Chapter 7

 

 

They slept the night in Mebin’s hut and woke up to rain pelting down outside. It added to the gloom they felt, knowing that today they would be sent into Racos’ tomb. Yet they felt a little better physically after the food eaten last night and some sleep. It reminded them that whilst they were alive, there was hope.

 

And something else gave them cheer too. Lore woke with them, the dwarf sitting up in bed and looking about with a confused frown. He was still pale and a little weak, but everyone was very glad he was recovering. He was introduced to Mebin and Sentha and they all sat around his bed to have some breakfast.

 

‘I must be like Aunt Rena,’ he said as he munched hungrily on some bread and cheese. ‘Couldn’t handle too much sun either.’

 

Jena smiled. She had heard the tale of his adventure with Nyssa and his aunt in the Scorching Desert many times. It had been that incredible quest that had led to the discovery of the desert elves.

 

‘I wouldn’t feel too bad, Lore,’ Nyssa said. ‘I was close to passing out many times.’

 

‘Me too,’ Jena agreed, shivering at the memory of being strapped to the Thad in the hot sun.

 

‘Only Nye has any strength to speak of,’ Nyssa added.

 

Nye shrugged.

 

‘I would give all my remaining strength for a chance at getting us out of here,’ he said.

 

‘So where are we?’ Lore asked. ‘What do these boglins want?’

 

They all took turns in filling in him on what had happened since he had passed out in the desert. When he was told what was to happen to them today, he was suddenly quite interested.

 

‘How many levels does the tomb have?’ he asked Mebin.

 

‘There are five,’ Mebin replied. ‘The last being where Racos’ tomb lies.’

 

‘And you say the levels are filled with traps and snares?’ Lore questioned again.

 

Mebin nodded and Lore grinned slyly, earning a frown from Nyssa.

 

‘What are you thinking about Lore?’ she asked.

 

‘Well, if these tombs are anything like the dwarven tombs of Dwarf Gate, I think I’ll be able to get us passed them,’ he replied.

 

Jena’s eyes opened wide.

 

‘You could?’ she asked hopefully.

 

‘Tombs are tombs and traps are traps,’ he said. ‘I don’t think it matters who built them or when. They will be much the same as what my folk build to guard against theft… namely from goblins. There will be arrows shot from the walls, blades swinging from the ceiling, deep pits with stakes in them.’

 

Jena gulped nervously at the description.

 

‘What about light?’ Nye asked. ‘Without it we’ll be wandering around in the dark.’

 

‘There is a little natural light on the first level from air shafts,’ Mebin responded. ‘But from the second level there is none at all. Though the boglins do give any they cast there some candles… but nothing with which to light them. Just another example of their cruelty.’

 

Lore grinned again and tapped the heel of a boot.

 

‘I always have some flint hidden away in the heel of my boot,’ he said. ‘And with the light of a single candle, I’ll be able to see well enough to guide us. We dwarves can see very well in the darkest of caves and tunnels.’

 

‘How long do you think it take for Queen Kerin to send help?’ Nyssa asked Nye.

 

‘Well, it took us a week to trek to the oasis and another three days to cross the Dead Sands to the jungle,’ he replied thoughtfully. ‘Berrin and Dom wouldn’t have reached home yet, so I can’t see any help arriving for at least another ten days.’

 

‘We won’t survive that long without food or water,’ Lore said. ‘No, we’ll just have to find a way out of the tomb somehow.’

 

‘You’re thinking of a secret exit of some kind, aren’t you?’ Nyssa asked.

 

‘Well, we have them in the tombs at home,’ he replied. ‘There might be one inside it.’

 

‘Is there anything else we need to worry about once we’re inside?’ Nye asked.

 

Mebin stole a glance at Sentha, who nodded.

 

‘They have a right to know,’ she said.

 

‘The right to know what?’ Nyssa said in alarm.

 

‘There are jungle rats that live and nest there,’ Mebin said.

 

‘Rats we can deal with,’ Lore said.

 

‘These are rather big I’m afraid, almost the size of a cat and very hungry most of the time,’ Sentha added.

 

‘I don’t like the sound of that at all!’ Jena exclaimed, figuring she would be small enough to be a very quick meal for even one!

 

‘Good elves!’ Nyssa groaned. ‘What I wouldn’t give for my bow.’

 

‘Or my axe,’ Lore agreed.

