The Unknown Man: Book 1 in The Keepers of the Orbs Series (26 page)

Jaeden stormed out of the hall with irritation filling his face. Matt sighed and followed after him, much to the dismay of the audience.

Hirig let them leave before regaining control of the council. He couldn’t have predicted something like this would happen, but he had hoped, beyond all hope, it would. “SILENCE! The council has ruled! They will be escorted back to the western gates within the hour.” The bells tolled once again as the chiefs rose, many angrily, to leave the chamber.

Aglina looked furious, when one of Hirig's guards crept up to her. “You should know to watch your mouth. Any action taken against the council’s ruling won’t be taken lightly. You have been warned.” He turned to walk away, but slipped Aglina a piece of parchment, which no one seemed to notice.

Aglina opened the letter and read it. It came from Hirig and said that while he couldn’t condone her actions, she wouldn’t be followed if she acted quickly. That was all she needed. She grabbed Tirene's arm and told him to follow her. They left the chamber and reached the streets of Drognard. Thankfully, she thought quickly, but they had to move fast while not drawing attention to themselves. She crept in close to Tirene. “Have Liniana and Jaeden follow me. We’ll see to the horses. You and Matt go back to your chambers and gather all of your things.” He nodded his understanding. “Be quick about it. We won’t have much time. I will send someone to fetch you and lead you to my position. I have enough friends in the military who will be willing to help. Now go.”

Before Tirene could thank her, she had disappeared into the sea of Dwarves. Tirene left the hall and grabbed Matt by his arm. They moved with all haste to reach their quarters, but they didn’t move quick enough to garner suspicion.

Tirene and Matt reached their temporary quarters, still in shock from Aglina's outburst in front of the council, and they were even more confused about what she planned. It didn’t matter, though. She had a plan and he would ensure he did his part. He brought Matt into their quarters and slammed the door shut.

With a perplexed look upon his face, Matt turned to Tirene for an explanation. “What was the meaning of that?”

Tirene gathered and jammed all of his belongings—which wasn’t much—into his bag and he turned his head to face Matt. “I’m not sure what that was, but it appears Aglina has a plan that involves using the tunnels leading east. She received a letter, read it, and then instructed me to take you to gather all of our things. She took Liniana and Jaeden to get the horses prepared.” Tirene shrugged. “She said to do it and she would send someone here to get us.”

Matt understood and set about the task of packing his items. When they left so early in the morning, none of them planned on a hasty retreat. He finished packing all of his belongings a short time after Tirene. Matt helped Tirene gather all of Jaeden's items, and stuffed them into his bag. He realized it wouldn’t take both of them to finish. “Why don't you go and see about getting all of Liniana's items prepared?” Tirene nodded and left Matt to finish up in their chambers. Tirene walked across the street and realized he wasn’t one hundred percent sure which quarters she had been given. He felt sure it lay across from their own, but he hesitated.

He walked up to the door and rapped on it with his knuckles waiting for a response, but none came. He couldn’t hear movement or voices coming from inside. He decided to knock once more, which he did, and waited again. When no one answered, he tried the doorknob. It turned without resistance, but he still couldn’t be sure. He stuck his head inside the crack he made in the door. “Hello! Is anyone in here?” He waited, and when the room remained silent, he opened the door all the way. He could barely see inside because no candles were lit, but he located one on the bedside tables. He grabbed it, and in seconds had it lit. The room looked impeccable; everything tidy and sat where it should be. Most of all though, her items were already packed and prepared—lined up at the foot of the bed. With the candle in hand, he made a lap around the room to see if she maybe forgot anything. When he found nothing, he picked up her two bags and ran across the street, back to his own quarters.

Matt sat inside on the edge of one of the stone-carved beds. All of their bags were lined by the door. Tirene dropped Liniana's bags next to theirs, and closed the door. He sat down on his own bed and turned to face Matt. “Now we wait, I guess. I’m not sure how long it will take.” Matt nodded.

They each sat on their beds in relative silence. Tirene still couldn’t believe the High Clan Chief ruled against their travels in the eastern tunnels. He also couldn’t believe how Aglina had spoken to the council. Apparently, they had won her over, but he thought it had happened the night before. Still he couldn’t fathom how a simple smith could address the council in the manner she had. It appeared she wasn’t even going to bear any kind of consequences from her actions. It just shocked him.

He drifted off in wonder, not noticing the time slip by. A loud pounding came at their door. Tirene stood up and with his hand on the hilt of his sword, he answered the door. He cracked it a little bit at first.

