Lee nodded sharply and grinned. “Don’t worry. By the end of this day you’ll have your treasure, and we’ll be away from this place.”
Jaleel grabbed Lee, spun him around and cut his bonds. “Give him his blade. He’ll be needing it.” He met Lee’s eyes. “Don’t even think about betrayal or you’ll follow your friend to the afterlife.”
He walked over to Millet and lifted him to his feet as if he were a small child. “You’ll come with me.”
The Jaleel’s crew made way as he walked Millet out. Slowly they followed after their captain. Lyndria was leaning against the wall across from the fire, a tiny smile on her lips. Lee saw that his sword had been left by the entrance and retrieved it.
“Bold move,” said Lyndria. “Stupid, but bold.”
Lee fastened his sword to his belt. “I don’t believe in demons. And it seemed like the best way to get out of here with my hide intact.” He sat beside the fire. “What are you doing here, anyway? You don’t look like the pirate type.”
Lyndria cocked her head. “You’d be surprised what a woman can be.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” said Lee. “I have no doubt you are capable. You seem to hold your own well with this lot. I’m just saying you don’t appear…well…pirate like.”
She walked over and sat beside him. “I’m here to kill Jaleel.”
Lee’s eyes shot wide. “What?”
Lyndria laughed softly. “Don’t worry. He knows.”
“I don’t understand,” said Lee. “He knows you’re here to kill him? How is this possible? He doesn’t come across as a man who would allow such a thing.”
She shrugged. “Jaleel is a more complicated man than you can know.”
“You sound as if you admire him,” said Lee. “I do,” Lyndria replied quietly. “Very much.”
“Then why do you want to kill him?” Lee shook his head. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Lyndria sighed heavily. “Because he killed my father.” She glanced over to see Lee’s stunned expression. “My father was a sailor on an Althetan merchant ship. Jaleel attacked his vessel and killed everyone on board. When I found out, I tracked him down and tried to kill him.” She closed her eyes. “I failed.”
Lee laughed. “So you already tried to kill him, and he not only let you live, he also made you part of his crew? And he called me a fool.”
Lyndria shot Lee and angry glance. “He’s no fool. He allowed me to live and join his crew out of mercy…and pity. I told him that if he didn’t kill me I’d try again. But instead of cutting my throat, he spared me and offered the chance to serve on his crew. In exchange, when I was ready, I could try again. But only if I did so facing him. No poison, or knife in the back.”
“And you agreed to this?” asked Lee, in disbelief.
“Yes,” she replied. “When I fought Jaleel, I was no match for him. But when next I face him…I will be. My father shall be avenged honorably, and I will not have to seek Jaleel out.”
“I don’t know if I could stand it,” said Lee. “Looking at the face of my father’s killer every day. How do you resist the temptation to kill him in his sleep?”
“She has honor,” came the voice of Jaleel from the entrance. “Otherwise, I would not have spared her.” He had donned a grey cotton shirt and a light leather breastplate. “Come. It’s time to hunt the demon.” When Lyndria stood as well, he held out his hand. “You stay here. It wouldn’t do if you were to die before you can kill me.”
“Yes,” said Lyndria, defiantly. “But I won’t have the demon do my work for me.” She hurried from the cavern, returning a moment later with a short sword.
Jaleel tossed a scabbard to Lee that held a small dagger. “Many of the tunnels are too narrow for a sword.”
Lee checked the blade. It was well balanced and sharp. The hilt was plain wood wrapped in soft leather. “This will do.” He shoved it in his belt. “I’m ready.”
Jaleel nodded, then left. Lee followed with Lyndria at his back. Just outside was a broad corridor that forked off after about thirty feet. The walls were rough and jagged. Clearly a natural formation. The air reeked of men, charcoal and dust. Lanterns along the floor lit the area, albeit dimly. As they approached the fork, Jaleel reached down and picked up a lantern. Lee did the same. They turned right and walked for ten minutes through a series of winding tunnels. It wasn’t long before Lee knew that without guidance, he would be hopelessly lost.
