The Shard: Chronicles of Xax by Ted Cross

Author:Ted Cross [Cross, Ted]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
Publisher: Breakwater Harbor Books
Published: 2015-03-16T04:00:00+00:00

Midas

What have I done? How could I be so stupid? Midas knew it did no good to berate himself, but he couldn’t help it. As far as he was concerned he may have condemned his sons to a grisly death. I could have left the supplies to the soldiers; we didn’t need my sons along. And the boy Geldrath, too—another innocent life whose blood is on my hands. Who else? Dalthis, Brin, Fridrik. The dwarf Valgorn was supposed to return to Suldorn to bring help. None of them should be here.

He looked around the room until he spotted his sons, sitting with Geldrath on some rolls of blankets along the far wall. He walked over and squatted near them.

“I’m so sorry about this, boys,” he whispered. He knew there was no need to whisper. There had been enough noise already that if the dragon were nearby, she would already be awake, yet it felt necessary to whisper here. “I never should have gotten you into this.”

Antos and Alekas both protested, but Midas held up his hands. “You’re my responsibility. Please, let me feel bad about this. I need to. Geldrath, are you all right?” The boy looked wan and sweaty.

“Sorry, sir. Just feel a little sick. Hard to breathe.”

“Are you hurt?” Midas asked. “Did something happen?”

“No, Father,” Antos said. “I think he has trouble in closed places. I noticed it when we were down in a cellar back in Andiria.”

“Ah.” Midas scratched below his beard. “Perhaps the wizard will know something that can help. I’ll ask him when I get a chance.” He gripped Geldrath’s shoulder and squeezed it lightly. “I’m sorry about this. I’ll get you out of here somehow.”

He looked around to see what the others were doing. The three dwarves were huddled with Xax and Alvanaria, studying the map. Midas decided to join them. When he approached, there wasn’t enough room for him to look at the map, but he could at least listen to what was being said.

“…about here,” Valgorn said, pointing at a spot on the map. “We should shift our supplies there as soon as possible. It’s closer to the dragon, but far enough away to be safe, and there is water.”

“And, these tunnels give us two different approaches to the lair,” Gorm said, tracing lines on the map.

Xax looked perplexed. “How come these lines are so rough? All the others are straight.”

The dwarves studied the map a moment. Gorm said, “I think those are unfinished tunnels, or perhaps even mines. Anyhow, that small tunnel at the end will be a perfect spot for the ambush party to hit the dragon from behind after the others divert its attention.”

“So who goes with which party?” Barmin asked.

“Hold on,” Xax said. “Let’s not worry about that yet. We’ll move the base camp first; give ourselves time to think things through. We have different personnel than we were expecting, and many of them don’t even have proper weapons to be useful in the attack. I think we should get moving toward the room you indicated earlier.

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