Chapter 29

Besplash led Darras upwards into the valley. Darras naturally followed on the banks of the stream while Besplash remained within it. Although it was not ideal at times owing to various rocky areas, the two managed to remain within sight of each other until Besplash indicated Darras was to follow to the right along another stream which joined the main flow and which came from what appeared to be a cliff face.

“You will have to slip under the water,” Besplash warned Darras. “I will guide you, though it is a short swim.”

“A moment,” Darras requested as he shrugged off his pack. He pulled several items from it and wrapped them in a waterproof cloth, sealing it with wax. He placed the rest of his pack safely under a rock then said, “Ready.”

The water was cold, numbingly so, but Darras did not hesitate and simply moved forward to the cliff face feeling the current coming from a certain point where the water got a lot deeper. Guessing this was the point, Darras moved back slightly, took a deep breath and slipped under the water. He made his way forwards by touch, feeling the grasp of Besplash as the sprite guided him. It took about twenty seconds before Besplash tugged Darras upwards and he was able to break the surface. To his amazement, the cavern revealed was huge and he was able to make out a dry area as the roof of the cavern was covered in glow worms.

Pulling open the sealed pack, Darras pulled out several charcoal bricks, some paraffin wax cubes as well as a container of ‘demon-strikes’ which he used to light the cubes which lit the charcoal. He used the fire to warm his hands as he pulled off his wet clothing and pulled on dry socks and undergarments from in the pack.

“This is the stream that feeds the well?” Darras asked a watching Besplash.

“It is, sir Darras.”

“Good, is there any wood down here?”

“None that is dry, sorry.”

“A pity, but not unexpected,” Darras chuckled, pulling his waterproof outer clothing back on. “Do the Dwarves know of this area?”

“The Dwarves of Dwerronag know of it, but have no use for it, as yet. The last Dwarf came down here fifty of your years ago, I’m told,” Besplash replied.

“Good, it’s unlikely I’ll be disturbed then,” Darras nodded. “Could you guide me to the well?” he asked as he made the rest of his clothes safe to leave behind, just taking a wrap with him.

“Follow me, I will take you the longer, dryer route,” Besplash replied, heading along the side of the dry area.

With Erren’s aid, Darras did not lose track of time as he followed the winding path of Besplash ever deeper through the mountain. The exertions of the journey soon warmed him up as well. It took several hours but eventually the pair made it to where Darras could see what was a hand-hewn tunnel above what was a small underground lake.

“Fear not, sir Darras, my powers can get you up there,” Besplash informed Darras.

“I’m glad. It would be tricky otherwise,” Darras chuckled.

“It will be dark soon. At first light the priest will say the words of blessing, your chance will come then.”

“Best make myself comfortable then,” Darras nodded, pulling open the wrap as well as several sealed pockets containing jerky and hard bread. Lighting another small fire Darras relaxed in the semi darkness, which, though not terribly warm or soft was comfortable enough and soon he drifted off to sleep with the soft voice of Erren singing gently in his mind.

‘It is time, my love, ’ Erren’s soft voice woke him.

“Good. Let’s cause a mystery,” Darras chuckled.

“Your timing could not be better, sir Darras,” Besplash greeted Darras as he approached the water’s edge.

“I have my goddess to thank for that,” Darras replied with a smile.

“Please step onto the water. I will support you and lift you up to the well entrance.”

“As you say,” Darras answered with a wry expression.

Besplash was as good as his word in supporting Darras as the water he stepped onto was firm under his feet. The sprite then controlled the direction of the flow so that Darras moved to the centre of the lake and then the naiad caused the water to rise in a thin column towards a hole in the roof where Darras could make out a hint of morning light. Once he reached the hole, Darras grabbed onto the rock face and steadily climbed, aided to an extent by Erren who informed him where outcrops could be used to support his weight.

Eventually the outcrops became stonework and Darras was able to use his knife to assist with the climb. Finally, he made it to the top and hearing no one, as well as no warning from Erren, Darras lifted his head slightly above the lip and glanced around at a small courtyard with a single door. Other than that, there were several windows as well as a raised walkway high above the courtyard, though currently it was empty as the blessing of the water was not supposed to be observed.

“Wonder if the shadow actually goes through with it?” Darras murmured quietly.

‘Probably, ’ Erren replied. ‘Will keep Bragos happy at least.’

“And in the dark, no doubt,” Darras chuckled.

The only place to hide was below the lip of the well, and so it was there that Darras used his belt to aid suspending himself as he waited for the first ray of sunlight to show on the floor of the courtyard.

“What do they do if it’s raining?” Darras asked Erren.

‘They know the timings. They have them written in a book, ’ Erren giggled. ‘They aren’t just guessing.’

