by Bri Sailor
“Get outta here!”
A man suddenly crashed through a window and landed in the muddy street. The crowd behind him laughed cruelly. A tubby, bald man with a dirty apron stood in the doorway of a small establishment. The forcefully removed man scrambled to his feet and ran away.
“And tell your tender-foot Black Army cowards that they better not come back here!” yelled the red-faced man.
“I do believe we’ve found the place.” Ehren raised his eyebrows.
He led the way to the tavern and sat down at a table outside under a covered porch. Ky bypassed the table and strode inside. She appeared a few minutes later with overflowing tankards of ale. They sat and sipped their drinks patiently waiting for Kova. Atreyis stretched out on her chair and relaxed as the time passed. Suddenly, their friend dropped from the roof right in front of them. She was breathing hard and smiling. She grabbed Cora’s nearly full tankard and quickly emptied the contents.
“That was fun.” She flopped down into an empty chair.
“Where did you go?” asked Atreyis.
“Here and there.” Panted Kova.
“So what’s the next move?” asked Ky.
Kova turned around and pointed at the temple. “There are a series of catacombs beneath there that lead to the palace. During the third century there was a massive civil war. Queen Aeja built a vault as a precaution. It’s also where all of the kingdom’s riches are kept.”
“So that’s where the crystal is.” Said Ehren.
“Possibly.” Replied Kova. “It’s our best bet. If it is as sacred as you seem to think. That’s where it would be.”
“Great. So how do we get there?” asked Ky.
“They keep it locked from the inside nowadays.” She pointed to the roof. “There are four archers posted on the roof. One at each corner. They are guarding a hatch that can be used to enter the temple. In ancient times it had been a staircase that led to the roof for ceremonies. I will take them out and open the doors for you. There are at least fifteen guards at the front. That shouldn’t be a problem for you. Now, once this starts we will only have a few minutes before the entire palace guard and possibly more come flooding out of the palace and have us surrounded. The temple doors are made of bronze-plated wood, so they will only hold for so long.”
The rebel sighed heavily.
“So what’s the problem?” asked Ky.
“There is one problem though. I don’t know how to get into the catacombs or even know where the entrance is.” Admitted Kova.
“You’re kidding.” Said Ehren.
“It’s a suicide mission then.” Quipped Atreyis.
“I know where the entrance is in the palace. But there is no way we can get there. Not unless we had an entire army to crash the gates.” Said Kova. “I remember finding it as a child. I was lost down there for nearly a day before my father found me. So it is possible.”
“And how would you know that?” asked Ky.
“My parents were part of the king’s council.”
Ky eyed her suspiciously. “So where is it?”
Kova grimaced. “Under the throne.”
“How did you even get down there?” asked Atreyis in disbelief.
“I don’t remember.” Said Kova frankly. “I was playing a game. I just remember the floor opening up and then darkness. Look, the temple is full of ancient artifacts and other things. Maybe priestess here can figure it out. Any of our priests would have died rather than give up the temple’s secret. And I guarantee that none of their priests or scholars have figured it out.”
“And how would you know that?” Ehren crossed his arms.
Kova leaned forward and stared him down. “I just do. Trust me.”
She stood up. “Alright. I will climb onto the roof. As soon as I make contact I need you guys to storm the doors. Got it?”
Atreyis jumped up. “I’m coming with you.”
“I don’t need any help. Besides, you’ve never been on top of the city before. I have.” Said Kova.
“I’ve been on plenty of rooftops back home. Trust me.” Said Atreyis confidently. “As far as I know I am the only one who knows how to traverse across the palace and down to the sea below without dying.”
“She’s right.” Added Ehren. “I’ve seen her.”
“Fine.” Relinquished Kova. “Only do what you can. If you fall or get into trouble don’t count on me to rescue you. There’s greater things at stake here.”
“I understand. Don’t worry about me. Now how do we get up there?”
“Follow me.”
The rain was now a steady downpour and had greatly decreased visibility. Kova walked off towards a building that was close to the temple. She showed the princess the way up to the roof. Atreyis skillfully climbed to the top and waited. The rebel, clad in her forest green and brown, faded into a section of the palace that was covered in ivy and began to climb up. Atreyis held on to the lip of the roof, hiding as much as she could from the archers posted atop the temple. She was close enough that they could easily spot her. As Kova continued her climb Atreyis noticed movement on nearby rooftops. It would seem that the rebel’s earlier antics had spurred the guards to begin patrolling up top as well.
“Shit.” She cursed under her breath.
