Into the Darkness Second Draft

Royalty

The snarling and the growling of the wolves was closer now, hauntingly echoing from the tall mountain walls to either side. The ground gradually sloped upward, and while it slowed the companions, it allowed them a better view of the road behind them.

"Dear god," Doug said counting the black shapes he could make out coming through the canyon behind them. "There's at least a dozen of them, no thirteen," he wailed.

"Stop counting and keep running," Carl said as he slowed down, taking up a position beside Andy at the rear of the group. "Well 'taur,' I guess now's as good a time as any to settle my tab."

The minotaur growled at the gnome, "What are you talking about?" He bellowed as they rounded a bend.

"In case I don't make it, I want to go with a clear conscience. About a hundred paces behind Bloody, behind what's left of Bloody Bills is a well. Down at the bottom of that well is-"

"One of my hiding spots for the money I take in at the bar. You were really going to pay me back with my own money?" Growled Andy.

"I didn't- I didn't know!"

"I'll make sure you survive just so you have to find a way to honestly pay me back, you dirty scoundrel."

Carl winked toward Samantha before telling her to get running. "There's a fork up ahead, the left branch heads straight to the castle, get inside and we'll be right behind you.

Staring over his shoulder, Doug froze as the first of the dire wolves came into view behind them.

"Come on," Samantha tugged at his arm, but Doug would not move.

"Look!" He pointed as a green object leapt from the high cliffs overhead, landing squarely on the back of the lead wolf. The momentary distraction was enough, and it stumbled, tumbling end over end. The young man watched as Andy brought his axe down upon the prone beast and the green thing hopped away. "It's Gottfried!"

"Now will you come on!"

Doug turned, allowing his friend to drag him along with her as they ran, arms, legs, and hearts pumping. The split Carl mentioned came up quickly before them, and heeding the gnome's instructions, they went left. In the distance they saw the mountainous terrain quickly receding, leaving a black plain in front of them that they hoped contained a black castle.

The sound of combat behind them pushed them onward, and quickly the ruddy brown of the mountain pass gave way to a blackness below, a soft grass beneath their feet.\

They had barely made it a hundred feet out of the ravine before a commanding voice called out of the blackness.

"Halt!"

Both teens skidded to a halt, looking around for a source of the voice.

"Uh, hello?" Samantha was unsure who she was addressing, or even how to address them, but she did her best. "We're here seeking an audience with King Francis."

"And who might you be, that has the audacity to seek an audience with the King?" called the voice out of the blackness.

"My name is Doug, and this is Samantha."

"And I suppose we have you to thank for restoring the color to the Firetop Mountains?"

"Don't be a bloody fool, Marcel," someone called from behind them, causing both teens to turn. "Open the gate, before the wolves get us all."

"Gottfried, is that really you?"

"Yes, and I said open the bloody gate!"

"Stand back," Marcel called out, and an ancient sounding creak signified the opening of the gates.