“Oh, I can’t wait to see how this turns out.” Jarla walked toward her horse, Nightmare, and made a nickering sound. The horse stooped down. Jarla started to climb into the saddle.
Fogle said, “What do you think you’re doing? You aren’t riding on your horse. Stay off of it.”
“Or what, mage? Are you going to zap me?”
Fogle twitched his fingers, and magic sparks flew. “No, I’m going to zap your horse.”
Jarla’s lips curled. “You wouldn’t dare!”
Fogle turned his index finger in a circle. The bonds on Jarla’s wrists constricted.
She moaned.
Nightmare nickered and whinnied.
“Don’t test me,” he said.
“Fine. Have it your way, then.” She marched south, back toward the high grasses outside of the woodland. Nightmare followed behind her. “But you better find help soon for Horse Puncher, before he dies. Do you have anything in your spellbook for that, mage?”
Brak moaned and rolled off the stretcher.
“Find some more rope, Jubilee. We’re going to have to secure him.”
Jubilee found the canteen and put some water on Brak’s lips. She felt his head. “He’s burning up.”
“Get the rope, and be quick about it.” Fogle reopened his spellbook.
Something rattled the branches above his head. He glanced up. A black blot scurried through the leaves and vanished. His skin crawled. “Hurry up, Jubilee. We need to get out of here.”
CHAPTER 14
Another day passed in the dungeon of Dwarven Hole. Not one single dwarf had come. No food and no water had been brought in over two days. Everyone was at each other’s throats.
Melegal got into Venir’s face. “This is your fault! Again!”
The cutting words rattled Venir. He sprang up from the bench and shoved Melegal in the chest, knocking him into the arms of Billip and Nikkel. The two men seized him.
Billip said, “You’ve a lot of gall blaming Venir! You’re the one fooling with an underling. Go ahead, Venir, knock the slat out of him!”
Venir locked his fingers around Melegal’s jaw and squeezed. “I don’t know what your issue is, Melegal, but your candle’s burning at both ends. Mind your tongue from now on.”
“Unhand me, you oversized dog!”
Venir drew back his free hand and formed a ham-sized fist. Deep inside his mind, he knew he’d been through things worse than this before, but he was so irritated. His mind was in a strange haze. A fog in there would not lift. He wanted to rip something apart. All of the people around him―he couldn’t trust a single one of them. Everything everyone said was annoying. “I warned you.”
“Venir! Venir!” Kam screamed from the other cell. “Please, stop what you’re doing!”
“Oh, shut up, witch,” Jasper fired at Kam. “Melegal has it coming.”
“Yes, let him have it,” Billip agreed.
Melegal struggled, and his eyes bore into Venir’s. Though Venir’s fingers had clamped over his jaw, he managed to say, “Go ahead, you big fool! Hit me. That’s all you’re good for!”
“Venir! Don’t!” Kam yelled again.
Erin was crying. Her shrieking cries jostled Venir’s senses. He shoved Melegal’s face back, clasped his own head, and sat down.
Pull it together, Venir! Pull it together. These are your friends, not black fiends. What madness is this?
Venir screamed so loud and long his ears rang.
“EEEEAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!”
Erin’s crying came to a stop.
Silence fell.
Then a soft voice said, “Venir, how are you doing?” It was Kam. He saw her pretty face pressed between the bars. Dark circles had formed under her eyes.
He sighed. “Sorry.”
Clank.
Kam’s eyes widened, and she stared toward the sound of an opening dungeon door.
Venir rose and made his way to the bars. Billip and Nikkel crammed along both sides of him.
A dwarf entered. He was huskier than most and black bearded to the knees. He wore the leather apron of a blacksmith and pulled a cart behind him. The wheels squeaked as the cart rolled. He stopped in front of the underling’s cage and grabbed a long satchel of leather and pushed it in between the bars.
“What are you doing feeding that murderous fiend?” Jasper yelled.
The dwarf turned and faced Jasper. He had a blank expression on his face, and his eyes were black as pearls. He muttered something that wasn’t dwarven. It was strange but familiar.
