from his head. He had a nobleman to find.
Following the gleaming heart jewel, he passed through an open archway into a long, high-ceilinged room. Immediately his nose wrinkled in disgust. A vile odor hung thickly on the air. Something crunched beneath his boot. Kneeling, he peered at the object. It was a thin, papery tube, almost like a sheath of some sort. Examining it more closely, he saw dull green scales embedded in its surface. Alarm stirred in his chest. He had a bad feeling about this place. Hastily he tossed down the sheath.
It came from behind, a rhythmic whirring sound, along with a rasping hiss.
Artek spun on a heel. In the air before him hovered a brilliant green snake, leathery wings sprouting from its back flapping rapidly to keep the creature aloft. Crimson light gleamed in its dull reptilian eyes, and the thing opened its mouth, baring long fangs.
He dodged barely in time to avoid the stream of vitriol that sprayed from the snake's mouth. The black liquid struck the wall behind him, smoking and sizzling as it burned deep pits into the hard rock. Artek stared at the melting stone in shock.
There was another whirring noise to his left. He jerked his head around to see a second winged snake dart toward him through the air. The flapping sound grew louder, and dry hisses echoed all around. A dozen sinuous shapes drifted out of the shadows. Artek could only watch in horror as he was surrounded by flying snakes.
His hand crept toward the hilt of his saber, though he knew it would do him no good. The creatures closed in, their bodies coiling and uncoiling menacingly. The snake's venom had burned easily through solid stone. Artek could only imagine what it would do to living flesh. Even as he watched, the flying snakes opened gaping mouths, baring their hollow fangs, ready to spray.
'Duck!' a voice shouted.
Such was his terror that Artek did not even question the command. He dropped to the floor, curling into a tight ball. A fraction of a second later, a ball of blazing fire struck the flock of snakes just above his head. A blast of furnacelike air hit him. The creatures hissed and writhed as they were burnt to crisps, and the fireball dissipated as quickly as it had appeared. The blackened husks of the flying snakes dropped to the floor and did not move.
Artek uncoiled himself cautiously. Ashes drifted from the backs of his hands where the hair had been singed away, but he was otherwise unhurt. He clambered to his feet, then looked up to see a woman walking toward him.
Even if she had not just conjured a fireball, he would have mistaken her for nothing other than a wizard. A ball of blue light glowed on the end of the intricately carved staff she gripped, and myriad pouches, feathers, and bones hung from the leather belt around her hips. She was tall-a good head taller than Artek was-and sleek, with close-cropped brown hair. Her too-square jaw and crooked nose precluded prettiness, but there was something warmly compelling about her deep brown eyes. Her clothes were better suited to a young prince out hunting than a wizard or a woman-worn leather breeches, a full white shirt, and a gray vest. However, the garb was dirt-smudged and threadbare, as if she had been wearing it for a long time.
Artek gazed curiously at his mysterious rescuer as she halted a few paces away.
'I suppose that I should thank you for your help,' he said cautiously.
'I suppose that you should,' she said with a slightly smug expression.
'But in a place such as this,' he went on pointedly, 'it might be better to first ask how it was that you came upon me at just the right moment.'
She shrugged her broad shoulders. 'That was easy enough. I was following you, of course. I have been for nearly an hour now.'
Artek frowned dubiously at this. 'Call me a skeptic, but I'm not exactly a beginner in matters of stealth. And my ears are really rather good. I think I would have heard if you were following me.'
'Not if I had cast a spell of silence around myself,' she countered with a crooked smirk.
Despite himself, Artek laughed. He doffed an imaginary hat and bowed low, conceding his defeat.
Her brown eyes flashed with mirth. 'The truth is, I don't run into many other people down here,' she went on. 'And monsters make for dreadfully dull conversation partners before you have to kill them. It gets a little lonely. So when I saw you from a distance, I decided to cloak myself in silence and follow.' She eyed the burnt remains of the flying snakes. 'And it's a good thing I did. Fine company you would be if you had been melted into a puddle of black slime.'
With a shudder, Artek agreed.
'By the way,' the wizard added, 'my name is Beckla Shadesar.'
Artek held his breath a moment. 'I'm Artek Ar'talen,' he said finally.
She gaped at him in open surprise. 'You're Artek the Knife?' Hastily she checked the pouches hanging at her belt, counting to make certain they were all still there, and regarded him suspiciously. 'You know, I think you once swindled my old employer out of a casket full of emeralds.'
'It wouldn't surprise me,' Artek replied dryly.
'So have you come down here to steal things?'
He shook his head slowly. 'No.'
To his surprise she nodded, as if she actually believed him.
'So why are you down here in Undermountain?' he asked carefully.
Her lips parted in a wry smile. 'I think both of our tales might wait until we've had a bit of refreshment,' she said in lieu of an answer. 'I have a bottle of something I've been saving just for a special occasion like this.'
Artek hesitated, glancing at the tattoo on his forearm. By the position of the sun in relation to the arrow, several hours had passed. However, he supposed a few moments of rest would do more good than harm. Besides, he was curious to hear the wizard's story.
'Lead the way, Beckla Shadesar,' he said with a gracious gesture.
Artek followed the wizard through a door in the far end of the hall into a dusty corridor beyond. As they turned a corner, Beckla suddenly cried out in alarm.
'Artek, look out! It's on you!'
The wizard reached out her hands and shouted a word of magic. Blue energy crackled from her fingertips, striking Artek's side. He let out a howl of pain, dancing around in a circle, swatting at his hindquarters.
That's not a snake,' he gritted through clenched teeth. 'That's the scabbard for my sword!'
The wizard affected a sheepish look. 'Oops.'
Artek glared at her. 'You nearly set my rump on fire, and all you can say is oops?'
She crossed her arms. 'Well, I'm sorry,' she countered petulantly. 'Sometimes I make mistakes. I'm only human, you know. I suppose you're not?'
Artek grunted. She couldn't know how close to the mark her question had hit. 'I think I definitely need that drink now,' he muttered.
It wasn't far. At the end of a dim corridor was an iron door. Beckla waved her staff, and the door glowed briefly, then swung open of its own volition.
'It's not much,' Beckla said cheerfully, 'but I call it home.'
She wasn't joking. Beyond the door was a cramped and dingy stone chamber. It was decorated with flotsam and jetsam scavenged from the ancient tunnels and halls: worm-eaten furniture, threadbare tapestries, and dusty shelves overflowing with moldering books and scrolls. Beckla motioned for Artek to enter and then followed, closing the door behind them. She waved her staff, and the portal locked with an audible click.
'It keeps the wandering creatures out,' she explained. 'Otherwise, I'd never get a wink of sleep.'
They sat on a pile of musty cushions, and Beckla rummaged in a nearby chest. I have some food, if you want it,' she said. 'It isn't great stuff, but considering that it's conjured out of thin air with a spell, I really can't complain.' Then she held aloft a purple glass bottle. 'Now this is the real thing. Dwarven firebrandy. I found it on some dead adventurers a while back. I think well get more use out of it than they did.'
Beckla grabbed two clay cups, blew the dust and spiders out, and filled them with the clear fire-brandy. She handed one to Artek. They clanked the cups together, and the wizard downed her drink in one gulp. With a bemused smile, Artek followed suit. Instantly a delicious warmth spread outward from his stomach. Until now, his magically restored body had still felt slightly strange and alien, as if it weren't really his own. But the firebrandy melted his tense muscles, leaving him feeling extremely comfortable. Beckla refilled their cups.
'So are you ever going to tell me what you're doing down here?' he asked amiably. He sipped his fire-brandy. Suddenly, his mission did not seem quite so urgent.
