“It’s good to be on the trail again,” said Milli as her long blonde hair flew out behind her.
“You have me to thank for that,” shouted Brogus over the wind that danced past them as their horses galloped over the grassy plains.
“I don’t think we’ll ever hear the end of that,” yelled Petra with a wide smile on her face as her own horse cantered up near the two.
Milli laughed and it sounded like musical accompaniment to the thundering of the hooves along the turf as both the witch and Brogus immediately joined in. Dol rode his own steed a dozen yards away his eyes fixed ahead and apparently unaware of the merriment of the others.
Ever since their escape from the dwarf stronghold they rode south towards the lands of Shandoria as indicated on the map that Brogus somehow managed to connive away from a gullible young dwarf maiden. The map, while certainly colorful and filled with hints of danger, did not have an accurate legend which they discovered when it took them five days to travel between two landmarks that appeared right next to each other. At the time they thought that meant their journey was far from over, but they encountered the next landmark within hours and this was yet further away on the map. This left the foursome in a complete quandary as to the actual distance remaining in their journey. The map indicated a large town called Ndra lay somewhere ahead but two other mapped towns already failed to materialize and Milli, more than once, expressed an interest in throwing the thing away.
Nevertheless, the group charged over the plains on their desert horses at a tremendous clip and all with smiles on their faces except Dol. Late in the afternoon they stopped near a fast-flowing creek and Petra got out some fishing gear she had thought to pack so long ago. She walked a ways upstream while Drogus and Milli unpacked the horses and set up camp. Dol, as was his want of late, simply sat by the fire and watched the flames flickering and dancing.
Brogus looked over at Dol and motioned in that direction with a nod of his head, “He’s at it again.”
Milli glanced over her shoulder at Dol as she continued to unpack the horses, “What do you want to do about it?”
Brogus shrugged his shoulders and raised his eyebrows, “I don’t know. I’m the one who got us out of Temin, you figure it out, Milli.”
“He’s so intense now, I mean, he was always quiet, a thinker, but now there is a look in his eyes. I make up excuses not to talk to him,” said Milli, her finger coming to her lip as she began to chew on the nail. “He’s scary now and he never lets go of the hammer. Do you think it could be… influencing him?”
Brogus shrugged, “I don’t know. Could be, maybe not though. I know some powerful weapons are said to be able to corrupt the soul.”
“I know, I know,” said Milli shaking her head and tossing her long hair. “Fine, you keep unpacking and bring out the fish pans, Petra will catch something for sure. She’s good at that kind of thing.”
“The fish are different here,” said Brogus as Milli walked towards the fire.
“What was that?” she said and turned to look at the stout dwarf.
“Nothing,” he replied and continued to rummage around in the saddle bags. “You’d think after doing this ten times I’d know where everything was.”
“Hey Dol,” said Milli taking a seat on her haunches next to the dour dwarf. “See anything interesting?”
Dol tore his gaze away from the flames for a moment and looked at the pretty halfling girl, “It’s beautiful, the fire. I never really noticed before. The way the flames dance and weave.”
“I’ve never known you to be poetic, Dol,” said Milli and put her hand on his back. “Is this a new side of you?”
Dol nodded his head, “Perhaps it is. Out here in the open, the desert, the mountains, and now these grasslands, maybe it’s opening my eyes to the world for the first time. I feel different, I feel energized,” he said and reached his blackened right hand all but into the fire. “I want to touch things, to feel them, to see them burn.”
“What?” said Milli.
“I… meant,” stuttered Dol for a moment, “I want to experience more of life. I didn’t say it like I meant it.”
“What’s wrong with your hand,” she said and reached towards it, although the heat of the fire quickly drove her to pull it back.
Dol quickly put his hand in his pocket, “It’s just dirty from all the riding,” he said.
“Dol,” said Milli and gently tried to pry his hand from his pocket. “That wasn’t dirt. What’s going on?”
Dol shook his head and pursed his lips. “It’s from holding the hammer I suppose,” he said and scratched his hair. “Damn. Those apples are popping out all over the place. It’s the heat or the fresh air or something.”
Milli, thus distracted, turned her attention to Dol’s head and did note a fairly large number of little green apples, some of them had a reddish tint as though they were ripening.
“I think they’re getting ripe,” said to Milli and reached out to pluck one.
