"Maybe."

"I bet that's why we can't find a door. It's been hidden by magic."

"Or maybe it doesn't exist, and we've been led by a fool on a fool's errand," snapped Markus.

"Jonas isn't a fool," Kat retorted. She looked at Ethan. "You don't think that, do you?"

He spread his hands. "I don't know what to think. But I have to agree with Markus. This looks like a dead end."

Kat crinkled her nose and frowned. "You should have more faith. He's gotten us this far."

"He's gotten us this far?" Markus scoffed. "If it wasn't for him, we'd already be at the coast by now. Not cornered in a forgotten cave, looking for a door that doesn't exist."

"He'll find it," she shot back. "You'll see." She flashed Ethan a smile. "Then we'll both be able to learn magic together."

"What makes you think the dwarves can teach you magic?" Markus asked.

"I don't know. But if they were friends with Ethan's family, I bet they have books...or something like that."

"Don't count on it," Markus told her. "I don't know much about mages. But I do know that dwarves don't use magic."

"Then how do they make magic weapons?" she challenged.

"You ask too many questions," he growled, then shifted so that his back was to her.

"They'll know something," she said in a half whisper, determined to have the last word.

Jonas continued to scour the walls for another two hours before finally giving up. He refused to make eye contact with Markus, and when Ethan attempted to speak with him he waved him away, muttering incoherently.

They waited until they were confident it must be well past sundown before heading back toward the entrance. Jonas looked sadly over his shoulder and shook his head.

"It's all right," Ethan consoled him. "It was a long time ago. I'm sure there used to be a way inside back then."

Before Jonas could respond, the sudden clatter of steel and stomping of boots echoed loudly down the tunnel. Markus and Ethan both quickly drew their swords.

"I don't suppose you can burn them like you did the Rakasa," asked Markus.

Ethan desperately wished that he could. They could now see the light from a dozen torches as the enemy crested the top of the slope. But they did not advance any further.

"Dragonvein!" The voice of Hronso thundered out, sending fear into Ethan's heart. "I know you're down there."

Ethan strained his eyes, but could not see him. "I'm here," he called back.

"I underestimated you, mage," he said. "I have not suffered injury in many centuries. That is a mistake I shall not make twice."

"Leave my friends alone and I'll come with you," he offered.

Both Kat and Jonas grabbed his shoulders, pulling him back.

"You can't," said Jonas in a loud whisper. "Shinzan will kill you."

Kat simply looked at him with pleading eyes.

Ethan jerked away. "It's my choice."

"I can hear you, you know," Hronso called out. "Specter can live. But your servant has to come with me too. And I think I'll need the young girl as well. Something tells me that she might be of interest to the Emperor."

"You don't need anyone but me. And if you try to take my friends, I'll burn you again." He hoped his bluff would at least buy them a short time to think of something.

"Perhaps you could," Hronso responded. "Perhaps it was your own power and not the dragon's last time. But then again, if you were able to, I think you would have done so already. I, on the other hand, can definitely burn you."

Ethan saw a bright red light begin to flash sporadically, drowning out the torchlight. Markus s.n.a.t.c.hed his collar and threw him toward the rear of the cavern.

"Run!" he shouted to the others.

Kat and Jonas obeyed instantly. But they had only made a few steps when a tremendous roar ripped through the air. Ethan glanced over his shoulder and saw a ma.s.sive ball of flame streaking toward them.

"Get down!" he cried out.

They all hit the ground an instant before the inferno would have consumed them. Ethan could feel the intense heat from it blistering the flesh of his back. There was the sudden stench of singed hair.

Moments after pa.s.sing over them, the fireball smashed into the far wall and exploded with a thunderous boom. The cavern rumbled and shook, showering them with dust and debris.

"He's got a dwarf weapon," coughed Markus.

"Indeed I do," affirmed Hronso, sounding pleased with himself.

The pain from his burned skin made Ethan grit his teeth as he stood up. He glanced over in Kat's direction. Her face was a mask of sheer terror and her eyes were filling with tears.

"I will not ask you again," shouted Hronso.

Ethan's heart pounded. I have to remember, he thought desperately. He pictured the moment the dragon had placed its head in his hands. What had he felt? Peace. Love. Then something else. Sorrow. But why? He imagined Hronso charging in, sword poised to strike. But after that, no matter how hard he tried, everything was still as blank as ever.

He saw the red glow of the dwarf weapon begin to flash again. Kat clutched at his arm.

"To the back of the cave," ordered Markus.

Again they ran. The fire burst forth, this time striking the ground where they had only just been standing. The heat blasted Ethan's already burned back and it took all his strength not to cry out from the pain "Why aren't you fighting back, Dragonvein," taunted Hronso. "You did threaten to burn me again, did you not? Do you lack the power?"

"Why don't you come down here and find out," Ethan challenged.

Hronso responded with harsh laughter. "Bring them to me!" he ordered his men.

The song of steel was quickly followed by the stomping of boots.

"Better than being roasted alive," remarked Markus somberly.

"You should disappear," Ethan whispered to Kat.

She glared at him defiantly. "I'm not going anywhere."

He opened his mouth to argue, but Jonas had already grabbed her hand and pulled her back.

"Stay with me," he told her. He took a few steps further to the rear, allowing Ethan and Markus to stand together in front of them.

"I really wish I knew how to fight with this d.a.m.n thing," Ethan said, looking at his sword.

