The Howling Delve - Jaleigh Johnson [88]
Kail looked up and saw a mifrot of what lay below him; but the shaft in the ceiling was clear of obstruction, lit by green radiances from the active portal. He watched, transfixed by the unusual perspective, as one by one his companions plummeted through the light and down the shaft.
Kali braced himself as they hit the net. Each impact jarred his back and shoulders. The net strained under their weight. Garavin's hound howled as it tried to disentangle its legs from theit painful positions.
"We need to get off this," Kail said, noting the frayed ends of the rope looped around three nearby stalagmites. "The rope won't hold all of us."
"Meisha didn't mention a death trap'd be waiting for us," Morgan said.
"This was probably her work." Kail helped Garavin lift Borl out of the tangled ropes. "Without it, we'd be at the bottom of the chasm."
"Still could've warned us," Morgan grumbled.
Kail waited until they were all off the net. Using his sword, he hacked the ropes free from the stalagmites. The net sailed down into the darkness.
"The Shadow Thieves will have ways to avoid the chasm," Dantane pointed out.
"Now they'll have to use them," Kail said. He turned to Garavin. "What about it, old friend? Are we in the right place?"
The dwarf examined the cavern walls, clasping his holy symbol reflexively. "Aye, lad," he said. His voice sounded unnaturally thick. "We're here." He turned to look at Kali earnestly. "Dumathoin is here too."
Kail and Laerin exchanged glances. "What do you mean?" asked the half-elf.
"Where do ye feel most at peace, Laerin-closest to yet god?" asked the dwarf.
"In Erevan's grove or Dugmaren's tunnels," answered Laerin.
"This is Dumathoin's place," said Garavin. "But it's been tainted."
"He's right," said Dantane. The wizard closed his eyes. He appeared to be listening, though Kali detected nothing breaking the stillness but the distant sound of water. "There's some sort of distant aura in effect."
"Meisha's master lived in the Delve," said Kail. "Could it be some latent magic of his?"
"I don't think so," said Dantane, "not unless her master was of another plane."
"Meisha was trained as an elementalist," said Gatavin. "Might be there's links to the elemental planes here."
"Kail," Morgan said abruptly, "we're not alone."
Kail turned. A child stood in the opening of the clear tunnel, watching them with wide, fearful eyes. Her face was pale and thin, almost emaciated. Kali took a step toward her, but she darted off down the tunnel.
"The refugees," said Laerin. "Do we follow?"
Kali nodded. "Light two torches. Keep your weapons out but down. We have to find Meisha."
"Kali." Dantane pointed to the other tunnel branching off the chamber. The net sttung over its mouth glistened in the torchlight. A thick, mucuslike substance dripped from the ropes, collecting in black puddles on the floor. "Something's coming."
Kail heard it-the sound of ait rushing up the too-narrow tunnel. Next to him, Borl growled from the gut, shifting agitatedly. "Get away from the net," he snapped as Dantane bent to examine the black drippings.
The wizard ducked away as a leathety wing swiped at him. Twin lines of needle-teeth bit down directly in front of his face. The bat screamed as the black substance filled its mouth and foamed. It fluttered back against a wall of a dozen or more creatures just like it. Their wings tangled in the small space, causing them to snap indiscriminately at each othet.
"The Shadow Thieves?" Laerin said. "Or are these meant for us?"
"I don't know," Kail said. "But we're not going that way. We follow the girl." He looked at Dantane. "You have the pottal key?"
Dantane touched a pouch hidden in his robes. Within, he'd placed the oblong stone that activated the portal from this side of the Delve. Rays had kept his word.
"It will be safe," Dantane said.
Kali nodded. He and Laerin led the way down the open tunnel. Dantane, Morgan, and Garavin brought up the rear. Once out of the spell light of the portal room, the tunnel became stygian. The torches cast a glow in front and behind