OUTLANDER

                                                   Chapter 32

                                          Home at Last

Commodore Cavidar had been surprised when Melody, Gayla with their children had boarded the Windlass in the port of Pelia with Gayla’s parents and Dax nor Ruthor were with them. Then he was even more confused when they gave him Dax’s message with a map attached. The map detailed a large cove about halfway between Pelia and Jav. The instructions were to complete resupplying the ship, sail up the cost to that cove and wait until Dax signaled for the lifeboats to make for shore during the night of the signal. He said his signal would come just after full night settled in.

Cavidar had done as his two friends asked. It had taken two days to resupply once he knew it was the time they would be heading back to Borland. Then he had sailed north along the coast until he was certain that he was anchored just off the right cove. It was the third night when the signal from Commander Dax was seen shortly after dusk had turned to full dark. The four lifeboats were lowered to the sea and men began rowing to the beach. It was an hour before they returned the first time, full of passengers.

After Dax and Ruthor were the first to step onto the Windlass, Cavidar’s mouth fell agape as he saw dwarf after dwarf step onto his ship. It took him a few moments before he could turn to Dax and ask a question, he never in his wildest dreams thought he would ever ask.

“Where, I am sorry Dax, but where did you find so many Dwarves, most people don’t even believe they exist, except in folklore anymore.” He said this as he watched men and women keep stepping onto the ship.

“Commodore Cavidar, I would like to introduce you to my uncle and aunt, this is, Iron Beard and Estonia.”

“Your uncle and aunt?”

“He has that same expression as Ruthor did all those seasons ago, when I first met him in the Fire Mountains, Nephew. Well, Commodore if you turn out to be anything like Ruthor, I am glad to meet you.”

“I am glad to meet you too, Iron Beard. Your nephew, never ceases to amaze me.”

“I know he does the same thing to me.” And the two men shook hands just as Dax spoke again.

“Ah, and here are Melody’s parents Bulb Nose and Daitha.”

“Welcome aboard, I am as glad to meet both of you. Your daughter and son-in-law are probably stifling guffaws of laughter at my expense right now.”

“Well don’t be too hard on them, they have done the same with us since they were littler than we are.”

With this everyone started laughing. Even some of the crew who had been watching just as startled as their Commodore had been.

“You are the first to know of this well-kept secret, Commodore, except for Ruthor of course. Gayla had to tell him after he asked for her hand in marriage. My wife and I are both the children of Dwarves as well, all the Eigle are.”

Commodore Cavidar turned to Francher, whom he had known from Throgmarden for many years as a successful man, and known he came form Eigle an said. “I thought I knew about people and our old world; it appears now that many people know a lot less than they believe.”

“It was a necessary secret, Commodore. Dwarves endured much over the centuries, people thinking them too different than themselves. Finally, some took flight to places where they felt safer, then they kept bringing others there. Now very few are ever seen and then only briefly, they seem to disappear after they are born. It has been safer for them to live in the places they have made for themselves.”

“How many if I may ask?”

“Thousands, Commodore, Thousands.”

“How many are joining us on Borland?”

Now Dax answered his friend. “There are a hundred and two going with us Ernstal, they are from the two villages where Iron Beard and Bulb Nose have lived all their lives. They seek the same as all immigrants whom we have gladly brought to Borland.”

“Well then, welcome to them all. This will take a few trips with our four boats to get them on board. Then we will make for the open sea while it is still dark. How sure are you that you were not seen?”

“As sure as we can be. Of course, we are talking about people who have kept themselves out of sight for as long as any of them have lived. I could not have led them this far otherwise.”

“Of that I am truly sure my old friend.” Then Cavidar turned to some of his crew. “Okay men, start showing our newest friends to where they can rest and be well among us for the next three moons.”

As daylight broke in the eastern sky over the Waste, the Windlass was just reaching far enough to the west on the Windless sea that only her top sails were still visible from the shore.

