The Q'Herindam Read online

  The crowd stilled as people paid attention. Arwhon continued in a more conversational tone, trusting Shiri had done her little magic with the volume control of his voice.

  “People of Crossroads. We have passed through your city on a number of occasions and each time we’ve been dealt with fairly and honestly; even though you did not realise it was us. It is people like you who are the bedrock which a free society is built on. You are the backbone which supports all of the efforts and sacrifices of the armies of the free lands. Without you, there would be no reward in being free. Enjoy your lives, live in Truth and be good to one another.”

  Arwhon sat while the crowd cheered. As the noise died away, he spoke again on a more personal level.

  “Shiri and I thank you for your good wishes but we would like to relax while we’re in Crossroads, as we are now on another mission. Although we have won one war, Evil does not stop and we fight it wherever we find it. I ask you to respect our privacy please and give us a little space. Thank you again one and all.”

  Again there was cheering, not as loud or as long as before and the crowd around them seemed to slowly melt away. There was something in Arwhon’s voice, a sincerity which struck to the core of people and they felt rewarded in doing just as he requested.

  Arwhon sent Cringle off ahead to reserve them rooms and stabling in the ‘Black Butt’ which was becoming their go-to inn while in Crossroads. It had everything they required; the food was good and there was a bath house with a big tub which was large enough to fit both Arwhon and Shiri at the same time and besides, Duran and Rancid liked the stables there. They strolled around the market for a while then headed for the Black Butt. After delivering Duran and Rancid to the stables and storing their gear in their room, Arwhon ordered a bath and he and Shiri soaked until their skin was crinkly. After they’d finished, Cringle took the opportunity to have a soak after them. Cringle hadn’t had much to do with baths until he became Arwhon’s Servant but now he enjoyed the cleanliness and warm relaxation whenever he had the opportunity to.

  It seemed Arwhon’s talk to the crowd in the marketplace was heeded, as they were left alone to consume a hearty supper, after which it was an early night and a comfortable sleep on down-stuffed mattresses until sunlight awoke them.

  In the morning their journey continued.

  Belvedere was a bustling hive of activity as Arwhon, Shiri and Cringle rode in one morning, Krissi proudly striding behind them. It didn’t need her bond with Arwhon for Krissi to feel the awe of the inhabitants they passed as they made their way to Cristal’s mansion. Arwhon and Shiri were well known in Belvedere and the beaming smiles on the faces in the street showed the regard they were held in.

  Cristal’s gatekeeper did a doubletake when he saw who had come calling and ran from his post to personally bear the news to the house. Servants came pouring out of the doors ahead of Cristal who appeared at the run, Mendle only a pace or two behind. Arwhon dismounted as Cristal arrived to throw herself into Arwhon’s embrace before she turned to give Shiri a big hug also. His Grandmother was overjoyed to see her favourite grandchild and as the horses were led away, dragged him into the house. Mendle organised lunch, chiding slow moving servants who were tarrying to get a good view of Arwhon and Shiri, weaponed and dressed in their armour.

  Legends.

  Cristal inspected Cringle carefully, looking him up and down.

  “Cringe, is that you grown and straight?”

  “No Maam, Cringe is gone. The M’Herindar Queen sent him away and they gave me a new name. I’m Cringle now.”

  Cristal gave him a warm smile.

  “Welcome Cringle, Arwhon seems to know things others don’t. You seem to have turned out quite well.”

  “Yes Maam but if you’ll excuse me, I have to go and see they’re looked after proper like. They’re my responsibility now.”

  Cringle left them to reassociate himself with the rest of the servants but before he’d gone a couple of paces, Cristal called out to him.

  “Less of the Maam, Cringle. You may call me Cristal.”

  “Right Maa… Cristal,” he called over his shoulder as he carried on toward the kitchens.

  Arwhon and Shiri were shown into the dining room where they sat with Cristal in an alcove while they ate and related all their adventures since they’d left Belvedere the last time. Cristal was pleased to hear Lareeta and Chalc had eventually found one another, as she really liked the Barsoomi woman who had been her bodyguard before and during the war. Arwhon paused between mouthfuls of food and asked after Kuiran and Raleen. His Grandmother grew serious.

