The leader’s horse stopped abruptly as the rider raised her hand to signal those who followed behind. “We are close,” she rasped, her normally musical voice gritty from the swirling dust. Turning in the saddle, she gazed at her companions. “We shall walk from here.”
The dark warrior riding just behind her quickly slid from his saddle and moved forward to aid her dismount. The rest of the party followed with painful grunts and a few curse words.
A red bearded dwarf in particular began to grumble almost immediately. “What in the name of the Nine Hells are we doing in this god-forsaken canyon?”
Ignoring the complaints and without waiting to see if any of her companions followed, the black cloaked rider lead the way around a slight bend in the canyon before stopping.
The river ended in a box canyon with the mountains blocking out the horizon and a huge waterfall crashed down with a deafening roar. Although the view of the waterfall was spectacular, it was not what the party had traveled many days to view.
Perched high atop the cliff, straddling the waterfall was a mighty fortress of black rock. It was dark and foreboding and seemed to glisten in the fading light. With the ever-lengthening shadows around them, the dead forest began to appear more threatening while the only sound was that of the howling wind and the crashing water.
Planting his axe and setting his jaw, the red bearded dwarf shook his head. “There is no way this side of the Abyss that I’m going in there!”
Lalith had been expecting this type of response from a member of her party and nodded her head back the way they came. Moving behind an outcropping of rocks which blocked the majority of the noise from the waterfall, Lalith faced her opponent. “What’s the matter Gram? Are you afraid?”
Shaking his head, Gram gestured with his axe to the land around them. “There be evil in this land. Don’t ya be feelin’ it?”
Calmly unwrapping her face, Lalith let the fading sunlight wash over her features. Her skin was creamy white with the pointed ears that marked her as an elf, the self-appointed protectors of nature. She flashed Gram a dazzling smile and pulled forth an ancient scroll from under her cloak. Unrolling it slowly, she pointed to an area on the map.
“We discussed this back in Asylum when I recruited you. Each of you have certain skills and abilities needed for this quest.”
Gesturing to a large oak tree with limbs reaching out over the rushing river, Lalith frowned at the sight of the decaying tree. “This was once a beautiful place. I used to run along the limbs of that tree in my youth. It saddens my heart to see this land wither and die.”
Gram and the others glanced from the ancient oak, back to the face of their leader.
Lalith absentmindedly fingered an amulet of an eight pointed star that hung on her neck. “I have searched long and hard for the source of the corruption. A few decades back I came upon a prophecy that foretells the coming of an ancient evil.” She gestured to the surrounding landscape. “This corruption is just the beginning of the dark times to come. We are all outcasts from our own people. I know much about each of you.”
Lalith pointed at the dwarf. “Gram, you were cast out of Darkmoor because you disagreed with the king.”
She turned her attention to the huge Minotaur warrior. “Jax was exiled because he refused to kill his best friend when he was wrongly accused of a crime.”
She pointed at the halfling. “And Quglie had to leave his homeland quickly because of a misunderstanding concerning the ownership of some certain jewels.”
Caressing the arm of the dark haired warrior at her side, she frowned. “Darnac and I were cast out of Elfholm because our love was forbidden by the Queen. In short, we are all warriors whose only home is the road but none of us have forgotten where we came from nor would we pass up a chance to return home. Correct?”
Gram glanced at his companions. Jax just nodded and Quglie shrugged his shoulders in resignation. Gaining confidence from his unspoken allies Gram said, “Aye. What you say is true but that don’t explain why we are here.”
Lalith pointed at the black fortress atop the waterfall. “We have to enter that accursed place if we are to rid this forest of corruption. Besides, if the stories of the treasures buried deep inside are true, each of us will become wealthy beyond our wildest dreams.”
Quglie spoke up for the first time in days, his voice was high pitched and childlike. “I like treasure as much as anyone alive but no hoard is ever left unguarded.”
Lalith smiled briefly. “So true; we will have to face traps both magical and mundane. And ancient writings tell of sleepless guardians that block the entrance.”
