“Would that be to attack or us to let us go?” Salina asked, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
“I was also tasked with one last duty before being allowed back to the bosom of the Mother,” The voice said. “The heirlooms of my elders were to reside with me until called for when needed. Evil was not to be allowed to secure these items. I’m not sure if what was done to me was done so in a moral manner, or one that was sanctioned by any official realm, but I was tasked with this and either I complete it, or I face eternal twilight, neither dead nor alive.”
“I assure you that you are quite dead,” Khan said, his voice low and the man seemed to struggle to stay awake.
The speaking man appeared to ignore him. “My decision, knowing that the Kesh is only an individual and that you are true Ulathans, is to allow you to leave here with these heirlooms. However, you can’t leave now. There is a storm outside, and your companions are seriously injured. You will need to rest for a day to allow time for the storm to pass and for the men to heal.”
“I think I can handle a day,” Targon said.
The voice may have chuckled, or the sound was something else, but it said, “Place my cover in place and secure it with the head and foot latches that were not used prior to my internment. You may keep the sword, but the shield stays with me. After a day, release me and I will complete our destinies.”
“What have we got to lose?” Salina asked.
Targon nodded and gave his sword to Salina for safe keeping. “Keep an eye on him.”
The corpse seemed to understand, and it slowly lowered itself back into the coffin. Once there is spoke no more and didn’t move. “Let me help,” Cedric said.
It was difficult work, and Targon had to maneuver the heavy lid into position using leverage as one end was placed on top and then the other lifted while it was shimmied into place. Once secured with a loud bang, they quickly found the latches at the head and foot of the coffin that were not locked when they arrived. The latches were not designed to keep something in, but rather had eyebolts that would allow an iron lock to be fastened onto each end, protecting the contents of the coffin.
After finishing and collapsing together on the floor, Targon said, “Get some sleep. I’ll keep first watch.”
The howling wind came to them, though the sound of the wolves was no more. The Moross family nodded at Targon upon his last words, laid out their bedrolls and fell asleep quickly. Both Will and Khan had done the same and so the night passed well into the new day, though the companions were not able to note it.
The most notable difference to the companions was the silence. There was no wind heard through the grates. They heard no sounds of wolves or any other animal for that matter. The lack of chirping by birds was the most obvious. It was still dark in the crypt and the dagger had finally lost its light long ago and the white stone on the ghost’s dead body had also gone inert. No light was shed from any source.
“Wake up,” Salina said.
“I’ve been awake,” Targon said from near the doorway.
“I don’t mean you,” Salina said. “I’m speaking to Khan.”
“I hear you,” Khan said.
“Then use your staff to light up the area,” Salina said.
“Sveti.” And light sprung from the Kesh staff.
Salina stood and held out her sword and then tentatively walked over to the coffin, checking the foot latch which was closest to her. Assured that it was still tight, she walked back over and fell down beside her son who was still sleeping. “I wasn’t sure we’d wake alive. I’ve seen enough of the dead for a lifetime.”
“Is your officer alive?” Khan asked.
Salina looked at the man and then over to Will who had his back to them as he lay prone on his bedroll near Targon. “Can you check?” Salina asked Targon.
Targon walked to Will and crouched next to the man. Placing a hand in front of his face he felt air and said, “He’s breathing.”
“Best to let him rest then,” Salina said. “What time do you think it is?”
Targon shrugged, “It has been overly long since you slept.”
“You stayed awake the entire time?” Salina asked.
“Of course,” Targon said. “The room is not secure.”
Targon walked back to the doorway stepping over debris from the door lying on the floor. Salina nodded in admiration and Khan said softly, “Tough woodsman.”
“He is,” Salina said.
“Did you say something?” Targon asked, turning to face his companions from the south wall.
“Not really,” Salina said. “We need to get out of here. I sense something coming. Something evil.”
“Evil is a subjective term,” Khan said. “However, we are not doing ourselves any favors by wasting time. Would you not agree, though, that our time here resting was well spent?”
“I would,” Salina said, “but I don’t see how Targon would agree.”
“I’ll live,” Targon said. “We may be here much longer if Khan and Will’s injuries are still severe.”
A croaky voice responded, “I can travel.”
“Will,” Salina said, getting up and moving to the man then offering him a flask of water. “How do you feel?”
“Like a horse dragged me from Ulatha to Kesh,” Will said, rolling over and sitting up.
“That looks bad,” Khan stated the obvious.
The entire left side of Will’s face was bruised and discolored from the impact of the ghost’s strike. His left eye was riddled with broken capillaries and took on a red hue of its own. His face and neck, along with hands and arms, were dirty and covered in grime. A few lacerations from the exploding door had cut into him and overall he looked like he had seen better days.
“My legs will still work,” Will said.
Cedric sat up, rubbing his eyes, “We done here?”
“Almost,” Targon said from where he kept watch.
Almost as soon as Cedric awoke, the stone coffin rattled sending a chill through their spines. “I think our host is calling for us.” Khan stood and his light went bright.
