Princess of Prophecy (Servants of the Lady), page 14
The barbarian's face paled at the description. “Never mind.” Gunthar let the wizard walk ahead.
In the early afternoon they reached a broad basin in the plains, where dusty hills rose across from them, sparse weeds fluttering in the breeze. The Badlands stretched in all directions, the high sun painting everything the color of bone. A wide stream burbled before them, flowing across their path.
“The Moonflow.” Ignacio looked up and down the stream. “And no way to cross.”
“No way to cross?” Gunthar laughed and removed his boots. “Only you southerners would need a bridge. Look how shallow it is. We can ford it here.” He strode across in great steps.
“None can cross this direction except at the invitation of the Lich King himself. Do you have an invitation, barbarian?” Ignacio cackled, an unpleasant dry sound.
“Ouch!” Gunthar recoiled mid-stream, as if he'd run into something. He took out his axe and swung it, but the blade whistled through empty air. After a few more attempts with his hands and blade, he returned to the party, shaking his head. “Indeed, Your Highness, there's some sort of barrier there which I cannot pass, though my axe can't bite it.”
Bookkeeper Andi made another note in her book.
Maryan took off her boots and waded out to the middle of the stream. The cold, clear water chilled her skin, and rocks and pebbles sparkled at the bottom. Just as Gunthar had said, a hard barrier ran down the middle of the stream. To her hand it felt spongy, though it resisted more and more as she pushed at it. But she could see nothing, and when she threw rocks at it, they sailed right through.
She returned to the others on the bank. “It is as Ignacio says. We can't pass this way.”
“Can't pass this way?” Bookkeeper Andi raised her eyebrows. “You realize that the stream cuts through the Badlands entirely? There is no way around.”
Maryan raised her chin. “The prophecy led us this far. I don't think a stream will stop us.”
Ignacio chuckled again. “It appears to have stopped us for now.”
The princess looked north, where flat plains receded into the distance. But to the south, the plains gave way to jagged canyons and plateaus. “Let's go that way.”
“The Broken Heath?” Ignacio shrugged. “It's your call, Your Highness.”
They spent the remainder of the afternoon walking south, following the stream. Though they could not cross it, the Moonflow provided fresh water and was a reliable guide.
“What are we looking for, ma'am?” asked Yang as they hiked.
“I don't know. The stream may be constricted to canyons further down. Someone may have built a bridge there.”
“Maybe.” Yang gazed further downstream to where the Broken Heath rose, low cliffs now visible in the evening sun.
In another hour, they reached the first of the bluffs, the stream's course continuing in a wide and eminently unbridged basin.
“Let's camp here,” said Maryan. “We can continue our search in the morning.”
They set up camp against the face of the bluff.
“There's no wood to be had for miles around,” said Bookkeeper Andi. “So what will we do? Freeze here?”
“You think this is cold? Try the tundra sometime.” Gunthar brushed his leathers. “Just wrap your cloak around you.”
The battlemage cackled unpleasantly at this, and the bookkeeper pressed her mouth in a thin line and made another note in her book. No one said anything after that, and they all huddled up in their cloaks and blankets and shivered through the night.
The morning broke silent and cold.
“Ah, that feels good,” said Cornelius as the first rays of dawn struck them.
Bookkeeper Andi stretched her hands out to the sun as if warming herself at a fire.
“We've got another day of food, maybe,” noted Gunthar as they broke camp. “There's no game here for us to hunt.”
“Well, let's spend the time looking for a way across the Moonflow,” said Maryan.
“Are you sure that is wise?” asked Ignacio. The wizard pointed northeast, where a dark cloud hung over the Badlands. “We're getting farther away from the Castle.”
“The castle still stands?” asked Sir Humphrey, shielding his eyes from the sun.
“No longer,” rasped Ignacio. “It fell when Archmage Omondi was betrayed. Now its secret chambers lie under the Badlands.” His one eye peered into the dark shadows under the stormcloud.
“I for one am all in favor of going south,” said Cornelius, pointing along the stream, away from the Badlands and the castle ruins. “That seems to be a very sensible direction.”
