Jordi Villalobos - The Invasion Of The Sombers

The mediam man continued descending until he reached a level where he began to hear voices.

“I don't like it at all: Garin rebels against his father, Ankar confronts the humans, the prince stopping over here while his host's son is locked up for being loyal to him, before his own father… This won't end up well....

He peered out stealthily and saw several corridors with dungeon doors and two dwarves turning their backs on some of those runners as they played a game in which they rolled something similar to dice.

The rogue snuck down the first corridor and looked for Garin, calling him with just a whisper, until he heard a voice.

“I'm Garin. Who's going?” the voice whispered, hopeful.

“Your Highness, I have come with Prince Syriel, I am going to free you and bring you before him," replied the mediam fellow with relief.

“Hurry, there's no time to lose…" said the captive prince.

In just a few seconds, using his set of picklocks, the skillful rascal opened the door with barely an imperceptible click.

“I beg you to follow me quietly, Your Highness," Bellamir asked to the dwarf prince.

Shortly afterwards, two silent sombers climbed up the narrow and gloomy staircases.

Baldrich woke up the prince.

“Wake up Syriel! We have a visitor. It's only three hours till dawn and we need a plan.”

When the prince opened his eyes, besides seeing Baldrich and Bellamir, he also recognized his friend Garin.

“Garin! Weren't you in Kandar?” Syriel burst with joy.

“No, he was locked in the dungeons with those who are still loyal to you. My father has prepared an enclosure for you with the dark ones in the Peaks Pass. Bellamir has rescued me, but all my dwarves are missing," said Garin regretfully.

“I suspected something strange and I sent Bellamir to take a look. He found Garin locked up, freed him and brought him here," Baldrich explained.

“The situation is very delicate, let's wake up the princess and her generals," ordered Syriel.

Once all gathered and after bringing up to date to the newcomers, Syriel asked:

“Garin, how many dwarfs are locked up?”

“One thousand and five hundred," replied Garin.

“How many dwarfs does your father have in Karbandur?" asked the human prince.

“More than ten thousand, but a thousand really faithful. The rest will follow my father or me, depending on who holds the power," blessed Garin.

“How many dark men are preparing the ambush?” asked Syriel.

“About five hundred, but they're not a problem. I know where they are and we can catch them by surprise. I'm more worried about my father," he declared with sincere bitterness.

“We can overcome him before he wakes up. Bellamir, will you be able to free Garin's companions?” the prince wanted to know.

“Of course," answered the rogue.

“Well then, let's go, we'll free the dwarves, provide them with weapons, and subdue Ankar and his henchmen while they sleep," concluded Syriel.

But when he left his room, he found a panorama quite different from what he had expected: he found that all the men and orcs had been bound and gagged by numerous dwarves who wielded their threatening axes. A smiling Ankar sneered at him:

“Did you sleep well, my prince? And you, dirty orc princess?”

“You are going to pay this very dearly, Ankar, don't doubt it," threatened Syriel.

“Really? Well, I don't think so. Arrest them and return my treacherous son to his dungeon!" ordered Ankar.

As the dwarves tied Syriel and his companions, only Baldrich noticed that Bellamir was no longer with them just a second before they put an antimagic hood on him, just like Lirieth, and he smiled inwardly. With these hoods, of which the sombers were masters at making them, not even the most powerful sorcerer could make the slightest magic, since they completely annulled all the magical skills of the one who wore it.

“Why, Ankar? My father has always treated you with respect and benevolence," Syriel asked.

“Haven't you guessed it yet? I hate orcs, I cannot bear their repugnant pestilence. I could not believe that you were allied with them and, above all, that you were promising one of their beasts," replied Ankar with restrained rage.

“You will not get away with it, my father and Gulrath will ask you for explanations," said the prince.

“I've got it all figured out, my prince. I will say that the Peaks Pass was taken by the dark ones and that you all fell fighting bravely. Now, be so kind as to accompany me to the gates of the pass,” Ankar grinned.

They were forced to climb a wide staircase for almost three hours. Although they tied them up in front, the climb was expensive for the prisoners, who stumbled and fell with some assiduity. There was another access from below without stairs for wagons and caravans, which they did not use to better control the prisoners.

Eventually, they reached the high and sturdy doors that Ankar ordered to open. With great din, they began to open and an incredible landscape appeared before their eyes. There was a solid path made of rock and wood that stretched to the end of the horizon, flanked by various mountain peaks of different sizes and sometimes tunneled through the larger mountains that hindered it. Shreds of thick clouds adorned the path and the peaks of the mountains, although without covering too much the panoramic view. To the first and main road of the Peaks Pass were joined more stretches that linked the main cities and dwarf settlements throughout the Slanted Mountains. But by express order of Ankar, that day all the derivations remained with their closed doors that rose big and solid, so that one could only pass through the main pass that united Karbandur with the Badlands.

Syriel thought that it was a pity to contemplate this marvelous spectacle being tied, betrayed and defeated; and he also lamented that Lirieth was not able to see the landscape next to him, since the antimagic hood prevented him from doing so. With rage, but without losing his composure, he went to Ankar.

“What do you have in mind for us, you fucking traitor?” asked Syriel bravely.

“Well, nothing less than what his highness requested me: The Peaks Pass," replied Ankar with derision and haughtiness. “Later on, you will find a somber retinue that will take care of you, but so that you don't waste time going to meet them, I will introduce you to Kasariviel, who will follow you slowly but relentlessly. If I were you, I would not stop to try to free from the bonds," added Ankar amusedly.

“Kasariviel?" Syriel interrogated.

“It is a giant serpent that came from the Badlands. Since we feed him well, he stays with us and watches over this door. It is a precious creature which is more than three hundred feet high and its smallest tusk surpasses your height. It's adorable, you'll see," replied the dwarf, with a good dose of mockery. “Throw them all out," ordered Ankar.

The dwarves, aided by their axes and spears, pushed and drove the whole group of men and orcs into the pass. Only Bellamir was missing, although only Baldrich was aware of his absence.

As the doors closed, the last thing they saw was Ankar laughing out loud, but they didn't have much time to lament or curse him, since above the doors, a huge forked tongue appeared followed by a menacing serpent's head showing long, very sharp fangs. They all ran along the solid path by which the serpent would undoubtedly chase them.

Syriel searched for Lirieth and took as best he could a piece of his robe, instructing it to follow him with care not to fall. He also searched for Baldrich, but he had overtaken him.

“Don't worry about me, I'll be able to follow your steps," said the magician.

Running handcuffed, some of the orc and human warriors fell to the ground and were hit by the hungry ophidian. This gave the others time to gain some distance from the snake. Syriel tried to find something that would help him break his ties, but the rocks on the road were very well carved with rounded-shape and he had no choice but to keep running.