Chapter 11: More Than Meets the Eye
Caraxë Marsh lay almost directly south of the western keep, separated from the forests by a series of rolling hills. The companions had expected to see something similar to the marshes in Cornelia: stretches of shallow water mixed with reed-beds, the flatness occasionally broken by a patch of scrubby bushes or small trees. Caraxë Marsh was a different entity entirely. Deep, sluggish rivers wound among islands and spits of land on which grew tall, moss-draped trees whose roots arched through the air before plunging into the water below. Finding a path from islet to islet proved difficult at best, and near impossible at the worst: when the water was deep, and what seemed to be a waiting patch of dry land proved to be a well-disguised quagmire. And Marsh Cave, the companions' destination, lay at the southernmost end of this seemingly impassible swamp.
Nearly two weeks had passed since the companions had left the western keep, and their current position did nothing to improve the general ill mood that had fallen over the group. Estel seemed to be taking a bizarre kind of pleasure in letting his frustration loose on this newest form of torment, and for once, neither Rath nor Cen seemed inclined to silence him. Cen led the way, having proven himself the most adept at finding paths and keeping the group going in the right direction. Rath came next, then Estel, grumbling his complaints, and Sapphire brought up the rear, her robes stained dull green and brown by the mud and water.
"How much farther?" Estel groaned as the group waded across yet another river. The water might only have come to their waists, had the mud at the bottom not pulled them down an extra few inches. Estel jerked his foot out of the gummy slime with more force than necessary, almost making himself fall face-first into the water. He steadied himself just in time and gave a growl of frustration.
"I hate this! Even if we are doin' this for the right guy, I'm still gonna kill him when we get back!"
"Loath as I am to do so, I may be forced to agree with you," Rath said, his tone sour. He looked particularly bedraggled, his sodden robes weighing him down and the brim of his hat drooping over his eyes.
"It could be worse," Cen said, mounting the next bank and testing the solidity of the islet with a branch he had picked up. "This place could be twice as big as it is."
Estel scowled at him. "Oh, that makes me feel so much better."
Rath stepped up on shore beside Cen. "What distance yet remains before us?"
"Not much," Cen answered. "I'm guessing the entrance to the cave is only two or three islands away. So…" He thought for a moment. "Maybe an hour more?"
"Not if we hurry."
Estel brushed past Cen and hurried onward, only to step into a mire that made up the opposite side of the islet and sink up to his waist in mud, peat, and water. With a sigh of resignation, Cen walked over to his ranting friend and hauled him out of the muck.
Cen's estimation proved correct; within an hour, just as the sun touched the horizon, they reached another island, this one larger than any of the others they had traversed. At the center of this island lay a hole about five feet in diameter. The echo of falling water drops could be heard coming from its depths, and cool mist rose from it.
"That's Marsh Cave," Sapphire said, speaking for the first time that day.
Cen stared at it. "It's a hole."
"It's very deep," Sapphire continued as though she had not heard this. "We'll need a rope to get down."
Before Sapphire even finished her sentence, Cen took a long rope from his pack and began tying it around a thick tree near the hole. He gave the rope a tug, then turned to the others, a satisfied look on his face.
"Unless someone comes along and unties it," he said, "this rope will hold and stay here until we get back. I'll lower each of you down, then climb down myself. So…" He held out the free end of the rope. "Who wants to go first?"
"I will," Sapphire said without hesitation.
She took the rope, tied it firmly around her waist, and knelt down at the edge of the hole, her feet hanging over the pit. She glanced at Cen, who already had a solid grip on the rope, then braced her hands on the brink and lowered herself into the hole. Cen tensed as Sapphire let the rope take her full weight. Hand over hand, he started lowering her down. After a little more than a minute, the rope went slack.
"I've reached the bottom," Sapphire called up, her voice faint.
"Okay, good," Cen called back. "Get some lights going; we're on our way."
After hauling the rope up, Cen lowered Rath into the cavern. Once the mage had safely reached the bottom, the rope came back, and Cen offered the end to Estel.
"Okay, pal. Your turn."
Estel did not reply, his gaze fixed on the yawning black pit. A look of growing trepidation appeared in his eyes.
"Ah… Y'know what, I think I'll stay up here. To, ah, guard the rope, or something. Okay? No point us all goin' in there just to get that one little crown, huh? Right?" He said this last word with slight desperation.
For a moment, Cen looked surprised. Then his expression became more serious, and he glanced from Estel to the cave and back.
"It's just a cave," he said. "It'll be okay, really."
Estel gave a short, nervous laugh. "Yeah. Sure. Thanks, but no. I'll stay here."
Cen raised an eyebrow. "And what if a swarm of undead or band of ogres turns up?" he asked. "You'd fight them off all by yourself?"
Estel muttered something inaudible, not meeting Cen's eye. Cen nodded.
"That's what I thought. And then what if we run into something down there and need your help? You wouldn't be able to live with yourself if something happened."
Estel did not answer, but after a moment, he snatched the rope from Cen's grip, tied it around his waist, and went over to the hole so he could be lowered down, muttering curses under his breath the whole way.
