Surface World 2 Page 12

  Tatiana glanced at them, “They would kill?” she dabbed water on the cloth.

  “As it is,” Seeker quoted a Drouwen proverb and glanced at Dregous.

  He glimpsed back and sighed, “As it is.”

  “How can you prevent something like that? Tatiana asked.

  Dregous gazed into her near white eyes, “Are you done?”

  “Not yet… why?”

  “I will show you how,” he answered.

  “Let me get this…,” she cleaned his lip ignoring his intense gaze. It felt like two fiery orbs burning at her. She shyly glanced up. Tatiana didn’t think his eyes would be so unnerving. “There,” she whispered.

  “Appreciated,” as they stood, the princess realized she was a few centimeters taller.

  “What do you think about this,” Rem pointed at a painting.

  They snapped back, pretending to discuss the matter at hand. Seeker failed stifling a smile. “Um, you were saying before we were, um,” Tatiana nervously made circling motions with her hand, urging Dregous.

  Rem shook his head and resumed searching, Tuke smiled standing by Seeker.

  “Of course,” Dregous nervously ushered her to the ruined desk and recited a detection spell. Then searched the remains, finding four more scrolls and laid them out on the drawing table. “A magical trap has an aura. These cases do not,” he handed them to her. She glanced between him and the scrolls. Tatiana opened one, it contained information on Riverdale.

  Tuke gently touched Seeker’s shoulder, she nodded then stepped beside Tatiana. The princess gave him a quick glance, “I have something,” she leaned toward Dregous. “This may be why the goblins are here.” The priest opened another and skimmed through it.

  Dregous scanned the document, revealing an attack plan. “You may want to see this as well…” Tuke said solemnly, passing it over. The prince reviewed its content, it was part of a larger scheme. Small goblin parties raided nearby farms randomly testing the town’s response and strength the past few months. What little prizes gained were used to feed and pay their forces.

  “Did we slow their plans since…,” Tatiana experienced an epiphany. “That mage was on his way to Riverdale when they came upon us.”

  Dregous smiled inwardly. “That would be consistent with current evidence.”

  Rem and Seeker didn’t care for their discovery. “We must…” Tuke started.

  “…Warn them, of course,” Dregous finished, then gathered all documents, rolled them into the elaborate case. “This is the proof required for them to take action….”

  Tatiana still was unsure of confronting the humans. She wondered if they could send the information with Tuke and the others. Her and Dregous may have a difficult time with them.

  “According to that, there are several plans to assault the town…” Tuke added.

  Tatiana looked at him, “Though they have a common theme.”

  “To draw out the knights so they would pursue them,” Tuke continued with a sigh.

  Rem stepped to the drawing table, “Once outside… that horde will come at them from all directions…, ambush.”

  Dregous glanced at him, “Correct…, without the wall they will be slaughtered.”

  “Oh dear heavens,” Tuke finished. Seeker noticed something unusual in the masonry behind the monarch couple. “We must return hastily,” Tuke added.

  “Of course.”

  “What of the booty we hid? We cannot leave it behind,” Rem argued.

  “We will return for the rest,” Tatiana replied.

  “We cannot….”

  Dregous cut in, “Tuke… we must ensure our departure is secured.”

  “But….”

  “We cannot blindly leave, but we are leaving,” Tatiana promised. “Rem…,” she started.

  “Leaving soon, got it,” he looked at Angelique, “Give me a hand with this.”

  “A moment,” she walked passed him and pointed at the wall. “That…,” they followed her finger.

  “The wall?” Rem asked.

  Dregous saw what caught Seeker’s eye. A thin streak within the grout line forming a rectangular shape. “I do not like this,” Dregous whispered.

  “Something is happening, what is happening?” Rem drew his sword.

  Seeker studied the air, “I sense something too, though unclear.”

  Tatiana addressed Tuke, “When he gets like this, an event usually follows,” and scanned the room, she wondered if Angelique could do the same?

  “I do not know what it is, but you have my skin crawling,” Rem confessed.

