Chapter 20 Chapter Sixteen The Old Days

A squat tower stood in a small valley beside a steep hillside.Because it's covered in overgrown creeping vines, a casual passerby won't even notice the building's existence. But Mithril Sifu did not accidentally pass by here.This was the Hermit's Fort, perhaps the only place that could tell them exactly where their destination was. "Are you sure it's here?" Regis asked as they surveyed a small, steep face.This ancient tower looks more like a ruin.There was nothing exciting nearby, not even animals, and there seemed to be an eerie, solemn silence hanging over it.

"I'm sure," Drizzt replied. "To feel the ancientness of this tower. It has stood for many, many centuries." "How long has it been empty?" Bruno asked, disappointed at what had been described as his brightest hope. "It's not empty," Drizzt replied. "Unless there is something wrong with the information I received." Bruno jumped up and rushed up the wall. "Perhaps you're right," he murmured. "I bet there's some troll or corpse-eating snow monkey watching us from behind the door, drooling for us to get in! Let's go! When we leave, Sundabar will only be an extra day's walk away. "

He was joined by three of the Dwarf's friends, up the ruins that had once been the way to the Tower Gate.Weapons in hand, they approached the ancient stone door cautiously. It was worn smooth with time and covered with moss, and had obviously not been in bloom for many years. "Use your arms, boy," Bruenor said to Wulfgar. "If anyone in the world can break this thing off, it's you!" Wulfgar set Aegis-fang down against the wall and walked over to the great door.He kept his feet as steady as possible, and moved his hands over the stone, looking for the most suitable place to push.

But he only used a little strength on the stone door, and the door immediately opened inward without making a sound. A cold wind wafted from the dark interior, bringing an unfamiliar mixed smell, and an ancient atmosphere.It seemed to the group of friends that this was another world, perhaps of another time, and it was not without a certain trepidation that Drizzt led them in. They put down their steps softly, but their footsteps still echoed in the silent darkness.The sunlight coming in from outside the door relieved them a little, as if some kind of barrier stood between the inside of the tower and the outside world.

"We should light a torch—" Regis began, but he stopped abruptly, startled that his soft whispers would echo so loudly. "The door!" Wulfgar called out suddenly, noticing that the silent stone door was beginning to close behind them.He jumped across and grabbed the door before it swung completely shut, plunging them into darkness, but not even his mighty strength could resist the magic that moved the door.It closed without a sound, except for a muffled swish of the air, echoing like a giant's sigh. They expected that after the last ray of sunlight was blocked by the giant door, the place would become like a lightless tomb, but this did not happen, because as soon as the door was closed, a blue light began to illuminate the room. , here is the porch leading to the Hermit's Castle.

They are speechless because of the dread that hangs over them.They look at the history of humanity in a bubble that has no so-called time, negates their notion of chronology, and negates their sense of belonging.In the blink of an eye they were propelled into the position of observers of the past, their own experience suspended in another time and place, watching with godlike power the descendants of the human race.Intricate tapestry, once bright but now faded in color and definite outlines gradually blurred, transported the group of friends into a fantasy-like scene, enacting the story of the human race, each story Being told repeatedly, it seems to be a repeated story at first glance, but each time it changes slightly, showing a different essence and a different result.

Arms and armor from all ages lined the walls, above the banners and sigils of a thousand forgotten kingdoms.The portraits of heroes and sages resting underground, some familiar to the most learned scholars, but most unknown even to them, glared down at them from the rafters, and they captured features so vivid that they could Show affection for everyone depicted. A second door, this time made of wood, was placed directly at the end of the cylindrical corridor from the first room, leading clearly into the hill behind the tower.The moment it opened, the group of partners planned to break the magic here and escape.

Yet none of them took up arms, knowing that whoever (whatever) dwelt in the tower had power above this earthly power. An old man walked into the room, older than anyone they had ever seen.His face was still intact, not sunken with age, yet his skin was even woody in texture, with lines that looked more like cracks and rough edges, like an old tree defying time. recalcitrant.He walked as if he was moving quietly and continuously, and the way he moved over could no longer be described by the word "walking".He approached the friends and waited, his arms (visibly thin even under the creases of his long, satin-smooth robe) hanging silently at his sides.

"Are you the hermit of this tower?" asked Drizzt. "Old Ye, it's me," he replied in a serene voice. "Welcome, Mithril Four. Alustriel has told me that you will come, and told me about your adventures." Even with his heart full of respect for the solemn surroundings, Wulfgar didn't miss the reference to Alustriel.He looked towards Drizzt, meeting the dark elf's eyes with a knowing smile. Drizzt turned his head away and smiled too. "This is the human room," Lao Ye declared. "This is the largest room in the Hermit's Castle. Of course, except for the library."

