The Lone Apprentice

by I K Spencer

  Anthen disclosed his idea about successfully traversing the caves, watching the elf's reaction with keen interest. The guardsman took heart when Kyreial did not dismiss the plan immediately.

  "There are ancient tales of such things but they are given little credit now. This entire force will follow you?"

  Anthen shook his head. "Sadly no. They think I am a fool. Teya and I go alone." Mentioning Teya's name reminded him that his two comrades had not met. "Oh, Kyreial this is Teya of Arnedon. Teya, this is Kyreial."

  Kyreial turned and bowed formally to Teya, who had been watching the pair converse with a look of wonder on her face. "Greetings Teya of Arnedon. Anthen has spoken highly of you." He winked and added, "You thought he imagined an elf, eh?"

  The awestruck Arnedonian fumbled for words as she returned the bow. "Er ... yes. I mean no. Greetings Kyreial. Thank you for your invaluable assistance. Anthen has said he would yet be in the mountains if not for you."

  "This one would find a way I trust."

  "What will you do now Kyreial?" Anthen interjected anxiously, expecting the sprite to say he would return home.

  The elf's face lifted toward the unseen summit far above them. "The winged one is up there. I will accompany you if I may."

  Anthen tried to contain his relief. "The risk is great and our chance slim," he cautioned.

  The elf's expression became grim. "This darkness is just the beginning I fear. So, no risk is too great and no chance too slim."

  Carrying torches, the three figures approached the cave. The camp was suddenly quiet, all eyes on the unlikely trio. The grim warriors paused to look up at the inscription in the rock above. Anthen took a deep breath, struggling against the terror that gripped him at the thought of stepping once again into the black depths. He knew the draugen would be there, just beyond the light. He wondered what would he do when he smelled their sweet, terrible stench. He looked at his two comrades and knew they saw the terror in his eyes.

  "I will not be taken alive and I strongly suggest you make the same vow," the guardsman said in a barely audible voice.

  Anthen trembled as he stared into the dim cave then, somehow, willed himself to walk forward. The trio remained silent as they passed from the unnatural dark outside to the darker cavern interior. After the first bend it was completely black and Anthen, used to daylight once again, could not discern the subtle changes in light as he could when he made his escape.

  The trio formed a small column; Anthen led and Kyreial brought up the rear. The guardsman paused at each cave junction they came to, then continued without a word. In a relatively short while, they had already traveled too far to turn back. Either Anthen’s plan would work or they would wander the labyrinth until their supply of torches ran out.

  A few minutes later he was the first to break the silence, warning that the draugen set traps. His voice echoed and seemed too loud, even though he had spoken softly. He silently wondered whether the creatures knew him as the one who had escaped and if that made them more determined.

  They encountered the first trap near mid-morning. Anthen saw a thin cord stretched taut across the cave at knee level, a step before blundering into it. They cautiously examined the rope and found it led to a wall of rocks, where it was attached near the base. The intricate trap was designed so that the rocks would fall on whoever snagged the cord. They cut the line carefully at the far end, then tugged it to spring the trap after they had passed beyond the rocks. The falling rocks made a thunderous clatter and filled the cave with dust.

  A few hours later they guessed, they decided to stop for a rest and some food. Anthen chastised himself for not remembering the hourglass so they quickly lost track of how much time passed, though they tried to guess. Anthen and Teya ate cold meat and bread while the elf ate from his own supply of wild roots and nuts. Both Anthen and Kyreial craved coffee but with only the torches to burn, heating water was out of the question.

  As they ate, Kyreial elaborated upon his pursuit of the winged creature. Their first combat on the mountainside had ended in stalemate, which was what the elf had expected.

  "Why?" Teya queried.

  "I was not prepared to deal with the creature and the phaantor had given up its advantage—surprise. I was suspicious at that but the situation forced my hand; if I had not followed, it would simply have returned for Anthen all the sooner."

  "What do you mean you were not prepared?" Anthen asked, curious.

