Sword of Kings
Chapter 11 – Narrow Escapes

by Bill W

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Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts. 
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.
Don’t read this story if:
**You’re not 18 or over,    
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don’t want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author’s permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Emoe57 for his editorial assistance with this chapter.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other ‘constructive’ comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

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After about twenty minutes, the two warriors returned and informed the others as to what they had seen. They had discovered a party of five, three Merropites and two Gnomes, just ahead on the path. They also reported seeing Sedain with them. The dwarf was tied up like a sack of potatoes, but he appeared to be otherwise unharmed, and Quintain guessed Sedain’s captors were debating what to do with their unexpected visitor. The enemy warriors did not appear to be in any hurry to leave the area, nor did they seem concerned that Sedain might have companions nearby. Knowing this seemed to pacify the companions and give them a sense that they would be able to rescue their friend. Hadwin informed the group about a rescue scheme he had hastily formulated in his mind and Quintain agreed that this sounded like a viable suggestion. He quickly assigned everyone a role in the plan and then they moved to their designated locations.

Quintain left first, heading to a spot about five meters past the boulder, but still within the protective reach of his friends. There, the dwarf took up his role as the bait in this trap, as he pretended to lie hurt and unconscious upon the ground. Putting themselves in a position to protect and defend their friend, Hadwin and Rhys moved to their location next, hiding behind the large, upraised rock, which stood in the middle of the path. They intended to use the vertical crag to shield themselves from the view of any of Sedain’s captors who might possibly walk down the path in their direction.

While the others took up their positions along the trail, Alaric climbed the mountainside to a vantage point overlooking their opponent’s campsite. From this lofty perch, the elf assumed his role as lookout and would help to orchestrate each phase of their scheme. Doenilio also climbed up the mountain’s slope, but not quite as far up as Alaric had positioned himself. There, the dwarf concealed himself beside a jutting slab of granite, which was large enough to obscure his presence from anyone meandering along the trail below. This outgrowth of rock was also conveniently in line with the spot where Quintain lay sprawled out on the road, as he performed his part in this masquerade.

With everyone now in his assigned place, it was time for Doenilio to initiate the first phase of the plan. Carefully, he set the wheels of fate into motion. Energetically, he dislodged some of the small rocks that lay on the ground around him and he casually sent them rolling down the slope. As they tumbled down the incline, the stones picked up speed and tumbled onto the pathway below. They made only the slightest noise as they cascaded down the hill, but it was loud enough for Sedain’s captors to hear.

Back in the enemy encampment, the sound was first discerned by one of the Merropites, who immediately asked one of the Gnomes to go off and investigate the source of the disturbance with him. Cautiously, the two warriors slipped from their campsite and crept down the path. As they rounded a bend in the road, they could see the spread-eagled, motionless body of Quintain lying before them. Warily, they approached the dwarf, so they could inspect his still form. Eventually, they made their way past his head, which was pointed in the direction of their camp, and stood at his feet. They were now able to see his face, which meant they had their backs to the rock that the two northern warriors were hiding behind.

Getting their signal from Alaric, Hadwin and Rhys noiselessly sprang into action. Gliding effortlessly from around the boulder, they attacked the unsuspecting duo. The allies took small cords they held in their hands and slipped them quickly over the heads and around the necks of their victims. After a brief and barely audible struggle, the troopers let the lifeless forms of their opponents drop from their hold. No sooner had the limp bodies hit the ground than the companions regrouped and busily set about stripping the clothing from the dead warriors. As the garments were removed, they were handed to Rhys and Doenilio, who were hurriedly shedding their own attire. Quintain had wanted to be the one to go in to rescue his brother, but it was decided that Doenilio looked more like the fallen enemy and would more easily be able to carry out the deception. As soon as the duo was completely outfitted in their counterparts’ garb, they moved toward the enemy campsite. If they were lucky, they could pass themselves off as the dead warriors long enough to get safely to the enemy camp. As they rounded the bend in the path and came into view of their foes, one of the Merropites hailed Rhys. It was obvious he bought into the masquerade and truly believed the Akiktite was his returning countryman.

“Ho, Aglak, did you discover what made that noise?”

