“Never mind that. What’s this place?” Agya demanded.
“It is a place south of the Yeomanry,” Nemis told her. “Thefiery mountains are volcanoes, and the smoke and steam they make can be deadly to breathe. This cave was once a passage for such fire, but it has been blocked off for long years, and it is now too small for giants to bother about.”
“And how,” Khlened demanded pointedly, “do you know that,I wonder? You’re a secretive man, mage!”
“Food first,” Vlandar said. “I know it’s hot here, but we’lldo better for a warm soup. I’ll take on the cooking. Lhors, Khlened, there weresome broken bushes near where we came in. See if you can find them. We’ll want afire for light and soup both. But be careful and stay out of sight. There may be guards about.”
An hour or so later, they’d eaten and the fire was dying downto embers. Malowan had constructed two tightly wrapped torches from brushwood and found places to mount them high in the walls so they would have some light. He and Agya were wrapping more torches for the rest of the night and the morrow.
After their meager meal, Nemis told the tale of his apprenticeship among the drow, his journey to this place, and how he had killed his former master and escaped that life.
Khlened, to Lhors’ surprise, heard Nemis out.
“Could happen t’any of us,” the barbarian said finally.“Guess I can see why y’told Vlandar and Mal before th’ rest of us.”
“There was no point in telling everyone,” Malowan said. “Forall we knew, we might never have come this far.”
“Aye, well,” the barbarian said. “What’s to do here, then?Y’think this Eclavdra-drow witch or whatever she is-is here?”
“She came here now and again as the guest of the fire giantking, old Snurre,” Nemis replied. He seemed to have difficulty speaking, as ifunwilling to say what he had so long kept quiet. “She has her own dwelling deepunderground-a deadly place far from here. She has-or had-a scroll she kept inher chambers here that takes her back to that dwelling. I traveled here with her sometimes.”
“Could you locate those chambers?” Vlandar asked.
Nemis shrugged. “The only time I was allowed to carry amessage to King Snurre-it was years ago, and I am not certain I remember theways of the first floor. It was dark, and there were guards everywhere….”His voice faded, and he stared at the far wall. After a long silence, he roused himself with visible effort. “I know the level below that well. Often I wentwith her to council meetings with other drow. Below that, it is all caves and horrible creatures and darkness.”
“I know how good your memory is,” Malowan told the mage. “Ifyou went there once, however long ago, you will remember it. A man who can memorize as many spells as you-”
Nemis smiled crookedly. “Yes, but I want to remembermy spells. I have tried to forget many of my experiences here, you know.”
“Well, we can doubtless get inside,” Vlandar said, “and Nemismay well be able to guide us through. The question is, do we want to do that?”
Everyone’s eyes were on him except for Florimund, who wascurled up on the floor, his eyes only partway open. The half-elf seemed to have given up, Lhors thought-the way Gran’s husband had when the fever took him.
“Why not?” Khlened asked. “We’ve done well so far. Lost noone yet, have we? I’ve wealth to keep me in comfort for at least a year or twoand tales to tell….”
“And we’ve done some damage to both the Steading and theRift,” Vlandar put in. “We’ve learned who’s made an alliance with the giants toattack our lands. Now we’re in a place that may kill us before we can get wordto my king. If that happens, we’ve accomplished little indeed.”
“Speak plain, sir,” Bleryn put in.
Vlandar nodded. “Nemis can tell you better than I about thedark elves. I know only from tales and legend that they are deadly fighters and dire magicians with no love for any who live under the sun. Fire giants themselves-remember the two in the Steading’s smithy? They are powerful andsmarter than most giants. Beyond that, this land is deadly. The fumes from the fires will make you giddy, the smoke will make you cough, and the heat will sap the water from your body and leave you weak and brain-mazed. If we decide to continue on, we must be swift and keep good watch on each other for signs of water-lack or Rime-sickness. For my own part, I would like to return to my king with word that we found this drow witch and destroyed her. If not, I would at least like evidence of her hiding place below ground so that the king can assemble magicians powerful enough to deal with her and her underlings.”
“There is something else,” Nemis said quietly. “Eclavdra’sscroll. If we can find it, I can use it to get us out of here in an instant. A brief incantation, and we can all be sitting at an inn in Cryllor.”
“You mean we could go then-poof, gone like with that bar?”
Nemis nodded.
“Then,” the barbarian said slowly as if reasoning it out forhimself, “I say we go in, find this nasty she-wizard, and finish all this. I’llkill a few more ogres or even take on a giant or two t’be out o’ this place.”
“Aye,” Bleryn said, “he speaks for me as well.”
The rangers nodded in unison. Gerikh shrugged and managed a smile.
“Quit now?” Malowan shook his head firmly. “I think not.”
“I go where ’e goes,” Agya added defiantly, and Malowanpatted her shoulder.
“Lhors?” Vlandar turned to him. “What do you say?”
Lhors was none too happy about trying to sneak through a fortress of larger and smarter giants, but the thought of being out of here once and for all…
“I’m with you, sir. To the end.”
“Good,” Vlandar said. His eyes were warm as he looked aroundthe company. “Sleep then, people. You’ll need all you can get tonight.”
During the last watch, Nemis had worked up what maps he couldfor the party, using blank sheets from his spellbook.
“This I can tell you,” the mage had said as he passed aroundmaps, “no one who is not mad would enter that hall. Snurre is held by the drowto be a dolt, but a cunning one. We should kill him if we can. Some of his guards will still fight, but most of the others will flee. Not all serve him willingly.”
“If we can do that without wasting time by seeking him out,”Vlandar said, “then so be it, but our first priority is to find proof of drowinvolvement and where they might be found.”
They all stood in the cavern. Everyone was ready, but everyone also seemed hesitant to begin. The next few hours would either see the accomplishment of their mission or the end of their lives.
Suddenly Nemis drew the fire sword Malowan had garnered in the Steadings treasury and held it high. “May Pelor, god of healing and light,see us through the reek and the walls and know our hearts and guide us through this hellish place.”
“And may Heironeous,” Malowan added, “he of honor andjustice, strengthen our hearts, knowing our cause is just and right.”
“Kord, you who give strength and courage, smile on us,” saidKhlened.
Bleryn grinned at him fiercely. “May Ulaa, god of mountainsand gemstones, grant us all courage in dark places… and great trove.”
Agya brought her chin up. “Rudd who guards thieves, make luckours in there.”
“Trithereon,” Lhors murmured, “for my father, who trulyserved him.”
“I ask the blessing of Kelanen, god of swords,” Vlandar said,“that my blade protect us all and bring us all safely away.”
“Dalt, father of locks and keys, remember your servant,”Gerikh prayed, “and let me aid these who rescued me.”
The rangers eyed each other. Rowan gripped her sister’s armand said, “Let Lydia, goddess of music and daylight, hear me. When we walk inthe dark, let us remember why we do this: so that ordinary folk may be allowed to live happily and freely under the sun. Let us remember such good, simple things lest the darkness swallow us, body and soul.”