Chapter 4 Part 12

"So the goblin says to the prostitute, 'I wouldn't take you if you were the last female in the world.' And the prostitute replied, 'Not only am I the last female in the world, but the price just doubled.'" Tyson laughed at his own story.

Seymore laughed as well. He was actually feeling better than he had for many days. Norwind always said that laughter cured more readily than a healer's hand.

Tyson and Seymore had been walking for about half an hour. They had passed several side passages, but fought the urge to venture off track to settle their own curiosity. Finally, their efforts were rewarded when they came upon the first few pieces of wood. Two huge beams were lying on the floor next to an old rotten bucket.

"This should do quite nicely," Tyson observed. "Just one of these things should burn for hours. If we need more, we can always return."

"The way that rain was coming down, the storm will wear itself out relatively soon," Seymore said as Tyson handed him the light crystal.

Tyson hefted the beam and steadied it across his shoulder. He wobbled with it a bit, and Seymore made an effort to steady him. But as he grabbed the beam and Tyson, he accidentally dropped the crystal. It fell to the floor and shattered with a brilliant flash of light followed by darkness.

"Good job, Butterfingers," Tyson teased.

"Sorry," Seymore replied apologetically. "I don't suppose you have another one, do you?"

"No. We are just going to have to make our way in the dark, or cast a light spell."

"We are not supposed to use magic if we can help it," Seymore reminded him. "I'm not afraid of..." Seymore went silent.

"Of what?" Tyson asked, "the dark?"

"Shhh," Seymore hissed.

"What is it?"

"Something is moving other than us in here."

"That's not funny!" Tyson's voice sounded worried.

"Magic or not, we need light and we need it now!"

Tyson responded with a quick stream of syllables that produced a low-powered light flash from his upturned palm. What it revealed was a nightmare become reality. Three creatures were coming up from the lower parts of the mine. They were man-sized, clawed, and their flesh showed signs of gangrenous decay. Their eyes had an eerie red glow, and their teeth were pointed and hooked to a carnivorous purpose.

"Wights!!" Tyson heaved the wooden beam at them and turned back towards the entrance to the mine.

Seymore had not waited to say a thing. He had immediately run on ahead. Tyson could hear Seymore a few steps ahead of him and the wights a few steps behind him. He had bought himself and Seymore a little time with the light flash, he knew. Wights did not like light. The light crystal was probably what had kept them at bay to begin with. Yet, neither he nor Seymore had been looking for signs of anyone other than themselves.

Seymore and Tyson stumbled through the dark at top speed. Seymore gave a yell for help which echoed throughout the mine. He knew his friends would come running and would more than likely be ready to deal with the undead creatures on his heels.

Tyson heard Seymore's yell and knew likewise that help would soon arrive. But whereas he and Seymore were stumbling through the dark, the wights could see in it and were rapidly gaining on him.

Tyson was almost running beside Seymore now. He could hear the man's labored breath. The fighter was not only weak still, but was not built for dodging and fleeing. With hardly a second thought, Tyson seized the opportunity. With a quick hand chop to the back of Seymore's head, he stunned the man enough to cause him to stumble and fall. A few seconds later, an inhuman scream was followed by one that was all too human.

Tyson heard the sounds fall behind him. He was no longer being pursued. As if on cue, he saw light round a bend in the mine far ahead of him. He quickly felt on the floor and gathered several stones in the dim light. When the rescuers arrived, they found Tyson lobbing stones into the darkness, while calling Seymore's name.

"What happened?" Armegon demanded holding a light crystal of his own.

"Wights," Tyson informed him. "They came up on us when the light crystal shattered."

Armegon drew a long dagger, which emitted a dim glow. Keeneye drew an arrow with a silver head and handed it to Avery who notched his longbow. Keeneye then drew another and notched his own bow. When all was ready, they moved forward at a considerable trot.

"Where are the others?" Tyson asked.

"Guarding the animals," Keeneye informed him. "Where is Seymore?"

"I don't know," Tyson lied. "He was ahead of me when the wights appeared, and I know he was ahead of me when he yelled for help, but we were running in the dark. I must have passed him somehow. When he screamed he was behind me."

It was not long before they found Seymore. He was being dragged downward towards the lower caverns by the three wights when the rays of Armegon's light crystal illuminated them.