Rhys, trying hard to deceive the questioner, merely lifted his arm and waved for them to join him. Without uttering a word, he also signaled them to remain silent as they made their way there, indicating that some stealth was required to accomplish whatever he had in mind. Rhys and Doenilio watched as the soldiers discussed amongst themselves who would remain to guard the prisoner. Once that was decided, the group moved down the road, with the two Merropite soldiers following the ones they believed to be their compatriots.

As they slunk back down the path, Rhys and Doenilio were curious about what the two behind them were doing, but they did not dare to glance back to find out. For the next minute or so, the Akiktite and the dwarf were extremely vulnerable, should their deception be uncovered. If anything about their demeanor seemed different from the actions of the pair they had killed, or if they unwittingly showed their faces, those behind them could run them through and they wouldn’t even have the opportunity to defend themselves. Nervously, they continued moving along the path, with the two unsuspecting enemies willingly following them into the trap.

As they rounded the bend, Rhys lifted his arm and pointed to the spot where Quintain’s body still remained sprawled along the path. Without urging, the two other Merropites passed them by and went to investigate the motionless form of the intruder. The unsuspecting enemy troopers were trying to figure out where this being came from and what he was doing there, when the trap was sprung. With no prior warning, Hadwin pounced from behind the boulder to attack this new duo. The Nardinian completely startled the pair and struck the first soldier with his sword before the warrior had a chance to respond. As he removed his weapon from the body of his now deceased foe, Rhys ran the other fighting man through from the rear. This rapid elimination of their two opponents made certain their victims didn’t have time to make more than a startled gurgle before they fell. That meant there was only one of the foe left and he was back guarding Sedain.

Within seconds, the rescue group put the final phase of their plan into motion. Doenilio, still in disguise, returned once again to the enemy encampment. As he neared the final guard, Alaric notched an arrow on his bowstring and took aim, letting loose the shaft. The arrow hit the unsuspecting gnome in the neck, just above the coverage his mail coat provided. With little more than a wheezing sound escaping his mouth, the guard fell harmlessly to the ground. Doenilio, who had been sent there in case the arrow missed its target or merely wounded Sedain’s captor, checked to make sure the gnome was indeed dead. If the plan had gone badly, the dwarf was ready to finish off this last captor with his battleaxe, before the guard could harm the bound Sedain. However, that precaution was unnecessary, as Alaric’s aim had been true and deadly. This left Doenilio nothing to do, except to free his countryman.

The bound dwarf was ecstatic at the sight of his rescuer and relieved that his ordeal was over. After Doenilio cut the straps that fettered him, Sedain jubilantly grasped his liberator in a frenzied embrace. Doenilio thought the excited dwarf might fracture his ribs with this bear hug of happiness and he began to struggle to break Sedain’s grip. When the others arrived to witness this spectacle, they could not contain themselves and they laughed heartily at the sight. After much effort, Doenilio escaped Sedain’s hold and gasped to fill his lungs with air. The others excitedly exchanged greetings with Sedain and then listened attentively as he began to recount the tale of how he had been captured.

“After I left the camp, I crept to a spot just at the edge of their campsite. I lurked in the shadows, just out of range of the fire, and I felt safe as I tried to determine the intent of this party. As I sat straining to catch bits and pieces of their conversation, my presence was discovered. A sentry, who had been silently walking the outer perimeter of their camp, slipped up behind me. I was caught off-guard and I had no time to defend myself. I was easily taken captive and led back to their camp. I could kick myself for the stupidity I displayed in not being more attentive.” With this he sighed, and a look of exasperation crossed his face, before it took on a slightly reddened hue.

“As I sat there like a hog bound for market, I listened to their discussion. I was able to add what I learned there to the bits and pieces of information I had gleaned earlier. It soon became obvious that this was a scouting party that had been sent to watch the High Pass for the movement of unusually large groups of people or military troops. They had orders to report their findings immediately to Treblanc. From their conversation, I calculated they had been here for two or three months and they were uncertain as to how much longer they were expected to remain. Anyway, they had asked me only a few simple questions before you showed up. I was anticipating their next move, although not eagerly, as they had not yet begun their more serious forms of interrogation.” Again he paused, this time to reflect on the various types of torture they might have used to try to loosen his tongue and shuddered at the thought.

