скачать книгу бесплатно
“Perhaps we could go back to Karbandur and get weapons," Lirieth proposed.
But a murmur of footsteps interrupted them and they saw their exit towards Karbandur cut by a squadron of about two-hundred somber ones that approached them very well armed and with two antimagic hoods prepared.
They went backwards until they realized that Kasariviel must have fallen, because lots of sombers began to appear at the other tunnel’s entrance.
Everything seemed to be lost: some two hundred sombers on one side and another one hundred and eighty on the other, and in the middle, inside a tunnel with no other exits, some two hundred and twenty men and orcs vulnerable. Only Syriel wielded a dagger which he was already gripping, threateningly holding it tight against the dark ones.
But suddenly there was a buzzing sound, and about sixty sombers of those with Karbandur on their backs fell inert or badly wounded. Behind the providential dwarf crossbow arose Garin and Bellamir accompanied by about four hundred dwarfs who grabbed axe in one hand and a sword in the other, which were given to both men and orcs.
Just as Syriel was about to receive a sword thrown at him by Garin, a somber suddenly appeared attacking him from the side. An instant before the somber wounded Syriel to death, Smolion's sword stopped the blow. A tenth of a second later, Syriel pierced the shadow's chest as he gave an expressive look of gratitude to the orc general.
In a short time, things changed a lot. With the newly arrived reinforcements armed with the swords received, they soon defeated the sombers, of which some two-hundred fell lifeless, badly wounded or captured and the rest managed to flee to the Badlands.
When the battle was over, Syriel went to meet Garin and embraced him warmly in thanksgiving.
“Garin, we are indebted to you. You have saved our lives and we will never forget it. What happened to your father?" asked Syriel with clear signs of relief.
“I'll start from the beginning. After I was locked up again, after a while, I heard a rumor spreading to the other side of the door and, as the door opened, Bellamir appeared again with all my dwarves released. All together we went to arm ourselves and went to the gates of the pass. At every level we captured the rebels we encountered and recruited those who declared themselves loyal, until we gathered considerable strength and filled the dungeons with rebels. When we arrived at the gates, you had already been expelled a while before and, after a dwarf versus dwarf battle, we managed to reduce the rebels and my father, who preferred to take his own life in order not to be captured. We opened the doors and came here as fast as we could, trying to bring weapons for you. So, you are indebted to Bellamir, because without him we would not be here," said the new dwarf lord.
“We are indebted to both of them. And I'm very sorry about your father, he was always a distinguished and loyal dwarf, but in the end, he was driven by hatred. Now, you will be the new lord of the dwarfs, I am sure you will know how to lead your people with greatness, wisdom and benevolence," said the grateful prince with conviction.
“Thank you very much, my prince. I will be worthy of the honor you bestow on me, and I will never disappoint you. But my command must wait," Garin announced.
“Wait? Wait for what?" asked Syriel.
“I must guide a stubborn prince in the Badlands who will end up in the jaws of some beast or in the hands of the dark ones if I don't accompany him," Garin proposed with conviction and a certain tone of derision.
“And why do you think that stubborn prince is going to let you go with him?” asked Syriel, continuing the joke.
“Because I am the one who knows these lands best, because I have their weapons and horses in my fortress, and because I am even more stubborn than that prince," challenged the dwarf, with a bitter smile.
“If the dark ones are going to recruit dragons, do you know where they will go?” asked the prince.
“To the Dragons’ Mountain, no doubt. The biggest mountain in the news and the only place in all of Frienia where there are still dragons," said a convinced Garin.
“Would you know how to take that obstinate prince there?" asked Syriel, already determined to take Garin with him.
“With eyes closed," concluded the dwarf, with sincere determination.
Syriel looked at Lirieth, who nodded thanking the dwarves for their help.
“All right, it will be a pleasure to enjoy your company in the country which we are going to," accepted the prince, "but try to keep your throne well-guarded, I wouldn't want to have to fight again to get it back when we return," asked Syriel with a half-smile.
In a good mood for the outcome, though saddened by the sad end of King Ankar, they began the return to Karbandur to prepare the journey to the Badlands.
From one of the many peaks that populated the pass, Turgarok gazed with satisfaction at the end of the contest. He then took a fine papyrus and wrote down the latest events. When he finished, he rolled up the parchment as much as he could and tied it to the small but fast hawk's paw as he whispered some strange words from which most beings would only have distinguished two: Teberion and Gulrath.
A few seconds after the little-sized falcon departed for its destination, in complete silence, but at full speed, a large haw took flight, carrying on its back an orc sorcerer, and took the opposite direction as its smaller predecessor.