  Tuke felt the air uncomfortable, “I must agree,” he added.

  Dregous tried to sense where the peril was coming from, “As though it is beyond reach.”

  “But it is…” Seeker started.

  “I know,” he concentrated; it wasn’t their new discovery. It was in the air, a pending danger that sparked a primal fear.

  Tatiana glanced at Dregous. “What is it?” His sudden silence and blank stare concerned her. “Dregous?” he didn’t answer. “What is wrong?” the princess studied his eyes.

  He addressed her, “Pardon.”

  “You blanked out, like when we first entered town,” Tuke jumped in.

  “I am aware…, there is something in the air.”

  Tatiana started, “Something bad is…”

  “…coming,” Tuke finished as he sensed a spine-chilling darkness.

  “Oh, not you too,” Rem lamented.

  “Angelique…,” Tatiana started as Dregous inspected the secret door. It seemed to open by pushing.

  “…Check the door,” Seeker finished, then listened carefully and slowly opened it. She heard noise down the hall. A large figure, clad in full plate armor flanked by two large goblins, one with blisters pointed. She darted back and bumped against someone. “Rem!” she hissed.

  “Holy… my fault my fault…,” lightning passed them. The static made their hair stand, then Rem pulled Seeker in and shut the door.

  “What was that?” Tatiana saw their hair frizzed, “What happened?”

  Dregous saw the spectacle. “Must be the mage that heads the campaign.”

  “No mage, it is a knight. The blistered goblin delivered your message,” Seeker finger combed her hair.

  “Hoo, not good not good… that was our only way out,” Rem calmed his hair.

  “Hold yourself man, cooler heads prevail,” Tuke counselled.

  “Dregous, can you bar the door?” Tatiana strained against the secret door trying to open it. The prince hurried over and cast a barring spell on it. “Rem, Tuke, help me open this!” she barked.

  “How?” Tuke asked.

  “There is no handle…, nothing!” Rem added.

  The princess expected it to move easily, “It is heavier than I thought.”

  Rem squeezed beside her. Their combined strength was not enough. Rem and Tuke switched places, same results. Then both men tried, still nothing.

  Dregous leaned on the door. “That should hold, for while at least,” he wiped his hands as he scanned the room.

  “If that Knight is a mage, it may not,” Seeker reminded.

  “That is not possible,” Dregous argued.

  “Yet lightening brushed our hair.”

  “Point well taken.”

  Rem heaved a singing tone, “Dregous!”

  “The door will not open!” Tatiana huffed.

  Dregous glanced, “It should be a simple push…,” he stopped.

  “We are pushing the bloody thing…, if I push any harder I will shit myself!” Rem shot back.

  “Rem!” Tuke scolded.

  Tatiana faced Dregous, “He is right. Our combined strength is nothing. It is either jammed or too heavy.”

  “Not possible, a mage resided here,” he glanced the books.

  “Well, looks like this mage could lift a house,” Rem retorted.

  “Please, we have little time for jesting,” Tuke stated.

  Dregous returned his attention
to the concealed portal when it happened…, banging on the door. It dawned on him, the concealed door’s design was not for the mage, but for intruders. He simulated a pursuit from the chamber entrance to the secret door and spotted a small orifice on the tiled floor.

  “Good god’s what are you doing? We are in serious trouble!” Rem reproached.

  A thin steel wire extended five centimeters from the opening. He examined the broken desk. One of the legs had a narrow hole.

  The princess watched Dregous, “Tatiana, would you please be so kind to find a book on astrology or chemicals,” he asked while inspecting the wire, hole and desk legs.

  “Are you serious? This is not story time! What of the bloody door?” Rem demanded.

  Dregous continued examining, “I am working on it…, Angel, please,” he urged.

  “How, by staring at the floor?” Rem retorted.

  Tatiana nodded, “Tuke,” she motioned.

  “Of course,” the priest took her place.

  “Hold…, I require assistance here,” Dregous studied the desk leg and wire.

  “I hope you have something under your cloak,” Rem commented.

  “You and Tuke break off the desk top.”

