Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) (20 page)

Xiiltharra hopped onto Atejul
’
s back.
“
It
’
s time for me to bid you all farewell. Hopefully I won
’
t have to leave Brighthollow again for a long time. I would prefer to keep my visits to the mortal lands to a minimum. Away, Atejul!
”

The magnificent emerald dragon took to the air and flew north.

“
We
’
re stuck with two elves again, it seems,
”
said Tallin.

“
We could use their help,
”
said Duskeye,
“
There
’
s not much sense arguing about it.
”

Tallin knew that Duskeye was right. He just hoped that they would be able to get to Highport in time
—
before it was too late.

Back at the Highport Mountains, the situation between the clans was getting worse by the day. Snow had started falling incessantly, blanketing the mountainside with freezing white powder. For the dwarves stuck outside, their living conditions became unbearable. The political stalemate continued, with neither side willing to compromise.

Skemtun tried to get things moving by sending Kathir to speak to Utan in secret. Kathir tried to catch Utan on several occasions, but he didn
’
t dare approach the gate when there was no way to be sure which of the guards Bolrakei had bribed.

The only time Kathir actually found Utan outside, Druknor prevented him from talking to him. Druknor wagged a finger at Kathir as if he were chastising a naughty child.
“
Are you sneaking over there to speak to Utan?
”

“
No
…”
Kathir lied.

“
Good, I
’
m glad. We don
’
t want you to interfere in this little political situation, Kathir. That
’
s not what Miklagard needs from you, is it? The High Council hired you for a very specific need.
”

“
I know, I know. I
’
m just a bodyguard,
”
Kathir finished for him.

“
Exactly. I
’
m glad we understand each other.
”
There was nothing friendly about Druknor
’
s smile.
“
Now, don
’
t interfere. Remember who
’
s paying you. Remember why you
’
re here.
”

“
The High Council pays me, not you. I know you
’
re chummy with Delthen and the council, but you don
’
t have the right to give me orders. So tell me
…
why are
you
here?
”
Kathir itched to reach for his sword, but that would mean a public fight with Druknor, who was a very powerful man. No matter how badly he wanted to, Kathir couldn
’
t risk trying anything now.
“
Don
’
t tell me that you
’
re simply here as Delthen
’
s friend. What does a
slaver
care about what
’
s happening with the dwarf clans?
”

“
A slaver? Why would you call me that? That
’
s just a vicious rumor, you know,
”
Druknor said.
“
Is it so hard to believe that I would want this situation resolved quickly? Orcs spreading farther north would be bad for Miklagard, but it would be even worse for me. My fortress isn
’
t protected by a magical dome.
”

Kathir
’
s eyes narrowed.
“
You could have let the High Council deal with this without involving yourself. Why are you really here?
”

“
Sutt-Burr doesn
’
t have much of a defense against an army of greenskins, so I
’
m invested in the outcome of this little skirmish. And of course, there are certain
…
opportunities when such conflicts arise.
”

“
Of course,
”
said Kathir.
“
Now it all makes sense. You saw another opportunity to make a profit
—
off someone else
’
s misery.
”

Druknor smiled slightly.
“
I
’
m a businessman, not a charity. I see opportunities in many things.
”

“
You
’
re a war profiteer,
”
Kathir retorted. Wars meant captives, refugees, and stranded civilians. For a man like Druknor, it would be a perfect hunting ground to collect more helpless slaves to smuggle and sell like cattle.

Druknor
’
s eyes hardened, but he didn
’
t stop smiling. He stepped forward so that his face almost touched Kathir
’
s.
“
Those are some tough words, mercenary. What are you going to do about it?
”

Kathir clenched his teeth and backed away. He knew it would be foolish to start a fight with Druknor now. He spun on his heel and walked back to the camp, inhaling deeply to calm his pounding heart.

As he walked through the dwarf camp, the stares were no longer as friendly as they had been while they were on the march. Days ago, the dwarves had considered him a protector and a friend, but now many looked at him with hostility. It seemed that Bolrakei
’
s negative propaganda was working. People were easily swayed when they were hungry and desperate.

Kathir slipped quietly through the camp, making his way back towards Skemtun
’
s tent. In the darkness, he saw the two dwarves creeping toward the tent. Both were dressed plainly in simple brown tunics and cloaks. But Kathir also noticed the glint of chainmail under their simple clothing, and each of them carried an axe in his hand.

