Hammer of the Gods

Chapter 25

The Captain stared open mouthed a moment longer before bowing his head and saluting to the prince, “As you wish my Lord.”

Angelica and the others looked at one another in surprise and then all turned towards the archangels. Raphael spoke briefly with Gabriel in the angelic tongue, before they nodded to one another, “It was meant to be it would seem, but we cannot guarantee your safety once we enter the inner earth, although we shall try,” Gabriel stated.

“I have been given my title, Hammerhand, only because I am a prince of the royal house. Otherwise, your surname must be earned, and I intend to do that. If I am denied the chance in the battle with the gnomes, then perhaps this quest will allow me to hold my title in honor if I should return.”

Hammerhand instructed the guards to retrieve supplies from the guardhouse. The small party took a few minutes to equip themselves for their long journey. There was chain mail and helms large enough for the shape-shifters who had lost theirs and a pair of dwarven swords and shields as well. They loaded up back packs with food stores, water skins, ground pads, and sleeping rolls. They also brought a couple of hunting bows and two quivers of arrows. Those were not used much by the dwarves for hunting purposes, but they could be useful for catching game or for ranged defense on their journey.

They would have to figure out another way to have light beyond the gate; the number of torches they could carry would not be enough to last the three weeks it would take to reach the center of the earth.

Gabriel went in the lead, followed by Hammerhand, Angelica, and Jonah. Lorne, Nanuk, and Atungitok followed with Raphael in the rear. After they passed through the entryway, they paused as they looked back at the Captain and his men. The prince signaled for the doors to be closed and locked. Stout guards pushed upon the doors which screeched in protest before clanging with a thud which echoed down unseen paths and beyond. The cross bar was put back in place, as the gate was again locked. The pair of torches cast dancing illumination across their faces as they stood in a small circle surrounded by dark shadows.

Gabriel and Raphael each retrieved a handful of stones from the floor. They began to pray in the Angelic tongue, and suddenly the round rocks flared to life with a radiant white light. They passed one to each member of the party. Raphael said, “For our journey, but cover them when we must use stealth and secrecy. We call these carbunculi, or fire-eyes. They will aid you in dark places when all other lights are extinguished. Their brightness can be manipulated based on your will. Though they bear no other power of their own, the evil spirits and undead are not fond of them and may be blinded by their radiance temporarily.”

Jonah stood transfixed as he stared for a moment at the illuminated orb that rested upon his palm, before finally looking up to ask Prince Hammerhand another question. “How far is the journey to Asgard?”

“That depends. There are several paths between Svartalfaheim and the other realms. Most of the tunnels do not take a simple, straight path, but have branches off the main passageways that may lead you astray to a realm where you do not wish to go. Take the wrong path and we might end up in Jotunheim, or worse, Muspelheim or even Hell. If we find the road my uncle took long ago, then it is nearly a three-week journey from the dwarven gate to Asgard.”

“Three weeks?” Jonah said a bit crestfallen. He looked at Angelica and the same disenchanted look was mirrored in her pretty face.

They journeyed for the rest of the day, if indeed it was day. It was impossible to know in the labyrinth. Angelica slowed her pace until she was walking beside Raphael. He glanced at her and smiled. Like Gabriel, he was very tall, but in his human form, his hair was dark and curly beneath his helm. He seemed content to let Gabriel lead. She had been intrigued watching another archangel as he healed the dwarves in such a caring way.

Angelica asked, “Tell me, Raphael, why don’t you and Gabriel just teleport us to Asgard like he did taking Jonah and me from Anchorage to Nome?”

“Our ability to teleport others only works above ground. The amulets that my brother gave you in Nome allowed us to be summoned to your location when you squeezed the amulet and thought of him. When you stepped on the bridge, you were in the transition between two realms, that of your world or Midgard and the realm of the dwarves or Svartalfheim.”

“I thought the earth was full of molten lava?”

Raphael smiled, “Tell me, how deep have mortals dug into the earth?”

“I don’t know for sure; perhaps a few miles?”

Raphael laughed, “Then how do they truly know what lies within the bowels of this world?”

***

On the evening of the second day, Hammerhand and Atungitok got into an argument about the history of gnomes and dwarves. Each tried speaking over the other at first, but at the behest of Raphael, they were allowed to sit across from one another and tell their side of the story in turn. While one would talk, the other sat glaring, nostrils flaring, arms crossed, eyes rolled, while shaking their head back and forth. Periodically, a deep sigh or grunt was heard. Each could barely hold their tongue as the other spoke.

Atungitok’s face grew beet red, with his brow furrowed. He would puff out his cheeks as his lips pursed and his eyes grew wide when he would hear the dwarf’s story take paths that disagreed with his own legends. Raphael had to push the little gnome back down more than once when he tried to launch himself at Hammerhand.

“Yourmes only claim to the Heart is that your ancestor stole it from my forefathers,” Hammerhand declared.