Once Estel had reached the bottom, Cen climbed down himself. He hung the loose end of the rope over a rock protruding from the wall so it was not lying on the wet ground, then scanned his surroundings.
The narrow tunnel leading from the surface came to an end in a small alcove in the side of a long passageway that stretched out to the left and right. Rath had conjured a small puffball flame, which was exploring the short section of tunnel the companions currently occupied, while Sapphire had a marshlight hovering over her outstretched hand. The light glimmered on the dank, earthen walls. Puddles and streamlets riddled the ground, and tangles of hair-thin roots hung from the low ceiling. The smell of wet earth and decaying plants hung heavy in the air.
Estel, still standing in the alcove, glanced plaintively at Cen. "Do I have to?"
"Yes," Cen said. He turned to the others. "Which way, Sapphire?"
Sapphire pointed down the tunnel to the right, which sloped downward slightly. "There. The vaults are at the very bottom of the cave."
Estel gave an almost inaudible whimper. Cen clapped him on the shoulder before starting out into the tunnel.
Sapphire led the way down the passage, her little marshlight in her hand, and Rath brought up the rear, the puffball flame floating beside him. Cen kept his hand on his sword hilt, while Estel looked around with great unease, his eyes wide and worried. Bats, disturbed by the sudden appearance of the companions, flapped and fluttered around their heads. Estel yelped and ducked whenever one came too near him.
Before long, the group reached a new hole in the ground, this one with a sort of ladder composed of stones fitted into the side providing a means of descending to the second level of the cave. The companions made their way down, and found themselves in an open cavern rather than a narrow tunnel. Here, wide puddles covered most of the floor, and anything not submerged bore a thick layer of slimy mud: green, grey, and brown. More water dripped from the ceiling, the sound echoing through the cavern.
"Ah, gods," Estel muttered, looking around as he came down after Cen. "This just keeps gettin' better…"
"At least it's not all closed up now," Cen said, trying to sound reassuring.
Estel nodded, the movement stiff and forced.
Rath came down the ladder last but did so without his small flame. He approached Sapphire and held his hand out to her. Sapphire stared at him for a moment, then realized what he meant and conjured another light. Rath scooped it from her palm.
"Why'd you do that?" Cen asked, frowning.
"I would rather not detonate the entire area by bringing an open flame into this place," Rath said, looking at Cen as though this should have been obvious.
Cen blinked a few times. "Right," he said finally. "Whatever. Let's keep going."
They waded their way across the cavern. A sickly, ripe odor oozed up from the water and slime at their feet. In the center of the cavern stood a bulge of drier earth, its top clear but its sides caked with slime. The companions climbed this so Sapphire could get her bearings.
"It…should be this way," she said after a moment, pointing to her left. "But—"
Before she could finish, the ground beneath her feet trembled, heaved, split apart, and a bony hand burst out, grabbing at her ankles. She jumped back with a cry, just as more fissures opened and six skeletons, bones crusted with dried blood and arteries, pulled themselves from the earth. Estel recoiled, treading in a puddle of green slime; the slime slithered away from his foot, then rounded on him, trying to wrap itself around his leg. All pretense of self-control forgotten, Estel panicked and screamed.
Cen turned to him at once, drawing his sword and slashing at the slime, but the weapon had no effect on the quivering blob. Estel started kicking and thrashing, trying to shake the thing loose, but the more he fought, the angrier it seemed to become.
The skeletons surrounded Rath and Sapphire, herding them toward the cracks in the center of the bulge of earth. Rath held his staff ready to attack, and Sapphire fell back behind him, her eyes wide and terrified. At Estel's cry, however, she looked over at him and Cen for just a moment, then, swallowing hard, she stepped forward beside Rath and held up her hand, murmuring under her breath. Her hand began to glow, and from it radiated gentle beams of pure white light, like sunlight. As these innocent-looking beams struck the skeletons, they drew back, hissing. Sapphire repeated the spell, and the skeletons dissolved to dust.
Rath raised an eyebrow. "Impressive."
Sapphire blushed, but before she could reply, Rath turned to Cen and Estel's fight. The creature had wholly engulfed one of Estel's legs and begun crawling up his torso. Cen's strikes did no good in hindering the attack; even if he cut a piece of slime away, it merely rejoined the main part. Estel punched at the thing, but to no avail; it just prompted the slime to grab at his hands as well.
"Move," Rath said, holding his hand toward Estel. Cen jumped away.
The air around Rath's hand began to glimmer, and a chill, translucent rush of energy flew from his palm and hit the slime. A blossom of ice crystals formed where it struck, growing outward until they covered and filled the entire creature, then they shattered, breaking the slime into dozens of tiny, frozen pieces.
Estel stumbled back and fell to the ground, his breathing rapid and uneven. Cen sheathed his sword and went to Estel's side.
"Okay, calm down. You're fine now."
Estel shook his head, his hands clenched. "I can't do this. I wanna go back out."
"Estel—"
"No! I wanna leave!"
An uncomfortable silence fell. Estel, still breathing hard, squeezed his eyes shut and pressed his fists to the ground, while Cen remained kneeling beside him, waiting for him to get control of himself. Sapphire watched them, her eyes widened in surprise and concern.
