Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) (35 page)

Tallin pushed Skemtun back onto the saddle.
“
I
’
m sorry---It
’
s too late to save him
…
but we can still defeat the orcs.
”

All the dragons rose up into the air, almost touching the ceiling. A brief moment later, there was the sound of a huge explosion and the air around them was filled with dust.
“
The eruption has been triggered!
”
cried Tallin
“
Everyone move out now!
”

The dragons flew up through the caldera, which was now filled with black smoke. They scattered in opposite directions, flying as quickly as they could. The mountain rumbled, and the earth started to shake. 

Above the fray, the riders could see thousands of orcs streaming out of the mountain, shouting and pushing through the front gates as they tried to escape the deadly lava flows. 

Mugla groaned, and Tallin helped her sit upright on the saddle.

He saw the blood on her temple.
“
Are you alright?
”
he asked.

Mugla nodded.
“
I
’
m fine
…”
She looked down at the chaos below. The orcs were scattering in a million directions as they fled the mountain. A huge column of dark smoke trailed upwards into the clouds.
“
I can
’
t believe it worked,
”
she said quietly.

“
It
’
s a bitter victory. The orcs have been routed, but Mount Velik has been completely destroyed. The clans will never be able to return,
”
said Tallin.

“
That
’
s true,
”
she answered.
“
But it
’
s still a victory
—
and a lucky one, at that.
”

Tallin watched the sky fill with smoke. The dragons were already headed back to Highport. It didn
’
t feel like a triumph. As a matter of fact, he felt as if they
’
d lost. Kathir was dead, and Mount Velik was demolished. The dwarf clans were permanently displaced. They
’
d lost everything.

“
Dear
…
let
’
s go, there
’
s nothing else we can do,
”
said Mugla.
“
Let
’
s get back to Highport.
”

Tallin nodded and spurred Duskeye
’
s saddle. He followed the others north
—
away from the destruction.

The dragons flew toward Highport, picking up Bolrakei, Komu, and the others along the way.  Once they reached Highport, the riders delivered their report to Utan, who accepted the news somberly.  There was no celebration. The knowledge that Mount Velik had been destroyed eliminated all hopes of merriment.

The elves left soon thereafter. They were anxious to return to Brighthollow and deliver their report to the queen.

Skemtun was badly injured and was taken to the infirmary to recover. Elias took over his care, but the wound was grave. He had lost so much blood that he was as pale as an egg. The outlook worsened when Elias discovered that the orc
’
s weapon had been tipped with a slow poison.

“
His ribs are shattered, and there is much internal damage. One could normally survive such a wound, but the poison
…”
Elias said quietly to Tallin and Sela.

The dwarves slowly resigned themselves to accepting Highport as their new, permanent home. They had nowhere else to go. They would have to make do.

It was decided that an election would take place. New leaders would be chosen for all the dwarf clans, and representatives from all the clans began secret talks. The talks were contentious, as always. The men hissed insults at one another, but there were no physical altercations as there had been in the past. Skemtun voted by proxy, and Tallin acted as his representative. Bolrakei, Utan, and Skemtun remained the leaders of their respective clans; once all the leaders were chosen, it was time to elect a new ruler.

All the clans gathered to watch the final vote. At the table, sat Bolrakei, Utan, Tallin, and the two newly-elected clan leaders. Bimbek was the new leader of Odenskapr, the soldier
’
s clan, and Harsk was the new leader of Strikeforge, the weaponsmiths
’
clan.

             
Skemtun was very ill, but he still asked to be carried into the main hall on his bed for the final vote. The clans cheered when they saw him. He raised his pale arm and waved and offered a weak smile.

“
Today, we choose our king
…
or queen,
”
Bolrakei said to a chorus of cheers. 
“
All the clan leaders present shall be allowed one vote each.
”
Bolrakei smiled.

A dwarf ran up to the table and handed Tallin an ornate scroll.
“
The polls for the clans have been decided. These are the nominees for King and Queen.
”
Tallin unrolled the scroll, and read aloud:
“
Bolrakei, leader of Klorra-Kanna, has been nominated for queen by her clan. Utan, leader of the Vardmiters, has been nominated for king by his clan. And lastly, Skemtun, leader of Marretaela, has been nominated for king by his clan. The clans Odenskapr and Strikeforge have decided to refrain from nominating a king.
”
Cheers filled the hall again, and Tallin sat down.