“I told them I had been out hunting for food and must have traveled farther out of the way than I imagined. Then I told them after realizing my error in judgment, I decided to return to my home in Thorold and was making my way there when I spotted the light from their fire. They obviously didn’t believe me; because they argued that dwarfs do not hunt this far south, especially alone, and hinted that I was dressed more for war than for hunting. They were deciding whether to continue my questioning here or if they should escort me back to Treblanc, to have their master cross-examine me, when they began to disagree. They had been haggling back and forth, weighing the pros and cons of each option, when they heard a noise. I now suspect it was you who caused that disturbance and most likely it was done intentionally. From that point on, you already know more than I do.”

Rhys quickly filled Sedain in on what they had done and about the plight of his other captors. The dwarf was pleased by what he heard, but wondered how they could best dispose of the evidence from this encounter. Quintain suggested they remove the arrow from the one gnome and put the uniforms back on their first two victims, before leaving the corpses as an offering to the animal scavengers that roam the mountainside. If they did that, those creatures would effectively cover up all signs of their deeds. Anyone finding the bodies later would think the spies had either misjudged the ferociousness of the local predators or, even better, had contracted some sort of fatal illness while on duty, which then led to the scavengers devouring the corpses. After some discussion on this topic, the warriors agreed upon the plan and the bodies were placed accordingly about the area. The companions were convinced this plan would mislead any of the enemy patrols that might be sent to retrieve messages or relieve the murdered warriors of their duty. After the necessary precautions were taken, they prepared to rejoin Turquinine and his charges, so they could resume their journey.

When they returned to the spot where they had camped the previous evening, they quickly filled the others in on the events they had missed. When they had completed their rendering of this tale, they ate a hurried meal of dried meats and cheese, before packing their gear. When they finished their preparations, they broke camp and set out for Thorold. It wasn’t long before they were disturbing the scavengers that had been attracted to scent of death and were now picking at the remains of the deceased troopers. The companions didn’t slow down as they passed the area, for they now seemed to have a renewed sense of urgency to get to Thorold - that is, until they came to the High Pass.

Kieren, Garreth, and Romaric froze in their tracks when they saw what lay ahead of them. The gap between the mountain peaks was very wide and open, and it was obvious they would have to cross it in order to get to the dwarf homeland. The dwarfs had been secretly dreading this part of their travels from the inception of this mission, as it was the one spot along this trail where they would be the most exposed and, therefore, open to discovery and attack.

“How are we going to cross that without being seen?” Kieren inadvertently asked aloud.

“Well, if there is anyone around who might see us,” Quintain responded, “then we already have a bigger problem than we need.”

“Then how shalt we traverse this obstacle?” the Mitikuan knight wanted to know.

“There is only one way to do this,” Doenilio began. “We’ll have to cross it a couple at a time, trying to move as inconspicuously as we can. Sudden movements or large groups moving at once would be more likely to attract attention, so we must try to avoid doing either, if at all possible. I advise you to stay low and move slowly and steadily.”

After indicating they understood and would do as instructed, the various individuals began to make their move. With utmost caution and cunning, they crossed the expansive opening in pairs and scrambled up the banks on the far side. The task was not completed without some tension, though, as they feared there were other enemy soldiers posted nearby, yet hidden from sight. When Garreth slipped and stumbled on his way across the opening, some of the others thought an arrow from an unseen archer might have felled the lad, but fortunately it was merely the result of the teenager’s nerves and clumsiness. However, once they were all safely across the pass, the dwarfs happily informed them they were now in the central section of the Amber Mountains and they would continue to hike along the base of this range until they reached Thorold.

The dwarven contingent was becoming very light-hearted now, realizing they were only a few leagues from their home. Over time, their joy became contagious and spread throughout the entire company. Kieren, Garreth, and Romaric soon found it difficult to contain the excitement they were now feeling. The boys were extremely anxious to reach the dwarf kingdom and witness, for themselves, an entire city built underground. They couldn’t even begin to imagine the marvels that awaited them there and they were now more invigorated than they would have been for any of the major festivals they celebrated in Aurelia. As they continued along the mountain path, the sun began to fade and they decided it would be prudent to make camp for the night. Several members of the party went off to search for game and firewood, while those not carrying out those tasks went about setting up camp. This meant that Rhys and the three boys were left to get things prepared. They kept their weapons close at hand and their wide eyes open while they carried out their task, just in case unwanted visitors appeared or they were attacked.

