Spirit Blood: Genesis of War

The bright morning light shining into the gray room did seem to raise their beaten spirits a bit, but an ever looming thought hung over them as well; night will return. Wanting to get the most of the daylight, everyone arose and began to pack the few belongings they could carry on their backs. No one spoke a word as they quickly descended the stairs and headed towards the front door of the motel.

“Leaving already?” The old desk clerk called out condescendingly after Terrell threw the five keys on the front desk and began to walk away.

Jason, almost completely out the door, heard the old man and abruptly stopped. With anger in his sleepy eyes he walked back into the motel and straight for the desk clerk who was beginning to look quite scared for his life. Jason did not take lightly the fact that the children in his care were so afraid the night before that they would wake every time he slightly moved throughout the entire night. He was most certainly not in the mood to hear such a comment coming from this man when he was willing to risk his very own life to find out what horror was plaguing this retched town.

Seeing Jason walking steadily towards him, the old man frantically looked around for some sort of saving grace until, finally, the six foot, four inch tall two hundred and thirty pound man stood over him.

“I’m not in the mood old man,” Jason said through clinched teeth at the cowering man. “I advise you to just keep your mouth shut and let us do the job we have set out today to do.”

As he turned to leave once again Jason was met with the confused looks of his friends and fright from the men sitting in the bar. But the hard look he returned caused them to look away as if they had seen nothing.

“Not in a good mood this morning, Jason?” Benthalas asked sarcastically.

“I thought I was quite clear Ben. I’m not in the mood,” he answered having faced Benthalas with such ferocity the elf was stunned.

None spoke as they began their departure again. There were only nods of confusion and warning from the rest of the party until they walked past the spot where the horses had been tied the day before. The ground was still stained with blood, but to their relief, the carcasses were gone.

“Good,” said Terrell as they continued to walk, “at least they moved the bodies away.”

Just then a dirty clothed and greasy haired man who had been sitting on a small stool nearby whittling away at a hunk of wood began to laugh at Terrell’s comment. Curious, Terrell turned towards the man with much more control than Jason had with the old desk clerk.

“What’s so funny my dust covered friend?” He asked in true wonderment.

“These people wouldn’t care if the bodies lined the streets as long as they weren’t one of them.” Spitting something on the ground he added, “The Serpith took them carcasses.”

Terrell reached into his pouch and pulled out two gold pieces, “These are yours my friend if you can tell me what the Serpith is. In fact, I could give you more for a bit more information than that.”

The dirty man lost the smile he had been carrying and exchanged it for a quite unfriendly frown.

“You don’t get it do you rich elf man?” He started while shaking his head. “Your money isn’t any good here. No one cares if we are rich, poor, clean, dirty, starving or fat. As long as we’re here to feed the Serpith, everything is fine. If you want answers you’ll have to mosey on up to the mansion outside of town and ask the only family here that has never been touched by the Serpith.”

With that said, the man spat on the ground again and walked away in a huff into a broken down shop across the street.

“Well, good thing that was our plan anyway, right?” Amon said pointedly.

No one answered, instead everyone just started again towards the mansion. They walked a mile through the beaten and graying town and then another mile and a half up a narrow un-kept path leading directly to the large house. Along the path, a small bridge crossed over a lake of black water so dense it seemed almost alive and unfriendly. Finally, they reached the large iron gate that circled the mansion grounds. Upon the gate entrance rested a crest etched with a giant ‘F’ latching the twin gates together.

“Now what?” Amon asked defeated.

Just then the large gates swung inward opening wide as if inviting the party onto the grounds. Cautiously everyone started up the cobblestone path leading to the front door. The elves and Jason wanted to keep the children calm, but gripped the hilts of their weapons just in case something was to jump out at them. Lining the pathway were hedges sculpted into designs of deer, unicorn and wild birds. The flowers were in full bloom here, a deep contrast to the gray and dead town below, and a picturesque white marble fountain sat in the center of the yard. The front steps and veranda were covered with an elaborate awning held up by large spiral etched pillars on the far sides and center of the veranda.

