Son of Thunder - Murray J. D. Leeder [97]
"A question for a chief," said Vell. "Chieftains face difficult decisions, as Sungar did that day in the Fallen Lands. I was not there, but I heard what happened. Many questioned his decision to throw the axe away, but I did not think it was my place to question that decision."
"He made the wrong choice," Thluna said, looking down at the axe in his hands. "But I understand why he made it."
"This is your decision," said Vell. "We will follow you. Back to our people, to tell them what you will; or onward to Llorkh, a city completely unknown to us, to death or glory, and to that destiny we came seeking."
Thluna forced a smile. "I have little choice," he said, "when you put it that way."
* * * * *
Thluna faced the marsh, and the Shepherds approached him once again. His seven companions clustered about him.
"I have made a decision," he said, holding the ancient axe. "We will go to Llorkh and reclaim that which was taken from you. We will bring it back here."
The Shepherds seemed unimpressed. "Do you believe you can do this?"
"We believe we must try," Thluna answered. "But there is one condition."
"Which is?"
"This Heart of Runlatha obviously holds great power," said Kellin. "Now that the outside world knows of its existence, it will be doubly difficult to keep yourselves secret. All avenues must be closed."
"Therefore," concluded Thluna, "we will leave this axe with you inside the Sanctuary. Forever."
The Shepherds looked at each other then nodded to the Thunderbeasts. "This is well."
"And something further," said Vell. "You must renounce all claims on the Thunderbeast tribe and on our totem. Abandon this 'shard of the spirit' you have used to mislead us. We cannot have you interfering in our affairs any further."
This brought a violent reaction from the Shepherds. "Our claims are older than yours!" one roared. "We cannot forsake them simply because you ask it!"
"It is our price," said Thluna.
The druid Thanar added, "It is not often that fate affords the opportunity to bargain with one's own past."
"You will fail," predicted another of the Shepherds. "You have failed already, and you will fail again. Any bargain is immaterial."
"Then it should not matter if you enter one," said Thluna. "Swear. Who else will help you? Or shall we just leave you here to die?"
They sneered, then with great reluctance they relented with the slightest of nods. "May the gods speed you to Llorkh," one of them said.
"Any god but Uthgar?" asked Thluna. He turned his back to the Shepherds and led his followers away; they did not look back.
CHAPTER 17
The Central Square in Llorkh had been emptied of its usual town market, but now it held more folk than ever. Onlookers swarmed around its edges where the Lord's Men stood guard, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the strange newcomers. The exotic lizards, each taller than the buildings that surrounded them, were tethered by magic. Each behemoth wore an iron ring around a hind ankle, connected by a massive chain to a stone post in the middle of the square. The chains were enchanted to dissolve flesh that touched them, lest any fool try to release the behemoths. The chains were only long enough for the creatures to reach feed bins placed at the square's edges by some brave Lord's Men.
The great beasts occasionally raised their feet, pulling the chains to their tightest and lifting them off the ground, but the chains could not be broken. And as long as the lizards bore the rings around their ankles, they could not lift more than one foot off the ground at any time. The magical formulation had proven to be simple but effective, for which Geildarr was vastly proud.
From the heights of the Lord's Keep, Geildarr enjoyed stepping onto his balcony and watching the behemoths. He never tired of watching them. A honey-colored bird alighted on the