The Song of a Poisoned Star

4

Readers! I shuffles some things around. This chapter contains parts of what used to be in part 5, and some new stuff. I'm sorry if I caused you reading angst! (If you read the version of 3 with the bold text -- don't worry, all is chill.)

Molina strolled into one of the little stone buildings. The fat mercenary, what his name? Udo? He had found a tunnel hidden under a pile of rubbish, and Udo and Gunter and the last mercenary called Reiner had hurried down underground to look for treasure.

I wonder how could parents hate their child so much that they named him Udo, Molina thought as he followed the four of them down into the darkness.

As he walked, he marvelled at the artistry of the tunnels. They were like the buildings above ground, but much grander: stone arches, carved like ribs, curving gently to a point a little above his head.

They would have needed to excavate the entire area, build this tunnel, and then re-cover it, he thought. The slinth must be more sophisticated than they looked. Or had been once, at any rate.

In his opinion, it had been going well. Maybe Bilen could find whatever she was looking for and they could get out. Even this other murmurer, Kiril, had been cooperating, although Molina had noticed the cold stare he'd been giving Bilen.

Perhaps she's right, and this guy's after her, he thought. She often is. Well, it's been a while since I've fought a murmurer. I wonder if that breaks some grand truce or something?

The mercs had disappeared into the gloom. This tunnel must be long.

'Gents,' he shouted. 'I think you might want to be a bit careful down there.'

Molina had a bracelet, devised by Bilen; it was not much to look at, just a set of disks, threaded through by a piece of string. The disks were charmed, and would move when they were near magic. He was wearing it now, and it was gently trembling on his wrist. He had no great love for the mercenaries, who were brutish and cruel, but he wanted no blood on his hands if he could avoid it.

So, he called again, 'gents? Maybe wait a minute?'

'We've found something,' Gunter shouted from ahead. 'We're going to...'

And then there was a dull, booming roar from behind him, and a huge quantity of dust rolled down the tunnel from the entrance. His lantern was blown out, and he was plunged into darkness. He pulled out a cloth and covered his mouth and waited for the air to clear. Then, he opened his lantern, and made a spark with his fingers. He managed to relight it after a couple of goes, and he lifted it up to see what had happened.

The tunnel had collapsed behind him: where there had been a rectangle of grey light was now just rubble. The air was still full of swirling dust.

He swore.

So much for the Gunter not wanting any stupidity, he thought. They must have set off some trap or other. Idiots.

Soon enough, the three mercenaries came Blundering back up the tunnel towards him, coughing and cursing. No one was dead or even badly injured, which was a miracle: but the way back out was blocked.

He lit their lanterns, remaining silent while they argued and shouted at each other, and Kiefer shouted back from above ground. Then, he licked his finger – still smarting from the sparks – and lifted it up. Yes, there was a very gentle breeze, coming up the tunnel. There must be another way out.

So, ignoring them, he headed back down into the darkness, going far more cautiously than they had been, following the breeze.

#

Saltha found a few small gold things, and shoved them into a scratchy sack. Kiefer scrambled around with her in the dirt. Kiril had gone back to sitting silently in the corner, ignoring them both, his eyes closed. But then there was a commotion outside, a rumble followed by humans shouting for help; his eyes flicked open. Kiefer ran out, shouting back. Kiril glanced out of the entrance, and stalked out of the hall towards the noise.