Shadowdale at-1

by Richard Awlinson

  Their horses found breathing difficult, too, but they continued to move, gasping and wheezing. In the thick, filthy air the heroes could barely see where they were going. Luckily, when the mists came, the mountains seemed to stop moving so quickly.

  Cyric knew it was a miracle that they had survived this long. And if the peaks started to shift again, the adventurers would be buried in a river of displaced earth, rocks, and trees long before they could get out of the Shadow Gap.

  "We'd better stop for a minute," Midnight said, hacking and coughing. "We can get our bearings and make sure we're going in the right direction."

  "Aye," Kelemvor wheezed. "It seems safe enough at the moment."

  The heroes stopped and let their horses rest for a moment. They searched the mist for some recognizable landmark, something to guide them north through the destruction. The mist was too thick, though, and it was already getting dark, so they had to settle for Cyric's best guess.

  "I think we're heading in the right direction," the thief said as the heroes mounted and got ready to move. "We have no choice but to follow what we think is the road through the gap."

  Midnight laughed. "That certainly worked in that bizarre forest outside of Arabel."

  As Cyric and Kelemvor scowled and kicked their horses into motion, Midnight screamed. A rat with glaring red eyes and a huge bloated body shot at her out of the mist. The magic-user struck the creature, which was as big as a man's forearm, and it squealed loudly. The rat fell to the ground with a thump and ran away.

  Then the heroes heard a sound that made even Kelemvor shake. All around them were loud, high-pitched squeals. The cries echoed in the rocks and sent shivers down the adventurers' spines. There must be at least two hundred of them, Cyric thought as the first of the horde of giant rats broke through the mist.

  Kelemvor's horse reared and nearly dumped Adon to the ground. "Get behind me!" Midnight screamed. Suddenly, a blue-white shield appeared all around the heroes, deflecting the bodies of the giant rats.

  Kelemvor tried to steady his horse within the shield. "Don't you think throwing a spell is a little risky? I mean, you could have turned all the rats into charging elephants or something."

  "If you're so unhappy about it, Kel, she could let the shield down," Cyric said.

  The fighter said nothing, and Midnight smiled, though she didn't turn to look at her companions. Instead, she concentrated on holding the shield up as rat after rat bounced off the magical barrier.

  Cyric looked out at the rodents running by them. "They don't seem to be particularly interested in attacking us," he said. "I wonder if they're running away from something or if the earthquake destroyed their nests."

  Once the last of the rats had scampered by, the shield shattered as if it were a mirror struck with a hammer, and the broken shards faded from existence. "I think we should go right now," Kelemvor said, and the heroes navigated a passage through the fallen trees and boulders.

  They rode for hours that night, but the mist showed no sign of lessening. Kelemvor felt a sickness growing in the pit of his stomach, caused no doubt by the sour air. He felt weak and tired, and from time to time he was certain he was going to be ill, though he never was. Occasionally, the rocks ahead seemed to shift slightly, but Kelemvor was so used to the sounds, he had grown deaf to the noise of the mountains as they shifted and drew closer.

  Eventually, though, the mist got thinner, and the heroes' spirits rose as they found it easier to breathe. The road, too, was clearing. After walking their mounts for over a mile through a broken terrain of rocks and shifting ground, the adventurers found that they could again ride. Adon was moved to Midnight's horse, and Kelemvor pushed his horse to a gallop and rushed ahead to scout.

  The fighter found that the mist soon parted and he could breathe in fresh, clean air again. The mountains hadn't tossed debris in the road this far north, and it looked like they were out of danger. Still, the land to the north of what used to be the Shadow Gap had changed, too. It was now strange and beautiful.

  The road glowed white as it wound its way north for a few miles. Then it disappeared into the jagged foothills of a beautiful mountain range, which looked as if it were made entirely of glass.

  Cyric and Midnight rode up beside Kelemvor as he stood, staring at the strange mountains to the northeast.

  "Where are we?" Cyric said as he stopped and dismounted. "I don't remember any glass mountains in the Realms."