“How far do these tunnels go?” he asked. “Miles,” replied Jaleel.
“Then I hope you know where we’re going.” Lee tried to wipe the dust from his face, but only managed to smear it.
Jaleel ignored him. Soon, they came to another fork and he held up his lantern to the wall. There, etched in the rock was the symbol of Dantenos. “This is how I knew my map was accurate.”
Lee ran his finger over the marking. “Does your map say who left this here?”
Before Jaleel could answer, the air began to stir. A howl like that of the wind, yet more substantial and deeper, echoed from the darkness to their right.
The corridor was narrow so Lee drew his dagger. He glanced back at Lyndria. “Stay behind me.”
“I...” she began to protest.
“Do as he says!” Jaleel commanded, cutting her off. He drew his short sword and crouched down, legs parted wide. “Step back. When it comes you won’t be able to see, and I don’t want you to stab me... accidentally.” His last word was almost a laugh.
Suddenly, everything went black. Lee listened for movement, but could only hear Jaleel and Lyndria. Then the wind picked up until the dust stung his eyes. The clang of metal rang out, followed by a heavy grunt and the sound of a sword falling onto stone.
“Jaleel,” called Lee. But there was no answer.
Again Lee listened for movement, but still there was none. Then, as quickly as it came, the darkness faded. The dim light from the lantern revealed what had happened. Jaleel was sitting against the wall, his sword on the floor a few feet away. He was clutching a gaping wound on his leg as blood soaked his trousers and spilled onto the rocky ground. Lee and Lyndria rushed to his side.
“I think I wounded it,” said Jaleel, grimacing. He forced a laugh. “Or maybe not.”
“What was that?” asked Lee.
“That was the demon?” replied Lyndria. She examined Jaleel’s wound and smiled. “Looks like you’ll live long enough for me to kill you after all.”
Jaleel grinned. “Yeah, well after today you may have an easier time of it.”
“Tend his wound,” said Lee. He stood and started down the corridor.
“Where do you think you’re going?” asked Jaleel. “To meet this demon,” said Lee. “And to kill it.” “I’ll come with you,” said Lyndria.
“No,” Lee shot back. “You stay with Jaleel. He needs you more than I do.”
Jaleel grabbed her arm. “Let him go. The bravery of a fool should never be questioned.” He smiled up at Lee. His gold teeth glimmered in the soft light. “Good luck, Lee Starfinder. Bring me its head.”
Lee smiled back before heading off. The tunnel narrowed after a few hundred feet, then sloped down. After twenty minutes, he came to yet another fork. He held up the lantern to the wall. No markings. He cursed under his breath, peering into the darkness down both passages. They looked identical. ‘Which way’, he thought. Almost as if in response, the wind stirred to his left. Lee readied himself for an attack, but nothing else happened. A moment later the wind died.
He steadied his nerves and made his way down the left passage. It twisted and turned constantly, and the uneven floor was covered with jagged rocks. After a few more minutes the passage widened enough for him to put away his dagger and draw his sword. No sooner had the blade left the scabbard than the wind rose up again. This time it did not die back down, and seconds later he was surrounded by darkness.
His fingers gripped the hilt of his sword firmly as he listened closely for signs of something approaching. But the wind masked an
y sound.
‘Whatever it is, it’s clever,’ he thought. His heart pounded in his chest, and for the first time in many years he was afraid.
There was a sudden sharp pain at the back of his sword hand. Lee cried out, and the sword dropped to the ground.
Desperately, he reached down for the weapon, but his efforts were in vain. Blood poured from a long gash across his hand. Ignoring this, he reached for the dagger instead. But, just as he touched the hilt, he was thrown back hard and smashed against the wall. He struggled to keep his feet as the air left his lungs, leaving him gasping. Another blow struck his left temple, sending him tumbling to the ground. A flash of pain streaked through his body. But not from the attack. It was as if it came from within. He had never felt anything like this before. It burned into his mind, as though searching. Then, one final blow sent him into unconsciousness.
