41 Mountain Dwarf
1653 Words
"Everyone calm down. Stop crowding the area. Where's Captain Caleb? Someone call for him right now."
The jeers and japes stopped as the people saw Janus arrive. He called for them to go back to their jobs, and to leave the matter to him and the guards.
Captain Caleb came sprinting in. Janus ordered him to check the vicinity and search if there were other dwarfs that came along with this one.
"If some members of Hakkar's forces are free. Ask them to help in the search, perhaps they can trace this dwarf's tracks. Also if you can spare any of your men, send a message to the council members in New Gracewood informing them of what we've found. Tell them to take the fastest horse and wagon. I need Yvaine's help immediately."
"Yes, sir. Do you think it possible for them to have a settlement close by?"
"I'm not sure but its highly likely. I'll be relying on your search, and we'll have to interrogate the prisoner at the very least."
Some of the children stayed behind, still peering down at their prisoner. They were just as curious as Janus was. They probably learned hundreds of swears and ways of insulting people from that experience alone.
Janus stepped closer. Looking down at the dwarf from the top of the pit. His first impressions of him changed. The dwarf's beard looked messy and unkempt, and the thick shoulders that he thought he saw was only from the dwarf's stunted proportions. His bones and ribs were jutting out and he was severely out of breath. Upon closer inspection, he could tell that this dwarf hadn't been eating well.
"You! Fancy looking lad are ye? Why are you just standing there? See something ye fancy now do ye fancy boy? Stop staring at me like that ye halfwit boreson! Is this the first time you've ever seen a dwarf? Let me out!" said the little bearded man.
"Well, as a matter of fact, that is true. I haven't seen any of your kind since I was born."
It wasn't a lie, even scanning from the old Prince's memories. Dwarfs in Galedon were not a frequent sight. They were quite similar in that regard as the goblins. Their kind stayed in the mountain ranges, with fortresses dug deep in the borders of countries. This was a long way from the Fjords of Dremora, where the majority of their race scattered around. Even there, you wouldn't see much of them on the surface except for the merchants who would trade around for goods. Most of the mined and forged weapons in their workshops deep in tunnels dug underneath the ground. Their fortresses rivaled the intricacies of anthills in scale and complexity. Their smiths were said to be the best in all of Kalesia. Almost every legendary weapon was crafted by a dwarven master. They are also known as a strong and hardy race. That was the extent of his knowledge from his books.
That's why it was a puzzle for Janus to see someone that looks so frail and weak. The dwarfs' clothes were battered. It was something that looked like a pillowcase held tight by a nothing but a leather harness wrapped around his body. If anything looked remarkable, it was the buckles. Even with their small and minimal design, Janus could see intricate images and runes inscribed in it. This dwarf was looking worse for wear, but his buttons and buckles looked better than anything Janus owned.
In any case. It wasn't going to do them well to keep the dwarf in a pit.
There wasn't a lot of space around the camp. They were already tight on personal living quarters as it is. As such, they had no place to detain prisoners. Janus had hoped that it wouldn't be necessary at all here in New Gracewood. He had to come up with a quick solution.
Janus stepped away from the pit and called out for Mister Sandor to rally around a few of the workers. Elgar and three of the other guards also came by to assist. He stepped away from the pit and whispered his orders. The men followed with nods and whispers.
"Hey! Hey, fancy boy let me out! I can hear ye plotting around there! Just ye wait till I get my hands on ye' ye stinking pile of threaded fish guts. I'll string ye by the heels and dip ye into boiling magma if I get any of ye bloody boresons. I swear it on me mum!"
Janus knelt down and spoke to his prisoner.
"Hello there. I am one of the leaders in this settlement. I must apologize for your current predicament friend. I heard you stole our food. I don't think we can allow that." He said.
"Me? Stealin yer food? Hah! Ye think sticking out dried food in the open wouldn't invite attention? And yer guards were sloppy, that ain't something a passerby just walking down from the mountains would pass up."
