[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
Though she did not wish to usurp control of the group's movements from
the dwarves, she could no longer hold her tongue. "Tun? Are we in danger by
simply standing here?"
His eyes washed over her, just as slight satisfaction appeared on his
face. If the delver's revelation had shaken his confidence in the sanctity of
his secret, the elf's question restored it. "Standing still may be the only
thing which is truly safe in this place," he said almost smugly. "It is
movement that is dangerous. I bid you all to remember that." He let the
warning sink in before continuing. "I suppose it is time for us to pass this
level, and pass it we will."
"One moment please." The uncertain voice of Lauren broke the attention
upon the dwarf. The sorceress spoke meekly, as timid as a mouse with eyes upon
circling owls. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I have to do something about
the cold. My clothes are damp. I can feel the cold air on our backs. I won't
be able to concentrate on what we're doing if I'm freezing to death."
"It is cold," Stephen stated as he also realized how damp his own clothes
were. He noted his frosty breath. Until this moment, the excitement of the
quest kept their minds from the cold wind of night shrilling in from the
opening overhead. Without torches to exude heat, most would soon become numb.
"What is it you suggest we do?"
"I think ... I'm pretty sure I can dry our clothes for us."
"A spell has come to your mind?" Holli asked perceptively.
Lauren could only nod. She did not wish to speak of how or why the
knowledge became her own. She did not understand it herself. A moment before
she only knew she was cold, uncomfortable in the damp clothes she wore. As if
fulfilling a wish, a means of funneling the energy within in her burst into
her mind. A moment of concentration and they would be warmed.
Most called for an immediate casting, especially the algors who were
perhaps the most uncomfortable in the drafty dampness of the cavern. Lauren
hesitated, torn by the desire to be warmed and the fear of unleashing yet
another power which she could not comprehend. She began to shiver, the cold
gnawed at her, and finally forced the fear from her mind. She closed her eyes
and seized a distant thought.
The air around the entire group shuddered and then became colored with a
light purple hue. The cold was ripped from about them as dry hot air engulfed
them all. It swirled about, ever so slightly, like a hot but gentle breeze
Page 256
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
from the desert. Their clothes dried near instantaneously and soon became warm
to the touch, a warmth which would stay with them. The cold damp from above
was blocked and most of the party hummed in satisfaction. Even the great cliff
behemoth basked in the comforting warmth.
Lauren opened her eyes, at first she was smiling. Her burden of cold
released, no longer shivering, she embraced herself. She draped her arms about
her shoulders to drink in the heat. Her delight was short lived. Her
realization that she was the sole creation of this phenomenon pulled any
further pleasure from her. She dropped her arms in near desperation.
Her plight, however, went unnoticed as Tun called for their attention.
"With our thanks to the sorceress, we can now begin." If he was truly
thankful, his voice concealed it. He continued as if wanting to move beyond
the use of magic as soon as possible. "It is time I reveal to you what waits
for us beyond the darkness. The delver is correct, the cover of dark is an
illusion. It is the first veil to discourage unwanted visitors into Sanctum.
The dwarves were never able to use magic to create illusions, but we know how
to use what the land gives us. Gems and crystals can bend the light, reshape
it, create things which are not there and hide things which are. That is what
awaits us.
"It took the preparation of hundreds of perfect gems to create the
obstacles in this tier, but such was the importance of guarding the sphere.
Any light, even the light of the delver's sword, will be twisted to create
numerous illusions. You will see walls were no walls exist, you will see clear
paths that are nothing more than dead ends, and you will see solid ground
which is truly waiting doom.
"As well as creating images which do not exist, the gems also hide those
things which you might wish to find. The one clear path through the maze of
this tier is as disguised as the best thief in the land. As for the trap door
which leads to the next level, if you look for it, you will never see it. It
is bathed in the same void which surrounds us now.
"But beware, this is not simply a tier full of tricks. There are things
very deadly, even to a cliff behemoth. Spiked pits, pools of acid, falling
boulders, and traps of other assortments wait for a single misstep. Sometimes
you will see me step directly toward a pit while safe ground appears to my
side. You must remember it is the trick of the gems. You must not trust what
you see, for the pit will be safe and the solid ground will hold your death.
