Dragon Stones (Book One in the Dragon Stone Saga) by Kristian Alva Page A

unbroken. The elves have their own
libraries, too.”
    “So now only the dwarves and the elves know
about the prophesy?”
    “No. Many do—it’s only that the emperor has
tried to keep it a secret. Even the orcs have an oracle.”
    “The orcs? Really? I thought they were just
mindless savages.”
    “Savages, yes. But mindless, no. Orcs have
their own myths and history, although it is unwritten. They have an
oral tradition instead. Their teachings are passed down through the
alpha males of each tribe. It has been thus for thousands of
years.”
    “How come I never learned any of this? And
how do you know so much?”
    “Boy—I’m a lot older than I look.” Thorin
winked. “As for learning—well, the emperor works hard to keep his
citizens ignorant.”
    “Why is the emperor doing this? Why doesn’t
he just leave the dragons alone?”
    “The emperor is mad, and power-hungry.
Vosper’s necromancers have learned how to extend his life and
increase his powers. He has stopped aging. He is like a dwarf—he
could live for hundreds of years. Vosper grows stronger with each
passing cycle.”
    “Did the dwarves fight against the emperor
during the Dragon War?”
    “Aye. We remained neutral for a time,
choosing to wait. But then Vosper attacked one of the dwarvish
cities in the west, razing it to the ground. We joined the fight
after that. Thousands of dwarves died during the war, and the
emperor drove us all into Mount Velik. Forced to work together, all
the dwarf clans fought side-by-side. He could not defeat all of us.
The emperor was never able to take the mountain. In the end, it was
a stalemate. We stayed in the mountain, and the emperor retreated
back to his capital.”
    “Do all the dwarves live in Mount
Velik?”
    “Most of us do. Mount Velik is our last
stronghold. There are some clans that have chosen to venture out
again, and there is even a small dwarf outpost near the Death
Sands. We do a fair amount of trade with King Mitca.”
    Elias fell silent. This information seemed
unreal—dwarves, orcs, dragons—it was too much for his mind to
digest. He wrapped his cloak tighter around himself, shivering as a
gust of wind entered the cave. He wished he’d never found the
dragon stone in the first place.
    Thorin sat back, contentedly smoking his
pipe. His hand touched his head again, feeling a bump that had
risen when he fell from the tree. “Ouch,” he winced. The spot was a
purple, like a robin’s egg.
    Elias reached out and touched the spot on
Thorin’s forehead with a glowing finger. “Stay still. I will heal
it for you.” Elias closed his eyes, absorbed in the spell.
“Curatio!” The bump started to shrink, and the bruise dissipated. A
few minutes later, it was gone. The effort tired him, and Elias
sunk to the ground, exhausted. It had been a very long day.
    Thorin felt the spot, amazed to find the
bump healed. “Nice job, boy. I’m much obliged.” He smiled, “You’ve
definitely got your grandmother’s gift.
    “Thanks,” smiled Elias. “I’m glad you’re
here, Thorin. Even if I can’t tell what’s going on.”
    “Everything will soon be clear, lad. Go to
sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”
    The fire was warm, and the sweet aroma of
the smokeleaf was comforting. Elias was asleep within minutes.

    ***

Chapter 7: Jutland
    The next morning was freezing cold, but
clear. Thorin awoke before dawn and boiled some chicory root,
making a delicious hot beverage for both of them. “Here you go,
boy. Drink this up; it will warm your bones.” Thorin handed Elias
half a cold biscuit and a steaming cup of root coffee.
    “ Thanks.” Elias accepted
the tin cup gratefully. “This smells wonderful.”
    “Drink up. We have a long distance to cover.
First, we’ll buy you a horse in Jutland. Then we’ll travel to the
Elder Willow.”
    “How long will it take for us to reach the
Elder Willow?” asked Elias.
    “On horseback? At least a fortnight. Maybe
longer. It’s at the eastern edge of the