Tegus: and the Shards of Solaster

Chapter 16: Arrival

Pebbles and the trio soon struck deep enough to intercept the dwarfs and Norsewind could feel it. The stone boat shot through a tunnel and lifted from the Stone River it made as it went on a steep downward slide, the boat suddenly shook and was caught on a stalagmite as if came down. The party was sent flying, and all landed on the ground with a thud. Pebbles been much lighter flew through the air, his arms and legs flailing about, Norsewind had just got his footing and managed to run and catch the little fellow, “Lucky that one, hey?” he said looking down at Pebbles.

Pebbles was currently cupped in Norsewind’s hand took a few steps forward and rested him self onto Norsewind’s beard, effectively giving him a hug to say, thank you. “Well, it’s the least I could do since you got us this far” Norsewind said to Pebbles as he placed him by on a nearby vast rock.

The group looked around; they were in some other sort of huge cave. The walls where a darker stone, even Razahir knew that meant they were much deeper underground. There was only one other exit besides the way they had come.

“Well looks like we had best head this way” Tegus said leading the way.

The other two could not protest as it seemed the only way to go. They all thanked Pebbles and even though Razahir did not know what to make of this strange creature and his powers, he could not argue that in turn the creature had helped, he also said his good-byes and thanked him.

As they went to walk away, Norsewind found Pebbles following them, “Go on Pebbles, and get back to your home and your crystals. You helped us plenty.” Pebbles did not listen to him, “Go on home”

Pebbles just looked back up at him and mentally spoke to him, “Pebbles no need crystals or home, Pebble lonely there, Pebble need friend. Pebbles want to join Norsewind”

Tegus also heard what Pebble had said and as Norsewind looked at Tegus, Tegus laughed and nodded with a smile.

“Let’s be off. I’m guessing Pebbles is joining us” Razahir said re-picking up his pack, and at that the three of them and Norsewind’s new pet companion walked down the only tunnel that led out.

The tunnel was dark and they could barely see their hands in front of them, “could do with some light. I think Tegus?” Norsewind propositioned.

“No need” Razahir stopped him, “Save your energy. I can see the other side about fifty steps away.” Razahir informed them.

“Always forget you’re a half elf and your vision is better than mine” Tegus said openly.

“Don’t you forget it” Razahir joked, “Or I’ll show you how decent my vision is with my bow from a valley away.” He said seriously but then let out a laugh, and the others got that he was joking.

They reached the other side, and all stepped through almost together.

It took a moment for their eyes to adjust to the faint light; however, the gases on the ceiling lit the place up. They were stood looking out into an underground world where there were strange orange glowing fungus, scarlet water and stalagmites and stalactites, which were taller than any man could escalate.

“Wow, this place is enormous and look at all the plants, of sorts” Tegus was amazed. He did not realize the underground could be so beautiful with the crimson streams and vibrant colours of the fungus. Below them was a vast sort of canyon that was far too wide to avoid.

“Razahir what are you doing? “ Norsewind questioned him.

He was busy licking a sample of fungus he had sliced off with his knife. “I am trying to determine if this is edible.”

“No, you eat that and your heart will explode in your chest” Norsewind warned him.

Instantly Razahir dropped it and looked to see how many of these tempting mushrooms were near him. Norsewind walked off towards Tegus, who was now looking out as far as he could.

“They don’t explode your heart.” Tegus corrected him.

“I know” Norsewind smirked, “Just wanted to see him sweat for throwing up in my beard” he laughed.

“Ok, as much as I love this view, we need to find a heading to find this city.” Tegus began.

“Bear” Norsewind corrected him.

“What?” Tegus asked him confused.

“Well it’s on the back of the giant Bear, so fine that, and we find the city.” Norsewind pointed out.

“True,” Tegus agreed, “But I think we should get a night’s rest in before we carry on.”

