Chapter 36

For a long moment Hame studies Rosie's still corpse. He doesn't feel grief anymore, just cold, and regretful. Grief burned its way out of him with Kiira's death. Rosie's boldness reminds him of his paramour and that does stir a thread of sadness.

His wounds healed and the poison removed from his body, Hukir kneels next to Rosie. Kanti stands behind him with a hand resting on his shoulder. Roan's doesn't look at her. Instead his eyes are as hard as stone, keeping watch. Iune stands several steps away, her Elven eyes scanning the surroundings for more enemies. Gundur also stands several feet away, unwelcome.

"What are we going to do about him?" Iune prompts and immediately Hame throws a hard look at Gundur. Then the Deep Lord realizes she means the Minotaur.

Hame glances at the Underking and climbs over the low wall once more, then stops just at the edge of the goo. This close, Hame is able to get a good look at the Minotaur. He admits he's far from an expert but this one is particularly tall, lean, and scarred. The creature turns his brown eyes towards him. His ears flicker before they too turn to listen.

"We lost a friend to common enemies," Hame motions to Rosie's corpse. Iune follows a few steps behind and Roan stands on the opposite side, watching the beast. "You killed many of them; would have killed all of them, if they hadn't caught you in the tanglefoot bag."

The Minotaur nods sharply. Hame echoes the gesture thoughtfully, "You speak common too; that's good. They weren't weak or unskilled and you butchered them."

"They'd do the same, to me," the Minotaur's voice is deep and certain. "To you."

The Minotaur smiles and jerks its chin at the corner. Careful to watch where he steps, Hamezaar moves to take a peek, "By Moradin's beard!"

Roan gasps, "That's…that's…wow."

Intrigued by their words, Iune creeps up behind them and pauses when she sees it. A whole team of Goblinoids lie butchered. All three of the subraces lie dead among the piles. Beyond them, two more Drow are cleaved nearly in half and a third is little more than a smear on the wall. The Underking chuckles darkly.

"Well, that's all I need to know," Hamezaar declares. "We need warriors and you're the best I've seen in a century. Would you like to join us?"

"What?!" Roan chokes.

"Absolutely not," Iune makes a sudden motion with her hand. "He's a beast."

"You leave me? If I say no?" The Minotaur asks.

Hamezaar yanks at the creature's ax and then twice more before the weapon comes free of the wall. He waves at Roan, "Hukir, come help us."

The Dupari remains motionless but Kanti looks up from their friend's corpse.

"Hukir!" Hamezaar yells causing the man to jump. Instinctively he worries about the sound carrying and then dismisses it. Anyone listening knows where they are. "Come help us."

"I can help," Gundur offers.

"We've had enough of your help Gundur," Hame snarls.

The rebuke causes the Dwarf to flinch as if slapped. For a long moment he stares as Hukir climbs over the wall. Then he looks away with his face flushed. Hamezaar takes the greatax by the handle just below the blade and motions the two men to join him. Roan stands on the opposite side and grasps the heft with both hands. Hukir holds the ax by the dull section of the blade and whispers, "I can't believe we're doing this."

Together they hold the heft out to the Minotaur. For a heartbeat the creature remains stiff as it takes hold. The three of them pull with all their strength, muscles straining. The Underking grits his large flat teeth as he fights to break loose. Then one foot and another come free. It takes several steps with each of them putting all their strength into it.

Then suddenly the Underking escapes. The abruptness of it causes Hukir to trip over his own feet, dragging both of his companions down with him. Before they could hit the ground, the ax catches. Hamezaar follows the handle to the Minotaur holding them in place with one hand. Exhaling slowly, the Deep Lord releases the weapon before Roan and Hukir do the same.

"Were these Drow alone or are their more of them?"

"There's more. Many more," he points without looking. "Slave train."

"Thank you," Hamezaar smiles. "You're free to do as you wish. If you want to leave or join us, the choice is yours."

"Will you kill slave train?" The Underking asks and points again. "Come with me?"

Before he agrees, Hamezaar looks at his companions, still shocked from the death of their friend. "What say you all? Will you help us keep others from suffering under the Drow's lash?"

"What about Rosie?" Hukir asks quietly.

"There's nothing we can do to help her," Hame sighs. "Does she have a family? Then take anything she valued and return it to them, the next time you see them."

"Do you have any idea what you're getting into?" Iune asks harshly. "There will be a dozen Drow and at least a hundred slave soldiers."

"Yes," the Underking nods excitedly as a fierce glow burns in his eyes.

"This Underking is blinded by his rage and desire for revenge," Iune declares. "He will lead us straight to our deaths."

The Underking's lip peels back but not into a smile as he snarls, "I remember you!"

He lunges forward, faster than anyone can react. Faster than a creature as large as a Minotaur should be able to, he seizes Iune by the throat and slams her against the wall. She draws a dagger but he swats it away. Either by disinterest or their shock, no one but Hamezaar moves to save her. The Dwarf draws his shortsword and slashes the Minotaur's calf, causing him to fall to a knee. Then he presses the blade against the Minotaur's throat, "She's mine!"

The Bull-man snarls but when Hame presses the blade hard enough to draw blood, the creature relents. Iune gasps for breath as he releases her. She falls to her knees, fighting for air. Kanti approaches and kneels next to her, drawing a hiss, "I'm fine!"

The tribeswoman doesn't retreat, "I know you are but I can help."

The Drow woman wobbles a little as she stands up and waves off Kanti, "I will be fine."

Hame pulls the blade away from the Minotaur and steps back, "I don't like her either but she's earned her place, just like you will."

Iune scowls at Hame. The Minotaur nods slowly as it places a hand against its neck, checking for blood. Kanti looks the Underking over and asks, "What's your name?"

"They call me the Underking."

"What do you call yourself?"

Hamezaar pauses with a look of astonishment. Then he smiles and turns to the Minotaur.

"Cairn."