{"id":3967,"date":"1983-07-12T07:12:34","date_gmt":"1983-07-12T11:12:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tellest.com\/?p=3967"},"modified":"2016-08-02T10:30:48","modified_gmt":"2016-08-02T14:30:48","slug":"lord-thunder-first-chapter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/lord-thunder-first-chapter\/","title":{"rendered":"Lord of Thunder, First Chapter"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lord of Thunder<\/strong>
\nA Tale by Michael DeAngelo<\/strong>
\nChapter One: A Tale of Blood and Thunder<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

His wrists were rubbed raw, the ropes binding them lubricated in the man\u2019s blood.\u00a0 Still, despite that discomfort, Bolt Thunderfury worked at releasing himself from his bonds.\u00a0 The wooden post that rooted him in the center of his cell was splintered and chipped, but the prisoner knew it was no use trying to tug it free or snap it in half.\u00a0 Those ropes became his focus, though not a single fray had been made.\u00a0 Tarsonians made their cords strong indeed.<\/p>\n

The clatter and clanking of iron down the earthen halls registered throughout the concealed prison.\u00a0 Those other captives began mumbling and whispering, and before long, the march of the Tarsonians echoed past Bolt.\u00a0 The gate had opened and the Pass of Gideon had claimed more victims.<\/p>\n

Bolt ceased his weary, painful work, resting his back against the post.\u00a0 He couldn\u2019t remember a time when every one of his muscles wasn\u2019t sore.\u00a0 His nerves had suffered worse in those few weeks since he\u2019d been captured.\u00a0 Lying dormant, he no longer jumped at the cavern\u2019s slithering millepedes, or blinked away the unyielding sound of condensation dripping from his earthen roof.\u00a0 He didn\u2019t budge at all when one of his captors passed by \u2013 except to stop working at finding freedom.\u00a0 His nerves might have been dulled, but he was not numb to the hope of liberation.<\/p>\n

He could hear the separation of the prisoners, drawn down the many paths of the Pass of Gideon.\u00a0 As he imagined the spider\u2019s web of hallways, two burly guards forced one of their claimed down the long stretch.\u00a0 With unkempt hair and stubble covering his face, it was clear he was not given much luxury as he was brought to the facility.<\/p>\n

The newest arrival made eye contact with Bolt, and he narrowed those eyes while he dipped his chin.\u00a0 In one quick motion, he snapped the rope that bound him, and drove his elbow back into the nose of one of his captors.\u00a0 Before the other was even aware of what had happened, the fellow spun about, and drove the heel of his hand into the jailor\u2019s chest, sending him flying backward.<\/p>\n

His interest piqued, Bolt labored to his feet as voices rang out from every corner of the Pass of Gideon.\u00a0 The newest prisoner, already freed, turned once again to the man in the cell.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan you fight?\u201d the stranger asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I was out of this cell and free of these ropes, aye, I could.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen let\u2019s get you out of there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before Bolt could even offer up a protest, the man threw another open-palmed blow, that impact landing on one of the iron bars.\u00a0 That sound resonated through the prison like an oversized bell, nearly distracting Bolt from the truth of what had happened: the bar had bent.\u00a0 Another blow landed, and then another, until the bar flew from the slots at the top and bottom of the cell.\u00a0 A disarming grin was upon the stranger\u2019s face as he sidled up to enter Bolt\u2019s cell.<\/p>\n

The snap of a whip was the only warning either prisoner was given.\u00a0 Before Bolt\u2019s impromptu rescuer realized that he was snared, he was tugged back out of the cell.\u00a0 He only saw his aggressor\u2019s bald head for a split second before an elbow slammed into his skull from behind.<\/p>\n

Then, all was black.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

It felt as though he bore the weight of the world on his shoulders.\u00a0 As he blinked away his stupor, his surroundings came into focus.\u00a0 A series of iron bars were his only window into the dreary place, with torches down the way casting their light much further than they could before growing dim.\u00a0 Still, eh could see across the dirty cavern path, to where another cell had been badly damaged, an iron bar bent out of place.<\/p>\n

