Delver Magic: Book 05 - Chain of Bargains Read Online Free

his senses on the signs he could
find. After passing another hilltop, he announced his new discovery.
    "They're dwarves," Ryson
offered.
    "You are certain?"
    "Look at the tracks," he
stated with confidence as he pointed to the forest floor. "Those are dwarf
footprints. There's eight of them... and they're very close by." He paused
to listen and sniffed the wind once more. "They're not moving, I think
they're just waiting in the pass. I can't see them, but it's around this
hill."
    Holli looked across the horizon,
noted the position of the pass in the distance and its relation to their
current position.
    "Right where we were when you
spotted the inferns," Holli declared. "They didn't follow us at
all."
    "What should we do?"
    "Can you see if the inferns
are still watching the pass?"
    Ryson quickly retrieved his
spyscope. He had to climb higher up the tree, but he found a position with a
clear view. After a brief moment of peering into the east, he leapt silently
back down to the elf.
    "Still there. They're not
moving, either, and they don't seem to be concerned with what's going on over
here. They're just focused on the pass as it drops down into the valleys."
    Holli nodded.
    "Let us get a better look at
the dwarves," she advised.
    With fluent grace, the elf and the
delver slipped through the trees like silent shadows. Holli led once more and
chose a path that remained elevated above the clearing of the pass. Ryson
stalked through the trees very near the elf as opposed to circling her. He knew
exactly where the dwarves were, even as they remained out of sight around one
last hilltop.
    Once the two circled the last
peak, they found a spot deep within thick leaves that covered their positions,
but allowed them to review the dwarves from a safe distance. Holli brought them
to a halt and took great care to pinpoint the location of all eight dwarves.
She could not understand why they carried such a strong scent of goblin among
them, but she was relieved to see their relaxed state. All eight stood within
the clearing of the pass, and though they kept watch in all directions, they
showed no sign of aggression.
    "They are armed, but probably
not a war patrol," Holli whispered as she continued to evaluate the
situation.
    The elf guard immediately spotted
a female dwarf who turned her head in their direction. The dwarf made no other
move, but stared directly at Ryson and Holli's position. By her armor, Holli
judged her to be an officer. The dwarf would not release her gaze. It was clear
they had been discovered.
    "One heard me," Holli
revealed in a slightly lower voice. "Might as well not pretend. Let us
greet them in the open."
    "You're sure?"
    Holli nodded. "Best way to
handle the situation. We are going to ground level and we will move into the
pass. Stay on guard and do not stray too far from the trees. Leave your sword
sheathed, but remain prepared to retreat back into the woods."
    Ryson agreed and again let Holli
take the lead. He followed her to the ground and they broke through the thick
brush at the edge of the clearing together. When she stopped after but two
steps into the open pass, Ryson took a position by her left side. He took one
quick scan of the horizon and then noted the movements of the dwarves. They did
not appear at all surprised to see them.
    The female dwarf who had turned
her head stepped up deliberately to meet the two new arrivals while the other
dwarves remained several steps behind and showed little distress. The dwarf officer
had a wide chin and large eyes, and she looked upon Holli with what appeared to
be simple curiosity. When she turned her attention to the delver, she smiled
broadly and her large chin seemed to expand even wider.
    "Ryson Acumen, it is an honor
to welcome you to the Oachets."
    "You know who I am?"
    "You are the delver with the
glowing sword and a friend to all dwarves, no?"
    The delver agreed with the
sentiment. Though his relations with the dwarves of Dunop had been at one time
strained