The wights immediately released their cargo and jumped for the comforting darkness. Unfortunately, only two made it. The third fell with a thump having two arrows protruding from its back. It jerked pitifully on the floor before it stilled forever.

The other two suffered worse. Armegon in anger cast two moderate spells in quick succession. Instantly, the two wights glowed like a pair of bright lanterns illuminating everything around them, including each other. Howling, the two wights ran down the tunnel clawing at each other and themselves, each trying to extinguish the light shining from its own body and that of its companion as well.

Keeneye watched the two creatures run until they passed out of view. "How long will that light last?" he asked Armegon.

"That was the same spell we used to create the light crystals," Armegon replied scowling. "It's permanent."

Back at camp everyone was crowded around Avery and Armegon. "We've talked it over," Armegon informed them. "Seymore is no longer among the living, but he is not dead either. The curse of the undead is upon him. By tonight, he will convert into a wight or worse. If we don't want an enemy in out midst we need to take action now."

"What are our choices?" Marlena asked.

"As we see it," Avery said, "there are only two choices. When a person is killed by a wight, that person becomes an undead entity. To spare Seymore the agony and shame of that, we can draw and quarter him now rendering his undead body inert and allow his uncorrupted soul to pass on or we can place him in suspended animation. He is not alive, but he is not dead either. If we get him home, he can be revived."

"The choice is obvious," Samson said as he jumped to his feet. "How can we consider killing him?"

"We are not considering it, Samson," Armegon said. "Avery was just pointing out the alternatives. The suspended animation spell will place Seymore in a cocoon of temporal stasis. It is a very powerful spell. As soon as it is cast, there will be no doubt in the minds of those who are trying to kill us who we are or where we are located. I am willing to take that chance on Seymore's behalf, are you?"

"Of course," Samson pleaded.

"Does anyone disagree?" Avery asked. No one did.

"Listen carefully," Armegon warned. "Up until now, we have traveled secretively. We have avoided several fights and have moved about quietly. After this, we will have to travel hard and fast. There will be enemies in front of us all the way. We will most assuredly have to fight major battles to reach our objective and we do not even know how far we may have to go. In addition, Marlena's condition will become critical soon."

At this remark, Marlena glared at him but he continued: "I'm sorry Marlena but we can't afford to be coy about this. The stress of what we are bringing upon ourselves could drive you to a premature labor and cost you your life as well as your baby's."

"As you can see, Samson," Avery said quietly. "It is not just you and the other guys we're worried about." Samson looked at Marlena and was about to speak when she cut him off.

"It is my risk versus Seymore's life. And, I choose to take that risk."

"It is not logical and perhaps not wise, but it is compassionate and a great display of friendship," Avery observed. "You have my deepest respect."

"Then it is decided," Armegon said finally. "When Ultrecht is ready to cast the spell to place Seymore in suspended animation, we will begin this last run. There will be no sense in hiding our presence any longer so there is no ban on magic. But don't just sling it about like we did in the old days. There is no reason in telling our enemies exactly what our capabilities are. Later if we think we have again eluded our pursuer, we can resume our policy against the use of magic, but for a while there will be no need for restraint."

Ultrecht was rummaging through his pack and referring to a textbook he had opened. "You know this would work better at night," he said to Armegon.

"We can't wait until then," Armegon reminded him.

"Well, we will just have to do it in the mine where it is dark," the elementalist decided. "Give Samson and Norwind a couple of light crystals and send them down the tunnel a distance. I must have enough shadow to drive the spell. The spell is a Time element based spell, and that is part of the Second House of Magic, which is driven by the power of Shadow. If we can't wait until tonight, we must improvise by doing it in the dark."

"Sounds kinky," Keeneye said from a horse he was feeding. "Oh dry up," Ultrecht shot over his shoulder.

"I wish I could," Keeneye said looking up at the sky. The rain had slackened and promised to cease completely. The flooded trail had dwindled to a small stream and was shrinking by the minute. Still, Armegon suspected and Marlena agreed that it would be no problem to restart the storm if someone with enough power should decide to do so.