  "I think they're new," Kelemvor said. "We went in the right direction. Now we're just north of Shadow Gap. See," the fighter said, pointing to the west. "Those are the Desertmouth Mountains, and that's the Spiderhaunt Woods right in front of us to the north."

  "Then we're trapped," Midnight said and hung her head. "We can't go through those mountains, and they're right in our path."

  The heroes were silent for a moment. "Then we'll have to go through the woods," Cyric said at last. "We certainly can't go back the way we came. So that's our only choice unless, of course, Midnight wants to fly us over the mountains on her broom."

  "If she had one, it probably wouldn't work right anyway," Kelemvor said and started for the woods.

  As the heroes got closer to the woods, something moved in the trees, something the size of a horse, with eight spindly legs and icy blue eyes.

  As Midnight and Kelemvor stared at the glowing eyes in the woods, Cyric turned to get one last look at the Shadow Gap. Emerging from the mist were a group of riders. "The riders from Tilverton!" the thief cried. Cyric wheeled his horse around and drew his bow.

  Kelemvor drew his sword and rode up next to Cyric. Midnight looked for a way out. The shapes in the woods were moving quicker now, patrolling the shadowy perimeter of Spiderhaunt Woods.

  Midnight dismounted and stood in the path of the advancing riders. Despite her exhaustion, she drew her dagger and prepared to fight. The unearthly glow from the road illuminated the scene, and the heroes could see the riders clearly as they got close. Midnight recognized the bald-headed man in the lead.

  Dragon Eyes.

  "Thurbrand," Kelemvor and Midnight said together, their mouths hanging open.

  The bald-headed man stopped and dismounted. "Well met," he said to Kelemvor and Cyric. Then the fighter turned to Midnight. "We meet again, fair daffodil."

  "How did you get through Shadow Gap?" Kelemvor said as he sheathed his sword.

  "The same way you did. I've seen worse disasters," the bald man said. "The mountains had pretty much stopped moving by the time we got to them anyway. It wasn't so tough."

  One of Thurbrand's men cleared his throat noisily. "We did lose one man in there," Thurbrand added. "He was crushed by a boulder."

  "The people of Tilverton," Midnight said with concern. "The ones who were chasing us."

  "They needed a bit of persuading to turn back. We lost two of our men doing so, but they lost a dozen of theirs," Thurbrand said. "That persuaded them."

  Cyric shook his head. The fools, he thought. Dying for a god who doesn't care about them.

  "By the way," Thurbrand said. "Along the road we learned that a squad of assassins is on the way from Zhentil Keep to dispatch the lot of you. They are Bane's elite force, trained practically from birth."

  Cyric drew a sharp breath. "They wear bone-white armors, and their skin is bleached. The symbol of Bane is painted in black upon their faces." The thief shuddered. "I was almost sold into their order as a child. If they find us, we'll all be corpses soon."

  "So now what?" Midnight said.

  Thurbrand surveyed the travelers. "You have wounded. He should be taken care of first. And I imagine you haven't eaten or slept for quite some time."

  "But what about the assassins?" Kelemvor asked, anxiously cutting glances back to the gap.

  "We might as well wait for them," Thurbrand said as he turned and signaled his men to approach. "No use in running away if they are that highly trained. It'll be best to fight them on our own terms right here."

  Midnight touched the
bald man on the arm. "Why did you follow us?"

  Thurbrand turned, but didn't say anything.

  "Why are you here?" Midnight said quietly.

  "My men will tend to the cleric, then we can talk," Thurbrand said.

  "Damn you!" Kelemvor yelled. "What do you want with us?" Thurbrand's men all drew their swords.

  Thurbrand frowned. "Did I forget to mention? You're all wanted for questioning in Arabel. The charge is treason. Technically, you're all under arrest."

  The bald man motioned for his men to sheathe their weapons and walked away.

  Bane was alone in the throne room with Blackthorne, who stood beside the room's huge doors. An amber cloud filled the center of the room, and the image of a huge, mottled skull hung in the mist.

  "I am intrigued, Myrkul," the Black Lord said as he paced back and forth. "As you have delighted in reminding me, our last collaboration was hardly a crashing success. Still, after my battle with Mystra, when I asked for your assistance, you all but laughed. I, on the other hand, am polite enough to answer your summons in the middle of the night."

