"Do you think he'll be all right?" Anna questioned Finn.
He frowned in reply, glancing down a passageway and back at the surviving slaves.
"I doubt it."
Anna bit her lip.
"Why do you think he did it?"
"I guess he thought it might give us a chance," Finn said. "But I don't think it'll make a damn bit of difference."
She said nothing. Rill's sudden departure had visibly shaken the slaves and she could feel the absence he left behind. He was the closest they had to a leader, and whether or not the priest felt he could actually protect them by creating a diversion she wondered if it didn't do more harm than good. But there was nothing to be done except move on.
Anna hardly saw where they headed anymore. She shied away from the doors they passed but thankfully they all stayed closed. Perhaps Rill's diversion had in fact helped them evade the guards. Escape seemed too much to contemplate though and she felt too numb for true hope.
.....
Ahead of them she heard Yeslick let out a surprisingly hearty laugh.
"See! What'd I tell you? They think we're trying for the surface by the main passage!" He pointed out another sealed door, pausing long enough to stick his short fingers up in a rude gesture. "We're gonna make it, you bastards!"
He continued swearing cheerfully at invisible enemies until Kivan interrupted him.
"We have not escaped yet, little father. You should save your celebrations for the surface."
"I ain't your dad, boy," Yeslick replied glibly. "I were, you'd have hair on your chin like a proper man!"
Kivan shook his head like one wearied of infinite patience, but elf and dwarf halted at Jaheira's quiet command. Slaves occasionally collapsed as they hurried along from injury or pure weakness. Jaheira tended to the fallen man and Anna leaned against the rock wall, anxious to move but glad for a rest.
Finn gave her arm a squeeze and left to see Imoen. The girl had managed to pick up only bruises in the ambush, and Anna thought of the possibility that it might be down to Ajantis' protective shield. She watched the knight standing at attention by her side and wondered idly if Imoen hadn't found a protector, after all. She was relieved that someone was watching over the girl, but it roused her interest that Ajantis should have suddenly taken it upon himself to guard her.
.....
Anna shut her eyes and ran her hands slowly over her hair, trying to massage away the headache that had been building since they entered the mines. Her injured hand was still numb and she wiggled her fingers against the faint pins and needles that prickled under her skin. It was a small price to pay for disarming the trap but she hoped it would wear off soon. Finn's supernatural healing was potent though and despite the burns there didn't seem to be much scarring. She was thankful for that, at least.
Opening her eyes she started noticing that Xan had slid up from the rear and was standing nearby. The elf regarded her closely, his eyes resting on her hands. Quickly she folded them in her robe sleeves and turned her gaze to the floor.
"Are you feeling well?" he asked.
"Fine, thank you. And you?"
Her reply was slightly hard-pitched and she kept her eyes on the hem of his robe.
"Not well, but that is to be expected," he said.
Anna nodded but remained silent, wishing the elf would stand somewhere else.
"It is good you managed to dispel that trap, however risky it was. But it must have been incredibly painful," he continued.
"It was."
"The energy it contained, flowing into you. It would have been unbearable."
"Yes," she answered shortly.
"People have endured terrible burns from such things."
"They have."
"And yet...you have not?"
His words didn't truly sound like a question. Anna's eyes shot up at him.
"No."
She turned away from the elf, little imagining Xan believed her. It was all she could say; she couldn't lie, even on the slight chance whatever excuse she could conjure would fool him. He knew painfully well they had no potions of healing. There was nothing she could say. She left him without another word and went to Finn.
......
Anna groaned in misery as the party halted again not long afterwards. It was a maze after all, they would never get out. But then she heard Yeslick cry out and looked on in disbelief as a door appeared from the solid rock of the hall. She blinked her eyes hard to make sure she hadn't fallen asleep on her feet, but it was true. She felt near to collapsing with relief; somehow, against every possible chance they had finally reached the hidden door.
"Right, you lot, up to the surface!" Yeslick proclaimed, ushering past the slaves who needed no encouragement. "When you get to the end, knock three times. It'll open for ye, easy as that!"
"Head north through the trees, following the cliffs," Ajantis added. "Your comrades are waiting for you there."
Kiri stumbled up to the dwarf, looking at him like a haunted woman. She'd been injured in the attack but it seemed to make little difference to her battered shell—she had one focus, and one focus only.
"Jerrin," she spoke, her voice dry.
"I'll find him," Yeslick replied. "Moradin help me, if it takes me to my last breath I'll find him. You go on, and wait for him."
The woman seized his arm, sinking her yellowed nails into his tunic. The dwarf touched her on the shoulder and she slowly released him, drifting away up the passage.
The remaining slaves hurried past but Yeslick grabbed the last slave by the arm , making the man look at him nervously.
"One last thing, pally, and listen good. When you get up there, jam the door open before it shuts. Otherwise it'll seal back up and we won't be able to get it open again for ages."
"How?" the man stammered.
"What do you mean, how? It's a door, ain't it? Use a rock or summat, there's plenty to chose from. Now go on, and don't forget!"
He released the man and he hurried up the ramp with a nod.
.....
"Oh, thank the gods!" Imoen exclaimed, wiping sweat off her brow. Her face was pale and even her freckles looked lighter. "Come on, I don't want to spend another minute in here!"
"Yeah, you go on, Im," Finn said quietly. "We'll meet you up top."
Imoen started up the ramp but suddenly paused.
"What, you're not coming? You can't want to stay down here," she said, looking at him in shock.
