Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) (22 page)

“
But what if we did more than that?
”
said Skemtun.
“
There
’
s an underground stream that runs underneath the caverns. Mount Velik has been flooded before
—
on accident. What if we did it on purpose this time? Filled all the caves with water, I mean? The orcs would be trapped, and we could drown them all, like rats in a sewer! Could you spellcasters do that?
”

A low murmur ran round the table.

Sela thought for a moment, then nodded.
“
The plan is risky, but it could work, if we had enough spellcasters. I received a message from Tallin a short while ago. He, his aunt Mugla, and two elf dragon riders are coming to Highport. That
’
s four more mageborns. With their help, we
might
be able to do it.
”

“
We should
all
go back to Mount Velik
—
including the High Council,
”
said Kathir.
“
They wanted to be involved, so their spellcasters should assist, as well.
”

“
You want us to go to Mount Velik and fight the orcs?
”
Councilor Delthen asked, his eyes popping.
“
That
’
s a ridiculous
—”

“
Sounds like a wonderful idea!
”
Komu shouted suddenly. He spoke so abruptly that everyone jumped.
“
Ah, Mount Velik. I remember it well. The festivals, the beautiful caves, and that wonderful food!
”

“
Mount Velik is full of greenskins now, you doddering old fool!
”
Delthen snapped, abandoning his carefully maintained facade.

“
Full of orcs? Well, that
’
s a terrible shame,
”
said Komu. 
“
Well, that
’
s all the more reason we should help, don
’
t you think?
”

Delthen fumed, but he held his tongue.

Kathir was grateful for Komu
’
s outburst. Between the High Council and the dragon riders, they would have a large group of mageborns to help them with their plan.

“
The plan is risky, and it could damage the tunnels inside,
”
  Bolrakei pouted.
“
What if we can
’
t go back for years? I still think that we should send an army.
”

“
What army? Would ye send our women and children? Our injured soldiers? Wake up, Bolrakei! We don
’
t have enough men!
”
Skemtun said.

Delthen nodded, but he looked unhappy.
“
He
’
s right. The greenskins are too powerful
—
it would take years to build an army large enough to rout them out of that mountain. If the dragon riders agree to help, then I
’
ll go.
”
 

Kathir
’
s eyes sparked.
“
I
’
ll join the fight, too. Where Skemtun goes, I also go.
”

Councilor Delthen
’
s expression soured even further. Beside him, Komu smiled and nodded his approval.

Sela stood up and raised her hand to speak.
“
It seems that we
’
ve decided on a course of action. Spellcasters will travel to Mount Velik and will try to neutralize the orc threat. I will contact Tallin and the elves and tell them to join us along the way. If all of us work together, we might be able to overcome the greenskins and take back the mountain.
”

There was unspoken hope in her voice
—
she was being sincere. The meeting had gone better than anyone expected, but they all knew that the most difficult task was still ahead of them. The orcs had proven themselves clever and dangerous, and if they couldn
’
t find a way to deal with them, then they would lose this battle.

Utan clapped his hands to get everyone
’
s attention.
“
It seems that we have achieved more today than in all the time since the clans arrived. I
’
m disturbed by
some
of what I
’
ve heard here, especially about Mistress Bolrakei. But if there
’
s no actual proof of Bolrakei
’
s treachery, then I
’
ll leave it there.
”

Skemtun knew there would never be a better moment to ask for more.
“
What about the dwarves stuck out outside? Will ye allow all the dwarves to come inside now, before the weather turns even colder?
”

Utan looked at Skemtun, and the weight of his gaze crushed him like a stone. But then, slowly and deliberately, Utan nodded.
“
All right
…
any dwarf who wishes to come into our mountain can carve a place for themselves, as long as they agree to come in harmony. But they
’
ll have to do their share of the work
—
and
pull their own weight. My people aren
’
t going to do all the hard labor anymore. Those days are over.
”

Skemtun opened his mouth to say thanks when he felt Kathir
’
s hand on his elbow.
“
We leave now,
”
he said softly.
“
It
’
s best to stop while we
’
re ahead.
”

They all walked out of the mountain quietly. Although the air was cold, the sun was shining brightly.

“
You did well in there,
”
Skemtun said once they were outside.

