“Even the secret tunnel?” Quinn said. “How could that be if it’s supposed to be a secret tunnel?”
Raven smiled at him, saying, “The Gods work in mysterious ways, don’t they? Maybe Ashtar just made it exist for me to find, and no man ever built it. Or, maybe when this temple was built, She knew this day would come and had Her priests build the tunnel so that I could find it.”
“Or maybe it was just dumb luck,” Quinn said. “As I understand it, even the Gods have limits on how far into the future they can see.”
“I think one of the other priests just told her,” Armin said. “You know how Raven has to make up a wild story for everything.”
“You’re accusing me of making up some wild story?” Raven cried, though her eyes betrayed her amusement.
“Perish the thought,” Tane said. “But this can wait until later.”
Raven shrugged.
The crypts beneath the temple went down for five levels, filled mostly with the remains of noble members of the temple and priests who died while serving in the temple. Thankfully for Tane’s peace of mind, all the tombs were sealed with masonry, bronze or silver plaques affixed to tell one and all whose bones lay beyond.
Raven led them to the lowest level and stopped before an ancient tomb. She asked them all to stay out of hearing, then frowned at Quinn. Quinn just returned her frown with a guileless smile. She finally shrugged and hurried over to the tomb’s silver plaque. Tane watched as she muttered arcane words and touched an intricate pattern of bricks. Within a dozen heartbeats the wall before her began to grind slowly back.
“Look at me, wielding power like a full priestess!” Raven crowed, emerald eyes dancing gleefully in the torchlight. “Maybe I missed my true calling.”
“Somehow I just don’t see you as some solemn priestess, ministering selflessly to distraught men and women,” Quinn said. “Knowing you, you’d probably just kick them in their rear ends and tell them to act like adults! Besides, you didn’t really cast a spell. You just put on one of your little acts again. I would’ve felt the magic dissipating, and besides real magic wouldn’t require you to throw mechanical levers to make the wall move.”
“Killjoy,” she grumbled.
Tane shook his head to drive away the dizziness their rush through the city and temple had left. His right temple still throbbed, and he could feel a trickle of blood slithering downward. He dared not tell his friends just how sick the blow had left him, for valuable time would be lost while they ministered to him needlessly.
Forcing his eyes to focus on the yawning portal Raven had just opened, he asked, “Where does it lead?”
Raven shrugged. “Won’t know that until we get there. But it is an escape tunnel, so should take us well behind any siege lines.”
“If this were a normal siege, I would agree,” Armin said, eyeing the tunnel warily. “But the Gods alone know how deeply the zombies are spread out around the city.”
“With the city falling, shouldn’t they be heading in?” Joelle said, turning to Quinn.
“Depends on how experienced Dakar’s priests are,” the half-elf said. “Considering the circumstances, though, they have every right to believe no one will escape southward through their lines.”
“Or even want to,” Armin said.
Tane felt an urge to leave, to enter the tunnel. He looked up beseechingly, praying Kamain knew what He was doing. Praying Kamain was watching and protecting His devotee and pawn.
“We’re just wasting time here,” Tane said, and slipped past Raven to enter the tunnel.
Chapter 43
The tolling of the alarm bells interrupted Nizar’s morning meal, a bowl of steaming chicken broth the innkeep’s wife swore would chase away his sniffles. So far, though, his sniffles were clinging tenaciously to his nose, making his head feel leaden. At first he ignored the bells, busy considering how he might phrase a self-healing prayer to Dakar that didn’t sound too self-serving or make him look like a comfort loving whiner. But when the bells didn’t ease up after a few minutes, like usual, he decided to have a look.
“Hywel!” Nizar called.
The innkeep hurried in at his summons. He looked harried, as usual. But at least he didn’t scowl at Nizar like he’d done before the priest placed subtle spells upon him and his family. They didn’t realize it, but all were bound to Nizar’s service, and thus to Dakar. One and all obeyed Nizar’s every command, no matter how bizarre or unpleasant, without question. And none thought to question their own eagerness to please him.
