Rynn backed away, teeth bared in a snarl as she was forced closer to the stone wall of the cave. The darkness pressed in around her and there was barely any light, save from the several glowing red eyes of the quicklings.
A small, shadowy form darted in, jaws snapping and razor claws whipping out. Rynn threw herself evey further back, slashing with Runeblade. She felt it nick something and there was a squeal of fury.
Three more quicklings leaped in, their movements so fast that they were dark blurs in the greater blackness of the cave.
Rynn thrust her hand out and flames blossomed from her fingertips in a golden blaze.
Shrill squeaks of pain accompanied the roar of the fire. Rynn let the spell fade and jumped forward with Runeblade tearing glittering blue paths through the dark air, aiming at shapes only half-seen. The weapon connected with something and made a satisfying crunch. She whirled it back again, hitting another foe.
A scraping, skittering noise heralded the flight of the rest.
Rynn spent a minute gasping for breath, then called up another gout of fire. The flames danced over the earthen floor and grey-brown stone of the cave walls. The ceiling was plunged into shadows high above. She thought she could see eyes up there, reflecting the firelight as they watched her.
Keeping Runeblade in her right hand and the fire hovering above her left, she hurried down the passage the quicklings had been clustered around.
There was a chest.
She glanced around quickly for sight of any more enemies, but saw nothing. This passage was the only way into the cavern, too, and its ceiling was low enough to see clearly. She walked forward and prodded the lid of the chest with Runeblade. Putting the sword down, she tried opening the chest, and found it unlocked. The brass hinges creaked slightly in protest. The inside of the chest was layered with a soft black material, and nestled at the very bottom was a small cluster of luminous jewels.
Rynn swivelled the chest around so she could examine the chest's contents but be facing the passage. Then she carefully reached in and pulled out one of the gems, holding it between her thumb and forefinger. It was about the size of her little fingernail, a pale green colour and as transparent as glass. She sniffed it, half expecting that it was grimstone, but there was no odour.
She allowed herself a grim smile.
Pulling a leather pouch from her belt, she dropped the jewel into it and scooped up a few more, just in case. Standing, she frowned slightly with concentration and used Air to close the chest. It didn't hurt to keep in practise.
Tying the pouch to her belt as securely as she could, she drew Runeblade and left the small cave. A thought caused the magical fire to flare higher and brighter. She could hear the quicklings skittering around at the edge of the light.
So they were fearful of the light, were they? Good.
Ignoring them she walked back through the caverns, retracing her steps to the entrance of this underground warren. Arokh and Morghus would be waiting. When Ebontyne returned, unless she was already waiting, they'd fly straight to Mount Tibor and rejoin with the other Bonded.
And prepare for the beginning of the end.