The Crystal Legacy (Book 2) (34 page)

Saxthor bowed to the dwarf who bowed in return. “We would be most honored to accept King Ormadese kind invitation to dinner. Come on or we’ll be late for our host’s supper.”

Three men, a woman, and a dog followed the dwarf from the cave to the mountain’s sheer rock face across the path.

I’m not flying into a rock wall, Twit thought. I’ll wait here for their return, supping on moths drawn to the fire.

The dwarf said a spell and wrote a rune on the rock face with his finger. The granite dissolved into doorway sculpted as a dwarf face with gaping mouth. Tonelia stood transfixed at the sight. Bodrin’s finger gently raised her lower jaw, and the group followed the dwarf into a mountain tunnel.

The walls here were polished smooth, as were those in the halls and tunnels of King Bordabrundese’s labyrinth. The walls were solid granite and the corridor vaulting much higher, like halls in a great castilyernov.

They walked along past occasional wall lights that weren’t torches, but crystal orbs that radiated pale silver lights of an unknown source. Those lights were usually beside a side corridor that led somewhere deep within the mountain.

“What’s making those lights?” Bodrin asked.

The guide kept walking in silence. The little group must’ve walked a hundred paces when the corridor opened into a gallery lined with stone statues.

“These are statues of former dwarf kings or heroes who ruled or lived in these mountains,” the guide said. He didn’t stop to tell the band who was who among the sculptures but kept an even pace along the gallery.

At the end of the passageway was a circular colonnade with a vaulted ceiling that ran around the outside of what could only have been the Great Hall of the Kings. The outside of the circular gallery had niches filled with treasures wrought by the dwarves. In one was a great sword and scabbard propped on a black stone pedestal. In another was a chest propped slightly forward and overflowing with the dwarves’ metal works.

“This gallery is wide enough for eight men to walk abreast,” Saxthor said. “It must be the main corridor.”

“Yes,” the guide replied.

“It looks like hallways begin all along the outside of this circular gallery and fan out into the mountains,” Saxthor said. “This kingdom must be vast indeed.”

The guide nodded.

The inside wall of the circular gallery consisted of arches that separated the gallery from the Great Hall of the Kings. The cavernous round audience chamber had an even higher vaulted ceiling. Polished silver stars shown in the blue stone ceiling. Bronze sconces sprang from the arch columns, supporting strange, transparent globes like those in the outer halls. Beautifully wrought iron and brass furnishings were evident throughout the perimeter of the Great Hall, and six brass chandeliers hung from the ceiling in a circle around an even more massive one in the center.

The people were stunned at the scale of this palace within the mountain. They could hardly stop craning their necks looking at all the marvels new to them. Handsomely arrayed nobles of the king’s court began to enter the circular gallery from the outer corridors. The noble dwarves dressed in incredibly rich colored velvets and brocades. A rainbow of jewels encrusted every button, cufflink, and belt buckle.

“It’s a good thing dwarves are extremely strong, since the weight of this gold would send a human being to the floor,” Saxthor said.

The sight of people among them didn’t seem to alarm the nobles passing them and bowing as they entered the great hall.

“This court’s unbelievable luxury is overwhelming,” Tournak said.

“They’ve transformed the great hall into a massive banquet room,” Bodrin said. “Look at those huge iron tables in semicircles.”

“Note the dais under the king’s throne at the far end of the hall,” Saxthor said.

Stunned, Tonelia said nothing, just looked around in circles, up and down, taking it all in.

The concentric semicircle of tables opened in the center, a red carpet indicating the presentation aisle. The nobles slowly filled the cavern and took their places at the tables.

“What’re they waiting for?” Saxthor asked the guide dwarf restraining them at the aisle’s beginning.

“The nobles await the arrival of the great King Ormadese.”

The court chamberlain, in his fine robes and bronze staff, moved to the archway and stood beside the red carpet across from Saxthor. The court chamberlain acknowledged a nod from a courtier at the far end of the massive room. He struck the stone floor three times with his staff and announced, “His majesty, King Ormadese, king of the Hadorian dwarves.”