“Who's out there?” He glanced through the crack and noticed four guards, all in military garb, standing on the streets.

The Dwarf who looked to be in charge eyed him through the crack. “Tirene?” He nodded his head at the soldier. “You have been summoned to the private chambers of High Clan Chief Hirig. I need you to come out of your quarters and accompany us.”

Tirene had a look cross his face, as if he tried to come up with a way out of the current situation. These men weren’t whom Aglina meant when she said she would send for them. “And if we don’t?”

The guard twitched his nose, which made his dark, thick, mustache move from side to side, before responding. He looked very stern, and not a Dwarf Tirene wanted to get into an argument with. “I’m afraid I will be forced to place you under arrest for disobeying a direct order of the High Clan Chief.” His eyes lit up a little bit, and a smirk now filled his face as he crept closer. “This is all for show Tirene. Aglina sent me to summon you. I happen to agree with what you said earlier today, as do my men. We wish to see she leads you to the eastern gate, and are well on your way before anyone is the wiser.” The smirk now turned into a smile. “But we have to be misleading or people will be onto us, and you won’t make it very far so play along.” The Dwarf backed up and stiffened again. “So what is it going to be,
Human?
Are you going to come along with us, or are we going to be forced to place you under arrest?” He thumbed one side of his mustache. “The choice is yours. I don’t care either way. I’m just here to carry out my orders. So choose and we can be done with it.”

Tirene put on his most uncooperative face and said, “I guess you leave us no choice then.” He let his whole appearance slink down, and Matt followed his lead. “Lead away,
Dwarf!”

Tirene opened the door. The bags were all right there and ready to go. The Dwarf noticed them and said, “Everything is ready to go so you can make a break for it. I don’t think so,
Human
.” He turned to the three guards with him. “Confiscate the bags. I wish to show the High Clan Chief they meant to make an escape.” The guards nodded and followed their commander’s orders. They each picked up a couple of bags, and led them out into the city streets.

They followed the Dwarf with the three others following behind them. They were marched through the streets, all the while the commanding Dwarf made comments about the pitiful Humans. This drew many stares from those they passed on the street, but the stares only lasted for a moment. By now, the news had spread all throughout Drognard. Tirene didn’t see how they could sneak out of town. There were too many eyes watching them.

They continued to wind their way through the town, and he noticed they were being led up to the second level. This is the same path they followed the night before when Yordrinn had first taken them to Aglina's place of business. When they reached the second level, they continued to climb higher and higher. They reached the fifth level and the Dwarf led them onto one of the streets. There didn’t appear to be businesses on this level, but living quarters. They followed the curve of the street, which seemed deserted, and continued before arriving at a small road heading deeper into the mountain.

The Dwarf let Tirene take the lead now. “If we follow this road in we should meet up with Aglina. She chose to use this old access tunnel. It will be far less pleasant for your journey, and far more dangerous. These tunnels are old, but they should suffice. You should meet up with the main road to the eastern gate in a day or so. It’s the best way to move undiscovered.”

The other Dwarves brought their belongings to them, piling the bags in front of Tirene and Matt before turning and walking away. Tirene gave the commanding Dwarf a bow. “I thank you for your assistance today. This is something that won’t be forgotten, I promise you.”

The Dwarf acknowledged him and returned the bow. “It has been my honor, Tirene. I wish you all safe travels from here on out and I hope you find what you’re seeking.” When he finished, he turned back the way they came, and rejoined his comrades.

Tirene grabbed a couple of the bags, leaving a few for Matt, who turned and picked them up. They headed down the road, which loomed dark in front of them. After a few moments though, they heard muffled voices. Tirene recognized Liniana's, and of course, Aglina's boisterous laughter. They rounded a couple of bends and stumbled upon their group. All of the horses were saddled and ready to go. He even saw a mule with a makeshift saddle on its back.

Aglina spotted them and her eyes lit up. “Took ya all long enough. I started to think my plan wouldn’t work.” She turned to Liniana. “She kept my spirits up though, and kept my mind off of the matter at hand.” She looked back at Tirene and Matt. “Well, what are ya waiting for? You want them to catch up to us?”

Tirene realized she directed the comment at them, and he made his way across the street to fasten the bags to their horses. He watched Aglina climb up on top of the mule where she situated herself in the saddle. She noticed him watching her and let out a rather loud laugh. “You look like you have never seen a woman get her large butt in a saddle before.”

