The Reborn King (Book Six) by Brian D. Anderson Page B

could certainly have captured any elves of this land who might happen along,” Felsafell added.
    Gewey thought hard, but could come up with no logical reason why the Vrykol would need to build such a fortress here. Finally, with a grunt, he pushed the question from his mind. It would have to remain a mystery for the time being.
    They continued to explore, twisting and backtracking several times until finally discovering a downward stairway. Gewey would have thought it impossible, but the air that wafted up from here was even more rank and unclean than in the rest of the foul place. The odor was like a cloud of vile pestilence that threatened to choke the very life from him. Yet, as he took a step forward, he could feel something odd. Almost like a presence – conscious and alive, but without focus or purpose.
    “Do you feel that?” asked Gewey.
    Both Felsafell and Nehrutu shook their heads.
    Once again, Gewey cursed the fact that he had to forgo using the flow . The soreness of his wounds from battling the Vrykol, though healing rapidly, was a testament to how much he had come to depend on it.
    “Something is down there,” he said warily.
    The song of steel pierced the thick air as Nehrutu and Gewey drew their blades. All three then began descending the steps with Felsafell leading the way, the glowing orb in his hand only slightly breaking into the suffocating dark.
    The stairs continued for more than one-hundred feet before ending at a long narrow hallway. Felsafell was forced to duck down so not to scrape his head on the ceiling, while Gewey had to walk slightly twisted to one side in order to accommodate his broad shoulders.
    With each step, the presence grew more pronounced to Gewey. He was reminded of the way he had felt when in the Black Oasis, only this time it was not something malevolent, angry, or even aware of him. He speculated that it might have been touched by the gods at some point. The thought excited him. Perhaps he would encounter yet another godly essence left behind to assist him. Maybe even his father. But could a god leave more than one piece of itself behind? Or could it be one of the other gods this time?
    The passage sloped downward for a few more yards before ending at an iron barred gate that proved to be solidly locked. Felsafell motioned for the others to step back. The sinews of his arms and shoulders rippled as he pulled on the bars with all of his might. For a moment it looked as if the gate would prove to be too much even for the first born , but then they heard the complaining groan of yielding metal as the hinges gradually began to bend. After letting out one final mighty grunt of exertion, Felsafell tore it completely free. Gewey winced, the high-pitched screech of iron scraping on stone sending shivers down his back and causing all the hairs on his arms to stand on end.
    Beyond the entrance was an immense natural limestone cavern measuring several hundred feet in all directions, and with a ceiling at least fifty feet high. The floor was smooth yet uneven, and the rancid air was made even more unpleasant by a sudden drop in temperature.
    “We are here,” Felsafell announced. He peered through the darkness. “And we are not alone.”
    Gewey focused and very quickly could make out three cloaked figures standing against the wall on the far side of the cavern. His muscles tensed as he prepared to charge.
    “Wait,” said Felsafell. “Something is wrong. Look closely.”
    Gewey could see that there was indeed something odd about the Vrykol. They seemed to be taking no notice at all of his sudden appearance. Instead, they were simply jerking back and forth erratically. Their weapons lay discarded on the floor a short distance in front of them.
    Cautiously, they inched towards the creatures. When they were about twenty feet away, the Vrykol on the left let out a high-pitched scream and fell to its knees. The two others spun around and began clawing wildly at the stone wall, as if trying