Locmire's Quest: Book One A Tales from Calencia Novel

by Brian Hutchinson

  Chapter 33

  The Trap

  Lot pushed himself back to his feet, dusting off the front of his clothes. “It is a very deadly trap, and it is set with a hair trigger. I suggest you do not move,” said the Thief.

  A loud gulp came from deep within Golgar’s throat.

  “You seem very knowledgeable of traps. Can you free him?” asked Oggius.

  Lot nodded his head. “It is a rather advanced trap.” He paused. “But I think I understand the disarming mechanism.”

  “Well then, if you don't mind, I would like to get out of this as soon as possible,” replied Golgar.

  “Everyone may want to back up a few hundred feet,” Lot said as he motioned the crowd away.

  “A few hundred feet?” asked Erimack.

  “Yes, unless you would like to assist me in removing him from this trap. Keep in mind that if it goes off, there will be a loud boom,” replied the Thief.

  Erimack slowly started backing away.

  “Locmire,” Lot said.

  “Yes, Lot,” replied the Wizard.

  “Anything you can do to provide a little extra protection?” asked the Thief.

  “I am sure that I can come up with something,” replied the Wizard.

  Lot nodded his head and made his way back onto his stomach at the feet of Golgar. When Lot was ready, Locmire pointed his staff at the Thief and the terrified Dainty. A blue orb appeared and surrounded the two.

  “This should keep the blast contained,” said Locmire.

  “The blast contained?” Golgar asked. “You act as if you know this thing is going to explode! Tell me what you know, Wizard! Was this in the prophecy?”

  Locmire said with an honest smile, “All is well my friend. There is no prophecy that I know of involving you exploding. I was only speaking of the worst case scenario.”

  Golgar considered this for a moment and then nodded his head at Locmire.

  “Get it over with,” said Golgar with a trembling voice.

  Lot thought, I hope all is well. If this little Dainty blows up, so do I.

  The Thief unrolled a tattered black cloth which contained his lock picking set. He took out his tumblers and snake rake. Carefully, he inserted the tumbler into a small slit at the base of the stone of which Golgar's foot had become quite fond. He slowly inched the snake rake deeper into the side of the stone, blindly prodding for the deactivation mechanism. I found it, he thought.

  Giving the tumbler a good shove, a loud click came from underneath the stone. Golgar flinched slightly.

  “You all right up there?” asked Lot.

  “So far, so good. How goes it down there?” asked Golgar.

  “I think I got it,” replied Lot.

  “Great!” Golgar exclaimed. “So I can get off of here now?”

  “Not yet. We must do this together,” said the Thief with the slightest sound of nervousness in his voice.

  “What do I need to do?” asked Golgar.

  “You must begin to raise your foot from the stone at the same time I pull the triggering mechanism back up. It is almost like I am rearming the trap. If you go too fast, or I go to slow,” he paused. “Boom!” Even through all of the dirt on Golgar's face, Lot could tell that he had just turned white. “You just raise your foot at a nice and steady pace, and I will do the rest.”

  Golgar nodded.

  “On the count of three. Are you ready?” asked Lot

  “Yes,” replied Golgar.

  Lot began his count, “One . . . two-,”

  "Wait!" Golgar shouted.

  "By the Gods!" Lot exclaimed. "You could have just caused me to set this thing off."

  "Do we go on three? Or is it one, two, three, go?" Golgar asked.

  "We go on three," Lot replied as a bead of sweat jumped off the end of his nose. "One. . . two. . . three."

  Golgar slowly began to pick his foot up. Lot was deep in concentration, trying to match the speed of Golgar's leg to that of his tumbler.

  After what seemed like an eternity, Lot said, “Got it.”

  The blue orb disappeared and Golgar ran back toward the rest of the group and fell to the ground, rambling out blessings aimed at Lot.

  “Arrr, he be's a good un ta have round!” Red said.

  The Dainties came running to Lot and began to vigorously shake his hands.

  “Very good, Lot,” said Locmire.

  “That was a very complex trap. I am sure there are more. Maybe it would be best if I lead from here on out,” Lot suggested.

  No one disagreed with him.

  As they prepared to march forward, Urganox came to Lot.

  “Good work, Thief. If it was I in your position, he would be still standing here a year from now,” said the Brazurkin.

  Chuckling, Lot said, “I enjoy the challenge. Besides, he may come in handy.”

  “Highly doubtful,” said Urganox.

  They regrouped and set forth into the unfamiliar homeland of the ancient Dainties.