“And how do you feel?”
“I think I would leave if I were able,” Hayt blurted, his face growing red as soon as the words had been spoken. Still admiring the roof, he pretended that his remark had been purely innocent.
“If you were serious about such a thing,” Firen whispered, pushing his friend towards the cave exit, he waited until they stood alone on the shelf overlooking the forest before he finished, “you would need help to accomplish it.”
“Only a fool would help us. As soon as your aid was discovered, you would be the one sitting in a prison cell, or worse,” Hayt sighed, realizing he had divulged his intentions to the first person he had spoken to. Zaendra will be disappointed.
“Silly dwarf,” Firen laughed loudly, then said more quietly. “You will need a diversion. You wish to leave this way?”
“We were thinking we might.”
“I advise this be your decoy, my friend.”
“And we leave by the front gate, is that it?” Hayt grinned as he cut his eyes over at his new conspirator.
“No, you leave by the southern tunnels.”
Spinning to face him, Hayt grabbed the shorter man by both arms and pulled him towards him. Glaring into his shocked features, he demanded, “Through the south tunnels. Have you lost your mind?” Searching his eyes, he could see no sign of changing his suggested path. “You know what’s down there!”
“Yes, as does the king. That is why he would never follow you. If you truly wish to get away, you must go where he will not. Otherwise, your flight would only be temporary. He will send troops to find you and bring you back, and then where would your new bride be?”
Releasing him, Hayt’s lungs refused to work for a moment as his heart raced and his mind ran in circles. “You are right. They will come after us, most assuredly.”
“You know that they will,” Firen agreed, righting his clothes. “But I can help make it appear that you have left via the vista and are climbing the mountain.”
“No, if we go by the southern tunnels, then my uncle should know that it is so. He should know how desperately we wanted to escape,” Hayt bit, anger seeping into his tone.
“And what of your grandmother? She will be disappointed at your choice.”
“She will understand,” the boy insisted, slamming his fist into his open palm. “Thank you for the suggestion. We will use the southern tunnels, and with any luck we will avoid facing the daemons who live below. But, if they find us within those dark halls, we would definitely need the weapons that were taken from Zaendra’s friends. Can you tell me what was done with them?” Hayt asked, hesitating to push for more.
“I do not know, but I know someone who will. Do not worry,” Firen assured with a nod. “I will have them for you and wait for you at the entrance to the pits at midnight, there in the engineer’s caves. You will free your wife’s friends and pick them up from me there.”
“I hate to involve you, honestly, Firen. You have been too dear to me to risk in this venture,” Hayt countered, his frown returned.
“You do not have to ask, this I will do of my own accord,” Firen insisted. “Now, go make your plans for their release, and I will tend to the rest.”
“You are a good friend, Firen. I shall never forget you,” Hayt growled as he turned to head back inside, ready to lay the groundwork for the next part of their plan.
A Safe Journey
Meeting in the dining hall that evening for their meal, Zaendra and Hayt had refrained from speaking about their day of preparation until they were safely back in their quarters. Checking the smallest of their rooms when they arrived in their suite, the one fitted for Oldrilin, the girl returned to their chamber with a sigh. “Lin is not here. I thought they were going to allow me to keep her.”
“Perhaps she still dines with the other servants and will return shortly,” Hayt suggested, quickly pouring over the essentials his wife had packed. “I fear you have brought too much,” he observed, laying a few scrolls of parchment beside the parcels she had prepared.
“You say that now, but when that bag is all that you have, you will realize how little it is,” she snapped, recalling the hard times the group had faced on their journey from the glen to the north and then again after their cabin had been burned.
“Please don’t be angry.”
“I’m not angry,” she bit, then stammered, “I’m upset she isn’t here. We need to be on our way, do we not?”
“Soon,” he nodded, shoving everything back into the pack and tying it shut with his pages sticking out the top. “For now, we wait. If you go after her, it might raise suspicions.”
