The Adventures of Dremron and Company
Chapter Six
A Dwarf on the Run
Gildroan ran on, rasping and wheezing; running long distances is just something that all dwarves aren't good at, including Gildroan. He ran on farther still, and all of a sudden slipped on the gravel path. He fell and muttered an oath, cursing his rotund and clumsy form. He got up and hunched over with his hands on his knees and breathed hard to catch his breath. He knew that he needed some rest before he could even walk more. So Gildroan staggered off into the lush, green forest.
"No harm in a little rest," he muttered to himself. He chose a large tree and taking off his rucksack, sat down. He leaned against the rough bark and closed his eyes. Soon he was asleep.
Gildroan awoke to a night sky, the sound of hounds barking in the distance, and dwarfs cursing at them. "How could I have slept so long?" he scolded himself, vowing to be more careful the next time, if there was one. He groped around in the darkness for his rucksack and put it on. He glanced around; the searchers were a half a mile or so off. "I'd better bolt," he thought, "they're getting close."
He sprang from the undergrowth and ran madly down the path, gravel spraying around him. Gildroan panted, stumbling along in the dark was hard and dangerous. He wished it were daytime so he could actually see where he was going. He risked a glance and saw that the hounds were not too far off, and, having broken free of their masters, they bounded towards Gildroan.
The dwarf ran on, trying to think of a way to evade the hounds. "If I can't," he thought, " I'll make for the nearest cliff and jump." Even though dwarves frowned on suicide, anything would be better than getting brought back and hung.
As it turned out though, all these thoughts of suicide were unnecessary, for in the distance, along a river, he saw a campfire. Gildroan put on an extra burst of speed and ran into the camp.
The dwarf glanced around quickly. The campfire was in the center of the camp. Along the river, where three canvas tents were pitched, a green- cloaked man with a staff stood with his back to Gildroan.
"Please ...Please, you've got to hide me," pleaded Gildroan, taking a breath to recover from his running.
"Who are you?" questioned Dremron, turning around with his staff poised to meet this possible threat.
"I'm Gildroan," said the still panting dwarf. "Look, some men are after me, I don't have time to explain, please . I won't harm you," he paused, "Take my sword if you wish," he suggested, holding out his still- sheathed sword by the blade.
A lady elf walked out of one of the tents quickly, and took his sword cautiously from his hands. "You can hide in here," she instructed pulling up the canvas flap to her tent and motioning for him to come in. "Don't let my hospitality fool you though, one false move and I'll cut off your head," she said, unsheathing her rapier and aiming it at his throat. She shut the flap and sat down, her sword still pricking his throat. "Now, what is your name?" asked the elf, her tone threatening.
"I am Gildroan, my lady," said the dwarf, in as polite a tone as he could manage.
"Gildroan aye? All right, and why are those men after you Gildroan, a gambling debt perhaps?" she asked, grinning.
"Ah, no, my lady," stammered Gildroan. "I deserted the army, and now they are chasing me to have me hung as punishment."
"Oh, I thought it was something like that," said the elf, "I am Elora."
And with that she left him in the tent. Outside he heard hounds barking. "Oh no!" Gildroan thought, they've caught up with me. He could here bits of a conversation between Dremron and his pursuers.
"No one's come this way. We would have seen them," said Dremron with no hint that he was lying.
The dogs barked and growled, fighting with their owners. "I'm doomed," thought Gildroan, "those dogs will find me and I'll be hanged."
But, it wasn't so; Dremron gripped his staff tightly with his right hand and waved his left hand in front of the dogs when the dwarves weren't looking, muttering something.
Suddenly, the dogs stopped barking and fighting with their masters. "Good luck finding the one you seek!" exclaimed Dremron. The dwarves grunted and lead their dogs away.
"Okay, you can come out now, you have some explaining to do," said
the mage.
.