The Home Stone

He had traveled a long time and his leg was beginning to ache again. Almost ready to give up and return to the entrance, he noticed a faint shimmer of light farther up ahead in the tunnel. Pain or no pain, he picked up the pace figuring he had seen daylight. The closer he got, the stronger the more intense became the light. A yellowish golden glow convinced him the just up ahead was the outside world. Laughing like a mad man, Oestrin limped with the help of his crutch to a small opening and the bright light.

He could not believe his eyes, for before him lay a vast cavern filled with mountains of gold, silver, precious jewels and jewel-studded armor. There were so many piles of loot here that Oestrin thought that all the riches in the known lands were piled right here in front of him. At the center of the cavern stood a pedestal about six feet in height. On the top was a stand that held a round glowing orb. It seemed to be the source of the light in the cave. At the base of the pedestal he found some writing, but it was in a language that he did not understand, nor did he care. All he could think about was the riches he had encountered and how he would get them home. With all this I could unite all the clans and make himself King over all the Snowlands forever.

Oestrin made his way over to where the orb was and reached out to touch it. It felt warm to his touch. He picked it up and then a thought came to him. What if moving the orb was a trap. He quickly put it back and backed away. After a few minutes he picked up the orb once more and moved away again. Still nothing happened. Delighted that all was safe, he slowly made his way over to where he had seen some large white sticks. In the bright light he saw that the white objects were in fact bones. Rather large ones at that. Upon closer examination, Oestrin saw that they resembled those of the mythical dragon. Ice Dragon to be exact.

“So this is where you have hidden all these years,” he spoke out loud. “All this time people thought you were just a legend, but here you lie, and I Oestrin, King of the snow barrens and head of the Bear Clan, now lay claim to all this.”

Then another thought came to him. If the dragon existed, he would have to have another way in and out. The tiny passage would not have accommodated such a huge beast.

Resting his sore leg, Oestrin’s eyes began to feast on the vast riches that lay all around him. He now had to find the entrance to the dragon’s lair and make it home or at least to find some help. With no more thought to the pain in his leg or the hunger pangs gnawing at him, the King grabbed the glowing orb and began to search for a way out. Time passed quickly and the King found himself standing in front of four different entrances. Each one large enough, to allow the dragon’s passage. Using the orb to light his way the King entered the closest passage. It led downwards and probably would not exit anywhere. The next closest ran in a straight line for some hours and ended abruptly. By the time he came back to where he started he was exhausted and had to rest. He had no idea of time or which way the different passages led. He could be walking under the middle of the Snow Barrens or he could come out near the Ice Caves. He also gave no thought to the hunger slowly growing in his stomach.

After some time he began again. The third passage seemed to be as the last and a short time later he turned around and returned. Entering the fourth passage he noticed the feint coolness of a breeze. With his hopes soaring once more Oestrin stepped into the passage. How long he walked he could not tell. He had lost all track of time. All he knew was that the farther he ventured down this corridor, the stronger the breeze became. Stopping only to rest his leg, he pressed on only to have to stop when sleep forced him to stop. Placing the orb under his fur to darken the tunnel, he slept for a few hours. When he awoke he brought the orb out into the open and continued. Again he walked until his leg gave out and had to rest. Through all of his excitement, Oestrin realized that he had not eaten in two days and yet he did not feel hungry. Also he was able to walk more upright and not depend on his makeshift crutch so much. In the light of the orb he could see his breath as he exhaled, but he could not feel the cold.

“Maybe I’m dead,” he thought.

That made him stop and think. He then slapped the stone wall next to him and felt the pain make its way up his arm.

“No!” he shouted. “I’m not dead!”

His voice echoed over and over until it died out. Happy to feel the pain he continued. Soon he had to rest again, but this time not just because of the pain but to sleep once more. He figured that he had been walking for two days now and still no end of the tunnel was in sight. Tucking the orb under his furs once more he began to realize that it was the orb that kept him warm. For now he was resting close to a piece of ice. It must be magical, he thought. That’s it! I have found a magical orb and it will help me find my way out of here.

Oestrin awoke and continued his journey through the long tunnel. He now had slept four times, figuring he had marched for four days. He just hoped that he would not have to make this journey all the way back and try the third entrance.

Suddenly the ground beneath his feet began to tremble. The shaking grew stronger knocking him to the stone hued flooring. Then farther down the tunnel Oestrin heard a low rumbling sound that grew nearer. The passage was collapsing. Turning back the king began to run as fast as his broken and tired body would allow him, keeping the orb out in front to light the way. A huge cloud of dust and gravel overtook him blinding his way. Even the light of the orb could not cut through the dense cloud. Tripping over a small boulder Oestrin fell trapping the crystal light between the hard ground and himself. He felt the glass shatter saw the light go out.

It was some time before the king dared to open his eyes. When he did he could not see a thing. The tunnel was pitch black. In the darkness he groped around trying to find the orb, but all he got was cuts to both his hands from the shards that lay on the ground.

Panic stricken, he screamed. “I WILL NOT END UP THIS WAY!”

The echoes reverberated until they slowly dissipated and he was once alone in total silence. Then a strange feeling came over him. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness and he was able to see a bit. Looking down at his hands, he saw that they were stained with blood, but he could not see any cuts on them. Pulling apart his furs he could see a long cut on his chest, where one of the shards from the light crystal had pierced the skin, but on closer examination his eyes showed him that the deep and elongated cut had already closed and was healing rapidly. Thinking that the magic orb was still helping him, Oestrin continued to search for the tunnel’s mouth.

