Chapter 37 - The Shadow Amazons

The Gnollwatch Mountains, when compared to titanic wonders such as the Walls of Halruaa, were little more than hills. Rather than jagged and sharp, their peaks had worn down like a dull knife through the passage of time, leaving them ideal for travel on horseback. The rocky paths wound through the mountains, with Mount Hazail, the largest mountain in the range, towering over them.

Aven drew his head to the side, gazing down the ledge that dropped like a cliffside. Jorak’s hooves danced along the edge of the path and with a breath, directed the horse to hug the side of the mountain. “This is a lot of trouble to go through for a single supply line,” Aven murmured.

“Technically,” Lucian said as he guided Soleil. “There are three passages. The drow city, T'lindhet is beneath these mountains and they have three supply lines to the Crinti. This one is the largest. It will cripple them badly. Perhaps enough for Halruaa to gain some footing in this war."

Marcello, who rode atop his own summoned horse, nodded. "That’s right. But I’m worried. A cave-in can be simple if the foundations are weak, but if we arrive and they’re stronger than we’d predicted, we might need to make other arrangements, and swiftly. We will also need to take into consideration whether or not they will possess umberhulks."

Aven glanced backwards. It was the first time Marcello had spoken since they’d reached the base of the mountain range. The man’s face looked more drawn than usual… though, he supposed his sickly demeanor was justifiable, given the circumstances. “What’s an umberhulk..?”

“A hulking beast often used by drow and the crinti for burrowing. Evil, ugly bug bastards.”

Lucian scowled. “Lovely,” he muttered, fingers twisting tight into the reins of his horse. “Then we’ll have to kill them. If we simply collapse the tunnel system and leave the umberhulks alive, they can simply just carve another passage.”

“Exactly. Be prepared for anything.”

The higher they climbed into the Gnollwatch Mountains, the thicker the mantle of snow that bloomed across its stony surface.

A hole in the side of the mountain emerged… then another… then another.

For a moment, Aven thought them caves… but no. They were built too purposefully to be caves. They led deep into the darkness of the mountains and Aven slowed Jorak before one of them, and peered into its depths. They looked… haunting. "These… these aren’t caves. What are they?”

Marcello turned. “Mines,” he said. “You can see the post where they’d hook ropes to descend. Before the Crinti conquered Dambrath, the Arkaiuns traded silver mined from the mountains with their neighbors…most of the silver in jewelry used by the Halruaans came from these mines. I suppose this is one of the mines that were abandoned once the Crinti took hold of the country. Before the Arkaiuns were slaves.”

Aven felt a scowl draw along his features. His eyes ran along the mouth of one of the mines. The rotting posts. A metal, rusted hook that poked out from underneath the snow. Decrepit minecart rails that lead down the tunnel. “…it’s everywhere,” he muttered.

“What is..?”

“Slavery. Aeliorn. Amn. Calimport. Here. I don’t think I’ve been in a single place but Halruaa where slavery didn’t exist.”

Marcello grimaced. “It’s common practice around the world. There are few havens that exist now where it’s unpracticed… I find myself thankful that Halruaa is one of such places.”

“Aeliorn will soon follow.” Lucian glanced backwards. “I made myself a promise to eradicate it. I intend to keep that promise.”

Aven’s eyes softened as they searched his lover. I believe you. The words were at the edge of his tongue - when a shadow passed over them. Not a cloud… the sky was clear blue. He looked up, squinting into the bright sun that cast down on the mountain side - and his eyes widened in terror. “Move!” He roared. He yanked back on the reins, and Jorak’s hooves kicked at the air as a great boulder smashed into the ground, knocking Lucian clean off his horse.

Soleil screamed in a panic as she staggered upwards. Dust settled in the air, filling his lungs and Aven coughed. He squinted, drawing his eyes up to a cliffside perched above them.

Four massive beings stood on the ridge, grabbing more boulders with their great, meaty hands. Their faces were squashed and brutal, with a hide like thick leather. One of them grabbed another stone and hurled it. Aven lifted up his hand as it smashed into the ground beside them, bits and pieces of debris launching up from the impact.

Shards of rubble tore at tanned skin and he hissed out. Beside him, Marcello wrangled his horse to catch Soliel’s reins, the man’s arm nearly jerked out of socket as he held fast. “Aven, Lucian! Fall back!”

Aven found Lucian in a clearing of dust, barely able to maintain control of Jorak as he urged the black stallion aside his partner. Fingers grasped down to curl into torn and muddied robes, and with a yank, Lucian was slung upwards. The prince clawed his way onto Jorak’s back as another boulder crashed up in a spray beside them.

The stallion reared up with a loud whinny, his powerful body twisting to land and bolt in the opposite direction of the assailants, following aside Marcello at lead who’d threaded a magic rope to direct Soliel and his own horse out of range of the lumbering beasts.

