Serena ducked her head around the upended table just as a group of men exploded out from the spiral hallway and into the storage room. From the chatter of their voices and shuffling of their feet, she assumed they had fanned out as best they could in the cramped place.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Growled one of the men. “They got both of them?”

“No, just Hobert.” Another said. “Throats out. Branford’s still breathing.”

“The fuck can you tell from here?”

Everyone began to talk at once. Serena glanced at Jo, who crouched on the balls of her feet beside her, eyes narrowed as she listened; it had been her quick thinking that led to them hiding behind the table, only a slightly better hiding spot than Pavel’s.

Serena tightened her grip around her staff, sideways against her waist, until her fingers turned white. Pavel could handle himself if he was caught too early, but that wasn’t what Serena worried about.

“Shut up!” A third voice shouted; the chatter died immediately. “We don’t know who or where these people are. Expect that they’re still in here somewhere. You two, check the table back there.” Serena’s heart leapt into her throat as Jo bowed her head. “You three, check the crates. They don’t look messed up, but they could have found the hole anyways.”

Jo’s head shot back up as Serena pressed a hand against her mouth, stifling a silent gasp.

“Mac, help me look over Branford, see what’s wrong.” The third voice said; boots crunched on the earthen floor as the men obeyed their orders. “Make sure we check everywhere. Last thing we need is – what the fuck!?”

Serena shot a look at Jo, who cursed. They had found Pavel.

Together, they leapt up from behind the table; Jo ripped out her rapier as the head of Serena’s staff ignited, casting a violent orange glow throughout the room.

The two men who approached their table froze in place, swords held out in front of them. At the center of the room, two more stood over the unconscious body, one facing them, another with his back turned; he stared at Pavel, who unsheathed his sword and flail in the corner next to the door. The remaining three men had halted towards the stacks of crates across from the door and to the right of Pavel, heads flipping between him, Jo, and Serena.

Each man wore the same set of leather armor and carried the same kind of short sword, save for the one who stared at Pavel, a mace strapped to his belt. That alone must have meant they were from the Thief’s Guild. At least, that’s what it looked like to Serena.

For a moment, no one moved, the shuffling of feet the only sound that filled the room. Serena felt her heart pounding in her chest, blood rushing in her ears. Neither Jo nor Pavel seemed to share her nervousness, however, nor did any of the presumed Guild members. In fact, it had been sometime since Serena had seen so many angry men in one room.

“Who sent you?” The man with his back to them – their leader, Serena assumed – finally asked Pavel.

“I’ll do you one better, who are you?” Pavel asked with a smile; he looked insane in lantern light.

“Fuck you, I asked first.” The leader spat.

“I wouldn’t talk like that.” Jo spoke up, voice even. “He’s been itching for a fight all night.”

Everyone turned towards Jo; fear tightened Serena’s chest as she felt the hate that radiated from their glares.

Slowly, the leader turned around, hand resting on the pommel of his mace. He added his own glare to the bunch.

“I don’t think you’re in the position to be making threats like that.” He said evenly. “Seven to three ain’t the best odds.”

“Seven to four, actually.” Jo replied. “And it’s even when you include the bear.”

“What fucking bear?”

From the corner of the room, across from the door, a rat jumped off the top of a crate and landed on the head of one of the men.

He yelled and reached up to grab it; the rat held on, and as the man tugged, its form grew larger and larger, fur darkening, maw growing, paws widening, until the man’s scream was cut off as Cruck’aa, now a grizzly bear, crushed the man’s head underfoot.

The room descended into chaos.

Jo kicked the table, sending it flying towards the two men closest to her, and dashed at the leader, who yanked his mace free. The man next to him spun and charged at Pavel, who met him halfway.

Having dodged the table, the first two men glanced back at Jo, then turned towards Serena, eyes gleaming, rushing her, swords raised to strike. Behind them, Cruck’aa roared, harsh in Serena’s ears.

Serena threw up a hand, her fingers twisting; two swords smashed against a shimmering barrier, which shattered into nothingness.

The two men hopped back, surprise melting to narrowed eyes. They looked her over, giving Serena a moment to glance about the room.