“True,” she agreed, watching him fight with the size of his parcel. “Don’t worry. Meena can shrink some of the items to make them easier to carry once we have freed her, so don’t let the size of your bundle upset you. I could have, but I never learned how, as Animir and Ami were taught to do,” she sighed.
Surprised at such a notion, he cut his eyes over at her to see that she was straight-faced about the proposed manipulation. Swallowing, he held his surprise in check, as there was a great deal about magic his people had purposely forgotten over the decades. “I’ll take your word for it,” he nodded, scooping up her hand to give it a squeeze and hoping he was right about the siren, as losing her would be more catastrophic than a few personal items.
“You have figured out everything else? How we will get the others out and to the vista?” she asked, eyeing his rolls of paper.
“Yes, about that,” he sighed, dreading informing her of the direction they were actually going to take. Pulling her hand, he turned her to face him. “Do you trust me, love?”
“You know that I do,” she grimaced.
“Then please, do not ask or question the choices I have made. Simply follow and do as I say.”
Staring at him with wide eyes, fear roiled inside her. “You will not put us in danger, I hope.”
Shrugging, he made a miserable attempt at a grin before it fell away. “We are breaking out of Rhong in the middle of the night. You know there will be danger.”
“You’re right. I don’t want to know the details,” she gasped, patting him on the chest. Hearing the patter of little feet outside their door, she pulled away and poked her head out. “Lin!”
“You need of me, my lady?” Her large blue eyes upturned, the tiny creature swept the girl’s fear away.
“Yes, come and let us speak for a moment,” Zae replied, offering her hand.
Back inside their bed chamber, Zaendra fell to her knees before her, swaddling her tiny friend into a firm hug. “I was so afraid when they took you from me,” she whispered.
“I have learned my place,” the siren explained, also on the verge of tears. “Being a good servant to my friend Zae.”
“Yes, you are very good,” the nymph agreed, “but now we must make our plans. Secret plans you must follow and do as we say.”
Looking up at Hayt with wide blue orbs, Lin agreed, “Oldrilin will, yes.”
“Good,” Hayt breathed, relieved at least something seemed to be falling into place. Kneeling with his wife, the couple quietly explained their plan to help the others escape.
Hearing their intentions, the siren bounced up and down as she squealed, “Tis a good plan, lady Zae. My Rey Daye be saved!”
“Yes, they will all be saved,” Zaendra agreed, taking up a small wrap and unfolding it. “But we must be careful so we are not caught. I want you to wear this, as I think it will help conceal you as we make our way through the tunnels.” They would each wear one in hopes of being less visible and to help hide the gear that they carried.
Covered, the small creature could easily be mistaken for a dwarf. “I like the disguises,” Hayt praised, donning his own robe and helping Zaendra adjust hers. “Come, and I will show you where you will wait. I will retrieve the others from the cell and pick you up on our way out of the city, along with the weapons that my friend Firen will deliver to us.”
“Won�
�t we draw attention carrying these packs? They look rather large, even with the covers,” Zae asked doubtfully, her palms growing moist with the thought of what lay ahead.
“Hard to say,” Hayt shrugged. “The evening is come, and there will be limited numbers out to see us, much less notice what we carry on our backs. With the robes, we could be anyone, and few will be of a mind to check.”
“Then we are ready,” the girl agreed, pursing her lips anxiously.
Following him, Zaendra and Oldrilin held hands until they reached the outside door of the palace. There, Hayt and Zaendra walked side by side, the light from his small lantern not really needed at the moment on the well-lit path. Lin trailing behind, her lamp had not been lit, and she hid it beneath her cloak. Glancing back at her small friend, Zae hoped she appeared as if she merely walked in the same direction in her hooded disguise.
“We are doing well,” Hayt observed as they passed the center of the massive room. He could not see his bride’s face with her hood in place, but he could hear her tense breathing and hoped his words would calm her.