"Of course I don't. But—there's something else we need to do."
Imoen stared at him, regarding her brother's serious face. Her own cheeks began to look red and her eyes snapped blue fire.
"No! This is stupid, Finn. You'll just get killed down there. Come on."
"I'm sorry," he replied. "I can't."
"But we're here now! This is the way out. Come on, forget about this, will you?"
"I can't," Finn repeated.
Imoen trembled angrily.
"And what am I supposed to do, huh? You go and get yourself killed, what about me? Do you ever think about me? You don't!"
"What the hells does that mean?" he said defensively.
"It means just what it's supposed to mean!" Imoen shouted back. "You don't care. You'd leave me alone out here just because you want to chase down these ghosts that killed Gorion. You'd get us all killed for that! There's nothing here, Finn, accept it. We've done everything we can."
"I don't—" Finn said, shaking his head at her sudden outburst. "Gorion was my father! Am I just supposed to forget about it? And you were the one that followed me, remember?" His face grew angry. "You aren't even supposed to bloody be here! You were the one who was always going on about being an adventurer. You always talked about how fun it would be. Well, this is what they do—get killed in shiteholes for nothing. Go home if you can't take it. I should've sent you home ages ago, anyway."
Finn glared at her and Imoen's face turned a strange colour. Anna couldn't tell if she was about to scream or cry; she looked sick and shamed, like a beaten dog.
"Finn, don't say that. You know you don't mean it. Stop now, or you..." Anna began, then broke off.
She couldn't bring herself to say that it might be the last words the pair spoke to each other. Finn still looked like bursting, but he seemed to deflate slightly as if he took her meaning.
"Yeah. Imoen, I didn't—"
"Enough of this," Jaheira interrupted. "Imoen, you may leave if you wish. Perhaps it would be for the best. But whatever Finn has told you of our purpose here, there are other slaves in the mines that we must attempt to aid. That is our duty we must attend."
Imoen stared at them, that strange look still on her face.
"I'm not going," she said, her voice sounding oddly distant. "If you're staying, then I am too."
"Don't be stupid, Im—" Finn began.
"I'm not stupid, don't call me that. I can help, and I'm going to help," she replied.
"The slaves may require assistance, Imoen," Ajantis spoke. "We cannot spare any warriors, but you may guide them. It would be an important duty."
"No, you're not getting rid of me that way again," she replied, a bit of her old fire returning. "I'm coming. Just forget I said anything, alright? I'm not scared."
"Imoen," Finn groaned.
"I said I'm not scared. I'm coming."
Her voice was firm though her eyes looked wet. Finn grumbled something before impulsively grabbing the girl in a tight hug.
"Ow," Imoen said, her words muffled by his armour.
"Sorry, flower," Finn replied, giving her a quick kiss on the head before ruffling her hair. "You know I could never even manage to keep my bootlaces tied without you there telling me what to do."
Imoen looked annoyed though she smiled slightly brushing her hair back into place. Jaheira looked at them and sighed.
"Very well. Yeslick, do you believe you can get us to these kitchens in a way that has a reasonable chance of keeping us alive?"
"I think so," the dwarf replied.
"You think?" Khalid said. "That isn't v-very comforting."
"I know so," Yeslick said, sparking a little. "Everybody ready? Let's move out."
.......
He sealed the door in the hall and darted off. With various responses the party followed suit, but Finn took Anna's arm.
"You don't have to come, either, you know."
"Well—it's like she said. If you're going, then I am too," she said quietly.
Anna gave him a little smile and he kissed her swiftly before they hurried after the others. It was true, but she couldn't tell him just how much it took for her not to follow the slaves up and out the door. It went against every last instinct of survival, but then perhaps Finn was right. This was what adventurers did, and she needed to deal with that somehow or she would entirely lose her head in that place.
Yeslick turned down more eerily empty passages before finally leading them into a long, narrow hall. Mingled in with the mine's cool air Anna began to smell the distinctive odour of cooking and her stomach growled alarmingly loud. When was the last she ate? She couldn't remember, but perhaps that was for the best.
The dwarf paused, feeling his way along a stone wall. After muttering to himself for a few moments he touched a small stone and the wall creaked away, swinging aside easily as a door of wood. Light and heat flowed in through the gap and Anna heard voices.
The small kitchen was remarkably hot, lit by two large fireplaces on opposite walls. Big kettles bubbled over the flames and a number of hares decorated a spit, their dripping juices sending little sparks spitting up where they hit the embers. The sudden smell and damp heat were overpowering but Anna ignored them, focusing instead on the shocked cooks who paused in their work like statues as the group stepped through the wall.
Anna expected them to scream, but they didn't. A young woman in a dirty leather apron slid back against a table, and two men looked up from the chairs where they peeled vegetables. A large matron turned from a kettle and glared at them, her eyes like narrow slits in her puffy red face.
"What's all this, then?" she asked, sounding more like she was berating a butcher's boy who brought lamb instead of beef rather than a heavily-armed group. "We don't do handouts. You want something to eat, you'll have to wait same as everyone. And there's no point in getting all high-and-mighty about it, them's orders from the top."
She directed her glares in particular at the two guards, and one of them spoke.
"We're not here for food. You not think it a bit funny we came in through your back wall? We're here to tell you to get out."
"Out?" the cook huffed. "Out of me own kitchen? Who ordered that, now?"
