Cloak & Dagger: Book II of The Dragon Mage Trilogy (22 page)

The two guards in front communicated in their guttural language, laughing and drooling. At one point, the orc in front turned and gave them a sharp command, eliciting silence. A few minutes later they finished following the path to enter the opposite cave entrance. Silence followed.

“They must be hauling water,” surmised Alric. “Too bad we can’t get over there and find out where they’re going.”

“Or, more importantly, where they came from,” said Rebecca. “It could possibly lead us to the lizardmen.”

“That’s true,” said Tyris, who had returned to join them. “Following the orcs will only lead us to their territory.”

“Good point,” said Alric.

Tyris peered down into the canyon. Despite the blackness below, he could make out a narrow ledge not far below them. “I wonder if we can reach that ledge down there.”

The others looked to where the elemental was gazing.

“What good would that do?” asked Alric.

“There is a large peninsula down there that almost reaches the other side,” explained Tyris, pointing. “If we could reach that location, we should be able to jump across to the other side. There is also another ledge that runs right above the orcs’ ledge. If we go across there, we can get very close to the first cave entrance.”

Alric and Rebecca looked at one another uncertainly.

“Orcs don’t wield magic,” said Tyris. “Unless they can throw their spears accurately over such a long distance, they cannot harm us.”

“They could be armed with bows or crossbows next time,” said Rebecca. “Or they could call for help from orcs that are armed appropriately.”

“I will take care of that problem should it arise,” stated Tyris. “My fire balls will be difficult for them to evade on that narrow path.”

“Well,” said Alric, looking pointedly at Rebecca. “What do you think?”

Rebecca considered. “I have rope in my pack which may come in handy.” She looked at Tyris. “I don’t think that will help you, Tyris.”

“Do not concern yourself with me,” said Tyris. “I can change my form to match my surroundings. I will not fall.”

Rebecca took a deep breath. “Well, I guess we might as well try it. At least there is a good chance that we can find some lizardmen.”

“We should be able to get across safely,” put in Alric, “provided there are no more earthquakes.”

The others glanced sharply at the elf at this sinister reminder. Nevertheless, they proceeded anyway.

Using the rope, the elf and dwarf safely lowered themselves to the ledge below them. Then Tyris allowed himself to ‘slide’ down to where they were by making himself into a blanket of flames. Once on the ledge, he resumed his human form and led the others to the peninsula jutting out across the canyon. At the tip of the peninsula they stopped to assess the safest place to jump across.

“It’s a lot wider than I thought,” said Rebecca uncertainly.

“You can do it,” said Alric confidently. “If you like, I can attach the rope to your waist so if you slip, I can pull you back to safety.”

Rebecca shook her head. “That’s not necessary. I can do it.” She backed up a few paces and took a run at it. With a grunt, she sprang across the gap and landed on the other side, rolling to her feet upon arrival, as her combat instructor had trained her to do in a combat situation. The dwarf beckoned the elf to come across.

Alric used the same strategy as the dwarf, but nimbly landed on his feet. “Long legs,” he said to the dwarf.

Rebecca harrumphed.

Tyris was about to make his crossing when one of the things they all feared would happen did happen. Another contingent of orcs exited the first tunnel and headed directly toward them, albeit somewhat beneath them.

Tyris looked around frantically for a place to hide, but he was out in the open. The orcs hadn’t seen him yet, but if he attempted to make the jump right then, he would surely draw their attention. He decided to lie down and make himself as flat as possible. By so doing, he knew he was hidden from their line of sight. Unfortunately, he could not extinguish his flames, eliminating the flickering light that could still betray him.

Alric and Rebecca ducked for cover and waited tensely. The orcs hadn’t seen them yet. They were trudging along the path below them unaware they were being watched. Some long minutes later, when the orcs were nearly across the path, one of them made an exclamation. The party stopped and looked to where he pointed. Tyris had been discovered!

