interests at heart. Now, where do you suppose they’ll head? Did that Halfling girl give you any clues? It’s pointless to have you wandering all over the continent, you’ll never find them.”
“Milli said something about Dol wanting a grand purpose before he was willing to steal the hammer. That’s why it caught me by surprise when they acted as they did. She must have convinced him to do something but she didn’t give me a hint as to what it might be. I should have asked when she came to me. But I was busy planning the escape. Phony messages through the tunnels, confusing the guard, it occupied my thoughts. Damn.”
“The little Halfling girl,” mused Borrombus as his hand came to his beard and stroked it gently. He stopped walking and his eyes narrowed. “Unless…”
“Unless what?” asked Uldex also coming to a stop and gazing at his uncle.
“The First Edos. Old Fierfelm doesn’t completely trust me after our little shell game about trying to convince the High Council. He’s old and idealistic but he is not a fool. Is it possible he went to see Milli on his own and gave her some suggestion?”
“It’s possible,” said Uldex with a shrug of his shoulders and he raised his eyebrows. “She told me that Dol was unwilling to steal the hammer when I thought we had it all arranged. But, then the next day she was ready to go. There might have been some outside agency that convinced him. But why do you think it was the First Edos?”
“What else do we have to go on?” said Borrombus putting his finger to his temple and tapping gently. “I can go by the Great Library and see what tomes he investigated recently. The Chief Librarian is your cousin as I recall. But the details don’t concern you, Uldex. Gather your friends, pack for a long journey. Have you been long out of Craggen Steep before?”
“Just a few trade missions but nothing more than a month or so. I’m familiar enough with the outside world. I’ll get maps from the Cartographer’s Guild.”
“Don’t trust them,” said Borrombus and shook his head. “They’re run by the Firefists and they haven’t much of a clue about the outside world more than a thousand miles from the mountain in any direction. They’ll tell you the maps are accurate but who knows how many mistakes there are and that is if they don’t give you forgeries. Warrens, tunnels, goblin holes, they are masters, but the outside world, they are generally fools. Still, anything you can find will give you a place to start. Once you’re in the outside world you can ask for directions. Your gold will get you any information you need.”
“I’ll need a supply of gold then,” said Uldex looking up at Borrombus a little grin on his face. “My understanding is the surface dwellers value it highly.”
“Yes, yes, nephew. I can provide as much as you need and more. Get your gear together and I’ll find out what I can. Be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.”
“And when I find Delius and the hammer?”
Borrombus began to slowly move forward again and stroked his beard as he looked carefully at the young dwarf, “You’ve guessed my true intentions then?”
Uldex shrugged his shoulders and kept silent.
“It needs to be brought back to Craggen Steep, you understand. Most certainly not by the Firefists but not Delius and his friends either. You know that we are in negotiations with Corancil to provide economic aid in his plans of conquest, right?”
“I’d guessed as much,” said Uldex.
“If the Blackirons have their way, and by that I mean if I have my way, then we’ll provide more than money to the invasion. Corancil means to subjugate the entire world to his might and he is capable of doing it. I’ve not met the man as yet but from what I know he is a grave danger to Craggen Steep. If we resist helping him, as those foolish, live in the past Firefists and Drawhammers want, then it will end badly for us. It is time for Craggen Steep to join the world and with Blackirons leading the way. We’ll dismantle the council and take sole power for ourselves.”
“What about elevating the lesser families and all that high idealism?” asked Uldex.
“That’s not all pixie-dust,” said Borrombus with a nod of his massive head that caused his chins to wobble back and forth. “We’ll need the support of the lesser families to overthrow the Firefists and Drawhammers but then we can manipulate them as we choose.”
“And when I find Dol and the hammer?” repeated Uldex.
“See what they plan. Watch over them and stop any Firefist from taking it; but if it looks like they are going to lose it, then take it from them and bring it back to Craggen Steep. Make sure it’s you that brings it back. Am I clear?”
“What if Dol resists my efforts to take the hammer?” said Uldex.
“Do I have to spell it out?” said Borrombus.
“And Milli?”
Borrombus paused for a moment and gazed deeply into the eyes of his nephew, “You’re fond of the girl, yes?”
Uldex nodded his head.
“She not a dwarf, let alone of a good family” said Borrombus.
“No, I couldn’t marry her, that’s true,” said Uldex returning his uncle’s gaze steadily.
“She is a beauty and not just because she’s different,” said Borrombus his gray eyebrows rising. “I’ve been on many caravans to the outside world and I’ve dealt with the Darkling matriarchs more than once, I know beauty when I see it. Still, convince her if you can. She’d be a fine consort. But, if you have to take permanent action then do what is right for the family.”
Uldex’s eyes flickered for a moment away from the gaze of his Uncle and his hand twitched at his side, but eventually he nodded his head, “I’ll do what’s right for the family. I hope that it won’t come to that but you can count on me, uncle. I’m a Blackiron first and last.”
“Good,” said Borrombus. “Now, run along and gather your friends. I need to figure out exactly where Dol and his companions are heading. I’m certain the First Edos talked to that girl. Why didn’t I think about it before and have him watched? I’m getting sloppy in my dotage. Sloppy.”
Chapter 8
“Spawn of Beelzebub!” shrieked Milli as she yanked her foot back, swayed perilously in the saddle, and slapped at the mule with mittened hands. “It hates me!”
“Stop screaming at him,” said Brogus as he stroked the straggly mane of his own mule. “You’re just scaring him.”
“It’s not a him, it’s the devil!”
“Are we sure the devil isn’t a he?” said Dol and both of his companions looked at him with sudden twists of their heads.
“Did you just tell a joke?” asked Milli as she tried to stabilize on the back of the brown mule. Her mount had a narrow neck and a bulging belly that translated into a rolling sort of gait that made her both nauseous and sleepy at the same time.
“No,” said Dol.
“What’s got into you,” asked Brogus with a twitch of the reins that sent his mule over to Dol’s. His beast was gray in color and taller than Milli’s with a long tail that drooped almost to the ground. “You’ve been acting strange ever since we left Craggen Steep. Is the fresh air getting to you?”
Dol smiled, “I suppose it might be the air or the sunshine,” he said and gingerly touched the back of his neck. “How is it that something you cannot see can burn so much?”
“The back of my neck is as red as old drunken dwarf’s nose,” said Milli and suddenly screamed as the mule tried to bite her again. She tumbled off the beast, landed on her side with a thump, sprang up, and began batting at the thing, “I hate you! I hate you! I’ll walk all the way to Das’von!” She turned and starting marching down the road in the same direction ahead of her companions.
“Milli, Milli!” said Brogus jumping off his own mule and trying to chase after her. “Hold the mules, Dol.” He shouted over his shoulder. It took him a few seconds to catch up to the girl who was walking at a tremendous
