Some time in the afternoon James woke. He donned his robes and made his way back up the hallway and onto the observation deck. The observatory dome was closed. Acolytes worked here and there, adjusting the delicate machinery and instrumentation. Oakleaf Gilderwood stood at the opposite end of the platform, engaged in conversation with Lord Immelmann. James noticed an acolyte working within the intricate gearing of the Grand Telescope, making some sort of adjustments. The machinery was all the more impressive in the light of day.

“Good morning, Sir James!” greeted the Astronomical Wizard. “Acolyte Logan informed me of your productive night of observation. He was particularly impressed by your knowledge of planetary motions. You would make a fine Astromancer, if ever Sir Gilderwood could be convinced to part with your services.”

“That is a fine complement, Sir. I enjoyed the experience thoroughly.” replied James.

“If I’ve told ye once, I’ve told ye a tousand times ye most lubricate the mein barings every night, joost before ye opens the dome! And joost what the blazes hell have ye got floatin in the water klock pool! If’n ye kant keep the pool klean yer drive ul surely fail!!” and with that a Dwarfen figure pulled himself clear of the clockwork, clenching an oil can in his meaty hand.

“Aye! Joost what have we here!” exclaimed the Dwarf, as he took notice of James. “Theece most be that high falooten astromagi ye summoned from the great beyond! And a fine yong lad he is! Welcome tee Hell yong Jamersson! Erik Blarneysson, at yer service!” With that, the Dwarf extended his oil stained hand towards James. James shook the enormously strong hand, and immediately wondered how to clean off the lubricant.

“James Blair, Sir Blarneysson. Pleased to meet you”.

“Na need ta ‘Sir’me son! Erik is all the name required fer me to respond! Save yer fermalities fer the likes of thees two fine Wuzards! Oakerleaf! I do belief yer onto somthin with bringin this fellow on board yer quest! Just whot the doctor ordered! A practicol yong man, if ever I met one!!!!!”

“I’m glad you approve, Erik.” responded the Emerald Wizard, and continued turning towards James. “ James, Master Blarneysson will be accompanying us on our journey. Erik has particular skills in the underground regions of our world, which we will surely require to complete our task.”

“An yul need me fer someone to talk to as well, given the rest off yer company! Two gurls an a salf absorbed Wuzard ain’t enuff te talk with fer a day, let alone the weeks wall reekwire te thwart that Gloamquacker chap!!!” and with that Dwarf Blarneysson excused himself to pack for the journey.

‘This should be interesting,’ thought James.

______________________________________________________________

Oakleaf Gilderwood, Celeste, Elana, and James mounted their horses on the cobblestone roadway in front of the College of Astronomical Wizardry. Eric Blarneysson occupied the box seat on his cart, drawn by two ponies. The quest set out on their return journey to the Gardens of Taubra. Willhelm Fredrick provided an escort of a full unit of Knights of the Wolf, commanded by Grand Lieutenant Luthar Volkhart.

If you come across this story on Amazon, it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Citizens of Badendorf bade the caravan of questers farewell, expressing almost as much enthusiasm as when they were welcomed to the city. Tensions in the city had relaxed somewhat during the course of their tenure in Badendorf. The cavalry officers informed Sir Gilderwood that since the decisive defeat of the Demon Lord at the Olden Reik Theatre, Chaotic incursions into the Empire had reduced in number and intensity. No significant engagements had taken place since, and the Grand Lieutenant predicted that the return journey would be much less eventful than their recent experiences. James hoped that his prediction was accurate. Oakleaf was of the opinion that the Chaotic aggressions had been designed to deflect the attention of the Empire from the real threat posed by Gloamanthal’s incursion into the region of the Gardens of Taubra.

Elana and Celeste spent most of the travel time next to one another on the road. Both shared an intense interest in the natural world and never seemed to tire of observations of flora and fauna, or commenting on the gardening techniques and crops of the farms the questers passed on their way back home. Summer harvest in the region was at its peak, and a wide variety of mature crops were available. Every evening both women would purchase fresh produce from the local farms and organise meals for the evening, and following day.

Oakleaf Gilderwood travelled alone at the head of the caravan, pondering the actions of Gloamanthal. What was he up to? What was the true purpose of the incursion into the bowels of Mount Issabella?

That left James and Erik to bring up the rear.

“Aye, yong laddie! De ye think that our group be capable of defeating the Chaos Lordie?” quizzed the Dwarf.

Erik Blarneysson certainly had a way of getting straight to the heart of the matter at hand. James had started to wonder the same thing. A dwarf, a teenager from Scotland, two devout women and a tri-centenarian Wizard did not seem an equal if it came to a battle with a unit of Chaos loving dwarfs led by a Demon Lord. ‘The Accursed One and He Who Cannot be Slain’ sounded like an incredibly dangerous opponent.

Trying to be optimistic, James responded. “Well, Sir Gilderwood seems enormously powerful to me.”

“Don’t cant on it laddie,” replied Erik. “Magic, smagic! Dwarfs dan’t believe in that wuzardry nonsense. Never did! It dan’t affect those who dan’t believe. Youl never catch a Dwarf fallin far them parlar tricks. We’er much too smart to be taken in. Besides, Sir Oakleaf’s power dan’r work undergrand. He needs the sunshine to work his tricks! Ain’t no sunshine under Mount Issabella now is thar? Ponder that far a moment yong man……”

James had not considered that problem. Immediately, James wondered if that was the reason why the Chaos incursion targeted the ground underneath Mount Issabella.

“That be why Sir Oakleaf invited a Dwarf to take part in the quest. Dwarfs leev underground, at least most of us do. Most of the mighty Grey Mountains be are homes! For centuries, we builded great underground cities and passageways. But navar Mount Issabella! She be too dangerous, that one. That one is full of Blue Stone! Bloody Blue Stone. Glomanbastard be after Blue Stone. As sure as rats steal yer cheese, he wants that Blue Stone. I dunno why, but there’s only one reason ta tunnel under Mount Issabella. Dangerous stoff, that Blue Stone.”

Great. Sir Gilderwood is powerless in the dark, and the mountain is full of toxic materials, coveted by a Demon Lord. What could possibly go wrong?

“Perhaps the plan involves the Dwarfs who accompanied the Demon Lord into the mountain Erik, Sir.” stammered James.

“ Dant speak of those traitors, yong James! The wurst of the wurst are they. Scoundrels, rogues, blackguards they are. Gloamanwitch cudn’t do nothin without their help. An embarrassment to the whole Dwarfen race they are.” Erik Blarneysson bowed his head in shame.

“What is Blue Stone?” asked James, trying to change the subject. He had an idea that it was pieces of the twin tailed comet from the opera, but how would the comet have struck Mount Issabella?

“Blue Stone be pieces of the Ragnar Moon etself, Mr. Jamerson. When Ragnar passes close to thy Earth, as ete does so in times of grate strife, pieces of the moon break off and fall to strike the ground. Eef that piece be large, she buries herself deep. Mount Issabella was struck by such a piece. The oldest epic tales of the Dwarfen kings speak of the strike. As a child aye learned the varses:”

“ Grey Mountans rang. Andlac er hja. Ragnar hafrascar hans dadly stone. Kaverns crumble. Dauor eru buried. Blar Stone lessir ruin.”

And then he translated his own words in grave tones:

“Grey Mountans rang. Dath is nar. Ragnar has cast his dadly stone. Cavarns crumble. Dead are buried. Blue Stone brings ruin.”