From eaada1c1e9b687a83958f7fb30cf245af14f9a16 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Deepak Date: Fri, 5 Nov 2021 20:00:51 -0500 Subject: [PATCH] Adds scene with Omig and Kral --- kral-calls-mountberg.txt | 141 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 141 insertions(+) create mode 100644 kral-calls-mountberg.txt diff --git a/kral-calls-mountberg.txt b/kral-calls-mountberg.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..96ee8cf --- /dev/null +++ b/kral-calls-mountberg.txt @@ -0,0 +1,141 @@ +The dwarf caves were cramped, and smelled old, as though the air had grown stale from years of disuse. +There were plenty of rooms, enough for each guard to have space for themselves. +Which was good, because Kral doubted two yaks would fit in each room. +Kral felt like if he stood up his straight his horns would scrape against the ceiling, forcing him into a constant crouch. +Furnished with little more than a too-small bed and a bare slab of rock that Kral supposed counted as a dwarf table, the rooms felt like a prison. +The electric light overhead was a pleasing warm colour, but was far too dim to see by. + +Kab, the little dwarf that had led them to their rooms had said they'd be summoned again for dinner. +Which knowing these people would likely be more rocks. + +Kral shook his head. +Kab had been perfectly civil. +And the other one that had insisted on guarding them was just doing what Kral would have done if the situation was reversed. +The dwarf had definitely insulted the yaks, but Kral had in fairness insulted him in turn. +No, the real reason for his annoyance was with the President. + +Vaughan wouldn't have lied about wanting to stop the New Meadowlark. +But Kral had always thought Vaughan was one of the more progressive members of the government. +Was that just a ruse, hiding Vaughan's loyalty to the Hierarchy? +Or was Calvin the real loyalist? + +Kral shook his head again, and stood up. +Unless he went to Vaughan with force, demanding he explain himself, he wouldn't find out whether it was just corrupt politics or a deeper evil. +Either way, he wouldn't get an answer sitting around. +At least a walk through the cave would get him out of the tiny room. + +The corridor that linked the yaks' rooms led back to the entrance hall somehow, in a way Kral felt he was unlikely to be able to replicate. +He went the other way, the direction that seemed deeper in the caves. +There weren't any dwarves around as guards, which Kral found odd. +If he'd been in charge, he'd want someone near his armed guests. + +The hallway ended at a round stone door, featureless. +Kral pushed it, and it swung inwards effortlessly, no hint of resistance. +It led through to another long hallway of chambers at each side. +The rooms with open doors looked similar to his own, small with a bed and table. +Kral sniffed the air, and smelled something sweet. +Coming from a closed room further ahead, with a tart note to it? +Kral knocked, and it opened. + +―Hermann? + +Kral was confused. Herman had gotten one of the first rooms of the group. + +―Ho Kral, what's up? + I figured you'd want to rest a bit, maybe get groomed. + +―I'd decided to go for a little walk, but why did you move rooms? + +―Not sure what you mean, Kral, I've been here since the dwarrow dropped us off. + +―Stay here, I need to try something. + Keep an eye out of your room. + +Kral started running down the hallway, continuing the direction he'd been going. +Passing through he saw other yaks' rooms as he passed, and what was definitely his room, with his pack on the bed. +He sped up, until he reached another door, exactly like the one he'd opened a few minutes ago. +As before, it swung open easily, and he sprinted through. +And as before, he found himself at Hermann's room. + +―Ah Kral, back again? + Did you just go in a circle? + +Kral's voice couldn't quite keep up with what he was thinking. + +―No, I just went― + Well yes, I suppose it ended up being a circle, but just straight lines. + I think we're trapped here. + This hallway, just the other end leads back to itself. + +―Are you okay, Kral? + Take a little nap or something, that might help. + I'm sure we're not trapped, just maybe the dwarrow architecture is foreign to us. + +Kral shook his head. + +―Maybe, I'll go take that rest then. + +Kral left, and left Hermann's room. +However, instead of turning left, toward his room, he turned right, towards the door he'd come out of. +The round door still swung easily on its hinges, the other way this time. +And once again, as he walked through he found himself in the same hallway, on the other side. + + +―It's a nice trick right? a voice behind him said. + +Kral turned and dropped into a low defensive crouch. + +―Woah there, sailor. Not here to hurt you. + +The voice was coming from a dwarf who was standing in the doorway. +It had a different quality from the other dwarves they'd met so far. +More musical somehow, as if each word was being spoken by a high and low voice simultaneously. +He had a longer beard than Kab, black hair plaited into two thick braids. +His hair was also far longer than the others, in a single braid that hung at his waist. +Although as Kral looked at the dwarf's waist and hips, + +―You're a woman! Kral said. + +The dwarf gave Kral a strange look. + +―Yes? I'm aware. + +―I didn't know that women dwarves still had beards. + I've seen pictures of Ottawans and they don't do that. + +―Well, the dwarrowfolk aren't the same as the jan Kanata. + Er, the Ottowans, whatever you call them. + +She emphasised the word "dwarrowfolk" in a way that made Kral feel a sudden sense of guilt. + +―Sorry, no offensive meant. + It's just, in Galvarelli we don't get many of the, uh, dwarrowfolk, so, just not used to... + +Kral let his voice trail off. +She rolled her eyes at him. + +―Sorry, he stammered. Anyway, you were saying something? + How did you show up behind me? + +She sighed. + +―I was just saying, you figured out that little trick. + The hallway that's connected to itself. + Pretty cool, right? + +Kral nodded slowly. +She stepped forward and let the door close. +Then, she turned around and touched her finger to the door. +For a moment, she held her pose, and it seemed nothing had happened. +Then, prompted by nothing Kral could see, she pushed the door open and stepped through. + +Somehow, what should have been the hallway was back in Kral's room. + +―C'mon in, she said. I won't bite. + +Kral stepped through. + +―Is this dwarf magic? + I mean, dwarrow magic? + +―