Over the next quarter moon many of the crew were becoming quite friendly with just a many of the Dwarves. This was in part due to Iron Beard and Bulb Nose. The two men routinely would sit on the main deck and tell stories to the children. The seamen began to listen as well, enjoying the stories, and the interaction that occurred with the children. It was about this time when Dax and Cavidar decided to do what Dax and Captain Slogin had done when they were bringing the Pelians to Borland. They demonstrated the Cannons put back on the main deck rails and one below decks. The dwarf passengers were just as amazed as Pelians had been.

“And who did you say discovered this Black Powder?”

“Syngyn Wiles, he had been a mage apprentice to Neven Salas before he joined us on Borland. He and our first Blacksmith Mesan then crafted the cannons.”

“You say you have bigger ones than these at Sovladen?”

“Much bigger, uncle. They are in place at our watch towers, Wolf Pack headquarters and Naval headquarters close to the bay and docks of Sovladen.”

“Then your city would be near impregnable.”

“That is our plan. I would wish we never have to use them but know that eventually we will.”

“That is why you keep them secret, even from your Thane and his military.”

“That is also true . We have come to realize that Borland is our prime loyalty. We would defend it against even them. Also, we do not want this new weapon to be known by anyone.”

                                                                     *****

“What do you have to report Captain Meldon?”

“My man in Throgmarden, saw the Wolf Pack men leave the city with another older couple. They traveled by wagons to Eigle and then went into the Fire Mountains north of Eigle. He tried to follow them but got diverted by some men from Eigle, they stopped him before he got very far and was told he was trespassing on their land. They took him back to Eigle and pressed charges against him. He was sentenced to a couple of days in their Gaol. A few days after he got out, he saw the wagons come back out of the mountains and start down the road to Pelia. This time he could follow them, staying just out of sight. When they got there, they all got on that ship, the Windlass. the interesting thing was the two Wolf Pack men were not with them.”

“So, where were they?”

“He doesn’t know, the ship left port two days later and headed north up the coast. He went all the way to Jav, but the ship never made port there. He hasn’t seen or heard anything of the ship or the two wolf pack men since.”

“He lost them, is what you mean.”

“Yes, my King. If the ship went out as far as the outer ship lanes, he could not have seen them. If it did not, then there is no port between Pelia and Jav.”

“So, what is he doing now?”

“He is trekking back to Pelia from Jav along the coastline and beaches looking for any signs of boats coming ashore. My crew and I are leaving with the tide to join him in this search. I will come again when we have returned.”

“Do not return until you have something better to tell me.”

“As you will, my King.” Meldon turned and left Ormish Drofeld’s chamber wishing he had never been involved in his King’s search for the missing Wolf Pack and the ship that defeated the Lagdian rebel Fargyn.

                                                               *****

After General Hersal and Morden returned from Pelia with successful arrangements to for an alliance with the new government there and trading agreements as well, King Magdar was elated. Then they told him that while they were there, they heard rumors that Pelia had sent an emissary to Neder with the purpose of Pelia recognizing Neder as a separate Realm and establishing alliance with them as well.

“What? No one has ever done that. We all recognize Neder as separate, but no one has gone so far as to recognize them as a realm, just some small insignificant land between the Fire Mountains and the Mystic Province.”

“We know my King. That is why we are brining you this news.” Morden answered in his usual matter-of-fact tone.

“Gads Bones! Now I either have to do the same before any other Realm does or ignore it and appear to insult that council that rules there. Wait, that is why they are doing this. Neder is the only other place ruled by a council and not a ruling family.”

“This is also true my King. This could become a political statement of unknown proportions. If you recognize them then it could be taken as approval of lands being ruled by the people themselves. If you ignore it then people could say you are afraid of losing your families power someday.”

