We were woken gently, with a message to get ready quickly to meet the Keeper and Mech. Breakfast was a quick affair. When Lanara arrived, we were ready to go. She led us to the others at the entrance to the lower levels. Gorval and all the Darrknots were waiting, all in full armor and well armed.
"We have reports that the gray ones are amassing an army, preparing to invade, certain that we will not bring the Foot," the commander explained.
We left the body of the corp outside the secure room. A guard was trying to pick up the Foot, but the bubble prevented him from grasping it. He was near to hurting himself in his attempts. The commander stopped him.
"You grasp the wrong thing. Here, let me show you."
The commander placed his hands upon the bubble and firmly pulled. Neither bubble nor Foot moved. The commander was perplexed. He turned to us as did Gorval.
"What am I doing wrong? Why will it not move?"
"There is a bit of Jordsonn still in it," I explained, "You must tell it why you seek to move it."
"I see," he brightened and faced the Foot, "We promised our enemy the Foot would be with us when we confront each other. It must come with us now."
Before our eyes, the box reformed around the Foot and the bubble rose out of the table. The commander took hold of it and easily lifted it. The guard was dumbfounded. We left the guard and rejoined the Darrknots.
The population of Stahendring parted before us as we descended. At level thirty, we met the guards stationed there. They, too, were fully armed and armored. They reported no sign of Duergar. We set up an area to receive them as well as defend the upper levels. A pedestal was assembled to place the Foot in plain sight. The speaking device was already there and waiting.
How long we waited, I don't know. Echo and the other bat-dragons alerted us when they arrived on level thirty-four and kept a running account of their action. The feelings of hate and anger increased as they grew closer. Also, I could feel the Mech, a strange coldness I had not yet encountered. It lived, that I could sense, but its form of life was hard to describe. Intelligence, that I could also sense. Callie could tell, even so far away, that it was malfunctioning, but could not tell its exact damage. It was not "ill" in any way Sarah or Lisa could feel. Alice and Anna, when the gray ones reached level thirty-two, began receiving individual histories and backgrounds. They let us all know the Duergar army only obeyed the Keeper and Mech out of fear, no loyalty, duty, honor, nor love tied them together. The Keeper felt out with his magic for the Foot. He brushed the bubble and became infuriated.
At level thirty, Gretta began to "hear" something, several somethings. Before they reached us, she confirmed the Keeper plus several Duergar carried magical items of various powers, values, and strengths. The Mech, however, did not "sing" to her.
They slowly marched into our lit area, shielding their eyes from what few crystals and grubs we had with us. The Keeper, just as we had seen him, carried something large and obviously heavy. A dozen paces from us, they stopped. The Keeper set down his burden and looked around, overlooking the box on the pedestal
"Where is it?!" he shouted, "Where is my father's foot?"
"Right here," Gorval calmly replied and pointed out the box, "just as we promised."
"Right here," Gorval calmly replied and pointed out the box, "just as we promised."
The Keeper approached and made to touch it. When his hand touched the bubble, he received a mild shock. This angered him even more.
"Foul bastards! What trickery is this? How do I know it is even in there? Show it to me!" he ranted.
Gorval lightly tapped the bubble.The box folded under the Foot once again. Satisfied, the Keeper returned to his men and the Mech.
"Now what? How do we decide this?" he asked/demanded.
"First," Gorval began, "we want to hear from your 'Clock'. This device will allow us to hear his voice."
"What? Impossible! Only I can hear him. No device can make his words heard by all."
"This can. It will not be harmed. You can place it in there yourself."
The Keeper looked over the device and, grudgingly, agreed to do it. He lifted his burden and placed it on the thick mat. We seven proceeded to adjust the tiny rods around the Mech. We stopped when words were heard from the horn.
"...me speak. Let me speak. Let me speak," a monotone voice echoed in the tunnel around us.
"Speak, being of metal. We hear you," Gorval interrupted its repeated request.
"Others hear me? Finally, the truth can be told. I am no god. I seek no worship. I only wish to return home to Mechanicus."
"What can we do to make that happen?" Gorval calmly asked.
