With Strength and Steel
Copyright© 2012 by Silverwolf691
Chapter 13
"And so the intrepid heroes walk boldly into the enemy's lair and are promptly captured, tortured and killed."
"If you want to be pessimistic," Marcus whispered testily, "you can go back and keep watch."
"Not a chance." After failing to convince each other to stay behind, we both stepped through the illusion and onto a spiraling stair, taking the smooth stone steps winding around earthen walls deeper and deeper underground. Oddly, dim light continued to show my eyes the way, though a human would have been blind; I figured it was a spell since I couldn't find a tangible source.
At what I judged to be about fifty feet down, Marcus waved his hand, telling me silently to back up.
"What is it?" I breathed, hoping we weren't already caught.
"Light, up ahead where the stairs end." His tone was impassive, not worried, which reassured me.
"I don't hear anything." My ears, now mobile and atop my head, swiveled. "Not up or down." He nodded his agreement and didn't stop me as I edged around him and down a few stairs until I could perceive the faint glow ahead. After a moment of careful observation, I smiled. "Candles," I told him. "Smells like bee's wax and soy."
Sure enough, the stairs let out onto a corridor, the theme of stone floor and bare earth walls continuing with niches every couple of feet that held thick, flickering candles to light the way.
"I feel like I'm in a bad B movie," I muttered as Marcus led the way. "All that's missing are the lame traps and the brainless muscle guarding the thick wooden door."
"Keep your sense pealed; just because this is clichéd doesn't mean it won't work." Despite his own words, he walked sure-footed and calmly, almost carelessly, down the corridor, looking like he had every right to be there. I snorted and followed.
The floor sloped down at an easy angle as we walked, the tunnel continuing to run ruler-straight for about three hundred feet before splitting off to the left and right.
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