…………
The echo of soft footfalls was the first thing Lee heard. The pain stabbed at his head as he tried to move, and the salty metallic taste of blood filled his mouth. He opened his eyes, but his vision was blurry. It was then he noticed that he was not lying on rock, but on a bed of soft furs. The wound on his hand had been cleaned and bandaged.
“Don’t try to move for a bit,” came a voice. It was distant and hollow. “Take your time.”
Fighting back the pain, Lee shoved himself up and gained his feet. He wobbled for a moment, his distorted sight not allowing him to keep balance. He reached out and found the wall. It was not rough like the rest of the caves and tunnels, but smooth and polished. He leaned heavily and shook his head.
“Stubborn, I see.” This time the voice had more substance. Though clearly male, it had a distinct softness that gave it an elegant quality.
Slowly his vision began to clear. The room was roughly forty by forty feet square, carved from the mountain by expert craftsmen. The walls, floor, and ceiling were polished smooth as
marble. Attached to the wall every few feet were gold lanterns, burning brightly. The surface of the stone reflected their light, illuminating the room as if the sun shone through the mountain top. A small doorway, just wide enough to squeeze through, was at the opposite end. But it was what rested in the center of the room that immediately caught Lee’s attention.
There, stood a gold pedestal, about three feet tall, and encrusted with precious stones of every color. At the top, a delicate hand held aloft a truly immense jewel. It was as large as a bull’s head and a deep shade of purple. A faint light emanated from the heart of the stone, casting a dark aura around it.
Lee noticed that his weapon had been placed beside the fur bed. He attached it to his belt and took a few steps toward the jewel.
“Do not touch it.” The voice echoed.
“Where are you?” asked Lee, reaching for his sword.
From the doorway, a man appeared. At first his features were masked as if in shadow, but as he came near Lee could see him. His gaunt face and sharp hook of a nose was made even more unusual by deeply sunken eyes of undeterminable color and a ghostly pale complexion. A thin, blue linen shirt and trousers hung loosely off his emaciated frame. His feet were bare, and resembled that of a skeleton more than that of a man. Thin white hair, tangled, matted and uneven, shot out in small patches, giving his abnormal appearance a wild quality. He held no weapon that Lee could see.
“I cannot allow you to touch it.” He stepped between Lee and the jewel.
“Who are you?” asked Lee. For some reason beyond the way he looked, the man unnerved him.
“I am Chaudre,” he replied. “Son of Dantenos, and keeper of the jewel. And you are Lee Starfinder, son of Saraf.”
The hair stood up on the back of Lee’s neck at the mention of his father’s name. “How do you know this?”
Chaudre let out a cackling laugh. “You really don’t know?” He reached out his hand - Lee stepped quickly back - Chaudre smiled, his teeth almost indiscernible from his white skin. “I won’t hurt you.”
Lee reached out slowly to grasp Chaudre’s hand. A shock raced through his body the moment their flesh met. In an instant, he knew that it was true. The withered figure before him was indeed the son of Dantenos. He jerked back. “What was that?”
“Our kind can feel each other when we touch,” Chaudre explained. “It is the blood of a God recognizing its own kind. I take it you have never met another child of a God before?”
Lee shook his head, unable to speak. The thought of meeting another like himself had never occurred to him. After a few moments he regained his composure. “Why did you attack me?”
“I thought you were one of the people here seeking the jewel,” he explained. “It wasn’t until I struck you and our flesh touched that I knew that might not be true.” He walked past Lee and sat on the fur bed, then motioned for Lee to join him.
Lee stared at the man for a second, then sat across from him. “You say you spared me because we are alike. But why are you slaughtering the others? Why not simply make them leave?”
The shadow returned and dimmed Chaudre’s features. The air stirred and grew cold. “They come for the jewel.” His voice was shrill and seethed with hatred. His face twisted and his eyes sunk deeper into his skull. “They think to possess what is rightfully mine. And as those that came before, they will die.”
“Perhaps I could convince them to leave,” Lee offered. He began to suspect Chaudre was insane.