“Exactly. But I think we take the path of Pelia here. General, I want you to go to Neder and express our desire to enter into an alliance treaty with them as well. Tell them I have come to agree with our ally to the north in formal recognition of them being an independent Realm. Also, I would like to propose that we establish full embassies between both our realms as all other realms do. If they agree we will select a suitable ambassador for such a post and negotiate locations for such embassies. Then we can negotiate proper trade agreements as well.”

“As you wish my, King. Do you have any idea who you will appoint for such a post?”

“I will be mulling that over until you return. Then the three of us can meet again and discuss those with the best qualifications to insure Lagdian objectives. When can you be ready to travel?”

“I could be ready to go tomorrow morning, if you wish Majesty?”

“Good, Morden and I will draft all the documents tonight. Come and see me when you are ready, and I will have them for you.”

“Then I will go make preparations my King.”

                                                                        *****

Ceric came into the council chamber early this morning with messages from two messenger birds, one form Neven Salas in Pelia and one from Morden in Viral.

“My Thane, I have news we should discuss.”

“Lord Ceric, a good morning would be polite. But I assume this news is more important.”

“I believe there are things about to happen that we should make decisions on with haste. Neven Salas says that both Lagdian and Neder have formally recognized the new government in Pelia. They are in talks with the Neder council about embassies and trade treaties at this moment. He hopes that the same will occur with Marden. Now Morden tells me he has helped King Magdar draft a similar document and is about to send someone to Neder to do the same.”

“Well, it is not like we did not expect something to happen once that council in Pelia came to power. But with Magdar looking to seem to be First among the larger realms recognizing them both, you are right we need to decide which side of this we should be on. What do you think Keeper of the gate?”

“This message is probably days old already, but we could get someone to Neder before Magdar’s man has time to leave, that way it could like we were both there simultaneously, rather than just reacting to Lagdian. We could also do the same in Pelia, since it was our men who assisted in the situation in Pelia anyway.”

“So, you think we should recognize and have treaties with both? How will it look to the other realms, with us recognizing two new realms ruled by councils rather than a ruling family?”

“My Thane, this is a thing for the people inside those realms to decide not rulers in other realms to decide for them maybe. Besides if we have treaties with both, then we would Have alliances with every realm in the southern half of our world. That would not be a bad thing in these changing times.”

“Now that Lord Ceric is sound thinking. How fast can we act and who do we send?”

“If he agrees, I think Lord Daka should go to Neder, his families influence is closer and for a very long time there. I would be willing to go to Pelia, I am sure That would look proper to Neven Salas and their council. That way both will be negotiating with members of our high council.”

“An excellent idea Lord Ceric, very astute. Let us have documents drafted for my signature and both of you on your separate journeys as soon as possible.”

                                                              *****

“I have sighted Borland, Commodore.” The crow’s nest yelled down to the main deck. It was just after the full dawn broke in the east, to the ship’s stern.

“Thank you, Mister Symes, keep your watch and yell when you make out the port.”

“Aye, Commodore.”

Hearing the sighting, Dax turned to See Ruthor head down below and pass along the word that Borland had been sighted ahead. It was only moments later when passengers began to stand along the deck rails for their first sighting of their new home.

“Sovladen, two points to the North, Commodore. You will be able to see it from the deck before long.”

“Thank you, Mister Symes. Mister Smyte, two point to starboard, if you will?”

“Aye, sir. Mister Dawes two points to starboard.”

The passengers could then feel the ship veering slightly to the north. As the sun rose half-way to its zenith everyone could now see the Sovladen harbor in the distance. Dax pointed out the two watch towers to Iron Beard, Bulb Nose and Francher. A hushed echo of hat he said went round all the onlookers at the rails. Darma’s tail started a slow sway from side to side, as if she knew she was close to home finally.

“Your wolf seems to sense she is home, Nephew.”

“She always seems to know it, Uncle, it’s that keen sense of smell they have. She senses familiar odors even this far out of port.”

“Amazing.”

