“I’m not sure I can go on,” he told her, “and there’s no one fit enough to carry me. I want you to take everyone ahead without me. I’ll catch up if I can.”
Rose just shook her head. “Everyone’s spent,” she said. “It’s only terror that drove them this far. We need to rest.”
“If the Rhizomorphs are close-” Bradok began, but Rose silenced him.
“Yes, we may die if we rest here,” she said. “But if we push on, you and the children and the other wounded may collapse from exhaustion. I’d rather make a stand and fight the Rhizomorphs when we’re fresh, not when we’re too done-in from running.”
Bradok thought about that for a moment then shrugged. “We should find a defensible spot,” he said then added, “just in case.”
A surprised look crossed Rose’s face, and she drew out the compass from a pouch on her belt. “It’s like it heard your words. It jumped,” she said, holding it out to Bradok.
Bradok took the compass and opened it. The glowing mist swirled inside, but the Seer did not appear. Confused, he closed the lid and examined it. The engraving around the purple stone had changed again. Bradok took the compass over by one of the glowing mushrooms and squinted down to peer at the tiny letters.
“In the damp hollow ye can hide, so long as no sound comes from inside,” Bradok read.
“Maybe it means that crack where the little river disappears,” Rose said, pointing.
“But what does this mean, about no sound?” he wondered.
“Stay here,” Rose said. “I’ll check it out.”
Bradok gratefully eased himself down onto the damp floor while Rose took one of the lanterns over to where the stream of water disappeared. He’d closed his eyes for only a minute when someone materialized beside him, sitting down.
“Have you had a chance to look at that metal book?” Tal asked.
Bradok knew what the dwarf wasn’t saying. The metal book might be their only hope against the Zhome and the Rhizomorphs.
“No,” he said. “How’s Serl doing?”
“There’s nothing else I can do for him,” Tal said, discouraged. “I fear he hasn’t got much time left.”
“What about Chisul and Rose?” Bradok asked as evenly as he could.
“I don’t know,” Tal replied. “All we can do is watch.”
He looked as if he wanted to say more, but Rose picked that moment to return.
“That crack looks to go all the way to the center of Krynn,” she said. “I don’t think there’s anything down there.”
Bradok shrugged. “Try the waterfall,” he said.
Rose left again, and Bradok explained about the inscription on the compass to the confused Tal.
“Even if we find a place to hide,” Tal said, “we still have to do something about Serl.”
Bradok nodded. He intended to ignore that problem as long as he could.
“Found it,” Rose said, returning, her hair dripping wet. “There’s a small cave behind the waterfall. You can’t even spot it from outside, and you have to wade through the water to get inside. It should be big enough for everyone.”
“All right,” Bradok said, getting up very slowly. “Let’s get everyone inside and settled. No time to waste.”
The cave was exactly as Rose described. A little sandbar ran along the cave wall where the waterfall poured down. When Bradok ducked through the flow, he found himself in a surprisingly wide cave with a damp, musty smell. The walls and floor were stone, and Bradok had to steady himself, for his weak feet wanted to go sliding out from under him on the slick surface.
One by one, the dwarves entered. Bradok sent the women and children to the back, leaving the ground by the water’s edge for the warriors. He almost laughed at the thought. Thurl was the only one of them who had anything close to warrior training. They were just simple, ordinary folk, doing whatever they could to survive.
Tal and Kellik brought Serl in on the stretcher and laid him down near the water. Corin stayed out long enough to brush away any sign of their flight into the cave.
“You’ve got to exert yourself less,” Tal said, coming up beside Bradok. “You started bleeding again.” He opened his bag and pulled out the strips of cloth that he used for bandages. He repacked the wound and wound a bandage tightly around Bradok’s stomach, making it a little difficult for him to breathe normally.
The shoulder wound wasn’t as deep and seemed to be mending well, though Tal recommended Bradok still keep it in the sling.
“Let’s take a look at that ear,” Tal said finally. He unwound the wrapping and peeled away a bloody wad of something.
“Can you hear all right?” he asked, snapping his fingers in front of Bradok’s face.
“It’s a bit faint on the right side,” he said.
“That’s to be expected when you lose an ear,” Tal said. “It doesn’t look too bad. We’ll need to change the 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.”