“I’m going out. If that lazy urchin, Sindy, arrives before I return, give her something to eat and make her stay put,” he said as he tossed a dark green cloak across his shoulders. The color gray had become very unpopular, and dangerous, since the siege began. “Lock her in a closet if you have to, but don’t let her leave.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Sindy might be his enchanted slave, but she still possessed the impulsiveness of childhood. She would never disobey an order, but he had found her attention span, not to mention memory, to be quite limited. The urchin had wandered off on more than one occasion, but returned the moment she remembered him.
Quite frustrating, but unavoidable with children.
“I shouldn’t be long. I just want to ensure the walls won’t be breached today.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Nizar had little fear of that. He had no contact with High Priest Mogens, but listened intently to all gossip concerning the deployment of forces on both sides. Though he knew next to nothing on conducting sieges, he gathered from the gossip it was too soon for the defenders to take anything for granted and start making mistakes.
Still, one could only hope for that jewel of an opportunity to show itself.
If I deliver the city, and the swordsmith, then my life will be set, Nizar mused as he departed.
He hadn’t taken a dozen steps toward the Stone Dragon Gate when the tenor of the battle din altered. In a matter of heartbeats he realized the gate had been captured or breached. Men and women were racing past with wild screams of despair.
A temple of Baldr, King of the Arisen, was nearby. A burning desire to torch it flared to life deep within him. He could single-handedly deprive the most powerful Arisen of some measure of power and prestige. And at no risk to himself.
A soldier covered in blood passed, his weapon lost in his headlong flight. Nizar became excited to see the battle was so close. Then zombies appeared down the street, swinging cudgels and swords, and taking a deadly toll.
We’re butchering them all! he thought.
Nizar’s moment of exhilaration died as he realized that Tane could very easily be killed while he was sating his lust for vengeance on the Arisen. Or worse, the swordsmith could be captured by Mogens’ forces. The High Priest would get the credit, and their Divine Master’s lavish rewards.
The thought had barely registered before Nizar was scrambling through the hysterical crowd towards an alley. Once inside, he raced through the garbage to the next street over and turned south again. The street was crowded, but it was smaller than the other and seemed overlooked by the zombies. Within minutes he stood within sight of the Stone Dragon Gate and garrison.
“Damn my luck!” he growled.
Zombies were overrunning the last resistance atop the walls as well as pouring through the open gate. Tane could be anywhere. The bastard could even be dead or captured.
Taking a deep steadying breath, Nizar centered himself and prayed for divine help. Receiving it, he cast out for the swordsmith, and the nail clipping secreted in his armor. All the while, he prayed vehemently that Tane was still alive.
A subtle “tugging” at his mind had Nizar reversing himself and heading north. He found that encouraging. Of course, a zombie could’ve killed him and taken the mail armor, though unlikely.
The mental tug became stronger as he ran down the dark, twisting streets and alleys. Then exiting an alley, he found himself facing a large temple built in the
Tyrian style. The stained glass windows were of different aspects of Ashtar. For an instant he thought Ashtar had set a trap for him, but then spotted the five soldiers running up to the main door.
Tane Kyleson! he thought, exultant, as they slipped inside.
Nizar hurried after them. He had learned much about the floor plans of temples, and of their many secret passages and chambers, since entering Dakar’s service. They could yet escape him, even with Tane wearing the armor.
Strangely, he found them huddled together near the High Altar while the harlot knelt and prayed. The sight left him uneasy. Could Ashtar detect the enchantment he had placed upon the nail clipping secreted inside Tane’s armor? It was as subtle as possible.
No. Ashtar is vanquished, he assured himself. I was there. I saw it.
Just in case, he eased deeper into the shadows to wait. Soon enough, Raven finished and they hurried deeper into the temple. He felt his skin crawl when he discovered them heading down into the crypts.