Jo and the speaker danced, rapier and mace flashing through empty air, metal reflecting the light, neither gaining a purchase. At the back, Pavel, flail chain wrapped around his hand, smashed his opponent across the face, blood spraying into the air. And in the corner, Cruck’aa bit through one man’s leg, forcing him to the ground and tearing him open from navel to groin; the now dead man’s companion screamed and plunged his sword into Cruck’aa’s flank.

Her eyes flicked back as the two men charged in tandem – a sword to her neck and stomach.

She threw up her hand for another shield; it shattered at her stomach, forcing her to jerk to the side, sword slicing across her shoulder.

Serena swore as she slapped a hand over it; the shirt had torn, and her hand became wet with warm blood.

The two pressed their assault, slashing high and low, forcing her back. Panic rose in Serena’s chest as she blocked the strikes, shield shattering over and over, her well of power slowly depleting.

A slice got through, nicking her cheek.

Another in the same spot on her shoulder.

A third raced towards her neck.

Serena cringed and pressed her back against the crates, but it wasn’t enough. The sword smashed into the side of her neck, her heart leaping to meet it.

The blade bounced off with a metallic TWANG.

The man staggered back, dumbstruck, eyes wide. His companion retreated a step, mouth agape.

Serena wasted no time

She leveled her staff at the men; the head acted as a conduit, channeling the well of power that resided within her chest – within her very being.

A roar of flames, bright orange and horrifically hot, erupted from the staff, utterly consuming the man that struck her throat.

He collapsed to the floor, his screams raising the now sweat soaked hair on Serena’s neck. Completely engulfed, he flailed about, desperately trying to put himself out to no avail.

He arched once, then fell limp, his screams dying to gurgles, two sickening pops sounding right after.

His companion stared at the horrific sight, then glared at Serena, the rage in his eyes burning brighter than her flames.

Before she could react, he bellowed, charged, and swung at her; Serena threw up an arm.

The shield shattered, sword slicing along her arm and bouncing off her staff; there was no pain, save the hot sensation of blood that immediately leaked from the wound.

He positioned for a thrust, moving in closer.

Grinding her teeth, Serena thrust her hand against his chest; the man screamed and jerked as arcs of blue lightning cascaded into his chest.

He stumbled back, spasming, his sword falling from his grasp as he clawed at his chest, howling in pain.

Serena dropped her staff, letting it fall into the dirt, and clasped her injured arm, now throbbing; she grinded her teeth as she healed the wound, silver light flowing from her palm, skin sizzling.

Aside from hers, most of the Guild men were dead; only the leader still stood, still clashing with Jo, tunic slashed, leather armor spackled with blood. Jo’s left arm hung limply at her side, cuts scored across her arms, yet she continued her onslaught. Pavel stood with her, slashing and smashing with sword and flail, but even the two of them combined could not put the man down, so fast did he weave around their strikes.

Cruck’aa, now his normal self, leaned against the crates, panting, clutching a wound on his side, torn apart bodies scattered at his feet. He caught Serena’s eye, then glanced at the dance in the center of the room. Without looking back, he moved towards Jo and Pavel.

Serena looked back at her opponent. He too had stopped and watched the duel, before turning his glare at Serena. He ripped a dagger out from behind his back and took a step towards her.

“Give up.” Serena signed with her free hand. “We’ll spare –”

The man sprinted at her.

Serena threw up her hand, index and pinky fingers pointed towards him; a fire bolt crackled between them, then fired true, exploding against the man’s face.

He screamed and flung his dagger to the floor, stumbling back and clawing at his face, his skin sizzling and melting.

Serena stepped forward and flung out another bolt; it burned through the man’s hands and exploded against his head once more.

He stiffened, gurled, then toppled over, falling to the earthen floor in a heap, head still burning.

Serena jumped forward and immediately began to scrape dirt over the dead man’s head, extinguishing the flames before anything else could sizzle or pop. Despite how her magic manifested, Serena always hated the smell of burnt hair and skin.

That, of course, didn’t matter when the entire room smelled like death.

In her brief exchange, the leader of the men had finally been brought low, and with his death came a blessed silence, save for Jo and Pavel’s labored breathing.