  “It’s well over five months since they left and I’ve heard nothing yet. I’m not worried though as it’s a long way to the Island of Wyalon and any maps regarding its true whereabouts are very vague. I do hope to hear something in the next six to eight weeks though. Tell me Arwhon. Why have you come back here now?”

  Arwhon sat back in his seat and stole a sidelong glance at Shiri. She caught it but said nothing.

  “Ch’ron, the Darkwood, is under a subtle attack which Earthmagic cannot halt. It’s Q’Herindam evil again.”

  There was a quick intake of breath by Cristal.

  “What can we do Arwhon? There’s nothing in Belvedere which can fight Q’Herindam magic.”

  Arwhon paused as he worked out how to tell Cristal the reason for his visit.

  “I need to learn more about Firemagic Grandmother. Ch’ron told us a story of Mehgrin and Durhain which I’ll relate later. It seems the Dwarves are the key to me finding out more about the Ring and how to use it. I need to speak with Callandor and see if the dwarf, Silverseam son of Copperlink is still working for him. You remember when we picked up the chainmail you ordered for us all, Silverseam offered to help me. I need to go under Mehgrin’s Wall into the home of the Dwarves.”

  A whole battery of emotions ran across Cristal’s face as the import of what Arwhon had just told her sank in. She looked from Arwhon to Shiri and back again as her mind tried to find something to say in response.

  “Is your Shield going with you?”

  “I think not Grandmother. The Dwarves are very private and secretive. I doubt if they will let anyone come with me. I’m going to ask if Krissi can come but they may not let even her into their world.”

  His Grandmother shook her head and rang a bell. Mendle came at once.

  “Paper and pen please Mendle and organise a trusted runner to take a message to Callandor’s and wait there for a reply.”

  The pen and paper duly arrived and Cristal wrote a message to send off post haste. The young messenger was briefed as to the secrecy of the missive and warned not to stop anywhere along the way until the message was delivered to Callandor himself. While the messenger was gone, Arwhon and Shiri related the story of Mehgrin and Durhain to his Grandmother and told her of the nature of the attack on Ch’ron. Cristal could hardly believe what she heard regarding two of the Eldest but it fitted in with what the late Escarion had told them. The messenger returned as they were finishing the tale and Cristal took the letter from him and broke the seal to read it.

  “Tonight, under cover of darkness, we are to proceed to the rear of Callandor’s armoury where we will be admitted. That’s all it says.”

  Arwhon seemed pleased.

  “Excellent, things are moving. Cringle can come too. The Servant needs as much information as everyone else, more sometimes. Grandmother, for some reason I feel I need to show Shiri the sapphire I gave you for safe keeping. Would you mind getting it for me?”

  “Not at all, wait here, I’ll be back shortly.”

  Cristal left to find the gem while Shiri studied Arwhon closely.

  “What’s so special about the jewel?”

  Arwhon hoped Ch’ron’s work on Shiri’s memory was as good as everything else Ch’ron had done to her as he didn’t want to remind Shiri of her ordeal at the hands of Martine and the Dark Mage.

  “I don’t know what you remember of the final battle in Belvedere�
��s main square but you were knocked unconscious by the Dark Mage after he had blasted the Mage Escarion. Escarion knew he was dying and did his little trick of transferring his essence into the jewel I’m about to show you. I’ll wait ‘til Cristal returns to tell you the rest.”

  At that moment, Cristal came back into the room with a small padded pouch in her hand. She sat, and opening the pouch, emptied the sparkling sapphire onto her hand, its expertly repaired silver chain falling fluidly around it. Arwhon gently took the jewel from her and handed it to Shiri.

  “Escarion told me to do one of two things with this jewel. Take it to the Kin of S’Ria who would know what to do with it, or, if I found someone who I thought worthy enough for Escarion to share a body with, place the jewel to their forehead and hold it there. He didn’t say what would happen then, as he died right before he had a chance to.”

  Shiri looked alarmed.

