Dark Thane

"There's nothing for it," Ferro said. "We can't just sit here. When the draconians draw near, we'll rush out and attack them from behind. I'll deal with Tarn's questions afterwards. I should be able handle him. Make sure you leave no draconian alive. There can't even be one survivor to expose us. Do you understand?"

The Theiwar nodded, faces set in grim lines as they watched the retreating draconian line. Ferro glared at them, looking for any sign of weakness or second thoughts. He saw none but added for good measure, "I certainly hope you do understand. If Tarn finds out about us, I hate to think what his Klar will do to your families."

Ferro smiled to see the look of desperate determination on their faces now. The Klar clan had been fiercely loyal to Tarn ever since the days after the Chaos War, when he had forgiven the very people who had slaughtered so many of his father's clan. In the ruins of the war's aftermath, a great and lasting friendship had blossomed between Tarn and the Klar thane, Tufa Bloodeye. The new Klar thane, Glint Ettinhammer, had renewed that friendship when he took his seat on the Council eight years ago. The Klar were among Tarn's most resolute supporters.

As a race, though, the Klar were also known to be unstable at times. It was as though Reorx had formed their brains of different stuff than the other clans. Even Tarn could not control them completely. They were known to avenge him even against those he himself had already forgiven. The thought of their families falling into the hands of blood-mad Klar slayers caused the Theiwar mercenaries to take their task with utmost seriousness. An hour ago they had shared dwarf spirits with some of those draconians. Now they were ready to stab them in the backs without mercy.

Tarn's powerful voice rose above the din of battle, shouting for the surviving draconians' surrender. The kapaks continued to fight as they retreated. Ferro realized that the creatures might see the futility of their situation and throw down their weapons at any moment, something he couldn't allow to happen. Drawing his short sword, he leaped into the road, his Theiwar troops silently pouring out behind him. Ferro plunged his weapon into the nearest kapak's back and ripped upwards, shearing through muscle and bone. The creature fell and immediately began to dissolve into a pool of acid. Ferro jumped back as his Theiwar slammed into the rear ranks of the astonished draconians. In seconds, all met similar fates.

Ferro and his Theiwar warriors picked a path through the steaming pools of acid left behind wherever a kapak had died, slogging forward to meet Otaxx’ss surprised force. He saw Tarn at the rear being tended by a healer, and Tarn's captain, Mog Bonecutter, crawling through the mud and the bodies, looking for survivors. Other dwarves were busy clearing the road or retrieving weapons from the stony corpses of slain baaz draconians.

Then, to Ferro's amazement, Ilbars Bleakfell appeared, his shaggy hair and beard matted with white spiderwebs. Ilbars strode purposely toward Ferro, an axe dripping with draconian blood in his fist. Ferro stepped back in alarm, knowing the draconian general would be furious at his apparent double-cross. He hesitated, unable to figure out how to expose the sivak without explaining how he could see through the draconian's disguise.

"Ferro Dunskull!" Zen shouted in Ilbars's voice. Tarn looked up from the bandages being wound about his chest wound.

"What took you so long?" Ilbars demanded. "They very nearly killed the king!"

Ferro's eyes narrowed suspiciously. What kind of game was this sivak playing?

Mog hurried up, his face curious. "How did you survive, Captain Ilbars?" the Klar captain asked. "I saw you engulfed in webs and hacked to pieces with the others."

"I tripped as the spell was cast. Dead bodies piled on top of me before I could rise. The draconians must have assumed I was already dead. I only just managed to extricate myself," Ilbars said as he brushed spiderwebs from his beard.

"You were very lucky," Ferro said in a voice dripping with menace.

"Yes, I am blessed with an abundance of luck," Ilbars/Zen responded. "That's how I've survived this long in such a hostile world."

Mog watched this exchange with curiosity, but he had no time to give it deep thought. Day was swiftly turning to night, and the fog was growing thicker by the minute. He didn't know how many more draconians might be out there in the swamp, and he would shave his beard before he'd allow the thane to spend the night here. He hurried away, shouting orders for the bodies of the fallen dwarves to be gathered and prepared for transport home to the mountain. Otaxx already had a dozen dwarves lashing spears together to make stretchers for the dead and injured.

Behind his back, Ilbars and Ferro exchanged venomous glances. The draconian seemed to be daring the Daergar to betray him. Knowing there was nothing he could do, at least not at the moment, Ferro bit his tongue and stalked away.