"They're smooth again," Tazi noticed with delight. "Not a scratch on them! You have been testing the waters, haven't you?"
Steorf merely shrugged, but Tazi knew he was pleased that she had noticed. His subtle smile faded, and he squeezed her hands again. Tazi tilted her head to one side and parted her lips. She regarded him questioningly, and her heart beat a little faster. Steorf leaned forward, and the door behind them suddenly swung open. They broke apart, startled by the intrusion.
Tazi took a step back and watched as three of the Children of Ibrandul entered the room. The first was the novice who had brought them to the room, the second was one Tazi hadn't seen before, and the third was Asraf.
"Are we interrupting?" Asraf asked. Tazi thought he sounded somewhat mocking.
"We were just discussing our next move," Tazi answered him, afraid of what Steorf might say and also glad to have a moment to consider what had almost happened between them.
She glanced at Steorf and was relieved to see that he looked calm. In fact, he startled her by going over to Asraf and inspecting the young man's face.
Tazi thought that except for his nose, Asraf appeared fine. His nose, though it was no longer bloodied and discolored, definitely had the telltale lump indicating it had been broken.
That must be the reminder the Lurker said he was going to leave, she thought.
"Not bad work," Steorf commented easily, turning the novice's face from side to side.
"You had doubts?" the youth retorted, though he winced at Steorf's touch.
"Of someone else's work," Steorf answered, nodding his head slightly, "I always have doubts."
Tazi sighed but the youth took no umbrage with Steorf's insult. He tried to straighten and look Steorf in the eye. Tazi could see that though there had been some cosmetic work and he was cleaned up, the youth was not yet recovered entirely from Steorf's attack.
Asraf gave him a lopsided grin and Tazi realized he was younger than she had originally thought. While his body was not completely healed, his attitude had improved. Either the Lurker had admonished him or he had just decided not to be bothered by what the gharabs said any longer. He caught Steorf's hand in his and returned the favor.
"I could compliment you on your work, as well," he said, not missing the fact that Steorf's hands were no longer injured, either.
Steorf extracted his fingers from the acolyte's inspection.
"Yes," he answered, "you could."
Tazi shook her head and realized not much had changed after her discussion with Steorf. He was still proud and stubborn.
Would I really want him to change all that much? she wondered.
"What's next?" she asked Asraf.
"If you two have had enough time to refresh yourselves-" he paused and looked at them both shrewdly- "we should go."
Before Steorf could say something Tazi was certain would be in anger, Tazi asked, "You're coming with us?"
She could see from the corner of her eye that Steorf's jaw had tightened.
"Of course," Asraf replied easily.
"Oh," Tazi muttered. "This is going to be an interesting trip."
CHAPTER 7
TUNNELS OF THE MUZAD
"Which way now?" Tazi asked.
She, Steorf, Asraf, and the other two Children of Ibrandul had been maneuvering through the lower tunnels for just a short time. Already Tazi felt some disorientation. Every tunnel looked the same, with very few distinguishing features. The rocks were just rocks to her, no different from each other than blades of grass in a meadow.
"I don't understand how you're able to tell one tunnel from the next," she marveled.
"You wouldn't," replied the only clean-shaven novice in the group.
Tazi wasn't certain if he was being condescending to her or not. She did notice that none of the Children of Ibrandul had bothered to give their names to her or Steorf. In fact, they only knew Asraf's name because the Lurker had referred to him by name in front of them.
Are they not supposed to tell us their names, or is it a subtle way to snub us? Tazi wondered.
"That's why we're fortunate to have you to lead us," she said diplomatically.
When she received no response, she turned to Steorf and raised her eyebrows as if to say, "I tried." But he maintained his silence as well and she gave up her attempts to make conversation.
I wonder how my father manages to manipulate a room full of different merchants and get anything done? she wondered as she started to envy his ability to maneuver others so expertly. A compliment didn't work, so maybe a somewhat pertinent question might.
"Just how long ago was the last Dark Bazaar?" Tazi asked.
None of the Children of Ibrandul were quick to respond. After a look passed between the three, the beardless novice finally answered her.
"More than likely, it occurred last night."
"But you don't know for certain," Steorf remarked.
Tazi knew he was pleased to show her that their guides were far from omniscient.
"We've never been to one," Asraf chimed in.
"Why not?" Tazi asked, glad that at least Asraf was willing to offer some information without too much solicitation.
"They are very grave occasions," the beardless novice interrupted him. Tazi watched as he cowed Asraf with one serious glare. "As our Mysterious Lurker tried to explain to you, we have never needed to resort to these measures for information."
Tazi was definitely sure that the beardless acolyte was belittling them.
"Desperate times call for equal measures," Tazi replied, tired of the verbal fencing and insulting innuendo. "We aren't afraid to take any chance to save Fannah, no matter what the cost."
Steorf nodded in agreement.
She and Steorf marched on in silence for a while after that, behind the three Children of Ibrandul.
Tazi shivered occasionally as they descended into the cooler depths, and she thought longingly of her jellaba back at the temple. While her leathers would not slow her down like a robe might, her arms were left bare, and she shivered.
