3of Dragon's Fate-Book#1 Emergence-Part 3 Version3

Breedheen ORilley 2003 Of Dragons Fate: Emergence 1
Part 3
Part 3 Chapter 1
Atnimera was troubled by what she was feeling. How could her own family want her to go to the surface? And for what? She decided that she would go away from the surface, and she would go as far away from it as she could get. She would escape into the heart of the earth. When nightfall came, Atnimera scrawled a note to OTasha; the only adult she thought still cared for her. She lied about where she intended to go to increase her chances that she would escape successfully. She knew that they thought it her destiny to go to the surface and that they thought she must go there soon. She wrote OTasha a poem to ease her mind and show her how much Atnimera really cared for her. This is what she wrote:
Dear OTasha, I have decided to make my own way in the world. I have secrets that I have held inside for a long time. My mind and heart are troubled by the world around me. I see that the people around me are not what they seem. I am not safe here. I do not feel close to anyone save you. I will go to the surface, for I am drawn there. Please use your voice to prevent anyone from looking for me. I know I have a destiny and I am sure I must go alone and find my own way. I wrote a poem to show my gratitude for your teachings.
Teachers Student Lament
Time was short and fast Quickly the days have passed You taught me to look back, then forward
Breedheen ORilley 2003 Of Dragons Fate: Emergence 3 At the time Ive had with you.
Memories of old, memories of gold Days of gladness, days for The Light Seasons of joy; mercies of The Light anew Years of learning, times of old
Giving up all to fast I saw ahead the light at last The way is clear, my eyes unblinded I put the dark, dark past behind me Go ahead in my bright future Go my own way, do what suits me
The Light has helped us through it all Through good and bad, through summer and fall At every turn and each advancement The Light shows me the path, I take no chances No need for chances in the protection of The Light
The Lights love convey through you to me The Light fills me. The Light sees me through The Light cleans my heart, soul, and mind I praise The Light. It is very kind Through the day and night we will be together Not in body, but in soul
Breedheen ORilley 2003 Of Dragons Fate: Emergence 4 I hope you will remember me and send me your prayers as I move ahead with my destiny. I will miss you most of all. Please comfort my parents and grandmother if they miss me.
Farewell, Atnimera
Atnimera did not know what to take with her. She brought with her the bag of treasures that she had collected all of her life. She planned to go deeper and deeper into the heart of the earth. She was going to let fate carry her away from the world she knew. She had overcome the darkness before and she felt she could drive back the darkness again and make a life for herself. She braided her long dark hair into an extremely tight plait that was then piled on top of her head to make her appear somewhat taller than she was. She wanted to look less vulnerable and increasing her size was the only way she knew how to do it. She dressed in her everyday dress and packed some pants and a shirt for more treacherous passages. She put on her sturdiest pair of boots. She packed all that she was not wearing away with some roots and some filled water skins. Snooter was very keen on what she was doing and kept crawling into her pack to get at the roots. No Snooter, you cant come with me. I have to leave you here close to the surface where you belong. She tried to explain. Nevertheless, Snooter continued to follow her around the room and kept trying to get into her pack. Finally, Atnimera decided not to fight the persistent animal any more. She arranged for him a place in the pack away from the roots and resolved to take her blind companion with her.
Atnimera waited until deep into the night to emerge from her room. She tiptoed to the room where she received her lessons and slipped the note under the door. Then she headed for the tunnels that lay below her feet that could lead a person into the very heart of the earth. Atnimera wanted to travel far away from the land of her troubling dreams. She was seeking the mysteries of the earth and all the secrets the earth holds. When she had traveled far enough away from the settlement and she was sure no one would hear her, she paused. Then she let Snooter out of her pack. He was too heavy for her to carry him the whole way. You walk from here. You are too heavy for me to carry. She said to the mole. The torches that had lit her way were becoming dimmer and farther apart. Atnimera pushed into the darkness without fear. Her eyes had grown strong beneath the earth and she could see in the darkness as well. Snooter began to walk before her and without realizing it, she began to follow him. As she continued there were no lights at all and she had not even passed the troll gate yet. She didnt know what lie ahead or the way back. She had found that she could not see anything before her or behind her. As she felt along the wall for guidance, she came upon a hollow in the side of the tunnel. She decided that she would rest here. She sat with her back against the wall. Snooter came and sat at her feet, gently licking the sore spots on her feet to soothe them. What am I going to do Snooter? she sad as she rubbed the head of the affectionate mole. What will be my guide in this new life I have chosen? I think that perhaps I have made a mistake by leaving. Still, I will not go to the surface so it is just as well that I have no way to retrace my steps and go home.
Finally she decided that there was no choice in the matter. She had only to press on. Just then, she remembered the treasures she had brought with her. She opened her pouch and found Siltons stone was glowing. She unpacked the stone that she had found in these caverns so many years ago. As she held it in her hand, it began to glow more brightly. Atnimera felt that she had nothing to fear and continued her journey down into the depths of the earth. The air she was breathing began to feel warm and heavy. It smelled foul and tasted like metal in her mouth, but there was another sent on the air. It sharply reminded her of the scent in the caverns when her brothers had left her for the trolls. Yet she could not remember passing the troll gate. The color of the glowing stone began to change from a soft white glow to an intense bright white light. Snooter stopped frequently to test the air. Atnimera knew that the trolls must have been and were continuing to follow her. In the passage, she could almost feel their presence. She had to move and move fast, but with her shining stone to light the way she could move much faster, unfortunately if the trolls got close enough they would see the light and capture her for sure. A few times, she thought that she had certainly heard the trolls yelling in the passages behind her. Atnimera grew increasingly cautious as she moved along. She chose her steps carefully. Down here there was no where to run from an enemy and there were certainly few enough places to hide. Atnimera toyed with the thought of stopping and resting, but the suffocating air pushed her ever forward. She wanted to breathe easily and be safe again. Gradually the taste of the air changed from a metallic taste to a sweet, nutty flavor. It didnt seem to press in on her as much; rather it lulled her and made her feel safe and sleepy. Atnimera wanted desperately to stop for the night, but she pushed herself onward until she could go no further. Even Snooter was ready for a rest. She
settled down in an alcove that was a part of the passageway she had been travelling along in. She ate a few bites of one of her roots, and fed Snooter some as well. Soon she had rolled out her bedding and the girl and mole were fast asleep. The nutty smell permeated itself into Atnimeras dream world and propelled her into a deep heavy sleep. She was sleeping so soundly that she didnt hear, smell or feel the vibrations of the trolls growing closer and closer to her position.
There she is! Get her! she heard one of them say in a deep growling voice that called her to her senses disturbingly fast. She had no time to mount an escape. Before she could realize what was happening, she was being carried off by a pack of trolls. She screamed shrilly until one of them placed his thick smelly hairy hand over her mouth and nose till she could breathe no more and lost consciousness again. When she awoke this time, she was in a chamber hewn out of the rock with its opening blocked by a large stone door that she knew would be locked. The door let about six inches of light under the door. It put her in mind of escape, but she knew she could never squeeze through a crack that small. Her supplies had either been taken from her or left behind in the alcove where she had been sleeping. Snooter was no where in sight. Either he had escaped, or they had taken him and most likely had eaten him. Despite her lengthy sleep, she was still exhausted and tried to fall back asleep in the cold empty cell. A troll came to wake her some hours later. He bound her hands and feet so that she could move and work, but the chains made escape difficult. He led her through passageways that were all lit with a blood red flame fed only by stone. The light given
off by the flame had a sinister glow. Though the flames warmed the passage, Atnimera was chilled to the bone. On through the passageways he led her and he began to see others like her bound and chipping away at the stone walls to make the chambers larger. At length, they came into a hall filled only with trolls. There was a huge scarlet fire burning angrily in the center of the room with many trolls dancing and singing in their voices that always seemed to growl. Overseeing the whole cavern was an enormous troll set upon a platform in a chair plated with gold. Atnimera was led to the stairs leading to this leader trolls platform. Her guard led her halfway up the stairway and pushed her head to the floor in a bow to his master. This one we captured last night, Lord Glowernall, My troops and I thought you might find her eyes of some interest. We do not know why she was traveling through our lands. Her guard said to his master. Lift her head so I can see. Commanded Lord Glowernall. Atnimeras guard grabbed the back of her head by the hair and pulled her face up to look eye to eye with Lord Glowernall, but she was so frightened she couldnt open her eyes. Open your eyes slave! Your supreme master wants to look upon your deformity. Her guard commanded, and slowly she began to open her eyes and she looked deep into the eyes of the monarch before her. His eyes were deep brown with large black pupils. She gazed into them and realized that his soul was full of cruelty, just like the troll who guarded her. Yes, her deformity is worth seeing to be sure. I will take her into my bed, and she will bear my son. Now take her to a secure cell. Feed her well and do not harm her.
I want her free of bruises. I will come for her when I am ready. Commanded Lord Glowernall. She was lead back to the chamber where she had seen the other slaves. She wished that she would be set to work, but realized that for some reason she was too important to them to put her to work. The other slaves were given stone cutting tools and set to work. She, on the other hand was lead past their suffering and on to her cell. Why am I not being put to work like the others? she boldly inquired. Well, you ignorant slave, all trolls are born male. Or king has chosen you to bear his son. You are a valuable asset to us. Have no fear; you wont suffer here for long. Most of our mothers die shortly after we are born. But I saw females you captured put to work. Why have I been chosen? Your lucky the king wants you well. You ask too many questions. I would beat you if I didnt have orders not to. He shoved her into her cell and handed her a bowl of stringy meat. Atnimera was hungry. She ate the meat eagerly and tried not to imagine what the meat had come from. She carefully listened to the guards talking outside her cell door. They spoke in a low growling tone in a language she couldnt understand. Still, she listened closely trying to make out what it was that they were saying. She was terrified, but finally she fell asleep listening to their growling on the other side of the door. She dreamed of her guards and their speech. Slowly her mind began to work out what they were saying. Prunell, the chosen mother has been found. Said the first troll When? his comrade asked.
Earlier today. The king confirmed her identity today. He means to mate with her. Answered the first troll. Does Lord Glowernall think himself equal to Daman himself? asked his comrade Im sure he only seeks the return of Morfran. She has the purple eyes then? What about how she was found? Where is her legendary dragon companion? What if she is not Prunell? Im sure that lord Glowernall is sure of what he is doing. I think he needs to be more cautious. If she is Prunell, her companion will come for her and well lose her for sure. If she escapes, he would never rest until he recaptured her. The words faded away and she drifted back into her own dreams. She didnt really understand what they had said. Who was this Prunell and what was the legendary Morfran that they thought she could bring?