In the hall of the throne room of Argoth Castle, with an almost imperceptible click, a frightened Elenir appeared. She took courage and swallowed saliva, crossed the royal door and advanced until she stood in front of her father, with a face of circumstances and a submissive attitude.
“You don't seem to be carrying good news," asked the king, with extreme harshness.
“Garin, the son of Ankar, has rebelled against his father, who has died, and has remained faithful to humans. Together they defeated our squadron, about one hundred and eighty were able to flee, and the princes escaped," the dark princess masked with contained rage.
“I DO WANT THOSE DAMNED PRINCES HERE, PROSTRATE AT MY FEET!!! AND I DO WANT THEM NOW! DON'T EVER PRESENT YOURSELF TO ME AGAIN WITHOUT THEM! AND I WANT THEM ALIVE! IF THEY DIE, YOU'LL SUFFER THE SAME FATE!” Nigriel exploded in all his fury.
Elenir let a few seconds go by to dilute the anger of her progenitor.
“You'll have them, Father. Even if it's the last thing I do, I'll bring them to you alive," said the princess. “I will not disappoint you again," she concluded with determination.
“I hope so, my daughter, I have high expectations for you, and we've got a lot at stake. Don't fail me again," replied the somber monarch a little more calmly, but keeping the tone of harshness in his words.
A dismissive gesture from Nigriel's hand brought the interview to an end. Elenir lowered her head and turned around and left the room, hurt, angry and already making plans for her next steps.
Urkaroth was almost halfway between the border with Delfia and the border with Barvian, and was almost bathed by the Kalidor River to the west, which flowed into a lake of the same name. It was also very well protected to the north by The Rock, an enormous mountain mass of several hundred kilometers where there were no fissures of several mountains, but rather, it was like a unique and huge rock emerging from the depths of the earth.
Urkaroth occupied a vast expanse almost in the central part of Teberion. At first glance, two main parts of the extensive city differed: a very dark one, built with black stones and adorned with threatening gargoyles and awful beasts that had contemplated the sinister first era of the violent and bellicose orcs; and another more luminous part, built with grey and white marbles, full of statues and beautiful motifs, less aggressive than their brothers in the dark zone, and who saw the rebirth of the new orc era culminating during the reign of their present king Gulrath, proud to endow his city with new buildings closer to the culture of the elves and humans than to that of the ancient orcs.
In the heart of the most luminous area of Urkaroth was the palace of Gargaran, the residence of the kings of Teberion. Seven watchtowers stood out, rising majestically towards the sky. Six of them were built with beautiful greyish marble, but the great central tower, the residence of the kings, highlighted for the whiteness provided by the snowy marble with which they had built it. The rest were used for military purposes, for surveillance, training of new recruits and for dungeons. A high solid wall, also of greyish marble, surrounded the entire main citadel.
Gulrath and Baldia returned to Urkaroth without setbacks. The king smiled broadly as he entered his private quarters and saw a small hawk and a crow waiting for him, each with a note tied to its leg.
He darkened his face as he read the missives, but at the conclusion, his countenance became more satisfied, though also worried.
Before the king's gesture, which indicated that there would be no answer, the birds disappeared through the window at full speed to starve with the numerous doves flying over the enormous palace. No wonder they did, after several days waiting for the arrival of the king without even going out to eat.
On the other side of the palace wing, at that very moment, Queen Baldia looked attentively at a silver mirror, which reflected a face much younger than hers.
“Daughter," she said, "our plans are going just as we planned," said the pleased queen.
“Yes, although my father is a stumbling block in them and we'll have to finish him off," replied the mirror image.
“Patience, my dear, all in good time. Your father can still be useful to us, don't be hasty. Now you take care of those dragons, who can help us a lot in our mission.”
“All right Mother, I will," said the young woman.
Baldia saw the image of the young princess disappear, to appear her own, while she drew a horrible smile.
Syriel entered Lirieth's room as she brushed her hair in front of a mirror.
“Haven't you been taught to knock before entering a lady's bedroom, prince?" asked the princess, pretending to feel offended.
“I'm sorry, I haven't noticed. It won't happen again," replied the prince, embarrassed. “I was just coming to see how you were doing," Syriel added.
“I'm fine, a little tired, but fine. Thank you very much," thanked Lirieth with a bright smile.
“This mission is getting more complicated, and perhaps it will be much more dangerous than one might think at first. Perhaps it would be better if you returned to Teberion," said the prince with concern.
