Chapter 6: Silver Peak

Aiden, Victor, and Kelindril stared in awe at the great mountain that lay before them. Silver Peak. The great mountain loomed to awe-inspiring heights, taking the breath from the three friends. Snow covered the rocky ground even in the dead of summer. No one knew why Silver Peak was continuously covered with snow; most said it was a mystery that dated back to the Age of Legends, but no one was completely sure.1

“We have to climb that thing?” Victor asked, his eyes never leaving the great mountain.2

Tolgion nodded his head. “It’s not so bad really. We have crossed it many a time. Although there is an old rickety bridge halfway up the mountain that I loathe having to cross…”3

Dodmic studied the mountain. “There is something amiss,” he whispered to Jamsig. “Maybe we should take another route to Salador…”4

Jamsig studied the mountain also. “You’re right, but we cannot waste time. We must get to Salador to be rid of the dagger once and for all…” Jamsig winced as the voice of U’groth Jon Balog roared its objection inside his head. “The sooner the better…”5

Dodmic studied the mountain once more. He felt as though something dangerous had arisen in the mountain, but what? The feeling did not go away as they started up the treacherous slopes.6

Aiden, Victor, and Kelindril did not have the experience that the three mercenaries had with mountain, but they kept good pace with them nonetheless. Dodmic kept a fair distance between himself and the rest, scouting the area, or so he told them. In reality he was looking for whatever gave him that uneasy feeling.7

The six stopped around nightfall and made camp on a relatively flat slab of rock. They kept the fire small incase there were any hostile creatures around. There was a feeling of uneasiness in the camp, but that didn’t stop Aiden and Victor from shivering from the cold.8

“Silence,” Dodmic whispered suddenly, knocking an arrow as he stood up. The air became deathly still; the only sound was the wind howling furiously from the mountain’s peak, but it was the noise that came with the wind that had Dodmic worried. 9

A shrill sound was carried on the wind, a shrill sound of pain. Dodmic strained his ears to try and hear what was being carried on the wind. After much straining and concentration, he finally deciphered what was being screamed: “NO!!! We must find them, or the Great Master will be displeased!”10

“We must go,” Dodmic said urgently. “We should never have come here,” he continued to say as he gathered items.11

“Dodmic, what is it?” Tolgion asked, shifting around nervously.12

Dodmic stopped and stared at Tolgion, a wild light in his eyes. That look was all that Tolgion needed to see before his face drained of all color. He nodded quickly and began to gather provisions.13

The voice on the wind drifted to Dodmic’s ears once more. “Quiet! They are here! I hear them! Oh, the Great Master will be pleased!” 14

Fear made Dodmic’s eyes even wider as he turned to his friends. “He knows we are here,” he whispered.15

“Who knows we are here?” Aiden asked, confusion written on his face.16

Dodmic gave Aiden the same look he gave Tolgion. Even though Aiden did not understand what was going on, the look sent a chill down his spine. “Ivel,” Dodmic whispered. “An ancient evil, once said to have escaped from the Abyssal Roundup after the fall of U’groth, though no one knows if he is from the Abyss. He lives to serve the ‘Great Master’ as he calls him. We mustn’t delay, he is coming!”17

Aiden, Victor, and Kelindril quickly began to help the others to grab the supplies. Dodmic turned, “Leave it! Jamsig, grab a torch, we must go!” Jamsig lit a torch and they ran off into the night.18

“I am coming my pretties!”19

“RUN FASTER!” Dodmic yelled, the wind drowning his voice out. “HE’S CLOSING IN!”20

Sure enough, a gangly creature appeared out of nowhere and was running on its hands and feet, closing the gap between them with surprising speed. Dodmic released the arrow he had knocked into the blackness of night, but the arrow skipped off the stone where the creature had stood moments before. Dodmic quickly knocked another arrow and let it fly, but this time, Ivel jumped clear into the sky and landed in front of them.21

Aiden and the others got a clear look at the creature in front of them. Ivel was hunched over, his pale skin illuminated in the moonlight. He had long arms and legs. His two green eyes were like orbs that captured the moonlight. He had strands of long, stringy, brown hair on his head, but what caught the eye of the six were the two long teeth that came down several inches past his chin. Ivel snickered, his voice hoarse and slightly high-pitched.22

“Doesn’t they want to play with me?” his eye caught sight of the shining dagger on Jamsig’s hip and the two orbs widened. “He has the Great Master! Give him back to me!”23