"Here," one of the man-cooks stammered, "You don't mean—look, it wasn't our fault about that pork! We said it'd gone off, but nobody—"
"Oh, no," the matron replied, her own mood suddenly failing. "I'm telling you now, I ain't going without a fight. I'll be damned if you're hauling me off like some little gutter snipe!"
She grabbed a carving knife and held it threateningly up towards them, her fat, chapped arm shaking with nerves. Jaheira stared in amazement but quickly spoke.
"No, good woman. You misunderstand. We are not here to harm you, we are here to liberate this mine. You must gather all the servants and slaves you can find and tell them to find the surface."
"You're having a laugh!" the young woman exclaimed.
"Do we look like a troupe of jesters?" Finn said, and the woman looked away nervously. "We've already gotten the slaves that were in the pits out, you need to follow them."
"How are we supposed to do that?" another cook said. "The surface is guarded, they won't just let us out for some air. "
"Are—are you going to fight?" the young woman asked, sounding rather excited at the prospect. "We could bar ourselves in here. It'd be safer than anywhere."
The other cooks agreed but Yeslick interrupted them.
"No, you can't stay. We're gonna flood this place, put it out of commission once and for all. You need to get out or you'll be dead."
"We may flood the mines," Jaheira replied. "How many servants are in this place? Would you be able to reach them all?"
"There's not too many," the matron replied. "They keep us humping on our feet all bleedin' day for want of help—most of the poor wretches go down below. There's us here, some maids and a few others what do odd jobs. I suppose we could find 'em if need be. But Davy's right, they'd never let us out of here."
"What of a boy?" Ajantis asked. "A young boy named Jerrin. His mother said he worked here."
The cook shook her head. "There's no lad by that name that I knows of. No young lads working up here at all."
Yeslick started, his mouth falling open slightly.
"You sure?"
"We're not too many, like I said. If there were a lad I'd know about it. Why?"
"Nothing. It don't matter, I reckon. Rill, you bastard, why do you say shite like that?"
The dwarf tugged at his beard, looking down at the floor. Anna almost thought his eyes looked wet. Ajantis rested a hand on his shoulder, but Yeslick shrugged him off.
....
"Well. Got to move on. This cursed place is gonna be underwater before long, if I have anything to say about it. You go find the others, now, and tell 'em to get out anyway ye can."
"But how—" a cook began.
"How the fook should I know?" Yeslick roared in response, making the man jump. "You think I can fix everything, aye?"
The turncoat guards had remained mostly silent since the slaves nearly attacked them, but one drew a breath and spoke.
"We can help them."
"You?" Yeslick growled.
"Easy, all right? We know the passwords, we know what to say. There's even some guards that might be willing to give us a hand. We could do it."
"And what reason would we have to trust your word?" Kivan said, giving the man a dark look. "You are slavers and traitors even to your own kind. Your word means less than that of a snake."
The guard glared back. "Like I said, we're not all monsters here. Believe that or don't. Besides, by the sounds of things you don't have much of a choice."
"As much as I hate to admit it, he is likely correct," Jaheira said slowly. "Very well, do what you must. But know this—if I find that you have betrayed these people I shall do all in my power to hunt you down, in this plane or any other. Do I make myself clear?"
She gave them that iron-cold stare. The guards looked sour but nodded.
"One other thing," Finn asked the cooks, "Have you noticed anything odd going on today?"
"Other than you lot stepping through me wall?" the matron remarked. "Can't say as I have. It's all been the usual slog."
"No fights, no alarms?" Finn repeated, ignoring her tone.
"You hear any? No, there's been nothing. Why you ask?"
"Never mind," Finn sighed. "It's probably best if you don't think on it much."
"Well, if we're moving on we'd better go," Yeslick said, wiping his eyes. "Get these folks out of here. You've got some time, but not a lot of it."
"Where are you headed?" the cook asked.
"Up a level. Who's here from the Iron Throne, missus? We need to know the master of the mines."
"They don't tell us that," the cook whistled. "We don't hardly see anything of them, we just do the cooking."
"Right, right. Well, good luck to ye. See you up top, if we're so fortunate. And if you see a daft priest wandering around, kick him up the backside for me!"
He turned and left the puzzled cook looking after him as he ducked back through the wall. The rest of the party followed, but Anna turned back once to the guards. She had little true hope they wouldn't betray them all, but as the guard said they had little choice. They could not find the master of the mines and free the other servants; they stood little chance of not being overwhelmed as it was.
......
Yeslick led them up another of the sloping ramps the dwarves seemed to prefer over stairs; by the impressions that centuries of cartwheels had left in the stone Anna reckoned their practicality ruled over all other considerations. Mounting the ramp they came upon a wider set of passages that went in three separate directions.
"This way," Yeslick said, moving ahead.
"Tampa," Kivan suddenly said, grabbing his shoulder. "Beasts await us down that passage."
"How do you know?"
"I can smell their foul hides," the elf said, his nostrils curling in disgust. "There must be a great many for the scent to be so strong."
"Not much to do about it," Finn said, clutching at his sword. "We'll have to take them out."
"No, we can go another way," Yeslick replied. "Come on."
Yeslick started up the right passage instead, but soon let out another barrage of curses as they found it blocked.
"Sons of bitches! They know how to pick 'em, don't they? Why'd they even think we'd go down here?"
"Back to the h-hobgoblins?" Khalid panted.
"We'll leave that to last," Yeslick decided. "We can get around 'em, but we'll have to take the long way."
"They path they wish us to take, no doubt," Xan groaned quietly as he followed after the dwarf. Anna found herself agreeing but said nothing.
