Chapter 8

The morning dawned cloudy though it didn't seem like there would be rain.

Lauren awoke to see Pherein moving about the camp. Yes, she had to admit, there was something different and intriguing about the big Delorgan warrior, and perhaps, if she dared admit it, something attractive about him. The woman sat up, a smile on her face, a new and exciting thought on her mind. But that would have to wait for now since the plan was to return into the tomb which caused the sensitive woman no measure of fear.

After breakfast it was time to tackle what they'd come to do.

Pherein led the way back into the crypt area of the former temple with Theme Winchell close behind and Professor Horsewood following. The two student assistants were to stay on the surface with Cony Farr guarding them and the camp. Lauren had grabbed Pherein's hand and given it a squeeze spontaneously wishing him luck as he went in that gave another pause, but the seasoned warrior put it out of his mind as he knew he'd likely need to have his wits about him as he prepared to face whatever lay ahead.

After opening the stone door from the previous day, they entered in. Pherein held an ever-burning torch in his shield hand and sword at the ready in the other. The passage was longer than he'd expected, nearly 60 feet long, and he could barely make out that there was some form of door at the end of it. The walls, ceiling and floor were all of precisely cut stone and still held their integrity.

"That should be the entrance to the main chamber," Horsewood whispered, pointing to the end of the hall.

As the trio moved in, they saw at the end of the hall it was in fact a decaying wooden door. They also saw a side passage halfway down that went off from the right.

Pherein signaled a halt and no one moved. It was quiet and still. There was no sound, no movement. He looked down the side corridor and saw it led to another room whose wood door was smashed and standing ajar. It was likely the ghasts had come from there since the chief door at the end of the main corridor appeared to be still sealed.

The trio continued on towards the closed door though Winchell slid back to take the rear. The experienced soldier didn't need to be told to adjust for this. Reaching the door Horsewood examined it with growing excitement. Though rotting it was made of solid oak so maintained its integrity. There were carvings in relief of a variety of scenes all showing multi-tentacled creatures. This was a place of the Mind Flayers.

"This is it," Horsewood confirmed, excitement evident.

"Should we expect traps or the like?" Pherein asked.

"No, this was a holy place for the Illithid," the professor answered. "They would not desecrate it in such a way."

Yet we will be doing just that, Pherein thought to himself but held his tongue. It was not his place to question such things yet for the first time since he'd started adventuring he began to consider the implications of what he did. "Stand back professor, we're going in."

Horsewood moved back into the corridor and Winchell tensed himself in anticipation as Pherein turned the stained brass door handle then pushed the door open. Despite the assurance of the professor the fighter tensed himself not confident in his ability to detect a trap if there was one.

There was nothing.

The door opened easily despite the decay and this time nothing jumped out at them. The trio breathed a sigh of relief and looked in.

Pherein had been in a number of such places over the last couple of years so what he saw was not unexpected. There were a number of stone caskets in the room which were actually larger than expected. The ceiling was vaulted and well over 18 feet tall. There were catacombs in the wall, several that had boxes in them, but the focal point was a green limestone casket on a circular raised dais.

"That's what I came for!" Horsewood declared, ready to push into the room.

"Wait!" Pherein ordered sharply. He knew it was never that easy.

The Delorgan moved cautiously into the room followed by Winchell and Horsewood who stayed near the door. He moved around the room holding his ever-burning torch high to cast light. While he had seen the catacombs there were six other niches in the wall near the raised dais, three on either side, that caught his attention due to their different structure. Worse, he thought he had seen a slight movement in the shadows.

"Is it safe?" Professor Horsewood asked, suddenly nervous.

"I'm not sure," Pherein confessed. "There may be something in here."

The fighter's caution was rewarded when a grinding and clacking sound could be heard coming from several places at the end of the crypt. It didn't take long until humanoid skeletons dressed and armored like ancient warriors began to emerge from those same openings in the walls.

Pherein reacted immediately. "Professor, stay back. Winchell, let's go!"

The fighter surged forward with a roar to engage the guardians of the crypt. The first skeleton had a long sword and steel buckler shield. Pherein swung at it but the animated creature moved with surprising dexterity and blocked the Delorgan's chop.

Other skeletons continued to emerge until six filled the room and converged on the human invaders. The one Pherein had engaged made two quick slashes at him which he had to nimbly move to deflect. He also moved back several steps to be in a better position to defend Professor Horsewood who'd retreated back into a niche in the wall.

Theme Winchell decapitated one of two who had engaged him, but the creature kept going, scoring a hit just under the fighter's armpit. The second skeleton on him held a heavy maul and swung at the man. He was able to block the strike with his sword, but it sent a numbing shockwave through his arms and staggered the burly Latrellan.