Jamsig drew his claymore. “I think not.”24

Ivel snarled. “Give me the Great Master or I’ll kill you now!”25

Dodmic drew his twin fighting knives. “I know your tricks you filthy beast! I will not allow you to take the dagger!” Jamsig put a hand on the hilt of the dagger and rested his claymore across his shoulders, his face a picture of the utmost calm, his eyes just begging the foul creature to make a move against him and his friends.26

Ivel snarled. “Then you have made your choice!” Ivel charged at the six friends, Aiden, Victor, and Kelindril drew their weapons and Tolgion readied his spear to throw.27

Aiden was surprised at the quickness of this new adversary, but it didn’t seem to faze Dodmic, Jamsig, and Tolgion who met the charge. Ivel jumped to unimaginable heights once more and landed at their rear. Jamsig spun around and sliced with the claymore, but all it found was empty air as Ivel jumped again.28

Ivel landed next to Victor, and knocked him cold with a swift but heavy blow to the head. Aiden began to go to his friend’s aid, but Ivel jumped back into the night, laughing maniacally. The wind carried Ivel’s shrill voice as he retreated into the night, laughing all the while. “Heh, heh, heh! One of the tricksters is down, but Ivel isn’t finished yet! Heh, heh, heh! Ivel will be back soon my pretties!”29

Dodmic released an arrow in the direction that he thought Ivel had gone, but once more, the arrow skipped off the rocks. “Curses!” he spat. He turned to see Aiden bent over Victor and concern 30

crept into his eyes. He rushed over and checked Victor for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief when he felt a slight pulse. That relief was short lived when he remembered what was following them still.31

He turned to Jamsig and Tolgion. “There is no way in the Nine Hells that we can defeat Ivel. We need to get off the mountain as fast as possible. If we continue, it’s a two-day journey if we move at a break-neck pace. We need to turn back if we are to live.”32

Jamsig and Tolgion nodded. “You are right Dodmic.”33

Aiden looked at the three mercenaries. “What? I think that we should continue.”34

Dodmic’s dangerous look made Aiden take a step back. “You know not what we face you fool boy! Ivel will kill us all before we can get off of this forsaken mountain! We need to turn back!”35

“But-”36

Dodmic grabbed Aiden’s collar and pulled him down to his height so he could look in his eyes. “Ivel will kill us,” he said, punctuating each word. “He will not stop following us until he has the dagger back. Look what he’s done to Victor!” Aiden turned to Victor’s unconscious body. Maybe it is true; maybe they can’t defeat Ivel.37

“Maybe we should-” Aiden’s statement was cut off as the ground started shaking. When it finally stopped, Dodmic lit another torch and ran down the hillside. When he returned, his face was pale.38

“The path is blocked. We cannot go back. We must continue forward…”39

Once more the wind carried the gleeful laughter of Ivel, cackling wildly. “Oh joy! The path has been blocked! Hee, hee, hee! Now I get to play with some more!” 40

Fear filled Dodmic’s eyes, but that passed as anger and hatred crept into them. His grip tightened on the fighting knives. “We need to keep moving.”41

“What about Victor?”42

“Jamsig will have to carry him if he needs to. Come on, we haven’t a moment to lose. What are you waiting for? Come on!”43

Jamsig threw Victor over his shoulders and the six ran on in the dark, windy night. While they ran, Ivel’s cackling laughter cut through the night, taunting them and threatening them. Aiden felt like his chest was about to explode after running for what seemed like forever. The only thing that spurred him on was Ivel’s laughter.44

“Quickly!” Dodmic called to his friends from a short distance ahead. “Only a few more yards until we get to the bridge! We can lose him there!”45

The sun was beginning to rise as they ran faster and faster until the posts that held the bridge came into view. Dodmic was the first there and he was frozen with fear. The others soon joined him and saw what the problem was; the ropes on this side of the gorge had been cut, leaving the bridge hanging from the two supports on the other side.46

Jamsig cursed under his breath and laid Victor down. His eyes fluttered open and he stood woozily. “What do we do?” Jamsig asked Dodmic, who was studying the situation.47

Dodmic didn’t answer right away. Ivel’s mocking laughter cut through the darkness once more. “Ha, ha, ha! Trapped from the back, and trapped from the front! What will the poor fools do? Well, they better think quickly! I am coming!”48

An idea came to Dodmic, a risky one, but they had no choice. “Jamsig,” he said, spinning around on his friend, “you and Aiden have to toss me over the gorge to the bridge.”49