The members of the court rose in respect and remained standing until the noble king strode in from behind the dais and ascended his golden, gem-encrusted throne.

When the king took his seat, the chamberlain again struck his staff on the stone floor. It startled Saxthor who was watching the king’s entrance. The chamberlain announced to king and court, “His Highness, Prince Saxthor Claremendak Calimon de Chatronier and his entourage: Lord Bodrin Vicksnak, Wizard Tournak Delphendor, and the Lady Tonelia Tezentok de Hoya… and Delia their beast.”

Saxthor and his friends had no idea the dwarves knew who they were. They stood shaken at the announcement. Though they’d traveled in secret, everyone underground knew who they were.

His guide directed Saxthor and his companions up the aisle. The group stumbled forward, then gained their composure and walked nobly to the dais. Saxthor bowed to king and court.

“We thank the most gracious King Ormadese for his kind invitation to his most remarkable kingdom.”

“It is our pleasure to entertain such distinguished guests within our humble abode,” the king said. “We’re delighted to have you join us for a feast in your honor.”

The guide dwarf escorted the four travelers to a table at the head of the assembly below the throne. King Ormadese rose and descended the dais to take his place at the table. A bespangled page showed the honored guests to their respective seats, and servants adjusted their great iron chairs. Even Delia had her own place beside Saxthor. With everyone seated, servants swarmed into the hall with platters of food including meaty bones for Delia. Bodrin’s eyes bulged following the trays. More servants passed through the hall with trays of golden goblets filled with drink for all the guests. The hall was abuzz with chatter as the feast began.

“You’re a long way from Neuyokkasin, Prince Saxthor,” King Ormadese said.

“Yes, Your Majesty, we’ve traveled far on our tour of the Powterosian peninsula. We’ve seen so many people and so many different customs, yet we’re not so different.”

“There are many good peoples. There are many that worry us, as well,” the king said. “We note orcs and ogres pass through the mountains on their way south. They travel in ones and twos so as not to attract the attention of Duke Jedrac above in Hador, but he knows they’re getting through. He can hold the pass so no army gets through, but these spies are too scattered for the duke to catch.

We’ve diverted our forges to making armor. There’ll be a need for swords, daggers, lances, and shields soon. The Dark Lord’s forges hammer night and day. We hear them, even here, through the stone.”

“He must have quite an army if he’s risking having his orcs alert the South that he’s coming,” Saxthor said. “He’s infiltrated the Southern defenses, we know, but we don’t know the extent of his infiltration or damage.”

“You’ll carry our warnings to Memlatec in the South,” the king said. “We think he’s aware of their actions but not the extent. The South isn’t as prepared as we here on the front lines.

When you leave Hador, we think you will travel north into Dreaddrac and come back down through the Edros Swamps. We hear trolls are massing there, but we don’t go to the swamps, so we can’t verify that. The trolls are a mean, nasty lot.”

Ormadese turned politely to Tonelia. “Are you enjoying the feast, my dear?”

“Very much, Your Majesty.” Tonelia stared at the resplendent figure.

After the feast, the assembled nobles rose out of respect as the king departed. The guests finished their meals, then left through the arcade and down the corridors into the mountains.

I think it’s time to leave, thought Saxthor, but I wonder if we’re to spend the night here or back in their cave.

The guide dwarf and another appeared beside Saxthor when he started to rise from the table.

“You and your companions will be most welcome to spend the night among us. This page will be pleased to escort your companions to their rooms within the mountain. Would you, Prince Saxthor, accompany me to a private audience with King Ormadese?”

“I would be most honored.”

With that, Saxthor bid his companions good night and left with the guide. They passed behind the dais and down a magnificent gallery where relief carvings of noble dwarf exploits embellished the walls. When they arrived at the king’s private apartments, the court chamberlain announced Saxthor, then departed, leaving the king and the prince to a private conversation.