“
Can I help you?
”
Kathir said loudly, his hand moving to the hilt of his sword.

The two dwarves jerked back and hissed at Kathir.
“
It
’
s the human! Get
‘
im!
”
one shouted.

The other dwarf spun and swung his axe at Kathir.  Kathir jumped back and slid his sword out of its scabbard. The dwarf swung again, and Kathir managed to block the blow. As he defended himself, he noticed that the other dwarf was running toward Skemtun
’
s tent.

“
Skemtun,
”
Kathir yelled.
“
Wake up! They
’
re trying to kill you!
”

He parried the next swing and then smashed his head into his attacker
’
s face. The head-butt was risky, but Kathir had size and momentum on his side. He succeeded in knocking his opponent back, sending him stumbling to the ground. Kathir drove his sword into the dwarf
’
s neck to finish him off. 

The other dwarf jumped inside Skemtun
’
s tent, his weapon already raised. In his desperation, Kathir grabbed his dagger and threw it. It tumbled end over end before embedding itself in the second attacker
’
s back. The dwarf shrieked, falling back just as Skemtun himself came out, holding his axe and ready for a fight. The attacker fell down his side awkwardly, and Skemtun jumped on top of him, finishing him off.

“
What in
Baghra
’
s name
is going on here?
”
Skemtun demanded, as he rose up.

“
I watched these two heading inside your tent,
”
Kathir said.
“
When I questioned them, they attacked me. They wanted to kill you.
”

“
To kill
me
?
”
Skemtun asked in disbelief.
“
Who would attempt somethin
’
like this now?
”

“
Who do you think? Do I have to say her name?
”
Kathir asked.

Skemtun shook his head.
“
No, I don
’
t believe it. Bolrakei wouldn
’
t dare, not right now.
”

“
She wants a war,
”
Kathir said.
“
Your death would give her exactly that
—
she
’
d blame it on Utan. There are many who believe everything she says.
”

“
Aye,
”
Skemtun conceded as he looked down at the two dead dwarves.
“
But there
’
s no chance provin
’
any of that with these two dead. We can
’
t question
‘
em now.
”

“
Sorry,
”
said Kathir.

Skemtun looked around the camp.
“
We can
’
t risk anyone findin
’
out about this.
”
It was already dark, and his tent was surrounded by trees, so no one seemed to have noticed the scuffle.
“
We
’
d better hide the bodies, then. It
’
s better if this attack didn
’
t happen.
”

Kathir nodded, went inside the tent, and returned with a shovel. 
“
It
’
s a grisly business, but it needs to be done.
”

They wrapped the bodies in their cloaks and dragged them far away from the camp. They dug a hole without speaking. When the hole was deep enough, they slid the bodies into the grave, covering it with gravel and leaves.

After they finished, Kathir explained what he saw happening throughout the camp, as well as Bolrakei
’
s attempt to spread false rumors in order to increase tensions between the clans. He was vague about the details.
No reason to scare Skemtun any more than necessary,
he told himself.

They both walked slowly back into camp, picking their way over the rocky slopes as they went.

“
Did ye talk to Utan yet?
”
Skemtun asked.

Kathir shook his head.
“
No, not yet, sorry. I
’
ve tried several times, but there
’
s always someone around, and I want to be discreet. He
’
s a difficult person to get ahold of.
”

“
I know,
”
Skemtun said quietly.
“
I
’
m not good at any of this
—
ye know
—
this political stuff. I
’
m just an old miner. I know how to dig caves and find ore.
That
’
s
what I
’
m good at. Bolrakei
’
s usin
’
her money to influence everyone around her. I don
’
t have any connections; I don
’
t have any money, so how can I compete with her?
”

“
Don
’
t despair
—
not yet. Things are going to work out.
”
Kathir tried to sound convincing.

“
What would ye do if ye were in my shoes?
”
asked Skemtun.

Kathir fell silent for a few moments.
“
I think we should focus on the High Council,
”
he replied.
“
We need to find out what they really want. If you can convince the High Council, they
’
ll support you. Once the clans unite together in peace, everything will be fine, and Bolrakei
’
s opinion won
’
t matter.
”