Dragonvein (24 page)

It was by far the most luxurious place he had ever stayed. To his left was an expertly crafted wardrobe of richly stained and polished wood. Beside it, a matching dresser and vanity. The bed opposite was wide enough to easily accommodate three grown men, and, Ethan gratefully noticed, long enough to allow him to stretch out comfortably. There was also a small table surrounded by four chairs, and a splendid bookcase filled with leather bound tomes.

On the far wall were two doors, both slightly ajar. The left hand door led to a formal dining room, while a peek to the right revealed a bathroom complete with sink, toilet, and shower.

He pressed down on the mattress and sighed with relief. Soft…but not too soft. Spreading his arms wide, he allowed himself to fall back onto it, bouncing several times before letting out a satisfied moan.

He lay there for a short while, trying to clear his thoughts. Just as he felt himself beginning to drift off, there was a light rap at the door. Before he could move to answer, Kat stepped inside.

She looked at him, smiling. “Did you miss me?”

Ethan struggled up into a sitting position. “Are you all right?”

She ran over and jumped onto the bed. “Of course I’m all right. Why wouldn’t I be? Don’t tell me that you were worried.”

He rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Of course I was worried. We all were.”

“There was no need to be. The dwarf women took good care of me. Not that they spoke very much.”

“How did you get here?”

“They brought me just now. They said you were staying here, and being that I wasn’t under suspicion, I could stay here too.”

Ethan cocked his head. “Not in this room?”

“Down the hall,” she replied. Her smile became an impish grin. “Unless you want me to, of course.”

Ethan groaned and pushed himself to his feet.

“I was only joking,” she said, giggling. “I just wanted you to know I was here.” She hopped off the bed and danced playfully to the door. “I’m three doors down if you need me.”

Ethan nodded. “I think I’m going to get some rest. And you should be careful. They said that we should stay in our rooms until the king tells us otherwise.”

She opened the door and looked over her shoulder. “You worry too much. We made it. We’re here. What more do you want?”

After the door closed behind her, Ethan checked it for a lock but wasn’t able to find one.

What more do I
want
?

He answered himself aloud. “A hot shower and a good night’s sleep.”

Just then his stomach growled. “And maybe something to eat.”

Chapter Seventeen

T
he following morning,
the first thing Ethan saw when opening his eyes was Kat sitting at the table, legs crossed, nibbling daintily on a piece of bread.

“It’s about time you woke up,” she said. “I’ve been sitting here for almost an hour with no one to talk to.”

He yawned and stretched. “You should really knock before you come in here.”

“I
did
knock. You didn’t answer.”

Groaning, he sat up. “Have you heard anything about Markus and Jonas?”

“No. But Birger was here earlier. He said he’d be back in a few hours.”

Ethan wiped the sleep from his eyes. There was a plate of fruits and berries placed on the table in front of an empty chair.

“No meat here at all,” complained Kat. “I asked the woman who brought our food if they had any bacon and she looked at me like I’d asked for horse dung.”

He chuckled and sat down. “Bacon
would
be nice. Unfortunately, I doubt we’ll be seeing any for a while.” The mention of bacon made the breakfast seem far less appetizing than it had a moment before. He closed his eyes, imagining the smell of Sunday breakfast back home in New York. He recalled how their apartment held the scent of bacon and coffee all day long.

After eating, Kat asked him to tell her more about Earth. And with little else to keep them occupied, he was happy to oblige. He’d just got to explaining how a subway operated when Birger entered. His face was grim.

“What’s wrong?” asked Ethan.

“Your friend…Jonas. Things did not go well during his questioning.”

Both Ethan and Kat sprang to their feet.

“Is he all right?” asked Kat, anxiously.

“It’s hard to say,” Birger replied. “The circlet…well, it seems that with humans, refusing to answer a question is the same as a lie.”

“What do you mean?” pressed Ethan, his concern deepening.

“When the council questioned him on personal matters, he refused to answer.”

“What kind of personal matters?”

“I don’t know. I wasn’t there. All I know is that he’s unconscious.”

Ethan stepped toward the door, but Birger barred his way.

“There’s nothing you can do,” he said. “Our physicians are treating him as we speak. You should also know that before he was injured he confirmed your identity to the king and the council. However, this has caused even more debate.”

Ethan tried to calm himself. “How so?”

“Now that there is no question of your identity, the king fears that when the Emperor learns of it, he’ll send his armies.”

“But didn’t Ethan’s father make a deal with your people?” asked Kat. “They have no choice but to help him. Right?”

Birger lowered his eyes. “It’s not that simple. Praxis Dragonvein did indeed make a pact with my people. But King Halvar fears for our very existence. He argues that, seeing as how I saved you from the Rakasa, the oath has been fulfilled and we have no further obligation.”

“So he’s going to make us leave?” asked Ethan.