  "What is time to you or me?" Myrkul said. "Will you listen to my proposal?"

  "Yes, yes. Get on with it!" Bane shouted impatiently, curling his hands into fists.

  Myrkul cleared his throat. "I believe we should unite once again. Your plan of bringing together the power of the gods has merit that I am only now able to fully appreciate."

  "And why is that?" Bane asked wearily as he dragged himself to his throne and sat down, a yawn escaping from him. The amber cloud followed him. "Have you grown as tired as I have of spending your time in these hated bonds of flesh?"

  "That is one consideration," Myrkul said. "I also know where you can find another Celestial Stairway. You need it to gain access to the Planes, do you not?"

  "Go on," the Black Lord said, drumming his fingers on the arm of his throne.

  "You've told me of plans to invade the Dales. Did you know that a stairway lies just outside of the Temple of Lanthander in Shadowdale?"

  "Yes, Myrkul, I knew of the stairway," Bane said. "But I appreciate your effort."

  The Black Lord smiled. Though Myrkul's news of the stairway's presence in Shadowdale wasn't new to Bane, its exact location in the town was. Of course, Bane never even considered letting the Lord of Bones know that he had uncovered information of some value.

  The ghostly skull closed its eyes. "How can I make up for my failings as an ally, Bane? I wish to help you in any way I can."

  Bane raised one eyebrow and stood up. "You still refuse to take part in battle directly, so what help can you be?"

  "I still have some control over the dead. I can… draw off the power of a human's soul when he dies."

  Bane walked closer to the floating skull. "And could you give me that power?"

  The skull nodded slowly.

  Bane thought it over. Finally he spoke. "These are my conditions. You will collect the souls of all who die in battle and funnel their energies through me."

  "And then?" Myrkul said.

  "You will stand ready to join me in the assault on the Planes. When the time comes to climb the stairway, you will be at my side. We will first send my followers who survive the battle to attack the God of Guardians. When Helm slays the humans, he will only feed my power, weaken himself, and hasten his own destruction."

  The skull in the mist was expressionless. Finally Myrkul nodded. "Aye. Together we shall retake the Planes, and then, perhaps, usurp mighty Ao's throne."

  Bane raised his fist. "Not perhaps, Myrkul. We will destroy Lord Ao!"

  Then the amber cloud dissipated and Lord Myrkul was gone. Bane walked to the spot where last the skull had hovered. "As for you, Myrkul, we will be allies for as long as it."

  Bane laughed. The ceremonies Myrkul would have to perform to invest Bane with the power he had requested would exhaust the Lord of Bones and most of his high priests. When the time came to climb the stairway, Myrkul would be relying on Bane's strength. He would not be expecting the betrayal Bane had planned.

  "Blackthorne!" Bane said. "Prepare my chambers."

  The emissary hurried past the Black Lord.

  "I believe I'll sleep quite well tonight."

  XII

  Spiderhaunt Woods

  "Kindly remove your foot from my face," Thurbrand said and reached for his sword.

  It was just before morningfeast, and the bald man found himself being roused from a short nap by a series of kicks to the back. He was then greeted by the sight of Kelemvor's boot looming over his skull.

  "Traitors? What's this about the four of us, of all the beings who walk these Realms, being traitors?" Kelemvor shouted.

  "Suspected traitors," Thurbrand said. "Now please remove your foot before I hack it off at the ankle!"

  Kelemvor stood back from the bald man. Thurbrand rose, and a symphony of moans and crackles sounded as he ironed the kinks from his back, neck, and shoulders. The adventurers and Thurbrand's party were camped at the outskirts of Spiderhaunt Woods.

  "How are your companions, Kel?" Thurbrand said as he got up to get some food.

  "They live."

  Thurbrand nodded. "And Midnight? Is she well? We have the matter of an outstanding debt — "

  Kelemvor's sword left its sheath before Thurbrand could utter another word. "Consider it cancelled."

  Thurbrand frowned. "I just want my hair back."

