Chapter Ten:
The Labyrinth
It was after dinner that Maxim spotted Dekar leaving the castle quite hurriedly and not too openly. He attempted to gain his attention, but was not spotted, which raised his curiosities. Through various discussions and a few accidental eavesdroppings they found out what Sir Dekar and the authorities of Bound had found out—Idura was hiding out within the Northern Labyrinth.
The Labyrinth was an ancient structure that, of the last half-century or so, was abandoned by the nearby inhabitants. It contained a system of mazes that were lengthened from the ancient ruins of one of the great castles of this continent's history. Originally used as an escape route that allowed the kingdom's inhabitants to escape a devastating attack, and then for more secret, and at times dark purposes, the Labyrinth had now become grown-over and desolate. Various earthquakes added to the confusion and abandonment. At least until recently, as now it seemed, Idura had a base of operations there.
Naturally, Maxim and Selan wanted to follow Sir Dekar in hopes of finding out more information about this Idura and, ideally, Gades as well. So, they turned to Maxim's excellent tracking skills and ability to remain unseen to the various Bound guards littering the areas.
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It was a day and a half journey to these tunnels and they did not catch up to Dekar along the way. Cautiously, they approached the only entrance they could see to what was obviously the Labyrinth. The secrets lay within the winding passages, not its location. No apparent watch was in place, if this truly was Idura and his band's hideout.
Tia, Maxim, and Selan first wound their way through the open aired pathways before the Labyrinth plunged into the depths of the earth. The walls were covered with quick growing ivy that was now in full blossom. But, despite the sweet, fruity aroma from the ivy's flower, our group of three was not at ease.
As the outside path delved underground the scent took on very different characteristics. The sweet smells of the flowers that almost caused Tia to forget what they were doing was replaced with stagnant, dead air thick with the decay of the underworld's growth.
Of course, the light also lessened, but it was not as dark as one might suppose. Every so often a window in the ceiling would spring forth light anew, but with a bit of firelight the walls of the labyrinth even seemed to reflect more light.
The height of the tunnels varied in size, but soon they narrowed so that single file was the only way they could progress, with Maxim in front and Selan guarding the rear. Tia was very glad for this fact, although it cannot be said that she housed no courage. Even to the great swordsmen a front and rear guard of greater or equal skill is much welcomed.
They traveled in this fashion for a half-hour, still trying to grow used to the musty smell that assaulted them at every step. Once they had satisfactorily accomplished this (or really just began to ignore its displeasure), a new menace arose to hassle them.
They arrived in few numbers at first, but then quickly grew into large packs buzzing about their heads. These were the shadow flies. A small, but incessant annoyance that did not bite like mosquitoes but one's skin was just as irritated while they were present. At first this caused Tia, Maxim, and Selan to talk about their annoyance, but after a few of the pests were swallowed, silence followed.
Luckily (but after too much time they all said) they eventually came into a larger set of rooms. They were quite cavernous, actually, and it caused them all to wonder how far underground they exactly were. This area, though, was also well lit by some sort of slimy, luminescent substance that lined the ceiling above them.
Here, while the shadow flies still followed them, they began traveling through some cavernous and some smaller rooms. In these there would often be multiple paths one could take, but they always seemed to meet back up at certain points. Our group learned this the hard way, as they often found themselves returning to the room they had first made their choice in. By this point they were growing tired and frustrated at everything, even though the time that had actually passed and the ground covered was made to seem three times as long as it actually was. The temperature seemed to steadily rise as well, as they did begin to go slightly uphill again, but it was probably also exaggerated by their frustrations.
And then they entered another large room, but soon found that they only way out of the room appeared to be from the direction they came. But it was a large room, so they thought they should cautiously explore it.
After a few minutes Tia said, "There's nothing in this roomâwhere did we go wrong?"
"I'm not sure," came Selan's response. "There's something different in the air of this room, though. This emptiness feels weird. I can't explain it."
Tia seemed to ignore these words, was obviously frustrated, and walked a little off to her left.
Seeing this, but not thinking much of it, Maxim told her, "Hey, Tia. Don't walk around carelessly, we should stick together."
"I'll be fine," is what Tia had attempted to say, but the final word just trailed off as she disappeared beneath the ground out of either of her companions' sight and earshot. Selan was the first to reach the hole that swallowed Tia's form up.