Lucian turned from Aven’s backside and blinked trails of red from his vision where a gash had split his temple. “Hold on, I’ve got this!” He threw a hand out. A burst of magic extended into an elongated shield that rippled before them in time for four more boulders to crash against it. Two shattered into pieces, the shield shuddering on impact. But the others… as if hitting something elastic, they sprang back in direction of the giant creatures.

One of the boulders crashed against the center giant, knocking it clean off its feet where it began to skid and tumble down the mountainside. Another shattered before a secondary giant’s feet, the sharp rubble shredding its hide-like skin.

They were finally able to get a good look at their assailants as they peered up onto the rocky slopes. They were immensely sized, lumbering beings with overlong arms that hung at their knees, low foreheads and thick powerful limbs. One of them reached down, grabbing a boulder the size of a horse and hurled it. Rock shattered as it smashed into the cliffside, nearly launching them down the stony path.

Marcello threw out his hand. Magic dripped from his fingers and with a snarl, lashed his palm forward and the ground beneath one of the giants transmuted from rock to mud and with a howl of shock it tumbled down the cliff face and smashed into the ground, stunned.

Lucian followed suit. A slimy string of grease shot from his fingertips, soaking one of their feet and like its brother, arms windmilled and it slipped and slid down the sheer stone and landed on top of the other in a pile of long limbs. But the third… the third aimed for Aven, who was trying to get his horse under control. “Aven!”

Aven looked up - but not before the stone struck him dead in the chest, knocking him clean off Jorak. He tumbled, rolling towards the edge of the ridge and Lucian was there in seconds, catching the unconscious man in his arms before he could collapse over the edge.

“Lucian!” Marcello snapped, down on one knee beside the pair. He lifted his hand, a sheen of magical energy deflecting one of the boulders, the very weight of it nearly sending the transmuter to the ground. “Teleport us into the tunnels, now!”

Panicked. Scared for his lover. Lucian scrambled for focus as his fingers twisted into Aven’s shirt and grabbed Marcello’s wrist, and as a final volley of boulders came launching towards them - they teleported.

Messy. Rough. Not as smooth as his other jumps, they stumbled into the darkness of one of the mining tumbles and beyond, could hear the smashing and agitated roars of the hill giants as they searched for their escaped quarry.

Lucian and Marcello were breathless. Their shoulders heaved and Marcello exhaled, leaning back to the stone. “Looks like we’re safe, for now,” he murmured, a mage light blooming in his hand. It illuminated the tunnel in a soft purple light. They were in a large chamber, a cross roads of tunnels that lead deeper into the mountains filled with old supplies, empty minecarts and rusted rails that followed the passages.

Lucian fastened a bandage across Aven’s head. “How is he?” Marcello questioned and Lucian sighed.

“…he’s all right. He took a nasty hit to the head but…he’ll be up soon. He just needs to rest.”

“Rest,” Marcello scowled, glaring across the cave where Jorak kicked away a broken down cart of scrap right down into the dinky shaft before the horse gave a heave of its own and settled. “One more night in enemy territory doesn’t exactly make me thrilled.”

“Unless you want to carry him, there isn’t much choice, besides, you don’t exactly look great, yourself.”

As Lucian tended to making Aven comfortable with a wadded up cloak beneath the man’s head, Marcello’s gaze sharply spanned the cavernous chamber. From the corner of his eye, a glint of gold drew his attention and he staggered onto unsteady feet. “For your information, Lucian, I always look great. A bit of rough travels changes nothing.” He bowed over the rocky pile of coal where Jorak had stirred and brushed away several lumps.

“Tell that to a mirror.” Lucian’s gaze rose from where fingers delicately pushed through Aven’s hair. “What are you doing?”

From the pile, Marcello produced two golden hoops that glimmered in the dim lighting with a fresh sheen of magic, untouched by years of dust and grime. Still remaining in the pile were a few glittering gemstones and gold nuggets. “I believe we found a cache. Check these out.” Marcello crossed the room and knelt aside Lucian with a wince as he held the two magical rings outwards. “Take a gander at these, what do you make of them?”

Lucian’s fingers curled around one of them and a thumb stroked the outer rim, activating the hum of runes that lined each. A smile worked upon his lips. “Take that one you have and go to the other end of the cave. Watch this.”

As Marello abided the Prince’s wishes, Lucian produced a golden coin and, holding up the ring, flicked it through. Rather than falling to the other side, a glow emanated from the object and it disappeared. On the other end of the cavern, Marcello’s shuddered with a similar glow and out popped the golden coin, falling into his palm.

“They’re Ring Gates. I’m not sure how they ended up here, they’re quite rare and powerful objects. Anything sent through them will travel to the matching one.”

