Free The Dragons of Ash and Smoke (Tales from the New Earth Book 5) by J.J. Thompson Page A

with
silver veins.
    Across
the room was a dais that rose several feet above the ground. Seated
there were a dozen dwarves, men and women, wearing everything from
simple tunics and trousers to robes. A few were even wearing armor.
    A
cross-section of the population was Simon's guess.
    In
the center of the dais, a high metal throne, apparently made of gold
and silver and inset with fabulous gems, towered over the council
members. It was occupied by a raven-haired dwarf dressed even more
simply than the people around him.
    Wearing
a brown leather vest and matching pants, the dwarf sat comfortably,
nodding at someone's comment. It had to be the king, but the only way
that Simon could tell was the simple silver band the figure was
wearing on his brow.
    With
Opheilla leading the way, they began crossing the chamber and Simon
could see more details as they approached the dais. The king's beard
was intricately braided and hung down to his knees as he sat on his
throne. The wizard wasn't able to see the dwarf's face because he was
leaning to the left and had his head turned while he spoke with
several of the council members.
    When
they had approached to within twenty feet of the dais, Opheilla
stopped and waited patiently to be noticed.
    Simon
stared at the king, thinking that the ruler must be a humble man. Why
else wear such simple garb and chat so casually with his council? He
just wished that they could get on with it. He was getting tired. The
journey there had sapped his meager reserves of strength.
    A
woman in the group that the king was speaking with gestured toward
the two visitors and the dwarf nodded and turned on his throne to
stare down at them. The piercing black eyes caught Simon's in their
gaze and the king smiled at him.
    “ Welcome,
my friends,” the ruler said warmly and the wizard gaped up at
him. Opheilla chuckled beside him.
    “ Stanis!”
Simon finally gasped in disbelief.
    The
dwarf threw back his head and laughed heartily. Several of the
council members joined in and the wizard felt his face burn with
embarrassment.
    Finally
the king held up a hand and the laughter was cut off abruptly. He
grinned at Simon.
    “ Forgive
me, my friend. We are not mocking you. But you should have seen your
expression. It was priceless.”
    Simon
had to smile at the comment.
    “ Yeah,
I can imagine. But, but Stanis...you're the king? Why didn't you tell
me? You said, way back when we first met, that your father was the
ruler of a small city and that you were his second son.”
    Stanis'
face fell and his smile was replaced by a look of sad regret.
    “ That
was quite true, my friend, at the time. What I may have neglected to
say was that my father was the younger brother of our king. The king
was killed in our confrontation with the mutated dragons, bravely
leading our troops as a ruler should. He had no heirs and so my
father became king and named my elder brother the heir apparent.
Several months ago, they were both murdered by a traitorous faction
here in the city. I was wounded but thankfully Opheilla was able to
heal my injuries.”
    Simon
stared at him in horror.
    “ Murdered?”
    Stanis
nodded grimly.
    “ But
that's terrible. By your own people? I don't understand.”
    “ What
is there to understand, young man?” a councilor commented from
the right side of the throne. He was a heavy-set dwarf with a sparse
beard, wearing a rich purple robe and many gold chains.
    “ Dwarves
can be as treacherous as any other race when it comes to grasping for
power. Those traitors wanted to rule and were willing to commit
regicide to do so. They have been neutralized,” he added with a
cold smile.
    Simon
shivered. So even here in this ancient city, people could be as evil
and treasonous as humans once were. It was a thought that filled him
with sadness.
    “ Thank
you, Durgen,” Stanis said heavily and the other dwarf sat back,
nodding to himself.
    “ Yes,
they were rooted out and punished,” the king continued. He
waved a hand