Rell was at the entrance to the Fortress now. Another burst from a spear struck him even as he lowered the massive trident and charged forward. The nearest Slayer hardly had time to scream as it died a tri-pronged death.
There was a new sound, a slow ponderous rumbling from somewhere within. The entrance began to close around Rell. Arms the size of small trees shot sideways. Even Rell could not stop the walls from closing, but he slowed them, even as fresh Slayers appeared to strike him again and again.
Torquil and Kegan were the first to slip inside beneath those straining arms, and the two Slayers perished under their weapons. The others followed, with Colwyn the last inside.
But while the walls still stood far enough apart to admit a normal man, they had closed too tightly for Rell to escape. He stood straining, but his strength was at an end.
'Torquil!' Colwyn shouted. 'Brace your ax in the opening!'
The thief tried, but the blade twisted and groaned against the walls. 'No good… there isn't enough room to get the blade in sideways.'
'No use,' said Rell. 'This is my time. Remember, Colwyn. Each to his fate.'
The last of his strength vanished and as it did so, the walls closed in on him with a rush. Colwyn and Torquil backed away, staring, helpless.
Behind them the others were also watching, but Titch was the only one who spoke. 'He opposed it, and he died in great pain, just as he said would happen. I wish I could be so brave.'
'So do we all,' said Ergo, putting an arm around the boy. 'But we're all not like Rell.'
Fire exploded behind them and they rushed to deal with the fresh group of Slayers who appeared in the corridor beyond. There was no more time for regrets, nor would Rell have wanted them.
Ahead, the corridor suddenly opened into a vast chamber. Beyond lay a narrow bridge guarded by Slayers. Ignoring the abyss beneath, the men rushed onward. One caught a blast in the chest and died long before he reached the bottom of the chasm. But they cleared the far end of the bridge, only to find themselves slowing as they entered still another passageway. A few steps farther brought them to an intersection.
Torquil looked right, then left. The side corridor was indistinguishable from the one they were in.
'Which way? Both look alike to me.'
Colwyn took a step forward. 'Straight on, as we've been going.'
'How do you know that's right?' Bardolph frowned at the juncture. 'How can you tell direction in this place? There's nothing to judge by.'
Colwyn didn't hesitate, stepped confidently forward. 'I don't know how I know, but I know.' He nodded ahead. 'It's this way.'
'Then perhaps we should go another way,' Ergo put in, but his jest passed unappreciated. No one was in a very jocular mood.
Concentrating on the path ahead, none thought to check the small side recesses that pockmarked the tunnel. So no one saw the Slayer that stepped out of the darkness to heave a spear at Torquil's back. No one except Kegan, who moved fast while trying to shout a warning.
'Torquil! Look ou—!'
The spear took him in the side and the Slayer came after it. Oswyn cut him down, continuing to hack at the motionless body long after the life had fled from it.
Torquil bent over the wounded Kegan, inspecting the injury. Bitterly he saw there was no reason to remove the spear.
'That was stupid,' he said through clenched teeth.
'I… I agree,' Kegan said dully. 'Looks like my traveling days are over, my friend.' His back arched spasmodically, his eyes wide. 'That hurts. A just end to a frivolous life, though I wish it had come outside under the clean sky. This is no place to be buried.'
'Don't worry,' Torquil muttered. 'We'll get you out of here.'
'Doesn't matter. Don't waste the time. Here's where I fell and I guess here's where I'll stay. Tell… tell Merith I loved her. Tell her she was my favorite. And tell Lona I loved her, and she was my favorite.' He winced, then the old smile returned. 'You understand.'
Torquil nodded. 'I understand.'
A little sigh escaped Kegan's lips. 'I did love them all, you know.' A second sigh, then stillness.
'I know,' Torquil said softly. Gently he passed a hand over the staring eyes, closing them. Better a good man should look inward for eternity than at the walls enclosing them.
Colwyn stood silently behind the bandit leader. It was not his place to comment.
Finally Torquil stood. His expression was grim, resolved. 'He knew the risks and accepted them of his own free will. So do we. So do we all.'
'A few must die so that many may live,' said Oswyn. 'The old man said that one night. I heard him, but I never thought I'd find myself agreeing with him,'
'If we are those few …' Bardoloh 'Then so be it,' Ergo finished for him. Besides, he told himself resignedly, we are committed. But somehow the sarcasm rang hollow. A vague sense of purpose had driven them to accompany Colwyn on his quest. Now something powerful gripped them all, even he who'd never been one to volunteer for desperate causes. Kegan's death underlined what they'd already accomplished, as well as hinting at what they might yet achieve.
Glory and greatness are such abstracts, Ergo mused, until circumstances make them real.
'Lead on,' Torquil told his king.
No more deadly surprises waited to greet them. No matter how brightly lit or inviting the intersecting corridors appeared, none swayed Colwyn from his chosen course.
So intent were they on the dangers that might assail them from the side or above, however, that no one noticed the hairline crack in the floor ahead.
It opened noisily and fast, the sound warning them barely in time. Whether their footsteps or an unseen hand had triggered it, none could say. Not that it mattered. The slick, rounded corridor sent them tumbling downward, scrambling for a handhold.
Torquil, Colwyn, and Bardolph barely managed to hold on to the edge of the opening. Colwyn was the first back on his feet, followed by the agile Oswyn, with Torquil a step behind. Together they helped the frantic Bardolph, then all turned to peer into the narrow gap.
There was light below, and not far below, at that.
'Ergo! Titch!' Colwyn shouted downward.
Below, Ergo was already examining their prison. Titch had landed hard and was a little slower to rise. The light was dimmer than in the corridor above, but they could still see clearly.
'We're here,' Ergo replied.
'All right?'
'Except for bruises and bumps.' He glanced over at Titch. The boy nodded once as he gingerly felt of his backside. 'I'd guess we're about ten feet below you.' He examined the smooth, curving walls. 'I can't find a handhold big enough for a gnat. We're in another tunnel. It's very narrow.'
Torquil bent over the gap and yelled down. 'You're sure there's no way to climb up?'
'Only for a bird,' Ergo told him.
Titch moved to stand closer to his friend, staring upward.
'Throw us a rope,' Ergo shouted.
Torquil turned and began rummaging through his rucksack. The coil he produced was thin.
Colwyn eyed it uneasily. 'Doesn't look very strong.'
'It'll hold them if they come up one at a time.' Torquil sounded confident. 'I know. I've had occasion to use it when plying my trade. A man should know his tools.' He thought a moment, added, 'My old trade, of course.'
Colwyn turned his face away so that the bandit leader would not see his grin. 'I guess even a rope can redeem itself. Hand me the line and brace it.'
Torquil nodded, wrapped a section of the rope around his waist, and handed one end to Bardolph while Colwyn played out the other over the edge of the gap. The two thieves steadied themselves.
Ergo's eyes were on the rope, but Titch saw something out of the corner of an eye, shouted a warning. 'Slayers!' He pointed up the narrow tunnel.
