Knights: Book 02 - The Hand of Tharnin (15 page)

"That's rather strange," said Jace. "You would think our foes wouldn't neglect a perfectly good route into Dremlock."

"The presence of the Deep Shadow is exceptionally strong here," said Shennen. "And the stench of Goblins is overwhelming. Yet there is no sign of Goblin activity. I suspect this might be some sort of trap or ambush."

"How could it be a trap," said Jace, "if there is no sign of activity? You said yourself that it looks as if the tunnel has been abandoned."

"I don't understand it," said Shennen, shrugging.

Lannon reached out with the Eye as deep into the tunnel as he could go, but he couldn't see any dangers. He reported his findings.

"I suppose we can go a bit farther," said Shennen, "in light of that news. I trust the Eye of Divinity over my instincts."

"I say we continue on," said Jace. "Lannon can keep checking the tunnel. With the Eye of Divinity on our side, we shouldn't fall into any trap."

"It is
my
decision," said Trenton. When everyone kept moving, he snarled, "Halt! I am still pondering the situation!"

The company halted, while Trenton stood silently in the torchlight flanked by his wolves. With his silver hair, lean body, and dark eyes, he looked almost wolf-like himself. At last he said, "I guess we will proceed with caution."

"Thank you, Master Trenton," said Shennen, sounding slightly sarcastic. "We shall do our best to stay alert."

Trenton seized Lannon's shoulder, causing the Squire to shudder at the Investigator's icy touch. "You just keep searching for danger, lad," said Trenton. "Death lurks in this tunnel. Make no mistake."

"Okay," Lannon mumbled, chills creeping along his spine. He didn't like Trenton following so closely behind him, especially when all of Lannon's focus was directed ahead.

The tunnel began to narrow to the point where they could barely fit through. Jace, the largest of the bunch, had to practically crawl. Armor scraped on stone, and there were occasional muttered curses whenever an elbow or a knee banged against rock. As a Blue Squire, Lannon wore lightweight, leather armor which didn't hinder his movements. He slid easily and silently along the tunnel. Jerret, however, shuffled along clumsily in his chain mail--almost carelessly. It annoyed Lannon that Jerret was so poorly trained, and equipped, for stealth.

"This tunnel was carved for Dwarves and not giants, obviously," said Jace. "Must have wanted to keep Ogres out or something."

Lannon caught a glimpse of danger ahead--a serpent-like root that was lying in wait to snare someone. He cried out a warning, but he was a moment too late. He heard Thrake bellow a curse.

"It has seized Shennen!" Thrake growled. "Looks like a nasty tree root. It has wrapped itself around his mouth so he can't speak!"

"It must be from a Dark Mother!" Jace called back. "Hack through it before it chokes the life from him!"

"I can't find him!" Thrake said, panic in his voice. "The tunnel has given way to a huge cavern!"

The party surged forward into the cavern, waving torches around. Lannon sensed terrible danger in there and yelled several warnings that went unheeded. The Knights were too intent on saving Shennen.

Black, warty-looking tree roots closed in around them, completely blocking off the tunnel mouth. Bloated Mother Trees filled the cavern, rooted deep into the stone--the reason why the mineshaft had been abandoned. The Dark Mothers had taken over, a menace to every life form except young, nursing Goblins.

The roots moved with terrible speed, winding around the Knights and Squires with a crushing grasp. Jerret--who was not exceptionally strong for a Squire and who possessed very little sorcery--took immediate damage, screaming in pain as some of his ribs cracked beneath the pressure. The others managed to resist by means of muscle or sorcery but were still immobilized.

Lannon was weak from prolonged use of the Eye, and could barely manage to hold the roots in place that were trying to crush him. Aldreya's eyes were closed as she focused on protecting herself. Jace tore his roots free and nearly broke loose, before they closed around him again. The others were wound up tight and struggling just to stay alive. The two white wolves had held back from entering the cavern, and they stood inside the narrow tunnel, whining and pacing. The three Dark Knights had also been cut off, and they hacked at the roots--but their weapons did little damage and the roots kept shifting into new positions.

"Lannon, get yourself free and go get help!" Jace grunted.

Lannon struggled fiercely, but couldn't summon the strength to escape. "I'm too exhausted. It's not going to happen."

"These are very ancient trees," said Jace, wearily. "Difficult to kill.