Dol moved his head away and stood up quickly, “You know I don’t like them,” he said and glared at Milli for a moment. “If you persist in pawing at my head,” his face suddenly turning angry red and his eyes glaring with a ferocity Milli did not know, “I’ll have to do something about it!”
“Dol,” said Milli pulling her hand back and standing up quickly, “I didn’t mean anything; it’s always been good fun.”
“No it wasn’t, not then, not now, not ever. I’m sick of these damn apples and I’m sick of all of you. I should just take my horse and go on alone. You don’t need to come with me.”
“Dol,” repeated Milli her hands on her hips, “what are you talking about? We’re in this together. Right, Brogus?”
Brogus wandered over, a dull look on his face, “What’s wrong?” he said looking back and forth between Milli and Dol. “Are you two fighting?”
“It’s nothing,” said Milli. “Dol just wants to go off by himself and face the great fire elemental alone.”
“What?” said Brogus his voice suddenly rising rising and his hands coming to the axe at his hip. “You know that’s not going to happen. If there’s glory and fortune to be had then I’m coming along. That’s final.”
“I meant more out of personal loyalty than any sense of greed,” said Milli in a soft voice, although she couldn’t prevent herself from smiling and shaking her head.
“Greed makes the world go around,” said Brogus and his eyes became like golden saucers. “It’s what drives Craggen Steep. Gold, platinum, gems, and the rest. All the other races would try taking it from us if we didn’t keep the citadel hidden. We’d be at war all the time. That’s what the elders say.”
“Greed doesn’t make me go round,” said Milli absently twisting the beautiful gold ring inset with three diamonds that she sported on her right hand. It had been a gift for her tenth birthday from some dwarf or another, she couldn’t remember. She’d left most of her jewelry behind when they fled the hidden citadel but kept a few of her most precious pieces. Lately she’d taken to wearing them now that they were out of contact with the other races. The experiences in Das’von had taught her the value of her little baubles and what men might do to get them. “I’m beginning to think that fellow from Das’von, what was his name?”
“He didn’t give one,” said Petra emerging from down the slope, a trio of fish on a line. “I caught these and there are plenty more in there. The stream is simply hopping. The only problem is catching ones big enough to eat with the little fellows doing all the biting.”
“Anyway,” continued Milli. “I’m thinking that fellow knew we were from Craggen Steep all along. That’s why he was so nice to us and helped us. He wants to tap into the wealth of Craggen Steep. You don’t equip and maintain an army that big for long without money.”
“I said it before and I’ll say it again,” interrupted Petra, “I don’t think Craggen Steep is as well hidden as you seem to think it is. My people knew pretty much where it is and we can’t be the only ones. If Corancil is going to launch an invasion I don’t see why he wouldn’t use the wealth of Craggen Steep to finance it.”
“But we don’t have any standing in Craggen Steep,” said Brogus. “We’re just a couple of runaway apprentices and a halfling girl. How could we help Corancil or that messenger fellow?”
Milli shook her head, “I don’t know, but that fellow, the one who said he was a messenger, he was crafty, and he knew what he was doing. We promised to give them information about the troops of the Black Rider and we did learn about them, didn’t we?”
“It’ll take us years to get back to Das’von,” said Brogus with a wave of his hand. “By then the invasion will be in full swing and anything we know about troops or tactics will have changed. He was just helping us because… well, I don’t know, just because.”
“Could he have guessed your true mission,” said Petra in a low voice. “The Hammer of Fire, Gazadum, the volcanoes?”
“I don’t see how,” said Milli and bit her lower lip. “But, Dol didn’t really hide the hammer. I don’t see how the messenger could have known about it, about us, unless he was already working with the three families in Craggen Steep. The Firefists, the Blackirons, and the Drawhammers.”
There was a long silence in the group and then they busied themselves about the campsite preparing for the night. Dol spent most of the time near the fire gazing at it as if it held the answer to some great mystery. Milli watched Petra bone the first of the fish and put it on the fire.
“You need a sharp little knife for jobs like this,” said Petra. “You should never be without your knives, Milli. I’ve seen how you can handle the blade. Did the dwarves teach you that?”
Milli nodded her head as Petra handed her the third one to try and fillet. “Yes, they didn’t think the hammer or the axe was an appropriate weapon for a girl like me. Or at least that’s what they said. Everyone in Craggen Steep gets at least rudimentary training with weapons. The guardsmen are born to it. They learn weapon craft as children and never take up smith work. I learned from a crippled old dwarf who couldn’t teach the boys anymore. He was a sweetie; he’d lost an arm to the darklings but still knew a thing or two about fighting. I was never very good but he didn’t give up on me.”
