DemiGodChapter 16 Betrayal
- 2 years ago
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Day 263:
“See ‘em how?” Dulgan pressed.
John’s hands motioned aimlessly.
“Like they’re really here. In this room with us right now. There. There, and there.” He pointed.
Dulgan walked over to one spot he’d indicated. Vafthundryr shifted, so they wouldn’t ‘collide’.
“Here?” The Dwimar asked.
“He moved.” John’s finger indicated.
Dulgan peered in the direction curiously. “I see nothin’. Wha’ do they loo’ like?”
John kept his finger indicating Vafthundryr. “A Frost Giant, Vafthundryr is wearing leather and fur armor. It’s a good thing the ceiling’s high in here.” He pointed at the second image. “Another Giant, the first one’s daughter, Aurbyda (the Tooth) is encased head to toe in heavy ... bone armor?” He met Veronyka’s interested gaze. “She and Sygraid could almost be twins. The resemblance is that strong.” Aurbyda grinned at his words.
John’s finger pointed at a third spot. Dulgan squinted even harder in the same direction.
“The last one’s a Dwarf. His armor looks exactly like one of the golems I saw at the Ruby Dragon’s lair. Got a build to match your half-brother, Dulgan.” The Dwimar grinned in response. “But he’s sporting a huge, braided beard. I’ve never seen a Dwarf with one so thick.”
Dulgan nodded. “Duin was famous fer bein’ a warrior, no’ a Maker.”
Duin’s image stroked his beard with care, a self-satisfied smile on his face.
Then someone pounded on the door from the other side.
“Master Ironhand! Please hurry!” Mokul called.
Dulgan shook off the wonder decorating his face.
“Aye. Ya mus’ come wi’ me if’n ya wanna live.” He announced grimly. “Grab all yer stuff, ‘cause ya won’ be comin’ back.”
“Dulgan?” John cocked his head. “What’s going on? Why such a rush?”
“I’ll explain on th’ way. Hurry!”
The couple scrambled to get themselves in order. Mid-move, John realized something about the Dwarf’s phrasing.
“Dulgan, you’re staying here? Not coming with us?” He confirmed.
“Aye. Th’ Shademaster an’ I ‘ave come ta an accord.” He explained. “I cannae speak o’ th’ details, bu’ they’ll be a good choice fer protectin’ me. Ya were right ‘bout that; twill no’ be long b’fore wha’ I am’ll get out.”
“I’m going to miss you, my friend.” John clasped forearms with him.
Dulgan got his familiar ‘I-know-something’ look. He reached into his robe and pulled out a small, round, metal-backed mirror. Runes decorated the rim, and several adorned the back side. He offered it to John. The glass front was perfectly smooth, but the image reflected wasn’t John’s face in reverse. It was blank instead.
“What is this?”
Dulgan patted his robe. “Part o’ a pair. ‘Bout once e’ry five ta eight days ya’ll be able ta link wi’ me fer a short talk.”
“Wow.” John examined it. “Wish we’d had these a few days ago!”
Dulgan snorted. “Tis th’ work o’ a Master, an’ took most o’ a year ta Make. No’ common a’ all. Th’ Shademaster let me ‘ave it, ‘n exchange fer me Makin’ a set o’ more’n two. Took me ‘bout an hour.”
“Still,” John shook his head in wonder, “that’s fantastic, thanks!”
“Aye, ya’ll ‘ave ta bond wi’ it later. Noo come wi’ me, an’ stay close. I fear we ‘ave little time.”
Sygraid, Rhys and Ililyan bristled with questions for the Dwimar when they exited. In response, Dulgan gave a very short explanation, then chivvied them out the door.
The city streets were busier than John would’ve expected, given the extremely late hour. Or early, depending on how he wanted to view it. After only a few blocks, his paranoia was screaming. He wasn’t the only one either, the images of his equipment’s spirits were also indicating deep unease. Clusters of disreputable-looking Dwarves and armored squads wearing various clan colors made up the bulk of the pedestrians.
“Dulgan,” John leaned over to hiss, “I don’t like the look of this!”
“Aye.” The Dwimar sounded tense. “I dinnae wanna talk ‘bout it ‘n the Oakfall House, bu’ th’ Shademaster b’lieves both Clan Twilight an’ Clan Alpine have betrayed us. Th’ other Clans ‘r’ beginnin’ ta realize it, an’ getting’ prepared fer what’s commin’. If’n ya see Powry wearin’ white with black border, or Dvergyr in dark blue with black, those’re th’ Clans ta be wary of fer sure.”
