by Blink, Bob
Rigo and his friends rode the crude but sturdy riverboat down the Kin’are River for just over a day. Most of that was spent in the cabins where they would be out of sight of the other travelers. Rigo and Kaler were too obviously foreigners and would have immediately become a matter of considerable interest. Daria, Jeen and Ash’urn could have fit in, but why take any chances of being remembered later should anyone come looking for any of them.
They had rented two cabins, one on either side of the boat and conveniently located across the passageway from one another. The relative locations allowed them views out either side should they have any interest in observing the countryside through which they passed. The larger of the two cabins, where Ash’urn, Kaler and Daria were formally berthed, was where they all gathered during the day. They watched the scenery as the craft slowly sailed by. Even though the boat wasn’t very fast, Rigo could see that Jeen had been correct in her assessment that it was far faster than walking as they had planned. The mountains, mere foothills compared to some they had recently traversed, were still formidable and would have taken considerable effort to climb over, especially if they were constantly taking care to avoid the locals. Following the river would have been impossible for much of the way as the steep dark rock they had encountered before frequently yielded sheer walls that disappeared into the water along either side of the river. Only with a boat was this route a viable option.
The other passengers could be heard as they noisily made their way up and down the passageway outside the room. They assumed that most were traveling farther than they were and used every opportunity to be out on deck in the fine weather knowing they would be spending a considerable number of hours in the rooms. They took their meals in the room from their provisions, and only Ash’urn ventured from the security of the room at all, and then only twice to check on their progress and see if anything appeared amiss or anyone seemed out of place. Both times he returned indicating all was well. They appeared to have escaped from both Jeen’s pursuers, and any attempts by Burke’s people to find them.
As night approached they split up. Daria and Jeen ducked across the passageway when Ash’urn gave them the “all clear” sign to spend the night in the second, smaller stateroom. Ash’urn, Rigo and Kaler bedded down in the larger room, although they took shifts so that one of them was awake all the time. The activity on the boat died down quickly once it became dark as there were no lights on the boat, and with the moon Minra providing little light this night and nothing but wilderness or dark expanses of rock along the banks, it was very dark with little to see.
The night passed uneventfully, and with the coming of dawn, the three men soon were fully awake. Less than half a glass later a coded knock on the door signaled that Daria and Jeen were there, and they opened to allow them inside.
“How long before we arrive?” Kaler asked after they were all assembled and sitting on the beds eating a simple breakfast.
“A couple of glass more,” Jeen said. “I asked the ticket vendor when we purchased the tickets and he said it was usually a glass or so after sun up depending on the current and weather. Since it was clear all night, I’m guessing we will arrive more or less on schedule.”
Rigo watched Jeen as she spoke. She was far more composed than before. She was also a remarkably attractive woman. One would never look at her and think that she controlled the magical power same as himself and that she had used it to defend herself. He and Kaler had talked about her at length the previous night before falling asleep. Kaler still had some misgivings about her, but both Rigo and Ash’urn were convinced that she wasn’t playing a part and was somehow connected to the people they were fleeing from.
“What are your plans once we arrive?” he asked.
Jeen looked momentarily uncertain then glanced at Daria for support.
“She’s coming with us,” Daria said. “I asked if she wanted to come along. She’s as unfamiliar with this area as the rest of us, and really has nowhere to go or anyone to rely on.” Daria looked at them to see if any would argue.
Kaler looked as if he wanted to say something, but for his part Rigo was reassured by the fact Daria had accepted Jeen. Daria was a superb judge of character, and if she was willing to trust Jeen, that spoke volumes.
“Daria told you our destination is uncertain and more than likely dangerous?” Rigo asked her.
Jeen nodded. “I understand. But since this all started I haven’t felt comfortable or safe until meeting all of you. I’m willing to take my chances, and maybe with my power I can be of some use.”
Rigo wondered just what abilities she might have. That was something they would have hours to discuss while traveling. Perhaps by demonstrating abilities they could teach one another new skills. If she had Burke’s ability with the energy beam, even at a significantly reduced level, he’d dearly love to learn that. There had to be a way to pass such information between wizards, and that was what they were after all, albeit novice wizards at best.
Their conversation was interrupted by the sounds of feet outside. Passengers were moving onto the deck, and there were commands being shouted by the chief mate. A quick look outside and they could see the leading edge of the village coming into view. They were obviously preparing for docking.
It had taken longer than Rigo expected before the boat was tied up and the transfer plank in place to allow the people to disembark. They waited until Ash’urn indicated most everyone who was getting off had left before emerging from their cabin and quietly making their way ashore. They were on the northern edge of town, having passed by the village as the boat worked its way closer to shore. All of the other passengers were headed into carriages, or walking south to where the buildings were. They continued north, walking into the trees a few hundred paces down river, then turning eastward. They kept a close eye on their back trail, but no one showed any interest in them. The departing passengers had their own destinations in mind, and the crew was busy loading the new travelers and additional cargo that would be heading farther down river.
