Jeff Inlo - Chain of Bargains

Ulet fumed, but did not panic. Once more she spoke for the increasing crowd of dwarves to hear.

"Now I understand. The Queen of Dunop is obviously under a spell of deceit. She enters Sterling with an elf guard who practices sorcery and a delver who is wanted for killing three dwarf guards of Sterling."

"I am the one who killed those guards," Holli responded. "They were intent on handing Ryson Acumen over to goblins… a death sentence handed down by Strog Grandhammer."

"You admit you murdered three dwarf guards, and the delver stands by you. That is enough for me to doubt everything that has been said here."

One more voice called out from the far side of the wide street before the palace… away from the rest of the crowd.

"Very well played, but the charade is over."

Three figures stood previously unnoticed, but when the crowd turned, every dwarf recognized the face of the shortest individual. His face was gaunt and he trembled slightly, but there was no denying it was the King of Sterling.

Ulet stood frozen, staring at her king.

Enin called out again.

"Well commander? I thought the king was being well cared for. Is that why I found him imprisoned in desolate tunnels under a human town to the east? It was not an easy task to find him, dwarves are very resistant to magic, but my friend and I worked together and devised a spell that would call to a royal dwarf's ear. All he had to do was answer, and he did. He led us right to him."

The third figure, Jure, decided to remain quiet. He simply watched with growing satisfaction as Ulet failed to respond to Enin's revelations.

"After the draevols were defeated, I took the liberty of contacting Queen Therese. I explained to her all of the occurrences in Sterling."

Enin went on to list the actions of Strog Grandhammer and his alliances with goblins, demons, and corrupt humans. As the string of crimes grew, the crowd of dwarves listened in hushed astonishment.

"I had hoped the queen would offer advice as how to inform the people of Sterling of the truth without causing widespread violence. She was kind enough to accompany us here in order to lend both credence and stability to these most difficult times."

A long silence prevailed, Ulet unable to answer the charges. It was the weakened yet stout form between Enin and Jure who brought the confrontation to its inevitable conclusion. The crowd separated for their king and allowed the true leader of Sterling to walk up to his palace steps. Dozens of soldiers emptied out of side streets and fell in behind their king who addressed the rebel battle commander with angry disdain and conviction in his trembling voice.

"You will pay for your crimes. You cannot avoid that, but as of this moment, I am not aware of any offense that would call for your death. Lead these soldiers to Strog Grandhammer and your neck may avoid the executioner's axe. Refuse and any additional blood spilled this day will held against you directly."

Ulet bowed her head in utter defeat, turned, and slowly stepped back toward the palace. She could not fight. The crowd of dwarves was growing by the moment and they stood behind their king. Dwarf soldiers emerged from nearby barracks and guard posts. There were not enough separatists to defeat them all. It was over for her, and over for Strog Grandhammer.

The king turned to his guards.

"Follow her and bring the murderous rebel to me."

Dwarf soldiers from all over the city moved into positions in and around the palace. While his forces retook the castle, the king offered a grateful bow to the Queen of Dunop.

"My apologies for making you wait out here, but once the palace is secure, I can offer you my true appreciation in more comfortable surroundings."

"It is I who should apologize to you," Queen Therese replied. "Grandhammer was allowed to escape Dunop during our darker times. He was our responsibility and we failed in that regard. Because of that, he has caused you terrible pain."

The king thought of his murdered wife, and almost broke down, but he would not place such blame on the dwarves of Dunop. He steadied himself and spoke a bold truth.

"We all failed, not just Dunop. Sterling allowed for its share of corruption… I allowed for it. Grandhammer seized power here because of my mistakes, not yours."

At that moment, several dwarves exited the palace with a rough hold on the separatist leader. The king wanted to strangle him right there, at the foot of the palace gates, but he curbed his anger. He made one last request to the Queen of Dunop.

"I know that Strog Grandhammer has been charged with numerous crimes in Dunop. You have a claim upon him that I cannot deny. If you request it, I will turn him over to you, but he is responsible for my wife's death. I want him to answer for that… here… in Sterling."

"There is no crime he has committed in Dunop that is greater than the crime against you and your people. We leave his punishment to you."

"Thank you."

The king ordered the guards to take the separatist away, but Enin asked for one moment with the dwarf rebel. The wizard eyed the belligerent and unrepentant dwarf with both sadness and dismay.

"You caused a great deal of suffering, Strog Grandhammer. For what? To prove dwarf supremacy or to elevate yourself to some position of grandeur? Is it that you wished to be remembered for some noble idea?"

The separatist would not answer. He glared at the wizard, but held his tongue.

"Then let me tell you how you will be remembered," Enin continued. "Your abhorrence of humans is obvious, but others don't share your opinion. Because of your deeds, humans and dwarves are working closer now than they ever have in the past, even during the time of legends. The human town of Pinesway has been rebuilt… through the cooperation of dwarves and humans. While many of the people are returning to the Great Valleys, a substantial portion have decided to remain in the west. They see an opportunity in Pinesway. Another town has been established that shares the unique setting of dwarf construction among human activity. Now, both Connel and Pinesway are tributes to a bond between dwarf and human. Whether you wish to admit it or not, you created that bond."

Enin said nothing further to the livid dwarf. Instead, he turned to the King of Sterling.

"I am finished with him, thank you."

As the king ordered the removal of the separatist, Enin gathered Jure, Holli, and Ryson to his side.

"It seems like we have taken care of everything now. The king has been restored to power in Sterling and Strog will face the consequences of his actions. None of this would have been possible without the three of you, and I never got the chance to thank you."

Holli spoke first.

"No thanks is necessary. As your guard, I am always in your service, and in the service of Uton."

Jure simply nodded his head, agreeing with the sentiment. He was pleased to have helped avert a terrible tragedy, but he still grieved over Heteera. He cast the spells, but it was Heteera's magic that saved the Great Valleys.

Enin smiled with appreciation, and then turned to the delver.

"And what about you, Ryson? What calls to your delver heart now?"

Ryson wondered about that very question. He stood at the heart of Sterling, a dwarf city of marvelous construction. He considered exploring the streets, even the tunnels surrounding the city. He realized he was also under the Oachet Mountains and the thought of exploring the hills above thrilled him, but that was not what was in his heart.

It had been a long time since he had been in Burbon, since he had seen Linda. He knew it was time to go home… he needed to go home. Despite his delver curiosity and his desire to explore, he also needed to remember who he was. He wasn't just a delver, he was Ryson Acumen, and he missed his wife and his home. The time had come to return to them both.