Read Online Kathir's Redemption (Book 6) by Kristian Alva - Free Book Online
Authors: Kristian Alva
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Go sit over there and don ’ t say another word, ” Skemtun ordered, slapping the side of the boy ’ s head with his palm. The young dwarf sulked over to the wall and plopped down on the floor.
“ We need to find a way to stop the greenskins from following us, ” said Kathir, “ and then we need to get out of here. ”
Skemtun walked over to a spot where the roof was supported by ancient wood props. “ Look here. See these props? They hold up this part of the tunnel. If we can bring the roof down, it ’ ll block this entire passage. This is one of the tunnels that leads outside. We should seal it, and then we can escape. ”
Kathir looked up at the roof. “ Isn ’ t there a risk that the entire tunnel will collapse? I don ’ t want to be buried under solid rock. ”
Skemtun smiled at him. “ That ’ s very unlikely, if we do it right. I ’ m not an expert on many things, but minin ’ and tunnels are two things that I understand real well. ”
Kathir ’ s expression warmed a little. “ I trust you, but I don ’ t want to find myself trapped between two mountains of rubble. It doesn ’ t sound like a good way to die. ”
“ It isn ’ t, ” Skemtun said, with the certainty of someone who had seen mining collapses before. “ But it won ’ t come to that. ” He pointed up at a thick beam on the ceiling. “ See this section here? It ’ s not braced on either side. If we destroy these four supports, the roof will come down, but only in this spot. ” He turned to his men and raised his voice. “ Lads! Everyone, get yer axes and come over here! I want you to chip away at these props. Quickly now! ”
The soldiers leapt into action, striking at the wooden beams in perfect rhythm. The wood was brittle, and large chunks flew off into the air.
The young dwarf from Klorra-Kanna stood up and tried to creep away, but Skemtun grabbed him. “ Hey! Where do you think ye ’ re going? ”
The young dwarf pointed back toward the other end of the tunnel. “ I ’ ve got to go back inside the caves. I ’ ve got to save my clan ’ s treasury. ”
“ Are you stupid , boy? ” Skemtun demanded, jabbing at the boy ’ s temple.
“ Ow! ” cried the young man, trying to swat away Skemtun ’ s hand. “ That hurts! ”
Skemtun released him. “ I ’ ve got dwarves cutting away the only thing that ’ s holding up the roof. That means this tunnel is coming down, and anyone on the wrong side of it won ’ t be getting through. Now, which side of it you want to be on when it caves in? The side with the exit , or the side with the orcs? ”
The young dwarf ’ s face paled, but he still tried to move away. “ Please! Lady Bolrakei sent me on this mission personally. She ’ ll be very displeased if I return without everything she asked for. ”
“ Forget yer stupid orders! ” Skemtun snapped. “ I ’ m tryin ’ to save yer life! Bolrakei ’ s an idiot for sending you down here. Mark my words, boy — if you go down that passage, you won ’ t ever come back! ” He shoved the young man back in the opposite direction. “ Now get a move on! I won ’ t have your death on my conscience! ” The youngster frowned but didn ’ t argue any further. Skemtun turned to Kathir and pointed his finger at the boy. “ If you catch this fool trying to go back down this tunnel again, tie him up. I ’ ll carry him out on my shoulder if I have to. ”
“ Understood, ” Kathir said, smiling.
The young dwarf gnawed at his lower lip. “ Bolrakei won ’ t be pleased when I tell her about this. ”
Skemtun fixed him with a withering stare. “ Well, Bolrakei isn ’ t here. She ran off with the first rush of dwarves escaping the mountain. If she wants her precious gemstones that much, she should come get them herself! ”
“ Bolrakei sent this boy back into the mountain? That seems quite … unscrupulous of her, ” Kathir said quietly.
Skemtun grunted, but otherwise said nothing. Bolrakei had acted selfishly,
“ We need to find a way to stop the greenskins from following us, ” said Kathir, “ and then we need to get out of here. ”
Skemtun walked over to a spot where the roof was supported by ancient wood props. “ Look here. See these props? They hold up this part of the tunnel. If we can bring the roof down, it ’ ll block this entire passage. This is one of the tunnels that leads outside. We should seal it, and then we can escape. ”
Kathir looked up at the roof. “ Isn ’ t there a risk that the entire tunnel will collapse? I don ’ t want to be buried under solid rock. ”
Skemtun smiled at him. “ That ’ s very unlikely, if we do it right. I ’ m not an expert on many things, but minin ’ and tunnels are two things that I understand real well. ”
Kathir ’ s expression warmed a little. “ I trust you, but I don ’ t want to find myself trapped between two mountains of rubble. It doesn ’ t sound like a good way to die. ”
“ It isn ’ t, ” Skemtun said, with the certainty of someone who had seen mining collapses before. “ But it won ’ t come to that. ” He pointed up at a thick beam on the ceiling. “ See this section here? It ’ s not braced on either side. If we destroy these four supports, the roof will come down, but only in this spot. ” He turned to his men and raised his voice. “ Lads! Everyone, get yer axes and come over here! I want you to chip away at these props. Quickly now! ”
The soldiers leapt into action, striking at the wooden beams in perfect rhythm. The wood was brittle, and large chunks flew off into the air.
The young dwarf from Klorra-Kanna stood up and tried to creep away, but Skemtun grabbed him. “ Hey! Where do you think ye ’ re going? ”
The young dwarf pointed back toward the other end of the tunnel. “ I ’ ve got to go back inside the caves. I ’ ve got to save my clan ’ s treasury. ”
“ Are you stupid , boy? ” Skemtun demanded, jabbing at the boy ’ s temple.
“ Ow! ” cried the young man, trying to swat away Skemtun ’ s hand. “ That hurts! ”
Skemtun released him. “ I ’ ve got dwarves cutting away the only thing that ’ s holding up the roof. That means this tunnel is coming down, and anyone on the wrong side of it won ’ t be getting through. Now, which side of it you want to be on when it caves in? The side with the exit , or the side with the orcs? ”
The young dwarf ’ s face paled, but he still tried to move away. “ Please! Lady Bolrakei sent me on this mission personally. She ’ ll be very displeased if I return without everything she asked for. ”
“ Forget yer stupid orders! ” Skemtun snapped. “ I ’ m tryin ’ to save yer life! Bolrakei ’ s an idiot for sending you down here. Mark my words, boy — if you go down that passage, you won ’ t ever come back! ” He shoved the young man back in the opposite direction. “ Now get a move on! I won ’ t have your death on my conscience! ” The youngster frowned but didn ’ t argue any further. Skemtun turned to Kathir and pointed his finger at the boy. “ If you catch this fool trying to go back down this tunnel again, tie him up. I ’ ll carry him out on my shoulder if I have to. ”
“ Understood, ” Kathir said, smiling.
The young dwarf gnawed at his lower lip. “ Bolrakei won ’ t be pleased when I tell her about this. ”
Skemtun fixed him with a withering stare. “ Well, Bolrakei isn ’ t here. She ran off with the first rush of dwarves escaping the mountain. If she wants her precious gemstones that much, she should come get them herself! ”
“ Bolrakei sent this boy back into the mountain? That seems quite … unscrupulous of her, ” Kathir said quietly.
Skemtun grunted, but otherwise said nothing. Bolrakei had acted selfishly,
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