The elemental rose to his full height just as a guard threw a spear in his direction. The spear fell well short, so Tyris responded by throwing a fireball in the general direction of the party. The fireball exploded between the cart pullers and the front guards, causing all of them to jump out of the way. One guard lost his footing and tripped into the canyon, screaming until he could no longer be heard. Simultaneously, the cart pullers accidentally knocked the cart off its course and it rolled toward the edge of the ledge. The pullers lunged after their load and tried to stop it from reaching the canyon’s edge, but it kept going. Somehow during the mad scramble, one orc’s arm got caught in the side of the cart and he was being dragged with the load. The other orc tried in vain to hold back the cart but it was too heavy. The two rear guards ran to help, but it was too late. Almost in slow motion, the cart toppled over the edge with its hapless victim in tow. Unlike the first orc, this one fell to his death in silence. The cart shattered when it hit a rocky obstruction on its way down, exploding its contents in a myriad of directions. The side of the canyon was bathed in a glistening sheen of water.

The lead orc was not impressed with what had just transpired and was shouting orders at the four remaining orcs. The remaining front guard tried to throw his spear at Tyris but threw it too far to the left. The spear sailed harmlessly into the canyon.

The lead orc knew it was pointless to stay where they were and gave one last command before running for the nearest tunnel. The front guard and remaining laborer ran behind him while the rear guards turned and fled back to the first cave entrance.

Tyris was already casting fireballs after the rear guards to prevent them from summoning help.

Alric picked up several sharp stones from nearby and began throwing them at the first orcs.

Rebecca was about to tell him that he would never succeed at stopping them when the elf chanted some elven magic. Each of the stones transformed in mid-air, becoming short but deadly arrows. Their speed increased and they changed direction as needed to hit their marks.

The guard and laborer fell down with arrows in their necks, while the lead orc was struck in the leg. He fell down on one knee and howled in rage. His cry was cut off as a fireball struck him in the head, claiming his life.

Alric and Rebecca saw the rear guards lying on the path, their bodies smoking in ruin. Tyris had eliminated them. They turned to see Tyris just as he jumped across the gap and landed next to them. “Nice going,” he said to the elf.

“That’s one of my favourite spells,” said Alric.

Rebecca harrumphed. She had her mini crossbow in her hand but never had a chance to use it.

“You’ll get your chance,” said the elf consolingly.

Rebecca cheered up slightly. Not wanting to put a damper on things, she suggested they push the bodies off the ledge to prevent any following parties from sounding the alarm. The others agreed. Finding a way down to the ledge, they quickly went to work.

When that task was completed, they dashed for the first tunnel entrance and explored it as swiftly as they could. Several side passageways appeared to be well used and they chose one to explore. It wound around in a sharp bend and there was a steep incline. Soon they could hear a muffled noise ahead of them.

At this point Alric stopped the others. “I’ll go ahead and explore,” he whispered. He donned his invisibility cloak and went to see what lay ahead.

After a brief jaunt he came to a short landing where two orcs stood, illuminated by a wall torch on either side. They faced away from him, looking down on something that was happening well below them. Noises could be heard below but Alric couldn’t make out the sounds. He needed to get a closer look.

The elf crept forward quietly, secure in the knowledge that he was invisible. However, as he got closer to the orcs, one of them sniffed loudly.

“Do you smell that?” asked the orc.

“Smell what?” asked the other one.

The orc sniffed again. “It smells like - I’m not quite sure. Kinda like a human but not quite.”

“Your nose is fulla rotting flesh,” said the other orc sarcastically.

The first one growled.

Alric knew he could not get closer without his scent giving him away for sure. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. With a quick jab, he poked the second orc with his dagger.

“Ow!” exclaimed the orc. He rounded on the first one. “What’d ya do that for?”

“Do what?” asked the first orc.

The second orc tilted his spear and jabbed the first one in the leg. “That!”

“Ow! What’s the matter with you?!” exclaimed the first orc, readying his own spear.

“You did it to me!” said the second orc.

“Now you’re imagining things!” said the first orc.

“It wasn’t my imagination!” argued the second orc.

“I didn’t stab you - yet!” cried the first orc. He raised his spear in a threatening manner.

The second orc growled threateningly, ready to do battle.