As they reached the top step, the large mahogany front door swung open wide and a tall, slender gentlemen stood in its place. The man standing before them looked the epitome of perfection with his gleaming white ruffle shirt, dark red leather vest, perfectly tailored black slacks and black leather shoes all polished off with gold rings on every other finger and a necklace of brilliant shining gold. He greeted the six strangers with a gracious smile and a gesture welcoming them into the house.

“Welcome,” he bellowed kindly and extremely excited. “It’s been a very long time since I’ve had guests. Please come in, won’t you?”

Unsure how to take this strange man, each of the six steadily entered the glorious domain only to stop a few steps inside and turn back towards him. With almost a skip to his step the man eagerly shut the door and turned to face them while smoothing his hand over the top of his stiffly styled dark brown hair.

“Alright then,” he stated rubbing his hands together nervously. Catching sight that none of his guests had loosened their grips on their weapons, he added, “Oh, you won’t need to use those. You are perfectly safe here, I assure you.” Walking past them he motioned with his hand and said, “Come in, come in. Please don’t be shy on my account.”

All but Jason let loose their grips and began to inspect the lavish décor around them. The front entrance was compiled of paintings and sculptures of warriors and fairies. At the end of the entrance lay a beautiful staircase that curved to the right leading to the second floor and curved left leading to the basement level. Everything they could see that decorated the mansion seemed of the highest value and shined as if freshly dusted and polished.

“What is this place?” Amon asked staring at one of the ivory and marble statues.

“I’m so sorry, you must think me rude,” the man said slapping his forehead as if just remembering he hadn’t introduced himself. “My name is Albert Soel.”

Albert stretched out his hand, but only Amon took the opportunity to shake it then released it immediately afterward.

In quite a melodramatic manner Albert spoke, “My family has lived in this splendid mansion for many years and we’ve never earned a dime to support such a copious life.” Jason and Terrell gave him very curious glances leading him to explain himself, “I’m sorry. I can only imagine that you are here for answers and not more confusion. I would like to invite you for brunch and I will gladly answer as many of your questions as I possibly can. I’m afraid, however, that the only knowledge I have stems from various papers and books here in the house and facts my parents told me while growing up.”

Realizing this was probably the only way they were going to get any answers, Jason and Terrell took Albert up on his offer for brunch. Albert took the opportunity during their meal to go on and on about his life in the mansion and explain why he’s never left his safe domain.

“My parents died from an illness many years ago and all my servants either left due to the ‘curse’ on Fringe or left one day to run some errand and just never returned. Being an only child, I learned to take care of myself at a very young age and have become a bit agoraphobic for it, as well. Throughout the years I’ve had visitors come by from time to time asking questions, as you are today and, being so lonely, I often invite them in for a meal and talk for hours about the world outside my home,” Albert excitedly shared with the group.

As the day progressed, Albert’s hospitality grew and he offered them whatever they may like in order to keep them around as long as possible. Everyone’s tension had eased in this big inviting house so much that no one noticed how late in the day it was becoming.

“Oh goodness,” Albert cried out in his typical overdramatic way, “I’ve taken your entire day up talking about myself. Please, you must stay here for the night. You couldn’t possibly leave now with it turning dark soon and I haven’t told you anything about the current predicament of Fringe. Besides, I’m enjoying your company too much for you to leave already.”

“We will take you up on your offer,” Terrell said. “I thank you very much for your thoughtfulness, however, we will be leaving at first light.”

“I understand, but thank you for staying. I guess I get so lonely up here in this big house that I forget everyone else has a life outside my front door,” Albert said feeling a bit saddened already that his guests would be leaving tomorrow. “No matter!” He started immediately after having captured some of the group’s sympathy. “You came for answers and answers I will give you. Hopefully you’ll be the ones to rid us of this menace,” Albert quickly added almost under his breath as he led everyone into a sitting room.

