Escape from Undermountain - Mark Anthony [47]
"Very well," Corin agreed weakly. "But if any more corpses pop out of coffins, we're leaving."
For once the nobleman received no argument.
Carefully they began to search the tomb, examining the walls and poking through the broken statuary. They had been searching for only a few moments when a sound drifted on the air: a low grunting interspersed with high-pitched squeaks and damp snorts. Artek froze.
"Do you hear that?" he hissed to the others.
Beckla nodded. "It sounds like some sort of animal," she whispered back.
Corin stared at them in alarm. "I really think we ought to be going now," he gulped.
Artek shook his head grimly. "Not without knowing what's likely to be following us when we do." He cocked his head, listening. There it was again: a grunting, shuddering sound from the far end of the tomb. Steeling his will, Artek pulled the dagger from his boot and stealthily made his way toward the stone dais. The animal sounds grew louder. Whatever the thing was, it was definitely lurking behind the dais.
Clutching his dagger, Artek soundlessly ascended the steps. He moved carefully between the two stone sarcophagi and cautiously peered over the back edge of the dais. The sniffling sound reached his ears clearly now. Something gray, scaly, and muscular crouched in the shadows behind the dais. Artek's darkvision adjusted to the murk, and his jaw dropped in surprise. He backed away, hurrying down the steps, and returned to the others.
"It's a gargoyle," he whispered.
Beckla glanced at the shattered remains of the bestial stone statues that littered the tomb. "A gargoyle?" she asked in confusion. "Like these?"
Artek nodded darkly. "Only it's alive."
Corin clutched a hand to his mouth. "Alive?" he gasped through his fingers. "But what's it doing?"
Artek frowned in puzzlement. "I'm not entirely sure. But I think that it's… crying."
Beckla and Corin traded startled looks. "Crying?" they echoed as one.
"Maybe you'd better come look for yourselves," Artek told the others. "I can't be certain, but I don't think it's too dangerous. If it was, it probably would have attacked us by now."
Beckla was game to try, but Corin had to be tugged along forcefully.
"Hey!" Muragh piped up. "Don't forget me!"
"I should be so lucky," Artek grumbled, picking up the enchanted skull.
Keeping close together, they ascended the dais and peered over the back edge. Beckla held out her hand. Blue magelight drove away the shadows, revealing the creature below.
In the light, Artek saw that it was indeed a gargoyle. The creature huddled on the floor with its back turned toward them. Its scaly hide was rough and gray as stone, and rock-like muscles knotted its powerful frame. Stubby bat wings protruded from its broad back, and onyx horns sprang from its knobby head. The gargoyle's gigantic shoulders shook as it grunted and sniffled.
"The poor thing," Beckla sighed.
Artek and Corin stared at her. "The poor thing?" Artek repeated in disbelief.
The wizard glared at him. "It's sad," she replied in annoyance.
At the sound of their voices, the gargoyle let out a snort and looked up. Both Artek and Corin jumped back, but Beckla did not so much as flinch. Somehow the creature's doglike face was more endearing than frightful. Sorrow shone in its glowing green eyes.
"What's wrong with you?" the gargoyle growled in a gravelly voice. "Why are you just standing there? Aren't you terrified of me?"
Trembling, Corin opened his mouth to speak, but Beckla elbowed him sharply in the side. The nobleman's mouth promptly snapped shut.
"No, we're not," the wizard answered seriously.
The gargoyle let out a dejected sigh, wings drooping. "I was afraid of that. Not that I'm surprised-I never was any good at guarding the tomb. Now I'm the last, and an utter failure." The gargoyle sniffed, wiping