Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #21 December 2015 | Page 23

Search for any clues, hidden runes, or strange marks.” The others did as he bid, while Manfred reached out with his mind in an attempt to read the magic. “There is old magic here. It is similar to the feeling I had at the exit door from First Delve at the Warning Falls. That is a very good sign. I wonder if it is as simple as knowing how to open that door?” Well, here goes, give it a try. It’s about time I had a bit of luck. Manfred crossed his fingers. “Bahl Shamim.” He spoke the words in a clear, loud voice. Just as he said them, the sun dropped behind the mountains and darkness fell. It seemed to be an eerie coincidence. Rather good timing, if I say so myself. The last rays of the sun illuminated a shimmering change coming over the blank rock face. Where there had previously been a solid rock wall, there appeared a roughly hewn archway and tunnel leading into the mountain. As darkness fell, Manfred wondered whether it was real or whether he had simply imagined it by wishful thinking. He took out his staff and muttered a few magic words. The staff began to glow with a yellow light that allowed them all to see clearly. There were dwarf runes carved above the archway. ‘Second Delve. New hope for the dwarf peoples. Enter friends without fear.’ Manfred translated the runes. “It seems that David son of Dwahir son of Davit was successful in establishing a new delve, after all. I wonder what became of them all. Shall we take them up on their hospitality and go in?” The question was largely rhetorical, as the alternative was a night on the snow. The four travellers entered the archway and began a gradual descent along a rock tunnel into the heart of Mount Doom. Manfred’s staff illuminated the walls of the tunnel, which were decorated with dwarf runes. Manfred moved slowly, studying the runes as much as checking where his feet were falling. He stopped at a place where there were more runes than anywhere else. “The runes are a kind of diary of the delve’s history. They tell the story of the expedition, the establishment of the delve, their hopes and plans for the future, and they recall the disaster which befell them. I wish that I had the time to study them more; Dia son of Din son of Dane will want to know all of the details if by good chance our paths cross again. Come, we must find a place to rest tonight. I will tell you their story after we have eaten and before we sleep.” They moved on again and the runes quickly petered out. Before long, the tunnel opened into a large chamber, hewn out of the heart of the mountain. It would not compare with the Jewelled Caverns of Devil’s Mouth but in the yellow light of Manfred’s staff, it was an impressive sight nonetheless. The Hall of the Mountain King; they achieved much before they met their fate. The walls of the chamber were decorated with precious stones that reflected and seemed to amplify the light from the staff. The chamber seemed to be a central meeting place. On a high dais in the centre was a large, decorated stone seat, the throne of the Mountain King. Tunnels ran off the main chamber in all directions, like spokes of a wheel from the hub. It would take weeks to explore this place thoroughly. Manfred scanned the runes above each tunnel and selected one to explore. As they crossed the floor of the chamber, their feet crunched on something brittle underfoot. Manfred glanced down and realised, in horror, that they were walking on the bones of the dead. They picked their way more carefully, trying not to disturb the remains. There had clearly been a battle here, but from the look of it, the only casualties were dwarves. Manfred looked back at the others. Aglaral and Ubadah seemed to be all right, but Kris was in obvious distress. His breathing was rapid and shallow and there were tears streaming down his face. He has the emotional feeling to become a good bard. The warriors have seen it all before. The air in the chamber was fresh and cold, evidence of a good ventilation system. Their boots were throwing up dust, though, that began to make breathing more difficult. Manfred didn’t want to think about where the dust originated. They entered the tunnel he had selected and it became less dusty. Small rooms had been carved out of the rock on both sides of the tunnel. They contained sleeping and cooking areas and more skeletons, including those of children. It 23