“The Pools of The Goddess.” He said then looked at the hall ahead of them, “The Halls of Pitya.” Then he looked at the one to the right and pointed at the corner where a chunk of stone was missing, “The name is missing from this one.”
“How can you read any of that?” Durlan asked, “Who is this man Tasar?”
“A Priest.” Tasar answered.
“What kind of priest? Why would you bring a priest?” He asked.
“A Priest of O’on, Durlan.” Durlan’s face changed immediately at Tasar’s answer, “We know they have all the knowledge the world knows of these ancient people, so of course we brought one.” Tasar said as a matter of fact. Durlan looked at Kerym then back at Tasar.
“You trust this priest?” He asked.
“I trust no one.” Tasar laughed, “To the right it is.” Tasar said to Kerym, then pointed down the hall to the right.
“But we don’t know what’s down there?” Durlan questioned, concerned with Tasar’s choice.
“That’s right, Durlan, we know what those say.” Tasar pointed at the other halls, “Maybe this one once read, treasury this way?” Tasar nodded at Leonid, who nudged Kerym to go first. Kerym reluctantly began down the hall with the soldier holding a torch just beside him and two steps behind.
They passed several arched doorways that led to small rooms, long since emptied of their contents. The hall led to a library of enormous size and depth that was indiscernible by the naked eye under the torch light. Kerym’s whole face lit up in awe of the treasures he saw before him, he knew Venalina would reward him for this discovery and his mind instantly began to work on an escape. With this, the priests, his brethren, would forgive his cowardice and revere his accomplishments in pleasing the goddess, Venalina. Leonid shoved Kerym into the library clear of the doorway he blocked. The others entered also awed by what they saw. Thousands upon thousands of books. Many glowing. Durlan laughed and held up his hands, joyous. He started in a direction toward a pile of books then stopped seeing another pile and not knowing which to go to first. He stepped back and forth, overcome with the coin he could see the books transformed into. The knowledge of the Vordalyn, not of any interest to him, but he knew their worth to scholars. Queen Jenzenya would pay handsomely for this knowledge, for she had always had a special interest in the Vordalyn that spanned her life time. “A treasury indeed, Tasar!” Durlan laughed and spun slowly in place with his hands out, he was so overwhelmed. Tasar scoffed at Durlan and shook his head with a smirk. “Your debt is paid!” Durlan said without looking at Tasar. Leonid looked at Tasar confused, he did not see the worth of the room like Durlan did. One of Durlan’s men went to a glowing book and opened it. He put his hand on the glowing pages and a red light began to pulse, brightening with each pulse. The man began to scream louder with the pulse beneath his hand, unable to pull away, then after several flashes the man fell to the ground, a pile of ash. The book fell back in place exactly where it was lying before it was picked up by its victim. The soldiers all took a defensive posture looking at the books like they were an army of enemies. Durlan stood with his mouth wide open in shock at what they just witnessed.
“Touch nothing!” Tasar commanded, “They could all be traps.”
“You think that was a trap?” Leonid asked as he and the other soldiers circled the group in a protective formation.
“Durlan, comeback over here, with us!” Tasar commanded. Durlan looked at his feet as if any step could result in his death. “Do not touch anything!” Durlan slowly shuffled back to the rest of the group, near the doors to the library. The only man still some ways into the room was the soldier who held the torch for Kerym. He held his torch high looking down a row of book shelves that went higher than could be seen in the torchlight.
“Priest!” the soldier called down the hall, “Priest!” He called again then looked back at Tasar, “I think he went down there!” He motioned with his torch toward the bookshelves. Tasar shook his head.
“Leave him.” Tasar said then waved his hand at the soldier to come back to the door with the rest of the group. “Were you watching?” Tasar asked Leonid.
“Yes, I know the way back.” He said.
“And now you lead the way forward.” Leonid looked at the soldier with the torch then back at Tasar. He nodded and the group continued back down the hall from where they had come. They continued passed the intersection down the hall labeled, The Pools of the Goddess.
