The Dragon's Apprentice by Ben Marble

Author:Ben Marble [Marble, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-18T07:00:00+00:00

A large section of the cave at the edge of the city lay empty. There were a couple of large stone scarecrows sitting in the middle of what could have been a field had it not been underground. The ground was black tilled dirt, and the smell of broken earth and fertilizer was heavy in the air. Xander and Michael both exchanged questioning looks as they waited to hear what the old dwarf wanted of them.

"I will provide you with a path to the surface if you take care of this little problem for me." He waved his hands at the two stone forms in the middle of the field. "Before the sleep, we were gifted with these two golems. They keep the field plowed, and the soil fertile, however, while we slept they developed an issue." The dwarf picked up a rock and threw it into the field. As soon as the stone landed both stone figures charged and smacked the stone. Rather than pick it up and remove it from the field, they continued to pound it until the dust was mixed in with the surrounding dirt. As soon as the dust settled they ambled back to their positions and stood still looking as if they hadn't moved in the first place.

"No, that would be great entertainment for us normally, except every time the gnomes try to farm this field the golems attack them with the same prejudice." He shook his head. "You handle these golems so we can use this field again, and I will make sure you have a map that will get you to the surface."

"Would this be the exit you mentioned earlier that was problematic?"

"It would be."

Xander pondered it for a moment and then looked at Michael, "What do you think?"

"I think if he agrees to give us more information on the problematic part we should take the deal." Michael was examining the Golems carefully.

"Rorshk, a quick question about that problem at the exit." Xander turned to address the Dwarf who was watching them with a blank expression on his face. "I've seen your weapons and I assume you know how to wield them. Why haven't the dwarves destroyed the golems? It seems to me that while it might be a little trouble, it's something that could be managed."

"Well," Rorshk coughed and looked embarrassed. "You see the golems were gifts from the elf lords. I'm not sure how they would feel about us just destroying their gifts." Looking out at the golems in the field he continued, "So instead we thought it would be a good idea to get you to take care of them."

"And if we break them, the elf-lords blame us and not you. Meaning we have to stop them without breaking them if we can." Xander sighed. "Seems you are more than willing to get us in trouble with others on your behalf."

"Well, that is true. At the same time, you could refuse and then when everybody is healed you can just find your way to the surface on your own.

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