Year 2657, Third Age
PROLOGUE 1 – EREBOR, Mountain Kingdom of the Longbeard Dwarves
The stone inlay of the table cracked under Aki's fist, shards flying everywhere. "Those contentious, arrogant idiots! Óthin may head the Goldsmith’s Guild and sit on King Thror’s Council, but he has let Máur build an entire rival power-base. They are dragging the Guild into their quarrelling. I swear we nearly had axes out in this meeting alone!"
"What foolishness has Óthin done this time?" Noli's low voice was warm and soothing. A full tankard of golden ale appeared in front of Aki.
He ignored it. “Óthin may be the King’s cousin, but he is no leader. He leaps into action when he should wait. When he must act, he just sits and nods and plays with that stupid gold talisman coin he picked up in Rohan last year.” Noli could practically hear Aki’s teeth grinding in frustration.
"He is only a third cousin," Noli commented drily. She had never been impressed with Óthin.
“And he has traded on that shamelessly to gain the rank of Guildmaster,” Aki growled. “Máur is actually the better goldsmith, but he is too short-tempered and short-sighted to be an effective leader. The problem is that so many have been affronted by Óthin’s recent ways they are now supporting Máur, whatever his temper.” Aki had calmed enough to drink from his cup.
He looked down at his wife’s lovely face and dark eyes, now focused on him with an expression of intense interest. “Instead of changing his offending behavior and confronting Máur directly, Óthin is maneuvering to regain adherents behind the scenes. So is Máur.” Noli could see the crimson flush of rage creeping up the side of Aki’s neck as his anger rose again. "They are both lying like dragons to gain leverage among the younger Guild members, making rash promises they cannot possibly keep. Then they shrewdly solicit support from the older members individually by telling each that his wisdom is needed 'to keep the young hot-heads in line.' The elders fall for it!" Aki’s voice was getting louder. Red had crept up to Aki’s ears now. "They will end up in a full-scale feud if they aren't stopped. No one else on the Guild Council seems willing to step in.”
He sat down with a thump, running both hands through his wavy brown hair in frustration. “I could do better, but I am the youngest on the Council. I don’t have enough rank to challenge for the leadership. If I tried, I might split the Guild even further, which would be a disaster.”
Noli's strong hands rested gently on his shoulders, pushing aside the heavy brown braids that held his long hair away from his face. “Dwarves can be just as foolish as Men, my love. You will weather this storm and lead the Guild yourself one day.” She frowned slightly as she kissed the top of his head before sitting down on the opposite side of the table.
He tugged at the braids of his beard restlessly. “You don't understand. Each has approached me to join their faction. They both want access to my trading contacts in the East. Worse, they have too many followers now for me to resist either request with impunity. No matter which one I refuse, it will go badly. I’ll be caught between hammer and anvil,” he grumbled. “I need to be somewhere else for awhile.”
“You are right, of course. If you were not here, you would be out of their machinations completely. What about another trading trip with Stígur?”
“He’s trying to finesse the situation by investing in both sides,” Aki snorted. “They have too much influence with my usual trade partners here and even in Dale. I would have to go farther; deal with someone where they would not or could not follow. Worse, I would have to go alone. Their squabbling is having repercussions far beyond the Goldsmiths’ Guild.”
“So you will need to go somewhere new. Could you sign on as a guard with a human caravan?”
“The profit from such work is small, but I might, just to get clear of their stupidity.” He sighed. “That, however, would leave you and young Kelin here unprotected,” he said, turning to look at her speculatively. Noli raised an inquiring eyebrow. “They might target you and Kelin to influence me,” he snarled. “I don’t trust either of them.”
Noli’s face fell. “They have become dragons indeed, if you believe that. Let me think for a moment.” She sank into pensive silence, staring into the fire, touching each pendant jewel hanging from her silken black beard in turn as she did when deep in thought. Aki waited, admiring her exotic black-haired beauty. He wondered again how he had been so blessed to have her choose him, and congratulated himself again on being smart enough to set aside his single-minded focus on his craft and accept her offer.
“You do not need to go out as a guard.” Noli finally spoke quietly. “If this wrangling is affecting your trading partners in Dale, maybe you could go with one of the elves? What about Norion of the ravens? He deals in much more than pack ponies and trades both east and west. He has traded with you very favorably in the past, so we know his word is good. He rarely makes contracts with other dwarves, so he is not likely to be involved in this feud.”
“I am not so certain that he is trustworthy,” Aki said. “He is an elf, for all that he gives us better terms than anyone else. If I knew why he did that, I might trust him more. But his wife and son travel with him. I have seen myself that he will do nothing to endanger them. He is totally loyal to his family. That I do trust.”
Noli laughed. “I’m not sure about not endangering them, letting them travel the trade roads like that. Elves and Men seem to let their women run all over the place. They don't protect them well at all.” There was the tiniest note of envy mixed with the disapproval in her voice.
“Norion’s lady Naerel doesn’t need much protection. I’ve seen her use that curved Easterling blade she carries. She’s one of the fastest I’ve ever seen with a sword. But what about you? My departure will still leave you and the baby here alone in the face of their feuding. I won't go. I will find some other way to get clear of them.”
Noli laughed again. “Kelin and I will stay with your sister. Since Svi married Torvaldur in the Armorer’s Guild, I have not been able to spend much time with her. Even better, she is near her time with her firstborn.” Aki smiled at the reminder. “Svi will be delighted to have my company and my help while you go west with Norion and trade for pearls for a new piece I am designing, right?”
Aki finally burst out laughing himself. “Aren't you a bright torch in a dark hall! Maybe you should be the one contending to be Guildmaster. You are very clever, treasure of my heart. We will try this your way.”
PROLOGUE 2 – THE TOWER ON AMON LANC, EIGHT MONTHS LATER
In the cold circular room at the top of the tower, an Orc and an Easterling looked sideways at each other, shivering as they stood in the presence of their overlord. It had been long since he had possessed the strength to manifest in a way that could interact with the physical world. They both wished it had been longer. They cringed in unison, choking back moans of pain as their minds were brutally invaded with an image of a tall, dark-haired elf. The rasping subterranean voice echoed and re-echoed off the bare stones. “I have seen him near, the one now called Norion, the ring-maker. He has left the safety of the main caravan. Take one of the shadow-weapons. Bring him to me alive.”
