Beginning: Victoria
Chapter 10
As time goes by, the light provided to the travelers in the ant tunnel becomes dimmer. The glimmering stones become farther apart and the four must now watch their footing carefully down the steps and platforms made of stone. In addition, the once warm air is slowly turning cold. The cold air makes Siya miss her dark general's armor that she left back in the woods of the dungeon. The woman at the inn had kindly given her a pair of pants and a long sleeved shirt to wear, but it was hardly the clothing needed for battle. A warrior needs strong armor because the battle style is up close and receives more blows from the enemy. She knows she must pay special attention if they engage in any sort of battle. The incident with the steely reminds her of that and she slides her hand over her stomach where the bloody wound once was.
"Hard to believe so many people use to travel these tunnels," says Valencia.
They had all thought the same.
"Did they find the gold in these parts you think?" asks Jaimus examining the walls as they continue to descend.
"As the stones turn blue and the air to ice," says Zenith.
"What," asks Jaimus?
"That's when you find the most precious gems," says Zenith. "It's something I heard on my first visit to Sleepywood."
The air becomes thin and their breathing becomes harder. How deep are they? When does it end? Sira walks behind Zenith pondering their dept and doesn't notice the assassin has stopped. She bangs into him and is startled.
"What is it?" asks Sira.
Zenith turns with his finger over his mouth hushing them.
"Listen," he whispers.
Sira along with Jaimus and Valencia listen carefully. A distant growling sound is heard along with the faint echo of tumbling stone. They creep along a stone wall until they come through a narrow opening and into a very large area. Hissing and growling sounds flood their senses. Zenith stops and holds out his hands stopping the others behind him. They peer over his shoulder and see that about 20 feet below the area where they stand are hundreds of creatures swarming. They gaze in horror at the large creature that for the first time behold their eyes: large scaly beasts that stand on their back feet with sharp teeth and spikes lining their backs and tails. The creatures growl and knock at each other. Amongst them many evil eyes scurry about confused and attacking each other.
"What are they," whispers Siya?
"Drakes," answers Zenith.
"Wow, why are they all down there," asks Jaimus?
"I don't care," says Zenith. "We have a nice path up here that avoids the mobs below."
"Illegal magic," says Valencia. "Of a very high level...It's a gravity spell."
"Let's be on our way," says Jaimus. "If the spell wears off they may find their way back to this area."
They jog across the open area for a few minutes before reaching a small tunnel. Valencia runs her fingers along the walls.
"This tunnel was made by men," says the mage.
They enter the small area and Sira catches up to the assassin who is leading the way. She goes to say something, but he speaks first.
"I know," says Zenith softly. "It must have been done by him."
"Do you think he is...?" she asks.
"Let's hope not..." says the assassin bouncing ahead.
As they come to the end of the tunnel, they are engulfed by a bright blue light and a cold chill sweeps over them. The cave walls glimmer with blue crystals filling the caves with a beautiful blue glow. "As the stones turn blue and the air to ice" had been Zeniths words and here it is. The beauty before them is quickly forgotten as they realize how cold the air in the cave has become. White puffs of air escapes their mouth as they breathe. Zenith and Jaimus step forward to examine the area and then return to Valencia and Sira.
"There is a different breed of evil eye swarming below," says Jaimus. "I believe if we trek carefully through this stone maze we can avoid them. It seems the gravity spell has been used in this room as well."
On those words the four travelers creep down on ledges and platforms twisting and turning through the many corridors of the vast cave. It takes them close to an hour to find the end of the maze. They find a large area to sit and rest. The smaller area is empty and they cautiously sit down for the first time in hours. Zenith bounces off to see what lay on the other side of a high cliff. Sira and Valencia follow the sound of running water in hopes of finding a spring. They are startled by geysers that spring up hot water from time to time.
As the sound of the water becomes louder they see a small area where a fresh spring runs between some large rocks. Valencia and Sira kneel down to fill their water canteens. A small splashing noise catches the spear girls attention and she looks to her right... something splashed in the water not far away. She takes a few steps and looks down a small slope; a small gasp escapes her lips.
"Val..." she whispers. "Come here."
The magician approaches and looks down the slope. A large purple beast sits drinking out of the stream. Its long fluffy tail sways back and forth and soft purring sound echoes.
"Isn't it cute?" says Sira.
"Yes," says the magician. "We should go warn the others."
The magician turns on her heals and tip toes away from the beast. A few feet away she realizes that Sira is not following. She turns around and sees the spear girl creeping towards the beast.
"Sira," she whispers. "What the hell are you doing?"