“And you’re staying?” John was incredulous.
“Aye. Tis time ta stand fer somethin’ bigger’n my own self.” Dulgan replied, holding up his hand. “I have th’ tools ta make a real difference.”
“You know this city’s going to come apart at the seams, right?” John asked.
“Aye, tis likely. Bu’ most o’ th’ Clans ‘r’ no’ likely ta welcome th’ Mage King wi’ open arms. If’n he’s expectin’ an easy fight, twill be sorely disappointed.”
“He breaks a pledge that has stood for centuries.” Mokul jumped in. “If he wishes to fight without honor, the Wraithguard will show him the error of his thinking.”
They turned onto the last block before reaching the massive fortified edifice carved into the mountain at the city’s end. An armed brawl was already in progress. Wraithguard Dwarves of all three types they’d seen were battling with a mixed group of scuzzy-seeming and richly-attired Dvergyr. The bulk of the more well-to-do Dwarves did have blue-with-black clothing, or tabbards and capes with the same color scheme. The more run-down set sported armbands in the same hues. The scrum at the center was a hotbed of furious fighting, swords and daggers flashing in the city’s dim light.
John’s Sight caught a flash of magic he recognized right at the heart of everything.
“Syg! Hal’s in there!” He called.
She scowled, sliding her shield down and gripping her spear’s shaft more tightly.
“With me!” She announced, and launched herself down the street.
The rest of them followed in her wake, with Mokul and the other Wraithguard members announcing their allegiance for the combatants to hear. At the last moment, the Titan swerved to one side, where a cluster of blue/black arm-banded Dvergyr were attempting to flank the Wraithguard ‘line.’ Her steps shook the stone-paved street like an earthquake and frost coated the blade of her spear. An arctic blast of freezing air and ice sprayed out from the tip, followed immediately by her shield slamming into them like a hammer.
She barely even paused as she trampled several underfoot on her way to the middle while John, Ililyan and the rest were hard pressed to keep up. Mokul and the other brown-robed invisi-killers brought up the rear, finishing off those already downed by her assault.
Holding Sygraid’s left flank, John hacked down those too involved in their own combat to realize what was happening. The few who did, and turned to meet this new wave were quickly cut down by the Wraithguard now behind them. A few times, one of those cloaked combatants looked ready to attack John as well, but he motioned with his chin towards the rear guard and announced, “Allies!”
The Tooth hummed joyously in his mind, practically leaping from target to target. His feet and arms too felt like the motions were effortless as his weapon hewed down Dvergyr after Dvergyr. He never tripped, even with all the bodies clogging the stones, and the power behind each blow tore through armor and tissue alike. A few times he was hit by a lucky strike, but his armor held.
“Here!” Sygraid announced, straddling a bloodied form on the ground.
Hal looked like he’d been through a meat grinder, but even unconscious his illusory Dwarf image held. John would have to ask him how he did that, later. Later, when (not if!) the Cambion was safe and healed up.
John and Ililyan stood shield to shield with Sygraid, pushing the snarling throng back while Veronyka guarded their rear. Rhys knelt by their friend, his hands wiping blood away as they examined the extent of his injuries.
“You can heal?” Veronyka demanded, glancing back after a minute.
The Wraithguard who were already engaged recognized their Clan-mates signal that these were allies, so she had a little breathing room. Enough to see that Rhys was indeed performing healing magic on Hal.
“Of course I can heal.” Rhys answered absently. “Fey make very good healers.”
“But, but—weren’t you injured when we first met?” Veronyka stuttered.
Rhys sighed, pausing his work. “I was. Healing myself is much harder than others, so I waited until the fight was ended. Now, please let me work!”
His hands moved with assurance, leaving straightened limbs and unbroken skin behind. Bruises and blood remained, but their friend’s body was mostly whole within minutes.
Meanwhile, each scruffy and less-capably-armed Dvergyr was replaced by an armored and competent fighter when they fell. The skill level of the black-bordering-blue-clad warrior arc facing John, Sygraid and Ililyan jumped, and the trio quickly found themselves being pressured. All three of them had three opponents of their own. Luckily, the Wraithguard allies on either side kept them from being flanked. Sygraid’s ice-coated and Ililyan’s electric spears gave the two of them a decided reach advantage. None of their foes was pole-armed.