She also tried to look carefully at the different rock formations to see if there were discernible landmarks. In a few of the tunnels they went through, the group had to pass single file as the walls were extremely narrow. Others opened up into comfortable passageways that allowed them all to walk abreast of each other. Most of them had a little light, and Tazi recognized some of the first tunnels they walked through as main thoroughfares of sorts. They were lit with semi-permanent glow spells.
As they progressed deeper into the system, the lights grew more sporadic. Tazi relied completely on the Children of Ibrandul's unerring ability to navigate in the darkness.
"Do you really know these tunnels that well?" she finally broke down and asked Asraf.
The young Calishite fiddled with his black and purple robes and sneaked a peak at the other Children of Ibrandul. Tazi realized he did want to talk to her but was hesitant to speak, so she slowed her pace imperceptibly. As a result of that, she and Asraf fell a bit behind Steorf and the other two.
"I think I would probably get lost down here if I were alone," Tazi said. "Did it take you long to learn the layout of all of these tunnels?"
"Oh," Asraf answered after he saw that his two companions were just beyond hearing, "I haven't learned about all of the tunnels. I don't think I could know them if I dedicated the rest of my life to studying them."
"There are that many under Calimport?" Tazi asked, wanting to keep him talking.
"There are as many tunnels as there are grains of sand in the Calim Desert," he answered with a little reverence in his voice.
"And yet you know your way well enough in these," she replied.
"I know many," he answered proudly. "And I certainly know where most of the dangerous ones are in our area, but even some of the ones we're passing through right now are new to me."
"But you move through the darkness as though it were day," she said.
Asraf gave her a smirk in
the gloom and answered, "That's because I walk the Dark Path of Ibrandul. It's a very basic spell that all the novices know."
"It lets you see in the dark," Tazi deduced.
Asraf laughed.
"You're quick," he complimented her, "but that's not quite it. The spell doesn't let me see in the dark so much as it lets me know where things are. You recognize the difference?"
Tazi tipped her head.
"Of course I do. I'm quick," she said, smiling warmly.
Asraf laughed again, and Tazi thought his voice had some of the same musical qualities that Fannah's possessed.
Steorf heard their merriment and dropped back to join them. Tazi could see that the beardless novice and his silent companion didn't notice their exchange. The two had switched to speaking Alzhedo and it looked to Tazi as though they were arguing over some marks on the wall. The silent novice was motioning back, but his beardless friend shook his head fiercely and pointed forward.
Wouldn't it be funny if they were lost for a change? Tazi laughed to herself.
"What trouble are you brewing back here?" Steorf asked Tazi, but included Asraf with a glance.
Tazi could see that he was trying to make amends for his first encounter with Asraf.
I don't know if Asraf will understand what he's doing, she thought.
"Nothing that any quick person couldn't work their way out of," she said aloud, with a wink to Asraf.
"Are you both going to wink your way to the Dark Bazaar?" he asked them.
"If that's what it takes, that's what we'll do. Right, Asraf?" Tazi asked as she clapped him on his shoulder.
The smiling Child of Ibrandul grew silent. Tazi was afraid she might have offended him either by making a joke of the Dark Bazaar or by using his name or both. She was about to ask him which was true when the other two Children of Ibrandul backtracked to them.
"What are you standing here for?" the beardless novice demanded abruptly.
"It's my fault," Tazi volunteered. "I tripped in the darkness, and my companion and this Child of Ibrandul stopped to help me."
She pointedly avoided using Asraf's proper name.
The normally silent novice chuckled condescendingly and the beardless one replied, "Watch your step. We can't carry you all the way, you know."
Tazi squeezed Steorf's hand and before he could say a word answered, "I'll try to be less clumsy."
"See that you do," the beardless Child of Ibrandul replied and turned with his comrade to continue the march.
Steorf and Tazi fell in behind them, and Asraf brought up the rear.
"Why did you say that?" Steorf asked softly.
"I can tell those two," she nodded ahead, "already think we're foolish and incompetent, so it was a story they'd believe easily enough. Truth is, I didn't want Asraf to get into trouble for talking so much with us."
Steorf raised a corner of his mouth and looked down at her with a gentle gaze.
"You're all right," he said, "sometimes."
She intentionally bumped gently into his side with her body and replied, "So are you… sometimes."
She giggled quietly.
Asraf heard and watched everything that Tazi and Steorf did, and a troubled look crossed his face.
After a long and silent hike, the group turned a corner and the tunnel opened up into a huge chamber nearly as large as the main room of the Skulking God's Temple. Massive stalactites and stalagmites littered the space, and the darkness would have been absolute if the whole chamber hadn't been covered with phosphorescent lichen. It looked like a clear night sky just missing a moon.
"It's beautiful," Tazi said in a hushed tone.
"It is," Steorf agreed. "Do you hear something, though?"
Tazi listened closely.
"I hear water dripping. How can that be?" she asked Asraf.
"I'm not sure I hear it," he answered, and Tazi thought he sounded troubled.
"I'm not making it up," she defended herself. "I do hear water dripping in the distance."