Valencia creeps towards the spear girl.
"It's so cute," says Sira. "Maybe it's a gentle creature."
"What if its not?" asks the mage.
A few feet from the beast they both stop. Sira begins to get nervous. It's an enormous creature; bigger then anything she has ever encountered. What if it wasn't docile? She takes another step and makes a noise tripping on some pebbles. The beast's large pearly eyes turn towards the two women and snorts. Large sharp teeth slide from its mouth as it growls and turns towards them.
"Nice kitty," says Valencia backing away slowly pulling on Sira. "Run!"
The beast pounces forward and growls. The girls run as fast as they can, jumping over rocks and climbing onto different ledges to get back to where they had set up camp to rest. The beast pursues jumping from rock to rock.
"Bad kitty," yells Sira as she runs frantically.
As they approach the area where they had sat to rest, Jaimus stands. He sees the large beast galloping behind the two women and fires arrows with his bow. The beast continues to charge forward. He grabs his back and runs as the girls reach his side.
"What's that?" he asks.
"Just ... run..." says Valencia passing him with teleport.
They climb a slope as fast as they can, avoiding the random geysers, and as the beasts' steps seem to be right behind them. They hear a squeal and look up to see Zenith throwing his weapons, injuring the creature and slowing it down.
Zenith is almost out of Kumbi stars and Sira is the one carrying his pack with his spare weapons. He picks up the pace, throwing a Kumbi to slow the beast now and then. He does not have time to retrieve his pack and get his extras. Up ahead he sees a rope ladder leading to a high platform. The beast would not be able to climb and they would be safe. He is out of stars and the beast is gaining ground, they would not make it in time, he fears. As they approach the ladder, his eyes fall upon some spiked stones frozen from spring water. He slides on the ground grabbing the spike, breaking it off and holding it tightly. It would have to do...He jumps to face the angered beast and throws the icicle with all of his strength letting some of his magic energy fuel to last minute weapon. The icicle pierces the creature's leg and the beast falls to the ground momentarily. Zenith grunts happily at his icicle idea, turning around to proceed in running towards the ladder. The four travelers hop on the ladder and climb as fast as they can. They reach the top before the beast reaches the ladder. They keep running until they enter a new smaller area and stop, panting.
"What is that?" asks Jaimus.
They look up and see a wooden entrance.
"Entrance to a deeper part of the mines I'm guessing," says Sira.
"It could be the last tunnels the miners were working on before they were chased from these mines by the spawns." says Zenith.
"With cats that big and hungry I can see why they didn't continue their work," says Jaimus trying to catch his breath.
The bowman and magician walk towards the wooden entrance and examine it, touching the large beams that hold the stones up. Sira walks around the open area with Zenith by her side...She is curious to see every inch of this area. The area isn't big and there seems to be some nooks where the light does not shine. She holds out her hand as it becomes dark around her, she doesn't feel any walls so she steps carefully making sure the platform upon which they stand does not come to an end. She taps with her foot lightly before taking a step. When the sound changes to that of taping on wood she bends down to verify - it is wood.
"Zen...," says the spear girl.
"Hmm?" mumbles Zenith.
"Feel here," she says guiding his hand in the dark.
The assassin touches the wooden plank on the ground. He pulls on it and is surprised to be struck by a ray of blue light illuminating the area where he and Sira had stood in darkness. Jaimus and Valencia turn their gaze towards the new light. The assassin and spear girl peer down and see that the wood had been covering a man sized hole in the ground. A long rope is attached falling some twenty feet down and landing on another illuminated platform.
"This is interesting," says Jaimus. "I never heard tell of a fork in the road in the mines from Sabitrama. He said to keep walking straight and we would come to the end of the tunnel."
"I want to see what's down there," says Sira, her curiosity becoming wild.
"Let's go cautiously please," says Valencia.
One after the other they slide down the rope, with Sira the last to descend. As her feet land on the hard stone floor she looks over in amazement at the enormous stone doors. They tower above the travelers like doors to a parlor of giants. Sira approaches the doors and slides her finger on the words carved around the doors archway. Her eyes land upon something familiar. She slides her hand over it; the same medallion that hangs around her neck is lodged into the stone on the side of the door. She looks over at the other side and sees a small circular area empty. She takes out her medallion and places it into the stone hole. Zenith looks over at her astonished. Her father had taken the medallion from this very spot. She feels a chill run down her spine. She wants to see farther into the tunnel, she wants to see the inside of the temple. She looks over the words again and whispers them out loud.
"Within this temple carved in stone, dwells the beast with Dragon's Roar."
