Chapter 19
Davien, though groggy, was coherent enough to know they were running on borrowed time. He stood, swayed and then listed before one of the dwarves caught him. “No time to be acting a fool, just sit and let the banner do its job. Besides, the giants are bickering something awful.” The black bearded dwarf said mirthlessly. “Cannot say I hope to still be around to see who wins in their argument though.”
Leira nodded her agreement and motioned around the room. “There is no way we can just pick up everything and take it with us, not even all of these suits you were after. We should run while we can.”
“No.” It was not the black bearded dwarf who spoke but the one with the graying red beard. “We cannot allow the giants to continue to claim ownership over our heritage. You may leave if you wish, you have no more stake in this fight now that your son is safe.”
Leira knew that was only half correct. She owed the dwarves for the healing their magic had wrought. Knowing that leaving was not an option Leira said the only thing that came to mind, “My name is Leira. Good dwarves, you made a friend today by healing my son. . . “ Jymgreen piped in with a quick affirmation of agreement, “And by the virtue of that, I owe you a great deal. I stand with you. Though I know not what good it will do.”
Jym, quick to onboard with the group, said, “Yeah, and for what good it will do, I too feel like dying today.”
The black bearded dwarf gave a wide grin and motioned at his kin, “We accept your offer of friendship, even yours gobber. My kin and those closest to me call me Korrum. It is a pleasure to meet you, even given the circumstances.” Pointing at the other three, he quickly rattled off a series of names pointing at each in turn, “Bilfor, Hoff and our priest, Gilford.”
Gilford, the red haired dwarf, looked towards Davien and asked, “How do you do now friend? Feeling better I presume.”
Davien spoke up as the dwarf finished. “Call me Davien, and as for your question, I am feeling pretty good. It is most certainly a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My friend, Jymgreen, and I will stay to help as well. The least I can do.”
Jym piped in again, “Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, how are we gonna do this?” He absentmindedly pawed at the goggles still firmly affixed to his face.
Davien’s normally grim facade turned upwards quickly at that. “Yes, what are we going to do?” A shadow of a smile began to cross his features as he continued to speak. “Rip, the biggest, might be on our side. While I was in the Grayscape … well it makes no real difference what I saw in there. I am pretty well convinced he will not be a problem.” Leira knew her son was keeping something from her, but what it was she could not take the time to figure out now.
Chapter 19 Eh?
Rip, having had his magical armor pummeled into breakage, back peddled quickly in the direction of his cave. His remaining enemy, Tear, approached warily, affording both of them a moment to catch their breath in the lull.
“Come on, Rip, what has got in ya? Ya killed, Break. Poor little fella never stood a chance.”
Rip’s flaming blade, not as hot or bright as it had been when first activated, was moved back and forth in an amateurish attempt to keep extra distance between the two combatants. The magic of the blade had begun to sputter and extinguish itself but, Rip, knew he still had long enough to retreat to his cave before the weapon would fully vanish.
Chapter 19 Bee
With growing concern the group in the cave could hear the battle beginning to draw much too close for their comfort. “Okay, Korrum, what next?” Davien still wore the magical armor which had healed him, though he had been assured that the armor would not in fact prevent him from being squashed.
The dwarf looked almost happy, wearing the pearlescent armor of his forebears, while swinging his axe to get comfortable in the armor. “Well, we wait. While we wait, we watch. Not much else to do, Davien. The fight draws closer as we speak.” Davien knew they had set up fortifications as best as they could given the circumstances.
Jym, however, had run along to search for more of his ‘family’ which had been missing since they were captured. “Stupid giants and their stupid faces.” He mumbled to himself in increasingly rapid repetition. Until after a moment or two he was simply humming to himself as though he had a new favorite melody.
Leira stood nearby, also wearing a suit of the dwarven armor her son was in. Though she made no noise, she appeared to be speaking to herself and unconsciously touching the sword she had liberated from the massive stick of butter.
Chapter 19 Sea
Rip, was limping and nursing a possibly broken jaw as he backed cautiously into his cave while, Tear, lurked a stones throw away. Tear, also wounded though not as badly as, Rip, began to pull limbs off of a particularly large tree. “Do not worry, Rip. This will be quick, if ya dun wif tha strugglin’.” A single large boulder came sailing out of the cave as a crude response.