Kat opened her mouth to ask another question, then hesitated as a low rumble echoed from ahead. Both of them remained absolutely still while listening. The rumble continued for more than a minute before fading away.
“It's probably nothing,” Martok said. “The deep places of the world often growl their displeasure.”
“So long as it just growls, I’m fine.”
After another half mile they came to some steps leading further down. At this point, the walls of the passage became peppered with tiny blue stones that glowed dimly. These looked similar to rajni stones, though with a slightly different hue. Kat paused to admire them for a few seconds, but seeing the urgency in Martok’s eyes, quickly started out again.
The steps must have taken them more than a hundred feet further down before eventually leading into a fifty-foot square chamber. Here, the air instantly became much cooler and more humid. The low ceiling and walls with naught but the blue stones set within them gave no indication of the room’s purpose. The only thing of interest was at the far end where a narrow slit in the wall appeared just large enough to squeeze through.
As they approached this they could hear the sound of rushing water. Martok peered through the opening and saw that the walls on the other side opened up into a massive cavern, the ground of which was covered in a thick moss. The glimmer of a fast moving stream split the cavern in two, its reflection sending tiny rays of blue light dancing on the crystal covered walls and ceiling.
He sniffed the air. The dank smell of rotting vegetation and muck mixed with a sour, unidentifiable odor. “Wait here,” he instructed Kat, then quickly added: “Please. We cannot afford to risk both of us getting hurt.”
Reluctantly, she nodded her agreement. “Stay where I can see you,” she told him.
Martok smiled. “I will.”
After wriggling through, he found the moss was even thicker than it appeared: his boots sinking down more than two inches as they stepped onto it. A few twisted bushes were growing on the left side, though he was not able to identify them. To the right were several low mounds of earth scattered about. The shallow stream entered the cavern through a narrow horizontal slit and then ran over a bed of similar blue crystals to those embedded in the walls. On the far side, the water vanished through a gap yet to be inspected. Were it not for the unpleasant odor, which by now was growing steadily stronger, he would have found this place to be quite pleasing.
Martok glanced over his shoulder to see Kat watching him intently through the crevice. Kneeling by the stream, he dipped the tip of his finger into the clear water. It was ice cold. A sudden, almost inexplicable thirst prompted him into tentatively sucking his finger. There was nothing sweet about the water's taste as he imagined there might be, but there was nothing unpleasant attached to it either. Strangely though, his thirst had abated as quickly as it had arrived. A smile formed. A mere thimble full of this could last a traveler in the desert for weeks.
He stood and walked over to the bushes. Three-inch long leaves blanketed each plant from top to bottom. Seeing them grow in this strange environment, Martok wondered as to the properties such a thing might hold. His cousin had studied herbs and potions – much to the dismay of his parents who had regarded such pursuits as beneath his station. And though magic was undoubtedly a better, more effective way to heal, potions and salves did have their uses. Especially for the common people who might easily find themselves in a place where a healer was not available. However, something told Martok that these plants would not hold such properties. Most likely they were poisonous. Though even poisons had their uses on occasions.
Aside from the bushes there was nothing else of any interest in this area, so his attention quickly switched to the other side. The stream was only a few feet wide and shallow enough to walk across. The only inconvenience was getting his feet wet; without magic he would be forced to walk in wet boots until they were once again outside.
Having made the crossing, the smell of decay coming from the mounds became noticeably stronger. By the time he actually reached them he found himself covering his nose with his sleeve - though this was doing very little to help.
He moved on to the rear wall and inspected this several times. There was nothing unusual, and no other opening leading further on apart from where the stream exited. Crouching low to glance through this gap, he saw what resembled a miniature waterfall as the water plunged vertically to unknown depths.
“Have you found something?” Kat called out.
“Not yet,” he replied, rising upright again.
She threaded her way through the opening to join him. “Are you sure it’s somewhere in here?”
