They had only crossed a few feet of the floor when an old man rushed out in front of them. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"
Roy bowed. "I'm General Roy of the Lycian Alliance Army. Sofia brought us here to help protect the village."
It was then that he seemed to notice Sofia among them. Relief shone on the old man's face. "With Sofia! So it was you who drove off those soldiers. Please forgive my hostility. There have been so many enemies lately…I did not know what to think. I am the Elder here." At his change in tone, two other joined them in the hall, one a tall blonde warrior, the other a small child who stared at them with wide eyes.
"The Elder," Roy repeated. "So you're a dragon, then?"
"Once perhaps, I was called that," the Elder said with a quick bob of his head. "In these days, things are different. There is only one dragon left."
Lilina stepped forward. "There are dragons in Bern, true dragons."
"What? That's impossible. There are no dragons outside of Arcadia."
"Elder," said Sofia, "I cannot say if they are truly dragons, but there is…something in Bern's army. Something twisted. That is why they are seeking the divine weapons, and why I helped them."
The Elder wrung his hands, clearly undecided.
"I think it bears looking into, Elder," said the blonde woman. "If you will allow it, I will go with General Roy and see these dragons for myself."
"Oh would you, Igrene? I'm too old to traipse about the countryside…better for none of us to have to leave but I suppose this is an emergency. You have my permission, if General Roy will have you."
"I would never turn down willing hands."
At this, the little girl spoke up. "Fae wants to go too!"
"No, don't be silly, it's much too dangerous." The Elder quickly grabbed one of Fae's small hand in his own. "You must stay here where it's safe." She stamped a foot on the ground in protest, but the Elder prevented any further argument by speaking over her. "I will not prevent you from seeing if the weapon judges you worthy, General Roy. Neither will I accompany you. There are enemies in the temple and I must care for the safety of my people."
Roy nodded. "I wouldn't ask anyone unwilling to put themselves in danger. We will do what we can to put paid to those threatening you."
The old man moved aside, pulling the still protesting child along with him.
"It's this way," Sofia said again, walking past the Elder and deeper into the temple. The others followed along behind her. Igrene brought up the rear of the party, tense and ready to fight. Lilina wasn't sure if she was getting ready for the conflict, or if she was preparing to fight them, should they turn out to be untrustworthy. Most likely it was some combination of the two.
There was no use worrying about it. She kept her eyes focused in front of her, and took what comfort she could from Sue, whose hand brushed hers ever so often as they walked.
Despite the ample space of the temple, the eight of them walked close together. On the upper floor the building was light and airy, but the stairs leading below were dark and damp, uncomfortably cramped for all their large size.
"This is underneath the desert?" She heard Roy ask. "There's so much water."
"An oasis," Sofia said. "That's what enables us to live here…it was found, strengthened, by the archsage Athos."
The farther down they traveled, the damper the tunnels became, until the stairs themselves became treacherous, so slick were they. Without mentioning it, the whole group moved from the center towards one wall, to have a steadying influence against the wet stone.
"Athos as in one of the eight heroes?" Roy asked, obviously impressed.
Lilina wondered if he had forgotten the story the two of them had heard, about what their parents had done. Athos had been involved in that as well. Surely that was a closer relation to the man than the word of a relative stranger.
"He found the original village, where man and dragon lived in harmony," Sofia said softly. "But he knew it could only be a matter of time before we were found. And so he led us here and fortified us against intruders as best he could. It is his spell book hidden below." She paused before adding, "You must be very careful down below. Arcadia is very old. Some of the passages may crumble into the water."
Even after the conversation and the warning, Lilina could not have been prepared for the sight that greeted her. Water was everywhere, glowing softly in the sparse candlelight, lapping against the edge of dark walkways. How could this be here, when above the sandstorm continued to rage at it always had, and the very air parched their throats and skin?
"There are traps too," Sofia added, almost as an afterthought. "You should follow where I walk."
Drifting across the water came the echoing sounds of looting and chatter. Roy drew Durandal from its scabbard in one smooth movement. "I would prefer to take the lead if you can direct me," he said.
"I am not defenseless," Sofia said, eyes flashing. She walked off into the semi-darkness, and all Roy and the others could do was continue to follow.
They were all exhausted after the trek through the storm, but fortunately the battle below was not difficult. Sofia knew all the pathways, something the invaders did not know. They passed many who had fallen victim to traps and tricks. More fell that way too, rushing into battle at the sight of their smaller challenging force.
Many of the remainder fell to Igrene, a capable archer by demonstration, made more capable in comparison because she was fresh. Where had she been when the Bern army invaded? Would it not have been easier to keep them from entering the temple at all than to fight them within? Lilina didn't ask. Igrene didn't look the sort to welcome questions, and even less so accusations.
However, the members of the Lycian Alliance Army were not going to be left behind. Long journey or not, previous battle or not, they were still people who had fought dragons and won.
Between Sofia's shortcuts, the traps, and their own force of arms, it took them only thirty minutes to reach the altar wherein Athos' spell book was enshrined. The altar itself was fairly small, compared to the rest of the building, and built of black marble. There was ample evidence that the looters had attempted to open the altar – broken levers and crowbars attested to that. But the shining black surface of the altar bore nary a scratch nor nick.
Sofia smiled. "It is made so only one of us can open it." For her the side swung open on well-oiled hinges to reveal a thick leather-bound book. She pulled it out with reverent hands. "Athos' divine weapon. Fire magic stronger than any other. Foreblaze."
She offered it to Roy but he held up his free hand. "I've no talent for magic. Lilina?"
Sofia offered the book to Lilina instead, and Lilina took it from her as if it were made of glass. The book was heavier than it looked, and it hummed with energy in her hands like a living thing. All spell books had energy, energy that helped their users, but she'd never felt anything like this! She did not need to be told that this magic could destroy her just as easily as her enemies, should she misstep. A dangerous gift, nearly as dangerous as Armads. Still, who could say what secrets and powers she could access by studying its pages?
Roy was looking at her, waiting for her opinion.
"I can use it," she said.
He gave her a relieved smile. "That's one more blessing on our side. And now that the Bernese troops have been driven out, it's high time we returned to Etruria to regroup. Sofia, if you would?"
Without another word, they left the dark, watery temple behind and made their way back towards their waiting companions.