Escaping the Mountain

Ouch!

For the hundredth time, Elian reached over his shoulder, trying to readjust his sword so it wouldn’t hit the back of his head whenever he moved. He’d seen the sword on display in a kind of storeroom, hanging on the wall next to several others. There had been something appealing about its silvery shine, the curve of the blade. It was longer and slightly heavier than the ones he and Kaer had been practicing with, and even to his untrained eye it was a thing of beauty.

Brinja had noticed him looking at it and took it down for him, then rummaged around for a suitable sheath and belt.

“Take it,” she’d said. “It’s not a dwarf’s weapon. It was made for a human, or perhaps an elf.” She studied it more closely, running a finger along the flat side of the blade. “Mithril. Very good quality. It should serve you well.”

He hoped it would. Since the tunnels required some crawling and squeezing through narrow passages, he’d chosen to strap it to his back to keep it out of the way, like Kaer. Clearly it took some getting used to, but no matter how annoying it was, the weight of it was reassuring.

“I smell fresh air.” Kaia's ears perked up and she lifted her face to trace the draft. “Exit is near?”

“Yes, you’re right,” Brinja said. “We’ve been moving steadily upwards, and these are natural caves. Lots of cracks that let air come through.” She tightened the grip on the rope she had looped around Blackbeard’s neck. “If it’s daytime, we might see glimpses of light soon.”

“I can’t wait.” Elian winced as he turned his head and the hilt of the sword crushed his ear. After discovering the dead dwarves, this place felt like a tomb. If he never set foot underground again, it’d be too soon.

It wasn’t too long before small patches of light broke through the darkness, and through narrow cracks high above he imagined seeing the blue sky. Roots were clinging to the stone, though no greenery could be seen. Only moss.

“So, now that you have Blackbeard, you’re coming with us, right?” Elian asked Brinja, who nodded. “You said your family left, so you’ll meet up with them somewhere?”

“Yes. They were heading to the City of Alenia. I have several uncles and cousins there.” Her face darkened. “I hope they made it.”

“I’m sure they did,” he said a little too quickly, unable to not immediately think of all the bones they’d found. After meeting Brinja, he’d hoped -- no, became certain there were other survivors, but… “We met some traders before coming here and it sounded as if many dwarfs fled the mountains safely.”

“Especially the ones from the outlier villages, I imagine,” Brinja nodded.

“That makes sense. I imagine the settlement at the big entrance we came through isn’t the only one?”

“No, there are several scattered around the mountain.” She started telling them about the different purposes of the villages, and the different families running them as they steadily moved forward. The air kept getting fresher, lifting everybody’s spirits, and Blackbeard was literally prancing in the front.

They’ll be out soon!

Suddenly Kaia and Blackbeard stopped, ears turned forward, bodies tense.

“Buggers?” Elian asked, hand going to his sword.

“I’m not sure… probably.” Kaia was clearly puzzled, trying to find words. “Is like humming. Not like the other bugs made.”

“Humming?” Brinja froze, all color draining from her face, even her freckles seemed paler.

Kaia nodded, then shifted to Lykar. “It’s almost like a soft buzzing, very melodious.”

Elian translated, growing more worried as Brinja just stood there, staring into the darkness ahead. For the first time since they’d met, she seemed utterly terrified.

“The Deadly Whispers,” she mumbled. “Oh no…”

“Whispers?” Hadn’t Trader Torrik mentioned something about whispers in the mines?

“Quick, we need to hide,” The dwarf snapped back into her usual self, grabbed Blackbeard by a horn, and made a run for the nearest side tunnel.

It turned out to be nothing but a crack in the wall, but the four of them crouched down behind a pile of fallen rocks. Elian had so many questions, but each time he tried to open his mouth, the look on her face made him close it again. The only movement was Kaia, readying an arrow. Then they remained still, barely breathing.

Ready for anything.

Then Elian could hear it too. A faint buzzing, as if a dragonfly was hovering close to his ear. Brinja’s lips tightened, as did her grip on her axe. It felt like an eternity. Heartbeat after heartbeat, breath after breath, all senses on high alert. It was almost a relief when he first made out the nearing shadows. Almost. Until he saw them.

Large wasp-like creatures were flying down the tunnel, each orange-brown body as long as his arm, ending with a black stinger. Pale wings moved rapidly enough to create the whispering sound. Their legs were disproportionately long, dangling beneath them. Some of them were weighed down with loads. A couple of deer, a shabby wolf… then… humans. Three of them. Hanging limp under the wasps, faces pale, eyes vacant but not dead. Not yet.

No! He had to save them. Elian started to draw his sword, getting on his feet, when two sets of hands pulled him back down. He met Kaia’s amber eyes, saw the deep sadness in them even as she shook her head, ears flat. Message clear. They’re already lost.

Brinja put a hand on his arm, giving it a gentle squeeze, and when he turned, her eyes were shinier than usual. Holding back tears. He wished they weren’t right, that they could attack, save those people… but if they died here, there’d be no one to warn the world.

Many more would die because of him. So many more.

So he remained silent, still, waiting…

The buzzing soon faded, but they remained in hiding for a lot longer. Sitting there, waiting, helpless, the weight of the mountain pressing down on him, Elian could all too well picture a swarm of those things ambushing a group of dwarves in a tunnel. Nothing more than shadows and whispers. The fight would be over before it even began…

Once they dared to move again, they walked faster, more determined. Hands on their weapons as if the bugs would try something just before they made it out. The specks of light became more frequent and at last Elian felt a fresh, cool breeze of wind on his face. They were so close now.

The exit was nothing more than a narrow crack in the mountain wall. Kaia went first, then Brinja and the goat. Being larger than them, he pushed his backpack through first, then followed sideways, tearing his shirt in the process. But he couldn’t care less.

They were out. They had a chance.

Even though it was cloudy, Elian squinted against the light while greedily inhaling the fresh mountain air. They made it. As his eyes adjusted, he took in their surroundings. The vegetation here was as plundered as it had been where they’d come from, but the air was so fresh and the sky so high above. It was as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

“Let’s get the blazing hells away from this place.” Brinja was already walking.

“The buggers are probably patrolling out here, increasing the area where they harvest their food,” Elian added. “So, the further we can get, the better.”

“Bahhhhaaa.” Blackbeard nodded vigorously, almost knocking the dwarf over, then taking the lead. Even he seemed to be in a hurry to get away from the mountains.