Love and Shkulaktoss - Chapter 2

Chapter 2

"Put some muscle in it, ye limping lump of limestone!" Princess Katernin Ironcrown shouted at Ferdoch Graybeard, who was working beside her to turn the crank of the pulley and raise the collapsed beam. "Unless ye're wanting to tell our smiths why they're having to forge armor of twigs and dirt because the mines are still closed!"

Ferdoch Graybeard was a young member of his family, and as such his beard was still a rich light brown in color. Nevertheless, it was thick with sweat from his efforts, which he redoubled despite his near certainty that he, and not the bossy Princess Katernin, was putting most of the force on the pulley. "Reason why the mines are closed," he grunted, "is because of the damned earthquake that shook all the stone loose. Brother Stonecutter says the earth spirits are angry, that the damned orcs have brought down their wrath by hunting too many of the mammoths."

"Brother Stonekisser," Princess Katernin grunted, throwing her strength into the crank as her muscles screamed, "can get out of his dusty old temple and make himself useful here if he's having such a fine say on things. Suppose ye were an earth spirit, Ferdoch: then why'd ye go and care so much about a huge stinking, snorting, pooping, fighting, filthy ball of greasy crotch hair and gristle like a damn stupid mammoth that ye'd knock someone else's mine shaft in? Mammoths are some of the ugliest, smelliest, stubbornest creatures ye'd ever care to see!"

The beam rose into place with their efforts, huge piles of fallen stone sloughing off. They threw the pulley just a bit further, and then another dwarf was at their side, locking it in place with a bolt, and other members of the work crew hastened into position with timbers to prop the beam up in its current state. With a deep breath and a smile of satisfaction, Katernin watched the mine begin to come back together. She had worked with the other engineers on the plans to reopen and strengthen the mine; she was still young, but if all went well she would be among those who restored a valuable resource to the clan with their prompt action.

The foreman's whistle blew. "Finish what ye're at and tools down!" the foreman shouted out. "Third crew's waiting to take over!"

"About time," one of the nearby workers muttered. "I'm off to the mess hall, lads and lasses. I worked up such an appetite even these timbers are looking mighty tasty!"

Others murmured assent, and Katernin felt the fatigue filling her own shoulders and an emptiness in her belly. She sighed and turned away, satisfied but weary, but was caught with a touch by Ferdoch Graybeard. "Princess Katernin," he said, "been a pleasure working beside ye today." He doffed his miner's helmet and clutched it in front of himself. "It'd be an even greater pleasure to have ye as a dinner guest. We'll be having some of my own family's famous fresh fungus bread dripping with yak butter, and a fine plate of carrots and smoked beef beside."

Katernin shook her head. "I've other things to do," she said. "Things of a private nature, ye understand. But my thanks for the offer." She didn't mention that her private business was to surely include a finer meal than that which Ferdoch offered. The fungus bread he spoke of was infamous rather than famous, so that past dinner guests had taken to calling them the Graybread family behind their backs. But that wasn't the real reason she declined.

Ferdoch nodded in disappointment, then watched Katernin go with a thoughtful expression and hurried off himself. It was just as well. He was a handsome young man, and in the White Mountain Clan, social class was no obstacle to a relationship between two good, upstanding, hard-working dwarves, but she loved another. It was a forbidden love, and one that she had now gone too long without, the day's fatigue be damned.

Katernin hurried back through the tunnels of the White Mountain Clan's stronghold to her royal chambers. Thankfully, she did not encounter her parents. She wanted no other contact this evening. In her room, she threw open her grand oak armoire and reached past a varied assortment of ball gowns and work coveralls to finally get to the false compartment hidden in the back. From there, she drew out the enchanted charm that he had given her several months back. It was a simple, smooth stone in the shape of a heart, crudely fashioned and lumpy and uneven, on a simple leather cord, but it carried magic so that he could hear her voice from far away when she spoke into it.

"Garauk, darling," Katernin said. "I worked myself like a borrowed ox today, love, and I stand in need of a delicious meal and a pair of good hands to rub the aching knots outta my body, if ye can give me those things. I'll be at the old druid's shack in two hours, hoping ye can be there. Love ye so much, now and always." She finished with a single kiss to the stone, then carefully put it back and sealed her hidden compartment.

Katernin's body screamed in protest at the prospects of dressing up in a wayfaring outfit and taking a long walk through the hills, but she nonetheless abandoned her smelly work clothes for a loose tunic and trousers, and a comfortable pair of old boots. Their meeting location, the old shack owned by a eccentric druid who was seldom at home and who condoned their forbidden affair with cackling, madcap glee even when she was, had a little spot by the lake where she could bathe, so she took a chunk of soap. Beyond that, she brought a waterskin, a bottle of wine purchased from the human provinces far to the south, a lantern with oil and firesticks, and her trusted throwing hammers in case she encountered any trouble.

Thus girded to travel, Katernin stepped out of her room and was promptly met by her mother and father, Queen Alya and King Grennaur Ironcrown. "There ye are, my little gold nugget!" Queen Alya said, reaching out and rumpling Katernin's hair before finding that it was still somewhat damp with sweat. "This father of ye, here, and myself were both wondering what it is ye're after this evening."

Katernin was dressed to travel, and it was obvious to anyone who saw her. "I'm thinking to walk the surface a bit, mama," she said, "so I can think some thoughts and survey the land. I'll be gone some time." She saw her parents both frown, and hastily added, "Don't worry! I'm still sure to make my shift tomorrow!"

"I heard tell that ye turned down dinner with the Graybeards for this," King Grennaur said, frowning. "Not that any princess must heed every invitation from her subjects, and I know ye're not wanting to choke down their nasty gray bread, but they've worked hard and given much for all the clan these last few years. Aren't ye thinking that a show of royal favor might be in order?"

So Ferdoch had gone and told her parents. The weasel. "I'm thinking," Katernin said, "that Ferdoch Graybeard's wanting to get his bird wet, and hasn't taken grasp of the notion that I'm not the one for that."

King Grennaur frowned. "While I... can't fault ye, there," he said slowly, "ye are aware that ye're a beautiful young woman, daughter of the king, with all signs of being a skilled engineer and a bright future? Lot of fine things to desire there, for any young man, and ye're not letting a one of them get close. Of course the boy's gonna want to get close to ye! Any true-hearted dwarven boy would!"

"And if ye're not liking boys," Queen Alya said quickly, "I know a few fine young lasses've had their eyes on ye for a long spell. As yet, they've said nothing, of course, because I tell them ye're looking for a prince and not a princess. But if ye've... lately realized something about yourself, I can introduce ye-"

"No!" Katernin said. "I'm not wanting to marry, nor to share a bed with any man or woman here, nor start making grandbabies for ye, as much as ye'd like that. I'd reckon that there'll be a day for all that, and sooner than ye think. But it's not this day, nor in all odds tomorrow."

King Grennaur gave her a puzzled look. "Then... what do ye want, darling?" he asked softly.

"Papa, right now, I want to walk the surface," Katernin said. She gestured down to her traveling clothes. "That's why I'm dressed in this: I mean to walk the surface."

King Grennaur nodded, looking no less puzzled. "Go forth," he said. "The answers will come to ye, and all of us, in time."

Queen Alya planted a kiss on Katernin's cheek, then gave her a sad smile. "Ye puzzle me, my daughter," she said. "But we're for ye getting what ye like, every step of the way."

"Thanks, mama," Katernin said. She smiled at them, and despite her annoyance at their questions, it was genuine. "Love ye both. I'll return before the morning's milk's at the door; my promise."

Continued in Chapter 3