Ru Emerson: Keep on the Borderlands

“I will.” She hesitated, then took both his hands in hers.“If you swear to do the same.”

“As best I can. Jers may-”

“No,” she said quietly. “Swear you’ll take care of yourself.”Silence. “Blor, he won’t thank you for getting killed trying to protect him.”

He sighed quietly. “I know. It’s just-” He gripped herfingers, then brought one hand up to brush against his lips. “I swear, Eddis.”

Moments later, Panev called them all together. “I have toldyou a little of the dangers that may await us. Even I cannot be sure what we face, if we enter a temple of evil. Listen to your leaders-and to me-and you maywell survive this day. You men who return to the Keep-my blessings and thestrength of the gods guide you safely home. You did not expect to battle monsters, and yet you did, and you live to tell the tale.”

He was silent as the Keep men mounted and rode out, then turned to look over the armed company surrounding him. “Kneel, all of you,” hesaid. “This blessing may give you courage when you most need it.”

He spoke quietly, and even Eddis-who was nearest-heard littleof what he said, but she felt calm wash through her, and a sense of rightness.

Hebold came back through the trees as Panev was finishing his prayer. His lips twisted, and he turned away. Dolt, Eddis thought. I don’tbelieve in the priest’s gods or his religion either, but I’m not fool enough tospurn them. Jerdren got to his feet and strode out of the camp, across the road, and into the brush. The others followed.

They passed the kobolds’ lair, halted abruptly as harsh, wildlaughter echoed all around them. Willow and M’Baddah ran that way, slipping fromtree to tree, out of sight moments only, before they came walking back. Eddis had nocked an arrow to her string, but her lieutenant’s familiar hand sign toldher there was no threat.

Willow beckoned them close and said, “We saw hobgoblins goingfrom the orc caves to their own hold, carrying orc and kobold dead.”

Eddis’ nose wrinkled. “Filling the larder, no doubt. Not ourbusiness, if that’s all.”

They were on their way moments later and made the westernmost end of the ravine without further incident.

They paused for breath and to ready their weapons. Eddis gave Flerys a reassuring smile. The child waggled her spear and made M’Baddah’s signfor luck, though Eddis thought the child looked anxious. When they went on, Panev led, Eddis, Willow, and M’Baddah close behind him with their bows ready.Hebold was on their heels, battle-axe in one hand and the hobgoblin dub he’dpicked up the night before in the other.

The few trees on the heights here looked frost-burned, blackened leaves hanging lifeless, the trunks thin and twisted. The air was musty and still.

“Wait,” Panev ordered quietly and clambered up a few paces tosurvey the heights before them. He nodded sharply and gestured for them to come on.

Eddis stared as she came up. There was a true path here, edged in broken stone and worn down into the rock itself. How can that be? she wondered. There’s no trace of a path leading to this place! Magic, she thoughtunhappily. Her feet tingled as she reluctantly stepped down into the trail.

Panev beckoned Mead to his side, and the two led through a copse of bloated trees and twisting vines. The musty smell increased. Free of the close-growing trees, Eddis could see a cave looming just above them. The odorwas much stronger here, borne on chill air that seemed to flow down from the entrance and wrap around them.

The priest nodded, as if satisfied on some count. “Quickly,”he hissed. Mace in one hand, a slender gray wand in the other, he strode through the wide opening and vanished into darkness.

It was deadly quiet in here. What Eddis could see was hard to distinguish-murky, as though the air itself were dark. A few lamps were set inniches, enough she could make out a vast, vaulting roof, veins of black and red stone writhing across the dull surface of the rock from which a wide, long corridor had been hewn. The floor was smooth and clear and faded into gloom,north and south.

Panev’s lips and hands moved. “As I feared. It is a temple, acult to worship chaos and death, served by the undead. There are many of the undead both ways,” he said quietly. “A few living, perhaps priests and someguards, but these are few in number. The greater foe in number and evil is that way, which tells me that the priests-and the chief priest-are there.” He pointednorth. “None of you,” he added as he gazed around the company, “must touchanything, unless I say it is safe!”

Jerdren nodded. “Pay heed to what he says. We’ll go southfirst. Make sure there’s none left to attack our rear once we go after thesepriests.”

Panev drew forth a small, sun-shaped pin and pressed it reverently to his lips before fastening it to his surcoat.

The long south passage took a bend to the right, and just past the bend, the wide corridor split, both passages leading to poorly lit rooms. What they could see of either was empty: no guards, no furniture or furnishings.

Panev indicated the right passage with his wand and quietly said, “There are guards. Undead guards. Be warned.”

To the left, the passage was blocked by a huge fall of stones. Blocked deliberately, Eddis thought, and fought a shiver. Gods, what was so dire that priests who could raise the dead would fear it?

Panev hesitated just short of the left opening to shift his grip on the wand, turned the corner, and strode rapidly into a room lit by guttering torches. Eddis was aware of vast space and a dais at the far end: a throne that glinted red in the dim light. Flerys caught hold of her arm and pointed. Along the walls on either side of the dais, statues of foot soldiers stood or sprawled. She could make out ancient, rusty mail and helms, and here one guard held a heavy, curved sword.

“Gods,” she whispered. “Those aren’t statues! They’reskeletons!”

“Who’d leave bones to guard a throne room?” one of the Keepmen murmured.

“They are the enemy,” Panev said sternly. “Fear them, and bewary!”

“But they aren’t moving!” Jerdren whispered in reply.

Kadymus pushed past him, Hebold right on his heels.

“That throne! Look at them jewels!” the youth whispered.

Eddis looked. What she’d taken for fading torchlight shiningon metal turned out to be gems-enormous rubies, unless her eyes deceived her.

“Do not touch them!” the priest warned, but Hebold rolled hiseyes and passed the little thief at a bound, dagger ready to pry the ruddy stones free.

“Fool of a priest, what’s the danger in a gem?” He chuckledsoftly as his blade popped one free. “Hah! One of these and a man’s set forlife,” he said softly, shoving Kadymus aside as he tried to help.

The breath caught in Eddis’ throat. The skeletons along thesouth wall were stirring, and a wordless gasp of warning behind her assured her the others were as well.

“Back!” the priest ordered. Kadymus looked up, yelped, andfled the dais. Hebold ignored priest and thief both. He was busily freeing a second stone. The rest of the company backed toward the doorway, Panev setting himself grimly as rearguard against the undead. Bony figures raised their swords and slowly stalked toward him, but two rounded on the barbarian, who suddenly came alert to his peril. He dropped gem and dagger, rolled across the dais as a sword crashed down where his neck had been, leaped to his feet, and swung the battle-axe two-handed, shattering both helm and the skull under it. A second swing and the skeleton broke apart, bones flying and bouncing across the stone floor.

Kadymus yelped as one detached arm clutched at his leg, and he went down. Jerdren swore and grabbed him by the sleeve, dragging him across the floor to relative safety. Hebold snarled curses as the second skeletons blade slashed his hand. He tossed the battle-axe from his right to his left and swung it flat on, slamming the bony guard into the wall. The man looked around wildly, found the company, and ran.