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| Whisper of a Demon's Shadow | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| By Richard LeBlanc | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Through the web of darkness they shall march | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| An army around them shall fall | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All will be lost | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Unless saved by one... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ...The Prophecy | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chapter Eight: the fallen city | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Time had little meaning in this land forgotten by natural light. But after what seemed to be two days of navigating through the twisting tunnels. They finally found themselves in the area where the enslaved goblins were digging. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This is the place - can I go now?" the rat muttered timidly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I - can feel it," Thomas muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You can?" Tia asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "The Eye - it's near here," he whispered. Tia looked over at the rat. She waved a hand over it. A fine mist escaped the body of the rat. The rat looked around - as though deeply confused and then scurried away. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Then all we have to do - is sneak by these goblins - and get over there," she stated - pointing at the gaping hole in the tunnel wall that led to the forgotten city. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "And how exactly are we going to do that?" he asked. She motioned to the army of zombie and skeletal goblins that she had collected along the way. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "They'll give them something more interesting to focus on," she reassured. She motioned to the army of undead to advance. She and Thomas stayed out of sight as the shambling horde marched out and began to attack. Almost instantly - all of the goblins were screaming as everything leaped to attack the unholy horde. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So when do we sneak by?" he asked. Tia watched at the battle that was going on and then motioned for him to follow her. The two hugged the wall - true to her plan - all attention was on the undead army and within moments - they were in the dust-covered city. The two looked around in awe. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You can feel the ghosts watching our every move," she commented. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That's one word for it - creepy is another fitting one," Thomas remarked. Tia smirked and shook her head. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So where to hero?" she asked curiously. Thomas looked around and then pointed at a semi-collapsed building. It vanished into the roof on one side - and was reduced to debris on the other. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There - there is something there," he stated. The answer did not set well with her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Was that your way of saying the Eye is there - or trouble is there?" she asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Yes?" he replied with a smirk. She gripped him by the collar of his shirt. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't make me hurt you," she stated calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Almost positive the Eye is there," he reassured. She nodded and let go of him. The two made their way across the dust-covered floor. Tia looked around and noticed something odd about everything around them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Okay - the rat said they were digging this area up for ten years," she began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Sounds right," he replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "So why is it that there are no tracks in here save ours?" she asked seriously. Thomas stopped and looked around. She was right. A fine cover of dust covered everything in the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Don't know. Let's just get the Eye and get out of here," he muttered as he picked up his pace. As he did - a creaking sound filled the room - a bit of dust fell from the cavern roof. He stopped. He slowly looked up - and saw that there wasn't all that much keeping the roof up. "Ah - that would be why. Unstable place. Too much digging - whole place caves in," he muttered. Tia looked up and could see the big cracks that were above them. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Oh - isn't that precious," she muttered. "Please find that thing and hurry," she added. He made his way over to the building and began to carefully sift through the debris. "Anything?" she asked hesitantly. He was going to say something when he uncovered an idol. He carefully lifted it up and dusted it off. She looked over at the item in his hands and scowled. "That isn't the Eye," she pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know," he began as he studied the idol. He gripped it with both hands - and gave it a twist. Carefully he removed the top of the idol. The inside was hollow - except for a dusty yet intricately carved dagger. Slowly he took the dagger out - on the handle - was a glowing pearl. "That - is the Eye," he said in quiet awe. Just then the wall they had entered exploded inward as a putrid looking troll stomped in. the two looked up at the at least ten foot tall monstrosity. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That - is trouble," Tia remarked. The entire room began to shake. "We have to get out of here," she reminded. Thomas nodded the two ran around the slow moving troll. It screamed out in anger as the room caved in on him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The two panted and looked back at the cloud of dust and smoke that they had just been in. They then looked at the ivory dagger. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That went better than I thought," he commented. Just then the troll smashed its way out from the dust filled room and growled at them. "I'm shutting up," he muttered. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Zombies - skeletons - deal with that beast!" Tia ordered. But just by a casual glance any could tell that she doubted their ability to get this job done. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What about that poison mist?" he suggested as they watched the giant troll tear into the slower moving horde. Tia pointed to the flickering torches. They were all swaying as a wind gently blew through the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "We have to run for it. None of my magic will be any good against that thing," she muttered. The troll screamed and threw the partially crushed skull of a goblin at her. Had she not moved - it would have taken her head clean off her shoulders instead of knocking her out cold. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Tia?" Thomas called out as he stood over the unconscious necromancer. All around them - the creatures that were only alive and animated by her conscious will - began to crumble. He looked over at the troll that was now smiling at him. Thomas wanted to run - but if he did - he knew Tia wouldn't stand a chance. He closed his eyes and concentrated on the Tear. The flaming aura began to glow around both of them. "I won't let you take her without a fight - you want her - you have to get through me," he stated as bravely as he could. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The troll looked at him for a few moments and then laughed mockingly. He watched as the beast raised its giant tree sized club. It was then that a swirling metal disk zipped through the air and exploded into the troll's chest. It staggered back and fell into the center of the room. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What the?" he muttered. It was then a scream followed. He looked up and saw someone or something spinning through the air. The troll was starting to get up - but the second flying object knocked the troll back down. Thomas slowly got up and looked over. "A dwarf?" he muttered to himself as he saw the dwarf savagely beating the troll. It then raised its massive axe and severed its head from the rest of its hideous body. The dwarf then snapped his neck and glared at Thomas. It raced over and began ranting loudly at him in a language alien to him. Thomas raised his hands and backed away from the dwarf. The dwarf stopped shouting when he saw the ivory dagger in his hand. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What exactly are you doing with the Eye of Light?" the dwarf asked calmly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You - I can understand you now?" Thomas began. The dwarf sighed and shook his head. He pushed the center of his massive axe up so that Thomas's head was between two of the curved rune carved blades. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What exactly - are you doing with the Eye of Light?" the dwarf repeated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He - uh - he's the chosen one," Tia strained. The dwarf looked over at her and then at the young looking farmer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Him? this waif of a boy?" he muttered in disbelief. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He has the Tear of Darkness - and he was drawn to the Eye of Light," she pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "True - but I always thought the chosen one - the one spoken of in the prophecies would be - well - older - stronger," the dwarf began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "A little more handsome wouldn't have hurt," Tia added. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Excuse me?" Thomas interjected. The dwarf lowered his weapon - much to the relief of Thomas. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I'm just teasing - sorry," Tia replied. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are serious? He is the one?" the dwarf asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "As serious as I can be," she replied. The dwarf looked at her closely and waved his oversized axe at her as though it was but a branch. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There is a stink about you," he began. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I know you aren't telling me about stink. When is the last time you bathed?' she rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That isn't it - you have the smell of death about you," he stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "She is a necromancer - death magic," Thomas stated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That would explain that - but why are you with the boy here?" the dwarf asked curiously. She glared at the obnoxious dwarf and pushed the axe aside. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "If not for me - the boy would be dead," she pointed out. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are his protector? A fine job you did at that with that troll? What was your next plan - dance around like a goblin and hope to confuse it?" the dwarf mocked. Thomas stepped between the two. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you doing down here? I thought there was no one here save the goblins?" he asked changing the subject. The dwarf ran his gauntlet-covered fingers through his dirty red beard. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "What are you talking about?" he asked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You seriously don't know? All the miners fled the mines when the goblins surged in," Tia pointed out. The dwarf shook his head and looked around unbelievingly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You must be joking," he rebutted. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Have you seen or heard anyone other than goblins down here over the past ten years?" she asked seriously. The dwarf grunted as he thought back. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Has been kind of quiet," he began as he looked over at Thomas. "So - he is the one spoken of in the prophecy?" he repeated. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He is," she reassured. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well if that don't beat all," he remarked with a hearty chuckle. "The name is Gnar - was hired to protect the miners from bandits and other trouble makers. Me and the rest of us got more than we bargained for when these green-skinned vermin took over," he began - kicking a dead goblin. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I am Tia - of the Order of Death. He - is Thomas - the chosen one," she said with a smirk. Thomas scowled at her. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You are mocking me. I can tell," he remarked. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Well, chosen one, the path before you is a dangerous one. As things here have changed - I think I'll tag along with you. Just to make sure that the two of you don't get into any trouble," he offered. Thomas looked over at Tia. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Is that okay with you?" he asked. The dwarf laughed loudly as he slapped Thomas on the back - knocking him over. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "You got him trained at that," he laughed. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "It's up to you," Tia replied coolly. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Uhm - sure - welcome aboard. So how do we get out of here?" he asked. The dwarf smiled as he helped Thomas up. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "That tunnel over there - it leads to the surface. Shall we be on our way?" Gnar replied as he walked by them. It was only then that the two saw the size of the metal axe the dwarf wielded. From handle to tip it was as tall as the four-foot tall dwarf - and the distance from one rounded edge of the blade to the opposing blade had to be at least three feet. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "He's slinging that around with one hand," Thomas muttered. Tia put her arm around his neck and smirked at him. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| "I have a hunch that those quiet times you enjoyed - just ended," she pointed out as they followed Gnar out of the mines. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| To be continued... | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||