He remembered, then.\u00a0 Overconfidence had been his undoing.\u00a0 He hadn\u2019t taken the necessary precautions, and then\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cYou found your way under their skin.\u201d\u00a0 In that opposite cell\u2014behind a trio of new iron bars that were lashed atop the bent one\u2014the prisoner flashed an awkward grin.\u00a0 \u201cI was sure you\u2019d broken the one\u2019s nose, but they say you may have shattered the other guard\u2019s ribs.\u00a0 He was having an awful time breathing.\u00a0 So they took a few extra precautions with you, hence the metal mittens you\u2019re wearing.\u201d<\/p>\n

The prisoner lowered his eyes, taking account of himself for the first time since he woke.\u00a0 Sure enough, his hands were locked inside a pair of hefty gauntlets, chained to one another, but also each to a weighted ball.\u00a0 His hands rested on those blackened spheres, and when he tried to lift them, he felt every muscle in his body protest.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat explains the ache in my shoulders,\u201d he muttered.\u00a0 \u201cI am Kazin.\u00a0 Who do I have the honor of sharing this dismal place with?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBolt, of the Thunderfury Dwarves,\u201d the other prisoner replied.<\/p>\n

Kazin arched his eyebrow.\u00a0 \u201cYour proportions seem a bit off, my friend.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe dwarves were kind enough to take me in.\u00a0 I was abandoned when I was just a babe.\u00a0 Of course, my home wasn\u2019t without its hardships.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich one isn\u2019t?\u201d \u00a0The new prisoner groaned as he attempted to lift his arms.\u00a0 It was no use, however.\u00a0 \u201cIf I could just break these chains.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBelieve me, even their ropes are sturdy.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been working on mine for days, and all I have to show for it are burn marks on my wrists.\u00a0 Not so much as a single fray.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s discouraging,\u201d Kazin said.\u00a0 \u201cStill, I\u2019d wager your freedom against mine in a heartbeat.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWith the way you broke that bar?\u00a0 I doubt it.\u00a0 And snapping through those ropes and knocking around the guards\u2026 you sure you don\u2019t have dwarven blood flowing through you?\u201d<\/p>\n

Kazin shook his head.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m a monk from Numasa.\u00a0 Every one of us has learned to channel energy through our bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can relate,\u201d Bolt said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou said you\u2019ve been working on your bonds for a few days now.\u00a0 Have you anything to show for it?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery time I get any real momentum going, the pain in my wrists becomes too unbearable.\u00a0 I feel like I\u2019ll work through my arms before I get loose of these damn ropes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s disappointing.\u00a0 It looks like we may be here a while then.\u201d\u00a0 Kazin sighed, and attempted to lift his arms once more, to no avail.\u00a0 Dejected, he laid his head back against the wall.\u00a0 \u201cTell me about these dwarves.\u00a0 I\u2019ve heard of them, of course, but in my travels, I haven\u2019t run across any of them.\u00a0 They\u2019re also masters of martial prowess from what I\u2019ve heard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bolt let out a weak chortle.\u00a0 \u201cMy father was the storyteller of the family, not me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIndulge me.\u00a0 Time is the one commodity it seems we have in abundance here.\u201d\u00a0 The monk leaned forward, his brow furrowed in anticipation.\u00a0 \u201cSurely you have that one great story that you\u2019re proud to speak of.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other prisoner took in a deep, steady breath, and he let his gaze find focus on bars of his cell.\u00a0 \u201cMy father is often asked why I travel with the dwarves, and he always tells the tale of our battle with the harpies.\u00a0 But I\u2019ve always been fond of the time when I was able to strike out on my own for the first time\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

*\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A spring shower cascaded over the thatched roof of their cottage, and a distant rumble of thunder carried out over the land.\u00a0 A breakfast feast sat before the two young ones, and had Dorn and his family not been held in such high regard, the dwarven patriarch would have gasped at the pace in which his two growing lads gorged themselves.\u00a0 His family was known for their heroics, though, and it was a certainty that there would always be food upon their table.<\/p>\n

One of those sons grew a bit faster than the other\u2014no small thanks in part to his true lineage.\u00a0 Bolt was a human, mysterious delivered to the dwarves nearly two decades before.\u00a0 His parents were never found, but they, they were never sought after either.<\/p>\n