Fearing discovery, Nizar remained well out of sight of his prey. He did manage to catch a few stray words and sentence fragments. Enough to know they were heading for an escape tunnel out of the city.
The realization struck him like a lightning bolt. All of his prayers were answered. Tane was taking himself out of the city, past High Priest Mogens and the zombie horde. Nizar wouldn’t have to devise a way to smuggle Tane past Mogens. He didn’t have to fear the High Priest’s betrayal, his stealing away Nizar’s just rewards.
All I have to do is follow them, he thought, grinning wolfishly. With the armor magically tethered to me, I can follow safely and take the swordsmith any time I want him.
Chapter 44
Tane hadn’t taken ten steps before he was stopped by deepening darkness. It was so dark ahead that Tane doubted even Quinn’s elven night vision would penetrate it. There had been plenty of light prior to entering the secret tunnel, and everyone had been so eager to leave no one had thought clearly. So no one had thought to bring a torch.
“Allow me,” Joelle said, scooting past.
She spoke a short spell. Slowly, her right hand began to glow. Brighter and brighter it grew, until Tane couldn’t look directly at it. He felt no heat, though it was a mere arm’s length from his face.
He heard Raven grumble something about preferring torches to “witch-light,” and saw her make a quick warding sign. Armin quickly pushed past Tane as well, moving into position behind his wife. Joelle gave Tane an apologetic smile, then turned to lead the way.
Quinn moved up behind Tane, while Raven brought up the rear. The sight of Quinn in the witch-light startled Tane, for the half-elf’s eyes glowed like wolf eyes staring at a fire. But Quinn frowned at him, motioning for him to hurry after the Vikon couple.
Considering the poor condition of the tunnel – crumbling walls, rotting support timbers, ankle deep water in places – Tane was pleasantly surprised at their quick pace. The splashing of their feet roared in his ears, but he reassured himself that the sound couldn’t pass through to the zombies far above.
Several minutes after they entered, Quinn froze in place and looked back. Raven, too, tensed and stared back the way they had come.
“Did you hear something?” she said.
“Yes,” Quinn said. “Someone is following us.”
“How many?” Tane asked.
“I can’t tell. Maybe one,” he said, then shrugged. “Maybe an army.”
“Let’s not stay to find out,” Joelle said and hurried on.
Tane whole-heartedly agreed. He didn’t hesitate, though Quinn did. And when he did, Raven snapped at him to move out or get out of her way. He quickly caught up with Tane.
“So much for fearless Tyrians,” Armin muttered.
“Only idiots are truly fearless,” Raven said. “And, despite what you may think, I am not stupid.”
“We don’t need this,” Tane snapped.
“Agreed,” Joelle said, giving Armin a disapproving look.
After that they moved in relative quiet, broken only by the splashing of their feet in the cold, brackish water and their harsh breathing. At one point Raven suggested knocking out a support timber or three, to block the passage so whoever was following would have to turn around. Tane thought it a splendid idea, as did the Vikon couple, but Quinn disagreed. He feared such a ploy could easily get them all buried alive.
That simple thought killed the idea for them all.
They reached the end of the tunnel before anyone could come up with another tactic to stop or destroy their pursuit. The tunnel opened into a round chamber, with no other tunnels off it and no sign of a door. Its one distinguishing feature was a single thin support in its exact center.
“Blessed Maag!” Armin said, turning to glare at Raven as she entered the chamber. “Now what? You’re the one who brought us here. Where’s the bloody exit?”
Raven gave him a haughty look and stepped past them.
“And you thought me an idiot,” she said.
Without waiting for comment, Raven turned and kicked out at the base of the center support. She barely leapt out of the way before the ceiling came crashing down. Tane raced for the tunnel with the others, for once cursing just as furiously as Armin.
“Come on back!” Raven called after them, way too cheerfully for Tane’s nerves. “The door’s open!”
