CHAPTER 23
A FALLEN LEAF
The mammoth bear flung Ringwald’s lifeless body into the dark tunnel, where the other gnomes had fled, then turned and stood up on its hind legs and roared. The sound was deafening in the cave tunnels and everyone had to cover their ears. The bear raised its paws over its head and the air about it began to shimmer. The giant beast slowly began to shrink in size. Its paws transformed into hands and feet and its fur retreated, somewhat, until a giant hairy man stood before them, with a sheepish grin on his face.
"Amos," Ben shouted, running to the friendly giant and throwing his arms around his waist. "You're okay!"
Amos picked Ben up and gave him a real bear hug. "Yes, I am fine now, thanks to Jonah."
Ben hadn't even noticed the elf, but he spotted him now, over to the side, in a deep conversation with Gabriel.
"Nice work with the gnomes," said Hob, who was now rolling his sleeves back down, "but I had everything perfectly under control. Where are Gob and Nob?"
Amos smiled at the dwarf. "They are back at the entrance waiting for our return. Gob and Nob stayed with the ladies and the Keeper, while Jonah and I came after you."
"Marcus came?" asked Ben, with wide eyes.
"Yes, he used the unicorn horns to open a portal from the Twilight to the Crystal Cave. That's the only way they could return here fast enough to save me. I was very close to death's door. Zoltan is another reason the Keeper decided to use the portals.”
“Why is that?” asked Hob with a worried expression. “Has he been around?”
“Yes. Jonah had a close encounter with the dragon on his trek back to the Twilight. He lost his horse and barely escaped with his life. If Zoltan caught any of us out in the open we would not fare as well Jonah did, especially in this deep snow. Anyhow, with the pathways open, we'll be back at the Twilight in just a few minutes."
"Hey, where's Mueller?" said Ben, looking around. He spotted the gnome on the floor behind Hob and ran to him. Amos followed and stooped over to examine the gnome.
"He is okay. It appears he has fainted." Amos gently shook the gnome and called his name. Mueller's eyelids began to flutter, and then his eyes opened and focused on Amos, who was still leaning over him. The gnome let out a frightened whimper and tried to scramble away.
"Mueller," Ben called softly, "it's only Amos - our sick friend at the cave entrance. Remember? He's well now. Don't be afraid."
The gnome sat up and suspiciously eyed the big man. Even after transforming back into human form, he still looked like a great black bear. Amos gently took him by the arm and pulled him to his feet.
"Come on, we have much work and much planning to do. I suspect you all are in need of food and rest as well."
"I think I could go to sleep standing up right here," Ben replied. "I'm too tired to even think about food."
"Well, we're not far from the entrance. Let's go."
“Let’s hurry,” Hob added. “I need to see Marcus immediately.”
“What’s wrong, Hob?” Ben asked. The dwarf was definitely shaken, but Ben could not figure out why. They were free now. Everyone was safe and they would be back at Castle Twilight in just a little while. Maybe he was just afraid of Zoltan. He appeared fine until Amos had mentioned the dragon being in the area.
Amos started up the tunnel. Ben and Hob fell in alongside him and Mueller followed along behind them with two rock busters glowing softly in the darkness. Gabriel and Jonah brought up the rear. Both elves were still talking in hushed whispers. Ben heard snatches of their conversation, but was too tired to focus. Jonah was bringing Gabriel up-to-date on the events surrounding Zoltan and the Keeper's plans for dealing with the dragon.
The path eventually converged with the river and ran parallel with the dark waters that flowed into Kahzidar. They were getting closer now and everyone picked up the pace. Gabriel was extremely anxious to get out of the caves and see the open skies above him. Soon, the muted green light of Mueller's rock busters began to twinkle and sparkle on the cave walls and ceiling. They were finally in the Crystal Cave.
Up ahead, a fire burned brightly in the darkness and Ben could make out his Grandma and sister along with Gob, Nob, and Marcus, clustered around the fire for warmth. The horses whinnied as they approached. The two dwarves snatched up their axes and grabbed torches from the fire. Louise and Casey huddled close together behind the dwarves, but Marcus told them to be at ease. He could tell that the Twilight horses were calling out to someone they knew; someone from the Twilight. When the approaching party appeared in the firelight Louise and Casey let out a squeal of delight.
"BEN!" they yelled, pushing past Gob and Nob to greet him. They both hugged him tightly and then Louise began to give him a thorough inspection, looking him over from head to toe to make sure there were no cuts, bruises, or abrasions that might need a grandmother's care. Ben felt the heat rising in his face, while the others looked on, as his Grandma doted. Finally, satisfied that he was okay, Louise greeted Hob and Gabriel too.
"Who is this?" asked Marcus, nodding toward Mueller.
"Oh," said Ben, "I'm so sorry, Marcus, this is my friend Mueller."
"Mueller Alderman," the gnome added with a smile.
"Umm, yes," said Ben, feeling the heat rising in his cheeks again, "and Mueller, this is Marcus, the Keeper of the Twilight."
"Mueller Alderman?" Marcus asked. The Keeper arched an eyebrow and cut a sidelong glance at Ben.
"It's a long story," said Ben. "I'll tell you all about it later."
"I can't wait to hear it."
