It was unimaginable. Nothing in their experience came near it. Nothing in the old stories told of it. Yet here it was, and as easily discovered as a short walk down some stairs. How was it that nothing was known of it.
“Antonin, there are no tracks in the dust down here save our own. If the thieves who took the key came this way, then they left no tracks. I think it unlikely. We should return and tell the others of this place.” Catharina started back toward the stairs.
Antonin was not reluctant to leave, but wanted to see how far the level went in either direction, and what, if anything might be in the silent dusty rooms that lines the walls.
“A quick look Catharina, then we go.” He said. Catharina merely grunted in reply. She would never understand why men had to poke their noses into every nook and cranny they found. It always led to trouble, and invariably it was a woman who rescued them. She trailed after him along the smooth stone, a smile of friendship lighting her face. They would follow each other, even into the mountains around Sara Sara. Antonin grinned back at her and continued on. Catharina stood and waited on the stone platform as Antonin entered the first room near the stairs. She could see his lamp light flickering. Suddenly she felt a shift in the entire air around her. It was the only way she could describe it. Not a breeze on her cheek or a draft in her hair. The entire body of air in the cast cavern had shifted one way then back again. It had lasted but a moment, little more than a heartbeat. Something was happening. The flame and smoke from her lamp no longer went straight up. It was now streaming away at an angle, in line with the run of the rail in the middle of the pit. Catharina was alerted and on her toes in an instant when she felt the strands of her hair start to drift out in a gathering draft.
“Antonin,” she called out. “Come quickly, something is happening out here. Quickly.”
Antonin heard the concern in her voice and came out of the rooms at a run.
“What is it Catharina?” He called worriedly.
“Watch.” She said and nodded at their lamps. The smoke rose from the flame and then flattened out and streamed away into the darkness. It felt to Antonin like the change in the air before a storm. There was still no sound, but the air pressure was certainly changing.
“What could it be?” Wondered Antonin aloud. He walked over to where the iron rail lay in its sunken pathway. His skin went tingly as he heard a low hum coming from the iron rail. It was also showing tiny vibrations. Even as he watched and listened, the hum grew in intensity. Looking away down the length of the sunken pathway to his left he was startled to see a very very faint light like an eye glowing in the depths. It seemed very far away, but it was defiantly watching from the darkness, and unless he was dreaming it was getting larger. It was coming toward them! They must have attracted the beast that lived in these depths.
“Catharina,” yelled Antonin “… The stairs, quickly. Head for the stairs.” He grabbed Catharina’s hand on the way past, speeding for the stairs. What size was this monster that it could move the entire air mass in this cavern with its movements?
Catharina needed no urging. She knew there would be trouble – men always caused it – but she could hear the hum from the iron rail herself now and the glow from the eye of the unknown beast was now lighting up the tunnel ahead of it as it sped toward them. They leapt the stairs two at a time, the beast of the depths now roaring in their ears. Catharina dropped her lamp and it sputtered out as it tumbled back down the steps. They sped upwards, the awful roaring increasing in intensity with every step they took. A sudden blast of air rushed up the steps past them, it’s force enough to nearly blow them up the steps and into the street.
The roaring from the depths stopped as abruptly as the wind died. A faint movement of air back to the depths drawing disturbed dust after it.
Catharina and Antonin struggled out into the daylight and fell into each other's arms laughing and capering about in relief, and with some chagrin at their wild panicky flight.
“What could it have been?” panted Antonin, now resting with his hands on his knees.
“I don't know, but would you like to come back down and see.” Laughed Catharina.
“I think not.” Replied Antonin.
The day had now dawned, the cloudless sky above a deep blue. The buildings looked sad and neglected in the daylight. Antonin picked up the oil jar and they set off back along the street to where the others waited. Their footsteps were clear in the fine layer of dust that had settled after the windstorm of the previous night.
Mei’An and Luan stood out in the street peering in their direction. The others, Gaul, Rees, Edina and Elsa stood with the horses on the wide entrance of the building at the top of the steps.
“What was that noise?” Asked Mei’An as the two adventurers drew near.
“It sounded like it was coming from deep in the city. We thought the building would shake apart.” She added.
Talking over the top of each other, Antonin and Catharina recounted their adventures, and the sudden arrival of the huge monster along its own tunnel.
The roaring had suddenly stopped so they did not know if it waited below, or had simply continued along its path. They had no idea what it could have been.
“… And I lost one of the lamps!” said Catharina into a sudden silence. Her two friends laughed. Only another Mare Altan would have been game enough to laugh at the discomfort of a warrior. The two boys looked studiously at the buildings up and down the street. Luan was studying the inside of his hat as though he had never seen it before.
Catharina could see all this of course, and went as red as a Bloodroot vegetable. She sputtered and stamped her foot in anger and looked daggers at Antonin.
“It’s all your fault you wool headed farmer,” she spat. “If you hadn't run like a frightened cat we may have seen what the beast was.”
“Me! Run,” he laughed. “I was simply making sure the way ahead was clear for you. You could have gone back down to pick up the lamp.” The grin on his face was too friendly to ignore and Catharina suddenly realized she was being foolish.