"There is no water down this deep," Asraf explained. "But-" he paused for some time before continuing- "that sound is one of the ways Ibrandul can manifest himself here in the more arid regions, or so I've been told."
The other two novices moved off to examine something that Tazi, as closely as she scrutinized, couldn't see in the dark cavern. She took the opportunity to ask Asraf another question.
"Is there anything you could tell us about the Skulking God that might be of importance to us? I realize," she added to make certain he was not offended, "that everything about him is very important to you."
Asraf made sure the other Children of Ibrandul weren't close enough to hear then said, "Ibrandul rose in the form of a great lizard to free humans who had been enslaved for centuries by evil drow. He prefers to walk alone through the tunnels, sometimes appearing to others as a great lizard, and sometimes as a man who looks like he's made from obsidian with burning eyes."
"Does he do much besides roam the tunnels?" Steorf questioned.
"The Lord of the Dry Depths always aids humans who travel in the hostile underground, and protects those who worship him from ever being harmed by the drow again," Asraf replied.
An albino moth, the size of a bird, fluttered by, and Tazi gasped slightly at the sight of the nocturnal insect. She chuckled at her foolish reaction, and Asraf laughed.
"It is different down here. Don't you have creatures like that in the Land Above?" he asked.
"Don't you ever venture up there?" Steorf inquired, before Tazi had a chance to answer.
"I have never seen the sun," he answered seriously.
"Never?" Tazi exclaimed.
"When we are initiated into the Enveloping Darkness, as our worship is more properly known," Asraf replied, "we learn that there is absolute freedom in absolute darkness. We are not bound by some arbitrary rising and falling of a glowing orb to dictate our days. Things are not good or evil in the dark, they just are."
"But to never see the Land Above…" Tazi started to say.
"You never knew of the Underdark before you came here, did you?" he asked simply.
"No, that's true."
"Did you think your life was shallower or that you were somehow cheated because you were never in this perfect darkness?" Asraf challenged her without reproach.
"I don't think I was cheated," she answered carefully, "but I'm certainly glad I came here and saw this."
"Just because I can't see all the colors of this stone," the young novice explained, "doesn't mean I don't realize its beauty." He slowly rubbed his hand against the smooth rock. "The coolness of the stone, the texture under my fingers, those are all part of its uniqueness that is not lost on me. My parents made the right choice when they left me as an infant in these tunnels."
"They abandoned you here?" Steorf exclaimed.
"They placed me under Ibrandul's care," Asraf corrected him. "Here is where I live, and here is where I will someday die."
The quiet pride and contentment in his voice was not lost on Tazi.
"And it will be a full life," she added.
"You are quick," he teased.
Tazi laughed at their shared joke and moved a little farther away, her hand trailing along some of the stalagmites, suddenly appreciating the feel of the rock. She watched as more of the winged insects fluttered between stalactites like shooting stars.
Asraf studied Steorf and finally said, "You still don't understand how this can be enough for me."
"No," he admitted honestly, "I guess I can't."
"All of us have forces that guide us, and drive us as well. It's just that sometimes other people can't see them and so they have a hard time understanding."
"I suppose," Steorf agreed.
"For instance, I don't really know why you're here," he solemnly asked, "on this complicated mission."
"I'm here because my friend asked me to come. There's nothing complicated about it," Steorf answered.
The young Calishite leaned cl
oser to the mage and whispered, "She's a little more than a friend, isn't she?"
Tazi could feel Steorf's eyes burning into her back. She pretended to be fascinated by a stalactite formation and unaware of the very personal conversation carrying on behind her. She didn't want to embarrass Steorf by teasing him, but there was also a tiny part of Tazi that wanted to hear his honest answer.
"What are you talking about?" Steorf asked Asraf, discreetly lowering his voice.
The young man smiled guilelessly and said, "You announce your feelings with every act you commit near her."
"What?"
"You jumped to protect her when you thought I might have done her harm, and-" Asraf began.
"I would have done that for any of my friends," Steorf interrupted. "And you wouldn't have been able to harm her," he added rather seriously, raising a finger in warning.
"You think not?" Asraf questioned, but Steorf could see that he was speaking in jest, and he relaxed a little. "Even that statement shows how you feel."
"I am a loyal man," Steorf stated simply.
Unseen by either of them, Tazi winced a little. Ever since Steorf had told her of Ebeian's death, she had started to feel some of the old closeness growing again. After all, seven years of friendship and wildings had forged a unique bond between them that she didn't share with another living soul. It was hard to forget. The two-year pause in their relationship hadn't changed much between them after all, Tazi was slowly realizing. She found herself slipping into a comfortable rhythm with Steorf again and there had definitely been a moment between them just before the Children of Ibrandul had come for them.
But when Tazi heard Steorf use the word "loyal," it was as if someone had torn open a newly healed wound in her. All the accusations Ciredor had made two years before regarding Steorf's paid companionship came crashing in on her again, and she wondered if she could ever really move past it all and trust Steorf completely again.
Unaware of her turmoil, Asraf continued with Steorf.
"I see you are a loyal man. That's my point. You're here with her on a deadly mission, you protect her whenever you can, and most importantly, I see the way you look at her."
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