The Shadows of Starpoint Mountain

by Bill Albert

  “We have to get out of here as fast as we can,” Gallif warned them. “Surprise is on our side and its best we keep the advantage.”

  “We’ve still got our armor, but what about weapons?” Luvin asked.

  “They’re close by. We can get them really quick.”

  “Any chance you saw an extra set of armor along the way?” Blinks asked poking at his torn leather.

  “What about these guys?” Luvin asked looking at the guards.

  “Well, this one is fifty pounds heavier than I am and the other is six inches shorter. If it were one-size-fits-all, like cast armor, we’d be okay. Too bad because getting out of a hidden dungeon fortress is going to be pretty exciting,” Blinks said with his eyes opening and closing so fast they could barely be seen.

  “We have to actually make it out of here first,” Jakobus said flatly.

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Blinks asked looking directly at him.

  “Nothing,” Jakobus said shrugging him off.

  “You don’t think I’m going to make it,” Blinks gasped.

  “No, that’s not what I meant.”

  “Yes, it is. I saw that look in your eyes.”

  “Do we really have to go through this now?”

  “And why not?”

  “Because Gallif, Lincilara and Luvin just left this cell.”

  “Oh.”

  They hurried and quickly caught up with the rest. Gallif had followed the directions Mekon had given her and they soon found the room where their equipment had been left. The door had been locked but Luvin’s studies in thievery helped them get through. Once inside they quickly gathered their belongings.

  Blinks nearly cheered when he found leather armor discarded in the corner but nearly cried when he picked it up to test the fit. The entire backside was missing and there was no way he could ever safely use it.

  Jakobus grabbed his axe and swung it a few times to feel its weight.

  Luvin quickly examined the pile and found his belongings. He was especially relieved to find Gallif’s red felt bag with a black string. He safely slipped it inside his armor and its presence made him feel much better. He spotted his bow and arrows in the pile and slung them over his shoulder.

  The only thing they couldn’t find was Gallif’s backpack. Saddened she felt like she’d let Rayjen down. He had given it to her when she graduated from the school and it was her most valuable possession.

  “Is there anything else we could use?” Jakobus asked.

  They searched the room and found some standard swords but left them alone. They found several bags of grain, one infested by mice, that they emptied onto the floor, but others they looped around Jakobus’s belt. Blinks pulled a long chain from behind a cabinet, but it was too heavy and bulky for any of them to carry. In a locked cabinet that Luvin was able to open they found several clay bottles. Gallif recognized them as the same type of jars the Third Minister had used on her. She popped the cork to make sure and found that they were, in fact, acid. They each took as many bottles as they thought they could safely carry.

  “Lincilara,” Gallif called, knowing that she would be nearby. “We need to find the horses.”

  The fairy whooshed into sight and said, “I can smell them from here, but they are far off. They are also not in the same place we came in at.”

  “You can smell them from this room?”

  “Yes, some animals are easier to find than people because there aren’t as many differences with them. When they get together it’s pretty strong. All horses smell like horses, all dogs smell like dogs, all cats smell like cats. Chickens, however, are the hardest.”

  “What do they smell like?” Blinks had to ask.

  “Humans, mostly.”

  “You need to stay out of sight,” she said to Lincilara and then turned to the rest of them. “Once we get out that door we have to move as quickly and as quietly as possible and you have to do exactly what I tell you. It’s not going to be easy and it may not be pretty, but I promise you we will all get out of here.

  For a while they travelled without interruption. Gallif stayed a few feet ahead of them indicating with her hand if they should continue on or stay back. She kept her swords in their sheaths and carried the twelve-inch blade that she usually had strapped to her thigh. She would hold position and wait at a corner or doorway until Lincilara whispered to her what was ahead and what their options were.

  She waited for quite some time, at one point and then finally returned to them instead of signaling for them to join her.

  “We have to take a right turn here and then it’s straight on to the stables,” she whispered. The problem is a large meeting room between here and there with several guards in it. There is also a door on the opposite wall and, from the sounds of it, more people out there. It’s a great deal of ground to cover without being seen and any combat will definitely bring people inside.”

  “Can you think of any way for us to get at least one person through there unnoticed?” Jakobus asked Gallif.

  “Yes,” Luvin said confidently and they all turned to him. “I can get through there,” he said looking into her green eyes. “I can get through there and get the horses ready before starting some form of distraction. Can Lincilara hear me?”

  “Yes,” Lincilara said appearing so close to Blinks he hit his head on the ceiling when he jumped in surprise.

  “How much light is in that room?” Luvin asked her.

  “Not much. There’s a few candles and lanterns burning but most of them are near a table on the left-hand side. The sun is still up and the guard post leads to the inside of a barn so there are some shadows there.”

  “Keep an eye on the room and wait for a signal,” Luvin warned them and Gallif, Jakobus and Blinks got as close to the intersection as they could. Lincilara followed them but faded out of sight before she took her usual position near Gallif’s shoulder.