“Did wonder,” Darras chuckled.

Darras didn’t have to wait long before he heard footsteps and then felt the presence of the shadow. He next heard a gravelly voice chanting out some sort of blessing, though in an archaic dialect. Taking this as his cue, Darras heaved himself over the lip and launched himself at a stout Dwarf who was chanting the blessing. Caught by surprise, the Dwarf could only gape in shock at Darras’s presence as Darras reached him and, focussing, grabbed the shadow by the throat. This caused the Dwarf to topple back, unconscious. What this did though was to alert the guards, who, although not in the courtyard, had clearly been just outside, having escorted the priest to it. Darras however, decided to simply pull the shadow with him and drop down the well, hoping Besplash could help even as the shadow was dying under his touch. Besplash, it seemed, had been expecting a rapid exit by Darras and he crashed into a rising column of water as the underground lake had risen up to break his fall, even as the shadow finally dissipated under his grip.

“Thank you, Besplash,” Darras thanked the sprite as he made it ashore to the still burning charcoal bricks of his small fire.

“You are most welcome, sir Darras,” the sprite replied merrily. “I rather expected you would make a rapid exit.”

“Yes. He had guards, though I’m not sure if they realised I was human, or not.”

‘They did, ’ Erren confirmed.

“We had best hurry away then,” Besplash replied. “They ... or rather someone up there will know the way down here.”

“Aye, true that,” Darras nodded. “Lead on, my friend.”

Though cold and wet, Darras swiftly made his way back down to his second encampment to pick up the gear he had left there. He was thankful there was no wind in the various caverns the trail took them through as he gradually warmed up due to his exertions. Several hours passed in companionable silence as the pair gradually made it through to the site of his first base and the rest of his clothes. He re-packed his gear and together they made their way to where the hidden exit was.

“They have finally made it to where the well draws water from and discovered your encampment,” Besplash informed Darras. “They have a magic user too, so will try to track you.”

“Let’s hope he or she can’t track through water,” Darras sighed as he waded into the still numbingly cold pool.

“They won’t. I have some small power to prevent that,” Besplash replied. “You’re here. I’ll guide you.”

Darras plunged under the water, moving by touch and the guidance of Besplash, until he finally broke the surface outside the cavern and pulled himself to the shore and his waiting pack. There he swiftly dried himself off as well as pulling on dry warm underclothing before accompanying Besplash back down the valley, following the route they’d used to gain access.

“Their search was thwarted by my water magic,” Besplash informed Darras as darkness began to fall.

“I’m sure they’ll be using other methods to check on any humans near Dwerronag,” Darras acknowledged.

“As am I, though believe for tonight you are safe enough.”

“Yes, time to set up camp,” Darras replied with a smile as he gathered wood and pine cones to light a fire in the gathering gloom.

“Here,” Besplash chuckled as several fish were launched from the water to land near Darras as he used a demon-strike to light the pine cones.

“A welcome gift, thank you,” Darras acknowledged.

Soon Darras had a good, if hidden, fire going, along with the now gutted fish cooking, skewered on sticks as he finally warmed up from the first time since falling down the well. He and Besplash talked about Osruit and what the god was like, though Besplash admitted with a chuckle that he was unlikely to meet the god due to a dearth of gateways in lakes or rivers. The only other thing of note was a visit from a shy woodnymph, who dropped off more dried wood as well as a warning that Dwarven patrols had been sent out to find the defiler of the holy city of Dwerronag.

“How will you go about your return, Darras?” Besplash asked, finally dropping the ‘sir’ honorific at Darras’s insistence.

“I’ll make my way to Hastein and lose myself amongst the Humans there,” Darras replied thoughtfully.

“Safety in numbers,” Besplash nodded.

“A friend there offered to assist, if I needed it,” Darras confirmed.

‘You’ll need it. The followers of Bragos have sought the help of the King of Gomesh, ’ Erren warned. ‘The King will aid them, if only to stop them agitating and causing more hold ups at their borders.’

There was little else of note and a finally warm, as well as full, Darras drifted off to sleep, knowing for tonight at least, he was safe enough.

Waking early, Darras thanked Besplash and bade the sprite farewell as he cut across country, making for Hastein. It was also fairly obvious from the number of riders about on stout ponies that the Dwarves were out in numbers. They were, however, somewhat ineffectual in searching for Darras as he stayed within the woods using animal trails if possible. In this he was helped by the people of the forest, some of whom removed various tracks he was forced to make in soft ground. None made direct contact with Darras, but were clearly happy enough to help. So, within half a day Darras made it to the township, finding a queue to get in as a Dwarven patrol checked any Humans entering.