Swordborn

Chapter 13: Fergadir

In the morning dwarf women arrive to unbraid, comb, and rebraid Day's hair. Soon after they depart Roffindar returns with the weapons master. The red-haired dwarf is sweaty and tired, and looks like he's been up all night pounding hot iron on a forge. He presents Day with the staff he made, a beautiful creation, swirls of black and gray metals, with platinum veins running throughout.

Cain and Day follow the dwarves out of the tower, then head west across the courtyard into a wide single story building. Inside is a large chamber filled with weapon racks, practice dummies, and archery targets.

"The staff possesses three magical abilities," the weapons master explains proudly. "The first ability allows you to understand the goblin language. You don't have to do anything to use this ability, simply hold the staff and listen. The second ability produces a deafening roar of thunder, which the fables speak of Nayeem doing to signal her arrival."

The weapons master takes the staff from Day and slams one end onto the stone floor, producing a blast of thunder that shakes the building.

"The final ability is a teleportation spell which will allow you to travel short distances. We'll get you close to the goblins, then you will teleport in. They'll think you teleported from some distant plane of the gods, but really you'll only have traveled ten paces. After you teleport cast the thunder spell, which will frighten the goblins into submission."

The weapons master holds the staff in front of him, then looks forward and says the word 'away'. The dwarf vanishes, then reappears in an instant, now ten paces ahead of where he vanished. Cain and Day clap in approval.

"Simply face the direction you wish to go, imagine being there, then say 'away'." The dwarf instructs, then returns the staff to Day. She attempts to teleport a few times unsuccessfully, then on her third attempt she vanishes and reappears across the chamber.

"It feels like I'm moving through water!" Day shouts to Cain.

"A harmless side effect," remarks Roffindar. He thanks the weapons master, who performs a low bow. He's proud of his creation, and anxious to get even with the goblins. The noble leads Cain and Day out of the training area, then through a series of buildings to a barracks where a group of dwarves in chain mail waits.

"These warriors will escort you into Fergadir," says Roffindar. "The brother of the goblin king lives in the old dwarven city, which lies on the near side of the mountain. We think the goblin sorcerers who stole the bows came from there. We know those tunnels better than the goblins do, and we can show you a few secret corridors that will bring you close to the throne room. You can teleport through the wall from a side corridor, then teleport out when you're ready. If there is a problem I advise you to exit as quickly as possible. Goblins attack in swarms, and it will be easier to fight them if you're all together."

"Thank you, Roffindar." Day says. "I'll do my best."

"I know you will," replies the noble. "I feel it, there's something about you, more than courage, more than bravery, a strength as great as Fergadir itself."

Day and Cain accompany the dwarf warriors through the city to the main gate. They travel east across the valley, following an ancient road made of giant mountain stones. Occasionally Day looks back, and though Fergadir is covered in mist and clouds, she knows it's there, waiting for her.

The party eventually comes to an area covered in stone ruins, double story buildings, platforms, and courtyards, which extends to the north and south. The party wanders through the ruins, passing row upon row of stone bins like those Day saw at the Ravenspire market.

They continue east, and find the ruins were built upon the edge of a cliff. Giant wooden platforms hang over the edge, constructed of wooden beams the size of trees. Dense fog has settled over the ravine, which moves west on the breeze toward Brethen. Day steps to the edge of a platform and looks down. The cliff drops for half a league, and Day sees a dozen ships wrecked on the rocks below.