way in and then…
Lhors drew back as two brutish trolls suddenly stomped down the hall, hesitating at the staircase. His heart sank, and he feared discovery when the two turned to look his way. But Nemis’ protective spells were as goodas the mage claimed. The two monsters tromped on south, hesitated a moment at the bend in the passage, then trod back north, their footsteps echoing and growing fainter until they ceased entirely.
Vlandar sat next to him, back propped against the stone wall and legs stretched in front of him. He seemed fairly relaxed, content to let Malowan and Nemis work out their plans while he rested. Lhors reminded himself that so far, Vlandar and the others had kept them safe.
And you’ve helped. You’ve killed giants. Father’d be proud,had he lived to see that.
Lhors settled his shoulders next to Vlandar’s. He was stillafraid, but that was sensible in a place like this. Fear would help to keep him alive. He’d manage.
Some moments later, Vlandar stirred. “Everyone caught theirbreath? Legs rested? Weapons checked?” There were a few quiet murmurs of assent.“Good. Nemis, how much farther and what can we expect when we get there besidesa brutal fight?”
Nemis slid over next to Vlandar. “Not much farther-as long aswe can go straight up this hall and then east. Once we’re there, things will getinteresting. Complicated. There is one main entry blocked by a dreadful trap- atentacle wall. It looks like an ordinary part of the wall until you get close, then the tentacles grab you. I have some spells to use against it, but I doubt they will entirely neutralize it. And if only the tentacles are destroyed, there are other things on the wall-beaks to bite you.”
“What about my arrows from the Steading trove?” Rowan asked.
“They might harm it, but if you touch the wall, it warnsthose inside. An arrow-or any weapon for that matter-might have the sameeffect. The only other way in is through a secret door inside the cells. I suggest we not go that way.”
“Why fight ’em at all?” Agya demanded softly. “Why don’t youand Mal go close by, make a spell t’learn who’s in there, then get away, or putsleep on ’em and search in there?”
“I think it unlikely a sleep spell would work on every drowin there. I am certain it will not work on Eclavdra. But we must get in. If only servants or clerics are there, we can kill or disable them and then search for further proof against Eclavdra-other allies she has, perhaps even more maps. Ifshe returns here to find her sanctuary violated, it won’t stop her, but it maymake her wary for a while. If she
“If we can.” Vlandar nodded. “We must go before someone findsour handiwork above.”
“Remember,” Nemis told them as he got to his feet, “the drowdo not expect open attack here. The rooms are guest chambers and placed in the very midst of this palace. King Snurre’s guards patrol frequently, but the drowtake normal precautions only. Also,” he added with an almost cheerful grin, “itis daylight out there. Drow live deep in the ground, but even so, many of them choose to sleep when the sun lights the lands above them and wake when the sky is black. If there is a chance for us to surprise them, this is the hour.”
“Besides,” Malowan put in, “the scroll is in there, and weneed it. I don’t relish the idea of walking all the way back to Keoland.”
Vlandar nodded with a smile, then eased over to peer into the hall. He drew back suddenly.
“Guards,” he rasped, “three of ’em at the far end of thehall. They’re standing there talking. Sure your spell’s holding, Nemis? Mal?”
Both men nodded.
“We won’t go yet, then. Nemis, tell us what to expectinside.”
Lhors doubted the warrior had forgotten anything. He was keeping them all from worrying about things or getting restless-and making sureeveryone else remembered.
Nemis shrugged.
“If nothing has changed since I was here years ago, it’sabout twice the size of the cave we were in last night. It is divided into two rooms by a curtain. The far chamber is her bedchamber. It is all dimly lit. One or two clerics have the outer chamber, and that’s where we will come in. They’llbe competent magicians, but Mal or I will do what we can to neutralize them so that you fighters can take them on. If any of the drow has a thing like a lash with several snaky ends, don’t let it touch you. It will sap your strength.Eclavdra-if she’s here-Mal and I will take her. Agya, Lhors, Gerikh, andFlorimund, you can serve us best by staying out of the way and guarding our backs. Rowan, Maera, whatever arrows and spears you have left from the Steading trove, save them for her.” He thought a moment. “Ah, I nearly forgot. She andany of her drow who come here use a spell scroll. There is another such scroll here to take them back. If any drow tries to get to it, do all you can to stop him.”
“Why?” Agya asked warily.
“So we don’t all get transported underground,” Nemis saidevenly. “And the king’s wizards may be able to use it. Vlandar, are your guardsstill up there?”
“Still there,” the warrior reported, “but wait. One’s gone onnorth. The other two are heading this way.”
He eased back against the wall, and the party fell silent. Some moments later, two trolls strode past and went down the hall and around the bend. Rowan edged around Vlandar and pressed against the south wall of their hiding place, listening intently.
She finally nodded. “Truly gone.”
“Good. Let us go then,” the mage said and stepped into theopen.
Lhors sighed faintly as he moved back into the hall. Look upon me, Father. Help me be brave.
Nemis drew them to a halt just short of a smithy. The dinhere was strong and echoed into the hallway. Dark ruddy light from several fires lay across the stones. The mage nodded and led them up the hall.
Another few paces brought them to another broad hallway, this one heading east. It was gloomy that way despite a few torches stuck into the wall. Most of those burned fitfully, and all but one was at the far end of the passage. To the north, Lhors thought he could hear voices, echoing eerily as if the speakers stood in a huge chamber.
Nemis gestured for them to follow him and moved swiftly into the east passage. Some paces on, he stopped and drew everyone close against the north wall. Lhors was aware of a wide passage that dropped down just past where they stood and a vast, drafty space that way. Nemis pointed the other direction at a rough section of the wall across the passage from them.
The mage gestured for complete silence, then stepped back to let Malowan take his place. The paladin gazed at the wall for some moments. Then, with a glance at his companions, he pressed his palms together. His lips moved for some moments. He eyed Nemis, nodded, and walked steadily across the hall.
To Lhors’ astonishment, the paladins hands seemed to go into the wall as ifit were water. Malowan withdrew one hand and beckoned for the others to join him. Khlened and Bleryn exchanged wary looks but moved out, the rangers right behind them. All four had weapons at the ready as they went into the wall and out of sight. Florimund stayed quietly where he was until Agya took hold of his arm and drew him across the passage. The half-elf willingly went with her.
He’s given up, Lhors thought. He went next, followed byGerikh and Vlandar. Nemis brought up the rear. The wall felt flaccid against his skin and seemed to cling to him, but he was through it and next to Agya in an instant.
The chamber was hung with purple and black drapes and was thickly carpeted. A black candle burned in a deep holder on a table partway across the room, another deep in a wall-niche.
Khlened and Bleryn were already partway across the room, advancing on a couch near the west wall and the black-skinned fellow who blinked at them sleepily.
He’s so small! Lhors thought.
Lhors’ eyes shifted briefly as Vlandar stepped away from himand threw one of his daggers. A second drow had come from behind one of the drapes, his lips moving in a spell. The dark elf ducked the dagger, and Vlandar reached for another. Rowan’s arrow sang past Lhors’ ear and caught the drowbetween shoulder and throat. The
