by Allan Joyal
“Who are you?” Kalacho asked.
Faestari chose not to answer. She guided the golem over to the injured man and carefully picked him up. “Hurry.”
The golem climbed the stairway, taking two steps at a time as it made its way upwards. The adventurers just looked on in shock at the sight.
Faestari ignored their delay. The golem raced through the third floor, the orcs and wolves rushing away to avoid its path. As she moved, the spider in the next stairway landing, cleared a wide path.
She was halfway up the steps to the second floor when the adventurers reached the room. “The webs are moved!” someone shouted.
“The golem must be part of the dungeon, but why?” Kalacho replied.
Faestari was concentrating on moving quickly. The adventurers had to run to keep up as the golem passed through the kobold level and climbed the final stairway. It emerged into the sunlight and then stopped on the plateau.
“I will go no further,” she made the golem say. “Do not speak of this to others.”
She had the golem sink into the granite surface of the plateau, gently laying the injured man on the ground.
“Now what?” the man’s brother asked.
Ygryail knelt down to check on the man’s injury. Faestari had given him some mana, trying to ensure he would survive without healing too much to prevent the potion from working.
“Run to Lonstance and get the regrowth potion,” Kalacho said. “But say nothing more.”
Two men took off running down the path, leaving Ygryail and Kalacho with the injured adventurer. Ygryail poked at the man’s arm one more time and then stood up. Kalacho immediately frowned.
“Shouldn’t you be healing him?” he asked.
“Anything I did right now would prevent the potion from working,” Ygryail said angrily. “But he should be fine for an hour. Kalacho, what happened? Where did that golem come from?”
Kalacho looked at the entrance. “Bezztol and I were told a story. Humtar and Udyran heard it, but agreed to stay silent about it. The soul of this dungeon might have spent time thinking it was a human child.”
“What?” Ygryail said. “Kalacho, we’ve been together for years. We’ve delved over a dozen dungeons. I helped you found the Impaled Cats with my husband Niscott. How can you keep this a secret from me?"
"Bezztol and I decided to tell no one about the story we were told. It did not seem important. After all the dungeon, while a bit strange, acted like a dungeon,” Kalacho said firmly. He then looked over at the fallen man. “It seems it doesn’t always act like a dungeon.”
“What do we do about it?” Ygryail asked. “How do we react to something like this?”
Kalacho looked over at the entrance. “The golem told us to say nothing. I expect that as long as we uphold that wish the dungeon may help others who run into trouble. It will continue to create monsters and treasure, but the deaths won’t be due to the dungeon actively seeking our deaths.”
Ygryail snorted. “It doesn’t have to. That beetle nearly killed all of us.”
“It was an unpleasant surprise,” Kalacho said with a nod. “But once we realized that the legs were not as heavily armored, we were able to immobilize it and defeat it. And even you said that the treasure we found was valuable.”
“Two blades of desert leaf fungus?” Ygryail asked. “I’m still trying to estimate how much those are worth.”
Niscott’s brother came running up the path. The man was out of breath, but staggered over to Ygryail and held out a vial of silvery liquid. “Potion,” he gasped.
Ygryail smiled. “You must have pushed your limits to come back so quickly.”
“Kistrik ran ahead to get it. Met me at base of mountain,” the man said between deep breaths. “Hurry.”
Ygryail had already opened the potion and was holding the mouth of the vial to her husband’s lips. “Drink deep my love,” she whispered. “I can’t go on without you by my side.”
Kalacho looked over at the exhausted man. “Remember, we tell no one about how we got Niscott back outside the dungeon. I don’t want to anger whatever spirit decided to help us.”
“Why did it help?” the man asked.
Faestari sighed and carefully formed a mouth in the side of the mountain. “Because, he is your family,” she whispered just loud enough to be heard on the plateau.
Kalacho and the man looked around. Ygryail’s right hand shook. She steadied it with her left as Niscott finished swallowing the potion. “The dungeon speaks?” she asked.