  Tuke towered over them and easily flipped the broken desk. Rem was about to pull when Tuke noticed one ink well was still on the desk. “Hold a moment…,” he chinned, “that is odd,” he whispered. “Dregous….”

  “I see.”

  “How is that possible?” Tuke asked.

  The prince shook his head, “Dregous you fool….” he chastised himself, there’s no reason for two ink wells.

  The banging stopped. Seeker heard chanting. “Someone is casting,” she whispered,

  “Hold it,” Dregous studied the quill and well. The feather was made to look and feel real, Dwarven craftsmanship. It was made of black iron and moved easily. “How are we coming with the books Angel?”

  “Angelique heard chanting,” Tuke announced.

  “Angelique…?” Tatiana probed.

  “I think he is casting,” Seeker replied.

  “Angel… the books?”

  “Got it, plus two others you may like,” and shoved the books in her pack. The excitement of the moment exhilarated her.

  “Excellent. Now, we depart with haste!” he pulled the wire, the concealed door opened.

  Rem ushered Tuke in, then followed. Tatiana passed their gear.

  The door glowing grabbed their attention. “Dregous?” Seeker warned.

  “Angelique move!” he rushed and recast the barring spell as it opened. It froze with a narrow gap. Their hooting and howling racked the party’s nerves. Clawed hands grasped the door trying to force it open. An arm reached in, grabbed Dregous’s arm as a dagger caused it to retreat. The stiletto collided against the jam, falling to the floor. Dregous retrieved the weapon and passed it to Seeker, urging her on. Tatiana charged severing the arm of another.

  Rem waved Seeker in and shouted, “Use your wand!”

  He ignored him. “Angel go; the spell will not hold long!”

  She thrust the ribs of another, “I hate backing from a fight,” she growled with a huff then retreated through the secret door.

  Dregous followed her in, when his spell failed. He looked for a lever and heard someone uttering an incantation. The lever looked like a deformed brick behind Tatiana and leapt for it.

  He surprised her, “The door…!” she warned.

  They felt the air pressure increase then suddenly back to the mages chamber. The door had a few centimeters to close when flames flashed in. Seeker thought the fire consumed them.

  Dregous heard groans beneath him, “Angel!” he gasped crawling backwards.

  “My wing,” she winced, “My wing.”

  “Great Gods forgive me!”

  She felt her cheeks flush, and tried easing the situation, “That was different,”

  “Forgive me…, did I hurt you?” he asked.

  “It is my wings and my lip… …I am grateful you have a soft codpiece,” then recalled he doesn’t wear one and blushed. Dregous tried to speak but couldn’t. “Apologies, I meant…,” she abandoned her comment and was grateful the darkness hid her embarrassment, “…I cannot see.”

  Seeker was relieved they weren’t injured, “My lord…?” Dregous welcome the darkness and her interruption.

  Angelique’s voice drew her attention. “The others?” Tatiana asked.

  “How bad are you?” he examined her.

  “They went ahead,” Seeker replied.

  “Come, I will guide you,” Dregous offered Tatiana.

  “I will check on them,” Seeker informed.

  The princess sat up, “I will be fine…,” she wiped herself. Dregous reverse the open spell, and locked the conceal door. “What did you do?” she asked.

  “Sealed the door,” then guided her away. It dawned on the prince, they could be waiting for them.

  The three returned, “The tunnel turns twice then continues about thirty meters or so,” Rem glanced. “I can only hope it brings us near the opening.”

  Dregous thought of the other end going nowhere as Rem spoke. Only one thing came to mind, “Wait.”

  “What…? Why?” Rem replied.

  “Are they waiting for us?” Tatiana guessed.

  “Chance may be against us,” Dregous answered.

  “Then what should we do?” Tuke asked.

  Dregous measured his words, “I know where the vault is.”

  Tatiana looked surprised, “How do you know?”

  “You have my attention,” Rem retorted.

  “Riverdale must be warned,” Tuke reminded.

  “Hear me first…. This passage was designed for a quick escape against intruders… we, ARE the intruders. They may know where it leads… we do not.”

