Darkwalker on Moonshae - Douglas Niles [62]
“Well, all this seems very silly to me!” announced Newt. “Why don’t you just go in through the tunnel?”
“What tunnel?”
“Naturally, the tunnel that leads into the Big Cave. Why, what other tunnel could I possibly be speaking of? My, but you all are a little short on brains sometimes!”
“Why didn’t you tell us about this tunnel?” demanded the prince through his teeth.
“Because no one asked me, of course!” sniffed Newt. “Why, I should think that would be obvious even to such, well, dimwits as yourselves – no offense, of course, but you people could really stand to do a little more thinking!”
Tristan began a sharp reply, but quickly bit his tongue. Perhaps there was some truth to the dragon’s words. After all, they had seen that he knew his way around the fens, and yet it had not occurred to him, or any of them, to ask him what else he knew.
“Maybe, if you show us where this tunnel is, even we dimwits can find a way to help our friend,” the prince said. “That is, if you’re quite finished eating.”
“Well,” said Newt, looking wistfully at the last saddlebag of provisions. “It’ll keep. Now follow me, and try not to do anything really stupid.”
Tristan signaled Canthus to “guard,” knowing that the other hounds would remain with him. The dogs should provide some discouragement to anyone or anything who stumbled on the horses. They each selected weapons. Pawldo carried his bow and shortsword, while Daryth fingered his dagger and wrapped a long coil of rope about his shoulders. Tristan took his longbow and knife, while Robyn still carried the stout oaken cudgel she had made in Llyrath Forest.
Shortly, Newt led them to the tunnel, and the prince immediately felt more optimistic, The opening proved to be a scum-lined drainage pipe, emptying water from the building into a fetid marsh several hundred yards away. Measuring nearly six feet in diameter, it emerged from the building into the wall of a shallow gulley.
“Let’s make some torches,” suggested the prince upon seeing that the passageway swiftly disappeared into darkness.
They found many dried reeds near the entrance, and swiftly bound the stalks into effective torches. Each burned with a nearly smokeless, yet very bright, flame. The torches seemed to burn rapidly, however, so they carried several extras.
“I wonder if they’ll have anything for us to eat,” asked Newt, eagerly buzzing around as they prepared.
Tristan paused, carefully considering his objections. For a moment he thought about bringing the dragon along. Perhaps that would be safer than leaving him with the supplies. But he discarded the idea as impetuously rash. There was no telling what the unpredictable Newt would do in the midst of a battle, or when they were trying to move very quietly.
“Newt,” the prince said, seriously. “We need someone brave and very, very smart to stay and watch the dogs and horses. Of course, that one will have to keep an eye on all our food, and supplies. Would you consider performing this important service for us? I don’t think any of these other ‘dimwits’ could handle that.”
For a moment, he though that the little blue creature would argue, but Newt quickly reconsidered the prospect.
“Well, okay, but you’ll have to tell me all about what it’s like in there. I’ve always wanted to go in, but never really had the time in my busy day before.”
“We promise!” answered the prince. “Wait with the horses, and we will see you very soon!”
“Good-bye!” called the dragon, already heading toward the saddlebags.
The prince turned to his friends. “Be careful,” he cautioned. “And be prepared for anything!”
Robyn and Daryth took burning torches and followed Tristan into the tunnel. The passage widened enough immediately that Tristan and Robyn could walk side by side in the lead, while Daryth followed them and Pawldo brought up the rear. The little halfling walked carefully backward, keeping an arrow nocked and ready.
As Tristan walked deeper into the tunnel, he felt his feet sink into clutching mud. The stuff