Tirene's cheeks flushed as he realized he stared. “No. That isn't it. I’ve just never seen a Dwarf so ready to climb on the back of a mule before.” He laughed at her while she tossed him a look. “You look as if you have done this before.”

“We need to be well on our way before they realize you have left. I know none of those galoots will bother to mount a horse.” She patted the mule’s neck. “She isn’t very fast, but it will give us an advantage. I explained to Liniana before you joined us, I’m taking you where no one but a Dwarf has ever been allowed to travel in our halls. I plan on using these access tunnels to reach a rarely used military tunnel which will come out on the eastern side of the mountains, well south of the main gate. This should provide very little resistance because I don’t think they would ever assume I would use them. This should also alleviate any problems we may have passing through a gate.”

Tirene couldn’t believe the plan she put together in such a short time—she had thought of everything. “I thank you for all of your help.” He bowed his head as he climbed onto his horse. “What made you go to such great lengths to help us?”

She shrugged her shoulders at him. “It seems to me everything you have claimed thus far has been the truth. I know the armor you bear, as well as your sword, could’ve only been crafted by Dwarves. While I don’t remember them, they were designed for someone of your stature. If you once had the support of the Ironhammer's, I feel like it’s time to move forward into a new age of cooperation between us.” She started her mule forward and motioned for the others to follow her. “Besides, ole’ Hirig himself said while he wouldn’t condone my actions, he would also not pursue us. I heard what I needed and set my plan in motion.” As they moved forward, she yawned. “I didn’t sleep at all last night. I had to put this contingency plan in place before the meeting in case they were to rule the exact way they did.” She chuckled to herself. “The buffoons! At least Hirig had enough sense to make the proper decision.”

Tirene smiled at her. “I know you’re risking your hide, and I cannot thank you enough. Your help will be instrumental in our travels.”

“Don’t thank me now. We aren’t safe yet.” She laughed, which seemed to be much more like a cackle. “Besides, you can thank me later by allowing me to examine your sword and armor so I can see about duplicating the methods.” The edges of her mouth folded into a large smile. “That will be thanks enough. I’ve never seen work so magnificent before.”

Tirene laughed. “I will let you examine them as much as you like.” He turned to Liniana. The smile fell from his face. She seemed even paler now than she had been even this morning. “Are you all right? Your sickness should’ve passed by now, I would think.”

Before Liniana could respond, Aglina looked back over her shoulder and chortled. “What? You’ve never seen a pregnant woman before?” She continued her laughter.

Tirene's jaw dropped, and even though it didn’t seem possible, Liniana grew even paler. She lowered her head in shame. “I’ve presumed for the last week that I was.” She brought her eyes up to meet his gaze. “I’m sorry, my love. There hasn’t been a good time to...” She tried to think of the right words. “To, broach the subject with you. You were so involved in ensuring we could pass through these halls, I didn’t think it would be pertinent.” She tried to read the expression on his face, which at the moment seemed unreadable. She felt angry with herself for holding back the information.

Aglina still laughed. “Sorry lass. I figured you hadn’t told him yet, but with all the worrying he’s been doing about you, and the predicament we’re in, I decided it best if he had a clear head. Besides, men are all the same no matter what race. They get focused on one thing and ignore everything else.” She shook her head while she chuckled. “I could tell straight away you were with child. If he had taken more of a glance at you, he would’ve seen it as well.” She harrumphed. “Men!”

Matt and Jaeden stared at each other, wide-eyed. Matt couldn’t take it any longer. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. My love! Pregnant! When did all of this happen?”

Jaeden, who looked just as shocked added, “I knew you were both getting frisky with one another, but being in love and with child.” He shook his head. “I had no idea.”

Aglina guffawed while Liniana tried to read Tirene's reaction. “See what I mean? Close-eyed and single-minded.”

Tirene let a smile creep on his face while Jaeden and Matt tried to protest Aglina's comment. When he smiled, Liniana's worries sank away.

He stared at her beautiful blue eyes. He never expected the news, and apprehension flooded his body. “This is wonderful news.” He sidled his horse up next to hers and reached over to kiss her cheek, as he ran his hand over her belly. Her safety fell to the forefront of his mind. “We need to get you some place safe. I won’t have the love of my life, who is pregnant, facing possible confrontations.”

She raised her hand to stop his protesting. “What would you do with me? Leave me on the side of the road, or in Drognard? I can take care of myself.” She paused. “And besides, I don’t see you having any other choice.” She smiled at him and tried to make it reassuring. He returned the smile, but inside his stomach churned with mixed feelings.