Excerpt: A Stretch of Loyalty and The Test of Loyalty

Once they were done with dinner the dwarves cleared the table then invited their guests to sit around the fire with them and tell them what they were doing there. No sooner had everyone sat down then each of the dwarves extracted a long pipe from their pockets, lit them, and sat back to enjoy the story. They knew one thing about elves for certain-and that was that they were wonderful story tellers.
Ennion looked over at Magda, wondering how much or how little she had told them. She glanced down at Lachlan, then back at him as if that would explain everything. He wanted to moan, wishing he could get her alone for just a few moments. Stefan, who was sitting next to him and caught the looks the two were throwing each other, leaned over and whispered in his ear, “She means she has mentioned nothing as to why we are here but thinks you should tell them about Lachlan.”
Ennion shook his head, now wanting to ask how in the world Stefan could know that. However, instead he turned to the dwarves and began the story, telling all he knew about it. He told how Magda had entered the castle and saved Lachlan, how she had fled to the mountains and met Stefan, and how the two of them had taken the boy prince to Aesoram. He told how he had met them and joined them when they were forced to flee the city, and how they had come to the mountain. Even then told how they had been separated and how he and Stefan had fought the giant.
“And now we are trying to get to Fort Ølgrün,” he concluded to his now wide eyed listeners.
“You are saying this boy is an heir to the throne and his brothers are trying to kill him?” Gog was the first to break the silence.
Lachlan looked away as the other three nodded their heads.
“How exciting!” Cordon exclaimed, causing the others to glare at him.
Gog shook his head, his face now etched with concern. “It is a comfort to know the princes cannot find their way under the mountain at least,” he finally grumbled and Ennion knew they were in trouble.
“We had no intent of bring danger upon you,” Stefan spoke up, suddenly annoyed at the tone the dwarf was using, “we would not have come if it would have been a risk.”
“Clearly that is not entirely true,” Gog retorted sharply, “you went to the elves for help and caused them nothing but grief. Now you seek help from others and it will surely end in the same result.”
Lachlan squirmed nervously, knowing they were holding him at fault. Stefan wrapped his left arm about his shoulders. “Then we will leave if you feel us a burden.”
“You would get lost is you traveled through these caves alone!” Cordon spoke up.
“We will go back to the top,” Ennion answered without looking any of them in the eyes.
“Yes, and freeze to death while trying to get over the passes. If you wish to get over now you have to go under the mountain, there is no other way.”
They remembered the stairs and how cold it had been out of the fog. “There is nothing?” Magda did not hide her concern.
Cordon shook his head and the other dwarves glared at him but he was unabashed. “Only under, and you will need a guide for that.”
Golon glared darkly at him. “Shut up!” he hissed, but Cordon was not about to.
Stefan looked over at Ennion as if he might be able to suggest something. The elf only shook his head, knowing he was as helpless down here as they were. He relied on the stairs and the positions of the sun and moon to guide him-none of which could be seen in these depths.
“I will guide you to Fort Ølgrün!” Cordon suddenly exclaimed. “I do not think it is right for everyone to be afraid of helping a little boy.”
“Cordon!” the other dwarves snapped but he just glared them to silence.
“Will you accept my help?” he asked.
Magda looked at Stefan who in turn looked at Ennion. Ennion wondered when he had become the one they looked up to, figured it must have been the fact he was an elf, and nodded his head. “Thank you for your offer, Cordon,” he told the dwarf, “it is the best news we have had in awhile. However, we cannot accept knowing the danger of our mission.”
Cordon's eyes flashed. “Don't worry about them,” he muttered, “they will get over it. I am coming and that is all there is to it!”
Golon spoke up then. “You can't get from one cavern to the next! You will end up getting everyone lost.”
Cordon rolled his eyes. “I'll manage.”
“No you won't!” Golon grumbled. “I shall have to come with you, to make sure you don't kill yourself!”
Cordon's jaw dropped in surprise but their father interrupted whatever he was going to say.
“I will not have my sons go marching off with these strangers-and go walking right to their deaths!” he snapped.
It was Golon who addressed him then, his voice firm but respectful. “It is clear Cordon feels he must do this and, seeing as he is my brother, I have to go along and look after him,” he turned and eyed Ennion, “and make certain someone keeps an eye on the elf. If no one else will go I will.”
Cordon just smirk outright. “Thanks, brother,” he whispered as his father glared at Stefan, Magda, Ennion, and Lachlan.
Golon didn't let his scowl leave his face. “Thank me when we come back alive, if we do,” he grumbled.