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

the
trees, they stepped upon clearer grounds that were deep in the shadows of the
thick canopy of leaves overhead. The dwarf turned west and followed the lower
base of the hill. After several paces, she made one last turn back to face the
hillside. With but a few steps, they came across an opening that broke through
a massive chunk of limestone.
    The dwarf at the rear remained
just outside the opening as Ulet guided Ryson and Holli several steps into the
tunnel entrance. The path widened slightly after the initial opening and then
angled into a fairly steep downward grade.
    Ryson's vision immediately
adjusted to the lower light, but he realized it remained brighter than it
should have been. He quickly noted the angled position of several reflective
rocks at the cave opening that sent beams of light down the tunnel. He also
recognized several scents coming up from the passage. He wondered how far below
ground the dwarf city of Sterling
rested and what it might look like.
    He had only seen one dwarf city in
his lifetime, Dunop, and it remained one of the grandest spectacles he had ever
witnessed. The thought of exploring another dwarf city was almost intoxicating.
It took tremendous strength of will to douse his delver curiosity and keep from
racing down the tunnel path.
    The dwarf warrior pulled to a halt
and turned to the elf.
    "Is this acceptable?"
    "Yes, thank you."
    Ulet took a moment to review both
the elf and the delver before her. She smiled broadly again at Ryson.
    "You wish to see our
city?"
    "I would love it," but
then Ryson saw the stern expression on his companion's face.
"Unfortunately, this isn't the best time."
    "It is a strange time, indeed,"
Ulet confirmed and then focused on the point of the meeting. "I assume you
were headed into the Great Valleys?"
    Holli saw no danger in admitting
that fact.
    "Yes,"
    "May I ask why you are
heading into the valleys through this pass?"
    "We thought it would be the
least conspicuous," Holli admitted without hesitation. "It seems we
attracted more interest than we expected. Cahltofs trailing us, inferns
watching the pass ahead, and a dwarf scouting party crossing our path."
    "We were not on a scout. We
were there to intercept you." Ulet saw the questioning expressions on both
her guests faces and did not hesitate to explain. "We did not want you to
charge unwittingly into the inferns, but then again, we did not know that a
delver was among you. I had known you were an elf, but from a distance, I
guessed your partner was half-elf. A miscalculation that was corrected when we
saw the glowing sword he held as you retreated back down the path."
    "If you weren't out
scouting," Ryson wondered aloud, "how did you know we were
there?"
    "Listening posts below ground
across the Oachet range," Ulet revealed. "We have been monitoring the
pass for some time. We picked you up, as well as the cahltofs behind you, and
followed your progress. When it became clear you were heading into the valleys,
we hoped to persuade you to take a different path. That is why we used the
goblin scent. We believed two elves would take to the south in hopes of
avoiding a large group of the monsters. You surprised us when you turned back
on the cahltofs. A cunning move, if not somewhat foolhardy."
    "I thought there was only
one," Holli replied. "I believed they were solitary creatures and did
not hunt in packs. I also did not think they spoke."
    Holli watched Ulet closely at this
point and the dwarf could not hide her surprise.
    "The cahltofs spoke to
you?"
    "Only one. It told us to go
home. You have not experienced this before?"
    "No, but then again as I
said, these are strange times."
    "Care to explain what you
mean by that?" Ryson asked.
    "What you have seen on this
day has been happening for some time. Inferns guarding a little used pass,
goblins entering the valleys from all directions but in small parties, cahltofs
traveling in packs and now talking—little of this makes sense. We know the
valleys are