Dragons of The Dwarven Depths by Margaret Weis;Tracy Hickman

Author:Margaret Weis;Tracy Hickman
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Dragonlance, Fantasy, .Correct&Complete, .Reading List, Science Fiction, Adventure
ISBN: 9780786954445
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast
Published: 2006-01-01T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 2

Hero Reborn. An Unforeseen Complication

A contingent of twelve Hylar dwarves walked abreast down the corridor. All but one were clad in chain mail and wore heavy plate armor over that. The exception was a dwarf who was filthy and sickly looking and wore manacles on his wrists. While the Hylar dwarves confronted the strangers, this dwarf sank down onto the floor as though worn out. One of the dwarves paused to put his hand on this dwarf’s shoulder, saying something to him. The sickly dwarf nodded, as though assuring his companion that he was all right.

Some of the Hylar held swords; other carried spears in addition to war hammers slung in harnesses on their backs. Several held lanterns that shone with an odd greenish light that illuminated a vast area. The dwarves walked slowly but steadily down the corridor.

As they came near, one dwarf moved out ahead. He was accou-tered in armor as were his fellows, but unlike them, he wore a tabard over his armor. The tabard bore a hammer on it, and he carried a hammer in his hand—an extremely large war hammer—far larger than a hammer a dwarf would normally carry. Runes praising Reorx,

God of the Forge Fire, Creator of the World, were etched up and down the handle and even extended onto the hammer’s head.

Sturm stared at the hammer and drew near Tanis.

“That is the Hammer of Kharas!” Sturm said in a low voice. “I recognize it from the old paintings!”

“You have a good eye, human,” said the dwarf, speaking Common. He lifted the hammer, regarding it fondly. “This is not the true hammer. It is a replica. I had the hammer made when I took my name, for I am Kharas,” he said proudly, “Arman Kharas. The lesser Kharas. Kharas reborn. One day, I will be given the knowledge of how to find the true hammer. Until that day, I carry this with me as a reminder to all that I am destined for greatness.”

“Good gods!” Sturm muttered. He did not dare catch Tanis’s eye.

Arman Kharas was taller than the other dwarves. He was the tallest dwarf Tanis had ever seen and his physique and stature rivaled Caramon’s. His shoulders were massive, his chest broad, his legs thick and well-muscled. Long black hair streamed down his shoulders. His plaited black beard extended past his waist. He wore a helm studded with jewels and marked with the symbol of the hammer.

Arman and his soldiers halted about twenty paces from the companions. The other Hylar were staring at the companions in astonishment mingled with suspicion. Arman regarded them calmly. He motioned to some of his men.

“Go see what that noise was.”

The soldiers departed, running past the companions, casting them distrustful looks.

“That noise you heard was the opening of Northgate,” said Flint, shifting to Dwarvish.

Arman cast him a brief glance then looked away, waiting for his men to return. They came hastening back, reporting that the Northgate was open and could not be closed; the gate lay in ruins at the base of the mountain.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.