The leaving of the adventurer groups was done quickly, without fanfare, Carissia and Verinal simply riding out of the town and into the wilderness leading the roughly organised group. This left Stathis technically in charge, although without any immediate crisis, she spent the time wandering around the castle, getting lost again. She resorted to the tactic of continually heading in the same direction until she hit a dead end – in this case, downwards. She descended past storerooms, probably past ground level, into a basement, filled with the standard junk any castle attracted, stacks of mouldering outfits and weapons, then a level beneath. The architecture changed, walls changing from standard stone shaped into bricks, to solid stone, cut from the living earth, smooth to the touch.

There was light, dim and red, coming from occasional gems set into the ceiling – even more were studded along the stone, but their magic had long-since faded, leaving the hallway dim and faded. It slanted downwards, curving and twisting around, smaller side-tunnels branching off into chambers, of wildly varying sizes, all empty. The floor had been worn down, with a gully down the centre from centuries or millennia of feet wearing it away.

It ended in what looked like it had once been a sealed chamber – a thick slot in the wall held a heavy stone block, that had probably once barred passage, before somehow being moved into the niche. She gave it a prod, checking for any way of moving it, but it seemed to be rooted in place, probably moved by magic somehow.

The chamber beyond was less eroded and dusty than the hallway. A stone lectern rose from the floor, positioned facing the entrance, as though someone should be reading speeches from it. More of the light-gems were intact here, the ceiling dotted with them in a spiral, except for an empty circle above the lectern, a disc of solid black. The chamber didn’t appear large enough for any massed speeches though, maybe able to fit a few dozen people in at most, and that uncomfortably.

There was another exit, this one still blocked – there was a massive stone barrier in the way, stone covered with shifting rune-marks, scarlet symbols appearing on the slab, warping and stretching themselves before vanishing. The sight of them made Stathis feel queasy – this must be one of the places where something old and ancient was bound. She carefully touched the slab, feeling cold burn through her hand, more intense even than Janaxia, without any physical component. The shapes changed, red shapes flowing together, through a rapid cascade of images, forming into a momentary image of a man’s face, screaming, and then falling apart again into lines and scratches.

Stathis waited, just in case some guardian monster appeared, but nothing else happened. She turned to examine the lectern next – it looked as though it had been extruded from the stone, shaped by magic rather than carved, raised above the ground on a series of gentle steps. The niche in the rear of it was filled, a pile of bones and a robe, faded and fragmented. She give it a tap, bones rattling against each other, but without animating. From here, her head almost scraped the ceiling, but it would be strange to give a reading or dramatic speech from here, without deafening the audience. She glanced up, looking at the disc of blackness there, flush with the ceiling. Stathis gave it a gentle poke – it was solid to the touch, perfectly smooth, without any discernible texture, as she managed to wedge her fingers into the gap between it and the ceiling, able to pull it down. There was nothing above it other than the rock ceiling and more of the gem-lights, but it moved easily downwards. She pushed it forward, and it moved as well, resisting only if she tried to shove if harder.

It didn’t seem to do anything – aside from being constructed of what seemed to be pure darkness, it didn’t appear to move under its own power or even be capable of doing anything, other than be a platform. She pushed it into a corner and returned to the skeleton, quickly checking it for anything identifying – it looked ancient, a rib dissolving into dust as Stathis touched it. The robe was a faded black, stained with ancient crusted blood. She rubbed it between her fingers – it tore a bit, so clearly wasn’t magical. It looked sufficiently ancient that it presumably wasn’t dangerous.

Now she’d gone as far as she could in one direction, it was time to try and find the way back, heading out of the catacombs. The castle seemed far larger than it should be, rooms of all sorts of different styles running into each other. Taking a random turn, she was back in the inhabited portion of the castle, servants moving past. She flagged one down, asking for directions to the courtyard, finally emerging back into sunlight, somehow managing to come down a stairway into the open space. Nothing was on fire and no-one was screaming, which was a good start, although Tunera was looking upwards. Stathis followed her gaze, to see Semari, dangling off some guttering, swinging to build up momentum, then launching herself through space to grab into a gargoyle.