"I…"
Cen and Rath looked at her, and she took a step away, quailing a bit under their stares. Still, she tried again:
"I'm… Estel, I'm sorry, I…I didn't know this would be so hard for you…"
Estel just shook his head, not opening his eyes.
After another pause, Cen put his hand on Estel's shoulder. Estel jerked as though to recoil from the touch, but then went still again.
"All right," Cen said. "Do you think you can keep going now?"
"…No."
"But will you?"
A pause, then Estel nodded. "Not like I got a choice, right?"
Sapphire looked away in discomfort.
Once Estel had gotten to his feet, the group continued onward. In a far corner of the cavern lay a narrow, downward-sloping tunnel. This opened onto another cavern, and here the water covered the entire floor, reaching as high as the companions' knees. In this cavern lay the vaults, large chambers constructed of some speckled stone not native to the region. After some searching—interrupted by another attack by green slime, swiftly thwarted by Rath—Sapphire located the correct chamber. The vault's heavy metal door stood unlocked and open slightly.
"Wait," Cen said, frowning as Sapphire reached out to open the door the rest of the way. "You said something about guardians, right? What's going to be in there?"
Sapphire stopped, her eyebrows drawn together in thought.
"I…don't know what they are," she said after a moment. "They're just…some kind of creature the elves enchanted to stand as protectors for the crown, should it be sent here. I think…" She hesitated. "I think they were chosen because…because they're something that dark elves don't like very much."
Cen's hand went reflexively to his sword hilt.
"Will we have to fight them?"
"We…I don't think so. I mean, we were sent by the king, so we shouldn't have to, but…" Sapphire glanced at the others. "But it…that's not a reason not to be careful."
"That is the most intelligent thing you have said in days," Rath said, shooting a chilly look at Sapphire.
Sapphire averted her gaze, blushing a bit, and turned back to the door. She pushed it open and entered the chamber, the others following just behind her.
"Think you'll be able to deal with a fight?" Cen asked Estel in an undertone.
Estel, looking pale and shaky, apparently did not trust himself to open his mouth, but he did nod.
Just like the rest of the cavern, knee-deep water covered the floor of the vault, though a narrow stone curb jutted out of the water along the wall. In the center of the room sat a chest on a raised pedestal surrounded by seven statues: the Guardians. Each stood eight feet tall. They bore long staves, and though humanoid in appearance, their heads looked grotesque, shaped like some kind of octopus. Sapphire stared at them in disgust, but Cen and even Estel looked almost relieved.
"Oh, that's all," Cen said. "That's not as bad as I thought it would be."
Sapphire looked back at him, confused. "It's not? What are they?"
"They're called…" Cen frowned. "…piscodemons, I think. They're pretty mean, so that's bad, but me and Estel have had to deal with them before. It'll be okay."
Sapphire nodded, then, casting another look at the statues, she approached the chest and opened it. A small wooden box lay inside it. Sapphire picked it up and lifted the lid; inside sat the crown, a neat tangle of silver dotted with small opals like dewdrops, glittering in the glow of the marshlights. She waited, and when the Guardians did not move, she shut the box and turned back to the others.
"All right. Let's go."
The companions started toward the door, but they froze when they heard the sound of crumbling rock behind them.
Three of the statues had come to life, the stone breaking away to reveal cloth and flesh, their dark eyes flashing, the tentacles hanging from their faces twisting and writhing. The piscodemons stepped down from their pedestals and toward the companions, each holding the tip of its staff up before its face as though in a salute.
Estel groaned. "Oh, sh—"
The foremost Guardian gave a burbling cry, and all three rushed forward. Cen, blade drawn, stepped up to meet them. The first swung its staff down hard at him; he blocked it, but the blow still drove him down to his knees. The other two Guardians moved toward Sapphire, and she clutched the box to her chest, backing away. Estel's eyes widened, but instead of panicking, he sprang into action: he darted to the side and held his hands out to Sapphire.
"Throw it here!"
Shooting a frightened look at the approaching Guardians, Sapphire turned and tossed the box to Estel. He caught it, and the two piscodemons rounded on him.
Cen got to his feet just in time to avoid another strike from his opponent. Hissing, the piscodemon stepped away and leveled its staff at Cen; with a subsonic whump, a blast of energy shot from the tip, slamming Cen backward into the water with a splash. He came up coughing and choking, struggling to regain his breath and rise again.
Estel tried to jump away and escape his pursuers, but they hemmed him in with blows from their staves and backed him onto the curb in a corner. Shielding the box, he could not protect himself, and he began to crumple under the Guardians' assault. Sapphire, her face stark white, tried to push past the piscodemons to get to Estel, but they flung her back with hardly any effort. Almost wailing in dismay and frustration, she thrust her arm between one piscodemon and the wall, beckoning to Estel.
"Estel, throw it! Now, please, they're going to kill you!"
But Estel did not move from his curled up, defensive position around the crown's box.
Rath stepped forward into the center of the room.
"Get out of the water!" he shouted, voice rising over the din.