Targon moved to unlock the latches and then moved the top with help from Salina and Cedric. Will remained seated and Khan looked weak. “Step back,” Targon said.
The lid slid down with a boom landing on its small end that was latched at the foot while the top was resting on the side of the stone coffin. It would make it possible for Targon to move it back into place again by himself much the same way he had done the other night. The corpse stood as it had one before with the shield covering its torso. It didn’t move its skull like head and instead spoke, “You are ready.”
It wasn’t a question. “Targon looked at the others and then with a nod from Salina he turned to address the deceased ancestor of the Vandersot family. “We would like to leave here, yes.”
“You have spent a day resting. Sunset is nearly complete, and the storm’s rage has passed but its children linger. Despite this, you must leave as the adversary that desires these items are on their way.”
“You mean it’s dark outside?” Salina asked, her brow furrowed.
“Yes,” the voice said. “You can not delay. I have been given this urgency by the mother. My time here has come to an end. I can no longer stay with you. I will return to my sleep and join the Mother in her abode.”
“Fair enough,” Targon said. “You will grant us the shield then?”
“You will take it as your last act here. Its power is what grants me the ability to travel between our realms. It will also show you the pass of my ancestors during time of need and you may exit that way. The way south is blocked to you.”
“Thank you then for your help,” Targon said.
“The Mother has deemed your worthy. It is she you must thank. May these heirlooms from my family and ancestors serve you well against the draconus.”
There was no more talk and the group stood in silence for a long while. After a few moments Salina whispered as if to speak to Targon but
not to wake the dead. “Well, are you going to take it?”
Targon nodded and hissed back, “I thought he’d give it to me.”
“He’s dead,” Salina said. “Take it and let’s go.”
Targon stepped forward tentatively and then gripped the shield with both hands. It released effortlessly into his grasp and he stepped away. Immediately, two things happened. The body of Andrew Vandersot let out an audible sigh, though not from a set of lungs and gently laid itself back in his coffin. The second action was more startling. The north wall moved inwards and then swung to the side as any trap door would do revealing an identical corridor to the one that led them to this crypt from the south.
“Gather our things,” Salina ordered, running to help her companions since Will was obviously struggling to stand much less collect anything. “Get those bedrolls stowed quickly, Cedric.”
“Yes, Mother,” Cedric said, moving from roll to roll and folding them up and tying them to each pack.
“I’ll carry Will’s,” Targon said, offering his hand.
“You have your hands full, Salina said, shouldering her own pack and then attempting to do the same with Will’s, which was much larger and heavier.
Targon shook his head, “You’ll slow us down within a few hours. It’s too heavy.”
Salina looked at Targon and then to Khan who stepped forward. “Take the sword instead.”
Now it was Targon’s turn to look at Khan. “Whatever for?”
Khan cleared his throat, “She is also correct. You cannot carry the sword, shield, your pack, and Will’s pack. Allow her to assist. The sword is within her capabilities.”
“If you say so,” Targon said, using his spare cloak to wrap the sword and then Cedric brought some string to tie it. They slung it horizontally across her shoulders allowing Targon to manage both packs with the shield covering them and his oversized cloak over it all.
“You look weird,” Cedric said, standing and assessing the Ulathan woodsman.
“I’m glad I can entertain you,” Targon replied. “See if you can help Will to the corridor.”
“Will do,” Cedric said.
“Khan, lead the way with your staff unless you think I should be in front?” Targon asked.
“I can manage,” Khan said, holding his staff tip first towards the corridor and taking deliberate steps in that direction. As they moved, faint sounds of talking came to them from the grates. They couldn’t make out the voices, but they sounded both sinister and angry. “Do you hear that?”
“Barely,” Salina said. “Should we investigate?”
“Remember what Elister said,” Targon cautioned. “The undead creature is hunting for you.”
“But Bran could be with them,” Salina objected.
Khan supported Targon, “Trust the words of your druid. You must not let yourself be swayed so easily. Allowing your husband to be reunited with you before the oath is either fulfilled or circumvented could result in his death. That is not something I believe you desire.”
Salina shook her head, “I will kill the creature myself before allowing it to take my husband to his grave.”
“Good, then help Will and let us depart quickly before someone learns we are here,” Khan said.
Both Cedric and Salina assisted Will who walked slowly at first but gained speed as they left the crypt. When they were all inside the corridor they looked back into the darkened room and watched as the huge stone door shut behind them. “Well, I guess we go this way,” Will said, trying to sound positive.
The group walked for what seemed at least twice the original distance before Khan informed them of what he saw, “There is a door in front of us about a hundred paces.”
“Carry on,” Will said.
They arrived and Khan leaned back against the west wall to allow them to see the door. It was made of dried wood that was close to being rotten, but the dry air and lack of humidity in the corridor allowed it to remain intact. It was bound in iron as was most of the doors they had encountered. The door had a metal latch on the inside and Salina commented on it. “It appears they wanted to be able to keep something or someone out.”