"This stone keeps me here. Remove it and I can leave."
"NO!" the Keeper shouted, "Your device lies! He wishes to stay here. I hear his true words," pointing at his head, "and he demands the conquest of the bastard dwarfs!"
The rest of the Duergar seemed at a loss. A few in the back crept away, back to the lower levels.
"Let us test it," Gorval proposed, "If it is a lie, no harm done and your burden is lighter to carry."
The Keeper pondered before telling us, "The stone cannot be removed, we have tried."
"Let us try," the seven of us spoke as one.
The Keeper waved a dismissive hand. Gorval gave us the go-ahead. Seven swords pointed at the Mech as we encircled it. Power flowed. Cracks began to form in the rock. The Keeper gave us his undivided attention when the first chunk thudded to the tunnel floor. More Duergar deserted at this opportunity. More stone collected around the Mech and device. A head, face, and shoulders became visible as the rock fell away.
"Yes, yes, I can detect the pull to Mechanicus. Continue, please," the Mech's voice sounded over the sound of dropping stone.
When his chest came free, we saw where the Foot had been.Cloth that may have been a coat or tunic bore the distinct outline of the Foot, explaining why the Foot had not passed through his metal body or the imprisoning rock. His arms were gone, melted to the elbows. As he was slowly released, we saw his legs were completely gone, up to the hips. Impressions of his fingers marred his sculpted chest and cut into the gears inside.
"FREE! I am free! I can go home now. Thank you. Thank you."
"Wait!" the Keeper shouted, "Help me get my father's foot back!"
"It is not your father's foot. Jordsonn Gudfarspokelse lost his foot and leg centuries before your father was even born. You have no claim to this or any item. You are not even full dwarf. Your father's grandfather was illithid. You are more of a bastard than any here."
Gasps sounded from both joban and Duergar. The Keeper faltered. Weapons were sheathed and Duergar blatantly walked away. By the time the Keeper found his voice, only one-tenth of his army remained.
"Lies! Vicious lies! I am Duergar! I am pure dwarf! Never have I seen the sun or sky! Betrayed! You shall all suffer!"
The Keeper began pulling power from the items he wore and the items on the ones who stayed with him. A noise answered his actions, yet it was not from us. The Mech was vibrating, setting up a resonance with all of their items. Some dropped them when it became uncomfortable and ran. Others held on.The Keeper was straining to maintain focus. Finally, all the items shattered, becoming dust and shards. All but the Keeper fled.
"I...will...destroy...you...all," he panted.
"No, I cannot allow it. Ladies and beings, guard yourselves," the Mech warned.
We shielded ourselves as the Mech unleashed a mental attack upon the Keeper. He twitched under the assault. Blood began leaking from his ears, nose, eyes, and mouth. With a weird gurgle, he collapsed in a heap and did not move. The Mech sighed.
"I was summoned from Mechanicus to punish the Joban for betraying the 'true dwarfs' by bringing non-dwarfs to these tunnels. When I arrived, I saw no betrayal, only a difference of opinion. I collapsed the tunnels to separate two conflicted territories.
"The Foot fell to the lower tunnels. I saw a Duergar catch it and run. I followed. When he walked on lava, I did not understand how. I erred and took after him on the lava. Gaining the Foot from him killed him but offered me no protection. I struggled until I could no longer move. I gave myself to the lava, but only became encased in rock. When I was found, I hoped exchanging the Foot and the knowledge I received from it would give me my freedom. As you know, it did not. By my 'authority', that one did evil things. He betrayed his people's beliefs and way of life. I have fulfilled my summons. I can return to Mechanicus with a clean conscious."
"None of this was your doing? Your orders?" Gorval inquired.
"Not a bit. I begged, pleaded, did everything I could to stop him. If he heard me, he heard wrongly."
"He did hear wrongly," Alice spoke up, "His mental hearing was weak, hearing only parts and pieces. He worked those bits into what he wanted to hear. More than half of the time, it was his wants alone he declared to be the will of the 'Divine Clock'. He believed if he said it was its 'will', the Duergar would follow more easily. His father gleaned information about Mechanicus and believed that realm was paradise and preached to the others to make their region mimic Mechanicus."