‘Semari! Get down here!’

Semari dropped, simply falling the thirty plus feet to the ground. ‘Yo. This is a lot easier of a way to get around, and way harder to get lost.’

‘Please don’t. Try and look at least slightly respectable, please? We are meant to be in charge here.’

‘Yeah, whatever. So everyone else gets to, like, go fight a lightning witch, and we get stuck here. This is crap!’

‘Well, sorry. But she might attack here. And there’s some weird stuff downstairs, so I guess there’s a danger of something waking up from down there. Actually, where’s Parth? I need to ask her about stuff.’

‘She’s being all elfy again. Was up on the roof, looking around. Couldn’t get anything out of her.’

‘OK, thanks. Any idea about Hakara and Janaxia?’

‘Hakara found a room full of books. Janaxia found a room full of shiny stuff.’

‘Well, as long as she doesn’t steal anything, she’s probably just getting more ideas for jewellery. Maybe she’ll upgrade to a crown or something?’

‘She could, like, work the “evil sorcerer queen” look, I guess. Although does that mean killing her is on the table again?’

Stathis sighed. ‘Try to leave that as a final option, please. Anyway, Tunera, would you mind showing me up onto the roof?’

Semari answered. ‘I could always take you. You’re not that heavy.’

Before Stathis could respond, Semari had grabbed her around the waist and jumped, seizing hold of a random stone out-cropping, then kicking off the wall and grabbing onto a balcony. Stathis grabbed hold of her, trying not to wriggle or do anything that might get her dropped, acutely aware of the drop beneath her. Being hauled through the air was acutely discomfiting, and she was glad when they reached the roof, Semari letting go, shaking her arms.

‘OK, you’re heavier than I thought. Must be that armour. Or, like, are your wings always there and heavy, they just can’t be seen most of the time?’ She waved her hands through the air behind Stathis.

‘Please don’t do that without asking.’ Stathis regained her footing, turning around to see Parth, staring out into the distance, her hair streaming in the wind. ‘And just use the stairs! Ask Tunera to show you around, she knows where everything is.’

Semari made a face. ‘Meh, that’s boring. And takes ages! This way is far easier, and quicker. Although there’s got to be kitchens somewhere, where I can find some food.’ Without waiting for a response, she jumped off the roof again, leaving Stathis alone with Parth.

She was still staring into the distance, Stathis trying to see what she was looking at – the land seemed empty, a waste broken only by small copses of scrubby trees, or the ancient, broken remnants of elven ruins. The wind blew, making Stathis shield her eyes, cold air biting through her clothing, making her shiver. Parth didn’t move, even as her long hair flicked and danced.

‘So, what’s going on? Are you only here to retrieve that sword, or is there something else? I’m guessing there’s something sealed beneath this place – I had a look downstairs already, the stuff down there looks magical and locked.’

‘Ancient darkness.’ Parth didn’t move, speaking into the wind.

‘More Black Triad stuff? Well, it doesn’t seem active. Is this something you know about?’

‘Warning. Disaster. Ill-omens.’

‘I don’t want to be rude, but it would really help if you actually told me what was going on. In full sentences, for preference.’

Parth turned to face her. ‘A breaking and a binding. A seeking and a finding. The darkness and the light. All and nothing. And broken earth slumbers.’

‘That’s not hugely useful. So is the witch trying to free it, kill it, drain its power? And what is “it”?’

The look in Parth’s eyes was unsettling – grim and determined, as she paused, considering her words even more than usual. ‘A choice, not a trial by combat.’ She reached out, patting Stathis on the arm. ‘Heart, not strength, shall win.’

Stathis sighed. ‘While I’m glad you’re helping, at least technically, it’d be really nice if you just told me. Is this some elven prophecy thing, a geas thing, random politics, what?’

Parth shrugged. ‘Choose wisely.’

‘Some information as to what this choice is would help. Or what’s actually going on. At all.’

