Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) (16 page)

Kathir shook his head. He said simply,
“
Don
’
t be afraid! Don
’
t be afraid of her. You can strike your own deal with Utan. Negotiate for your people. Her followers can stay outside on the mountain if they want. Anyone who decides to follow you can just join your clan inside.
”

“
If I try something underhanded like that, Bolrakei will have me stripped of my office.
”

Kathir rolled his eyes in exasperation.
“
Come on! That
’
s just bloody politics talking! Your people are freezing to death out here!
”
Kathir paused and took a deep breath.
“
You have to ask yourself which is more important
—
politics or your people.
”

Skemtun flinched, and Kathir could tell that his words had hit a nerve. Skemtun paused and looked up at the mountain. Grey clouds swirled overhead. It was the middle of the afternoon, but dark and gloomy in the woods. The weather would be freezing tonight.

“
All right,
”
he said finally.
“
Ye
’
re right
…
the lives of my people are what
’
s important. I don
’
t know how much good it will do, but I
’
ll talk to Utan. But I can
’
t be seen going inside the mountain by myself! That will cause too much suspicion. Listen
…
why don
’
t you talk to him
—
as my representative? Go speak to Utan for me.
”

“
What do you want me to say to him?
”
Kathir asked.

Skemtun rapped his finger on his chin.
“
Tell Utan that my people are prepared to do their share of the work. We
’
ll be farmers, or laborers, or miners
—
whatever he wants us to do, we
’
ll do it. We
’
ll carve our own sleepin
’
caves inside the mountain, and we
’
ll do any work that we need to. In return, we get our share of the food, as well as shelter inside the mountain until our sleepin
’
caves are finished.
”

“
There
’
ll be other questions,
”
Kathir said.
“
Questions about leadership and the way decisions are made.
”

Skemtun spread his hands.
“
Let
’
s take this one step at a time. We can negotiate the rest of it as we go along. Now go. But go quietly, and try not to call too much attention to yourself!
”

Kathir nodded.
“
Don
’
t worry. I
’
m very good at moving through forests without being noticed.
”
Kathir slipped back through the camp and into a layer of trees. He made his way back toward the front gates, but not directly. He paused for a moment when he spotted a member of Bolrakei
’
s personal entourage walking nearby. He recognized him as one of Bolrakei
’
s personal guards, but he was wearing a hooded cloak and scruffier clothing than usual, as if he were trying to blend in with the crowds.

The dwarf moved furtively around the camp and stopped every now and to look back and see if he was being followed. Kathir jogged behind him and ducked behind a tree so that he could continue to watch the dwarf. He would walk a few steps through the camp, pause at a tent or a tree, look back, and then go forward rapidly again. He moved cautiously, studying his surroundings very carefully.

Kathir narrowed his eyes. No question about it, he definitely looked suspicious.  He decided to temporarily abandon his mission and to follow the guard instead.

Kathir was tall enough that he stood out, so he had to move carefully to conceal himself. He stayed just outside the camp perimeter, watching from the tree line. A few times, Kathir was afraid that the dwarf would spot him, but he never did.

Kathir followed the dwarf to a secluded area in the northern part of the camp. Ten dwarves were gathered around a fire, cooking their meat rations over the flame. They looked up and waved.
“
Gorri! Come over and join us. Any fresh news?
”

Gorri went to the fire and rubbed his hands before sitting down near the group.

“
There
’
s not much to tell,
”
Gorri said.
“
It
’
s the same story as always.
”

“
Utan still won
’
t budge?
”
the first dwarf asked him.
“
He won
’
t let us inside his mountain?
”

Gorri shook his head.
“
Nay, and what
’
s more, Bolrakei had to stop Utan from sending soldiers to attack our camp. She saved us again.
”

A gasp went around the circle.
“
Utan wouldn
’
t dare attack us!
”

“
Of course he would,
”
Gorri snorted.
“
They had an army out to meet us when we arrived, didn
’
t they? Not exactly welcoming, was it? Instead of being thankful that we
’
re here, the Vardmiters are trying to fight us. The only reason Utan hasn
’
t attacked us already is because he
’
s scared of Bolrakei.
”

“
That sounds right. She
’
s got powerful connections, thank goodness,
”
said one of the others. There was nodding all around.