John on the other hand, was kicking himself for leaving the lance Dulgan had enchanted for him standing out in the desert. Several sword-armed and partly-armored, blue and black tabard-wearing Dvergyr converged on him with deadly intent. His shield stayed busy intercepting groin and chest thrusts while the Tooth sought exposed necks and heads for return strikes. A few times he hesitated, or thought too long about what action to take, but Duin and Aurbyda’s spirits shot sharp reminders when he did so.
Let it flow! Aurbyda snapped, when his body jerked the wrong way. Like meltwater carving out a channel beneath the snow. We can help.
He took a nasty cut to the forearm for that mistake.
Feel it? Duin asked, after he split one Dwarf’s skull open with an overhand smash. Blue flame licked the wound’s edges. Your mind senses our intent as part of its own. Let us aid your skill.
Is this because—o
Talk later! Fight now! Vafthundyr demanded.
Almost of its own accord, John’s shield smashed out to bloody the nose of split-skull’s replacement. Once his already calculating Warlord mind found and identified the incoming signals from his equipment spirits, he found his movement becoming more fluid. ‘Slow is smooth, and smooth is fast’ was one of the truisms of his old unit. While he couldn’t afford to slow down while fighting for his life, after a year of fairly regular melee combat he possessed a rudimentary (if mostly untrained) sense of what was truly effective versus what wasn’t. Now that he understood what was happening within himself, he could harness that assistance.
The fighting around them grew even more intense, as ones and twos joined each side. The brawl now filled the street from side to side, with the non-Wraithguard Dwarves pushing to cut them off from the rest of the city. Every time they did though, a group of Wraithguard would strike from the rear, opening a channel along one wall.
“Dulgan!” John shouted, as Rhys and Veronyka helped a still-woozy Hal to his feet. “This is getting worse!”
“Shon? Shon!” Hal exclaimed. “We are in danger! We—mu”
“Aye. Aye.” Dulgan interrupted him. “We know. Which way noo?” This last question was aimed at Mokul.
“Through here!” The Wraithguard urged.
Two Watchers were bracketing a now-opened hidden entrance where the street dead-ended against the ridge hillside. The Shademaster’s assistant intercepted several of the newest arrivals and pushed them into place right behind the shield-bearing trio. These Watchers and Nightwalkers bore spears, shields and wore armor. Dulgan grabbed Hal, Rhys and Veronyka in the meantime, dragging that group towards the opening. The Fey and Valkyrie supported the Cambion closely, while the Dwimar swung wide to intercept a lone enemy who’d slipped through the throng.
Dulgan’s target seemed not to even notice him until it was too late. Coming in from the side, Dulgan’s nunchuck-mace walloped the dirty Dvergyr foe’s head. Before the staggered Dwarf could recover, Dulgan followed up with a dagger plunged through his enemy’s eye. He yanked it out with a spray of gore and turned to follow the others once more.
“John! Time ta go!” Dulgan shouted.
John nodded. “Sygraid, give a spray! I’ll cover you!”
The Titan had worked out an incredibly effective technique. She would spray a target’s face with a flurry of ice, and if they were blinded instead of blocking with a shield, or withdrawing she followed up with a neck- or groin-strike using her icy spear. When fighting in the open, or against mobile forces she found it less useful. But in a melee battle, it allowed her to husband her magic use for longer, and kept the opposing line’s shields high. Which meant those flanking her could more easily hit their enemy’s lower torso and extremities. The pile of bodies currently hindering the enemy Dvergyr line was a grim testament to the technique’s efficacy.
Sygraid swung her spear in an arc, releasing a cone of icy slush across the entire group. Most of those facing them were wise to the trick now, and blocked. But that only gave the two Wardens more time to pull back and switch out with the heavily-armed Wraithguard Watchers to their rear.
“Go!” John ordered, keeping an eye on the enemy.
He knew what was coming. As soon as they saw the Titan retreating, the biggest, baddest opposing Dvergyr roared and leaped forward with a saber-like short sword held high. John stepped into the charge, taking the blow easily with his shield and burying the Tooth’s spike between the Dwarf’s eyes. He kicked out, knocking the still-upright corpse into the next most eager opponent. Both went down in a heap, and the line struggled to reform.