  "Fire. It is the winged gargoyle's weakness. A flaming arrow in the right spot can cause it to erupt in a ball of flame."

  Anthen and Teya exchanged glances, realizing how useful such knowledge would have been for them back in Dolonar.

  "Where is it vulnerable?" Teya quickly asked.

  "Eyes and mouth of course but there are also places where its armor is thin—face, neck, and the sides of its feet."

  Kyreial resumed his tale, recounting the cat-and-mouse game that followed for the next few hours, with the creature seeking to regain the advantage. The elf explained that the only way the phaantor could win a contest against an elven warrior was through ambush, for the wood-dwellers could see it clearly and easily evade its attacks. Near noon, the elf had come upon a small cave and used it for cover while he made a fire and fashioned torches to carry the flame. Through the afternoon and well into the night, Kyreial had pursued the creature. The beast surprised him on two occasions but he had recognized the danger just in time. He had taken a few fiery shots but none found their mark.

  After midnight he did not see the phaantor and had begun to make his way back. He did not reach the camp until mid-morning and of course, found it abandoned, save for the dead from Anthen's brave stand. After that he had hurried to take council with his elders, then returned to stand watch over the cave's entrance.

  The trio started once again soon after Kyreial finished his tale. They journeyed for several hours until Anthen, still very weak, could go no further. Over protests from the guardsman, though he knew it the best course of action, his comrades agreed he should not stand a watch. The elf had also produced the strange-looking vial and offered its medicine to aid the guardsman's recovery.

  Anthen was exhausted and with the help of Kyreial's elixir, he could barely stay awake long enough to eat something. They ate a hasty meal, then Teya and Anthen went to sleep while Kyreial took the first watch, keeping only a single torch lit to conserve their supply.

  Kyreial rose a couple of hours into his watch to walk a bit and stretch his legs. His was a race of forest dwellers and being confined in a dark, enclosed space for any length of time was very difficult, though he hid it well. He propped the torch in a space in the wall and walked about nearby, examining the cave walls to look for any markings. Suddenly the light dimmed. Kyreial whirled around and saw that the torch had been knocked from its perch and threatened to extinguish itself as it rolled across the cave floor. On the far side, he saw dim shapes moving closer and had no doubt of their identity.

  As the elf raced to rescue the precious light, he saw Anthen spring to his feet in a howl of mixed terror and fury. The guardsman looked half-crazed as he lunged, slashing at the murky forms. The quick-footed sprite scooped up the torch and nursed it back to a bright blaze, sending the blood-eaters away in an immediate retreat. Anthen stood rigid, trembling and staring wildly into the darkness after them.

  Teya had risen and drawn her weapon as well. Seeing that the danger had passed, she turned and looked at Anthen and was startled by the level of fear she saw in the shuddering guardsman. Likely he had been dreaming of the vile draugen, then jolted awake to find his nightmare was all too real.

  "It is all over Anthen," Teya said softly and touched his arm. "They are gone."

  "I know. It's just that ... I will be all right. Wait! There was a bundle of torches here!"

  Anthen grabbed the torch and hurried a short distance in the direction from which the foul creatures had come. There was no sign of the torches, one of the two bundles they had brought
along.

  "Should we give chase?" Teya asked quickly.

  "No," Anthen replied. "We would never catch them and only become hopelessly lost."

  The trio looked sadly at the meager supply of remaining torches. They had carried in two full bundles, enough for over a week they guessed, and the draugs had taken the yet untouched bundle. The remaining supply might last two or three days at the most.

  "I am sorry," Kyreial said with a measure of guilt. "It will not happen again. The vile creatures are more clever than I would have guessed."

  "It could happen to anyone," Anthen countered, adding with a forced grin, "We won't need them anyway so it is just one less burden for us to carry."

  Despite the guardsman's attempt to raise their spirits, the mood seemed gloomy as Anthen and Teya went back to their bedrolls. A second torch was kept handy as a precaution since any torch could falter, even without the aid of the draugen. Kyreial finished his watch without further incident, then Teya rose and took his place.