“It’s good to know how to use the knife,” said Petra. “My people, all the girls are taught how to use the knife. We… you won’t think the worse of me?”
“No,” said Milli absently as she focused on deboning the little fish.
“It is not uncommon for a pretty gypsy girl to meet with a wealthy young man from whatever region we are visiting and when alone use the knife to steal his purse,” said the older woman with a shrug of her shoulders. “My people are often ill-treated by the natives of a region so they feel it is justified.”
“Did you ever do anything like that?”
Petra nodded her head, “I was young and pretty once although it’s hard to see now,” she said with a laugh. “Now you have to be decisive with your cut. If you hesitate you’ll botch the job. Your hand is steady enough; let’s see what you can do.”
Milli busied herself at the fire with the fish while Brogus wandered over to where Dol had piled two more limbs onto the already raging blaze, “Got it going enough there, Dol?”
Dol didn’t seem to notice for a few second and Brogus leaned forward ready to speak again when his friend suddenly turned his head, a look of surprise on his face, “It is rather high. I didn’t notice.” Then he broke into a loud guffawing laugh as Brogus stared at him.
The two women also turned their heads and looked at the dwarves, “At least he still has a sense of humor,” said Petra and smiled at Milli.
“He never really had a sense of humor,” said Milli a frown on her face and the knife tapping at the cutting board. “I suppose it’s better than anger though. He’s been angry a lot lately. Do you think the hammer might be doing it?”
Petra lowered her voice, “It could be. You’ve seen the way he keeps a hold on it all the time and his hand is black from the heat. You know, you never even told me how you got it or what it is. Not that I’m asking you to betray any confidences but it would help if I knew.”
Milli looked down at the board and the fish, badly cut compared to the two that Petra did earlier, and gave a low sigh as Dol continued to laugh loudly. “I don’t know if you want to hear the story.”
Petra nodded her head, “It’s up to you.”
“We stole it,” said Milli as her shoulders drooped. “But, it wasn’t like anyone was using it. It was just sitting there and the First Edos told us to do it!”
“Who’s the First Edos?” said Petra quietly sitting beside the girl.
“Should you be telling her this?” said Dol in a quiet voice from over by the fire. When Milli looked at his eyes they reflected the blaze and seemed to burn red hot like an animal peering from the woods.
“She has the right to know,” said Milli standing up, putting her hands on her hips, and giving him a firm look. “We wouldn’t have made it this far without her.”
Dol shrugged, “Tell her then. Maybe she’ll talk some sense into you. This is too dangerous. You should head back to Craggen Steep with Brogus and I’ll finish alone.”
“Stop with that already!” said Milli taking a step forward and jutting her firm little jaw at Dol. “I’ve been in this since the beginning and I won’t quit until we see it through or die trying.”
“Die trying?” said Petra with a raised eyebrow.
“You knew it was dangerous, right from the beginning, you don’t fool me,” said Milli turning to the older woman and stomping her foot.
Petra smiled and began to clean up the badly filleted fish with practiced and smooth motions, “That’s true little one. I knew there was something special about the three of you the moment I laid eyes on you. I’m not adverse to a little danger. Now, tell me about this hammer that you stole and who is this First Edos?”
“The Hammer of Fire,” said Milli with a look towards Dol who did not look back at her. “It’s a relic of Craggen Steep, it was made by the First Edos; well, no, it was put together by the First Edos hundreds of years ago.”
“Not hundreds,” said Dol quietly while his hand gently rubbed up and down the handle of the hammer.
“Anyway, a long time ago,” said Milli. “If you want to tell the story; then go ahead.
Dol said nothing.
“No? Ok, then. I’ll tell it my way. As I was saying before I was rudely interrupted,” said Milli with a smile as she looked over to Dol and Brogus. Brogus looked back at her with a wide grin but Dol kept his eyes down and towards the fire. “It was put together hundreds of years ago.”
“Yes, you said made but then switched to put together,” said Petra. “There’s a difference?”
“As I understand it, yes,” said Milli once again looking over to Dol and Brogus. “The two parts, the handle and the head were made at different times and put together later.”
