Dwarven Nations - Hammer And Axe Part 43

DRAGONLANCE CHRONICLES.

races were distantly connected. Certainly there was something kenderish in the young gnome-his slender hands, eager expression, and sharp, bright eyes intent on observing everything. But here the resemblance ended. There was nothing of the kender's easy-going manner. The gnome was nervous, serious, and businesslike.

"Ta.s.slehoff $urrfoot;'said the kender politely, extending his hand. The gnome took Tas's hand, peered at it intently, thenfinding nothing of interest-shook it limply. "And this-" Tas started to introduce Fizban, but stropped when the gnome reached out and calmly took hold of the kender's hoopak.

"Ah . . :" the gnome said, his eyes s.h.i.+ning as he grasped the weapon.

"Sendforamemberofthe WeaponsGuild-"

The guard at the ground-level entrance to the great mountain did not wait far the gnome to finish. Reaching up, he pulled a lever and a shriek sounded.

Certain that a dragon had landed behind him, Tas whirled around, ready to defend himself.

"Whistle;' said Fizban. "Better get used to it!"

"Whistle?" repeated Tas, intrigued. "I never heard one like that before. Smoke comes out of it! How does it war-Hey! Comeback! Bring back my hoopak!" he cried as his staff gent speeding down the corridor, carried by three eager gnomes.

"Examinationroom;'said the gnome, "uponSkimbosh-"

"What?"

"Examination Room;" Fizban translated. "I missed the rest. You really must speak slower," I-ie said, shaking his staff at the dome.

The gnome nodded, but his bright eyes were fixed an Fizban's staff. Then, seeing it was just plain, slightly battered wood, the gnome returned his attention to the mage and kender. "Outsiders," he said. "rIltryand'member . . . I will try and remember, so do not worry because'-he nova spoke slowly and distinctly-"your weapon will not be harmed since we are merely going to render a drawing-"

"Really." interrupted Tas, rather flattered. "I could give yarn a demcnstration of how it works, if you like."

The gnome's ewes brightened. "'Thatwou;vdbeznuch-"

'And now:' interrupted the kender again, feeling pleased chat he was learning to communicate, "what is your name?*'

THE DRAGONS OF WINTER NIGHT.

Fizban made a quick gesture, but too late.

"Gnoshoshallamarianininillisyylphanitdisdisslishxdie-"

He paused to draw a breath.

"Is that your name?" Tas asked, astounded.

The gnome let his breath out. "Yes;" he snapped, a bit disconcerted. "It's my first name, and now if you'll let me proceed-"

"Wait!" cried Fizban. "What do your friends call you?"

The gnome sucked in a breath again. "Gnoshoshallamarioninillis-"

"What do the knights call you?"

"Oh"-the gnome seemed downcast-"Gnash, if you-"

"Thank you," snapped Fizban. "Now, Gnash, we're in rather a hurry. War going on and all that. As Lord Gunthar staked in his communique, we must see this dragon orb:'

Gnosh's small, dark eyes glittered. His hands twisted nervously. "Of course, you may see the dragon orb since Lord Gunthar has requested it, but-if l might ask- what is your interest in the orb besides normal curi-?"

"I am a magic-user=" Fizban began.

"Magicuser!" the gnome stated, forgetting, in his excitement, to speak slowly.

"Comethiswayimmediatelytothe Examination room sincethedragonorbwasrnadebymagicuser Both Tas and Fizban blinked uncomprehendingly, "Ol,., just come-" the gnome said impatiently.

Before they quite knew what was. happening; the gnome talking-hustled them through the mountain's entrance, setting off an inordinate number of bells and whistles.

"Examination Room:?" Tas said in an under-tone to Fizban as the}* hurried after Gnash. "What does that mean? They wouldn't have hurt it, would they?"

"I don't think so" Fizban muttered, his bushy white eye brows coming together in an ominous V -shape over his nose. "Gunthar sent knights to guard it, remember:'

"Then what are you worried about?" Tas asked.

"The dragon orbs are strange things. Very powerful. _'Ay fear;" said Fizban more to himself than to Tas, "is that they may try to use it!"

"But the book I read in Tarsis said the orb could control dragons!" Tas whispered. "Isn't that good? I mean, the orbs aren't evil, are they?"