John roared, intending to scare the enemy and delay their recovery, but apparently the Wraithguard surrounding him took that as a signal to charge. Chagrined, he could only watch as they streamed around him to punch a deep salient into their opponents’ grouping.
A hand clamped down onto John’s shoulder.
“Come!” Sygraid ordered, right into his ear.
With a grin, he spun and followed her out of the tussling crowd. Dulgan and Ililyan were now bracketing the opening, and the Watchers from before were nowhere to be seen. The Dwimar and Warden waved for Sygraid and John to hurry as a massive roar reached a crescendo behind them. Looking over his shoulder, John was in time to see Legion Dwarves come streaming out of the mountain fortification’s main gate. The well-ordered ranks strode out like they were on parade, only instead of waving to the bystanders, they indiscriminately cut down anyone they saw.
The Wraithguard assault broke their enemy’s will just in time for the Legion to intercept the Clan Twilight Dwarves’ retreat. Caught between the two forces, the odd mix of ragged, scuzzy and well-appointed Dwarves were decimated. Even a few Wraithguard who got too close lost their lives also before someone organized an immediate retreat.
Then Sygraid and John were at the doorway.
“Go! Go! Go!” They both chanted, motioning like a third-base coach to a runner.
A few steps down the stairs they found inside, John realized neither Ililyan nor Dulgan were following.
“What are you doing?” John asked as the Warden took up a protective stance with Dulgan at his back.
The Dwimar was doing something John couldn’t see, and suddenly the opening was shrinking! Both sides moved towards the middle.
“Dulgan!” John repeated.
His friend met his eyes sadly.
“Mokul will guide you!” He called through the rapidly closing portal. “May you find great fortune, my friend!”
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Day 65 “Filthy, no-good, back-stabbing, traitorous bastard!” Syg came storming down the stairs into the brazier room. It was a lot less crowded, now that those fighters with family could camp with their loved ones. Those without family used the other room, the one connected to the tunnel that the Adepts had completely filled with ice. All that remained in the room with John were Rorik and his family, to include Syg and Treb of course, plus the Captains and their families, though Khapu and...
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Day 90-91: Welcome back Traveler. As you have achieved a journeyman rank from completing a recognized course of study in a field applicable throughout the Network, your provisional status has been removed. You have a total of four previously-encountered portals that you may choose to exit using. You have also met the Traveler criteria for any other portals connected with your organization on World number 5. Please indicate which destination you desire. Veronyka grinned. “The one outside the...
Day 91-92 / Day 140 continued: The ice melted, revealing a woman easily mistaken for Hrund’s twin, with pitch black hair instead. Eyes as clear and cold as the glacier above their heads regarded her expressionlessly. Her shield was round on top, but elongated below like an inverted teardrop, and had a large metal boss in the center. Her other hand carried a long spear, with an axe head sticking out at the base of the blade, and a spike sticking out the other side: a halberd. It was the first...
Day 141-143: The sun was just beginning to light up the Tower’s watery exterior when John and Veronyka got up. The former doctor had strung up a hammock, with enough material for two, between two of the pavilion posts at the island’s north end. In an amazing display of nonverbal communication, Sygraid, Hal and a few others comprehended Veronyka’s desire for privacy. They kept others away while the two lovers reunited. They spent the night pressed together, touching, caressing and finally...
Day 143: John couldn’t be sure from the distance he watched, but this dragon felt like it was the largest yet. If not the biggest, then definitely the scariest. Her head reminded him of the worgh, with sharp spines lining every contour. A ‘mane’ of more horns flared at the base of her skull, leading to a row of them dotting her spine. Her wings were folded, and every joint, including her legs was defined by a jutting tapered spike. Her scales were deep red, with shiny platinum and gold...
Day 149-153: Sergeant Major (Retired) Jeffrey Ellis jumped to his feet as Veronyka barged into the meeting. The unruly looking filthy men and women who’d been seated at the large table with him all stood quickly as well. Dead eyes and hopeless expressions greeted her entrance. It had taken her a week to fly across the Bay of Chaos and track the Ender population down. The high-altitude westward Jetstream sped her trip, but every Raider city she checked, starting at Final Harbor was deserted...