With Armegon's assistance, Ultrecht made the necessary preparations for his spell. He could see the figures of Samson and Norwind further down the tunnel silhouetted by the light crystals they were using to keep the wights from attacking during the spell casting. Ultrecht drew a large hourglass shape inscribed within an inverted triangle on the mine floor. In the center, he placed the motionless warrior.

While the spell was being prepared, Keeneye was speaking to Avery by the mine entrance. "It is sheer suicide to travel in that pass. Between floods and falling rocks we could all be killed by no more than a handful of rogues."

"We have few alternatives. If you have any suggestions, let's hear them," Avery said looking into the gray sky.

"We can follow the mine," Keeneye said at last.

"We don't know where it leads!"

"Yes, we do," Keeneye hissed angrily. "Think man. Feel the breeze," he indicated the gentle wind coming up from the dark cavern. He inhaled deeply. "That is not stale air, it is fresh. The other end of this mine opens out either in an area of high pressure or on the western side of these mountains."

"Perhaps," Avery said stroking his chin. He had not shaved in some time, and a light gray beard had begun to appear.

"Perhaps?" Keeneye looked worried. "What is wrong with you? You know damn good and well that we can't ride through that canyon. Unless you think Marlena's strong enough to summon some kind of airborne mounts, the tunnel is our only chance. It is the only thing they won't expect us to do."

"What won't they expect us to do?" Tyson asked as he walked up behind Keeneye. "Our ranger here noted that the fresh breeze coming up from the depths of the mine indicate it has an opening at the other end with a high atmospheric pressure. Since the general wind directions seem to be from the west, he suggested that it probably leads where we want to go and we might throw our enemies off by traveling through the mine." Keeneye looked at Avery. "Isn't that right?"

Avery looked back at Keeneye. He wondered why the elf had lied about who had come up with the idea. "Correct," Avery agreed.

"What about the wights?" Tyson asked. "We know they are there now and we know they fear light. Besides, if they get uppity, I'm sure we can take care of them," Keeneye said confidently.

"All right," Tyson resigned as he turned to leave, "you are the trail bosses."

As soon as Tyson was out of earshot, Avery turned to Keeneye. "Why did you tell him this was my idea?"

"To keep the group's confidence in your abilities intact," Keeneye shot back. "Now suppose you tell me what your problem is. Twice now, I have had to point out things that should have..."

Keeneye noticed that Avery was not listening to him, but was watching Marlena leaning against a pack of supplies and eating some dried fruit. "Ah! I see," he said knowingly. So that was why the ranger had been so distracted. "Don't worry so much," he advised. "Women have been having babies long before you came along. She will be okay."

Keeneye turned the worried healer back to face him. "You keep your mind on the immediate business."

"Words of wisdom from the thief?" Avery asked with a smile. Keeneye looked shocked.

"Why, you know I've given that lifestyle up."

"Right." Avery agreed while walking over to speak to Marlena.

Keeneye watched Avery go, then he went to inform the others of the change in traveling plans. It was really the best option, and though no one was anxious to travel in the dark with wights lurking around the corners, it was far better than getting caught in another flash flood. The others agreed to the plan with some reluctance, but it was Avery and Keeneye's job to keep them alive in the wilderness, and their trust in the archer and ranger's abilities was complete.

When the word had been passed, Keeneye leaned against a wall to watch Ultrecht ply his art. When all was ready, Ultrecht stepped into the triangle he had drawn and raised his arm. With a soft voice, he spoke the preamble of his spell. As his words echoed through the mine, black flames leapt out of the lines drawn on the floor.

"That was the easy part," Armegon said absently to Keeneye who was standing beside him. "Summoning power is no mean feat, but commanding it will require a lot of effort." Ultrecht was oblivious to the goings on around him. With total commitment, he focused his will on the black flames. It was easy to see them in spite of the darkness of the mine.

As Ultrecht directed them, the flames crept inward towards Seymore's inert body. They passed harmlessly beneath Ultrecht's feet and conformed along the lines of the hourglass shape. When the hourglass was consumed by the black flames, a blinding flash erupted. As if in response, black flames merged into a white fire which covered Seymore's body. Slowly, the flames receded until there was nothing left but a faint glow surrounding Seymore's body.

"That is it," announced Armegon as he walked over and inspected the body. Ultrecht did likewise.

"Excellent," Ultrecht said as he mopped the sweat from his brow. "He is in perfect suspension."