“Do you know where it is?” he asked, carefully masking his eagerness.
“No, Your Holiness. We were unable to uncover anything more than rumor. One of my scout teams surveyed the countryside, however they could not find it.”
Shalthazar couldn’t help but let out a small sigh. Shalthazar had dispatched some of his best hunters to find the Tomb before anyone else who had aims for his highly sought-after prize. And, there was one person whom Umber had shown him could prove to be a drastic threat to Umber’s plans. As a result, the wizard had dispatched his best lieutenants to head up the search for the Tomb, and to find the mortal who stood in his way.
“Well done. I am promoting you to the rank of Brigade General. With the reinforcements we’ve received from our homeland, you now command a full strength brigade of Marines. I want all Marines to debark from all ships and muster under your command. You will report to General Nox.”
Brigadier General Sauger stood at attention, saluted, and said, “Sir!”
“When we begin our movement closer to the Cklathlands, I may need the assistance of your fleet, Admiral Maynar. You will take half the fleet and parallel our movement south along the coast. There may come a point where your Roughnecks will have to come ashore as reinforcements, bring in supplies, or pick up troops.”
“Sir!” replied the admiral, proudly. “Our men have been training with the Marines in land warfare regularly. I am confident in their ability to fight!”
“Excellent! Gentlemen, make your preparations. Allow the men to enjoy themselves this winter, because we march when the snows clear.”
CHAPTER NINE
Questionable Help.
Dockyard City.
After winding through tunnels that led up, then down, then left, then right, and seemed to repeat this cycle over and over; the group arrived at a large wooden door with a handprint inside a circle on it. The walk had been tedious. Zach refused to speak as he led the group through the underground maze. Saera spoke in hushed tones with Willam and the man with a praying mantis on his shoulder still would not give his name and pointedly ignored all of Carym’s questions.
Saera placed her palm on the handprint and it began to emit a red light. Carym had heard of wizards using magical wards for protection but this was particularly intriguing. Through its magic, the door seemed to know whose hand was placed upon it and if that person was allowed access. Apparently, Saera was approved for the door swung silently inward.
“Welcome to our lair, Carym,” she snickered as she strode through the door.
Carym was amazed at what he saw. They followed her through the massive door onto the main street of what appeared to be an underground city! In the distance, at the end of the main street, he saw a fortress made of granite and marble. Surrounding this fortress was a massive wall interspersed with menacing towers, flying buttresses, and parapets. It was a style of architecture like nothing he had ever seen. The group stopped inside the gate and Saera concluded a brief discussion while Carym gawked at the wondrous sight.
“Eriagabbyn wishes to see you,” whispered Saera dramatically. “Follow me,” Saera smiled as she spun around, her black and brown cloak fluttered behind her.
He had heard of the infamous Eriagabbyn. The man had a reputation for being a scoundrel, a thief, and a murderer, depending on who you talked to. With a sigh, he realized that much of what he thought he knew of people had been wrong.
The side streets of this underground city branched off the main road at precise intervals and faded into the distance in perfectly straight lines. Carym was amazed at the geographic precision with which this city had been built and the seemingly perfect level ground. All of the streets were lined with poles that had brightly shining globes atop them. These lights were reflected and amplified by the roof of the cavern, which was lined with large rectangular pieces of shiny metal. Despite the large size of this underground city, there were relatively few people wandering among the streets. After the short but interesting walk down the main avenue of the city they arrived at the fortress that was built into the rock wall of the cavern itself.
Carym knew that these people would give him no information lest they felt he needed to know it. So, he chose not to ask any of the hundreds of questions flitting through his mind as he surveyed the apparently ancient underground city. He had heard many tales of ancient civilizations that lived and thrived below the surface of Llars, tales which fascinated him as a child. He wanted to go exploring and learn about the people who lived here long ago; he had heard that both humans and dwarves coexisted peacefully long ago in the Underllars. He had never visited the Underllars before today, that being the name for any of the mysterious inhabited regions below the surface of the world. Although this place was in the Underllars, there were no signs of the infamous monsters and deadly wandering spirits doomed to haunt the deep places forever.