They were coming from all around. Kova was nearly to the top. Even in this rain they were for sure going to see her. Adrenaline hit her veins as she swiftly pulled herself up. In one smooth motion she readied her bow and let loose her first shot at the nearest guard. It hit him in the neck and he crumpled in a bloody heap. One of the others noticed and spotted her. She quickly knocked another and sent him falling from the roof to the street below. All of the guards were now aware of the lone archer and were coming for her. Down below Ehren, Ky, and Cora sprinted headlong at the temple doors. The clash of steel rang out through the city square as terrified onlookers ran for cover. Above, Atreyis continued to fire her deadly shots. Kova finally made it to the top and was fighting the last green-eyed archer. Using her bare hands she disarmed the man and proceeded to beat him to a bloody pulp before picking him up and heaving him over the side of the temple. Atreyis let fly the last of her arrows, hitting a female guard in the leg and wounding her. With glowing blue eyes she wasted no time and jumped off of the roof, landing some thirty feet below and rolling with the momentum. She sprinted for the fray at the doors.
Ehren had finished off three of the guards and Ky five. Cora had skillfully dealt with two of them herself. Atreyis charged headfirst and tackled a guard that was about to take her brother from behind. She knocked the sword out of his hand and slit his throat with her dagger. A horn blast above the raging storm made them falter a moment.
“They’re coming!” yelled Ky.
“Where is she?” yelled Ehren.
Suddenly the door burst open and ten more guards fell out, followed by a green-eyed Kova holding a massive wooden beam.
“Hurry!” she yelled as she beat back the guards.
Cora shoved off her opponent and ran inside. Ky, Atreyis and Ehren huddled close, forcing their attackers to form a semi-circle around them. Cora stood in the doorway mumbling something. A ball of energy manifested between her hands. She threw it towards the guards. It burst into a bright flash of light that temporarily blinded them, allowing for her friends to dash inside and slam the doors shut and throw down the large wooden beam to lock them.
The temple opened up into a large cathedral before them. A large dragon cut out of green stone stood on its haunches with its wings folded back. Its head was tilted, staring down all who entered the temple with its emerald eyes. Every wall was covered from floor to ceiling in colorful mosaics. On the floor were intricately placed tiles that formed mesmerizing patterns. The domed skylight above the statue allowed for the pale light of the storm to brighten up the temple. Kova, Ky, Ehren, and Atreyis began running around the room, looking for anything that might resemble a secret passageway. Cora stood in the center and took it all in. The stories depicted
were the same that she had seen many times before in other temples as well as her own. The gods of old were engaged in battle with the smoke-like demons of the dark. The gods were clad in brilliant armor and shields while the demons sported wickedly sharp teeth and claws. She stared at the pictures for the longest time. A sudden boom echoed throughout the temple.
“They are trying to break down the doors!” shouted Atreyis.
“We have a little time.” Assured Kova. “They will hold.”
They continued to search. A cool breeze raised the hairs on Cora’s arm. Out of the corner of her eye she saw something flash. She went over to the wall to investigate.
“Are you sure it’s here?” yelled Ehren.
“Yes, dammit!” Kova shouted at him.
Another light flashed in the corner of Cora’s eye. She followed it to the point of a tiled sword peeking out of a dark corner, almost completely hidden. The god wielding it seemed to be pointing towards something. She followed its line of sight. It was pointing at another god’s shield. She looked back and forth between the two. That’s when she noticed it. Each of the shields that the gods carried had different patterns on them. Their swords seemed to be pointed in a specific order as well. She followed them around the temple before coming to the dragon. Its nose was pointed specifically at the ground. She took a step back and studied the tile. Her heart began to pound and she whipped her head around and looked at the circular pattern on the first shield. The outer ring looked identical to what was on the floor. She looked to the second shield and the circle it bore and compared it to the ground. They were in different positions. She dropped to her knees and began investigating.
“What are you doing?” yelled Atreyis.
Cora ignored her as she began pushing on the ground. Suddenly, a section of the floor groaned and moved an inch. Her eyes lit up.
“It’s here!” she yelled excitedly, her heart pounding in her ears.
Everyone came running over. The priestess pointed to the ground and the mosaics.
“Look! Each shield is slightly different from the last. The patterns. They are like the floor! We need to align them! Help me!”
Atreyis dropped to her knees and helped Cora. The sound of stone grinding on stone echoed in the expanse as they moved the first ring into place. Ehren and Kova took the next ring and began pushing it into position. The guards continued ramming the doors. With each hit the doors groaned more and the hinges started to break. They rushed to finish the puzzle. Kova grunted as she pushed the last ring into place. A loud metallic clank hurt their ears. Then all was silent.
“Did it work?” yelled Atreyis frantically.
The ground began to rumble and shake in response. Ancient heavy chains could be heard moving and stone grinding. A loud clicking could be heard as well. Where the dragon’s head had been pointing suddenly spiraled down into the earth, revealing a staircase that disappeared into the black. Cora conjured a small orb and threw it down the stairs. Kova raced after it.