Cen jumped back, his opponent's staff slamming down into the water where he had just been standing. At Rath's shout, he backed up farther, climbing onto the narrow curb of stone. Sapphire also clambered up, but in an effort to shove past the piscodemons attacking Estel, not because of Rath. Rath began murmuring under his breath, and, as Cen's opponent moved in pursuit and a Guardian rounded on Sapphire, he thrust his hands into the water.
Even the other companions felt a tingle as the Thunder spell jolted out from him. The piscodemons shrieked and recoiled, tentacles twisting and contorting as the electricity shot through their bodies. Rath screamed in pain as his own spell struck him full-force, his body jerking and the air around him crackling as the current turned back on itself. This lasted only a moment before the spell shorted out its source; there was a deafening snap, a flash of light, and Rath slumped over into the water.
Before the Guardians could recover, the companions took up the offensive. Cen swept the head from the piscodemon before him, then jumped down and rushed to the far corner, where the two remaining Guardians had Estel and Sapphire cornered. He rammed his blade through the back of one, and it fell, jerking the sword from his hand. Its dark blood stained the surface of the water. Before Cen could free his weapon, the last piscodemon shook off the effects of Rath's spell; it turned, seized Estel by the neck, and threw him against the far wall. His head struck a protruding ridge of stone, and he fell, first to the curb, then into the water, unconscious. The box slipped from his grip, and the Guardian turned and started toward it, hand already stretching out to take it.
Cen, sword back in hand, slashed open the backs of its legs, and the piscodemon fell to its knees with a burbling shriek. Cen swung his blade back to decapitate it, but before he could, Sapphire, breathing hard, jumped down from the curb, pulled her hammer from her belt, and slammed it into the Guardian's head. The head shattered, and the body fell forward, lifeless.
Cen looked at Sapphire in surprise, wiping the splattered blood from his face. "Good shot. Are you sure you need me to help you use that?"
Before Sapphire could reply, Rath shuddered and straightened up, coughing. Sapphire returned her hammer to her belt and rushed over to him.
"Are you all right?"
Rath looked at her with bloodshot eyes.
"I have certainly had better moments," he said, his voice rougher than usual, as though his throat had been scoured with sand. He started coughing again, but he raised a shaking hand toward Sapphire, forestalling any comments or assistance. "It is of no consequence; I am well enough. See to Estel."
Sapphire scarcely had to be told; she hurried over to where Estel lay half-submerged, his head cricked back over the curb of stone. A trickle of blood ran from beneath his bandana and down his neck.
"Oh…" Sapphire put her hand to her mouth, then reached out and gently tapped Estel's cheek. "Estel? Estel, can you hear me?"
After a tense moment, Estel groaned and opened his eyes. He blinked a few times, then tried to focus on Sapphire's face. Once he did, he actually smiled a little.
"I'm dreamin', right?"
Sapphire shook her head. "Hold still." She removed Estel's bandana and felt the back of his head. "Where does it hurt?"
Estel gave a hollow laugh and winced. "You want the whole list?"
Sapphire sighed, then held her hands out over him as she began murmuring under her breath. The air around her hands glimmered, and sparkling blue light, brighter than that of her usual Cure spell, flowed out and enveloped Estel. When it faded, he was able to straighten up and stand. He stared around the dank room and promptly looked ready to fall right back over.
"We're still down here?"
"Where else would we be?" Cen asked as he finished wiping off his sword and sheathed it. "You and Rath were both out, and it's not like I could carry both of you."
"Right…" Estel shut his eyes. "But we can leave now, right?"
"I think so." Cen looked at Sapphire getting to her feet. "Are we good to go?"
Sapphire nodded. "Yes. Oh, but…" She looked around. "Where's the crown?"
"I have it." Rath, back on his feet, had picked up the box and now held it at arm's length. He handed it to Sapphire, who tucked it inside her pack.
"All right, then." Cen looked around at the dead piscodemons. "That wasn't so bad. I told you we could do it."
"If they all had attacked, it would have been more difficult," Sapphire said, glancing at the remaining statues. "I…suppose they didn't think we were really a threat."
An uneasy silence fell. Cen looked at the four Guardians, eyes narrowing.
"So what are they thinking now?"
Cracks began to appear in the surfaces of the statues.
Cen's hand went to his sword again, but Estel had had enough. As soon as he heard the cracking stone, he opened his eyes and sprinted out the door, not even waiting for the others. They took the hint: Cen dashed after him, Rath and Sapphire right behind, throwing their marshlights forward to light the way. Faint behind them came the Guardians' burbling cries.
The group did not stop their flight through the cave until they reached the tunnel leading to the surface. Estel slumped against the wall, gasping for breath, his arms wrapped around his stomach and his eyes squeezed shut. Cen turned and peered back down the passageway as he caught his breath.
"I think we lost them."
"I hope so," Sapphire said, also leaning against the wall and breathing hard, clutching at a stitch in her side. She straightened and looked up the long tunnel; in the tiny circle of sky visible, stars glittered. "Let's get out of here."
Estel could not breathe well enough to reply, but he did open his eyes and gesture to the others, indicating he wanted to go first. Cen frowned at him and shook his head.