Saera led the group inside the keep and into the grand chamber that once served as a throne room for this underground realm. The great chamber must have been richly decorated at one time for there were remnants of tapestries and piles of rotted wood that had once been furniture. Rubble strewn about the floor and damaged walls led Carym to think perhaps a battle had been fought here long ago. Finally they stopped at the end of the chamber where a man with Elvish features sat on a massive throne of silver and steel decorated with hammers, picks, axes, and other hand tools used by the stone miners and masons. The decor was ornate, but the throne had seen better days. The legends said that besides being amazing craftsmen, the dwarves were known as the scholars and sages of the ancient world and were rumored to have kept libraries of knowledge and lore dating back to the Creation. Carym longed to see the ancient texts, yet knew he would not be staying here long and would have no chance of seeking out the library; if dwarves had truly ever set foot in this place.
The man who sat atop this throne was known as Eriagabbyn, and he was the leader of the infamous Black Spiders. He was wearing elegant black silks with a white spider boldly emblazoned upon his chest. His features were honest and his eyes seemed wise and just. Carym felt at home here all of a sudden, and knew that somehow this great lord would help him.
“My lord, this is Carym of Hyrum,” announced Saera. “He is a carpenter by trade in Hybrand, and Warrior Zach is his business partner.”
The leader gestured for Carym to come forward. Carym felt the raw power this man commanded and felt compelled to obey him. Deep inside, Carym’s feelings conflicted with what his rational mind knew. Didn’t the druid warn Carym against trusting the leaders of this group? He considered this a moment, with annoyance. The old man was just being paranoid, certainly. But perhaps caution was good advice after all.
“Carym, it is good to see that you are alive. I am outraged that General Craxis has chosen this course of action. We will see to it that he comes to regret his choice. It is unfortunate that you have been caught up in this as well and I can see that you are not pleased; I do not blame you,” said Eriagabbyn smoothly. “But, you are one of us now, like it or not.”
“One of you?” Carym asked, looking up, suddenly nervous and seeing the man in a different light. His image began to shift before his eyes, and shadows danced around him. Carym began to feel dizzy, yet he continued to watch the man in wonder. He saw shadows wrapping themselves around him like a cloak, then peel back away from him revealing bluish skin beneath a disguise. An illusion! This is a Frost Elf? He wanted to rub his eyes in disbelief, but dared not. Nothing in the faces of those nearby indicated that anyone else was seeing what Carym saw. He looked down in what he hoped appeared to be deference as he tried to hide his shock. Frost Elves had a very terrifying reputation.
“An outlaw,” the elf lord explained with a wave of his hand. “The assault on Arnathian forces at Hark’s Point will doubtless be attributed to the Spiders. And, without your capture elsewhere Craxis will connect you to our group. Although you had no choice in the matter, Arnathians do not make such distinctions.”
Carym looked the man in the eye and saw the coldness that belied the warm and friendly tone of his voice. He was still trying to keep his wits about him but things were moving far too quickly.
“Spider Apprentice Zach, come forward,” the elf commanded. Zach moved past Carym to the foot of the throne and bowed. “You have served the cause well and your actions have been duly noted. You have reached the end of your apprenticeship and now you must truly prove yourself worthy of advancement in our order.”
“Apprenticeship?” Carym whispered. “I had no idea you were official!”
Beaming with pride, Zach stood tall and nodded to his leader. Eriagabbyn stepped down from the great throne and pinned a brown widow-shaped spider brooch on Zach’s collar. “This brooch signifies your transition from Spider Apprentice, to Spider Warrior! Congratulations!” The lord of the Spiders embraced Zach warmly and the two laughed heartily together. Despite his misgivings, Carym was proud of his old friend; even if the nature of his accomplishment was suspect. He shook Zach’s hand with a smile.
Then the lord turned to the others in the chamber.
