massive pikes at least ten feet tall with wicked curved blades at the tip.
Outside the pillars and in a large alcove hundreds more dwarves stood and watched the proceedings in a state of silence.
“High Council,” said the young dwarf who stood before the podium, “We must chase down the criminals and bring them to justice. We cannot allow this theft to go unpunished. What sort of message would that be to the younger generation of dwarves? There is also the grave danger the criminals will reveal the location of Craggen Steep to our enemies. The girl is not a dwarf and the half-breed cannot be trusted because of his tainted blood line.”
The dwarf in the extreme rightmost chair on the podium leaned forward, one of the jewel-encrusted, platinum bands around his beard clunked into the stone podium. “What you say is true, Cleathelm Firefist,” he replied and stroked his beard with his left hand which showed massive gemstones set into a golden ring on each finger. “The thieves must not be allowed to escape. What puzzles me is the reluctance of the High Councilor to recognize this fact. Why must we debate this issue when time is of the greatest importance? A cadre of our warriors must set out in pursuit at once.”
“This is not a decision to be made lightly,” intoned the dwarf at the center of the podium who sat on the chair with the highest back. “There are those among us, including its creator, who wish the hammer to be used in the world.” He spoke slowly and deliberately with each word hanging in the air for a long moment.
“That doesn’t make any difference,” squealed Cleathelm from the floor. “We cannot allow them to get away with stealing. What sort of example does that send to the younger dwarfs?”
“Your duty is to present your case; not harangue the High Council,” said the dwarf in the center of the podium.
The dwarf to the extreme right shook his head and mouthed, “Be quiet,” to Cleathelm. “High Councilor,” he said and turned to face the dwarf at the center of the long table. “The petitioner is my son and a fine lad, but he has the headstrong nature of youth. Forgive him for his words.”
The High Councilor nodded his head, “Make your arguments, Councilor Six,” he said in the same slow, monotonous tone.
“While my son is rash what he says is essentially true, High Councilor. However, there is more to this unfortunate episode than merely the theft of the hammer. I’ve spoken with the Master at Arms and he tells me that agents of the dwarves who sit in this very room misdirected the pursuit. The Blackirons have much to gain from the humiliation of the Firefist name. It is clear to me Borrombus Blackiron planned this theft along with the First Edos,” continued Councilor Six with a sharp glance at the councilor in the far left hand seat of the chamber.
“Do not refer to High Council members by their name, Councilor Six,” interrupted the guard closest to the podium. He wore a set of scintillating plate mail like the others and carried not a pike, but a massive axe which he held across his chest. His helmet was etched with the symbol of a golden ram its thick horns curling up and around and glistening silver in the well-lit room.
“My apologies,” said the sixth councilor with a bob of his head towards Borrombus who sat in the chair on the opposite side of the podium. “It is my opinion that Councilor Five is a traitorous wretch who hopes to overthrow the High Council and take power into his own hands. Does that suit the decorum of the High Guard of the Council any better?”
“Hardly polite, but at least Councilor Six follows the rules as he swore to do when he took his seat on the Council,” said Borrombus with a wave of his hand. “Intrigue and manipulation of the High Council is not a crime, High Councilor. Even if I was involved in the so-called theft of the Hammer of Fire you cannot prosecute me. Did not one of our illustrious seven pay upwards of a million gold coins to have his son made apprentice to the First Edos just six months ago?”
“That position has always been subject to negotiation,” sputtered the sixth councilor as he got to his feet and waved a finger at Borrombus. “What you have done is treason to the council itself. You go against the will of the majority to further your agenda. We discussed this issue! We voted!”
“Is this violence?” said Borrombus.
The High Councilor looked over at the sixth councilor, “Sit down, please.” Then he looked over at Borrombus, “Councilor Six is correct, Councilor Five. This issue came before us and we did vote. The hammer was stolen against the will of the council; there can be no questioning this fact.”
“This is madness,” shouted Cleathelm from the floor as he pulled off his steel helmet. “Delius, Brogus, and the girl are escaping. They are all low-born creatures and they have one of the great relics of Craggen Steep. If the hammer is to be used at all it should be used by a dwarf of good breeding!”
“The petitioner will restrain himself,” said the High Councilor and two of the pike men on the floor took several steps towards the young dwarf apprentice.
“I’m sorry, Uncle Torragus,” said Cleathelm to the High Councilor.
“You will refer to me as High Councilor,” said the man in the center of the podium although he could not prevent a small smile from coming across his face. “I understand it is an excitable event but we must deliberate calmly before rendering a decision. Councilor Five, you admit that the theft was against the will of the Council?”
“It was against the will of the majority of the High Council, I will admit,” said Borrombus with a shrug of his shoulders and a sly smile, “but it is not against the will of the First Edos who created the hammer or of the current First Edos.”
“Past or present, the First Edos has no vote in council,” said the sixth councilor from his seat at the far end of the podium. “It has been the tradition of the High Council to consider the First Edos an honorary member at times but this is not binding position.”
“At times?” said Borrombus.
“At times,” replied Councilor Six.
“This is a patent disregard for tradition. An ugly insistence upon the letter of the law rather than its spirit,” said Borrombus with a shake of his head and a deep frown that accentuated his bulbous cheeks.“The First Edos has always been awarded a vote on the High Council and even given veto power on many occasions.”
“You consider the law of Craggen Steep, as laid down by Dar Drawhammer in the aftermath of the expulsion of the elementals, to be flawed in some way?” said the High Councilor in that steady tone of his.
Borrombus closed his mouth and sat in silence for a few seconds while Cleathelm snickered quietly from the below, “I have the utmost respect for the laws laid down by Dar Drawhammer but I also respect the traditions that have evolved over the last five thousand years since that momentous event. In all that time the First Edos has traditionally been given a vote in High Council.”
“When the First Edos is not of noble blood that tradition has often been ignored,” said the Councilor Six in a firm voice. “You cannot deny that, surely.”
“Only in the last few centuries have the families ignored the First Edos in those circumstances and that is the underlying poison that is destroying Craggen Steep from within. Only members of the three families can gain advancement in our realm. The best young dwarves of the lower classes are being ignored and passed over.”
“So, your true agenda reveals itself,” said Councilor Six.
“All seven members of this council are Firefists, Drawhammers, or Blackirons. There has not been a member of the council from another family in almost fifty years. You must see what that is doing to our nation!”
“That is not the purpose of this council meeting,” said the High Councilor and his hand went to a small, golden hammer that lay on the table in front of him. “We have covered that topic to my satisfaction in previous meetings. Now, we must decide an action to take in the matter of the Hammer of Fire.”
“It’s about time,” said Cleathelm from the floor as he stared plaintively up at the men at the table. “Every second is important. We’ve already wasted three days getting the council together and following your stupid rules. We have to send fighters right now if we want to catch Delius and his friends.”
The guards moved forward and lowered their pikes to his chest, this threat immediately silenced the outburst.
“I move to adjourn so that calmer heads might prevail,” Borrombus quickly interjected into the conversation.
“That’s ridiculous!” said the councilor at the end opposite the fat man.