Skemtun raised his hand.  His voice was fragile and weak.
“
I
’
m sorry, but I must withdraw my nomination. My health prevents it, and I won
’
t saddle my people with another sick king. However, I won
’
t abstain from votin
’
. I choose to cast my vote for Utan.
”

Utan nodded his thanks, but his face remained expressionless.
“
I, Utan, leader of the Vardmiters, cast my vote for myself.
”

Bolrakei seethed and turned to look Skemtun straight in the eye. He returned her stare without comment. She crossed her arms in front of her breast.
“
I cast my vote for myself, Bolrakei, leader of Klorra-Kanna.
”

Bimbek spoke.
“
I, Bimbek, leader of Odenskapr, cast my vote for Bolrakei.
”

A hush settled over the room. It came down to the last vote, and it went to Harsk, the new leader of Strikeforge. Like his predecessor, Harsk was young and open to new ideas.
“
I have considered this decision long and hard. Although I believe that Bolrakei would make a good queen, I also believe that all the clans owe Utan their lives. He saved us and welcomed us into his home. Therefore, I cast my vote for Utan.
”

Bolrakei
’
s mouth fell open. Her eyes bulged. She began to wheeze. A wave of gasps ran through the hall. Bolrakei
’
s mouth opened in shock
—
she couldn
’
t believe it.
“
B-but
…
that
’
s impossible. Utan is a Vardmiter! A Vardmiter! Do you understand what that means?
”
Her voice rose to a screech.
“
There
’
s never been a Vardmiter King in dwarf history! Not ever!
”

Skemtun smiled.
“
Well, there
’
s a first time for everythin
’
, right?
”

Pandemonium broke out at the table. Cheers went up from the Vardmiter clan, while boos and jeers ran through Klorra-Kanna.

Tallin stood up.
“
The clans have spoken. With the exception of your clan, there
’
s not a one of them that feels that Utan shouldn
’
t become the ruler of all the clans, including myself. You must accept this decision and pledge your loyalty to your new King.
”

Bolrakei slammed her fist on the table.
“
This is intolerable, this is intolerable!
”
She tore at her hair.

Tallin
’
s locked eyes with hers, and his temper soared.
“
Deal with it,
”
Tallin said too softly.
“
Your crusade of bigotry against the Vardmiters is over.
”
As he finished his words, Bolrakei
’
s face contorted with anger.

“
You are destroying our way of life!
”
she cried. Bolrakei stared at him in silent fury, but he met her gaze unflinchingly. She spun and stomped out of the hall, followed by her entourage.

“
Utan is the new king of the dwarves,
”
declared Tallin, shouting so the entire hall could hear. Then he smiled and looked at Utan.
“
Congratulations, Your Grace.
”

Scattered applause turned into a rousing ovation, and everyone began stomping their feet and calling Utan
’
s name. Tallin smiled and stepped back as the crowd rushed forward to offer fealty to their new king.

“
What happens now?
”
asked Skemtun, calling Tallin over to him. For a moment, his expression was bleak.
“
Do ye think Bolrakei will cause trouble?
”

Tallin shrugged.
“
Undoubtedly. I
’
m sure she will. But she will also accept the council
’
s decision
…
with time. She lost the vote, and Utan is the king. Nothing can change that fact.
”

Skemtun smiled and sighed.
“
I
’
m so glad to hear that. I was worried for a moment.
”
He fixed his gaze firmly on Tallin.
“
Sela told me to talk to ye privately, but I guess now
’
s as good a time as any.
”
He coughed. 
“
My clan needs new leadership
—
a strong person
—
someone who is fair and who will stand up to Bolrakei. I was never cut out to be a clan leader; I was happier being a miner.  Leadership was shoved in my lap, and I did the best I could.
”

Tallin looked at him oddly.
“
What are you trying to say?
”

“
I
’
ve done many things in the past that I
’
m ashamed of, but I
’
m tryin
’
to do right. I treated the Vardmiters like dirt in the past, and I
’
m regretful of that. I
’
m trying to make up for it now. Kathir died tryin
’
to save me, and he had a dark past too. No matter what he did, in the end, he died a hero, and I
’
m hopin
’
to do the same.
”

“
Hold it,
”
interrupted Tallin.

Skemtun pressed on.
“
I
’
m dyin
’
, and there
’
s nothin
’
anyone can do about it.
”
His voice broke, and he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
“
I
’
m too old and too tired to explain this twice, so please listen until I
’
m through. Marretaela needs a new leader
—
someone who can lead them right. I
’
ve chosen ye as my replacement, if you
’
ll accept.
”

Tallin stared at him, shock written plainly on his rugged features.
“
I can
’
t be a clan leader
—
I
’
m a halfling!
”