Athelius was disappointed. He had expected to arrive to a sea of silver and precious stones. But the elves store their treasures in metal chests, organized in shelves. Underground and illuminated only by the torches on the walls, the room was dim and had musty and metal scents about it. The shelves, however, numbered in the thousands, stretched almost endlessly in the castle's massive treasury.
"This is a Beleggond that can be extracted from the white drakes that are now extinct." when the chest was opened, the brightness of the stones made them cover their eyes, and only after a while did their sight fully adjusted.
The one presenting the chest was a man of many years, but he had on him the excitement of a child. Though he knew every detail concerning the stone from illustrations in the books, it was the first time he saw it personally.
"White drakes? Are they not merely a tale, as ridiculous as white crows?" Ulysis marveled at the stone, but he doubted the story behind it. The drakes that had remained in existence were black or crimson in color.
"I have seen them once. Snow drakes, we called them, they lived in the lands of ever winter. Far into the north, farther than the dwarven holds." Athelius recounted, much to the delight of the captain and the jeweler. From time to time, the ancient being would tell stories of a more ancient world.
"But in the year 2130, when the world warmed for three years, the white drakes were forced from their homes. It must be then that one of them crossed Meldor Elvenking and his riders."
"But north… How did the elven king end up north?" the captain posed another question. The Atherdaine was situated further south.
Athelius took the chest that contained the treasure, which the jeweler willingly gave up. He took a closer look at the gem, scrutinizing every detail. The stone was transparent, and inside were glowing dots that resembled the stars and in the center a greater light. And lost in the wonder, he answered.
"Elf hunts. The elves used to ride where scourges and great beasts could be found. He must've wandered there."
Having seen enough of it, he returned the stone to the jeweler. The listeners wanted more of the story, but the general was not interested to continue.
"How much is this gond, if sold for silver?" the general asked.
"Many times a king's ransom, lord. This stone alone could fund the entirety of your campaign to enter the imperial capital." the old man answered.
"Wonderful." he nodded,, and it was no surprise.
"Now, are there any more artifacts of note?"
"Yes, in fact, too many, my lord."
The jeweler led them from shelf to shelf, showing them chests upon chests, and with fervor and childlike enthusiasm. He showed them the Bellegonds that had been acquired from the last great dragons, from gigantic serpents and lizards, from winged creatures that once ruled the skies, and from mighty beasts that once roamed the lands.
And he showed them the elven treasures that cannot be confined in chests and were arrayed beside the walls. Skulls of wyverns, that were as tall as a man and as large as a boulder. Talons of great birds, that were as long as swords. Scales of dragons of different shades: white, crimson, dark and golden, and all tougher than iron. A lamp burning with an inextinguishable blue flame, said to belong to the only drake to breathe such a color of fire.
But what piqued the general's interest the most were the works of the elven craftsmen and smiths.
"Even the elven king did not dare wear such a grandeous armor!" exclaimed Ulysis stepping back to fully see the armor he had just fitted to the general.
"You have the appearance of a dragonslayer, the emperor and his underlings would surely cower at the mere sight of you."
"A dragon slayer huh." he looked down and caressed the dragon scales, lamenting there was no mirror in the cellar. "I have slain dragons in my days, that wouldn't be inaccurate."
"Though unlike the elven king, I was more… respectful of the corpses."
Pointing at the intricate weapon resting on a nearby rack, he said. "Bring me that spear,"
At his command, the old jeweler approached the rack to seize the weapon. But when he tried to lift it, the spear did not move an inch. He tried again, with more effort and grunting, yet his strength failed him.
"The years had caught up with you, Storgius." Athelius said with a smile.
"You are incorrect, lord. I have always been weak." he chuckled.
"Ulysis, mighty captain, show me your strength." he turned to the younger man, of great build and only in his early forties.
With confidence, he took over of the effort. He wrapped his veiny hands on the black metal handle, and tried to pull it towards himself. To his astonishment, the spear refused to yield. Like Storgius he would not give up the first time, and attempted to lift it again. He placed his foot against the wall, and used the weight of his body to move it. Miserably failing, he did not give it a third dry.
"It is very heavy. I do not think it is created to be wielded." he explained, his pride hurt.
"To be wielded by men, maybe." the amused general remarked and motioned the captain to step aside.
He leaned in and grabbed hold of the handle. With a grunt and a single try, the spear was freed from its resting place. And even when he had done it so easily, the two men who watched him do it, felt the brief clash between the weapon's great weight and the general's great strength.
"I am very pleased. This weapon is made of the famed Morgak, or dark steel. Mined by the dwarves, and we know nothing of what they call them." he raised it before him, and examined every detail. "With such a weight, this could shatter the thick capital walls if hurled."
With a skillful movement of the fingers, he spun the spear at his side, and then slammed the handle to the ground. The cellar quaked and the sound of the impact reverberated in the room. Where the tip of the shaft landed, a small crater was formed with cracks branching out of it. For a brief while, emerald flames were seen snaking around the weapon, before they vanished the same way they appeared.
"I shall call it Ardundagnir, the World Slayer. With it, I shall destroy the current world, and bring about a new one." he declared, the emerald flames were seen again within his eyes.
"My lord!"
Interrupting his musings, the voice of Raul was heard from where the entrance should be.
"The tremors were my own doing, no need to be alarmed." the general shouted back.
But even when he had assured him, they could still hear Raul coming towards where they were through his footsteps. After a minute of trying to find his way in the maze of shelves, he emerged. He was wearing his full-body armor even in time of rest. His serious and unchanging demeanor earned both ire and respect from those who know him.
"My lord… " he scanned the three figures for his lord and paused when he saw him wearing the impressive equipment, "…it pertains to the elven prince."
"What of Meldor ElvenPrince?" he turned to face him, revealing the entirety of the armor's beauty to Raul, who took time to answer back.
"He had… He had attacked and sacked Chaeld. Reports said that he went wild and killed every one he could find, including all the royal members."
"He has lost his mind, and along with it, his only advantage towards me." the general chuckled. "The righteous prince is not so righteous anymore."
"Shall we send forces to the east, my lord?"
"Of course, you dull-" Ulysis chimed in, only to be interrupted.
"No… we shall not, no matter how strong the elves are, with their numbers they can do nothing against the eastern imperial towns. And he wouldn't dare, that's if he had not abandoned reason, just as he had abandoned his heart." said the general, who has already shifted his attention back to the spear.
"We shall conserve our forces, for our march to the capital." he added.
Raul nodded and bowed.
"I shall now make my leave, my lord."
"You should rest, Raul. Enjoy our spoils." the general exhorted. "If you want, I can give you a night with the elven princess."
"I have a wife, my lord." Raul responded.
Ulysis laughed at his response and mockingly. But the general was silent.
"You are a good man, Raul. How have you ended up in my service?"
"I am your servant, Lord Athelius. As my father and his father had been, and my son and his son would be." a rare smile formed on Raul's bearded mouth. One tainted with sadness.