"How about you start breathing first? I'll go up, then I can help the rest of you."
He started up the rope, swinging precariously in his haste. About halfway up, something above creaked, and Cen paused, listening. A trickle of dirt fell from the wall. Cen waited a moment longer, then continued up. Below, Estel took hold of the end of the rope, ready to follow.
Just as Cen reached the top, the creaking repeated itself, much louder and deeper this time. The wall heaved, showering dirt on Estel, Rath, and Sapphire. Cen jumped up and out of the way with a shout just before something fell with a crash over the cave's entrance. More dirt rained down, and the rope went slack.
Estel's face went completely white. His eyes widened, and his hands clenched around the rope.
"Cen?" he called, and his voice cracked. "Cen, what happened? Cen?!"
A moment passed before Cen replied. "The tree uprooted and tipped over the hole." A pause, then he added, "I kind of didn't expect this."
"Well, fix it!" Estel shouted, going tense with anxiety. "Get us outta here!"
There was a rustle of movement; the tree above shifted slightly but did not move out of the way. Estel stared upward, hands white-knuckled on the rope; Sapphire watched him with concern. Another attempt, and another, and another…
"I can't get it to move," Cen said at last. "We'll—"
"What?" Estel began to shake, sounding almost in tears. "No! You gotta fix it!"
"Estel—"
"No! I don't wanna be here, let me out, let me out, let me out!"
"Estel, stop it!" Cen shouted. "I can't think with you screaming like that!"
These words had no effect; Estel continued to cry out with increasing panic, jerking on the rope as hard as he could. Rath seemed to be blocking this out, his mind elsewhere, but Sapphire watched it, her hand over her mouth.
Cen called down again. "Okay! I have an idea! Rath, can you hear me?"
Rath came out of his reverie and looked up. "I can."
"Good. I want you to burn the tree out of the way. When I've pulled the rope up, start shooting fireballs up here, and when the trunk is weak enough, I'll chop up what's left and get it out of the way. Sound good?"
"Inspired," Rath said dryly.
There was a pause in which the rope seemed to be trying to tug itself out of Estel's hands. This odd movement stopped, and Rath and Sapphire could almost hear Cen's exasperated sigh before he spoke again.
"Get Estel off that rope. I can't get it out of the way if he's attached to it."
Sapphire stared, wondering how to do this, but Rath immediately grabbed Estel's hands and started prying his fingers loose. This only increased Estel's panic, but Rath stood his ground, looking perfectly calm. He glanced at Sapphire.
"I require your assistance."
Sapphire hesitated, then approached and took Estel's hands as well, helping Rath pull them off the rope. She held Estel by the arms to keep him back as the rope slithered up and out of sight.
Estel's panic gave way to terrified silence. He froze in Sapphire's grip, staring up the passage. This calm only lasted for a moment before he broke down; shaking, he sagged and fell to his knees, pulling Sapphire down with him, and began to sob instead of scream, pleading through his tears.
"Don't leave me down here, you have to let me out, come back—!"
Sapphire gave a quiet moan of dismay. Beside her, Rath began sending blasts of fire up the tunnel, the cave flaring red around them. At the sound of each explosion, Estel cringed away, but Sapphire continued to hold him steady.
"It's all right," she said, almost in tears herself, trying to sound comforting even though Estel could not possibly have heard her speaking. "We're just trying to get out, I promise. It will all be all right. Oh, Estel, please calm down…"
Ash and cinders began to fall as the tree burned. Rath ceased his attacks, and just after that, there came the sound of metal impacting wood, and flaming, blackened woodchips began to tumble downward as well. Rath held up his hand, and they extinguished and cooled as they fell.
Finally, there was a crunch, a loud snap, and the sound of heavy objects being shoved aside. At the top of the tunnel, the stars became visible again. The end of the rope tumbled down to the trapped companions. Estel's crying quieted as he saw it, and Sapphire sighed in relief.
"Okay," Cen called down. "I'm holding the rope ready. Come on up."
Sapphire let go of Estel, and he leapt at the rope, rushing up it as fast as possible. When he reached the top, he flung himself away from the hole, scrambling away until he felt at a safe distance, then he collapsed on his side, still shaking uncontrollably. His breathing was fast and shallow, his hands clenched around clumps of swamp grass as though to keep himself from being pulled back. Though his tear-streaked face remained ashen, the look of terror in his eyes slowly began to wane.
Cen, starting to pull up one of the mages, glanced over at him. "Estel?"
Estel did not acknowledge him. Cen did not press the matter, focusing instead on hauling the other two companions out of the cave. Rath came up first, then Sapphire, stumbling a bit as she clambered onto dry ground. As soon as she was steady, she started toward Estel, but Cen stopped her.
"Just leave him alone right now."
Sapphire stepped back, looking upset. "I just want to see if he's all right."
"Of course he isn't," Cen said, frowning. "But he will be in a minute, and you can talk to him then. If he even wants to talk to you."
"What?" Sapphire's eyes widened. "But…why—"
"He went down there because of you," Cen interrupted. He neither looked nor sounded angry, but his absolute, blank calmness was unnerving. "And you went down there for no reason at all. I don't think he's going to be very happy with you about that."