  The warrior-woman watched Anthen slumber. He slept deeply, no doubt still very weak as well as exhausted from the journey. How different he looked from when they had parted. She shivered at the image of the crazed look on his face when the blood-eaters had attacked. It had reminded her of the mad intensity she had seen in Cidrl's face when he became angry while interrogating her.

  The rest of the night, if it was indeed nighttime on the outside, passed without further incident. The guardsman and elf rose wearily and Teya saw the pain in each at waking to find themselves in the close, dark caves. Anthen, however, looked stronger, no doubt thanks to both a few hours’ sleep and Kyreial's elven medicine. The trio ate some food, then continued. For several hours Anthen led them silently through the maze. He seemed to be concentrating fiercely and Teya could see his lips constantly moving in some prayer or chant.

  They encountered another trap after a few hours and were fortunate no one was hurt. Teya had been walking along and just brushed lightly against a wall. The wall came crashing down at her touch but her quickness, and that of the elf following her, saved them both from injury.

  The temperature seemed to rise steadily throughout the day, which gave the trio some cause for hope. Sensing they were nearing something, Anthen pushed on for longer than the previous day, despite being extremely tired. In the growing heat, the travelers shed their cloaks and heavier clothes. Teya saw the exhaustion in the guardsman's face but he only shook his head emphatically when she suggested they stop and rest.

  With the weakened guardsman's reserves nearly exhausted, they turned a corner and were shocked to see a faint light at the other end. Excited, Anthen forgot his fatigue and they continued on, moving faster. At the next junction the light was brighter and similarly for the next few. They hurried, noticing that the heat became more intense as the light grew stronger.

  All three eager warriors were nearly running when the cave floor abruptly ended, nearly beneath their feet. Anthen shouted a warning and skidded to the edge, fighting to maintain his balance. Thanks to his warning the others stopped in time and Teya deftly grabbed the guardsman's pack and pulled him back from the brink. A hole running the entire width of the passage spanned thirty feet or more in length.

  Breathing heavily, the shaken warriors stood on the precipice and looked down. The shaft ended far below in a fiery pit of molten rock. They could stand the heat rising up the shaft for only a moment at a time, then had to step back for relief. Anthen looked up and saw that the shaft above continued as far as he could see, only empty blackness beyond. They spent the next several minutes searching for a way around or across the chasm and finding none, they doubled back away from the pit until the heat was more bearable. Each took a long drink from a waterskin.

  "Is this spoken of in elven lore?" Anthen asked, breathing heavily, as he slumped against the cave wall.

  Kyreial shook his head. "I have heard nothing of a fiery pit in the labyrinth but little is written of the maze itself." The elf paused, choosing his next words carefully. "Why do you think we were lead here? What does this mean?"

  Anthen shrugged. "Maybe it is a distraction, a test of faith. At the first sign of light, I abandoned my instincts."

  "We have lost our way?" Teya asked fearfully.

  "No. I committed our path to memory since we first saw light. We will return."

  The trio rose wearily and Anthen led them back, though he found it very hard to leave behind the comforting light, even with the intense accompanying heat. When they had proceeded far enough back from the pit to where the heat was bearable, they stopped for the night. Kyreial kept first watch for a few hours before Teya took his place.

  While Teya kept watch, Anthen slept next to her and Kyreial slumbered a few feet from the guardsman. She held the precious burning torch in her hand with a second kept at the ready. She watched the guardsman sleep with concern. He was tossing and turning and his face was slick with sweat. Teya suspected he had pushed himself too hard and now might have a fever. On top of everything else, they would be utterly lost if Anthen became sick with fever.

  As if in answer to her concern, his eyes fluttered open. He looked dazed for a moment and she thought he was indeed feverish but then his face returned to normal. His smile made her feel much better.

  "Are you ill?" she whispered.

  "Hot and thirsty." He rolled over and reached for the waterskin to quench his thirst. He took a long drink, then started to rise.

