The crescent moon was slowly rising through the dark grey clouds, its pale fractured light stood in stark contrast against the darkening indigo sky, Turning the grassy mountain range an ominous silver gray. The wind whistled through the tall blades of grass, picking up dirt and debri through the air. Drawing his cloak around him, Ashur shivered. On most nights he might have taken the time to observe the stars, but the only thing that truly drew his eyes was the the pitch black entrance to the Krubera Cave.

The small crevice opening was situated as such within the Ukrajina mountain range that one could miss it if one didn't know where to look. It was a small wonder no one in their party had fallen in the first time they had marched through the area.

Ashur winced at the thought and sighed.

As it was when they finally did notice it, Sadik had taken little time to order Strickland and Sigurd as well as a handful of scouts to climb down and search. What they were searching for Ashur did not know. But they had been gone for over a fortnight. And he'd be lying if the lack of news didn't make him anxious. He shook his head in an attempt to rid himself of the sense of unease, but as he looked at the pitch inky mouth of the Krubera cave, its unassuming opening littered with ropes and harnesses, all he could feel was dread.

The soft scents of rain and damp grass filled his lungs as he breathed in deeply. Ignoring the dampness of the ground Ashur kneeled and gently tugged at the set of ropes that were anchored to the jagged boulders that were scattered along the entrance. He frowned, and tightened the descenders.

"Sigurd will return unharmed Ashur."

Sadik's voice came in from behind him.

Ashur rose and turned.

The head of the Janus order peered down at him sympathetically.

"Oh I know he will, he's my Brother, I know he can handle himself but it doesn't stop me from worrying."

Ashur winked at Sadik. "But you know how it is."

Sadik nodded and crossed his arms, the dark leather gambeson he wore creaked loudly with the movement.

"Besides, they'll be here soon I can feel it.'

"Oh?"

"Sigurd and I are sobistvo medeis remember."

"Right, of course," Sadik said rubbing at his beard.

A sudden thought occured to Ashur in that moment. "Do you think Gunmar's Alchemists are going to continue the practice with the new trolls we sent them?"

Sadik's face twisted briefly.

"The process of creating our kind is difficult enough Ashur, and while bonding two trolls with their selected familiars with one spell certainly saves time, the bond it creates between the resulting two changelings is not something Gunmar understands nor approves of."

Sadik's frown deepened.

"You and Sigurd always seem to know where the other is regardless of how much time and distance is between you."

At this the ropes along the edge of the krubera cave rattled against their fastenings. Ashur grinned. "Told you."

The older changelings eyes flashed gold briefly with amusement, but all too quickly clouded over again. "Gunmar wants changelings to be loyal to him, and only him Ashur, he sees these bonds as a threat. So no my boy, as far as I am aware you and Sigurd are the last changelings that will ever be created by the process."

Well that's…. unfortunate

He opened his mouth to respond, when a fatigued voice came from the mouth of the cave.

"I hate to interrupt your conversation, I have no doubt it is very interesting but if it wouldn't be too much of an issue would either of you please get me out of here?"

Ashur turned to see Walder peering up at them. His black hair was plastered to his forehead and he was breathing heavily from the climb.

"Yes, one moment please," Turning back to Sadik, Ashur stuck his nose pompously in the air and waved his hand idly. "As i was saying Sadik, the Romans invention of opus caementicium four centuries ago, released them of the typical architectural constraints of…"

"Help me!" Stricklander growled, as Sadik bent his head to hide his smile.

Ashur turned to send him a look of mock severity, "Strickland, can't you see I am having a conversation?"

He grinned as Strickland's green eyes rolled upward in annoyance.

"Fine." Ashur sighed. He kneeled by the entrance of the Krubera cave and stretched out his hand.

"Let's get you out of there little brother."

Walder reached over and with a sharp tug Ashur pulled him out.

"How was it?"

"I'd rather be in the Darklands." Walder said brushing off his clothes.

Ashur peered down the hole in surprise. "Surely you jest."

Walder shook his head, "better the enemy i know."

