Chapter 87: Escaping the Caves

The companions made their way up the long winding tunnel until they reached what looked like a dead end, but was in fact the concealed entrance outside of the statue room. There, as Alcar had supposed must be the case, there was a mechanism for re-entering. It took Etienne just a few minutes to find, with no help from the taciturn Ubund.

Inside, everything looked much the same as before. Etienne sniffed a few times, however. “Can you smell smoke?” said the rogue. “You think someone has been down here after us?”

“Perhaps it’s just from when we cooked further down?” suggested Olynka. “Who knows where that furnace vents to.”

“Perhaps,” said Leppie, giving Ubund a suspicious sideways glance. “Or perhaps someone has been here looking for us.”

Alcar shuddered. His brief nap had not been as restorative as he would have liked, and he was cold. He felt like he needed a long sleep in a comfortable bed, not to mention a shave and a bath. He scratched at his chin absently; his youthful stubble had turned into a patchy beard over recent days.

“I like the look,” said Etienne, nodding at him. “Makes you seem like a real adventurer.”

“Cool.”

“But you’ll need a much longer beard to look like a proper sorcerer,” added the halfling with a wink.

Alcar smiled, and then looked to the others. “I take it we are going back the way that you guys came?” he said. “I wouldn’t recommend the lava-filled valley that I crossed with Ubund.”

“Mmm,” said Ubund, and then led the way to the main door of the statue room.

Alcar looked to Etienne as they followed. “How long from here to the surface, anyway?”

“Not so very long,” his friend replied. “Thank the gods. We were stuck in that room with the statues for quite a while before you arrived. We’re not far from the surface, but the way outside is rocky and treacherous.”

“Okay. That checks out,” he replied.

“Woof,” said Brutus.

Alcar took one last look at the statues of the five greater gods, then nodded sharply, and proceeded with the others up a steep, unfamiliar-looking tunnel.

Unlike the winding passage, the passage that they were now in led upwards more or less in straight line. On a couple of occasions it was crossed by small streams, or widened out briefly into a rough natural caves, some with spectacular carvings or ancient painted art. They saw several more examples of ancient Dathmiri runes carved into the rock. But besides a few bats, there was little for the companions to look out for.

At last, after another half hour or so of walking, they reached a very long, low cave which sparkled with reflected daylight. Ahead and to the left, a blinding light was gleaming through gaps in the rock.

“We’re almost there,” said Leppie excitedly. “Fanatos the sun god welcomes us.”

Alcar patted Brutus’s back as they hurried on. Despite his pain and fatigue, he felt a boost of energy running through him. Safety. A chance to go home, and work on what he had learned. And to do his bit for the mission – the freedom of Katresburg and their role in deposing the evil Duke Frage. If what Master Maluhk had said was right, giving the codex to the dwarves would bring them onside, and tip the balance of power.

And then after that, maybe – maybe – they could start to think about some further adventures.

“This way,” said Olynka, hurrying on towards a huge gap that Alcar realized must mark the entrance. Tall, jagged rocks were silhouetted against the light, looking like teeth in the oval-shaped opening. Alcar shaded his eyes as he approached. They had been under the ground for so long, now.

Ubund was just ahead, Leppie at his side. Again, the some-time guide was silent and taciturn, though he, too seemed energised by reaching the surface.

Together, they crossed between two large rocks at the entrance, and then stopped dead.

There, in a semi-circle around them, were ten Imperial soldiers. The tall captain with his thin mustache looked familiar to Alcar.

“It’s Captain Chizook!” spat Etienne. “Quick, my friends – back to the cave!”

But before any of them had time to act on this, Ubund took a step to the side, and reached out and grabbed the Viperstar Codex from Leppie. “I brought these prisoners you!” cried the vep-te guide, stepping forward and holding the book up above his head. “Captain, tell your superiors, I am a loyal and innocent citizen.”

“Fucking asshole,” said Olynka. She had put her last arrow to her bow, but it was clear that it would be of little use against so many Imperial soldiers.

“Go on,” said the captain.

“I hope I have earned a pardon for any past sins, bringing these criminals to you,” continued the guide. “And I also brought this magical text which I am sure the Knights of Dawn will want to look at.”

“What is this text?” asked Captain Chizook, his voice cold and stern.

“The key to a conspiracy against the Empire,” replied Ubund.

Just then, Brutus leaped forward. He barrelled into Ubund from the back, knocking the guide’s legs out from under him, and flipping him onto his back. The book sailed up into the air; Leppie stepped forward, slamming one booted foot onto Ubund’s chest, and caught the codex. In a smooth movement, she then passed the book to Brutus, who dashed away to the right, dodging between two soldiers.

“Troops!” cried Captain Chizook, pointing, “after that dog! And secure the prisoners.”

Soon, Etienne and Olynka were backing off towards the cave as two soldiers came towards them. Leppie punched a third, and then darted after Brutus. There was no sign of Etienne. Two further soldiers wrested Ubund roughly up from the ground and began to tie him, while Alcar watched on. Clearly, the Imperials didn’t see him as a threat or a high priority.

Brutus was still running, and directly front of Alcar, two more soldiers stepped up onto a high rock, and levelled their crossbows at the dog.

“No!” he cried, and crashed forward into them, levelling his staff and using it to strike both of them firmly at knee level, knocking them off balance. As he followed through, the three of them all crashed down in a tangle of limbs, and moments later a further soldier ran directly into the tangle of bodies.

Olynka shot her last arrow, knocked another soldier down with a swing of her bow, and then fled after Leppie and Brutus.

Now, Alcar was getting the worst of his chaotic scuffle with the two crosssbow men, taking one punch after another. But being less encumbered by armor, he was able to wriggle away and stand, trip another soldier who had begun to run after his friends, then kick the sword out of another man’s hands.

“Stop!” cried Captain Chizook.

But rather than at the captain, Alcar looked to the right, where his friends and Brutus had now reached the trees. Etienne was with them.

“Go, Brutus!” cried Alcar. “Stay with Olynka. Stay safe! All of you – run for your lives!”

Alcar was still yelling when he felt his arms being wrenched around, and soon firm, muscular arms were forcing him to look around at Captain Chizook.

“Surrender, traitor,” said the captain.

Five of the soliders had now regained their feet and begun to run after the other companions, while the remainder surrounded Alcar. There was no getting away, and he knew that he almost was out of magical energy.

Or had he rested enough for one last throw of the dice?

“Gag him,” said Captain Chizook. “We don’t want any magical spells.”

The men complied, as Captain Chizook continued to glare at Alcar. “We will find your friends, and all of you will be taken to the capital. I gave you a chance to stand trial in your home town, but that chance has passed.”

“Mmgh,” said Alcar.

And he knew that now his chance to use incantations really was over.

Would his friends escape?

Would they take Brutus back to Katresburg, and look after him?

Would he ever see any of them again?

These questions ran through Alcar’s mind as he was marched down the mountainside to the nearest road, before being thrust, still tied and gagged, into one of the Imperial military’s wagons, which soon set out for the south...