Eldorias last hope, p.19
Eldoria's Last Hope, page 19
"The skilled hunter with the bow, whose arrows always find their mark and who knows the forest like no other."
Khaldor looked at the rune for his bow, which was decorated with elegant lines and symbols. He felt it give him the precision and accuracy of a master archer.
When the servants had completed their task, they stepped back and disappeared into the shadows of the dining hall.
The warriors looked at their runes and felt the magical energy emanating from them. The runes were a sign of destiny and a confirmation of their strength and talents for the approaching battle.
A spark of determination glowed in their eyes as Menora continued. "The battle ahead will not be easy. Your enemies are numerous and powerful, and they have evil on their side. But we have goodness and hope to drive us forward. You will fight side by side, combining your skills and acting as an unstoppable unit."
Menora's words filled the room with an unprecedented energy that gripped the warriors. They felt their faith in their own powers return and knew that together they could overcome anything.
Tornir raised his fist high in the air and shouted, "Let us go into battle with united forces, driven by the determination to defend our homeland and defeat evil! May the ancestors stand by us and the spirit of bravery guide us!"
A thunderous echo of approval filled the hall as everyone stood up and raised their fists in the air.
The flames of courage blazed in their eyes. All were ready to throw themselves into the battle ahead.
Menora watched the spectacle briefly before speaking again.
"I see you are ready for battle. Whatever happens, you will face it and either prevail or perish."
Xeglom fell silent immediately. "Uh, what do you mean, perish ? I had no intention of perishing in any battle."
Khaldor slapped him on the back of the head, Ilfi rolled her eyes, and Freya started to laugh.
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Tornir wanted to know, looking at Xeglom angrily.
"Let's not talk about the battle for now," Menora interjected. "We'll have time for that tomorrow. Today, we seal our friendship and the oath to protect our families that brought us together here today."
"Let's raise our mugs and toast to victory," Svedra suggested, picking up her mug and raising it high.
The others followed suit and raised their jugs as well.
"To glory, honor, bravery, and a victorious battle!" Tornir exclaimed, and everyone joined in.
Only Menora remained silent. She raised her delicate glass of wine to her lips and took a sip.
Everyone else lowered their mugs at the same time and slammed them down on the table. The dark beer spilled over and formed a puddle on the table.
The mood was triumphant and cheerful. For a while, they talked to each other, made plans, laughed, and joked.
Khaldor kept looking at Freya, and when she happened to look in his direction, he quickly looked away. Freya noticed this, of course, and had to smile.
Xeglom cleared his throat and turned to Tornir: "So, how are things at home?"
Tornir looked at him questioningly. "I've been following your trail since you left home. How am I supposed to know what's going on at home? You've come so far, experienced so much, and yet you haven't gained a shred of intelligence."
Xeglom pretended to be offended. " I'm not stupid. What stupid things do you think I've done lately?"
Ilfi, who had been listening to the conversation, laughed out loud.
"Are you on his side now?" Xeglom wanted to know.
"I'm not on anyone's side, but if he's right..." Ilfi replied.
"But if I'm stupid, then you're just as stupid," Xeglom grinned.
"And how do you determine that?"
"You're both stupid!" Tornir blurted out. "How could you let Khaldor go on such a dangerous journey? I can't expect anything else from Xeglom, but from you, Ilfi?" He looked at her with a look of deep disappointment.
"I couldn't have let him go alone. What would you have thought of me, after teaching me so much, Tornir?"
"I'm glad he has you by his side, but it's too dangerous—for all of you," Tornir said in a calm tone.
"What about me ?" Xeglom asked cheekily.
Tornir looked at him intently. "I'm glad you two are standing by Khaldor. No one could ask for better friends."
He let the words sink in for a moment before continuing. "But didn't you think about how dangerous this whole thing is?"
"I knew, but if I had let Khaldor go alone, you would have yelled at me again," Xeglom tried to excuse himself.
"Don't talk nonsense," Ilfi snapped at him. "You were scared out of your wits, but you came along anyway."
Ilfi and Xeglom got into an argument about which of them was more afraid of what lay ahead.
Meanwhile, Freya sat down next to Khaldor and reminded him of his promise to tell her how the dwarves came to be traveling with Svedra and Hrothgar.
Khaldor began to tell how Signi and his gang had ambushed them one evening and how Skadra and Svedra had finally rescued them from the situation.
Freya hung on Khaldor's every word, asking for more details from time to time.
They talked animatedly for the rest of the evening and didn't even notice when Hrothgar and Svedra went to bed.
Meanwhile, Ilfi, Xeglom, and Tornir were talking to Menora, who told them the story of the Gromir .
Night fell, but none of them felt the need to go to sleep. Only after the moon had passed its zenith did they gradually become tired and say goodbye for the evening.
Only Thragol remained, clearing the table and preparing everything for breakfast.
A rainy morning dawned on Erinwald. The sky was covered by an impenetrable blanket of clouds that trapped the sunlight and bathed the streets of the city in a muted gray.
Raindrops fell in a gentle but steady rhythm on the cobblestone streets, forming small puddles. The splashing of the water mingled with the distant ringing of bells coming from the chapel.