  “We are trapped,” Seeker commented.

  “I said they may know the other end… mages are secretive,” Dregous reminded.

  “That is obvious,” Tatiana uttered.

  He couldn’t blame her, “Think a moment. This end may presumably lead out, the other is a dead end… Why build a passage to nowhere?”

  “Mother of pearl,” Rem declared. “The vault.”

  Tatiana looked between them, “Truly?”

  “We can hide there,” Dregous said.

  “They may still find us,” Seeker added.

  “I agree,” Tatiana started to see shapes.

  “They know a mage is part of their company and would presume magic was used to aid escape,” the prince reasoned.

  “If you have the means…?” Tuke was unsure he addressed Dregous, “I take it, you do not have the means.”

  “Correct dear Tuke, however, they do not know that.” They remained silent and he took it as an argument won.

  “Rem, can you see clearly?” Tatiana asked.

  “Aye, for the most part.”

  “Then take point,” he crawled past her. “Once in the vault we can rest,” Tatiana ordered. “Especially you.” Dregous looked at her curiously. She could barely make out his face, “Do not give me that look…,” she guessed.

  Tuke tried to see through the darkness to no avail, “She is right…, you have been pushing yourself.”

  Dregous glanced at Seeker. She shrugged innocently and crawled after Rem, guiding Tuke. “I have…,” the look on the princess’s face held him, “You win,” then directed her.

  They passed the conceal door and continued deeper into the sub maze. The corridor appeared to end, when Rem noticed it continued right, “Looks like you are correct…,” they traveled some 25 meters on a down slope to a dead end. “Some treasure vault,” Rem commented.

  “What died here?” Seeker wondered.

  Dregous squeezed past them. There was a light scent of rotted flesh. The Drouwen’s examined the stone work looking for a lever or pressure panel on the wall and found nothing. “Need me to say it is a dead end?” Rem chimed.

  He cast an opening spell and the wall to his lef
t opened inward. Rem looked surprised. “Inside,” Dregous urged.

  Seeker guided Tatiana and Tuke in, Rem followed. Inside they stumble spilling what sounded like chains. Dregous enter last. The door closed behind him with a slight thud. He cast a light spell on his hand. Rem's jaw dropped in disbelief. The room was 3 by 3 meters and 4 meters high. Four, one and half meter-long chests lined the walls along with ornaments fit for a castle. Some suits of armor mounted on stands. Six half meter sized chests laid about the floor. A few buckets of coins were about, one of which containing silver and copper littered the floor.

  The room suddenly shook violently rattling everything momentarily.

  Chapter 12

  Pride and arrogance destroys. He has come close to his demise, had it not been for good fortune. His first experience, his confidence wavered and amidst despair he realized he can ill afford wallowing in pity for ego also destroys. He always tells me, every problem has a solution, even if you cannot see it.

  Tatiana’s personal journal

  Seeker found a concealed door in the vault. It led to a living area with a small stove and table. It was designed for a long stay. The vault was the mage’s safe room. There was food, water, wine and an indoor outhouse. In his arrogance, Dregous didn’t see the obvious and felt foolish.

  Trapped, they occupied their time by counting and cataloging their find, while Dregous contemplated and updated his map. He questioned coming here. His desire to protect the princess may have entombed her instead.

  Tatiana joined Dregous periodically. He seemed content in brooding; a scowl that would intimidate any who would look at him. Even she felt the sting of his penetrating white eyes against his inky black complexion. He hasn’t spoken or eaten since they entered the chamber two days ago. She wondered why he shut everyone out.

  For the first time since he met the princess, Dregous felt alone. The cold chamber added to his sour mood. His guilt indirectly made him build walls. In a distant part of his mind, he heard the witch chuckling softly, reciting his death. She flashed in his head and closed his eyes.

  Tuke whispered to Seeker with a curious glint, “Are your people normally this silent?”

  “His house is not known for idle chatting.”

  “House?” he studied her.

  “You know it as family or clan…; the house is also the ruling body of a minor or major region.”