"It pleases me to know my words were misunderstood and it was his will that caused all those problems. Dwarf King, Sisters, do I have you permission to return to my home realm?"
We all gave him his leave. With a sigh, the Mech seemed to fold in on himself and vanished. The Keeper's body lay in a bloody mess in the tunnel. We felt the Duergar would not retrieve the body so Gorval permitted Set to cremate it. The bat-dragons helped him to quickly render the body and blood to ash, including bones and clothes. The ash was swept up and placed inside a jug that was lying nearby. Gorval told Lanara to pen a letter to the Duergar telling them the state and location of the Keeper's remains and for them to indicate if they wished them returned. The Foot was taken back to the secure room and we all exited into the full light of day.
It took a bit to realize what time of day it was. A servant came out of the Palace to ask Gorval who would be joining him for the mid-day meal. The Darrknots went to their barracks as did the other guards. We seven, our companions, Gorval, and Lanara were the only ones to follow the servant back into the Palace.
As we ate in silence, I sensed the dwarfs were pondering something of great concern. About half-way through the meal, Gorval broke the silence.
"Ladies, I do not know how to thank you. Without you, this could have escalated to a true battle. Untold death and destruction has been averted. Casualties were kept low and renewed alliances were made. The gnomes' reports did not exaggerate when they told of the wonders you worked for them. I am almost embarrassed to ask for more help."
"What is it, Sire?" Callie asked, "We want to help any way we can. This will be my home and you are family. The staff in my house are paid by you, you pay for the upkeep of it and them, you've put up with us in spite of the strange things we've done, plus many other things. We have no reason not to help, no matter what it might be or if..."
"Yes, yes, Callie, thank you," Gorval interrupted her ramblings, "We have the Foot. The Rod will be here soon. The problem is we still have not had any luck locating the Wand. We cannot even determine which direction to begin searching."
"Have you a map of this world?" I asked.
"Yes, in our war room. It is one of the most detailed maps known," he replied, hope brightening his face.
"Let us go there when we finish here and locate the Wand," I suggested.
With a nod, we returned to our meal.
We followed him to a room similar to the map room in Thantos. This room, however, had chests away from the painted walls. We were surrounded by land and ocean maps on the walls. Above us, a full star chart was painted in exacting detail. The floor was covered in soft rugs with elaborate designs that fit in this room. This map needed no updating like Thantos. Drow, Givagar, Duergar, plus many others were documented as precisely as Vanity had revealed in Thantos. With no shelves to impede it, this one recorded the fullness of Crialas and the land across the sea to the east.
"So, now what?" Gorval asked, slightly impatient.
I took out a few of Set's scales, "Scales of the Emperor, locate the Wand of the Master Miner, known in life as Jordsonn Gudfarspokelse," I requested of the small pile of gray-green scales.
From my hand, they rose and circled the room. They went to the wall depicting Crialas. Around and around the scales circled that land, growing tighter as they focused closer to the Wand. Finally, they encircled a spot not far from Crialas Pagaou. We seven looked at the spot and chuckled.
"What is so funny? Ladies, explain," Gorval nearly commanded.
"The Wand is safe, Sire," I told him as we stepped away,"In fact, it is in the care of a friend of our's."
Aloud, Gorval read, "'Cavern of Aper See'? Who or what is Aper See?"
We told him about Aper See, Chobi, Chobin, and Chobo. We explained how we had come to meet them. The dwarfs were amazed.
"Does he know he has it?" Gorval asked when he could speak again.
"Yes, Aper See knows every item in his hoard. He, lightly, threatened us, when we were looking for a chalice, that he would know if anything else was taken," I answered.
"We must contact him, ask for the Wand, hopefully he will let it go," Gorval nearly pleaded.
"He and the girls are powerful wizards. A wizard's glass should work," Anna informed the dwarfs.
Gorval opened the door and yelled for one to be brought immediately. Many complied and over half a dozen were handed to us. We chose the largest, one bigger than Set's head, so Gorval, Lanara, and a few councilors, who arrived to investigate Gorval's odd command, could comfortably view it with us. We called for Aper See. We seven were not surprised to see Chobi instead.