By now the dust and debris had settled and he could detect the presence of fresh air just ahead of him. His eyes searched the dark corridor for his crutch, but found that it had been snapped in two by one of the larger boulders that had fallen when part of the ceiling collapsed. Finding it useless, he dropped it and limped towards to what he believed to be the entrance of the tunnel.

It was slow going without the aid of his crutch, though the sharp pain was gone, a deep throbbing ache remained. Moving at a steady pace he rounded a corner and stopped. There, before him lay what he feared the most. The tunnel had collapsed. There were rocks and huge chunks of ice piled right up to the ceiling. Angry that he might have to turn back, something in the back of his mind told him to step up to the debris and examine it closer.

As he climbed up the loose rocks and ice as best he could and his keen nose once again detected the whiff of fresh air coming from the top of the pile of rubble. Using his short dagger and bare hands, the king began to dig. It was tedious work, but he made progress as the more he cleared the stronger the flow of air became. He was about fifteen to twenty feet into the hole that he had dug, when another tremor began. It was a weak one and holding his breath, Oestrin lay still and hoped that the rest of the ceiling above him would hold. Assuring himself that he was safe, the king started digging again. This time he would not quit, he told himself.

After hours and hours of digging and near exhaustion, Oestrin’s dagger finally pushed through and created a small hole. The sudden light temporarily blinded the king, forcing him to squeeze his eyes shut. For days he had survived in the dark and now he was suddenly exposed to bright sunlight. Again he tried to open his eyes, but closed them quickly. The bright light still hurt. With his eyes closed he continued to dig until he felt the hole was large enough to slide his body through. Slowly he tried to open his eyes once more. This time he had more success. With tears in his eyes, the king searched the horizon for a familiar sight. He had come out in a small valley and if his memory still served him correctly, he was about a few miles west from the ice caves. There would be food and drink.

Looking back at the tiny hole he had just crept out of his mind went all the way back the huge cavern and its contents. Something inside his mind told him to cover up the opening. He could not let all those riches fall into the wrong hands. Why, there was enough gold there to bribe all the clans to follow him and make him king over all the lands even in the south. Quickly working his back up the slope, he covered the hole up with snow. Then he walked around making as many tracks as possible, so no one could figure out from where he had exited. Once satisfied, Oestrin began to make his way to the caves.

He had no idea what of time of day it was as he entered the village that housed the miners of the Ice Caves. There was no smell of food cooking, so Oestrin knew it was not close to mealtime, though his stomach told him that if he did not eat soon, he would collapse. Being so many days without anything but melted snow, the king had no thought of anything, but food. He knew his meal was not far off. As he approached the center of the village he was stopped by a patrol of soldiers. He recognized the blazing red emblem on the center of their tunics as that of his daughter’s personal guard. She was here.

“You must help me,” Oestrin began, “take me to my daughter!”

Puzzled by the strange request, the soldiers just stood there and laughed.

“Do you take us for fools old man?” asked one of the men. “We cannot let you near the princess. The king will have our heads if something happened to her.”

“I am the king you fools!” announced an angry king, “and it will be your heads if you don’t get me to her at once!”

Wondering what all the commotion was outside, the captain of the princess’ personal guard stormed out through the inn’s doors.

“Are you two out of your mind?” he demanded. “Do you not know who you are speaking to?” Turning to the king he said, “I’m sorry your highness, but these men have never seen you up close. They were just trying to protect the princess.” Without further ado, he ordered the two to escort the king inside while he went to fetch the princess.

The ale room of the inn was almost empty, except for a few locals who were sitting at the bar when the guards and the king entered. The corporal of the Princess’ Personal Guard ordered the patrons to leave much to the dismay of the owner who was hoping to make a little more money. Whenever the any of the royal family or their dignitaries arrived, they stayed at the inn. Styles, the owner of the Ice Bear Inn, never liked these visitors, for they never paid for anything. It was expected that the Inn pay for everything.

The king was escorted to a table in the far corner of the room, next to a huge fireplace. Here in the dimly lit corner the Royal Healer was called upon to tend to Oestrin’s wounds. To his astonishment, the healer found that the deep gashes and broken bones were completely healed.

“I can do no more for the king,” announced Tavis, the Royal Healer, “he seems to have recovered quite well on his own.”

The healer turned, shaking his head in bewilderment and prepared to leave, just as Katrina stormed through the door.

“FATHER!” she shouted across the room, “are you alright?”

The older man nodded his head and answered, “yes, I am quite well. At least as far as your healer is concerned.”

Katrina’s eyes fell upon her father. This did not seem to be the same person that left only a few weeks ago on his annual hunting trip. Here, before her sat a much thinner man. A man that has lived in the most deplorable conditions for most of his life. She was ready to call back the healer, when Oestrin stopped her.

“Clear the room!” he ordered the guards and then turning back to his daughter he continued. “What I have to say is for your ears only.”

Once the room was emptied and the guards gone, Oestrin related the events that took place from the moment they encountered the bear. He told her about the Orb and how he believed it kept him alive all this time. He whispered to her about his findings and the two made plans to have only their most trusted men bring the vast treasure back to Winsome Castle.

Once everything was set up Oestrin returned with the first caravan with his newfound riches. Katrina stayed behind until the last of the treasure was safely on its way. She then, upon her father’s request left the Ice Caves village and headed east to the lands of the other clans.