Falrinth’s eyes bulged at this revelation.
“Oh, yes,” Hedrack continued, his voice dripping with honeyed acid. “You did not think I knew, did you? I am aware of much. You and Lareth both have been inviting trouble, playing lackey to others besides he who will trample the Flanaess beneath his feet. Perhaps, if I mention that fact, he will not be so quick to blame me for all the trouble your incompetence has caused.”
Falrinth was shivering slightly, as evidenced by the faint clinking of the chains that bound him.
Excellent, Hedrack thought, smiling. Now, I have his attention.
With a nod from the high priest, the bugbears moved to flank the prisoner, lifting him between them and bearing him away to his cell once more.
Once alone, Hedrack let out a deep and mournful sigh, for he did not relish his next task. Making his way down to the central temple, he passed beyond the writhing purple curtain and prepared to contact his lord and master. Dropping to his knees, he prayed.
Almost immediately, he felt the presence of his god in his mind. “My lord Iuz,” he intoned, “I am your Mouth, I pronounce—”
What news? the presence demanded, its evil washing over him, mingling with impatient anger.
Hedrack flinched, knowing this was going to be most unpleasant. “My lord,” he began, looking for the right words, the best way to honey-coat the news. “We have encountered more setbacks, and I am afraid I have unfortunate news.”
I grow tired of your excuses, priest. Perhaps it is time I find another, someone more capable of carrying out my wishes.
“This humble servant begs your indulgence for a moment longer, master,” Hedrack pleaded, truly groveling now. “I also have encouraging news that I pray will offset the unpleasantness of the other.”
Iuz’s malevolent displeasure washed over Hedrack, sickening the high priest in the core of his stomach and making his limbs weak and numb. But after a moment, the sensations of ill ease subsided. Very well, speak.
Sighing in relief, Hedrack began. “My lord, the golden key has been lost. To the meddlers, unfortunately.”
You incompetent idiot! Iuz cried, his gravelly voice grinding into Hedrack’s brain and driving him hard to the floor. The one thing that would free her, you have lost!
His head pounding from the pain of Iuz’s wrath, Hedrack struggled to speak. “N-No, my L-Lord,” he managed to utter through clenched teeth. “There is another way.”
The waves of hatred crashing over the high priest subsided once more. Go on, Iuz insisted.
Catching his breath, Hedrack continued. “Falrinth believes he knows where she is, and he thinks he has a way to free her without the golden orb. He thinks we can free her from her bindings.”
Iuz was silent, as though considering for a moment. Interesting. Tell me more.
“If you recall, my lord, he was a part of the company that planned to destroy her ten years ago, before his capture and conversion to the beliefs of the temple. He believes he knows how the bindings work. He thinks he knows a way to circumvent and destroy them. I have but to give the order, and he will try.”
Is there a danger to her?
“He has assured me there is not,” Hedrack said, hoping beyond hope the wizard was right.
He has failed you before, Iuz grumbled, blackness roiling with the words. Why should you trust him, now?
“Because he bargains with his life, my lord. Because he now knows that I am aware of his other allegiance, his servitude to the spider bitch, and he believes that it is only through my machinations that you do not yet know. I hold that over his head.”
Hmm, well played. Very well, proceed with this new plan.
Hedrack smiled despite the pounding in his chest. “Yes, my lord,” he answered, but the god was already gone from his mind.
Hedrack returned to the cell and loomed over Falrinth, who was kneeling in one corner, still bound in his chains, and glaring back sullenly. He knew better than to open his mouth in open disdain to Hedrack. The high priest understood all too well the wizards resentment, though. After all, Falrinth had attempted to save his own pitiful life with the plan, and in return, Hedrack had thrown him back in his cell.
If only he understood, thought the high priest, how much anguish he truly did save himself. His stay in this prison is a welcome alternative to what might have been.
The high priest signaled for the guards to release the wizard. As Falrinth stood, stretching too-long-bound muscles, Hedrack clapped the wizard on one shoulder.
“Iuz likes your plan, my friend. We are going to put it in motion at once. You should go and prepare.”
Falrinth blinked, hesitating. Then, seeing the earnest look on Hedrack’s face, the wizard nodded and, with a last sidelong glance at his jailers, hurried from the room.
20
“Come on!” Elmo urged as he turned and headed down the passage they hadn’t yet explored.
As Shanhaevel swung around to follow, Ahleage skidded to a stop and stared after them. “Are you crazy?” he growled. “We can’t go deeper into the temple. That’s suicide!”
“We don’t have a choice!” Shirral hissed, trying to grab Ahleage’s arm and pull him along. “We can’t stand and face that thing right now. We’re tired and our magic is all but exhausted.”
“No!” Ahleage insisted through clenched teeth, yanking his arm free from the druid’s grasp. “We could hide! Maybe the wizard has a spell that will turn us all invisible. Anything is better than going deeper into this hell hole!”
“Ahleage,” Shanhaevel said, taking his friend by the arms and forcing the man to look him in the eye. “If we don’t get out of here, right now, we are going to die! Don’t let the temple beat you down. It’s evil, and it preys upon your mind, making you feel defeated before you’ve even fought. Whatever’s down that corridor, it can’t be any worse than what’s coming this way. Now, come on!”
With that, Shanhaevel released Ahleage and turned to follow Elmo into the gloom of the passage. It seemed to be some sort of a dead end, but then the elf spotted a steep set of steps at the very end, leading up. Elmo was perched near the top, pushing open a trapdoor set into the ceiling. The huge man poked his head up through the opening and paused to look around, then motioned for everyone to follow. He ascended out of sight.
As Shanhaevel reached the bottom of the steep steps and waited for Draga, Govin, and Shirral to make their way up, an unnerving howl rose up from the opposite direction. The sound made the wizard’s spine crawl, and he shuddered. Ahleage ran up beside him.
“I can’t believe I let you talk me into this,” he growled as the elf started up the steps.
“It’s that or face that horror that was Lareth,” Shanhaevel replied, reaching the top and beginning to climb through the trapdoor.
“Not this,” Ahleage whispered as he crowded up behind the elf. “I mean two nights ago, around the campfire. I can’t believe I let you all talk me into coming to the temple in the first place.”
As soon as Ahleage was through the trapdoor, Elmo settled the lid back into place. Shanhaevel made a quick inspection of the new space in which they found themselves. It was a small, circular room, very dusty and with many cobwebs. Only one passage led out. The only light was the group’s own lanterns, but at the far end of the passage, the elf saw the faint glow of torchlight emanating from around a corner.