“I don’t know,” Birger admitted. “The king doesn’t have unlimited power. The council must be with him on this. And right now, they’re divided.”

Ethan thought for a moment. If there was a possibility that his presence could destroy these people, perhaps he
should
leave. “And how do you feel about it?” he asked.

“I’m not sure how to feel,” Birger replied solemnly. “I share some of King Halvar’s fears. We cannot stand against the power of Shinzan. Not alone. I have family…friends…a life here. Most of us were killed the last time we defied the Emperor. If we try again, there may be no one left to tell our story.”

He looked up at Ethan. Now though, rather than sadness and fear, there was unremitting determination in his eyes. “Then I look around at how we are forced to live. The way we cower like frightened children at the mention of Shinzan’s name. Forced to bow to the very demon who slaughtered us without pity. How long can this go on? How long before our spirits wither and die completely? How long before there is nothing left of us but our empty, broken bodies? No…I think I would prefer death. But I have no right to choose that fate for everyone else.”

“Do you really think I can help you?” Ethan asked. It was one thing to look to the dwarves for a place of refuge. But now, here was someone looking to
him
for salvation. He suddenly felt very small and inadequate.

“I don’t know for sure,” Birger said. “Yet it was no accident that I came upon you and your friends. Before that, I’d never put much faith in the elves’ belief in a greater power. However, something that day compelled me to go to the cave where I found you. I’ve never gone there before. But that day I did, and without even knowing why. I arrived the same day…the very minute in fact, that you needed me.”

Ethan had never been religious – though more than once during the heat of battle he had prayed for God to keep him alive. To think that some
‘greater power’
, as Birger put it, was guiding him, was more than he could accept. Even so, the conviction in the dwarf’s eyes was enough to make him wonder.

“When can we see Jonas?” asked Kat.

“He’s at the other house. The king will not permit him to stay at the manor for now. I’ll look in on him later and let you know if there’s any change.”

“What about Markus?” asked Ethan.

“He’s with the council now. If all goes well you’ll see him in a few hours. Now I must leave. I have errands to run. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Once Birger had left, Kat and Ethan sat at the table silently for several minutes. Ethan’s mind was reeling from the sheer magnitude of the events that were transpiring. Even trying to imagine what the future might bring was taking him to the brink of panic.

Kat moved her chair close to Ethan and rested her head on his shoulder. “Do you think Jonas will be all right?”

He gave her a reassuring smile. “Jonas is a tough old man. I’m sure he’ll be just fine.”

“You know, he’s not as mean as he pretends to be.”

“I know.”

Just as Birger had told them, a few hours later Markus arrived. His eyes were distant and his hands were trembling. Ethan and Kat rushed to his side.

“Before you ask, I’m okay,” he said. “I’m just a bit shaken. Some of their questions were pretty damn uncomfortable for me.”

“I’m just glad you answered them,” said Ethan. “Any word on Jonas?”

“None. But I have a feeling the old man isn’t done yet. I was right though. Even his secrets have secrets. Makes me wonder what the dwarves asked him about.”

“I don’t care what they asked,” said Kat, frowning. “
Everyone
is allowed to have secrets. I’d bet you have a few.”

“Not anymore,” Markus said bitterly. “At least, none that the dwarves don’t know about.” He forced a smile at Ethan. “There’s never a priest around when you need one.”

Ethan returned his smile and offered him a seat, but Markus refused.

“I’m tired,” he said. “I think I’ll go to my room and get some rest.” He made his way to the door, halting just long enough to add: “But not before I enjoy another one of those hot showers.”

Kat also left a few minutes later. Ethan stretched out on the bed, but no matter what he tried, he couldn’t quiet his mind sufficiently for sleep to come. Frustrated, he took a random book from the shelf and started reading. It was a compilation of dwarf poems that he found difficult to understand. The imagery was confusing and largely unfamiliar. By the time he finished the third poem, his head was throbbing.

Birger returned just as his evening meal arrived.

“Jonas has regained consciousness,” he told him. “It looks like he’ll recover.”

Ethan sighed with relief and thanked him for the good news. He suggested that Birger join him for dinner, but he politely refused, saying that he still had things to do.

Kat came in a few minutes later, a plate in one hand and a cup in the other.

“Markus is still sleeping,” she said, plopping herself down at the table.

After they finished eating, Ethan told her that he was still tired. Reluctantly, Kat left, though not without first making him promise to have breakfast with her in the morning.

It took some time, but eventually he managed to drift off. His dreams were troubled: filled with dragons battling dark fire while dwarf cities burned in the distance. He woke twice with heart pounding and the roar of the flames and the cries of dying dragons still echoing clearly in his mind.

The next morning after breakfast, Birger arrived to say that the king and his council wished to see Ethan. Kat asked to come along with them, but Birger quickly told her that this could not be allowed.

Outside in the hallway, they bumped into Markus. His friend looked rested and in good spirits following his much needed and well-earned sleep.

