dwarves, not humans. So your body might shut down sooner.”
With that said, he hurried off once again, forcing the others into a run in order to catch up. This time however, Jonas had no trouble keeping pace, even overtaking Birger a few times.
Occasionally the dwarf withdrew a small red stone and gripped it tightly. Ethan recalled seeing him use it when they were on their way to Elyfoss and he took this opportunity to inquire what it was.
“It can sense life nearby,” Birger told him. “Not from too far…about a mile or so. It tells me if anyone is coming.”
“Another useful tool,” Markus remarked.
“Indeed,” Birger agreed. “It has steered me clear of many a danger over the years.”
They paused only briefly to eat. Though Jonas showed no signs of tiring, Ethan and Markus were by now both grimacing regularly from sore muscles and aching feet. Ethan considered taking a sip from the bottle, but eventually thought better of it.
The tunnels wound and twisted in snakelike patterns, as well as forking off in multiple directions. Ethan was again grateful that Birger was among them. Without him they would be utterly lost, likely condemned to wander around in the dark until the food in their packs ran out and they starved to death.
He reckoned it was close to early evening – though it was hard to know for sure while they were within the mountain. Ahead, he could see a soft glow illuminating the passage.
“Shantara stones,” said Markus.
Birger put away his light. “They go on for many miles.”
On drawing close, Ethan stopped in his tracks and gasped in awe. From floor to ceiling the clear stone glowed with a warm blue light. He gazed into the wall and ran his hand along its flawless surface. Countless individual embedded facets sparkled like captured stars, shooting rays of light from one to another, creating a vast web of perpetual radiance.
“This is incredible,” he whispered.
From the look on their faces, Jonas and Markus appeared to be sharing his feelings.
“There’s no time for gazing at rocks,” Birger scolded.
“But it’s just so…beautiful,” Ethan remarked.
Birger grumbled with irritation. “Unless you think it a beautiful enough place to die in, I suggest you move your bloody feet.”
He quickened the pace – Ethan thought it was a punishment for making them stop. It worked. Soon, his multiple aches and pains were making the beauty of the Shantara seem far less important.
After another hour of rigorous progress, just after turning a bend, they spotted a large figure lying on the ground a short distance ahead. Birger immediately took out his axe. Ethan and the others also drew their weapons.
After gesturing for them to stay put, Birger crept forward until he was only a few feet away from the figure. On returning, he put away his axe and shook his head.
“It’s just an injured troll,” he said. “Nothing to worry about.”
Ethan’s nerves were instantly on edge. “I thought you said trolls are dangerous.”
“The young ones are. This one’s almost fully grown.”
“I don’t get it?” Ethan scratched his head in confusion.
“When trolls are old enough to leave their mother, they become wild and vicious,” Birger explained. “The adults drive them away until they get older and are calm enough to return to the herd. However, from time to time, a young troll will stay away too long and become docile. When that happens, the younger trolls attack it.”
He glanced back over his shoulder. “It seems that is what’s happened to this poor creature. Don’t worry. As adults they are harmless enough. It won’t hurt us.”
“Shouldn’t we try to help it?” asked Ethan.
Markus let out a moan. “Here we go again.”
“There’s no time for that,” Birger said.
Just as he finished speaking, a loud guttural cry echoed down the tunnel. The troll tried to stand, but was only able to get to its knees before collapsing again a few seconds later.
“You see,” said Birger. “It’s too badly wounded. The kindest thing we can do is put it out of its misery.”
Ethan shot him a furious look and pushed his way past.
Another groan, this one much louder, escaped from Markus. “I do wish you hadn’t said that. You should have just lied and said the bloody thing would heal on its own. You don’t know him. He’d try to save Satan from the pits of hell if he was given the chance.”
Ethan grinned over his shoulder while still advancing. “Damn right I would.”
Throwing up his hands, Birger followed him. “The rest of you wait here.”