when the dark gods will attempt to reenter Malweir.” Otherwise we’re just wasting our time and running from death .
Leaving his darkest thoughts unsaid, Bahr resumed his argument with Boen. “Just because we don’t have a definite answer doesn’t give us the luxury of burning time. I say we push through the mountains and reach the river.”
“The passes are sure to be filled with snow by now! Attempting a crossing would be tantamount to suicide. And let’s not forget the Dwarves. They won’t take kindly to us marching across their territory uninvited.”
Damnation. I’d almost forgotten about them . “Everything I know of Dwarves says they won’t bother us if we don’t bother them.”
Boen barked a laugh. “Believe that if you wish, but I have known many Dwarves. Fought with them and even made a few friends. Fought against them too. They’re mean little bastards when it comes down to it and I’d just as soon avoid them altogether. Besides, Dwarves hold grudges that travel from clan to clan. We’d have every Dwarf in Malweir out looking for us.”
“What’s another few thousand hunting us?” Nothol asked. He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever dark powers were active in the north were sending every tool at their disposal after the small band.
“He’s got a point,” Boen said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we don’t need a legion of Dwarves after us. You can kiss your precious hammer good bye that way.”
“The Kergland Dwarves won’t bother anyone,” Anienam said suddenly.
“How can you know this?” Bahr demanded.
The wizard shrugged casually. “I have friends as well. They will know me. We should be quite welcome.”
Bahr doubted that. The wizard was a quirky old man, but he was off his rocker. Given his track record, Bahr decided Anienam was just as likely to draw someone’s ire as their friendship. He couldn’t take that chance. “We need to avoid contact. The fewer know about us the better.”
“But the Dwarves…”
Bahr pointed at Groge. “Have no love for him. Do you want to start a war?”
“All right, all right! Have it your way. I’m going back to my book.”
He ambled back to his already cold seat and picked the book back up, leaving the other two with bemused looks.
“We should scout the nearest pass. If it’s blocked we go around,” Dorl suddenly added. “It’s the only way to end your arguments and keeps us moving forward.”
Bahr hid his smile as Boen unfolded his arms warily. The decision to bring along the sell swords continued to pay off, making Bahr glad of what few friends he had. They’d proven themselves invaluable a dozen times over since first leaving Delranan and he held every expectation they would continue to do so in what was sure to be dark days ahead. Still, the decision to enter the mountains or go around weighed heavily. I need the wizard to give me an accurate timetable. We’re trapped until he does .
TEN
They travelled east for another two days. Ahead, the jagged fangs of the Kergland Spine continued to rise higher. Shadows cast about their base, locking the closest land in semi darkness. Tensions continued to rise as well. The group was decidedly torn between which approach best suited their needs. Boen adamantly championed marching around the northern edge of the mountains. So unlike his usual self, Bahr had to wonder what the Gaimosian knew and wasn’t telling. That worried him more than anything else since leaving Fedro.
Reluctantly, the Sea Wolf agreed to send Dorl and Nothol forward to scout the passes. Deep down he knew enough snow had fallen to block their passage, though he refused to believe it until the report came back. He needed to be right. He needed to know he was still capable of making the right decision. So much had gone wrong since the night Harnin came to him and besieged him to rescue his niece. Bahr looked back at Maleela and found any ill will difficult to maintain against her. She
Leaving his darkest thoughts unsaid, Bahr resumed his argument with Boen. “Just because we don’t have a definite answer doesn’t give us the luxury of burning time. I say we push through the mountains and reach the river.”
“The passes are sure to be filled with snow by now! Attempting a crossing would be tantamount to suicide. And let’s not forget the Dwarves. They won’t take kindly to us marching across their territory uninvited.”
Damnation. I’d almost forgotten about them . “Everything I know of Dwarves says they won’t bother us if we don’t bother them.”
Boen barked a laugh. “Believe that if you wish, but I have known many Dwarves. Fought with them and even made a few friends. Fought against them too. They’re mean little bastards when it comes down to it and I’d just as soon avoid them altogether. Besides, Dwarves hold grudges that travel from clan to clan. We’d have every Dwarf in Malweir out looking for us.”
“What’s another few thousand hunting us?” Nothol asked. He couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever dark powers were active in the north were sending every tool at their disposal after the small band.
“He’s got a point,” Boen said. “But that doesn’t change the fact that we don’t need a legion of Dwarves after us. You can kiss your precious hammer good bye that way.”
“The Kergland Dwarves won’t bother anyone,” Anienam said suddenly.
“How can you know this?” Bahr demanded.
The wizard shrugged casually. “I have friends as well. They will know me. We should be quite welcome.”
Bahr doubted that. The wizard was a quirky old man, but he was off his rocker. Given his track record, Bahr decided Anienam was just as likely to draw someone’s ire as their friendship. He couldn’t take that chance. “We need to avoid contact. The fewer know about us the better.”
“But the Dwarves…”
Bahr pointed at Groge. “Have no love for him. Do you want to start a war?”
“All right, all right! Have it your way. I’m going back to my book.”
He ambled back to his already cold seat and picked the book back up, leaving the other two with bemused looks.
“We should scout the nearest pass. If it’s blocked we go around,” Dorl suddenly added. “It’s the only way to end your arguments and keeps us moving forward.”
Bahr hid his smile as Boen unfolded his arms warily. The decision to bring along the sell swords continued to pay off, making Bahr glad of what few friends he had. They’d proven themselves invaluable a dozen times over since first leaving Delranan and he held every expectation they would continue to do so in what was sure to be dark days ahead. Still, the decision to enter the mountains or go around weighed heavily. I need the wizard to give me an accurate timetable. We’re trapped until he does .
TEN
They travelled east for another two days. Ahead, the jagged fangs of the Kergland Spine continued to rise higher. Shadows cast about their base, locking the closest land in semi darkness. Tensions continued to rise as well. The group was decidedly torn between which approach best suited their needs. Boen adamantly championed marching around the northern edge of the mountains. So unlike his usual self, Bahr had to wonder what the Gaimosian knew and wasn’t telling. That worried him more than anything else since leaving Fedro.
Reluctantly, the Sea Wolf agreed to send Dorl and Nothol forward to scout the passes. Deep down he knew enough snow had fallen to block their passage, though he refused to believe it until the report came back. He needed to be right. He needed to know he was still capable of making the right decision. So much had gone wrong since the night Harnin came to him and besieged him to rescue his niece. Bahr looked back at Maleela and found any ill will difficult to maintain against her. She
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