“That handle doesn’t much look like dwarf-craft, now that you mention it,” said Petra. “It’s too slim for the heavy hammer-head, and the writing on the side looks elf-wrought if you ask me, but I’ve not met too many of the faery folk in my travels. Lovely singers they are. We met up with a bunch of them once when I was a girl. They stayed up the entire night singing songs and telling stories.”
As Milli told the story to Petra, Brogus walked over to Dol and stood next to him at the fire. “Do you think she’ll want to stay with us after she knows everything?”
“I hope not,” said Dol with a sneer. “The less that come along the better. You’d be smart to convince Milli to head back. I can make it from here by myself. I’ve got a horse and directions. It’s just a matter of time.”
“I’m not very smart,” said Brogus stroking his lengthening beard. “I’m going to need a new band if I keep let it growing at this rate. Platinum doesn’t seem to be as plentiful out here in the world.”
“I take that to mean you’re not going to abandon the quest,” said Dol as a statement rather than a question.
Brogus nodded his head. “I hope Petra stays with us. She has a lot of experience about living out in the world. It’s different than in the mountains. Don’t look at me like that. I know it’s different but there are little things I wouldn’t think about, you wouldn’t think about. You know it’s true. Fishing? You couldn’t fish if your life depended on it.”
“There are fish in the mountain streams,” said Dol.
Brogus looked ahead, “Well, you may have found some fire in your spirit but you’re still as stubborn as ever. Why can’t you change that personality trait and just go along for once in your life?”
Dol looked into the fire and his right hand caressed the haft of the Hammer of Fire for a moment as he paused, “I’m not sure,” he finally admitted. “I don’t think I’m different. It’s this quest. It’s too dangerous. Milli could die and… I don’t want that.”
“I could die too,” said Brogus with a grunting little laugh that shook his belly. “You’re not worried about me?”
Dol shook his head, “Not as much, no. She’s been insulated from the brutality of the world in Craggen Steep. Taken care of. She thinks this is all a game but we know better. We’ve seen what the darklings do to prisoners, what the real world is like.”
“I’m not so smart, as you say,” said Brogus with his head tilted to the side and his brow furrowed. “But it seems to me that the outside world is coming to Craggen Steep whether we like it not. Corancil, the armies of the north, I don’t see how we can stay hidden. Like Petra says, they probably already know about us. Even if you convinced Milli to go back, and take Petra with her, what would she find when she go there? Dwarven armies joining Corancil? War, death, destruction? How is she worse off with us, even if things go wrong, than back home?”
Dol looked down at the ground and pursed his lips making a little sucking sound, “She’d be alive.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” said Brogus. “You can’t see the future any more than I can.”
“I see fiery death for us all,” said Dol. “You haven’t held the hammer. It was forged in the heart of Craggen Steep and I feel the heartbeat of Gazadum. I see what waits for us in the volcano. It’s isn’t life and it isn’t pretty.”
“Then let’s all turn back,” said Brogus putting his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Or even just stay here in the south, explore, make a name for ourselves. With that hammer we’ll be heroes in no time. Why kill ourselves fulfilling the mission?”
“Because that is what I’ve set out to do and that is what I will do whether I live or not. I’ll take the hammer, I’ll battle Gazadum, and I’ll most likely die in the attempt. I just don’t want you and Milli to die with me.”
“And Petra,” said Brogus.
“And Petra,” replied Dol nodding his head. “It doesn’t matter to me anymore.” Here he looked up from the fire and directly at Brogus with his eyes burning a dull red like the last coal at the center of the fire long after all the rest have turned to ash. “I know my fate. Now you know as well. Make your own decision, Brogus.”
“I’ve made my decision,” replied the dwarf with a broad smile as his hand went to the heavy axe at his side. “I’m with you, Dol. To the end, wherever that takes us. To the volcanoes, to Gazadum, to glory, or to death, I’m with you and there’s nothing that will sway me, not even the fiery gaze of Gazadum himself, if he is still around, which I doubt anyway.”
“Are you boys done deciding the rest of our fates yet,” said Milli, suddenly standing over them with her hands on her rounded little hips and a wry grin on her face. “Petra knows everything now and she’s going to stay with us. So, Dol, it doesn’t matter what you think or what you do, we’re coming along all the way. To the mountains, to Gazadum, to death if that’s where this road leads. We’re all in this together!”
Brogus rose to his feet and joined Milli and Petra as they put their hands in the center of the little circle, “Together until the end,” he said.
Dol sat by the fire and turned his gaze back towards the flickering flames and said nothing at all.