“Dungeons don’t talk,” Niscott’s brother said angrily.
Kalacho shook his head. “They can, but you almost never hear of one talking. And when they do, it’s usually to explain why they wiped out an adventuring party. You never want to end up hearing an angry dungeon explaining why it just crushed seven young men.”
Faestari was going to watch more, but Aylia poked her. She quickly pulled her attention back to the alcove and noticed that Aylia was holding the note from Salene.
“You never read this?” Aylia asked as she folded the note back up.
Faestari shook her head as she tried to focus. “I was afraid of what might be in it. Did you just read it?”
Aylia smiled. “Would I spoil things by reading a letter to you?”
“Perhaps,” Faestari said with a smirk.
Aylia pretended to faint. “My love thinks I’d spy on her. She doesn’t believe in me. I’m forlorn and lost.”
Faestari giggled. “Is that how you trick men into your pool, because that was terrible. My rabbits act more lifelike.”
Aylia looked over at the five stone rabbits that were Faestari’s connection to her mother. “I’m sorry.”
Faestari shrugged and snatched the letter back from her water sprite companion. “I’m not anymore. My mother and father loved me, I’m sure of that. I do miss them, but I have you.”
“I’m not a parent, and I can’t be your husband,” Aylia said.
“Like I need a husband right now,” Faestari said with a giggle. “I need a friend. Someone who might understand that I just used some of my power to ensure that an adventurer gets his hand back from a regrowth potion.”
“You did?” Aylia asked. “Why? I might end up killing him someday.”
“If that happens, even the adventurers will understand. But it felt right. The man was in the dungeon with his wife and his brother. They were upset that he’d lose the hand because of how deep in the dungeon they were. I used a golem to carry his body out so they could get a potion from their camp in time to save the hand,” Faestari said. “Regrowth potions only work if they are given shortly after the injury. How did I know that?”
Aylia giggled. “Wait, you move and create caverns and underground streams with a thought. You have summoned lava from the fire node deep within the mountain and used it to warm water into steam. You casually grow a mundane creature until it is a monster larger and stronger than any other found, but you wonder how you know about regrowth potions?”
Faestari frowned and then looked at the note in her hand. “I just don’t know how I know things. It’s like I need to do something and I remember how to call on my mana to make it happen.”
“And you do it so well,” Aylia said.
Faestari felt her face grow warm. She looked down at the folded note and then carefully unfolded it. Aylia moved to look over her shoulder.
“I don’t know how to read,” the water sprite admitted. “But I was hoping you’d read it. I’ve watched Salene down at the camps some nights. She has as pure a heart as I’ve ever seen.”
“What?” Faestari asked as she tried to remember the brief lessons in reading she had received from her father.
“Salene is a good woman. Perhaps the nicest in the camp. Only her brother’s wife comes close. But she’s a worshipper of Cuan Bi. Actually I suspect she’s a priestess. She has the right aura,” Aylia said.
Faestari nodded. “She’s healed kobolds several times. If one is still al
ive and near a tunnel she’ll quietly heal it and then push it into the tunnel before her brothers or father notices. I think Salene knows she’s doing it. I’ve noticed that Salene doesn’t try to kill the kobolds.”
“So can you read the note?” Aylia asked eagerly.
“Fine,” Faestari said. She looked down at the jagged lines she vaguely remembered learning about. A moment later she started to speak.
“I’m not sure how to start this. My father thinks that the dungeon has a soul and that the soul is a long lost… cousin I guess,” Faestari read.
“She sounds frightened,” Aylia complained.
“She’s trying to write to a complete stranger,” Faestari snapped. “Now let me read.”
“Sorry,” Aylia murmured. She brushed Faestari’s hair back from the right side of her face and then resumed looking over the young dungeon’s shoulder.
“If you are my cousin, I hope you realize that I mean you no harm. My father encouraged me to adventure even before I knew what a dungeon was, and I have to admit, I enjoy the challenge. However, I am only interested in the challenge. I take the rewards to help pay for my equipment and care,” Faestari read.
