The homecoming stonecrus.., p.13
The Homecoming (Stonecrusher Legacy Book 3), page 13
That was unexpected.
“The final member of the scout team will be Mallick for many reasons.”
Hrothgar belches loudly after another mug of mead and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. “Yeah? Name one.”
Mallick stands and faces the former chief. “Well, I can kill eight goblins at fifty feet in a heartbeat without breaking a sweat.”
Hrothgar narrows his gaze. “How do you manage that?”
Mal grins and wiggles his fingers. “Magic. It does amazing things.”
The former chief snorts with derision. “Assuming you can do as you claim, that’ll help. If not, it’s your funeral, I suppose. Chief, you’re assigning many people to verify what we already know. There is no hole.”
“Eryndor and Raxothe are scouts without equal. Pyria is a falcon with tracking abilities superior to anyone, elf or dwarf. These three will look for goblin footprints and track them to their entry point.”
“If they find them.”
“If they don’t, we still have Mallick. He can sense the life essence of people around him.”
Fogrog leans forward into the firelight. “That sounds like dark magic.”
I walk closer to him and pat his shoulder. “It’s not, but I understand your concern. Finally, if anyone finds a tunnel, Mom and Arrubella will use their rock-shaping ability to close them.”
“What does everyone else do, Chief?” Ook asks.
“The other elves will set up on the top floor of the housing and act as lookouts until we’re ready to leave. Give them all the arrows we have. The remainder will pack everything we can into the wagons for our trek to Stonecrusher stronghold.”
Hrothgar raises his hand. “Excuse me, Chief, but why are we taking the wagons?”
“To take as many provisions as possible. We left Ahn’Ziu in a rush and brought very little. There are a lot of mouths to feed, and there’s nothing to forage down here, I bet.”
Mom speaks up in my defense. “Good plan, son. When do you want to head out?”
“As soon as we pack the wagons with provisions. Let’s get to it.”
As the meeting disperses, Arbane approaches me. “Waldorf, you didn’t assign me anything specific. Should I be a lookout with the other elves?”
I chuckle. “Absolutely not! I want you close to me because of your knowledge of the zealots. It’s the same reason I want Hrothgar with me. He understands how these goblins attack. I can’t afford to be searching for my greatest wealth of knowledge if we get attacked.”
Arbane smiles and pats my shoulder. “Thanks, Waldorf. I appreciate that. You can count on me.”
“I know I can. Let’s make sure everyone remains armed and armored. We don’t know when the little buggers will try another attack. If they do, feel free to show off a bit. It wouldn’t hurt Hrothgar and his men to see how lucky we are to have a sword arm of your elite caliber working for us.”
He offers a polite head bow. “It would be my pleasure. I’ll be nearby if I’m needed.”
“That was kind of you.” Temp caresses my forearm. “He needs to feel wanted.”
I snort. “Kind? I want him! He’s an extraordinary swordsman with a gift for improvisation. You watch—there will be a battle soon where Arbane is the difference.”
“Well. I’m glad you think that way. He’s been out of sorts since the compulsion spell drove him to kill you, or at least try. Mallick liberated him when he removed the compulsion spell, but he’s having difficulty figuring out what he did willingly and what was due to the spell.”
“The fact that he’s here and helping should tell him everything he needs to know.”
Temp chuckles and shoves me jokingly. “Look at you! When did you become so wise and all-knowing?”
“It all started a little over a month ago when I met this elf girl…”
We laugh and, as it so often happens, end up hugging.
She’s changed my life.
Ook clears his throat. “Chief, got a minute?”
I let go of Temp and face Ook. Time to resume my chiefly duties. “Always. What’s up?”
“Eryndor’s team started in the valley, and I’ve got those twins carrying arrows down to the housing area. We’ve started packing the food into the wagons but won’t bring the horses up until we’re ready.”
“Do we have hay for the horses when we travel?”
“We made several bales, which should last the horses a week, maybe two. If a bunch of us cut the grass in the valley, we should get enough for the rams and the horses for a few more weeks if we ration it to them.”