"You took three sacks worth of salted meat and fish. I don't think you're a mere passerby friend. Tell me, was there anyone along with you while you were stealing our food? Tell the truth now and I'll guarantee you no harm would befall them."
"I'm not telling ye anything, your fanciness. And I'm not yer friend. Ye can chew on all yer salty meat and spit it our yer arse for all I care." The dwarf spat.
"Very well then."
Janus stepped back and nodded to the men. Elgar was on the lead with three other guards.
They came down the pit with clubs and ropes. They were instructed to not hurt the dwarf. They should only subdue him if worse was to happen, and were warned to be careful with any concealed weapons.
The dwarf shoved and cursed but got overwhelmed quickly. He was tied by the arms and gagged at the mouth, but not without casualty. The first guard who went down was bitten on the thigh. Thankfully he was wearing padded gambeson leggings, but it still bled slightly. The poor man had to walk with a slight limp.
"Let's get him to the Kitchens quickly."
Janus led them to one of the halls which were their center for food production. At this time of the morning, men and women were hard at work to feed New Galedon's workforce. Five pots were currently working on full capacity, stirring the stew of the day. He regretted having to do his interrogation here but it was the perfect place that he could think of.
After all, what better place to interrogate this hungry dwarf? If not in a place where there were hot food and plenty of drink?
#
Janus and the guards led the dwarf towards the back of the kitchens in a room where much of their food supplies were stored. There were sacks of dried fish gathered on the sides with legs of cured meat hung all over the ceiling. Barrels of wine were also scattered around the edges. There was space at the center for a few crates where they could talk. The room wasn't as full just yet as ingredients had been taken out for the morning stew, so they squeezed in at the empty space. He took a crate to sit on and ordered the dwarf to be seated in front of him. The four guards surrounded them.
The smell would have been irresistible for any starving fellow. The smoky aroma from the stews was seeping into the room. Fresh herbs and vegetables along with yesterday's catch of fish and bits of venison were added into a pot, inviting different flavors. Janus could see the dwarf lick his lips, even one of the guards couldn't help do the same.
He ordered six wooden bowls of stew and tankards of wine. He shared it with the guards and left two on the table, one for the dwarf and one for him.
The guards sat down and started eating. Janus helped himself with a few bites too. The stew warmed up his stomach and eased up his nerves.
His dwarven friend on the other hand was tied up and gagged. He had an angry expression in his face as if he was about to explode.
"Now now friend. I am offering you food and drink. This is the best that the settlement has to offer, and it would be a waste to have to give up your bowl for one of the dogs."
The guards nodded alongside him. Elgar was busy digging in, no doubt tired from an all-night shift.
"I'm not doing this to agitate you or anything. But in order for you to have this, I have two things to ask of you and two things only. First is that you remain calm and refrain from doing any sudden movements. Raghar over here isn't too happy with his leg and I cannot guarantee you he will be as kind as I am."
Raghar gave the dwarf a disdainful look, but Janus knew deep down that the man didn't mind. He was known as a 'gentle giant' among the guards for his strong physique coupled with a gentle demeanor. He wouldn't hurt a fly, but he could kill one just by a flick of his wrist.
"Second thing is for you to answer my questions truthfully. I am not interested in punishing you. I only want to talk."
This seemed to calm the dwarf somehow, as he stopped struggling on his bonds and his expression receded.
"Can I count on your cooperation?"
The dwarf nodded.
Janus ordered the guards to free his mouth and hands but instructed them to tie dwarf's feet by the boots.
The dwarf eyed his wooden bowl and picked up his spoon. Janus was about to speak when the dwarf slurped the bowl in one huge noise gulp. He took the tankard and downed it all within ten seconds before slamming it down on the wooden crate.
"Fine. I'll talk. But you'll not have a lot of answers from me on just one bowl of stew."
- Writer
