Gannel walked around nervously like a tortured animal, his fists clenched, ready to hit something.
"Ye descended into madness," he said hoarsely, his jittery posture stopping at the edge of the luminous glass panel that covered what used to be the exit of a cave. "What is the meaning of this?" He hit the glass with his finger nervously several times before the glass stop ringing.
"This," Murdi said, clasping his hands together, "is the response to yer lack of response."
Gannel's eyes narrowed and backed away from the huge window. The picture below the elevated royal chamber located high in the mountain was enough to intimidate even the owner of such lavish and well protected room. The brightness of the sun forced Murdi to squint his eyes, but the smile under his thick ebony beard showed no dislike.
"Mine whole army," Murdi said, eyes sparkling with pride at such grand sight. "Fifteen thousands able warriors." From afar, the army looked like a swarm of locusts, ready to devour and lay waste to the pitiful Quan and its prideful leader.
Ye must respond now, smug basterd, Murdi thought, backing away from the glorious image.
"Yer a fool to dabble with powers yer mind cannot register," Gannel threatened, glaring at him with stark green eyes. "Gunthera will swipe yer army for such desecration. Ye do not want to incur me wrath, Murdi."
Murdi laughed and sat on a mahogany stool with intricate carvings. "Yer not in the position for threats. Not when me army can leave this territory more barren than an empty mine."
"Ye can't win ye basterd," a deep voice came from the fringe of the chamber. "We know what yer god is, and killing messengers won't help ye this time."
Thodris—Grimsborith of Durgrimst Nagra—approached Murdi when the Lord of Mountain Clans nodded in approval, signaling him to come closer.
"Ha!" Gannel spat. "Ye brought yer tamed Nagra with ye." Thodris narrowed his eyes, but Murdi lifted a hand before anything wrong came out of his sometimes uncoordinated mouth.
"Tamed or not, me ally has got a bigger army. His people feast on roasted meat while yers will become a feast for vultures."
Gannel frowned, looking menacingly at both of them, his stare intense and full of loathe.
"The other clans are not going to accept yer empty threats heathen," Gannel yelled, crashing his impressive dark robed bulk on a chair that creaked in protest. "Orik has been chosen by Guntera. Ye are just ore with too many impurities compared to him."
Murdi caressed his beard contentedly, mustache parting from beard in a wide smile. "Should change that. It is in yer power, Quan."
Gannel's face turned pale, eyes widening with shock. Unable to respond, the dwarf covered his face with his palms shamefully, contemplating his predicament.
That's what spies are for ye basterd, Murdi thought, lifting his muscled body with pride, as if a tense and dangerous battle approached its final stage, and he was the victor. Seeing the mighty and prideful basterd reduced to scraps of metal swelled his satisfaction and stirred his heart. Gannel was an important part of his plans, and the impending fall of his clan could not be stopped. Too fervent to even look at his pathetic form, Murdi inspected the chamber where Gannel assembled his meetings. Two weeks of preparation have brought him to this moment. He might as well enjoy it.
Murdi's garish decorations paled in comparison to the beautiful tapestries and paintings that colored the dull grey sections of the uneven cave walls. Ever-burning lamps glowed with diaphanous intensity, their power conquered by the brightness of the sun rays that flickered through pristine glass.
"Ye can't fight Murdi, lad," Thodris said calmly, almost compassionately. "If Orik has indeed forsaken us, then mine people need protection, same as yers."
Gannel sighed and unveiled his cherry red face. From his position, Murdi assumed he was crying.
"Ye ask me to abandon mine people or relinquish mine faith," Gannel said with shuddering voice. "Aren't ye afraid of the doom the gods might bring upon us?"
Thodris shrugged impassively, but Murdi suddenly intervened. "Gods aren't going to stop the slaughtering of Orik's army. We can't wait for the Empire to bring war to us and wipe each clan one by one. Religion must give way to strength, else Guntera will remain without worshippers to call his name."
"Ye do not speak his name heathen," Gannel said malevolently. "Such transgression will not be forgotten."
Murdi crossed his arms, his posture firm and eyes staring at Gannel sharply. "I settle with whatever punishment comes from using that runed rock of yours."
Gannel got up in an instant, face contorted with anger as the enraged dwarf charged, fists ready to deliver a wakening blow to a heathen. Thodris, being the faster and muscular of the two, kicked the stool in Gannel's direction and used the distraction to deliver a mighty blow in his stomach.
The priest stumbled on the floor, groaning in pain and shame. The dark velvety robe leaked across the brownish floor in meandering patterns that suddenly changed when Gannel pushed his body upwards, cursing them both.
