the elvish question 5

 my apologies for disappearing yesterday, I got the fire lit and disappeared back to bed to be a mucus monster. 

I am alive today I think. 

This is as far as Simon has written, but he has been making enthusiastic notes, and the correction to two mentions of Silavara involved a Castamir snidery. He had Dragovar suggest taking someone, and adding pompously that he was authorised to offer any diplomat at court. Castamir's prompt thought was 'what, as hat racks?' 

The Elvish Question

Chapter 5

 

"I have to concentrate, ladies to come out of ley-line travel at the right time so I don't overshoot our path." I said firmly. I didn't want to add a comment about chattering females, I had too much instinct of self-preservation. The 'distancing' from reality made observing details somewhat difficult but I could see the line of different coloured vegetation indicating a river. Hoping this was the river I had been aiming for and that I hadn't gone in completely the wrong direction, I pulled the rug out of ley-space. There was rather a jerk as we returned to mundane reality and I felt a distinct queasiness in my stomach.

"My apologies, ladies, that was a bit more violent than I intended." I said hurriedly. Chessina glared at me, while Silavara gave me a look of calm superiority. Her owl remained unmoved. Rapidly I glanced around and announced, as though I had never doubted myself, "Yes, that looks like the river we need to follow, we are on course. We need to look for a hanging valley with a waterfall. The capital is a short distance upstream of that."

It wasn't long before the hanging valley came in sight, a waterfall cascading down into a fast running tributary of the main river.

"Castamir," said Chessina, puzzled. "I can see a zig-zag pattern on the side of the cliff beside the waterfall, and a structure at the top of it. What are they?"

"The pattern is a path that goes back and forth to traverse the cliff." I replied. "It's too steep for a normal kind of road and the turns in the path are very sharp and narrow."

"How do carts and wagons cope with it?" Chessina continued.

"They don't, that’s what the building above the cliff is for." I explained. "The dwarves have made a machine that lowers a sort of little room on a cable. The carts and wagons go in that room and are brought up and down the cliff. There are two rooms and when one goes up the other goes down, and vice-versa. It's powered by an ingenious water-wheel arrangement. Harmon and I have been shown it, it's fascinating."

"In that case, Castamir, why is there a path down the cliff?" Asked Silavara.

"While the dwarven merchants are quite happy to use the machine, most of the humans aren't. They prefer to use the path." I replied. "That's why there's a sort of tent-town at the bottom of the cliff. People want to rest before and after they've undertaken it. Much ale is also drunk both to recuperate from the climb or for courage before it."

"Doesn't that cause trouble?" Chessina asked.

"There is the potential for it, but the dwarven authorities clamp down pretty firmly on troublemakers. It's bad for business." I said.

"I can see horses going up the path as well as people." Silavara said. "You said they went up in the moving rooms, Castamir."

"Some merchants don't trust the dwarves and prefer to use pack-ponies. It also saves them paying the toll to use the machine." I replied. "They do have to find fodder for more animals though."

By this time we were flying over the machine and starting down the river to the dwarven capital.

"Still, I'm glad we have the rug, and don't have to use either the machine or the path." Said Chessina, a trifle smugly, I thought.

 

oOo

 

"We are quite close now." I announced a little later as the walls of the valley converged and rose ahead of us.

"The mountain-side on the left, it's not natural." Announced Silavara, sounding outraged.

"It isn't." I replied. "Part of the mountain had been smoothed and sculpted to channel rainwater down into the city where it's stored in huge cisterns. Harmon helped restore the spell that purifies the water. The cisterns are one of the reasons that the dwarves can have such a large city here."

"It doesn't look very large." Said Priestess Silavara gesturing to the few buildings that were visible on the mountainside, scattered seemingly at random.

Both Chessina and I laughed and Silavara turned towards us, cheeks burning.

"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you dear Silavara," said Chessina, "we weren’t laughing at you. What you said reminded us of what I said when I first saw Adalsburg, and I was far less complimentary than you were just now."

"You said 'oh, is that it?' with an air of disappointment." I remarked.

"Demon cities are much larger than human ones, I was surprised." Said Chessina, slightly defensively.

"From what you say, the number of demons seems worryingly large." Said Silavara, frowning.

"I have no idea how many demons there are," replied Chessina, "the prince who rules the lands I was in controls a vast number, and there are many demon princes, and princesses too."

"If such vast numbers decided to invade we would be helpless!" Said Silavara in horror.