“That room, we have to catalog it. We have to take those books, Tasar.” Durlan pushed to the head of the group just behind Tasar.
“You want to go back and open them all?” Tasar asked not looking back at Durlan continuing to follow Leonid.
“We had a deal, Tasar, it belongs to me!” Durlan demanded.
“We can go back anytime, Durlan!” Tasar stopped and faced him, “There is much to see, many more rewards ahead. Are you satisfied with just that?” Tasar pointed back down the hall to the library. Durlan stared at him a moment then down the hall to the library.
“And it still all belongs to me?” Durlan asked.
“That was our deal.” Tasar nodded making Durlan smile in the process.
“Proceed then.” He said satisfied the extreme worth of the books did not alter the deal. They continued down the hall.
“My lord, what are we to do about the priest?” Leonid asked as he led the group cautiously.
“If we come upon him again, we kill him. If not, so be it. He may very well be dead already, like Durlan’s man. Maybe that is how he disappeared so quickly, into a book.” Tasar said making Leonid chuckle.
“One can only hope.” He said.
The hall became wider and taller and opened up into a large room built like a giant bubble. The roof was lit by blue crystals that held light within them. There were circular pools for as far as they could see into the round blue room. The crystal roof was hundreds of feet above them. The room stretched far ahead of them disappearing into a hue of blue. Water swirling could be heard all around them but the waters in the pools looked calm and still. The men walked very cautiously on the path between the pools, though large enough for the entire group to walk shoulder to shoulder, they stayed in a single file. Tasar, in his curiosity, took the lead in the well-lit area, washed in a blue so bright it emulated a cloudless day sky. The entire group looked up as they walked, trying to figure out what the roof of the room was made of. The pools on either side of them were bordered with the same white milky stone they had come upon in the cave. Durlan walked to the edge of one of the pools breaking formation, followed by his remaining men. The men assigned to protect Durlan stayed close to him. Durlan ran his hand along the stone then peeked over its chest high edge, peering into the pool.
“It appears to be fresh water?” He announced then started to reach over the edge to touch it.
“Durlan! Don’t!” Tasar barked, startling Durlan just as his hand was about to dip into the pool. Durlan snapped his hand back shaken by Tasar’s bark. “Have you already forgotten what happened to your man back there?” Tasar asked shaking his head at Durlan’s lack of caution.
“But it’s only water?” Durlan proclaimed embarrassed that he jumped.
“And back there it was just a book. Things are not what they appear. If you can’t remember that, I might end up owning your tavern. I’ll tell everyone you gave it to me before you were lost.” Tasar said and smiled. He turned back to the stone walkway and continued. Durlan looked at Tasar thinking about what he said with a scowl. He could easily let Durlan die and take what’s his. Durlan regarded the soldiers Tasar had protecting him and considered if they would really protect him. Durlan followed the group that had begun to follow Tasar again.
“He’s going to get someone else killed.” Leonid said to Tasar as the two men walked ahead of the group, “Is it wise to have him with us? At least keep him at camp for this first round of discovery?” Leonid asked.
“We have a bargain with the man, if he gets himself killed then�
�” Tasar didn’t finish his thought. “Keep an eye on him, you are personally responsible for his protection. I can trust you to give your best effort.”
“Of course, my lord.” Leonid said with a nod then stopped and let the group pass, taking position instead with Durlan, who eyed him curiously.
“What’s this then?” Durlan asked him.
“My lord thinks it wise that I assist you in the absence of your man who was lost to that book.” He explained. Durlan nodded.
“Yes,” He said, “That’s good.” Durlan grabbed his skin of wine and took a drink as the two men began to walk again, it was a long walk in the room of pools, and it was obvious it would take some time to cross. They came upon an area between four pools. Two on either side of the walkway just behind them and two more on either side of the walkway just ahead of them. The two pools ahead of them had their edges lower than the ones behind them, set at about knee level. Near the center point where the round pools came closest to the walkway, there where benches. One on either side of the walkway near each pool. Durlan caught up to Tasar, who stopped to examine the area, then continued passed him.
