Abandoned In Claddeau, Adventurers Book 1

Chapter 10 ~ Kethra Lackman

For those keeping track (for whatever reason), I have leveled the characters after seeing their fragility.

Carric leads the way outside of this quiet town. Some of the Valencians with us keep their weaponry cocked back, which, from what I've seen, is like putting the arrow in a crossbow. He puts his hand up, stopping us in place, "I'll guide you from the treetops above. I know a trick that will work."

He runs over & scales the nearest tree with ease. He moves above us till it was nearly impossible for me to see him in the moonlight. The others besides Peep probably can see him better. The only hindrance they have is not being able to see color.

A small glowing sphere drops from above in front of us. It simply pelts on the floor with a slight bounce, "Follow the orbs," Carric's voice whispers from above.

A few more orbs fall down. They didn't land in the straightest line for obvious reasons but as we progressed, the line of orbs dissipate into mist once two were behind us. Thankfully, this method takes us to the opening of a round, gloomy cave entrance.

Carric drops down, eyes peering into the gloomy abyss, "Allow me to move forward first. I can nullify the traps for you."

"Not in the slightest!" Kriv objects, "You are-"

Arthur clamps his hand on Kriv's red snout, a voice of simplicity replies, "Proceed, Mr. Siannodel."

Peep couldn't help but chortle a laugh.

The elf nods his head, taking out a round, squishy ball from his bag before running inside to be left out of sight from the Valencian's torches.

We waited, wondering if he won't turn on us but Arthur has this expression on his face of satisfaction, not a single worry seems to plague him. Perceval turns to him with folded arms, perhaps of disapproval.

"Should we go in?" Kriv asks.

"We have waited long enough. I say we proceed," Arthur suggests, stepping near the dark cave entrance.

"We may as well," Perceval sighs, "Arkith won't be stopped by anyone else, it seems."

As we proceeded, something clicked under Kriv's foot. A dart then flies out after him, squeaking as it bounces off his arm. What had hit him was an arrow but the tip is covered with some sort of ball as if it were forced on.

Sariel couldn't help smiling. She's quite a contagious smiler since seeing her perform such a taboo act is rare. Who ever raised her must of had little warmth or bonding.

Peep caused the same click to occur, I manage to see him holding his eye in pain as another softened arrow had struck the party.

"Your eye will just be a little red, is all." Perceval pats his feathered head, trying to reassure what is practically his feathered child. Though, he too clicked something on the floor as an arrow gets stuck in one of his empty eye sockets.

"At least on the bright side, they're not as volatile as they could be." I point out, grateful for our new nivallen friend.

Eventually we find ourselves facing a room with three pillars of stone with a rotten white color spiraling through the center of them. The dark figure we fought earlier stands on a platform as he oversees the work being done.

That white pillar seems awfully familiar. Back as a mere healer, that tube of a rotten white color looks exactly like the one the necromancer I fought used. That cretin used it for harvesting whatever energy it was. I never knew what it truly was for. If that's the case here today, I'll be finding out eventually and I won't be losing another friend to these monsters to the world!

Arkith stands atop a platform, raising him up about 30 feet. His extended arms retract once he catches sight of us. A scowl is clear on his face. "So you found our little cove. It would seem my procrastination has finally caught up with me. At least this priority you cause will finally be handled with."

"At least your kind will pay for Weston, you grimy necromancer!" I taunt, throwing my palms outward, a bright radiance spirals toward the abomination. The same thing that occurred with Arthur happens where he manages to catch it within a sphere within his palms but it now glows a bright light, peaking between his fingers.

"If you had hoped to stop me so easily this time, you are sorely mistaken. Though, at least now, I finally get to test out my dear old hungrists." Arkith grins as two figures in flowing, tattered garb, floats by his side. Their lower bodies are practically missing as it glides with the bottom half, draping with the air. Their faces are covered by their odd, shredded cowl. Not someone who I would want to associate with.

These two "hungrists" then float down along with their nivallen elf friends who clamber downward onto the lower floor, guarding whatever this glowing column of a sickening color is.

"Carric!" Sariel points him out being restrained by some sort of dark, twisted branches on the same floor as Arkith.

If this abomination of a creature truly wants a fight, it will receive a beating back to whatever level of the nine hells it crawled out of!