“Bah! Undead!” Gram spit in the dirt. “I hate the undead!”
Lalith shrugged her shoulders. “No one knows for certain what that passage means only that we should be prepared for anything.”
Lalith continued. “Remember the ancient prophecy, when the Darkness returns from whence it was banished and the Gods are helpless to act, look to the north for the Chosen One; a being of no race and all races, part black, part white, a creature of the balance, a true son of the Dhyana who will lead the Nine against the One in the final battle for the fate of Terreth for only he can unlock the secrets of the past.”
Gram scratched his red beard. “We all have heard the prophecy Lalith but you’re asking us to risk our lives based solely upon your faith and your interpretation. There is no guarantee that this corruption has anything to do with that prophecy.”
Glancing back at the tower entrance, Lalith rolled her eyes. She was close. She could feel it. It had taken her one hundred and twelve years to get this close. Taking a deep breath, she turned back to her companions and once again gently fingered the magical amulet around her neck. When she next spoke, her words carried with them a slight enchantment making her words seem sweeter, more persuasive and more calming. Each warrior’s mind became filled with visions as she spoke of dark futures.
“I understand your concerns and I agree with them but for the fate of all the land we must proceed. What if the tales are true and the Great Darkness is about to be reborn? War will soon come to all of Terreth. Brother will fight brother and father against son as the great darkness sweeps out of the north feasting on all that we hold dear. Should we stand idly by and watch as our homelands are burned to the ground as our friends, families and children are made slaves of the Great Enemy? If we turn back now, what would we say to our children if this comes to pass? And yet, we knew in our hearts that we had a chance to stop it but we turned away in fear? What would we say? And even if I am wrong and this isn’t the source of corruption, what of the treasures buried inside? What good could we do with the gold and jewels that are surely in there waiting to be discovered?”
Releasing the amulet, Lalith ended her spell and waited. For several minutes each warrior reeled under the visions of the dark times ahead for their families and friends. Of course, the gleam of untold riches reflected in their eyes. Judging from the looks on their faces and the tears in their eyes, Lalith knew she had them even before they spoke.
Gram was the first to regain his wits. Hefting his axe onto his shoulder, he cast a quick glance at his companions. Each nodded his head in turn. “Well Lalith since you put it that way, we’re in. What’s next?”
Lalith pointed to her horse. “There is a wineskin in my left saddlebag. We shall need it.”
Gram raised a bushy eyebrow. “Why? What’s in it?”
A serious look crossing her face, Lalith looked toward the blocked entrance. “It contains a magical elixir that will bolster your courage and enhance your vision. At one point, if we get deep enough, we will have to enter the tunnel of darkness. We cannot chance a light once we’re inside it.”
Nodding his head, Gram retrieved the wineskin and rejoined the group. Following single file, the party made their way around the lake and across the slippery stones until they were behind the mighty waterfall. The crashing water filled the air with spray and mist until every member was soaked t
o the bone without ever having set foot in the water. Finding a small pathway chiseled into the rock, the party crept up the rocky slopes to a small cave nestled about a quarter of the way up the cliff but a massive stone door blocked further movement.
Approaching the great slab of rock, Lalith began to chant something in a language that none in the party knew. As the wind continued to howl and blow, the companions stood solid and resolute as they waited for their fearless leader to open the entrance. Lifting her hands high into the air, the wind began to whip around her, building in fury and intensity. Soon, it resembled a small tornado.
When the rest of her party was having trouble standing on the ledge in the face of the rushing wind, Lalith pointed at the stone door. The miniature tornado slammed against it and for a brief moment the door held fast. With a mighty groan the slab flew away to the right, falling the fifty or so feet to the great pool below. Lalith dismissed the rushing wind with a wave of her hand.