"Sisters? Aper See is currently flying. May I be of aid?"
We asked about the Wand. She, in turn, mentally asked Aper See. He told her and she quickly recovered it. The dwarfs gasped and cheered when she held the tied-together bones for us to see. They began asking how soon it could be brought to Stahendring.
"Why the rush, joban?" Aper See's deep voice boomed through the large glass, even though he was in shadow and unseen, "It has laid here for almost three hundred years. Why the sudden interest?"
"We seek to reunite the three parts," Gorval answered, "We have one and the second is on its way. We have been searching for the Wand. If not for the Sisters, we would not have known you had it."
Aper See laughed, "Who did not know, when they were here, that I had it or you sought it. Do you plan to summon elementals or any of the like? I just want to know what kind of situation I am dealing."
Gorval explained what had happened and how they had gotten the Foot. He also told about wanting to keep "valuable dwarf artifacts" in dwarf land. Aper See understood and instructed Chobi to transport it to Stahendring when her daily tasks were complete. Chobi acknowledged the instructions and told us to expect her before sunset today. We said good-bye and her image faded. The dwarfs turned to us.
"Crialas is very far," one councilor pointed out, "By what power can she get from there to here?"
"Kirlan, councilor. Aper See's apprentices have learned how to use it to travel. With us here, as people she knows, she can find Stahendring by finding us. After that, she can travel here at any time as a place she has already been," I explained.
The dwarfs gasped. Anger rushed to color nearly every one's glow. They began to complain about "uninvited guests", invasions, no place being "safe", and other things I couldn't understand as they were all talking at once. It took a while for them to run out of words.
"Everyone, please, it is not like that. She can only travel to where we are and where she has been. If she does not go to somewhere, she cannot appear there. Also, if you tell her where she is permitted, that is the only place she will go," I told them.
The dwarfs did not seem convinced. Their distrust of elves, magic, outsiders, and a host of other things warred against our insistence that they had nothing to worry about. They continued to lay out reasons to not allow Chobi to come to Stahendring. We could not convince them. They left, vowing to keep "her" out of the city.
"What do we do now? They'll do something to Chobi even at the risk of not getting the Wand," Callie noted sadly.
"Let's call Chobi back, warn her and Aper See about the dwarfs' anger," Lisa insisted.
We agreed and called for Aper See again. This time, we were greeted by a very draconian face.
"Sisters? What now? Are the dwarfs that impatient?" he asked playfully.
"No, we called again to warn you and Chobi. The dwarfs are upset that she could come and go as she pleases, taking anything she wishes, and disappearing without a trace. We told them she would not do such, but they do not believe us," I told him.
Aper See frowned, a truly sinister look on such a large dragon. He called Chobi and told her the situation. Tears welled up in her eyes, a riot of emotions coursing over her expressive face, stealing her voice. Aper See, however, had no trouble speaking. In dragon, he began chanting. The world shifted.
Suddenly, the seven of us, our companions, Gorval, Lanara, and the entire dwarf council were standing in Aper See's cavern, with Aper See and his girls facing us. The dwarfs, amazingly, were silent.
"Dwarfs of Stahendring, I am Aper See. Chobi, as well as Chobin and Chobo, is my apprentice. She was instructed to go only where you let visitors travel in your city. She was instructed to bring you the Wand, stay as long as you wished, and leave. As you see around you, there is nothing of value you have that I do not have in abundance. Also, as you may have noticed, I can pull anything, and any one from your city with little effort. Since you are here, Chobo, hand them the Wand, to complete their set."
Chobo stepped forward and gave Gorval the bound together bones. The power radiated from it just as the Rod and Foot. Gorval stared at it, speechless. The council, however, became very vocal, assaulting Aper See for "abducting" them, the King, us, and for his audacity to question their decisions. Aper See let them yell. Gorval, Lanara, and we stepped to the side to not get caught between stubborn dwarfs and a very large dragon. Even such an ancient dragon can run out of patience. With total control, Aper See vented a stream of flame around the council. Their gasps stopped their yelling.
