Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) (34 page)

They could hear the orcs shouting and running behind them. Skemtun threw a hasty glance over his shoulder.
“
Almost there,
”
he said as he ducked into a hidden passageway and eased himself into a narrow crevice. The space was so small that Kathir had to roll himself into a ball in order to fit inside.

Mugla raised her hands and muttered a quick spell.
“
Be still!
”
she whispered frantically, as she cast a concealment spell around them. They heard the shouts of the orcs as they ran past. They froze for several minutes, hoping that the orcs would all pass them by.

Eventually, Skemtun whispered,
“
They
’
re alerted, now. There
’
s no way we
’
re gettin
’
out of here alive.
”

“
I
’
ll do everything I can to keep you both alive,
”
said Kathir quietly.
“
We need a diversion. I
’
ll cover your escape.
”

Skemtun shook his head.
“
I
’
m not leaving ye behind. Stay here and ye become a martyr
…
I won
’
t let ye.
”

Mugla
’
s face was streaming with sweat, and her hands were trembling.
“
Whatever ye decide, ye need to do it quickly. I
’
m almost spent
—
I can
’
t hold this spell much longer.
”

“
Do you have enough strength to contact the dragon riders?
”
asked Kathir.

Mugla nodded.
“
Aye
…
but I can
’
t maintain both spells at once. I
’
ll have to stop the concealment spell.
”
Her breath gasped in her chest.

“
I think we
’
re safe for the moment. Can ye contact Tallin and then cover us until we get to the atrium?
”
asked Skemtun, thinking of their next move.

“
I can try,
”
she replied, smiling weakly.

“
What do you have planned?
”
asked Kathir.

“
The dragon riders will be enterin
’
the mountain from the caldera; the atrium is right below it, and it
’
s the only place large enough to hold
‘
em all. If we make it there alive, then the riders can pick us up after they activate the runestones. It
’
s our only chance.
”

Kathir nodded.
“
Let
’
s do it, then. Mugla, are you ready?
”

Her head shook in a trembling nod. She stopped the concealment spell and took a deep breath. Then her eyes took on a blank, dazed look. Her lips moved silently as she chanted the new spell. Seconds passed, and then she gasped. Her body went limp as the strength drained out of her.

“
Catch her!
”
said Kathir, who was unable to move his arms in his crouched position.

Skemtun grabbed Mugla
’
s limp body before she could fall to the ground. Her skin was ashen. He slapped her cheeks gently.
“
Mugla! Hey, come on, wake up.
”

Mugla blinked. The room was spinning. She closed her eyes again.
“
Ugh
…
my achin
’
head.
”

A war horn sounded out over the city. They all glanced at each other, but none of them moved. The sound was quickly picked up by dozens of other orcs throughout the city.

“
We
’
ve got to get out of here now,
”
said Kathir, his intense concern written plainly on his face.
“
We
’
re sitting ducks if we stay.
”

“
Were ye able to contact the others?
”
asked Skemtun.

Mugla nodded.
“
I wasn
’
t able to reach Tallin, but I did contact the elves. That
’
s why I fainted. Telepathic communication with elves is grueling.
”

“
Are they coming inside the mountain?
”
asked Tallin

Mugla nodded again.
“
Aye, everythin
’
is ready for the attack. I asked them to give us five minutes to reach the atrium. No matter what, they
’
ll come in when five minutes is up. If we aren
’
t there in time, then our goose is cooked.
”

“
We
’
ll make it,
”
said Skemtun.
“
We have to
—
I
’
m not dying inside this mountain with a bunch of greenskins.
”

Skemtun poked his head outside the crevice, just far enough to see down the passageway.
“
The passage is clear
…
for now. Are you ready, Mugla?
”

Mugla nodded and muttered the words to the concealment spell once again.
“
We
’
ve got to move quickly,
”
she said,
“
that
’
s the only hope we
’
ve got.

Kathir hopped up and picked her up again, dashing down the narrow passage while Skemtun led the way. They rushed down the winding stairs into the atrium. The minutes ticked by threateningly.

They inched against the wall and hid in the darkness, slipping past a group of orcs as their backs were turned. They smiled in silent victory as they passed the orcs guarding the atrium gate. They made it to the interior of the atrium with only seconds to spare, and then disaster struck. Kathir tripped. Mugla fell to the ground. 

She hit her head on a rock and landed with a loud crack. She lay there with her eyes closed, blood trickling from her temple. The concealment spell dissipated, and they all became visible to the orcs.