“What do you mean ‘the ones’?” Jason asked curiously.

“You don’t think you’re the only warriors or adventurers to come through Fringe and not try to rid us of our curse do you?” Albert asked cheerfully. Receiving only a shrug from Jason, Albert continued, “Well, you’re not the only ones indeed. Unfortunately, I cannot give you a happy ending to their tales.”

Albert’s face went serious for the first time that evening and the mood in the room seemed to change. Sitting near a large fireplace in an overstuffed brown velvet chair, he began his tale keeping his guests enthralled late into the night.

In a low and only slightly animated voice, Albert began, “Let me tell you about our little town of Fringe, my friends. Fringe was named after the man who founded it over 100 years ago. His name was Roy Fringe and his wealthy family funded his trip out this way when it used to be covered with large forest grounds. Well, Roy, and about ten workers, began mining after Roy had stumbled on a small opening on the side of a hill, which was filled with an iron ore. Obtaining the rights to the land, Roy eventually hired more workers and built a town up around the mines. By the time Roy was in his forties, the town had grown into a flourishing mining town. After a few more years, the town had grown so much that Roy’s pockets were lined with endless amounts of gold, so he built himself this house far from the town and high on a hill so as not to be too close or associated with the common laborers of Fringe. However, when the mining began to produce less ore and his commerce was slowing, he laid off his workers by the hundreds in order to keep up his profits. The workload had increased by so much that most of his labor either died in the mines or lost their families due to the overwhelming poverty growing in the town. But Roy didn’t care about any of his workers as long as he was making his profits. In fact, he was so preoccupied with money that he never married or had children out of fear of having to ever share his wealth with them. After his other family members died off, leaving him all their wealth, he became even greedier and closed down the mines permanently, as to not have to pay his people anymore.”

“Didn’t he see how the town was falling because of this?” Amon asked quite concerned about the people.

“Of course he did, but he didn’t care,” Albert answered. “The people were increasing in hatred for him, especially after he would come into town to buy his groceries and such and would leave the people with only scraps for food and supplies. One day he came into town to do his normal monthly shopping and was met by several very large men from town. The story, as I’ve read it, goes to say that these men drug him outside the town and beat Roy nearly to death. I believe they were hoping he would just die out there and no one would ever find him, but instead he crawled his way back to the outskirts of town. It was there that he was approached by a minion of Great Chaos, by the name of The Abomination.”

“Roy made a pact with this demon that he would give his soul to Great Chaos for, in turn, the town of Fringe to never prosper and for a hex to be placed upon every family currently living there preventing any of them from ever being able to leave. Months passed after Roy’s death and the town, seemingly, began to prosper again with the reopening of the mines. Life in Fringe seemed to be better than ever. That is, until the first of the deaths started. Soon the mines had to be shut again after there were more than thirty deaths in one weeks time. When the townsfolk began to prepare to move out of town is when the Shroud Mist began to make appearances. It is a magical mist of some sort that consumes everything in darkness. It is impossible to see anything in the Mist even with the brightest of lights. Not even Elvin eyes can see through it, so I’m told. There is no telling when the Mist will fall, but when it does….”

Albert paused in thought about the terror of the Mist. Everyone stared at him, as he appeared to shiver from his thoughts. He stared off in the distance with a peculiar and frightful expression on his face.

Finally, he sighed and returned his gaze on his attentive guests.

“Oh, I’m very sorry,” he muttered shaking his head back to the present time. “Throughout the years I’ve heard many screams of terror and torture during the Mist’s visits. I usually try to not dwell upon them, but you understand…. Anyway, the killings became more and more abundant over time leaving the town as you see it today. No one knows who will be next, when they’ll be next or if they’re just meant to live here forever in this horrible curse. It is only by this curse that the town is still standing. Lovely history isn’t it?” Albert asked facetiously.