Pherein found himself quickly engaged by two skeletons himself with a third waiting for an opening. Hard pressed he moved back in order to allow one of the tombs on the floor to provide cover for his sword arm. The skeletons pressed in, showing as humans they were likely skilled fighters. The seasoned warrior was pushed back onto the defensive as the second skeleton slid over to double team the Delorgan. Pherein was able to score some hits, but his blade merely chipped away at the structure of the attackers and did little damage. While he was able to counter their attacks with his shield and sword he still was back on his heels.

The other fighter was faring better. The ex-Latrellan soldier was able to cut through the spinal column of the skeleton that he'd decapitated and that seemed to do the trick as both parts fell to the stone floor and stopped moving. But the third skeleton stepped into the opening and moved with surprising quickness, scoring a strike with its sword that found a seam in Winchell's armor. That bit into his side and the man winced involuntarily. This happened unfortunately when the skeleton with the maul swung again. The fighter was able to put up only a feeble guard which the heavy weapon blasted through hitting him square in the chest. With a whoosh the air in Winchell's lungs was forced out and he doubled over in pain.

Pherein saw this and tried to fight over towards his vulnerable comrade. He shield bashed the skeleton coming in on him and put his shoulder into a push that smashed it against the stone tomb it had been driven into. The sound of bones cracking was evident and there was an opportunity. The Delorgan kicked the other monster to his front with his heavy boot that staggered it allowing him a free attack on the other pinned against the stone tomb. He took a step back to get leverage and then came in with three savage blows down onto the shoulder and collar bone of the skeleton. The first one weakened it and the second caused it to crack. The third shattered the heavy bone and his enchanted sword cut down through smaller bones and severed its spine. Whatever enchantment had been on the attacker was broken and it fell in pieces. The warrior then sought to move to Theme Winchell but another skeleton with a heavy battle axe stepped in and aggressively swung at him, pushing him back.

Winchell was in trouble. As he was standing up a sword strike hit him on the back, opening a wide gash. The pain and adrenaline surged and he drove his shoulder into the skeleton and pushed it back hard against the wall cracking numerous bones. Instinctively he butted his helmeted head into the monster and though it did no damage it did set it off balance. With a primal scream the fighter swung his sword like a scythe and cut through the rib cage then brought it back using the momentum in a counter strike that caused its chest cavity to explode. The skeleton literally shuddered at the force of the blow and crumpled to the ground. Unfortunately to gain the advantage over the one Winchell had left himself exposed to the other and it took the opportunity and plunged its sword full into the back of the Latrellan. The fighter howled in pain and fell to the floor, bleeding profusely.

Pherein witnessed all this as he fought hard against the remaining two skeletons on him. Unfortunately, while his blade had a strong enchantment on it the damage it did was minor compared to a bludgeoning weapon and so he was forced to trade hits in hopes of finding and damaging whatever was driving the attackers. He'd already been hit several times in unarmored areas and was bleeding freely. He saw the other skeleton standing over the downed Winchell and preparing for the killing blow.

"No!" Pherein screamed in frustration and anger, unable to do anything about it.

But Professor Horsewood came out of his hiding place and ran full speed into the skeleton, knocking it aside. The academic then picked up the downed fighter's sword and began to swing it about wildly.

They still had a chance.

The Delorgan warrior screamed to his god and his ancestors putting on a burst of effort, oblivious to the growing pain, the spirit of his ancients filling him. He lost all form and went into a berserk rage. Battering one and then the other he somehow found an opening and virtually obliterated one of the attackers.

While the remaining skeleton facing the Delorgan was likely a skilled fighter in another life it was no match for the fury of the warrior. Again, Pherein battered mercilessly away with blinding speed scoring hit after hit. While the sword-wielding skeleton fought back and landed several cutting blows it could not stop the warrior from the isles. In short order it simply collapsed from the continuous shock against its frame.

Pherein moved over the pile of bones to aid the professor who'd been backed into a corner and was about to be overwhelmed. The academic fought with surprising skill but Horsewood's lack of training and experience was catching up to him.

Fortunately, the skeleton who saw an easy kill was not paying attention to the coming threat from the rear which gave Pherein the opening to first cut the head of the skeleton off then on his backstroke severe it's spine. Then with surprising dexterity for one his size he was able to control the sweep of his sword's arch and in a tight semi-circle swing back for another pass which again severed its spine near the hip. If fell apart in two pieces in opposite directions.

As the last skeleton fell Pherein moved over towards Professor Horsewood who slashed out blindly at the warrior. He was able to block the misplaced blow and grab the man's wrist and hold it.

"It's over, professor," the Delorgan said gently, holding on until he calmed down.

"What…what just happened?" Horsewood asked.

"You just saved Winchell's life," Pherein answered, kneeling down and pouring a healing potion down the throat of the unconscious fighter.

"I did?" the man asked still in shock.

"You did."