......
The hall stayed empty however and she strangely found herself detecting the smell of food once again.
"Are we nearing more kitchens?" she asked Yeslick.
"No, these are just living quarters now. I can smell it too, but damn! Roast beef and rabbit, if my old nose is any good."
"Where there is food there may be people," Ajantis remarked. "Be wary."
Kivan stopped them and they waited nervously in the hall as he slipped silently forwards, examining a closed wooden door. He listened for what seemed a long time, then peeked cautiously through the keyhole.
"I see no one, the room is empty."
With care they drew open the door. The chamber was indeed empty but its contents gave them pause. A long table nearly filled the room, the red and gold brocade cloth covered with an abundance of food that Anna had not seen in some time. Roasted meats, elaborate vegetable dishes, baskets of bread, and towers of fruit filled every possible place. Despite the table's size Anna noted that only a few places were laid, awaiting the missing diners.
"Oh, wow," Imoen said under her breath.
"S-still warm," Khalid reported quietly, holding a hand over a well-dressed rabbit. "Whoever th-this was laid for cannot b-be far."
Imoen reached gingerly for some fruit but Xan caught her hand.
"Don't," the elf said.
"Why? They won't miss it, I'll take it from the bottom there. I'm starving!"
"The same 'they' that have been guiding our steps since we left the pits? I wonder who this feast was intended for."
"What, you think—" Imoen said, then quickly drew back her hand.
"Indeed. Touch nothing," Jaheira replied.
"Can't believe they eat like this when we get gruel once a day, if we're lucky," Yeslick said.
He glanced over the table with the gaze of a wolf, and for the first time Anna noted how shrunken and baggy his eyes were.
They slid out the opposite door into an area that seemed entirely at odds with the rest of the mine. It was furnished more like a comfortable country house than an underground lair—polished furniture of dark wood, bright woollen carpets and tapestries decorated the place. The Iron Throne's lieutenants certainly enjoyed their luxury, Anna thought.
......
As they neared an open door though Anna heard a distinctive thump coming from inside; strangely it sounded like books being repeatedly dropped. They paused, tensing, and Kivan slid up to the entrance with bow at ready.
"Oh, gods!" Anna heard a woman's voice cry from within. "Don't shoot!"
She followed the others up and peered into the room. A frightened young woman stood in what looked like a small library, her hands raised above her head as she stared into Kivan's bow. Despite her fear she was attractive and bright-looking, with sleek brown hair pulled back into a heavy knot and a fine mage's robe of cobalt blue.
"Don't! Spare me, please," she repeated.
"Who are you?" Jaheira demanded.
"I'm—I'm Natasha Caelavan," the woman stammered. "I won't fight you. Please."
She implored them earnestly and Kivan's bow lowered slightly. Jaheira however held up her hand.
"So you say, but we have little reason to believe you. What do you do here?"
"I'm a mage working for the Iron Throne. I just arrived here this past tenday, but I had no idea of what awaited me."
"Indeed," Jaheira said. "Go on."
"I was recruited from Baldur's Gate," the young woman continued. "They said they wanted someone of arcane skill to be based in their camp in the country. I thought it sounded pleasant, and the coin offered for someone who had just completed their journeyship was remarkable. But I knew nothing of this mine, of—of the slavery. It is horrible here. Are you—are you here to free the slaves? Or are you just adventurers?"
She spoke intently, almost tripping over her words while regarding them with bright blue eyes.
"We have come for the slaves," Jaheira said, her own gaze not softening.
"Oh, I'm so glad," Natasha said, smiling a little. "I will help you, if you like. I know a great deal about this mine."
"Well, so do we," Finn said, responding to her smile. "But I'm sure we could use a hand."
His eyes sparkled at her and the woman looked surprised, but demurely lowered her gaze to the floor. A small smile curled up out of the corner of her mouth though and Anna looked at Finn rather archly.
"Yes," Jaheira said flatly. "Tell us though, who is the master of this mine?"
"The Iron Throne master? Oh, it's a man named Stephan. Stephan Mellis. He's a warrior, but a bit of a lout. He shouldn't trouble you at all."
"Stephan Mellis? Never heard of him," Yeslick remarked.
"Oh, well—he's new," Natasha said. "Rieltar Anchev appointed him himself, someone he knew from Sembia."
"And is he a handsome man?" Xan asked unexpectedly.
"P-pardon me?" Natasha said, clearly taken off guard by the question.
"You call him a lout, yet mentioning him makes your heart beat rather quickly, I see."
He nodded at her silently. The woman ran a hand over her bare throat and stared at the elf for a moment, but turned away from his level gaze.
"He isn't handsome. He—" she broke off, then looked up again. "He keeps coming to my room at night. I tell him to leave me be, but...it's only a matter of time. I don't want to talk about him."
She clutched her arms together and looked away again.
"So there is fear in you," Xan replied. "I apologise, but I needed to gauge your reactions."
"What do you think?" Finn asked Jaheira.
"Bring her with us," the druid sighed. "But I warn you, we shall be observing you closely."
"Don't worry, I just want out of this place," Natasha said. "Just let me grab my wand, we'll need it."
She fished a spindly, unimpressive-looking piece of wood from a chest and held it up for their inspection.
"This summons guardians. It was a present, and I thought I might need it in the forests," she explained.
"Whatever you say," Jaheira replied. "Lead on then."
......