He noticed Bruno's displeased expression. "Your race's traditions run long, too, dwarves, and elves even longer," he explained. "But the crises of history are usually measured in generations, not in centuries. Short-lived men may have overthrown a thousand kingdoms in a few centuries, and founded a thousand others, while in the same period, A dwarf king still rules his people in peace." "That's impatient," Bruno said angrily, clearly reassured. "I agree," Lao Ye said, "but now please come here and let us have dinner together. We have a lot of things to do tonight."

He led them through the doorway into a similar, lighted porch.As they passed, the many doors on either side marked various rooms, most of which belonged to good races, and some even recorded orcs, goblins, and giants. The group of friends and Lao Ye dined around a huge round table, its old wood as hard as the rocks.There are mysterious characters engraved on its side, many of which are long-lost languages ​​in this world, even Lao Ye can't remember them.The food, like everything else here, gives the impression of a distant past.However, unlike the legend, it was very tasty, with a flavor that this group of friends had never tasted.The drink was crystalline wine, rich in a fragrance that even the elixir of the elves could not match. As they ate, Old Ye entertained them with tales of the great heroes of old, and the great events that had brought the Forgotten Realm to its present state.These companions are attentive listeners, though the actual clues to Mithril Hall are likely just a door or two away. When the meal was over, Lao Ye stood up from his chair and looked around at them with a deliberate and curious intensity. "The day will come, perhaps a thousand years from now, when I will tell stories again. I am sure that one of the stories I will tell then will be about the Four Mithril, and their glorious adventures. trip." The group of friends could not answer the honor the old man had thrown upon them.Even Drizzt, who was hard to be moved, didn't blink for a long time. "Come," Lao Ye instructed, "let you embark on a brand new path." He led them through another door to the largest library in the entire Northland. In this huge room, books of different thicknesses cover all the walls, or are stacked high on the tables that fill the room.Lao Ye especially pointed out the small table on one of the walls, on which the only book was spread out. "I've done a lot of research for you guys," Lao Ye explained. "And among all the books related to dwarves, this is the only book I can find that has clues to Mithril Hall." Bruenor walked to the book, grasping its edges with trembling hands.It is written in the High Dwarven language, the language of Dumathoin the Keeper of the Mountain, a script that has all but disappeared in the Forgotten Realms.But Bruno could read it.He rummages quickly, then reads the relevant passage aloud. "King Emer and his people profited greatly from Glenn and the labor of the Warhammers, but the dwarves in the secret mines did not speak out against the profits made by Amer. Began selling Mithril artifacts in Glenn Where there are secret passages, Stonestone proves to be a worthy and reliable ally." Bruenor looked up at his friends, a light of revelation in his eyes. "Stonestone," he said softly. "I know the name." He buried his head in the book again. "Besides this, it's hard for you to find anything else," Lao Ye said. "Because the records about the Mithril Hall have been annihilated for a long time. This book only mentions that because of the complete demise of the Stone Silver, the outflow of Mithril stopped soon." Bruno wasn't listening.He was reading it for himself, devouring their lost heritage written here, whether it mattered or not. "What happened to Stone Town?" Wulfgar asked Old Ye. "Is that a clue?" "Perhaps," replied the old hermit. "So far, I haven't found any clues other than the book, but I'm inclined to believe that Hardstone isn't just an ordinary dwarven town." "It's on the ground!" Bruno interrupted him suddenly. "Yes," Lao Ye agreed. "It's a community of dwarves living in buildings above ground. It was unknown in the days of Mithril Hall. As far as I know, there are only two possibilities." Regis cried out in victory. "You guys are too happy," Lao Ye commented. "Even if we find out the location of Stone Town, it's just the starting point for Mithril Hall." Bruno flipped through a few pages, then put it back on the table. "They're so close!" he growled, pounding his fist down on the solid wood. "I should be able to remember!" Drizzt walked to him, and took a bottle from under his cloak. "This is a potion," he explained to Bruno's puzzled eyes. "It will bring you back to the days of Mithril Hall." "It's very strong magic," Old Ye warned. "And you can't control it. Use it carefully, good dwarf." Bruenor was already walking forward, uneasy as he approached the brink of discovering Mithril Hall.He swallowed the vial of liquid in one gulp, then steadied himself against the edge of the table, resisting its powerful effects.Beads of sweat rolled down his furrowed brow as the potion sent him back centuries, and he twitched involuntarily. Regis and Wulfgar walked up to him, and the huge man took him by the shoulders and made him sit down. Bruno's eyes were wide open, but he couldn't see anything in the room before him.He was sweating profusely, and his twitches turned to tremors. "Bruenor," Drizzt said softly, wondering if he was right to give the dwarf such an enticing opportunity. "No, Dad!" Bruno screamed. "Don't stay in the darkness here! Come with me. What can I do without you?" "Bruenor," Drizzt called harder. "He's not here now," Lao Ye explained. He was familiar