As they headed into the trees, Kaler taking the lead, Ash’urn heaved a sigh. “This isn’t typical of Lopal,” he said.
“What isn’t?” Rigo asked.
“What we have been experiencing the past couple of weeks. It could almost be Kellmore were it not for the accents and dress. Most of Lopal is more rural and nomadic. The established cities and formal travel routes are not what I normally associate with the country.”
“Is the country changing then?” Rigo asked.
“Perhaps, although I would guess it’s more a matter of the area. The area we have passed through is one of the few that is really proper for such development and where a large percentage of the food is grown. It makes sense for it to develop along such lines.”
As they headed east, putting distance between themselves and the river, the outlying homesteads became less frequent. They easily worked their way around any they encountered, and by evening were back in the wilderness. They were able to trap several prairie hens for their dinner, and settled in for a quiet night.
The next several days they made good time. The mountains they had to work their way around and over were much less challenging, although Ash’urn warned of one more formidable range farther to the east they would have to conquer. They had passed one small village a couple of days ago and crossed a surprisingly well traveled road the day before, if the tracks and wear were any real indication of its usage. Just a few glass earlier they had made a detour around a second village and were now looking for a place to camp.
“This should do,” Kaler said, looking around the treed enclosure. In a bit of a depression, they would be hidden from sight of the surrounding areas, not to mention the trees that would provide additional cover. There was a small pond fed by a brook that meandered down a ravine off to their left.
They slept soundly without incident and were finishing up and about to leave when Daria suddenly perked up. “Did you hear something?” she asked softl
y.
Rigo looked her way and asked, “What kind of something?”
“I think she means them,” Kaler said from his other side.
Rigo let his own eyes go where Kaler was looking. More than a dozen men with bows drawn and ready had just emerged from the trees.
“There’s more behind us,” Ash’urn said softly.
Rigo looked over his shoulder. Ash’urn was right. There were almost as many behind them, although some had drawn swords rather than bows. The bows were the problem. Daria and Kaler could each dispose of any number of opponents with swords. No one Rigo had ever encountered was their equal with edged weapons. But the bows could take them down before they could get close. He felt that was his problem, and he had failed to learn a proper response. Burke probably could have taken the lot of them, but Rigo would only be able to get a couple before the rest loosed their arrows. He also couldn’t stop the arrows in flight as Burke had done either.
“He placed his arm on Daria’s shoulder who he sensed was already going for her knives. “Too many,” he whispered. He also looked at Jeen, concerned she would cut loose with one of her energy bolts. That would start the fight. A fight he didn’t think they could win. From her explanation she had far less power than Burke. Burke had taken down a number all at once reducing the whole group to unrecognizable ash. He wished that he had that ability now. From Jeen’s description the other day, she had barely burned a single attacker, leaving behind bones and clothes. Fortunately she was holding back, her face white and scared looking. Kaler had already come to the same conclusion as Rigo. The bows had them checked.
Rigo sensed he could have taken down a number and that somehow the staff would have protected him. He could have escaped. But he could not have protected his friends. He wasn’t about to allow anything to happen to them while he ran away. They’d wait and see what this was about. There would be another opportunity later.
“There’s no choice,” Rigo said to his friends. “Set down your arms.”
Daria hissed her frustration and anger, but he felt the tension go out of her.
Rigo set down his staff that he had grabbed as a matter of course. Kaler followed suit, laying down the Kellmore sword and pulling his short blade from his belt. Before long all of their weapons were spread out on the ground and they waited as the leader of the ambushers walked forward.
“A wise choice,” he said in a thick Lopal accent. He signaled one of the men with swords to gather up the weapons. He looked at the Kellmore with interest and Rigo thought he might claim it, but he let his eyes take in the other items. He stared a long time at the knife belt that Daria usually wore, and kicked with contempt at the two walking sticks.
“Load it all into the wagon along with their other supplies,” he ordered the man. Rigo noted the men with bows still stood their ground and had relaxed only slightly.
“So, you are from Kellmore,” he said looking at Rigo and Kaler. “Perhaps not all of you. I wonder what you are doing so far into Lopal? It is fortunate the children saw you sneaking by the village last night. One of them reported you to his father, who in turn contacted me. We’ll take you somewhere safe and see what is to be done with you.”
Each had his hands bound together and was placed on a horse so he could ride. Men with swords rode in front, and the archers rode behind them. Their belongings rode at the end of the caravan in an old beat up wagon. Rigo could sense his staff, but could see nothing to be gained by calling it to him. He would have to see where they were being taken.
They made good time, reminding Rigo how much faster one could travel on horses. They worked their way back to the road they had passed over the previous day and turned south on it. They rode for several hours, the mountains gradually closing in on either side. Soon they rode deep in a ravine with steep walls on either side. Several times a wagon passed them headed the other direction. The men waved to the guardsmen, who waved back.