"If sufficient could be summoned to this world, yes," replied Chessina, calmly, "But demons can't enter this world of their own accord. Besides they wouldn't invade as that would leave demonic lands vulnerable to an invasion of devils. The Forever War between the two sides is well named."

"I am glad it exists, then." Said Silavara.

"It's an ill wind that blows nobody good." Chessina remarked cheerfully.

I wondered to myself whether the gods had managed to manipulate both sides into starting the war. I wouldn't put it past them, but I thought it impolitic to mention that to the Priestess.

"Dwarven cities are rather like icebergs," I explained coming back to the subject at hand, "The vast majority of them are underground. Those buildings that you can see are lookout posts, defended entrances and similar and places where domestic animals live. The rest of the city is carved out of the living rock."

"What's an iceberg, Castamir?" Asked Chessina.

"It's a big chunk of ice that floats in the sea." I continued. "Ice is lighter than water but only just. It floats but only a little bit is above water. The rest is below, like the dwarven city."

"Have you ever seen an iceberg?" Chessina enquired.

"No, but other wizards have, and they wrote about them." I replied

"Do you believe what they write?" Chessina continued.

"In general, yes, particularly when several write the same thing." I said. "You're right to question things however. Just because people say something, doesn't mean it's true."

This conversation had brought us very close to the main entrance to the city and I brought the rug down at the entrance in front of several wary looking dwarves in armour and helmets with large face guards. The weapons that they carried weren't actually pointed at us, but they could be, very quickly.

One dwarf marched forward and when close made the Dwarven greeting gesture, moving his right hand to touch his left shoulder and then made a deep bow from the waist, sweeping his right arm to the ground. As he did so, the dwarf's intricately plaited beard hung down almost to the ground, the small decorative metal ornaments woven therein clicking together. I returned the gesture and when we both rose the dwarf looked at me with an air of expectation.

"I am Towermaster Castamir," I said in a formal tone, "Ambassador Sigeralv has arranged an audience for me with His Majesty."

The dwarf's hand went to the brow of his helm and swiftly removed the face guard.

"Castamir, it is I Alvarek, don't you recognise me?" He shouted, flinging his arms wide in greeting.

"Alvarek, my friend, how good to see you!" I replied, moving forward into his powerful embrace. "I'm sorry I didn't recognise you while you had your helmet on. That face-guard makes you unrecognisable."

"I forget that you can't read beards like a dwarf, Castamir." Alvarek's voice had now subsided to merely booming. "Those guards are vital. Think of the shame if one were scarred and unable to grow a moustache."

"I am forgetting my manners Alvarek, allow me to make introductions. Priestess Silavara of the Goddess Silvana, may I present Planecleaver Alvarek, son of Alvarzwarv. Alvarek, may I present Apprentice Chessina, who has recently done me the great honour of becoming my wife." I shook my head very slightly at Chessina who bristled slightly at being introduced to Alvarek, rather than the other way around, indicating that he was of superior status to her. Alvarek bowed to both ladies.

"Planecleaver?" Chessina said, startled, "Do you foment disunity between different planes of existence?"

"He's very good at cutting stone, dear," I replied, "The title more or less translates as Master Mason." A look of understanding suffused Chessina's expression.

 "Please, ladies, Castamir come this way, chambers have been prepared for you." Alvarek gestured us into the gates of the city.

The gatehouse was formidable. Although I wasn't very knowledgeable about military architecture, even I could recognise the many arrow slits in the walls and the murder holes in the ceiling that could allow all sorts of unpleasantness to be dropped on anyone discourteous enough to try and enter uninvited. The giant arrow hurlers and stone thowers behind the battlements above the entrance were further evidence of dwarven dislike for unwelcome visitors.

"Planecleaver Alvarek, may I ask why someone of your rank performs guard duties?" Chessina enquired.

"Apprentice Chessina, as the wife of my friend, please call me Alvarek," he said. "All able bodied dwarves have some military training and take their turns. I volunteered out of my turn, in the hopes that I might be here when Castamir arrived and the Gods have smiled on me." Alvarek's face lit up with a broad grin.

"Please Alvarek, you must call me Chessina," she replied, "May I ask if dwarven women perform such duties too? I have heard that there is more equality among dwarves than among humans."

"Yes they do. Although my wife Meghimira has been taken off the lists as she is with child again. And the Priest tells me it is a girl!" Alvarek said sounding overjoyed.

"Congratulations to you and Meghimira." I said. I then turned to Silavara and said earnestly, "Silavara, I would take it as a great favour if you would bless Meghimira and her unborn child."