She awoke to the wetness of Snooters nose on her cheek and in his teeth was her pack and all her supplies. She opened her pouch and took out her shining stone. It glowed blue-white and she heard Siltons voice whisper to her, You must go Atnimera. I am with you and I will lead you to where it is safe. Atnimera called out to him wanting him to stay and talk to her, but the stones luster returned to bright white and she was there alone again. And with that the door to her prison opened wide. Snooter stood up and started down the corridor, and Atnimera gathered her supplies and was soon after him. It didnt take the trolls long to discover her escape and begin tracking her. She moved swiftly
following her shining stone floating in the air. Though she could hear and smell the trolls behind her, they never got close enough for her to see them. As the sounds of the pursuing trolls faded, Atnimera slowed her pace. They walked in a daze for what seemed like forever. Atnimera was about to give up all hope when the stone illuminated bluewhite and they came upon a suitable place to rest. In the path before them stood an imposing stone arch carved with signs and symbols. The arch guided Atnimeras eyes towards the ceiling. She found that the tunnels had grown in size. The top of the passage was at least twenty feet above her. The tired party proceeded through the gate. Once inside, they found themselves in a cavern so large that Atnimeras shining stone could not light the whole of it. After exploring the room a bit for signs of life, the tiny party found an alcove and lay down to rest. Atnimera found that she was more tired than she had previously thought. She was so tired that she didnt even bother to eat. Snooter curled up next to her and soon they were fast asleep. Time has no meaning so deep within the earth. They could have been sleeping for hours, weeks, months or years. One never really knew what to expect when sleeping in the bosom of the earth. Atnimera dreamed of the sacred library she had left behind and wished she understood the passage that she had found. The scrolls were calling out to her to return and liberate them from their ancient imprisonment. In her dream, she crept into the library and took the scroll on which the glowing passage had appeared. The rest of the scrolls were scrambling for her attention, calling out to her, and calling her the chosen one.
Part 3 Chapter 2
In the morning, OTasha woke early. She dressed and hurried to the room where she and Atnimera spent their time together in learning. She was ready to embark on a new track of learning, but when she opened the door, she found a folded piece of paper that made her heart sink. It was the letter Atnimera had written before she had run away. She slowly read the letter, and she read it again. The poem that Atnimera had wrote brought tears to her eyes. They had thought that Atnimera needed instruction in the realm of emotions, but this heartfelt goodbye note proved them wrong. Atnimera had emotions; she just kept them under close control. OTasha read the note once more, then headed directly to Dranlory and Alsaderas quarters.
Ahtramara woke to the sounds of Nonnahs banging around in the kitchen. She had slept late. She hurried to Atnimeras room to wake her. She was going to be late for her studies with OTasha, but when she opened the door to her room, instead of seeing Atnimera sleeping peacefully in bed, she found that no one had slept in Atnimeras bed. Ahtramara hollered at Nonnahs to help her search the house, but Atnimera was no where to be found. There was no note for her; there was nothing to lead to where the girl had gone. Ahtramara regretted growing apart from the girl, maybe she could have seen this coming if they were still close. She hurried to alert the girls parents so that a search party could be sent to find the renegade child.
Ahtramara found the door to Alsadera and Dranlorys bedroom ajar. She knocked, but there was no reply. She walked into the room and saw OTasha standing there with a piece of paper. Alsadera was weeping. Atnimera is missing. Announced Ahtramara matter-of-factly. We know. She left a note with OTasha. Replied Dranlory. Pranium had awakened that morning knowing all was not well. He made his way to Alsadera and Dranlorys chambers slowly and carefully. His gnarled body moved and creaked its way there. He found the door wide open and OTasha and Ahtramara were already there. He paused at the door and listened to their discussion. She had run away! sobbed Alsadera. Why would she leave a note with OTasha and not at home if she wanted us to know she had run away? I had always thought I was close to her. Things just havent been the same since Silton died. Said Ahtramara. This is not the way it goes in the prophecy. She is not ready to go yet! Insisted Dranlory. What is the difference, she is going to the surface, wont fate take her where she is supposed to go? commented Alsadera. I dont think she is going to the surface, I think she is running away from her destiny. Stated Ahtramara. How could she run from her destiny when she doesnt even know about the prophecy? asked Alsadera. Atnimera cannot run away from her destiny. It will find her wherever she goes. We have a prophecy, yes, but prophecies often fulfill themselves in unexpected ways. Who are we to interfere with where she goes and what she learns? The prophecy says:
The liberator will come to you with lavender eyes. The liberator will not be one of your own, but will live among you and learn the mysteries of the earth from you. The liberator will return to the surface and set you free. Stated Pranium making his presence known. Maybe she must learn the deepest mysteries of the earth. There is much more to the earth than our world here, even if she doesnt go directly to the surface, I believe that fate will follow her wherever she goes. She cannot escape. Explained OTasha wisely. What if she can run from her fate? How do we know that she isnt defying her fate right now? Perhaps the prophecy will not be fulfilled if we do not find her. Asked Alsadera. Pranium walked into the room and declared, I agree with OTasha. The child cannot escape her fate if she is indeed the liberator. Besides she is not so much a child anymore. If she is not the liberator, we should nor force her to a fate that is not her quest through life. I believe it is time to let her go. They bickered back and forth for hours. They explored the philosophy of fate. It was late in the morning when they finally concluded that they would let Atnimera follow her heart and interfere with her no more. They didnt really know which way she had gone, so there was no hope of catching her to give her added provisions. In the end, the members of the Mystics did nothing to help or to hinder Atnimeras journey.
Part 3 Chapter 3
Snooter nudged at Atnimeras face. She awoke to the sound of something terrible. She felt the vibrations of a huge beast walking her way in the stone. She tucked herself away in the alcove, but that was surely no guarantee of protection from whatever was making its way toward her. Atnimera began to smell something again. It smelled like the dank little cavern that her brothers had sent her in to so many years ago. It was unmistakably the smell of a troll. Atnimera packed her shining stone away. She did not dare bring the light out for fear that it would guide the trolls to her. She wrapped her arm around Snooter and crawled back as far as she could into the alcove. Atnimera cold see the stone gate from where she lay. Slowly, the illumination in the passageway outside the gate made their way into the cavern carrying torched above their heads. They were covered in stonecarved pale green beads. It seemed to Atnimera that these strange creatures had decided to rest in this opportune locale. They walked to the center of the room and began unburdening their large bodies. Then they set a fire. Atnimera knew they had used magic to light the fire because no natural fire could live long in air so stagnant from centuries of being shut in. They seemed uninterested in the cavern about them, like they had been here several times before. They stayed close to their fire. The beasts began roasting meat on spears, talking and passing a skin of drink between them. We sure had them on the run tonight didnt we Kon? said one to another Yes, but they were hunting something while we were hunting them. Replied another
Anyway, we got a good haul. We wont have to hunt for some time. Our wives will be happy. Atnimeras mind was puzzled by their conversation. They didnt speak in the language the trolls would and their voices were gruff but were not the growls of the trolls. The meat filled the cavern with a sweet aroma that caused Atnimeras root-tired stomach to ache. The hand of man had long fed Snooter. Atnimera held Snooter close to her body, but he began to struggle against her grasp. She tried to still and quiet the mole, but he was intent on having dinner. Atnimera lost her grip and Snooter ran towards the three beasts and their fire. Knowing that it was not safe, but propelled by love for the animal, Atnimera ran from her hiding place after the mole. She caught up to Snooter just as he ran into the light of the fire. Suddenly she found herself in the firelight as well. She looked up at the huge beasts. They each had two long opposable clawed toes on their bare feet, but their hands looked quite normal. Their skin was deep brown and leathery. In the light she could see that each bead on their robes and in their hair was carefully carved with much detail and by much smaller hands than these beasts had. They were hairy all over. Atnimeras body was paralyzed by fright. What do we have here Kon? Its a dwarf and a rat. Laughed the first beast when he saw them Maybe that is who the trolls were hunting. Said the second beast named Lut. Atnimera looked up at the huge creatures. She was just sure that they were allies of the trolls despite their claim that they hunted them. She was also sure that she would become desert for their barbecued dinner. She was used to being around people much larger than she was, but these things were different. These things were larger than anything that Atnimera had ever had a concept of.
She knew trolls smelled and looked like wild men all covered with horns and hair and a single eye in their head. These beasts did not stink, had two eyes and their hair was neat and was in many places braided. She shivered before them. She was unable to move from her own fear. Its not a dwarf. Its a girl dwarf a dwarfette or something. Answered the third beast named Og. Well look at the little thing, weve frightened her out of her wits. I believe she thinks we mean to eat her and her rat. Kon added. Hes not a rat. Hes a mole. Atnimera said indignantly. She spoke to us! Say, I thought that dwarves could only speak to us when we are dreaming. Questioned Kon. What do you know? Have you ever seen a dwarf before? Maybe thats not how it works at all. Maybe the traditions are wrong. Countered Og. What did you say err uh miss dwarfette? I couldnt hear you over my brothers bickering. Lut said playfully. Atnimeras face glowed red as she knelt to pick up Snooter, held him up and said, Snooter. Hes not a rat. Hes a mole. She said timidly. I didnt mean to bother you, she continued speaking quickly we were going to sleep in the alcove and then Snooter smelled your dinner and he got away from me and I chased him and here I am. Are you going to eat me? Now miss, one thing at a time. Kon demanded authoritatively as he noticed the color of her eyes.
A mole, a rat, what is the difference? They both are tiny rodents that burrow in the ground. Og said unapologetically and showed his teeth to the little figures standing before him. Eat you? The great earth, No! Why would we want to eat you? You arent much more than a bite. Besides we dont like dwarf meat. Answered Lut. You mean you arent friends of the trolls? I thought that only trolls and their dark allies lived down this far in the earth. Stated Atnimera questioningly. Actually the trolls live in the passageways above us. When you passed the stone gate, you came into Vhuen lands. You certainly are lucky we were hunting. If we hadnt been chasing them, they would have found you for sure. I doubt you would enjoy life as a troll slave. Said Lut. I have only just come from one of their cells. They were going to mate me with Lord Glowernall to get some mystic beast. I thought they killed anyone who ventured into their land. They killed my grandfather years ago and put his head on a peg outside the border of their land. I was passing through their land and they captured me. Replied Atnimera. Most of their slaves arent well enough to work. They keep the weaker slaves about for torture. They work their slaves hard. They beat them and torture them for fun. Youre right they especially like women. They keep women to bear their children and satisfy the lustful force that drives them to violence. I cant believe a little fairy like you would stand a chance to escape, especially with those eyes. Im sure they thought you to be Prunell returned to them. Lut explained. Well I did escape, with the help of Snooter here. So do you mean that I have already passed through the realm of the trolls? And who is Prunell? asked Atnimera.
