The Father of Withering

Chapter Thirteen: The Ancestor

Into the cave they went and down into the cold earth. The sun's light soon faded behind them and was replaced by a sphere of light. Varsus and several of his men were trained to wield the sun spirit, and orbs of light appeared in their hands. They illuminated the passages ahead of them and allowed them to move on. Even so, it was bitterly chilly, and Relma didn't like it at all.

"Why are there so many in your group with a connection to the Sun Spirit?" asked Estela. As she walked, she adjusted her cloak.

"It is a useful trait to have in war," said Varsus. "So I give higher wages to anyone who can wield them. William has always had a head for that kind of thing."

"All of you stay close to the lights," said Ajax, at the head of the group, voice a light growl. "And don't look too deeply into the darkness. The Road of Ancient Stone is connected to the world of turmoil and hells. Passages change and shift.

"Keep on as you go." Something moved in the dark, and Relma looked after it. Then she remembered Ajax's warning and looked away. She wished she weren't so curious.

"We may be followed," said Aunt Pan, falling to the back, her staff tapping little echoes against the floor. "Give me a moment; then, we'll continue." As the last of their company passed them, Aunt Pan raised a hand and channeled something. The passageway behind them shuddered and blurred, and there was a grinding noise. A moment later, all light from the sun was gone. They were now in utter darkness, save for the spheres created by the power of the sun spirit.

Aunt Pan turned back to them, her face a bit white.

"Aunt Pan, what did you do?" asked Relma.

"I shifted the passages around a little," said Aunt Pan. As she spoke, she shuddered and nearly dropped her staff. "We should not have to concern ourselves with them." They walked back to the front, where everyone had halted.

"You shifted the passages?" asked Ajax, sounding impressed, having. "I've never been able to manage that."

"You have," said Aunt Pan, leaning against a wall. "Walking through the Road of Ancient Stone is as much a spiritual journey as a physical one. You've probably been carving your own path unintentionally. You just did it so long that a routine was created, and you made the same path by reflex."

"I found my way through the first time just fine," said Ajax. Then he led them on.

For a while, they walked in the dark. None of them talked; it didn't seem the kind of place where talking was wise. Varsus made sure no one fell behind as Ajax led them on. Eventually, they came to a crossroads, and he kneeled to touch the ground. He sniffed.

"What is it?" asked Relma.

"A large contingent of satyrs passed through here," said Ajax. "The stink of them is still here. No one I know, though. These are of a different kind."

"Ajax, you know the satyrs, don't you?" said Relma.

"Yes," said Ajax. "Why?"

"That army we killed was huge, and we've killed more of them outside," said Relma. "And now there are more roaming these halls. How can there be so many?"

"Satyrs have a short lifecycle," said Ajax. "They are physically mature at the age of ten and most rarely see fifty. Satyr women are expected to have as many children as possible. And those who are barren become priestesses of their gods and perform sacrifices.

"They don't have marriages or mates. Children are conceived in ritual orgies."

"How did you learn all this?" asked Estela. "I mean, do you know satyrs?"