Trying to remain optimistic, the teens began to prepare a pit for a fire, while silently hoping the hunters would be able to manage to get them some fresh meat for their evening meal. They knew such a fire would have to be kept very small, but it would be worth the risk, especially if they had a chance to eat some wild game. Carefully, they dug the hole to in which the fire would be lit, so it would not be as visible to anyone else. The boys planned to arrange the pieces of wood in the pit, while the warriors cleaned the game, so now they just had to wait to see if the hunters had been successful.

Before long, Alaric returned to camp with important news. “I didn’t see any game, but I did discover a cave not far from here. It’s not a very large, but I think we call all fit in it and be safe for the night. I do think the dwarfs should check it out first, to determine if it’s suitable, because I do not possess the expertise to make such a determination.”

“I expect the others will be back shortly and we can make that determination then,” Rhys advised him, while thinking it would be nice to have the protection a cave would offer for the evening. It wasn’t long before the remaining hunters did return and Alaric quickly filled them in about his unexpected discovery.

“It would definitely allow us to have a fire,” Quintain suggested, after listening to the elf’s account, “even though it won’t be used for the purpose we’d hoped. I’m disappointed that none of us had any luck on the hunt.” The others nodded in agreement, before the dwarf acknowledged the quickly fading daylight.

“Alaric,” Doenilio added, “why don’t you take me to this cave, so I can inspect it?” The elf nodded, in reply.

“May I join you?” Hadwin asked. “I also have considerable experience with such things and I’d like to be able to help, if I might.”

“Certainly,” Doenilio responded, without hesitation. “Your input would be greatly appreciated.”

The three of them left and the others waited for them to return, but it was not an easy wait. They were all hungry and it took longer for the scouts to return then they had anticipated, so they were quite anxious by the time they saw them approaching. “Well, will it suffice?” Sedain asked.

“Yes, it will do quite nicely,” Doenilio responded. “It’s dry and large enough to accommodate all of us and I could find no signs of any other inhabitants. As far as I could tell, there are also no other passages leading from it, so we only have to guard the main entrance. It will be easy to defend and we should all be able to enjoy some much needed rest.” The others were eager to be on their way, so they picked up their gear and got ready for Alaric to show them the way to this shelter.

Once they reached the cave, everyone was quite impressed by what he saw. Immediately after they finished their cursory inspection, a small fire was lit. After making themselves as comfortable as they could, they attempted to scrounge something suitable from their packs, to fill their empty bellies. Although the entire party was quite disheartened by having to settle for this unappetizing fare, it didn’t totally dampened their euphoria. Once the meal stopped the rumblings in their stomachs, they settled in, to sleep. The only one who remained awake was Doenilio, as it was his turn to stand first watch.

The boys moved their bedding to the back corner of the cave, deep in the shadows, and they stripped completely before getting under their covers. They were hoping they could get a little relief tonight and help each other get rid of some of the sexual frustration that had been building over the past few days. They couldn’t even take care of their own needs in private, as the warriors watched them closely whenever they were out in the open, because they feared another surprise attack. Tonight, however, they were given slightly more leeway, as the cave provided enough protection that the others didn’t feel they had to watch over them quite as closely. The boys were also concerned that this might be their last chance to enjoy some time alone together until they reached Thorold, or possibly even longer. They quickly talked amongst themselves, came up with a plan, and decided they would begin as soon as they others had settled in and dozed off. It took a while for that to happen, but eventually they heard the gentle breathing and light snoring of their protectors.