“Down here. Quick!” she shouted.
The rest followed after her. Ky was the last. She scanned doors one last time before disappearing into the floor. The spiral staircase had ended in a landing. Cora threw out a couple more orbs. More stairs led down a narrow passageway.
“Hurry.” Pushed Ky. “They are almost through.”
The loud clicking suddenly stopped and the ground began to shake as the steps behind them retracted back up the floor. More moving stone and chains could be heard. Above them, the floor returned to normal and the tiles moved out of position, back to the abstract patterns they were before, sealing the way.
“I guess we won’t be going back.” Said Atreyis.
Kova led the way down the stairs with Cora’s orbs hovering above lighting the way. The narrow passage twisted and turned. The cold damp seeped through their dripping clothes. The lack of light and surroundings made it feel as if they had been walking for forever in the seemingly never-ending darkness. The rebel stopped suddenly and held up a hand.
“There’s something ahead.” She whispered.
The light of the orbs glinted off of something in a small nook in the wall about thirty feet ahead. Kova took a step forward and a hand reached out and pulled her back.
“Don’t!” whispered Cora harshly. “It’s a trap.”
“What?” asked Kova.
Cora pushed her way to the front. She took control of one of the orbs and threw it against the object. It fell to the ground and exploded into a fiery mass. They shielded themselves against the heat and light. After a few seconds it vanished.
“Just as I thought.” Said the priestess cryptically.
She threw out another orb and walked over to where the explosion happened. Tiny glass-like shards littered the ground. She picked up a piece and studied it in awe.
“I had heard of such things during my studies, but I never thought I would get to see one.”
“What is it?” asked Ehren.
“Kova?” she mused. “Why didn’t you tell me that there were foci down here?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about.” Said the rebel matter-of-factly.
“What are you talking about?” asked Ky.
Cora held up the pieces. “This is a foci. A special crystal that can hold a spell indefinitely. In this case it held a fire rune. If we had come within proximity of it. Boom. It’s an ancient archetype for the talismans that Ky and Atreyis now wear.”
“What do you mean you have never seen one of these before? You’re a High Priestess.” Said Atreyis as she gripped her talisman necklace.
Cora shook her head. “This isn’t any ordinary crystal. It is from a very ancient one called Sun’s Tear. According to legend the Tear is a crystal that fell to the earth during the Great War. The sun itself was scared that Darkness would take over the realm. Instead of helping to focus a spell or amplify it, it could actually hold one. Some of the larger ones could actually hold multiple spells and were even said to be living things that could take on a will of their own. A powerful priest in the fifth century was said to use the crystals to reanimate the dead and control others.”
“That can’t be true.” Said Ky.
“Who knows?” Said Cora, enamored with the pieces of history in her hands. “Look what this little thing was capable of.”
She dusted off her hands and stood up. “We really need to be careful now. I think I should take the lead.”
Kova bowed her head and let the priestess lead. They continued carefully through the passage, stopping every now and then for Cora to trip more of the crystal traps. As they traveled the walls and floor began to get slick and sticky. Ky swiped a finger across the wall. It was thick and black. She smelled it. Her eyes went wide with fear.
“Don’t touch the walls!” she shouted.
Everyone stopped.
“It’s covered with some sort of oil. One spark and we are all done for.” Her voice was shaky.
One by one they inched away from the wall and lined up single file, not touching a thing. Cora took a deep breath and continued on. They walked a short distance before she heard something.
“Wait, does that sound like water?” she asked.
Everyone listened.
“It sounds like a stream.” Said Ehren.
“Maybe it’s a way out.” Said Atreyis.
“It is.” Said Kova.
The rebel took a step forward and tripped.
Cora sucked in a breath. No one moved a muscle. The sounds of metal clanking and grinding echoed throughout the passage.
“Run!” screamed Ky.
They ran as fast as they could, slipping and sliding in the oil. A bright orange glow lit up behind them. Ky turned to see the light getting brighter. She could smell smoke. Cora threw out extra orbs to light the way. The sound of water was getting louder and the flames were getting closer. Suddenly, the tunnel came to an end in total darkness. Everyone screamed and yelled as the ground disappeared and they fell down into the icy water be
low. They kicked hard and swam, gasping as they broke the surface. Flames shot out of the tunnel where they had been, showing the skeletal remains of a wooden ramp that had long rotted away. Cora’s orbs had filled the cavern with light. In the middle of the small underground lake was a solitary rocky man-made island, and behind it a roaring waterfall that dropped an unseen distance into the darkness. They swam for it, desperate to get out of the cold waters. They dragged themselves ashore and lay on the rocks a moment trying to catch their breath.