  “Why are you telling me this Arwhon?”

  “Because my love, there is no guarantee I will survive what I may have to go through in the home of the dwarves. We are both aware how fleeting my existence could be and it’s only through the kindness of Fate I’m still here. As I told the crowd at Crossroads, we have won a major victory but Evil still lingers throughout the lands and it may strike at any time. I am but one man and if I didn’t tell you and Cristal of the potential of this jewel, the knowledge would be gone if I were killed. And no, I don’t intend to die but I didn’t the first time either.”

  Arwhon gave a wry smile, more to hide his feelings than to make light of something so serious. Shiri and Cristal knew it too.

  Shiri carefully handed the sapphire back to Cristal who replaced it in the padded pouch.

  “I think it should remain in your care Cristal. You are the most stable of all of us and I would hate it if anything happened to the jewel while I had it in my possession.”

  Arwhon concurred and then proposed to Shiri they retreat upstairs and get out of their mail and armour to rest before the night’s meeting. He sent a thought to Krissi and suggested she choose herself a comfortable spot to rest, somewhere on the ground floor, before going to the kitchens to find Cringle and let him know what was happening.

  It was well after dark when Cristal, Arwhon, Shiri and Cringle walked quietly around to the back of Callandor’s establishment. Cristal had decided to leave the coach at home as it drew peoples’ attention and that was the last thing they wanted at the moment. The Darkwood cloaks three of them were wrapped in rendered the wearers all but invisible but still Shiri used a magical glamour to conceal them all from any prying eyes. You never knew who was around and they had met invisible glamoured spies before.

  After softly knocking thrice, the door was quickly opened by Callandor himself who peered out and was a little stunned to hear Cristal’s voice whispering out of seemingly thin air. He felt them pass by and after he closed the door, Shiri unveiled them.

  “A useful trick, one which I could have done with on many occasions,” he grunted, bowing to Cristal. “You are expected. Come this way.”

  Callandor led them to the same back room they had been in before when they came to collect their chainmail. It seemed so long ago and much had occurred in their lives since then but in actuality it wasn’t long. The same as their last visit, a single candle burning in its holder was all the illumination in the room and the trapdoor in the corner was shut. Callandor pointed to a spot just inside the door.

  “Wait here please,” was all he said as he went over to the trapdoor and knocked gently, thrice, before stepping back. Sounds could be heard below and the trapdoor rose as a dwarf climbed up from the space beneath. This time the hairy diminutive figure stepped completely out of the opening and lowered the wooden door behind him.

  It was Silverseam himself.

  Arwhon saw the dwarf’s familiar facial features through the covering of finer hair above the beard and smiled as he greeted the stocky figure. There was a dull thud behind them and Arwhon whipped around to find the cause but it was just Cringle fainting momentarily at the shock of seeing yet another legend come to life. The Servant groaned and sat up.

  “Sorry. I just went all dizzy like.”

  Arwhon turned back to Silverseam to find a smile on his face and they clasped hands. The dwarf had an amazingly strong grip.

  “Ring bearer. What can I do for you?”

  “Silverseam. You once said you would help me. Now I need that help. Evil is still in the world and even as we speak it’s attacking the Darkwood. After the Darkwood, what next? The Q’Herindam need to be stopped. I can draw Power from beneath the earth but I cannot use the Firemagic I will need to stop them. Recently I heard the legend of Mehgrin and Durhain which told of a cave beneath Mehgrin’s Wall where Mehgrin and Durhain perished. Apparently a Dwarf Mage sealed it off a very long time ago but it’s to there I need to go. That cave is the home of the Ring.”

  Silverseam stood motionless, as if he hadn’t heard a word Arwhon had said, looking at the Ring on Arwhon’s finger. Finally he took a deep breath.

  “I will take you but only you. Man is never to go to Dwarfholme and the M’Herindar have their own home. I’ve heard of your flying beast but it’s too big for our tunnels, besides, in the depths there are fell creatures and she may get eaten. Go now and return tomorrow night in your armour, with your helm and weapons and your Darkwood cloak. You will need nothing else.”