By this time, the sun was now waning between its zenith and on its journey toward where it would set in the west, the Windlass was tying up to the dock in Sovladen. The pier and area around the docks were lined with citizenry clapping and yelling welcome home.

Dax and Ruthor with their wives and children were the first ones coming down the gang plank and waving back to all their friends gathered there. Then came Francher and Domina, behind them Iron Beard and Estonia. This is when the crowd fell silent, many with wide eyes looking at one another in amazement with hushed whispers between them as Bulb Nose and Daitha followed behind.

“We are glad to be home our friends, as you have seen we bring new immigrants to Sovladen and Borland. I would like to introduce you all to first my uncle and aunt, Iron Beard and Estonia, they are followed by Melody’s parents Bulb Nose and Daitha.” Dax waited for just a minute as now he knew more dwarves could be seen ready to walk down the plank to the dock. “I am sure many of you have questions since most of you have never seen a dwarf. Nor would you have any way to know that we, your friends, are the children of dwarves.”

Dax expected to hear at least some starting to ask questions, but before anyone could Mesan and Delpha started laughing quite loudly and holding each other as they did. Everyone started looking at the two well respected people, and finally it was Mesan who calmed down and spoke as he walked forward with Delpha at his side.

“Iron Beard and Bulb Nose, please excuse my bad manners, and those of my wife the lady Delpha. But I find that Dax, Melody, and I share a secret we did not know. Iron Beard, I have not seen you since I was a young boy. The last time I saw you in Dragon’s Pass Village, you were still taller than I was at the time. You probably do not remember me, but you were visiting my father who was the iron monger in that village.”

Iron Beard answered Mesan with more of a query than an answer. “But the Iron Monger in Dragon’s Pass Village was Nesam the Hard and his son was barely out of swaddling the last time I saw him; that was over thirty seasons ago or more. He passed away from a fever at least twenty seasons passed.”

“That is correct, elder. I was that boy barely able to remember you today. I told my wife of my family and she swore secrecy before we married. I wish I had thought to tell Commander Dax long ago, but I had no idea that there was another Too Tall here on Borland, much less two I love dearly.”

Before Iron Beard could answer, another man spoke up in the middle of the crowd. “I would like to make a correction to what Mesan has said, if I may.” All eyes now turned to George Aars, one of the quarrymen and his wife Alys. “There are two others here with the same secret. My wife and I are the children of parents who lived in Village Eagles Nest. And although I have never met these distinguished elders, I also welcome you and everyone with you to Sovladen and Borland our home now.”

Mesan turned to see George and Alys with a large smile and then returned to looking at Iron Beard and Estonia. “Yes, you are not only welcome, but we are honored to have such venerable and noted new citizens to join us here in our and your new home.”

Now the crowd started clapping again, first just some and then everyone assembled clapping loudly and yelling in an uproar of excitement.

Dax raised his hands high and quieted his fellow citizens down to where he could speak again. “Thank you, everyone. Once again you make me proud to call you all friends, neighbors, and extended family. I am sorry that I did not introduce the couple who were walking directly behind Captain Ruthor and his family. They are the parents of Gayla and as some of you can now guess they were originally from Eigle. To those of you who could not know this, all the Eigle are descendants of Dwarves as well.” As Dax finished saying this another round of cheers and applause erupted.

For several moments the crowd made way, so all one hundred and two dwarves disembarked the Windlass to welcomes, handshakes and even hugs.

It took the rest of that afternoon for all the newcomers to get signed into government house, be assigned proper quarters and with everyone helping, get their belongings situated to their houses. Just before dusk every citizen of Sovladen and the nearby farms and homes near the quarries were in and around the Meeting Hall having a banquet in honor of their arrival.

Dax, Ruthor with their families, Mesan and Delpha, George and Alys Aars with the three new sets of dwarf parents were all sitting close to one another. Dax turned to Iron Beard and Bulb Nose and spoke.