“You’re a gracious young man, Prince Saxthor Claremendak. You’re worthy of your line. Your grandfather would’ve been proud of you just now. We’ve asked you here to discuss the state of preparedness across the peninsula.”

“I am truly honored by your appraisal, Majesty. I never knew my grandfather, but I know the high standards he set for the peninsula’s monarchs.”

“You’ve traveled far and seen Dreaddrac’s creatures, we think.”

“Yes, Majesty, and we fear more infiltration than any of the kingdoms know. You are wise to arm. We can only hope the other states will see the danger in time. If Your Highness will permit a digression, I have something for you from your cousin, King Bordabrundese.” Saxthor placed the beautifully embellished leather purse on the table for the king. “King Bordabrundese sent these seven jewels in payment for granite he received for his building projects.”

King Ormadese looked at Saxthor, then opened the bag and poured out the sparkling jewels in his hand. He manipulated his fingers to move the gems around, inspecting each one.

“They would indeed be our cousin’s payment.”

The king stepped to a table next to Saxthor and carefully turned out eight large, precious stones into a wooden receptacle padded with black velvet. Smiling, Ormadese looked at Saxthor again.

“I believe one of these is yours.”

“I assure you, they’re all yours, Your Majesty.”

“Bordabrundese was only to send seven jewels, and there’s an eighth one in the set, as you see.”

“I cannot take the jewel, as it was given to me to give to Your Majesty. I’m sure the unexplained jewel must apply to a future payment.”

The king picked up the largest gemstone in the set and looked at it, his gaze intense. He handed it to Saxthor to inspect. It was an enormous, brilliant white diamond free of inclusions. Saxthor handed it back to King Ormadese.

“Your Majesty, I’ve never seen such a fabulous gemstone, but I assure you it doesn’t belong to me. It’s your property.”

“Absolutely no inclusions, it’s flawless. A delight to look upon,” the king said, handing back the diamond to Saxthor once more.

“Why would you give me such a treasure, Majesty?”

King Ormadese looked down at the seven fabulous gems nested in the velvet and put his hand on the tray. He looked up at Saxthor, his eyes piercing.

“These seven jewels are from Bordabrundese as payment for the granite. They are worth a king’s ransom. Had you been dishonest, you would have already taken a jewel, since you were only to deliver the seven. If not all eight had been here, I'd never have told you about the diamond. That is the White Diamond of Honesty in your hand, the very one that you seek here in Hador. We found it hidden in the rock beneath the Castilyernov Hadorhof some years ago. We decided to have Bordabrundese hide it in the sand hill kingdom, where it would be least likely to be expected or discovered.”

He sat down again and gestured for Saxthor to do the same.

“When King Bordabrundese met you, he was certain you were the one to whom it belonged. He had you bring it here to test your honesty. As you’ve proven yourself, so the stone does indeed belong to you.” Ormadese looked straight into Saxthor’s eyes. “We agree the right man is now reassembling the Crown of Yensupov. Besides, you wear the dragon ring with the Celestial Fire Topaz of Humanity. Only one man could hold that ring.”

“I thank you, Majesty, with my deepest sincerity, for entrusting me with this gem. I’ll do my utmost to be worthy of your trust and faith.”

Saxthor accepted the White Diamond of Honesty and tucked it into the open pocket of his tunic. Not knowing what else to say, he withdrew, bowing as he went. Looking at the dragon ring and the Celestial
Fire Topaz of Humanity, Saxthor pondered what Ormadese said. When he was back in the corridor, his guide reappeared and led him to his chamber for the night.

Next morning, when the guide dwarf knocked on his door, Saxthor awoke refreshed in spite of his shortened hours of sleep. Following another feast with his companions, they met with King Ormadese again.

“We trust you slept well?”

“We did indeed, Your Majesty,” Saxthor said. “Again, let me express our gratitude for you kindness to such weary travelers.” Delia wagged her tail as if she knew herself to be included.