Darkwalker on Moonshae - Douglas Niles [63]
Soon the thin rays of light filtering in the tunnel entrance disappeared behind them, and they advanced by the dim light of the flickering torches. Fortunately, the tunnel was straight, and the footing even.
Looking around, the prince saw that the tunnel was supported by a network of overhanging roots, many as broad as oak limbs. Occasionally a creeping tendril draped from the ceiling or wall, but for the most part the framework seemed quite secure.
Soon they entered a larger chamber, where the tunnel walls fell away to the bare limits of their vision on either side. The room seemed to be a good ten paces wide. The far end was lost in darkness, and water covered the entire floor.
Rank smells seemed to rise from the stagnant pool. It smells like death, thought the prince, or maybe not quite death, but close. No sound stirred in the tunnel except for the quiet sloshing of their feet moving through the water.
“Oh!” Robyn uttered a sharp cry and fell.
The prince turned to see her slip downward as if she had stepped into a deep hole. Water splashed as he grabbed her arm. Sputtering and splashing, she managed to regain her footing on the lip of the underwater hole. Somehow she had kept her torch out of the water during the mishap.
“Look out!” hissed Daryth, and the prince saw the flash of a scaly body in the center of the pool. Whatever it was, it swiftly disappeared underwater.
For seconds the room was absolutely silent. The only movement was the steady growth of the rings of ripples on the water’s surface. They spread outward, sloshing against Tristan’s legs. Still there was no sign of their maker.
Suddenly a gaping mouth, bristling with white teeth, burst from the water at Robyn’s feet, followed by most of a scaly body. She lurched backward as Pawldo released his arrow and Tristan stabbed with his knife. The prince felt the blade bite home, but the creature immediately vanished under the water again.
Pawldo quickly readied another arrow as Daryth pulled Robyn back. The Calishite brandished his torch, moving toward the hole.
For a moment the chamber resounded with no sound other than their heavy breathing, which rasped with fear and excitement. Tristan felt the thrill of challenge tingle through his body, and had difficulty holding his blade steady.
Again, water exploded before them and a large body rushed toward Daryth. Scales gleamed in the torchlight, but Tristan could not tell whether the monster was reptile or fish. Limbs that could have been fins or feet thrashed through the water, and those vicious teeth drove toward the Calishite’s face.
Pawldo loosed his arrow instantly and saw it lodge in the monster’s neck. Tristan hacked mightily with his sword, opening a deep gash in its head. And Daryth brought the torch around in an instinctive effort to ward off the attack.
Light flared in the dingy chamber as the torch rushed through the air and plunged into the monster’s mouth. The smell of seared flesh spread through the air, and the creature whirled around frantically in the water. A final thrust of its huge tail knocked the prince headlong, and then the monster was gone.
For long moments they waited, slowly catching their breath.
“Is everyone all right?” asked Tristan, recovering his feet.
“I think so,” replied Daryth.
“What was that?” asked Robyn, trying unsuccessfully to suppress a shudder.
“I don’t know,” admitted the prince. Like Robyn, he felt a nameless, crawling horror in this place. He wanted very badly to run into the light of the sun, but instead he gestured forward.
As Daryth climbed carefully to his feet, he spoke, his eyes wide.
“I’ve heard of things that live deep in the earth, half fish, and half serpent. They are used by the mountain sultans of Calimshan to guard their most priceless treasures and the secret passages of their palaces. They are large and fast… and mightily