Aiden stared at Dodmic dumbfounded. “Throw you over the gorge? 50

Dodmic, that’s suicide!”51

Jamsig nodded. “He’s right Dodmic; it will be suicide to attempt this.”52

Dodmic shook his head. “It has to be done. When I make it to the other side, I’ll cut the rope and send the rest of the bridge down the gorge. Then, I’ll tie a rope to an arrow, shoot it across the gorge into the post and you guys can slide across. Now, are you going to toss me or what?”53

Aiden and Jamsig exchanged hesitant glances. Finally, Jamsig nodded. “You take one side of him Aiden.”54

Dodmic drew his two fighting knives before Aiden took hold of his left arm and leg and Jamsig the right. “Ready?” Aiden asked.55

Dodmic took a deep breath before he nodded. The two began to swing him back and forth. “On three,” Jamsig said when he believed Dodmic would have enough momentum. “One…two…three!” Jamsig and Aiden released Dodmic, and both realized gleefully he would make it.56

Dodmic shot his fighting knives out and they stuck into the boards of the bridge. Unfortunately, the shock of slamming into the wall was too much for the halfling. On impact, his grip released momentarily, just enough to drop him into the chasm.57

Dodmic screamed as he fell into the chasm. “NO!!!” Aiden yelled. A loud crack split the air as a spear shot out suddenly, stone flying from the forceful impact, and pinned Dodmic’s cloak to the wall, leaving the halfling dangling above the sharp rocks below. They turned to see Tolgion, his face set in stone, staring at his friend. His spear was missing. 58

Dodmic breathed a loud sigh of relief. “Thank you my friend!” he called. Tolgion just nodded sternly. 59

Dodmic took a deep breath and began his next move. He reached up and grabbed the spear haft and began to swing. No novice to acrobatics after spending so many years in the forest, he gained enough momentum and swung over the spear haft several times. On the third revolution, he reversed his momentum halfway through the turn and landed neatly with both feet on the spear haft.60

Sweat was beading on Dodmic’s forehead with the exertion, even in the cold, early morning mountain air. He reached into his boot and produced a dagger to free the part of his cloak that was pinned to the wall. With his cloak free, he began to bounce on the spear haft. When he got his momentum, he gave a mighty leap and grabbed hold of the boards at the bottom of the bridge. He then began to climb slowly to the top of the cliff face, stopping to grab his fighting knives.61

Everyone watched in silent awe at the halfling’s prowess with acrobatics and climbing. Dodmic finally got to the top of the cliff, his face red with exhaustion. “Easier… said… than… done,” he wheezed to his companions. “Now… to get… you guys across…”62

Dodmic tied one end of a rope to one of the posts and the other end to an arrow. He fitted the arrow into his bow and took careful aim. He released the bowstring and the arrow shot across the gorge into the post on the opposite side. He checked the rope to make sure it wouldn’t collapse and gave thumbs up to his friends on the opposite side.63

“I’ll go first,” Tolgion said. He hopped onto the bridge post with nimble grace, and began tightrope walking across the rope with great ease. He hopped nimbly off the rope halfway through the treacherous journey onto his spear. He pulled a dagger from his belt and dug it into the wall. He stepped off the spear haft and wrenched it out of the wall and he slung it over his back. He then flipped into the air, pulled his dagger free, and embedded it into the wall. He repeated this motion several times before he got to the top of the cliff.64

Dodmic rolled his eyes at his friend’s antics. Aiden shook his head in admiration. “Is there no end to their skill?” he thought.65

Kelindril went next. He had no trouble crossing the gorge, using his elven prowess and his quarterstaff for balance. As Victor was about to go, Jamsig put a hand on his shoulder. He reached into his bag and pulled out a pulley that had two handles on the sides. He put it on the rope and gestured to Victor to grab hold.66

“How do I work this?” Victor asked.67

“Grab hold of the handles and give a great push off of the cliff. You will glide across the gorge and the others will haul you up.” 68

Victor grabbed the handles and gave a push off the wall that sent him gliding, and screaming, over the gorge. He hit the wall with a thud and almost lost his grip, but Kelindril and Dodmic pulled him up before he had a chance to fall.69

Aiden followed suit, easily making the trip with out any incidents. As Jamsig mounted the glider, he heard a maniacal laugh behind him. He spun around and there was Ivel, lounging on a rock. He drew his claymore and readied himself. Ivel dismissed Jamsig with a wave of his hand.70

“So, you have made it this far have you?” he asked casually. “Trapped no more are your friends on the other side, but you who has the Great Master is mine.” His eyes flashed dangerously. “This is your final chance; give him to me!”71