Immediately, Garreth reached under Kieren’s blanket and began to stroke his friend’s limp penis. He could feel it begin to stiffen, almost as soon as he touched it, and within seconds it was completely hard and ready for some action. He pushed Kieren’s blanket aside and he began to pump his buddy’s boy meat with vigor. Kieren had to bite his lip to restrain the moans of pleasure he wanted to release, and he let himself get swept away with the wonderful feelings that Garreth’s soft, smooth hand was providing for him. Garreth was using long strokes, completely pulling Kieren’s foreskin behind the flange of his mushroom head, before pushing it back up until it engulfed the sensitive glans again. Kieren was starting to pant now, as he inched closer and closer to his release. Garreth sensed this and continued his steady pace on his friend’s magic wand, wanting Kieren to enjoy this as long as he could. When Garreth felt Kieren’s penis begin to swell and grow even harder, he sent his palm flying even more quickly, as he squeezed Kieren’s erection even tighter. It only took a few seconds more before Kieren’s penis exploded, sending ropes of his boy seed flying all over. The liquid hit his body, from his nose to his navel, landed on both Garreth and Romaric too, and some even landed on Kieren’s blanket, while the remainder remained coating Garreth’s hand. The elf continued for a few additional strokes, before he let Kieren’s penis fall limply on his thigh. The elves let their friend recover as they cleaned his semen up from all the places it had landed.

When they had finished wiping up everything around them, Romaric moved over next to Garreth and he started to fondle his friend. Garreth threw back his blanket, to give Romaric better access to his equipment, and also hoping this would help to keep his blanket clean. Within seconds, Romaric had Garreth’s penis standing tall and proud, ready for action. Romaric wrapped his fingers and thumb tightly around the granite pole and started to stroke it with long steady strokes. Garreth’s skin slid easily back and forth, as Romaric’s hand caressed and manipulated his pride and joy. Garreth was beginning to feel light-headed, as those wonderful feelings started to rise from his depths and radiate throughout his body. Little beads of perspiration were beginning to form on his brow and his breathing became more rapid and shallow. Romaric’s hand moved faster now, as Garreth approached the ‘promised land’, and Romaric had to place his other hand over Garreth’s mouth to muffle the little noises that were escaping his compatriot’s lips. Kieren was just coming out of his post-orgasmic bliss when he looked over and saw Garreth’s body stiffen, just as several volleys of teen lava erupted from his friend’s boyhood. Romaric kept pumping for another minute or so, until the waves of pleasure subsided and the last of Garreth’s juices flowed out of the slit in his love muscle. Kieren and Romaric teamed up to clean their friend off, before Romaric jumped back over to his original position and waited for his journey through sexual bliss.

As soon as Romaric was repositioned, Kieren reached over and began to play with his mate’s semi-floppy phallus. It didn’t take much teasing for it to become totally rigid and Kieren attacked it like a playful puppy. He fondled and squeezed the foreskin on that little toy until the elf’s boyhood became too firm and the skin too tight to do anything more with it. At that moment, he began to let his fist slide gracefully up and down its length, stimulating all the nerve endings that existed just under the surface. Kieren loved both of his friends so much that these special times together were as important to him as anything else they did. He would do anything for these two elves and being able to give them this small pleasure made him feel good inside. He loved to watch their expressions every time they had a sexual encounter, knowing their faces didn’t lie when it came to pain and pleasure. This was one of those times and Kieren could read the rapture on Romaric’s face and he felt satisfaction from knowing he was the cause of his friend’s joy. With a few more strokes Romaric’s body arched skyward, so only his shoulders and his feet touched the blanket beneath him, and ribbons of his alabaster milk came spewing out from the tiny mouth at the tip. After a handful of spurts left his erection, Romaric’s body relaxed and fell back on the floor of the cave. Kieren gave the elf’s penis a couple more quick jerks, before he released his grip, just to make sure he was completely drained. Romaric was now lost in the afterglow of this encounter and he was still swooning as Kieren and Garreth proceeded to clean up the viscous liquid from the puddles that dotted his body.

Now that each of the boys had a chance to release some of that pent-up sexual anxiety, they cuddled together under their blankets and fell asleep. Kieren, being in the center position, had his arms wrapped under and around the shoulders of the two elves, and they had their heads on his chest and their upper legs thrown over one of his legs, the one closest to them. Their combined body heat collected under the blankets and kept them warm and cozy all night long. Together, they shared one of the best nights’ sleep they had experienced since leaving the protection of their homeland.