“Apprentice Willam, come forward.” The younger man did as he was bid, and approached his lord with respect, bowing deeply. “Willam has completed a dangerous assignment and earned his promotion.” Eriagabbyn approached Willam and gave him a red spider brooch, a look of shock and surprise on Willam’s face. “Indeed, for completing such an extraordinarily dangerous yet invaluable assignment, you will bypass the rank of Spider Warrior and are now promoted to the rank of Spider Master! Congratulations, young man!”
Carym saw the enmity in his friend’s eyes as one rival had just beaten another, and he could see his friend straining against the urge to protest.
Eriagabbyn returned his attention to Zach and Carym. “And now, Warrior. Your excellence has been duly noted and I have a special mission for you!” he said, heartily. “You have served our cause with distinction and the time has come for you to prove your mettle.” Zach seemed mollified that his leader had recognized the man’s worth, though Carym noted that his friend’s earlier enthusiasm was still not present. Carym suspected something more was going on here, yet he could only watch.
“Our spies have finally discovered the location of the fabled Everpool!”
Carym gasped and everyone looked at him, hard. Seeing the scrutiny he feigned a coughing fit and placed his hand over his gut, doing his best to look like he wasn’t feeling well. He smiled sheepishly at the others and looked away, pretending indifference.
After a moment, Eriagabbyn continued. “The Everpool is said to be the source of magical power, its waters extraordinarily enchanted.” He paused to let his words sink in. “I want you to return to me with a vial of that enchanted water. If you do this for me Zach, you will find your place among my most valued lieutenants!” The man glanced slyly at the returning, sensual, figure of Saera and smiled.
Carym groaned inwardly. What was happening? How did these people know where the Everpool was? He had only just warmed up to the idea of seeking that enchanted place for himself, now these thieves had their own plans for the pool! He wondered desperately how he was going to include himself on Zach’s quest. He hoped Zach wouldn’t leave him behind. And how would he explain to Zach that he too sought the Everpool. Perhaps it was best not to tell him.
“This will be no easy task, as I’m sure you’ve already deduced. It has been discovered that the Everpool is located across the Brythyn Sea, beyond the northern Cklathlands and is hidden in the Tomb of the Dark Paladin,” the Spider Lord said matter-of-factly.
Carym fought back the urge to scoff. The Tomb of the Dark Paladin? Was it ever proven that the Dark Paladin had ever truly existed?
“Forgive me, Lord Eriagabbyn,” he interrupted, he couldn’t hold back. Zach cast him a cautionary glance. “Wasn’t the story of the Dark Paladin a myth? A tale to scare children? And the Everpool, none have ever proved that it even exists!” He hoped this lord of thieves would not think Carym, too, was after his prize.
The lord of the Spiders eyed Carym for a long moment, a dangerous light in his eyes. “It is no myth, I assure you,” he said with finality. Carym was unnerved by the man’s confidence. “My scouts have correctly deduced the location of the Tomb from an assortment of ancient texts, and verified its location. They await Zach’s arrival in Caelambra, where they will guide him to the Tomb.”
“How do you know your men haven’t already entered the Tomb and raided its treasures?”
Eriagabbyn shot a penetrating, and irritating, look at Carym. “Because the Tomb is protected by booby-traps and only I know the sequence necessary to pass them unscathed! And I would kill them if they crossed me!”
Carym nodded, not liking the sound of things. Then, it occurred to him that the fact this conversation was happening in his presence was not good. He wondered if Eriagabbyn was planning to have him killed, now that he has been to their underground lair. He desperately tried to think of a way out of the situation without giving his away thoughts.
“My Lord, I thank you for the honor of this quest,” said Zach stiffly. It appeared to Carym that his friend would rather have taken the promotion that Willam received. Was this a suicide mission then? “May I bring my good friend, Carym with me?”
“I would be honored to accompany Zach on this quest.” Carym was quick to say.