Ahead of them, Zaendra could see the platform where they had stood to take their vows. Reaching for his hand, she nodded, “Yes, we will make it, I am certain.” Holding him, the cloth draped over their fingers soothed her, and she found herself a bit more relaxed as they moved unnoticed, or so it would seem.
Arriving on the south end of the great hall a few minutes later, Hayt pointed out a few small caves that went nowhere. “Let’s get out of sight.” Selecting one that held storage crates, he knelt before the siren. Taking Oldrilin’s lamp, he lit it, then commanded, “Hide here, and I shall be back shortly.” Her blue orbs full of fear, he could sense the faith she had in his ability to see them through. “Don’t worry, Lin. We are halfway there.”
Standing and removing his cloak, he dropped his pack and lay the robe over it, careful to place them behind a stack of boxes. Smoothing his clothing, he hoped he would now appear to be out on any normal walk despite the lateness of the hour. Smiling at his wife, he nodded to her, prepared to depart.
“What if someone comes?” Zaendra asked anxiously.
“No one will come,” he soothed, rubbing her upper arms firmly. “I hope you don’t get too cold. It may be cooler the farther down we go.”
“I have a wrap,” she informed him tartly. “How do you know we will not be discovered?”
“These caves store the tools for our engineers,” he sighed. “All of the work crews will have turned in for the night. No one lives on this end of the kingdom since the king decided this area is too close to the southern tunnels.”
“Is that where we will go?” Oldrilin asked, not fully understanding the danger.
“Yes, but you must be quiet, Lin,” he beseeched her. Kissing Zae on the forehead, he added, “I shall return,” carrying his lamp as he departed.
Folding her hands in front of her chest, Zaendra drew deep breaths to keep herself calm. “He’ll be back, Lin. I just know this is going to work.”
Alone in their hiding place, the pair sat upon the ground and waited with the small light between them. The flame illuminating much of the chamber, Zae could see crates of all sizes stacked against the walls, presumably holding supplies and probably nothing of use to them.
Her mate had been right about the coolness of the air, and Zaendra pulled her robe tighter around her, then offered her hand to her small friend in comfort. “It won’t be long now,” she whispered, along with other occasional soothing remarks; but the night wore on, the minutes ticking by as they grew restless.
Eventually noting the pages Hayt had left sticking out from his pack, Zae removed them, unrolling them and pressing them flat against the dirt and rocks of the floor. The edges tattered, they were obviously very old and fought to return to their curled state. Using larger stones to weight the corners, Zaendra lifted the light to have a better look.
“What is this?” Lin asked, filled with curiosity at the drawings.
“I don’t really know,” the nymph replied airily. “It’s a cave, I am certain. Perhaps the way he intends to escape. But these labels…” She hesitated, running her finger over a few before she breathed, “This is a city. Surely this cannot be what lies in the southern tunnels.”
“I’m afraid that it is,” Firen replied, startling the two women with his silent approach. Seeing them both jump, he laughed as he offered a small wave. “I’m Firen.”
Recognizing the end of Amicia’s bow, Zae gasped, “Firen who? Are you here to help us?”
“I am,” the dwarf confessed. “But I am troubled that our friends are not here yet. How long have you waited?” he asked, dropping his bundle on the ground and having a look at the map for himself.
“I have no idea,” she gasped, fighting the panic within her. “What time is it?”
“Tis midnight, the hour I have promised to deliver these and meet Hayt here in the storage caves,” he replied, taking a knee and using a pudgy finger to trace their ancient halls.
“It’s been hours,” Oldrilin whimpered, clinging to the taller girl as they stood.
“They will be here soon,” Zaendra smiled as she reassured her small friend. “I’m sure it’s all part of the plan.” Turning to their benefactor, she continued, “You may leave them with me,” indicating the bundle he had appeared to have forgotten. Noting his trance like state, she shifted her attention to his package.
Unwrapping their defenses, she located her spear and clutched it with both hands as she stood straight and proud. Planting the butt end in the soft earth of the cave, the sharp tip glinted about a foot over her head.