“As sure as I can be. Unless someone has already retrieved it. But they would have to know where to look. And only the elves know of its location.”
“Could they have come back for it?”
Martok shook his head. “I doubt it. It's not a thing they would have wanted to possess.”
The pair of them spent the next thirty minutes wandering about the cavern, searching hard for anything that might provide a clue. Neither found a thing.
Kat plopped down near the entrance and threw up her hands. “So what now?”
Martok was standing atop one of the mounds, a hand placed protectively over his nose. “It must be here,” he told her. “I just need to look properly.”
At that moment, the ground began to vibrate and a low hum filled the cavern. Kat instantly sprang to her feet, dagger in hand. Martok raced over to her side, sword drawn.
“You have returned to me, Martok Dragonvein. I am most pleased.” The loud voice that could have been either a man or a woman seemed to come from all directions at once.
Kat looked to Martok, but he said nothing.
“And you have brought someone new to keep me company.”
“Show yourself,” Martok demanded.
A thin haze began seeping up through the moss just a few feet in front of them. “As you wish, my love.” The voice had now taken on a distinctly female quality.
“Who are you?” Martok asked, wrapping a protective arm around Kat's shoulders.
“Don’t you recognize me?” The haze gradually began to resemble a human form. “I always knew you would return to me, Martok. Your ambition made it inevitable. Though how you have managed it, I can only guess. But I never doubted for a moment that you would find a way eventually.”
“Who is she?” Kat asked in a half-whisper.
Martok took a pace forward, placing himself between Kat and the unidentified shape. “I ask you again, spirit: Who are you?”
“Oh, how you watch over the pretty one,” the spirit remarked in an amused tone. “Is she your new love? Or just a distraction? Have you destroyed her life as you did mine?”
Martok caught his breath. “Miriam.”
“You sound surprised to see me.”
Kat touched Martok’s shoulder. “Who is Miriam?”
He drew a deep breath before replying. “My wife.”
“Your wife!”
“Yes. Or at least, what is left of her.”
“Yes indeed,” said Miriam. “All that remains of me is this ghostly form. Trapped forever by your deceit and wickedness.”
“It was you who betrayed me,” Martok snapped back. “I did nothing to you. However, you came to this pass, it was not my doing.”
“Truly?” she scoffed, malice dripping from her voice. “Was it not you who befriended the elves? Was it not you who ordered them to take my life and contain my spirit?”
“I did befriend the elves,” he agreed. “But I never ordered them to harm you. How could I? I was already dead.”
Miriam was silent for several seconds before speaking again. “That is not true. No. It was you. You did this to me. It had to be.” Her voice was becoming shrill with madness. “They cut out my heart while I begged for them to spare me. And it was your name on their lips as they watched me die.”
Martok stiffened. “I had no knowledge of this. I would never
have wanted them to harm you. Even after what you did to me…I still loved you.”
“Liar! It was you! And now you come here thinking to cause me more pain? You think I do not see through you?”
Martok held out his hand. “I came only to retrieve the dwarf crystal the elves hid here. I did not know about you…or any of this. I swear it.”
“What is she talking about?” asked Kat.
“She speaks of events that happened long ago,” he replied over his shoulder. “Things I would rather forget.” He turned his attention back to Miriam. “Whatever you might think of me, I need to find the crystal. Lumnia is –”
“Dying,” Miriam cut in. “Yes. I know. Nothing can stop it. Not even you…my love. And for this, I am happy.”
“I must have the crystal,” Martok pressed on. “If you will not help me –”
“You will have nothing!” she screamed, her voice reverberating off the cavern walls. “Nothing! Do you hear me? Nothing!”
Miriam's form began to swirl and break apart. At the same time, off to the right, Martok caught movement from the corner of his eye. From the top of one of the mounds, a pair of hands were clawing their way out. Kat saw them as well.
“Kroma,” Martok hissed.
“What?” Kat gasped.
