Eldorias last hope, p.18
Eldoria's Last Hope, page 18
Hrothgar learned to use the shield as an extension of his arm to parry attacks and look for opportunities to counterattack.
Svedra made sure that he mastered the correct use of his shield to block attacks and protect himself.
With each swing and each parry, Hrothgar gained more confidence in his abilities and felt his left hand gaining strength and dexterity.
The sun had already passed its zenith, and the heat of the day intensified the exertion of training.
Hrothgar felt sweat running down his forehead. Despite his exhaustion, he continued to fight, his muscles trembling with exertion. Svedra, undeterred by fatigue, pushed him to exceed his limits and further hone his skills.
As the day progressed, the training took a new turn. Svedra introduced Hrothgar to the art of fighting multiple opponents. She practiced various scenarios with him, requiring him to perfect his defensive skills with the shield and his offensive strategies with the sword.
The two literally danced across the training floor as Svedra forced Hrothgar to sharpen his senses and keep his eyes on his opponents.
As evening fell and the sun slowly set, Hrothgar felt a mixture of exhaustion and pride.
Svedra ended the training with a respectful clang of blades. She placed her hand on Hrothgar's shoulder and smiled proudly.
"You proved yourself today. You accepted the challenge and wielded your left hand with flying colors. Your courage and determination make you a true warrior."
Hrothgar took a deep breath and felt the warmth of the day on his skin. He knew he still had much to learn, but he was ready to continue on the path and refine his skills.
The sword training with Svedra had not only taught him new technical skills, but also established a deep connection to his inner warrior. With new motivation and determination, he looked forward to the days ahead and the adventures they would bring.
Ilfi came running toward them, cheering. When she reached Hrothgar, she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him.
"That was great!" she exclaimed joyfully. "Now you're almost a great Krangal ."
Hrothgar was still so out of breath from hours of training that he couldn't get a word out. But he was proud of himself and his performance, even though he hadn't managed to beat Svedra yet.
"That was very good today. You can already keep up with the Krangal of the West, but with more training, you will be able to defeat them all."
"Let's go back. That's enough for today," said Ilfi, putting her arm around Hrothgar. "Now you deserve some refreshments."
The three of them walked back to the tower together.
XV
Old Acquaintances and New Friends
The sun had already set when Khaldor entered the great hall. He was the first to arrive and could see Menora's servants bustling about, carrying in all kinds of food. They set the table and placed the dishes between the place settings. It seemed as if everything had been planned down to the smallest detail.
Next to each tray of meat and fish from a variety of different animals, side dishes were placed that complemented each other perfectly. There was grilled fleehm meat on a bed of green salad, garnished with a blue root vegetable. It was served with a dark mushroom sauce. On another tray lay white meat from some kind of poultry, garnished with yellow and orange fruits. It was accompanied by a light herb sauce.
Between the respective dishes were bowls filled with exotic fruits. Even the drinks were coordinated with the food.
The aroma of the many dishes mingled and made Khaldor's mouth water.
The entire hall was decorated with exotic plants, which had been placed in vases or simply attached to the walls.
Thragol was setting a smaller table that was already laden with cakes, pastries, and cookies. There were also three pots of fragrant tea.
Khaldor was still standing at the narrow side of the table when Thragol joined him.
"May I bring you anything, sir?"
Khaldor looked at him and shook his head. "I don't think you have anything here that my throat desires."
"Then let me bring you something that will delight your palate and your throat."
"I'd love to be surprised."
Thragol shuffled off and disappeared into the kitchen. A few moments later, he returned with a tankard. He handed it to Khaldor and watched curiously as he raised the tankard to his lips and took a small sip.
Khaldor put the tankard down again and looked at Thragol with wide eyes. "This is strong beer. The kind we brew at home," he said appreciatively.
Thragol nodded vigorously. "Haya, we always have a few barrels of it in storage. But only a few can handle more than one tankard." Thragol chuckled and left Khaldor standing there with the beer.
"Thank you, Thragol!" Khaldor called after him.
"Always at your service," Thragol called back and disappeared into the kitchen.
At the same time, Ilfi and Xeglom entered the hall. They had bathed and cleaned their clothes.
Khaldor looked at the two of them and then looked down at himself. His own clothes were filthy, and he hadn't taken a bath in a long time.
"How is it that Xeglom thinks of bathing and clean clothes before I do?" he called to his friends and waved them over.
Ilfi and Xeglom exchanged glances and whispered to each other, but then came over to him.
As they approached, Xeglom smiled at him, but Ilfi's gaze seemed to pass right through Khaldor. Apparently, she was still angry with him. But rightly so, he had to admit to himself.
"You could have taken a bath," Xeglom greeted him and laughed.
"I didn't even think about it, I had so much on my mind. I feel like I don't know my father at all," Khaldor justified himself.
"And I'm sure you've already thought about how you can apologize to Ilfi!" Xeglom finished the sentence for him.
Khaldor looked at him and noticed the glances from his friends.
"I'll go get us something to drink. You guys can have a little chat in the meantime," Xeglom suggested.
He left the two alone and strolled through the hall in search of Thragol.