Marcello’s brows raised curiously. “I wonder then if it works with spells.”

Lucian lofted his ring gate out to the side. “Give it a try.”

A small flame bloomed in Marcello’s palm and as it solidified into a lance-like ray, he shot it through the center of the gate in a resonating glow and it fired out the side of Lucian’s, striking the cavern wall behind him. Lucian’s eyes lit up. “Amazing.”

“Indeed,” Marcello purred, returning to take a seat aside the prince. His ring gate twirled in hand. “Keep that one. These could come in handy for us if we’re separated. We can even cast spells near another now.” He vaguely motioned to Aven. “So what are your plans with him?”

Lucian let his gaze drift down to the unconscious man. A dribble of drool leaked down the side of Aven’s face as he snored away. His skin was already bruising from the impact of the boulder. “Well I thought to let him recover a few hours. Then we can get back on track and take out the supply route as promised. We shouldn’t be too far out from it.”

“That’s not what I meant. I mean romantically, Lucian. What is your intent with him? Do you see any such future?”

A rush of red heat smothered Lucian’s cheeks and he turned his nose up to the idea, averting his gaze. “That’s very nosy, Marcello.”

Pain ignited in the side of Lucian’s temple as Marcello leaned over to flick him. “You were naked on the beach together,” he scolded. “I had to see way too much, I am entitled to know if you find it worth it. And for all you know, perhaps I’m worried. Or desperately lonely and in need of living vicariously through someone else.”

“Well I… I don’t know,” Lucian finally gave with a sigh. “I am fond of him but I’m not yet sure if he and I… If we… We’re just so different. And I live a vicious life among the court, it doesn’t follow any rules he’s used to. It requires intellect and cunning and… admittedly a cold heart. Aven is too honest for it.”

“Perhaps. But clearly it means something that you’re even considering how it would go. You like him, Lucian. If he’s willing to follow you into it, maybe let him try, he’s done well so far.” Marcello’s lips quirked up. “And if I’m honest, he reminds me a lot of Theseus. Less brutish, of course, but in that honest and compassionate way. Nobody hated him, he ruled with love and devotion. I doubt anyone could say that. I see it in Aven too. He may be clueless to politics but he’s observant, I’ve watched him study situations and calculate moves. It’s quite admirable. I wonder how he’d be in chess if he learned how. Regardless, I imagine he’d serve you well in any position.”

“I know. He’s… never failed me. But he’s still got a lot to learn before I could even consider.” Lucian leaned his head back to the cave wall, turning a blue gaze towards Marcello. “What about you? You’re the last of your line now…”

A sad chuckle rolled in Marcello’s throat as he waved a hand. “I’ve got not the slightest clue. The demon said I was to die. I lie awake thinking about when that could possibly be, how long he’s given me to wallow in the knowledge I will not reach old age or how it will happen. I sorely doubt it’s long enough to find someone and raise a child. That’s why you’re set to take my place if need be.”

“…Don’t count that out yet. No one is immortal, but we’ll find a way to make it work.” Lucian paused as if considering something. “Why are you trusting me with Halruaa anyways? I haven’t even shown I can rule my own country.”

Marcello’s hand fell to Lucian’s shoulder and he gave a squeeze. A darkness had fallen over his eyes. “Despite our differences, you’re the only one I’ve known so closely from a young age. I’m sure there are a few people who would rule well, but not in the way I’d rule it. You’re a lot like me.” He rose up tiredly and a flash of magic had a lush bedroll rolling out to the side. “We should get some rest then.”

Lucian gawked at the plush pillows and silken blankets. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Unbelievably comfortable,” Marcello corrected as he fell into the pillows. “Goodnight, Lucian.”

——————————————————–

As the night wore on, Marcello tossed and turned in his mass of blankets. Deep within the mines, bellowing sounds and creaks stirred his every attempt to sleep soundly, the flash of nightmarish figures and untimely ends lingering at the edges of every dream.

He woke to fitful coughing, a pressure hugging at his lungs and chest. Marcello barely had the mind to blink away sleep as he propped on an elbow, the back of his hand lifted to his mouth to smother the sound. His every shuddered breath wheezed around the cough. When it subsided, he fell back against a pillow and smeared away the cumulation of sweat clinging to his brow.

He nearly fell back to his restless slumber when his hand smeared wet against his other arm. Marcello drew up with a hiss, a sharp gaze sweeping over the source. Red. Something cold scraped up his spine and he quickly wiped away the blood to the underside of his conjured pillow, stifling another cough.

“Marcello?”

A gold and blue gaze snapped across the cavern to where Lucian sat up, blonde hair tangled in a mess around his face. In the faint light of a bouncing mage bauble he could make out worried lines in Lucian’s young features. “Sorry if I woke you,” Marcello brushes out hoarsely. “Think this mine is suffocating me.”