The guard had already changed three or four times as dawn approached. Hadwin was currently standing watch and his tour was slowly coming to an end. It was finally time for him to awaken Alaric to replace him, so the Nardinian gently shook the elf’s shoulder, until he opened his eyes. Patiently, the Nardinian waited a little while longer, giving the elf a chance to shake the fog of sleep from his mind. While Alaric continued to stretch and yawn, Hadwin moved over to his bedroll to resume his rest. Eventually, the elf was prepared to take his turn at sentry, but decided he first had to relieve himself of the prior evening’s drink. Alaric emerged from the stony chamber just as the first pale strands of light began to pierce the darkness and he realized it wouldn’t be long before it was time to wake the others.

Even though he was still a little groggy from his disturbed slumber, the elf thought he could hear noises in the distance, even though he wasn’t sure where they were coming from. Immediately, he finished what he was doing and crouched down, straining to either hear or see more. He waited in that position for several minutes before he heard anything else, but the new sounds made him decide he must investigate the situation further. Cautiously, he began to crawl in the direction he thought the sounds originated, because he wanted to be able to determine if there was any cause for alarm. Slithering over the ground, he soon discovered the source of the disturbance, which instantly caused him grave concerned. As quickly as he could manage to do so, he reversed his course and crept back to warn the others.

As soon as Alaric slipped back into the rocky shelter, he began to gently rouse his comrades. He did this one at a time, so as not to startle them or cause them to shout out in alarm. Just as soon as they opened their eyes and he had their attention, he would signal them that they needed to remain quiet until he had finished waking the others. After each of them was awake, he gave them a little extra time to fully regain their senses. Soon, the entire company was staring at Alaric, waiting for him to explain why he had disturbed their slumber prematurely. At first, a few of the warriors had thought it was just their turn at watch, but those who had already performed their duty knew better. Once they saw the others were up too, and recognized it still wasn’t quite light out, they concluded something urgent must have cropped up. Otherwise, the elf wouldn’t have awakened them quite so early.

“There is an enemy patrol not far from here and they are slowly moving in this direction,” Alaric stated, with a grave look of concern on his face. “I have counted twelve of them in the party, but there may be others I did not see.” Suddenly, everyone was fully alert and listening to the elf’s every word. “Even though they seemed to be headed this way,” he continued, “I do not know if they are aware of our presence yet. I could not tell if they were looking specifically for signs of our passing or if they were just checking the area in general.”

“Do you think they discovered the patrol we eliminated?” inquired Romaric.

“If they did,” responded Hadwin, “then they would definitely be searching for the ones who murdered their comrades.”

“It would be hard to say whether or not they discovered the bodies,” Alaric responded, “but they do seem to act as if there is an urgency to their efforts.”

“Do you think that we can hold them off from in here,” questioned Sedain, “or would it be better if we left the cave and faced them out in the open?”

“For now, we are probably safer here,” Alaric admitted, “but we are putting ourselves at risk if we are discovered. If they find us holed up in this cavern, they could send one of their number back for reinforcements, while the others keep us pinned down. There is an equally good chance this hollow space in the mountain could serve as either our fortress or our tomb.”

“We must think of Kieren first and foremost,” Rhys suggested, “for we must protect him above all else. Whatever plan we devise, we must make sure it does not endanger him further.”

“Aye,” added Turquinine. “I cast mine vote to remain steadfast. This alcove is easily defensible and methinks we couldst best protect our liege from this position.”

“But can we afford to stay here and risk that we will be able to escape later, if we are discovered?” asked Doenilio.

“Maybe a few of us could go out and distract the patrol while the others escape,” offered Quintain.

“No! We are already too small a group as it is,” Alaric countered. “We must stay together.”

“Couldn’t we just hide in here until they leave?” asked Romaric.

“We could try,” countered Sedain, “but they would have to be very poor trackers to miss our trail, if they are truly searching for us. We weren’t very careful in covering our tracks when it started to get dark, because we needed to get to this cave quickly and build the fire to see by.”

“Wait,” interrupted Rhys. “Listen to me carefully and see how this suggestion sounds to you.” Everyone drew closer to the Akiktite, as he began to detail the plan he had hastily formulated in his head. “I think three of us should slip out of the cave now, go to a place about twenty meters from the entrance, and wait to see if the enemy finds the cave. If they do, we can catch them in a crossfire and kill them off before they have time to think of a way out of the trap or send someone off to get help.”