"Certainly, if Planecleaver Alvarek wishes." Silavara said with her customary serenity.

"Thank you indeed Priestess Silavara, I would be profoundly grateful for that." Alvarek replied. "After your audience with the King, I offer you the hospitality of my dwelling."

"Thank you Alvarek, we accept with pleasure." I said, after glancing at Silavara who gave an austere nod of approval.

Alvarek led us through the gate and into the city, the path making several turns. We passed several dwarves in the long coats and fur hats that were easily explained by the somewhat chill temperature.

"It's rather cold Castamir." Said Chessina, "I'm glad you told me to pack warm clothes."

"Underground the temperature is fairly constant year round." I explained. "Parts of the city are warmed by water piped from hot springs in the depths."

"I confess myself surprised by the fine material of the dwarven clothes." Said Silavara softly, obviously not wishing to offend Alvarek. "One expects them to be dressed in armour and leather."

"That's typical garb for dwarven travellers." I remarked, "Being practical and hardwearing. One can tell the precise status of a dwarf by their clothing. At least if one is a dwarf. The sashes that everyone wears are two-sided and can be folded four ways to indicate if the dwarf is in mourning, celebrating, preparing for war or a neutral condition showing none of these things. I'll try to explain more later, meanwhile just follow my lead."

 

The room Chessina and I were shown to was spacious with thick rugs on the floor and intricate tapestries hung on the wall. We had little time to notice much else as we needed to refresh ourselves and dress appropriately for our audience with King Thorogar. I must remember to bring the package of messages for the king that ambassador Sigeralv had entrusted to me.

 

oOo

 

A guard led down one of the main corridors of the city.  It was wide, high and vaulted above, the walls covered with intricate polished carvings off which the light gleamed.

"This light isn't magical it's sunlight, how is this done?" Asked Silavara, looking around amazed.

"It is sunlight, Silavara." I replied. "During daylight hours, the important corridors are lit by sunlight directed via cunningly cut and angled veins of crystal. The first time I saw this I was impressed to say the least. During the night, magical light is fed down the crystals which gives a more diffused and softer light."

I cast whisper then and spoke to Silavara. "Something else I didn't get the chance to tell you Silavara. It's something you won't see in these main corridors but you will come across it elsewhere. The dwarves can make a kind of artificial stone. It's a kind of thick paste with small stones in it and can be poured into spaces and faults in the rock and when it sets it's as hard as stone. My late master Harmon discovered that if you add a particular type of volcanic ash to the mix it will even set under water. The dwarven king made him an honorary dwarf for that. The thing is, although the dwarves will use it when they have to, they don't like mentioning it as they consider it vulgar. So please don't ask about any that you see."

"Why don't they cover or conceal it if they find it vulgar?" Silavara replied via the spell.

"The dwarves would consider that dishonest." I said. "Besides, if it was covered up, any faults or weaknesses that develop would also be concealed. Not a good thing to do on something that's holding up the ceiling."

 

The throne room was enormous. It must originally have been a natural cavern, but dwarven craftspeople had enlarged and regularised it. They had left columns of living rock to support the roof which at their capitols sprang out into fan vaulting  which interlaced with others and covered the entire roof. At various node where the vaulting crossed there were bosses carved of crystal from which the sunlight shone. Other crystals shed light from piercings at the capitols filling the throne room with light. The room was filled with dwarves all of whom, apart from the guards, were dressed in rich fabrics and furs many with embellishments. Some of the costumes had so much metallic braid applied that they appeared armoured.

I used the whisper spell to tell the ladies,

"A coat with short sleeves showing the under-tunic is for someone of lower rank, full sleeves higher rank and the highest have slit sleeves to show the expensive  linings. The hands can be in the sleeves, or the sleeves allowed to dangle."  

All eyes turned towards us, unsurprisingly,  as the guard commander banged the ferrule of her very businesslike, and sharp halberd on the floor and announced,

"Towermaster Castamir, Priestess Silavara and Apprentice Chessina!"

As we walked firmly towards the throne Chessina  whispered to me, with some asperity,

"Why didn't they announce me after you, we are married?"

"We were announced in order of status. A dwarven woman has status in her own right, she doesn't get it from her husband."

Chessina nodded understanding.

As we approached the dais on which the throne was mounted, I could see that the king's beard was of great magnificence. I judged that if it were not braided in intricate patterns it would be long enough for King Thorogar to walk on, and was of such texture and lustre that it would cause the ladies of King Beregar's court to turn positively green with envy. We halted just before the dais and all made our courtesies, rose and waited for the king to speak.