“What! You stinky, squat, cave troll!” Atungitok yelled coming to his feet, but he was gently restrained by Raphael.

“Cave troll? Is that the best you can do halfling?” The young dwarven prince retorted.

“Half…why you smelly, inbred…”

“Atungitok, calm down,” Raphael said calmly looking down at the little man.

The two characters glared at one another across the small fire in silence.

Angelica and Lorne chuckled watching the dramatic scene, while Jonah scribbled furiously in his notebook.

Gabriel finally interjected. “I see that your history of your peoples and the great ruby is incomplete. I must now fill in the blanks and tear down some misconceptions. Both of you would be wise to listen. The dwarves and the gnomes are related in ages past. Their bitter conflicts arose with a debate over which son of their angelic forefather would inherit what became known as the Gnome King’s Heart or Dwarf King’s Heart as it has been called by each respective race. As you know it appears as a giant ruby which produces its own light.”

“The gem stone had originally been entrusted to King David. It was rumored that it can act as a sort of compass when used by one with great faith and who carries the blood of angels in their veins or, as in the case of King David, one who is anointed as a prophet. David, buried the gem beneath the Temple in Jerusalem after he had a dream that his son, Solomon, would eventually turn to the worship of other gods. He feared that it might be used unrighteously. The gem was eventually taken from beneath the temple by an Angel named Safriel at my command. The King’s Heart and the Holy Grail are connected.

“What is the Holy Grail?” Lorne asked.

“It is the cup of Christ, the chalice which caught some of his blood as it fell from the cross,” Jonah blurted out, “Sorry Gabriel, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”

“Quite alright Jonah, feel free to add to the tale I skip over some detail, for your family have been keepers of lost knowledge since the Great Flood and there may be things which you could add to the story, that even Raphael and I have not learned of thus far,” Gabriel said.

Gabriel continued, “The Knights Templar took possession of the sacred cup when it was discovered beneath the Temple Mount in Jerusalem during their occupation there.

“Safriel took the gem to King Arthur. He used it to find the Holy Grail after it had been lost. By placing the stone atop a temple which safeguarded the chalice, its light allowed the Knights of the Round Table to find their way home in the dark. After Camelot’s King died, I sent Safriel back to the earth to retrieve the ruby and bury it beneath Stonehenge. Meanwhile, the Holy Grail was secreted away by the freemasons.”

“Where is the Grail kept now?” Jonah asked.

“We do not know,” Raphael interjected.

“But you are archangels, don’t you know everything?” Lorne asked.

“Only our father is omnipotent, or all knowing. We possess great knowledge and wisdom for we have lived since beyond the creation of this world and much is known to us, but we cannot read your thoughts and neither may we see all places at once. However, this also has been to our advantage in that our brother, Satanel, cannot read your thoughts, but is limited to watching your actions or listening to your words. While we do not know where he may be, nor what guise he may wear to deceive, neither can he track our movements, save by ill fortune if one of his servants might see us and report to him of our journey,” Raphael explained.

“Well, if stealth is needed then you should send the dwarf back for he is so loud we may as well blow a horn of our comings and goings,” Atungitok said.

Hammerhand scowled at the gnome and crossed his arms.

“We should address that young prince. Perhaps we can wrap some cloth around those metal boots of yours. They do tend to give us away, though they may thwart the sharpest of rocks,” Gabriel commented.

“Well, perhaps I can use the imp’s coat for coverings?” Hammerhand said with a mocking grin.

“Just try it runt, how old are you anyway?” Atungitok stated as he placed one hand on his hunting knife. It was little more than a steak knife to the humans, but it appeared rather large on the semi-balding gnome’s waist.

“I am past my teens in my mid-tweens.”

“In your tweens? I am 249 years young. You should shave that scruff off your chin, because your not even of age for a beard, even if you could grown one,” The little gnome said mockingly.

Hammerhand reached for his weapon.

“Now children, to think that you have angelic blood in your veins…if you can refrain a bit longer I will finish the story,” Gabriel said with a voice that seemed grow unnaturally loud and deep, like a roaring wave upon the sea shore.

The gnome and dwarf looked up a bit frightened at the tall, heavenly being and quickly released their grips upon both knife and war hammer.

“We have angelic blood?” Atungitok asked a bit sheepishly.

“I am trying to get to that. He never really explained why he decided to walk to Stonehenge rather than teleport there. I personally have tried to spend as little time in this fallen world as I can, but some angels enjoy it here. Too much time among the daughters of men has led to the fall of angels in times past, and so it was with Safriel. In truth, I partially blame myself for not sending a companion with him. He truly intended to bury the ruby beneath Stonehenge as I ordered, but on his journey there he met a woman named Nancy. He fell in love with her, even though this is forbidden. To his credit, he did not reveal heavenly secrets to his wife as had the Watchers. His punishment shall be Eternal nevertheless,” Gabriel said.