Crater Creator

16. New Blood New Flavor

My eyes are blurry and I cannot see very well, my back is sore and my arms and legs throb in pain. Though I am alive, I feel dead; I feel like I can just give in and accept my fate. I try to look around, my neck is fixed, but it looks like I am in a room, a small room. I am seated in an armchair; it feels like an oak wood chair with cushions on my back and rear. The room is dark; I cannot make out any colors or shapes. A light flickers above me, but then I see that a door lies ahead of me. In the gap that separates the door from the ground has light-emitting out. Disoriented figures move past the door muttering some unintelligible talk. I try to scream, nothing but shallow gasps get through. I can feel my hands again; I flex each finger. I use my sore arms to push myself off the chair, but my legs have not recuperated yet, so I flop onto the ground. I made no sound as I landed, but I do not know if whatever is out there heard it. I drag myself toward the gap in the door, to peek outside. I see only boots and bare feet, but I can hear well. They seem to be singing a song I have not heard of before. One with black boots, sing's in a low voice, "Hidden in the land of A'Hearn, Lied a prince who wanted the King to burn, To the mountain he brought the Crater Creator, Our Prince became our traitor, We would've been lost without hope, A mysterious hero helped us cope, The lives of the Dwarf's he carried, His ax into the Prince's head he buried, We will mark him in our tomes, For he was the bravest of the Gnomes, Though many periled, He is known as our Herald, Stories will form, Legends are born, The day he joins us, Oh how many did fuss, But know that he is our savior, Not new blood but new flavor." Is this a song about me? How long was I out, and what do they mean, "The day I joined them"? I hear the sound of stomping boots and loud voices enter the room. "Is he awake yet? Please tell me he is I need to see him." The man with black boots walks toward the loud man, "Listen, buddy, I thought I told you last time that your buddy is in a severe coma, never to be awoken again." "Can I at least see him, to say goodbye?" "By the beard of Bulhig, fine Nalak go see your friend. He's in that room; don't think he'll respond the poison is strong enough to kill a giant." The black boots point toward me, and a second set enters my vision. A latch is turned, a key is turned, and the door creaks open. Nalak walks through and he screams, "Chris is you okay?" The owner of the black boots was a Dwarf, and he was in shock. Nalak picked my limp body up, hugging me and crying. "I, my friend, I did not intend for you to ever get hurt. I will nurse you back to health, come with me, we're going home." He sets me in a chair with wheels on the side and two handles on the back.

"Not so fast Nalak, you know the deal. You gave to us so that he may heal and live, but if he were to ever wake he works for us. If you try to leave with him, I will have to kill you. You are not king, yet. He will work in the Dwarven army and fight alongside us, but he cannot leave." A tear rolled off Nalak's eye, "What do you mean Nalak? Am I a slave? What have you done?" "I found you lying in a pile of rubble, partially breathing, wasting away. After you killed Gimrak, you shrank to your normal size and blacked out on the ground. When I first woke to find Zunlin standing over me, I asked you to find that you went to take Gimrak alone. Although I was just revived, I felt as if you were to lose your life for me, it would tear my heart open. I ran as fast as I could to reach you, I came just in time to see Gimrak fall. You were broken and badly hurt, you could have died if were not for these Dwarves here. They said they will help if I... would donate you to the Royal Dwarven Army, the Dragon Blood." While I lie in the chair I grab his arm, "Didn't I save them, wasn't that enough? Why do they treat it as it were nothing?" Nalak whispers in my ear, "I do not trust our king; a dark fog clouds his mind. Just trust me with this, when the time comes, you will be free. Just forgive me, my brave friend." The Dwarf with the black boots crosses his arms and taps his foot, "Come on now, unless you're going to kiss, I suggest you leave at once. He needs more proper treatment. Say your goodbyes and get!" Nalak walks in front of me, turns and says, "Until the future will we meet again. Farewell, my friend, you..." he spoke with staggered breaths, "you be a good soldier, and do your saviors proud, do me proud." Nalak opens the door and walks into the descending darkness. Behind the door, I hear a muted cry, as if it did not wish to be heard but was needed to be done. The cry ceases and the stomping of his boots hitting the stairs slowly disappears, and a needle is jabbed into my arm. My eyelids fall and then I am surrounded with darkness, ending my mission in darkness.