Chapter 6 Part 15

When the bright round spot appeared on the western side of the cavernous chamber indicating the suns' ascent into the morning sky, Ultrecht bade everyone to hasten back to the waterfall prior to the noon transit. The company, weary and tired, trekked the long walk to the pool.

This time, although there was no mist, feelings of fear still assaulted them as they closed in on their goal. But without the fog to blind them and sap their bodies of life, the fear was a toothless lion. Within two hours, they were standing next to the pool at the base of the falls.

The bright spot that was incoming sunshine had travelled down the side of the chamber walls quickly and was creeping towards the pool. Little was said as the noise of the crashing water hindered communication. What talking was done strained the speaker's voice and was kept short. The water itself was icy cold as Marlena discovered in an attempt to wash her face. But it was very pure and good for drinking.

All in all, it made for a good wait. As the edge of the first sun peeked down into the crater and the light touched the water, a gentle breeze began to stir. Tiny dust devils cleaned the floor of the night's accumulation of debris and moisture. From their vantage right beside the pool, everyone watched as the wind picked up and spread outwardly leaving them in the eye of a miniature hurricane.

When the first sun had fully emerged into the crater opening and the edge of the second sun had begun to show, the mist, which had proven such a nuisance the day before, sprang up from the churning waters of the pool. The mist spread superficially like the wind and joined with the wind to block from view anything outside the eye of the storm. Suddenly, the light from both suns fell on the waterfall and pool causing the chamber to brighten into scintillating colors almost blinding those who had spent over a day trying to navigate in near to total darkness. The waters frantically swirled into a gigantic whirlpool whose vortex dropped out of sight of the observers.

"I do believe this is it," Armegon yelled turning to the others, but his words were not needed. For he saw that the others had drawn that conclusion on their own.

Ultrecht drew forth a cylinder. The name on the side indicated that it was Scarlet's Codix. "For what it is worth," Ultrecht began but did not finish. Instead he tossed the object into the swirling waters.

Marlena and Samson stood next to the edge of the Well. In one hand, they each held their Codix, while their other hands held each other. Marlena faced her beloved. "Live or die, we shall step through into forever, together." Samson held his wife close, then together they tossed their destinies into the swirling waters. Everyone watched transfixed as the scrolls bobbed up and down as they circled closer and closer to the vortex. Finally, the scrolls descended into the core of the vortex with a burst of light and disappeared--as did their owners.

Keeneye, who had been carrying Seymore's body, lay the body on the ground and reared back to throw the dead man's Codex into the Well when Ultrecht stopped him. "I must remove the suspension from him first to allow the magic to work on him. And you must go with him to get him to a healer before the curse of the undead can claim him."

"Without the suspension spell he will have weight," Keeneye complained. "I can't carry that lug all the way to a town before nightfall as heavy as he is."

"I will go with you," Norwind said.

"Wait a minute," Keeneye stopped.

"What about you two?" Armegon looked at Keeneye.

"Ultrecht and I will go last. That way we can use our magic to snatch you back should something go wrong."

Keeneye's eyes narrowed momentarily. Then he reached out and shook the mage's hand. "Good luck," he said but no one could hear. Keeneye joined Norwind next to the body of Seymore that Ultrecht had just freed from the suspended state. The wounds on the man were still fresh.

Norwind threw his and Seymore's Codices into the Well at the same time as did Keeneye. Keeneye turned and watched Armegon and Ultrecht until they faded from view and all was dark. The last thing Keeneye felt was a sense of falling.