Day 153-158: Though John was unmistakably a prisoner, the Legionnaires never tied or locked him up. They appointed two minders, who rotated every day. This meant he couldn’t make friends, since it was never the same two repeated. But it did mean he could interrogate them, subtly of course. None seemed to be operating under any restrictions on their tongues, so he took full advantage. The unit who captured him occupied a full section of subterranean ‘apartments,’ which emptied out onto the...
Day 179: On the twenty-sixth day that John woke up in chains, he finally followed the formation out into open air. They’d diverted off the Great Road that morning, using a much rougher-hewn ramp to the surface. His head barely cleared the tunnel roof to find a road running straight and true sloping across broken foothills and out into farmland-rich plains. Off in the distance, he could see a wide levee-bordered river formed by the joining of several runoff streams trickling down from the...
Afternoon (Chronological coordinate set undetermined): Welcome back Traveler. You have a total of four previously-encountered portals that you may choose to exit using. This list excludes your Sanctioned portal, and one deemed too hazardous for your use at this time. You have also met the Traveler criteria for any other portals connected with your organization on World number 5. Please indicate which destination you desire. Veronyka sighed in relief. Her entry into the Network via the...
Day 193-200: John had a problem, and Dulgan was its source. Oh, the Dwarf was a fine traveling companion. After departing the camp, the Dwimar led them to a well-concealed entrance back underground. The Obsidian Peaks were honeycombed with passages and caves where far more Clans than John had figured made their homes. They zig-zagged their way between Dvergyr and Dwimar clan areas, never moving in a straight line. At first, Dulgan’s inquisitive nature charmed John while they walked. The...
Day 202: Their second night in the jungle was when things came apart. They’d traveled for two days, turning to head directly into the thickest, wettest, deadliest part after midday that first morning. The trees they walked between emitted a rotting musk, and their boots squelched deep into soft, clinging, stinky mud. Detouring around puddles eventually devolved into slogging across putrid, stagnant ponds. Anything deeper than their knees had to be avoided, and they lost count of how many...
Day 217: John and Dulgan were being followed. They were a day’s walk into the swamp, on a direct line toward the Hidden Ziggurat. Though he’d been occupied at the time, Vorigan sent his retainers to escort the duo back to their drop-off point via his boat. In addition, Jashul and the three Vampyri who comprised Cain’s embassy to the Dwarven clans traveled with them to the same landing spot. The four would cut across the north end of the swamp and enter the Onyxhart gate to begin their...
Day 219: “Head for that one! Run!” John shouted, pointing at the door to their right. The group veered to that side, picking up speed as they moved downhill. Jashul lagged behind the sprinting duo, and John’s longer legs carried him in the lead as they ran. The gap between all three widened as they closed with the two undead bracketing that opening. On the ledges above, the patrols congregated, staying on their level but clustering abreast of the group as the trio neared the ground-level...
Day 225: “That ... you ... you ... how? Goddamit!” John cursed, unable to explain. “Your Task was your own.” The Patriarch admonished. “Not for any other to know. As you have finished the most difficult part, you are eligible for all three rewards. Are you prepared to select them now?” John held up his other hand. “Just a moment.” He turned around and closed his eyes. Don’t kill him. Don’t even attack him. You have no idea what would happen if you did. Let it go. Something even the...
World number 6,626,070,041,034 Day 140: Welcome back Traveler, please note that your Visitor status remains defunct. You and your companion have met the Traveler criteria for World number 6,626,070,041,034. You both will now be transported to that destination. Sygraid’s massive form disappearing from the platform was the only indicator that he’d arrived. He looked around at the uniform, unfathomable darkness for a clue, and noticed that the flames on the portal arch were now a complete...
Day 236: John and Adam brought up the rear of their little procession as they began the second day of their trek into the Endless Sands, the morning after leaving Southern Oasis. Vorigan and Dulgan were in the lead, with the Vamp interrogating the Dwimar about his newfound enchanting abilities, as well as the subject generally. On John’s advice, the day before when purchasing supplies for the trek, they’d gotten several serviceable daggers for each person, which Dulgan agreed to enchant...
Day???: John dug a divot into the sand with his heel, then climbed back up onto the square stone platform. As a test, he walked through the ‘doorway,’ facing away from the Pyramid. Instantly he was turned around, and a glance at the hole in the ground showed he hadn’t moved to another spot. Okay, what do you think? He thought at Duin. And got no response. So he hopped down onto the sand. What do you think I should do? He asked again. Stand on the dust-cloud side of the platform and walk...
