realized with a start that he was looking at the entrance to the Pass of Jade.
At the same moment, Dayel announced to the group that the trail split in three directions just ahead. Hendel quickly informed them that the pass would be reached by following the left path. Without pausing, they moved onward. The trail began to lead them downward out of the mountains in the direction of the twin peaks. Reassured that the end was in sight, they marched faster, their strength renewed with the hope that Allanon would be waiting. Shea and Flick were no longer lying motionless on the stretchers, but were beginning to twitch uncontrollably and even thrash violently beneath the tightened blankets. A battle was waging within the poisoned bodies between the tightening grip of death and a strong will to live. Hendel thought to himself that it was a good sign. Their bodies had not yet given up the struggle to survive. He turned to the others in the company and discovered that they were gazing intently at what appeared to be a light gleaming sharply against the black horizon between the twin peaks. Then their own ears caught the distant sounds of a heavy booming noise and a low hum of voices coming from the location of the light. Balinor ordered them to keep moving, but told Dayel to scout ahead and to keep his eyes open.
«What is it?» asked Menion curiously.
«I can’t be sure from this distance,” Durin answered. «It sounds like drums and men chanting or singing.»
«Gnomes,” declared Hendel ominously.
Another hour’s travel brought them close enough to determine that the curious light was caused by the burning of hundreds of small fires, and the noises were indeed the booming of dozens of drums and the chanting of many, many men. The sounds had grown to deafening proportions, and the two peaks marking the entrance of the Pass of Jade loomed like huge pillars in front of them. Balinor felt certain that if the creatures ahead were Gnomes, they would not venture into their taboo land to post guards, so the company would be reasonably safe until they reached the pass. The sound of the drums and the chanting continued to vibrate through the heavy forest trees. Whoever was blocking the pass was there to stay for a while. Only moments later, the group had reached the edge of the Pass of Jade, just beyond reach of the firelight. Moving silently off the path into the shadows, the company held a brief conference.
«What is going on?» Balinor asked anxiously of Hendel, when they were all crouched in the protection of the forest.
«It’s impossible to tell from back here, unless you’re a mind reader!» the Dwarf growled irately. «The chanting sounds like Gnomes, but the words are blurred. I had better go ahead and check it out.»
«I don’t think so,” Durin advised quickly. «This is a, job for an Elf, not a Dwarf. I can move more quickly and quietly than you, and I’ll be able to sense the presence of any guards.»
«Then it had better be me,” Dayel suggested. «I’m smaller, lighter, and faster than any of you. Be back in a minute.»
Without waiting for an answer, he faded into the forest and had disappeared before anyone could voice an objection. Durin swore silently, fearing for his young brother’s life… If there were indeed Gnomes in the Pass of Jade, they would kill any stray Elf they caught prowling about in the dark. Hendel shrugged in disgust and sat back against a tree to wait for Dayel’s return. Shea had begun to moan and thrash more violently, throwing aside his blankets and nearly. rolling off the stretcher. Flick was behaving in the same manner, though less forcibly, groaning in low tones, his face frighteningly drawn. Menion and Durin moved quickly to wrap the blankets back around the Valemen, this time tying them securely in place with long strips of leather. The moans continued, but the company had little fear of discovery with all the noise coming from the other side of the pass. They sat back quietly waiting for Dayel, looking anxiously at the bright horizon and listening to the drums, knowing that somehow they would have to find a way past whomever was blocking the entrance. Long minutes slipped by. Then Dayel appeared suddenly out of the darkness.
«Are they Gnomes?» asked Hendel sharply.
«Hundreds of them,” the Elf replied grimly. «They’re spread out all across the entrance to the Pass of Jade and there are dozens of fires. It must be some sort of ceremony from the way they’re beating the drums and chanting. The worst of it is that they are all facing right into the pass. No one could possibly go in or out without being seen.»
He paused and looked briefly at the pain–wracked forms of the injured Valemen before turning back to face Balinor.
«I scouted the entire entrance and both sides of the peaks. There is no way out except straight through the Gnomes. They have us trapped!»
Chapter Twelve
Dayel’s bleak report brought an immediate reaction. Menion leaped to his feet, reaching for his sword and threatening to fight his way out or die in the attempt. Balinor tried to restrain him, or at least to quiet him, but there was complete bedlam for several minutes as the others joined the shouting highlander in his vow. Hendel questioned the somewhat shaken Dayel about what he had seen at the entrance to the pass, and after a few brief questions loudly ordered everyone to be silent.
«The Gnome chieftains are out there,” he informed Balinor, who had finally managed to restrain Menion long enough to listen to the Dwarf. «They have all the high priests and, members of surrounding villages here for a special ceremony that takes place once each month. They come at sunset and sing praises to their gods for protecting them from the evils of the taboo land, the Wolfsktaag. It will last all night, and by morning we can forget about helping our young friends.»
«Wonderful people, the Gnomes!» exploded Menion. «They fear the evils of this place, but they align themselves with the Skull Kingdom! I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m not giving up because of a few half–wit Gnomes chanting useless spells!»
«No one is giving up, Menion,” Balinor said quickly. «We’re getting out of these mountains tonight. Right now.»
«How do you propose to do that?» demanded Hendel. «Walk right through half the Gnome nation? Or perhaps we’ll fly out?»
«Wait a minute!» Menion exclaimed suddenly and leaned over the unconscious Shea, searching eagerly through his clothing until he produced the small leather pouch containing the powerful Elfstones.
«The Elfstones will get us out of here,” he announced to the others, grasping the pouch.
«Has he lost his mind?» asked Hendel, incredulous at the sight of the highlander eagerly waving the leather pouch.
«It won’t work, Menion,” declared Balinor quietly. «The only one with the power to use the stones is Shea. Besides, Allanon once told me they could only be used against things whose power lies beyond substance, dangers that confuse the mind. Those Gnomes are mortal flesh and blood, not creatures of the spirit world or the imagination.»
«I don’t know what you’re talking about, but I do know that these stones worked against that creature from the Mist Marsh, and I saw it work…» Menion trailed off despondently, reflecting on what he was saying, and finally lowered the pouch and its precious contents. «What’s the use? You must be right. I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore.»
«There has to be a way!» Durin came forward, casting about for suggestions. «All we need is a plan to draw attention away from us for about five minutes and we could slip by them.»
Menion perked up at the suggestion, apparently finding some merit in the idea, but unable to think of a way to distract the attention of several thousand Gnomes. Balinor paced about for a few minutes, lost in thought while the others threw out random suggestions. Hendel suggested in bitter humor that he walk into their midst and let himself be captured. The Gnomes would be so overjoyed at getting their hands on him, the man they had tried so hard to destroy all these years, that they would forget about anything else. Menion thought little of the joke and was all for allowing him to do what he suggested.
«Enough talk!» roared the Prince of Leah finally, losing his temper altogether. «What we need now is a plan, one that will get us out of here right away, before the Valemen are completely beyond help. Now what do we do?»