Eli was Dorn\u2019s trueborn son with his wife, Rena.\u00a0 What the young dwarf lacked in height, he certainly made up for in breadth, and appetite.\u00a0 With broad shoulders and toned arms, Dorn was sure his son would have aspired to joining Jor\u2019s company of the Lightning Guard.\u00a0 He was instead inspired by the loss of one of their champions who had fallen in a venture to the far north.\u00a0 Uolo was one of the Thunderfury Dwarves\u2019 most renowned clerics, and his death had surely taken a toll\u2014one that was noticed by every dwarf about the Goldenscale cliffs.<\/p>\n

While the lads tore into their hearty breakfast, their mother remained in the bedroom at the rear of the cottage.\u00a0 A winter cough lingered with her, stretching into the following season, and she was certain that rest would lift her spirits and cleanse her body.\u00a0 Still, it seemed odd to Dorn not to have Rena sitting at his side.<\/p>\n

That rain outside subsided, bringing a smile to Dorn\u2019s face.\u00a0 The musty smell meant repairs in the dwarven warren beneath them, but it also meant the wildflowers in the fields to the west would have an opportunity to grow.\u00a0 If anything could lift Rena\u2019s spirits, it was the sight of those beautiful blooms.<\/p>\n

Trading one pattering for another, those enjoying their breakfast heard the rapid footsteps that neared their door.\u00a0 Dorn was out of his seat before the first report of a fist on that sturdy entryway.<\/p>\n

\u201cMister Dorn,\u201d the fresh faced lad huffed.\u00a0 \u201cMister Dorn, they need you at the statue.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEasy there, youngling,\u201d the older dwarf said, raising his hands to placate the visitor.\u00a0 He took note of the new arrival, his beard only a little longer than Eli\u2019s.\u00a0 He was probably still too young to work in the mines.\u00a0 \u201cWhich statue are you on about?\u201d<\/p>\n

A great many statues speckled the Goldenscale Cliffs those days, memorials to the heroes and friends they had lost.\u00a0 The statue of Zeb stood in front of the mine, one for Thurgan was just at the entrance to the hall, and still another for Ingus watched the east road\u2026<\/p>\n

The way the young dwarf cocked his head was enough to reveal the truth.<\/p>\n

\u201cVaulen,\u201d Dorn said.\u00a0 He stepped outside the cottage, past the visitor, his bare feet landing upon the muddied path.\u00a0 A sideways glance showed the statue of their ancient king, towering over the cliffs.\u00a0 Even from that distance, he could see the odd shape upon it.\u00a0 \u201cWhat is it lad?\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the young dwarf could offer a response, Dorn\u2019s adopted son stepped out of the house, and followed his father\u2019s gaze.\u00a0 \u201cIs that another one?\u201d Bolt asked.\u00a0 \u201cIs there another one like me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe called out to whatever is up there, but we didn\u2019t receive an answer,\u201d the visitor said.\u00a0 \u201cOne of the others saw wings, so we\u2019re thinking harpies.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019d be fools to come back again,\u201d Dorn grumbled.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen let\u2019s make sure they know that,\u201d his son insisted.<\/p>\n

His father furled his brow and lifted his finger to placate the boy, but he nodded instead.\u00a0 Passing a glance to his other son, Dorn offered a wink.\u00a0 \u201cStay here with your mother, Eli.\u00a0 We\u2019ll be right back this way.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bolt was already on the move, nearly upon the bridge that crossed between the two cliffs.\u00a0 Even after all those years of living there, he still couldn\u2019t keep from cringing as the musty aroma rose up from the deep crevasse.\u00a0 The fleeting rain always left his home reeking of sour earth.<\/p>\n

Several moments later, the human and his dwarven father stood among the crowd, peering up at the giant metal effigy of their ancient king.\u00a0 Two members of the clan arrived beside them, carrying climbing gear that they knew Dorn would approve of.\u00a0 As he slung the coiled rope over his shoulder and grasped the grappling hook, Bolt stepped forward and held out his arm.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ll be upon the hammer before you reach Vaulen\u2019s belt,\u201d he challenged.<\/p>\n

Dorn couldn\u2019t keep a smile from separating his lips.\u00a0 \u201cThat sounds like a challenge.\u00a0 Maybe I\u2019ll knock you down a peg or two and make you feel like a proper dwarf.\u201d<\/p>\n

