Scales and Talons

Chapter 13

Finley held his torch in front of him, his other hand holding a scarf over his nose to block out the stench of rotting flesh. It had taken them a week to clear enough rubble to get into the dark corridors. The time taken meant that the chances of finding survivors were slim, and the stench within the thick mountain walls promised even less.

Finley had begged the king to let him join the party sent to retrieve the prince, and it had come as no surprise to him when he was asked to stay behind when the mission came up with nothing. It was a chance to redeem himself, but more importantly, a distraction from his guild.

Two teams of only ten would stay behind, and only three dragons would guard them. It was a high-risk mission, as there was no intention of holding the old fort from the enemy. Too risky, they had said. There was a high chance that some of the wizard's troops would be sent back to chase them towards Fort Lian.

Finley was put in charge of squad one, the commander had given him a stern look and told him that this was his change to prove his words right. That there was strange magic going on with the dragons and that the prince might still be alive. "It is unwise to return empty-handed, Finley. I hope you understand."

Driven by these words, Finley had squeezed himself between the dark stones of the mountain and entered his belly, only 3 of his new squad brave enough to accompany him.

They were still in the upper levels of the Underground Forth, which were difficult to navigate because of the debris and bodies strewn about. Sometimes they would come to a dead end and the ceiling would be completely collapsed. Or a giant hole in the ground barricaded their way.

As they had encountered moments before, they came to a place where not only the ceiling had collapsed, but the floor as well, leaving a tricky underground of rubble to get to a lower level. 

The tunnel they were walking through was huge, and the darkness within it was vast, making each of them cling to their torches. An icy wind howled through the tunnel, and it was the only sound to accompany their footsteps and the jingling of the swords strapped to their waists and shoulders.

The group was nervous, and Finley had to move slowly. The boy behind him tried to draw a map as they moved, but the inside of the mountain was so dark it was hard to know if they were anywhere they had not been before. still, they kept moving, descending into the rotting pit of darkness.

Around the corner of the hall they found the first door unlocked. cautiously the small group entered the room. complete silence greeted them, but from the walls of the room the light of their torches reflected enough to move around. it was a kitchen, the second one they saw no, but the previous one was covered in rubble. this kitchen however, although empty, seemed to have been used. for moldy food lay around and pots and knives were scattered on the floor. Other than that, there was nothing of value in the room. They could not even steel some food, judging by the way it looked and smelled.

"Useless," said Erik, an older warrior with an axe, as he threw a moldy loaf of bread onto the stone surface of the kitchen counter. Why he had picked up the dusty white piece of food in the first place, no one knew. "There's nothing here, let's move on." Finley ordered as he turned and stepped back into the hallway.

The next rooms weren't much more interesting. A dining room, a sleeping chamber, some storage, another sleeping chamber. And hope began to sink into Finley's shoes that he would find something that day. He knew the place was massive, so he would have to return to search it, but he also realized the pressure he was living under.

"I don't get it," Erik broke the silence again as they went down a staircase at the back of the last sleeping hall. It seemed to be a makeshift maid's staircase to get around the inner castle unnoticed, but it would do. "There are several kitchens and one sleeping hall after another, but where were all the soldiers? There weren't even enough men to guard this garbage pit."