“
Thanks, but we can
’
t get smug about this,
”
Kathir said.
“
It
’
s only a small victory. Bolrakei will continue to cause trouble, you can bet on that.
”

“
Even if nothing else comes of this, ye still got all the clans inside the mountain. My clan finally has a warm place to sleep, thanks to ye. I won
’
t forget that. And I won
’
t forget the part ye played, either, mate.
”
Skemtun clasped Kathir
’
s forearm in a tight grip.
“
I
’
ll go now, and start packing for the journey.
”

Kathir watched him go back to his tent. Skemtun held his head a little higher, and his shoulders didn
’
t seem as slumped as before.

Kathir turned, and saw Councilor Delthen approaching him out of the corner of his eye.
“
We won
’
t forget what you did either, mercenary,
”
he spat.
“
Your smart mouth has caused a lot of trouble here today.
”

“
I helped the dwarves,
”
Kathir replied.
“
That
’
s what you hired me to do, isn
’
t it?
”

“
Don
’
t play stupid. That
’
s
not
what we hired you to do
—
and you know it. Watch better yourself,
”
Delthen said menacingly.
“
Right now, you
’
re just one wrong move away from having a knife in your back.
”

“
Don
’
t threaten me,
”
Kathir replied.

Delthen looked over his shoulder to make sure there was no one listening.
“
You must do what we discussed before. You must be ready to step aside when the right moment comes. Skemtun has become a liability for all of us.
”

“
I don
’
t understand. I thought you were getting what you wanted! After all of this, you still want Skemtun dead? But why?
”

“
Don
’
t question me,
”
Delthen hissed.
“
I don
’
t pay you to think! I pay you to follow orders.
”

“
You
’
re making a big mistake,
”
Kathir insisted.

Delthen
’
s gaze went icy.
“
Shut up! You
will
obey me, or by the gods, I promise that you
’
ll live to regret it.
”

They set out on their journey the same day. Komu and Delthen
’
s wagons formed the heart of their small convoy and rattled along the roads from Highport with a kind of relentless certainty. The wheels spun at unusually high speeds, and they never seemed to get snarled in the mud the way ordinary carriages would have. Their magnificent horses never seemed to tire, and they only stopped to rest in the evenings. They were faster than any carriages that Kathir had ever seen, and he knew that Delthen and Komu were using their magic to speed things along.

Kathir choose to ride his horse rather than sit inside one of the carriages, as he enjoyed the independence that riding alone offered.

Sela and Elias rode their dragons they rode their dragons in a circle high in the air. E ach dragon was outfitted with a full complement of armor, which they had taken with them just in case. Nydeired was as white as a pearl, while Brinsop gleamed a rusty red in the dazzling winter sun. The dragon riders monitored the road for threats while they circled overhead. They also hunted occasionally and brought food when their caravan stopped to make camp.

Delthen and Druknor occupied the front carriage. To everyone
’
s surprise, Bolrakei had joined them. She insisted on being a part of their expedition to Mount Velik at the last minute. Inside the carriage, the three of them colluded and conspired, whispering plans together inside the privacy of their lavish coach.

Just before nightfall, the dragon riders signaled that it was time to stop. Normally, they only did so when it was time for the group to rest in the evening, but it was early, and there was still plenty of light to travel by.

“
Why are we stopping?
”
Skemtun called out.
“
Is there something wrong?
”

Kathir shrugged as he reined in his horse.
“
I don
’
t know. The dragon riders have stopped. That
’
s all I know.
”

The carriages followed along the road until they reached a meadow filled with high grasses where the dragon riders were waiting for them. The clearing was large enough that even the enormous Nydeired didn
’
t look crowded. The enormous white dragon stretched his wings in the evening light. Sela stood by Brinsop, looking up at the sky as though she were waiting for something.

“
What are we stopping for?
”
Kathir asked as he rode up to her and dismounted.

“
Tallin, Mugla, and the elves are close by,
”
Sela said.
“
We shall rendezvous with them here.
”
She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose as though she had a headache.

“
Are you all right?
”
Kathir asked.

“
I
’
ll be fine in a minute,
”
she replied.
“
Tallin sent me a brief telepathic message, and mind contact is difficult for me. We
’
ll camp here for the night and wait for Tallin and the elves, then continue on in the morning.
”

Kathir nodded and helped set up camp. By now, they had a pretty solid routine in place. The dragon riders collected wood and got the fire going. Komu
’
s aides would help set up the tents. Kathir and Skemtun would tend to the animals.