  Silverseam extended his arm and once more Arwhon and he clasped hands before the dwarf spun around and quickly disappeared through the trapdoor, which closed with a bang behind him.

  “Fate be Damned,” Callandor said with emphasis, “There goes my best smith. I guess its good the war’s over, as the current demand for weapons and armour is now well below what it used to be.”

  His comment broke the spell in the windowless room and whispered conversations started up as Callandor led them all to his private office. After rummaging around, Callandor pulled a rare bottle of distilled mead from deep within a cupboard and poured them all a small glass of the clear, yellow liquid. Cringle choked on his first sip as it burnt its way down his throat, instantly warming him.

  “Well Arwhon, another first for you. I’ve never known anyone to be allowed into Dwarfholme before. Despite all the red gold I pay for the dwarves’ work, I still haven’t had an invite there.”

  Cristal chimed in, the distilled mead loosening her tongue.

  “Just how did you get involved with the Dwarves, Callandor?”

  The big man smiled to himself and fixed his gaze on Cristal before replying.

  “You always were direct Cristal. Very well but if I tell you, you must promise to keep it a secret.” Callandor turned his attention to the others present. “That goes for all of you. Alright?”

  There were nods of assent all round so Callandor continued.

  “Yes, I was a soldier of sorts. I come from a rich family, don’t ask, I won’t tell but I was trained in all manner of weaponry and fought on the right side in the second Dominion War twenty years back. I wasn’t in any army though; I had my own band of mercenaries and just picked off any Dominion soldiers when and where I found them. One day, assisting Barsoomi Riders, we chased a group of Dominion soldiers through the foothills of Mehgrin’s Wall and dealt to them.”

  Callandor paused and took a sip of his drink while looking around the table to gauge the effect of his tale before continuing.

  “On the way back we came across a badly wounded dwarf. The first I’d ever seen. I took him to our camp, splinted his broken leg and patched him up. He stayed with me while I nursed him back to health. During the time he was mending we had long talks and I learned a lot about the Dwarves but still not as much as I wanted. They are a very secretive people but they do like red gold though and eventually, with peace just around the corner, I struck a deal with him. A few dwarves have worked for me here ever since.”

  Callandor finished his drink in one long gulp.

  “Right you lot, hop it. I have a bu
siness to close up. See you tomorrow night Arwhon.”

  He stood up and ushered them out. Cringle’s mouth hung slack jawed while walking past all the pieces of weaponry and armour in the showroom as they were guided to the back door. How fast could someone learn? Shiri glamoured them all as they left the back door of Callandor’s establishment and after a brisk walk they were soon back in Cristal’s mansion. Although Cringle was bursting with questions, they simply had to wait, as everyone headed off to bed almost immediately.

  The next day started with a lively discussion regarding Shiri, Cringle and Krissi not being allowed to go with Arwhon, never mind Duran, who would feel distraught at not having Arwhon near him. Silverseam had made it perfectly clear though, only Arwhon was welcome in Dwarfholme.

  In all his adventures to date, Arwhon had been accompanied by at least one person or bonded creature he could trust. This time he would be totally on his own. He felt excited, selfish, trepiditious and unsure, all at the same time and had difficulty in eating as his stomach was full of butterflies.

  “Can you trust the Dwarves?” Shiri asked again. “They may have their own agenda.”

  Arwhon didn’t know how to answer but tried the best he could to reassure Shiri.

  “At no time has the Ring contradicted anything Silverseam has said and it has given me no warnings. I think I have to trust the Dwarves’ good intentions. Once more Fate is sending me off into the unknown, only this time alone. Well, in the company of Dwarves.”

  Cristal harrumphed.

  “You put too much faith in Fate young Arwhon. One day it will be your undoing. And what about your Shield and Servant? Not to mention Duran and Krissi. What are they to do?”

  Arwhon was disconsolate.

  “I was hoping they could stay with you Grandmother. It would be one less thing for me to worry about knowing they were safe here. And besides, since Ch’ron healed Shiri, she can draw as much Earthmagic as she needs for herself anytime. So she won’t run out of it while she’s staying with you.”