"I don't suppose;" Fizban asked in a hopeless tone, "that the Examination Room would be on the ground level?"

Gnosh shook his head. "Examination Room on level fifteen-"

The old mage heaved a heart-rending sigh.

Suddenly there was a horrible grinding sound that set Tas's teeth on edge.

"Ah, they're ready for us. Come along-" Gnosh said.

Tas leaped after him gleefully as they approached a giant catapult. A gnome gestured at them irritably, painting to a long line of gnomes waiting their turn. Tas jumped into the seat of the huge sling catapult, staring eagerly up into the shaft, Above him, he could see gnomes peering down at him from various balconies, all of them surrounded by great machines, whistles, rapes, and huge, shapeless things hanging from the sides of the wall like bats. Gnosh stood beside him, scolding.

"Elders first, young man, so get outoftherethis instantandlet"-he dragged Ta.s.slehoff out of the seat with remarkable strength="the magicusergofirst="

'Uh that's quite all right." Fizban protested, stumbling backwards into a pile of rape. "I-I seem to recall a spell of mine that will take me right to the tap.

Levitate. How did that g-go? v Just give me a moment:"

"You were the one in a hung-" Gnosh said severely, glaring at Fizban. The gnomes standing in line began to shoat rudely, pus.h.i.+ng and shoving and jask:iing.

"t7h, vep,r well;' the old mage snarled, and file climbed into'; the seat, with Gnosh's help. The gnome operating the lever that' launched the catapult yelled something a': Gnosh which sounded like "whalevel?"

Gnoshpainted up, yelling, back. "SiFimbos5~'

The chief walked over to stand in front of the first o a series; of five levers. An inordinate number of ropes stretched upward info infinity. Fizban sat miserably in the seat of the catapult stir trying to recall his Spell.

"Now;" yelled Gnosh, drawing Tas closer so he could have the advantage of an excellent. view, "in just a moment, the chief will give the signal, there it is- ".

The chief pulled on one of the ropes.

"What does that do?" Tas interrupted.

"The rope rings a bell on Skimbosh-er-level fifteen, telling them to expect an arrival-"

"What if the bell doesn't ring?" Fizban demanded loudly.

"Then a second bell rings telling them that the first bell didn t-"

"What happens down here if the bell didn't ring?"

"Nothing. It's Skimbosh's problem not yours-"

"It's my problem if they don't know I'm coming?" Fizban shouted. "Or do I just drop in and surprise them!, 'Ah;' Gnosh said proudly, "yousee-'

"I'm getting out . . :" stated Fizban.

"No,wait," Gnash said, talking faster and faster in his anguish, "tl*.ey'reready "Who's ready?" Fizban demanded irritably.

"Skimbos.h.!.+ Withthe net tacakchyou,yousee-"

"Net"." Fizban turned pale. "That does it!" He flung a foot over the edge.

But before he could move, the chief reached out and pulled on the first lever. The grinding sound started again as the catapult began pivoting in its mooring. The sudden motion threw Fizban back, knocking his hat over his eyes.

"What's happening?" Tas shouted "They re getting him in position;' Gnosh yelled. 'The longitude and lat.i.tude have been precalculated and the catapult set to come into the correct location to send the pa.s.senger-'

"What about the net?" Tas yelled.

"'The magician flies up to Skimbash-oh. quite safely, L a.s.sure you-we've done studies, in fact, proving gnat flying is safer than walking-and just when he's. at the height of his trajectory, beginning to drop a bit, Skimbosh &,rows a net out underneath him, catching him post like this"-G'nosh demonstrated with his hand, making a snapping motion like catching a fly-'and hauls him-"

"What incredible timing that must take!

-'The timing is ingenious since it all depends on a certain hack We've developed, though"-Gnosh pursed his lips, his eyebrows drawing together-"something is throwing the timing off a bit, but there's a committee.. The gnome pulled down on the lever and Fizban-with a shriek-went sailing through the air.

"Oh dear;' said Gnosh, staring, "it appears-"

"What) What?" Tas yelled, trying to see.

