Depths of Madness - Erik Scott De Bie [28]
"I never said I did," Twilight replied. "We go east." She gestured and headed in her chosen direction, moving quickly away from any possible protest.
"Why east?" Liet asked as she strode toward that tunnel.
"Ever onward," Twilight murmured. "Ever away."
The others followed, keeping guard. No horrors like the wights lunged from the shadows, but Twilight kept the band on the lookout for ambushes and roving dangers. They reached a second chamber where more tunnels branched out, continuing the bizarre layout of the sewers. Twilight split the group, taking Davoren and Slip while she sent the others under Taslin. Though Twilight was reluctant to show favoritism toward the priestess over the warlock, Taslin was the only one she trusted-and then only halfway.
Working together, stalking cautiously but quickly through the rooms in their immediate vicinity, the adventurers got more of a sense of their surroundings.
It took the entire day.
The sewer system seemed to stretch forever in all directions, and nowhere could they find a way up or out. Many times, a black disk of metal like a hatch was seen in the ceiling, but they saw no way through. Even Gargan, empowered with flight by Asson's spell, could not push open the strange panels. The one in the dungeon was likely loose and weak, as though it had been used many times before. Twilight did not doubt that somewhere in these sewers was a ladder to a trapdoor above, or an entrance to stairs, but that seemed less than comforting considering the size of the complex.
In a few places, they found claw and nail marks on the floor and walls, giving evidence that others had occupied this sewer before the seven companions. Twilight redoubled her wariness.
Further complicating matters, Twilight discovered a network of unfinished tunnels that wove in and out of the sewer system. The rough-hewn burrows, over forty hands in diameter, looked like a maze carved by some manner of insects-giant insects.
"Glory be! You could fit ten of me under this!" said Slip, looking up at the ceiling. Then she smiled at Gargan. "And four of him, even!"
"Only half as many," said Twilight. She winked at Slip. "Of both."
When the adventurers assembled again in the second main chamber, Twilight assigned Davoren to explain the situation while she lingered at the westernmost tunnel. The warlock enjoyed being in a position of superior knowledge so much that he didn't seem to notice Twilight was instructing him.
As she leaned against the wall, arms crossed, Liet came up behind her. She noticed that his boots gave a little squeak when he walked.
"Trying to surprise me again," she said without looking at him.
"I didn't try the first time-just looking for the pleasure of your company."
"My company." Twilight looked at him with her eyes slit. "Is that all?"
"Rule four," said Liet.
Twilight couldn't help but roll her eyes at that.
"So what's the matter, 'Light?" asked Liet. "Worried about Davoren and Taslin? You handled them quite well, I think-I didn't think either of them could avoid biting each other for more than five breaths."
"Maybe something's watching us," Twilight said.
Liet's brow furrowed. "Watching?" He wiggled his fingers. By magic, aye?
Twilight shook her head. She twirled her amulet on its chain. "Not through this," she said. The sapphire on its silver chain glittered in the torchlight. "With this trinket, I don't exist. Not here, not in the Realms, not anywhere."
"Fascinating," Liet whispered.
Something in his tone made the hairs perk up along Twilight's spine. There was more to this boy than met the eye. Once again, she wondered how he had frightened that wight. Did Liet have an untapped aptitude for the Weave, or something more?
"Regardless, it seems possible we're being watched," said Twilight. "Something or someone has set us up, as though we're being tested."
"Set us up?" Liet scrunched his face in confusion.
"Our weapons and equipment, kept in stockpile, behind a simple lock," said Twilight. "A perfectly balanced group- Davoren and Asson to sling spells,