demanded. “I recognize one part of it as being that which was stolen from me.”
Riyan held silent as did Bart.
Whack!
A blow to their backs sent them reeling to the ground. Pain coursed through Riyan’s body as hands drew him back to his feet.
“I’m not a very patient man,” Lord Kueryn stated. “So I will ask you again. What is this?”
Again they remained silent.
“Perhaps if one of your comrades was to die, that might loosen your tongue,” he threatened. When again no answer was forthcoming, he nodded to one of his men.
Riyan saw the man draw his sword and cross over next to Chyfe. He raised his sword to strike, then looked back to his lord for the order to strike.
“Well?” Lord Kueryn asked the pair before him.
Knowing full well he’d carry through on his threat, Riyan gave in and said, “It’s a key.”
“A key?” asked the River Man. “To the Horde perhaps?” Motioning to the man poised to end Chyfe’s life, he signaled for him to back off and resheathe his sword.
“We aren’t exactly sure,” Bart told him.
“What exactly are you sure about?” questioned Lord Kueryn.
“That near here is an underground crypt,” explained Bart. “At the bottom of which is a sigil inscribed wall.” Indicating the key, he added, “Within that wall there is a circular indented area, an exact match to the key you are holding.”
“And you believe this key will open the Horde?” he asked.
“Yes,” replied Riyan.
“Hmmm,” murmured the River Man. He glanced to the Lords Hurrin and Geop and could see the anticipation of riches untold dancing in their eyes. Returning his gaze to the two before him, he asked, “Where is the entrance?”
At that, Riyan and Bart balked.
Signaling his man near Chyfe, he said, “Tell me or your friends die.”
Bart knew they were dead in any event once the River Man knew the location. “We’ll tell you where it is in exchange for our lives,” he said.
“Tell me now, or I’ll kill them one by one,” replied Lord Kueryn.
Bart locked gazes with him and said, “Give us your word that you will let us go, unharmed, and I’ll take you there myself. Otherwise, let the secret die with us.”
Staring into the defiant eyes of the thief, Lord Kueryn knew the man before him would not give in. “Very well,” he said. Indicating Bart and Riyan, he said, “You two shall take us to this sigiled wall that you claim is the entrance to the Horde.”
“What about the others?” asked Riyan.
“They shall remain here,” the River Man replied, “as they are until we return. If you are cooperative, then you and your friends shall go free once the Horde is opened.”
“Very well,” replied Riyan. Glancing to Bart, he saw him nod. “We agree.”
“Bind their hands,” Lord Kueryn said to the men holding them. Then to Captain Lyrun he said, “Have your men guard them until we return.”
“As you wish my lord,” Captain Lyrun replied.
Moving closer to Lord Hurrin, Lord Kueryn said quietly, “Leave twenty of your men here as well to keep an eye on the northerners.”
Lord Hurrin nodded. “Yes my lord.”
Turning to Geffen, Lord Kueryn gestured to the paralytic men on the ground and asked, “How long will they remain this way?”
“Two hours,” he replied.
“Good,” he said. Turning back to Bart and Riyan, he said, “Now, show us where lies the Horde.”
“It’s this way,” Riyan said as he began walking along the bank of the stream. He feared for his friends they were leaving behind. But at the moment, there was nothing they could do for them.
Lord Kueryn, Captain Lyrun, his mage, the two other lords, and ten of their soldiers fell in behind the two men. They walked in silence as Riyan led them ever closer to the entrance of the Horde.
When the meadow which held the berry patch appeared, Riyan turned into it. “It’s here,” he said, walking toward the edge of the intertwined berry vines.
“Here?” Lord Kueryn asked. Looking around the meadow, his mood began turning dark. “What kind of game are you playing?”
“No game,” replied Riyan, “I assure you.”
Next to him, Bart said, “It is here.” Turning to look back over his shoulder, he gazed at the River Man and said, “It’s beneath the leading edge of the berry patch.”
Lord Kueryn looked toward the bramble of vines and then nodded to one of his men to take a look. As his man hurried over, he and the rest followed with Riyan and Bart walking before them.
Knowing that something was there, the area Riyan had cleared to gain access to Black Face last summer was clearly evident. The soldier gravitated toward it and looked around. Picking up a stick, he pushed back the leading edge of vines that had overgrown it over the last year.
“There’s an opening,” he hollered. Turning his head back toward his lord, he said, “It looks deep.”
Lord Kueryn looked questioningly to Riyan who nodded. “That’s the way we have to go,” he said.
“Break out the torches,” Lord Hurrin ordered. “We’re going down.”
Chapter Thirty-Five
In the passage below the opening, the equipment that had been left behind last summer was scattered all over the place. Once everyone had made their way down, Lord Kueryn directed Riyan to lead the way.
“How did you find this originally?” asked Lord Geop.
“One of my sheep had a weak spot for berries,” Riyan explained. “While he was helping himself, he must have fallen through.”
“Interesting,” replied Lord Geop.
Riyan led them past a smaller passage that intersected theirs on the right, then down to the main intersection where he turned to the right. Had he turned left, he would have led them to two bier rooms, one of which held a chest full of copper coins they had deposited there last time when their packs had grown too heavy. Not far past the intersection, they came to the collapsed passage on the left. Then a short distance past that was the stairs leading down to the next level.
Keeping them in the lead, Lord Kueryn followed Riyan and Bart down the steps. At the bottom, they emerged into a passage running to their left and right. Riyan turned to the left.
Lord Hurrin turned his gaze toward where the passage disappeared into the darkness on their right. “What’s down there?” he asked.
“The dead,” replied Bart.
“Do they have weapons, armor, and the like?” questioned Lord Geop.
Bart hesitated a moment before replying. The scenes of desecration he had witnessed near the Wrath of Hennon came to mind. Realizing they’ll know soon enough anyway, he said, “Yes, but it’s in poor condition.” Behind him, whispered conversations passed between Lords Hurrin and Geop.
Up ahead, their torchlight revealed another descending flight of steps approaching on their left. When they reached it, Bart and Riyan turned into it and took them down.
“How are we going to get out of this?” Riyan whispered to Bart.
Moving down the steps side by side, Bart leaned closer and said, “I’m working on it.”
As the steps ended and Riyan emerged into another passage, he didn’t think their chances of making it out of this alive were very good. Moving to follow the passage to the left, he struggled to think of a way out. Not far from