“Agreed” Norsewind said, “Razahir we are setting up camp,” Razahir then made sure his bedroll was not near any of the fungus.

The Next morning Razahir was woken by a bang, in the distance, “what was that?” he spoke to the others. Both sat up to look out, “That’s it!” Norsewind said excitedly.

The front silhouette of a Bear could be made out in the Distance. “Get packed up!” Tegus said, and they began packing. They grabbed things and stuffed them in bags and pulled on their clothes.

Norsewind knocked over the cooking pot onto the fire, and it spread the embers towards some fungus.

After a few moments, they were packed up and ready and by that point, the Bear had almost got to them.

“So how do we get on?” Tegus asked Norsewind

“Oh, if they knew we were coming they would stop and put down a bridge.” Norsewind said.

“And since they do not know we are coming, what do you think we should do?” Tegus asked trying to keep him on track.

“We should, err…” Norsewind didn’t know they had left in such a hurry that he forgot to plan and let his kin know.

Razahir looked at the dwarf too. At that moment, the embers had spread across the ground and reached the large mushrooms which were taller than Tegus. The mushroom growled and popped and subsequently rocketed from the spot into the air, and once it reached its peak, floated down to grow anew.

“That’s it. We can ride the mushrooms high above the city and then float down!” Norsewind seemed happy with his discovery. The other two, both normally brave, where a little unsure about this plan but had nothing more to go on and with the city approaching had little in the way of ideas; so both shrugged and headed for the fire to pick up a mushroom stork to set on fire to use as a lighting stick. They all walked over and perched on a mushroom, ready to set fire to it. They all aimed for above the approaching bear.

“When I say, we will light.” Norsewind said.

“Been nice knowing you” Razahir said in a vain attempt to calm his nerves, he was not normally nervous but the thought of been propelled across the sky, well the sky in the underground, to try to land on a giant Bears back seemed a little out of the normal.

Tegus looked on with disbelief in himself and what he was about to do. He could use the Shard to fly up, but where was the fun in that, plus he didn’t want to leave his party behind.

“On my mark” Norsewind said. The three took aim and held the fires out behind them.

“One”

“Two”

“Three”

“Mark”

They all lit their mushrooms and one by one they took off.

Tegus flew up and up, clearly on one more powerful ripe mushroom and his light weight helped.

Norsewind’s small chunky figure gave him a lot of wind resistance and Pebbles was hiding in his pocket and wasn’t the lightest of pets.

Razahir was enjoying this more than he thought he ever would have “Wahoo” he yelled as his mushroom reached its full trajectory and started to come downward above the city, he grabbed it and turned it to float down. He could see the city on the back of the great bear, it appeared to be split into four districts, and he was starting to come upon the first one near the head.

Tegus had also started to descend but he was a little off course from Razahir and was falling within the district the Furthest away, on the Bear’s right side.

Norsewind was in line with Tegus but got nowhere near as high or far and found himself on his way to the district on the Bears left.

Norsewind’s mushroom came down quite fast with the weight of the stocky dwarf, and he landed with a thud.

“Cousin Norsewind, well I never!” came the familiar voice of a dwarf.

“Cousin Alvex” Norsewind exclaimed climbing to his feet and embracing the lord of the district he had landed within.

Alvex was surrounded by guards. All dressed in thick plate armour with hammers, and anvils spread across the chests. All the armour was beautifully decorated with the precious stones which represented each district of the city.

Emeralds represented Garrou’s district. Sapphires represented Alvex’s, Diamonds Shoj’aka’s district and Rubies represented King Eldus’ district. All four were brothers and the eldest brother, Eldus, was king.

“What’s with the small army cousin?” Norsewind asked.

“An intruder arrived several hours ago. Everyone has been on high alert looking for anyone who isn’t a dwarf” Alvex informed him.

At that moment a female dwarf came running over, “Sir they got the Human, young but with grey and white hair. All the brothers are summoned to the Spire of the Four”

“Tegus!” Norsewind realized they had caught the wrong human. “That human you described, he’s with me”

“You had better come then cousin” Alvex said.