  "No Anthen. Rest more," she coaxed. "I have not been on watch for very long."

  Anthen nodded and slid back down. Teya soaked a rag and gently touched it to his flushed face. The fatigued guardsman started to nod off, then his eyes opened wide and he sat up, facing her.

  "Teya I must speak." He took her hands in his.

  "What is it?" she asked in alarm.

  "I just want you to know ... I thought I had lost you and ..." The guardsman paused, struggling for the right words. "I do not know what may happen and I want you to know. I want you to know ... that I love you."

  She thought he might indeed be delirious but then the depth of his feelings showed clearly in the way he looked at her. She felt tears gathering and took him in her arms.

  "I know," she murmured softly in his ear. "And I feel the same."

  She released him and drew his head to her lap and resumed soothing his face with the cool cloth.

  "Now go back to sleep ... my Love."

  Chapter 48

  Anthen awoke feeling stiff and unrefreshed even though he had slept longer than usual. He knew he had overtaxed himself the day before but they had been so excited when they saw light that he pushed himself further than he should. It wouldn't matter though; it would all be over soon. They would find the exit today; they must, for their limited supply of torches would soon be exhausted.

  The trio was on their way again after a quick, cold breakfast chased down with a few swallows of water. Anthen soon wore the now familiar frown of concentration while the other two watched him anxiously. The temperature steadily dropped as they moved farther and farther away from the fiery pit and by mid-morning, it no longer felt unusually warm. After several hours, when they judged it to be near midday, they stopped just for a minute, then pressed on, unable to rest with so little light left.

  "Hold!" Teya suddenly exclaimed, a moment after they resumed.

  The other two whirled around to face her, alarmed by the exclamation. The warrior-woman behaved as if she were suddenly blind, holding her hands out in front to feel for invisible objects.

  "Teya?" the guardsman asked with growing concern.

  "Did you feel it?" she asked excitedly.

  "Feel what?" Kyreial queried, reaching for his blade.

  "The draft. Oh where did it go? ... There! I have it again. Over here."

  Teya had moved a couple of steps to the side and was crouching. At her beckoning the others joined her and they too began to mimic the blind. Soon, both acknowledged the draft's presence.

 
"We can follow it," Teya asserted eagerly.

  Anthen shook his head. "It could be another diversion."

  "Does one rely on instincts alone?" Teya countered quickly. "Skilled trackers use all their senses, along with their experience."

  "I can only tell you that I would not choose this path," Anthen said, looking into the darkness of the cave from which the draft seemed to originate. Anthen turned toward the elf and saw from Kyreial's expression that he agreed with Teya. "Very well. It seems I am outnumbered."

  Anthen reminded them to memorize the path from this point, then they proceeded to follow the draft. Though the draft was subtle, it proved easy to follow. They simply held the torch low at each junction and watched the flame. They continued in this manner for an hour, then felt a marked increase in the draft as well as an accompanying drop in the temperature. Soon the draft was an outright wind and an icy one at that. They could see their breaths and guessed the temperature to be near freezing.

  Finally, they turned a corner and saw daylight, though very dim, at the end of the tunnel. A strong, icy wind blew directly in their faces and in the faint light beyond, they could see heavy snow blowing past the opening. After carefully extinguishing the precious torch, though there was barely enough light for them to feel safe, the three warriors pulled their cloaks tight and moved down the tunnel toward the exit, each silently hoping they had found the way out.

  Close to the exit they had to lean into the strong wind and use the rock walls for support. The frigid wind howled past the opening and they took great care as they neared the aperture. One by one, each leaned out for a look while the other two provided support against the gale-force wind.

  When Anthen's turn came, he grimaced at the sting from the arctic blast and felt his eyes begin to water from the bitter cold. He could see only a few feet in the heavy, swirling snow. He guessed they must be very high up on the face of the mountain. When each had taken a look, they moved back from the freezing cold at the mouth of the cave. Anthen voiced his thoughts as to their location and the others agreed.