“I'm flattered that you care about me, Syriel, but you know we have to do this together. Maybe only I can dominate those dragons. Besides, I am not a delicate little princess who needs constant protection, not only am I able to defend myself, but I take pity on anyone who dares to stand in my way," roguish Lirieth joked.
“I know, I know, even though I would never forgive myself if I hid something from you," replied Syriel with a loving gaze.
“Nothing will happen to me. And now, let this lady get ready for bed," almost ordered the princess. “Alone," added Lirieth sharply, but also gratified at the prince's sly grin.
With a fleeting kiss on her lips, Syriel wished the princess good night, who watched with a semblance of deep concern as the prince disappeared through the door, as if she wanted to tell him something, something she would never not be able to reveal to anyone, not even him.
A trapped giant
Frienia, year 1815 of the second era.
When the company which was enlarged by Garin and a hundred of dwarfs went through the fateful tunnel and the remains of Kasariviel again, they saw how a large group of dwarfs collaborated in collecting the meat of the reptile, which, undoubtedly would be an abundant food for the snowy season.
It took five long days of march to reach the exit from the Badlands, with hardly any incidents. The Peaks Pass extended westwards, without being possible to see its opposite end, as it lengthened almost to the end of the Slanted Mountains, with several hundred kilometers long, connecting all the dwarf cities carved into those mountains.
After an arduous descent that took almost a whole day, they finally set foot in the dangerous soil of the Badlands.
The first region they encountered was a vast plain with sparse vegetation that also did not appear to have too much fauna. They only came across some voracious mosquitoes, some of considerable size that would not stop biting producing some rather annoying urticaria. Garin informed them that in that region there were no living creatures entailing excessive danger, although during the following day they would arrive at a more rugged and forested area inhabited by harpies, which were like médium winged ones, with some knowledge of magic, astute, fast and above all evil, which turned them into dangerous enemies. However, they would not dare to attack such a large and well-armed group.
They also found on the way unmistakable signs of the passage of the sombers, who had managed to escape through the Peaks Pass about five days ago.
Syriel and Lirieth continued in their role of showing how well they got along, even when no one could see them, and it was becoming evident that a relationship was being born between them that began to go beyond the mere friendship agreed upon. Baldrich continued to look at the princess with a certain suspicion, but he did not argue with her again, nor did he say anything about his protégé. They also stopped giving magic classes, because with the mastery that Lirieth achieved before the snake, the princess demonstrated that she would be able to subdue any beast, since few should exist greater than Kasariviel.
The next day, as Garin had already told them, they entered a more rugged area with slight depressions, small mounds and numerous groups of trees which, although they did not manage to form forests, some of them had a considerable extension. And the environment was impregnated with a slight aroma of vegetation.
Garin also warned them that it was inhabited by a snake not very large, but very poisonous which petrified the whole body in a matter of seconds. And as if it had been a premonition, a few minutes later, one of the warring orcs complained of a bite in his hand. Garin ran toward him and, with incredible speed, cut off his hand with an axe just in time. The hand fell to the ground petrified and the deadly poison did not continue through the arm of the mutilated orc.
Lirieth thanked Garin for his quick reaction, squeezing a kiss on his cheek that caused the dwarf's blushing. This gesture and many others dispensed by the princess to dwarves as well as to men, and the own attitude of the orcs, meant that little by little they were not so frowned upon and were accepted as companions, even by the dwarves.
Even generals Smolion and Gungaroth began to be somewhat more friendly with the new allies.
After the incident and a light rest to heal the wounded orc, they continued the march more attentive to the small but deadly snakes and, although on more than one occasion some warriors had to dodge several attacks, the ophidians ended up splitting in two and failed to bite no one else.
After a few hours of marching, they heard some loudly and terrible screams, like someone very big who was suffering a lot from some kind of torture.
They decided to stop and find out what was going on. The screams came from the back of a mound on the right. Lirieth, Syriel, Baldrich, Garin and Bellamir stealthily climbed it. When they reached the highest part they stretched out behind some bushes and watched as some hideous harpies had in captivity a giant of about ten feet high tightly bound with sturdy chains that, nevertheless, seemed to be very young, because by the features of his face it did not look more than fifteen or sixteen years old extrapolating it to a human aspect.
The harpies had sadistic fun flying around him and throwing magical balls of fire or electric rays, which must have been very painful to judge by the cries and convulsions of the young but enormous being.
Other harpies prepared a great cauldron with all sorts of spices, which gave off a rather nauseating aroma and did not bode any good for the unfortunate and bulky prisoner.