“How noble,” Aylia said sarcastically.
“Didn’t you say that she is as good a woman as you’ve ever seen?” Faestari asked. “That would fit. I bet if we asked other dungeons and they remember her, we’d find she helped orphans and widows living near the dungeon.”
“They wouldn’t remember her,” Aylia said firmly.
“We’ll make that bet later,” Faestari said with a smile. She looked back at the note.
“My father seems to want something from you. I don’t know what, but I’ve got a feeling. I wanted to warn you, but I don’t know how. I’m not even sure this note will reach you. Please do what you need to though. If I have to die with my entire family to ensure your freedom, I’ll understand,” Faestari read.
She found that there was no more to the note. She turned it over to check the back of the single piece of parchment and found nothing. Her hands shook as she set it down behind her.
“Wow,” Aylia said. “She doesn’t know you and can’t be sure you are related to her, but she’s offering her life for your freedom.”
“She’s everything you said,” Faestari said quietly.
“What will you do?” Aylia asked.
“I can’t invite her here, not right now,” Faestari said. “And I don’t dare leave the dungeon fully. I’ve felt the gemstone her brother carries. I suspect it is meant to drag me from the dungeon. That is why Mordlew pushes them to go deeper each delve.”
“Could they do that?” Aylia asked.
“I don’t know. Obviously my mother was able to leave her dungeon, and father was carrying a gemstone that was my soul. I remember my mother using it on me, the last time I saw her,” Faestari said. Her voice grew very quiet at the end.
Aylia put her arms around the young woman and squeezed her into a close embrace. “I’m sorry to remind you.”
“No,” Faestari said between silent sobs. “My mother knew that the only way for me to remain free was to do what she did. I still have a letter she sent me. There was a sixth rabbit. It was damaged during the escape, but her mana imprinted a desperate need to get the scroll it carried to my hands.”
“My lady,” Aylia said as she hugged the girl more. “I will do anything to ensure you are never hurt like that again. I will be your shield and sword. I will be your knight.”
Faestari giggled. “You are my water sprite and friend.”
“That too,” Aylia said sounding happier now that Faestari had giggled. “So what will you do about the note from Salene?”
“I’ll watch, and wait,” Faestari said. “Let’s see what happens after today.”
Chapter 22: Rumors of Magic
Faestari had commanded the adventurers to remain silent about her forming a golem and carrying an adventurer from the dungeon. She listened carefully each night at the tavern and from what she could tell none of the witnesses talked about the strange rescue.
Unfortunately, she discovered that there was an undercurrent of unease flowing through the campsites. At first she could not figure out the source, but about six days after she performed the rescue she found Mordlew and Mardrew sitting at a corner table in the tavern. The wizard who had been investigating the edge of her domain was sitting with them. All three men were scowling.
She wanted to approach, but a twisted whirlwind of mana coming from a pouch on Mardrew’s belt warned her to stay far away. The men were whispering as they watched the other patrons of the tavern.
Forced to stay away, Faestari looked over the table containing the rest of Mordlew’s family. She found Lewfeld and Luniri sitting far across the tavern. The duo looked tired and upset.
“We have to go back in tomorrow?” Luniri asked.
“Father is going to insist,” Lewfeld said. “He’s very insistent that we must find the heart of the dungeon.”
“Why? Luniri asked. “Even if this dungeon is some strange mystical half-sister to one of our ancestors, that’s no reason to try as hard as we do. It’s not like we get to keep much of the treasure, father gives it all to Mardrew now.”
Lewfeld nodded. “Koristal is saying she won’t go with us many more times. She doesn’t mind the adventuring, but she hates father.”
“Salene doesn’t care for him much either,” Luniri said. “I can’t figure that one out. Father always encouraged her to be an adventurer. And he used to brag about her skill. Now they barely ever talk.”