In the alleys of Erinwald, the residents hurried about, protected from the rain by their cloaks and hoods.
The rain brought with it the scent of freedom and adventure. The salty smell of the sea mingled with the scent of wet leaves and flowers carried by the wind from the nearby cliffs. It was a hint of wide horizons and undiscovered coasts that fired the imagination.
Khaldor and Tornir made their way unwaveringly through the rain-soaked streets. The cold precipitation rolled off their cloaks as they pressed on with determined steps. Water splashed around their boots as they walked along the alleys. The lanterns and torches cast a subdued light on the silver puddles that spread out before them.
Despite the rain, Khaldor and Tornir radiated an aura of determination. Their faces remained unaffected by the cold and wet.
Their path took them past old houses whose facades told stories of times past and conveyed a sense of awe and respect. They were silent witnesses to the history and magic that surrounded Erinwald.
Finally, Khaldor and Tornir reached the barracks where Captain Windravos had his quarters.
They entered the guardhouse and marched unhindered through the corridors to the room where Tornir had previously held a meeting with the captain.
Tornir knocked twice and opened the door before the captain could say anything. Windravos sat at his desk, bent over an old book, and looked at them irritated. His gaze shifted from Bloodaxe to Khaldor and lingered on him.
"Who is your young friend, Bloodaxe?"
"I am Khaldor Copperbeard, son of Tornir. At your service."
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his father, who was traveling as Blutaxt and wearing his armor and helmet.
Khaldor couldn't see behind the mask of the golden helmet, but Blutaxt nodded to him, , to show how grateful he was that he hadn't revealed his true identity.
"What brings you to me, Khaldor Copperbeard?"
Windravos rose from his chair, stepped out from behind his desk, and walked directly toward Khaldor and Bloodaxe.
He wore light leather armor and a royal blue cape held in place by a chain mail collar.
He stood in front of Khaldor and put his hands on his hips.
"We have to change our plan," Tornir began before Khaldor could say anything.
"Has something happened?" Windravos inquired.
"Menora will not support us in battle. But Khaldor and I have devised a new plan that we want to discuss with you."
"Then let's sit down and you can explain the new plan to me."
Bloodaxe nodded to Windravos, and they gathered around the map of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Khaldor reported on their conversation with Menora and the runes they had received. However, he did not mention that Blutaxt had taken off his helmet and revealed himself to them. Instead, he said that he had been unable to sleep and had sought out Blutaxt during the night to devise a new plan.
The captain listened to their words with a serious expression as the rain drummed incessantly against the windowpanes.
After Khaldor had finished explaining the new plan, he sat up straight and stretched his back. It hadn't taken him long to describe the plan, but it had been long enough for his back to feel old and stiff.
The captain paced across the room and looked out the window at the training ground, which now lay deserted in the rain. Puddles were forming on the ground, growing larger and larger.
Khaldor and Bloodaxe looked at Windravos and waited for his reaction.
Windravos stood at the window for a while, looking out without really seeing anything. His eyes stared into space. He thought about the new plan and finally turned to the dwarves.
"Are you sure it will work?" he asked, looking intently at Bloodaxe.
"It has to work," Bloodaxe replied. "Otherwise, we can only win the battle if Menora intervenes."
"I have been captain of the city guard for twenty-one years. I have seen a lot, but never that Menora has changed her mind."
"One thing could change her mind, though," Bloodaxe replied mysteriously.
"And what would that be?"
Bloodaxe looked around and went to the window. He glanced outside briefly and then turned to Khaldor.
"Check the hallway to make sure no one is eavesdropping on us!" he instructed him.
Khaldor went to the door and opened it carefully. He peered out into the hallway and slowly stepped through the door. With quiet steps, as if on a hunt, he crept along the hallway until he came to the first door on his right. He pressed his back against the wall and moved closer and closer to the door frame.
Then he took a deep breath and gathered all his courage. He cautiously peered past the doorframe into the room. It turned out to be a small broom closet containing wooden buckets and a few brooms.
Khaldor chuckled to himself and went back to Bloodaxe and Windravos. Just as he returned to the captain's room, he heard Windravos voicing his loud disapproval.
"You can't be serious. There must be another way."
"I've weighed all the options, but this, my old friend, is the only way to force Menora to act."
The captain looked down at the floor. He stood there for a few heartbeats, not moving.
Slowly, he raised his head and looked at the dwarves with a sorrowful expression.
"Then so be it, even though I disagree with this plan."
"Very well. Gather your men and bring the population to safety in the rear of the city. Khaldor and I will return to the tower and prepare our companions for battle."
Windravos accompanied Bloodaxe and Khaldor to the door before going to the training ground himself to gather his men.
The two dwarves stepped out of the guardhouse onto the street. By now, the rain had stopped and the sun was shining in the sky.
They walked silently side by side along the still wet streets, avoiding the larger puddles. Gradually, the inhabitants of Erinwald also came out of their houses and huts to go about their daily business.
"What's your plan to change Menora's mind?" Khaldor asked almost casually.
"That, my son, you will find out when the time comes. Now we have more important things to take care of."
