Stardeep_ The Dungeons - Bruce R. Cordell [107]
"Pity your poor adherent, Akadi." He grunted. Could the Lady of the Winds even hear his prayer? He doubted she who ruled the high places of Faerun listened to the pleas of those who scurried through its subterranean tunnels, let alone through tunnels of an echo plane.
After another hundred or so steps down the smooth, white passage, the bulb's light noticeably weakened. Hardly bright enough for him to see more than a few paces ahead, but likely a petfect waypoint for giant stone spiders or demons nurturing a grudge…
When the radiance failed utteily, Gage returned the bulb to its pouch. He sighed, and hoped his anxiety over the light failing was worse than the reality.
He extended his left hand until his fingers brushed the cold, silky passage wall. In his right he clutched a dagger, ready to plunge it into whatever beast emerged from the unrelieved darkness that smothered his eyes. He could almost imagine the lightlessness was a whisper-thin blanket, covering him but not hindering his movement. If he could just rend it or wipe its sense-depriving swaddling from his eyes…
He shuffled along the tunnel, perhaps covering miles, perhaps far less. He chuckled, recalling how difficult it was to estimate time and space in the starry realm. He hadn't known how easy he'd had it then.
Ahead, a gleam not unlike a star's sparkle arrested his progress. He paused only a moment, then with his heart in his mouth, he doubled his pace, one hand yet sliding along the wall for guidance. The tiny light was moving. Throwing caution to the winds, he began to sprint. Perhaps the Lady of Winds was with him after all-despite his speed, he managed to catch himself when the tunnel ended suddenly in the side wall of a vast abyss.
He'd seen the reflected light of lanterns moving along the floot of the huge space. Lanterns! People moved far below on the floor of the cavetn, wending between collapsed and disintegrating stiuctures. He'd discovered a buried city. More importantly, he'd found people! A dozen of them, at least, by the number of lanterns.
Humanoids in shining armor, a few on horses… he sucked in his breath. A contingent of Knights, like those that attacked from across that misty Causeway!
Gage allowed himself a tight-lipped smile of satisfaction as he prepared to descend the slick walls to the level of the Knights. It was clear he'd nearly reached the edge of Stardeep proper, or at least those who could lead him to it. And ultimately, back to Kiril.
Perhaps she numbered among the milling figures below, who picked their way across a debris field composed of… broken and blood-stained statues?
Raidon Kane buried Adrik Commorand in the common grave the surviving Knights prepared for their fallen brethren.
Brief words of remembrance were uttered by the shocked and confused survivors, abrupt and unceremonious; Stardeep had fallen to the mad Keeper Delphe, and little time could be spared for ritual. Better to take vengeance against Delphe for her crimes than speak empty words at the edge of a grave. Time for proper grieving could wait until the dungeon stronghold was retaken.
The monk appreciated the sentiment. He placed his store of Long Jing, tea so fine it would be suitable for an emperor, upon the pale but peaceful chest of Adrik. Raidon murmured, "You were a friend to me, and I…" His throat constricted suddenly, but he continued, "I shall miss you. I… apologize for not being able to defend you. Your memory will follow me all the rest of my days." As he spoke, he wondered, for his sentiment rang with the force of prophecy.
Then white stones were placed to cover the shallow grave. More and more stones were positioned, one atop the next, until a high mound was formed marking the final resting place of star elves sworn to protect Stardeep, and