The odd words were like a punch in Venir’s face. “He just spoke in Underling.”
“No, can’t be,” Billip said, shaking his head. “Your ears must still be ringing.”
Venir gripped the bars and instinctively started to pull. Something was wrong. Very wrong. A sinking feeling twisted in his guts. Something supernatural flowed in the room.
The dwarf spoke into the female underling’s cell again.
“That is Underling.” Melegal squeezed his face between the bars. “What’s moving on the cart? It squeaks.”
A maroon cloth covered up what looked to be a tray of food.
“I don’t like this,” Jasper said.
The dwarf stuffed a key in Elypsa’s cell door and twisted it. The lock popped open, and he shoved the door to the side.
Elypsa emerged with both of her swords on her hips.
“Madness!” Nikkel said.
“Please don’t make a sound,” Elypsa said. “I wouldn’t want the dwarves to hear you. Oh wait, that’s right, they can’t.”
“Why’s that?” Billip said.
“Because they’re all gone. Off to fight a war they cannot win. They march into the face of elimination.” Elypsa rested her hand on the cart handle and eyed the tablecloth as it moved and squeaked. “And they aren’t the only ones about to face elimination.”
Nikkel licked his lips and swallowed. “Even hungry as I am, I have a feeling I don’t want to know what they’re serving us for dinner.”
Elypsa patted her sword hilts with her hands. “My only regret is not killing you myself. Especially the big one. And I’m not going to stick around to see this, even though I’m certain I would enjoy it.”
“Enjoy what?” Venir said.
Elypsa lifted the tablecloth. Two slimy, fleshy, spiny creatures the size of small hams lay on the table. They had little mouths filled with jagged teeth on one end and long barbed tails all over. They moved their slug-like bodies with tiny insect legs on the bottom and continued to make odd squeals.
Jubilee’s face sagged. “I think I’m going to be sick.”
“Dwarf, come. Pick them up,” Elypsa said.
The spacey-eyed dwarf did as he was told. His calloused hands reached out and filled with the strange leech-like grubs.
“I’m sure these little monsters aren’t anything you’re familiar with. They are treasure from the bowels of the Underland. They devour flesh with no prejudice and fertilize our gardens.”
The bulbous creatures oozed in the dwarf’s hands like sopping-wet sponges. The tendrils wrapped around his wrists, and the mouths began devouring his fingers.
The dwarf didn’t even gasp.
Joline and Nikkel let out a unified scream. “Aaaaiiiieeeee!”
“Oh, don’t worry,” Elypsa said, “You won’t feel a thing when they eat you. At least, we don’t think so. But you’ll be paralyzed by then, so you won’t scream.”
The creatures grew in size with every bite. In seconds the dwarf was gone, and a black spirit came out of him and hovered like a small shade near Elypsa before floating through the dungeon door and out of sight. The creatures slunk across the floor, now bigger than cats and one creeping toward each cell.
“Don’t fight it,” Elypsa said. “There’s nowhere for you to go, and only one thing can kill them. That thing is deep, deep, deep in the Underland. In your words, these are called eeblers.” She waved her fingers and started her
exit. “Goodbye, humans.”
CHAPTER 15
Traveling on horseback with two pack mules in tow, Fogle and company came to a stop at nightfall. They settled in a grove of trees, where the horses chewed on the bright green leaves and the moonlight cracked through the branches.
He tethered Jarla to a tree and started making a fire.
“I wouldn’t do that,” Jarla said to him. She wriggled in her bonds a little. “You might attract brigands.”
She has a point, but I can’t let her make too many of those.
“Aside from you, they’re all dead.” Fogle didn’t turn toward her when he spoke. He kept his eyes on his task, striking flint on rock. It made sparks, but the kindling wouldn’t catch.
Hopefully she’s never seen a wizard cast fire. Glad I hadn’t done it yet.
“But I don’t think we’ll be having a fire tonight anyway.”