All four brothers, and Norsewind, made their way to the spire of the four. The spire was the giant tower that connected the four districts and was the most central and secure place within the city.

Enormous arch ways entered the districts on all four sides, and walls crossed the Bear keeping each district to itself. The city was divided due to rival clans; the districts merely kept the peace. The brothers where the wisest dwarfs who ruled for six centuries, and the original dwarves that came up with the idea to give each clan their individual area; this allowed the clans to be their own but also united in times of need. All the clans voted the four as the rulers of the city, and each brother governed a district with the council from the others. This was decided after Eldus, and his brothers united and saved the dwarfs from one of the biggest dragons to have lived beneath the ground.

They walked into the main chamber. The area was immense as they walked through the arch, there were the four archways into the chamber each leading to a district and represented by that stones above the archways.

A vast throne lay at the far side of the chamber and atop it sat King Eldus staring down at the prisoner of Shoj’aka. Shoj, as he was known, was looking proud as he stood there holding the bound human with a sack over his face.

Garrou walked in last with his group of loyal soldiers.

“So you’re the human that tried to kill me. Why?” Eldus calmly asked. He was a well-built dwarf who looked as old as he did wise, this did not mean he was not able in the slightest. The ruby-red cloak he wore, were lavished with red jewels and under the robes, his armour folded steel, the best dwarf smiths knew their trade, and the honourable king wore it with pride.

The sack was pulled from the human’s head, and at first the light made his vision distorted.

Eldus walked down the steps of his throne.

“ANSER ME” Bellowed King Eldus. The King was strong minded and although known for being fierce, he was yet clever and even known for his merciful side. Then again, as far as he believed this man had tried to kill him.

“Eldus!” Norsewind could hold no more and spoke out; He needed to check if Tegus was ok, and even if it was Tegus.

Norsewind pushed forward through the crowd to the King, they met each other with a hearty embrace. “Norse last time I saw you, you went to learn to control magic” the king mocked slightly.

“Oh I learnt and became the first dwarf professor the University had ever seen!” He meant to intimidate the king slightly with his stature.

“My...” the king began and corrected himself looking at his brothers, “our cousin has returned a master magician! NORSEWIND!” The king raised his arms and there was a cheer from the brothers, and all the guards and nobles went around.

The prisoner half coming around, but still disorientated spoke out of turn “Norse?!” And then was hit with a hefty pelt from Garrou.

The impact made the prisoner lose control, and he began to rise up into the chamber above the dwarfs all limp. He stopped moving, and the binding on his hands and legs unravelled smoothly, and his head flung back, to reveal his face, his eyes where solid white.

“TEGUS!” Norsewind tried to communicate with him.

“You know him?” Asked King Eldus.

“It’s a long story, but he’s with me. However, right now, we need to shield ourselves” Norsewind warned, and before they could react, the barely conscious Tegus let out a blast of pure energy sending everyone toppling over each other, and then he rested back down in a pile on the floor.

“Tegus” Norsewind said again. “Snap out of it! Gain control before the magic wins” he pleaded and at that, Tegus shook his head and his eyes went back to normal. “Sorry Norse, I wasn’t all there. Instincts I guess” Tegus apologized to everyone as he stood up and regained his composure.

“Bloody humans” Alvex moaned; he was the hot head of the four.

“Calm yourself Alvex or you will leave this chamber” Eldus warned. Alvex growled and turned away.

“So, Norse, explain this human to me before I lose my patients and have him thrown from the Bear” Eldus commanded.

Norsewind told him of Tegus and his rise through the University, what Vakaroth had done and how Ilfirimain had come to pass, and Tegus became grand master. Everyone suddenly had a newfound respect for human, and they started bowing and addressing him as master. As much as dwarfs were more of a ’think now’ and ask questions later kind of race they still had their own forms of magic. Magic users like Norsewind and ’stone listeners, as they were known, who were kind of like spies who listened to the earth and could manipulate it at will; they were the wise shaman of the Dwarven people.