Sapphire's face colored. "Of course I had a reason. You—"
"Why did the Guardians attack us?"
Sapphire broke off at Cen's question, staring at him. "What?"
"The Guardians. You said that they wouldn't attack because the king sent us. So…" Cen folded his arms across his chest. "Why did they?"
For a moment, Sapphire could not reply. She opened and closed her mouth a few times as she struggled to find an answer, then she scowled and shook her head.
"I don't know. The elves have been perfecting their magic for centuries, and I've only been learning about it for a few years; there are a lot of things I don't know about it yet. We could have been attacked because of…because of almost anything."
"Right," Cen said dully. "Sure. Well, you be sure to ask about that when we get back to Elfheim."
The next morning, everyone, even Estel, rose early out of an unspoken desire to leave Marsh Cave behind as swiftly as possible. A tense silence hung over the group as they traveled back through Caraxë Marsh. Estel remained subdued, the whole situation having finally become enough to stop his complaining. Rath, as usual, said little, and Sapphire said nothing at all. Cen, on the other hand, bore the uncomfortable atmosphere without noticeable unease.
After a little less than two weeks, the companions reached the edge of the blackened waste around the western keep, just as the sun was setting. Sapphire continued onward, but the others turned away, starting back the way they had come. Sapphire turned to look at them, partly surprised, partly indignant.
"Where are you going?"
"It's almost night," Cen said; he was the only one who had even attempted to talk to Sapphire lately. "We're going to camp first, then head to the keep in the morning."
Sapphire stared at the ground for a moment, then followed the others.
They set up camp by one of the small streams that meandered through the forest. Sapphire spent the better part of the evening trying to clean some of the stains from her robes but had very limited success. Her gaze kept straying to her pack as she worked. Cen, Estel, and Rath sat around the campfire in what loosely amounted to amiable silence, Rath reading, Cen sharpening his sword, and Estel poking the fire with a stick.
"Can't believe we're doin' this," Estel muttered. "All 'cause of some lyin' p—"
"All right," Cen said, shooting a stern look at him.
Before Cen could say anything else, Sapphire returned from her washing, looking wetter but not noticeably cleaner. She sat down on the opposite side of the fire from the others, her knees drawn up to her chest and her arms wrapped around her legs. Estel stopped his muttering and looked over at her, his expression cool.
"You still wanna do this?"
Sapphire started a little, then looked back at him. She looked defensive, though less so than usual; she seemed unable to be as indignant toward Estel since Marsh Cave.
"Yes, I do," she said.
"Fine." Estel dropped his gaze back to the fire. "I don't like it, but I'll play along anyway. Gods know what'd happen to you if you went in there by yourself tomorrow."
"Thank you…" Sapphire frowned. "I…I thought you'd be so angry over Marsh Cave that you would refuse to come along this time."
Estel gave her a look. "Doesn't mean I ain't still gonna back you up."
A rather unpleasant silence fell. After a moment, Sapphire got to her feet, went over to her sleeping bag, and climbed in. Once she had left, Cen glanced at Estel.
"So what do you think is going to happen in there tomorrow?"
Estel shrugged. "Damned if I know."
"The appearance of the land around the keep is enough to give a rough idea," Rath said, surprising the others by looking up and joining the conversation. "Sapphire has managed to dig us a very neat grave indeed. If she has any integrity at all, she will answer for that when this is over."
"I can think of a couple other things she can answer for too," Estel muttered.
Cen gave a heavy sigh and set his sword aside so he could rub his forehead. "We messed up. We messed up big time. How are we going to get out of this?"
"Get killed," Estel said. "Or did you mean besides that?"
"Enough," Rath said, giving Estel a slightly disgusted look. "Adopting that outlook will do nothing to ensure our survival tomorrow. Merely because the grave has been dug does not mean we must step into it without protest."
Cen looked up. "So what should we do? Any ending I can figure has us getting splatted all over the country."
Rath stared into the fire in silence for a while before answering.
"We will need a plan."
At Sapphire's insistence, the group rose and departed early the next morning. This did nothing to improve Estel's mood and resulted in him dragging his heels about everything. He delayed so much that the companions did not get to the western keep until midday in spite of rising early. Neither Cen nor Rath saw fit to chastize him over this, to Sapphire's indignation, and Estel did not even try to excuse his behavior.
The convoluted interior of the keep looked just as it had when the companions had left. As they approached the corridor leading to the throne room, Rath conjured a puffball flame and sent it zooming off into the labyrinthine keep. After a lengthy pause, the flame exploded, the shock shaking dust from the fallen stone. The companions ducked behind a mound of rubble moments before the dark elven guards exited the corridor, hurrying toward the sound of the explosion. Once the sound of the elves' footsteps had died away, the companions went onward to the throne room.
The chamber also looked just as they had left it, with the king slumped on the throne against the far wall. Sapphire hurried toward him, the crown's box in her hands.