Yes you have. You are safe here. Our people are friendly with the fairy folk and normally we would protect you, but your eyes. You are Prunell. But I am not a dwarf or a fairy. I am not this Prunell. I am Danementian. She protested. Danementian? You are five feet tall with pale skin and lavender eyes and you want me to believe that you are Danementian? Our eyes may be weak from the darkness in which we dwell, but we are not blind. Said Kon. Its true! I am daughter of Alsadera and Dranlory the chief mystics. I am the student of OTasha the ancient healer. I am not a dwarf and I am not a fairy and for the last time, Who is Prunell? Well, you sure look like a fairy or a dwarf. Mumbled Og. Well, fae or no, let us sup with our new guests and pass the eniwig in newfound fellowship and I will tell you the story of Prunell. Offered Lut. Is that troll you are eating? asked Atnimera timidly. Well certainly. We have just returned from a very fruitful hunt. We took down forty or fifty this time. Answered Kon. Im not sure I want to eat troll. Isnt that like eating a person? Kon became very angry. He stood up in the firelight showing his full size and presence then said, Trolls are evil and vile. They know no right from wrong, they know no love and they own no soul. They kill their weak children and serve them to their father for dinner. They enslave but they do not produce anything, they kill for no reason, they steal saying that they only take what they need to survive, all the while they are hoarding their victims treasure in every alcove of their caverns and could easily buy what they need. It is in no way wrong to eat something that produces nothing, contributes
nothing and has no meaning or greater purpose to fulfil. As for you little fae, the light must have blessed your head if you came all this way without being harmed by the trolls. Otherwise you would have been raped and eaten after you delivered Lord Glowernall a son. They taste sweet. The ones we got this time are more tender than usual. Added Og as he handed his toothpick to Lut. Here. Said Lut as he handed her a piece of meat on the toothpick that Og always carried. While the meat was barely a snack for the Vhuen beasts to Atnimera, the slab of meat before her was more than she could possibly hope to eat. At first Atnimera just sat there, holding the meat. She hadnt yet decided if she was going to eat it or not. Snooter came to where she sat and began to beg for scraps. Atnimera tore some meat off of the spear and tossed it his way. Her fingers were covered with the grease of the meat and she instinctively put them in her mouth. When the residue of the meat touched her tongue, her decision was made. The meat was delicious. It warmed and nourished her body and her mind to have a meal with company. Prunell was a woman with lavender eyes that came to the trolls long ago. She was an evil woman who loved the trolls evil ways. She fell in lust with Daman, who was leader of the trolls at the time. They mated and their son was born and she died. They called him Morfran. He had her eyes and was terribly evil. He was sent out into the world and conquered surrounding lands. He was very powerful and evil. The Vhuen rose up against him in an effort to save our lands and we finally defeated him, but he swore that he would come again. We should really do away with you to prevent his return. Said Lut.
Just help me escape into the lands below you and I wont be any trouble at all. She answered him desperately. Let us sleep on it. I will give you my answer in the morning. He answered. How do I know that you will not kill me in my sleep? asked Atnimera. If we want to kill you we do not have to wait until you sleep. We could just step on you. Stated Og. And so, Atnimera and her newfound friends lay out on their bedrolls. They served her eniwig in a thimble that Lut always had to sew beads back on his robe when they fell off. It was so large for Atnimera that it was more of a bucket than a cup. She shared the wine with Snooter. It was sweet and heady. Atnimera wondered what grew thus deep that was sweet enough to make wine from. They talked for a time, and then one by one they nodded off to into sleep. First Kon fell asleep. He fell into the arms of his dream where he became the chieftain among his people. He led the Vhuen with honor and valor. He taught the children the ancient ways of their people and united conflicting bands under his banner. He had many wives and many more children. He had all that their people had to offer and was kind and good to all. Og was not far behind Kon in falling asleep. Og dreamed that he was the smartest man alive. He had always been ridiculed by his people for being a dullard. Og wasnt actually stupid; he was just clumsy and slow to understand. In his dream, the people valued his intelligence so much that they sent him on quests and sought him out and asked him questions about the mysteries of life. Women no longer avoided him and people who had ridiculed him brought him gifts to apologize for how they had treated him.
Lut took longer to fall into the arms of sleep. He tossed and turned for a while and finally dozed off. Lut dreamed of seeing the surface one day. In his dream, he walked out on to the surface under the cover of night. He finds a hill facing east and sits there just waiting for fabled sun to rise and claim the day. His heart swelled with emotion at the beauty of the sun and the surface. He met with the mythic fairies that legends said lived there, ate their food, and drank of their wine, and celebrated life with them forever. Atnimera had been so tired just hours earlier, but she just couldnt seem to get to sleep. Snooter had gorged himself on the troll meat and was dozing loudly while she caressed his head. Lying there in the glow of the troll eaters fire, she turned her thoughts to her journey. When she had begun this journey, her intention was to find a place where she could support herself and live the solitary life she had always longed for. She had come across several locations that she could have made her home, but they didnt seem quite right and they were in troll lands. Early in her journey through the troll lands she had intended to stay in some locations that she could have made her home, thinking she was going to dwell there, but Snooter never settled down, and so she continued on into the mysterious deep. She had been having dreams that pushed her on to discover the mysteries of the world. Somewhere along the way down, Atnimera began to know in her soul that she was to journey to the very heart of the earth where something was awaiting her. Now Atnimera did not know what was waiting there for her there. She did not know if it be friend or foe. There was no logic to her knowing. She just knew. She began to think about what Kon had said about her head being blessed by The Light. In her mind, she began to work through the thought. She thought of the mysterious stone that she had found belonging to her father. She thought of the shining
stone that had appeared to her in the tunnels. She was certain that it was a last gift of love from Silton to save her life. She thought further over her life and her thoughts turned to Snooter. Snooter had shown her the chamber above the Mystics and Seers Council. It was then that she realized that she had been following Snooter the whole way. I wasnt blessed. She thought, I just followed a little mole. That is all. Then she began to think about Kons idea again. What force had brought Snooter to her to lead the way? What power had led her through the darkness until she found the shining stone that had been her light since she had left her family? Perhaps I am blessed. She pondered as her eyes began to grow heavy with sleep. She finally decided that she had two guardians, Siltons spirit in the shining stone lighting the path, and Snooter who guided her where to go. Atnimera fell into her dream world that she had grown to despise so much. Atnimera found herself enveloped in a thick grey fog that saddened her heart. When it lifted, Atnimera saw before her a dark mountainous landscape. There was no moon. There were no starry skies. The sky was as dark as the caverns she traveled in. In the sky floated the shape of a heart. It shined red against the darkness of the sky. Instead of the heart being healthy and bright red, the heart was bruised and bloodied and rotting there for all to see. On the heart was the symbol of from her fathers stone. It seemed to call her with her fathers voice. She felt her fathers presence wrapped around her. She became very afraid as the grey fog curled around the bare trees along the contours of the barren earth. Atnimera followed a path leading through the trees and came to a river with two forks flowing together. Kneeling down, Atnimera dipped her hands into the water
just below where the rivers joined. She found the water refreshing and chilled. She pulled her cupped hands from the water from the river into her hands. She pulled the water towards her face and it turned to blood in her hands. She heard a womans voice that was familiar but unknown to Atnimera. The voice seemed to come from far above her. Suddenly visions began to bombard Atnimera from all sides. It was happening again, Atnimeras body was nearly in convulsions. She saw a woman sitting in a room alone wailing. Her skin was pale. Her hair was a dark and ruddy color worn in plaits. Her eyes were clear and blue. She spoke to the air and said, I am waiting. Another vision revealed her father with this woman. Another showed an old man with a yellow beard. They swirled around her too fast to make out all that it meant. There were so many people and things she didnt recognize. It was foreign and frightening. She began trying to scream Stop! like she had done before to make the dream end, but she couldnt form the word in her mouth. She was terrified and confused with nothing to grasp onto for stability. The visions slowed and she found herself on an island surrounded by water. All turned to a blur as Snooter, who had taken the skill of waking her from nightmares to an art form, dispelled her struggles against the monsters in her bedroll. Atnimera slept fitfully for the rest of the night.
Youd better get up little missy and have some breakfast to speed you on your way. Said Kon cheerfully as he poked at her with his enormous fingertip. Atnimera sat up and yawned. She rolled out of her bed and began packing her things away for the journey ahead.
Breakfast is ready. Said Og who was holding an enormous pan over the fire with his bare hands. Are you continuing down to meet your dwarf relatives? We could escort you there most of the way id you are lost. Stated Lut as he handed her some troll meat that had been fried in the skillet and the thimble of eniwig. Im not a dwarf. Im a Danementian. I was just born different that is all, but I am going to the dwarves if you will lead me. She answered indignantly. So what is your destination? Surely you at least know where you are going, right? inquired Kon. I didnt know where I was going. When I left home, I followed Snooter down here. I planned to find myself a nice cave near a root bed and a fishing lake and live a life of self-sufficiency and solitude. I have since passed suitable sites, but somehow I feel compelled to move on. My heart is leading me to the very heart of the earth itself. There I will find the answers. I have searched my whole life for them. She replied seriously. So what youre trying to say is that you dont know where youre going, but you have decided to go on to the dwarves right? asked Og. Yes it is true that I do not know where my footsteps will lie. I only know that The Light will protect me. It seems the dwarves lie in my path. She said. Well, we will protect you as far as the dwarf gate. Surely, your people will welcome you there. They may be able to help you. Besides, if you want to go to deeper caverns, you have to go that way anyway. Said Lut. Soon they had extinguished the fire and the bone remains were scattered on the edges of the huge cavern in alcoves like the one Atnimera had taken shelter in. They
neatly packed their bags and shouldered them. Lut picked up Atnimera and set her up on his shoulder. It is too far for you to walk. Youd never be able to keep up with us, so Lut will carry you. Said Kon. Sitting at such a height, Atnimera felt slightly dizzy. She held fast to the collar of Luts robe. She held her breath praying to The Light that she would not fall off.
