Chapter XI

Beyond the Dark Woods was a place called the Great Marsh, as the entered it Geldar could feel the rankness in the air. This place had once teemed with life, now it just harboured vermin. Not that it was an easier getting through it. Monsters were more and more numerous, travelling in large groups and following eerily organised attack plans.
"At least we know we're getting closer to the Monastery," Talina said. "The air is cooler as we're higher up."

Geldar noticed this too but didn't comment, he longed for the warm climates of the East, humid and bug-infested as they were. They came to a stop about noon; there was a well nearby where they refreshed themselves after Geldar pronounced it safe.

"So she's in a tower?" Geldar asked and Talina nodded.

"It's going to be hard going," Talina said.

"Nothing we can't handle," Geldar replied.

"Much more undead underground," Talina reminded him.

"I'm fine," Geldar said. "I don't know about you."
Talina scowled as she filled up her waterskin and put it in her pack. A spot of rain fell on her face and she examined the sky, another storm was coming.

"At least we'll be inside," Talina mused as they set off in the pouring rain.

The tower was crumbling when they got to it, and rather dangerous as they ducked under the low doorway. Geldar looked around cautiously, and then he noticed the ladder leading down.

"Looks like that's where we are headed," Geldar said, he didn't sound pleased. "How much daylight is left?"

"A few hours," Talina said. "Though it's next to impossible to tell with the clouds. Why do you ask? It would be dark always down there anyway."

"We need to make a fire," Geldar said, reaching into his pack for some birch bark and dry kindling.

"Why?" Talina asked.

"I don't have the energy to make light for us to see and fight," Geldar replied. "See what wood you can find. They and get some nice long sticks as well."

"Will do," Talina said and she disappeared into the rain.

Geldar shredded some of the bark and surrounded it with kindling; he then got out a flint stone and struck it against his sword until he had a few flames. Slowly, almost lovingly, he brought up a soft blaze on the floor of the tower. The rest of the bark he had put aside so they could use it when the explored underground.

Within a few minutes Talina was back, she placed some wood on the floor and peeled off her wet cloak. Shivering she sat close to the fire.

"We're not going back tonight, are we?" She asked him.

"What do you mean?" He asked her.

"The marsh is flooding," Talina replied. "We're on high ground here but there's no way back now."

"The waypoint?" Geldar asked.

"Surrounded by a sea of mud," Talina replied. "Face it; we're here for the night."

"We'll take turns watching," Geldar replied. "That wood will do us good and out cloaks will dry."

"I'm worried about there," Talina said and pointed to the hole.

"Whoever is on sentry will have to keep both eyes open then," Geldar answered.

They had a frugal meal of hard bread with pieces of cheese that they toasted in the fire. Fortunately for them the wind was blowing against the wall of the tower so inside they were warm and dry, even if only for a time. To warm them up Geldar boiled some water in a small pot he kept in his pack and threw in a few herbs.

"What's this?" Talina asked.

"We call it tea in the East," Geldar replied, he took a sip and offered it to her. "It'll warm you up even if we have to share."

Talina cautiously took a mouthful and some of the colour returned to her cheeks. By now it was full dark and their cloaks were giving off steam in the warmth of the tower. Talina was almost asleep so Geldar let her be; he threw her cloak over her sleeping form and sat behind the doorway wrapped in his mantle to take the first watch.

After a few hours Talina relieved him and Geldar was asleep before his head touched the fold of his cloak. He was awakened in the cold light of the early morning by the sound of scratching coming from the hole in the floor.

Geldar immediately bolted to his feet and reached for his sword, Talina was already making short work of the scavengers that had emerged from the hole after the few scraps of food they had left. A few quick slashes and they were no more.

"Good morning," Talina said with a smile. "Nice of you to join me at last."

"Why didn't you wake me?" Geldar asked her.

"You looked so peaceful," Talina replied. "And I didn't need any help, thank you."

"You're welcome," Geldar replied and he went to restart the fire.

After a quick breakfast Geldar made and lit the birch bark torches that smoked and spluttered with an intense heat. Quickly he doused the fire with the remainder of the tea so they could be off.

"How are we going to get down the ladder?" Talina asked.

"I'll have to pass them to you one at a time," Geldar replied.

When they were both down Geldar took a quick look around. He paused in a doorway then motioned for Talina to follow him.

"Look," he said, pointing to a circle of flames ahead of them. "Fiery symbols of evil power, we've come to the right place."

"That's not all," Talina said and she pointed to some apparitions coming towards them.

"Great Light of Akarat!" Geldar swore. "What are they?"

"Keep back," Talina said and she readied her spear. "Something tells me they can harm us in more than one way."

As Geldar quickly put their torches into wall brackets Talina threw one of her javelins; but it did little more than break a few bones of the advancing flying skeletons. Geldar was about to rush forward and hack them with his sword, but he thought better of it and switched it for a flail with a long handle. After several stokes one of the ghosts shattered with a satisfying smash.

Talina swung her javelin like a club that knocked one of the skeletons back, as she did this Geldar summoned Holy Bolt which finished the ghost off. After a few minutes there was nothing but the dripping of water, the quick breaths of the two heroes and in the distance the crackling of flames.

"We go on?" Geldar asked but Talina stopped him.

"What is that flash of light you summon?" She asked him.

"You mean Holy Bolt?" Geldar asked. "It's a sort of electric spell but it works only on the undead and humans."

"So it kills humans?" Talina asked.

"Kills, no," Geldar replied. "Heals, it does."

"Oh," was all Talina could say.

A few minutes of silence past and then they both walked towards the fire holding their torches before them.