Chapter 9: Thisome Keep
Elsewhere in the meantime…
Harrin Chillborne awoke with a start as well as his companion's pet, Okami. Something or someone was moving in the bushes a few meters in front of them. Harrin slowly reaches out his hand to grab his longsword, it was right beside him like it always has been since the night he stole it from his bastard father. He is the closest to the bushes, as his two best friends are still asleep between him and the boulder they are backed up against.
Okami nudges at his gnome master. Harrin slowly gets to his feet as sounds of skittering and low hisses get closer.
With frightening speed, something leaps from the bushes and Harrin barely dodges out of the way. Flig flips to his feet quickly and Aluuna scrambles to stand up. Both breathing heavily from being startled awake.
"Ankheg" Flig rushes out.
The Ankheg's acid drips out of its mouth and lands with a hiss on the ground. The acid had dropped, cleared a path to them and Harrin could see another one as it to leaps into the air to land near Aluuna.
She was a cleric he had know since before he could walk. She was kind, sweet and a royal pain in the ass. But he wouldn't dare say that to her face. Actually, he would. Most definitely.
Harrin lunges forward to slash at the one before him. He cuts part off its middle leg and it falls to the ground with a thump. The Ankheg screeches and skitters in place for a few seconds. Part of one of its front legs is cut also and green liquid is pooling beneath.
Okami slashes at the other damaged foot and leaps away growling and stalking the insectoid.
Aluuna Yerrow raises her hand as misty frost leaves her fingertips and shoots towards the creature nearest to her. Aluuna backs up quickly and readies her light mace in her free hand.
Flig Windleaf flicks his hand out as a sticky, thick vine reaches up to wrap around the creature in front of Aluuna. The monster pulls and tugs with little give against the vice grip of the vines.
The first ankheg strike out at Okami to grab her. Okami quickly moves out of the way.
Harrin tries at the other damaged leg but misses as the monster manages to skitter just out of reach.
Pools of fire cone out to singe the face of the ugly monster before Aluuna. It's high pitch screams causing her to wince. The creature is still unable to take action against her as it continues to writhe against the sticky binds.
A ball of flame rushes out of Flig's palm and hits the monster in the same place as Aluuna's. Green acid is spotting all over its face. The scent of the burning carapace and acid fills the air.
Harrin looks over to the second monster to see that the vines are starting to give and it's only a matter of time before it's able to attack. He strikes out again towards his creature in a powerful blow. Harrin stumbles backward and tries to regain his footing. The creature uses this to its advantage and stabs at Harrin. He moves out of the way but not with enough time to remain unscathed. Harrin inhales sharply between his teeth and looks down at his chest. His armor had taken the damage and gash went from collarbone to his shoulder.
Okami growled loudly as she leaped to claw at the monster. The monster fell over and tried to get back to its feet.
The second creature finally managed to get free of its sappy prison and skitters over to Aluuna, It tries to pierce her as she scurries backward and scrapes her in the side of the leg. Her dress is torn at the area and pieces are sticking to the wound as blood drips down.
Flig speaks softly and in a matter of seconds is transformed into a tiger. He runs up to the monster and slashes at its face. Acidy liquid surfaces and the monster skitters back a step and lunges forward. Flig easily side steps.
Harrin walks over to his downed monster and with a quick and effortless downward strike, the Ankheg he had been fighting, is dead. He doesn't waste any time, turning his attention to their other attacker.
Okami follows suit and swipes at the last monster's backside.
Aluuna deals out another frosty attack and leaps backwards into the boulder behind her.
Flames spurt out in a rush of fury from Flig's hand and roasts the monster, silencing it for good.
Flig wipes his brow. "Good Sunrise," he says with a cheery smile that causes both Harrin and Aluuna to roll their eyes.
But that was his best friend for you.
He was ever the optimist. Despite even the worst of circumstances. It's probably why he loved him so much. That and his unflinching loyalty, even when he shouldn't have deserved it. Flig walks over to his Okami and nuzzles his face with hers.
Aluuna sits down hard, her leg aching. She speaks softly to herself as her fingers glide over the area where she is bleeding.
"Did any acid get on you?" Harrin asks bending down to look at it himself.
"No, thank goodness." She replies.
"I guess we should just start moving again."
They had just gotten back from a mission when the queen sent them right back out again. Except for this time, chances of survival were slim and that was being extremely generous. In a month, they would go head to head with the Lich monster himself.