“But why isn’t this house affected or you in any danger?” Lockefren asked.

“Well, one because Roy only asked for the curse upon the town, not on his property and two because none of my family were living here at the time Roy died. My family came here a little over forty years ago. Apparently my father had been looking for work and a suitable home for him and my mother to live. He couldn’t find any work where he was living, so they were traveling in order to find a new town and hopefully find a job. They happened to stumble unto the Fringe mansion grounds one day and noticed that the house was empty. When they stayed in town that night at the motel they found out that no one had lived in the mansion ever since the owner had died and that no one ever would live there. Not being able to get anymore answers out of the people….”

“Yeah, we know what that’s like,” Jason uttered under his breath just loud enough for a few sitting close to him to hear.

“…My parents just decided to live here. They hadn’t heard of the curse by this time and soon after they moved in they found the Fringe fortune and, should I say, the rest is history,” Albert finished with a slight grin and waving of his hands.

“So, your family just stayed here living off someone else’s money regardless of the screams and death haunting the town?” TaeAnne asked noticeably bothered by these facts.

Lockefren placed her arm around the troubled little girl trying to comfort her before she became too upset. Last nights shock was still too fresh for the group as well.

“Yes, little girl they did,” Albert softly answered. “You see, my mother became very ill soon after their arrival and couldn’t survive a departure at that time. Over much time she slowly regained her strength back only to become pregnant and bed ridden again. Soon, I believe, it just became normal to them. I also believe they may have been scared to leave seeing how no one else was able to leave without dying as a result. Actually, the money my parents found helped the town a little. They employed workers to work the land and keep up the house and such. I simply grew up here in the house and never had any real friends. The towns people feared this place was haunted by the evil spirit of Roy Fringe, so you can guess how many children ever came up here to play with me, and I wasn’t allowed outside the house. My parents taught me everything I would have learned at school and I would periodically sneak out from time to time and visit the town library.”

“You have a library?” Amon asked shocked such a town would bother with such things.

“Not anymore. It shut down when I was a child and after I purchased from them archive documents of what had happened over 100 years ago in Fringe,” Albert said despondently.

“What did you want with the documents? What do they speak of?” Lockefren curiously asked.

“Growing up here in this house made me quite interested in what was outside. I wanted to know everything I could about why I was stuck here and why everyone was so afraid of my home, so I became a historian of sorts and gathered everything I could about this curse and Roy Fringe. Unfortunately, most of what I could find I already knew. Everything except that, apparently this is the first recorded curse of this kind and no one knows how to break it,” Albert finished with widened eyes and a large grin on his face.

Sitting and pondering awhile on Albert’s story, Terrell had two questions he finally asked, “What exactly is a Serpith and what became of these other warriors and adventurers you spoke of?”

With a surprised look upon his face that anyone knew of the creature’s name, Albert answered excitedly, “Well, the Serpith is a serpent like creature complete with large fangs. It is twice as long as a man with superb strength and the ability to see through the Shroud Mist. It can control the shadows around him, as well, making it appear to move with supernatural speed. As for the other warriors, many have come from other towns and villages after hearing tales of our misfortunes with intentions of ridding us of our curse. However, they all died very quickly and painfully I‘m afraid. They would first come by here asking questions, as you are now, only to meet with their demise soon after. Eventually no one came by anymore to try and help and all hope left the town. I must admit, I was quite surprised when you walked up to my gates. I didn’t think anyone cared about helping us anymore.”

“Well,” Jason started as he leaned back into his chair getting comfortable, “I’m not going anywhere until either it’s dead or I am. This town is the epitome of the evil and darkness facing Krysala today. No one wants to help, nor does anyone care. I, for one, am not one of those people and even if the town no longer has hope or wants to be saved, I’m here until the end.”

With this news, Amon blurted out, “What is the Serpith’s weakness?”

Albert stood up and walked unenthusiastically over to a large mural of Roy Fringe sitting in a chair with a dignified smug look upon his face. Albert stared at the picture as he spoke.