Quglie moved to the front of the party and cautiously led the way inside. They hadn’t gone twenty feet when they discovered that they were not the first visitors to explore this ruin. Two dusty skeletons lay buried underneath a solid block of stone that had been a trap of some sort. Considering the amount of rust which covered the armor and weapons, it had been many years since they died. Quglie studied the trap for a moment before leading them further inside. His sharp eyes and skill led the party through winding passageways and past numerous traps. Along the way they discovered the remains of five more adventurers who had fallen to the tombs deadly traps.
Rounding a corner, Quglie pulled up short and signaled for his companions to hold their positions. Creeping up to the edge of a large lighted chamber, the halfling spied numerous statues lining the walls and a dark portal beckoned at the far end. Moving back to his companions, he pointed to the lighted chamber and held up six fingers. “I’m not sure but I think I saw those statues move.”
The dark haired warrior hissed. “Golems.”
Seeing the confused look on the halfling’s face, Darnac continued. “Golems are magically animated statues that act as guardians. They are able to follow very limited instructions but are deadly and extremely tough opponents.”
Gram spit in each hand before taking up a two-handed grip on his notched battle axe. “Well, we didn’t come this far just to turn back at two to one odds.” Jax snorted his agreement and pulled forth his claymore. The dwarf grinned. “Let’s get ‘em ya big ox!”
Without another word the two warriors charged down the passageway. The two elves and the halfling followed but at a more cautious pace.
Entering the chamber Quglie took in the chaotic scene before him. One golem had already been shattered by the charge of the two warriors. Jax was battling two of the golems, knocking them aside with strong swipes of his claymore. Each hit chipping off bits of the stone warriors. Gram was fighting toe-to-toe with a statue of a dwarven warrior, which left two more animated statues for the rest of the party. Darnac stepped in front of the trio and pulled forth his twin sabers, each blade glowed with magical light.
Quglie stepped back, both to give the grim faced elf some room and to lessen the chance of being noticed. As the elf and golem closed, Quglie was amazed at the dazzling swordsmanship on display. The dark warrior had landed so many strikes in the first few seconds of battle that the first golem’s left leg crumbled under the fierce assault.
Quglie could hear Lalith chanting the beginnings of a spell but his attention was focused on the charging stone golem several feet in front of him and knew his time had come. He was backed into a corner with nowhere to run or dodge and no trick or poison he possessed would stop the stone juggernaut before it crushed him. With a scream of rage, Quglie hurled his lucky dagger and leapt to the side.
A blinding flash of light filled the corner and blew apart the stone golem. Lalith walked over to view her handiwork. She had known that her spell would destroy the golem but seeing the still form of Quglie underneath its shattered remains caused her a moment of distress.
As the last opponent fell, Gram wiped the sweat from his brow and looked around. The shattered remains of the golems filled the room but for the first time, he noticed the bodies of other adventurers which had made it this far. “I see we aren’t the first to delve this deep.”
Gliding up to the warriors Lalith said, “Aye, treasure tends to draw thieves like moths to a flame.”
Gram spit onto the stone floor. “I am not a thief. Not now…not ever.” He looked around. “Speaking of thieves, where is that locksmith of ours, Quglie?”
Lalith gestured to the far corner. “He fell in battle. One of the golems crushed him before my spell went off.”
“Damn halfling! Getting’ himself kilt by a walkin’ statue!”
Lalith offered the wineskin to the warriors. “Drink a toast to his honor. He did not flee or beg for mercy but stood his ground against a deadly foe.”
Taking the wineskin, Gram took a long swig. It was warm and slightly bitter as it ran down his throat. He passed it to Jax. The minotaur drank deeply before passing it to Darnac who just slung the wineskin over his shoulder.
Lalith grinned as she moved to the stone archway set in the middle of the back wall. The opening was filled with a swirling darkness that was darker than midnight on a moonless night. It was as if the black void that was the passageway sucked in the fading light never letting any of it escape.
Turning to her companions, Lalith spoke softly. “It is time. From here on in, we cannot chance a light and sound must be kept at a minimum.”