The woman departed up the passage, with Yeslick and Kivan close at hand. Anna watched her walking along, her step light in spite of their situation. She was quite young, not much older than Imoen. In some ways she rather reminded her of herself at that age—she possessed that same bright earnestness that she'd once had in abundance. Anna wondered to herself how that woman ended up in such a place, but perhaps she would have fallen into a bad situation as well if her father hadn't been there to guide her.
"We need to be careful," Natasha said. "The next room is trapped. Just step where I step though, and you'll make it around."
She opened a door to a large room with a floor almost entirely covered by a strangely-patterned carpet. Natasha gingerly followed a winding woven vine, turning this way and that. The others spread out snake-like as they stepped carefully after her, looking rather like children playing a game of follow-the-leader. When they all reached the opposite side Natasha pulled gently on a small wall carving and Anna heard a click.
"That disarms it. It'll be safe to go back now," she said.
She went to open the next door, but Yeslick grabbed her arm.
"You sure, pet?" he asked gruffly.
"Yes, of course," Natasha said with a laugh. "I live here, remember?"
"And so do I. But yer not a dwarf, are ye?"
"No," the mage said, regarding him strangely.
"And as such, I reckon you can't feel that vibrating that's going on below our feet, eh?"
"What—"
"It came up after you pulled that switch. Now to me, vibrating means an engine, or an energy of some sort. Just the sort that might power a trap or some such. What do you think?"
"Well...I can turn it off," Natasha said vaguely.
She reached for the switch but Finn grabbed her hand.
"That's all right, I'm sure we can manage."
"Let go of me," she said angrily, pulling her hand away.
She slid back away from them, staying close to the wall.
"Don't be stupid, pet," Yeslick said. "You don't want to work with them."
"And do you think I'd want to work with you?" Natasha said, a nervous laugh slipping out.
"Yeah, I do, cause I don't think you want to get hurt," Finn replied. "Come on. We don't want to hurt you, but you've got to give it up. What've they got planned?"
He made a step towards her, careful to stay close to the wall. Natasha drew back again, this time holding the wand up.
"Don't come any closer. I'm not about to join your side. Some people understand loyalty. You just—get away from me."
"What are you going to do?" Finn said, sounding strangely calm. "Look at us. We've got two mages here and a priest. You wouldn't stand a chance. Come on."
He reached out a hand to her but Natasha crouched back against the wall. Her young face looked hunted and frightened, but Anna saw an anger there as well. She knew that woman wouldn't surrender to them. She was about to speak when Natasha swiftly raised the wand.
From a haze a pair of large black bears appeared onto the carpet. They turned and snarled at the party but before they could move Anna heard a triggering noise and a number of swift blurs shot out from the walls, penetrating even those animals' thick hides. The bears let out horrid cries and slumped to the floor, twitching. The party shouted and Natasha took her chance, fleeing as swiftly as she could while hugging the wall.
Instinctively Anna raised her hands and spoke, sending an enchanted bolt into the woman. She cried out in pain and stumbled slightly. Her feet strayed barely an inch onto the carpet, but it was enough.
In horror Anna watched as the trap triggered again, piercing the woman with the vicious darts. She screamed and tripped onto the carpet, sending even more darts into her skin. She walked drunkenly for a moment, remaining on her feet almost by force of will despite the dozen or more black spikes clinging to her stained robe. She spoke a name but collapsed to the floor, where her body lay convulsing. Anna had to turn away from the sick, terrified look on her foaming mouth. At last Natasha shuddered and went still, her glazed eyes still open.
"Oh, Chauntea," Anna whispered, staring at the woman.
"You couldn't help it," Finn said grimly. "She was setting us up."
He wrapped an arm around her shoulders but Anna couldn't drive away the shaking feeling in her stomach.
"Yes, come, and let us find out what this woman had in store for us," Jaheira replied. She reached up and replaced the switch. "Yeslick?"
"It's off," he replied with a sigh.
They ventured away into another hall, leaving the young woman's body behind them.
......
Yeslick ignored the side-passages and moved them straight ahead till they passed under an archway, into a large room that appeared to be an armoury. There were racks of swords and other weapons and heavy shields decorated the walls. Full suits of plate armour stood at ready in the corners, clutching at swords. Anna glanced at them quickly; she knew little of arms but their blackish sheen spoke of magic.
"You could fit out an army in this place," Finn commented.
"Indeed," Ajantis replied. "And it makes one wonder how well-armed these bandits are if they can afford to leave these as spare."
"I would prefer not to find out," Xan said. "Jaheira, do you not think it best if we would see to our protections? Whatever is awaiting us cannot be far."
"Yes, a good idea," the druid said, examining some flails without touching them. "Do what you must, and I shall pray for Silvanus' blessing."
"Do you have any invisibility spells left?" Xan asked Anna.
"No. I have little that would help us now, most of the battle spells I know are meant for attack," she said.
Xan frowned but cast a spell that Anna recognised as a protection against silence.
"You should endeavour to acquire more, if we should ever escape this maddening place. A defence is just as important—wait, did that just move?"
The elf broke off quickly, attracted to something in the corner of his sight. Anna followed his gaze and jumped back—the suits of armour were not empty. In silence the warriors advanced on the party, strangely stiff of limb but with obvious intent.
"I think you're a bit outnumbered, mate!" Finn cried.
He drew his sword and moved in to attack but suddenly fell back with another cry, one of fear.
"Gods, get it away from me!" he shouted.
Anna stared in shock as Finn ran towards the door, but he found his escape blocked by more of the strange warriors. He looked up again, and ran back to the other wall like a mad hare caught between hounds.