“That, I’m afraid, is unknown. Not even the books, which spoke of the Serpith, mentioned any known weaknesses. All that is known is that is seems to wipe out whole villages and towns before it moves on. Because of Roy’s curse, I don’t believe this town will ever go completely under and the Serpith will never leave. Some say the creature is Roy Fringe himself and that is why it never attacks the mansion. The reality, however, is that no one really knows what happened the day Roy died. All that is known is that not one of them can leave without being killed and their horrible fate is set before them. They are to be born here, grow up here and, eventually, be food for the beast here.” With a heavy sigh, Albert plopped back down into his chair adding, “Then, there are the harvest months in the year.”

“What are the harvest months?” TaeAnne asked timidly.

“They are when the beast harvests for food and no one is safe from its wrath. It is the only time when children seem to be victimized and even the grounds outside my home are not safe,” Albert stated lightly shuddering.

The room fell silent with everyone mulling over the plethora of information they had been given. The incredible silence was only broken by a scream of sheer terror. Everyone, but Albert, leapt to their feet running over to the large windows facing the town below them. Nothing could be seen outside the mansion grounds, however, except for a thick and swirling black mist encompassing the town.

“How can you just sit there in your overstuffed chair as if you care nothing about someone being in trouble?” Jason questioned Albert seeing him sitting with his head resting in his hand.

Albert looked up at Jason with cold eyes, “That person isn’t in trouble, my friend; that person is dead.” Looking around at his disturbed guests Albert stated sadly, “It is most unfortunate that one must get accustomed to screams in the night.”

Amon looked up at the collection of portraits littering the walls of the sitting room. They were all of the same man noticeably wearing a large ring with the same crest and ‘F’ that was blazed on the front gates.

“Do you know what happened to the old man that runs the motel in town?” Amon suddenly asked trying to sound barely interested while continuing to look at the portraits.

Albert chuckled to himself that the boy would even care about such a lowly man.

“Yes, he’s the product of living through a Serpith attack.”

“He lived through an attack?” Terrell inquired quickly. “How?”

“It was out of pure luck. One night Chuck was headed back to the motel after having a few drinks. The Shroud Mist happened to come over the land that night. In the darkness Chuck stumbled on the steps to his motel and dropped his glasses. When he bent over to try and pick them up the Serpith passed over his head merely grazing his balding scalp with the tip of what must have been a fang. The force of the impact literally knocked him through the entrance door of his motel where, screaming and howling in pain, old Chuck ran into his office and hasn’t ventured outside his motel since,” Albert finished.

Jason remembered that the man’s bandage seemed to have some fresh blood on it.

“So, the attack must have just happened recently then?” Jason asked of Albert.

Shaking his head, Albert answered, “No, it was over a year ago. The strike of the Serpith runs deep and never heals. Its abnormal saliva runs green and is very toxic keeping the wound from ever healing. Well, naturally healing anyway.”

Jason and the others thought of how horrible it would be to have a wound that never closed or healed and flinched at the thought.

“You’re safe in this house, however, so please, as my guests for the evening, try to get some rest. You will need your strength if you are to face such a creature,” Albert said trying to be enthusiastic.

Albert guided them up the stairs leading to a long corridor lined with several rooms.

“Please take any room you like; only, trust that you are safe while in my home,” he added gesturing towards the plush rooms.

Thanking Albert once again, the group headed off to their separate rooms still keeping with a buddy system of Terrell with Ben, Jason with Amon and the girls in three separate rooms. They delightedly got into their soft and warm beds and slept restfully for the first time in a long while.

The next morning they awoke to the aroma of fresh bacon and sausage frying in the kitchen a floor below them. The first downstairs were Jason and Amon who walked in on Albert hard at work cooking up a feast for his guests. Upon their arrival Albert gave them a huge smile.