The other members of the Thunderfury Clan joined in on the playful ribbing, and Dorn considered how far they had come.\u00a0 Bolt wasn\u2019t just tolerated among them.\u00a0 He was accepted, his presence truly appreciated.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou wouldn\u2019t want that, Father,\u201d the adopted son went on.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019ll go ahead and make me king.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll see, your highness,\u201d Dorn said with a wink.\u00a0 Before Bolt moved an inch, the dwarf was spinning the grappling hook in small circles.\u00a0 He let it fly, and before it had even latched onto the statue, he went forth, leaping into the air after it.\u00a0 \u201cSee you at the top,\u201d he cried.<\/p>\n

Bolt stood there, at the base of Vaulen\u2019s effigy, watching his father scale the length of rope.\u00a0 With those other dwarves urging him on, he finally stepped up to that perfectly forged metal representation of the king.\u00a0 As they pressed on with insistence, Bolt alternated between a closed fist and extended digits on each of his hands.\u00a0 A light tap to each of his steel tipped boots was the only action that brought his attention from his father.\u00a0 When he looked skyward again, Dorn was clambering into position beside the grapple.<\/p>\n

The moment the human placed his hand against the statue, he could feel the electricity pulsing through is fingers.\u00a0 He pushed that energy through the surface, and put one foot into position as well, the boot clanging upon the metal.\u00a0 That static electricity kept him firmly in place, despite his weight.\u00a0 A devious smile was already on his face before he began his ascent.<\/p>\n

Cheers rang out as the human rose into the air, climbing the statue without gear, or a tether, or even handholds.\u00a0 Though he was high above them in only moments, they could hear the crackle of energy every his hands or feet returned to the metal surface.<\/p>\n

When Dorn hoisted himself onto Vaulen\u2019s extended fist, he spun to sit on his rump while he collected the hook and the rope.\u00a0 When he ventured a glance ahead, he was surprised to see his son before him, offering up a pair of raised eyebrows and a mischievous grin.<\/p>\n

Despite his diminished odds of winning, the dwarf couldn\u2019t suppress a chortle.\u00a0 As his son focused once more on the climb, Dorn spun the grappling hook before him.\u00a0 He was in motion before the hook was thrown.<\/p>\n

Fervor of cheers and applause accompanied the two competitors as they resumed their rise.\u00a0 Though Bolt\u2019s ability gave him quite the edge, it never caused Dorn to falter.\u00a0 The dwarf\u2019s momentum carried him up the statue just as quick.<\/p>\n

While the human began the ascent up Vaulen\u2019s upraised arm, Dorn rested upon the ancient king\u2019s bushy metal beard, steadying his breaths.\u00a0 As his son reached the subtle crook of the statue\u2019s elbow, he let the grappling hook fly one last time.<\/p>\n

Bolt scaled around the opposite side of the arm, finding better nuances that the effigy was built with to step upon.\u00a0 As he continued into that final straight line that led to the hammer, he was face to face with his father, who pulled himself up the rope\u2014without the use of his legs.\u00a0 Bolt laughed aloud and sped his ascent, throwing caution to the wind.<\/p>\n

Both challengers rose over the lip of Stonemaw, their ancient king\u2019s recreated war hammer.\u00a0 It was there that they saw the feathered wings that they had been warned about.\u00a0 Both looked on with furrowed brows as they looked upon the intruder, who had his fingers wrapped around the braided metal rope that circled the protruding handle.\u00a0 He looked at the pair of recent arrivals, alternating glances between each of them.\u00a0 With some hesitation, he let his hands slip from the statue, his posture straightening at once.<\/p>\n

The dwarf and the human both saw his features more clearly then: his bronze feathers, wings that were separated from his arms\u2014and a prolonged beak that extended from his face.<\/p>\n

Dorn arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms over his chest.\u00a0 \u201cWell, he sure isn\u2019t a harpy.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Lord of Thunder A Tale by Michael DeAngelo Chapter One: A Tale of Blood and Thunder   His wrists were rubbed raw, the ropes binding them lubricated in the man\u2019s blood.\u00a0 Still, despite that discomfort, Bolt Thunderfury worked at releasing himself from his bonds.\u00a0 The wooden post that rooted him in the center of his […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3522,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spay_email":"","footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/05\/Lord-of-Thunder-3-1.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p1UVey-11Z","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3967"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3967"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3970,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3967\/revisions\/3970"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3522"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tellest.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}