Robert Keller - The Heart of Shadows

"We were wise to investigate these tunnels," said Taris, "for it seems we have encountered a new mystery and another significant threat to Silverland. Aside from being very resilient, these Ogres and Wolves seemed more cunning in battle. The Deep Shadow was much stronger in these foes."

"Definitely more cunning," said Shennen, leaning down to examine a fallen Ogre. "The Deep Shadow was indeed more potent in these creatures-perhaps whispering to them and guiding their actions. These Goblins may have come from the realm of Tharnin itself."

"How can that be?" asked Daledus, wiping Ogre blood from his huge battle axe. "There aren't any portals around here."

"None that we know of," said Shennen, a strange expression on his face. "But that doesn't mean anything. The portals could be new."

"I highly doubt it," said Trenton. "Portals to Tharnin cannot be opened easily. It requires a catastrophic blast of energy to create a portal that will remain open for longer than an instant."

"Regardless," said Jace, "I don't believe these Goblins came directly from Tharnin. Only a few creatures from the Shadow Realm can survive in our world, for the energy of living things here is like poison to Tharnin dwellers."

"They were probably modified somehow," said Taris, "just as the Goblin Lords were. The Legion alchemists and sorcerers are always tinkering with Goblins, trying to make them stronger and more cunning. They probably did it here in this world-meaning a portal to Tharnin would not be necessary."

"I suppose that makes sense," said Trenton.

"Not to me," said Daledus. "I don't understand a bit of it."

"But you're not a sorcerer," said Taris, "like Trenton and I."

"Trenton is a sorcerer?" asked Daledus, raising his eyebrows in what could have been mock surprise. "I never noticed."

"Indeed," Trenton said coldly. "What did you think I was, Dwarf? Do I look like an armored Knight, or carry the bow of an archer?"

Daledus shrugged. "I always thought of you as…well, the Investigator I guess. I've just never seen you use sorcery in battle."

Taris smiled. "Trenton is actually the most talented sorcerer I've ever known. At least, for the type of sorcery he practices."

"I just do what is required," said Trenton, his face reddening.

"Who would have suspected?" said Daledus, grinning.

Trenton scowled. "Yes, I don't brag about my abilities, and I can't throw fireballs all over the place. Thus, most people don't think of me as a sorcerer. Yet I assure you that is exactly what I am."

"So what can you do?" asked Daledus. "I mean, aside from…"

"That is the business of a Green Knight," said Trenton, "which means it is none of your business. Ask me again when you're on the High Council, Daledus, and I might be inclined to provide an answer. It seems you're too young to understand your place-or the ways of sorcerers, for that matter."

Daledus' grin vanished. He bowed. "Meant no offense, Trenton. I just figured I would ask, since we're all in this Divine Shield together."

Trenton nodded. "You are strong and exceptionally talented, Daledus. I'll give you that. But you have a lot to learn about the ways of Dremlock."

They rested a bit longer, and then Taris ordered everyone back into formation. Lannon probed the three tunnels and found that two of them contained traces of the villagers having passed that way-including the tunnel the Ogres and Wolves had come from. They opted to explore the Goblin tunnel, acting on the notion that the villagers who'd gone that way might be in greater peril.

Stone steps lead them sharply downward, and the air grew foul smelling. At the bottom was a long tunnel. They started along it and came to a square pit with rune-covered stone blocks lining the edges and iron ladder rungs leading down into darkness. Lannon searched the pit and felt the presence of powerful sorcery. He also glimpsed ancient traces of pain and death.

Taris decided that they would leap over the pit and continue to search for the villagers. "Whatever evil lurks below," he said, "is best avoided for now. That pit reeks of an Olrog trap."

One by one, they leapt across the pit. It was a dangerous leap, but the Knights and Squires used their sorcery to remove any fear and guide their bodies across. They referred to such techniques as sorcery, when in fact they were based on the power of the mind-the ability to create extreme focus through meditation and cause the body to do extraordinary feats. Yet all special Knightly abilities depended upon the strength of one's Essence (or divine energy) and thus were classified as mystical in nature. Lannon didn't have much Essence, but he used the Eye of Divinity to help spring him across. Saranna the Ranger lacked Essence or Eye, and in spite of being quite agile, she was hesitant to make such a long jump. But Aldreya used her sorcery to help guide Saranna, and the two of them made the leap together. Darius the wolf fearlessly bounded over the pit after them.

Then they started along the tunnel again. Taris examined the stone walls, frowning, and then ordered everyone to halt. "I sense traps," he said, "and the presence of some type of sorcery. "

Lannon scanned the tunnel-but found that a shadow was clouding his sight. It was ancient Dwarven sorcery, meant to confuse. The shadow extended the entire length of the hallway. He reported his findings to Taris, who nodded-as if the Birlote already knew what they were facing.

"Hold back, Squires!" Taris warned. "We must proceed with extreme caution. Olrog traps are nothing to fool with."

The Squires and Saranna were at the rear, and they slowed their pace a bit. But it wasn't enough to appease Taris. Jerret was still pressing forward eagerly and prompting the others to try to keep pace with him.

"I said hold back! " Taris commanded, in an angry tone.

Jace turned around and placed his huge hand against Jerret's chest. "You heard Taris, young fellow. Slow your-"

A rumbling of stone arose, and a metal slab with a sharp edge dropped from the ceiling between Jerret and Jace, cutting the Squires off from the rest of the group. The slab had dropped so swiftly and unexpectedly that it had chopped off Jace's arm, and the arm lay on the floor in the torchlight. Another slab had fallen on the other side of the pit, leaving the pit as the only exit for the Squires.

The Squires gazed at Jace's severed arm in horror, and they could hear his cries of pain from beyond the slab. Lannon probed the slab and found it was made of Olrog Glaetherin-which meant it was nearly indestructible. He seized it with the Eye and tried to lift it, but he couldn't budge it. The strain made him drop to one knee, dizziness washing over him.

"Now what?" Jerret muttered.

They could hear the Knights banging on the slab from the other side, but moments later, cries and other sounds of battle arose. The sounds moved away from them and then faded out, muffled by a maze of stone.

"They left us!" said Aldreya.

"Sounds like they're busy right now," said Lothrin, shrugging. "Looks like we'll have to fend for ourselves."

"Stand aside," said Vannas, holding out the White Flamestone.

"That barrier is made of Glaetherin," Lannon warned.

"I don't care what it's made of," Vannas snarled, the Flamestone becoming radiant in his hands. "I'm blasting through it!"

The Squires hurried away from the prince. Vannas hurled pale fire into the slab, and a blinding flash erupted. The prince cried out and whirled around, his eyes tightly closed. He shoved the Flamestone back into its pouch. "That didn't work very well," he said, groaning. "Nearly blinded me."

The Glaetherin slab was unharmed.

"Yes, enough of that," said Saranna. She sat down on the edge of the pit. "Well, it looks like the Dwarves wanted intruders to be forced into the pit. There must have been some unpleasant surprise waiting down there-though if it was anything alive I'd guess it no longer exists, considering how old these ruins are."