Traven wiped away the blood from his eyes as he looked around him haggardly. All was silent but his beating heart and his ragged breathing. He stumbled back inside the cave and slumped down against the wall. He tried to fight off the coming darkness but had no strength left. The blood continued to flow from his fresh head wound unchecked, and Traven slowly slipped out of consciousness as the mist enveloped him.
* * * * *
Kalista turned around a bend in the cave and continued slowly onward. She was afraid for Traven. She had seen his skill, but she had also noticed his exhaustion. His face was so pale. She did not want to leave him at the entrance alone, but she had no other choice. She hoped desperately that the young man would be all right as she continued deeper into the cave. The cave began descending quite sharply. With one hand on the wall for guidance and balance and the other out in front of her, Kalista slowly pushed on, hoping that there were no more swamp rats or anything worse. The air was so stale, however, that she was almost certain that nothing living had been this deep in the cave for years.
Behind her in the distance, she heard metal clashing against metal. She unconsciously began to walk faster and with a start realized that the passage was not getting darker but was actually getting lighter! As she neared another bend, she could see the walls of the cave clearly in the dim light. The closer Kalista got to the sharp bend, the brighter the tunnel became. She had no idea what the source of the light could be. Perhaps there was another way out of the cave! She cautiously approached the sharp bend and slowly peered around the corner. Her mouth dropped in astonishment at what met her eyes.
Kalista stepped from around the corner and marveled. This part of the cave was no longer formed by nature. It was manmade. The floor leveled out and was perfectly smooth. The tunnel was now twice as wide and slightly taller. The walls and ceiling were as smooth as the floor. The perfect smoothness was not what caused her astonishment however. Kalista was astonished by the source of the light. Every fifteen feet there were small shelves cut into the wall on both sides. In each shelf burned a single flame. There were no torches, no candles, just a single flame burning eerily in the center of the rock shelves! The floor was covered with dust, and it was apparent that no one had been there in a very long time. She knew that it was impossible for a flame to be burning so long with no apparent source, but she saw it happening before her very eyes.
As she began to make her way down the ancient hall, her mind stunned, she wondered if she had somehow fainted from exhaustion and was dreaming. With every step, a small puff of dust rose from the floor, leaving the mark of her boots, attesting to her passage. At the far end of the hall, something seemed to be glowing. As Kalista continued down the dimly lit hall, she realized that it ended in two large brass doors. The brass was still impossibly polished and reflected the dim light of the small flames brightly. She paused breathlessly in front of the large doors. They were absolutely beautiful. They appeared brand new and had designs sculpted into them. She was awed by the intricate designs of a city and strange writing that she did not recognize. She stared in reverence at the beautiful relic of a time long past and forgotten.
With ever growing curiosity, Kalista placed her hands against the bright doors and pushed. They swung inward effortlessly. So effortlessly, that the she almost fell forward onto the ground. Regaining her balance, her breath was once again stolen. Her eyes grew larger as she tried to take it all in at once. She found herself in a large chamber that was much brighter than the dimly lit hall leading to it. The room was perfectly round with two rows of shelves and small flames encircling the entire chamber several feet above her head. The domed ceiling soared high above her, and in the center of the dome, a giant flame blazed, suspended in midair. The floor of the chamber was covered by blue and white tiles, all in perfect condition.
The large chamber was empty but for a single golden chest that shone brightly in the center of the room. It sat slightly above the ground on a deep blue dais. Mesmerized by the brilliant chest, Kalista walked out into the large chamber towards it. Her boots clicked against the tile floor and echoed back and forth across the room. She almost felt like a trespasser for disturbing the silence the hall had maintained for countless years. As she drew closer to the chest, she saw that it was even more intricately carved than the brass doors. She also noticed that the stale smell of the hall was being replaced by a putrid stench. Wrinkling her nose, she continued onward. When she reached the dais, she stepped up onto it and discovered where the stench was coming from. On the other side of the dais, a large hole gaped open. It had been hidden from view by the dais and was surrounded by a thin border of bright red tiles.
