Chapter 2

Two days later in a passage deep under the mountains of Archenland

Two Calormen scouts made their way cautiously through a dark shaft that had been carved into the mountain. The they were common soldiers each armed with a spear and a scimitar and dressed in Calormen mail. They were speaking in nervous tones to one another. One, whose name was Yemfon, was speaking to the other whose name was Queneth. The differences in the two were great. Although both had the same gear Queneth's gear was neat and polished as well as his armor. He carried himself with an air of nobility about him. Yemfon, on the other hand, was dirty. His armor and weapons were rusted and his clothes were ripped and dirty. He slunk as if he were afraid of some unknown danger that lurked in the dark passage way.

Yemfon said, "Why do I always get stuck with you whenever there is a dirty job to do." "If there are stables to be cleaned or swords to be polished or anything that no one else wants to do someone always says, "call Yemfon and Queneth they'll do it" and we always have to cause were the lowest rank of the scouts." "I'm tired of being pushed around and this pit is freaking me out!"

Queneth sighed deeply. Yemfon had a habit of complaining about everything and although they usually got stuck with bad jobs, but Yemfon's whining really drove him to the edge of his patience. He replied to the complaint with a hint of sarcasm in his voice, "Yes, I agree with you that we normally get to do the dirty jobs, but I think we should finish it." "The Tisroc, may he live forever, is coming soon and if he discovered that we had lied and slowed the pace of his armies…" "I shudder to think of what would befall us."

"The Tisroc is coming here!" said Yemfon in a frightened voice.

"Yes," said Queneth. "That is why we must finish this task." "I…"

Queneth's reply was cut short because at that moment a bone piercing howl rose from a wolf that was crotched on an overhanging rock. The howl rose from the wolf and echoed around the cave. The wolf leaped down from the rock and walked towards Yemfon and Queneth. Then to their amazement the wolf snarled in a voice that still sounded wolfish but that they could understand,

"What business do the sons of Adam have in the White Abyss?"

The two men were frozen in horror. Memory's raced through both of their heads. The rumors that had circulated among the Tisroc's army as soon as they had started north. Tales of demon possessed animals that could talk like men like men, but had dismissed them as fairy tales and now one of them stood right in front of them barring its teeth and growling menacingly. The wolf slunk forward pure hatred spilling from his eyes. As they looked on other shapes arose from the shadows.

A huge minotaur towered above the two frightened humans. His black hair was matted and dirty, but his weapons gleamed with excellent craftsmanship. A huge two handed sword was thrust into a scabbard on his back. He carried a huge axe that had evil runes and spells carved into it.

Several goblins, who had been scuttling across the walls, dropped from a crevice in the ceiling. They're skin was a molted black and brown and they're teeth showed through they're statistic grins.

Two black dwarves circled the two Calormens eyeing there armor and weapons with disgust. They're black beards tumbled down they're chest. They had short bows slung across they're backs and the held double bladed axes. Strange knives also were thrust into they're belts.

A number of wolves cut off their escape. The wolves fur looked as if it was originally gray, but it was stained with dirt. The wolves barred they're teeth at the humans showing the long, razor sharp teeth.

The Calormens were trapped!

Yemfon began "We are scouting to see if the tunnel…"

Queneth elbowed Yemfon and whispered to him, "If you tell them what we are doing the rage of the Tisroc may he live forever will be great and doubtless he can put you through more pain then these demons can."

Yemfon fell silent and the minotaur, seeing that he had been silenced shrieked in rage and slammed the butt of his axe into Queneth's temple knocking him senseless.

"Come with us," he motioned to Yemfon gruffly, "And we will teach you the true meaning of pain."

Yemfon followed. He shook like a leaf as the minotaur beat him forward. He looked back and saw that the goblins had long ropes with metal pieces that looked like huge, barbed fishhooks. The goblins lashed Queneth with these until the hooks stuck deep in his flesh and then pulled him a crossed the rocky floor.

They brought them to a small tunnel in the rock. It was well hidden in the rock and after they had entered a stone gate was slid into place from above. They upper levels had small slits in the rock to see through. It was the perfect hiding place. Although the place was dirty and bones littered the floor, but for all of the dirtiness the place the room was excellent craftsmanship. Even the untrained eyes of Yemfon could see that. The two Calormens were dragged down several flights of stairs into something that looked like a kind of barracks. Queneth, who was still being dragged by the goblins, suffered greatly from the treatment. Unable to move he repeatedly was slammed into the rock hard stairs and frequently would roll until he was jerked back by the goblins instruments. The fresh carcass of some kind of cave animal lay on the floor. It's bones were broken and its flesh was gone. Yemfon shuddered as he imagined the scene that had taken place here. Several levels above windows were carved into the rock so that the sentry could see if anyone passed the cave fortress.

After being taken down yet another flight of stairs they entered what seemed to be the dungeon and torture room. Chains hung from the walls and various tools of pain were laid out on tables. Whips, and clubs of various size and shape lined the walls, but what frightened Yemfon the most was a kind of table that was in the middle of the room. A metal table that was about the general type of a man had been placed over a pit in the ground. The pit had wood stacked to the brim and oil had been poured over it. One inch spikes protruded from the top of the table and wet blood pooled on the vicious looking device.

The goblins took the prisoners to the far corner of the room in which a large bit had been cut into the stone. Like the rest of the dungeon it lacked the craftsmanship that the upper levels had displayed. Yemfon was tossed down into a deep, rocky pit and Queneth was lowered in by the goblins.

The goblins then tore the metal of Yemfon's skin leaving his clothes torn and bloody and his chest in ribbons of torn flesh. He screamed in agony. Awaked by the brutal pain Queneth turned over. His chest felt as if it was on fire. He stayed awake only for a few seconds until he passed out from the pain in the ever-growing pool of his own blood. An iron grate was then placed over the entrance. Then the a huge stone was rolled over the entrance and utter darkness covered them. A fitting picture of the two prisoner's total disappear.