Thrake bellowed and shook with rage, but to no avail. The roots were too strong even for the massive Red Knight to escape.

They heard Shennen groan somewhere beyond the torchlight. "I'm alive," he called out a moment later. "The trees cannot crush us easily, but will instead seek to wear us down and weaken us. Do not give up the fight!"

"I think my ribs are broken!" Jerret called out. "The only thing saving me is my armor!"

"Focus your mind, Jerret," Shennen said. "Use it to shield your body."

"I'm not trained at that very well," said Jerret. "But I'll try."

Once again, Jace tore himself loose and dove for the passageway, but the roots were too fast, winding around him and lifting him off the floor. "Well isn't this wonderful," the giant muttered, panting from the strain. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think they have no intention of letting us go."

"We're hopelessly snared!" Thrake said bitterly. "We can't use our weapons. We've blundered into the worst trap possible."

The trees began to shift around, dragging the captives with them in an effort to separate them. Jace, Shennen, and Thrake were pulled far off into the darkness, their voices growing a
 
bit fainter. The others were pulled deeper into the cavern in another direction--into a thick maze of warty, writhing trees. At last, the movement ceased, but the attempt to crush them continued.

"I'm getting tired," said Trenton, in a muffled voice, his face half covered by a root. "But I might be able to free myself...if left with no choice." He still held a torch in one hand, and in its light, his face looked ghastly pale.

"We don't have many options," Lannon said, wondering how Trenton could possibly break free. "So if there's something you can do..."

"My sorcery is weakening," said Aldreya, her face tense from the strain.

"Do something, Trenton!" Jerret moaned. "My ribs are caving in!"

Trenton sighed. "It seems I must. The trees will never let us go. They will crush us and devour us so that we become milk for young Goblins."

Lannon's power slipped, and the root squeezed him more tightly. "Trenton! I'm losing ground here!"

"Very well," Trenton muttered. "But you Squires must swear an oath never to reveal what you're about to see. I'm very serious about this. If you break that oath, you will pay a grim price."

The Squires swore not to reveal it.

"It is done, then," said Trenton. "You just swore an oath to a Green Knight. If you break that oath, you could be expelled from the Order and imprisoned."

"Just get on with it!" Jerret whimpered. "I'm dying!"

Trenton fell silent, and a chill seemed to sweep through the chamber. A feeling of rage permeated the air. As Lannon watched in horror, Trenton's face began to change in the torchlight--becoming covered in shifting shadows. His flesh bubbled and cracked open, and then coarse black hair sprouted all over it. His nose and mouth stretched into a long, wolf-like muzzle. His fingers warped into wicked claws. His eyes gleamed with pure malice.

Trenton Shadowbane was gone--replaced by some sort of wolf-like monster. The beast ripped the vines apart that held it, attacking with mindless fury. Even as the roots tried to retreat, the creature pounced on them and tore them into pieces. Soon lots of severed and twitching roots lay in piles, leaking black blood.

The beast then seemed to focus its evil, rage-filled eyes on Lannon. The Squire trembled as the creature approached him, but the wolf monster merely tore the roots away from him. As the roots tried to retreat, the beast dispatched them into bloody pieces. Soon all of the roots drew back, and the Dark Mothers moved away, leaving a path through the cavern.

"We must save the others!" said Lannon, but the wolf beast ignored him and started off through the cavern.

Having no choice, the Squires followed. The Dark Mothers continued to avoid them, allowing them to escape. At last they entered another narrow tunnel and the cavern with its bloated trees was left behind.

Shifting shadows crawled over Trenton's flesh in the torchlight, revealing the human form of the Investigator--fully clothed and without a mark or stain. Trenton still looked weary, however--mentally if not physically. "Well, now you know, Squires, that I am more than just a man."

The Squires stared at him in shock. If the Squires had feared Trenton before, they now found the Investigator to be utterly terrifying. Trenton barely seemed human, and he certainly didn't seem like a Divine Knight--but more like some creature of the Deep Shadow. Lannon could understand why the High Council didn't trust him. What manner of bizarre sorcery could turn a man into a raging beast? Lannon had never heard of such a thing and would not have believed it could exist. Furthermore, he found it hard to believe such sorcery was permitted at Dremlock.

"We have to save them!" said Aldreya, referring to Jace and the missing Knights. "They might still be getting crushed in that cavern!"