"Maxim, we've got to get to her quick!"
"Do you see another way down?" Maxim asked, frantically looking all around himself.
"We don't have the time for that, we should just go from here," Selan responded and then jumped down the hole.
"What theâ?" Maxim said, while all he could do was follow Tia and Selan down that hole. Of course, all of this happened in a few seconds, so they were actually quite close in distance.
It was an experience none of them had ever experienced before. Tia described it as what a bird must feel as it soars in the air, rising and falling on the currents of the wind. It was surely different than that, however, by the fact that one was enclosed within a tunnel maybe five times an average person's width instead of the freedom that the sky grants the birds. Nor could you see what was ahead, which lead to a tremendous amount of fear if one could think that far ahead.
At first, the ride was taking them so quick that they experienced an exciting, fearful experience of what was exactly happening, not what could be happening soon. However, as the ride lengthened and the hopes of their immediate safety rising, they soon had 'more' time to think of what may lay ahead of them, both within the tunnel, and if they ever got out of it alive.
The walls were smooth with no rough edges at all. Still, instinct had each person crossing their chest with their arms, attempting to occupy as less space as possible. Only every now and then did any of them have the courage to lift their head for what turned out to be a very darkened view of what lay before them.
Soon they did exit the tunnel, as they were propelled out of separate tunnel exits (through some mossy plant that had overgrown them) into a batch of softness (silky soft leaves and matter of that sort) that obviously had not occurred there naturally. Although, it probably was softer when these passages were more readily used. They wondered what for, though.
In fact, it was many centuries ago that these passages were in use, and it wasn't initially created and used by the human race. It was a quicker way for retreat, so that the Kings who used it could regroup their soldiers more quickly, but Maxim, Selan, and Tia were not aware of any of that.
As Selan joined Tia, having escaped the soft bundle of material, she noticed that Tia had caught something else's eye. It was an insect creature with many thick segments attached together, about half the size of a human. Two of its antennae were feeling perilously close to the ground by Tia's feet, but she had not noticed it yet, due to the shock that was still hers from the tunnel ride.
Selan attended to the creature before it attended to Tia, however, striking it hard enough to cause it to withdraw immediately, but was not a fatal blow. Maxim joined them a second later.
"Are you all right, Tia?" Maxim asked her.
"Yes, I'm fine, now. Selan saved me from that thing," she offered back. She was obviously still shaken up from the past two experiences.
"It was crazy, Selan, but I don't know what would have happened if you hadn't jumped down right away without thinking," Maxim told her.
"Yes, I acted very carelessly. It worked out all right this time, but that is not always the case," she responded. She seemed lost in the hurtful thought of some past action, but Maxim did not ask about it. Lack of complete confidence in her decisions was often a weakness of Selan's, largely (and understandably so) due to her young age in regards to many of those she was an authority over. Also, simply for the fact that she, so often, was the one having to make tough decisions.
Then they began to gather their wits and whereabouts (not to mention their equipment) together, searching for a way out of this room. For surely, since these landing pads were not naturally forming, there had to be a way out for whoever came down here. If it was used as a prison why would they provide padding for them when they landed? Unless they were truly malicious captors, of course, who wanted their prisoners to be tortured with a longer life, as well as by false hopes. Maxim quickly brushed this reasoning aside and returned to their task.
"Perhaps there is a secret door somewhere," Selan offered, intrigued at the wonders the Labyrinth seemed to hold. Soon, however, she was gone from their sight, having fallen through another hole in the floor. Maxim raced to the position, Tia attempted to repeat Selan's words about carelessness to him, but she relented and they both jumped down the chute after Selan.
This ride was much of the same, although it lasted much shorter and its descent was less. Finding Selan at the edge of the softness, Maxim asked if she was all right.
With a slightly sarcastic smile Selan said, "Tsk, tsk, Maxim. We just agreed that that was a foolish thing to do, but you jumped down right away anyway."
Trying to justify himself Maxim offered in defense, "IâI might have said that but"
"Can't you tell when someone is kidding, Maxim? I'm actually very glad you came right away. Perhaps when other people's lives are on the line, some risks must be taken. Again she seemed absorbed in the thought of some lost past.