  Kelemvor looked around the camp. The telltale skitter of his sword leaving its sheath had caught the attention of at least six men, who now stood with weapons to the fore, waiting for a word from their leader.

  "Oh," Kelemvor said, and replaced the sword. "Is that all?"

  Thurbrand scratched his bald pate. "It's enough," he said. "Although my mistresses seem to like this look."

  Kelemvor laughed, and sat beside Thurbrand as he ate. Cyric, who had been wakened by the argument, made his way to the fighters. He walked slowly, and his arms gleamed in the bright morning sunlight with dark bruises from the treacherous ride through Shadow Gap.

  "You look — " Kelemvor said as the thief approached.

  "Don't say it," Cyric said, and took a plate of food. "If you looked or felt the way I did, you'd be dead."

  "You're not," Kelemvor said absently.

  "I'm not convinced," Cyric said, running his hand through his matted hair. "Midnight? Adon?"

  "Adon's still unconscious," Kelemvor said.

  "Then he doesn't know," Cyric said, his voice low as he made a gesture with his hand across his face.

  Kelemvor shook his head.

  Cyric nodded, then turned and barked a command at one of Thurbrand's men. The man looked to Thurbrand, who closed his eyes slowly and nodded. The man brought a warm mug of ale to Cyric, who downed the contents in one swift motion, then handed the mug back.

  "That's better," Cyric said, turning to Thurbrand. "Now, what's this talk about traitors?"

  Thurbrand related the tale of Myrmeen Lhal's battle with the attacker who had identified himself as Mikel, and Cyric laughed. "Marek never could come up with a decent alias." he said.

  The bald man frowned and went on with his story. He told them of his meeting with Lhal and Evon Stralana, and the party he'd been asked to arrange. "Naturally I insisted on leading the company myself," Thurbrand said. "For a long time it's been common knowledge that the Knightsbridge conspiracy originated in Zhentil Keep. When we learned of the band of Zhentish assassins who are tracking you, your innocence became somewhat obvious."

  "You had doubts?" Kelemvor said.

  "You paid for false identification and a false charter, then left the city in disguise, running out on your contracts to serve and protect Arabel. Then this Mikel — or Marek — implicates you in the conspiracy. I believe you can see the obvious conclusions that were drawn." Thurbrand grinned. "But of course, I had no doubts."

  "So why didn't you just turn around and go right back to Arabel?" Cyric said.

  Thurbrand frowned. "Once we le
arned what lay ahead for you, the only lawful decision was to blaze our way through the Shadow Gap and come to the aid of a former ally."

  Kelemvor rolled his eyes.

  "Oh, please," Cyric said. "There must be something you wanted."

  "Now that you mention it," Thurbrand said. "Besides the prompt return of my hair, there is a little job I could use a few good men for, back in Arabel…"

  "We have business in Shadowdale," Kelemvor said.

  "And after that?"

  "Wherever the wind takes us, I suppose," Cyric added.

  Thurbrand laughed. "There's a hearty wind blowing in our direction. Perhaps we can arrange something at that!"

  "We'll see what Midnight has to say," Kelemvor said quietly.

  Cyric and Thurbrand stared at the fighter, then began to laugh as he rose and went to scavenge more food from the company's cook. He didn't notice that Adon was awake.

  The cleric had awoke at the sound of Myrmeen Lhal's name, though it had been spoken all the way across camp. "By Sune, I'm cooked!" he said out loud. Adon realized he wasn't alone when he heard a young girl's laugh.

  A girl of no more than sixteen summers sat beside him, making indelicate slurping noises as she made her way through the huge bowl of gruel that rested in her lap. Her name, Adon soon discovered, was Gillian, and she had stringy brown hair and deeply tanned skin that was hard and dry. Her eyes were a deep blue, and her features were ordinary but not unattractive.

  "Ah!" she said. "You're awake!" She set the bowl down, then lifted it and held it out to Adon. "Care for any?"

  Adon rubbed his forehead and suddenly remembered the attack of the gray-eyed man in Tilverton. He knew he'd been hit by the man's dagger, then passed out. Still, he now felt rested and only a little weak.

  "I knew Sune would protect me," he said, contented.