Things are coming together. “Arrange a team to harvest the grass and get me a list of all the grains we have in bags and crates. We might have alternatives.”
Ook nods and walks away, calling after one of his brothers-in-arms.
Crossing the cavern toward the tunnel down are two people who can help with my next problem. “Hey, Inchel and Yassine. Do you have a minute?”
The two scouts join Temp and me. “How can we help, Chief?”
“I need you to find Akaryia and scout the tunnel ahead. Look for signs of the goblins or anything else that might attack us when we leave.”
“We’ll head out as soon as we find Akaryia.” The two scouts walk down the tunnel.
I glance around the cavern and notice there are very few people. “I suppose there’s nothing left to do but load the wagons.”
Temp nods in agreement. “Let’s get to it.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Mallick
Eryndor leads our group into the valley in search of goblin entry points. I walk with him and Raxothe, with the stone shapers following and the dwarven warriors bringing up the rear. We stop in the clearing between the tunnel and the housing area to divide into groups and look for the goblins’ entry holes.
Raxothe already has Pyria flying about. “She’s so happy to be airborne again. It’s unnatural for her to ride on my shoulder.”
“I can understand that. When something suppresses your natural gifts, doing the opposite can be soul-crushing. Has Pyria spotted anything yet?”
Raxothe’s eyes become unfocused, staring off into the distance. Yassine told me when this happens, she’s tapping into her falcon’s vision. “There are so many tracks in this area. It’s hard to discern one from another.”
“Good to know, Rax. Keep looking,” Eryndor says. “We’re going to do this quickly and in stages. We’ll let Pyria do several passes before we venture into the valley. Rax’s and Pyria’s findings will decide our next steps.”
Standing still is not my forte. “What do we do in the meantime?”
Eryndor waves at the walls around us. “Check out this end of the valley. It’s a box end, meaning the only traffic should be dwarves and the animals eating and grazing. Who knows, maybe you’ll get lucky.”
“The grass is unreadable for footprints at this end of the valley, Mallick. Maybe you’ll have better luck,” Raxothe adds.
“Perfect,” Eryndor agrees. “Start there and take Nukor and Haalmouk with you.”
I walk toward the wall on my left, and my two bodyguards step beside me. “We’re on our way. Boys, why don’t we start with this wall and work our way around to the housing area?”
“We’ll follow your lead,” Nukor confirms. “We’re here for protection. You’re the one doing the searching.”
My magical feelers dance along the base of the wall, then extend upward almost to the peak.
“What are you doing?” Nukor asks behind me.
“I’m looking for thin openings or concealments with life forces behind them. Nothing yet.”
Nukor chuckles, and Haalmouk joins him. “You’ve already started?” he asks. “It looks like you’re staring at the wall.”
I face my protectors and direct my tendrils toward them, dancing all over their heads and armor. “I was probing the wall, looking for life signs behind a thin spot. Now I’m probing you.”
Nukor swats his face. “It feels like ants are crawling over my face. Stop it! This isn’t funny.”
I grin. “You asked what I was doing, and I’m showing you. The next stage would be to rip your vitality from you if you were my enemy. Taking a little makes you fatigued while ripping it all out means death. I can do that with vitality, magic, and many other things. Make sense?”
Both warriors continue to swat their heads and bodies. “It does. Now stop it.”
I redirect my magical feelers back to the wall. “You said I wasn’t doing anything. I haven’t even shown you what I can do with my friend Skerrin’s help.”
Nukor is pissed. “We get your point, so keep doing your thing, and don’t do it to us.”
“Wouldn’t think of it, boys.”
I cover the near end of the valley quickly. Skerrin and I create a method for him to boost me so I can cover more space quickly. Thirty minutes later, we’re back with the group. “We found a lot of solid granite, which isn’t bad, but nothing of note. What’s next?”
