Arrygg paced the room; she knew Rili and Skagdin’s family. She heard the tail and wanted to believe. But there was no physical sign in the mountains of a dragon recently being there. None. She looked at her newest lost one. Egfor. A bonnie laddie if ever she saw one. She looked back at her adopted son, Dem. She paced some more. She stopped in front of Copperspire. “You say he should have felt Egfor’s terror from the dream?”
The tall elf nodded. “Aye, he should have.”
“Dem, you claim you knew nothing until he screamed. And only when he fully woke did you feel terror?”
Dem nodded. “Aye, Mum.”
“Egfor, do you remember if you were scared or were you just watching?”
“I was Skagdin, and I was feeling everything he felt. It wasn’t me at all. So stop looking at me that way. I am not making this up.”
Dem took a deep breath, “I believe you; I just don’t understand. I should have felt something!”
“Stop it, both of you. Dem that is what we are trying to figure out. What is going on? Because it almost sounds like the spirits are forcing themselves on you, son. When you talk for a spirit to one here, you feel what they feel even though those might not be your current feelings, yes?”
Egfor shrugs, “I think so. I never paid much attention.” Egfor finally looks up from the floor where he had been cuddling Dunwine. “Arrygg, you think this Skadgin is a spirit?”
Arrygg closes her eyes and paces; they are not dwarves, she should not share these things, but they are her sons. And then there was the elf. So many dwarves accepted him as part of the community, but was he that accepted. So why did Nimbi choose this year to go in search of more books? Bah, she lived most of her life making decisions against the code, what was once more. “What I am about to say is dwarven knowledge. I don’t want to hear either of you talking about this to anyone, understand?”
“Aye, Mum.”
“Oh, please stop being so dramatic Arrygg, the dwarves accept me.”
“Not for everything, you oversized ale drinking arse.”
“Fine, I promise.”
“Stop being passive-aggressive. That is below you.”
“I promise on my lifeblood, then.”
She turned and looked at Egfor.
“Who would I tell besides Dem. Most people don’t believe in spirits, let alone I can talk to them.”
“Skagdin lived some twenty-five years ago. He and Rili went seeking fortune, and Skagdin was killed, and they claim Rili became delusional with grief. Rili claimed they were attacked by a dragon. He was badly injured, and Skagdin died in dragon flame. Most dwarves believe it was a joke gone bad. No signs of a dragon have been seen since the killing of Smaug. I looked where Rili showed me and the entire surrounding area. There were no signs of a dragon. None. I found some ancient scars on the mountainsides that could have been from dragon claws, but he was so old it was impossible to say they definitely were dragon claw marks.”
Egfor looked up, “So you are saying the dead spirit of the dwarf is showing me the truth?”
“I don’t know, my wee laddie. I know about Soothe Sayers. I met a couple of them in Dunland. I think I was more accepted by them than the regular people. But, of course, soul-singing has to do with the living spirit, but it is spirit nonetheless, yes?”
Egfor shrugged, “I don’t know much about it.”
Arrygg glared at Dem. “I … it never really came up, Mum.”
“Later.” One thing about Arrygg she could stay focused on current worries. She looked at the artifact. “Egfor, you said you were drawn to touch it, yes?”
Looking guilty, Egfor nodded.
“I’m going to that nice young lad’s library.” Arrygg waggled a finger at the boys, “No touching even with gloves till I come back.” She locked eyes with Egfor, who quickly looked away. “I have an idea, Egfor, but I need to see if there is something in that library first. Please, let me check, or the dwarves spirits may take you over.” Arrygg waited until Egfor finally gave a slight nod before she left.
