Role

Chapter 5

The Magi had left, his father had sworn him a vicious beating for disobeying
him and embarrassing them, and his mother was now arguing with father on what
they should do. "Weh need ter git out a ere. Weh can leave em an go, she guna
die and he guna get us kilt!" "Nah we can make a deals wid em, we need these
two shites ter maken shure we can collect enuff of da ingredients" The
arguing continued and as the bickering escalated, no one was the wiser that
Aaratok had recovered and stole out into the deep, silent as a fox with
heading to the only place he could go...

He was hurtling now down the tunnels fast as he could push his burning
muscles. His heart pumped acid and his lungs churned the dank wet air with a
furious pace. Every step brought him closer to the only safe haven he knew.
Thoughts spun though his mind like a waterwheel, sloshing emotion about like
the rapids of a tormented river. His sisters agony, his parents fear and
weakness, a fleeting sense of self-preservation, anger, seething hated and
uncontrollable desire for revenge. Further and faster he shot down the
labyrinth until he felt as though hes heart would give out. Barely able to
stop without crashing into stalagmite and flowstone that spouted here, his
knees ached and thighs burned. He ducked through a low archway and slid belly
down through an opening slithering into a small domed space. "Gods beh damned
Arri, yer nearly sherd da shite out meh" A gruff voice spun out of Bogrok
like two pieces of slate rubbed face to face. Arratok rolled onto his back
sucking at the air like a wolf pup at its mothers teat. After a painfully
patient passing of moments, the story unfolded from Arratok to his long time,
and only friend.

Bogrok was another down on luck Duergar youth who had a similarly troubled,
albeit not as horrific upbringing. He was the only one Arri could turn to,
and knew he would find him at the dugout hideaway they had made near Bogroks
home. Together they plotted on how they could do something, anything to get
back at the magi. They had done this a thousand times, always halfhearted,
always just talk. The time for talk was now over, it was the time for action.
They were scared, and the plan was a nervous wreck of one, but they shook on
it and Bogrok swore he would back Arratok. It was done.