Austin felt pretty good with himself. With Clark and his highwaymen joining up with him, Austin felt that maybe, just maybe, they might have a chance stopping Blain from taking over Albion. But before they could do any of that, Austin had to find Avo's Tear.
"Hope? Are there any nymphs here in Greatwood?" Austin called up to the succubus queen, who was darting between tree trucks.
She looked down at him and answered, "Of course. Just because you can't see them does not mean that they aren't there. Oh, by the way, we're coming into Brightwood. Now that we're out of Greatwood, my knowledge of this area is…well…lacking."
Jean nodded, "That's understandable. I can lead us from here. Honestly, we should be in Millfields soon. And it's about midday so that's good. Plenty of time to explore and see if we can find a way into the Hero's Guild."
"Do you think it still exists?" Erik asked. With his eight foot tall frame, large muscles, and gleaming armor, he did not blend into the forest at all. However, he was trying to remain as stealthy as possible. Occasionally, though, his hammer would strike tree limbs and cause them to fall.
Jean looked thoughtful at Erik's question. "It's possible, I suppose. I'm sure most of the Guild is destroyed but I did hear a rumor that the ancient Chamber of Fate still stands underground. That's where I would place Avo's Tear."
The group stayed silent during their travel through Brightwood. All were wondering if their journey had reached its conclusion. Maybe, just maybe, we can get Avo's Tear here and finish Blain off, Austin thought.
After stomping through Brightwood, Austin began seeing signs of civilization. "Hey! I think we're starting to come into Millfields! Keep your wits about you! Blain's men could be anywhere," he hissed to his friends.
Jean carefully removed her bow from her back. Her sharp blue eyes scanned the forest for danger. "Houses up ahead," she muttered, moving slightly in front of Austin. He allowed her to move out of the forest and onto the road. After several tense seconds, Jean relaxed somewhat. She raised an arm and waved her hand forward. "Clear. So far, so good," she whispered to Austin.
The band darted past several mansions and remained low. Austin noticed a patrol of guards that wore the crest of a dragon march down the road. It's a good thing they didn't see us, he thought. In the distance, past Reaver's former mansion, was Hero's Hill. "Keep low and try to find a way up to the hill. We'll go in groups of two. Jean? Clarissa? You two are the fastest and I want you to go first. See if there is a way up. " Austin's voice sounded tense.
Jean and Clarissa made their way forward, occasionally vanishing behind trees. They made their way to Hero's Hill and stopped. Jean noticed ancient steps that once led to the top of the hill. "We can't use these steps," she whispered to Clarissa.
Clarissa glanced behind her and muttered, "Looks like Hope and Cody are coming now."
Eventually, Cody and Hope arrived at the hill. "That was close. Those patrols are starting to annoy me. If it hadn't been for Hope, I would have been caught." Cody shook his head in disgust.
Austin and Erik had made their approach. Erik, who was surprisingly stealthy, had little trouble reaching the hill. Austin walked to Jean and asked, "Is there a way up?"
"No. There are steps, but they are in such bad shape. There has to be a way in. Those Heroes of old had to have made another way in," Jean sounded as if she was trying to make herself believe that.
Erik looked at the hillside and nodded, "You know, I could make an entrance, if you wanted. I mean, it would be faster."
"And louder. I don't think those guards are deaf, Erik." Cody pointed out.
Jean turned to Austin and sighed, "I can scout around. See if there is another way in. I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I agree with Cody. Erik can bust us into the hill, but at the cost of being heard. Let me check things out. If there is no other choice, then so be it. Erik can do it." Before Austin could answer, Jean turned and vanished into the shadows.
"She's a strong one, huh?" Cody mumbled.
Austin nodded, "Yes. Sometimes I wonder if she truly knows fear."
"What about in Wraithmarsh? She looked plenty scared there."
"That's because the Shadow Court kept messing with her mind. Making her see things that weren't there. Wraithmarsh is scary enough without the Shadow Court trying to make you lose your mind." Austin quieted down. He kept imaging Jean being captured or killed. No. She's too strong to be harmed by Blain's guards. Even if they are Heroes themselves, Jean can just turn balverine and rip them apart.
