CITY OF BRIDGES

18

The Heavy Caverns

“So, where’s that leave us?” Leonie and Hectr jogged beck to White Cliffs, and headed back to the vault. Half the household seemed to be awake; humans and rollos were searching everywhere.

The caverns.

“I thought you said only rollos can go in there,” Leonie said.

Not completely true. We have grav-harness’s, suitable for use by others, Styx told her. They assist in negating the heavy gravity effects within the caverns.

“Okay then. Where are these harnesses?” An image bloomed in her mind showing several passages and stairs. She remembered passing by earlier during her explorations. “Great, thanks.”

They swiftly made their way down the passageway to the stairs. The temperature dropped slightly while they descended. About forty feet down, there was another passage, this one proved to be largely naturally formed, with a few areas hewn out of the rock to make it wider. At the base of the stairs was a junction of three tunnels. The door leading to the storeroom was set into an alcove opposite the stairs. It showed evidence of being tampered.

Leonie examined the floor at the intersection. Although most of it was bare rock, there were areas of dust and loose dirt. They were difficult to see amongst the ruts and grooves the rollos left over the years. Eventually she spotted scuff marks and what she thought might be partial boot-prints. “I can see three, maybe four sets of tracks here.”

Engravings and sigils on the wall warned of the beginning of spell effects. This part of the passage was the edge of normal gravity; past the sigils, gravity increased to over three times the norm. Ducking into the storeroom, she saw there were three harnesses scattered on the floor.

There are normally eight.

Leonie grabbed one, examining it curiously. From the rear of the belt, pliable metal bands formed a criss-cross, designed to go over the shoulders to connect at the front where there was a small dial alongside a slot for a shard of crystal, glowing with the aura. She adjusted and secured it around her waist. Feiron conformed his shape to fit and donned a harness as well.

They then moved back into the tunnel, following the tracks. “I’m hoping they’ll not be expecting discovery, and may be overconfident. Can you trust everyone working here?”

Of course. You suspect inside help?

“Maybe, or you’ve been spied on for a while without knowing.”

We find both postulations doubtful.

“As doubtful as thieves getting in here and stealing the book from under your noses?”

We do not have nos—

“A figure of speech. How long before you get here?”

Presently.

Leonie felt rumbling as half a dozen rollos, each an almost perfect sphere, came around the corner. Her ears picked up a ringing sound. She stopped outside the boundaries of the spell area to watch.

Three rollos moved ahead, taking another route into the caverns. Those remaining unfolded in precise timing, and now resembled slightly flattened cones with short arms and legs. Leonie smiled, seeing Feiron watching their movements with interest.

Allow me to introduce Riff and Dwer.

“Pleased to meet you,” she said, though had no idea who was who.

I am Riff.

I am Dwer.

She looked blankly at the three of them and threw her paws up.

Riff is on your right, Dwer on your left. It is curious there are no mental emanations in the vicinity other than your own. We can only sense Feiron’s physical presence.

“So that means either more illios are about, they’ve escaped, or the rock is in your way?”

Crystals affect our sending somewhat, but rock is only a minor hindrance. There is nowhere for them to run. We find this behaviour most peculiar.

Stepping away, she moved down one of the tunnels, keeping an eye on the tracks. As soon as she passed the threshold, she staggered under the increased weight.

You must turn the dial.

Leonie turned a dial on the front where the two bands crossed. The effect was immediate as the weight lifted off. After a brief play with the control, Leonie discovered she could also be totally weightless.

It should be noted there is a finite amount of power in each crystal. The higher the workload, the quicker the power is drained.

“I’m in difficulty,” Feiron gasped, forcing the words out.

Leonie turned. The rollos stopped with her. Just inside the boundary, Feiron lay looking like a pool of grey syrup.

“There are benefits with a skeletal system it seems,” he wheezed. “My harness is not working for me. I can’t… go on.”

It would appear illios are not suitable for its use. Interesting. It may have something to do with the physical aspects of their body.

“Can you make it back?” She jumped from the boulder to be closer to him to help.

Feiron managed to ooze back to the safe section of the passage. “Keep going. I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?”

