The Hammer - Cor Series Book I

Chapter 18

A shadow fell across Corvan's closed eyes. Something sharp brushed his cheek. He rolled away, and pain shot up his elbow before his arm went numb. The lizard had scratched him with his poisonous claw!

Tsarek stood over him with his head cocked to one side. "I am so sorry to have to wake you, Kalian, sir, but it is time for us to go."

Corvan moved his arm tentatively. The numbness ebbed away, though his elbow ached fiercely. He had hit his funny bone on the rock.

A faint tremor ran through the cavern walls.

"The first portal is about to open," Tsarek said, jumping towards the entrance into his cave. "I let you sleep too long. We will need to sort through your pack between the chambers of the labyrinth."

Corvan sat up and rubbed his sore elbow.

The lizard gestured over his shoulder to a small bundle tied to the end of a few long sticks. "I did not have enough room, so while you slept, I added a few of my belongings to your pack. I hope that is all right."

Corvan got to his feet and hefted the pack. It was much heavier. "What did you put in here, rocks?"

Tsarek grinned. "Just one," he said, pointing to the musical crystals.

Corvan looked around. All that remained of the largest crystal was a broken stump.

"If it is too much for you, I can try to carry it in my bundle," Tsarek said, shaking the slender sticks balanced on his shoulder.

Corvan shook his head as he pulled on the pack. "It's okay. When we go through my stuff later, we'll decide what we really need."

"Thank you, sir. I have grown attached to my music. I believe it will keep our spirits up during the long walk to the lower levels, especially if we get lost."

Another tremor went through the rock.

"The first door is opening." Tsarek tugged on Corvan's sleeve. "I am not sure how long we will have to get through." The lizard hurried from the room with Corvan stumbling along at his heels.

Tsarek was quickly lost to sight in the dark tunnel. "Wait for me! I can't see anything. Where are you?"

"Right in front of you, sir. No time to stop. Follow my voice; the entry is not far. Watch out for the stones on the floor."

Watch? In complete darkness? Most likely the lizard could see in the dark.

The lizard cried out in pain. "There is a big stone in the middle of the path. Please be careful."

Nope, the lizard couldn't see in the dark either. Corvan shuffled his feet along to avoid stubbing his toes or twisting his ankle.

An abrupt shift in air pressure caused Corvan's ears to pop. A moist breeze blew past that was heavy with the sulfuric odor of burning matches.

"It's just ahead, sir, and still open. The other entries all open at the same time, so the air from the Cor pushes toward the surface." The lizard was fumbling with his bundle of sticks and presently a brilliant glow fluttered in the breeze.

They were standing at the end of a roughly hewn tunnel. The source of the sour wind was before them: a hole in the wall about a foot off the ground and three feet in diameter. The rock around the edges rippled like melted blue glass. Wisps of smoke trailed from its edges. Corvan stepped closer and looked through, but there was only a black void on the other side.

"Do not touch it, sir. We must wait until it is fully formed, or it will close quickly and cut whatever is partway through to pieces." The lizard shuddered. "It is not a pretty sight."