Jeff Inlo - Chain of Bargains

Ulet quickly examined the goblin that was blindfolded and bound, but then placed a suspicious glare upon the elf.

"What kind of warning?"

"Goblins have infiltrated a dwarf mine under the human town of Huntston. This goblin was one of many that were stealing precious minerals from the mine. There is an entire horde within the shaft, and we are concerned that they might eventually obtain access to Sterling itself."

"Sterling is well guarded," Ulet replied in a near growl. "This is why you brought a dark creature to the entrance of our city?"

"We brought it here so you could question it," Holli defended her decision. "As you can see, we took precautions. The monster has been blindfolded for most of the journey. It has no idea of its location."

"Question a goblin? A feeble reason to risk the sanctity of our home."

"Risk? A blindfolded goblin a risk to Sterling? Goblins in the dwarf mines seem a much more brazen act."

"We do not like any such risks," Ulet stewed.

Holli remained confused over the dwarf's reaction, but as she hoped to gain her assistance, she quickly offered an apology.

"You will have to forgive me then. I believed a prisoner would have been useful to you."

The dwarf battle commander frowned, but then issued an order to the several dwarves that accompanied her up the tunnel.

"You three, take the goblin beyond the entrance to the edge of the pass. Guard it carefully. I will return and handle the interrogation myself. The rest of you accompany me to the palace." She turned her attention back to Holli. "You will also have to come with us. You must give a full accounting of what you have seen."

"I understand."

The delver lifted his hand from his mouth and nose long enough to make a request of his own.

"Can they leave the sack outside. It's going to make me sick if I have to walk near it."

"I'm afraid not, my friend. I don't wish to leave it out in the open. I will send it ahead first, but you will have to adjust your senses to the smell."

Holli was about to question the decision, but Ryson spoke first.

"If you can get it as far away from me as possible, I'd appreciate it."

Ulet nodded to the dwarf holding the sack, and the foul smelling bag was carried quickly away from the delver. The dwarf commander allowed a few moments to pass before following, but then urged them all to move quickly down the tunnel.

The thick goblin scent hung heavy in the air, and Ryson choked out a cough on several occasions during their descent. He placed his hands over his nose and mouth, even pulled up his shirt to act as a filter, but he could not avoid the pungent aroma.

The odor was strong, nearly unbearable for Holli as well. It overwhelmed everything in the tunnel and the elf couldn't comprehend why it was necessary to pollute their path with such a stench. She understood that dwarves utilized ventilation with superior talents. Perhaps they believed fresh air rushing through the passage would quickly flush away the abominable odor, but she felt no breeze from either end of the tunnel. She almost openly questioned the dwarf commander's choice of tactics when the tunnel made a sharp break to the left.

After the turn, the passage spilled out into a wide open expanse that allowed for a stunning view of Sterling. The dwarf city sprawled out before them like a welcoming oasis. Thoughts of the foul odor died quickly away as the vastness of open space consumed the lingering traces and a breath of clean air billowed into their faces. With but a few steps, they walked into a gigantic cavern which served as a foundation for the spectacular dwarf sanctuary.

For the delver, the experience brought sheer joy to his heart. Ryson had only witnessed one other dwarf city, and that was Dunop near Dark Spruce Forest. Entering that city was a moment etched into his mind, for witnessing dwarf construction on such a scale was a view that could only be matched by the most stunning displays of nature. The revelation of a second dwarf city actually surpassed his expectations, something he did not think possible.

Sterling seemed the most appropriate name, as the city filled the open cavern with reverent majesty, and Ryson wondered if he had stepped into a dream. The brightness of everything about him defied the ceiling of rock over their heads. Ryson gaped at the magnificence of every structure and the radiant beauty of the city as a whole. His concept of a dwarf city had been based on his exposure to Dunop's sculptured excellence, but Sterling widened his expectations of dwarf construction to include painted brilliance. He tried to put the two cities in perspective, but making comparisons was a daunting task.

As he recalled the dwarf city in Dark Spruce, he remembered that Dunop was entirely carved from stone. Every home, shop, and tavern was formed from the rock deep below the surface. The dwarves used iron to support certain structures and bridges, but the city appeared as a perfectly refined and ornately detailed stone sculpture. Dunop's castle stood as the centerpiece, an intricate collection of spires and towers reaching up from a foundation of granite. The citadel, the city itself, was a testament to strength, like the mighty fist of a warrior giant.

For the delver, his vivid memory of Dunop would always be synonymous with the return of magic-a realization that his life, as well as the entire land, had changed forever-but walking into the expanse that allowed a full view of Sterling was like entering a fantasy. While Dunop radiated power, Sterling conveyed beauty that seemed to echo the dreams of artists. If Dunop was the carved testament to a closed fist, Sterling was the open hand of glory.

Beams of light streamed down from unseen shafts far overhead and sparkled from every rooftop. Each road leading off into the distance and each vista through rows of intricately designed structures offered a dazzling view of picturesque splendor. Every pole and every post rose up in harmony. The streets before them flowed away in subtle curves so it appeared as if no path ever ended. It seemed as if the city offered continuous possibilities and infinite hope.

In Dunop, wood was used for fuel and furnishing, not to be wasted on elaborate exterior designs. Sterling took the opposite approach. Timber was used generously throughout the underground city. It formed lines and borders across half-timbered buildings with side and front gables. It gloriously trimmed every corner and edge with delicately carved moldings. It was used to mark shops and taverns, and for enhanced doors that appeared suited for the most distinguished entrances.

Just as with Dunop, Sterling's palace served as the central focal point, but it did not stand as a monument of might. The dwarves designed Sterling's palace as if inspired by an angels' chorus and directed by the words of a poet. It did not tower over the city like some angry guardian ready to smite any invader. Instead, it rose up through the cavern like clouds woven into stone and wood, placed lovingly at the city's heart for all to enjoy.

Ryson could not imagine a more peaceful setting. Only his memory of the foul goblin stench convinced him he remained in Uton as opposed to stepping into the mystic beauty of an afterlife.

Holli was almost equally overcome, but as she looked upward, she saw only rock, a barrier to the open skies. Despite Sterling's beauty, the enclosed nature of the cavern made her think of a prison. It seemed a great shame to bury such a marvel deep below the surface.

As they began their journey through the city streets toward Sterling Palace, she reminded herself of her duty. She understood she was deep underground, and it made her reconsider the mines under Huntston. She brushed aside the striking splendor surrounding her and focused on the full scope of her mission. She thought of the valleys and all of the mysteries she encountered. In that one moment, she looked beyond the buildings of Sterling and saw the dwarf city as part of the problem as opposed to a possible solution.