Jubilee came out of the shadows and gave Fogle a knowing look. “Here, let me do that.” She glanced around. “I’m not sleeping without a fire. There’re too many strange creatures. And forests give me the spooks. I swear there were men crawling in the trees.”
“There are snakes bigger than you in this grove, girl,” Jarla said. “They’ll have you, and by the time you know it, your bones will be crushed and your eyes will pop out of your sockets. I’ve seen it many times before.”
Striking the flint on the rock, Jubilee got the fire started.
Frowning at her, Fogle fanned the small flames. The small sticks began to crackle.
Jubilee said, “See, isn’t this nice?”
Lying on the stretcher nearby, Brak moaned. It was a loud and long one. “MMMMRRRRRoooooooohhhhhhhhhh.”
“If they don’t see your fire, they will certainly hear us.” Jarla tried to blow her hair out of her eyes. “By the dawn’s light we’ll all be dead.”
Dusting off her hands, Jubilee said, “Can I gag her?”
Fogle dropped another stick on the fire. “No.”
“Can I kill her?” Jubilee asked.
Jarla tossed her head back and laughed.
“Don’t let her spook you,” Fogle said to Jubilee. “There isn’t anything scarier out there than what we have.”
“And what’s that?” Jubilee said.
“We have Jarla.”
The girl chuckled and then picked up a canteen, soaked a rag with it, sat down by Brak, and placed the rag on his head. “You’re going to be fine, Brak. Just hang in there.”
“How sweet,” said Jarla. “The little girl cares for the giant man. Does it bother you I’ve already had intercourse with him?”
Jubilee rolled her eyes and shook her head.
On one knee, Fogle at last turned to Jarla when he spoke. “Was that really necessary?”
Jarla leaned forward as far as she could. “I know it bothers you, mage. I’ve seen the desire in your eyes. The jealousy.” She glanced at the nearby tent and pulled up her knees. “Let me give you something warmer than fire could ever be.”
Eyeing her legs and finding the sultry look in her eyes, Fogle’s heart beat faster. His mouth dried.
My, she’s a temptress! A lesser man would certainly risk his own neck. Even I can’t help but consider risking mine.
“I must admit I’m flattered you would try to seduce me.”
“No man can resist my charms once he gets to know me.”
“Just as your men have to prove themselves to you, you will have to prove yourself to me.”
Gently knocking her knees together, Jarla said with a purr in her voice, “I’m trying to prove myself to you, Fogle.”
He swallowed. When he’d first laid eyes on Jarla long ago she had stirred his blood. There was something mesmerizing and powerful about her that the other women in his life didn’t have. A dangerous element. A different desire. He turned away from her scarred and beautiful face and said to Jubilee, “I have to meditate. Can you handle her without me?”
Jubilee pulled out a knife and stuck it in the ground. “I can handle her just fine.”
Without giving Jarla another glance, Fogle crawled into his tent.
“Meditate about me all you want, wizard,” Jarla said to him. “But the real thing is far, far better.”
Fogle closed the tent flap behind him.
Curse my eyes, I want that woman!
***
Jubilee finished tending to Brak, added more wood to the fire, picked up her knife, and sat down cross-legged in front of Jarla with the fire at her back.
“You’re stealing my warmth, little girl,” Jarla said.
“Good,” Jubilee replied. “You don’t deserve any.”
Jarla glanced at the sky. “I suppose you’re right. I am a wretched person. I bet you can’t imagine anyone more wretched than me.”
“I’ve known people far worse than you who wanted me dead too, but here I am.”
“Well, aren’t you quite the little sprite. Pretty too.” Gazing at Jubilee, Jarla tilted her head to one side. “You have the cheekbones of a Royal.”
Jubilee sat up a little bit. “That’s because I am a Royal.”
“Oh really? How interesting. And do you care to share which house?”
“No.”
Jarla nodded. “I see. I was raised by the Royals. My father was a top soldier for the Royals. I was brought up hearing about all of the battles and triumphs. I dined in the finest castles just like one of the Royals’ very own. I had the finest of everything―and best of all, the best training. Like my father, I had a knack for swinging steel.”