Bookkeeper Andi made another harrumphing noise and added a note to her book.
Cornelius bristled. “Madam Bookkeeper, there is already a Chronicler here. You don't need to write anything down.”
Andi looked at him, shook her head and wrote in her book again.
“Well, I never,” said Cornelius, making a note of his own.
“Come now, good Chronicler,” said Gunthar. “She's just doing her job. Let's not hold grudges.”
They spent the morning clambering over rocks and chasms as the stream wound its way further into the Broken Heath. Sometimes the stream would drop into a narrow canyon on its own, leaving the adventurers to scramble and attempt to find their own way to follow, like an uppity Bookkeeper making futile attempts to assemble a coherent sentence despite an obvious lack of Chronicler training.
They had lunch on a small plateau, baking in the sun. By late afternoon, the company was hot and tired and no closer to crossing the Moonflow. They had reached a wider canyon, able to approach the stream again.
Maryan waded in and pounded on the invisible barrier. “It's still here! How far does this barrier go? All the way to the ocean?”
“Perhaps it stretches from one end of the earth to the other.” Gunthar looked further downstream.
“Nay, good barbarian.” Sir Humphrey wiped his brow. “'Twouldst be most awkward for coastal traffic. Can you imagine being on a sailing ship, and then thwack, you and your companions are flung back by the barrier while the ship keeps going?”
Ignacio chuckled, but with more malice than mirth. “Indeed, the barrier ends many days from here. The stream grows to a river, then dissolves into the Salt Marsh, a more formidable barrier than anything magic can construct. Getting around the Moonflow is many weeks travel, north or south, and both routes are perilous.”
“That's wonderful.” Maryan glared at the stream.
“Wait,” said Yang. “If people can't cross the barrier, even on a ship, why do we think we can cross a bridge?”
Maryan shrugged. “I don't know. Does anyone have any better ideas?”
That night, they camped in a south-facing canyon, the earth still warm from the sun. The stream taunted them all night, chattering and gurgling as it flowed past, again shallow and wide, but remained impassable with its magical barrier.
Maryan got very little sleep. She huddled in a thin blanket, staring at the Moonflow. What could they do? They had come all this way, and she didn't intend to give up. But there was nothing here she could fight, no army or beast to overcome. The bewitched stream stood as a dispassionate, impenetrable obstruction.
In the morning, Gunthar asked the question on everyone's mind. “We're about out of food, Your Highness. Where to now?”
Maryan shook her head. The stormcloud over the castle was now too distant to see, far to the northeast. “We need to find a town. Is anything closer than Bluntworth?”
“No, ma'am,” said Ignacio. “Bluntworth is the only town within several days walk.”
“Let's head back to Bluntworth, then. We'll cut across the Broken Heath, and follow canyons north to the Badlands if necessary.”
Gunthar nodded. “Very well, ma'am.”
“Let me add,” said Cornelius as he climbed up on Daisy again, “that I think you've done the best you could. You kept pushing for a way to reach the castle ruins, and were turned back only by lack of provisions.”
“Thank you, Chronicler.” Maryan fought to keep her voice even, though she felt as if she had been punched in the gut. “But I think the Badlands have won this round.”
They filled their waterskins at the Moonflow and cursed the invisible barrier a final time, then turned away. The next several hours were a grueling clamber back to the northwest, trying to cut as directly to Bluntworth as possible to save time. But the Broken Heath worked against them, with canyons and deep ravines blocking their path at many points. Usually they'd turn north when the way became impassable, knowing that eventually they'd reach the flat Badlands, but sometimes even that path required scrambling up steep inclines or broken steps of fractured ground.
At noon, they had an unsatisfying meal of the remaining crumbs on hand, then set off again under the sun with empty stomachs. The Broken Heath was like the top of a great cake, its crust cracked by baking, appearing as a handsome plum loaf with a light dusting of sugar.
“You look hungry, Chronicler,” said the knight, looking up at him.
“I am, sir!”
An hour later, they found the way north and west impassable, and went further south to go around, but after a few minutes another steep drop blocked their path.
