though we will be leaving shortly. I want to give the men the night to rest and
pack, then by daybreak we leave for Gaewyn and your audience with the
King." Alec shifted one of the
belts holding his cloak up as he watched the old Dwarf.
Baldrik set down the pair of leather gloves he had been mending
before looking up. "Ay, I be
figgrin' we be leaving soon. Alls th'
better. Gets me back to me forges faster." He stood and moved over to his dark leather bags,
tossing the gloves onto the pile.
"Though I also be figgrin that's not why you be here right
now." He kept his back turned as he
began rummaging through one of the packs.
Alec cleared his throat, "What happened in the
forest?"
"Can't be sayin'."
The dwarf kept his attention on whatever he was looking for.
"But you would have had to see something. One minute I was there on that cart, the next
I wasn't." Alec pounded his fist
into his palm. "What did you see,
Good Dwarf?"
Baldrik turned to look at Alec over his shoulder, his eyes
dark and serious. "I see'd you jumpin'
from that cart an' runnin' off into th' woods like a mad-man. That's what I see'd." He turned his back again, still shifting
things about in the pack.
"But... But I didn't.
That's not what I did. You were
just gone."
"Then why do you be asking me what I see'd if you
already know?" Finding what he was
looking for, the dwarf stood and turned, something wrapped in a purple velvet
cloth in his heavy hand. "In any
case, if you be heading through those woods again, make sure y'er carrying
this." He held the small package
out for Alec to take, the delicate fabric strange in his rough fingers. Baldrik pulled it back at the last moment as
Alec reached for it, "Don't be opening it 'till ye need it." He
extended the velvet wrapped item again, this time allowing Alec to take it.
"It's... Heavy.
What is it?" Alec shifted it
from hand to hand, noting the tiny gold stitch work along the edges of the velvet. "It's Elvish."
"The fabric?
Ay. But what's inside is much,
much older."
Alec looked at the soft purple fabric for a moment before
tucking it into a pouch at his side.
"But you can't tell me anything about what it does?"
"I could, but what fun would it be?" The dwarf smiled a toothy grin and chuckled. Alec grimaced in response. "Be about yer men. We survived, and now we need ter move. The King is waiting." With that Baldrik grabbed his gloves back up
and returned to his task, ending the conversation.
Alec watched Baldrik for a moment, more than a little
frustrated by the dwarf's refusal of a clear answer. "Just be ready to leave by
daybreak. We can't lose any
time." A grunt was all he received
in reply. The weapons master turned to
leave, ready to be back out in the fresh air.
dwarven society flourished in the smoky, soot-filled air of their dark
tunnels. Humans, on the other hand,
could find it rather oppressive.
Kalif was waiting outside, leaning against the corner of the
building, still playing with his bruised nose.
"It'll never heal properly if you keep prodding at it."
The Second looked up, quickly removing his hand from his
face. "I know, but it's gone
numb. Such a strange feeling."
"Well, if it heals odd, then I guess you'll have to
come up with a good story for it. You
don't want everyone knowing it was a punch from your delirious captain." Kalif
scoffed. "In any case, let the men
know we leave at first light. Eat well,
sleep well, and pack up by morning. Be
about it." The Second saluted and
turned towards the main cluster of the camp, leaving Alec alone outside the
small stone hut.
He made his way back towards his tent. He had much to get done before they left in
the morning, and time was quickly running out.
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