Achil & The Rise Of The Mandrake
Page 26
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In the tunnel Achil struggled to breath, perspiration dripped off his brow. The insufferable heat combined with the thickness of the air made each step feel leaden. Looking over at the Queen he was astonished to see how unaffected she was by the surroundings. Perhaps living high up and breathing the thin mountain air had its advantages. As they followed the line of the frescos they could clearly tell that they were descending, and the deeper they went the more enclosed the tunnels felt. It was difficult to know how long they were in that eternal night the only light being their torches. On their way they stopped twice to eat and rest, and just when they thought they would lose their senses they came out into a large cavern, the floor was sandy and gave easily beneath their feet. In the distance could be seen a vast underground lake. Flames seemed to pirouette and glide across its surface. Achil discovered the tracks that Agoran and the others had previously left. And so they carefully made their way along the edge of the water until they came across Cerberus; he rose ominously to meet them, his sharp unforgiving vicious teeth clenched tight. All three of his heads started to growl, his purpose was to stop people from escaping the underworld and also to prevent intruders from the living world from helping them do so.
Achil stepped forward, "Hail Cerberus guardian of all that was, I am here to speak to the Grimmer.”
Its dark piercing eyes rested on the two impostors.
Achil pulled the offering from his holdall and threw it across to the creature.
Cerberus’s three heads sniffed at the strange carcass and tore it apart before swallowing it down. The great animal appeared to understand what was meant by the gift; he went over to the lake and in unison all three heads gave out a loud howling cry that echoed around the cavern. Once he had done this he lay down by the side of the lake and waited.
“I believe that this is our invitation to sit down,” whispered Achil. “We could be here a long time.”
The Queen and Achil withdrew slightly to a safer area farther away from the hound. After only a brief time had passed, something began to happen. The Queen was the first to notice that on the far side of the lake a distant blue glow in the shape of a flame slowly began approaching them. She gestured to Achil to get up. As it got closer the Queen took out the vial of liquid she had been given and drunk down some of the fluid, she then passed it to Achil, who did the same. The flame was close to the shore line and slowly it seemed to change shape and appeared to take the form of an aged hag, then as it stepped from the lake to the land, the hag changed into a young beautiful woman dressed from head to foot in a shimmering blue garment, there was a belt around her waist, attached to it on one side was a carved wooden short staff in the shape of a snake, and to the other was a small pouch.
“Who is it that disturbs the peace of the Grimmer?” her voice was strange as though she were talking to them through a hollow glass.
“My name is Achil of Findolin; I am here to seek your aid in the binding of the Valkyrie. They are a scourge to my people and have been sent against us by the Mandrake.”
“And should I do such an act Achil, what do you offer in return?” asked the Grimmer menacingly.
“What would you ask of me?” replied Achil.
“As you are aware or not, it is I who chooses who goes to the hall of heroes or other places when they die. I know of your war with the Mandrake, and I certainly know of the Mandrake. You could say they have kept me very busy of late. I have also heard of your many adventures. There are creatures down here that wish to avenge themselves upon you, but that is of no concern to me. This is what I demand of you, should I help you hunt down the Valkyrie then when I finally take you. I wish it that you give to me something precious that belongs to you. This means Achil, that whatever I desire from you to do; even if it's to the extent of being my consort you would do it. Though it mean you are to never meet up with your wife and daughter again. As you know there are three kingdoms in the afterlife, and then there is this half-life place where you would have to remain forever. If you agree to this then I will help you.”
The Queen was aghast by her demands.
“That's out of the question,” said the Queen. “To expect someone to spend eternity between this world and the next is too much.”
“You are Queen Lariset; I would suggest you take care not to offend me, in my domain. Even immortals can be fatally wounded here. I have your people also in my care. You maybe the oldest and wisest people in Suberia, but I was here before your race was born.”
“Then you should know better,” replied the Queen. “Achil let us leave this place, as the price she asks is too much. I know the Valkyrie we will work out a way to destroy them ourselves.”
"That would take too long and we don't have the time," responded Achil.
The Grimmer’s eyes did not stray from Achil, as though she knew this was one bargain he could not refuse. But as she looked into him she saw some tragic sadness that brought back some distant memory for her.
“Achil what if you only have to stay with me a short time, say three generations of man,” said the Grimmer.
Achil considered this for a moment. “I would prefer to choose the period of time before I agree to this.”
"As long as it is not less than three generations of men, then I agree," said The Grimmer with a smile.
The Queen still felt dubious and certainly did not trust a creature like the Grimmer, whose true nature was neither good nor evil. But she could also see that it would have been no use trying to convince Achil of choosing what she thought would be a better way; so she let the matter alone for the moment.