When Xeglom was out of earshot, Khaldor turned to Ilfi.
"Ilfi," he began, a soft, remorseful tone in his voice. "I'm sorry for what I said. I said things I shouldn't have said. You don't deserve to have me throw things like that at you."
Ilfi looked at Khaldor silently for a moment. Her eyes reflected her disappointment. But then she nodded slowly and spoke in a quiet but firm voice.
"Thank you for your apology, Khaldor. Your words hurt me deeply, but I believe you regret them."
A relieved smile flitted across his face. "I know that words alone are not enough to heal the pain I have caused you," he continued, his gaze fixed on the floor, "but I promise you that I will change."
Ilfi nodded again and gently placed her hand on Khaldor's. "I believe you. You have been my best friend since we met. But even the best friends make mistakes sometimes."
Khaldor felt a weight lift from his shoulders. He took Ilfi's hand and looked into her eyes. "Thank you, Ilfi. I'll do my best to earn your friendship. You mean a lot to me, and I don't want to lose you."
Ilfi smiled warmly and squeezed his hand. "I'll give you and our friendship another chance. But only because we've known each other for so long and have been friends for so long."
Khaldor smiled and pulled Ilfi close.
They stood there for a while until Ilfi pulled away and punched him on the shoulder.
At that moment, Xeglom returned with three tankards.
"Look what they had for us in the kitchen!" He grinned from ear to ear. "They really do have strong beer here, brewed by dwarves."
"And it tastes really good," Khaldor smiled at him and raised his own mug.
"You already had one and didn't even tell me? You're a great friend."
"You could have asked me what there was to drink here," Khaldor teased him, and Ilfi laughed.
"I'm glad you two finally settled your dispute," said Xeglom, setting down the mugs and hugging them both.
He pulled them close and pressed their faces to his. "Now we're a strong trio again."
"How's your hand?" Khaldor asked. "What did Menora do?"
"If only I knew. After she healed Hrothgar, if you can call it that, she looked at my hand. She took off the bandage and said she had to cut away the dead flesh."
He paused, took a big gulp from the jug, and wiped the beer foam from his beard with the back of his hand.
"Then she asked me if I was thirsty and had Thragol bring me some tea. And then she took out a knife. I remember telling her to keep it away, but Menora just replied that it wasn't for my hand. After I drank the tea, I got tired and fell asleep. When I woke up, my hand looked as if Bheldram had created it that way."
He raised his left hand and held it in front of Khaldor's face. "Ilfi has already taken a closer look at it. She couldn't even find a scar."
"I don't know how Menora did it, but she did a very good job. No healer, not even our Adda, would have been able to perform such a miracle," Ilfi explained.
“But now tell us what’s going on with Tornir and Bloodaxe.”
Khaldor told them everything he had learned from Tornir. His friends listened intently, occasionally asking for clarification on certain points.
While the three were talking, Svedra and Hrothgar entered through the door, closely followed by Tornir.
They walked straight to the large table and sat down in the seats they had occupied before.
Hrothgar proudly recounted his training with Svedra and how much he had learned.
After Khaldor had told his friends everything about his conversation with Tornir, they went over to the others and sat down at the table as well.
Tornir looked at his son and nodded to him with a smile.
Khaldor returned the friendly gesture.
They talked for a while until the door opened again.
Freya stood in the doorway. None of those present noticed her arrival except Thragol, who was busy replenishing the supplies so that everyone could quench their thirst.
"Ahhh, come, ladies and gentlemen, come. Sit down. I'll bring you a jug right away."
Tornir, who looked at Freya first, greeted her with a smile. Gradually, the others looked over at her too, but it was only when Freya greeted them that Khaldor noticed her.
Freya had changed and now wore her hair down. She had exchanged her morning clothes for an ankle-length burgundy dress. The fabric was decorated with gold embroidery on the bottom hem of the dress, the cuffs, the collar, and the neckline.
With its deep neckline and side lacing, the top of the dress hugged Freya's body gently, creating a flattering silhouette that complemented her figure. The dress had striking puff sleeves and tight-fitting high cuffs with pretty little buttons made of the finest gold. The skirt of the dress was incredibly wide and beautifully draped.
Over it, Freya wore a velvet green vest bodice that emphasized her femininity and made it easier for her to breathe. The thigh-high boots were the same burgundy red as her dress.
Khaldor stared at her with his mouth open, not noticing that everyone was staring at him.
Only when Xeglom laughed out loud did Khaldor close his mouth and look at him questioningly.
"What is it?" he asked his friend.
Before Xeglom could answer, however, an animal almost as big as Freya stepped through the door.
The animal had an athletic build, slender yet powerful, with muscular legs and a supple gait. Its eyes were a fascinating shade of violet, deep and mysterious, exerting an almost magnetic attraction. They seemed to pierce the observer with their intelligence and wisdom, while at the same time reflecting a certain unpredictability and curiosity.