They still stood over his body, head now somewhat caved in. Cuts and bruises seemed to cover Jo, her left arm still limp, though Pavel looked no worse for wear. Behind them, Cruck’aa had returned to the corner of the room, his attention now on the stack of crates and barrels shoved against the wall. Oddly, the wound on his side was gone.

Panicking at the sight of Jo, Serena quickly retrieved her staff and ran over to them, avoiding the dead men and blood that pooled in the dirt. Before she could reach them, however, Pavel grabbed Jo’s arm, twisted it, then shoved it against her body, hard enough to almost push her over.

“Pavel!” Serena yelled, halting in front of them.

“What?” He asked. “Dislocated shoulder. Easy fix, no magic needed.”

“He’s right. I’m fine, don’t worry.” Jo grunted, rubbing her shoulder. “Thanks, by the way.”

“Sure.” Pavel replied. “Pretty slick fighting with one arm.”

“Do what you gotta do.”

Serena stared at Jo, but seeing her move her arm about normally, gave up on the matter. Instead, she shoved her staff into Jo’s hands and began to look the rest of her over. Jo grimaced and tried to shy away.

“You know,” she said. “I think I’ll be okay Serena. Just a little bit of blood, nothing –”

“Shut up.” Serena signed. While she wasn’t well versed in medicine, she’d known from an early age that everyone always downplayed how bad they truly were.

Pavel chuckled as silver light flooded from Serena’s hands, healing the cuts along Jo’s arms, her skin beginning to sizzle.

“Don’t you fucking laugh at – ow, fuck!” Jo winced and tried to jerk away from Serena. “Why does healing someone hurt – damnit! – this badly?!”

Serena shrugged, fighting back a grin. The pain wasn’t as bad as everyone made it out to be. And if it was, well, it was a small price to pay.

It took a minute to get the rest of the cuts closed; Jo stepped away from Serena when she finished, as though she feared there’d be more. Serena rolled her eyes and moved on to Pavel, motioning for him to remove his splint mail.

“Didn’t really get me that much.” He shrugged instead. “Guess I’m too good for them.”

“Really?” Serena asked. “Let me at least check you over.”

“You can, but I doubt find anything.”

“You never know.” Serena paused. “Also, are you…okay?”

“I just said I was.”

“I mean with everything else.”

“Uh…yeah, why –”

“Hey!”

Serena looked around Pavel; Cruck’aa, still standing in the corner, had lifted a crate from the one of the stacks against the wall and flung it to the side. Behind where it had sat was not the grey stone wall that Serena expected, but rather a darkness, an opening into nothing.

Cruck’aa grabbed another crate and dropped it at his feet, widening the hole. “Why don’t you three quit chit-chatting and help me move this junk.”

…

Pavel and Cruck’aa had done most of the clearing, though if Serena was being honest, it was mostly Pavel. As the pair had moved the crates and exposed the tunnel they had been looking for, she and Jo had taken the time to clean up the mess they had made. It was a simple task for Serena to snap away the spilled blood; Jo had piled all the bodies into one corner, clearing a space for their captive – now awake but groggy – to be properly tied down in one of the chairs. A part of Serena had wondered why they were cleaning the storeroom at all, but Jo didn’t seem to be in the mood for questions.

Cruck’aa, of course, had taken offense to the way Jo had tied down their captive and insisted that someone stay with him while the others explored the tunnel. Thankfully, he did not object when he was voted for the position.

The tunnel itself was pitch black and forced Pavel to bring one of the lanterns that hung in the storage room so he could lead Serena and Jo. Neither of them had needed the light, thanks to their elven heritage, but Serena wasn’t about to mention that.

It immediately became apparent that the tunnel had been carved out long ago. Beginning at a landing only slightly larger than the storage room, the walls of the tunnel were far wider than Serena had expected them to be. Dust and cobwebs littered the cracks and spaces between the grey stones – the same as the room before – that made up the walls and ceiling, and the air felt stale, unchanged since the day the tunnel had been completed.

Their boots had kicked up a bit of dirt as they descended lower and lower into the earth, the tunnel looping back on itself constantly. None of them spoke as they walked, though Serena wished they did. She knew Jo and Pavel remained on alert for something to jump out at them, but as the minutes dragged on, Serena couldn’t help but shudder. It didn’t feel right to be this far down, and the silence didn’t help matters.