Part 3 Chapter 4
They traveled for what seemed like forever. Atnimera sat on Luts shoulder all day and she was surprised when the Vhuens continued on into the night. She was tired and wanted down from her perch. They showed no signs of stopping, so she decided she would talk to them and learn all she could about these strange beings. Tell me about yourselves and your people. I want to learn all that I can. Said Atnimera from her perch. Kon was the first to answer her, saying, I have three wives and twelve children. My father was the chieftain until he died of old age. I would have been chosen leader, but my older brother, by another father took the position from me. We pass leadership through the mother most of the time, but my father was a great chieftain. He led our people for three generations. He lived long and things were peaceful under his guidance. My mother spoke to the elders about having me take my fathers place, but they ruled that my brother, Due would hold the position. He is a poor leader. Under him the different tribes have begun to bicker among themselves and we fear violence will come soon. I am not the only one who believes him illegitimate. Many people supported me for chieftain, but to no avail. Due is poor with planning and there is never enough food to eat. As a people, we would rather survive on plantlike life, but we are forced into the troll realm to get enough for us to eat. Hunting trolls used to be only for sport, but now it is a matter of survival. My family never goes hungry and there is always enough to go around because I am a good planner.
Oh go on Kon! Is that all you can talk about? said Lut angrily. All you ever talk about is being chieftain! Youll get your turn if youd just shut up and wait for Due to mess things up good enough. Then the people will be more than happy to have you! Hes right you know. Stated Og. Lut, what about you? Do you have a family? What is your place among your people? asked Atnimera. I have one wife and my first child on the way. I am younger than my brother Kon is. We live in Kons compound along with Og and our sisters who have not yet been taken as a wife and our elderly mother. I was married only a short time ago. My wife is young and beautiful. As he spoke, Atnimera wondered what was considered beautiful among their people and asked, What does your wife look like? Oh she is lovely! She has deep brown eyes and long flowing hair all over her body. Her toes are perfectly proportioned and nice and large. She is wide and healthy. Her face is hairless and fair. Her skin is honey brown and her head hair is worn all in plaits. Atnimera couldnt picture his description as beautiful, but she took his word for it. Then she asked, Kon wants to be chieftain, what is your dream? I am a dreamer. I want to return to the surface where my people dwelled in times of old. I want to reach the surface and see a sunrise climbing over the legendary Cliffheads that have stood since time forgotten as a barrier from the rest of the world. I want to wander through the Grand Verdant Timberland and meet the fairies and elves. Oh youre always dreaming! Let me tell her about me. Og grumbled. Ok Og, tell me about you.
I have no wife, I have no children. I am hunting for a bride among another clan. We tend to marry too close and that increases our size exponentially. We were not always the giants we are today. We used to be the size of the Danementians. When we moved underground there was only a small population and they intermarried and so we grew. We were forced further and further below the earth searching for caverns large enough to hold our growing size. That is how we ended up in these lands below the trolls. We have excavated much to suit our needs and now our lands stretch for hundreds of miles here below the earth. We are taking you all the way through our lands; the dwarf gate is still many, many miles away. We will travel for days and days before we reach our destination. We will stop soon and smoke the meat to preserve it. Yes, lets stop here. Kon said as they entered another large cavern like the one that they had left the morning before. And with that Lut set her down on the floor and let Snooter out of his pocket. The Vhuens set about lighting several fires. Og began skinning the trolls they had been carrying in their packs and setting up tents around the fires with the hides. He then butchered the meat and set it under the tent-hides. They worked with remarkable speed and all Atnimera could do was watch in disbelief. Soon all the meat was smoking except what they put on spears into the fire with dinner on them. They all sat around the main fire and waited for dinner. Atnimera wanted to hear more about these strange people. They passed her a thimble full of eniwig while waiting for dinner to be done. The room was warm and smoky and Atnimera was sleepy and hungry, but she wanted to hear more. She yawned and said to Lut, Tell me more about your peoples traditions on the surface. How do you know the fairies and elves? Ive barely even heard of them.
Long ago the Vhuens lived on the surface along with the Danementians, Dwarves, Elves, Fairies, the Tree People, the Nymphs, the Dryads and the Pixies. We lived in the Grand Verdant Timberland. It was a huge expanse of woods stretching all along the interior of the Cliffheads arc. To the west was the Silver Sea, a large body of water full of salt and strange animal life like the fishes we get down here only some were huge and could easily eat a man. The woods were crisscrossed with trade routes throughout. The peoples were close and friendly with one another and the dragons ruled the skies. The beasts of the forest were healthy and plentiful. There were many large game species to be hunted by people and beasts, and the dragons never ate from the livestock of the people. However, the people were greedy and ate both their domestic animals and the animals of the woods, hunting many species to low populations. The dragons were forced to start eating the livestock to survive. The dwarves, elves, Vhuens and Danementians were angry and rose up against the dragons, shooting them on site with bows and arrows. Soon the dragons were gone. Then strange things began to happen in the woods. A silver moss began growing on the trees and it killed many people others were lost to an enchantment in the woods, but only the people who had fought against the dragons died. Many were driven underground, especially the dwarves, Vhuens, and Danementians. This enabled the elves to survive in the woods by spreading out and taking fewer tolls on the woods. That is how we know fairies and pixies, dwarves and dryads, nymphs and tree people though we have never seen them. Finished Lut. Dinner was ready and Og handed Atnimera a scrap of the best meat on his toothpick and another scrap for Snooter. They ate heartily and soon all fell asleep. They
camped there for a day or two then were off on their journey again with all the meat preserved. They traveled for a few more days and came to another great chamber that had a tiny stone gate at one end. They gate was huge to Atnimera. It was carved like other gates she had known, but the knotwork on this gate was fine and complex. This is as far as we take you. Kon said as they stopped there for the night. The gate opens to a room too small for us to pass through. Explained Lut. They camped there and spent their last night together. They sat around the fire and told more stories of Vhuen folklore. In the morning, Og handed Atnimera a skin of eniwig used for medicine. The skin was small to Og so he cautioned her to only use a small amount on smaller peoples and then Lut said, Take this with you. No one makes eniwig like Og. This dulls the pain and enhances visions. You may need it. Then Kon cut a bead from his hair and handed it to Atnimera and he said, This bead will keep our spirits with you and will help you to remember us. Our children make them for luck on the hunt and in life. We believe they protect us from harm in fights with our prey. Good luck missy. Now off you go. Im sure someone in the Dwarf City will be happy to help you. That was the end of their good-byes, and Atnimera, burdened by her gifts, continued on through the gate.
Part 3 Chapter 5
Atnimera didnt look back as she passed into the realm of the dwarves. A second arch met her and it was carefully carves out of the living stone as only a dwarf could manage. The whole arch had been covered in designs that had been chiseled deep into the stone to stand the test of time. Its opening was smaller than Atnimera had expected. As she walked, she examined the bead she had received as a gift. It had a shield carved into it. She put it away in the pouch that hung at her waist where her fathers stone and the shining stone already lie. She pulled out her shining stone and began to make her way down the passage with Snooter leading her first and then following at her heels. She emerged in a corridor that was much smaller than she had ever been in. It was not built for the great height of the Vhuen, or the Danementians. No this corridor was made for smaller people. Atnimera had never been exposed to surroundings built to the scale of her height. Her world was full of too high counters and reaches that her short arms couldnt make. Her world was full of climbing and struggling to complete tasks others find simple. The scale of this new world enchanted and frightened Atnimera. The smaller scale of the passage seemed to close in around her, but gradually she adjusted and became comfortable. She found her heart beating faster and her breath was labored. She wanted out. She wanted air. Snooter seemed to be as comfortable here as he was anywhere else. Atnimera began to feel as though he was lending her his strength and courage. Gradually the terror abated, but nonetheless, she moved at a hurried pace. Atnimera had expected to come upon the Dwarf City right away, but the corridor seemed to stretch on forever. She traveled all day and there was no sign to an end of the
corridor. She paused for the night and ate some roots and dried meat the Vhuens had sent along with her. She rolled her bedroll out, curled up with Snooter and fell asleep. In the morning she continued on. There was no time in the chamber. As she held her shining stone above her head she could see the exact same living stone stretching from one end of the light to the other. There were no passages leading off on the sides of the chamber there was only the long smooth walls on either side. She traveled this way for days, not knowing if she was making any progress or how much farther the dwarf city was. It was monitions and Atnimera was tired. Yet she and Snooter continued on through the passageway until they finally saw light in the darkness ahead of her. She pushed herself forward in to the night until she emerged on the shore of a large dark lake with a peculiar smell. On the opposite shore she could see the source of the light she had seen. It was a city. Surely thus was what she had been looking for. This was the Dwarven City. She looked across the black lake at the Dwarf City and realized that it was not a city at all, but rather more like a small village. Atnimera looked across the lake and saw strange colorful iridescent fungi filled in the landscape beautifully. The dwarves had obviously taken great care to beautify their settlement. Atnimera stood on the shore and pondered how she was to get across the lake. Snooter began sniffing around the shore. He didnt seem to be put off by the smell. He loved to play in the water. He loved to splash and romp in it. He walked right up to the edge of the water and lowered his head for a drink. Snooter let out a whine as it touched his lips and then scurried away from the edge of the lake. Atnimera bent down to touch the surface of the lake. Expecting cold water, she found instead a black, warm, slippery liquid that tended to cling to her hand.
