All Adventure Begins with Tragedy

Chapter XXIV: The cavern.

"There's nothing down here. I'm sure of it. Its so empty."

"I know. It is a bit strange isn't it?"

"Yeah, hey! Look up! There's light!"

"So there is. Interesting. Looks like sun light. Is that a column?"

"Looks like it. This place has to have been around for a long time."

"Yeah..."

We were working our way through the seemingly endless passage, looking for enemies.

"What's that over there?"

"Looks like some kind of giant iron.... I don't know. Its a circle."

"Look at that, it kinda looks a... uhh... what's the word. Sprocket? Yeah. A big iron sprocket."

I pulled out my sword and hit it. My swords snapped in half.

"Oh sh..."

"Why would you do that?"

"It isn't iron. My blade is made to slice iron. It didn't even scratch it. I don't know what this thing is, and I don't like it."

I pulled out my knife, and we both continued walking.

"That was really stupid, You know that?"

"I'm aware of that Jrinar," I responded.

We walked further into the quite large cavern.

"You know? I really don't like the feel of this."

"Me neither."

The arrow came out of no where.
"Shoot! Get to cover! Their in the rafters!"

We both ducked behind a fallen slab of marble.

"Rafters?"

"You know what I mean. Up high, on the balcony up there."

The arrows came down steadily, screeching along the stone floors, creating sparks that flew everywhere.

"We need to get back."

"And quickly. I'm going to go first. Then you sprint. Okay Dove?"

"Alright."

He jumped out from behind cover and sprinted back the way we had come. I quickly followed suit.

The arrows whizzed around me, narrowly avoiding me several times. By the time we got out of arrow range we were out of breath.

"Well... that... was... fun. Wasn't it?" Jrinar said panting.

I simply shook my head.

We walked at a much slower pace to the hole we had come in from. Jrinar went first this time, I went right behind him. We both popped out of the hole squinting in the bright sunlight.

"Drop the weapons!"

Six Hammerite soldiers were waiting for us.

"I'll hold them off. Run!" Jrinar yelled. He launched himself at the six, slamming into two of them, knocking them to the ground.

I couldn't just leave him. I grabbed one of the soldiers who was about to ram his spear through Jrinar's center. I slit his throat with my knife, his blood bursting out. He fell to the ground dead.

Jrinar finished off the two he had tackled and took down a third. I back stabbed another one. The two remaining backed into a corner. We both started towards them.

"Wait. What's that?"

"Boots. Boots marching. Probably our guys."

Fourteen Hammerites walked into the cave, unaware of us. They stopped in surprise, seeing us.