  Inside the room some things had changed. One of the guards was now rolled up in his bunk bed and was sleeping. Another was at a desk near the door doing some paperwork and told the others he would go to bed soon as well. There were four more now and they were all sitting around a table playing cards. They all appeared healthy and well feed but also looked ragged and tired at the end of their day. After several minutes the guard at the desk finished his paperwork, tucked it neatly inside a wooden box, and was soon drifting off to sleep with his head nestled in a soft pillow on the bed nearest the card players.

  Blinks looked back to see if Luvin was preparing to leave and was surprised to see that he was already gone. He started to ask about Luvin’s plans but an elbow in the ribs from Gallif shut him up.

  From his shadow form near the floor Luvin suppressed a giggle at Gallif’s actions. The distraction had almost caused him to lose his concentration, but he regained control before falling out of shadow. He stifled his wild thoughts and concentrated on his next move.

  Luckily there was very little light in the room away from the table so crossing in the shadows would be easy. The first leg of the journey was to the nearest bunk which already contained natural shadows in the path. He simply slid across the floor, then collected himself once he was under the first bed. He almost lost his concentration because of the horrible aroma. He wondered if whoever slept in the bed above him had ever heard of soap and water. If that wasn’t bad enough the snoring was making the bed rumble. As quickly as possible his shadow floated across to the next bunk.

  This was better and he could stay here a few moments until his breathing calmed. It took great concentration to stay linked to the shadow planes.

  There was a candle in a wall hanger between the second and third, so he had to be especially careful. He tucked himself as close to the wall directly under the candle and moved forward slowly. After a time, he was able to follow the flicker of the candle and cross easily.

  It was dark enough between the third and fourth bunks that he didn’t have to wait but continuing to the fifth was a problem. He wa
s nearest the far wall and, as he crossed, another guard entered the room bathing the wall in light as he flung the door open. Luvin managed to hold shadow form but leapt back to the fourth bunk for protection.

  “What dat?” the guard asked. The guards at the table looked where he was pointing but saw nothing. “Dat der,” the guard said. “I ting we gadda mice.”

  The other guards cursed and reminded each other of the disease one guard had suffered from after being bitten by a rodent. Luvin readied himself and jumped back as several swords were thrust into the air below the bunk as they searched for the invader. He managed to avoid getting cut, but their search became frantic. He was going to retreat to the third bunk when he heard scuffling and saw a large rat coming towards him.

  He made himself as thin as he could and forced his fear out of his thoughts by reminding himself that, being in shadow form, it could not smell him. Suddenly three pairs of hands grabbed the bunk and slid it to one side. As shocked as he was the rat was worse, let out a squeal, than started running away.

  The guards, tough and as fearless as they tried to be, were no big fans of rats either. They squealed like children and jumped to stay out of the rat’s reach but keep it within the reach of their swords. One of them sprinted to the door and drew it open. The rat, apparently smarter than they were, bolted for the door and was gone before they realized it.

  Luvin could see torches outside and knew he could be exposed in the light but also knew there would be plenty of distractions. He just had to make it through before the door closed.

  The guard who had finished the paperwork jumped from his bunk. It was obvious by the way he spoke that he was in charge and he ordered them to shut up immediately. Then his commanded that they return the bunk beds to their original spot and slammed the door before going back into his. All this time the smelly guard sleeping in the far bed had kept snoring.

  Once the door was closed Gallif, Jakobus and Blinks waited tensely for some sign. They listened for the fluttering of Lincilara and watched eagle eyed for the movement of a shadow. Hearing or seeing nothing helpful, Blinks was about to ask Gallif a question when he decided that three elbow pokes from her were enough.

  After what seemed like hours there was a light tap on the door and one of the guards called for the new arrival to enter. There was another tap and the guard called again not wanting to break from the hand of cards he had. When there was a series of taps he finally folded his hand and answered. To their surprise there was no one there and he stepped outside to see if anyone had hidden around the corner. He left the door open and it gave Gallif, Jakobus and Blinks their first chance to see where they were. To their surprise they could see that this room led out to the interior of a large barn.

  “There’s nobody there,” the guard said as he came back in, closing the door behind him. He sat down and threw a coin into the ante.

  “Maybe it was the rat trying to get back inside,” one of the second guard said.

  “Don’t be daft,” the first guard scoffed at him. “Like it’s gonna knock on the door and ask politely.”

  “Rats can’t talk,” the third guard said.

  “Oh, yes they can,” the second guard said defensively. “They talk rat talk to each other. You seen the way they nest and run together. They have to talk so one knows what the other’s gonna do.”

  “That is the dumbest thing I have ever heard,” the first guard said. “They don’t tell each other what they are going to do and they all know what the other is going to do. Just like we do.”

  “You just said they couldn’t talk,” the second guard said confidently thinking he had the upper hand.

  “They don’t talk like we do but they can still communicate without talking. Like, if we’re on patrol and come across a pack of aquilus. We don’t say what we are gonna do. We just start hackin’ on them.”

  The second guard paused and thought about it briefly. “Ok, so maybe the rat was communicating it wanted in by just knockin’ and not sayin’ it.”

  “I like cake,” the third guard said before either could speak again and started to deal the next hand.