‘Chain the darkness, or the light shall be lost. The witch seeks the spear, guard it well.’ Parth turned, walking away, Stathis reaching out to grasp her shoulder. Her hand passed through empty air, as Parth turned back to look at her, cocking her head in a grin, then fading through the floor.

‘Dammit Parth! This is not helping.’ Although it did confirm that there was something here. She’d have to hunt Parth down again some other time. Maybe if it was in an open space she wouldn’t be able to do that? Or see if Hakara knew how to lock her into this dimension or something.

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud cheer, as Semari jumped back onto the roof, Tunera on her back. ‘Thanks! That was fun.’ She was still carrying the spear, which hadn’t left her side since her father had left, loosely holding it as she dismounted.

‘She’s nice and light, not like you!’

‘Just don’t drop her, please? We’re meant to be training her, not breaking her.’

Tunera darted over to the edge, looking down, judging how far she’d been lifted. ‘That was great. Larrik never let me do anything fun. So are you going to train me?’

‘Sure, I guess. Only if you show me around this place though.’ Tunera spun her spear, immediately thrusting it at Stathis, making her dodge backwards, drawing her sword. She was fast and used the length of her weapon to try to keep Stathis at a distance. Stathis parried another strike, letting Tunera’s momentum carry her forward, trying to smack her with the flat of her blade. Tunera managed to dodge, trying to attack again with the butt of the spear. There was no distance for her to get any power, so Stathis took the strike and then stepped in close, forcing Tunera back against the stone wall, limiting her movement further.

Tunera tried ducking to the side, Stathis’ sword flicking out, keeping her in place. Then a blow connected with her ribs from behind, sending her staggering against the battlements. Stathis shoved her sword backwards, feeling a slight shock of connection, giving her enough time to spin around. Semari was stood there, lightly jumping from foot to foot.

‘Us shorties gotta stick together!’ She charged in, trying to punch Stathis again, bracer sparking with electricity. Tunera moved to back her up, spear jabbing, Stathis forced onto the defensive, her lack of shield now a problem, her only defence her sword. With a wild swing, she managed to push them back, giving her a moment to focus, speaking a swift prayer, gleaming light washing over her for a moment, turning aside a kick from Semari.

‘That’s cheating!’ Lightning sparked from Semari’s bracer again as she struck herself across the chest, jumping off the battlements and delivering a spinning kick, hitting Stathis in the head and sending her reeling. Tunera’s spear flashed, barely missing as Stathis knocked it aside.

‘HALT!’ She channelled power again, a golden corona flickering around her. Tunera stopped for a moment, looking confused, Semari stumbling as she tried to jump again. Stathis stepped forward, hilt-punching Semari in the head and getting a moment of freedom, which she used to step next to Tunera, putting her blade to the girl’s neck.

Semari stood back up, blood trickling down her face. She spat, blood and spittle staining the stone, squaring her shoulders. Then she flew backwards, as a bolt of darkness hammered into her chest, slamming her against the battlements.

Janaxia walked out into the sunlight, dark energy still dancing over her hand. ‘Considering that you have just recently fought someone because of your past actions, then I would have thought that perhaps taking a young lady as hostage wouldn’t be a priority? It is something to be grateful for that your nemesis isn’t here to see this sorry affray.’

‘He’s not my nemesis! And this is training.’ She moved the sword away from Tunera’s neck, sheathing it. ‘Always be ready for crazy, stupid stuff to happen. Like an ally suddenly attacking you.’

Semari was rising, rubbing her head where it had been smacked against the stone. ‘Yeah, you should always be ready for that. Oww. Having someone show up and help is cheating!’

‘You’re in no position to talk! Sorry Tunera, that wasn’t quite what I expected to happen. Actually, Janaxia, you want to get some more training done? It’ll be good to fight against a variety of people, and you could do with some more training. You can use that stick magic thing. And maybe some armour.’ Janaxia’s clothing rippled, turning into her visually appealing, but functionally useless, armour. ‘I mean actual armour. Yeah, I know it doesn’t look pretty, but it’s better than getting run through by a unicorn, right?’