Snooter began to explore down the shore. Further and further he went. Atnimera didnt want to loose him, so she began to follow him. There was a thin stretch of ground between the lake and the jagged edges of the rock face. Snooter and Atnimera followed it around the curve of the lake. It led to a dock stained black with a black rowboat sitting on the surface of the lake. The boat had blackened paddles and was tied to the dock with a black rope. Atnimera put Snooter aboard and climbed in herself. She began to row across the subterranean lake. Snooter had presented her with the answer again. He was fast becoming an invaluable resource. The liquid in the lake was thick and it took all of Atnimeras strength to row through the lake. Atnimera let her mind go as she fell into the rhythm of rowing. She found her mind wandering to the illustrious legends told of dwarves, their fickle fancies, and their fruitful mining systems. She had never seen a dwarf before and she didnt really know what to expect from them. She knew that they were more her size as evidenced by the passageways they created. She knew that they were avid miners and carvers, but beyond that she had no answers. New etiquette, new taboos, a new way of interacting. It frightened Atnimera and fascinated her at the same time. She began to form the look of a dwarf in her mind as she continued to row the boat. She imagined a man who was the same height as she was. She thought that he would have a snowy white long beard, a long funny nose, and big pointy ears. She thought that he would be covered with dirt from his mining responsibilities, and so she thought she was ready to meet the dwarves. After rowing with all her power for quite some time, Atnimera found herself on the other shore. There was another blackened dock there and she tied the boat firmly to it with the inky rope that lay there. Then she headed off where the path led her. She
walked towards the light and towards the Dwarf City. Soon she came to the outskirts of the village. There were houses everywhere that were carved out of the living stone like the passage had been. Between the houses were staircases leading to other houses built above those on the ground level. The whole wall of the cavern was carefully shaped to give the most space allowed. The shops and houses were literally a part of the cavern that contained them. The doors, shutters and windows were the only part of the houses that wasnt carved from the living stone. The windows were colorless, clear yellow and pale pink tinted plates of Phenacite. Each doorway had been carved from a single piece of opaque stone cut to fit perfectly in their place. Some of the doors had cutouts in them that were filled with transparent stone cut to fit the opening. The locking mechanism was a mystery to Atnimera, yet there seemed to be locks in place that were carefully carved directly into the stone. The shutters were a work of art. They were made from stones that most considered gems. The shutters were blue, violet, pink, red, lilac and black spinels. There were shutters of grey-black morion; deep lapis colored marbled Sodalite, shades of Verdelite in every shade of green. There was pale yellow, honey and bright yellow citrine. There were even shutters made from opaque Vesuvianite in every color imaginable. As Atnimera was taking in the splendor of the village, she noticed something strange. The streets were empty. There was no one here, or so it seemed. She began knocking on doors as she followed the lane further and further into the city. No one came to the doors to answer. She was puzzled, but she continued through the town and began hearing merry voices and seeing light ahead. As the noise and lights grew more intense, Atnimera packed her beloved shining stone away to keep it secret. She did not yet know
what manner of people these dwarves were. Atnimera and Snooter traveled down the street closer and closer to the source of the lights. Muddled voices became cheery chatter mixed with loud singing. There seemed to be some kind of celebration going on. Finally, they made it to the square in the center of town. Atnimera ducked safely into an alleyway just before the square. She hid in the shadows hoping no one would see her. She wanted to watch them before she made herself known. The dwarves she saw before her were not what she had pictured in her head. She had imagined them a little smaller and she had thought they would be thinner. Instead she got a slightly taller version of what she had imagined with a stalky body and mighty arms to cultivate the earth to their will. These people had faces that mirrored their determination. They grew long beards to show their longevity. Atnimera had always pictured dwarves being dressed in drab earth tones, but these people were awash with color. Atnimera wondered at all the colors of cloth they had. She wondered what they made the dyes out of to have such vibrancy. One corner of the square was dominated by a spring of water with a fountain. In the center of the square, there was a group of stone tables formed in a circle. There was a multitude of people sitting at the tables feasting on luxuries unknown to Atnimera. There were many others standing or dancing around the square. There were men, women and children dwarves singing. There were men and women playing instruments largely made from stone. Atnimera didnt recognize any of the devices that poured out a joyful tune. Their song was bright and cheerful. The square was lit on all sides by torches with magical flames atop them. A group of lady dwarves danced together encircled by the cheering crowd. They dressed in bright flowing red dresses carrying a number of colored scarves in all colors of the rainbow. They danced,
swayed, and then magically seemed to the change color of their gowns. Each lady had her own color and danced in the center of her friends for a few moments. Each woman took her turn, and each danced more beautifully than the last. Their steps were perfect and the people were full of delight. People all over were eating and drinking, singing and chattering and after the ladies danced, others came and joined in the dancing. Atnimera was enthralled by the beautiful display of color and skill. She felt that these were a goof and happy people. They seemed far removed from the unhappiness that she had known in the world above. She was lost in the wonder of it all. She was busy taking in the splendor when she felt a hand on her shoulder. Stranger is this your mole? a gravely male voice asked. Atnimera turned to come face to face with someone she could look directly in the eye for the first time in her life. It terrified her. She was used to being able to hide her eyes because they had to look down at her and mostly saw her lashes. However, there was something magical about the moment to Atnimera. She felt more human connection with these people than she had ever felt in the whole of her life among her own people. She was too timorous to reply. The man standing before her was a young man by dwarf standards, but Atnimera didnt know that. To her he appeared to be nearly forty, but in truth he was nearing twohundred-forty, bit thats nearly a child to dwarves. He was dressed in a deep purple jersey and he had a long red beard, which he was trying to keep Snooter from burrowing in for a nap. His eyes were blue and fierce, but also kind. Atnimera looked down, conscious of her eyes. She finally found the courage to speak. She answered finally, Yes, thats my mole. He must have wandered away from me. Ill keep him closer to me while I am here. It wont happen again.
I wasnt scolding you, I just wanted to find the poor fellers owner. He replied Well, I dont own him. He started following me when I was little. He goes everywhere with me and I just feed him. He has been my only companion in life. He is my friend. She said as she looked up at him through her eyelashes. It was at that moment that he saw her eyes. He tried not to show his shock to her, but Atnimera had learned to sense the exact moment that she lost out because of her eyes. Her heart sunk. She had hoped that she would be happier here among the merry people of her own size, but she felt more alienated than ever. My name is Torunda son of my mother Routunda and my father Laegh. They sit on the council that decides the fate of our fair city. The dwarf said in a friendly voice. I am Atnimera, daughter of Alsadera and Dranlory, the chief mystics of the Mystics and Seers Council of the Danementians. I have journeyed from the passages above. She replied trying to answer him in the same style that Torunda had used to introduce himself. She wanted to sound more important as possible. She wasnt yet sure she was welcome and she wanted to take no chances. You are Danementian? I never would have guessed. I have always heard that the Danementians are giants. You are no bigger than any of us here. He asked puzzled. The Danementians are giants by dwarves standards, but I was born ill. They didnt think I was going to survive, but I did. Oh, I see. You must have been bequeathed good fortune to survive. Youre eyes are strange. They are like Iolite. He continued. Atnimera looked at the floor, trying to hide her pain. He sensed that he had offended her. Torunda seemed to see right through her. She took Snooter out of his hands and clutched him to her breast like a child clinging to a favorite doll for security.
They have caused you a lot of pain, havent they? Torunda asked softly. She gave him no answer, yet he continued, Your eyes are beautiful. Do you know that? He pulled her chin up with his finger and said, you shouldnt try to hide them so much. You dont have to hide them from us at all. We search for gems such as yours the whole of our lives. Then he offered his hand to Atnimera and said, Now tired stranger, come with me. We will share our feast with you and then you will favor us with your tale. It sounds to me like it will be a great story. Come and follow me, I will find us a place at the table. Atnimera took his hand and managed a smile, knowing that her eyes would forever set her apart from others no matter where she went. He led her out of the alleyway and into the full light of the revelry. It looked to Atnimera as if there were no older women dwarves in the settlement, as the only women she saw seemed to be little older than she was. Torunda led her to where his father sat feasting. He tapped his father on the shoulder to get his attention, and said, Father we have an unexpected visitor. Atnimera stood behind Torunda timidly. She had always been shy. She was afraid of their rejection. She was afraid of their hate. She was afraid of how they might hurt her as her own people had. Laegh turned to face his son, but he couldnt see Atnimera hiding behind him with Snooter in her arms. Then Laegh said laughing, Good sport son, but I see no visitor. Torunda stepped aside to reveal his beautiful new companion and said, May I present to you Atnimera, daughter of Alsadera and Dranlory who head the Mystics and
Seers Council of the Danementians. She has traversed the land between her home and ours without companion save that of a mole. Well then, Laegh said cheerfully, That is a story worth hearing if I ever heard one. Come Atnimera, daughter of Alsadera and Dranlory, sit with us. Feast with us and favor us with your tale. Atnimera sat at the table between Torunda and Laegh. They spoke together for a time. Atnimera explained to him how she was a Danementian and yet was no larger than a dwarf. She told him of her Vhuen friends and the trolls. She told how the Vhuens had carried her as far as the dwarf gate thinking she was a dwarf or a fairy. Laegh became very excited about her tale and insisted that she share it with the whole village. Laegh stood up and announced her presence to the people who all stared at her in disbelief. He said, My friends, tonight we celebrate the bounty that we have mined this year. It seems the light has sent us a special visitor. May I present Atnimera the diminutive Danementian, daughter of Alsadera and Dranlory the chiefs of the Mystics and Seers Council living in the lands above us. Gaze upon her beauty as she favors us with her tale. The crowd was silent and Laegh sat and pulled her to her feet. Atnimera began to share with them her story and soon she was swept away by a tide of revelry all for her. She related her story as best as she could. She had never told a story to anyone before. The dwarves who hung on her every word frequently interrupted her to ask questions, not wanting to leave any detail unexplored. The dwarves believed this girl to be blessed for safety surviving all her scathing with difficult situations. They begged her to repeat her tale several times because it enchanted them so. She humored them and after she had told and retold her story she began to look weary. The party had stretched on late into the
night. There was more dancing and singing and storytelling. Everything seemed to weave together into a sense of pure happiness and safety. Late in the night, Atnimera finally began to yawn. Torunda led Atnimera to his own home. The celebration was far from over for the dwarves, but he knew she must be weary from her journey. They arrived there and Atnimera met Routunda. She thought her a man at first, for she had a thick mustache on her upper lip, but on closer examination, Atnimera could see her strikingly feminine features. She was too tired to ask any more questions. Torunda led her to a room that he had prepared for her while she had been telling her tale.