Jamsig started inching towards the cliff edge. Ivel didn’t miss it. “So, you have made your choice,” he hissed. Jamsig leapt into motion. He sheathed his claymore, mounted the glider, kicked off, and soared across the gorge, twisting his body to flip himself onto the opposite side before he hit the wall in one smooth motion. Grabbing a dagger from his boot, he launched it at the opposite end of the rope, severing it from its post, redrew his claymore, and severed the bridge from its remaining supports.72

Ivel snarled and leapt across the gorge, hitting the rock wall. He began sliding down the wall, so he dug his long teeth into the rock wall. He was dangling by his teeth, and the six companions watched in disgust at what he did next. Ivel bent his back backwards until his feet were resting on his long teeth. In one quick motion, he pulled his teeth out of the wall, and dug them into the wall again. 73

Halfway up, he started cackling, dangling by his teeth once more. In a muffled voice, he spoke. “You cannot escape Ivel! Oh no, you will never be rid of me!” 74

Ivel began his routine once more, the six staring dumbfounded at him. Dodmic was the first to come out of the trance. “RUN!” he shouted, shaking his friends. Out of their own trances, they all turned and ran, Ivel’s cackling following them.75

Out of breath Victor stopped, bent over and breathing hard. “We…we can’t go on like this… We have to take a stand…”76

Jamsig slowed and turned to regard Victor. “He’s right. We can’t run the entire of Silver Peak. We have no other choice Dodmic. We have to fight.”77

Dodmic looked at his friends, out of breath, panting, and looking like they would pass out at any given time. “You’re right. But we’re going to need help. Up the ridge there lives a dwarf. He’s an old acquaintance. He’s a little strange, but he should give us aid. Come on, we haven’t much time. Ivel is probably already after us!”78

They ran over the ridge and sure enough, there was a small stone house sitting on the ridge. They ran up to the house and Dodmic began banging on the rough, wooden door. The door swung open to reveal an angry looking dwarf.79

“What do ye blaggards want? Goin’ ‘round and bangin’ on peaceful folks’ doors… Some nerve ye got… Dodmic? Is that you?”80

“Darnin, it’s Ivel,” Dodmic panted.81

The dwarf’s eyes narrowed. “I’ll get me axe,” he snarled. He went back into the house and returned in a matter of seconds with a gleaming battleaxe in his hands and two throwing axes on his hips. 82

Aiden got his first good look at the dwarf when he exited the house. He had blonde hair that came down to his shoulders, which was unusual for dwarves, who usually had black, brown, or red hair, and a beard that came down to the middle of his chest. What really caught Aiden’s eye were the dwarf’s hands. They were extremely hairy, even for a dwarf, and his nails were at least four inches long. His eyes were yellow, like that of a wolf, and shone when the light caught them. His battleaxe was beautifully crafted; an axe only a master craftsman could forge. Aiden jumped in shock when he saw what was on the dwarf’s backside: a tail.83

He looked to Dodmic, who gave him a look that told him that he would tell him everything later. They followed the dwarf back down the ridge, his tail swishing with every step. He put his ear to the ground and closed his eyes. He got back up slowly.84

“Behind us,” he whispered. “Don’t draw yer weapons ‘til I tell ye to.”85

Kelindril slid his dagger from his sleeves with what seemed no motion and Victor gripped his dagger hilts tightly until his knuckles became white. Tolgion gripped his spear tighter and Dodmic slowly knocked an arrow.86

“NOW!!!”87

Jamsig’s claymore leapt into his hands and Anaiya leapt into Aiden’s hands as they spun around, right as Ivel came charging from a small bush. Surprised, Ivel tried to stop his momentum by digging his heels into the ground. Pain spread throughout Ivel’s body as his right foot was pinned into the rocky ground by Dodmic’s arrow. Another arrow shot from Dodmic’s bow and pinned Ivel’s left foot to the ground.88

Ivel screamed as he tried to free himself from the ground. The dwarf ran toward Ivel with surprising speed and kicked Ivel in the jaw. Ivel continued to squirm as the dwarf put his foot on his throat and pushed him to the ground. He motioned for the others. 89

Jamsig and Aiden grabbed Ivel’s arms and pinned them to the ground. Dodmic approached the squirming creature, an arrow knocked. He took aim and put an arrow through Ivel’s left hand, pinning it to the ground with his feet. He motioned Aiden away from Ivel’s pinned arm and knocked another arrow. He fired it into Ivel’s right hand, leaving him pinned completely to the ground.90