"Enough, joban. I have no interest in kidnapping dwarfs. Your 'treasures', even the three parts, also do not interest me. I did this to show you that you are not as in control as you believe. Also, you cannot seclude your people from the rest of the world. Other races have skills you can use, including keeping such as I from doing what I just did. Conversely, many races can use your skills. Selvis learned that when dwarfs opened up mines humans deemed too dangerous to enter, let alone dig. That kingdom also learned that other races have much to offer. I don't suggest that you must love them or even like them, but an open mind can open many doors."
The dwarfs thought silently, contemplating his words. In their place, Gorval approached Aper See.
"Elder, fellow King, you have my thanks for keeping this artifact safe all these long years. My people will know who has protected this treasure. Your words speak true, a lesson many of my people need to learn if we are to grow and prosper. You and your apprentices are welcome in Stahendring any time. As these seven have shown us much that was forgotten, maybe you can continue our education."
Aper See nodded once. Everything shifted again. We were back in Stahendring on the large flat ledge the riders use to land. The council took a while to readjust to their location. Gorval was pleased to see he still had the Wand in his hands. He started walking away, heading for an opening to the lower levels. We followed. We heard the council run to catch up to us.
In the secure room, Gorval gently placed the Wand in its designated spot. The council began murmuring about how to protect the Wand or if it needed protection at all. Since it would not pass through the stone, they argued that it could lay bare next to the Foot. As they talked, we felt something. The calling power of the Wand was drawing something to us. Not dangerous, but something was coming to the room. Soon it, or rather they, arrived. Through the door, thousands of glowing grubs, cave spiders, rats, bats, and other cave-dwelling creatures poured around the dwarfs, trying to get as close to the Wand as possible. We all moved out into the hall and watched more creatures running from both directions. Gorval made the obvious statement that containment was necessary.
"But how?" a councilor asked, "All of those creatures? We can't even get near it."
"These are creatures of the dark. We shall bring in the light," Alice said and nodded to Dawn.
Dawn was already getting bright as she took off and entered the room. Squeals, squeaks, chirps, plus other noises preceded the stampede of animals running out, crashing into the ones being drawn by the Wand. Dawn flew out, shining like a dozen suncrystals, causing the other animals to turn and run. She held a position just outside the door. We ushered the dwarfs back inside. Just as with the Foot, the dwarfs called for help from the High Fathers to contain the Wand. A bubble like the one around the Foot formed, encasing the Wand and cancelling its pull on the dark-dwelling animals. Dawn stopped shining as the animals returned to their normal lives. The dwarfs stared at the Wand and Foot, their minds processing what they had just seen. Gorval and Lanara asked us to follow them.
Outside, Gorval asked about Dawn. He looked at her like he had never seen her before when we told him how she could glow. We noticed it was nearly dark. They headed to the Palace while we went to Callie's home. Nana had to thoroughly check over all of us. Apparently, while we were with Aper See, they had looked all over for us. She had to make sure we were whole and healthy. We explained during dinner, which resulted in some broken dishes.
We were all very tired when we, finally, got to bed.
"Let us go there when we finish here and locate the Wand," I suggested.
With a nod, we returned to our meal.
We followed him to a room similar to the map room in Thantos. This room, however, had chests away from the painted walls. We were surrounded by land and ocean maps on the walls. Above us, a full star chart was painted in exacting detail. The floor was covered in soft rugs with elaborate designs that fit in this room. This map needed no updating like Thantos. Drow, Givagar, Duergar, plus many others were documented as precisely as Vanity had revealed in Thantos. With no shelves to impede it, this one recorded the fullness of Crialas and the land across the sea to the east.
"So, now what?" Gorval asked, slightly impatient.
I took out a few of Set's scales, "Scales of the Emperor, locate the Wand of the Master Miner, known in life as Jordsonn Gudfarspokelse," I requested of the small pile of gray-green scales.
From my hand, they rose and circled the room. They went to the wall depicting Crialas. Around and around the scales circled that land, growing tighter as they focused closer to the Wand. Finally, they encircled a spot not far from Crialas Pagaou. We seven looked at the spot and chuckled.