"Your Majesty, we have the crown, we've brought it…"
The king looked up, a momentary glint in his eyes, then his expression became one of enormous relief. "You have? Wonderful. I knew I was…right to put my trust in you." He extended a shaking hand. "Please…give it to me."
Sapphire held out the box, but before the king could take it, Estel ran forward and pulled her back. Jarred from her grip, the box fell to the floor with a clatter. The king withdrew his hand sharply, a look of alarm on his drawn face. Sapphire glared at Estel.
"What are you doing?"
Estel did not answer, instead watching the king. He picked up the fallen box.
"Mind if I ask you a couple questions, Your Majesty?"
The king's demeanor changed from one of alarm back to one of weariness. He gave Estel a very long-suffering look. "I only wish…to regain what is mine." He held out his hand again. "Give me the crown."
"Aw, you didn't say please." Estel half-turned, tossed the box to Rath, and faced the king again. "The thing is, I don't think that crown belongs to you."
"Of course…it does," the king said. His eyes flicked to Rath, then back to Estel. "Who else—"
"It belongs," Estel interrupted, "to the king of Elfheim. Not to you."
Something flickered in the king's eyes. "I am…the king of Elfheim…"
Estel snorted. "Yeah, in your head, maybe."
"Estel, stop it!" Sapphire hissed. "You're being stupid!"
"Funny," Estel said coolly, "I don't think I am."
Sapphire made a quiet noise of frustration, then turned back to the king. "Your Majesty, I apologize; he doesn't know what he's talking about."
Cen glanced at Rath, who caught his eye and nodded. Cen drew his sword.
"Okay," Estel said, keeping his eyes focused on the king, whose gaze kept darting between the three young men before him. "Let's cut the bullshit, huh? How about tellin' us who you really are, before we just walk the crown right on outta here."
Sapphire glared at Estel, looking almost ready to punch him. "Stop it! How dare you act like that towards him? He's a king, you have no right to—"
"That is enough," the king said, his voice now steady, his breathing normal. The glint in his eyes had become a steady gleam. He turned to Sapphire. "Your friend has every right to speak as he is. After all…" He gave an unsettling, predatory grin. "…his suspicions are perfectly correct."
Sapphire took a step away, eyes widening. "What…?"
The king looked at her with unmistakable amusement. "Are you still fooled, even now? Then allow me to clarify."
He stood, the air around him shimmering and distorting, and his figure seemed to melt away. In his place stood a dark elf, hunched, slender and green-skinned. Elaborate black tattoos covered his chest, arms, and legs, and chain-adorned earrings hung from the multiple piercings in his pointed ears. He wore no armor, and barely enough clothing to cover himself. A long, broad-bladed sword hung at his side. He bowed mockingly to Sapphire, even as she gasped and stumbled backwards.
"Welcome to my keep, my dear. I am Astos, and you have played right into my hands." He smiled, revealing pointed teeth. "I am most grateful for your help."
"No," Sapphire whispered, her horror-stricken gaze riveted on Astos's smirking face. "It…it's not possible…"
Astos laughed. "Possible indeed! I confess, even I was surprised at how well my disguise fooled you. A pity your friends were not swayed as well. Still, you did as I asked, just as any good subjects would have." His red eyes narrowed in amusement. "In one month, you have achieved through abject loyalty what I have been attempting to do through force for decades. The irony is wonderful, don't you agree?"
Stunned, Sapphire could not reply. Astos contrived to look disappointed.
"No? Ah, well, mortals rarely appreciate such things. Now…" He extended a clawed hand toward the companions. "If you will kindly give me the crown, I will have all I need to bring a victorious assault against Elfheim and become the true elf king." His mouth twisted in a smirk. "I may even let you survive to see it happen."
"Thanks, but no," Estel said, his eyes narrowed and his hand going to his sword hilt. "We ain't lettin' you take the crown, green boy. Sorry."
"You have little choice in the matter," Astos said, drawing his own blade. His smile became shark-like. "I can take what is mine by sheer force!"
Without warning, he swung his sword down on Estel. Sapphire screamed as Estel jumped backwards, the sword embedding itself in the floor. Astos swore, then extended his hand toward Estel, the air around him darkening. A crimson mist arose around Estel, and with a gasp of pain, he stiffened and fell to his knees, clutching his chest. Astos began curling his hand into a fist, and Estel crumpled further.
With a crack, a bolt of lightning shot from Rath's palm and struck Astos's outstretched arm. Astos recoiled, and the mist around Estel vanished. He struggled to his feet, Cen going to help him, as Astos pulled his sword free and turned to face Rath.
"Interesting. I thought I sensed another mage present."
"You are wasting your time with them," Rath said, matching Astos's calm tone. "The girl is already cowed, and the other two are mere mercenaries, of no importance."
Estel gave a shout of outrage, which Cen echoed. Rath and Astos ignored them.
"Your point?" Astos asked, sounding thoroughly amused.
"What challenge is there in defeating them? Little. Any elf could do as much. But…" Rath lifted his hand, and flames curled up his arm and flew from his fingertips. "A test of skill against a fellow spellcaster would be rather more stimulating."
"Oh?" Astos raised an eyebrow. "An interesting proposal. And in no way simply a ploy to spare your companions pain and death, I assume?"
