The Dark Tower

Chapter 20 - Charms and Alarms

I released an involuntary gasp. ‘You don’t know how to remove the bracelet?’ I was on the verge of tears.

‘I’ve never actually seen one before, but I have books with me which may give some clues. I will do what I can to assist you.’

‘Thank you High Lord-’

‘Just Tyrion, please. Well, better get to work.’

It was late afternoon when a messenger came to collect us to take us to Tyrion. He was sat in a room at a desk surrounded with papers, a jug of ale . . . and a naked woman collecting up her clothes.

‘She was helping me think,’ Tyrion explained, as Gwaine’s eyes opened as wide as his mouth.

‘You have some news?’ I asked, nudging Gwaine as his eyes followed the girl out of the room.

‘Yes, I believe I do. Now, you say that at one point you could turn the bracelet?’

‘Yes, when I summoned the fairies.’

‘Talk me through exactly what happened.’

‘Well, I’d dropped my ring into the woodpile and Aithusa the dragon breathed on it and accidentally burnt me and I could turn the bracelet.’

‘Come here,’ and he placed my arm into a silver cylinder so that the engravings on the bracelet were reflected and transformed. They weren’t just a random pattern. ‘Dwarvish runes,’ he said.

‘Can you read them?’ I asked.

He glanced a frown in my direction. ‘I am a Runemaster’ he said.

‘Of course. Sorry. So what do they say?’

He cleared his throat.

“Dwarves’ silver you admire

Arouses deep desire

Beware its use in ire

Removed by dragon’s fire”

He looked up at me. ‘The dragon’s breath loosened it enough to turn it.’

‘But it burnt me! I can’t let her breathe on me for long enough to take it off!’

‘You could if you had protection against the fire.’

‘Protection? What sort of protection? A flameproof suit? But even that wouldn’t protect my arm. I don’t have any! I’m going to be stuck with this hateful thing, aren’t I?’

‘You may not have protection against dragon’s fire, Beth . . . but he does,’ and Tyrion nodded at Gwaine.

‘I do?’

‘The charm around your neck, where did you get it?’

He touched it self-consciously. ‘My sister Elainne gave it to me.’

‘It’s a dragon charm. It shows empathy with the dragons and protects the wearer from dragon fire.’

‘So I just need to wear Gwaine’s charm and I’ll be protected?’ I asked.

Tyrion nodded. ‘That’s the long and short of it. Me being the short.’

‘Aithusa must have recognised it, Gwaine. That’s why she allowed you to touch her.’

‘That and the fact that I hadn’t abandoned her when she was born,’ he muttered.

‘So we can go back to Camelot and take this off?’

‘You can. Now, would you do me the favour of returning that girl you found here earlier? We have some unfinished business.’

‘Thank you Tyrion,’ and I hugged him as we left. He groped me, but I didn’t tell Gwaine.