The academic paused and then the reality of what he did hit him. With a shudder his body started to convulse as tears filled his eyes and the man began to sob deeply.

Theme Winchell's eyes opened with a flutter as the healing potion began to take effect. "Am I alive?" he asked weakly.

Yes, thanks to the professor," Pherein shared.

"The professor?" the fighter asked in surprise, looking where he lay at the teacher who was now sobbing with hands on his knees.

"Aye."

The Delorgan left the wounded fighter to go over and support Horsewood.

"I…I cannot breathe," the Professor choked out.

"You'll be all right, it's just the fog of battle burning off."

"I have never done anything like that before."

"You did just grand, professor, you saved Winchell," Pherein answered genuinely, patting the man comfortingly on the back. "Come on, let's get all of you up to the surface for some fresh air."

The corridor was quiet and the trio made swift progress out of the crypt through the ante chamber and out into the light of day. The three remaining members of the party were shocked at the state they came out in.

"Pherein!" Lauren cried and ran over to the bloody Delorgan.

The injured fighter Cony Farr went to the aid of Theme Winchell and Travis brought a skin of water over to the now shaking Professor Horsewood.

"Pherein, are you okay?" the now weeping girl asked, spontaneously taking a handkerchief and dabbing blood from a cut from his cheek to neck.

"I'm okay, thank you," the warrior took her hands and gently moved her away so she wouldn't get any blood on her.

"What happened?" Farr asked.

"We made the crypt but got attacked by a bunch of skeletons," Pherein answered, taking the water that Lauren offered him. "It was a strong animation, but we made it out."

"Thanks to you!" the girl declared, grabbing his arm as Travis glared at the pair.

"And to Professor Horsewood who stood over Winchell and defended him when he went down."

"The professor? Really?" Travis couldn't believe it.

"Tis true, I was out of the fight. Pherein speaks truth," Winchell declared. "The good professor took my sword and defended me."

"Well…what else could I do?" Horsewood replied modestly, turning red at the attention. "It really was Pherein who saved us."

"Everyone played a part," Pherein deflected the praise. "So, professor, ready to go and explore the crypt?"

"Really?"

"That's what we came here for. Everything should be clear."

The professor's face lit up with anticipation that warmed Pherein's heart for some reason. "Yes, let's go."

No, you cannot go back in there!" Lauren declared, grabbing Pherein desperately by the arm.

"We'll be okay lass, don't worry," the warrior stated, gently removing her arm.

Tears filled the emotional woman's eyes, but she didn't protest any further. Pherein and Horsewood re-entered the ante chamber and moved into the crypt. The Delorgan checked around first to ensure there were no more surprises and when satisfied motioned Horsewood to begin his search.

For nearly two hours the professor patiently studied the various caskets and the writings on them and then all surrounding the crypt while Pherein kept silent vigil. The fighter was impressed by the academic's patience to solve what turned out to be a bit of a puzzle. For it turned out the prize the man had travelled into the Dead Lands and faced death to secure was harder to find than merely discovering the crypt. For upon opening the casket of the high priest, instead of the volume he'd expected there was only a key. Not to be turned aside, he continued to study his notes and what he'd found in search of his prize. Pherein continued to stand watching stoically but in his mind he would have given up an hour ago.

"I found it!" Horsewood declared triumphantly, looking at an intricately carved section of the wall he'd already studied four times.

"What did you find?" Pherein asked, curiosity piqued, as he moved over to where the man stood.

"A keyhole," the professor stated, a big grin on his face. As he made to insert the key Pherein grabbed his hand.

"Best let me take a closer look, this could have a trap on it."

Horsewood opened his mouth to protest and then thought again. "Good idea."

Though no rogue, Pherein had a seasoned eye and had been in many such places before. He took his torch and looked carefully around the area that the professor pointed out. Clearly there was a continuous rectangular line that seemed to indicate some form of niche disguised in the relief. But he also saw several small holes in the same proximity that caused him concern.

"Give me the key," Pherein ordered, "and stand back."

The professor complied and the Delorgan took the key and inserted it, then held his heavy wooden shield up as he prepared to turn it. In one smooth motion he turned the key and moved his shield quickly to cover the whole area.

Pffft.

Four needle-sharp darts flew out of the small holes and buried themselves deep into the shield.

"Hmmm, interesting," Pherein simply stated.

"Good call," Horsewood confessed.

"It should be fine now."

The professor stepped into the gap that Pherein left and eagerly pulled on the edges. It took a hard tug but finally it opened to reveal a shallow stone tray holding a green leather-bound book.

"This is it," Horsewood declared. Hands shaking with excitement, he gently removed the book and opened it.

Pherein looked over his shoulder and could make out nothing on the pages as the professor flipped through it, excitement growing.

"This is better than I had expected," Horsewood stated, barely able to contain his glee. "Come, let us show the others what we have found."