"What will it take to drive you back?" Gannel yelled with contempt, moving towards the door. Murdi tipped his head slightly, and Thodris blocked his way in an instant.
"Your response, Quan," Murdi pressed his words.
"Ye are not worthy of sitting on stone," Gannel murmured and pushed Thodris aside. The dwarf appeared surprised when Murdi made no attempt to stop him.
"Ye let him leave lad?"
Murdi stared at the ornate iron door, contemplating before his words came. "That be good for now."
Thodris nodded and prepared to leave, but his path was suddenly diverted when he noticed that Murdi was not following.
"What ye doing?"
Holding a bejeweled goblet in his hand, Murdi glared at him, picked a runed tablet and announced their departure. Thodris looked at him questioningly, but dared say nothing.
The basterd is more cunning than I expected, Murdi thought, clutching his new acquired items to his chest.
"Can he really summon Guntera's presence?" Thodris asked while he walked alongside Murdi, his voice echoing through the twilit encampment. The elder dwarf cowered slightly at his frown.
"The basterd gives the dwarves what they want to see," Murdi said, making his way through the ranks of troops. The warriors parted at his presence, creating a corridor for the Lord of Mountain Clans and the Nagra. The sun lowered its position in the sky during the errands Murdi performed after the talk with the Quan Grimsborith. Inspecting the army, making sure his orders are followed and providing further instructions to Argath was almost as important as convincing Gannel why he had to accept his proposal.
When they were out of ear sight, he continued. "I knew from a long time ago that Quan possesses a certain artifact. It shows the glowing image of a dwarf king who probably owned that runed stone." Thodris looked at him with questioning eyes, but Murdi shook his head. They continued to walk on the dusty path until a tent loomed in the distance, not far away from them.
"Nay, that basterd is not Guntera. Apart from name, it's just a magic that blinds dwarves who live in stupor and allows Quan to choose the king."
The two guards stationed in front of the tent nodded and moved away, allowing Murdi and Thodris to enter the spacious makeshift meeting room. The blue tent was barren, save for the table and a few chairs in the middle to accommodate the attendees.
"What about ransacking of supplies?" Thodris pulled a chair and rested his frame on it, elbows hitting the table. His chin leaned on his hands contemplatively.
"Going well," Murdi said, crashing on a chair equipped with cushions at his command. The long walk, the tasks, the war, they all wore him out. "Argath pillaged more than three quarters of the supplies. That basterd locked most of them in a cave."
Thodris grunted contentedly, but his constantly shifting eyes betrayed a hint of uneasiness.
"Speak," Murdi commanded.
Thodris sighed. "Are ye certain the basterd can control Guntera? What if the people—"
"That not Guntera ye fool," Murdi almost shouted, hand hitting the table. "Ye fell for the Gannel's deception already?"
"It doesn't matter if it is Guntera," Thodris responded calmly. "Dwarves believe he is, and if the Quan priest cannot control him, yer plans will collapse." The grim meaning of his message and the grave tone of his voice bothered Murdi. He already shared his whole plan with Thodris. The dwarf was sharp of mind and tongue, and a good advisor.
Thodris' words created doubts. Even Murdi did not know what that runed stone actually was, and more important, who the dwarf named Guntera was. It wasn't a god. That much, he was certain of. Gods do not descend among mortals at such convenient times. It was blatant manipulation laced with magic tricks the Quan had picked throughout the centuries. They had grown quite proficient too, yet so far, no dwarf had had such a broad vision such as Murdi, Lord of Mountain Clans.
Vision, that's what Murdi had plenty of. Many had tried to achieve something great, yet only he dared to conquer clans and manipulate dwarves. Vision had led him this far, and Murdi had no intentions to be Lord over four clans.
"The basterd can, and he will," Murdi said with conviction, running his fingers along the bushy ebony beard contentedly.
The power in his voice was so intense that Thodris' concerns were instantly alleviated. The dwarf nodded respectfully, accepting Murdi's grand vision without a doubt.
Dwarfs need no god, Murdi thought, looking at the expressive example in front of him. Thodris, the cunning serpent, bowing before the ambitions of someone who not only promised, but acted to fulfill his wishes. They need vision.
"Lord Murdi, a priest requires a word with you," the grating voice of a guard came, jolting Murdi from his dreams and aspirations.
"Enter," Murdi said, preparing to meet the stranger who disturbed him. When his eyes settled on the robed dwarf, however, satisfaction bloomed inside him.
"What ye doing, ye basterd?" Gannel yelled. The two guards bustled in, axes ready to strike down the one who insulted their Lord. Murdi, however, beckoned them to leave and sat back on his chair, smiling.
"Speeding yer reply."