"Well, I'm glad you're ok. Girls, I do not want a turn at going first on another tunnel, so let's be careful. Let's see where this path leads us to," Maxim said as they had stumbled upon a straighter path of some sort that had no paths to choose from.
Turning again to Tia, Maxim asked her what was wrong, having noticed that she, too, was lost in thought. You're so sweet, Max. It would have been much easier if you'd been cold, she recalled thinking at the time. But she said, "What? Oh, I'm sorry, let's go."
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They had continued on this pathway another half-hour until their frustrations of finding nothing were quickly relieved. Both they and the group of people they had stumbled upon were quite surprised at this meeting. The leader of those intruded upon was the very Idura they were seeking, but he was not expecting anyone but Sir Dekar.
It turns out that the watches around the entrances to the Labyrinth were taken away to lure Sir Dekar deeper into their paths. And he was slowly led, like a funnel, straight towards the waiting Idura, who had already (and quite easily) captured Prince Alex and his aide. However, this also served to mask Maxim, Selan, and Tia's entrance and subsequent travels through the Labyrinth.
Quickly a few of the orcs that accompanied Idura were sent towards the three intruders to bind them. They were not as cooperative, however, showing Idura that this was not going to be as easy as he thought.
In two strokes Maxim had cut down the first of the orcs. Selan had disarmed another just a few seconds later, which caused both of the remaining orcs to fall back.
Idura ordered five more orcs to subdue their guests, but the orcs were more hesitant after seeing the efficiency Maxim and Selan displayed. Still, the race of orcs lived for the purpose of bloodshed. The three humans were ready for them. Our heroes were positioned defensively well in the room, with a small isthmus of land separating them from the orcs, allowing only a few orcs at a time to get across to attack them. They also had their backs to a wall (besides the small opening they entered through), which kept them from being surrounded.
Maxim and Selan, being the better fighters, tried to keep the brunt of the attack facing them, shielding Tia a bit, but she could definitely hold her own.
Maxim was a patient fighter, waiting for the moments to counterattack, while the orcs were bloodthirsty and zealous in their attack. This, of course, gave Maxim his opportunities to counterattack effectively.
After a few testing strikes, one orc unleashed a wild swing arcing upwards towards Maxim's head, which allowed Maxim to quickly duck under it, slicing the attacker across his stomach. Another orc stepped in to attack, but Maxim was easily able to shield the blow with his sword. A quick spin allowed him to knock the beast off balance with his shoulder, then a kick missed, but a slashing strike with his sword cut the flesh on the orcs right arm, causing it to scream in pain.
Meanwhile Selan quickly handled the orcs dumb enough to deem her unworthy of a real fight on account of her sex. With one strike the first orc had lost his arm up to the elbow and Selan was balanced and facing the other two closest to her. They reached out for her at the same time, but Selan maneuvered between the two, slicing the breastplate of the one on her left, while smashing the other in the head with the brunt of her shield.
One orc had been able to reach Tia, unhindered, but Tia was ready for him. She had her small sword at the ready, blocked two of the orc's swings, sidestepped another, and then sliced the beast across its back. It quickly retreated and regrouped with the other bested orcs.
Then came the second attack, in full fury, from the same orcs, which ended in all of them laid slain at the humans' feet. And still, it seemed, more and more orcs were being sent to try to kill them.
As another wave of orcs charged towards them bellowing out all sorts of noises Maxim screamed, "I don't know how much more of this we can handle; this can't just keep going on or we will be too tired to fight." You could see Selan fighting between Maxim's words and her own pride, and frustration was the outcome.
If the noise of armor, grunts, and cries of war had been taken away, they could have heard Idura's laughter, as he realized what they did.
Another Voice, however, did hear it and it answered, "What's so funny?" Here everyone who heard his booming voice (helped by the echo of the room) turned towards the Voice, some recognizing it as Sir Dekar.
Unfortunately for a few of the orcs, they too, turned, while Maxim, Selan, and Tia were fully engaged in the battle, striking down the orcs closest to them. And then everyone was silent and still for a moment.
Idura screamed for three of his orcs to attack Dekar, but they quickly fell once they reached him, proving no match at all.
After dispensing of the last goblin, Dekar shouted back, "Why don't you stop sending these stupid creatures and come over here yourself, Idura?"
