Free Trek to Kraggen-Cor by 1932- Dennis L. McKiernan Page B

and made hope leap into my heart."
    "It's the same horn, you know," said Cotton, rummaging in his pack. "It's the one Captain Patrel used to rally the Warrows in fight after fight with Modru's Reavers. That's why I blew it; it was back to Budgens again. Usually we blow it here once a year, on the battle anniversary; but it seemed like the thing to do today also, since we're setting off on a mission." Cotton passed the small bugle to Borin.
    Perry spoke up: "It's called the Horn of the Reach, and it was given over to Patrel by Vidron himself, General of the Alliance, Whelmer of Modru's Horde. The Raven Book says the horn was found almost twenty-six hundred years ago in the hoard of Sleeth the Orm by Elgo, Sleeth's Doom; but of its history ere then, nothing is said."
    "Elgo, Sleeth's Doom, you say? Thief Elgo, Foul Elgo, treasure stealer, / say," snapped Borin, angrily setting the horn aside, ire flashing in his eyes. "He slew the Dragon, true, but then he foully claimed the Chak treasure for his own. But it was not his! The Dragon hoard was ours! Sleeth came to Blackstone—the Chakka Halls of the Rigga Mountains—plundering, marauding, pillaging, slaying; we were driven out. Sleeth remained, sleeping for centuries upon a bed of stolen gold. Then Thief Elgo came and slew the great Cold-drake. By trick! When we heard that Sleeth was dead, we rejoiced, and asked for that which was rightfully ours. In sneering pride, Foul Elgo came to Kachar, to the throne of Brak, then DelfLord of those halls. And False Elgo laughed at and mocked us, flinging down a great pouch made of Dragon's hide at Brak's feet, scoffing. 'A purse such as this you must make ere you can fill your treasuries with Dracongield; yet beware, for only the brave may pluck this cloth from its loom.' " Borin chopped the edge of one hand into the palm of the other. "Such an affront could not be borne, and we were avenged against Jeering Elgo, who japed nevermore. But nought of

    Sleeth's stolen hoard was ever recovered by us, the Chakka, the true owners." Bonn's eyes flashed darkly, and the muscles in his jaw clenched, and he breathed heavily.
    Perry had listened with growing amazement to the anger in Bonn's voice, and saw that Anval, too, was grinding his teeth in suppressed rage. "But Borin, Anval," said the \\ arrow, baffled by the Dwarves' intense manner, "those events took place ages past, far from here, and concerned people long dead; yet it is you who seem ired, though it happened centuries and centuries before either of you were born."
    "Elgo was a thief!" spat Bonn. "And an insulter of my ancestors' He who seeks the wrath of the Chakka finds it! Forever!" Borin turned his face away from Pern , and his smoldering eyes stared without seeing over the passing countryside, and Anval sullenly fingered the edge of his axe.
    Interminable moments passed, but at last Pern- spoke: "Whether Elgo was a thief as you say, or a Dragon-slaying hero as some tell it, or both, I cannot say; but the silver horn at your side perhaps came from that disputed treasure."
    And in the back of the rolling waggon, slowly and with visible effort, Borin at last mastered his Dwarvish passion; grudgingly, he began to examine the trumpet. "This was made by the Chakka," he muttered, and then he turned his attention to the engraved swift-running rider-mounted horses winding through carven runes twining 'round the flange of the horn-bell. Borin gave a start and sucked in air between his teeth, and looked hard at the clarion; and he hissed a Dwarf word— Warokf"
    Xarok: Bonn's taut utterance seemed to jerk Anval upright, and he stared sharply at his brother.
    After a long while Borin passed the bugle to Anval, who studied it as intensely; and then, after another long while, Anval reluctantly gave the clarion back to Cotton, warning, "Beware, Waeran, this trump must be blown only in time of dire need." And about it neither Anval nor Borin would say more.
    In wonder, Cotton took back the horn and