  As the first and second guards started to debate the similarity between rodent and human thought patterns Gallif heard a fluttering near her.

  “Luvin’s out in the stable,” Lincilara whispered. “A few more minutes and he’ll have the horses and a wagon ready to go.”

  “We need a distraction,” Gallif said and started to draw her swords. Jakobus and Blinks followed but she stopped and put a handout for them to wait when she realized the fluttering had gone. She ran her fingers through her pale red hair and prayed that the fairy didn’t do anything foolish.

  Staying high enough that they could not hear he wings Lincilara circled the table studying their cards. She glided down near the first guard and with her wings moving ever so slowly hovered near his ear.

  “Don’t throw the four of swords,” she whispered to him. “He needs that to make a set.”

  The guard looked behind him quickly. Seeing nothing there he returned to the game thinking he may just be getting tired. He actually had been planning to throw the four of swords but decided to toss the seven of axes instead. The second and third guard played, and he drew a seven of wands. “Throw the seven,” the sweet voice near him said.

  The second guard picked up the card and smiled as he laid down a set of four sevens. He tossed the last card away and picked up the pile of human and dwarf coins from the center of the table.

  “That’s not possible,” the first guard said throwing his cards away. “I heard you were holding fours.”

  The other two froze in place and slowly turned to face him.

  “What do you mean you heard?” the second guard asked.

  “Well, I meant…” the first guard stumbled to find an excuse.

  “You’ve got a kisertet on your side,” the third guard said angrily as he rose with his hand near his sword.

  “I do not,” the first guard protested.

  “He does not,” a female voice blurted out from near him. They all three stared at each other in confusion before hearing “OOPS,” and a giggle from thin air.

  The two guards leapt at the first, but he was faster. Even though he felt he wasn’t completely guilty he knew this was not the time for another debate. He ran for the door and yanked it open before they could stop him. They followed him out and left the door open behind them.

  “Good girl,” Gallif said and led them out of the shadows.

  They were halfway across the room when the guard who had been involved with the paperwork leapt from the shadows of his own bunk. He grabbed Gallif by the hair with one hand and yanked her back between the bunk beds. In his other hand was a dagger with the tip pressed against her chest. There was no doubt that if he pulled it back he would drive the blade through her heart, and she would be dead before the cast armor could heal her.

  “Not sure how you did it,” he said in a gravelly voice, “but it was a really good try.”

  Jakobus and Blinks stood with their weapons ready but being in the confined space and using her body as a shield, there was no way they could get to him.

  “Let her go,” Blinks warned him coldly.

  “Stay back,” the guard snapped at them and pressed the tip of the blade into the armor.

  “Captured a valuable prisoner who was trying to escape,” the guard smiled wickedly. “Even the Giant Lords will reward me for that, especially a prisoner as important as you.”

  “I guarantee you,” Jakobus said emotionlessly, “if you harm her you won’t live long enough to hear the applause.”

  “They prefer her alive, but it won’t matter. I could wake him up, but it would take a cannon,” he said nodding to the still sleeping guard in the far bunk. “If he hasn’t woken up by now there’s no way I could get him to. All I really have to do is wait until one of the guards comes back. They will signal the rest, so you really have a better chance of getting away by leaving her now.”


  “No, no, no,” Jakobus said estimating whether he could hit the guard with his axe or not. “You don’t understand. We don’t do what we do for rewards or honor. We do it because we know what’s right.”

  They all heard a panicked squeal coming from the hallway. The wretched squeal was repeated and suddenly a comet of light entered the room. Lincilara was visible and flying so fast she left a glowing trail. Hanging beneath her by a magnetic cast, squealing and struggling in fear, was the meanest and darkest rat they had ever seen.

  Lincilara’s timing and aim were perfect. She swept over a bunk and released the rat from the cast at just the right angle so the momentum carried the rat, with its jaws snapping, at the guard’s neck.

  The guard screamed in fear and tried to brush the rat away. He lost his grip on Gallif and she rolled forward grabbing Blinks’ hand. He stepped back and she instantly rose to her feet. They all turned back to face the guard, but he was too busy trying to get away from the rat to notice. The guard lying on the bunk rolled to one side, used a pillow to cover his ear, and went back to sleep.

  “Forget him,” Gallif ordered drawing her swords. “Let’s find Luvin and get out of here.”

  They fled the room and into the barn. There were a dozen guards in the barn now, but they were all moving towards the back of the barn where they had just spotted Luvin. He had hooked up their horses to a wagon but had been spotted before he could get moving.

  The guards hadn’t seen the three of them coming from the office, but Luvin had. With Snow hooked to the wagon he grabbed the reins and howled, and they burst forward. Harton, Sparks and Horse were loose but followed right behind them.

  Luvin drove the wagon forward at breakneck speed and the guards were quick to jump out of the way. He slowed the entourage just enough so they could all climb on board the wagon, then snapped the reins hard to get them moving again. By the time the guards had mounted their horses the wagon was out of the barn and heading away.

  The sun was on the horizon as they traveled the shadowed road around the fortress. It turned to the right and they kept going hoping it would take them to the same bridge they had crossed on the way in.