They all backed away from Ivel, who was screaming in pain, blood pouring from his wounds. The dwarf turned to Jamsig, Tolgion, and Dodmic. “Just like old times, eh?” Jamsig and the others nodded slowly. “Well, we can’t kill him, but this should keep him out of yer way ‘til ye can off the mountain.” He looked around. “I thought there were more o’ ye the last time I saw ye.” 91

Jamsig cast his eyes down. “There…were. We had a run in with some army from the east. Tolgion, Dodmic, and I were the only ones who escaped. Roger also escaped, but he died of his wounds a few days after.”92

The dwarf’s eyes widened in shock. “Everyone?” he gasped. “Whom were ye fightin’ against?”93

Tolgion shook his head. “We don’t know. All we know is that their leader was a man clad in solid black armor and that he had a three-headed dog that was always next to him… Aiden, are you ok?”94

Aiden’s knees gave out from underneath him. “Bl-black armor? Three-headed dog?” Aiden’s eyes were wide. “I-I had a dream about a man like that when we left Norman’s Hollow. He said that he was going to Salador and conquering it!”95

Jamsig, Tolgion, and Dodmic looked at him with wide eyes. “Why didn’t you tell us about it?” Tolgion asked.96

“I didn’t think it was important. I thought it was just a dream.”97

Jamsig turned to the dwarf. “Darnin, we need to get off Silver Peak to warn the king of Salador. Can you show us a quick way?”98

Darnin nodded. “Aye lets move.” He whistled a shrill note that cut into the mountain air. “Grizzle!” he called.99

There was a roar from somewhere in the mountain. Suddenly, a huge grizzly bear tore through the brush. Aiden readied Anaiya, but lowered her when Darnin stroked its head.100

“This is me boy Grizzle. I think ye remember ‘im.” 101

Dodmic nodded a smile on his face. “I haven’t seen him since he was a cub. My how he’s grown…”102

Darnin nodded proudly. “Yep. Now, we need to go.” They all turned and started to leave when Ivel called.103

“NO! Don’t leave me! I’ll die out here like this!”104

Darnin snarled and turned on the wretched creature. “Ye know ye cannot die. No matter how badly ye want to…” Ivel snarled and spat curses at them as they turned away and began walking down the path that would get them off of Silver Peak.105

Darnin took them down a narrow path, and within a few hours, they saw the green leaves of the forest. “Thank you Darnin. Your help was greatly appreciated,” Jamsig said, bowing before the dwarf. “We hope to see you soon.”106

Darnin snorted. “Ye’ll be seein’ a lot o’ me. Me and Grizzle are comin’ with ye.”107

Jamsig smiled and clapped his friend on the back. “Excellent. Something tells me that we’re going to need you soon.”108

Darnin bowed before Jamsig, and when he came up, his yellow eyes shone with eagerness. “Let’s go mates. We have a lot o’ ground to cover if we’re to make it to Salador before this warlord does…”109

They all nodded solemnly and turned started the last stretch that would lead them to Salador. As they left, they heard another screech of pain on the wind that sounded like Ivel. Kelindril did not miss Victor’s longing gaze for the dagger…110

* * *111

Garrett approached the prone figure on the ground. It was pinned to the ground by four arrows, one in each foot and one in each hand. He gave it a good kick, which woke it up. The creature screamed in pain. “Who did this to you?” he asked the creature.112

It snarled. “A filthy dwarf, two filthy halflings, a rotten elf, and three disgusting humans! Will you free me from my pain, oh merciful master? I would be most grateful!”113

Garrett studied Ivel for a moment. “Which way did they go?” he asked.114

“If you release me, I will lead you to them! They have taken a path that only the dwarf and I know! Please release me!”115

Garrett smiled an evil smile. “Very well. Release him.”116

Two eager goblins with evil smiles on their faces approached. They drew their crudely made swords. Ivel screeched in pain as they began hacking off his hands and feet. Blood poured from the stubs where his hands and feet had been.117

“Make sure he doesn’t bleed to death, we still need him to show us the way off the mountain.”118

The goblins hauled Ivel to the supply wagons and poured scalding, hot salt water over the stubs. He screeched even louder and passed out from the pain. Garrett shook his head. “First he promises to show us off the mountain if we free him, then he passes out. I guess he just wanted us to remove the arrows. He should have been more specific. Oh well, the deed is done.” He turned to the spot where Ivel had been. His hands and feet were still pinned to the ground. Garrett shook his head once more, that evil smile on his face. It had been another good day…