Brian Kittrell - The Immortals of Myrdwyer

“That way,” Tavin said, pointing at the cleared path his spell had made. “Move out before they close the gap.”

Hot on Tavin’s heels, Laedron glimpsed the dead men encroaching on the left and right. He swashed his scepter to the right and shouted a spell. A fireball erupted from the ruby and slammed into a group of charging corpses, incinerating the ones at the focus and catching the nearby others aflame. Behind him, he heard Valyrie firing arrow after arrow into the Netheren at their left. He turned just as one of the dead men was struck in the leg. When the reanimated corpse fell to the ground, it was trampled by the others.

“Almost there,” Tavin said.

Stopping just outside a small opening in the far wall, Tavin took Laedron by the collar and nearly threw him into the passage. “Keep going. Don’t look back.”

Valyrie came next, and if it hadn’t been for Laedron catching her, she would have fallen. Brice, obviously frightened, squeezed past them. Tavin grabbed Marac by the hand and pulled him inside the shaft.

Tavin pointed his wand at the ceiling and shouted a spell. A bolt of energy flew from his wand and struck the stone roof. Laedron glanced back to see the undead clawing at each other to get into the tunnel. Tavin pushed them along.

While he ran, Laedron noticed a crack racing along the stone above and keeping pace with them. We must hurry. He’ll bring the whole place down on us! Then, he heard the crash of rocks behind them, and although he tried to see what had happened, he was forced forward by Tavin’s shoving. He surmised that the collapse had started where Tavin had cast the spell. What else could have caused it? The closer the sound came, the faster Laedron’s heart raced, but he didn’t stop until he reached the next chamber. Exploding through the hole like lava from a volcano, they fell over each other and came to a stop. Rocks slammed down just behind them.

Laedron stood and took a look around. Stone jutted from the floor and hung from the ceiling like incomplete pillars. The earthen walls seemed to be held together by tangled roots in the spots where the cave wasn’t solid stone. He couldn’t quite tell how light was getting into the cavern, but he was glad it wasn’t pitch black.

Rising to his feet, Marac glared at Tavin and pointed at the blocked passage. “And how will we get out of here, assuming we survive this? You’ve sealed us in.”

“The Trappers could never go that way; they’re too large to fit.” Tavin stood and swatted his clothes, a cloud of dust popping out with each slap. “I’ve never ventured into the caves dotting this area, but there must be more than one way out.”

“Suppose there aren’t any? Suppose we’re stuck here?”

“Would you rather have been disemboweled by the Netheren? Didn’t think so.”

Brice, his blade in hand, said, “We could’ve fought them.”

“No, Brice. We may have killed fifty, but hundreds more were climbing out of their crypts. That’s not counting the hundreds or thousands that were already coming at us.” Laedron stood and massaged his leg to relieve a dull ache, then helped Valyrie to her feet. “We’ll have to find another way out.”

“Damn!” Valyrie snatched up the bow. Its string was broken. She retrieved her quiver. “A bunch of arrows and nothing to shoot them with.”

Tavin extended his hand. “Allow me.”

“Allow you to do what?”

“Repair it for you, of course.” Taking the bow, Tavin sat on a tall rock and drew his wand.

“Mages can do that?” she asked.

Laedron nodded. “If something hasn’t been damaged too badly, it can usually be mended.”

“More light,” Tavin said, snapping in Laedron’s direction.

Laedron obliged him with a light spell. With the cavern brightly illuminated, Laedron saw another passage leading off from the chamber and gestured toward it, but his companions must have been enraptured with Tavin’s spell because they paid him no mind. At first, he rolled his eyes at their simple natures. Regular people gawk at even the simplest spells. Then, he noticed the bowstrings dancing in the air, and he couldn’t help but stare in awe at the display.

Like trained serpents obeying the commands of their master, the strings wrapped themselves around each other, and energy sparked where they were rejoined. Tavin handed Valyrie the repaired bow. “Now, we should look for a way out of here.”

Tavin cleared his throat. “Has anyone seen a way out?”

Laedron snapped out of it, then pointed at the other passage. “Oh, yes. Yes. This way.”

Tavin walked into the tunnel and led the group along the winding path. Laedron likened the passage to a hole dug by an animal that meandered wildly the entire length. Dampness filled the air, and the musty smell was replaced by the aromas of mildew and earth. Laedron spotted mushrooms caps growing on the walls, worms and centipedes scurrying, and reflections off of the thin streams of water leaking through the tiny fractures. He wondered how long it had been since light of any kind had shone on the black rock in that place.

Turning a bend, he felt the air grow cooler almost in an instant, and a blast of air flowed past him. He could barely make out a faint glimmer of light ahead, a green glow, presumably at the end of the tunnel.

“What do you think is causing that light?” Laedron whispered when Tavin stopped.

“Likely where Kareth constructs his crystal beasts.” Licking his lips, Tavin scratched his chin. “If we should fight one of those abominations, I will be of no help to you.”

“No help? You’re a gifted mage. Hells, you told us how to defeat them.”

“I cannot.”

“Can’t?”

“Mustn’t.”

“What in the hells are you saying? We have to fight them alone?”

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Sorcerer.”

“But why? I thought you came here to help us.”

Tavin gave him a tight grin. “If the time comes, you’ll know why I couldn’t. Until then, you’re on your own when it comes to the Trappers. I’ll wait here until you’ve checked ahead.”

Laedron sighed. “Leave it to us, then. We’ll come after you when the coast is clear.” He started to walk away, but he felt a hand on his shoulder.

“Remember: vibrations.” Tavin glanced at Laedron’s friends. “Those weapons can harm them. Do not stand idle, and do not fall.”

“We’ll certainly try to keep that in mind,” Marac said. “Come on, Lae. We’ve got work to do.”

The green glow grew bright as Laedron approached the opening. He crouched and slowed his steps, afraid to lose any advantage that surprise might offer, and the rest matched his movements. When he reached the mouth of the tunnel, he clung to the last rock that could provide cover and stared into the room beyond, captivated. The others huddled behind him.

Around the massive cavern, crystal formations of all shapes and sizes jutted from the rocks at every conceivable angle. The place was much like the cistern he had seen when Tavin brought them to the Uxidins’ refuge, but the cave was illuminated throughout by an eerie green light. A vast number of small, animate constructs comprised of green crystal moved about the room. Their bodies and numerous legs resembled those of sea crabs, but the things were considerably larger. They chipped away at the bases of the formations, harvesting the gems. Resounding through the cave was a constant chattering noise, the tapping of thousands of tiny, crystalline legs against the rock. The noise reminded him of the crickets chirping at night in Sorbia. How long have these things been toiling here at the bottom of the world? And why do they work? For what purpose and for whom? Kareth, most likely, but for what reason?