"I agree," said Lannon, though he shuddered at the thought of venturing back into the lair of the Dark Mothers.

Jerret held his ribs and groaned. "I need a healer."

"We dare not go back," said Trenton. "The Knights are capable of defending themselves, and it would be far too dangerous."

"What about..." Lannon dared not finish his statement. He wondered why Trenton couldn't simply transform again into that beast.

Trenton's lips tightened. "I know what you are hinting at, Squire, but it isn't possible right now. A period of rest is required before I can make the transformation again. And bear in mind that you swore an oath not to speak of it. We shall try to find a way back to the surface, so we can return with a large company of Knights and make a full assault on the Dark Mothers."

"But they might be dead by then!" said Aldreya.

"Do not question me!" snarled Trenton. "I am weary of Squires with bold tongues. Just do as I command."

Aldreya bowed. "Yes, Master Trenton." She exchanged an unhappy glance with Lannon.

Lannon scanned the tunnel with the Eye of Divinity. Although weakened, the Eye revealed traces up ahead of Goblins and humans that had been through there recently. As they went a bit farther, the tunnel split in two around a large pile of iron ore. At the foot of the ore heap Dwarven bones and skulls were strewn around. Lannon could sense danger in both tunnels, but he couldn't tell which tunnel was safer. Yet the others stood watching him, waiting for him to lead the way.

"We should go right," he said, as if he knew what he was doing. Without hesitation, Trenton led the way into the right tunnel.

They heard a thump behind them and whirled around to find an enormous Ogre staring at them. The creature filled the tunnel with its bulk. It stood motionless, its black eyes shining in the torch fire.

"Flee, Squires!" Trenton cried.

The company ran down the tunnel, with the Ogre lumbering after them. They could hear it scraping against the stone walls and smell its foul stench. It was so close they could feel its hot breath as it panted.

Then it stopped--as if the Ogre had suddenly given up. But the company continued to flee along the tunnel. Jerret stumbled over a loose stone and fell hard to the floor, crying out in pain. Trenton hauled him to his feet.

"I can't go on," Jerret groaned. "Too much pain."

"Act like a Knight," said Trenton, scowling. "The Ogre may have abandoned us, but we can't stay here forever. And I refuse to carry you."

Wincing with each step, Jerret started off again, holding his ribs. Aldreya lent him some support.

A growing terror began to build in Lannon's mind, and the Eye of Divinity retreated inside him. It was the same old frustrating fear that kept him from using his power--only it seemed much stronger now. He felt that the truth behind the fear was about to be revealed, some dreary and evil truth that he wanted no part of. He said nothing about it, because he wasn't sure what to say. He didn't know if what he was feeling was a legitimate warning of danger or just a phantom terror.

But Trenton seemed to catch on somehow. "What's wrong with you, Squire? Your face had gone deathly pale."

"I'm just afraid," said Lannon. "I don't know why. I don't sense any danger, but..." He shook his head. "Something is bothering me."

Trenton frowned. "Well, unless we want to battle that Ogre, we can't go back." He waved the torch ahead and squinted. "I have no idea where we are beneath Dremlock. My sense of direction is hopelessly lost."

"I think we should turn back," Lannon said. His words were unexpected and startled him.

"And confront an Ogre?" said Trenton. "I'd rather not."

"Do you see something with the Eye?" asked Aldreya.

"It's a feeling," said Lannon.

"Well, feelings are just feelings," said Trenton, "and matter not. If the Eye isn't speaking to you, we must move on."

Lannon nodded, but the fear was so strong it seemed to be choking him. He could almost hear whispers in his mind, and when he closed his eyes, he could just barely glimpse crimson runes flowing downward, as if some evil sorcery was at work in his mind. The runes seemed to drain his strength and will--to smother his ability to call upon the Eye--and leave only fear.

Trenton seized Lannon's arm and practically dragged him along. The tunnel soon widened, with pillars hewn from the stone that displayed Olrog runes. Stone coffins stood in chambers on either side, smashed open with bones strewn around as if from Goblin activity. The mines were said to contain many Olrog tombs, as the Grey Dwarves were known to bury their dead in caverns deep underground, but they were usually sealed off. This tomb stood wide open, the extravagant coffins proudly displayed--perhaps once guarded by Olrog warriors.