“Salene thinks father’s obsession needs to end,” Lewfeld said. “And I’ve heard she’s been seen with Jyxton quite a bit.”
“With that loser?” Luniri said scornfully.
“He’s a successful adventurer. The group he is part of has completed more delves than any other group here,” Lewfeld said evenly.
“But have you met that wizard they have? She’s so plain. Why can’t they have a beautiful sorceress or a dashing handsome rogue leading? Instead they have that grizzled jerk Gee’if,” Luniri said.
“He’s probably one of the best adventurers here,” Lewfeld said.
“Oh, of course you’d say that,” Luniri said.
“Actually, most of the adventurers here say it,” Betrixy said as she suddenly sat down at the table with them.
Luniri glared at the plain-faced wizard. “Do you mind?”
Betrixy looked at the young woman. “There were no other free tables, and I always thought you were nice people. At least your sister speaks highly of your skills.”
“I doubt that,” Lewfeld said. “I know my sister strives to always tell the truth. Luniri and I aren’t the best adventurers. We don’t have the experience.”
“I did not claim she calls you the best. Just that she believes in your skills and is very happy to have you back her up in the dungeon. I should know, Hal’vik has been trying to get Salene to join with us on our delves,” Betrixy said.
“What?” Luniri said.
“Don’t worry,” Betrixy said with a shake of her head. “Your sister made it clear she would not abandon you. She might think your father is a danger to everyone around him, and she hates Mardrew, but she will do all she can for you two.”
Lewfeld sighed. “And we just spoke of her as is she was a traitor.”
Betrixy shrugged. “There is a story going around that your father believes the dungeon is related to you somehow.”
Lewfeld hissed as Luniri gasped. “Who told you?”
Betrixy nodded over to the table where Mordlew continued to discuss plans with his son and the wizard. “That robed idiot over there did. I thought my magic school left me less prepared than I’d like. That man barely knows how to use a spell in a fight.”
“I don’t think he plans to adventure,” Lewfeld said. “From what I’ve seen, he only knows ritual magic.”
Betrixy scowled. “That could be very bad, depending on the rituals. I avoid that kind of
magic.”
Luniri looked at the wizard. “So why are you really here?”
Betrixy took a hand from the mug she had been holding and waved around the tavern. “Do you see any empty chairs?”
Luniri looked around. Her eyes widened as she started counting people. “But, where did all the people come from?”
“The Kindred brought an adventuring party to the dungeon. Some group of specialists they say are sure to reach the heart,” Betrixy said. “At the same time, the lordling building the town had his latest caravan arrive. It included five extra wagons. We have two families of farmers looking to get established. We finally have a blacksmith. And we have priests and priestesses here to found a temple to Veshtrya.”
Lewfeld just shook his head. “That’s a lot of people. What have you heard about the Kindred’s adventuring band?”
“Not much,” Betrixy said. “Hal’vik was the one who brought the news back to our camp. I believe Kalacho and Bezztol went to meet them.”
“Should we worry?” Luniri asked.
Betrixy looked over her mug. “Girl, when an adventuring party shows up and two other company leaders rush over to greet them, there is probably a problem. I don’t know what it is, but I have a bad feeling about this.”
“Why?” Lewfeld asked.
“Because we heard rumors that the dungeon has banned the Kindred. Our original leader, the man who brought us to this dungeon said that he was told that the Kindred came to deliver a bunch of weapons in exchange for a gemstone. The leader of the group made sure that the weapons supplied were all junk,” Betrixy said.
“Why would the dungeon care?” Lewfeld asked.
“I don’t know, but here is the interesting part. A stone golem met the party at the location where the exchange was to be made. It condemned the contents of the packs and told the leader of the group that the Kindred were banned, but that the dungeon would uphold it’s part of the bargain. The sapphire they received would have paid for fifteen packs of high quality weapons. The Kindred had brought four packs of rusted and broken weapon heads and daggers,” Betrixy said.
Luniri twitched. “I bet they were happy.”