A Raven's Tale

20.THE IRON SUMMIT

The two boys led the way up a steep incline which opened into the tiered settlement. 

The Iron Summit was predominantly occupied by independent Dark Dwarves. Well guarded, It provided a busy little industry attracting merchants from far and wide. The specific wares offered were namely the scales, gizzards and hides of the Incendosaurs;  also sought-after ingredients for various professions such as fletching, blacksmithing, even cooking! 

Off to north-west, was another Dwarven enterprise;  The Cauldron - mines. They were run by the non-affiliated Dark Iron Dwarves. Battles between the clans were frequent, and the bullets, explosives and rifles acquired from the mines during such skirmishes, provided the Summit with another lucrative trade - weaponry. 

The ogre followed the boys quietly, his brow knotted, deep in thought.

We passed an anvil and forge, fiercely guarded by a gruff-looking Dwarf.

"Hello, Fergus!" Theldran shouted. Jarieth also greeted the blacksmith.

"Lads," Fergus replied. His eyes narrowed as he noticed me sitting on Theldran's arm. "Whit ye got there, Theldran?"

"A raven," the hunter replied, smiling.

The dwarf huffed. "Well ah cun see that!"

"It's a special raven," Jarieth intervened with a smirk.

Fergus grunted. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he turned to his forge. "Aye. Whitever, lads."

The boys moved on, waving to others on the opposite side who busied themselves cataloguing and arranging crates, barrels and bags of supplies. A couple of the workers acknowledged the boys but quickly resumed what they were doing.

On the next tier, a flight master tended to his two mounts; one a wyvern, which was technically a flying lion. 

They were beautiful creatures, usually far more placid than one would initially assume. This one lay on top of a large wooden perch, with its head resting on its paws. It opened one eye and looked at me. 

I watched, a little unsettled, as its eye dilated and mouth rippled. A low growl came from deep in its throat and I flinched as it flicked its tail like a whip. After a few unnerving moments, it closed its eyes again and returned to snoozing in the midday sun.

The other creature was a majestic gryphon; the great eagles of the Alliance skies. It simply flexed its wings, omitted a shrill screech then settled within the hay on its nest. The boys cordially waved to the flight master, who nodded in return.

Next, we came across an outhouse, a latrine  - for the entire settlement, going by the smell. I assumed the Dwarves here had a somewhat questionable diet as I caught a glimpse of the boys wrinkling their noses when they passed. 

A Dwarven woman stood at the side of the building, seemingly unfazed by the malodorous air and she smiled a greeting. The boys nodded but picked up the pace.

We soon reached the top of the settlement, where an iron construct rose above, consisting of one floor. A large ramp took you to the said level, which served as a lookout platform. 

Above that was the roof - the 'eye' of the settlement.  Dark Dwarf guards patrolled the walkway which ran around the underside of the roof. They had the best panoramic view of Searing Gorge and an unmatched vantage point when detecting a pending assault.

The ogre dropped like a stone on his behind at the base of the ramp. The two boys stared at each other then at the ogre. "What are you doing?" Jarieth asked him.

"Sitting," the ogre replied. He reached into the small satchel on his hip, pulled out an apple and proceeded to take a large bite. 

 "Yes, we can see that," Jarieth said, trying to reign in a little annoyance. "But, we need to get up there." He pointed to the first floor.

Lunk tossed the core away and pulled out another apple. "No, you don't."

Theldran and Jarieth glanced at each other then back at Lunk. "We do, though. Honestly," Jarieth persisted. "My father is up there. See?" He pointed with a vague wave of his hand, but the ogre did not check.        

Instead, the ogre's beady eyes glittered as he looked at the young warlock. "You trick Lunk before with that lie."

The warlock shuffled awkwardly on his feet. "Yes, well, I was only having a little fun then."

"That fun nearly made you dead."

From their exchange, I gathered this ogre had been placed in charge of these two urchins, and they enjoyed tormenting him with their pranks.  Lunk had a valid point though if their latest antics were anything to go by.  

"You exaggerate," Jarieth insisted, forcing a laugh.

The ogre took a furious bite of his second apple, this time devouring the core as well. Between chewing, he spat out his annoyance with apple juice dribbling down his bulbous chin. "You make Lunk look bad. You make Lunk's job hard."

I had to admit; I felt somewhat sorry for the big guy. An ogre he may be, but he was unlike most of his brethren. From his intervention with the Incendosaur, it seemed he cared for all living things, even these two rascals who led him a merry dance. 

And for all he was not the most articulate of individuals, I deduced Lunk had a kind heart and a soul full of good intentions. He may well be a worthy ally. I flew down to sit beside him. 

He stared at me for a while, his beady eyes seeming to study my plumage with interest. His brows knitted together as if processing a thought. I wondered what he was thinking.

"Lunk thinking you are a strange bird."

I stilled. Either an extraordinary coincidence had occurred, or Lunk had actually - somehow - sensed what I was thinking. I decided to test a theory.

How come you are looking after those boys? 

The ogre shifted slightly and leaned down, resting his forearm on his knee.  Behind, I noticed the two rascals sneak past while the ogre's attention was focused on yours truly. 

"Trader is warlock's father. He pay me to watch them 'til he return." 

I was rooted to the spot. The ogre was not only gifted with telepathy, but he understood my thoughts.