Alric couldn’t contain his laughter any longer. His laughter gave him away, but it so startled the orcs that the elf had no difficulty eliminating them. His lightning-quick movements, along with his invisibility, gave him the opportunity to slit each of their throats. The orcs fell to the ground with a soft thud.

Looking past the landing, Alric could see the scene below unimpeded. What he saw made the hair on the back of his neck stand on end. After watching the scene for a time, he hurried back to fetch the others.

When Tyris arrived at the landing, he spotted the torches on the walls and an idea occurred to him. He sprang into the flames of one of the torches and allowed himself to be sucked in. The torch’s flame became considerably brighter, but the elemental was well disguised.

Alric and Rebecca stared at one another in amazement.

“That’s a clever trick!” exclaimed the dwarf quietly.

“Nifty, huh?” said the torch.

“It talks too!” laughed Alric.

The torch chuckled.

Rebecca diverted her attention to the scene below and gasped.

“Could you hold me closer to the edge?” asked the torch. “I can’t see very well from here.”

Alric obliged by taking the torch from the wall sconce and holding it closer to the edge.

What Tyris saw made him flare up momentarily. A relatively large cavern was illuminated by torches on all sides. Three tunnels bisected the cavern. There were six orc guards standing to attention, two flanking each tunnel entrance. Near the wall opposite the tunnels was a cart manned by two laborers. Accompanying them were four guards and a leader. The laborers were rolling a heavy wooden barrel up to the cart. With some difficulty, they rolled the barrel up some planks onto the cart bed before standing the barrel on end. Then they lifted the planks and used them to seal the rear of the cart so the barrel could not fall out.

Behind the laborers, the companions saw the most interesting feature of the cavern. The wall, directly across from the middle tunnel, wavered and shimmered with a blue-grey light. Standing next to the shimmering light were two lizardmen. One was a fierce-looking lizardmage, wearing a dark brown robe and carrying a smooth black staff. The other wore a breastplate and wielded a three-pronged trident. The robed lizardmage turned to the wall and stepped into the swirling light, disappearing from sight.

Rebecca gasped. “A portal!”

“Yes,” said the torch. “Through there lies the realm of the lizardmen.”

By now the contingent with the cart was leaving via the middle tunnel. Almost as soon as they left, another contingent arrived from the left tunnel, pulling an empty cart. They stopped in front of the shimmering portal.

The leader gave a sharp command and the two laborers in the party hastened to the portal, warily eyeing the breast-plated lizardman as they passed. They disappeared into the portal.

A short time later, a barrel burst from the portal, followed by the laborers and the robed lizardmage. The laborers proceeded to load the barrel. When that was done, the robed lizardmage approached the leader of the caravan. “This is the last one. You will be given more when you pledge more troops to our cause. We will meet here again in two hours.”

The lead orc grumbled and ordered his party to depart. They left by the middle tunnel like the previous group.

The lizardmage nodded at his counterpart and they both stepped through the portal. A moment later, the portal flickered out of existence, leaving a bare stone wall in its place. The orc sentries by the tunnels relaxed.

For the companions, it was time to formulate their next plan of attack.

Part III

The Cure For What ‘Ales’ Ya

Chapter 18

G
eneral Larsen rode his shiny black stallion through the ranks of civilians crowding the gates at the Tower of Hope. He brushed his graying hair from his eyes and then scratched his bearded chin. He suspected he looked as disheveled and rough as everyone else these days. But unlike these people, who were sick and dying, he was still healthy and strong, albeit dead tired.

The general genuinely felt sorry for these people, but his duty was to protect the Tower of Hope. Several civilians had raised a commotion trying to enter the tower’s courtyard, and he had been called upon to intervene. Calming people who were desperately seeking healing was not an easy task, especially when explaining that the clerics in the tower were unable to help their suffering anyway. The only thing the clerics could do was offer fresh water to drink and herbs to reduce pain. Clerics lined the tower’s battlements, chanting healing spells in concert. But all they could succeed in doing was to slow down the progression of this plague. People died daily, the dead being hauled to mass graves a few miles away. It was not a pretty sight, and people everywhere were losing hope of recovery for themselves and loved ones.