“What happened?” Jubilee asked.
“Well, I became every bit the soldier my father thought I would be. I was renowned within the ranks of some rather apt men. Cherished by some, but unknown to me, I was despised by many others.” Jarla’s face and voice became distant. “You see, I was not of Royal blood. I wasn’t entitled to anything. Perhaps I thought more of myself than I should have.”
Jubilee shrugged. “That’s not surprising.”
“Oh, I certainly was confident.”
Jubilee took her knife and started picking at the ground with the tip. “There really isn’t any reason I should believe your story. Not that it matters. I won’t let you trick me.”
“No, I’m not trying to trick you. My words will ring true.” Jarla lifted her chin. “See these scars on my face?”
Jubilee nodded.
“The Royal soldiers I fought and bled to defend did this to me.” Jarla’s dark eyes locked on Jubilee’s. Her voice became a sneer. “They cut me. They burned me. They raped me. My so-called brothers in arms treated me like a common whore. They even left me for dead. Can you imagine what it would be like if your comrades, Fogle and Brak, did the same to you?”
Jubilee pulled her knees to her chest, glanced back at Brak for a second, then turned back to Jarla and said, “They would never do that.”
Jarla responded, “That’s what I thought too, and I was only a few years older than you are now.”
CHAPTER 16
The bizarre slug-like eeblers split apart. One eebler headed toward the women’s cell, and the other toward the men’s.
Nikkel threw his boot at one of them. “Get that thing away from me!”
“Venir,” Kam said, “do something!”
“Billip,” Joline shouted with desperation, “protect me!”
The eeblers inched closer and faster.
Venir locked onto the bars again, trying to pull them apart. Billip and Nikkel lent a hand and started tugging as well.
The eebler nearest Kam’s cell was inches from the bars, and the three women started screaming.
“Get up on something, Kam! Take the high ground!” Venir said.
“There is no high ground!” Jasper yelled back. She shot a look at Melegal. “This is your fault!”
Melegal squeezed up to the bars and said, “Back off, men! Back off and allow me!”
The men slacked off.
Venir said, “What are you doing?”
“Why didn’t you do that days ago?” Nikkel asked in astonishment.
“I was waiting to see how things turned out. I didn’t realize it would be this bad.”
The eebler picked up speed and started squeezing its bulbous body through the bars. Its little teeth were snapping.
“Pick my legs up. Pick my legs up!” Melegal said.
Venir snatched Melegal up by the boots and backed away from the eebler as best he could.
Melegal hung parallel to the hard stone floor with one hand on a bar while the fingers of his other hand were busy along with his eyes―fixed on the lock.
“Slow the thing down,” Venir said to Billip and Nikkel.
Billip threw a bucket at it.
The eebler’s creeping pace didn’t slow. It sped up, aiming for Venir’s toes.
The big man crept up on the stone bench, and with his powerful arm he held Melegal’s feet up by the toes with his fingertips. “Hurry up, Me!”
The women screamed louder. Erin’s cries became shrill.
The eebler started slowly crawling up the stone bench.
“Come on, Me! Come on!” Venir said to Melegal.
“These dwarven locks aren’t anything I’m accustomed to. More thorough than men’s, I’ll say that much. Who’d rob a dwarf, anyway?”
Pop. Snap. Clack.
Melegal smiled at Venir. “I got it.”
Venir slung Melegal’s legs away.
Hanging onto the metal bar, the thief swung out of the cell.
Venir leapt to freedom, and Billip and Nikkel bustled after him.
Melegal darted away and out of the dungeon door.
“Where are you going?” Venir called after the thief.
“Help, Venir! Help!” Kam screamed.
Venir grabbed the steel bars, braced his feet against them, and pulled. Thick blue veins popped out on his arms and legs. His faced turned red and purple. Battle heat surging, he put all of his iron will and strength into one tremendous focused effort. “Yuuuuuuuuuurgh!”
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