“Whoever or whatever it was is gone,” saidLee. “For now we aren't the objects of their interest.”
“I hope they feel the same way about Gewey andKaylia,” said Dina.
Lee nodded slowly, laid down on his bedroll and staredat the night sky.
Chapter Eight
Gewey, Kaylia, Selena, and Linis joined Theopolou andhis companions in the receiving chamber shortly after Lee and Dina'sdeparture. Their gear lay next to Selena's chair at the far end ofthe hall.
“Follow me,” said Selena. She walked to thefar left corner of the room where a tapestry depicting the symbols ofthe nine Gods hung. She reached behind it and a loud clack echoedthroughout the chamber. A hidden door on the floor in front of herfell open, revealing a ladder leading down into a dark hallway.
“Follow the passage for about one-thousand feet.There you'll find a small iron door.” She handed Gewey a key.“This will unlock it. The passage will let you out along thewestern wall of the temple. From there, follow the trail west untilyou reach the Sintil Sans Road.”
Gewey nodded and put the key in his pocket. “Thankyou, High Lady.”
They gathered their gear and readied themselves to climbdown the narrow ladder. Selena had packed the Book of Souls inGewey’s satchel.
Theopolou and the other elves thanked Selena for herhospitality. Linis bowed low, and held out a small silver dagger,sheathed in an ivory scabbard. The handle was wrapped in soft leatherand it was crowned with a large blood ruby. “Take this as areminder of our friendship,” he said.
Selena smiled and took the dagger. “Thank you,seeker. You and your kin are always welcome here.”
Kaylia took Selena's hand in hers. “I can neverrepay you for your kindness, High
Lady.”
“Nonsense,” she replied. “Your braveryhas saved us all. Without you, the only hope we have for survivalwould still be laying helpless in the healing chamber.”
Kaylia lowered her eyes and smiled.
“As for you,” she said to Gewey. “Icharge you with keeping yourself alive and well.”
“I'll do my best,” Gewey replied with asmile, then made his way to the ladder.
Gewey went first, followed closely by Kaylia, Linis, andthe others. The narrow hallway was pitch black, and it took a fewmoments for Gewey's eyes to adjust. The air was stale, and the roughstone walls echoed the troop’s footsteps. Just as Selena hadsaid, the hall sloped gently up for about one-thousand feet. There hecould make out the outline of small door. After retrieving the key hehad been given, Gewey felt around until he found the keyhole. Thelock was old and rusted, and for a moment he feared the key wouldbreak, but to his relief he heard the sound of grating metal as thelock gave way. Gewey pushed hard with his shoulder and the doorscreeched open.
Gewey breathed deeply, allowing fresh air to fill hislungs. The sun was still high in the sky, and for a moment he wasblinded.
“I should take the lead for now,” saidLinis.
Theopolou nodded his approval.
They followed the trail west for a few miles, then Linisordered a halt. “I assume you have no intention of travelingthe main roads.”
“Correct,” said Theopolou. “Once thispath ends I will lead us.”
They continued for several hours. The terrain becameless and less rocky, replaced by thinly spaced oaks and pines. Thelong grass bent and shifted as a constant breeze blew in from thewest. What struck Gewey as odd was the utter silence. With theexception of their footfalls and the sound of the wind, nothing, noteven birds could be heard. The elves appeared to notice this oddityand Gewey could see that it made them uneasy.
“Something foul is near,” whispered Linis.
“What do you mean?” asked Gewey.
“I'm not sure. But I intend to find out.”
Linis motioned for a halt and disappeared into the thinbrush. A while later he returned, muscles tensed and eyes wide.
“We are being followed,” said Linis. “Butby whom or what, I can't say.”
“How?” said Gewey. “I thought this waywas secret.”
“So did I. It would seem the High Lady wasmistaken. I tried to spot our pursuer, but it is as crafty as myseekers reported, assuming what they saw is the same thing thathounds us now.”
“We should try and capture it,” saidTheopolou. “I would know who this is, and why they riskfollowing elves.”
“Whatever it is, it's neither human nor elf,”said Linis.
“How do you know that?” asked Gewey.
“No human alive could avoid me. Not even ahalf-man could manage it. As for it being an elf… no elf feelslike this creature. Life flees from it. Not even the birds comenear.”
Theopolou looked troubled as his brow furled and eyessurveyed the area. “Take as many from my escort as you need.”
“I should need no more than three,” saidLinis. He turned to the other elves. “Who among you have hadseeker training?”
Stintos and Haldrontis, two tall blond elves, steppedforward. “And I make three,” announced Gewey.
Linis looked at Gewey skeptically. “I know youhave training, but I do not think Lee would approve of this.”
“Lee is not here,” said Gewey. “And ifhe were, I am still the best choice.”
Linis' mouth tightened, then he sighed. “Verywell. But you must do exactly as you are told.”
Kaylia grabbed Gewey's arm. “You should let me goinstead.”
Gewey squeezed her hand. This drew uneasy stares fromthe elves. “Don't worry. I won't do anything too stupid.”
Linis motioned for the volunteers to follow him into thebrush. They walked north for about one-hundred yards, then he toldthem to halt.
“You two split up east and west. See to it thatyou make enough noise to announce your presence. I will move northwhile Gewey follows slowly behind.” His eyes met Gewey's. “Makesure you are at least three-hundred paces behind me at all times. Thething that follows us fell back north as I approached. Ahead is aclearing. The creature will likely try to avoid being exposed, whichmeans it will double back and try to sneak by me. When it does wewill close the trap.” He looked hard at the entire group. “Ifyou encounter whatever this is, do not take it on alone.”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Gewey began to feel thepulse of the earth flow through his limbs. The world around himopened up, and he could sense everything around him. He closed hiseyes and listened for their prey.
“It's one-hundred yards north,” said Gewey.“And you're right. It's neither human nor elf.”
“How is it you know this?” asked Stintos.
“Never you mind,” shot Linis. “IfGewey says the creature is there, then you can count on it.” Heturned to Gewey. “Do you know what it is?”
Gewey shook his head. “No. But I think it knowswe're coming.”
“All the more reason to be mindful,” saidLinis.
Stintos and Haldrontis drew their long knives and eachheaded in opposite directions. Linis gave Gewey a final glance andwent north. Once he was out of sight Gewey slowly crept forward. Withhis heightened senses, he could hear the movements of the creatureahead. Slowly he slid his sword from its scabbard. It felt warm as itthrobbed in his hand. Energy rushed through him like a torrent, andhe could feel the sinews of his arms and legs pulse and growstronger.
Gewey heard Linis as the elf neared the creature. Linishad not yet spotted it, but Gewey was certain he soon would. Howcould he not? He was practically on top of it, but soon it was clearhe had missed it entirely. Linis continued past the creature, showingno sign he had noticed it. Gewey realized the hunters had become thehunted.
From the east, Gewey heard two more of the creaturesmove in, closing in on Stintos' position. He knew he had to decidequickly what to do.
“Linis, it's a trap!” Gewey yelled at thetop of his lungs. His legs burst to life as he sped toward Stintos.
The creatures revealed themselves just as Stintos cameinto view. Their figures were that of a man, but that was the onlything they had in common. They wore tattered clothes, blackened withgrime and decay. Their faces were burnt, misshapen, and covered withdeep scars, as if they had been assembled from the rotting corpses ofa dozen dead men. But despite their outward appearance, theirmovements were unearthly… their speed unmatched by any Gewey hadseen, save Lee.