The Collapsing Tunnel - Chapter 26

 

26 - Ana / Shaatka / Ashke / Mosek / Tesh – The Deep Calm

At Ember-spark, the table is filled with fresh food. Some of it from the empty Chapel and some from the cart that Mosek and his friends brought. Whispers circulate as fast as the plates.

“Brannik was a Silent Hammer.”

“Knew he was bad.”

“Priest left with the Legion.”

“She’s an avenging ghost.”

“Used arrows in complete darkness.”

“Was gonna use a stone glass dagger.”

The Masters look to Master Brenna, but she just lets them whisper rumors for now. Let them fill their bellies and their imaginations at the same time.

 

When Mosek enters, everyone cheers. “Big Old Hairy Bear!” He sits where he previously sat, and Ashke enters too. Cheers of “Ashke the Protector” echo through the room.

Ana pauses at the entrance. “It all seems so loud and bright.” She whispers to Shaatka.

“Sit with me. Enjoy the food we brought.” When they enter. There is a great silent pause.

“There she is, the shadow ghost.”

Ana wants to turn, but Shaatka leads her into the dining hall. The students cheer for her. “Ghost,” they call her. She feels so embarrassed by all of this. 

Ashke makes room near him. “Come sit and eat, Red Shadow.” He pours her some strong root-tea.

Master Brenna stands up and bangs the bottom of her mug on the table. “You’ve had your fun. Now sit and eat. After we all enjoy the food Mosek and company have brought us, we will take a moment to hear about their adventures.

Tesh looks at Mosek and smiles. Mosek smiles back.

 

After the meal, Master Brenna motions for Mosek to tell their story. He tells about both sets of guards, the gift of the rams, and the welcome they received from Master Elowen. “Apparently, the Unified Guilds are writing new laws, and the Legion of Stone has replaced the Peacekeepers.”

The students all murmur upon hearing the Legion’s name.

“We’ve had our own dealings with the Legion of Stone,” Master Brenna says. She then explains the withdrawal of all the pure dwarf students back to their clans.

As she does, many students look around at the empty spaces where their friends were. Tesh grips his mug, thinking of Garin. “It wasn’t fair.” He whispers. Zhaawa places a comforting hand on his shoulder. He pats her hand and gives her a soft smile.

Ana looks around at the Bimkor that are left. Aside from the Master's, there are no pure-blood dwarves left. “The school is in danger.” She says quickly.

“Stay calm, Ana. We are all safe. The school is here. We have food…”

“No, their threats were real. All that is left is the same as we had in the border lands. We evacuated because they were coming. I see the same thing.”

Mosek and Ashke try to object, but Shaatka stands up. “She’s right. We need to plan now. If the apprentices are to be evacuated, we need to do that now.”

Master Brenna bangs the bottom of her mug again. “Please sit down.” Shaatka resumes her seat. “I want all the Apprentices to clean up and resume their duties. I need a Master from each of the disciplines to stay. The rest of you, return to your workrooms."

Tesh looks at Mosek again. He wants to run up and have him tell him that they are safe. But Mosek only gives him a weak smile and a slight nod, meaning “Do what Master Brenna says”.

 

By Forge-breath, the students have been told to pack. There will be an evacuation of the Apprentices to Weaving River. Mosek and Ana will lead the way. Shaatka and Ashke will act as the rear guard. Some of the Masters will accompany them, but others will stay. “This is my only home” is a common refrain.

 

As they are ready to leave, Ashkwi‑Tin finds Ashke. “Protector. We made armor for you.” He follows the young apprentice into a workroom. There are three full gambesons laid out, along with modular pieces of metal armor to be attached.

Ashke pulls one on, and with Ashkwi-Tin’s help, he assembles the armor. In a few moments, he looks like a cross between a Goblin Protector from the old wars, a member of the Iron Legion, and some sort of metal defender.

“How does it feel?” Ashkwi-Tin asks. Ashke slowly and deliberately moves into various defensive combat moves. He then speeds them up, and soon they are a blur of metal and padded silk.

He stops and bows to the metal shaper. “You honor me with this gift.” He says a little winded. “There’s enough for Ghost and the other one. Please tell them they can have them.” Ashkwi-Tin looks around the workroom again. “I’m sorry I didn’t make you a weapon. Master Helka and Master Zhika said you don’t use the kind of weapons we’d make. That protective armor was a better gift.”

Ashke smiles at him again. “Your Masters are wise. This is perfect. Now go and finish packing.”

Shaatka sees the armor. “That is a beautiful gift.”

“There’s one for you, too. They made enough for Ana, also, but…”

“You’ll never get her into that.” Shaatka agrees.