The Rose and the Skull

23

"Do you know where you are!" a voice asked suddenly from the darkness.

Uhoh nodded, rattling his chains, then remembered that they probably couldn't see him. "Yes," he said meekly.

"Do you know who I am?" the voice asked, echoing in the vast emptiness of the chamber where Uhoh lay.

He was chained to a low stone slab by his ankles, wrists, neck, and waist. Occasionally he felt things scurry across his legs, but the darkness prevented his seeing them. He'd been there for days and days, it seemed.

"Me know nothing," Uhoh replied.

A light flared into life, revealing a small balcony with a dark alcove behind it. A creature stood there, glaring down at Uhoh with one hideous red eye. It was a draconian, but one twisted and malformed by the magic that created it. One side of its face had eerie, semi-reptilian, semi-humanoid features, but the other side of the face was melted like candle wax. In some places, bare bone showed through the distorted flesh, while in others hideous growths of bone and horn protruded in fantastic shapes beneath the skin. The draconian looked like a nightmare brought to waking life.

"Me know nothing!" Uhoh screamed in terror. He averted his face and closed tight his eyes, as if that simple act could make the nightmare go away.

"They call me the Old Man," the draconian said. "They call me the Old Man because I am indeed the oldest. I am the firstborn, the first of my kind to crawl forth from the egg, in the days before the magic of our draconic transformation was perfected. The magic was flawed, and so I am flawed, but I survived where my brothers died hideously, their bodies twisted, their minds shattered by their deformity. I am also more perfect than any that have come after me. I am more powerful. I know all things. In fact, I know something about you, Uhoh Ragnap."

"Me not Uhoh Ragnap. You got wrong gully dwarf," Uhoh shouted.

"That's not true," the draconian laughed. "We both know it. Would you deny your own identity to save your miserable skin? But of course you would. You are a gully dwarf."

Uhoh tried to lower his voice and sound dour. "Me not gully dwarf. Me hill dwarf. You doorknob. You got wrong dwarf."

"Come, come. Enough of these foolish games," the draconian said with magnanimous patience. "You are a gully dwarf, and you are the gully dwarf whom my servants have chased halfway across Sancrist Isle. You have led them a merry chase and done me great service. I see they are in need of training."

A door banged open. Uhoh turned his head to see two draconians enter, one bearing a lit torch, the other rolling a cart.

"Not all my servants are hunters-assassins, as humans call them. Some have other skills. These baaz you see before you are quite talented in the arts of torture," he said.

Uhoh looked up. "Why you torture me?" he asked. "Me only a gully dwarf."

"Because, dear Uhoh, I want to know what Gunthar said to you before he died. We know he told you something, by the words from your own mouth," the draconian said. The balcony light dimmed. As the draconian continued to speak, the sound of his voice seemed to slowly float down the wall. While the baaz torturers busied themselves setting up their implements, Uhoh eyed these fearfully even though he didn't know their uses. "You were with Lord Gunthar when he died. I am quite certain, shameless thespian that he was, he saved some dire secret to import to you with his last, gargling breath."

"What?" Uhoh said, utterly baffled.

The draconian's twisted face appeared from the shadows as he stepped into the light of the torturers' torch. "What did Gunthar whisper in your ear, you miserable wretch? Don't try to deny it. What did he tell you?"

The door banged open again, and a man dressed in a crisp blue captain's uniform entered the room. He strode to the table, his bootheels clicking on the stone floor. He doffed his tall, plumed hat and bowed.

"Well, General Zen?" the draconian leader asked.

"The ship and its cargo are intact. As we speak, it is being unloaded, and the prisoners removed to dungeon cells," the man said.

"Unfortunate for them that they sailed too close to this shore. You have done well," the draconian said.

"Thank you, Grand Master Iulus," the man said as he bowed again.

"This is an interesting form you wear," Iulus commented, indicating Zen's appearance.