 

* * *

 

It was nearing midday when the boglins came for them. A troop of a dozen marched them through the village and then along a long, winding trail through the jungle. Before they came to the tomb they caught sight of the ruins. Scattered here and there were huge stone blocks and crumbling walls, many engraved with the carvings of animals and unusual shapes.

 

Then the trail emerged into a large clearing in the jungle. The pale blue sky was above and a hot, blazing sun. Here stood the largest of the ruins, with several buildings still intact. Some had crumbling towers rising into the air and all were covered in creeping ivy and vines.

 

The whole of Mebin’s village seemed to be gathered here to witness the sacrifice… a cruel show of strength from the boglins Jena thought. Her group was stopped before a particularly large building, squat and with thick looking walls. Broad stone steps led up to a shadowy, arched entrance and here Trall stood. He was wearing a strange looking headdress of bird feathers and a necklace of small animal skulls. Jena thought he looked loathsome, cruel and wicked.

 

‘You go now… go to where Racos’ spirit dwells,’ he sneered. ‘Go to seek judgement for helping Jothan and stealing Racos’ key.’

 

‘We didn’t help him you stupid boglin!’ Lore growled at him and was shoved in the back by a guard.

 

‘Liar!’ Trall yelled shrilly. ‘Liars like these others who stole Racos’ magic and let him die! Well now you die too!’

 

He turned and vanished through the archway into the shadows inside. Jena’s party was shoved after him. Once beyond the entrance, the ground began to slope steeply downwards and they descended below ground level. The air grew humid as they walked and there was a musty scent of decay and rot.

 

Jena looked at the walls as they past and swallowed nervously at the carvings on them. Hideous animals faces, all snarling with fangs and raised claws stared back at her. She wondered if the ancient owners had carved them or the boglins. She thought that the boglins probably had.

 

Then the ground levelled out again and they saw Trall standing by a huge iron door. An ornate lock was in its centre and as they approached, he produced Jothan’s key. He slipped it into the keyhole and turned it. Jena heard the lock snap open and then two guards pulled the door open. It groaned under its weight and metal hinges screeched in protest.

 

A shadowy passageway lay beyond and from it came an even worse smell of mould and decay. It made Jena cover her mouth in revulsion.

 

‘That’s not the rats, is it?’ she asked.

 

‘I think it is,’ Nyssa said, covering her own mouth.

 

‘In!’ Trall ordered and the guards shoved them all through the door.

 

Trall then tossed some candles at them, a smirk on his face.

 

‘Candles for you,’ he said and then gave a cackling laugh. ‘Now all you need is a light!’

 

And with that the door began to close, till with a groaning thud it shut. They were plunged into utter darkness and they heard the key turning and the lock snapping home.

 

‘I thought Mebin said there was light on the first floor,’ Nye said a little nervously.

 

‘There is,’ Lore replied. ‘Just wait a bit and your eyes will adjust to it.’

 

Lore was right, there was a little light. As their eyes became accustomed, a dim greyness filled the passageway. Jena could see the odd narrow gap near the ceiling where light from above somehow found a way down.

 

‘Thank goodness for that!’ she said in relief. ‘I’m a little afraid of the dark sometimes.’

 

‘Even dwarves can fear it, Jena,’ Lore said. ‘Don’t feel bad.’

 

‘Do you think there are traps nearby?’ Nye asked.

 

Lore looked down the passageway and shook his head.

 

‘Can’t see anything obvious,’ he said. ‘But keep behind me as we go. We don’t want to trip any if we can help it.’

 

‘Lead on, Lore,’ Nyssa urged. ‘It’s up to you now.’

 

Lore nodded and headed off warily, his eyes scanning the walls for any trap triggers. Nye followed, then Nyssa at the rear after she had picked up Jena.

 

‘You’d better stay on my shoulder,’ she said. ‘A spear coming up from the floor wouldn’t be good for any of us, but especially not for you.’

 

Jena swallowed nervously, wondering what was worse… the traps or the possibility of rats. She watched the stone walls slip by, the passageway quite narrow and no wider than Nyssa’s arms if she stretched them out. Its ceiling was quite low too, only a couple of feet above Nye who was the tallest of them.

 

Everything here was damp too, the walls slick with water that must seep down from the jungle floor above. Her friends’ footsteps sounded very loud as they went, an echoing slap on the wet floor. Ahead the dimness marched on, darker shadows pooling where the light couldn’t reach. As they went on she had a passing thought for Dom, hoping he was all right and bringing help… and soon.