Eryndor nods at the bird of prey, landing on the falconer’s arm. “Rax and Pyria finished their last sweep but found no goblin tracks leading from the stone. The onus is back on you, Mallick. Maybe you’ll be able to discover a clue that Pyria and Rax can’t. I’m open to suggestions.”
“They’re climbing down the wall like ants,” I state.
Eryndor looks into the distance as he ponders. “I never thought of that, but I suppose it’s possible. What makes you think they possess the ability to climb walls?”
“No, Eryndor. They’re climbing down the wall like ants. Look at me, everyone. Nowhere else.”
Our group begins to turn toward the walls and quickly faces me.
Eryndor steps closer and whispers, “Where are they, Mallick?”
I examine my shoes. “I saw two of them near the peak, about ten feet down on the wall, scurrying along as if crawling along the ground.”
Eryndor moves to call the archers, but I grab him. “Let’s keep this quiet in case more are watching. Skerrin and I can stop them with very little fanfare.”
My marmoset companion chitters his agreement.
Eryndor watches Skerrin’s chatter, then nods. “I’ll leave it to you. Try to take one alive if you can so we can question it.”
“We’ll do our best.” Without looking up, I estimate where they are and connect with both, but barely. “Skerrin, I’ve got both, but they’re moving apart. I’ll need a boost to ensure I don’t lose them.”
His small, leathery hand touches my temple, and my power increases. I easily connect with both simultaneously and drain their strength until I sense them falling.
“Here they come! Catch them,” I direct. No one does.
Both goblins hit the ground with a resounding thud and remain motionless as we sprint over.
Eryndor is first on the scene and checks both for breathing. “That one’s dead for sure, but this one still has a little breath in him. If we can find a healer, we might be able to keep him alive long enough for a few questions.”
As Alghar’s luck would have it, Henna and Gherta are walking toward the lodging.
I wave my arms frantically. “Henna! Come quickly!”
The two healers rush over and hesitate when they see the goblins. “Is everyone okay?” Gherta asks as she visually gives us the once-over.
I motion for her to come to the goblin in front of me. “We’re good, but this goblin is dead in thirty seconds if you don’t heal it.”
“It’s a goblin,” Gherta replies with disdain.
“He might have information. Can you heal him a little?”
She hesitates, then kneels beside the creature and casts her healing spell. The goblin’s breathing becomes more rhythmic, and its eyes flutter open.
I poke the goblin a few times. “Hey, can you hear me?”
Its purple-black eyes glare at me with hatred. “The question is, do I care to listen?”
“That’s valid, I guess.” I’ll try intimidation. “If you don’t, I’ll kill you.”
He looks away, unbothered. “You’ll kill me regardless. You offer no incentive.”
Another good point. I’m getting out-negotiated by a goblin. “How many of you are there?”
He looks at me and grins. “Just me. I’m right here.”
“How many goblins are there behind these walls?”
“Thousands. Give up.”
“That’s not happening. We can take on a few thousand goblins.”
“Goblins and dwarves are fleas compared to the mighty Trugut. You are nothing but today’s carnage, dwarf. You’ll stain his boot by the end of the battle.” He rolls onto his belly and tries to stand, but Fogrog punches him, snapping his head back.
“He’s not coming back from that,” I say as his body collapses.
Eryndor frowns. “We need to tell Waldorf they’re attacking today.”
“How do you figure that?” Fogrog asks.
“He said as much. ‘You’re nothing but today’s carnage.’ They’re not smart enough for crafty wordplay.”
Henna lets go of my hand and steps away. “Gherta and I will tell the chief right away.”
Henna runs to the tunnel with Gherta jogging behind.
Eryndor’s gaze snaps downward toward his boots. “Don’t look around for them. Use your side vision while you look down. Rax, get Pyria flying. She can be our eyes for now. Keep her patrolling, but make sure she’s safe. They might believe we don’t know their plan.”
Everyone’s gaze drops to their boots. “What’s next?” Fogrog asks.
Eryndor kneels to brush imaginary dirt off his boots. “You and Haalmouk casually walk over to the sleeping quarters and rouse everyone. Tell them to don their armor and weapons, and above all else, tell them to act casual.”