Behind Stricklander a mop of red hair popped out of the ground.

Sigurd growled as he scrambled to find his grip on the damp ground. Laughing Ashur moved to help him out but Sigurd waved him off. Once above ground, His blue eyes glinted grey in the moonlight and he had a curious expression on his face as he looked down at Ashur.

"What?"

"Were you talking about me before I got here?"

Ashur flashed him a mischievous smile, and clapped him on the back. "No, not at all."

"It's a three weeks decent to the Entrance to the Krubera Tribes realm, there is also a seperate entrance that can allow our troops to enter on the other end."

"How convenient… what is the catch?"

"They'll have to swim."

"Is it deep?"

"Not really, and it's not a far swim, but whoever you send will have to forgo shields."

Ashur watched Walder's shadow grow to an enormous size as he stood near the firepit. The flames danced and waved in the night breeze as Strickland opened the iron pot that hung just above the fire. He made a face at the contents inside but plopped a decent amount of the slop within into his bowl.

Ashur scratched at the back of his neck.

"Hmmm fine we'll send our swimmers through. They can take maybe one or two swords at the most. If there is one thing I learned from the Silvian debacle is that once encircled, soldiers tend to panic, if we are to win, we'll need to keep the Krubera panicking." Ashur said bitterly as he pushed the pale mush around in his bowl.

"What else?"

"There is a bit of a tight squeeze in the crevice that leads to the second tunnel."

"How tight?"

Strickland set the bowl on his knees and raised his hands to demonstrate. "Just so."

Ashur frowned. "That's ridiculous."

"I fit."

"Easy for you Walder but not all of us are twigs ."

Walder ignored the comment and set back to moving his food around.

He frowned, "All these centuries Sadik and you still can't cook anything other than hot mush?"

Sadik sent him a deadpan glance.

"I've become quite proficient at cold mush as well."

Walder snorted, and looked back up at Ashur.

"Also when dealing with King Aaryan I think it be best if you send out a scout team to lead him back to your main force, the Krubera are a large race but the narrow cave tunnels will force them to attack in small groups, three to four abreast at most or individually."

Ashur looked up from his bowl and pursed his lips thoughtfully, "Surely he will see the catch."

Walder shook his head.

"He surely will not. Aaryan is a troll more given to acting than thinking, trust me Ashur it will work."

Next to him, Sadik tightened his cloak about him and stared into the fire.

"It will have to work Ashur, You and Sigurd are to be the only commanders there. I want you to start the descent soon, tonight if possible, Walder and I will be leaving for the city of Bucephala before first light."

"Which City?"

Confused Ashur looked to Walder, who gave a slight shrug. Sadik blinked in realization and chuckled.

"Forgive me old… old habit..., we will be traveling to Jhelum."

Shaking his head Sadik tossed what was left of his meal into the fire and walked off.

Ashur turned to Walder.

"So…. do you want to wake the others? Or should I?"

"Weapons?"

Someone in the lines sighed.

"Yes."

"Shields?"

Another sigh.

"yes."

"Horngazel?"

"Got it."

"Everyone have their Lumus Crystals?" Ashur asked loudly to the others.

"Yes Mother,"His fellow changelings grumbled in unison.

"Alright, Alright just checking." Ashur huffed and bit his lip.

"What about..?"

"Ashur." Sigurd whispered at his side. "We're as ready as we'll ever be, It's time to go."

"Right."

Clapping his hands Ashur moved in front of the first line of soldiers.

"We are here to obtain Lord Gunmar's eye, If we engage the Krubera lethal force is authorized."

No one moved. Ashur cringed.

"That's it, That's all I have to say, keep up, don't fall… please don't fall."

With that Ashur stalked over to the entrance of the Krubera cave and looked up.

The moon shone brighter than usual, and Ashur observed it almost reverently hoping to commit the sight to memory.

Just in case.

He gave Sigurd a pained grin, gripped the rope firmly and taking a deep breath Ashur lowered himself into the Krubera Cave.