by Jeff Inlo
Chapter 21
Ryson kept track of the passing days by monitoring the change in light in the tunnels. Dwarves used thin, tubular channels that rose to the surface throughout their matrix of catacombs, corridors and tunnels to bring air to their underground passages as well as sunlight. While even during the height of day, the corridors would be considered dark by most humans, the delver, elves and dwarves could see easily in the diminished light. When night fell, the passages turned eerily dark and Ryson often pulled out the Sword of Decree to magnify the starlight. He didn’t need it to see, but at least the light chased away the strangling darkness that consumed these tunnels.
As the dwarves finished clearing the last blockades of the corridors that led to Connel, Holli considered the darkness as a possible hindrance to their plans.
“When we direct the humans down here, they’re not going to be able to see. It’s going to be well after sunset when the evacuation should begin. There are thousands of humans that need to be evacuated. That’s going to take the entire night. That means they are going to be in the caves, even during the greatest darkness of midnight. There will be much going on above them and asking them to exit through such a dark passage is to invite panic.”
Ryson sheathed his sword and examined the dim light of the tunnels.
“You’re right,” Ryson agreed. “They’re not going to like what’s happening as it is and if it’s this dark, many will probably panic. I could stay in the tunnels and help direct them. With my sword unsheathed, that would give more than enough light. Anyway, we need someone down here to guide these people to the right caves.”
“That task should fall to me,” Holli stated. “You know Connel far better than I do. You also have speed I can’t hope to match. Connel’s center is large and we have to assume the people are spread out. You must be on the surface to spread the word of the escape plan. Lief also must go as he has the best knowledge of the city’s situation directly after the goblins took over.”
Ryson considered the point and he could not argue. “Would you argue with taking my sword? I’m not going to want to draw attention to myself when I’m out in the open, so I’m not going to be using it. Seems to me it would serve a better purpose down here.”
“The idea has merit, but I don’t like the idea of you going unarmed up into the city.”
At this point, a dwarf in charge of the excavating moved forward to the elves and delver.
“Do not concern yourselves with the lack of light,” the dwarf stated gruffly. “We have anticipated such a problem and already have the answer. We have brought several light gems that we will setup in but a few moments. These tunnels are constructed to direct the light forward and redirect it down many shafts. Based on how we station the gems, we can send the light all the way to Connel as well as to the far eastern end of the corridors which will be your final destination.”
Ryson nodded, but then for the first time began considering other potential problems he did not think of before. He questioned the dwarf further on what to expect.
“The tunnels that we plan on using that go eastward beyond Connel, how will we exit? Is the tunnel open at the end? If so, where will the people end up when they come back out on the surface?”
“It is open,” the dwarf replied. “It breaks into a dry stream bed. If it were the start of the growing season, it would be half filled with water. At this time, the waterways that feed it run low before the snow melt. The humans leave it alone since it floods during their planting season. For your purposes, it should be fine. Once your people are in the open, they will be in the prairie lands east of Connel, not very far from several farm outposts.”
Ryson nodded happily, then he thought of his own needs.
“What about getting from the tunnel up into Connel? The people of Connel had to fill in the outlets by now. I’m sure they didn’t just leave open holes all over the place.”
“They probably have, but not all. We created many access points, some of which lead to the sub-basements of older buildings. We kept these exit points hidden so that we could move in and out of the tunnels without being seen. They are marked on your map.”
“That’s actually going to work in our favor,” Ryson remarked as he considered what he was told. “We can guide people to these points and they can escape under cover as opposed to dropping into the ground in plain site. Even if the serp and the other dark creatures are occupied with Sy’s attack, one of them is bound to notice lines of people dropping into the ground in the middle of some road.”
Lief had opened the map and was already reviewing certain sections. “This will hasten our work. We will not have to guide the humans directly to the openings. We can direct them to these buildings here, here and here,” he said as he pointed to the map. “They can enter the tunnels themselves and Holli can direct them down the proper passage to the east. With luck, we may be able to pull this off. The most difficult part is going to be spreading the word and keeping the humans from making a panicked escape.”
The dwarf turned about. “The clearing is nearly complete. In but a few moments, we will set the light gems. Your paths will be clear to you. Simply follow the direction of the light.” The dwarf kept moving but he pointed his arm out to his right side. “Remember that direction is north. These tunnels do not curve. They are built in straight lines. Turns will be obvious, so keep your point of reference about you and you will always know which way is east.”
“Looks like we get moving,” Ryson said as he gathered up their supplies.