“Mind what you say,” he warned Ethan. “I get the feeling that the king would like nothing more than to have a good excuse to hand us over to the Empire.”

“King Halvar would never do that,” Birger protested. “He is a dwarf of honor.”

Markus shrugged. “Whatever you say. But I know when someone’s plotting something. And I could see it in his eyes.”

Birger sniffed and muttered a curse.

“I’ll be careful,” Ethan promised.

As they approached the council chambers, even before the doors had swung open, Ethan could hear loud angry voices coming from within. Then, the moment he stepped inside, all went disturbingly silent. King Halvar was standing with his hands planted firmly on the table. His face was red and his mouth twisted in anger.

“Ah,” he said, not masking his disdain for Ethan. “The son of Praxis Dragonvein has arrived. All hail, the bringer of our doom.” He pointed to the empty chair at the far end of the table. “Sit.”

Such was the malice and judgment bearing down on him, Ethan had difficulty looking the king in the eye. “Forgive me, Your Highness. But I didn’t come here to bring doom.”

“Of course you did,” Halvar retorted. “Did you not come here seeking our aid? Are you not asking my people to honor your father’s request?”

“It was not a request,” countered an elderly dwarf woman. Though the years showed in the creases on her face and gray in her hair, her voice was commanding and her posture regal. “It was an oath. Do not pretend it is otherwise.”

“And you, Lady Thora, do not presume to educate me in history,” the king shot back furiously. “I know full well what King Vidar promised. And I also know that many of you believe the arrival of Praxis Dragonvein’s son heralds the coming of our deliverance. But I ask you this: Is it worth risking all we have? Is it worth the lives of our children? We know what will happen if we defy Shinzan. It will be the end of everything.”

“Then you are content to have us living as slaves?” barked a dwarf with a close cropped blond beard and long braided hair. “Shinzan is
not
mortal. He will
never
die. We cannot pretend we can simply outlast him. I say that if the choice is between a slow death and a quick one, I’ll take the edge of a sword.”

This was met by nods of agreement from four others.

“You speak like a courageous fool, Lord Olaf!” shouted a dark haired woman opposite him. “Have you no sons or daughters? Do you believe in your heart that our children would wish to follow us to their end?”

Olaf glared. “My sons would be proud to follow me if it meant dying with honor.”

“And could you watch them die?” Halvar interjected.

Olaf slowly nodded. “If I must. My heart would break, but at least they would die as I have
never
lived…as free dwarves.”

“You don’t know what you are saying, my dear friend.” The king’s voice had become soft and reserved. “If the consequences were merely death at the point of an Imperial sword, I too might be swayed to fight. But that is not what would await us.”

Reaching under his chair, he picked up a small, red-leather bound book and placed it on the table. He opened it with great care. “This is the journal of King Vidar, given to me by my father on the day of my coronation. I have read it many times. But only once did I read his final entry. I have tried many times, but have never been able to read it again.”

A hush fell over the room.

“Ethan Dragonvein, son of Praxis. I will read it to you now. What you are about to hear was written moments before King Vidar was slain within these very halls by Emperor Shinzan. Once you have heard it, I hope you…”

He paused to cast his eyes over the assembly. “I hope all of you, will consider the cost of your actions here today.”

He bowed his head for a moment, then began reading aloud.

Fourth Day of Red Harvest

This will be my final entry and final minutes as king. I will attempt to give as full an account as I can, but my time is short. Shinzan is coming and there is no escape.

After two days I have managed to drag myself back to the manor. My left leg is shattered beyond any hope of repair and my left arm is all but useless. But these injuries are trivial compared to what I have witnessed.

My beautiful city is lost and her people all but extinct. In our arrogance we thought our mighty gates could withstand any foe. The armies of the Emperor have broken against them like waves on rocks for three years, and for three years we believed this made us invincible.

When the humans fell, I should have known that we would soon follow. I should have heeded the words of my dear friend, Praxis. He was always the wiser of us. He urged me to form an alliance with the Council of Volnar. But I was too proud; too blinded by arrogance. Then, when word of his death came, it was too late. The mages were being exterminated, and I was helpless to intervene. For this I am deeply sorry. I abandoned my friend and his people to their fate, and for that I am ashamed.

At this moment, I am sitting in my bed chamber beside the window looking out at countless pillars of black smoke. They serve to remind me that it was my actions - and my inaction - which have brought us to this end. When Shinzan arrived fifteen days ago and demanded that we open the gates, I all but called him an addle-brained fool. The entire Council of Volnar could not have hoped to breach our defenses, and his vast armies had failed utterly. What threat could he pose to us? I stood atop our great wall and mocked him openly. His face was covered, but I remember feeling as if he was smiling up at me. I should have known in that moment I had made a terrible mistake. With a single wave of his hand, Shinzan smashed our mighty gates to ruins. It took only seconds.