Beyond the Dragon’s Teeth
Copyright© 2026 by Asa Strong
Chapter 6
I stepped forward and gave the Old Dwarf a slight bow, all the while trying to gather my thoughts on what to say.
“I know not the custom of address for one of your position. Indeed, I have no idea what your stature may be, so please forgive me any transgressions I may make.
“We have had a long and arduous trip crossing the Eastern Mountains we call the Dragon’s Teeth. The distance is far, and the journey is perilous. There are many false paths, and it is only luck that has allowed us to cross them.”
The Old Dwarf nodded his head and then said, “I am called Sar’da, Chief of the Lom’ec Clan and High Councilor.
“You said the journey was difficult, but you have not said why you and your companion took on the task of crossing the Eastern Mountains?”
I started to reply to his question, but was interrupted by a dwarf on the far left of the council table.
“You mentioned the ‘Dragon’s Teeth’, why do you name them so?”
I turned toward him and answered, “The Eastern Mountains, as you call them, are known in ancient tales as the Dragon’s Teeth to my people.”
The dwarf nodded his head and then stroked his beard before saying, “I have run across this name before, in old texts. I would like to talk to you further when the Council has concluded.”
I nodded my head and answered, “I will be more than willing to tell you what little I know.”
He nodded his head, and then Sar’da continued, “Bas’il, leave this meddling for outside the Council. We are not interested in tales told to children!”
Sar’da then turned to me and said, “Continue, you were about to explain why you are in our land.”
I thought of how to answer his question, and then answered, “High Councilor, it is nothing more than curiosity on my part. I have always wondered what lay to the West of my homeland.”
Sar’da looked at me with an incredulous expression on his face. He finally said, “I find that difficult to believe, that you would take a trip into the unknown, just to satisfy your curiosity.”
I thought of my father’s almost exact same words when he found out my intentions to cross the Dragon’s Teeth. With these thoughts in my mind, I spoke.
“I believe my father asked the same question of me. I will give you the answer I gave him. I don’t know ... I have had this feeling that I must cross the mountains since I was a young boy. As long as I can remember, I have felt drawn to this task.”
The dwarf seated next to Tag’ar rose and in a loud and angry voice said, “Enough of this nonsense. Kill them and be done with it!”
Tag’ar stood up and grabbed the dwarf by the front of his tunic and lifted him off the ground. “These two humans have my protection. Do you wish a war between our clans, Min’da?”
The look on Min’da’s face left no doubt that Tag’ar was serious. Before he could utter a word, the Old Dwarf spoke.
“Tag’ar, you are in Council! Release Min’da now!”
Tag’ar released Min’da, and he staggered as his feet met the floor. As the dwarfs at the table looked at one another, some with fear or alarm in their eyes, others with a more curious demeanor on their faces, Sar’da roared out, “Enough, I say! Sit and quiet yourselves. You are in Council!”
The Old Dwarf then turned to me, with a serious look on his face, and said, “You have been given sanctuary by Tag’ar. There are those here that would break with custom and violate our traditions and laws. I am not one of them. You and your companion can remain here until you have made yourselves ready to depart. I don’t believe that should take more than three days.”
His meaning was clear to me. We had three days to leave the city, or we would have to face the consequences.
As I was mulling this over in my mind, Sar’da turned to Tag’ar.
“Tag’ar,” he said, “these two are your responsibility. See to it that they are ready to depart before there is a problem. Remember, they are here under your protection, which makes you accountable for their actions.”
Tag’ar nodded his head in answer.
Sad’ar quickly closed the Council meeting, and our troop departed.
Our trip back to Tag’ar’s compound was uneventful, although it was clear that the local dwarf population was curious and somewhat hostile with our presence in their city.
When we arrived at Tag’ar’s house, he again called for ale, and we retired to the same room we had been in before.
We were not seated long before a servant announced that Bas’il would like to speak with us. Tag’ar directed that he be shown in.
When Bas’il came into the room, Tag’ar asked, “Welcome, Bas’il. As always, you are welcome in my keep.”
Bas’il gave a small bow and answered, “Thank you for your hospitality. As always, I am honored.”
“Take a seat. There is ale on the way,” Tag’ar said, nodding his head towards an empty chair.
Bas’il sat down and then turned to me and asked, “I am most interested to hear of your journey.”
The same young female servant that had served us before arrived with a large pitcher of ale and pewter mugs. As I took the mug from her, I noticed that an amazing degree of workmanship had gone into the construction of the mug.
After the girl dwarf had filled my mug, I answered Bas’il.
“There is not much to tell, I’m afraid. What I said in the Council chambers was about the extent of what happened and why we are here.”
Bas’il paused as in thought and then said, “There are no tales or mention of our land from where you come?”