“I imagine they sat down here before being killed by whatever evil is held within the waters, eh, Tasar?” Durlan commented as he made his way to one of the benches. Leonid followed Durlan shaking his head and looking back at Tasar with a smirk on his face. They were followed by Durlan’s two other men and two of Tasar’s soldiers. Tasar joined them near the pool after Durlan sat down on the bench and groaned in aching pain from the walk. Tasar reached in to the pool tentatively with his hand and dipped his fingers in the cool waters. It was very cold and very clean. Tasar touched his fingers to his lips and tasted the waters. It was pure as any water he had ever tasted, it made him smile then refill his own skin with it. The men all did the same after seeing Tasar do it. “See, just water.” Durlan said pleased with his earlier assessment proven true. One of Durlan’s men moved passed the bench with fresh water in his skin, lifting it to his lips. Durlan grabbed the water skin from the man before he could taste it. “Give us a taste then?” He demanded then lifted it to his own lips, drinking from it greedily, squeezing the skin to take as much from it as possible with one drink. He let out a long sigh of satisfaction with an “Ah.” Then handed the almost empty skin back to the man. Durlan froze and his mouth hung open as he looked across the pool the men were all drinking from. He could see in the distance, above the pool, something was flying in their direction. Leonid spotted Durlan’s frozen features of fear and looked behind him to see what it was Durlan was looking it.
“By the gods!” Leonid said pulling his sword from its sheath, “A Doom bat!” His words were almost immediately followed by a screech from the approaching creature, that sent men to their knees, covering their ears from the sonic scream of the bat. Durlan fell backwards over the bench after being pushed by Leonid, who tried to force him to take cover before he was overcome by the shriek. Durlan rolled from side to side, trying to right himself, he cried out in horror all the while, thinking the creature was going to eat him, feet first. Tasar took refuge, ducking by the pools edge to shield himself. The Doom Bat swooped down, mouth open, shrieking at them. Just before it reached Durlan’s feet, sticking up by the bench, it pulled up, whipping it’s twelve-foot-long tail into the bench, hurling Durlan feet over head, flipping him over completely, landing face down on the walkway with an umph! It left him breathless. The bench was thrown across the walkway, into the pool across from them, narrowly missing a collision with the twin bench on the other side of the walkway. The Doom Bat continued to shriek as it flew in a large arcing path back toward the men. Leonid rushed to Durlan after regaining his senses from the debilitating effects of the creature’s shriek. He helped Durlan to his feet, who, in his panic, shoved Leonid away from him and ran back down the path from where they came, crying out in horror. He stumbled along slowly in his awkward run. He was not a man who ran or did much by way of physical exertion. He ran like a large out of shape man runs, bouncing side to side, threatening to lose his balance and topple to the ground. He dropped various items that flew out of his pockets, leaving a trail of trinkets and snacks behind him. Leonid considered going after him, but instead, located the sword he dropped when the Doom Bat swooped down on them.
“Form a line!” Tasar commanded the soldiers who shook their heads trying to regain their senses from the shriek. They followed their lords’ orders, forming a line with weapons drawn, preparing for the creature that was again heading in their direction. Tasar watched Durlan running away, the two men that accompanied him had begun to run with him and were passing him by. “Let’s keep its attention on us!” Tasar commanded. The Doom Bat shrieked again, and sonic waves disoriented the men, who steeled themselves, holding fast to their swords and maintaining the line. The creatures tail whipped back and forth like a snake with a mind of its own, preparing to stab anyone it could. Its descent was even quicker than before, tail first into the line of men. “Watch out for its tail!” Tasar yelled as he positioned himself to try and strike the creature from the side as it approached. Leonid also flanked the Doom Bat whose wing span was near twenty-five feet across. Both men struck the creature along its sides as it barreled into the men tail first. Orinth, who was at the center of the column was flung back end over end into the pool behind him. The rest of the men were scattered apart, those who could still stand began stabbing the creature that momentarily lost its ability to fly, after the collision. Tasar’s blade struck deep, mortally wounding the creature under its veiny membrane that gave it flight. It flopped toward Leonid trying to bite him, its tail flailing about, seeking a victim. Leonid stumbled backwards but was able to swing his blade and hit the beast in its hideously large upturned snout, it shrieked again. Its proximity to Leonid forced him to cover his ears from the sonic blast. Tasar moved quickly behind the creature and stabbed his sword in the back of its neck almost to the hilt. He jerked his blade back and forth repeatedly until the creature slumped dead at his feet.