“No, we canst not divide into smaller groups,” boomed the voice of Turquinine. “That wouldst be folly and endanger us all.”

“But it would give us the chance to cause them to split their attention as well,” Hadwin added, “possibly allowing us a chance to kill some of them off before they understand what’s happening.”

“Turquinine is correct,” Alaric protested. “We are already too few and splitting into smaller groups could put Kieren’s welfare at risk.”

“There are advantages and disadvantages to splitting up or staying together,” Quintain chimed in, “and if there were more of us, I’d eagerly go along with Rhys’ plan.”

As Kieren listened to the warriors discussing the plan, he considered the situation in his own mind. Mentally, he calculated their strength as a group and tried to understand how each suggestion would play out. He was concerned about losing more of his new friends, for he had already promised himself he would not allow another of these brave soldiers to sacrifice his life just to protect him. Kieren had been devastated by the loss of Selvaggio and that death still weighed heavily on his soul.

Kieren mentally considered one scenario after another, quickly dismissing them as too foolhardy or too risky to succeed. When all seemed hopeless, he remembered his medallion.

“There is also much you should know about the emblem of your rank,” he remembered the wizard telling him, once they were alone at Leander. “There are only a handful of people still living who know the history and the purpose behind it. This relic was created for King Ethelbert by the dwarf smiths of old, very early in his reign. It was a talisman to help him rule the land and to protect him from anything he might encounter. To do this, this medallion was infused with special powers by the Council of Wizards.”

“This side,” Beraut began, pointing to the back of the medal, which was made from a transparent crystal, “will allow the user to utilize its two unique abilities. First, the user may behold scenes taking place at other locations by concentrating upon an individual, object or place. Second, it may be used to communicate directly with me, no matter the distance.” The enchanter now flipped it over, so the other side was in view.

“This front bears a likeness of Ethelbert’s crest,” Beraut continued, “and can be used as a powerful weapon. This can be done when the thumbs and fingers of both hands are extended and joined, forming a triangle, with the medallion held firmly between the palms. Using this technique, the medal will magnify the will of the bearer, by focusing his command into action. It is to be used sparingly and only in times of dire distress, as its use drastically drains the user’s strength. You must also kept the command simple, so you don’t elicit results you do not intend.” Kieren remembered gasping when he was told that, realizing not only the potential, but also possible danger of such a weapon. How could he have forgotten that? Could this be the key to escaping the predicament they were in now? Before he could decide what to do, he also remembered the other warnings the wizard had given him at that time.

“There are drawbacks, however,” Beraut had advised him, “and I must offer a word of caution concerning the use of either side of this medallion. You must be careful where and when you use these powers, because if you use the medallion in the vicinity of or focus upon another creature with magical powers, you will be discovered and your location pinpointed immediately. I’m sure that I need not elaborate on the ramifications this might suggest. Therefore, use the Golden Medallion with all due caution and only as a final resort. It may be able to save you, but it could also lead to your destruction.”

Kieren sat with his mouth agape, as he remembered his mentor’s warning, finally comprehending the extent of the decision he now had to make. Suddenly, he felt as though the fate of these warriors had been placed squarely upon his shoulders and he began to consider all the variables. An array of questions suddenly flashed through his mind.

He quickly dismissed the fact that any of the soldiers in the search party might have magical abilities, but it took him longer to relieve his concerns that Madumda might be able to pinpoint their location, if he were to use the medallion. However, he saw no other way out of this mess, at least one that wouldn’t possibly mean more loss of life. Cautiously, he pulled the chain out from under his armor and nervously fingered its two surfaces, as he quietly began to scan the interior of the cave. He was uncertain as to whether he should go ahead and do what he was considering, but he finally decided he had no alternative but to use his medallion to rescue them all. There was still some hesitation on his part, as he lifted the pendant between his palms and remembered the wizard’s words of caution. Reluctantly, he formed the triangle with his fingers and placed it around the circular pendant. After a moment of hesitation, he whispered his one word request. “ESCAPE!”