After Norsewind finished his story Eldus walked up to Tegus and said, “I knew Ilfirimain, and he was one of very few elves I trusted. He must have seen some greatness in you.” He paused for a moment, and Tegus found the complement reassures that the King would offer aid, “But I do not know you or trust you. I know why you are here even if almost everyone else in this room does not. I have a task and a question for you. The task, find the intruder we had several hours ago and turn him in. The question is, where is your third companion Norsewind spoke of? Have you sent him ahead to steal the Charm of Vyxal?”

“No, we have not and our companions’ whereabouts is unknown to us. He should have been on the third mushroom” Tegus pointed out.

“Well, the word I received was that the third was empty as he landed” Eldus assured them. “Now tell me again did you send him to steal it?”

“Eldus! Tegus is a good one! I’ve known him since he was ten years old” Norsewind defended.

“You do not trust humans?” Tegus asked.

“No and Elves even less.” He said as he sat on his throne and waved for everyone but his brothers to leave. He then finished with “... And those half elves, seems wrong. I only ever met a few Elves I liked and trusted, never met a half-elf that seemed right, the greed of human and slyness of the damn elves.” And he let out a big hearty Dwarven chuckle knowing he’d repeated this line many times over the years.

“You know my story or as much as you need for the time being. Tell me why you are here and what you wish of me?” Eldus was blunt.

“You are right that I seek the Charm of Vyxal” Tegus began.

“I know that much, but why you are here for it is and what do you want me to do about it? Why should I give you, it? Just because Ilfirimain knew you, it doesn’t mean I do.” Eldus interrupted.

“I’d like you to give it to us to look after and trust us, I guess” Tegus tried to answer.

“Trust is earned. Earn a Dwarfs trust Tegus and we call you Dekab - Brother. You would be one with us as we are one with the earth” Eldus answered with pride. “Merely two in all have earned that title from me while I have sat on this throne, that’s around 600 of your human years.”

“Two?” Tegus didn’t like his chances.

“Many have been called a friend Tegus, but you must understand that Dekab to a dwarf is the highest honour. That is our race as a whole calling an outsider one of us” Norsewind tried to help Tegus understand it.

“It is getting late, and I would appreciate it if you stayed as our guest until we sort this matter of your missing friend, and we work out if we are in a position to aid you with what you seek to accomplish. We also need to address this Vakaroth business, which seems you had a part to play in his corruption” Eldus pushed Tegus.

“If Tegus did push Vakaroth to this path, it was completely unintentional I can assure you!” Norsewind defended Tegus as if he were still a 10-year-old boy.

Tegus over looked the comment knowing he had nothing to do with it and responded to the king’s hospitality, “What if I refuse to stay as your guest?” his curiosity once again leading him and Norsewind looked at him to plead not to push his luck.

Eldus, as short as he may be, stood tall and bold instantly and replied in a stern but well-spoken tone, “then you will stay as our prisoner. The choice is yours. I believe you are a powerful wizard Grand Master Tegus, but I am sure you cannot take over a city of dwarf warriors and shamans!” Eldus confidently spoke and intentionally using his title as if it meant nothing here.

Tegus’ curiosity made his first thought about whether he could take on that many dwarf... Then he reminded himself that he had no reason to fight these people, even if they were been difficult. Plus he didn’t think leveling Norsewind’s home would win him any favours or trust with anyone.

Tegus simply bowed and said, “I’d be honours to be your guest Eldus. Besides we haven’t slept much, and I could do with a warm soft bed” Tegus smiled as Norsewind and Eldus looked at each other with a jolly grin, for they both knew a dwarf bed was all but soft and warm since it was not much more than a stone slab and animal pelts.