David Wells - Linkershim

“None of that answers the most nagging question,” the Babachenko said. “Why did he come back? He was free of us. His Sky Knights could have flown him anywhere he wished to go, yet he returned here-why?”

The two men flanking him fell silent.

Alexander projected laughter behind the Babachenko, causing him to spin around, looking for its source. Satisfied with the fear and uncertainty in the Babachenko’s now easily readable colors, Alexander left them, floating down the middle of the chasm, noting the units of soldiers searching both sides of the underdark.

He reached the giant pillar connected to the forest balcony and saw that it was linked with many bridges arcing off in different directions, connecting both sides of the underdark as well as a number of other large pillars rising from the darkness below and disappearing into the darkness above.

He moved to the end of the chasm and found that it closed down on both left and right as well as top and bottom, all of its walls culminating in a large room, which was open on either end, one side facing the chasm and the other facing an enormous cavern beyond. The floor was a hundred feet square and the ceiling was thirty feet high. The floor, ceiling, and walls were made of smooth granite. Several large doors opened in each side wall. It appeared that all passages and bridges in this end of the underdark funneled into this place, creating a choke point.

Standing in the exact center of the room was a ten-foot-tall creature that reminded Alexander of the stone giant conjured by Mage Dax in the battle for Ruatha’s Gate. This creature was made from a collection of stones that seemed to be held together, not by crackling blue magic, but by red-hot fire. It stood stock-still.

Alexander circled it, then moved past it to the edge of the room. A single bridge abutment marked the center of the opening, but there was no bridge. In fact, Alexander saw no other way into the cavernous chamber beyond, except through the guardian chamber. Unlike the rest of the underdark, this place had no balconies or structures built into the walls. He moved forward and found what he was looking for-the well of memory.

The shrine was built atop an enormous stalagmite rising out of the deep dark.

McGinty materialized out of the stone, his imperfectly formed face struggling to convey dismay. “Why have you brought so many fleshlings into the underdark?”

“I didn’t … they’re hunting me.”

“They are taking the Linkershim. You must stop them.”

“I can’t … there are too many. But I can wake the Linkershim, provided I can get here.”

“I can sense the memory. It is closer, but the guardian has been awakened. Your path will be more difficult now.”

“You mean that giant sentinel back there?”

“Yes, the guardian will not allow you to pass.”

“It looked like it was made out of stones,” Alexander said. “I can cut it into pieces.”

McGinty cocked his head. “You do not understand its true nature.”

“Regardless, I still have to get from there to here. How am I supposed to do that? I can’t fly.”

McGinty looked like he was trying to frown. “The fleshling who stole the memory could fly.”

“Well, I can’t.”

“But you’re a fleshling.”

“We’re not the same. Fleshlings are all different.”

“You all look the same.”

“Be that as it may, I still can’t fly.”

McGinty struggled to frown again.

“I will bridge the gap for you when you arrive, but the guardian will follow. You must be quick or you will die.”

“Fair enough,” Alexander said. “Can you help me find my way to the guardian?”

“Find your way?”

“I don’t know how to get there.”

McGinty seemed to be consulting with some source of information, his incompletely formed head cocked at an odd angle for a few moments.

“There is a path across the bridges that is still passable.”

“Good. Can you show it to me?”

“Show?”

“It’s so dark down here that I can’t even see the bridges you’re talking about.”

“You require light.”

“Yes.”

McGinty cocked his head again and the underdark came alive. Hundreds of floating points of light began to glow, each suspended in midair, fixed in place and distributed throughout the chasm in seemingly random fashion. The soft glow illuminated the entire length of the chasm, filling the underdark with light and revealing its true majesty. It was a creation of such beauty and intricate detail that Alexander could scarcely help thinking of the Linkershim with a sense of reverence. Any race that could create such a place deserved to thrive.

Alexander intended to see that they did.

“Thank you, McGinty. I’ll get to the guardian as quickly as I can.”

McGinty melted back into the stones and Alexander floated back the way he’d come, taking another quick look at the guardian, then stopping to marvel at the gossamer web of bridges filling the chasm at this end of the underdark. Giant pillars served as anchor points for each span, buildings and platforms encrusting many of the pillars. Stalagmites and stalactites also played a role in the bridge network, with yet more structures built into and on them.

Unfortunately, the sudden light made it far easier for the Andalians to move about. A platoon of soldiers on the opposite side of the chasm was picking its way across a damaged part of the underdark toward one of the bridges that would eventually lead them to the forest-room balcony.

Alexander opened his eyes. Jataan and Lita were standing just inside the door, looking out at the myriad points of light.

“It’s beautiful,” Lita whispered, taking Jataan’s hand.

Alexander smiled to himself. In the midst of war and hardship, love could still blossom, even in the most unlikely of places.

“Yes, but it also negates one of our tactical advantages,” Jataan said.

“Oh, you’re always so serious. Just enjoy it for a moment.”

“That’s good advice, Jataan,” Alexander said.

Jataan turned, letting go of Lita’s hand. “Lord Reishi, what has transpired?”

“I spoke with McGinty. He lit the place up for us, but that means we have to move. Lita, I’d like you to remain in the Wizard’s Den to look after Jack and Anja.”

“Of course, Lord Reishi.”

She laid a hand on Jataan’s shoulder. “Be careful.”

He nodded, stepping out into the underdark and scanning the vicinity for any sign of threat. Alexander followed, leaving Luminessence leaning against the wall just inside the door.

The illumination of the underdark made it more difficult for him to see the enemy moving around in the distance, but Alexander knew they were closing in. He walked briskly toward the bridge leading to the pillar in the center of the underdark, keeping a close eye on the forest. It too had been illuminated, revealing the true majesty of its artistry. Silver and gold had been woven into many of the trees and artificial foliage, giving the forest a glittering quality that would have captivated the heart of any treasure hunter. Aside from briefly marveling at the craftsmanship, Alexander ignored it in favor of scanning for danger.

Steps before they reached the bridge abutment, he froze in place.

Click … click … click.

He put his finger across his lips. Jataan nodded, a sword seeming to materialize in his hand. They crept toward the bridge, keeping a close eye on the forest, but they were both looking too low. The stone trees reached three hundred feet overhead. It was only in the moment that the centipede launched itself from a tree that Alexander’s magic warned him of the threat.

“Bug!” he shouted, drawing the Thinblade.

The centipede fell in a graceful arc that would have brought it down on top of Alexander, but Jataan intervened, pushing him aside, his sword morphing into a pike that he braced against his instep, angling the point to catch the centipede in the mouth. And he succeeded, piercing the tiny brain of the deadly creature, killing it instantly. Gravity sent its lifeless body tumbling toward Jataan. He tried to avoid it, but it was too big, and it fell too haphazardly, crashing down on top of him, the razor-sharp barbs bristling from its chitin segments cutting into him.