Book 05 - The Demon Hand by Rose Estes

Author:Rose Estes [Estes, Rose]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Greyhawk, Fantasy, Fiction
ISBN: 9780880385428
Publisher: TSR
Published: 1988-03-15T07:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

WITH A FEW EXCEPTIONS, there were no further mishaps on their journey to the place the dwarves called DwarvenHome.

Those exceptions, which the dwarves dismissed as “nothing,” were encounters with several nasty creatures who hoped to eat them for dinner. There was also a sudden unexpected encounter with a huge granite mole.

They dispatched the granite mole easily and left it where it fell, burdened as they were with the dead, the lame and the wounded; they hoped that it would be there when they returned, for its meat with its tight, gray grain and delicate flavor was much prized by their people.

After what had seemed like weeks of endless travels through corridors and chambers that all looked the same, they entered a large room whose roof was hung with sparkling, glistening stalactites of every size and length.

These incredible structures were matched on the ground below by stalagmites which rose to meet the ceiling above. The torches reflected off the gleaming surfaces, turning the amazing chamber into a fairyland of beauty and light. It was easily the most beautiful sight that either TamSen or Chewppa had ever seen and they lagged behind the tolerant dwarves, stunned by the beauty displayed around them.

Now, even the dour dwarves became noticeably cheery. It was a cheeriness that proclaimed the nearness of home. And now their footsteps slowed to match those of Chewppa and TamSen; they began to look around them for the tiniest hint of movement and they listened for even the faintest whisper of sound, as though expecting something to leap out from behind a rock and get them.

Giebort spoke very quietly to two of his people, who then disappeared into the darkness beyond the light of their torches.

Then, having grown more comfortable with addressing Chewppa directly, he turned to her and said, “The entrance to our home is located on the far side of this chamber. Our presence draws many creatures here where they wait among the rocks, hoping to catch us unaware.”

“Our scouts have just gone to search out the ground ahead and report whether all is clear. If so, we must run for the safety of our home keeping as fast a pace as we are able. If it is not clear, we must fight our way across.”

Chewppa surveyed the large room, and said, “I fly better than scouts walk. I fly up. I see down. If monsters here, I see them first.”

Then taking the torch from Giebort’s hand, she spread her wings, and soared high above them, searching out every nook and cranny of the cavern below. They watched in silence as the torch appeared and disappeared behind tall stalagmites.

Once, there was a small commotion and the torch descended at an acute angle, then disappeared behind a large stalagmite. There was a brief flurry of muffled sounds, then silence.

Once again the torch rose into the air and Chewppa continued her circumnavigation of the huge room. After a time, she returned and handed the torch to Giebort as she landed.

“No more monster.

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