“Oh, by the cursed wolves of the wild wastes,” said Gunthar. “Why won't the Heath let us escape?”
“There may be a way down this way,” pointed out Maryan. Sure enough, the cracked ground of the Broken Heath had crumbled into the canyon at the edge, leaving a tenuous path down along the cliff face. The adventurers descended in single file, a hand on the sheer wall to their right for balance.
Near the bottom, an ominous crack of thunder rang from the top of the cliff, and pebbles rained down.
“Quick, everyone!” shouted Maryan. “Run!”
They dashed madly down the broken steps, Cornelius complaining as Daisy jumped down the boulders, more rocks crashing down next to them. A large boulder bounced near Maryan, and she had to duck to avoid being smashed. Behind her, Ignacio screamed as the path collapsed beneath his feet, but Gunthar grabbed the man's arm and pulled him back up. By some luck, the party made it safely down and hurried further up the canyon, the route behind them dissolved into a creaking pile of rubble and dust.
The adventurers stood in the sun, panting and gasping in shock. Daisy stared at them before finding some brush to graze.
“We're not getting back that way,” noted Gunthar dryly. “I hope there is another way out of the canyon.”
“It narrows ahead,” said Maryan, walking north. “Let's see if there's a way out there.”
They followed the princess, the canyon narrowing as they went, the walls closing in above them. Just as they thought they'd hit a flat wall at the end, Maryan discovered that the final stretch of the canyon crooked to the right.
“Oh my.” She stopped and stared ahead once she'd made the turn.
“What is it, ma'am?” Gunthar stepped forward with concern, then stopped himself. “Oh my.”
The wizard stepped forward, his eye scrunched up in irritation. “What are you fools stopping for?” Then he also stepped back. “By the unholy chants of the dark order!”
The rest of the party rounded the bend in the canyon. Ahead of them, the canyon ended at a sheer wall, but a large opening loomed at the base, topped with an arch of carved stone blocks.
They had stumbled upon a secret passage under the Badlands.
Chapter 17
Caverns
Heed the warnings.
— Considered Revelations, Book 74 “Why Heeding Remains Relevant, Even Today, Especially in Caverns”, Chapter 19, Verse 2
The adventurers stood in the shadows at the base of the narrow canyon. Cool air flowed out of the opening ahead, chilling their boots.
“What does that say?” Maryan pointed to the keystone of the arch above the opening, where weathered characters formed a single word.
Wizard Ignacio stepped forward, reading the inscription. “It says 'Beware' in the lost tongue of the ancients.”
“What do you mean, lost tongue?” asked Cornelius. “If it's lost, how can you read it?”
“It's not really lost, just abandoned.” Ignacio waved his hand. “Very vague and torturous syntax, so no one uses it anymore.”
Bookkeeper Andi paled. “A passage underground! Could it lead under the barrier?”
“Let's hope so.” Maryan tightened her gauntlets. “It's certainly heading the right direction.”
“But that would mean reaching the castle!”
“Aye, 'tis the point of this entire expedition.” Sir Humphrey peered into the darkness ahead. “Indeed, there does seem to be a passage here.”
The Bookkeeper pointed at the inscription. “But it says 'Beware'!”
“Not to worry, Madame Bookkeeper.” Sir Humphrey shrugged it off. “'Tis likely an admonition to watch your step. There's a ledge here at the opening. Mayhaps the ancients were warning us of a tripping hazard.”
“Could it be a message for those leaving the passageway?” Gunthar looked back down the canyon. “As in, 'Beware, for the Broken Heath sucks.'”
“What? It's clearly warning us not to go in.” Bookkeeper Andi looked back down from the inscription, but everyone else had already walked into the opening. A rock clattered somewhere in the canyon far behind, and she hurried into the passage herself, stumbling over the ledge at the opening.
“It's dark,” noted Gunthar.
“Quiet, fools.” Then Ignacio whispered to his staff and its red orb brightened, casting a torch-like light around them.
“The passage does head northeast, as far as I can tell.” Maryan put her hands on her hips. “Who knows if it leads to the castle, but there's a good chance that it cuts under the Moonflow, at least.”