Tane led the way back, tentatively. Even with Joelle’s magically lit hand, they couldn’t see more that two arm-lengths through the dust swirling through the dank air. But just as he reached the chamber a gentle breeze hit Tane in the face. Another two steps brought him to the bottom of a pile of rubble, Raven’s footprints marking a trail up into dim light.
Following Raven’s trail, he soon felt rain drops striking his face. Then he saw the forest canopy, dark and menacing against the raging storm above. They were deep within the forest, beside a swollen creek. The battle for Kestsax could just be heard in the distance.
“You almost killed us with that...that...” Quinn stammered, too angry to speak coherently.
“What’s the matter, lover?” Raven said. She arched a perfect black brow. “I’m getting real tired of being demeaned and insulted. You may not have much of an opinion of me, or my talents, but I have a knack for getting out of tight situations.”
“I suspect you have a bigger knack for getting yourself into tight situations,” Quinn said.
“Yes. Makes life interesting, don’t you think?” she said, smiling smugly.
“Raven got us out of the city. End of discussion,” Tane said when he saw Armin prepared to enter the argument. “It doesn’t matter how. Or how dangerous it was. She did it, and I for one am grateful.”
“Thank you,” Raven said, looking both uncomfortable and pleased at the same time.
“You did good, Raven. Thank you,” Joelle said, surprising them all.
“Whatever,” Armin said. “But it’s time we split up. I suggest we all head north, but to different cities.”
“Good idea,” Joelle said. “Give the zombies four different trails to follow. That’ll give everyone a better chance of escaping.”
“Three,” Raven said.
“Pardon?” Joelle said.
“I’m staying with Tane,” Raven said.
“No,” Tane said, the vision of Dakar snapping Raven’s neck flashing before his mind’s eyes. “I have to go alone. I...I saw it in my dreams.”
“No you didn’t,” Raven said, squeezing his shoulder. “Remember? You told me all your dreams in detail. I’m in every one of them. If I’m not there, fate has been changed and you might fail.”
“But you die! All of you die!” Tane said, and instantly regretted it.
“What better company to die in?” she said. “What better cause?”
“She’s right,” Quinn said. “We’re all part of his prophesy. If we abandon him, then he may fail.”
“And if he fails,” Joelle said. “Then we all perish, no matter how far away we run.”
; “I can’t let you,” Tane said. “Your deaths were senseless in my dreams. I could tell that no good came by them, that your deaths meant failure. So I think that means we have to split up.”
Tane felt rather proud of himself with that statement. Right off the top of his head, too. And it was true. All of it. With each needless murder, he knew his cause was lost.
“Where were we killed?” Raven asked. “The first part of the trip? The middle? The end?”
Joelle looked up suddenly, understanding dawning.
“Yes. That’s important, Tane. Think hard,” she urged.
“Well...I’m never real good with the time line,” he said, tugging at his lower lip. “But something makes me believe it near the middle, perhaps earlier. Why?”
“Because all of us are there in your dreams about the final fight, when you’re making those swords,” Joelle said.
“Your sense of failure at our deaths during the dream was Kamain’s way of saying we all need to survive to the end of the trip,” Raven said. “I think. Of course, it might also just be a warning of the dangers of failure.”
“Or of a possible fate if we make a wrong step,” Joelle said. Then she smiled warmly, “But, Tane, haven’t you learned yet? Fate isn’t written in stone.”
“Knowing our fate allows us to take steps to avoid the nastier aspects of it,” Armin said.
“I don’t like this,” Tane said, but unable to think of a reason they shouldn’t stick together. And in truth, he was greatly relieved to know he wouldn’t face Dakar alone. “I’ll never forgive myself if any of you are hurt or killed.”
“Don’t concern yourself with us,” Raven said. “Everyone’s fate is their own concern, no one else’s. And that, my friend, is the will of the Gods.”
Belly of the Beast Page 19