Markus smiled. "Just remember that the sharp end points away from you."

He returned the smile and readied himself.

The stomping of the soldier's boots drew closer. Ethan could now make out their ominous silhouettes; they were closing quickly. Yet again his mind concentrated fiercely, searching for a way to produce the same bolt of fire that had dealt with Hronso before. Try harder, he kept telling himself. Try harder.....

Then he heard a faint rumbling sound. For a moment he thought it was coming from inside his head, a result of the intense pressure he was creating within himself. But the sound quickly grew much louder, and then the ground began to shake violently. Large chunks of rock and debris fell from the ceiling and smashed onto the floor between him and the soldiers. They halted, unsure what to do.

With the shaking growing ever more intense, both he and Markus were struggling to keep their feet. They turned and stumbled toward the rear wall, grabbing Jonas and Kat as they pa.s.sed. Once at the dead end, the four of them huddled together, unable to do anything more than watch as larger and larger rocks fell. Within moments the soldier's torches had vanished from view.

"Come!" a deep voice called out a few yards to Ethan's right.

He looked across to see that a small section of the wall had opened as if on hinges. Standing just inside was a shadowy figure no taller than four feet, yet extremely broad in the shoulder.

"Come," the figure repeated urgently. "Unless you wish to be buried alive."

Ethan shoved Kat and Jonas ahead. Markus followed close behind. Once inside, the door closed behind them. The clamor of the collapse continued to reverberate, filling the air with dust.

Shielding his eyes, Ethan peered ahead, but the way was too dark to see. He reached up and touched the ceiling. It was only just high enough for him to walk upright, though Markus would undoubtedly need to bend down.

"Hurry," called the voice. "This tunnel is unstable."

Markus took the lead, his sword drawn and ready.

They walked as fast as they could manage for about five hundred yards. The ground was level throughout, and even the walls gradually transitioned from a natural formation to being smooth and neatly squared.

A light beckoned from just ahead. Markus gestured for Ethan to draw his sword as well. Though he was hesitant to show signs of aggression toward someone who had just saved their lives, he did as Markus instructed. This did not go unnoticed by Jonas. He regarded them both with deep disapproval.

The pa.s.sage ended at a small chamber approximately thirty foot square. Embedded into the walls at regular intervals were stones about the size of a man's fist that glowed dimly with yellow light. At the far end were two iron doors. The one on the left was flung wide. Beside it stood their rescuer.

The dwarf was clad in a dark brown leather vest over a green shirt. His trousers were tan cloth dingy and torn and his boots rode high up his short thick calves. Narrow dark eyes surrounded by deep lines stood out clearly in a face that was otherwise ghostly pale. Dense wiry hair which fell down to the top of his chest was divided into three braids, held together at the ends by a silver bead. In his right hand he held a small axe, though a much larger one was strapped across his back. On his belt hung a green glowing rod about a foot in length.

"Which one of you calls himself Dragonvein?" he demanded.

Ethan stepped forward. "I do."

The dwarf scrutinized him for a long moment. "Why did you come here?"

"We seek sanctuary," Jonas interjected.

The dwarf huffed. "And why should I give it?"

"Because you are obliged to do so," Jonas stated firmly. "Will you not honor the agreement made between your people and the Dragonvein family?"

"Ha! You must think me a fool. The Dragonvein's have been gone for more than five hundred years."

"Then why open your door to us in the first place?" Jonas challenged. "It is obvious you heard us speak the name, did you not?"

"I did. And the name Dragonvein is not unfamiliar to me. My grandfather spoke of it often. Yet I do not see how this boy can be of that line. I saved your lives because I was curious, nothing more."

"Will you honor the oath?" asked Jonas.

The dwarf gave Ethan another long look. "If he is not who he claims to be, then you will all wish you had died in the cavern." He jabbed a finger at the drawn weapons. "Do not think me defenseless. Treachery will only guarantee your death."

Ethan put away his blade. After a brief hesitation, Markus did the same.

Jonas bowed low. "I am Jonas. This is Ethan, Markus and Kat. We thank you for your aid."

He gave a slight nod. "I am Birger. And do not thank me yet. I do not offer you sanctuary. Only the king can do that, and he may not suffer your presence. Just pray that you can prove this boy to be who he claims."

With that, Birger turned and stepped through the open door.

"You see?" said Jonas. "Our luck has held after all."

Markus shrugged. "For now."

"At least we're still alive," Ethan offered.

"True," Markus replied. "But I wonder how you propose to prove you're a Dragonvein? I get the feeling the king won't just take your word for it."

"You let me worry about that," said Jonas.

Birger's voice called out. "I will not wait for you."

Ethan slapped Markus on the back and smiled. "Let's go, buddy."

Markus shook his head. "The Krauts, the Empire...and now the dwarves. h.e.l.l, why not?"

Chapter Fifteen.

For several hours they followed Birger through a labyrinth of halls and pa.s.sageways that twisted and turned ever deeper into the mountain. Occasionally they could hear the clanking of hammers or the echo of distant voices, but Birger paid no attention to these and pressed resolutely on. Everywhere they pa.s.sed through, the construction was superb. The walls and floors were smooth and highly polished, lit by the same round stones they had seen in the first area. Ethan asked the dwarf what they were, but he did not appear interested in conversation.

"I think they're rajni stones," Jonas told him. "Though I've never seen them so big. And I've never heard of them being used to light rooms and hallways."

"What are rajni stones?" Ethan asked.