“Yes. Go on, but be careful,” he said, slowly dribbling along the passage.

Leonie watched him for a moment before turning back to the task. “I guess that rules out more illios.”

True, but the question still remains.

Riff and Dwer moved along the passage at a faster rate while Styx remained close to Leonie. She felt the trembling in the ground fade as well as the strange ringing in her ears. It was not really a sound, more of a subsonic vibration.

The ringing you are sensing is our way of ‘seeing’. You are very perceptive to hear it, but it is also likely a combination of several hroltahgs in close proximity in a confined space.

Leonie nodded. The tunnel descended a short way. A smooth rut exactly the size of a rollo had been worn down the centre. Past the base of the slope the tunnel branched. Down here, the floor was covered in sand and rock dust. Human footprints led off in the same direction.

Without a mental signature, the only way we can perceive them is with our soundings.

Following the markings, she jogged along the tunnel to the left, the dark interior being no problem for her night vision. Again, the tunnel branched. “Where do these lead?” The sand gradually dwindled, leaving bare rock.

Ahead is the Rainbow Cavern. The one to the right is the Hall of Spears.

“Do any of the caverns lead anywhere in particular? Is there a path to the outside?” Leonie bent down to examine the floor for any signs of the thieves, noting a few scuff marks heading to the left.

There are no exits to the outside at all, but one can access other, deeper systems. It is not logical they go this way if there is no escape but, we find a lot of what your kind does illogical.

“So, it’s all a big dead-end, and the only way out is behind us?”

Correct.

“Maybe they are circling behind us. They seem to like sending us on wild goose chases.”

It would accomplish little. The household is awake and aware. They cannot escape that way either.

The tunnel they followed gradually ascended. As they neared the crest, a dim glow appeared ahead. Riff and Dwer awaited them. Leonie’s gaze was drawn to the ceiling as she stepped through a large archway. Amongst the stalactites were faint light sources. It was so enchanting—

Stop!

A hidden force stopped Leonie mid-stride, snapping her head down. In front of her was a sharp drop of about fifty-foot to a rock-strewn shelf in a cliff. She stepped back quickly. “Thanks.” Her eyes returned to the stunning sight overhead.

The Rainbow Cavern. Styx informed her. What you can see is moonlight filtering down the length of the crystal structures. The moons’ movement causes the light to refract, forming the many colours, hence the name.

“It’s lovely. I bet it looks even more spectacular by day.” Dragging her gaze away. Even with squinting, she barely made out the far end of the enormous space. Far below, the floor was hidden in a swirl of yellowish clouds.

This is the longest cave. It has a large fissure across its centre that drops about three hundred feet in some places.

Leonie looked at the cliff-face beneath her, trying to find the best way down. Partially illuminated by the glow from above, sections of the level below seemed to be boiling in a yellow mist. It was an eerie, yet beautiful sight. “I’m going to have to get down there to look for footprints or something.” She turned as she heard the now familiar rumble of a fast approaching rollo.

Since we are entering this part of the system, you will require a face-mask for the toxic gases. I have taken the liberty of sending for one. It should mould around your face sufficiently, despite the hair.

A rollo soon arrived and handed her a leathery contraption roughly in the shape of a face; it had a bulbous front and a long, thin crystalline plate for the eyes. It felt horrible and awkward to wear, but once she managed to tuck in her whiskers, she was ready to go.

One more thing, you must learn to purge the mask. If you detect any gas, you must tighten the straps, and then clear the mask with your remaining breath. He sent mental imagery of how to purge; covering the filter – the bulbous front – with her palm and blowing hard. Excess air is forced out the sides, taking any contaminants with it. If you have difficulty, I will remove you from harm immediately.

“I guess there’s only one way to test it.” She moved over to the edge after a practise purge. “I’ll climb down to that ledge. The ledge is too narrow to risk jumping.” Leonie lowered herself over the edge and made her way down to the ledge. “So far so good,” she muttered. Struggling to see through the mask, she concentrated on her footing, not wanting to risk a hundred-foot fall. She continued her decent to the next level.

The two young rollos had already disappeared below.

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