Part 3 Chapter 6
It was a spacious room. There was a bed frame carved of Morion. The mattress that lay atop of it was soft and comfortable. There was fine bedding the like of which Atnimera had never known. There was a fireplace where a bright blue flame flickered and lit the room. The room had a warm and inviting feel to it. Atnimera felt secure enough to sleep deeply for the first time in a long time. She collapsed on the soft bed and slept immediately. Atnimera slept soundly and her dreams had a peaceful if strange aura. She dreamed she of a cavern with beautiful crystals covering the floor and the ceiling. She heard a concent harmonizing. She dreamed eight spirits dancing around her. They each sang their own melody and each complimented the other. Their songs melded together into a perfect symphony. Musical accompaniment to the voices came from no where but she could hear them everywhere pressing in on her as if waves of water were washing over her soul. The music of their voices made Atnimera feel safe and calm. She began to dance with the spirits. She danced into the arms of the first spirit. It was clothed in shining white. They danced and danced deep into the earth where the earth is most warm. They danced over molten rocks and through red-hot steam. As they danced, the spirit's clothes changed and turned blue-white. She and the spirit returned to the crystal cavern and she danced towards a spirit clothed in brown with the evil symbol matching the one on her father's stone embroidered on it. As she drew closer, the gown of the spirit changed shade and hue. When she fell in step with the spirit its gown was a vivid green. They danced through caverns full of symbols. When they danced close etchings traditional to those who serve the light, the
spirit was green. As they danced near symbols of darkness, the spirit radiated crimson light. The spirit then returned with her to the crystal cavern. Another spirit danced with them, and then she fell in step with it. This spirit's gown was pale green like the bead the Vhuen had given her. She the spirit sang to Atnimera of forces put in opposition and two beasts appeared before them struggling with one another. The dancer passed her jade scarves around the combatants. Peace was found and the beasts disappeared. The next spirit was clothed in a lilac colored gown. It danced with Atnimera towards the surface. It was already daybreak, but you could not see the sun. The spirit danced with her and the suns light was caught by the spirits gown and reflected showing where the sun lies. They danced their way back into the earth and the next spirit took Atnimera's hand. The next spirit was clothed in steely gray. It danced around her with her into space. They danced around the whole world. The spirit handed her a bowl of water with a piece of wood with a stone on it floating in it. The spirit danced with her all over the world. No matter where they danced with the bowl, the stick always pointed in the same direction. The next spirit was clothed in blue. They danced together in the crystal cavern. The spirit began dancing quickly around Atnimera and suddenly she began to shrink. She found herself on the surface of a blue crystal. The spirit drew her inside and there she saw a window to home. When the spirit saw that she understood, she returned her to size and passed her to the next Spirit. This spirit seemed to dance around her and then all the spirits disappear. In her hand appeared a round stone that was transparent. She held the stone up to look through
it and saw that the spirits were still there. The stone made her able to see them. The final spirit awaited her. The largest of the spirits was clothed in a creamy gown. They danced down into the earth to a cavern where a Dragon's skeleton lies. The huge bones lay just as they had the moment the Dragon had breathed his last. The spirit sang a song of loneliness and sorrow. Smoke began to rise from around the bones. Wisps of smoke converged and filled out the Dragons bones showing Atnimera what the majestic beast had looked like in life. The smoky lips whispered to her "Mera" Atnimera put the clear lens to her eyes and looked into the Dragons eyes. She knew these eyes and she sensed that they knew her. They were dark, deep, and very familiar. Suddenly the smoke fell to the floor and all that was left were the sad bones. She looked sadly wishing the Dragon would come back. She found that all the spirits had joined them in the Dragon's hollow. All the spirits danced around her with great speed. As they danced they lost their substance, became light, and then bounced throughout the room. Atnimera was lost in the wonder of it, and then suddenly she found herself awake. She felt as though she were trapped somewhere between waking and sleeping. She tried to hold on to the dream, but found it swiftly slipping away from her as she grew more awake. She lay in the dark with Snooter at her feet and pondered the dream. She seemed to recognize what some aspects of the dream symbolized, but the rest was a confusing wave of visions that she could make no sense from them.
She thought that the first spirit represented her shining stone. The second spirit put her in mind of her father's stone, and she thought that the third's clothing matched the bead momento from her large friends. While trying to sort it all out, she fell back asleep. Torunda came to her room early the next morning. He let her sleep as he brought her breakfast and some clothing in to her. He put the breakfast on a stone table built for two. In a chair beside her bed, he laid the clothing that he had brought for her. When he had laid everything out, he woke her up with a smiling face. He had brought her sweet roots and fungi that the ladies of the settlement grew. There was sweet cream harvested from one kind of fungi that they grew. There were also sweet fruits and a sort of bread made from fungi flour. She was very hungry and made her way to the table. She tasted the bread first and found it was bittersweet. Then she tasted a large root that looked sweet and succulent. She found that it tasted far better than it looked. She had only eaten a few bites when she heard Torunda say, "Eat quickly Miss Atnimera. You are to see the elders first thing this morning. The city council members were studying you last night and they want you to go meet the elders. The city council members were intrigued by your eyes and their likeness in color to Iolite." Atnimera had never heard of Iolite. She had wanted to ask about it when he mentioned it last night, but she had been too overwhelmed to say anything. She did not want to seem simple, but this thing seemed so important to the dwarves that she was forced to interrupt and ask, "What is Iolite? I've never heard of it before?" "Iolite," Torunda explained, "is a highly prized gem among my people because of its color. This color represents to us the essence of peace and wealth to many other peoples and us. The elders have decided you must be blessed by the light to have had those eyes bestowed upon you. They believe that if you and are blessed; perhaps you can
pass your blessings on to our community. Now quickly Miss Atnimera finish eating and dress in the clothes I have laid out for you. I will wait outside the door and will accompany you to the elders." Before she could say anything more, Torunda was out the door with it shut behind him. Atnimera ate a few more bites of her breakfast and then turned to dressing for the council. The dress that Torunda had laid out for her was just her size. It was a deep royal purple color. When she got it on, she found that the fabric tended to cling to her still childish, but her budding figure and swayed with her movements. As she looked into a silver mirror, she saw that the gown was showing itself iridescent and she smiled. She put the hat on that matched the dress. It had a long veil on it that she couldnt get to stay out of her face, so she took it off. Sittings beside the gown were a pair of boots that were a deeper purple than dress. There was also and finally there was a matching leash and collar for Snooter. She put her boots on and soon she had Snooter on the leash. Taking one last glance in the mirror, she decided that she was ready to meet the elders. She opened the door and walked out. Torunda looked at her, gave her a wide smile, and said I know that you are unaware of our customs, but you must wear the veil until I present you to the elders formally He led her down the hallway and said to her, "We werent sure that it would fit. We didn't have any measurements. Our tailor just guessed by what he saw when you last night. Do you find it comfortable?" "Oh yes! Why did you make a dress just for me? I had clothes of my own." she answered.
"You underestimate your importance to my people. No more questions now. We are almost there." he whispered. The hallway opened into a large cavern where unimaginable crystals grew. There were crystals of every shape and description. There were great formations of some more common minerals. There were small formations of more valuable crystals. In places of the cavern grew infinitely valuable gems. They were everywhere. There were many rare specimens. Its beauty entranced Atnimera. She stopped in her tracks and stood to take it all in. What is this place? Atnimera asked in wonder. It is a garden; a garden of mineral crystals. We have cultivated them here since my people first moved to this settlement. We harvest from them to make many of the things we need. All the doors and windows in town are made from minerals cultivated here. Replied Torunda.
Part 3 Chapter 7 In the center there were great standing stones arranged in a hexagon. As she first saw them, they appeared to be smoky gray in color, but as she moved forward the surface of the stone began to ripple with color that moved and mixed before her. They continued forward until they reached the base of the standing stones. They walked around it and Torunda led her to a gap between the stones. She and Snooter followed him inside. The room on the inside was much smaller than it appeared to be from the outside. Everything that was in the room was carved of Iolite. On five identical thrones sat five ancient dwarves. They all had long shaggy beards, so she thought them all men. If Atnimera knew anything about dwarves, she would know that ancient dwarf women grow beards too. In truth, there was an unprecedented three women to two men on the council. There was a silence and Atnimera felt as though the council was sizing her up and trying to guess what lay beneath her veil. The quiet became uncomfortable and then Torunda spoke ceremoniously. The dwarf seated in the lowest throne was a dwarf dressed in red. She wore a crimson cloak over her head. Her hair was very long and a bright orange color. She wore it pulled back simply with no braids or curls, just sleek and fiery. The dwarf had a feminine face with pale blue eyes framed with dark lashes. Her body was slender and feminine, but she had a long orange beard and mustache growing on her face. The dwarf seated in the next throne was a dwarf dressed in orange. She wore a marigold colored cloak on her head. Her hair was a bright blonde. She wore her hair in a mass of tiny braids that looked like thick strands of hair bound together. She had deep
blue eyes that had certain coldness about them. She too was very pretty, except for her blonde beard that she wore in curls. The dwarf seated in the middle throne was a dwarf dressed in yellow. She wore a deep emerald green cloak over her head. Her hair was ebony. It was worn in her natural curls. She wore her beard straightened and sleek. The dwarf seated in the next to highest throne was a dwarf dressed in blue. His face was wrinkled. He had a nose that was somewhat larger than his colleagues had. His hair was a rusty brown. He wore his hair short. His green cloak that matched that of the female dwarf dressed in yellow covered most of it. His beard was long and wiry and a deeper color of brown than his hair. The dwarf seated in the highest throne was a dwarf dressed in purple. This dwarf was extraordinarily old. His hair was wiry and snowy white. His beard reached to his knees and was a pale silver color. He wore a cloak over his head that was even darker purple than his robe was. The lines in his face were deep, and his eyes were mere slits, yet when Atnimera looked at him, she sensed a wondrous feeling of peace that was alien to her. "My ancestors, Sruitl, sister to my mother's mother I salute you. Gwarna mother to my mother I salute you. Xanthe the mother to my mothers mother and Hunl her mate and Vuen his loyal brother, I salute you all. The settlement council gave me the honor of bringing to you this maiden that appeared on our shores the night that we celebrate our harvest of Iolite for the year. A riddle has been presented to us that we do not know what to make of. Now we entrust you with that riddle. The woman with the Iolite eyes." At that, he lifted the veil over Atnimera's eyes.
Each member of the council had their own reaction to what they saw. The youngest among them lost some of her composure and let out a gasp. Another clasped their hands together and stared blankly at Atnimera. A third looked toward the floor and mumbled what sounded like an ancient chant. Another began consulting the scrolls lying open before him. The last Elder stood up and spoke. "Mera, dear child, we have waited for your arrival for so long. Your coming was prophesied many years ago." said the ancient Xanthe. "Why do you call me 'Mera'?" she asked angrily. "I am named Atnimera." "Your name has always been Mera to us. That is the only name we have ever known to call you. Sit my child and I will tell you great secrets. We are no ordinary dwarves." answered the ancient woman with a wagging beard. Xanthe explained to Mera that most dwarves lived on either the surface or much closer to it. Xanthe spun a tale for her of dwarves that lived long ago while the earth was still young and all the gems had guardian spirits. Bands of dwarves were mining one day when the earth was young. They discovered a huge vein of Iolite. They thought it to be the most beautiful gem that they had ever seen. Evil forces had soured theses dwarves hearts and that made them greedy. They mined all the Iolite they could find. Many other dwarves joined them and soon all the Iolite left in the world was located deep within the earth in small, rare veins. The wicked dwarves brought great mounds of Iolite together and basked in their beauty. The greed in their hearts turned the dwarves one against another and a war broke out between several different groups of dwarves. It began as organized families fighting rival families, but inner-conflicts in families broke out and soon they had all slaughter one another.
