Chronicles of Den'dra - Spencer Johnson Page 0,127
have an army at his disposal.”
“We can’t wait in here forever. Should we go up and see what can be done?”
“No, there is another way out. We can defeat him even if he does manage to get over the walls. He is after his son.” Reigns brushed past Alban and descended the stairs. When they reached the lowest level, he closed the door into the staircase and pulled a cord that ran into the ceiling. A thunderous rumbling sounded above them before some heavy impacts began buckling the door. A moment later it gave way letting a flood of boulders into the corridor. Reigns and Alban hastily retreated to the other end of the sloping tunnel where a heavy door with an iron lock waited. The tunnel was filling with dust before Reigns got the lock undone. On the other side of the door was a small room with some dusty old supplies on a few shelves. Taking a bundle of candles, Reigns lit one with the torch and handed it to Alban.
“It is a fair walk to the other end so we will be needing these.”
“What is this place?” Alban asked hesitantly. The man he had addressed had just buried alive all the prisoners in the dungeon. The men on the surface were equally abandoned and now he was calmly preparing for an underground journey.
“I am sure you have heard of the legend of the robber baron and how he was never found in Firgrest once it was taken? Well, during the three years it took to take the castle, he had this tunnel constructed. He escaped through it with most of his stolen riches and for all I know is living a quiet life in some hidden corner of the world.”
“How long is the tunnel?”
“It is hewn through the stone for a distance before they broke into a natural lava tunnel. It comes out near the edge of the forest to the north of the castle. As I said, a long walk so we should get moving.” Alban took one last look at the door behind them before hastening to keep pace with Reigns’ long stride.
“Amazing.”
“Why don’t you send out a message, however you do it, and have reinforcements try attacking the Asgare at the rear by surprise.”
“I can’t. My Gift isn’t of that kind. That is what my groom was for. He was the telepath and was up on the surface.”
“Too bad. I wish I hadn’t been forced to bury the Dragon Lords. They would have been fascinating to study.”
Chapter Sixteen: Choices
Torroth marched with his eyes fixed on the ground a few feet ahead of his boot tips. It was a tortured decision that led him down this path. A path that he felt was the only one that was possible. It was far too dangerous for Anissa to be anywhere in the Braebach. On the one hand, Reigns was most likely trying to recover his fake princess. On the other hand, Torroth had been forced to fight off two sets of men that had intended on having their way with the girl. They hadn’t anticipated that Torroth might be more than a simple farmer with his betrothed.
Anissa was terrified of every shadow that moved after these two experiences. That was one of the reasons that he was now wending his feet towards the Vaulwar Mountains. Dragon’s Hamlet offered safety in its isolation. After leaving Urake, they had intended to disappear into a secluded town where he could practice his smithing skills. That was when they saw a poster that remotely resembled Anissa. In truth the primary detail that resembled the girl was the purple eyes prominent in the poster. However vague it was, the resemblance was enough to require Torroth fending off a few individuals intent on collecting the five gold coin offered for the capture if the pictured individual.
After leaving that unfortunate town, the real trouble had begun. Even dressed in the wardrobe of the commoners, Anissa was a young woman of rare beauty. The brigands that had tried to share their camp had noticed and attempted to force themselves on her without having taken Torroth into account. One had even had the misfortune of drawing a knife. The ensuing battle had lost the knife wielder a thumb and cost the other a deep cut down the side of his leg. They had been more than happy to drag themselves away before any chance for further bloodshed.