Eriagabbyn gazed at Carym thoughtfully, weighing him on unseen scales. Perhaps he had now realized the problem that Carym’s presence presented him. Carym gritted his teeth and steeled himself; he would not let his tumultuous emotions best him now. The Spiders were trying to get rid of them both, their failed rescue attempt was certainly not the kind of thing one rewarded with promotion. While Carym didn’t think this would be a suicide mission, he did think that Eriagabbyn didn’t particularly care if Carym and Zach survived their quest.
“Indeed, if you can bring yourself to seek the subject of a child’s tale,” the elf said cynically. “There is the matter of the debt you now owe us. Help Zach fulfill his quest and you will have repaid the cost of your own rescue.” Seeing the look on Carym’s face Eriagabbyn said, “The only value you now have, Carym of Hyrum, is the bounty placed on your head by General Craxis. I think you will not find Craxis’ hospitality very inviting. You will make the journey together.” Carym bowed low, fully understanding the implied threat.
“My Lord, what are the steps to bypass the traps?”
The elf glanced at Zach with a peculiar look, one which said to Carym that he had no intention of giving any such information to Zach. Then, with an air of indifference Eriagabbyn said, “I shall arrange to have the instructions delivered to you before you depart. Complete this task and you will have proven yourself worthy beyond doubt. Glory awaits you, Zach!” He clapped the man warmly on the shoulder.
Carym felt his heart beat faster and blood rushed to his face. The Everpool! The druid was right, others were already seeking the pool. What an extraordinary coincidence! Dryume never mentioned anything about the pool’s location being in the Tomb of the Dark Paladin. He wondered what this devious Frost Elf wanted with water from the Everpool, it could not be for any good purpose. Could the Spiders know of the Tome of Sigils as well? No, he decided. Recovering that would have been a requirement for them as well. His heart sank with resignation as the enormity of the task stuck him. At least they didn’t have to search for the Tomb. He decided he must not tell Zach of the druid’s words until they were far from Hybrand and any magical “ears” that might be listening. He wondered if the price of a vial of that enchanted water falling into the hands of the Spiders was worth going to the Everpool in the first place. Could Zach be persuaded to abandon his service to the Spiders? It was clear they were not expected to succeed in any case.
“Glory awaits the Spiders!” Zach said enthusiastically, raising a fist high. Carym decided it wasn’t likely that Zach would give up this opportunity for power. Zach’s sentiment was echoed loudly by the rest of Spiders in t
he room. Carym wondered if glory awaited Hybrand, and if the Spiders really cared. The Commander of the Spiders eyed him carefully, then clapped Carym on the shoulder and smiled warmly.
“Very well, it is settled! You will leave for Dockyard City on the morrow. You will sail to Caelambra and meet our man, Zeerrfann, who will guide you to the Tomb of the Dark Paladin!” Carym sighed as the pair was led away from the throne room. This was getting complicated.
Saera gave the men an escort through the maze tunnels that led away from the underground fortress and surfaced in the hills outside of the infamous Dockyard City. Armed with supplies and money for passage across the bay, Carym and Zach embarked on their journey to find the Everpool.
The moment was bittersweet for Carym. While the road before him was open and full of opportunity and adventure, his home was in ruins and many friends and neighbors were dead; he felt like he was abandoning his home and his people. Yet Zach did not appear conflicted at all. Years of adventuring and facing incredible danger and hardship gave rise to an unspoken rule the men followed: Bury it deep and leave it be. He sighed and tried to leave it be.
As the oppressive caves and mines of the lair of the Spiders faded away in the distance, Carym began to feel his step become just a little bit lighter. He breathed deeply, enjoying the crisp morning air and the warmth of the sun as it chased the chill from his bones. The refreshing walk to Dockyard City wasn’t a long one, only a few miles, but the apparent beauty of the landscape belied the wild nature of the untamed region. Dockyard City and its outlying holdings were not really part of Hybrand and therefore it was not under Arnathian control. A smattering of small farms and plantations provided agricultural support to the city which thrived on its seafood exports, and a little bit of piracy. The outlying plantations and manor houses were where the “lords” of Dockyard City resided. The lords being those who held sway over a given Guild house or Association with enough power to sway the politics of the city.
The Dragon Writers Collection Page 28