Free The Brotherhood of Dwarves: Book 01 - The Brotherhood of Dwarves by D.A. Adams

ground. Most of the citizens were either the descendants of or themselves outcasts from the underground kingdom, but Roskin was sure he could pass through those lands unharmed because of his beard. When they reached the ogres’ lands, they would turn west, following a trade route, and go to the eastern outer gate of Roskin’s kingdom.
    The next morning, Roskin and Bordorn pulled the wagon from its hiding place in the mine and loaded the supplies on one side of the bed. Then, they helped Red into the other side, where he curled up with his new bottle and fell back asleep. Bordorn re-hitched the horse and guided it out of the mine. True to her word, Molgheon walked behind the wagon, her short bow in her left hand and a quiver on her left hip. After slipping the whetstone inside his purse, Roskin moved the dagger and sheath to his right side and attached the sword to his belt with a thin leather strap on the left. Then, he looked around the mine one last time, checking for anything the group might have forgotten. When he was satisfied that nothing had been left, he strode after the horse and wagon that was moving northeast towards the road to Rugraknere.
    It took two days to reach the road, which had been the trade route between Sturdeon and Grefdoughn but was abandoned after the conquest. When they did reach it, they realized that the going would be no faster on this road than cross-country, for most of the stone blocks had been quarried to build farmhouses or watch towers. The patches of stone that had been left were mostly cracked and uneven, and the wagon would never last if they tried to follow the path, so they stayed on the grass and rutted ground and moved slowly along the rolling foothills. For the most part, they traveled during the day and slept in shifts at night, and for the first few days they had fair weather and no company. Within a week, Red had recovered enough to walk for brief periods, and he spent most of his time either thanking Roskin for saving him or telling the others about the episode, which grew more elaborate with each telling.
    After the week of nice weather, their luck gave out, and showers came and passed and came again for six days. The ground softened to slop, and while Red drove, Roskin, Molgheon, and Bordorn spent as much time pushing the wagon as walking. Their tempers and conversations became short, and all of them wanted nothing more than a dry bed and a change of clothes. Instead, they moved fewer than five miles a day, which worried Bordorn and Roskin, who both knew that by now someone had caught their track. In the dark hours, they discussed their fears and considered leaving the wagon, but both dwarves knew that Red would never make Rugraknere without the horse.
    When the rain finally cleared, they were still a full day from the nearest village, and the ground was practically impassable for the wagon, but one bit of fortune did turn their way. The road itself became less and less quarried and was almost smooth enough to drive. Roskin scouted ahead and found that they were within half a mile of being able to use it, and their spirits rose. The dwarves doubled their efforts, and Red got down from the seat and led the horse by the bridle. In an hour, they reached the usable surface, but the dwarves were too exhausted to celebrate. They collapsed on the stones and rested, while Red prepared a lunch of leftover deer and seeds. The old man served them and cleared the mess, and within another hour they were ready to continue. As Roskin helped repack the cooking equipment, the dark fear suddenly flooded him, and he dropped a skillet, drew his sword, and called to the others.
    “What’s wrong?” Molgheon asked, readying her bow.
    “Something’s coming.” He backed towards the wagon.
    “Humans,” Bordorn said, drawing his short sword. “I just smelled them.”
    Red climbed into the seat and reached for the reins, but Molgheon, who was too far from the wagon to leap, called for him to