With his defenses lessened (only a few were left that were not injured), Idura quickly dismissed the challenge, belted out, "The game has just begun. It will get more exciting the next time we see each other."
Idura then vanished from their sight, apparently warping to a safer place. The orcs that were left appeared confused and had already been limping from their wounds. Those that could scattered from the room, leaving their comrades behind to their fates.
Dekar first made his way to Maxim, Selan, and Tia. "You guys got there quick. I know I entered the Labyrinth first, but you must have passed me along the way," Dekar spoke.
"Yeah, we did stumble upon a shortcut it seems," Maxim responded, eliciting some giggles from the girls.
"There seems to be a tale behind your words. Perhaps I might be able to hear it one day, but first I must free the Prince and his aide. Dekar walked over to the makeshift cage, quickly broke the lock off, and rescued them from their prison.
"Are you all right, Your Highness," Dekar said with concern covering his face.
The Prince had a rueful countenance, like a man who had just realized how foolish the dream he built his life around had been and how damaging it was to his view of reality. "I am fine, Sir Dekar and I seek your forgiveness. My foolish actions have caused this trouble for you. I am truly sorry."
Trying to encourage Prince Alex, Dekar offered, "Your Highness, it was you who came on this journey and entered the Labyrinth for your country and your people. Not everyone would even care to do that. Do not be so hard on yourself."
"Perhaps, but there was nothing I could really do in the matter," a resigned Alex answered back.
"It takes anyone practice to become a fighter, Your Highness. With practice you would become an excellent swordsman, I'm sure of it," Dekar countered back.
"Perhaps, then, I should learn from the best, Sir Dekar, if time would allow," said Alex.
"It would be my pleasure, Your Highness," Dekar answered without even noticing the cockiness his assumption, of whom Prince Alex referred to as the best, entailed. The three standing behind him noticed, and two of them disagreed, while Tia thought nothing of the claim other than how much space in his brain that his ego must take up.
As she thought more on Dekar (while they traveled towards the surface) what struck Tia, however, was Dekar's care for Prince Alex. It was what she figured an older brother should do for his younger siblings. Perhaps he was forgetful, and definitely arrogant to a point of annoyance, she was impressed with his brotherly love, his trustworthiness, and his loyalty. It made her wish for a brother like that.
And then another thought struck her, although she dismissed it just as quickly. She saw that some of the facets of her relationship with Maxim were much like that, in spirit not in actuality. But, again, she dismissed that as fear and doubt, thinking it absurd.
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Back on the surface everyone was regrouping as they breathed in the fresh air. The sun was beginning to descend from its peak; while it was a breezy day and definitely better than the dark, grimy confines they had just spent half the day in. The color filled their sight, while the cool, refreshing air invigorated their lungs.
After giving orders to his troops to recover the injured orcs, and any that might be wandering the tunnels along the way, as well as investigating anything else left behind (which seemed little), Dekar made his way over to Maxim, Selan, and Tia.
Having full confidence in his soldiers, and desiring to see Prince Alex back to the fortified city as soon as possible, Dekar led the Prince, his aide, Tia, Selan, and Maxim, accompanied by two other soldiers back to Bound Kingdom.
Author's Notes
I did the first half of this chapter like a couple days after I updated with the last chapter. Well, that was like a month ago or more, and I just now finished it. I hope it isn't fragmented, but I just wanted to turn this one out. Don't know if I'll update soon or not, I guess it depends on if the passion hits me. Got some schoolwork to do, some Madden 2005 to play, and some other, more important things, but maybe I'll find the time ï.
If you care, this was actually a combination from two different parts of the game. It is actually earlier in the game that the whole falling down the holes thing happens (not too much). It's a perfect made for movie scene, though, isn't it? Actually, the scene from Goonies went through my headâif you haven't seen that movie, what are you waiting for, go get it and watch itânowâit's a classic. Really, I'll wait for youâgo on, what are you waiting for.
Ok, now that you are back, what did you think. Old? Yes. Kiddish? Yes. But classic, just great. This movie is up there with Ferris Bueller and those type of movies of my youth. Anyway back to the notes on the story. I'm beginning to see the pains moviemakers have to go through in bringing a book to the screenâwhy they sometimes rearrange things, meld two things together. Until next time, a bid thee adieu.