“The dead arisen,” he explained. “Brought back to life by foul magic.” He turned to face her. “You need to get out now. You cannot fight this with naught but a dagger.”
“What about you?”
Martok grinned viciously. “I will be fine. These unclean devils are no match for me.”
Kat glanced back over to the mounds. A head wrapped in grotesquely decayed flesh was now poking its way out, and three more were starting to emerge from other mounds.
“This is no time to argue,” he snapped, his tone steel. “For once, do as I say.”
She glared at him with clear disapproval. “You had better not get yourself killed,” she grumbled loudly before setting off back to the entrance.
Martok was quick to note that she said not to get yourself killed. There was no mention of Ethan. But there was also no time to revel in this perceived little victory. By now, the first of the kroma was already making its way toward him with a slow yet steady stride. Rags that were once its clothing hung loosely from its decomposing body, and in its right hand dangled a rusted blade.
He was about to start forward to deal with the creature when he heard Kat grunting and cursing behind him. He turned to see her jerking and twisting wildly; her feet had sunk deep into the moss right up to her calves. He raced over and took her hand.
“She will not escape.” It was the voice of Miriam. “And neither will you.”
Martok pulled with all his strength, but to no avail. He then dropped to his knees and began ripping at the moss with his hands, but it grew back as fast as he was able to pull it out.
“Leave me,” Kat ordered him. “They’re almost on you.”
Martok glanced back. The first of the kroma was only a few yards away. Three more were now free and another two were clawing their way out. He stood, his sword ready for action.
The kroma had raised its own blade and was bearing down. But it wasn't coming for him, he realized. It was after Kat. Miriam’s sinister intentions instantly became clear. With a rapid flurry of strikes, Martok sliced at the creature’s arms and torso, but with little effect. In spite of its fragile appearance, its flesh was hard as stone. Only a few of his blows penetrated any deeper than an inch or so.
Completely ignoring his attack, the kroma continued on its way toward Kat. It was time for a different tactic. Lowering his shoulder, he rammed it solidly into the creature's midsection, driving it back several paces. At least he had now gathered its attention. With surprising speed, it brought its weapon hard down. Martok stepped left to avoid the attack and then retaliated with a powerful blow to the kroma's sword arm. Growing fear for Kat's safety added strength to his latest strike. This time his blade cut deep, cutting more than halfway through the creature's limb.
Even this did not stop it though. The kroma merely switched its sword to the left hand and resumed its lumbering advance toward Kat, who throughout this brief skirmish had been digging furiously at the clinging moss with her dagger. Martok could see that the next kroma was also getting dangerously close to her. He tried to move in front of the first, but it swiped at him with its damaged arm, then followed up with a wide arcing strike from its sword. This forced him down and back.
“Enough of this,” he roared.
With precise steps he moved in, hacking at the creature's left arm and channeling all of his fury into the strike. And now - at last - he was able to completely sever the limb. Satisfied that this kroma was no longer a serious danger, he burst into a run and managed to deliver a solid kick to the second one's hip just as it was about to raise its weapon. The creature stumbled and then fell over completely, landing with a squish as it struck the damp moss. Before it had a chance to recover, Martok slashed down on the creature's wrist, completely detaching the hand with the blade still in it.
Snarling, the kroma quickly recovered to one knee and reached across for its weapon with its other arm. Having already seen the first one swap hands in the same determined manner, this was exactly what Martok had been hoping for. Just for a moment, bent over low like this, the creature was in the perfect position for him to strike at its exposed neck. It was as he suspected; the flesh here was considerably softer. His blade sliced easily through, decapitating the monster in a single cut.
Martok smiled as he watched its body collapse in a heap. At least he now knew how to stop these things. But lopping the heads off another five was still going to be a daunting task. One that would take all of his skill and experience.