“Good morning gentlemen,” he excitedly called out. “I hope you have a hearty appetite this morning! Now sit down and enjoy!”

Quickly Albert grabbed two glasses of orange juice and sat it in front of them before continuing with his busy work. After a few moments the others joined the two in the kitchen having been drawn down by the delightful smells. Terrell, however, came down in full armor ready not for breakfast, but instead for a battle. He was decked out in a regal assortment of Elvin armor, weapons of several sorts and uses and his T-helmet tucked under his arm. The sight of his unfriendly face and armored body caught the attention of everyone in the room enjoying their feast.

“What are you doing Terrell?” Ben asked hoping Terrell was pulling some sort of joke on them.

“I’m going to the old mine and do some investigating. I’m going where it all began,” Terrell answered determinedly.

Albert stared at him with a worried look upon his face, “Please do not do such a thing. I don’t want any one of you to be hurt.” He continued with fear in his voice and a troubled look on his brow, “The stories I’ve heard all say that the creature lives in the mine always waiting for some poor fool to open it back up. You just can’t go there, please.”

Bowing slightly, Terrell spoke to Albert with no emotion in his eyes, “I thank you for your hospitality Mr. Soel, but I’ve never lived in fear of anything, nor will I start today. If I must, I will fight the creature to the death as long as I know I did it for the right reasons. I believe putting right what has been wronged for so many years is a right reason.”

Jason turned from looking at Terrell and gazed at his unfinished plate of food. A sudden conviction ran through his heart as he realized he had let this comfortable and welcoming home, bed and tasty food to cloud his objective. With that he stood to his feet and joined Terrell.

“You will not go alone, of course. Allow me to get my things and we can be on our way,” Jason announced to Terrell.

Jason began towards the staircase and was shortly thereafter joined by Lockefren, Ben and the children all determined to quickly pack up their belongings and head out to face their enemy. As the adults packed up, they prepared more for a hunt than for an investigation.

As they neared the door to leave the mansion, Albert followed them pleading, “Don’t go! Please do not go! Please, at least leave the children here safe with me!”

Abruptly Jason stopped and turned behind him to see the children ready to leave right along with him. He had not even toyed with the idea of them going off to find this creature, yet he had also forgotten that they were preparing to leave just as he was.

“Wait,” he said looking at them both seriously, “you have to stay here.”

“No, I’m coming with you! You cannot stop me from helping you,” Amon huffed in irritation.

“Amon, your future is too important for you to risk your life needlessly.” Before Amon could argue Jason added motioning towards TaeAnne, “You are to stay here and protect your sister. If for nothing else, you must do this for her.”

Jason looked down at TaeAnne as tears began to flood her eyes. He smiled and pulled both her and Amon into a loving embrace. He then turned his attention to the frantic Albert standing close by.

“Make sure they’re safe,” he warned Albert. “If we do not return you must send them at a safe time on to the rulers of Karza.”

Albert nodded and noticed that the children were in complete disagreement of the situation.

“I’ll do my very best watching over them,” Albert reassured him.

Nodding, Jason gave one last look of hope to the children and smiled before turning on his heel and walking out the front door to meet with the rest of the group. As they made their way down the long cobblestone path to the Fringe mansion gate, Terrell announced to the group his complete plans of investigation.

“I believe we should head back to the motel and check up with the old man one more time before we head for the mines. I don’t exactly believe he’s given us all the information he’s got brewing around in that injured head of his,” Terrell announced suspiciously.

Upon entering the motel, Chuck took one look at the group in their heavy armor and made a fast dash towards his office door when, suddenly, two arrows hit the side frame of the door right in front of his eyes, almost grazing the tip of his nose. The old man slowly turned back to see the elf-woman and one of the elf-men with their bows drawn back ready to loose another shot.

“C…C…Can I help you?” Chuck cautiously stammered in fear of the group.

Jason approached the desk, with the old man backing up in fear still remembering their last encounter. Jason leapt over the desk landing directly before Chuck and grabbed him.