“Truly, I was afraid,” she said. “It was like nothing I know to be faced by something unknown in the depths of the earth. Out here in the open is where I am used to fighting. Not buried in a tomb."
Catharina threw her hair over her shoulder in a defiant flick. It was a mannerism of hers that Antonin loved. With a sudden rush he realized that he loved everything about Catharina. “But what would she see in a farm boy?” he thought. Oh, he knew they had been friends since the cradle, but while he had taken his place on the farm she had taken up the spear. That meant that it was most unlikely that she would ever wed other than another warrior. One of the feared Asha Altan. Antonin kicked his toes in the dust. A sudden sense of loss gripping his heart with icy fingers so fierce that he gasped aloud. Catharina looked at him with a quizzical look in her eyes.
“Come,” he said harshly. “Do we plan our quest for the key or play the fool?”
The last aimed at himself. Catharina looked at him from beneath her eyelashes as she bent to retie a bootlace that had loosened. "So Antonin sees me again,” she thought. “But what has upset him so?” She resolved to find out if she could. Catharina had realized when she was quite young that one day she and Antonin would wed. It had been as clear then as the sun coming up in the morning. She knew also that it would not come to pass for many years, but it did not stop her from dreaming. Even when she took up the spear and joined the Mare Altan she knew she just had to wait. Antonin would come to her. She waited and wondered in here secret moments, and continued to discourage suitors from the clans of the men. She would wed Antonin if she had to wait until she was old and haggard and he stooped and grey haired. It was not an obsession, just something she knew.
It seemed the other girls of the village knew it too somehow, for as much as he tried to court other girls in the district, they all soon went their own ways. Antonin never seemed to notice that he and Catharina always seemed to be in the same p
lace at the same time. They were now firm and loyal friends, of that there was no doubt. Catharina could not know that Antonin thought as she did. It was not a subject that had ever come up between them. Perhaps it would one day, but now Catharina could see that Antonin had come to some conclusion in his mind that displeased him. She had no doubt that it was related to her. There suddenly in his eyes was a hurt, mixed with the love she knew he felt for her but had never given voice to.
Mei’An watched this subtle exchange with interest. She resolved to keep an eye on the pair
“Tell me more about this monster Antonin,” said Mei’An. “Did you actually see it?”
“Well,” he began. “When we first found our way down into the vault there was no sign of it. The place seems to have lain undisturbed for a very long time. I think perhaps this is a relic of an age long past. Anyway we looked about to see if there were any signs of the takers of the Great Key. There were no signs that anyone had ever been there. The only tracks in the place are ours. Of course there is the iron rail that is shiny from use, but that is not the tracks of a living thing. It is very strange, but it is man made all the same.”
“What attracted this demon that you speak of – that we all heard?” asked Luan.
“I know not.” He looked at Catharina.
Catharina took up the story as though she had spoken for Antonin all her life. Mei’An noted the flow from one to the other and filed it away.
“It must have been the lamps I think,” she said. “I could see the light reflecting from its one huge eye even far along its burrow. It’s roaring was fearsome and shook the very stone on which we stood. We could feel it’s breath as we ran. I think it nearly had us, trying to tumble us back down into its lair with a final blast of its breath. The noise stopped suddenly so we do not know if it waits below or has gone back into its tunnels.”
Mei’An stood quietly, tapping her pursed lips with a forefinger. The other stood listening with looks of wonder on their faces. Except Luan. Nothing seemed to disturb his features. Antonin wondered not for the first time what it would be like to stir him up. He didn't want to find out. Just wondered.
“I have heard from other Wind Readers that there used to be a means of travelling vast distances very rapidly, by means of strange underground ways. I wonder if this could be a portal. I must contact other Wind Readers and see what I can discover. If this is indeed one of the strange portals mentioned in our writings, we will find it very useful.” Mei’An didn't mention how she was going to contact other Wind Readers. The girls looked at her in expectation, but she only turned to Luan and said,
“How is it that you have never mentioned knowing of this place? You led us here in the storm without even having to think about it, it seems.”
“I knew of this place – this city,” said Luan. “From past adventures. I did not know of this portal. I have sheltered in this place on occasion in my journeys to the Great Sandy Blight and beyond.”
Mei’An’s face took on a faraway look. She seemed deep in thought. Her lips were just moving as thought she followed the words she was thinking. Suddenly she shook her head and her focus snapped back to those present.
“There is much excitement amongst the Wind Readers at your find,” she said to Antonin and Catharina. “They have all asked that we investigate it further to see if it really is a portal. They all know bits and pieces of the old stories of course but no mention any creatures such as you describe living in the depths. Perhaps it is some wild beast that has taken up residence down there and can be hunted out.”
Everyone was staring at Mei’An. Except Luan. They had all heard of the strange powers of the Wind Readers, but this was the first time that any had seen such a demonstration of just what it meant to have those powers.
