The Lost King

Chapter Eight

"Whoa there! Don't fall!" Birch said merrily, grabbing my antler to keep me steady. We were facing a pitch-black abyss in the middle of the forest. Rusty mining rails spiraled down, into the nothingness. At the top, it was dirt, and then turned to stone. I had almost fallen in.

"Thanks, Birch. Now! What's the plan for getting down?" I wondered, seeing as the centaur didn't have wings like Setty and me. He merely chuckled.

Setty landed next to us and crouched down, and to my amazement Birch somehow awkwardly perched himself on her back. He held on tight to her horns and she jumped, spreading her wings out to slow them.

"Come on! Astrooooooom!" Her voice trailed off as she disappeared into the blackness. I spread my large wings and jumped, surprised at how my muscle memory kicked in after almost 500 years. The wind sailed into my face.

It smelled earthy, sweet with roots and minerals. It reminded me of someone. It reminded me of her.

Exy.

Tears filled my eyes as I tried to push the memory away, but I failed to do so.

Her worried face was suddenly in front of mine. Light green eyes and a brown nose, her very light fur shining from the very little sunlight left.

Had she survived? Had she kept the kingdom's legacy?

"Astrom! Watch out!" Her face disappeared and was replaced by darkness and the glowing eyes of Setty. The ground was approaching. I beat my wings down once and slowed my fall, and "gracefully" landed on what seemed to be a stone floor under me.

I couldn't see anything except for Setty's eyes. It was rather eerie, being underground and all, and the fact that I saw her face made it even worse. I knew she was gone, because nobody survived the attack save for me. That was the only practical, logical reason.

Birch lit a torch on the wall with his flint and steel, casting light to where we were.

Black stone was unevenly cut to make a sort of tunnel five feet long, with piles of dust and rusty rails and tools beyond repair scattered around. All precious ores had long since been mined, but a fine sparkly particle remained in the air. At the end of the hallway, a blue glowing pool of liquid ominously stared at me.

"Is-is that the portal?" I asked, skittishly looking at Birch and Setty. They nodded and walked towards it, stopping at the edge. I walked forward, halting where they were. I couldn't see the bottom of the pool.

What would happen when I walked through?

If somebody knew about me, mostly the leaders, I would be dead before I knew it. Of course, if nobody remembered me, then I would be safe, but would my kingdom be avenged? Would I have my patient revenge?

Before I could turn back, however, a pale talon that I had never seen before grabbed my leg and yanked me into the portal.