"Ah, yes. The captain was a bit of a dandy," Zen said. "I flew out to the ship as it passed, and in the usual manner, killed a member of the watch, thus taking his form and disposing of his body overboard. I then proceeded to the captain's cabin, where I killed him and took his shape. Once this was done, it was a simple enough matter to order the helm to steer to the castle's harbor, where our soldiers were waiting. We took them without a fight."

"General Zen, your efficiency is a model to us all. Reward the wyvern watches with a few of the prisoners from the ship. Make sure the master of the dungeons chooses lively ones. The wyverns do so love to play with their supper," Iulus commanded.

"Yes, my master," Zen said, bowing as though to leave.

"Not yet, my friend," Iulus purred. "It can wait. First shed that hideous human form. It's making the baaz nervous."

General Zen stepped back and closed his eyes, folding his arms before his chest. His body began to change shape, his nose lengthening into a snout, his fingers narrowing into claws. His smooth human skin erupted with silver reptilian scales, while from his shoulders and back spread large, powerful wings. In mere moments, he had resumed his natural shape, that of a sivak draconian. Uhoh's mouth fell open.

"Ah, that's better," Zen said in a deep powerful voice. He shook out his wings and stretched like a cat awakening from a nap.

"Now, allow me to introduce to you our long-awaited guest. General Zen, meet Uhoh Ragnap, esquire," Iulus said. The sivak stared down at the prostrate gully dwarf.

"Hello," Uhoh said.

Iulus laughed. "Oh, he is a good sport, don't you think?" he said. "Uhoh was brought in by Harj and that sanctimonious idiot, Shaeder. Harj has once again proved himself valuable in this little affair, but I think Shaeder's blatant disregard for subtlety needs addressing."

"I agree, my lord," Zen said.

"In the meanwhile, Uhoh was just about to impart to me the dire nature of his master's last words. He also needs to tell us who else shares his little secret," Iulus said. "We know that, at the very least, he spoke to that onetime priest of Chislev, Nalvarre Ringbow."

"I blame myself, my lord," General Zen said. "I had him right across the campfire from me. He suspected nothing because I'd take the form of the ranger I'd killed just after dark. If I had known of the priest's involvement, I'd have silenced him then."

"I know, my friend. I don't blame you," Iulus said. He turned and knelt beside the gully dwarf, his reptilian snout almost in Uhoh's ear. "Torture is so messy," he hissed, "but we have to be sure you are telling the truth. Now tell me, what was Gunthar's last shuddering whisper that fateful afternoon?"

"What afternoon?" Uhoh asked.

"Don't play stupid with me. You know which afternoon," the draconian Grand Master snarled.

"Yes," Uhoh squeaked.

"What did he say?"

"The book… Kalabash… in bell room," Uhoh began.

"Stop blabbering, you fool! You are only making it worse for yourself," Iulus warned, pointing one long, goldish claw at the terrified gully dwarf.

"Tell him Liam tell no one," Uhoh continued.

"Master, this is useless," Zen said. "Just kill him and be done with it. That way, no matter what the secret, he can never tell it to another soul."

"But if Gunthar suspected anything, said as much to this creature before he died," Iulus said with a disdainful gesture at Uhoh, "then he might have told others. Our plans could be thwarted. What this gully dwarf tells will help us decide whether we can proceed with caution or confidence."

"I see, my master," Zen said, his voice betraying a shade of uncertainty.

"It is fruitless to resist. We have ways, painful ways of making you talk," Iulus said as he returned his monocular gaze upon Uhoh.

"I talk already. I go now?" Uhoh asked.

Suddenly, Iulus chuckled. Rising to his full seven-foot height, he motioned to the baaz torturers. "I must say, he is a good sport. Don't go too hard on him, but make sure he isn't hiding anything," he ordered.

Turning, he took Zen by the arm and led the sivak from the torture chamber. As the door closed, a shrill scream shattered the night.

Aurak Grand Master of Assassins Iulus set down his silver goblet and gripped the edge of the table with his clawed hands. His one good eye rolled up in his head.

"This wine is superb!" he groaned in ecstasy. "Zen, you really have outdone yourself with tonight's catch."

"It is quite good," Zen agreed, though not with the emotion displayed by his master.