Antonin and Catharina looked at each other apprehensively. They were no longer frightened and had never been really. More startled and caught up in the strangeness of the dark places they had found. However they were none too keen to repeat the experience.
Edina came over to Catharina. “We will all go and investigate this beast and flush it from its lair. It will not stand a chance against all of us.”
Elsa, Rees and Gaul all crowded around.
“Why do we wait?” said Elsa.
“The thieves of the Great Key could be escaping even as we tarry here,” said Rees.
“Antonin said there were no signs,” said Gaul and the group fell silent. “I think we should go back and pick up the trail where we left off. Not go chasing after some legendary tale.”
“I agree,” said Mei’An before anyone could respond. “ But I believe it is important to at least investigate this place. We can take a quick look and we must then find our way back to the Great North Road.” With a meaningful look at Luan she took her horses reins and set off along the road in the direction of the entrance to the tunnels. Luan strode alongside and the other straggled along with Gaul bringing up the rear. No one had eaten yet, and Antonin muttered something about adventures on an empty stomach. To his great surprise he heard Mei’An comment “We will eat when we eat.” Without turning her head. She must be six to eight paces ahead, and could not possibly have heard him. Antonin resolved to keep his thoughts in his head in future, especially around Wind Readers. Catharina glanced at him and smiled. Luan tied a rope along the balustrade and the horses were hitched to it. Luan finished giving his horse a handful of oats and strode to the head of the stairs.
“We should each have a lamp, and our weapons drawn.” He commented to no one in particular.
The lamps were set up and lit, weapons drawn and they started down. Edina, Elsa and Catharina each had their short bows in hand. An arrow nocked and held in place by strong fingers. Gaul and Rees, with Antonin all had swords drawn and spread out in a line one step back up from the warrior maidens. They knew better than to try and lead the way in front of the girls. Mei’An and Luan brought up the rear. Mei’An was calm in the knowledge of her own power and Luan seemed to be bristling with hardware. A sword in each hand, as well as the lamp grasped in his right hand. If needed he would simply drop the lamp from his fingers and flick the sword into his full grip. They moved together down the stairs into the inky blackness. Their passage a bright pool of light. They came upon the lamp that Catharina had dropped in her earlier flight. A slightly embarrassed chuckle escaped Catharina as she retrieved it. There were no other sounds save their breathing. Not a breath came from the depths. Arriving at last on the lower level they stepped out onto the stone platform and gathered along the edge of the sunken track.
“This is all manmade.” Said Mei’An. “And very old. Very very old. No living creature dwells here.” Mei’An paused a moment, looking about her. She added. “At least no creature that lives as we understand the word.”
The three boys moved a little closer to the girls. They were Warrior Maidens, but it was a sense of security in numbers that prompted the whole group to move a little closer together. Luan of course didn't move. Nothing moved him and he was utterly fearless. He held his lamp high and strode away along the edge of the pit. He could be seen finally only as a bobbing light far along the platform. Finally they could see his lamp light glittering on the wet stones of an arched tunnel entrance. The rail in the pit reflected the light as it disappeared into the cavern. They could hear his muttered comments as an echoing whisper in the cavernous vault. He strode by them in the other direction but again came up against a wall where the shiny rail disappeared into a tunnel similar to the one at the other end of the platform. Luan came back to the group.
“This is obviously some sort of waiting area,” he said. “ The iron rail is shiny from use and disappears into the depths in both directions. Whatever it is that still moves down here does so regularly. I will see what is to be seen on the far side.” With that he jumped down into the pit. He was closely followed this time by the three Maidens. They climbed carefully over the centre rail. None willing to touch it. None could guess at its use, but it was pla
in to see that it was regularly used.
“Perhaps the demon we had heard last time was chained to it?” thought Catharina. In a moment they were on the other side, and Luan strode off in one direction with Edina, while Catharina and Elsa went to the right.
“There are more stairs over here, just like those we came down.” Called Luan. Both could be seen in the dim light now that eyes were accustomed to the glow. The far side appeared to be exactly the same as the side they had entered on. Two entrances. “That would be useful to remember.” Thought Mei’An.
“Come back this side Luan, Catharina, Edina and Elsa.” Called Mei’An. Within a few moments all were together again.
“We should look into these side rooms for signs of life, then go on our way.” Said Luan. All nodded in agreement.
“We search in pairs?” Offered Antonin, walking with casual stride to Catharina’s side. Mei’An arched an eyebrow and smiled a secret smile to Catharina.. Antonin looked from one to the other but nothing was being given away. He shrugged and started off toward the side rooms.
Rees and Edina moved off along the way, Gaul with Elsa and Mei’An and Luan each heading toward the dusty rooms lining the walls. Rees and Edina entered one room that was built out from the wall rather than into it. It was thick with the settlement of long undisturbed years. Even the slightest movement of the two young people with their sputtering lamps was enough to raise swirls of fine dust. The room was full of benches, strange symbols marked on their surfaces. Rees tapped a surface of one with his sword hilt and it rang with a metallic sound. The dust was so thick little could be made out on the surfaces.
The Dragons of Sara Sara Page 13