Evening was approaching as they neared their destination. Rigo was certain that’s what was up ahead by the large sprawling camp he could see on either side of the road. At least a hundred horses were corralled and more than a dozen wagons like the one that held their goods were parked haphazardly around the corral. A number of large skin tents had been erected closer to the base of the hill that blocked off any farther southward travel. They were in a box canyon, with nowhere else to go.
They rode past the tents and came to a halt opposite a huge metal doorway set into the smooth dark stone of the mountain. They could see several narrow viewing slits cut into the stone offset from the door.
“This is where you stop,” they were told.
Stiffly, they slid down from the mounts and gathered together. Another soldier came from one of the nearby tents with a ring of keys. He selected one and used it to unlock the mechanism that six men gathered around. A number of sturdy ropes ran from the mechanism over a tall structure and to the top of a massive metal door. The door was set into metal slots set firmly into the stone of the side of the hillside. By turning the mechanism the door could be lifted creating an opening they would be able to pass through. There was no lock and no way that one of the prisoners would be able to move the door from the inside. Slowly it lifted and the men turned the spokes of the control wheel.
“In there,” they were told.
Rigo led the way, stepping from the open area into the darkened room cut out of the solid stone. Inside was a vast chamber that extended at least twenty times his height and was large enough for several hundred men to gather at once. High above were several open windows cut into the rock. Rigo could sense there were bars that blocked any exit, not that it mattered. He could see no way to get up there from the inside. A number of individuals milled around the interior, some sitting next to small fires, others resting by laying against the far wall. All looked their way with interest. The man who had unlocked the door pointed off to one side where several smaller cells were cut into the side of the inner wall. They were escorted into one and the door secured behind them.
“Maybe eventually we will let you out into the general population. Tonight, at least, you stay in here. Welcome to the Digs.”
Chapter 41
“I’ve heard of this place,” Ash’urn said as they watched the guard walk away and back through the entrance to the cavern. The guards who had stood at the ready while he’d been inside backed away and moments later the massive metal door slid slowly downward in the slots that held it in place.
Kaler looked around the small room they were locked into and said, “this is becoming a habit with us, Rigo.”
“I was having the same thought,” Rigo replied. “This one looks a lot harder to escape from. Stone and metal. Not easily defeated especially when the stone is several hand spans thick. I doubt I could break any of it no matter how much magic I called upon.”
Daria looked at Ash’urn. “You said you know of this place?” she asked.
“The place has a great deal of history associated with it,” Ash’urn explained. He looked at Daria meaningfully. “Much of it bad.”
“What kind of history?” Jeen asked. She had never heard of the place and she had lived all her life not that far from here.
“It was first discovered, at least the most recent recording of its discovery was around the time of the last plague. A particularly bad breakout was being felt along the eastern boundary of Lopal, and some of those not yet afflicted were seeking means of escape. It was the dead of winter and the mountain passes were almost certain death. A group of brave fools found a large cavern with extensive passageways underground. They spent weeks exploring and carefully marking their discoveries on the walls. A number were lost or killed, but one small group found a passageway that led all the way under the mountains and came up here, near the entrance we just passed through. This must be a related cave that is close to the main one.”
“How long did it take them to get through?” Daria asked.
“The stories claim it took ten days in
the dark, although they had torches and food. After one group made it through, several brave souls made their way back to show the way to others. Several thousand made their way through the dark in an attempt to escape the sickness. Of course, it was wasted effort. The plague had already spread across the land.”
“So this is more than a large cave? There is a means of escaping if one is willing?” Kaler asked.
“There’s more to the story,” Ash’urn warned. “Some years after the sickness had passed, disputes between the tribal leaders broke out. One of the more perceptive recalled this route and sent warriors through to attack his enemy from the rear. Once again the effort proved fruitless, and after the dispute was resolved, the leader who had suffered the sneak attack decided that wouldn’t happen again. He sent a group of his men into the tunnels and found a place where they could seal the passageway permanently. That would have been the end of it, except they discovered the tunnels also had large deposits of various metals, some of which were in great demand. That lead to the beginning of the mining effort, and the name for this place.”
“As the mining effort expanded, additional exploration was conducted. Some areas were found that yielded gemstones of great worth. That further increased the interest, although those places are said to be deep and in very dangerous places within the mine. It is also said that sometimes strange creatures have been encountered, and men have been killed, often carried away into the dark and never found.”
“Sounds like wild stories to me,” Kaler said.
“Perhaps in part, but the mining is real, as are the gemstones. The value is beyond dispute, and the leaders of Lopal have chosen to keep the mines open, using prisoner labor to do the work. Those who are assigned here are said to have no chance at a pardon. It is a life sentence. Honest miners have refused to work here.”
“Do you think we are being sentenced to the mines?” Jeen asked, her voice revealed her stress.