“
Oh no,
”
Skemtun said, trying to swallow his panic.

Kathir drew his sword.
“
We
’
ve got to stand and fight now.
”

Skemtun drew his axe, and they positioned themselves back-to-back so their opponents couldn
’
t jump them from behind. For a few seconds, nothing happened. Then one of the orcs saw them, raised his blade, and lunged for Kathir. He attacked the orc a with death stroke through the eye.

“
First blood is ours,
”
said Kathir. The corner of his mouth kicked up into a smile.
“
It
’
s not much, but in these situations, one must be thankful for small victories.
”

Skemtun gave a short bark of laughter.
“
Victory or not, if the dragon riders don
’
t get here immediately, we
’
re dead.
”

The orcs were closing in rapidly, and Skemtun and Kathir were soon overwhelmed and flanked on all sides. Kathir grunted as an orc managed to slice a deep wound into his side. The next blow hit him squarely between the eyes, causing blood to gush from his forehead. Kathir staggered, clutched his head, and collapsed.

Skemtun placed himself in front of Kathir and Mugla. He was surrounded on all sides by orcs. The orcs stopped for a moment and started to laugh.

“
Go ahead and laugh, ye pig-muzzled blighters!
”
he shouted.
“
Even if I die here, ye
’
ll be followin
’
me to the grave soon enough!
”

An orc dashed forward, and Skemtun was struck in the stomach by a mace. Waves of pain shot through him as he felt his skin split open. He stumbled back, and warm blood spilled onto his tunic.

Just then, there was a loud roar from above, and the dragon riders swooped down from the caldera into the atrium. The orcs hollered and jumped back in fear.

Skemtun rose to his bloodied knees, holding his side. He reached down and wiped Kathir
’
s bloody face with his torn sleeve.
“
Kathir
…
can ye hear me?
”
He asked weakly. At first, Kathir didn
’
t move, but then, he suddenly shot up into a seated position.

“
I
’
m awake,
”
he said. He looked around with a dazed expression.

The dragons were breathing fire in all directions, and the elves were chanting loudly, surrounded by a glowing blue nimbus of magical energy. The orcs screamed and raised their hands up to cover their eyes from the blinding light.

Tallin shouted down at them.
“
Hurry! We
’
ve already activated the runestones. Grab Mugla and give her to me, and then the two of you split up and get on the other dragons.
”

Kathir staggered to his feet, picked up Mugla
’
s tiny frame, and carried her over to Duskeye. Mugla groaned but did not wake up. Tallin placed her in front of his saddle and tied a rope around her body to keep her from falling.

“
Move! Move! Move! We don
’
t have much time!
”
shouted Tallin.

Skemtun tried to run toward F
ë
anor and Blacktooth, but he stopped and doubled over with pain.

“
Are you alright?
”
asked Kathir.

“
I think my ribs are broken.
”
Skemtun gasped for air and held his gut.
“
But we
’
ve got to move.
”

“
Let me help you,
”
said Kathir, wrapping one arm around his friend
’
s waist. When they reached Blacktooth, F
ë
anor looked down at them with blank stare.
“
Put the dwarf behind me on the saddle,
”
he instructed in a cold voice.

“
Can you climb up on your own?
”
asked Kathir.

Skemtun shook his head.
“
I
—
I don
’
t think so.
”
His held his hand pressed over his wound. Blood dripped down between his fingers and onto the floor.

Kathir picked up his friend gently and placed him on the saddle. He wiped his bloody face on his sleeve and said breathlessly,
“
Looks like we made it! I
’
ll ride with Sela and Brinsop.
”

But before he could move an inch, an orc threw a huge spear at them. Kathir
’
s eyes widened with shock
—
he had no weapon to deflect it. Determined to protect Skemtun, he instinctively blocked the weapon with the only thing he had
—
himself. His black eyes gleamed as the spear pierced his body.

“
No!
”
screamed Skemtun, watching his friend fall. He tried to reach down, but F
ë
anor stopped him.

“
You cannot save him, dwarf.
”

“
It
’
s my fault! I have brought him to this!
”
cried Skemtun.

Kathir dropped to his knees.
“
Go, my friend
…
I promised to save you, and I did. Make sure I do not die in vain.
”
Then Kathir fell back, crumpling to the floor. He shuddered once and lay still.

“
No!
”
Skemtun sobbed, shaking his head.
“
Please. He can't be gone.
”