“Most of them would,” said Chaudre. “But the one called Jaleel will never give up his quest. I have watched him from the moment he arrived. His obsession is beyond redemption. He will never give up.” He began to rock back and forth. “I will make him watch as his men are killed, one by one, until he is utterly alone.” The shadow around him darkened and began to creep out.
Lee shifted backward, not wanting to be within the encroaching darkness. “How do you do that? Is it something I could learn?”
The shadow receded, then vanished. Chaudre’s face returned to the gaunt husk it had been before. “No. The jewel has helped me gain power beyond any of our kind. It has shown me things I never imagined.” He leaned in. “I’ve seen the other side.”
Lee struggled not to cringe. “The other side of what?”
“The other side of life,” he replied in a whisper. “The other side of death. I have seen what the Gods see. It has taken many years, but I am finally learning all its secrets.”
Lee furled his brow, looking closely at Chaudre. His skin, though thin and pale, showed no sign of age. He smelled the air- dust and rock. A man would have a scent. His clothes were old and threadbare. “How long have you been here?”
Chaudre shrugged. “I don’t know. The war had been won for ten years when I set out for the mountains.”
“Which war?” Lee asked.
Chaudre chuckled mildly. “What do you mean ‘which war’? The war with the elves, of course.”
Lee sat in stunned silence for a long moment. Finally he managed to speak. “That was five hundred years ago.”
Lee’s words appeared to have little impact. Chaudre tilted his head and smiled. “I no longer feel the passage of time. It slows only when I have dealings with outsiders…like you.” His eyes narrowed. “It is odd that one such as you would arrive at the same time as the others.”
“I had no intention of coming here,” Lee explained. “I am on my way to Dantory to learn from a sword master. We were set upon and brought here.”
“Then why were you in their company?” His voice hissed. “And why were you hunting me? It does not appear as if you were set upon.”
“They are holding my servant hostage,” said Lee. “I agreed to help them if they let us go free. I knew nothing of you at the time.”
He looked at Lee doubtfully. “You allowed them to capture you and gain leverage on you? You could have slaughtered them like sheep at any time, and you expect me to believe that?” The shadow returned.
This time Lee noticed the light emanating from the jewel as it began to pul
se. “I have only just begun to learn how to use my strength. That’s why I’m going to Dantory.”
“And what do you think you can learn of power from those that have none?” He waved his hand dismissively. “Humans are weak. If you think you will gain strength through them, you’re mistaken. And if you think I am willing to allow you to replace me…” The air chilled and began to stir.
“I’m not trying to replace you,” said Lee. He could feel his situation becoming increasingly dangerous. Chaudre’s obvious madness was taking a greater hold with each passing second. “I
don’t even know what I’d be replacing.” The thought of becoming like this wretched creature sent shivers down his spine. “Please, just allow me to speak with Jaleel. I’m sure I can convince him to leave.”
“He will never leave,” mumbled Chaudre. The muscles in his hands quivered as his fists clenched. “None shall.” The air went still, and his last words echoed throughout the chamber. “The jewel is mine, and no others.”
Before Lee could move, Chaudre’s fists shot out, striking him squarely in the chest. The fierce impact sent him sliding ten feet across the polished floor. In an instant, Chaudre was up and on top of him. He grabbed the back of Lee’s shirt and threw him into the wall.
“Wait!” cried Lee, barely able to catch his breath. His chest throbbed, and his head was splitting from the impact. “I’m not here to take anything.”
“Lies!” his voice screeched, tearing at Lee’s ears. “My father sent you. He sent you here to kill me.”
Before Lee could respond, Chaudre charged in, his speed making him nothing more than a blur. Lee tried to draw his sword, but a rocklike fist smashed into his jaw. He felt as if his head would be ripped from his shoulders by the force. His feet lifted several inches off the ground as he slammed once again into the wall, the taste of blood filling his mouth. Fighting off unconsciousness, he pushed himself erect. Chaudre was standing a few feet away, glaring furiously.
The Jewel of Dantenos: A Lee Starfinder Adventure Page 3