"This entire tier was constructed so that one who walked about in the
light would die as foolish as the one that stumbled about in the dark. Even a
delver moving inch by painful inch with his eyes closed would never avoid
every pitfall that waits. Unless you enter knowing what is safe and what is
not, you would not survive this tier.
"One other thing, once we pass into the void, the steps will disappear
from our sight. Just as the ground beyond this spot is invisible to us, that
which can be seen here can not be seen there. When I take my next step, I will
disappear from your sight as you will disappear from mine. It is a safeguard
to prevent anyone from finding their way back to the steps once they make the
foolish attempt to truly enter Sanctum. Only those that know the true path
would be able to find the stairs again."
With the secret revealed, Tun gazed into the darkness that greeted them
one and all. He watched it with growing displeasure, as if it were now nothing
more than a curtain to be thrown aside. If it were vulnerable to the edge of
his axe, he would have cut through it in disgust.
Page 257
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
He knew his help was still needed. Knowing what evil lurked beyond the
darkness, and knowing how to defeat it were certainly two separate entities,
but the truth of what his people placed in Sanctum was now exposed. In his own
eyes, the barrier itself did not live up to its long history.
The secret to Sanctum was his birthright as prince. It was something
spoken of in hushed tones, a great burden. Now that he acknowledged it openly,
spoke of it not only outside of royal blood but outside his race, it seemed
almost feeble, almost laughable. The dwarf barrier to the unholy sphere was
nothing more than a trick of light.
He and his brother knew which steps to take to gain safe passage through
the tier, but the barrier did not seem as deadly now that it was truly
revealed. He never felt as humbled as he did at that very moment. He spoke of
what must be done with growing dissatisfaction.
"Once I pass beyond, I will ask that my brother remain here to guide you
one by one to me. When you pass through the darkness, you must, without
argument, step exactly where I tell you to. When we begin to cross the tier
you must also do exactly as I say. No matter what it looks like I am doing, do
not stray from the path I set. If you do so, you will not only cause your
death, but the rest of us will probably die as well."
Such a warning limped hollow and empty from the prince, but it needed to
be said for it was the truth. The path to be traveled was narrow, with no [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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Though she did not wish to usurp control of the group's movements from
the dwarves, she could no longer hold her tongue. "Tun? Are we in danger by
simply standing here?"
His eyes washed over her, just as slight satisfaction appeared on his
face. If the delver's revelation had shaken his confidence in the sanctity of
his secret, the elf's question restored it. "Standing still may be the only
thing which is truly safe in this place," he said almost smugly. "It is
movement that is dangerous. I bid you all to remember that." He let the
warning sink in before continuing. "I suppose it is time for us to pass this
level, and pass it we will."
"One moment please." The uncertain voice of Lauren broke the attention
upon the dwarf. The sorceress spoke meekly, as timid as a mouse with eyes upon
circling owls. "I don't mean to interrupt, but I have to do something about
the cold. My clothes are damp. I can feel the cold air on our backs. I won't
be able to concentrate on what we're doing if I'm freezing to death."
"It is cold," Stephen stated as he also realized how damp his own clothes
were. He noted his frosty breath. Until this moment, the excitement of the
quest kept their minds from the cold wind of night shrilling in from the
opening overhead. Without torches to exude heat, most would soon become numb.
"What is it you suggest we do?"
"I think ... I'm pretty sure I can dry our clothes for us."
"A spell has come to your mind?" Holli asked perceptively.
Lauren could only nod. She did not wish to speak of how or why the
knowledge became her own. She did not understand it herself. A moment before
she only knew she was cold, uncomfortable in the damp clothes she wore. As if
fulfilling a wish, a means of funneling the energy within in her burst into
her mind. A moment of concentration and they would be warmed.
Most called for an immediate casting, especially the algors who were
perhaps the most uncomfortable in the drafty dampness of the cavern. Lauren
hesitated, torn by the desire to be warmed and the fear of unleashing yet
another power which she could not comprehend. She began to shiver, the cold
gnawed at her, and finally forced the fear from her mind. She closed her eyes
and seized a distant thought.
The air around the entire group shuddered and then became colored with a
light purple hue. The cold was ripped from about them as dry hot air engulfed
them all. It swirled about, ever so slightly, like a hot but gentle breeze
Page 256
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
from the desert. Their clothes dried near instantaneously and soon became warm
to the touch, a warmth which would stay with them. The cold damp from above
was blocked and most of the party hummed in satisfaction. Even the great cliff
behemoth basked in the comforting warmth.