Ignacio's eye fixed on the shadows ahead. “After you, Your Highness.”
Maryan led them further into the passageway, with Gunthar and Sir Humphrey next. Ignacio strode in the middle of the party, his staff raised to provide light, the Bookkeeper cowering after him. Yang and Cornelius walked in the rear, leading an as-usual unconcerned Daisy.
The flat and dusty floor remained featureless, and the walls and ceiling curved over them. Fortunately, the passageway was wide, easily enough for two to walk abreast, and the roof stayed out of reach above. Their footsteps echoed around them, every small noise amplified in the enclosed space.
After some time, the walls gleamed with water, and the air became moist.
Gunthar turned to Sir Humphrey. “Are you humming?”
“Nay, good man, I thought mayhaps you were attempting a tune.”
“It's not us.” Maryan put a hand to the cold, wet wall. “It's something else.”
“We pass beneath the Moonflow. Its water is seeping through the walls.” Ignacio scanned the ceiling overhead, which occasionally dripped onto them. “The noise we hear is the barrier. Perhaps it is angry that we have escaped its reach.”
“What?” Bookkeeper Andi furrowed her brow. “We can't have reached the Moonflow this quickly.”
“We walked away from the stream for several hours on the Broken Heath, but we had to keep backtracking, climbing and cutting away from our heading. The passageway is leading us straight,” noted Maryan. “It's much faster.”
A large drop of water fell on Bookkeeper Andi's face, and she shook her head with a curse.
“We're past the barrier now!” Maryan walked onwards again.
“Indeed.” Ignacio followed, peering into the blackness.
They pressed on for an untold amount of time, though Ignacio claimed it was only a few hours. The passageway had minor twists and turns but mostly carried on unerringly ahead.
“What if it's just leading us in a big circle?” asked Gunthar. “We'd never know.”
“Aye, sir, or even a wide spiral down into the depths of the underworld.” The knight looked around them with a shiver.
“Bah.” Ignacio waved his hand. “By my arts, I know our location, and the time. The passage leads us true.”
“I hope you're right, Wizard Ignacio,” said Maryan.
Only a few minutes later, the passageway opened into a wide and round chamber, with many stalactites and stalagmites and more than a few natural columns. On one side lay a dark, still pool.
“Water!” said Gunthar, approaching it.
“Hold, barbarian!” Ignacio's staff flared brighter. “Do not touch it. We are near the Castle of Terror, or its remains. Water here will be polluted.”
“Very well.” Gunthar frowned and took a small sip from his waterskin instead.
A growling noise echoed from the distant ceiling.
“What was that?” Yang held her initiate staff in front of her.
Gunthar hefted his axe. “Goblins, maybe?”
“Nay, sir, it sounded smaller. Likely kobolds, or other vermin.” Sir Humphrey lifted his hands. “Mayhaps a denizen of the cave will face the wrath of my fisticuffs.”
“Ah, sorry, that was my stomach.” Cornelius' face shone redder than normal in Ignacio's red light. “I'm starving.”
“No shame, good Chronicler.” Sir Humphrey dropped his fists. “I also feel the keen bite of hunger.”
“I'm sorry, everyone. I know it's dinner time. But I think we should press on while we have some energy left.” Maryan gestured ahead, where the passageway continued out of the cavern.
Gunthar tightened his belt. “Lead on, ma'am.”
The passageway continued ahead, but now started climbing. At times it made sharp turns, and the footing became uneven.
“I see something!” exclaimed Yang.
“Where, apprentice?” Gunthar peered around in the dim red light. “I see nothing.”
“It's ahead. A glowing fog.”
Maryan squinted. “I don't see it.”
“I do. Dark magic, which only the Apprentice and I can see.” Ignacio's growl echoed around them. “The Castle lies but a short distance ahead.”
“We're close, then,” said Maryan.
Only a minute later, the passageway opened into another chamber, though smaller than the last one. It was round, with a ceiling far above them in shadow. The passageway continued ahead through another opening in the chamber wall, but everyone stopped and stared.
