New Paths
Grunthor paced back and forth at the tunnels edge. Every now and then he would pause and look out the way that Rhapsody and Omet had left, as if he could see his friends in the far distance.
He may not have been able to see them, but he certainly could feel them, and he didn't like what he was feeling. They seemed to going further away rather than back to Ylork. He had no idea what was going on or what condition any of them were in. He wasn't even exactly sure who all was there. He knew Achmed and Rhapsody; their signatures on the Earth were unmistakable. But Omet was the other one who was supposed to be with them though he was sure that the third body traveling with his friends was not Omet. If it wasn't him, then who was it?
He paced more. If Omet wasn't with them, then where was he? Grunthor had put him in charge of Rhapsody's safety. He knew that Achmed was there now, but what condition was he in? He had just been kidnapped and hauled right out from under Grunthor's nose from his own kingdom to the gods know where. Anyone who was able to do that to the king must be extremely powerful.
And now, both Achmed and Rhapsody were moving even farther away with an unknown person. This did not bode well.
He knew that what he was supposed to do; stay at the mountain and protect the sleeping child. But stay put while his dearest friends were in danger went against everything that he was. He was supposed to be protecting them.
But it was his duty to protect the Earth as well. If he ran out to the aid of his friends and left the child unprotected, the fate of the world would be in jeopardy.
Stopping in mid stride, he suddenly spun around and howled in frustration.
Firbolg through out the nation hid themselves, fearing the wrath of the suddenly angered Sergeant Major. One particular Bolg, who had been near by ducked into a small crevice. He had been on his way to deliver a rather important message when the roar scared him from his mission. His hesitation was just long enough for the Sergeant to make up his mind.
Still cowering in the crevice, the Bolg watched as Grunthor stormed passed him, on a mission of his own. He went strait to the king's bedroom where, without sparing a second thought, opened the entrance to the Loritorium and took the first few steps down.
"Sorry Darlin'" he said as he placed his palms against the side of the tunnel. "But Oi can' leave you completely unguarded while Oi'm gone." As he spoke, the rocks in the tunnel ceiling began to crack and crumble. At first, fine dust shifted down and then pebbles began to fall. In a short time, whole chunks of rock were filling the cavern up, cutting off the only access to the Loritorium, the resting place of the child.
Once the tunnel was filled, Grunthor stepped back and wiped the sweat from his brow. "Oi'll open it up once Oi bring em back. Your mum will be your guardian till then."
As Grunthor left the mountain a short while later, a caravan, which the Bolg scouts had spied some time earlier, entered Ylork. "I'm sorry sir, but both the king and the major are unable to greet you," a rather nicely dressed Firbolg said to the leader of the caravan.
"What of the Lirin Queen?" the man asked. "She was supposed to have arrived here a few days ago.
"I have not heard of her arriving. She may have been waylaid or changed her destination. I have not seen her." The Bolg replied.
"Well, I have traveled far to see both her and King Achmed. May I beg hospitality until the king is able to see me or until the Queen returns?" The man asked.
"Of course, Regent. Guest quarters have already been prepared."
"Excellent! Now, it has been a long time since I've been here, perhaps, if you could arrange it, I could have a tour?" the man asked as he dismounted and allowed the Bolg to lead him into the mountain.
"There must be another way around," Rhapsody cried as she eyed the rubble of a land side which blocked their path.
Achmed had long since dismounted and began searching the area for any clue that the F'dor may have been forced to alter his course here or if it had been him who caused this mess.
"I'm afraid the only other way to Nyeath is going to have to be on foot. The climb is too treacherous for the horses and it is rather difficult for people as well," Meridion answered.
Rhapsody turned her eyes to her husband. Achmed had been masking his pain well while a horse, but on the ground, bent over searching for anything to track the F'dor by, it was obvious that he was far from recovered. His normally shallow skin had paled to a deathly grey. Dots of perspiration covered his face while he held on tightly to his ribs.
Rhapsody looked quickly at her son to confirm if he was thinking the same thing as her. As she looked to him, she saw the same worried frown that she felt herself wearing etched into her son's as he also watched the king.
It was then that Achmed stopped his search and walked back to them, slightly bent over still and clearly in a lot of pain. "Well then I suggest that we get moving. It looks like the beast probably was the cause of this which means he won't have to dismount to reach Nyeath."
"Achmed, you can't be serious," Rhapsody cried, wanting very much to go to him and see what she could do to help, but knew that would only make him resist her help more.
"I am deadly serious Rhapsody," his voice dripped with venom. "It seems I am the only one here who is taking any of this seriously."
"Achmed, you can't possibly be thinking of making that climb. You can barely walk." Meridion said.
"I'll do what I have to in order kill this damned Demon. So go stash the mounts somewhere and lead on!" the King growled back.
"You're going to kill yourself." Rhapsody stated, flatly.
"As long as I take the demon with me I don't care. And neither should either of you and you know it. You should be worrying about what this demon could do if he seizes power of the Nain and not about my health." With that, he turned and started to try and find his own way around the obstruction.
Rhapsody stood and watched in vein as her husband walked on by. Ignoring the long ago forbidden tears in her eyes and continued to throw himself into death's arms.
"Achmed, I know that we are never going to stop you. Just wait a second and I'll show the best way around," Meridion cried to him. "But please, don't go off on your own. You'll do no one any good if you end up killing yourself before reaching the F'dor. If we all go together, we may all get there in one piece."
With that, Achmed turned and looked the other two in the face for the first time since stopping there. His wife and step son could clearly see the pain that lay tied up and gagged just behind his eyes, but the all consuming blood rage of his heritage was the shinning façade that kept his weakness at bay.
Nodding once, Achmed signaled Meridion to take the lead once again. Meridion quickly striped the horse of their reigns and threw his saddle bag over his should before moving on. "This way," he said, indicating the left side of the road. "And here," he said, handing Achmed a long dagger he pulled from his saddle bag. "You may need this eventually."
There was a narrow ditch that ran along side the road which he walked into and began using it as his new path, skirting around the base of a sheer cliff that rose next to him.
Achmed followed close behind, trying his best to ignore the pain he was in. Shaking her head, Rhapsody followed. She couldn't stand to see Achmed in so much pain and so weak, it just wasn't right. He was supposed to be the strong one; never becoming vulnerable, but now she could see that he was not going to be much used if they ran into any trouble.
She wanted nothing else than to stop and at least let him rest, but she knew that he was right. They had to press on; that F'dor could not be allowed to gain control over the Nain. What ever happened, it had to be stopped.