Before she could think Khalid cried out in the melee, dropping his sword and nearly running into one of the armed warriors. It swung at him, grazing against his armour and knocking him to the floor.
"Khalid!" Jaheira cried.
Boldly she threw herself between the warrior's blow and her husband, crying out in agony as the impossibly heavy sword-stroke shattered her shield. She looked up at the warrior, and let out gut-curling scream.
"By Helm, what madness is this?" Ajantis panted, drawing up from behind to draw the warrior's attack.
The warrior whirled on him, barely even stunned by the strong knight's blow. The warrior drove his sword at him in return but the knight deftly parried the thrust, swirling and blocking the blow with his shield before driving another strike into a vulnerable spot.
"They are constructs—Battle Horrors!" Xan exclaimed. "Do not look them in the eyes."
Anna fired a missile into one, hoping it might have some effect. The construct stumbled but somehow Anna found her gaze attracted to the two ember-red points deep within the creature's visor. A sudden panic welled within, every terror that she could think of collected in its hollow stare. A cold sweat poured over her and she screamed.
She turned to run but the iron grip faded as quickly as it had seized her. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she felt normal again. She wondered but caught a glance of Xan lowering his arms from spellcasting.
......
The others seemed to lose their fear as well and with an effort they managed to turn the constructs into broken piles of armour.
"Nice trick," Finn said, giving an empty helmet a kick. "If this lot didn't finish us off we'd have run panicking straight into that girl's trap."
"No doubt. Pisses me off even more that they resort to using kids," Yeslick said, running his thumb along a newly-acquired battleaxe.
"I grow weary of these cowardly cat-and-mouse games," Ajantis muttered as he saw to Jaheira's injured arm. "Let whoever is here face us like a man and be done with it! Brace yourself, my lady, this will hurt."
The druid gritted her teeth against the dull sound of her bones being set back into place.
"Thank you," she panted, her tanned skin turned white. "I shall—call for blessings now."
After their injuries had been healed with as much as druid and paladin could spare they strove on again. Anna drew deep breaths, trying to bring up courage from somewhere. How many more little traps awaited them? Whoever had set up their path was leading them towards something in a maze of his own divining. It was a game, it was all a game.
......
The next room seemed darker than the others, lit only by a fireplace. It too seemed empty, the furnishings and bookcases standing in place of occupants. Yeslick pointed slowly towards the far wall.
"It's the gate."
Set into the smooth stone a massive round door dominated the room, crafted of a silvery metal that shone faintly in the firelight. A number of heavy bolts locked it into the stone, keeping back the force of tonnes of water. Runes were etched around its circumference and strangely near to the floor stood what looked like a small keyhole. Before Anna had time to wonder where the keymaster might be, a quiet voice spoke.
"And so you have made it through. You were fortunate that I am quite bored today. These guards needed a little entertainment to keep them on their toes. But so determined you are, to find your way here, to interrupt my work...I wonder why."
A tall man rose up languidly from a chair before the fireplace. He gestured and the lights rose, the torches on the walls suddenly bursting into flame. Anna blinked in the light but regarded the man cautiously.
A wizard. He was plainly a wizard, and she would have known that even if he hadn't casted a spell. An aura of heavy magic hung around him like smoke, drifting invisibly into the air. Long curls of grizzled hair surrounded his face, hanging down over his rich brown robes. He looked at them with disinterest, his thin, elderly face showing no signs of fear or agitation.
.....
"Oh...smeg," Yeslick muttered, staring at the man. "It had to be you, didn't it?"
"Ah, it is the diminutive smith," the man replied. "I take it you have been leading these people? Naught but one with keen knowledge of this place could have avoided my little traps so well. But why come here? I was told you'd escaped."
"We've come for the key, Davaeorn. Spare yourself the trouble and give it up," Yeslick said, obviously trying to rally himself.
"Davaeorn?"
Jaheira spoke the name strangely, her gaze turning from iron to wonder.
"You know him? Who's he?" Finn asked quickly.
"Yes...you know me? It is obvious you do," the man said in his silvery voice, still unconcerned at the prospect. "Have you heard my name whispered in the halls of wisdom?"
"N-not quite," Khalid remarked, his own eyes narrowing at the man. "Do you not know wh-what we are?"
"What you are..." Davaeorn said.
He looked at the group as though for the first time, trying to work out the little puzzle laid at his feet. But when he examined Khalid and Jaheira his expression noticeably changed.
"Harpers." He spoke the word like he was spitting out poison. "You dare—you have come here? To my study, to my home? You violated everything, and you dare to come here?"
"Who the hells is this guy?" Finn repeated, wary of the wizard's growing agitation.
Before the half-elves could speak the wizard cried out again.
"Who am I? He asks, who am I? No one. I am no one. I once was many things, but now I am none."
"We are not here because of you, Davaeorn," Jaheira said. "We have come to free the slaves in this place. We have come to put an end to the Iron Throne and the evils they have perpetrated in this region. And you would serve them? I thought it impossible that I should be more sickened, but I was wrong."
"Evils? You speak of evils? You who enact them every day? Your callous indifference—and you dare to speak of my evil?" the wizard challenged.
"You m-murdered three Harpers!" Khalid replied. "You killed your own k-kindred!"
"He's a Harper?" Finn spoke again, trying to make some sense of the strange turn.
"Was a Harper. I once had their foul tentacles around my heart, and I served them with all my will. But that changed when they betrayed the coldness of their own hearts."