"Ben has liberated the Mudcrawlers," Hob crowed. The dwarf threw an arm around Ben and patted him fondly on the shoulder. "Heck, he's liberated the whole blasted Kingdom of Kahzidar! Mudcrawlers, Holediggers, and Stonebreakers are all calling themselves Alderman gnomes now. Ringwald is gone, the mines are closed, and the city is operating under a brand new government. I've never seen anything like it!"
The Keeper studied Ben with an appraising eye and then glanced up at Gabriel. Gabriel raised his eyebrows and Marcus faintly, almost imperceptibly, nodded. Then, he returned his attention to Ben.
"You never cease to amaze me, Ben Alderman," the Keeper marveled. "Come, let's get our things together and leave. We will have a day of rest when we get back to the Twilight, but then we will have to make plans and preparations for Zoltan's return.”
“Marcus,” said Hob, placing his hand on the Keeper’s arm, “about the dragon…”
“Yes, Hob, what is it?”
“I understand he has been in the area and I was wondering….”
“Go on,” Marcus prodded. Something was really bothering the dwarf. It was almost as if he were afraid to even voice his question.
“Well, I was wondering if, by any chance, Gus made it back safely to the Twilight? I have been dreadfully worried about him ever since we were separated by the cave in and so help me, if that dragon has harmed him...”
“Gus is safe, Hob,” Marcus answered with a smile. The Keeper placed his hand on the dwarf’s shoulder and gave him a firm, reassuring squeeze. “He and Gabriel’s horse came home that very same day under the cover of darkness.”
Hob let out a sigh of relief. “Thanks for looking after him, Marcus. I don’t know what I’d do without him.”
“He is a fine pony,” Marcus agreed, “and I too am glad he is well, but we really must be going now. Do you have the staff?”
“Here it is,” said Gabriel, handing the cloth bundle to Marcus. The Keeper placed his arm through the strap and slung the bundle across his shoulder. He then opened a large sack that was tied to his waist. The white light that escaped from the sack was reflected back from a million tiny facets of quartz and crystals embedded in the stone walls. The walls multiplied this white light and amplified it to the extent that the dim green glow of Mueller's rock busters was swallowed in its brilliance. Marcus reached into the sack and, very reverently, pulled out a sp
iraled horn - a unicorn horn.
The Keeper gave Gabriel and Jonah each a horn and also gave them one horn for each horse. The horses were saddled and ready to go, and all of the gear was packed as well. Jonah and Gabriel placed a horn under the cinch, on each saddle, so that the horn was actually touching the horse's flesh.
"Where's the portal?" asked Ben.
Marcus turned and pointed to the cave entrance. The portal was opened just inside the cave; a pitch black hole approximately six feet across and hovering a few inches off the ground. The reason Ben did not see it, at first, was because it was night time when they arrived here and the black hole of the portal created an illusion of night outside the cave. However, it was now morning and upon closer inspection, Ben could see a faint hint of sunlight shining around the edges of the portal. Gabriel and Jonah came forward, leading the horses. Each elf was leading three Twilight horses, tethered together in single file.
"You will need to bring Old Dan," Gabriel told Amos. "We could not get him to budge. We are taking the horses through first, to get them out of the way. For some reason, the pathways make them uneasy. The sooner we try to get them through, the easier it will be. Bring Dan though after us, then you may return with horns for the others."
Amos retreated down the tunnel to get his horse, while Gabriel and Jonah disappeared into the dark hole with the Twilight horses in tow. Old Dan refused to go near the portal at first, but after much coaxing Amos was finally able to get him to enter the pathway.
Within ten minutes Amos stepped out of the portal and back into the Crystal Cave. He was carrying ten unicorn horns, five in each fist. He handed all, but one, to Marcus and the Keeper gave one to Louise, Casey, and Ben.
"Are you coming with us?" Marcus asked the gnome.
"No," Mueller answered. "I would love to see the outside world one day when I am ready, but now is not the time."
"I understand," Marcus smiled. He placed the remaining horns back into the sack at his waist. "You are welcome to visit with us anytime. We should also like to see your great city one day as well."
"We would be honored," said Mueller.
"Farewell, then. Until we meet again. Louise, you and the children follow me, single file. The dwarves will come through next and Amos shall follow after them."
The Keeper stepped into the dark hole and vanished. Louise went next, followed by Casey, then Ben. The dwarves did not want to use the pathway. They were afraid of the wizardry behind it, but they were more afraid of making the long trek back through the blizzard, even though it had tapered off significantly. However, the prospect of a hot meal finally spurred them into action. Hob entered the portal first, followed by Gob, and then Nob. Amos waved goodbye to Mueller, then he stepped into the black hole and vanished as well.
The lonely voices of the winter winds and the passage of the dark waters by the river banks were the only sounds in the Crystal Cave. Mueller was once more alone, but this time the loneliness pierced his heart like a knife. He wiped away the tears with the back of his sleeve and something shiny, lying on the ground, caught his eye. It was a leaf; a golden leaf. It was Ben's golden leaf - the one he wore on a chain about his neck. Mueller had seen it when Ben was leaning over him the first night they met. That was the night Ben befriended him. Mueller snatched the leaf up and ran for the portal.
"WAIT!" he cried, but the portal snapped shut, revealing the snow-clad landscape shining brightly in the morning sun, just beyond the cave entrance. Ben was gone.
*****