‘Armour is very much not my preferred aesthetic – the weight, the sound, the smell.’ She wrinkled her nose. ‘And I have managed to survive thus far, have I not?’

‘Only because I’m around to take the hits for you! I’m sure you can get some fancy chainmail or something, even in black and red if you want. It’s got to be better than getting stabbed.’

Janaxia brushed non-existent dust of her sleeves. ‘Oh? Do you honestly think that armour would look better than this?’

‘No, it wouldn’t. But it would deflect attacks better.’ Stathis approached, hooking a finger through a hole in Janaxia’s top, just below her shoulder, tugging and stretching the tight fabric. ‘This looks great, but doesn’t really help much if you get attacked. Even Hakara’s robes are better protection.’ The edge of the tattoo spiralled into sight, visible through the cutout, spiralling beneath Stathis’ finger, Janaxia’s skin suddenly seeming hotter. But that might just be imagination, as Stathis coughed and withdrew her finger, tattoo withdrawing again from sight.

‘And what of Semari? She discarded her armour long since.’

‘Yeah, because you melted it!’ Semari was bouncing around, fully recovered. ‘Back when you blasted me with cold and acid and stuff.’

‘Semari’s also good at dodging, and taking a hit. I’ve seen you take a heavy hit once, and it didn’t really go well. Think of it as learning a new skill. You’re already good at blasting, but it would be good if you could survive up-close. You could help me in the melee, up at the front of combat.’

Janaxia reached forward and flicked Stathis’ breastplate with a nail, a softly resonant noise. ‘This sort of thing I would very rather avoid. It looks quite stifling, and not in a pleasant way. But a little training may be beneficial, I suppose.’ She scrutinised Tunera. ‘You could do with a certain level of refinement. Although there is a certain amount that can be done with the, shall we say, tough and battered look. But it needs a touch of class and elegance to truly shine, some contrast for effect. Maybe a sash?’

Tunera was retreating away, as Stathis intervened. ‘Let’s just stick to the combat lessons, shall we? And without Semari interrupting.’ She winced, pain from Semari’s blows now filtering through.

‘Hey, you still owe me meat!’ Semari was ready to fight again.

‘Fine, I’ll get you a meal. Just as long as you don’t randomly attack me again!’ That seemed to placate her, momentarily at least. ‘Tunera, what’s up with that spear? I guess it’s magical.’

Tunera grinned, spinning and twirling it. ‘This is Lightning’s Spike, the Spear of Judgement. It strikes down evil with great power and justice.’ She thrust forward in a stylised pose. ‘It binds the creature beneath this place. Whatever it is.’

‘Mind if I have a look?’

Slightly unwillingly, Tunera handed it over, Stathis carefully examining the weapon – it was clearly magical, gold spun through it, although strangely balanced as she spun it, glinting with sparks of power. ‘Nice.’ She handed it back.

‘Many find it too heavy to use, according to legend only the pure or those blessed by the heavens can use it.’ Semari grabbed it, squawking and bending at the waist, straining to lift it, then letting it drop to the ground with a grumble, Tunera easily picking it up. ‘It burns evil as well! At least according to legend.’

Semari spoke. ‘Hey, Janaxia, you try it. I want to see what happens.’

Stathis moved to intervene, just in case Janaxia exploded or absorbed it. ‘So do you know anything about the creature? Or is it just some general ancient monster, dead but not quite fully?’

‘It was said to be a thing of mist and dreams, that preyed upon the insecure and made them paranoid. When I’m older, I’m going to travel down there and kill it.’ She stabbed and thrust a few more times, Stathis correcting her posture. ‘While it is in the hands of a righteous warrior, then those who walk in the light are protected from the dweller beneath.’

‘Handy. I guess it’s better than having to deal with that monster. If we can get the doors open, might be worth going down there and finishing it off, once this is dealt with. Better than leaving random monsters around, anyway.’