“Yes, you can help us, Chuck. You’re going to tell us the little story about your head and then you’re going to tell us where to find the mines,” Jason declared in forcibly restrained hostility.

Chuck began to sweat, nodding in acknowledgement, completely speechless. Dropping him from his grip, Jason nudged the old man into his office while the others followed behind them. Ben and Lockefren removed their arrows from the doorframe while complimenting one another on their shot. Loudly the door slammed shut and no one emerged for another hour.

The trail to the mine was not an easy one to endure as a lack of use had given way to an overgrowth of trees, shrubbery and animal habitation. According to Chuck’s directions it would take them at least an hour to reach by walking. While they walked they discussed the differences in Chuck’s explanation about his injury and the story Albert had told them. According to Chuck, he was leaving Albert’s home the night he was attacked after dropping off groceries, not coming from the bar. Also it was mid-afternoon when the Shroud Mist had fallen, not nighttime, as Albert had stated. The remainder of the story appeared to coincide including the disgusting wound the beast had left on Chuck’s head. He went on to describe his wound, not wanting to actually reveal its hideousness, as a gaping eight-inch long and three inch deep slash with a permanent bruise-like discoloration that continuously festered and bled. Everything about the seriousness and state of the wound proved he should be dead, but for some reason he continued to live in a painful and tortured existence. The thought of having to live with something like that frightened and disgusted the group, but none of them faltered from their plans.

After they were done prying Chuck for information, he began to shudder and exclaim that they’d just forced him to seal his fate for sure. The townsfolk didn’t seem to be any happier with them either. As they began their way out of the town and towards the mines, very few people looked pleased or hopeful as they passed by. The majority of them, instead, stared with unwelcoming looks of malice. Comments were yelled out at them like Worthless heroes; we pay for their snooping around; At least they get to leave. They continued on their way knowing that if they could defeat the Serpith all would be better in this town. However, they were also haunted with the knowledge that if they failed the townsfolk would surely pay the price for their endeavors.

The mine entrance looked large enough for even a troll to enter which worried the group as to the actual size of the Serpith. With their every step echoing in the cave tunnel, the four warriors entered with their weapons in hand. Suddenly, lamps positioned on their path began to flicker and illuminate the tunnel.

Glancing to the lamps and then to his comrades, Terrell stated, “Hmm, there must be enchantments at work here. Keep your eyes open for any others as well. We don’t want anything jumping out ahead of us if we can help it.”

As they continued down the path, all wondering just where this creature could possibly have made his home in this cave, they noticed down the way a small clearing. Beyond that were three tunnels leading downward into the depths of the cave.

“A dwarf right now would sure be handy,” Ben said staring at the tunnels. “At least then we would know just how deep these things are or if they are even stable.”

“Very true, Cousin, but since we do not, we are going to have to split up,” Terrell answered back.

Two of the three tunnels were lit all the way down by the same enchanted lamps as were on the path, but one was pitch black with no existence of light at all.

“What are the groups then, because if you want to hit them all, two of us are going alone?” Jason asked.

“I know. I thought that Lockefren and Ben could take the first tunnel to the right, you can take the one on the left and I’ll take the middle,” Terrell delegated.

“Alright then. Let’s get going and if you don’t find anything after a short while come back here directly and we’ll regroup,” Jason stated.

Lockefren and Ben started down their tunnel.

“I hope there aren’t any spiders down here,” Ben joked to Lockefren.

“Don’t worry Ben, I’ll protect you,” Lockefren joked back. “I’ve heard that enchanted mines like this are breeding homes for giant spiders,” she said smiling to herself as she continued down the tunnel and a short distance ahead of Ben.

“Don’t be messing around like that Lockefren,” Ben said not smiling. When Lockefren said nothing in reply, Ben added, “Tell me you’re joking Lockefren…Lockefren th..th…that isn’t funny. Lockefren? LOCKEFREN!” Ben’s voice trailed off into echoes as he raced to catch up with his partner to confirm whether or not she was joking while checking around him for any signs of spiders.

