The Invasion Of The Sombers. Jordi Villalobos

can overcome him before he wakes up. Bellamir, will you be able to free Garin's companions?” the prince wanted to know.

      “Of course," answered the rogue.

      “Well then, let's go, we'll free the dwarves, provide them with weapons, and subdue Ankar and his henchmen while they sleep," concluded Syriel.

      But when he left his room, he found a panorama quite different from what he had expected: he found that all the men and orcs had been bound and gagged by numerous dwarves who wielded their threatening axes. A smiling Ankar sneered at him:

      “Did you sleep well, my prince? And you, dirty orc princess?”

      “You are going to pay this very dearly, Ankar, don't doubt it," threatened Syriel.

      “Really? Well, I don't think so. Arrest them and return my treacherous son to his dungeon!" ordered Ankar.

      As the dwarves tied Syriel and his companions, only Baldrich noticed that Bellamir was no longer with them just a second before they put an antimagic hood on him, just like Lirieth, and he smiled inwardly. With these hoods, of which the sombers were masters at making them, not even the most powerful sorcerer could make the slightest magic, since they completely annulled all the magical skills of the one who wore it.

      “Why, Ankar? My father has always treated you with respect and benevolence," Syriel asked.

      “Haven't you guessed it yet? I hate orcs, I cannot bear their repugnant pestilence. I could not believe that you were allied with them and, above all, that you were promising one of their beasts," replied Ankar with restrained rage.

      “You will not get away with it, my father and Gulrath will ask you for explanations," said the prince.

      “I've got it all figured out, my prince. I will say that the Peaks Pass was taken by the dark ones and that you all fell fighting bravely. Now, be so kind as to accompany me to the gates of the pass,” Ankar grinned.

      They were forced to climb a wide staircase for almost three hours. Although they tied them up in front, the climb was expensive for the prisoners, who stumbled and fell with some assiduity. There was another access from below without stairs for wagons and caravans, which they did not use to better control the prisoners.

      Eventually, they reached the high and sturdy doors that Ankar ordered to open. With great din, they began to open and an incredible landscape appeared before their eyes. There was a solid path made of rock and wood that stretched to the end of the horizon, flanked by various mountain peaks of different sizes and sometimes tunneled through the larger mountains that hindered it. Shreds of thick clouds adorned the path and the peaks of the mountains, although without covering too much the panoramic view. To the first and main road of the Peaks Pass were joined more stretches that linked the main cities and dwarf settlements throughout the Slanted Mountains. But by express order of Ankar, that day all the derivations remained with their closed doors that rose big and solid, so that one could only pass through the main pass that united Karbandur with the Badlands.

      Syriel thought that it was a pity to contemplate this marvelous spectacle being tied, betrayed and defeated; and he also lamented that Lirieth was not able to see the landscape next to him, since the antimagic hood prevented him from doing so. With rage, but without losing his composure, he went to Ankar.

      “What do you have in mind for us, you fucking traitor?” asked Syriel bravely.

      “Well, nothing less than what his highness requested me: The Peaks Pass," replied Ankar with derision and haughtiness. “Later on, you will find a somber retinue that will take care of you, but so that you don't waste time going to meet them, I will introduce you to Kasariviel, who will follow you slowly but relentlessly. If I were you, I would not stop to try to free from the bonds," added Ankar amusedly.

      “Kasariviel?" Syriel interrogated.

      “It is a giant serpent that came from the Badlands. Since we feed him well, he stays with us and watches over this door. It is a precious creature which is more than three hundred feet high and its smallest tusk surpasses your height. It's adorable, you'll see," replied the dwarf, with a good dose of mockery. “Throw them all out," ordered Ankar.

      The dwarves, aided by their axes and spears, pushed and drove the whole group of men and orcs into the pass. Only Bellamir was missing, although only Baldrich was aware of his absence.

      As the doors closed, the last thing they saw was Ankar laughing out loud, but they didn't have much time to lament or curse him, since above the doors, a huge forked tongue appeared followed by a menacing serpent's head showing long, very sharp fangs. They all ran along the solid path by which the serpent would undoubtedly chase them.

      Syriel searched for Lirieth and took as best he could a piece of his robe, instructing it to follow him with care not to fall. He also searched for Baldrich, but he had overtaken him.

      “Don't worry about me, I'll be able to follow your steps," said the magician.

      Running handcuffed, some of the orc and human warriors fell to the ground and were hit by the hungry ophidian. This gave the others time to gain some distance from the snake. Syriel tried to find something that would help him break his ties, but the rocks on the road were very well carved with rounded-shape and he had no choice but to keep running.

      The snake wasn't going too fast, but it didn’t allow to stop those who escaped from it, catching the ones who fell and didn't have time to get up again.

      The persecution lasted for a while for which the pursued ones became eternal. Perhaps it was four or five hours, although it gave them the impression that they had been harassed for more than a day by the long monster.

      Syriel saw in the distance as the squadron of the sombers that awaited them began to emerge and he desperately searched for something that could help him to free himself from the bonds. They couldn't stop and go on either. Lirieth guessed their restlessness.

      “What's the matter," he asked. “Shall we approach the sombers? Try to find something to free yourself, you have to take off my hood. Do it, do it whatever it takes, but do it," the princess begged afflicted.

      Syriel explored around him, though he saw nothing that could help. Suddenly he watched from the sky as a small but fast falcon descended straight towards him. As it approached, he saw that he was carrying an object in his beak and was surprised to see that it was dropping a dagger at his feet, taking flight again.

      Syriel did not hesitate for a moment to pounce on the dagger and begin to rub its ties with its sharp steel.

      Men and orcs ran in front of them, Baldrich had also stayed with the princes, they hoped to be able to do something once the time had come.

      There was not much time left and in a few seconds the snake would reach them. Syriel rubbed his frenzied ligatures against the dagger, although the rope was very hard and difficult to tear apart.

      Finally, he managed to get rid of the ties when the proud snake was only a few yards away. With desperation, the prince ran towards Lirieth to remove the hood, which was attached to her neck with a strap. With his fingers still half numb from the ties, it took Syriel more than a little while to remove the hood from the princess's head, just in time to be able to dodge the first serrated of the enormous reptile's frightening jaws.

      With the sudden movement, Syriel had the ruby necklace detached from the chest and the snake stood still for a few instants, watching the red stone as if fascinated by it, as if the ophidian had seen it before.

      Syriel and Lirieth took advantage of the small truce without wasting time.

      “The rope, take the rope off me," Lirieth implored while putting the hands as far apart as possible in front of the prince.

      Syriel grabbed the dagger and, with a precise stroke, cut the ropes with little harm to the discouraged princess, and just as the snake showed that it had lost interest in the stone and was about to attack them again, Lirieth moved her arms slowly and rhythmically from side to side as she spoke strange words with sweetness, but with determination.

      Kasariviel stood surprisingly still staring at the princess and as Syriel released Baldrich, Lirieth asked nervously:

      “Baldrich,