"It was a tragedy, Davaeorn, but it did not excuse—" Jaheira began.
"Tragedy? An acceptable loss?" the wizard bellowed. "You cannot know. You cannot know what it was like—"
"Can I not?" the druid interrupted, her tone strange.
......
The others stood back, mesmerised by the bizarre exchange between wizard and Harpers. In his vibrating rage the wizard barely seemed to notice the presence of anyone else in the room.
"No. You were not there. Look, look here and see!"
He threw a small amount of dust into the air. Anna jumped back slightly but paused, regarding the form that took shape from the mist. A young woman stood floating before them, her soft features framed by the golden powder. She stared into the air with a neutral expression.
"My Bellane," the wizard said, his voice quivering with emotion. "So beautiful she was. So bright. I was so proud when she joined the Harpers, that my only child should join me in my life's work. But they sent her on a mission disguised as a maid in a festhall...I only learned of it after they brought her cold body home! Her face...it was so cold. I remember. They used her—they let thugs use her as a toy before they slit her throat! The Harpers offered me compensation. Foul gold, for the loss of my child? My only light? I killed the ones that sent her there, I cared not!"
Davaeorn gestured angrily, his hands running through the illusion and sending it drifting to the floor. He reached at the girl as she faded, a low cry of despair in his throat.
"That never should have been allowed, it was a grave error. I know the Harpers shared your loss—how many of us have lost loved ones to our cause? But that did not excuse your revenge," Jaheira said angrily.
"Revenge?" Davaeorn said strangely, laughing slightly. "No. That was only a punitive measure, not my revenge. I planned, I waited...and now, finally I have felt it in my grasp."
"What do you mean?" Khalid said.
"The children. I found them, the Harpers' children. They were hidden so well, but I found them. And I used the Harpers' own blood money to pay thugs to slit their throats."
......
Davaeorn laughed to himself, but the others looked stunned.
"You—you had Gorion killed?" Finn said, staring at the man in disbelief.
"Gorion—there is a name I remember. Are you his? Are you one of the children?" the wizard twittered.
"Be careful, Finn, he is mad—" Jaheira said quickly.
"I am Gorion's ward," Finn said, ignoring her. "You had him killed. You killed my father just to get to me!"
"Yes, young one," Davaeorn replied, his eyes lit by a cold fire. "I know of you, child of Gorion. Your name keeps tickling my ears. Many have died for you, have they not? And more still, it does not end."
He gestured casually towards a side table. Amongst the usual array of books and other paraphernalia Anna's eyes rested on a silver tray. She stared at it, trying to process the horror that rested there.
Though his face was pale his expression seemed frozen in that happy, quiet smile the priest wore, almost as though he'd been laughing at his executioners. A slight trickle of blood dribbled down his open mouth, but that was the only sign of violence visible on the severed head.
"Rill." Yeslick said, his voice dry. He stared at the priest's head, licking his lips over and over. "You—you killed Rill? You son of a bitch, you killed Rill?"
His tone rose to that hammering pitch only dwarves could call forth and he gripped tightly at his axe.
"Yes, little fellow. He was mine, I can kill him if I wish," Davaeorn said. "And now, for you."
......
The wizard gestured and a door swung open. Anna heard men's voices within, she could see the flash of their weapons. She whirled to the door, calling for the Weave to do her bidding. An orb of fire appeared before her and she sent it flying into the room over the heads of the men as they pushed their way out to attack. It exploded, sending flames gushing out with the horrid cries of the burned and dying.
"You bastard!" Yeslick screamed.
The dwarf charged directly at the wizard, raising his axe and swinging it down to chop him away at his knees. Davaeorn's wards triggered though and Yeslick was blown back, hurtling through the room like an enraged missile.
Despite her fireball guards still filled the room and began grappling with the party. Anna slid back against a wall, hoping to avoid the flashing swords. But she noticed a faint rippling nearby, the air moving like water. Without thinking she struck her staff against that ripple and heard a man's voice groan.
A young wizard appeared from the mist and stumbled against the wall, clutching at his abdomen. They locked eyes for a moment, oblivious to the din around them. He didn't seem much older than Natasha—his face was bland and soft like many noblemen's, lacking in great character. Anna fired a missile at him and he fell further back.
"Stop, ow!" he cried, clinging to his burns. "Master, help me!"
"Idiot!" Davaeorn replied, easily driving away one of Kivan's arrows. "You should have gone, Stephan, not Natasha. Kill the woman, if you are worth anything to me!"
Anna did not wait for Stephan's response. Grabbing her staff with both hands she drove its end down onto his chest, cracking his sternum with an ugly noise. Stephan wheezed, and she struck again.
"Die!" she screamed wildly, not caring that the young man had likely already fulfilled her command. The battle and madness of the mines whirled around her and she struck him several more times before she forced herself to cease.
Davaeorn disappeared from his place, vanishing in a flash of light. Suddenly from the far wall a bolt of electricity shot out, striking Anna before ricocheting around the room, hitting the party and guards alike.
......
Anna's brain felt on fire and she collapsed, her limbs twitching involuntarily. She could not speak nor even form proper thoughts. Images flashed into her mind and that was all.
She saw a wizard standing over her, a field of magic surrounding him. He raised his hand and it began to glow. Suddenly another force hit him though, and the field disintegrated before her eyes.
