Expansion - Chapter 26

 

Brikel – Lies

On the way back to the Mining Guild Hall, Brikel notices a scroll posted outside of the Legion Barracks.

“Due to the unfortunate deaths of the goblin caravan, no more resettlement caravans will take place. The caravan in question was ambushed by radical extremists on their way to the River Country.  This point forward any goblins captured will be prosecuted as criminals and renegades. All members of Legion of Stone will continue training with the Iron Legion to improve tactical skills.”

He stops and reads it, “Hey, did you see this?”  he calls to the miners and engineers, walking with him.

Yivra turns and moves next to him.  “What do they mean, ‘on their way to the River Country’? The Traders’ Pass is on the other side of the mountains from the Weaving River.”

Brammir asks “What?”

“One of our people saw frozen bodies in the Traders’ Pass.”

“But this says they were on the Merchants’ Road going to the River.”

“Why are they lying?” Yivra asks.

“Maybe there was more than one caravan?” Brokkan offers.

“I wish I knew what happened to the ones we had penned up?” Brammir says.

Brikel gives him a confused look, “Which penned up ones?”

He explains that if they left the worksite area and visited the upper level with the smelter and Guild office, they saw goblin families in roped off areas. Brottan nods “Except this last time when the only ones we saw were the dead ones by the wall.”

A pair of Legionnaires step up. “Is there something we can do for you?” They ask. One has a truncheon in his hand.

Brikel gets a cold feeling in his gut, “No, thank you Legionnaire. We were just reading the orders to see if they mentioned returning to the mines.”

The armed one steps closer, glances at the orders, and says “Well there’s nothing about you lot, so return back to your Guild.”

Brikel nods politely, “Thank you. We’ll be on our way.”

They all quickly leave.

Yivra says I a low tone, “Maybe at the Guild, we can find out the truth?”

 

In the Guild Hall, the rumors fly back and forth. They seem to grow and change with each telling.

“Gobblers lost in the snow”

“Attacked by their own people”

“Wild spiders killed them all”

Soon the stories have grown to “Zhul-rakkaz riding giant spiders”

Brikel goes to the dining hall to see if there is some mountain ale do go with the night-time Hearth-Meal. A keg has been tapped and a few of the Guild-Kin dwarves are drinking and sharing stories.

He pours a mug and sits at an empty table, just listening.

Brammir and Brokkan arrive, grabbing mugs. “Can we join you?”

Brikel nods to the empty spots and then takes a deep drink from the mug. “Tastes much better than root-tea.”

Brammir and Brokkan each take a sip and smile.

“Much better than anything we’d have in a mining camp.” Brokkan comments.

Brammir pauses and lets out a deep sigh. “I don’t know how to say this so, I’ll just come out and ask. Were you there when Helmir died?”

Brikel just quietly drinks and listens.

Brokkan wipes his eyes. “I ran away that day.”

Brammir leans forward. “What do you mean ran away? I heard he was with a group of miners who blew a tunnel and the gobblers killed him.”

Brokken takes another deep sip before he answers.

“Ok. We were part of a group that a Mining Guild organizer pulled together. He and a guy who spoke like a priest, told us that we were going into a chamber where gobblers were hording gold.” He pauses. “That was all a lie.”

They all sit silently as stories and rumors continue to swirl around the room.

Brikel empties his mug. “I’ll refill both of yours, if you want.” They both drain theirs and hand them to him. As he steps away, he hears, “I thought you and Helmir were supposed to be doing Hard Labor for the Guild.”

Brikel fills the mugs and carries them back to the table.

“When we were captured, she could have killed us at anytime.”

Setting down the mugs, Brikel just listens.

“So, what happened that day?” Brammir asks.

“We dug and carved a tunnel with a ramp, the put a barrel of blasting powder and moved back.” Brokken takes a drink and then continues, “It blew a hole in the ceiling and encouraged by some guy who kept yelling about ‘Durn’s Blessing’ we went up the ramp. Helmir was one of the first ones up and his lamp was shattered. He screamed that they shot his hand. The hole went dark and more people pushed up. I heard someone yell there were too many of them, so a few of us turned and ran. When we got back to where we started, the Guild man told us that we were never there and if we kept quiet, we’d be given jobs in the Guild.”

“So, you never saw my brother killed?”

Brokkan shakes his head. “I never saw any of the gobblers with a knife either. The one who captured me used them ‘shadow snares’ and ropes.”

Brikel sips his drink. “None of this makes sense.” He comments, and they nod.

They all talk a little more, wondering what assignments the Guild will have for them. Soon they are all tired and head off to bed.