“
Right now, Utan
’
s just biding his time
…
waiting for the dragon riders to leave.
”
Gorri went on.
“
Then he
’
ll try and starve us. But don
’
t ye worry
—
Bolrakei is a true leader. She
’
ll get you bread, and more food is coming.
”

“
What about Skemtun?
”
the dwarf closest to the fire asked.
“
Hasn
’
t he tried to help?
”

“
Skemtun
’
s useless
—
as always!
”
Gorri said with contempt in his voice.
“
He
’
s too scared to do anything. During the meetings, he just sits there like a mute, saying nothing while Bolrakei negotiates for all of us. Think about it
—
how much has he
really
done? He spends most of his time gossiping and hiding behind that human bodyguard of his.
”

Kathir listened to the exchange with growing indignation. Gorri made some more disparaging comments about Skemtun and then excused himself, waving goodbye. He walked through the forest until he arrived at another group of dwarves on the outskirts of camp.

Kathir followed the dwarf to another campfire, where he repeated the same story. Sometimes, Gorri handed over small coin pouches or made promises about the delivery of bread or meat. However, it wasn
’
t until Gorri turned around and headed up toward the entrance to the mountain that Kathir really saw the true extent of Bolrakei
’
s treachery.

There were two Vardmiter guards posted at the entrance, but they didn
’
t stop Gorri. Instead, they smiled and shook his hand as if they were old friends. Kathir couldn
’
t get close enough to hear the details of what they said, but he could see that their conversation was friendly. Gorri passed two money pouches to the guards and slipped inside the mountain. He came back a few minutes later with a huge basket filled with bread and sausages. Gorri covered the basket with a blanket and winked at the guards. Then he made his way back to Bolrakei
’
s campsite with a smug look on his face.

Kathir was shocked. Was all that food for Bolrakei? Or was it for bribes? Bolrakei was buying support with food and money and while defaming Utan and Skemtun. The pieces fit together so neatly. She was trying to stir up animosity against the Vardmiters while manipulating the clans into supporting her.

Kathir turned and ran towards the main camp. He needed to warn Skemtun immediately.

He paused and saw that wagons approaching in the distance. There were painted brilliant white and had an image of a crystal dome on the side.  Kathir knew immediately who was inside them. Skemtun spotted him and waved him over.

“
There ye are!
”
Skemtun said. He lowered his voice.
“
Did ye manage to set up a meetin
’
with Utan?
”

Kathir shook his head.
“
No, not yet
—
there
’
s something else I have to tell you; we need to talk in private.
”

“
It
’
ll have to wait,
”
Skemtun said, gesturing over to the wagons.
“
Look who
’
s coming. What is the High Council of Miklagard doing here?
”

“
I don
’
t know,
”
Kathir admitted.
“
Whatever it is, it must be important. Miklagard doesn
’
t send the High Council outside the crystal shield without good reason.
”
Inside, he felt his stomach twisting with worry.
Why had the High Council come here? What did they want?

A crowd gathered along the dirt road as the carriages arrived.

Kathir leaned close to Skemtun and whispered in his ear.
“
I
really
need to talk to you about Bolrakei.
”

Skemtun nodded but gestured at the crowd.
“
Not yet. Later
…
in private. There
’
s too many people here who might overhear us.
”

The carriages grew closer. Sela and Elias flew down to meet them. Bolrakei was there too of course, and she pushed her way to the front of the crowd with her attendants. She had changed her clothing for the occasion. She wore a bright purple dress with a long cape.

The carriages drew to a halt outside the main gates.

The first man who stepped out was white-haired and wore dark, fur-lined robes. Two younger mageborns, a man and a woman, attended him. The two attendants spoke quietly and guided the old man to the front gates.

“
We
’
ve stopped?
”
the white-haired man asked with a confused look on his face.
“
Where am I again?
”

“
Councilor Komu, we
’
ve arrived at our destination. This is Highport. We
’
re here to talk to the dwarves, remember?
”
the woman said.

“
Yes, yes
…
of course,
”
the old man said.
“
I remember. You don
’
t need to repeat things to me all the time, you know.
”

Kathir leaned over to Skemtun.
“
That
’
s Komu. He
’
s the eldest of the High Council. He
’
s still an influential member of the council, but he
’
s grown rather befuddled with age. He
’
s a decent man, from what I
’
ve gathered. Just don
’
t expect him to remember who you are from one meeting to the next. His condition has worsened in recent years.
”