Day??? Adam was leaning in the open doorway when John walked up. “You solve it already?” John asked hopefully. Adam snorted. “I wish!” “Oh? What happened?” John wanted to know. Adam’s headshake was rueful. “You were right; it wasn’t that easy. After I pushed the octagon, there was a sound of lots of feet stomping around, and rock grinding like bricks rubbing together. While I was feeling my way over to the last button, I ran into a column that wasn’t there before. It was about a yard and...
Day??? “Well, that was ... interesting.” John said to Adam as he approached from the floor’s entry spot. The SEAL was leaning against the opposite side of the corridor by the now blank door that had borne Dulgan’s name. “Can you ... talk about it?” Adam asked. John shook his head. “I got a headache last time, so let’s go do yours.” “I wonder.” Adam mused. “Do you think all three of the hidden doors are on this level?” “Let’s keep an eye out.” John suggested. Back in the SEAL’s...
Day??? John stepped through the portal and found himself in a place very similar to the Labyrinth entry, where he’d written his name in the sand, and accepted the Rules. Same doorway with walls extending into the distance, like the first and third base lines on a baseball diamond. Unlike the other however, his stone platform this time was only as big as the ones out in the desert, that he’d looped through three times to enter. Beyond its small, square boundary was an endless sea of sand...
Day 251: As Adam and Master Chief Chatman walked out of the planning meeting for Adam’s upcoming trip to the portal stone in South America, Adam signaled the older man with his chin. “Want to grab a quick bite before we split?” He asked, overly casually. “ ... Yes, let’s.” Chatman replied, after figuring out what Adam really wanted. Chatman put the sound dampener between them while they ate. “Is it just me,” Adam inquired, “or is there definitely something going on that I’m not privy...
Day 258/259: John and company were most of the way to the double-peak Ariel indicated as their navigation landmark when a massive wind and rain storm rolled in from the north. Within minutes, visibility in the air dropped to a yard or two, and the gusts were so rough that they decided to land and continue on foot. The group spent that night miserably trying to camp on the best rocky hill they could find. The rain stopped before dawn, but if anything the wind picked up with the sun’s rise....
Day 259/260: “Ho there, we see you!” The voice floated down from the darkness above. The sound carried an echoing quality indicating that the speaker was using a megaphone, or something like it. None of the four were surprised, given how high the walls of Gluboskal were. After separating from the Wardens: Ililyan and Sygraid, plus Rhys the other four companions flew up and around the double-peaked mountain, Gananora Heralis which Dulgan informed them was the backbone of the city’s...
Day 261: Right before the group departed Dadem’s house, Veronyka took a minute to leave Hal a message before bringing up the rear. A very young Dvergyr, Hotric Oakfall worked as the house doorman slash receptionist slash butler. He promised to pass along Veronyka’s words when Hal returned, and to keep an eye out for any unusual interest in their group. That Dulgan and Thedus had a longstanding relationship was apparent to all, as the two chatted continuously during their hike out of the...
Day 261: With herculean effort, John staggered upright, and brushed off the debris coating his arms and helmet. He searched frantically through the too-slowly-dissipating dust cloud for his friends. After tripping twice on the churned-up slope, he stumbled onto both, crumpled into a pile and covered with a thick layer of earth. Heart in his throat, he pulled the pair apart and laid them side by side on a slightly less-torn patch of ground. Uncapping his canteen, he splashed water over...
Day 262/263: “What the hell’s an Arcane Magi?” John wondered. Duin’s unmissable mixture of excitement and trepidation was palpable. “As I said, tha’s tween you’n th’ other one.” Dulgan insisted. “Then why doesn’t he want me to let you leave?” John wondered. Dulgan blinked in surprise. “He doesn’o’? I dunno. Le’s ask.” Repeat my words, so the Magi can hear them as well. Duin instructed. “Before the Arrival, there was a powerful, and secretive organization of Dwarves called the Dark...
Day 263/264: Mokul kept John awake for several hours as the man from Earth described his adventures. He avoided giving too much detail about Earth and his life before becoming trapped on this world. But otherwise, he saw no reason to lie about anything he’d experienced since coming through the portals. Dulgan knew almost all of it anyway, and John knew all too well how impossible it was for that one to keep a secret. The Dwimar Huntmaster listened intently throughout, though many of his...