-1The remainder of the night passed uneventfully. Well, at least as uneventful as a night can be where Rom and Kendrac are involved. Once the undead creature was dispatched and the other dwarves sat around the fire, Rom peered his head from around the klerk tree.

"Stinky spooky thingee gone?" He asked nervously.

"Yes Rom, its gone." Haldis responded. "Its safe now."

"Okey Dokey!" Rom walked over to the fire and pulled out a long stick from one of his pouches. Something small and white was stuck on the end. He placed the stick over the flames and watched. After a moment, he frowned. "Fire not hot. Need more wood. Rom fetch."

He picked up an axe and started towards the trees. After examining them for a few moments, he selected one.

Noticing what particular tree Rom was about to cut down, Toren lifted his arm to catch the little dwarf's attention. "Errr...Rom? I don't think..."

Armin cut him off. "Just wait, Tor."

Toren shrugged and turned to watch, as did the others. Rom spit into his hands and rubbed them together. He grabbed the axe, took a couple of practice swings, stuck a finger into his mouth and then pointed the finger up to check the wind. He hefted the axe and took a mighty swing.

He missed. He missed because the tree moved a foot backwards. The momentum of the axe slicing through the air spun Rom around twice before he fell on his arse.

"Ooopsie?" Rom shook his head and stood up. He reset himself and took another swing. Again the tree jumped backwards out of the range of the blade. "Wha?"

Rom growled and charged the tree, which turn and ran into the night.

"Shouldn't we, um...stop him?" Toren asked.

"Armin shook his head. "Nope. Let 'em burn some energy."

Morning found the group short two dwarves.

"Where are they?" asked Strom.

Armin was about to answer when the sound of someone or something approaching interrupted him. The dwarves turned, reaching for weapons. Walking up from the woods came Rom, carrying a single log, and the axe. Kendrac was no where to be seen.

Haldis furrowed her brow and looked around. "Ahh...Rom? Where's Kendrac?"

Rom dropped the log on the nearly burned out fire and looked at Haldis, shrugging. "Dunno. Too busy chasing tree."

You...ah...didn't catch the tree, did you?" asked Wil, albeit hesitantly.

Rom shook his head. "nope...got lost, tripped over door." He grinned. "but found log!"

The others sighed a collected sigh of relief. They started to collect their belongs when Strom spoke up.

"Wait. where IS Kendrac?"

Rom looked up. "Not sure. Heard sounds from door, but then found log."

The others looked at each other. Three kegs say that door gets us to that castle." Strom said, indicating the castle in the mountains, partially obscured by the morning mist.

Haldis shuddered. "Ain't takin that bet."

Armin stood, slinging his red shield onto his back. He bounced the bracers in his hands, then slid them onto his wrists.

Toren cocked his head. "Kendrac's bracers?"

Armin nodded. "Spent part o me watch loadin it with me weapons." He banged them together while saying the word 'sword,' and his shortsword appeared in his hand. "seems ta work, fer now."

Once the dwarves were ready, they followed Rom to the door in the ground. After circling multiple trees multiple times, crossing and re-crossing their path, they finally found it. It was probably a hundred years old if not more. It was partially open, enough to allow a small dwarf to slip through. The entrance was up against a slight rise, and rough stairs were visible behind the rotting doors. Toren reached down and grabbed the iron ring that apparently served as a handle. It came free with the barest of tugs, letting Toren fall backwards. Armin caught him and chuckled.

"Best ta use yer foot, eh?" He suggested.

Toren nodded, walked forward and forcefully placed a foot into the door. The hinges easily and noisily gave way and the door, along with a cursing Toren, collapsed down the stairs.

"Silly baldy-locks." Rom giggled.

Strom shook his head. "So much fer bein quiet, eh?"

Whil smirked. "If Kendrac is already in there, bein' quiet now ain't gonna help."

Strom nodded. "Point taken."

Rom tried to push the others into the entrance. "Gogogo! Find da Klerk!"

They moved down twenty steps until they reached a rough hewn floor, and Toren.

"Tunnel is old...five hundred years mebbe. Basic, nothin' fancy." He pointed down the passageway. "Goes fer a ways, then starts up. Slight grade."

"Take point. Strom bring up th' rear." Armin looked at Haldis. "Gonna need yer spells no doubt."

Haldis nodded, and the dwarves started down the tunnel single file. Toren took the lead, his maul in hand. Armin followed. He spoke the word "crossbow" to summon the ranged weapon from his bracers. With a slight pop, a crossbow bolt appeared in his hands. He frowned.

"Crossbow!" He growled, and a this time, he was rewarded with the crossbow appearing in his hands. Grumbling, he loaded the bolt into the channel of the weapon and pulled the string back.

Whil followed behind Armin, grinning a bit at the red haired dwarf's troubles. She hefted her gift from Kendrac, her "Roar" hammer, and trudged along. Haldis followed Whil, wielding her red dragonscale shield and her axe.

"Sneak. Sneak. Sneak." Whispered Rom as he clanked along behind the two female dwarves. The sticks on his bucket helm scraped occasionally along the ceiling, and his mismatched armor banged against the walls. He carried his frying pan in both hands.

Behind him, shaking his head, came Strom. He kept his distance from the others, staying back thirty feet or so, and keeping his body somewhat sideways, to allow himself to keep an eye behind the group. He carried twin axes in his hands. Despite his vigilance, he never saw the shadows creeping along the wall behind them.