The men collected themselves around Tasar examining the beast. “I’ve never seen one before.” Leonid said as he wiped his blade with a bit of cloth that hung from his belt.
“And yet you remembered your training and recognized it for what it was?” Tasar asked nodding his approval of Leonid.
“It was easy, my lord, giant bat with a tail is hard to forget.” He chuckled through labored breaths. The men around them chuckled. There was a splashing in the pool behind them and the men rushed to its side to assist Orinth out of the water.
“Are you hurt?” Tasar asked. Orinth shook his head like a dog, flinging water everywhere.
“My pride, from not having landed a blow on this thing” he said then looked around the walkway for his dropped sword. He spat on the dead bat on his way passed it. The other men chuckled. Tasar examined the roof and looked intently in the distance around each of the pools.
“I wonder, Leonid, do you remember if they are solitary creatures or no?” He asked.
“I cannot say, I only remember its name, my lord.” Leonid said walking around the creature with his sword, poking it in various spots to ensure it was dead. “What of them? Should we let them make the trek all the way back to camp, alone?” Leonid asked pointing his sword at Durlan and his men, off in the distance, still running along the walkway. Tasar watched them then chuckled.
“Orinth, head back to camp, get changed, make sure our lord Durlan arrives safely as well. You remember the way?” Tasar asked.
“Aye, my lord.” Orinth began walking back down the walkway, picking up the variety of items that bounced out of Durlan’s pockets in his rush to escape. Durlan had already stopped for a break, even in his terror, he needed a break.
“Let’s see if we can’t make it to the other end of this room before we call it for today.” Tasar commanded, still looking off in the distance, beyond the pools.
“Can you see the other side, my lord?” Leonid asked looking further down the walkway, ahe
ad of them.
“No, but it may be a trick of the light, with all this damn blue crystal. It made that Doom Bat near invisible until it was upon us.” Tasar said refocusing his attention on the path before them.
“You think they’re crystals?” Leonid asked.
“What else could it be?” They could hear Durlan complaining in the distance behind them, making the men still with Tasar chuckle, then they readied themselves to continue walking. “Let’s keep a look out, and up.” They continued down the walkway cautiously making it, finally, to the other end of the room after another twenty minutes of tiptoeing as not to stir any other unseen creatures calling the room home. Once there, they could see viaducts that came from behind the pools near the outer wall of the room to a center point near the walkway and out through partially underground tunnels, filtering the water out of the room. The water flowed tumultuously like a mighty river through the channels that narrowed before entering the tunnels, increasing the waters speed. It was loud. There was a door way that was once a twelve-foot-tall set of double doors. Only one of the doors remained, the other, lost to time and decay. Unlike the room of pools, no light could be seen beyond the doors edge. “Torches,” Tasar said then grabbed the first one lit and stuck it in the missing doors opening, “Don’t disturb this one.” He said about the door that remained, then entered the room cautiously. The men followed, hot on his heels to what was another hallway, much wider than the previous one before the pools entrance. Tasar could feel a breeze but couldn’t tell where it came from. He moved slowly down the hall that ended abruptly, covered and blocked by fallen debris from the roof above it. To his right he saw a cave and again felt the breeze, which was much stronger, pulling the flame from his torch. He took a step and lit up a tunnel opening, it was clearly man made, and crudely fashioned. It was so far from ornate that Tasar could see it was not part of the original city, probably made by the Gyona well after the collapse of the Vordalyn. “Here.” He said, Leonid stepped in, lighting it up even more.
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