Chapter 10

 

 

Nyssa and Lore had watched all this from the ledge. They thought the quest was lost when the goblins suddenly surrounded Berrin. But then the lightning and thunder had increased in fury and it had started hailing. They watched as the goblins were beaten senseless to the ground, but Berrin protected by the glow of Eldor’s staff. They watched her move off toward the ice web, then suddenly stumble.

 

‘Berrin’s hurt!’ Nyssa said in alarm. ‘She’s not going to make it!’

 

‘No, wait!’ Lore said. ‘She’s on his feet again!’

 

They watched her whirl Eldor’s staff above her head and the fling it through the air toward the web. It struck it and orange light exploded in the chasm, dazzling them with its brightness. Then the chasm was plunged into darkness, the glowing web of ice gone.

 

‘She’s done it!’ Lore exclaimed. ‘Ashmon should be free now.’

 

‘I can’t see her!’ Nyssa said. ‘I think she’s still hurt… those hailstones struck her really hard.’

 

‘Then let’s go and find her!’ Lore urged.

 

They tied the rope off around a rock and were quickly slipping down it. As they went a deep rumbling began to issue from the cave, causing the very air to shudder. At that a ragged split appeared in the clouds above and sunlight streamed down into the chasm.

 

They reached the ground and began run toward Berrin. A warm wind had begun to blow out of the cave and the rumbling grew increasingly louder. They passed the unconscious goblins and then reached Berrin lying on the ground. They dropped beside her and helped her sit up.

 

‘Berrin, are you all right?’ Nyssa asked.

 

‘In think so,’ she muttered, but looked stunned and dazed. ‘Got hit on the head.’

 

‘Come on, we’ll help you away!’ Lore said. ‘I think we have to get out of here before Ashmon emerges.’

 

But even as they began to make their way back to the rope the wind began to gust out of the cave. And then it exploded out of the cave in a fury, a thunderous voice crying out.

 

It sent the trio sprawling to the ground. They looked back at the cave to see billowing, white clouds pouring out of it. They rose up out of the chasm with howling shrieks and began to tear Orcon’s clouds apart in fury.

 

The wind began to spin even faster about the chasm, threatening to pick the trio up and dash them against the walls. But then it seemed to sense their presence and they were left alone.

 

Then an even bigger cloud came out of the cave and hovered above them. Awe filled them as an aged face appeared in them, skin wrinkled and browned as if by the sun.

 

‘Thank you, young ones,’ said Ashmon, the Desert Lord as he smiled. ‘You have saved me from a terrible fate.’

 

‘It’s good to see you free, Ashmon,’ Berrin said in wonder.

 

‘Has Orcon been defeated? And Mogrom?’ Lore asked.

 

‘Yes, their plans are no more and I shall deal with the sorceress soon. You are now free to return to your own folk.’

 

‘Can you help, Eldor?’ Nyssa asked. ‘Mogrom and Orcon were holding him captive.’

 

‘I will see him free, young elf,’ Ashmon replied. ‘Go now and return to your folk. They will be worried about you.’

 

With that the face faded from the cloud and it rose into the air to join those above. The trio picked themselves off the ground and suddenly hugged each other. Tears came at the delight of freeing Ashmon and ending Orcon and Mogrom’s threat.

 

‘You all must come and meet my queen,’ Berrin replied. ‘She’ll be very interested to meet you and thank you all for what you have done.’

 

‘We couldn’t have done it without you, Berrin,’ Nyssa said. ‘You’re a true friend.’

 

‘Absolutely!’ Lore agreed.

 

They headed off then, heading toward the chasm entrance. They passed by the spot where the goblins had fallen, but there was no sign of them. Even though they had been a wicked lot, they shuddered to think of what Ashmon might have done with them.

 

* * *

 

It was late in the afternoon in Dwarf Gate and King Brodon was on his way to the throne room. Craw had requested his presence again, no doubt with more demands. He turned into its corridor, but was only half way along it when he suddenly stopped. One of the windows was open and through it a wind was blowing. But it wasn’t a cold one, it was warm and his eyes opened wide.

 

Orcon’s wintry touch had been banished! It meant that Rena, Lore and Nyssa must have somehow destroyed his plans.

 

But that still left Craw and his goblins to deal with and they might make of fight of it when they found out. Brodon knew that if he could overpower Craw, the others would quickly follow.

 

He hurried on and reached the throne room door. Pressing a hand to the wall beside the door, a small section slid to one side revealing a cavity. Inside was a battle-axe and he took it out with a fierce grin.

 

* * *

 

Craw was lounging once again in Brodon’s throne when the door suddenly burst open with a thundering crash. He leapt to his feet in shock, then sneered as Brodon strode into the room, battle-axe in hand.