“Is that yours?” the dwarf asked, cutting his gaze up and eyeing her doubtfully.
“Yes, it is. The Mate made it for me in Whitefair, and I have used it to kill many times,” she grunted.
“I bet you have,” he observed, staring at the blade and considering her words. “People?” he asked, standing slowly while curling his tongue.
“Yes, men,” she agreed, her eyes bright as she recalled their escape from the oasis. At the time, it had bothered her deeply that she had taken a man’s life, but as the recollection of the events had aged, she had come to understand how fighting for their lives had been important, and she would do so again if the need arose, without fear or hesitation.
“Well, I’ll leave you then,” the dwarf whispered, nodding at the siren. “Good luck to you all on your journey.”
“Wait!” Zaendra called, smiling when he paused his step. “Tell us about the map. Where is this place?”
Not turning to face her, Firen’s mind raced. “Perhaps it would be best not to dwell on what is to come. You will have your weapons, and your husband will be there to guide you through the worst of it.”
“Worst of it,” Zae repeated, the air hurting her lungs as she breathed. “You know something, don’t you,” she accused evenly.
“I know the king will not follow you into the city of Asomanee. He fears the creatures of the darkness, the daemons that reside below. If you can avoid them, you will escape out into the marshes, and you will be free,” he explained, not filling in too many details.
“Daemons?” Oldrilin asked, cocking her head as she studied the back of the dwarf, who still did not face them in a secretive manner.
“I dare not say more,” he replied curtly. “I bid you a safe journey.”
Watching him go, Zaendra sighed, unsure if she should be happy things in their plan had already been altered. If Hayt knew of these creatures, that would explain his request to trust him. Squeezing the handle of her spear and fighting to calm her nerves, she inhaled deeply.
“Will the daemons harm us?” Lin asked timidly, holding the girl’s leg as she stared up at her.
“I certainly hope not,” Zaendra replied, unable to remove her eyes from the entrance to the cave. “They don’t sound friendly at any rate.” Fear running her heart, it beat wildly inside her chest. No wonder the king did not allow them to build their home
s here so close to the darkness below.
Realizing there was nothing to be done, Zae closed her eyes as she sat upon the ground. Leaning back against the rock wall, she listened to the silence of their cave, as the dwarves were too far away to be heard even if they were not yet asleep. Hoping that her friends were safe, she rested, preparing for the battle for their freedom she feared would soon come.
The Abyss
Creeping along the walls of the cave, Hayt approached the area where his wife’s friends were being held. The prison small, only a few cells were contained there, as most prisoners were executed or released in short order.
Pausing when he reached the mouth of the tunnel, he could see the bars of their cell on the far wall. In the middle of the larger central chamber, a small fire burned in a pit, which lit the room. His eyes fixated on it, he could see the flames shoot up and then vanish as it danced.
Shoving his hand in his pocket, he ran his fingers anxiously over the edge of the gem Oldrilin had given him when they had prepared to leave. His uncle didn’t take much of a liking to it, but he hoped he would have more luck with the guard. He doubted he could get them freed, but if he could get the door open, it would give them a chance.
Somewhere, out of sight from his point of view, a dwarf coughed. Recognizing the voice as the guard grumbled to himself, Hayt grinned, then walked calmly out into the light. “Good evening, Vael,” he grunted, addressing the dwarf who stood near his height.
“Hayt, my lord,” Vael replied, standing straight, his arms stiff at his sides.
“Oh, now don’t start that my lord,” Hayt laughed. “I’m still the dwarf I was yesterday.”
“No, my lord. Our great king has informed us of your promotion, as it were,” the older dwarf countered, his red hair catching the light as it glinted off his long braid that hung down the center of his back. His face covered in a full, scruffy beard, his yellowed teeth showed as he spoke. He obviously revered, or feared, the man before him, which could work to Hayt’s advantage if handled properly.
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