The two dwarven warriors walk to the housing complex and climb to the top tier, laughing and talking loudly the entire time. After a brief discussion with Ayen, they knock on doors.
Waldorf and Tempress come out of the tunnel, holding hands and waving as they walk toward us. Ook exits the tunnel as casually as he can a few seconds later.
“What do you know?” Waldorf asks.
“Same as Henna and Gherta told you. We’re getting everyone from the sleeping quarters awake and ready. Pyria is still on patrol, but she’s the only one we dare to use right now.”
Wal steps in front of Rax and gently touches her arm. Her focus is through the eyes of her bird right now. “Raxothe, does Pyria see the battle rams?”
“We just saw them, Chief. They’re grazing with the horses and moose around the first bend.”
Waldorf runs his fingers through his hair as he stares at the ground. “The rams will follow Mongo, and he follows Temp. We’ll walk that way to bring them back. Ook will come along. With a little luck, maybe the horses will follow.”
Ook throws an apple at each of us. “These always help. If you find more, put them in your pockets.”
Wal pulls Tempress in for a hug. “Is this tunnel the only one leading up?”
“It is,” Ook replies.
“We can work with that. Mom and Arrubella, you two stand inside the tunnel, out of the line of sight. Once everyone is through, you’ll meld it shut. Eryndor and Mallick, you’re the last two people out of the valley before we seal it.”
Temp watches three fluffy bunnies hop by. “What about the wild animals down here?”
“I doubt they’ll follow us. Frankly, we don’t have the time to corral them all, Temp. I’m sorry, but they’re on their own.”
The ground quakes, followed by the sound that all dwarves fear.
Mom’s eyes widen. “That was falling stone.”
“Tons of it,” Arrubella agrees.
“A cave-in.” Gherta gasps.
I pat Gherta’s hand. “Not the kind you’re thinking of. This one is probably intentional.”
Elves and dwarves in the sleeping quarters run out of their rooms and down the stairs toward us. Many are fully armored. Others are still in mid-gear up, but everyone is ready for battle.
“No need for stealth anymore,” Waldorf announces. “They knocked on our door.”
A fast-moving dust cloud rolls through the valley from top to bottom behind the stampeding animals charging toward us.
Wal points at the wall of dust. “That’s going to be a problem for breathing and vision. If we don’t negate it, the goblins will have the advantage when they attack. We’ll be blind and choking, which will make staying alive challenging. Find Kal right now.”
Kal runs out of the group from the sleeping quarters to stand before Waldorf. “I’m right here, Wal. I heard you. How can I help?”
Wal gestures frantically at the dust cloud that has already approached too close. Breathing is becoming difficult. “Choke them out, Kal. Turn it back on them.”
Kal nods, already in mid-cast. A breeze blows past us, giving us some clean air and blowing the dust back at the impending cloud.
Her marmoset touches her temple, and Kal’s gentle breeze transforms into a raging wind. I kneel, finding it hard to stand as the gale blows past us. Kal’s braids are straight out in front of her face as it forces the rolling dust cloud back into the valley.
“Nice job,” Wal shouts over the winds. “Now, what about the stampeding animals?”
Every terrified creature in the underground valley is running at us with nowhere for them to escape.
“I’ll drain the vitality from the big ones. It should tire them enough to slow them down,” I yell.
“Don’t you dare,” Tempress calls. “I have a better idea. Raxothe, Eryndor—join me,” Temp shouts and begins to sing.
Tempress has a beautiful singing voice, made even more special by the three-part harmony with her brother and Rax. As they sing, a feeling of calmness and joy comes over me.
Saterei stands on the princess’s shoulder and joins their song while touching her partner’s temple. The four voices intertwine magnificently and roll toward the oncoming stampede.
The charging herd slows as they approach but continues to canter, trot, and finally walk toward the singing quartet. Eventually, the animals sniff the air and graze around the three elves, completely relaxed and comfortable.