 

‘Come to loose your head, Brodon!’ he snarled. ‘It will be a pleasure to remove it from your shoulders and take it to Mogrom.’

 

‘I think Mogrom will have to wait for that pleasure, Craw,’ Brodon replied. ‘Orcon’s threat is over you mountain goat.’

 

Craw laughed in contempt.

 

‘You fool! Orcon’s cold breath will…’

 

But his words failed him as a sudden gust of wind blew in through a window. He suddenly started in disbelief.

 

‘The wind… it’s ... it’s...’

 

‘Warm, you fool’ Brodon said in triumph. ‘Now give up whilst you are able.’

 

That brought a desperate gleam to Craw’s yellow eyes and he drawing his sword, leapt at Brodon.

 

‘I’ll still have your head first, dwarf!’

 

Sparks flew in the air as axe clashed with sword and they came face to face. They pushed away again and the sound of metal striking metal rang throughout the throne room as they did their best to strike a mortal blow.

 

Craw shuddered from the blows the stronger dwarf dealt, but he was more agile and several times almost got through Brodon’s defences. Shortly both were puffing from the exertion and then Brodon suddenly stumbled, falling to a knee.

 

Craw gave a wild shout, thinking he had the dwarf at his mercy and drove at him. But Brodon had only been faking and was waiting for him. He was on his feet again and swept Craw’s blade aside. He then drove his axe handle into the goblin’s sword hand.

 

Craw cried out, his sword dropping from a broken wrist.

 

‘No more!’ he begged.

 

‘Do you surrender?’ Brodon growled.

 

‘Yes! Yes!’ Craw whined. ‘I surrender!’

 

‘Then you had better see that your goblins do the same or I’ll do more than break your wrist!’

 

* * *

 

Eldor stepped from the hidden door and into the hall. He found Mogrom seated on her throne, her head bowed and hands clutching the armrests. She looked up as Eldor approached, her eyes a grim red beneath the shadows of her hood.

 

‘Come to gloat have you, Eldor?’ she said bitterly.

 

‘You know me better than that, Mogrom,’ he replied.

 

‘He wouldn’t take me with him,’ she said in despair.

 

‘Even you would not survive in Orcon’s world, Mogrom,’ Eldor said. ‘Nothing lives there except bitter cold.’

 

‘What… what will Ashmon do with me?’ Mogrom asked in sudden dread.

 

‘I don’t know, Mogrom,’ Eldor replied, knowing it would be harsh, but finding it hard to feel sorry for her.

 

‘I was so close!’ she snarled in frustration.

 

Eldor sighed, seeing that even in defeat again Mogrom had not really learnt any lesson. She would once again try and force her will over Lendor at some time in the future. He wondered whether he should do something about it once and for all.

 

But those thoughts were scattered as the sound of a shrieking wind was heard outside the castle. The hall shook at its fury and then great cracks appeared in the ceiling above. The roof was quickly torn apart and boiling white clouds tumbled inside.

 

A face appeared in them and Ashmon glared down at Mogrom.

 

‘I have come for you, Mogrom!’ he said angrily.

 

‘Have pity, Ashmon!’ Mogrom exclaimed, falling to her knees from the throne. ‘It was all Orcon’s idea… he… he forced me to help him.’

 

‘You lie, Mogrom!’ Ashmon replied. ‘I know it was your idea all along.’

 

‘Please… please forgive me, mighty Ashmon!’ Mogrom pleaded.

 

‘Forgive you? I may do that in time, after you have been my guest for a while.’

 

Mogrom’s eyes widened in sudden fear.

 

‘No, not that!’ she wailed.

 

But Ashmon ignored her and a giant hand of clouds reached down into the hall. She screamed in horror as it picked her up and then lifted her away into the clouds. Then Ashmon looked at Eldor.

 

‘Many thanks, Eldor,’ he said. ‘The ones who carried your staff to free me are safe.’

 

‘I’m very glad, Ashmon,’ Eldor replied.

 

‘Then let all know that the next few winter’s will be mild till the balance between Orcon and I is restored. He used a good deal of his strength to ensnare me and will need time to recover. But I will make the summers mild as well until he does.’

 

‘Thank you, Ashmon.’

 

The Desert Lord nodded and began to merge back into his clouds. They rose away again, but not before something fell from them. A long slender staff of wood with an orange crystal attached to it. Eldor reached up and caught it.

 

Then a hoot sounded above and he saw Moonwing gliding down to him. The owl landed on his outstretched arm and uttered another hoot.

 

‘Yes, time to leave, Moonwing,’ Eldor smiled. ‘There will be some parents anxious for news about their loved ones.’