Months later, a band of dwarves with good hearts came by and found the Iolite and their fallen brethren. They worked together and buried all of the dwarves killed by their own greed. Then they built memorials for them out of the Iolite that had fueled their passions. When they had finished, all the Iolite changed into dull Grey stone. Because this band of dwarves had cared more for the lives of these dwarfs that they didn't even know, The Light granted the knowledge of the location of the last vein of Iolite. She explained that the band of dwarves that had been blessed by the Iolite were their ancestors. The spirit of the Iolite taught them that it was a sacred stone with the power to tell the direction of the sun on a cloudy day and that the spirit of the Iolite protected those pure of heart. "The spirit of the Iolite lived here with my people for some time and taught us many religious teachings and better mining techniques. Before the spirit left us, she spoke of a Danementian girl the size of a dwarf who would come to us here with eyes like Iolite. We have lived here ever since waiting for you. She gave us instruction to help this girl to fulfil her fate. You may stay with us if you wish to learn what lie in the prophecy we have for you, or you may go with our blessings and any supplies you may need. Whatever you decide, this is for you." She walked forward to where Atnimera sat and placed a necklace around her neck with a tear shaped Iolite gem on it. "Thank you for the gift, but I don't think I'm the girl spoken of in the prophecy. I am Danementian; my parents were Alsadera and Dranlory of the chief mystics of the Danementian Mystics and Seers Council. They thought that it was my destiny to go to the surface. I didnt believe that I was the child of that prophesy either. And where am I
now? Am I on the surface? No. I am in the safe bosom of the earth with you. You too may believe you know my fate, but I believe that I make my own. "Child, I am presenting you with a choice. You may stay with us and learn, or you may go with our blessing. What is your choice child?" "I do not take any of this lightly. This is a little overwhelming for me right now. I want to make the right decision. Will you allow me to have some time to think about your proposition?" asked Atnimera timidly. "We will see you again in a week Mera. We will pray that your heart is steered the right direction." Torunda was quiet as he led her back to the settlement and back to her room. Atnimera had grown uncomfortable in the clothing they had made for her. She told Torunda that she was tired. When she entered her room, she stripped the dress they had made for her off and slipped into her own trousers and blouse. She pulled her wrinkled piece of paper she had written the mysterious words that held her captive on. She looked of them and thought of all that the ancient dwarf had imparted to her. She had never felt as comfortable around other people, but somehow the life her seemed to soothe her. Snooter too seemed happy here and went off on his own to investigate. Her heart soon made the decision. One week later, Torunda led her back to the council and she told them that she would stay. Soon Atnimera was a respected part of the community. She learned that most of the dwarves there did not actually live there. It was a comfort station for the dwarves mining into deep veins of precious metals and jewels. There was not a large population living in Dwarf City. There were some families living there. The families were all born here in the bosom of the earth and they would all die here. Yet the city was peopled
largely by young single men most of who signed on to this undesirable position because they had been promised reward at the end of their tenure from one person or another. The village was alive with activity. It was time for the young worker men to return to the surface and a new set of workers to come down. Barrels were filled from the lake. On the surface, the dwarves used it for their lamps. Shipments of stone were prepared and ready to be taken to the surface. The entire city waited in anticipation for the new workers and the new supplies to show up. When the men and supplies arrived, a party was thrown to welcome the new workers and say farewell to the old. Atnimera had never known a people so given to song and dance. She felt a freedom among them that she had never known with her own people, that is until she noticed how some of the new workers were looking at her. She assumed that they were in awe of her eyes much like the other dwarves had been, but there was something different in their eyes. There was an expression there that made her heart uneasy. She decided not to worry about it. The dwarves had pledged themselves to protect her and she felt comfortable in that protection. She immediately began studying all the scrolls that the community had. She found them much more interesting than the scrolls of her own people. Most of their scrolls focused on events of the past told as only a dwarf can. She learned the history of her friends and studied it with abandon. She continued to live with Torunda and his parents in the room that they prepared for her that first night. She was provided with the most beautiful clothing, as well as the most elegant foods. She was served dwarven delicacies. Atnimera still didnt understand exactly why they were so kind to her, but she always was grateful for everything the dwarves did for her.
Time passed, and another celebration was held as the workers were traded out for fresh ones again. Atnimera grew to love these joyful occasions, though she didnt relish learning the names of all the new men coming, and she mourned the loss of other friends returning to the surface. The new workers gave her chills by the way they looked at her. They looked at her as if they knew a secret about her that she was dumb to. They looked at her as a man looks at an object he could sell for profit. It was a look that she could never get used to. In time, the new workers seemed to be less interested in her and friendlier to her. However, she never felt completely at ease unless she was with natives of the town. She rarely mingled with the workers because she spent most of her time reading scrolls in the library. The dwarves even allowed her to take scrolls from the library to her room. Most of the scrolls were easy for her to read and understand, but she had a difficult time with the dwarven poetry. Their metaphors seemed odd to her and she had to work the hardest at understanding the deeper meanings of the beautiful lines of verse. Most of the scrolls that she carried back to her room were poetry. On the eve of the next worker transfer, she sat in her favorite chair reading. She knew that she would have little opportunity to study the next day because of the celebrations. She had brought several scrolls home with her hoping to make up for the lost day. She read from a stack of scrolls on the table beside her. She read each scroll as if it were the most important text in the world. The night grew late as she diligently waded through the dwarf poetry. The elders had promised her that she would find some answers among their people, but so far, she had learned much, but none of her questions had been answered.
The poetry seemed to draw her in and she read on as if in a trance. She read them and understood them, but there was something else there that she sensed but didnt understand. Her head began to swim with the words on the scroll and she felt compelled to reread the words on the scrap of paper she kept near her heart. As soon as she pulled the scrap of paper from her bosom, a passage on the scroll began to emit a quiet glow, and the room began to fill with pale teal smoke. As it rose up from the scroll, the smoke grew greener and began to thicken. Soon green smoke was all that she could see, and it had the familiar smell of the incense that was used in the Mystics and Seer's Council back home. The smoke burned her eyes, and she struggled to keep them open. Something about all this seemed too familiar and it made Atnimera uneasy. But her feelings of apprehension seemed to melt away as she breathed the smoke filled air. She was deeply entranced by it all and a veil of calm fell over her. She felt paralyzed as she remembered that she had dreamed all of this before. Her senses were numbed as she tried to call for help. She was unsure what this was supposed to mean. She found herself spiraling into unconsciousness, but she held the scroll and the scrap of paper tight in her hand. Her mind was filled with the smoke and she felt lost in it. There were voices chanting in a language that she had never heard before, and yet she knew she was utterly alone. A shadow of the king troll passed close enough for her to touch, and yet he didnt seem to see her. She saw Torunda following close behind. They both faded into the smoke and the image of a dragon materialized out of the smoke. It was a magnificent beast that called both awe and terror from her soul. It moved closer to her and suddenly the calm inspired by the smoke melted away and she was weeping uncontrollably. She
tried to scream and run from the beast, but found herself stuck in place with screams stuck in her throat unable to escape. And then she was awake. She found herself still in her favorite chair. Her clothes were soaked with sweat and she still clutched the papers in her hand. Suddenly she knew that she had found at least part of the answer that lie here. A passage on the scroll glowed just as the passage she carried close to her heart had glowed on a night long ago. Like the previous text, she didnt understand it, yet she copied it carefully onto another scrap of paper and kept it with the other passage close to her heart. She told no one of her experience, but knew that she was not to stay here with the dwarves much longer.
Part 3 Chapter 8 The town was alive with activity once more. The barrels had been filled from the lake, the palates of stone were ready, and the workers were eager to return to the surface. Everyone waited the arrival of the new workers and new supplies anxiously. The women were busy cooking for the celebration and the men were spending the last few moments with their friends, some of whom they would never see again, as they had only signed up for one tour at the way station deep within the earth. Soon the new men arrived with their palates of supplies and empty barrels. Everyone was joyous in anticipation of the feast and dancing that would follow. These supplies symbolized that celebration. Villagers rushed to help the struggling men with their burdens. It seemed that they had brought new empty barrels down to fill in the lake and the wood they were constructed out of a much heavier wood than their predecessors had been. It didnt take long for all the supplies to be stacked in the square. Women immediately began unpacking supplies to cook the feast for the night. The men were unloading and distributing other supplies and the barrels sat off in a corner largely unnoticed. The feast began some hours later when the square had been cleared except for the barrels, which were left there to serve as additional tables for the celebration. Atnimera danced and sang along with her new family, and yet she knew that she needed to continue on her journey. She was happy here and comfortable and she was very much in love with Torunda. She could see herself staying here and loving him forever, but she knew that the time for her to leave was coming, she just didnt know how soon.
The feast and celebrations had been wonderful and the night was winding down. Atnimera was just about to leave the square when suddenly Trolls burst out of the barrels the dwarves had been using as tables. They saw the purple-eyed girl that they coveted and started straight for her killing any dwarf who dared to stand in their way. Torunda was standing near Atnimera and commanded her to run to the chamber where the elders met and stay there. The passages there were small and they would be unable to follow her there. He stayed behind to block them from following her. Three trolls were on him immediately and he fought them valiantly. He was much smaller than they were, but he moved like the wind armed only with his dagger. He buzzed about them stabbing them with his tiny knife. They were just beginning to slow down from loss of blood, when Torunda was becoming tired. He moved as quickly as he could, but he couldnt keep up the pace he had started with and to this end, he gave his very life to her that night as he saved her and fell prey to the trolls. Atnimera huddled in the dark as she heard the fight outside. She could see in her mind what was happening. She saw in her minds eye the moment that Torundas life ended. It was as if her life had ended as well, only she was left alive and empty. Hours later, when someone finally came for Atnimera, she was huddled in a corner and shaking. She had cried bitterly until she was exhausted. She was helped back home by some of the other survivors. They lost twelve souls to the trolls, but finally they had all been driven to the black lake and set afire. The fire on the lake burned still and the bodies of their fallen comrades would be fed into the flames as well. The loss of Torunda was to great for her to bear, and everything about the dwarf city reminded her of him. She would look around and all she could see was memories of Torunda by her side. His parents made it clear to her that they loved her like a daughter and would be happy to
have her stay with them as if she had been married to Torunda, but their house was the worst for her. She had spent so many happy hours with Torunda there. Her whole world was filled with darkness with out him, and Snooter kept close to her side, knowing the darkness in her heart and sensing her pain. She decided that she could not stay here or it would drive her mad with the loss of her first love. So, when all the ceremony was over, Atnimera quickly gathered supplies and headed for the core of the earth.