Several minutes passed and Jean still had not returned. Erik looked at his hammer and examined it closely. Clarissa fidgeted nervously. Cody muttered, "I hope she's okay."
"Of course she is!" Austin nearly exploded. "Jean is the strongest woman I've even met! Of course she's fine!"
"Well, thank you, Austin," Jean's voice said from the shadows. She crept out quietly and smiled at Austin. Then her face became serious. "I did find another way in, but it had been sealed up. So, I guess we're relying on Erik to make us a way into the Chamber of Fate."
Erik beamed with pride. "Okay, ladies, prepare yourselves! For you are about to witness my might!"
"Just knock a hole into the hill, already!" Cody grumbled.
"Fine," Erik growled quietly. He clutched his hammer tightly and flexed his muscles. He swung with all of his strength. The hammer head collided with the rock and the hill roared. "Okay, louder than I expected," Erik muttered, noticing that Austin and the others had their hands over their ears.
"Did you break in?" Austin asked.
Erik examined the rocks and shook his head. "One more swing should do it. Oh, I would cover your ears again," he told his friends. With a thunderous roar, the hill took another blow and a large hole appeared. Erik looked pleased. "Perfect!"
Clarissa looked around, puzzled. "Okay, that was loud. I wonder why none of the guards have come to see what's going on," she muttered quietly.
"That's a good question," Cody agreed.
Austin shrugged, "Maybe they are out of hearing range…"
Jean added, "If they are in Aurora."
Austin chuckled and peered into the hole. "It looks like quite a drop. Ummm…how do you want to do this?"
"Clarissa and I can go first, and then we can help everyone else." Jean offered.
"That's as good a plan as any. Okay, Jean and Clarissa? Do it." Austin watched as the two women went into the hole and dropped out of sight.
Jean's voice echoed from within the Chamber of Fate. "We're in! It's not that far of a drop. You can make it!"
Austin and Cody were the next group to drop into the chamber. Austin felt his stomach turn into a knot as he fell into the darkness. A second later and he hit the stone floor with a thud. Cody dropped next to him. Now that he was inside and his eyes adjusted to the darkness, Austin could make out murals on the walls. The images were ancient and had begun to fade. Many showed a man in the different stages of his life. There were several scenes showing this man in battle against creatures that Austin could only dream of. The image that caught Austin's eye showed the man in the midst of battle with a dragon.
"Wow. This Hero must have been powerful. To fight a dragon and come out alive. Incredible," Austin muttered.
Hope and Erik were the last two to enter the Chamber of Fate. Erik's landing sounded like thunder inside the chamber's walls. "Well, what have we here? This is amazing! Look! That Hero is fighting a kraken!" Erik ran to the mural that depicted the man battling a monstrous kraken. "These pictures must be about the Hero of Oakvale!"
"How can you tell?" Jean asked.
Erik looked at her. "Well, remember when I mentioned that the Hero of Oakvale battled a kraken in Bargate Prison? And he also fought Jack of Blades…as a dragon. Not many Heroes can boast such achievements."
"Hey! What's this thing?" Clarissa called out. She was examining something on the floor. "It looks like one of those pads that we've spotted in Greatwood."
"It's a cullis gate. I'm guessing that Heroes could have come and gone from here without even setting foot in the main entrance. I wonder if it still works," Austin said, looking somewhat concerned.
"Well, we're about to find out! Look!" Jean gasped as the cullis gate began to glow.
Everyone backed up nervously. From the cullis gate, several people emerged. Austin recognized one as Jordan, the girlfriend of Blain and his second in command. Another was a muscular man who carried what appeared to be a great axe. Another was a woman who had her cutlass drawn. Behind them was five of Blain's guards.
"Well, hello. Fancy seeing you here," Jordan sneered.
"Uh-oh…" Austin groaned, unsheathing Avo's Lamentation.