Darkin A Journey East - By Joseph A. Turkot Page 0,19
I call you?” asked Krem as he led them farther into the cavernous hallway.
“My name is Erguile. I am a slave of the same farm as Adacon here. Alas, I am the last of our fellow slaves. The plantation was retaken at dawn yesterday. The others are dead now, along with the foolish guards that chased after them. No doubt—the Red Forest has had its fill by now.”
“The Red Forest, a beautifully cruel place it is—in fact, it was not long ago I was traveling there and found the most peculiar creature; a marvelous beast that called itself Slowin. But I shall tell you more of the Deep Red when we are fixed with proper comforts, and you two are no longer ailed by hunger. Come! We must make haste, for Grelion never sleeps—no he doesn’t—never sleeps…” Krem said as he led them through the cool cavern. Erguile fell in love with its beauty just as Adacon had. Krem brought them to the great room with four branching halls, and they briskly walked down the path that led to the ladder. Krem and Adacon quickly descended, followed by a reluctant Erguile, who made the mistake of peering down first. In a moment they were all standing on the floor by the great crystal-reflecting pond.
Adacon walked to the corner and seated himself in the spot where he had eaten before as Krem went to fetch food. Erguile had not thought about food since he had arrived below, instead training his eyes upon the beautiful shimmer of the pond.
“It’s the most magnificent thing I’ve ever seen! I don’t understand how such a place could have existed all these years without me having known. I am sorry, but I think I will stay here a good year before I set off with you, Adacon. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind, would you?” Erguile said as he stood off to the right of the ladder, near the edge of the pond, staring at the water’s wondrous illumination. The cave was eerily lit with no obvious source, and the ceiling shimmered with reflective sparkles, bouncing off the jagged rock roof. The pool was vast and clear, reflecting the glimmering ceiling, and no certain bottom could be seen within it, only a dark depth that descended beyond what eyesight was capable of seeing.
“I suppose if the pond has you so entranced that you won’t be of any use in battle, I can let you stay here. But I doubt Krem will let you stay all alone in his precious palace,” chuckled Adacon.
“Fine—then it shall be that once our quest is over, I’ll first return here and spend a decade or two, marveling at this place, and swim evermore in peace—save when I grow hungry and hit up his food stores!” Erguile rejoiced. Adacon was happy to see Erguile in such high spirits.
The pond is that beautiful, Adacon thought, and Erguile’s fantasy wasn’t so different from the way he himself had felt upon first seeing the place. Adacon thought of things to come; he wondered: if such a marvel lay so close to their farm, what beauty could the rest of the unknown world have in store for them?—and what evil? But his thoughts only swayed for a moment, as before long a sweet aroma of spiced meat filled the room. Adacon glanced off to a corridor that led into a room filled with cupboards and saw Krem coming with a tray full of platters. Erguile smelled succulent food too, and he seemed to forget the pond already as he rushed to a seat next to Adacon at the oaken table.
“After this feast, I think I shall go for a swim,” Erguile said. “How about you Adacon?”
“You will first have a good talk with me, Erguile, before I am to set you loose in my pool,” Krem uttered as he laid the tray of piping hot meat on the table.
“This looks delicious Krem,” Adacon said politely.
“Indeed it does! And I won’t be able to contain myself much longer if you don’t hurry your old bones Krem,” shouted Erguile in a frenzy. Adacon feared for his new friend after the cutting remark, but Krem remained as calm as ever.
Krem began spreading plates around the table. There were several large chunks of meat—dark and light—covered in different blends of spices. Krem laid out more plates filled with plenty of potatoes, corn, rice and bread. There was wine again, along with several vials of rainbow-colored juices. At last all the food