Part 3 Chapter 9 Atnimera and Snooter continued their journey. The dwarves were sad to see her leave, but she felt lead on. With her shining stone lighting the way Atnimera made her way deeper and deeper into the earth. The dwarves had given her a map. It contained all the tunnels that they had explored in the stone beneath their settlement. She found that while the maps helped her at the beginning, she was passing into territory that was largely unknown to her friends. She found that the passages crossed each other repeatedly. There was no way to make sense of them. She spent many weeks wandering about in them trying to follow only the tunnels that had a downward slope. She found herself utterly and hopelessly lost. For quite some time, she had been in denial. Now she was ready to admit her failure and it was too late. If she had stooped sooner, maybe she could have reasoned her way back up to the dwarves, but now there seemed no way to get back. Atnimera felt as though all the doors of life shut squarely in her face. How was she to achieve her goals when she was hopelessly lost? She didn't know where she was or whose home 'here' might be. The dwarves had warned of dark things living in the earth, but neither girl nor mole had seen sign of any other living thing save the blind fish they lived on. After resting, eating and feeling sorry for herself she decided to go to sleep. She started early one morning, determined to make some progress. She and Snooter ate a quick breakfast and then they were on their way. They had not traveled for
very long when she came upon a chamber carved out of the stone. Atnimera found herself wishing that it were already in the course of time to stop for the night. Atnimera decided to stop for a short rest to investigate the cavern. She put her pack on the ground and entered the chamber. It was not a natural cavern. It had a level floor and smoothed walls of a deep gray stone. There was one niche in the room carved to hold a light source, but beyond that, the chamber was bare. It looked like whomever had made it had deserted it long ago. As she examined the room, she felt calm and peaceful. She was again wishing that it was time to stop for the night, but it wasnt even midday and she knew she had to go on. She ate a little and then she was on her way, but Snooter didnt want to leave, and he really didnt want to lead. When Atnimera got frustrated and began to walk off without him, he followed her. Atnimera didnt know where she was going, so she just picked her path as best she could. She was used to following Snooter and found this method of taking a journey a lot more frightening than following a mole. They continued for the rest of the day, not stopping to rest anywhere. Atnimera didnt know if she traveled in the right direction or not. It was getting late, and she hadnt found a place to stay for the night. She came around a corner and found herself back at the chamber she had explored that morning. She was disappointed and happy all at once. She had made no progress today, but at least she had somewhere nicer to sleep tonight. "Come on Snooter, lets rest now. Maybe things will look better when we wake." she said to her gray nosed friend who looked as sleepy as she felt. She rolled out her bedroll in a secluded chamber. Atnimera felt safe there and she was soon asleep. Her dream world was dark and warm tonight. Her sleep began calm and peacefully. She floated along in the darkness that rested her body and mind. She
seemed to be floating on waves of an unidentifiable peace. In her sleep, she was dreaming of a dreamless sleep, something she had longed for as long as she could remember. Her body felt as though it had achieved this perceived nirvana, but the darkness of the dream began to give way to a light. It was a light in the distance. She took little notice at first, but the light came nearer. She tried to focus her mind away from the light wanting to remain at rest in the dark but the light continued to approach her. She tried to run, but she found herself disembodied. One cannot run if one has no legs. The light perused her as she tried to focus her terrified mind away. In the intensity of the dream, she began to thrash around. It was then that she felt a cold clammy hand on her forehead. Her eyes popped open immediately and she found herself looking into a reptilian face. At first, she was unsure that she was awake. Snooter had always woke her at the sound of possible intrusion. Asleep or awake, she was too terrified to move and her stomach felt ill. "Shhhhhhhhhh..... All is weeeelll." the face hissed to her through frog-like lips as he patted her on her sweaty head. "You were having a bad ssssslllleep. All is weeeelll." "We meant no harm. I thought it abandoned. We didn't realize this was someone's home. Snooter usually warns me if there are any fresh scents in a spot before we settle in to rest. Please do us no harm. We will go and we will trouble you no more." she found the strength to explain. "Shhhhhhhhh.... all is weeeellll. Sssssleeep. Ssssleeeep. No hhharm will come shhhhhhh." his hissing voice was rhythmic and soothing, but Atnimera feared that there was danger afoot.
She fought her urge to go back to sleep although this strange thing hissed his strange lullaby at her. Finally, she found the strength to sit up. She found that Snooter was sleeping at her feet peacefully. "Shhhhhhhh.... ssssssllllleeeeep." he sang at her. "I'm not going to sleep until you tell me who you are." She demanded "MMe?" He asked puzzled, "I... am... Maze massssster." "What is a maze master?" she asked "I know the way through the maze. I have watched you. You are lost. I come to help." Atnimera began to size up her frog-lipped host as they spoke. She noticed his forked tongue flicking in and out, as he spoke. His skin was near transparent and he was very skinny. He had long slender arms and legs that ended in fingers and toes with sticky suction cups on them. He wore no clothing but had a bag and a bottle hanging from a rope around his waist. She learned that his name was Earh and he was an ancient imp who had journeyed into the mouth of a cave and gotten lost. He explained that he had wandered deep in the earth many until he was trapped in this maze of tunnels. In time, he began to learn his way around the tunnels. In his travels, he had come across this room. She said that when he found this chamber that there was a bowl. The bowl was filled with liquid that refused to evaporate. In the bowl floated a stick with a stone on the end of it. He had a vision that this device would always point north. He experimented with the device and discovered a way home, but he had been down here so long that he had learned to love the maze he had discovered and he decided to stay here forever. Out of his pouch, he produced the bowl, the stick, and the stone. He filled the bowl from the bottle and affixed the stone to the stick. He floated the stick on the water.
"Watch." he said as he twirled his finger in the water and upset the stick and stone. As the water calmed, Atnimera saw that the stick pointed itself in the same direction as it had been before. "That is amazing!" she exclaimed. Snooter woke at her shouting. His eyes were sleepy but soon he became interested in the bowl on the floor too. He climbed off the bedroll and walked towards it. "What isssss it? Earh hissed in a shriek, "Get it away before it hurts ussssss" "That's just Snooter. He's just a mole. Don't worry he eats roots." she said soothingly as she scooped Snooter up and put him back on the bedroll. Earh seemed to calm with the animal safely away from him. Earh asked her many questions, and she told him of her plight, her life, and her quest to the heart of the earth. Earh soaked her tale up, fascinated by her tale. He kept asking increasingly more questions. They continued talking until morning. Suddenly Earh insisted that he must leave and they must stay there. Atnimera considered him a friend now so she trusted him and stayed put. A few hours later he returned with the largest cavefish she had ever seen and said, "Here's breakfast. They live in the deep water. They are most tender." She used the magic she had learned from the dwarves and conjured up a fire to cook the fish. The fish were indeed tender and strangely sweet. Snooter seemed to like them very much. When breakfast was ended, Atnimera asked, "Earh, would you lead me through the maze so I can continue my quest?" He immediately agreed and said that he was going to offer to take her anyway. They cleaned up breakfast, packed Atnimera's pouch and then they were off to the maze.
Actually, Atnimera had found her way to the center of the maze. She didn't realize what she had accomplished .She had traveled to just barely on the deep end of the maze. Earh led them swiftly through the passages. He was their companion for two weeks in which she came to like him more and he came to fear Snooter less. He never mentioned what the exact distance of the journey was. Nor did he mention how far they had come, nor did he say how much farther it would be until they emerged outside of the cave. At times Atnimera felt that he was as lost as she was, but she said nothing and trekked on following her slimy companion. Without warning one morning, Earh announced that they would make it to the outskirts of the maze today and that he would be leaving them then to return to his home in the mazes heart. Atnimera was unprepared to loose her new friend. She had grown accustomed to companionship when she had lived with the dwarves and she had found her existence with only Snooter somehow lacking where it once was all sustaining. When it was time for Earh to leave, she put on a proud face to say goodbye and thank him for all that he had done. Her eyes however betrayed her as a single tear fell down her cheek. Then Earh did something unexpected. He untied the rope from his waist and gave it to her. She tried to protest, but he just smiled her froggy smile and scurried off out of site. She would never be able to find him now.
Part 3 Chapter 10 The passages were straight and narrow now leading down now. There wasn't much chance of getting lost now there seemed to be only one logical way to go. There was a path whose direction sent you straight down, guiding weary travelers deeper and deeper into the earth. There was also a path leading off into the unknown ramblings of the earth. Atnimera felt there was only one way to go. The path of least resistance would lead her ever closer to her goal. Earh had dried some fish on their journey through the maze and he had given it to her before he had disappeared into the maze. That was their only food now. No roots grew this deep, and none of the fungus they came across was edible. Atnimera felt pushed forward by this straight path that lay out before her. She began waking earlier and stopping later. She felt that she was close to her goal and it drove her on. After a few weeks, the passage began to feel endless and hopeless. Atnimera had driven herself hard and she grew exhausted. Her step lost its springy gait and her shoulders began to sag in dismay. The air was heavy and had a foul smell. Not quite the metallic smell she had experienced when travelling through the Troll's domain. It was stronger. It hung in the air like wind broken by a large and untidy brute. It was the smell of brimstone. She began to think that she had perhaps found the road into the heart of hell. Snooter began to grow cautious as they continued. He would stop in his tracks, turn, and smell behind them periodically. Atnimera had already been through enough to have stinky air and a nervous mole deter her. She would not stop her advance now. She
paused when Snooter paused so that he would not fall behind, but did not sense whatever he seemed to be sensing. They continued down the endless corridor day after day. Each passing hour, Snooter seemed to grow increasingly uneasy. Atnimera began to feel uneasy herself. The odor she had first noticed at least a week earlier seemed to be going stronger as they continued towards their goal. The uneasy feeling started to become over-whelming. She was in despair, for what was there for her to do now? Stopped for the night, the lonely party leaned against the smooth wall. This deep in the earth the walls were warm and soothing. After eating, Atnimera took out the paper she kept close to her heart and stared at it for a long time. She read the words repeatedly hoping that someday she would understand them. When she put it away, she rolled her bedding out and prepared for sleep. Snooter curled up to her as she snuggled inside. She moved to put her shining stone away in the pouch that hung at her waist, but instead of putting the stone in, she began to take things out. She looked first at the device that Earh had given her. She had named the device for him and called it her Earh. Whenever she used it, she felt as though he was at her side. Second was the gold chain with the teardrop Iolite. Then the bead given to her by her large Vhuen friends. Finally, she brought her father's stone into the light. She rarely took this stone out. The others she took out on a regular basis to remember her friends, but this symbolized something darker to her. This one made her heart hurt most of all. When she pulled it out, instead of the deep brown stone she was accustomed to seeing, the stone was crimson and letting off a small amount of its own light. She drawn in by the change in the stone like the stone had pulled her in when she had found it. The stone whispered to her in a voice that was almost audible, "it is coming.
All at once, the spell fell from her, but the warning of the stone had come too late. The stench she had become accustomed to grew strong and burned her nose. Snooter was upset too. He was frantically pawing at his nose. She started having trouble breathing and then all went black.

3of Dragon's Fate-Book#1 Emergence-Part 3 Version3

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3of Dragon's Fate-Book#1 Emergence-Part 3 Version3

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Breedheen ORilley 2003 Of Dragons Fate: Emergence 1

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Teachers Student Lament

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