"What is so funny? Ladies, explain," Gorval nearly commanded.
"The Wand is safe, Sire," I told him as we stepped away,"In fact, it is in the care of a friend of our's."
Aloud, Gorval read, "'Cavern of Aper See'? Who or what is Aper See?"
We told him about Aper See, Chobi, Chobin, and Chobo. We explained how we had come to meet them. The dwarfs were amazed.
"Does he know he has it?" Gorval asked when he could speak again.
"Yes, Aper See knows every item in his hoard. He, lightly, threatened us, when we were looking for a chalice, that he would know if anything else was taken," I answered.
"We must contact him, ask for the Wand, hopefully he will let it go," Gorval nearly pleaded.
"He and the girls are powerful wizards. A wizard's glass should work," Anna informed the dwarfs.
Gorval opened the door and yelled for one to be brought immediately. Many complied and over half a dozen were handed to us. We chose the largest, one bigger than Set's head, so Gorval, Lanara, and a few councilors, who arrived to investigate Gorval's odd command, could comfortably view it with us. We called for Aper See. We seven were not surprised to see Chobi instead.
"Sisters? Aper See is currently flying. May I be of aid?"
We asked about the Wand. She, in turn, mentally asked Aper See. He told her and she quickly recovered it. The dwarfs gasped and cheered when she held the tied-together bones for us to see. They began asking how soon it could be brought to Stahendring.
"Why the rush, joban?" Aper See's deep voice boomed through the large glass, even though he was in shadow and unseen, "It has laid here for almost three hundred years. Why the sudden interest?"
"We seek to reunite the three parts," Gorval answered, "We have one and the second is on its way. We have been searching for the Wand. If not for the Sisters, we would not have known you had it."
Aper See laughed, "Who did not know, when they were here, that I had it or you sought it. Do you plan to summon elementals or any of the like? I just want to know what kind of situation I am dealing."
Gorval explained what had happened and how they had gotten the Foot. He also told about wanting to keep "valuable dwarf artifacts" in dwarf land. Aper See understood and instructed Chobi to transport it to Stahendring when her daily tasks were complete. Chobi acknowledged the instructions and told us to expect her before sunset today. We said good-bye and her image faded. The dwarfs turned to us.
"Crialas is very far," one councilor pointed out, "By what power can she get from there to here?"
"Kirlan, councilor. Aper See's apprentices have learned how to use it to travel. With us here, as people she knows, she can find Stahendring by finding us. After that, she can travel here at any time as a place she has already been," I explained.
The dwarfs gasped. Anger rushed to color nearly every one's glow. They began to complain about "uninvited guests", invasions, no place being "safe", and other things I couldn't understand as they were all talking at once. It took a while for them to run out of words.
"Everyone, please, it is not like that. She can only travel to where we are and where she has been. If she does not go to somewhere, she cannot appear there. Also, if you tell her where she is permitted, that is the only place she will go," I told them.
The dwarfs did not seem convinced. Their distrust of elves, magic, outsiders, and a host of other things warred against our insistence that they had nothing to worry about. They continued to lay out reasons to not allow Chobi to come to Stahendring. We could not convince them. They left, vowing to keep "her" out of the city.
"What do we do now? They'll do something to Chobi even at the risk of not getting the Wand," Callie noted sadly.
"Let's call Chobi back, warn her and Aper See about the dwarfs' anger," Lisa insisted.
We agreed and called for Aper See again. This time, we were greeted by a very draconian face.
"Sisters? What now? Are the dwarfs that impatient?" he asked playfully.
"No, we called again to warn you and Chobi. The dwarfs are upset that she could come and go as she pleases, taking anything she wishes, and disappearing without a trace. We told them she would not do such, but they do not believe us," I told him.
Aper See frowned, a truly sinister look on such a large dragon. He called Chobi and told her the situation. Tears welled up in her eyes, a riot of emotions coursing over her expressive face, stealing her voice. Aper See, however, had no trouble speaking. In dragon, he began chanting. The world shifted.
