Hammer of the Gods

Chapter 21

The soldiers who had been healed bowed before joining ranks with those who stood at the front lines of the defenders. Although grateful to be made whole, they raised their spears defensively as they faced the small party.

Upon a makeshift throne, in the middle of the short, stocky, warriors, sat King Hadgrim Grumblemace. The Dwarf King looked ancient. His long white beard protruded from his wrinkled cheeks, and flowed down to his waist. The matching hair of his head joined that of his beard, pouring over and behind his bent shoulders like a cascading waterfall.

The King had a long, dark, scar along the left side of his forehead that ended above his eye and then continued beneath it down his cheek. His left eye was milky white. He wore a golden crown upon his head, and was dressed in purple robes and jewelry. The image of a golden trident was embroidered with thread upon his breast. The emblem of the three pronged spear was surmounted by what looked like a great, faceted, red, gem with rays of light shooting in all directions. A large rune-covered mace lay across his lap. Sharp, deadly, steely points extended from the striking end in all directions.

“It seems too large for his body,” Jonah commented to the archangels.

“Dwarves are strong. Valdangrer is the weapon’s name. It was a gift to Dveorger, the first dwarf, by Poseidon, our brother. Like Crimsonfell, the sword of the Gnome Chief, it is enchanted with heavenly power,” Gabriel explained.

Next to the King’s throne, stood his heir, Prince Gormund Axebringer, who bore a large, double bladed axe that was covered in dwarven runes. The prince’s axe was of the finest shining steel. He held the weapon uprightly before him by the handle. The axe had been forged in the fires created by the lava from the Great Divide. The metal was tempered through heating and cooling for one hundred years until it could cut through steel and stone, armor and bone. There was none other like it. Amongst the dwarves it was called ‘Stone Cleaver’, but to the gnomes it was known as ‘Gnombane.’ The dwarves had a way with metals it was said. A power that came from their angelic blood which could be used to imbue the alloys of molten metal that made it harder and stronger than normal forging. For they too were Nephilim, yet of a different bloodline than Azazyel.

Yet the armor and weapons of dwarven make were still inferior to those of heavenly origin, such as Valdangrer, though they surpassed the craftsmanship of metallurgy compared with other races as far as armor, axes, maces and war hammers.

Yet it was said begrudgingly amongst the dwarves, that the elves had the greater skill with the making of swords and bow and in weaving curious cloth that could hide the wearer from all but the sharpest eyes. Also King Grumblemace’s blacksmiths coveted spears and shields from Asgard, though there were few of these to be found in the realm beneath Enukin Ingik in the long years since the gate was sealed. Yet before the exit to the world above was blocked by the gnomes, they at times had traded with their kin, the Wrangle Mountain dwarves, but their peoples had long been sundered.

Angelica noticed that there was a striking similarity between the prince and Aternerk Sangliak. For the Gnome Chief was the grandson of King Grumblemace. The prince’s beard was nearly as long as his father’s, but was black-shot with two streaks of white. His shoulders were broad; his hands were thick, and his eyes were intense. Bushy hairs shadowed his brown eyes in the half-light, but they appeared fierce and menacing. His armor had been forged by the finest smiths in Svartalfhiem (The dwarf kingdoms within the crust of the earth). The black shining plates of steel glistened with the white light from the archangels.

The prince wore a helm that had two great horns protruding from the sides. The image of a trident surmounted by a red gem was upon his breast. His armor was like gold and blood upon black steel; light over darkness.

Gabriel motioned towards the King as he knelt on one knee beside the lone gnome. “Atungitok, no one will force you to give up the Gnome King’s Heart against your will.”

The little gnome paused a moment longer, seeming to having second thoughts. He glanced once more behind him at Angelica and then turned back towards the dwarves before placing his backpack on the cold stone. He untied the strings that held the top of his pack closed. Reaching within, he reverently drew out the great orb. Even wrapped within the cloth, it was already casting a dim red radiance in all directions. As he removed the covering, the crimson light of the stone mingled with that of the angels and the natural phosphorescence of the cave.

The dwarves all gasped collectively.

Atungitok now stood between the two Archangels.

Gabriel and Raphael stared at the ruby for a few moments before looking at one another with pained expressions. They seemed to be recalling a memory about the gem. Raphael asked his brother a question in the angelic language. “Wussuru abanyarahhu ahu libbu su cacua.”

Gabriel nodded.

As the King struggled to stand, his servants encouraged him to sit, but he waved them off. Using his weapon for support, he approached the strangers with the thud of metal on stone. Prince Axebringer stood beside his father with Stone Cleaver held at the ready in both hands.

Atungitok took a step back in fear knowing full well the reputation of the axe and its master as he held tightly to the ruby.

“What is your name, and how did you come by the birthright of my forefathers?”

Atungitok’s face turned red as he heard the words.

Raphael seemed aware of the pending confrontation; he bent over and placed one large hand on the gnome’s shoulder, as he spoke to him in his native tongue. Whatever he said to the upset little man calmed him down.

The smaller man took a deep breath and then spoke in the common Inupiaq tongue.

“My name is Atungitok son of Ishinkok. Sir, legends say that both our peoples have claim to the great gem of our forefathers. We are on a quest to find Asgard and its ruler, Odin, I am told. I have taken the ruby to ensure safe passage for my companions and me.”

“Ishinkok was your father? Ishinkok? Brother of Umialik Kagrupiat, King Bow and Arrow?”

“Yes, I was the third born child of Umialik Kagrupiat’s brother, Ishinkok. I was not in line for the throne, but I was permitted to hold the gem some times in the days of my youth.

In the early days under the mountain, the sacred stone was enjoyed by all gnomes, not by the King or Chief alone. Aternerk Sangliak is prideful and has kept the gem hidden from his own people. It is not our way.”

“I knew your uncle when he was king. I could not say we were friends, but at least he opened trade for caribou after the death of his father.”

The Dwarf King continued, “For hundreds of years, I have told tales of the beauty of this stone of my… I mean…our, forefathers, but never have the dwarves found its equal since our birthright was stolen from us by the gnomes…I apologize Master Gnome, I meant no offense to you personally. It is an old habit you understand?”

Atungitok pressed his lips together, his face reddening, as he seemed on the verge of a rant when the King apologized. The features of his small face smoothed out and lightened once more.

King Grumblemace explained, “Gladly, will I grant you passage through our lands in exchange for the gem, but you must know we have not yet gained access to Midgard above. We have only the long journey to the inner earth and the paths and perils within. Would you still offer such a mighty gift for an uncertain destination? It is rumored that there are other paths from the inner earth which lead back to the lands above, but they are few and guarded.”

Atungitok looked at Gabriel, who nodded to him.

“Yes, we will accept.” Atungitok held the gem before him as he stared deeply into its depths one last time. His face was bathed in the red glow of the giant ruby. Walking towards the Dwarf King, Atungitok stumbled.

Prince Axebringer raised his weapon, which glinted crimson in the gem’s light.

Angelica cried out in dismay at this turn of events.

As his son made to strike, the old king let his mace fall to the floor and caught the gnome before he hit the hard, cold stone.

The prince stayed his stroke and resumed his watchful vigilance behind his father.

King Grumblemace stood the halfling upon his feet with a quiet strength.

His one-time adversary seemed startled by what had just happened.

“Thank you,” the gnome said.

Atungitok handed the treasured ruby of his forefathers to his sworn enemy, King Hadgrim Grumblemace.

For a moment the large gem pulsed rhythmically as both the gnome and dwarf touched its gleaming facets simultaneously, but then it quickly faded back to its normal, steady, illumination once more as Atungitok withdrew his hands.