The Codex Lacrimae: The Book of Tears

Chapter 10: The Descent to Nidjafjöll

"Trust me, my friends," Fenris chortled. It was the next morning, and he crossed his hairy arms over his chest, taking in his guests. The company had gathered near an alcove at the back of the Fenrir-baude. "I didn't fight off the forces of the Wilde Jagd yesterday," he continued, "only to have you plummet to your death today. This device is very reliable, and quite simple to operate. You just have to step on, hold the rail or," he winked at Clarinda and Aurelius, "to each other, if you need to, and then down we'll go!"

He pointed to the room behind him that was unadorned by anything except eight cables that rose vertically up the walls, and a pulley system with six on one side and two on the other for stabilization.

"This lift is the only way into Nidaveller from our home," Skade said, impatience and irritation in her voice. "It's a direct drop—I mean, descent—to the city of the dwarves. Fenris is correct; we must move with some haste. We need a wizard's help. Since Andvari's one of the nine Arch-Mages and we're seeking his counsel, we ought to respect his work habits. He's a bit odd. Some think he doesn't sleep at all, but he's known for getting most of his work done in the morning. By that reckoning, we've lost half the day already."

"Just let me make sure I understand," Aurelius said, "this isn't a room, but the top of some kind of shaft that goes into the earth?"

Fenris nodded. "Only for a little while, then there's complete open space all around us until we reach the cavern floor."

Aurelius shrugged in resignation. "We'll take it, then; but, I'm not that great with heights."

"Nor am I," Clarinda added, similarly suspicious.

"Don't look down, then," Ratatosk advised, leaning against the threshold of the room and crunching on a nut. "It's peculiar that this part is bothering you, and he's not even talked about the lower chambers where we could run into everything from bottomless pits and phantom bridges to Nidhogg the Dragon."

The squirrel moved aside at a growl from Geri, who evidently trusted that Aurelius and Clarinda were going to be taking the lift, regardless of the misgivings they'd just expressed.

"Fine, fine," the squirrel added hastily as Freki, too, snarled. "But, you should tell them that if those cables were to break, they'll fall straight to Nidaveller Road for a half-league. Very messy if that happens. Very messy."

"Hush, little one," Fenris said dismissively. "In all the centuries of operation, the lift has never failed."

Aurelius glanced at Clarinda and moved forward. "We don't have a choice; it's either this or back outside to Niflheim."

Clarinda joined him on the platform and they walked to the rear of the room where an iron rail ran horizontally across the walls.

"What do we do?" he asked Fenris.

Fenris laughed and made room for Skade to join the group. When all were standing on the platform, they looked expectedly at Ratatosk.

The squirrel returned the gazes and shook his furry head. "I'll find my own way, thanks."

Fenris shrugged, dropped a bar from its vertical position and then tugged firmly on the cord. A bell chimed, and then, within half a moment, the platform shuddered before slowly beginning to descend.

The three walls appeared to slide upward as the floor went down, and Aurelius was glad when he felt Clarinda move toward him the same time he began moving toward her.

"The Brisinga necklace can take me anywhere," she whispered, "but, I think I'm more afraid of this than—whoa!" They found themselves hanging in open space, moving steadily downward, girded only by the four horizontal bars of the iron frame. Clarinda stepped nearer to Aurelius and stayed close for the rest of the descent.