Iulus picked up the goblet in one clawed hand and swirled its contents thoughtfully. Human servants wearing iron collars scurried about the chamber, lighting tapers, trimming wicks, and clearing away the plates from supper. The Grand Master tossed back the remainder in his glass, all the while eyeing the sivak. General Zen merely toyed with his cup, sipping lightly and infrequently.

"Something bothering you, my friend?" Iulus asked. "Would you like a little music with your wine?"

Without waiting for an answer, he turned in his chair and lifted a bronze cap from a metal tube protruding from the wall. Faint echoes of tortured screams welled from the tube.

"No, my master," Zen sighed.

"Is your cup dirty? I'll have the dishwasher flogged," Iulus said.

"The wine is fine," Zen said. "That's the problem. We drink the finest wines of Palanthas while our warriors have to content themselves with watered ale or whatever they can brew themselves. It doesn't seem right. I remember the days when you and I ate boot leather and hobgoblins just to keep alive. That's what made us what we are today-hard living. It made us strong."

Iulus nodded in agreement.

"Do you remember when we pillaged Que-shu and burned Solace to the ground?" Zen asked. "Do you remember how we laughed at how fat those lands were, and how much they deserved destroying. That is what I fear, that now we are grown fat and deserve destroying. This unsettling affair with the gully dwarf only justifies my fears."

"The gully dwarf is nothing. We'll soon learn what we need from him, then we can mop up those he told and be done with it," Iulus said.

"But the Knights…" Zen protested.

"Soon the Knights of Solamnia will not be a concern. Matters are coming to a head there. The Knights are finished, and they don't even know it," Iulus said.

A servant entered the room and approached the Grand Master. He knelt beside the table and whispered something that Zen was unable to hear.

Iulus nodded, then looked up at Zen. "Speaking of Knights, we have a visitor." The servant hurried away.

After a few moments, the door reopened and an armored Knight entered the room. The Knight wore a full helm with the visor pulled down hiding the face.

"What is the word?" Iulus asked.

"Pyrothraxus has retreated to Mount Nevermind," the Knight answered in a voice muffled by the helm.

"What?" Iulus screeched in surprise. The twisted, malformed half of his face turned scarlet. "Was Isherwood destroyed and the Knights there killed?"

"Isherwood is no more, but the dragon retreated without ascertaining that the Knights and the priest of Chislev were inside," the Knight said.

Iulus slammed his clawed fist on the table, cracking the heavy oaken plank down its full length. "A flight of red dragons would have served better," he cursed. "At least we can control them."

"Pyrothraxus won't allow reds onto the island," Zen said.

"Fool, don't you think I know that?" the Grand Master snarled.

Zen scowled at the rebuff, but said nothing. Meanwhile, Iulus seemed to regain control of his emotions.

"Well, it is of no concern," Iulus said. "Even if they escape, they'll never make it to Castle uth Wistan before the council. Liam has agreed to an open vote for the succession. Once Lady Mirielle is in command, the Knights of Solamnia will be finished."

"They'll demand someone be sent to rescue the gully dwarf," the helmed Knight said. "He can still cause problems. It were best if he is killed now."

"I think you overestimate the importance of our little friend," Iulus said. "When we find out his secret, then we'll dispose of him immediately. Meanwhile, with Pyrothraxus threatening their border, they'd never risk sending a contingent just to rescue a gully dwarf."

"Very well," the Knight said. "Oh, by the way, I've brought you a little present."

"Really? And what, pray tell, is that?" Iulus asked.

The Knight removed her helm and shook out her dark hair. "Something called a highbulp, the fugitive gully dwarf slave," she said. "Her name is Mommamose. She would already be dead, and I wouldn't be so inconvenienced, if it wasn't for the incompetence of your soldiers."

"Really, something must be done about Shaeder," Zen said as he motioned the Knight to have a seat at the table.

"Bring another bottle of that excellent wine," Iulus ordered one of the servants.

"Bring two," Alya said with a laugh as she tossed her dragon helm in the corner.