Kalista turned her attention from the foul smelling hole back to the golden chest at her feet. It was so beautiful. As she bent to touch it, a sickening burst of air rushed out of the hole behind the dais, blowing back her hair. As her gaze was drawn back to the hole, something suddenly shot out of it, knocking her backwards off of the dais. Lying on her back in a daze, she stared in horror as a gigantic serpent rose from the hole. She had never even imagined that such a beast could exist! It looked like something from a nightmare. The serpent quickly coiled itself behind the dais with its horrific head high above the golden chest. Kalista jumped to her feet and turned to run. She had not gone a span when she fell hard on the floor with a scream as her feet were snatched out from under her. She frantically clawed at the smooth tile as the creature pulled her back to the center of the room with the tip of its slimy tail coiled tightly around her legs.
Turning onto her back, Kalista stared upward with ever increasing fear at the nightmarish serpent. Its dull green body shone in the light of the flames as the slime of the marsh dripped off of its scales. Its red eyes burned as they peered down upon its helpless victim. She tried to break away but found it to be impossible. With dread, she stopped struggling. The immense creature then opened its mouth, revealing hundreds of razor sharp teeth that dripped with saliva. She watched in horror and began screaming hysterically. Her death had finally come!
* * * * *
Traven was suddenly jerked back into consciousness by some sound. Lost and confused, he wondered what had happened and what had disturbed his sleep. With his head still swimming in fog, the deathly silence of the marsh was broken once again by frantic screams. He had no idea what was going on but recognized the far off screams as those of the Princess. She was in trouble! She needed his help! Stumbling to his feet, Traven began unsteadily deeper into the cave. The screams of the Princess continued getting more and more frantic. He began moving faster, using the wall for support. He fell several times but kept moving down the dark passageway toward the sound of the Princess’ screams. As he got closer and closer to the screams, he realized that the passage was also getting brighter. With his vision still hazy and his mind fuzzy, he continued stumbling forward towards the cries. Suddenly the wall disappeared, and he fell forward on his face. Darkness came once again but dissipated at the sound of one last scream.
Traven’s clouded mind noticed that the scream came from immediately nearby as it echoed all around him. Weakly pushing himself up, he was able to make out the sleek form of the Princess several arm spans in front of him. Above her, a giant serpent was poised to strike. From the depths of his mind, he finally realized what was happening. He tried to scream out, but he didn’t have the strength. Traven knew that he had to do something, but he didn’t even have the strength to stand. He reached out weakly towards her with his hand as tears blurred his vision. He watched helplessly as the serpent began its descent and searched for some last spark of strength within him. He had to do something!
Suddenly the world stood still. Traven’s vision was no longer hazy. He saw everything in the room sharper than he had ever seen in his life. His clouded mind was now clear and focused. The serpent’s wide open mouth was frozen only an arm span above the motionless Princess. The motionless Princess’ beauty was marred only by the expression of inexplicable horror and doom on her face. Above he
r the air of the large chamber somehow appeared to have substance, and he felt as if he could see beyond the physical world to other things. The air shimmered and grew thicker. From his outstretched hand, he could almost see a bolt of lightning. He willed it to stretch to the head of the giant serpent. He couldn’t really see it, but somehow he knew that it was there. In the distance he felt excruciating pain, but he ignored it. The only thing that mattered was the life of the Princess.
The lightning bolt had to be real! The substance of the air in the chamber slowly began to move and swirl around where he knew the bolt of lightning was even though he still couldn’t actually see it. He tried to pull the bolt into existence but felt as if his mind had slammed into a stone wall. Fighting back the darkness, Traven struggled to remain conscious and clear his hazed vision. As his vision once again cleared, he realized with horror that the serpent’s mouth was now only a foot above the Princess. Time hadn’t stopped altogether but had only slowed down. He knew that if he didn’t do something immediately, the Princess would die.