"It doesn't matter," he said to the air. "You are dead! You will never get out—"
A terrible hammering noise filled Anna's ears and she realised it was an alarm ringing. The wizard began to speak again but a small blur charged from nowhere, bringing down a silver streak. Davaeorn screamed and Anna looked on, trying to understand how he had split in two. But her eyes cleared slightly and she saw Yeslick standing over his shattered body, his axe held high.
"For Rill!" he screamed, bringing it down over the wizard's neck. "For Jerrin! For Mikan! For all of us, you sick bastard!"
With each name he struck again, slicing away the man's limbs. Anna stared blankly as the blood splattered against her, trying to move. Yeslick suddenly drew further away, but she realised that someone had grabbed her and pulled her back.
"Anna. Are you all right?"
She looked up to see Finn. Blood trickled down his face but he was alive. He ran his hand over her skin and she felt her head clearing.
......
"We need to run," Jaheira said, pulling herself away from the wall where she'd been resting for breath. "Blast these alarms, can we silence them?"
"No. They're coming," Yeslick said.
He'd dropped the bloody axe and stood looking at the mangled corpse of the wizard, no longer recognisable as a man.
"Let's—get out of here then." Finn likewise stared at the wizard, doubtlessly trying to comprehend his mad revelation. "Can we make it to the back door?"
"Yeah, you can. Listen, elf, can you remember how to get back?" Yeslick asked Kivan.
"I can," he replied.
"Good. You get them out, then."
"What do you mean?" Finn asked.
"I'm going to stay here. This job's not done."
He reached into the bloody robes and pulled out a brass key.
"You will never have time to make it to the upper switch," Jaheira said.
Yeslick drew a breath.
"I know."
"What? My good dwarf, surely you do not mean—" Ajantis began.
"That's exactly what I mean. Now beat it, you lot, unless you can grow gills right quick."
Yeslick walked slowly up to the water gate, running his hand over the metal.
.....
"Years back we tapped into this lake," he began. "Didn't mean to, it was a mistake...the kind dwarves aren't supposed to make. The waters came crashing through the mines like the great flood, washing everything away. Nobody stood a chance." His eyes screwed shut in pain but he continued. "I remember me and Dad talking and joking one eve with Uncle Ferrick, near the surface. We'd been out checking the traps, it'd been a good take...then from down deep there was this rumble like thunder, the whole earth shook...Dad hollered at me to run. I was only a lad with nowt but fuzz on my chin and I ran without thinking. Didn't think about me brother, didn't think about me Ma, I just ran. I didn't even realise Dad and Uncle Ferrick weren't behind me till I cleared the entrance. I turned to head back but this mountain of water shoots out the doors, it was like nothing I'd ever seen."
He paused and they all regarded him in silence.
"I found me dad half-drowned when the water finally stopped spraying...Uncle Ferrick we found dead in a tree. Only a handful of us made it out alive. The water never went back down. We couldn't even get to the bodies. We all swore then on what was left of our blood never to speak of our shame to anyone, and we left the mines as a tomb."
"So you say," Kivan began. "But I do not understand why you should wish to forfeit your own life over this ancient shame. Let the mines stay as they are—you are to blame for none of this."
"Ain't I?" Yeslick said, turning around. "Ain't I? I'm to blame. I'm to blame for everything!"
"You aren't—" Jaheira said.
"You don't get it, do you? If I hadn't broken the pact none of this would have happened. If I'd have kept me big gob shut there'd be no slaves, no iron trouble, no bandits, no talk of war. It's me that's done it. I let the Iron Throne take over this place. And I'll be damned—I'm sorry, Dad," he said, breaking off and talking to the air. "I shamed the family, I know."
"That is madness," Xan said. "The villains would have found a way to do harm, with or without you."
"Indeed," Kivan said. "Do not end your life over one slipped word. Your death will not bring back those that have perished."
"I'm sorry," Yeslick said. "But I'm not running again. I'm gonna put this right, the only way I can."
No one spoke. They stared at the dwarf, the tears now obvious on his hairy cheeks. He wandered over to Rill's severed head, caressing him tenderly.
"Looks like it's just you and me, eh, friend? I knew you were trouble the minute I laid eyes on you, you old coot."
"Will you do something?" Imoen exclaimed in a whisper. "He's obviously out of his mind."
"No, lassie," he said. "I've never been in a better mind in my life. Now you lot gonna run, or am I gonna have to take you with me?"
"Let's go," Khalid said, staring at the dwarf with serious eyes.
"Finn?" Anna asked, looking at him.
"Yeslick, mate—" he began.
"Don't you hear the alarms? They're coming for you. You'd better run," Yeslick said, turning once more to the gate.
.....
Finn grabbed Anna's arm and she felt herself being pulled down corridors, running as fast as her weary feet could take her. The halls were empty except for that horrible noise, the battering of the bells that never ceased. Where the guards were she did not know—had they escaped, were they looking somewhere else? Where were the cooks? But her feet never stopped moving even when she felt like she would collapse.
She felt a strange pressure change in her ears, but perhaps it was exhaustion. Bringing up the rear she heard Khalid shout something, but she paid no heed as she saw a sliver of true daylight before her eyes. The door was jammed open, just enough to allow them to slip through.
Anna cried out wearily as the true world became open to her nearly blinded sight—the trees, the air, the sun, they were not dreams after all. She heard an exploding noise though and Finn grabbed her again, dragging the pair of them out of range of a shooting white sheet of water that penetrated the door at their heels. They collapsed together onto the forest floor, watching the deluge surging away.