Suddenly, the seven of us, our companions, Gorval, Lanara, and the entire dwarf council were standing in Aper See's cavern, with Aper See and his girls facing us. The dwarfs, amazingly, were silent.
"Dwarfs of Stahendring, I am Aper See. Chobi, as well as Chobin and Chobo, is my apprentice. She was instructed to go only where you let visitors travel in your city. She was instructed to bring you the Wand, stay as long as you wished, and leave. As you see around you, there is nothing of value you have that I do not have in abundance. Also, as you may have noticed, I can pull anything, and any one from your city with little effort. Since you are here, Chobo, hand them the Wand, to complete their set."
Chobo stepped forward and gave Gorval the bound together bones. The power radiated from it just as the Rod and Foot. Gorval stared at it, speechless. The council, however, became very vocal, assaulting Aper See for "abducting" them, the King, us, and for his audacity to question their decisions. Aper See let them yell. Gorval, Lanara, and we stepped to the side to not get caught between stubborn dwarfs and a very large dragon. Even such an ancient dragon can run out of patience. With total control, Aper See vented a stream of flame around the council. Their gasps stopped their yelling.
"Enough, joban. I have no interest in kidnapping dwarfs. Your 'treasures', even the three parts, also do not interest me. I did this to show you that you are not as in control as you believe. Also, you cannot seclude your people from the rest of the world. Other races have skills you can use, including keeping such as I from doing what I just did. Conversely, many races can use your skills. Selvis learned that when dwarfs opened up mines humans deemed too dangerous to enter, let alone dig. That kingdom also learned that other races have much to offer. I don't suggest that you must love them or even like them, but an open mind can open many doors."
The dwarfs thought silently, contemplating his words. In their place, Gorval approached Aper See.
"Elder, fellow King, you have my thanks for keeping this artifact safe all these long years. My people will know who has protected this treasure. Your words speak true, a lesson many of my people need to learn if we are to grow and prosper. You and your apprentices are welcome in Stahendring any time. As these seven have shown us much that was forgotten, maybe you can continue our education."
Aper See nodded once. Everything shifted again. We were back in Stahendring on the large flat ledge the riders use to land. The council took a while to readjust to their location. Gorval was pleased to see he still had the Wand in his hands. He started walking away, heading for an opening to the lower levels. We followed. We heard the council run to catch up to us.
In the secure room, Gorval gently placed the Wand in its designated spot. The council began murmuring about how to protect the Wand or if it needed protection at all. Since it would not pass through the stone, they argued that it could lay bare next to the Foot. As they talked, we felt something. The calling power of the Wand was drawing something to us. Not dangerous, but something was coming to the room. Soon it, or rather they, arrived. Through the door, thousands of glowing grubs, cave spiders, rats, bats, and other cave-dwelling creatures poured around the dwarfs, trying to get as close to the Wand as possible. We all moved out into the hall and watched more creatures running from both directions. Gorval made the obvious statement that containment was necessary.
"But how?" a councilor asked, "All of those creatures? We can't even get near it."
"These are creatures of the dark. We shall bring in the light," Alice said and nodded to Dawn.
Dawn was already getting bright as she took off and entered the room. Squeals, squeaks, chirps, plus other noises preceded the stampede of animals running out, crashing into the ones being drawn by the Wand. Dawn flew out, shining like a dozen suncrystals, causing the other animals to turn and run. She held a position just outside the door. We ushered the dwarfs back inside. Just as with the Foot, the dwarfs called for help from the High Fathers to contain the Wand. A bubble like the one around the Foot formed, encasing the Wand and cancelling its pull on the dark-dwelling animals. Dawn stopped shining as the animals returned to their normal lives. The dwarfs stared at the Wand and Foot, their minds processing what they had just seen. Gorval and Lanara asked us to follow them.
Outside, Gorval asked about Dawn. He looked at her like he had never seen her before when we told him how she could glow. We noticed it was nearly dark. They headed to the Palace while we went to Callie's home. Nana had to thoroughly check over all of us. Apparently, while we were with Aper See, they had looked all over for us. She had to make sure we were whole and healthy. We explained during dinner, which resulted in some broken dishes.
We were all very tired when we, finally, got to bed.
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