with this potion, because the long-lived races often used it when they needed to retrieve memories of the distant past.Usually, however, those who drink will return to a happier time.Old Ye watched Bruno seriously, because the potion brought Bruno back to the gloomy days in the past, which was a memory that his heart had discarded, or at least blurred, lest he fall into strong emotions.These emotions now lay bare, revealing all their rage in the dwarf's heart. "Take him to the dwarf's room," Old Ye instructed. "Let him face the portraits of the heroes of his race. They will help him remember the past and give him strength in suffering." Wulfgar lifted Bruenor, then carried him gently into the passage that led to the dwarven chamber, placing him in the center of the circular floor.Then the group of friends backed away, leaving the dwarf himself in the phantom. Bruno could not yet see half of what was around him, he was caught between the worlds of the past and the present.Moradin, Dumathoin, and all the gods and heroes of their race looked down on him from the rafters, adding to his little strength against tragedy.Armor the size of a dwarf and artfully crafted axes and hammers surround him, bathing him in the highest glory of his own proud race. Yet these portraits did nothing to dispel the fears he had relived, namely, the fall of his race, the fall of Mithril Hall, and the fall of his father. "Daylight!" he cried, torn between grief and release. "Woohoo! My father! And my father's father! But really, we are going to escape! Stone..." His self-awareness disappeared for a while, and his whole spirit was overwhelmed, "It will obscure Protect us. Perish, perish! Cover and protect us!" "The price was high," Wulfgar said, his heart aching for the dwarf's torment. "He paid for it voluntarily," Drizzt replied. "If we don't get any information in the end, it will be a waste of pain." Regis said. "His mind is running around with no direction. Are we going to sit next to him and wait with the slightest hope?" "His memory has brought him back to Hardstone, and he doesn't mention the path he's taken since Mithril Hall," Wulfgar observed. "What?" Regis started to ask, but the dark elf had already started to move.He rushed to Bruenor's side, leaning his face against the dwarf's sweaty cheek. "I'm your friend," he whispered to Bruno. "I have come because I heard the news of the fall of Mithril Hall! My allies are waiting! We will have revenge, strong dwarves of the Warhammer clan! Please show us the way so that we can restore the glory of Mithril Hall. " "It's a secret." Bruno gasped on the edge of consciousness. Drizzt pressed further. "There is no time! Darkness has come!" he cried. "The way, dwarf, we must know the way!" Bruno muttered a few incomprehensible voices, and all the friends were amazed that the dark elves had broken through the last defense that prevented Bruno from finding Mithril Hall. "Louder!" Drizzt insisted. "Fourth Peak!" Bruno screamed back. "Go up that high road, into the Valley of the Watchers!" Drizzt looked back at Old Ye, who nodded because he already knew where he was talking about, and then turned back to Bruno. "Rest, strong dwarf," he said reassuringly. "We will avenge your clan!" "The Fourth Peak can only be a place, as described in the book that mentions Hardstone," Old Night explained to Drizzt and Wulfgar when they returned to the library.Regis remained in the Dwarven Chamber to tend to Bruenor's restless sleep. The hermit took a scroll from a high shelf and unfolded its ancient parchment: it was a map between Silvermoon and Mirabar in the heart of the Northland. "In the days of Mithril Hall, this is the only place where the dwarves lived on the ground and was so close to the mountains that you could count the peaks," he said, marking the westernmost peak of the westernmost branch of the Spine of the World , just north of Nesme and Evermoor. "This abandoned stone city is now called 'The Ruins', and when the bearded race lived there, it was usually known by the name of Daero the Dwarf. But the spirit wanderings of your companions have convinced me that , this is the Stone Town mentioned in the book." "Then why isn't it just called Daero the Dwarf in the books?" Wulfgar asked. "Dwarves are a very secretive race," Lao Ye explained with an understanding smile, "especially when it comes to treasures. Glenn of Mithril Hall is determined not to let the greedy outside world know that there is such a person who buried treasures." place. He and Aimer of Hard Rock no doubt arranged complex codes, and made up a set of names to use when referring to things around them. They would do anything to detect those who came for money. and drove them from this path. The annals of the dwarves appear in the annals of many places that now seem incoherent. There are many scholars who may have read about Mithril Hall, but since it was in another A name that makes them assume that what they see refers to another lost homeland of the dwarves." The hermit paused for a while to sort out the highlights of what had happened. "You should start at once," he suggested. "If necessary, carry the dwarves on your back, but reach Hardstone Town before the effect of the medicine wears off. Bruno walked in his own memory, and he should be able to trace the route he walked in the Valley of the Guardians two hundred years ago, and then reach the Mithril Land hall door." Drizzt studied the map and the location of Stone Town marked by Old Ye. "Let's go back west," he whispered, repeating Alustriel's thoughts. "It can barely arrive in two days." Wulfgar took a closer look at the scroll, then added in a voice that was both anticipatory and somewhat sad: "Our journey is nearing its end."