"The net's opened too soon again"-Gnosh shook his head"and that's the second time today that's happened on Skimbosh alone and thisdefinitelywillbebroughtupatthe nextmeetingoftheNet Guild-"

Tas stared, open-mouthed, at the sight of Fizban whizzing through the air, propelled from below by the tremendous force of the catapult, and suddenly the kender saw what Gnosh was talking about. The net on level fifteen-instead of opening after the mage had flown past and then catching him as he started to fall-opened before the mage reached level fifteen. Fizban hit the net and was flattened like a squashed spider. For a moment he clung there precariously-arms and legs akimbo-then he fell.

Instantly bells and gongs rang out.

"Don't tell me;' Tas guessed miserably. "That's the alarm which means the net failed:"

"Quite, but don't be alarmed (small joke);' Gnosh chuckled, "because the alarms trip a device to open the net on level thirteen, just in time-oops, a bit late, well, there's still level twelve-"

"Do something!" Tas shrieked.

"Don't get so worked up!" Gnosh said angrily. "And I'll finish what I was about to say about the finaI emergency backup system and that is-oh, here it goes-"

Tas watched in amazement as the bottoms dropped out of six huge barrels hanging from the walls on level three, sending thousands of sponges tumbling down onto the floor in the center of the chamber.. This was. done-apparently-in case all they nets on every level failed. Fortunately, the net on level nine actually worked, spreading out beneath the mage just in time: Then it folded up around him and whisked him over to the baldeny where the gnomes, hearing the mage cursing and swearing inside, appeared reluctant to let him out.

"Sonowevergthirg'sfineandit'syourturn;' said Gnosh.

"Just one last question!" Tas yelled at Gnosh as he sat down in the seat. "What happens if the emergency backup system with the sponges fails?"

"Ingenious-" said Gnosh happily, "because you see if the sponges come down a little too late; the alarm goes off, releasing a huge barrel of water into the center, and-since the sponges are there already-its easy to clean up the mess-'

The chief pulled the lever.

Tas had been expecting all sorts of fascinating things in the Examination Room, but he found it-to his surprise-nearly empty. It was lighted by a hole drilled through the face of the mountain which admitted the sunlight. (This simple but ingenious device had been suggested to the gnomes by a visiting dwarf who called it a 'window;' the gnomes were quite proud of it.) There were three tables, but little else. On the central table, surrounded by gnomes, rested the dragon orb and his hoopak.

It was back to its original size, Tas noted with interest. It looked the same- still a round piece of crystal, with a kind of milky colored mist swirling around inside. A young Knight of Solamnia with an intensely bored expression inn his face stood near the orb, guarding it. His bored expression changed sharply at the approach of strangers.

"Quiteallright," Gnosh told the knight rea.s.suringly, "these are the two Lord Gunthar sent word about-" Still talking, Gnosh hustled them over to the central table. The gnome's eyes were bright as he regarded the orb. "A dragon orb;' he murmured happily, "after all these years-"

"What years?" Fizban snapped, stopping at some distance from the table. "You see,'' Gnosh explained, "each gnome has a Life Quest a.s.signed to him at birth, and from then on his only ambition in life is to fulfill that Life Quest, and it was my Life Guest to study the dragon orb since-"

"But the dragon orbs have been missing for hundreds of years!" Ta.s.said incredulously. "No oneknew about them! Flow could it be your Life Quest'"

"Oh, we knew about them;" Gnosh answered, "because it was my grandfather's Life Quest. and then my f.athez's Life Quest. Both of them died without ever seeing a dragon orb. I feared I might, too, but now finally, one has appeared. and I can establish our family's place in the afterlife-"

"You mean you can't get to the-er-afterlife until you complete the Life Quest?"

Tas asked. "But your grandfather and your father-"

"Probably most uncomfortable," Gnosh said, looking sad, "wherever they are- My goodness!"

A remarkable change had come over the dragon orb. It began to swirl and s.h.i.+mmer with many different colors-as if in agitation.

Muttering strange words, Fizban walked to the orb and set his hand upon it.

Instantly, it went black. Fizban cast a glance around the room, his expression so severe and frightening that even Tas fell back before him. The knight sprang forward.

"Get out!" the mage thundered. "All of you!F "I was ordered not to leave and I'm not-" The knight reached for his sword, but Fizban whispered a Few words. The knight slumped to the floor.

The gnomes vanished from the room instantly, leaving only Gnosh; wringing his hands, leis face twisted in agony.