"This is for personal entertainment. They…" Rath waved a dismissive hand toward the others. "…are merely a means to an end. I care little for them."
Estel and Cen both shouted in anger again, and Sapphire gasped. Astos laughed, however, looking positively delighted.
"Ah, a mortal after my own heart! Then how can I refuse such an offer?" He sheathed his sword and lifted his hand, flames roaring to life around it. "Restrictions?"
"No Death, no temporal," Rath said. "Agreed?"
Astos appeared to consider this, then he gave another shark-like smile. "Agreed."
Even as the word left his mouth, the air around him burst into life, sparking and crackling with energy. The loose flames around his hand swirled together into a boiling ball of fire which roared toward Rath like a comet. At once, Rath's fire vanished, the air around him growing cold, and a rush of freezing energy flew from his hand, condensing the air before him into a sheet of ice. The ball of fire impacted it, and it shattered, spraying water and chips of ice in all directions. Before the blast even cleared, Rath shot a burst of fire of his own, and Astos flung another to meet it. The two attacks collided, merged, and detonated, the explosion shaking the room.
"Impressive," Astos commented, his calm tone in sharp contrast to the agitated magical aura around him. "You certainly don't look as skilled as you are."
"Appearances can be deceiving," Rath said, just as calmly.
Astos laughed. "Well said!" He lifted both hands, and instead of fire, a crackling rain of lightning shot toward Rath. Another wall of ice met it.
Spells flew back and forth, explosions of fire, ice, and lightning making the floor tremble. The two combatants were terrible to behold, Astos proud and mocking, Rath cold and intense. The other companions watched with wide eyes, Cen and Estel awed, Sapphire terrified. Rath, drooping with exhaustion, shot a bolt of lightning at Astos, who leapt back to avoid it; it gouged a crater in the floor where he had been standing. He retaliated with lightning of his own in a wide spray. Ice appeared, blocking some, but others streaked past, striking Rath and throwing him backwards. He crashed to the floor, spasming, and a burst of fire engulfed him before he could recover. His shout of pain could barely be heard over the roar of the flames. Unbidden, cold energy flowed from him, extinguishing the fire, and he rose haltingly to his feet to face Astos again.
"Very impressive," Astos said, inclining his head to Rath. "A mortal of your age surviving this long against me? Unheard of. I commend your skills, mage." He applauded. "But, alas, I have other tasks to attend to, and I do need the crown you carry to complete them. So…" He lifted his hand, the air around him growing dark. "…I'm afraid I must end our little game." Red mist began to rise around Rath.
Before the spell could begin to take effect, it halted. The crackling energy around Astos vanished as translucent runic seals appeared around his wrists and throat. Rath's eyes widened in surprise, and Astos spun around in a sudden fury and saw the frightened Sapphire huddled against the wall, her hand held toward him as she cast a silencing spell. With a snarl, Astos drew his sword and started toward her.
A flash of yellow-green light enveloped Cen as he drew his longsword. At once, his body seemed to blur, each movement quickened to a near-invisible speed. He darted forward, placing himself between Astos and Sapphire, and attacked. Astos fell back in surprise, but Cen pursued him, sword a silvery blur. Astos managed to block fewer than half of Cen's blows, and soon blood streamed from a dozen different wounds. He tried for one last assault, but suddenly jerked to a halt, eyes widening, Cen's sword jammed through his stomach and protruding from his back.
"No…" Astos said in a hoarse whisper. He made a strangled choking sound as Cen jerked the sword free, and he fell to his knees. "No…"
"Yes," Rath said coolly from across the room. He held his hands out before him, and an orange ball of fire roared to life between them. He let the fire grow, then flung it toward the wounded Astos. The explosion was nearly deafening, and by the time the light and flames had faded, there was nothing left of the dark elf but a pile of ash and charred bones. His sword lay beside it, along with a small, round object.
An uneasy silence fell. Sapphire, trembling, sank to the floor, her face in her hands. Rath released the Haste spell and approached Astos's remains.
"Not quite according to plan," he said, nudging the skull with his foot, "thanks to Sapphire's contribution, but nevertheless effective." Looking half asleep, he glanced over at Cen. "You nearly missed the first cue."
Cen gave Rath a withering look.
Estel walked over to Rath and held a hand out to him. "Gimme the crown."
Rath retrieved the crown from his pack and handed it to Estel without hesitation. Estel turned, walked over to Sapphire, and dropped the box in front of her with a clatter. She started and looked up at him, her face wet with tears.
"Estel, don't," Cen said, frowning. "She feels bad enough."
Estel shook his head and turned away, moving over to what remained of Astos. He picked up the round object; it appeared to be a large, clear marble marked to look like a hazel eye. He tossed it to Rath. "What d'you think of that?"
Rath examined it. "That it is something Matoya will be very glad to have back."
"Thought so." Estel shook his head. "C'mon, let's get outta here."
Sapphire had gotten to her feet and now walked unsteadily toward the door, clinging to the box and taking great care not to look at Astos's remains. Estel walked briskly past her as though she was not even there.