Jason looked down the middle tunnel, which Terrell had chosen for himself before he began to speak, “I didn’t want to say anything in front of them, but I noticed you picked the one tunnel void of any light. You know, just as I do, that tunnel could very well be the path the Serpith takes.” As Terrell nodded in agreement Jason continued, “Don’t be a hero Terrell. I couldn’t let you go down that tunnel alone anymore than you would allow me to go alone. I’m going with you.”

“Jason,” Terrell replied wearing his normal look of seriousness, “if we don’t split up we may never know if it’s even in here. I would never ask anyone to face a danger I was not myself prepared to face as well. Without light, I cannot afford to allow you to go with me. I can see in the dark where you cannot. I must do this alone.”

Still not entirely convinced, Jason shook his head in disagreement, but before he could argue Terrell headed off down the dark tunnel at a quickened pace. He knew he would never be able to find Terrell in the immense darkness, so he reluctantly began to venture down his own tunnel instead.

Lockefren kept up the joke about giant spiders until they reached the end of their tunnel. Ahead of them stood a large iron door that looked oddly out of place in a mining tunnel. The door, however, didn’t look abandoned or worn from time. Instead it seemed to have a fresh finish and recently greased hinges.

“This is strange,” Lockefren stated observing the unlocked door. “If I were to guess I’d say this door has recently been opened. This smudge of mud on the door handle is fresh.”

Raising his bow and readying an arrow, Ben replied, “Ok, open the door.” Feeling quite enclosed and uncomfortable, he added, “I hate just standing around here anyway. We have got to be deep into the ground right now. I don’t like it.”

Lockefren was very grateful for her half-blood knowing just how much most Elvin people hated to be underground instead of out in the open air.

“Ok, here I go,” she said as she quickly yanked the door open wide and readied herself for what may be in the next room.

When she opened the door, all that was inside was another corridor of illuminated lamps and a path leading even deeper into the mine.

“What should we do?” Lockefren asked. “It would take too long to reach the others and if someone is down here I’d rather reach them before they have a chance to leave.

Not lowering his bow, just in case someone were to be seen traveling back up the path before them, Ben replied, “I agree. Let’s continue and see if there is a person to be found indeed.”

Lockefren exchanged a nod of agreement and, drawing her long sword, walked through the door and began down the path with Ben, arrow at the ready, following closely behind her.

Covering the walls and lamps in Jason’s tunnel was a thickening film of mold. The intoxicating aroma of mildew and dampness in the air sickened Jason as he tried to breath more out of his mouth than his nose. Along the ground he noticed that there were no mining rails or carts anywhere to be found. Surely, he thought, Roy Fringe wasn’t so cruel and cheap that he made the miners remove the ore up the long tunnel by hand. The strangeness of a lack of rails faded as a sudden gust of cold wind rushed up through the tunnel blowing Jason’s long leather coat wildly behind him. Squinting his eyes, he could see in the far distance ahead of him a large cave opening. He began to pace himself much faster than before. As he approached the opening, he could see that it wasn’t just a tunnel, but was instead another actual cave within the mining shaft. There were lit torches attached to the walls of the cave leading him straight ahead. The overwhelming stench of mildew was quite a bit stronger here, causing Jason to feel nauseous. All around him was a whirling flow of ice-cold wind sending chills throughout his body. However, regardless of the odor and wind, Jason entered the mouth of the cave not letting these two nuisances keep him from his destination and purpose.

He traveled deeper into the cave until he came to a huge gap between his path and the other end of the cave. Wind gusted upward and downward in amazing thrusts almost as if the cave itself was breathing in and out very deeply. Only one thought came to Jason’s mind as he looked around the room in wonderment. Awe struck, Jason finally let out the question racing through his mind as if someone were repeatedly speaking it to him: “The Living Caves?”