Traven could still feel the bolt of lightning just out of reach. He focused on it once again, and the substance of the air began to swirl around it faster and faster. He slowly tried to pull the bolt into existence but was once again met by the solid barrier. He somehow had to break through it! The Princess’ life depended on it. Traven gathered all of the strength that he possessed. He had to do everything he could, even if it meant giving his own life. With all of his remaining strength and force of will, he reached forcefully for the bolt once again and was slammed into the invisible barrier. Blackness began to set in, but he continued to struggle against the barrier towards the bolt. The barrier suddenly no longer felt solid but only incredibly thick.
Traven struggled through the thickness on the verge of death as pain beyond description rolled over him. He felt as though his mind and very essence were being ripped away from him, but he continued reaching through the barrier. The pain seared into his very soul, torturing him for all eternity. At last he felt the bolt in his grasp. He wrapped himself around it numbly, holding it tighter and tighter. With the last of his strength, he forcefully ripped it back though the barrier and in to physical existence. There was a boom louder than sound, a flash brighter than light, and darkness blacker than death.
* * * * *
The serpent reared above her head and poised itself to strike. Kalista knew it was all over as the serpent began its lightning quick descent. Suddenly there was a deafening sound and a blinding flash of light above her head. A shock wave slammed into her back throwing her forward onto her face. She lay on the ground stunned as acrid ashes began to fall all over her. After several moments she pushed herself off the ground and began coughing. There was ash everywhere in the now hazy room. She looked around confused. What had happened? Where was the serpent? Why was she still alive? She looked around with these questions swimming chaotically through her dazed mind.
As she turned, her eyes caught sight of something dark several yards past the doorway and down the hall. Focusing on it, she realized that it was a body. Not just a body, but Traven’s body! She ran toward the crumpled heap with horror. She slid to a stop by his side. He lay lifeless on his back. His shirt had somehow been burned off and his chest was a mess of charred skin and blood. His face was almost grey. Kalista timidly bent down and grabbed the young man’s hand. It was cold and lifeless! The High Princess of Kalia fell on top of Traven’s decimated body and sobbed.
* * * * *
Blaize hurried though the ruins, following the vivid trail left by the others. He turned his steed in between the ruins of two once great buildings and hurried forward. In front of him he could make out the bodies of two of the thieves. As he got closer, he saw three other bodies just on the inside of what looked like a small cave. He was relieved to find that all three belonged to the thieves. Blaize chuckled to himself as he jumped off his horse. He had taught Traven well. As he looked around in the inside of the cave, he found a pool of blood that did not belong to any of the dead thieves. A trail of blood led away from it down the tunnel. He began trotting down the tunnel. Traven or the Princess was bleeding badly and would need his help.
As he continued into the cave he could make out a faint sound. After several seconds he realized that it was someone screaming. Whipping out his swords, Blaize began to run down the tunnel. No sooner had he begun to run, when a deafening boom sounded from below. The cave got brighter for a split second, and the floor lurched out from under him, knocking him to the ground. He was immediately back on his feet. He continued on confused. The screams had stopped. He also realized that he could now see without trouble. The passage was actually getting lighter.
As he jumped around a bend, his eyes widened in amazement. The natural cave opened into a manmade hall, lit by small flames. At the end of the hall, he could make out someone in the distance. Hurrying forward, he realized that it was the Princess crouched over something. Behind her, the hall opened into a large chamber. From the entrance to the room, ash floated into the hall. The stale smell of the cave had also given way to the acrid smell of burnt flesh. He gave a start when he finally realized what the Princess was crouched over. It was Traven’s body! As Blaize neared, the Princess turned to face him with red eyes and sooty tears marring her cheeks.
“He is dead,” she sobbed. “It is my fault. He is dead!”
Blaize dropped to the ground beside Traven’s body and quickly pushed the sobbing Princess off of him. Touching Traven’s body, he recognized the coldness of death. Fighting tears, he dropped down, pressing his ear against the young man’s charred and bloodied chest. He then sat back up with a sigh of relief and a large smile. The boy was still alive. He was barely breathing, but still alive!