“I don't like giants at all, but harpies are the worst creatures I've ever seen. If we don't do something, the young giant will be the dinner of these damn winged witches," Garin said, with a tone halfway between indignation and compassion.
“I have counted about ninety," said Syriel. “If we attack them, they will not be able to take us," blessed the prince.
“Surely more will come from the surrounding area," Garin said. “They live in communities, side by side, and help each other when they need it. I estimate that, in the event of battle, they will come in far greater numbers than we do," warned the dwarf.
“With the liberated giant we would have a great help," Bellamir bet.
“Could you free the giant without the harpies seeing you?" asked the prince to the audacious mediam.
“Yes, if you distract them with a little fuss," answered Bellamir with a mischievous smile.
Syriel looked at Baldrich, who assented convincingly, then he looked at Garin, who looked enthusiastically at the idea, and then he looked at Lirieth.
“What does our captain think?" the prince consulted, more with a loving gaze than with the proper composure of military submission.
“Well, all right," said the princess. “Let's free the poor boy. Besides, if we could get a few giants as allies, they would certainly be of inestimable support against the sombers," said Lirieth with some reservations about the plan.
“Go ahead, then," encouraged the prince, "but Bellamir's plan may serve as an emergency. A safer plan must be outlined and executed with the utmost secrecy, preventing the neighboring harpies from coming. We cannot afford casualties in case we have to face the dark ones again," warned Syriel receiving significant assent from his fiancée.
A few minutes later, when the harpies realized that an elf in a magician's tunic was heading toward them, they stood still cautiously, as if in expectation.
Baldrich addressed the harpies with determination and without the slightest hint of fear and, when he was close enough to the one who stood out as the leader of the group, he told them:
“Greetings, winged ladies, I am Baldrich, a mighty elf magician who will inflict no evil on you if you quickly release my friend the giant.”
With a loudly broken voice, the supposed head of the harpies gave a loud laugh.
“Do you think we're stupid? Before you could lift a single finger, you would become part of our tonight's menu. How do you intend to inflict that evil on us, hey?" asked the unpleasant witch, with a marked disdain in a clear tone of threat.
As all the dwarves appeared pointing at the harpies with their crossbows, Baldrich answered with such calm and confidence in himself and his words that he made the shameless harpy pale.
“With a hundred accurate crossbow dwarfs, perhaps? Each one of you is the target of a different dwarf; and you in particular, being the main lady, have been given the honor of signing up ten dwarfs at a time. One false move or shout of warning and you will be the one who ends up cooked in that pestilent pot. And none of these dwarves I have ever seen fail a single arrow. If I were you, I would let my friend go without further ado," exposed the elf forcefully.
After a few seconds of looking around and weighing the situation, with resignation and contained rage, the horrific creature finally gave way.
“Do what it says," said the harpy, her eyes injected with blood and her face deformed with anger.
Two witches freed the giant, who seemed to fall to the ground with a crash when he was released, but, far from it, when he saw himself free, he grabbed his two captors by the neck, one with each hand, and smashed them head against head, knocking them out of combat.
The perverse fairies screamed furiously and began to attack, but more than half of them were hit by the dwarves’ arrows. One of them was the ringleader, who received eight deadly hits, leaving the winged creatures bewildered and unorganized.
Another hundred witches appeared from behind another nearby mound and many more from a little further away. However, when they were greeted by the dwarfs' accurate crossbows and when they saw that they were falling like flies and that, in addition, they were threatened by a group of orcs and humans who were ferociously joining the attack, they decided to flee and give up the battle for lost, apart from the tasty dinner based on giant.
Of the few remaining harpies, the giant took revenge with such fury that, when there were no more, he almost faced his liberators as well. But he calmed down and, kneeling, not out of reverence but to equal heights, he gave some effusive thanks to Baldrich:
“Thank you very much, great magician Baldrich for freeing me from these repellent creatures. I am indebted to you.”
“It is not me you must thank for your liberation, but my princes," said Baldrich, showing with his arm the approaching nobles.
“You must thank us all equally that you are free. My name is Lirieth, daughter of Gulrath, princess heir to the throne of Teberion.”
“And I am Syriel, son of Jorion, prince heir to the throne of Delfia, and you are not indebted to us: it has been a pleasure to free you from these vermin," the prince declared.
“Lirieth and Syriel? The heirs of Teberion and Delfia! What are you doing together? Weren't you at war?” asked the giant in great surprise.
“That war is now a thing of the past. Now, orcs and men are allies and it is likely that we will soon enter into war against the sombers. Lirieth is now my fiancée. By the way, you haven't told us your name yet…" Syriel was interested.