They continued walking in silence. In the distance, high above the rooftops, they could see the tower that seemed to watch over the entire city.
XVI
Calm before the storm
Khaldor and Bloodaxe entered the tower and immediately saw Menora standing before them.
"We've been waiting for you. Now that you're back, we can go to the armory."
"What do we want in an armory?" Khaldor wanted to know.
"There, my young friend, you will receive new armor and weapons that will serve you well in the coming battle," Menora explained.
"Go ahead, but new armor won't be worth it for me," said Bloodaxe. He turned away from the two and was about to leave.
"What do you mean?" asked Khaldor.
Blutaxt turned to him and smiled.
"Everyone knows me in my armor, both friend and foe. The sight of my armor instills courage in the hearts of my friends and fear in those of my enemies. If I enter the battlefield in different armor, no one will recognize me, and I will be just another warrior in the ranks."
Khaldor nodded. "You're probably right. See you later, then."
Bloodaxe climbed the stairs without looking back.
Khaldor followed Menora into the great hall, where they met up with the others. Together they descended the spiral staircase to the basement of the tower, where the forge was located. The corridors smelled musty, and the faint light from the torches barely illuminated their path.
At the end of the corridor, Menora stopped in front of a large iron-clad door made of black wood, designed to protect the treasure inside from intruders.
"Behind this door you will find armor and weapons. Choose whatever suits you. Unfortunately, we don't have time to forge new armor for you, even though we have two excellent blacksmiths here in Ilfi and Freya. So make sure everything fits well and nothing pinches. Once you have made your choice, I will fuse the runes with your weapons. But that's all I can do for you."
There was a moment of oppressive silence until Xeglom broke it.
"Can we finally go in now? My feet are already hurting from waiting."
Ilfi punched him on the shoulder. "Get a grip!"
Before Xeglom could say anything, Menora opened the door, revealing a room full of weapons, armor, and shields.
The interior of the armory was filled with a soft golden light emanating from the burning torches on the walls. The air smelled of metal and aged leather, mixed with a hint of magic that hung in the air.
Xeglom stepped through the door first and looked around.
Along the walls were black iron weapon racks displaying an arsenal of weapons that looked as if they had been forged by the gods themselves. Huge bladed maces rested next to ornate bows decorated with strange characters. Rows of swords with curved blades sheathed in iron scabbards glistened like moonlight on clear water. Each weapon was a masterpiece of craftsmanship and carried within it the essence of an ancient legend.
Opposite the weapons, on the other side of the chamber, stately suits of armor sat enthroned on mighty pedestals. Some appeared to be made of shimmering dragon scale armor , while others were a mixture of hardened leather and forged steel.
Each suit of armor radiated an aura of strength and awe, and one could almost feel the stories of the brave warriors who had once worn them echoing within them.
A magical glow illuminated a remote corner of the chamber where magnificent shields leaned against the wall. Each shield was a unique work of art, bearing symbols of long-fallen kingdoms and heroes. Some shields seemed to be surrounded by a magical aura that hinted at their defensive capabilities.
One by one, Ilfi and the others entered the large room, and they all stood open-mouthed in amazement.
Hrothgar rubbed his eyes. He had never seen so much gold in a single room before.
For Freya, however, the sight was not as spectacular as it was for the two humans. There were several such well-stocked chambers in the Twin Peaks, although they did not offer nearly as large a selection of different weapons.
Hrothgar shook off his stupor and walked purposefully toward the rows of magnificent shields. He strode past the larger shields and stopped in front of a small round shield. This shield, too, was a masterpiece of craftsmanship. It was made of light yet durable dragon scale armor and embellished with ornate silver.
With a sense of admiration and determination, Hrothgar grasped the round shield firmly with his left hand. A pleasant shiver ran through him as he felt the shield envelop him in a warm, protective energy. It was as if the shield itself recognized Hrothgar's courage and bravery and took him into its service.
But as Hrothgar moved on to the armor, luck was not on his side. Most of the armor was too large and bulky for a warrior of his size and stature, and the few that fit him were nowhere near as magnificent as his new round shield. Disappointment spread through him, but his determination did not waver.
Finally, he found a simple but well-fitting suit of hardened leather armor. It wasn't adorned with glittering jewels or ornate decorations, but it felt good and would protect him from danger. Although it wasn't the armor he had dreamed of, Hrothgar knew that it was the courage and skill beneath the armor that mattered, not its outward appearance.
With his magnificent round shield in his hand and simple but practical armor on his body, Hrothgar was ready to face the enemy.
Khaldor also let his gaze wander around the room until he discovered what his heart desired. There it stood—the bow of his dreams.
It was a particularly powerful bow with elegant curved lines reminiscent of flowing streams. The bow was carved from a mysterious wood that shimmered in a deep dark green. The string was woven from silver threads.
Khaldor felt his heart beating faster in his chest as he picked up the bow and swung it lovingly through the air.
Next to the bow, he discovered the matching quiver, masterfully crafted from soft leather and decorated with a fine carving of an Elou . The quiver seemed capable of carrying a seemingly endless number of arrows. This way, Khaldor would always have some within reach when he needed them.