“When you are ready in the next day or so, Ruthor and I will show you around as much of Borland as you wish. Then you may pick any location you wish for us to assist in building homes to your specifications. Then you can really feel like this is your new home.”

“We will like that, nephew. There is no real hurry, but we would like that. The houses you have been kind enough to have for us are fine of workmanship and we enjoy being close to you all. But living in houses designed for you Too Tall is somewhat different, when we have all lived in houses built a little more sized for us.”

All of them got a laugh as he finished saying this. Finally, everyone started leaving the banquet and saying their good evenings. Sleep came easily to those who had spent the last three moons on the Windlass.

It was a quarter moon before several of the Dwarves had been shown around all the area close to Sovladen, the areas around the Quarry, as far as Wild Horse Valley and the Twin Peaks area north. Eventually they agreed on the area close to the second campsite along the road to the western grasslands where the large herds of horse, cattle and elk lived in freedom. There was a good stream there and it would be close enough to some of the sites where gemstones, and fine rock could be quarried. And yet it was close enough to Sovladen for frequent visiting whenever anyone wanted too.

With the help of the quarrymen and masons they could start building their village and some if not many moving into new homes before the coming of winter.

As this work started and the dwarves were still living in Sovladen, it was the children who once again showed that people were people if you took away old prejudices. To them it did not matter if parents were Too Tall or Dwarf, they would make friends, learn, and play regardless of adult preconceptions. If allowed, it was they who brought everyone closer.

Just before the first snow falls all the dwarves were settled into their new homes in their new village, which they named Twin Mountain Village.

It was the first light snow fall of winter when Mesan sent for Dax and Ruthor to come to the blacksmiths shop. Once they arrived, they saw that Syngyn was standing at the back of the shop with Mesan looking at some instrument lying on a heavy worktable they had there. It was a long round pipe attached to a hewn piece of wood with an odd shape. Part of it was attached to the pipe and rounded to one side of the pipe, then it flared beyond the pipe’s end but flattened beyond that. There were other pieces of metal behind the pipe but attached to both the pipe and the flared wood. And there was another staff of metal rod with a fork at one end lying next to it on the table. Stayer Gomes and Chas Smythe were standing at the end of the same table.

“Well, what is so urgent for us to be walking about during the first winter snow, Syngyn? I am sure it was you who had Mesan ask us here?”

“It was Commander. We have just finished completing this new apparatus and are going to test our improvements. Stayer and Chas worked with us on the improvements. I thought you and Captain Ruthor would like to see the test?”

‘Well, what is this thing you are going to test? If this is it, then I can’t see what it is for?”

“It is a new weapon for the Wolf Pack and Navy. In fact, it might be good for our hunters, as well. We have tried the idea already but wanted to refine it before we showed you what it can do.”

About that minute Welman walked into the shop and told everyone good day. He looked toward Syngyn and asked. “Are you ready for me, Syngyn?”

“Yes, we are. Let me open the back door and you can show the Commander and Captain how it works.” Then Syngyn turned to Dax and continued. “We asked Welman to help us with getting it as useful as possible.”

Welman picked up both pieces on the table and carried them to the back door. Then he put the metal rod standing on the ground first before placing the one of wood and pipe in the forks at the top. Pointed out the door and toward the rising ground behind the shop and about the length of 10 men away. Then he looked at Syngyn. “I suppose you have it loaded and ready?”

“Yes. You can go ahead light the match when you are ready.” Then Syngyn looked at Dax and Ruthor and said. “You should probably put your hands over your ears.”

Within a split moment there was a loud explosive sound and smoke issued from the end of the pipe. Dax watched as there was a quick small cloud of dirt explode from the bank of dirt outside.

“Syngyn, have you made a weapon that one man can carry that fires the black powder and a ball.”

“We, have Commander, we call it a Firelock.”

“Welman, how far can you fire this thing and the ball hit a target with accuracy?”

