Page 31 of Light and Shadow
When we reach the stand of trees marked by a jagged stone jutting from the ground, we dismount.
Jax hands his reins to his son. “You’ll take the horses and meet your mother on the road.” He ruffles his hair.
Once the animals are tethered, Broc mounts, and with one last look at his father, he rides down the mountain toward the road where Selina’s people will migrate toward the new city.
I step past the stone and through the edge of the forest. Blinking until my eyes adjust to the shade of the woods, I focus on two large pillars capped by a black stone to form an arch. Like the trees near Clandunna, these trees are old. They sway and creak, and a wiser elf might know what warning they give. I have neither the time nor the skill to listen to their message.
Lifting my hands, I bring the portal magic.
“Speak one word, boy, and I’ll flay open your elven gut.” The gruff voice comes from behind the tree just left of the portal.
“Show yourself.” I draw my sword, as does the rest of the party.
Bert narrows his eyes and holds a small throwing knife near his ear.
A man perhaps four feet tall, but wide with muscle, steps into view. His eyes are dark brown, and his hair is of similar color and wildly tangled with his beard. His leather armor and knee-high boots leave no doubt this is a dwarven warrior. “You have no business here. This gate is held by my father’s father.”
“Dwarves have no place this far south,” Jax bites out with his sword ready to battle. “Go back to your mountains and greedy ways.”
“The old gods gifted this to my family. I am the honored one to guard it against the likes of you.” The dwarf holds a two-handed sword high.
With a sigh, I lower my weapon and make a formal bow. “Good dwarf, we have urgent need of this portal.”
He scoffs, but his eyes are intelligent, and he lowers his sword. “What need could you have that would interest me, elf?”
Think Aaran. Don’t be rash just because Jax looks ready to lop off the dwarf’s head.
I motion my crew to lower their weapons. Nainsi and Bert instantly stand down, and after a tense moment, Jax and the others do as well. The warriors look to Jax for what to do next. Four men, all well trained and ready to kill this dwarf with whom they have no issue, but solely based on bad blood between the races from before any of them were born.
In a formal tone, I say, “I am Aaran, son of Elspeth Riordan.”
The dwarf pulls his shoulders back and holds his sword in front of him with the point facing down. “I am Fancor, son of Fan.”
I bow again. “Are you forbidden to let anyone through the portal, Fancor, or is the use at your discretion?”
His chest puffs up. “The portal of the old gods is for urgency, not to get a pup home to his mother.”
The way he growls makes me smile, but I hold my amusement. “I can assure you our need is far greater than seeing my honored mother, though that would be a valid use in my opinion, good dwarf.”
Fancor laughs. “Perhaps it would, but I would be remiss in my duty if I let ye pass for that purpose.”
“Perhaps so.”
Jax steps forward. “Just kill him. If you won’t do it, I have no qualms.” He lifts his sword.
For his part, Fancor only raises an eyebrow, making me wonder if he could have killed us all before we stepped into the trees, but waited to find out our purpose.
Placing my hand on Jax’s arm, I bite my tongue, not wanting to have to remind him that on this occasion, I am in command. “Wait.” Keeping my voice soft and cordial despite my mounting worry over Harper, I choose reason. “Fancor, perhaps you might let me tell you why we need this gate.”
He scratches his beard. “I have been here for three moons without company and am not opposed to hearing a tale. Tell your story, Aaran, son of Elspeth. But be warned, if you are agents of the witch queen, I will kill you all.”
It’s not often that a threat is good news, but in this case, I take Fancor’s words as hopeful. I tell him a brief version of the past few weeks, beginning with the prophecy and ending with Harper trading her life for the lives of the villagers and being taken by the witch queen. “So, good dwarf, you can see why we need to reach the old city with great haste. I cannot leave Harper with that monster. Even if we didn’t need her help, I could not leave her to such a fate.”
Fancor runs his hands over his long beard. “I had not heard that a prophecy had been found. This human woman, Harper, how can you be sure she’s not already dead or worse?”
Rage fights its way up my chest, but I push it down. “She lives and is whole.”
He cocks his head. “You sound very certain.”