The creature radiated a wondrous mixture of pride, grace, and elegance. It was also distinguished by its striking silver fur, which seemed to shimmer in the light and filled its surroundings with a soft glow. But its appearance was not only characterized by silver splendor, it also featured seductive purple accents that stood out like sparkling gemstones between the silver strands. Its ears were pointed and seemed alert, always on the lookout for the slightest sounds in its surroundings. The claws on its paws were sharp as silver blades. They gave the creature dexterity, but were also a dangerous weapon.
"What is that thing?" Xeglom exclaimed in alarm, recoiling slightly in his chair.
"That, my little friend, is Thalara. My faithful companion," he heard Menora say as she entered the hall. "She is a Felidur ."
"I've heard of them," said Svedra. "But they're actually very shy animals."
"That's true, they are very shy. But once you have earned their trust, they are loyal allies and can even perceive magical vibrations with their intuitive abilities. Thalara is a great help to me in finding magical objects. Like the runes that Freya forged for you."
"Have you finished the runes yet, Freya?" Ilfi wanted to know.
Freya looked at her with a smile. "Of course. I've made one for each of you. I just need to attach them to your weapons so that Menora can work her magic on them."
"But we'll do that later, my dear. Let's eat first."
Menora placed her hand on Freya's back and gently pushed her forward. Together they walked around the table and sat down in their seats.
Khaldor's gaze was fixed on Freya the entire time.
Menora pointed to the food laid out before them.
"Now strengthen your bodies and minds. Eat as much as you can!" Menora invited those present.
Xeglom didn't need to be told twice. He grabbed his plate and piled it high with roasted meat and fish. Menora watched the scene with a smile, but Ilfi looked at him indignantly.
"You don't have to eat everything at once. Leave some for the others," she admonished him.
Xeglom, who was just about to put another leg of poultry on his plate, paused and looked at Ilfi in disbelief. "But I'm hungry."
"You won't starve if you only put a little on your plate and go back for more when it's empty." Ilfi shook her head. "You'd think you grew up among savages."
Xeglom wanted to put the leg back on the tray when Ilfi gave him another angry look.
“Since you already had it in your hand, you might as well put it on your plate. But that’s enough for now.”
Xeglom carefully placed the leg on his plate.
He took a cautious bite and watched the others. Everyone dug in and ate. Only when Menora bit into a juicy piece of elouf meat did Xeglom devour everything he had piled onto his plate.
It was delicious, and no one spoke during the meal.
An hour passed before everyone was full and sank back into their chairs with their bellies full.
"That was really delicious," said Svedra, thanking everyone for the meal, and everyone agreed with her.
Only Xeglom added a hearty burp to these words.
After everyone had finished eating, Menora's servants appeared and cleared away the leftovers, plates, and jugs. While the last servants were entering the kitchen with the dirty dishes, the first ones were already coming out again to bring the guests new jugs and drinks. No one had been able to even try a piece of the cake.
After a while, Menora rose from her throne-like chair and her gaze swept across the room as she looked at the table. She looked at each of them one by one.
Then she raised her hand and a solemn silence fell over the room.
"Warriors of the dwarves and humans," she began in a firm voice. "You are about to face the most important battle of your lives. Your homeland, your families, and your freedom are at stake.
But do not let doubt and fear overwhelm you, for you are united in your determination to repel evil."
She stepped closer to the table and continued. "These runes shall serve you well in the battle ahead."
As she motivated those present with her inspiring speech, seven servants entered the hall.
Each of them carried a rune in their hands, its glow radiating a magical aura. One by one, they approached the warriors and carefully placed a rune in front of each one at the table.
Menora pointed to the runes and described each one.
"The talented rune smith whose hands channel the power of ancient symbols and shape them into deadly weapons."
Freya looked at her rune, which resembled a filigree rune seal decorated with ancient symbols. She felt the power of the rune pulsing through her veins, giving her the strength of blacksmithing and magic.
"The dwarven warrior, with his mighty battle axe, whose beard is filled with pride and determination."
Tornir watched with fascination as a rune in the shape of a dwarf battle axe was placed on the table in front of him. The symbol radiated strength and steadfastness, and he felt a deep connection to his dwarven ancestry.
"The young warrior with the round shield, who combines his youth with unbridled energy and the desire to defend his homeland."
Hrothgar saw a rune in the shape of a shield lying before him. It radiated protection and defense, and he felt his round shield reinforced by the rune with an additional and insurmountable barrier.
"The agile swordswoman whose movements represent an elegant harmony of strength and skill."
Svedra recognized the image of a curved sword in her rune. The rune promised dexterity and precision in battle, and Svedra knew that with this magical support, her blade would be unstoppable.
Menora's gaze wandered from her right to her left side before she continued.
"The brave blacksmith with her mighty warhammer, whose blows shake the land and terrify her enemies."
Ilfi placed her hand on the rune representing the warhammer. A feeling of strength and determination flowed through her, and she knew that with her hammer, she would be unstoppable.
"The steadfast shepherd with his axe, who carries the fury of the last dragon within him and strikes down his enemies with unbridled strength."
Xeglom looked at his rune, which was shaped like a mighty axe. The rune promised him the strength and destructive power of a dragon, and he felt the bond with his loyal friends deepen.
"And last but not least, Khaldor's rune." Menora paused for a moment, as if she didn't know what to say.
