The Brotherhood of Dwarves: Book 01 - The Brotherhood of Dwarves by D.A. Adams Page A

orcs,” Red said, his eyes wide and his nostrils flared.
    Roskin rushed into the shop with Red right behind him, and Grussard looked up from the grinding stone in surprise.
    “It ain’t ready,” he said. “Just got started.”
    “Here’s your other coins. I can’t wait.” Roskin tossed the two coins on a table as Grussard unhooked the sword from the grips.
    “Let me get your change.”
    “Forget it. I have to go.”
    “We’re killing orcs,” Red said.
    “Orcs?” Grussard asked, furrowing his brow.
    “I killed three orcs on Keshgheon. The soldiers are trying to arrest me.”
    “I hate orcs,” Red added. “Filthy, evil beasts.”
    “Take him north out of town,” Grussard said to Red. Then he turned to Roskin. “Follow the river for two days, and you’ll reach a burnt bridge. To the northwest will be an abandoned mine. Hold up there until I can bring you supplies.”
    “I’ve a case of whiskey at Molgheon’s,” Red said. “Don’t forget it.”
    Grussard looked out the door and motioned that it was clear. Red went out first, and Roskin followed him across the street to another alley. They wound in between rows of houses without much trouble, for the soldiers were still behind them. As they neared the end of the stone buildings, Red crouched behind a shed and motioned for Roskin to do the same. The old man explained that the northern end of town had been rebuilt for the humans. Once they passed the last stone house, they would be surrounded by humans, most of whom loathed the dwarves and hated Red even more for living among them. If Roskin and Red could reach the bridge unnoticed by staying near the wooden structures, they would have a chance to run across before the soldiers in the watchtower spotted them.
    “That’s the best I can do with this notice,” Red said, eyeing the sack that bulged with his bottle. “Can I get a taste before we go?”
    Roskin handed him the bottle, and Red took a short swig before handing it back. As Roskin returned the bottle to the sack, Red stepped from behind the shed and started towards the human section. Roskin waited for him to get safely behind the first wooden house before scurrying across the street himself. They stayed low as they trotted along the buildings, trying to remain below the windows, and fortunately no one spotted them as they approached the tower, but to Roskin’s dismay, a platoon of soldiers, armed with crossbows and pikes, was already at the bridge. Once again, his adventure seemed doomed before it even got started. He cursed under his breath and kicked the dry dirt with the toe of his boot.
    “Wait here,” Red said. “I’ll get their attention. When they leave their post, you get across that bridge and make for the mine. If I can, I’ll meet you there.”
    “Red, wait,” Roskin said. “You don’t have to come with me. There are no more orcs.”
    “Just wait. There’s always more orcs.”
    “But you can stay here. You’re safe. No one’s looking for you.”
    “Young master,” Red said, smiling and putting his hand on the dwarf’s shoulder. “You need me against them.”
    With that, Red crept around the corner and made his way between several buildings until he was nearly two hundred yards east of the bridge. When Roskin could no longer see the old man, he looked back at the soldiers, who were holding their weapons offensively to show off for a group of young women gathered at the entrance of a saloon. Roskin scanned the area near the tower and noticed a gray and white horse hitched to a small wagon near a store. The wagon was empty, and he figured the owner was inside the store delivering goods. He had very little experience driving or riding a horse, but if the guards gave chase, he would have better odds with it than without.
    He darted across the alley and slipped to the building behind the store, almost thirty yards from the tower and forty from the bridge. He glanced back and forth from the soldiers to the horse, waiting