The rest were still a few yards away, but the thrill of battle was now surging through him. He charged in with savage ferocity to meet them. Moving from side to side, he struck out again and again, attempting to separate their heads from their shoulders. But the kroma were better able to parry his attacks than their sluggish gait would have suggested. What's more, their relentless march toward Kat was slowly forcing him back ever closer to her.
By now she had finally managed to free one of her legs and was frantically stabbing away at the remaining moss holding down the other. “Just a few more seconds,” she shouted. “I’m almost there.”
Martok managed to disarm one of the kroma and kick another to the ground. But in doing so, a third had got by him and was already poised to deal Kat a lethal blow. He spun around, ignoring the danger at his back. With a heavy grunt, he took the head of Kat’s would-be killer just as its steel was about to begin its deadly descent.
The look of grateful relief on Kat’s face was instantly replaced by one of horror. “Look out!” she screamed. “Behind you!”
Before Martok could react, he felt a jolt and the sharp pain of steel penetrating his left shoulder. He lurched forward in order to dislodge the blade, then twisted right, swinging his sword in a wide arc. The blade made no contact, and another slash from the advancing kroma caught the back of his sword hand. Though not deep enough to do serious damage, it was enough to cause his weapon to drop from his grasp.
At that moment, Kat finally succeeded in freeing her other leg. Reaching out, she dragged Martok sharply back out of range an instant before a thrust would have skewered him fatally through the gullet. Without pause, she then scooped up his fallen blade and began hacking savagely at her attackers. Through the sheer fury of her onslaught, she was very quickly able to take the arm of the leading attacker.
Though injured, Martok was unable to stand aside and leave the battle solely to Kat; not even for a short time. Biting back the pain, he grabbed a sword from a defeated kroma. “Move back,” he commanded. “Let me finish this.”
But Kat was having none of it. Her blood was well and truly up. Ignoring his plea, she continued chopping ferociously away at the enemy. To Martok’s amazement, she took the head off one creature b
efore he had even got back properly into the fight. With only one fully functioning kroma now remaining to face the two of them, this too quickly fell. Martok then finished off the final, already disarmed pair with flourish.
As the last kroma died he dropped to his knees, adrenalin spent. The injury to his hand was minor, but blood was pouring from his shoulder. Kat was instantly at his side. Ripping the sleeve from her own shirt, she bound the wound tightly, stemming most of the flow.
As soon as she was finished, he waved her off and got to his feet. “We need to find the crystal. That's the most important thing right now. I’ll be fine once we’re out of here.” He smiled playfully at her before adding: “Assuming you’ll heal me, that is.”
Kat returned the smile. “Does that mean I have a choice?”
Crossing over to the mounds, he began looking down the holes made by the escaping kroma. He paused beside the third one and waved Kat over. “Be a sweetheart and get that out for me,” he said, pointing down. “As you can see, I’m a bit incapacitated at the moment.”
Kat's eyes settled on a blue gem as large as a man’s fist resting at the bottom of the six-foot-deep void. The foul reek of death wafted up, assaulting her senses and very nearly inducing her to vomit.
“I’m sorry,” Martok continued, failing to conceal the tiniest hint of a smile on his face. “I’d get in there myself. I really would, but…” He glanced pointedly at his injured shoulder.
Kat let out a moan that clearly conveyed all the disgust she was feeling before, with her nose held firmly between two fingers, she slid down into the hole. After snatching up the crystal, she rapidly tossed it up over the edge and returned a hand to her nose. Martok reached down to take her by the other hand and helped her back out. His former hint of a smile had now developed into a fully formed grin.
“I must say, my dear. Even covered in filth, you are still quite fetching.”
“This isn’t the time,” Kat told him, though her tone and demeanor suggested that she was not particularly upset by the compliment. She picked up the crystal and wiped a little of the muck away. Strange runes were etched into the surface, and deep within the facets was a marble sized black orb. “So is this what will help us defeat Shinzan?” she asked.
Dragonvein Book Four Page 4