“It is obvious that this complex was designed to serve the nobles that lived here,” Khan said.
Cedric snapped his fingers and said, “I read about this.”
“Really?” Khan said, disbelief in his voice.
“Yes,” Cedric said. “Not exactly the way you would think, but there was a mention of the noble family to the Duke of Ulatha and their various dealings with the trade class as well as their comings and goings. This particular noblewoman was fairly important in court politics during the Great Dragon War from what I’ve read. It stands to reason that they had, whether it was needed or not is another matter though, some secret form of ingress and egress from their estate.”
“Did you just say gresses?” Targon asked.
“A way to enter and exit,” Khan clarified.
“I knew that,” Targon said.
“So they would have kept this latch locked to keep others out.” Cedric finished.
“So where’s the lock?” Will asked.
“Here it is,” Salina said, scooting back and bending over to pick up a rotted iron lock that had fallen from the latch or was opened and then discarded there.
“Do you think something could enter from here?” Will asked.
“No,” Khan said. “The latch still requires manipulation from the other side. The lock could have been to keep things in, contrary to the Lady Salina’s observation earlier.”
“In or out, I don’t care,” Salina said. “Where does this door lead to?”
Khan shrugged and Targon had to answer, “I think it will eventually lead us outside.”
“Do we open it?” Will asked.
“I don’t think we’re going to return,” Cedric said.
“Khan, if you can manage the door I’ll go first.” Targon moved to where the door would open and drew his axe.
Khan nodded and all three of the other companions, Salina, Cedric, and Will, moved back to allow the door to be opened. With a pull Khan said, “Opening now, go Targon.”
Targon left the corridor first followed closely by Khan. In a matter of seconds, the Kesh wizard called out to them, “It is safe to enter.”
The trio joined their companions and found themselves in a cavern that stretched high overhead and was large enough to fit a dragon inside. Khan’s light struggled to illuminate the entire area and much of it was cast in shadows giving off a sinister appearance.
“Where do we go now?” Will asked.
“I sense airflow from the north,” Targon said. “You should wait here while I investigate.”
“How will you see?” Khan asked.
“We need a second light then,” Targon noted.
Khan nodded, “I can illuminate most anything.”
Targon stood next to him and held his axe in front of him. Khan murmured his magical words and the axe began to glow. Not nearly as bright as the staff’s light, but it was enough to see a dozen feet in all directions from the axe’s metal. Targon nodded, “Thanks, I’ll see what I can find.”
“Don’t go too far,” Salina cautioned him.
The group sat and rested until Targon’s return ten minutes later. “I found a natural passageway that goes for quite some distance. We can follow it till we find an exit.”
“How far does it go?” Will asked.
“I don’t know,” Targon said. “I only trotted down it far enough to know that the air is strong enough that we should follow it. I didn’t find any other sort of other passageway off this chamber.”
Khan nodded. “It appears this noble family tapped directly into a network of tunnels and caves.”
“Who said anything about a network?” Salina asked.
“Trust me,” Khan replied. “I am Kesh and this chamber is not an isolated location, especially after what Targon found during his reconnoiter.”
They all looked at Ta
rgon and Cedric quickly clarified, “Scouting, your scouting.”
“Uh-huh,” Targon said. “Let’s go.”
The group headed off again but this time with Targon in front and Khan at the rear. They traveled until Will needed to rest and then they would sit, drink, and eat from their provisions for about ten or fifteen minutes before heading off again. After quite some time, they decided to make camp for a sleep period. They would have called it a night, but they had already spent the entire evening and sleeping hours on the move.
“How long do we sleep for?” Salina asked.
Targon shrugged, “At least a few hours. Enough to get Will some of his stamina back.”
“Well,” Salina said. “I’m willing to do so under the condition that you sleep the entire period. No objections,” Salina held up a hand for Targon to be quiet. “Khan and I can take turns.”
“Agreed,” Khan said.
“I slept almost all day,” Cedric said. “I insist on being part of the rotation.”
“Agreed,” Khan said.
All looked at Targon before the big man acquiesced. “Fine, you win. I could use the shut eye but do wake me if you hear anything. Don’t investigate on your own.”
“Agreed,” Khan said.
“We get it,” Salina said, a hint of a smile crossing her face as she tried to grace the Kesh wizard with a stern look. “I’ll take first watch followed by Cedric. Can you take the third?”
“Of course,” Khan said, changing his vocabulary. “How long per watch?”
“Hard to say down here,” Salina noted, looking up into the rock ceiling and then at the walls. There were no twin sisters and no sky full of gemstones to mark the passage of time. “Let’s say two to three hours each based on what we feel has passed.”
“Agreed,” Khan said. Salina sighed.
“What do you mean you lost it?” Malik asked.
Bran looked around at the slight rise they stood on well north of the abandoned villa that they had tracked his wife to. They were trudging in knee high snow and there were no footprints or other tracks to indicate any other living person had passed that way. He could only shrug and say, “I felt something till we arrived here and now nothing.”
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