Without waiting to see if anyone would follow, Lalith stepped into the darkness and disappeared from view. Gram looked at Jax who looked at Darnac. The elven warrior just shrugged his shoulders and stepped through the archway. Seconds later, the dwarf and the minotaur followed suit.
Gram wasn’t ten steps in when he began to feel an intense burning in his stomach. Shrugging it off as a side effect of the elixir, he continued down the dark passageway. Minutes later he stumbled out of the dark corridor into a great chamber that stretch over a hundred yards across. He saw that the floor dropped off into shadows while the ceiling rose to the height of several hundred feet. An elaborate spider web with strands the size of a man’s wrist covered the whole chamber. Hanging in the very heart of the web was a large cocoon the size of an elephant. Slight movement could be seen within its silken strands.
Glancing about the chamber, Gram realized that Lalith and Darnac were nowhere to be seen. He was about to call out when the burning in his belly increased. Wincing in pain, Gram noticed that Jax was also grabbing his stomach.
“Poison! The elf bitch poisoned us!”
Lalith and Darnac stepped out of the shadows behind them. With a wave of her hand she dropped the illusion spell which had hidden their true forms. Gone was their pale white skin and dark hair only to replace by their opposites; their skin became as black as a moonless night and their hair was white as snow. Even through the pain, Gram flinched unconsciously as he recognized them as the Svartaflar – more commonly known as Dark Elves.
A slight smile crossed Lalith’s face as she noticed his reaction to their appearance. Moving over to the still form of Gram, Lalith gently caressed his red beard. “Don’t worry. The poison in itself is not fatal. It will merely paralyze you for several days.”
Glancing up, she watched as three large spiders each the size of a small pony began their descent from the dark ceiling. “Unfortunately you’ll be dead by then.”
Stripping off her heavy cloak, Lalith handed it to Darnac. She glanced down at the helpless dwarf, his pleading eyes spoke volumes.
“Why you ask?”
One of the large spiders had moved to Gram’s feet and had begun spinning a web around them, while the other two were working on the fallen Minotaur.
As Lalith continued to strip off her clothes she said, “It won’t hurt to tell you.”
With a wave of her hand, the spider stopped its work and scuttl
ed back a few steps.
“You came here to help fulfill an ancient prophecy and discover a great treasure. So did I. But unfortunately for you and your friends, I work for the other side. With your sacrifice, I will bring the Great Enemy back to Terreth and together, we will conquer the known world. All will bow before me as I become the Queen of Terreth.”
Glancing down at the halfway-encased dwarf, she chuckled. “You shouldn’t have trusted me. You should’ve listened to your instincts and not come into this cave. But, thanks to you and your foolish friends, Terreth will feel the bite of the Spinner once more. Take to the grave the knowledge that all your friends and family will die due to your failure.”
With a nod of her head, the spiders went back to work encasing the paralyzed dwarf.
‘Lalith, my daughter....’ came a soft, wispy voice through the darkness of the cave.
Hearing her goddess’ voice, Lalith’s blood froze. It was a strange sensation, one that both frightened and excited her at the same time. Turning to face the cocoon, Lalith dropped to one knee. “Yes my goddess, I am yours to command.”
‘You have done well but there is still much to be done before my return. Return to the Highlands, rejoin with my servant Blackfang. Aid him. While you were in the Lowlands we had intruders. They penetrated all the way to the Vault.’
‘The axe and scroll are once more in play. This heralds the coming of the Chosen One. The son of the Dhyana shall be born before the next midsummer’s eve. I know it. I can feel it. Only he can truly disrupt our plans. Search the lands to the north and seek out this Chosen One. He and all his kinsmen must be destroyed to ensure our reign. The gods are still blind to our plans, now is the time to act.’
“As you command my goddess, it will be as if the Chosen One and his people never existed.”
Darnac draped her robes around her shoulders and the two shadow elves wound their way out of the tomb. Casting a spell, Lalith and Darnac began to float up the side of the mountain cliff, off to do the bidding of her goddess.
Tales of the Wolf: Book 01 - The Coming of the Wolf Page 3