Harrin wasn't particularly scared of the monster. He lived under one all his life. His father beat discipline, obedience, duty and just about everything and anything else he wanted into him. The first time he ever got a real night's rest was the first night he'd run away with Aluuna and Flig. They had been on there own a few years now and even though it was a struggle, he never felt more alive, more free.
They walk a few hours through the jagged terrain. Even then, on this range, it's brutal. The craggy rocks shift under their feet. Snakes were pretty populated and trolls and fire giants were more abundant. They were approaching a decent-sized city, with vast stone walls and dwarven runes etched on the massive mountain-sized entrance. Thisom Keep was home to miner dwarves.
His father visited here once before and said they weren't the most amicable and were far too obsessed with mining then he had cared for. But what the hell did his father know? They need the dwarves to help in their cause and hope they will welcome him and not judge him.
Harrin was almost the spitting image of his father except for his eyes. They were jade, like his beautiful mother, who had died at childbirth. His father let him know he was the reason all the time. It was like a greeting. Instead of "good morning" it was " you're the reason your mother is dead, filth." Harrin shook his head. Aluuna brushes her hand against the back of his, snapping him out of his thoughts. Clearing his throat. Harrin decides to focus on the mission instead of his past. His father is dead. No point in thinking about old things now. Two dwarves greet them a few feet outside the city gate. They are well armed for mere miners.
"Greetings. State your business" the smallest of the two says.
"We're here to speak with your leader at Queen Anastacia's request," Aluuna responds. "May we enter, Sir Dwarf?"
The larger one speaks up this time. "You will obey our laws or be sent on your ways." He warns. "Please enter. You will find Master Stonebottom in the Ore Library. It's a rather… unusual building, shouldn't miss it."
Aluuna bids her thanks and Harrin and Flig nod.
"You two find the Library, I will find their church or place of prayer if they have one," Aluuna states and walks off.
Harrin and Flig walk about town looking at the trinkets and wares of the shop owners. In the back of Thisom is a tall and narrow building. It's made of different ore stone blocks that have been refined. On each one are markings in dwarvish. Some have passages from famous dwarven books that Harrin recognizes. Others have names he only guesses are past residents.
In the middle just above the door reads "Tempered Library", but in common. The marbled doors glide open with ease as Flig pushes it open. Inside the center is wooden tables and chairs, some seats already occupied. It is warm and brightly lit by the glass ceiling four stories high. A spiral staircase in the center part of the room leads to a second-story walkway connecting to a closed room and more stacked books oh the opposite side.
Flig approaches the nearest person. "Pardon the interruption, but could you tell me if your master is here?"
The woman looks slightly peeved at the intrusion but softens.
She points in the direction of a man sitting a few tables over.
Flig puts his hand to his chest and inclines his head. "My thanks." She doesn't respond and goes back to reading her book.
Harrin hopes the master of Thisom is warmer than this. Otherwise…
Flig excuses himself again to the man the woman had pointed out.
"Yes, I am Master Dwarf Grymlop Stonebottom." He says putting down his book. To Harrin's relief, he doesn't look vexed from the interruption.
"We come on behalf of Queen Anastacia. We would like…" Stonebottom puts his hand up and looks around.
"Let's go to the office upstairs for some privacy."
Nodding Harrin and Flig follow the dwarf master to an office upstairs. Inside is a desk littered with books and tomes of various shapes and sizes. A small hearth on the side of the desk smolders and Stonebottom adds another log and stokes it.
They spend the next half hour explaining the situation.
"I must admit, you had my attention at the mention of Urgir." Stonebottom says, stroking his thick gray beard.
"We are to meet with our allies there in one month," Harrin explains further. After that, it's to Lastwall.
"And what of these rumors of the Runelords?"
"They have not made any movements yet. Our priority is the Lich." Flig responds. We received rumors they are with the Lich but no information as of yet has confirmed or denied that query."
"Will you stand with us Master Stonebottom," Harrin asks in a rush. "We must make haste."
Grymlop Stonebottom reaches into the drawer and removes a tin can that is holding smokeweed. He nods his head, stuffs a few pieces into his pipe and lights it. "I'd love the chance to take a hammer to those bloody orcs. You have Thisom at your aid."
Harrin and Flig smile. Things look to be in their favor.