Chapter 9: Submerged Passages and Narrow Ledges

After witnessing the end of FireFury's life, Stryer and Alyssa retraced their path into the Mud Flats and found the wall mentioned by Tarkleigh. He had also mentioned something else about waypoints and was surprised that they were walking the long way back. What did he call it? A piece of locomancy? The idea was it could teleport one to another waypoint like the once in Lioneye's Watch that stood overwatch against the tidal waves, the stairs were a nice addition by Tarkleigh himself. Stryer had seen it but preferred not to throw up his insides just yet.

"Now that I see it it's obvious. I guess my question is why were those stones in the rhoa nests?"

"The dumb birds like colored items, maybe, or they were bored." Stryer pulled out the three glyphs from a waist pouch. "Let's match them up and see what happens."

He put the stones into the wall of glyphs. The wall was a rainbow of colors as if the natives revered it as a holy site. The last glyph went into its slot as they stepped back at the ready, hands hovered on their weapons.

At first, nothing happened, then came a rushing of water echoing off the walls. The deep pool of water blocking their way into the cavern receded dramatically. Somehow the glyphs opened a reservoir for the water to flow to. Stryer was not even about to start figuring out the magic behind what happened, there were enough other worries. With the water level down there was now access into the formerly submerged passage.

Stryer gave the tunnel a good look before turning to Alyssa. "Ladies first?"

"Says the one with the shield, fine."

She quickly moved forward into the unknown. Despite her longer time on Wraeclast, she had not ventured beyond the Mud Flats. Doing so inherited higher risks and a rhoa made a decent meal if cooked correctly. Plus there were the inhabitants of the Watch to defend. Few stout warriors were available, a point she had reiterated to Stryer when they first met.

The first steps inside and they could see a network of weaving corridors, walls reflected a blue hue as water polished every visible surface. A careful foot was welcome as one slip on the narrow bridges meant a fall into the water of unknown depth and residences. They trudged on into the eerie glow.

Oversized land squids and more crustaceans crossed their path. They left many a severed tentacle and broken shell in their wake. The larger crab that Tarkleigh had warned them about was nowhere to be seen, at least not on this level. They crossed an ominous hole at the end of a wayward tunnel. Alyssa bet the prey resided in the deep ends of wherever it leads, and that was good enough for Stryer. They bypassed it and continued through the passages into fresher air.

"You felt that?" Alyssa perked up as they rounded what looked like the last corner. Light up ahead emitted from an opening. "I also smell the ocean."

"Same, and I swear I hear those damn seagulls."

They encroached the opening and were happy to find that the confines of the passages were now behind them. A long, narrow, and winding ledge ran along the side of the mountain. A flock of seagulls scattered upon their intrusion.

"So how much longer until this emperors road?"

"Don't get too excited, we still got a while." She adjusted her quiver, running fingers over the feathered ends. It was one of a few habits Stryer had noticed. "Through this ledge and then up a short climb which gets us to the prison, Axiom Prison. From there, it's basically next door."

"Anything of note that we should worry about?"

"Yea, not dying."

They encountered more cannibals and for the first time some skeletons. Some of the fleshless warriors were adorned with armor from when they lived, but the majority of the equipment was crude at best. Maintenance of weapons did not concern the undead. They forged on, eliminating the stranglers that crossed their path. If exile was the least of their worries, Stryer would have loved to rest and take in the view of the waters below them. Even a cursed land held an alluring beauty.

Everything had gone as planned so far. That was until a particular bend and following open area. The middle area rose into a small hill. It was what stood on top of the hill that warranted a moment of pause. A large wooden statue with intricate carvings on all sides towered like a lookout. Upon closer inspection, a few of the markings were in the shape of odd faces painted teal. The entire length of the totem was a blood red.

"That looks enticing." Stryer then gave Alyssa a once over. "You may have some competition yourself."

"Look me over like that one more time and you get an arrow to your crotch."

"Fine." Stryer stepped out from cover. "Let's take a closer look."

No sooner had he taken a few steps then the totem shook. At the base, an electrical charge built up and then scattered into moving sparks. They spread on the ground as fire to oil. He immediately fell back into cover.

"Well, that was shocking."

"Yea? Why don't you try?"

Alyssa smirked. "I'd like a shoulder massage once a day in payment."

She sidestepped to gain a better line of sight but stayed behind the rock. With an arrow notched, the string was pulled taut and target lined up. She released and repeated until the totem splintered in fury to nothing.

"The nice thing about sticks of wood is that they can't move." Alyssa admired her work a moment before moving on. "Come on, too much ground to cover if we dawdle."

Stryer groaned but followed. They navigated the rest of the ledge with little hassle. Once at the end, a shabby stone arch indicated their initial ascent up the climb. Here the land rose like dirt steps for giants, terraces overlooking the slopes. After breaking for food, they began their upward climb towards Axiom Prison and beyond.