Lauren opened her eyes, at first she was smiling. Her burden of cold
released, no longer shivering, she embraced herself. She draped her arms about
her shoulders to drink in the heat. Her delight was short lived. Her
realization that she was the sole creation of this phenomenon pulled any
further pleasure from her. She dropped her arms in near desperation.
Her plight, however, went unnoticed as Tun called for their attention.
"With our thanks to the sorceress, we can now begin." If he was truly
thankful, his voice concealed it. He continued as if wanting to move beyond
the use of magic as soon as possible. "It is time I reveal to you what waits
for us beyond the darkness. The delver is correct, the cover of dark is an
illusion. It is the first veil to discourage unwanted visitors into Sanctum.
The dwarves were never able to use magic to create illusions, but we know how
to use what the land gives us. Gems and crystals can bend the light, reshape
it, create things which are not there and hide things which are. That is what
awaits us.
"It took the preparation of hundreds of perfect gems to create the
obstacles in this tier, but such was the importance of guarding the sphere.
Any light, even the light of the delver's sword, will be twisted to create
numerous illusions. You will see walls were no walls exist, you will see clear
paths that are nothing more than dead ends, and you will see solid ground
which is truly waiting doom.
"As well as creating images which do not exist, the gems also hide those
things which you might wish to find. The one clear path through the maze of
this tier is as disguised as the best thief in the land. As for the trap door
which leads to the next level, if you look for it, you will never see it. It
is bathed in the same void which surrounds us now.
"But beware, this is not simply a tier full of tricks. There are things
very deadly, even to a cliff behemoth. Spiked pits, pools of acid, falling
boulders, and traps of other assortments wait for a single misstep. Sometimes
you will see me step directly toward a pit while safe ground appears to my
side. You must remember it is the trick of the gems. You must not trust what
you see, for the pit will be safe and the solid ground will hold your death.
"This entire tier was constructed so that one who walked about in the
light would die as foolish as the one that stumbled about in the dark. Even a
delver moving inch by painful inch with his eyes closed would never avoid
every pitfall that waits. Unless you enter knowing what is safe and what is
not, you would not survive this tier.
"One other thing, once we pass into the void, the steps will disappear
from our sight. Just as the ground beyond this spot is invisible to us, that
which can be seen here can not be seen there. When I take my next step, I will
disappear from your sight as you will disappear from mine. It is a safeguard
to prevent anyone from finding their way back to the steps once they make the
foolish attempt to truly enter Sanctum. Only those that know the true path
would be able to find the stairs again."
With the secret revealed, Tun gazed into the darkness that greeted them
one and all. He watched it with growing displeasure, as if it were now nothing
more than a curtain to be thrown aside. If it were vulnerable to the edge of
his axe, he would have cut through it in disgust.
Page 257
ABC Amber Palm Converter, http://www.processtext.com/abcpalm.html
He knew his help was still needed. Knowing what evil lurked beyond the
darkness, and knowing how to defeat it were certainly two separate entities,
but the truth of what his people placed in Sanctum was now exposed. In his own
eyes, the barrier itself did not live up to its long history.
The secret to Sanctum was his birthright as prince. It was something
spoken of in hushed tones, a great burden. Now that he acknowledged it openly,
spoke of it not only outside of royal blood but outside his race, it seemed
almost feeble, almost laughable. The dwarf barrier to the unholy sphere was
nothing more than a trick of light.
He and his brother knew which steps to take to gain safe passage through
the tier, but the barrier did not seem as deadly now that it was truly
revealed. He never felt as humbled as he did at that very moment. He spoke of
what must be done with growing dissatisfaction.
"Once I pass beyond, I will ask that my brother remain here to guide you
one by one to me. When you pass through the darkness, you must, without
argument, step exactly where I tell you to. When we begin to cross the tier
you must also do exactly as I say. No matter what it looks like I am doing, do
not stray from the path I set. If you do so, you will not only cause your
death, but the rest of us will probably die as well."
Such a warning limped hollow and empty from the prince, but it needed to
be said for it was the truth. The path to be traveled was narrow, with no [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]