AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I swallowed and took a tentative step closer.
“Autumn,” Sahlyn warned gently, his voice breaking with confusion and awe.
I shook my head and took another step. Then, softly, my voice breaking, I asked, “Cabro Lightfoot?”
Moments passed, and I stepped nearer. I could make out dark, curling hair and the same brown and green traveling clothes of the dwarf from my vision.
A few more moments ticked by, and Argen shuffling his feet sounded loud in the chamber behind me, but I didn’t take my eyes off the crouched figure in front of me. It had to be Cabro Lightfoot. A witch and king had cursed him to become an iron dragon, to live in the catacomb for centuries until someone who could wield the sword could also figure out to remove the gemstone to the key inside the handle. The only reason I could understand, aside from the vision, was because I was a weaponsmith and could mind-speak with him. Even if his words were just as cryptic as Iro’s, I had learned to read between the lines.
After what seemed like an eternity, as I stood patiently just behind the crouched figure, my companions looking on cautiously, the dwarf finally lifted his head. His eyes startled me. They were a stunning, vivid gold—the same color as mine. Even though Argen told me I was Cabro Lightfoot’s blood, to see his deep brown hair, with its barely-there hint of red, and those golden eyes made it more real.
Cabro’s eyes held mine for another long moment before a whisper of a smile edged his lips. I tentatively stepped forward and extended my hand. He took it without question, and I hauled him to shaky feet.
“Forgot what's it’s like to ‘ave only two legs.”
I grinned, but my hand remained on his arm to steady as much for reassurance that he was here and solid—not about to turn into mist. Then, after he righted himself and drew strength, I lifted the sword to hand it to him.
He warded me off. “Oh. Nah, Cursebreaker.Thatis now fer ye.”
I had been afraid he'd say that.
At my horrified look, he chuckled. “Guess is ye ‘ave a more pressin’ curse to break than mine.”
I sighed and put the Emberlite stone back in its place on the sword. “I'm afraid so.”
“It's in ye blood. That mantel is now ye to hold. With ev’ry evil born, there’s good to counter—ev’ry curse ‘as a breakin’ point, just like ev’ry night has a dawn. Me ancient elders were Cursebreakers. Despite diluted blood, it still rings true.”
“I just don't know if I'm enough.”
It was a truth I hadn't spoken, one I’d hidden behind swagger and false bravado.
“Ye will always be enough.” He glanced at the others. “Ye were worthy enough fer these two to follow ye to the depths of a dwarven catacomb that ‘as been untouched for centuries. They were willing to battle an iron dragon fer ye. Sometimes bein’ worthy of friendship is all it takes.”
I swallowed back emotion as I glanced at Argen and Sahlyn. Both of their nods affirmed Cabro’s words. I sent them a soft smile, and the gravity of Cabro’s statements sunk into my soul—where the tawny-haired man and the red-haired warrior dwarf would permanently reside.
I turned back to Cabro. “Have I truly lifted your curse? Are you free?”
“Aye.” His eyes met mine in somberness. “Been down ‘ere bangin’ me head on the wall to understand Creedell. He didn't think bein’ a king was enough, and he thirsted fer more. He wanted so desperately to be legendary that he enlisted a witch to make it so. Yet instead of stealin’ me glory, he stole and raped me wife. Thankfully, she was able to secure passage fer our children to Feist where he couldn't track and kill ‘em. Ye see the spirits whisper down ‘ere; they sing the news of those who pass on to the Beyond an’ the Underworld. Me wife murdered Creedell. It took her a decade to be able to do it, but she exacted revenge—not fer me, but herself. Fer the horrors Creedell did to her. Dwarven women are just as capable and fierce as any male. All I want is to be free to assume me spot at her side in the Beyond. Never cared ‘bout fame or glory. It's not why I forged blades, fought battles, or broke curses. Did it becauseIwas worthy. Me mountain, me life, and those around me were worthy. Me wife was worthy, and our children. I did it because it was right. To show those I loved, I would always do what was right.” His fingers gripped my arm, his eyes bright. “Ye doing this because yeareworthy.” Cabro glanced at the other two. “Becausetheyare worthy. Ye doing this because it's the right thing to do. Not because ye wish to be a hero but because ye willin’ to fight fer others. Fer the liberties they've ‘ad stolen. Ye believe in goodness and ye fight fer it.” He gripped my hand then and delivered earth-shattering words that would follow me and become my mantra. “Blood of me blood, the light of me light, bones of me bones, ye are the brightness against the dark. Ye are the great willow against the storm; ye may bend if necessary butneverbreak. Be the tide of good against the wave of evil. Bend, little warrior, but do not break.”
My throat was tight with emotion. I exhaled a torrid breath at the intensity of it.
Cabro Lightfoot patted my hand. “Now Ineedto see some fuckin’ sunlight.”
In the Glow of the Moon
A century-old dwarf was lying in the grass on a ridge above Mondu, staring at the sky.
My mouth lifted in a stupid grin. It was ludicrous. I glanced at the dark-haired beauty beside the legendary dwarf with her arm companionably brushing his, and my smile deepened.
What Autumn did to figure out the complexity of a curse and break it was astounding. It was remarkable to think she'd done something so epic and heroic to lie in the grass with her ancestor as if it were just another day. Her ability to adapt and persevere was unmatched.
I glanced at Argen, who was staring at them with likely the same silly expression I wore.
“Can ye believe it?”
“Not if I hadn’t seen it all with my own fucking eyes.”
Argen glanced at me with a chuckle. “Aye.”