“You may not believe this Commander, but I can hit a target that is a quarter of a league away. We have been working out this area that I hold close to my body and this point where the match lights the powder.”

“How long does it take to load each time?”

“Several moments unfortunately. Rather like one of the cannons. You must put in a patch then just enough powder, another patch and then the ball followed by the last patch. Then aim it and put the match to the hole that lights the powder.”

“But at that distance you could get two shots before a man could get to you if you miss the first time?”

“That is true . However, if there were several men firing at different times, say like archers do in sequences, then you could seem as if firing more balls quicker to an enemy. And if I may, if your archers were letting volleys of arrows at the same attackers at the same time….”

Dax interjected. “Yes, I see you could do much more damage.” Then he turned to Mesan and Syngyn. “How long would it take to make fifty of these?”

“Most of the winter, Commander.”

“Right, then this is what we should do. Of course, when there is not anything more pressing. If we had some men practicing under Welman’s watchful eye, who already knows how it works, say ten at a time until we have more then by winter’s end, we would have men that could now be assigned to this new weapon in both the Navy and Wolf Pack. Would you agree to teach men this new Firelock, Welman?”

“Of course, Commander. I would only ask that they make two more if you please? Chaz and Stayer would also be good instructors, since they have been very involved it getting the Firelock to work as it does.”

“Of course, one I assume for yourself, and who is the other for?”

“Benja, Commander Dax. This firestick will be a great improvement in our hunting. I can be teaching him and then when Stayer and Chaz have the next two more, we could teach men together.”

“Of course, the first four go to each of you. In fact, you can get Benja familiar with his while Syngyn, Mesan and their helpers make more.”

“Thank you, Commander. And you, Syngyn and Mesan.”

“Yes, Syngyn, you and Mesan are an amazing partnership with these inventions. It is because of you two that we are becoming a people who will not be forced to do what we do not want to do.”

It was Mesan who spoke next. “We thank you Dax, but Syngyn is not telling you yet all that he has been working on.”

“Well, Syngyn, do you have more to show us?”

“Only an idea Commander, I have not exactly found it’s practical use yet. Neven told me about an experiment he knew of while I was learning under his tutelage. It was an experiment with steam.”

“What was this experiment?”

“Well, he and another mage had built a pot on legs, but the pot had a cover on top of the pot that had two pipes coming out of it and they bent toward the center over the pot. They attached to a hollow ball on each side that had two more smaller pipes coming out of the ball on two sides. They filled the main pot with water and then lit a fire underneath it. When the water became boiling hot inside the steam rose up the pipes into the smaller ball and escaped out the two opposing pipes on it making the small ball turn as long as there was steam.”

“That sounds interesting, what did they do with it?”

“Nothing, they just wanted to see if their idea about steam worked. They didn’t try to find a practical use.”

“And you have?’

“Not completely as yet. Mesan helped me improve the mechanism. We made a larger two chambered container we call a boiler. The smaller inner chamber houses the fire, which we use coal for; then the bigger chamber is filled with water around three sides and just over the top of where the coal is underneath the outer chamber of water. We have a pipe that sticks out of the top of the outer chamber. That pipe tees two ways they are attached to two double wheels that Wilem Firstall made for us. The steam comes out through each inner wheel and the outer wheels are like the wheels of a pulley, so when they turn so do the pulley wheels. So as long as the fire is kept hot, and the outer chamber has enough water to keep boiling there are two pulley wheels turning above it. We could show the mechanism if you would like. But it takes a while to heat up the water to boiling.”

“So, could you have that ready for a demonstration by the time we are all finished with our mid-day meal?”

“I am sure we could, Commander. It is over there under that large tarp.”

“Good, then we will come back then and maybe bring some others to watch it work. Maybe, if several of us see this new invention of yours working, one of them might think of a use for it. I wonder if you will ever run out of ideas, my young friend. You seem to look at things differently that anyone I have ever known. You are quite a marvel Syngyn, quite a marvel indeed.”