packing every few days, and it should be scabbed over well enough in a week or so.”
“Serl’s awake,” Corin said, coming over with Kellik and Rose. “He wants you.”
Bradok made his way over to where Serl lay. The old dwarf was trembling as if he were freezing, and his skin had a gray pallor.
“Bradok,” he gasped, reaching out to take the proffered hand. “I can hear them.”
“Hear who?” Bradok asked.
“The Rhizomorphs,” he said. “I can hear them talking, in my mind. They’re looking for us. They’re trying to use me to find us.”
Bradok didn’t know what to say.
“I won’t let them,” Serl croaked. “I need your help, though.” He gripped Bradok’s hand tightly. “I wish you to end my life. I’m no use to you alive. I’m no use to them dead.”
Bradok wanted to protest, but he didn’t know what to say. Serl’s bravery and selflessness moved him.
“Thurl,” he said. His voice wasn’t loud, but as he suspected, the assassin seemed to appear out of nowhere.
“You called,” he said.
Bradok handed the Daergar Serl’s water bag.
“Thurl is putting something in your water,” he told Serl.
Serl nodded, understanding.
“Thank you,” Serl said to Bradok, tears leaking from the corners of his milky white eyes. “You’ve done a splendid job, my boy,” he added softly. “Get the rest of these people to safety.”
“I’m sorry,” Bradok said.
“Don’t be,” Serl said, a smile creeping across his face. “I’ve lived a long time, and I’ve had a good life. I have no regrets, except that I won’t be around to celebrate when you reach safety.”
Thurl pressed the bag into Serl’s hands.
“Now if you don’t mind,” he said, releasing Bradok’s hand. “I think I’d like to be alone.”
Bradok put his hand under his leg and painfully forced himself to his feet.
“Don’t bother about burying me,” Serl added stoically. “As soon as you can, get yourself out of here and to safety.”
“I will,” Bradok promised; then he and Thurl turned and walked away.
Rose had laid out Bradok’s cloak with his pack for a pillow. Knowing what had just transpired, they all watched Bradok, waiting for him to say something. Rose wondered what he was feeling.
“We’ll set a watch tonight,” Corin said as Rose helped Bradok lie back on the makeshift bed.
“What do we tell everyone in the morning?” she asked finally when Bradok quietly announced that Serl had wished to die.
“The truth,” Bradok said gruffly. “That Serl died peacefully in his sleep. Now, everyone, get some rest.”
Rose and Tal stood and left. Corin remained, considering Bradok for what seemed like a long time.
“Something on your mind?” Bradok asked.
“I didn’t think you had it in you,” Corin said. “We Daergar are taught that you higher-ups are all soft and spineless. I see some of that is wrong. You did what you had to do.”
“Thanks,” Bradok said, not sure if he was flattered or offended by such remarks.
“I had a mind to stay with you only until we got somewhere where I could get my bearing, then go my own way,” Corin added. “But now I think I’d like to stick by you for a while.”
“Why?” Bradok asked.
“I figure we’ve got a better chance at survival with you than with anyone else,” Corin said. “You’ve grown as a leader. You don’t want to make the hard decisions, but you do anyway.”
Corin pulled up his hood, making his face disappear into shadow. “Get some rest,” he said, looking out over the sleeping band of dwarves. “I have a feeling tomorrow will be a very long day.”
He strode away without a backward glance. Bradok turned to where Serl lay, a still figure draped with a cloak. He knew he couldn’t sleep; there were too many things weighing on his mind.
Within three minutes he had fallen into a deep, dreamless sleep born of exhaustion.
CHAPTER 23
Something touched Bradok’s face, and he started awake to find a hand pressed down over his mouth.
“Don’t make a sound,” Rose whispered in his ear.
When he nodded his understanding, she gently removed her hand. He sat up more quickly than he should have, confused by being awakened in such a manner. Pain lanced through his side, and he crumpled back to the ground, biting his tongue to stifle a groan.
Rose’s hands grabbed him gently under his shoulders, and she helped him up slowly. Behind Rose, Bradok could see Much waking Kellik in a similar manner. Bradok looked at Rose questioningly.
Putting her finger to her lips, she pointed past Bradok, out toward the curtain of water that separated them from the cavern outside. Through the waterfall, Bradok could see the glow given off by the Reorx’s torch mushrooms. Suddenly, a dark, humanoid shape passed in front of one of the lights. As Bradok watched, he saw other forms moving around the cavern, drifting in and out of the pools of light.
Then a figure loomed out of the darkness, passing by the pool just beyond the waterfall.
There was no mistaking its form. Four segmented back legs held up a humanoid torso with long, backward- facing swordlike arms; transparent body armor; and a glowing blue organ where its eyes should be. Apparently it hadn’t taken the Disir long to realize their scouting party had gone missing.
“How many?” Bradok mouthed at Rose.
Rose shook her head and shrugged, then held up ten fingers twice.
Even if it was just a guess, twenty Disir were far too many for Bradok’s battered and wounded band. He reached for his sword belt and gingerly began to strap it around his waist.
“What now?” Bradok asked Rose, leaning close so she could hear his barely audible whisper.
“We’re waking everyone,” she explained. “Much thinks the waterfall is confusing the Disir with all its noise and echoes, so as long as we’re quiet, they won’t know we’re here.”
“They’ll find this cave eventually,” Bradok said.
Rose shrugged. “Maybe not. There aren’t any obvious cracks or openings. Remember, we had to walk through the water to get in.”
Corin approached, treading slowly and quietly. “I need your help,” he whispered, leaning down so Bradok could hear him. “I need to wake Omer up, and someone has to help me keep him calm. The last time we fought these things, he cowered in the tunnel. They terrify him.”
“Why me?” Bradok asked.
“Remember Teal?” Corin said. “You’re the only one he’d give her body to. He trusts you for some reason.”
Bradok nodded and stood. He picked his way slowly among the dwarves to where Omer lay. Much and Kellik had managed to wake most of the others, and all eyes were turned toward the waterfall and the certain death that lay just beyond its fragile curtain.
Corin shook Omer gently. The lad opened his pale blue eyes. Bradok was amazed at how innocent he looked. His body showed the first signs of manhood, and his beard was beginning to come in, yet his eyes and face reflected a childlike mind.
“Hi, Corin,” Omer said before Bradok could shush him.
“You have to whisper, Omer,” Corin said. “It’s very important.”
“Why?” he asked.
Omer’s voice couldn’t have been very loud, but it seemed to Bradok as if the boy were shouting. Reflexively, he turned his head and stared at the Disir pacing just beyond the waterfall. He thought he saw the creature pause