Finally, after what felt like far too long, Pavel halted at a large wooden gate, shut tight with three deadbolts. A small window was built into one of the doors, covered by a sliding piece of wood. Pavel pulled it open and looked through, then nodded.

“Looks all clear to me. Opens out onto some grass too.” He said, handing the lantern to Jo. Serena stepped up beside her and held her staff in the crook of her arm, watching as Pavel undid the deadbolts.

“How do you suppose they know if anyone’s on the other side?” Serena asked.

“I bet they have agreed upon meeting times.” Jo shrugged. “Can’t imagine having to make this trip multiple times in a day.”

“The tunnel is really wide though. So is the gate. You think they drive wagons up here?”

“It’s possible. I can’t imagine the horses liking that, but it makes sense. Easier to drag things up.”

“And they can turn them around in that little landing.”

“Exactly.”

The last deadbolt unlatched, Pavel cracked one side of the gate and strode through. Jo set the lantern down and followed him, with Serena on her heels.

She gasped the moment she stepped through.

Pale light illuminated from the moon, casting a cold glow over the vast fields of grass, stretching as far as Serena could see. A breeze blew against her, causing the fields to roll like ocean waves, gently whispering into the night. Here and there, a tree or two broke up the empty landscape, their swaying leaves casting shadows in the moonlight. And if Serena squinted her eyes just right, she swore she could make out the Tradeway in the distance, a dirt road that stretched across the rolling green sea to places she’d never see.

Her chest tightened, her breath stolen from her. To think that this was what waited at the end of the tunnel was almost too much. Serena had glimpsed similar scenes when they had traveled in the caravan, but to think that a view this beautiful lay just a short walk under the city, well…it almost felt like something out of a storybook.

It was ruined, slightly, by Pavel’s low whistle.

“Reckon not many people see this kind of view.” He said, scratching his chin.

“Reckon they do.” Jo replied. “You see it once, you’ve seen it all.”

Serena side-eyed Jo, who appeared utterly unimpressed by the view. She caught the look and shrugged.

“I’ve been out a lot. Seen all this before.” She waved a hand. “Looks like we found our tunnel though.” Jo turned around and craned her head up. “Gate blends in with the rock, so you probably can’t see it at a distance. Wouldn’t know it’s here unless someone told you. City’s pretty high up too.”

Serena followed her gaze and almost jumped; towering above them stood the plateau that the city rested on, impossibly massive, expanding far out on both sides, it’s rocky face daunting in the moonlight. She hadn’t a clue how big it was, but she supposed that didn’t matter when it was taller than a mountain.

“Suppose your contact was right then.” Pavel said. “Glad you could figure it out.”

“Yeah. Glad I did.” Jo said as she turned back, though she looked anything but glad.

“So…now what?” Serena signed, staff back in her arm. “It’s good we found the tunnel, but there’s not much else here. Aside from what’s-his-face up there with Cruck’aa.”

“Well, first things first, we interrogate him and see what he says.” Pavel replied. “Then we act on that information. Simple.”

“And if he doesn’t say anything?”

“Oh, he will.”

“I think,” Jo said slowly. “that we take all this and bring it to the Guard. I’d bet gold they’d want to know about a tunnel outside the city. And I’m sure dragging in a member of the Thief’s Guild would only sweeten the deal.” She frowned. “Assuming the people that attacked us are from the Thief’s Guild. We still don’t know yet.”

“Sure, but they’d still want to know about the tunnel, at the very least.” Pavel replied. “Plus, we could rope Simon into all of this. I’m sure he’d love to help, with or without the guild.”

“Oh right, forgot about him.” Jo nodded. “Well, no sense in waiting then. Let’s head back up before Cruck’aa kills our poor little captive.”

Pavel nodded and began to follow Jo as she headed back towards the gate. Serena lingered for a moment, taking in the sight one last time, before turning on her heel.

How much she wished to capture the scene and bring it back to Werond. As it stood, however, Serena doubted that she’d believe her that such a view existed right under their noses.