could dimly see the round keystone at the center of the vault tremble and begin to move. It slipped down a foot and then another, increasing speed with each moment and heading unerringly for the well in the chamber's floor.
'Why, it is not a stone at all,' Aeriel exclaimed. 'Look, it is getting longer and longer like a giant column.'
'The column from the second level,' Alodar explained, 'held in place by a copper cap in the yoke of iron.'
He could say no more before the granite cylinder fell into the concentric hole in the floor, missing the edge all around by mere inches. With a sharp crack like a giant bullwhip, it hit the water's surface and drove the liquid downward. Aeriel stumbled to her knees from the intensity of the blow, and Alodar fell awkwardly over her, both flailing and grabbing for their ears in pain.
Small geysers shot from the well around the edges of the column as it continued its plunge, moving more slowly as it pushed the resistance before it. The din of the contact echoed about, and Alodar felt dazed from the onslaught. The cacophony continued unabated for minutes; but through his cupped hands, Alodar could hear another sound slowly increasing in intensity, the rumble of stone on stone.
He looked about for the source of the noise and, as the copper top of the column slid from view into the well, he spotted motion in the northeast passageway.
'The whole floor,' he exclaimed, 'the whole floor moves as one unit. No wonder we could never spot a break in the stone. There isn't any.'
'What has happened, Alodar?' Aeriel asked weakly, still on her knees from the shock. 'What did the column do in the well?'
'It was a giant water ram, Aeriel. A giant ram that moved the whole passageway floor upwards a good three feet. We are seeing what no one has witnessed since Iron Fist was constructed hundreds of years ago. By the laws, let us hope we also see our way out of this trap. Look at that gap,' he continued excitedly as he approached the raised floorway. 'Stone a foot thick but still a slot beneath the bottom and the level of the cobbling here in the chamber.'
As he got nearer, he lit a candle and thrust it into the newly made opening. 'Stairs,' he exclaimed. Before Aeriel could protest, he huddled down and disappeared from view.
The passage was narrow and confining, and Alodar had to stoop and bow in his shoulders as he made his way downwards. He held the candle in front as far as he could, but the darkness extended farther than the feeble light could reach. He paused and tried to concentrate on whether to continue or return to the chamber and announce his discovery. Each heartbeat relentlessly ticked away the time they had left, and the fall of the cylinder would surely bring Bandor's vassals on the run.
Aeriel's scream made his decision for him. Alodar quickly spun about and retraced the few steps he had made into the gloom. As he surfaced, Aeriel ran toward him, pointing frantically down the passageway that lay atop the newly discovered stairs. Alodar turned and squinted down the long length of stone archway that led to the corner tower. His already rapid pulse quickened as he saw in the distance the wave of torches and the glint of armor. At least six of Bandor's men were on the bottom level, babbling wildly about the raised flooring and pointing down at the newly discovered prey under the keep.
Alodar grabbed Aeriel by the hand and turned to descend again into the darkness. He took a step and hesitated. 'The queen,' he said. 'Where is the queen? It is no good unless we can also save the fair lady.'
He ran back to the center of the chamber and sighted down the two passageways he could not see from the edge. The first was empty, but in the second he saw rapid movement towards him. His heart leaped with his good fortune.
'It is the queen, Aeriel,' he shouted, motioning her towards him. 'Feston is still with her, and I can see Periac and Festil close behind.'
He moved his head from side to side, trying to see behind the four fleeing figures. He sucked in his breath. 'More of Bandor's men hot on their trail,' he cried.
He glanced back into the passageway with the raised floor. The men there had begun to move towards the chamber, though not with the speed of those pursuing Vendora and the others. Angry shouts and the rapid tread of feet sounded from behind, and Alodar whirled about, his worst fears realized. Enemies converged on them from all four corners.
Alodar felt his muscles tense and his breathing turn to shallow gasps. Run, run, take the only chance that you have, his body said. But he steeled himself and held his ground, eyeing each tunnel in turn, trying to estimate which group would reach him first. Time lost all meaning while he waited; it seemed an eon later when Feston and Vendora burst through with their pursuers hard at their heels.
'Where are the other men-at-arms?' Alodar scouted as Periac and Festil followed the first two into the center of the room.
'They stood their ground nobly to defend the queen,' Festil gasped, waving aside Alodar's question as irrelevant to his own plight.
'Then follow me,' Alodar commanded and he led Aeriel into the passageway. He did not pause to rekindle a candle, but caught the rhythm of the steps and descended as rapidly as he could in the blackness, pulling Aeriel after him. He could hear the voices of the other four following close behind.
They descended for more than a flight, and then Alodar stumbled as the ground suddenly became level and the tunnel widened. The others tumbled over him. As they flailed to disentangle, a dim light filtered down from above.
'Down here,' a voice shouted, and Alodar heard the cautious tread of steel on the cold stone. His eyes began to adjust to the dimness, and he extended his hand against the floor. Immediately he felt an indentation and, sweeping his arm to the side, he discovered another. With an extended finger, he touched smooth and straight edges on either side of the depressions but found they extended forward farther than he could reach. Grooves, he thought, long narrow grooves cut into the stone floor, He cautiously pressed forward and saw a shape gradually taking form in the dimness.
The light brightened with each clinking step, and Alodar recognized what was before him. 'A wagon,' he exclaimed. 'Some sort of wagon with wheels that are guided by the grooves cut into the floor.'
He puzzled over the flat frame, unadorned except for the two central pillars that supported giant two-handed cranks; but as the light grew brighter and the sounds closer, he flung himself up onto the platform. In blind imitation the rest followed.
Feston was the last; as he leaped aboard with a surefooted bound, the tunnel behind them blazed forth with light. Bandor's men packed into the narrow confines three abreast, holding torches high and staring down at Alodar and the others. The stairs sounded with rapid footfalls as more and more poured in after them.
Pushed from behind, the first three charged with swords drawn and bore down on the small party. Feston drew his own blade and stood in a crouch at the platform's edge, awaiting their rush. The three jostled for position and the first momentarily lowered his guard. Festil lashed out with his boot and caught the man on the chin, sending him sprawling.
The wagon lurched with the recoil, and Alodar saw the cranks turn lazy circles about their axles. In a flash, he realized their intent. While Feston parried the blows of the other two, he leaped up to the nearest post.
'Man the other one,' he shouted as he cranked the handles before him. They responded slowly to his effort; but with each inch that he pulled and pushed, he felt the car begin to move underneath them. He saw the two men lunge at Feston again, but the warrior deftly leaned back, and the blows cut air. One of the two stumbled and fell, surprised by the motion that the retreating wagon gave to his target.
Alodar felt the pumping ease as the car gained speed. Then, as Periac rose to join him on the other pillar, they jumped away from their foes. An angry shout roared from the pursuers and they lunged forward after the car, trampling over the two who lay sprawled in front of them.
Alodar readjusted his stance and pushed all the harder, beginning to feel the wind made by their progress whistle over his back and around to tickle his face. The vanguard of Bandor's men kept pace for awhile, but then he saw them start to fall behind. The soldiers perceived the outcome of the race as well, and hurled their torches towards him in rage. He ducked the first two as they sailed harmlessly overhead and kicked the third from the platform, barely loosing the rhythm of his methodical strokes.
With a sudden lurch, the car made a sharp curve and cut off the men-at-arms from view. They increased speed still more, and the voice of pursuit lessened as they flew on. The only sound was the muffled scrape of the wheels against their precisely chiseled guides.