“He’s going to be all right, my Princess,” Blaize said. He watched as the Princess wiped the tears from her eyes.
“He is still alive?” she asked with a spark of hope in her blurred eyes.
Blaize nodded as he wrapped his cloak around Traven’s cold body. Blaize then stood and took a better look at his surroundings. What had happened? In the large room, ashes were still settling to the ground, blackening the bright tiles that checkered its floor. Just inside the room, hundreds of tiny shards of what looked like glass were catching and reflecting the unnatural light of the flames. In the very center of the room sat a golden chest on a deep blue dais. There the ashes were the thickest. Blaize shook his head and turned to the task at hand. After asking the Princess if she would be all right if he left her for a moment to retrieve some medicine, he hurried back to his mount. Pulling some fresh bandages and salves from the saddlebags, he ran back down to Traven’s body.
After quickly treating the boy’s wounds, he gently picked him up and led the shaken Princess out of the cave. He helped the Princess onto his horse’s back and slid Traven up in front of her. After making sure that the Princess would not let the unconscious Traven fall, Blaize headed back down into the cave one last time to retrieve the golden chest. When he got to it, he was amazed by the intricate patterns that had been worked into it. Heaving it onto his good shoulder, he was surprised to find that it was not very heavy at all. He quickly rejoined the Princess and headed into the marsh towards the city with one hand on his steed’s reins and the other around the golden chest.
* * * * *
“Send for the High King immediately!” the watchman yelled as he gazed out from the border of the marsh. “The Princess has been found!”
He watched intently, amazed at the sight that met his eyes. From the mists of the marsh, the haggard party had emerged moments before. The watchman had instantly recognized the Princess slumped atop a mighty steed. At her side strode the mighty General Blaize of the High King’s Royal Army with a golden chest over his shoulder. In front of the Princess was a wounded and unconscious young man. The watchman headed into the swamp excitedly to greet them as his companion rode hard toward the palace. Their Princess had been brought back to them!
; Epilogue
“You’ll never believe what I saw earlier this morning!” exclaimed one of the royal servants. Another servant scrubbing clothes at her side turned her attention from the soapy water to her fellow servant.
“What?” she inquired excitedly, always ready to hear another rumor.
“The Princess showed up this morning all tattered and dirty.” She paused as the other woman gasped. “A general from the army was with her, along with the body of some young man. Apparently the young man is still alive, but from what I saw I don’t think he’ll live until nightfall.”
“I wonder what caused it all,” the listener exclaimed. “Where were they coming from?”
“I don’t know, but there are whispers that the Princess found the treasure of the marsh. The general who arrived with the Princess had a golden chest full of treasure. They say it is inscribed with ancient symbols, and they have sent for a philosopher to decipher them.”
“You don’t say!”
“Oh, I do!”
* * * * *
Sound slowly began to come back. Birds could be heard singing their sweet melodies nearby. Quiet footfalls moved about. He was enveloped in something soft. Traven slowly opened his eyes, squinting in the bright sunlight that streamed into the room through a large window. He realized that he was covered by blankets in a bed more luxurious than he had ever imagined could exist. He slowly pushed himself up to look at his surroundings. He was alone except for a middle aged maidservant in light blue and gold livery. The maid gave a start when she turned and found him staring back at her, and she stopped whatever it was that she was doing. She curtsied quickly and hurried out of the room.
Breathing heavily, Traven fell back onto the enormous pillow upon which his head had been resting. The effort of sitting up had exhausted him. Where was he? What had happened? Why was he so weak? He searched for the answers to these questions in his mind but couldn’t find an answer to any of them. He could tell that his chest was sore. Reaching up a hand, he found that his entire chest was bandaged tightly. What had happened? His confusion was soon forgotten as a sweet aroma wafted into the room. His stomach rumbled with anticipation. He was starving. He had no idea when he had last eaten. Soon the door to the room swung open once again to admit the maidservant who had been present when he had awoken. In her arms she carried a platter covered with a large dome. The maidservant walked over to Traven with a smile.
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