“How about some water, then,” Lucian offered. He dragged himself from his bedroll over to the man where a summoned goblet quickly sloshed to the brim with cold, fresh water.

Marcello took it, dragging it up to his lips for several long gulps, washing the taste of metal from his tongue. When he parted, he caught Lucian’s stare. “What is it?”

“There’s blood on your lips.”

The Netyarch frowned, an arm pushing over his mouth to wipe away whatever remained. “So there is,” he uttered. “Perhaps I got more dinged up in battle than I thought.”

Lucian’s gaze didn’t waver as he watched Marcello with lingering doubts, but he didn’t press. Instead he lowered to sit beside him, leaning back until his back propped upon two of Marcello’s plush pillows. “Well since we’re up… how do you plan on collapsing the tunnel?”

Marcello finished his first cup of water and Lucian quickly refilled it. “My hopes is to destroy the tunnel as far as my reach will allow. A cave in most likely. If we take out the support beams and turn it all to mud it should do the rest on its own. And it’d take a while for the mud to harden for them to build back in.”

“What about the Umberhulks?”

“A fireball or two should suffice.” Marcello takes another long drink in attempts to banish the burn in his throat.

“Yes, I’m very aware how devastating those are. If I recall, I’ve been caught in your fire a time or two.”

The drink is set aside and Marcello fixes his gaze on Lucian. “Allow me to teach it to you. You could use some heavy fire in your arsenal.”

“You look like you’d fall over trying to teach me.”

“Do not,” he scowled. Marcello clamoured to his feet and offered out a hand. “Get up. Aven’s out like a log, we have time.”

Lucian sighed, grasping the outstretched hand and pulled to his own feet, dusting off soot from his robes. “Fine, but fair warning, I’m not good at spells like these.” He hesitates. “They… always seem to go wrong.”

“Then we’ll take it slow.”

Lucian’s gaze traveled back to where Aven slept and he drew Marcello towards the front of the mine. “Close us off from him. Just in case. I don’t want to wake him or…”

Before he could finish, Marcello waved a hand and a wall of stone separated them from Aven and the horses. “Don’t already think of failure. You’ll pollute your mind and be unfocused, then you’ll really fail. You’ve taught yourself up until now, now its time for you to work with someone else.”

Even doubtful, Lucian couldn’t hide his apparent excitement as his lip twitched up and he motioned for Marcello to demonstrate.

“You must be controlled and precise,” Marcello began as he pointed a finger outwards to the stone wall he conjured. With seamless focus, a bloom of red sparked and grew at the very tip as he uttered an incantation. “If you don’t keep your concentration or release too early, you’ll blow yourself up. Point and aim with conviction.”

“Easier said than done,” Lucian replied as he watched Marcello’s moves carefully. “I’ve always struggled with control. Can you show me that again?”

The bead of fire Marcello had summoned flickered out and he stepped forth to grasp Lucian’s hand. “Here, follow my motions, don’t try to cast anything yet… just learn how to move.”

With Lucian’s finger out, Marcello guided in precise movements, to which Lucian matched smoothly. A quick arc up, twirling into a loop and cutting across to fire. It was almost like dancing as they moved as one. And after the third run through, Marcello lets go to allow Lucian to try them on his own. “Why doesn’t your magic explode in your face like mine does?” He hisses with a bloom of red at his cheeks.

“I wish I had all the answers. Perhaps your magic is simply more wild than mine.” He stops and sweeps Lucian with a look. Even awake and moving, he still looked pale. Drained. “Here, try casting something for real now. The scorching ray, perhaps, not the fireball. I don’t want to die like that.”

Lucian nodded, determination seeping onto his features as he took up stance. He did it perfectly as practiced, or so he thought. Mid spell, his mana ran rampant and with a burst of flame and heat, he was blasted off his feet. A yelp drew from his lips as he hit the wall, slumping down.

“Lucian!” Marcello hissed. He rushed to the prince’s side, dropping to a knee and grasping his shoulder.

Lucian looked up at him in miserable anger as a lingering flame burned up the front strands of his blonde hair. Embarrassment flared in him and with a snarl he smacked away the fire and gathered to his feet, turning to pout. “Fucking typical.”

“You’re learning,” Marcello insisted, coming up behind him. “It’s normal to fail a few times. Come on, let’s keep trying.”

They do. They try several more times, misfires of spells turning boots to sand, spawning a dozen butterflies, and even giving Marcello a temporary tail before finally Lucian had enough.

“It’s not going to work, Marcello!” he yelled in a rush of fury, spinning to spray an array of elements onto the cave wall. Fire, ice, electricity. They pummeled the stone in blind rage and Lucian spun again with another heave. Several magical missiles of raw force threatened to send the stone wall Marcello had summoned crumbling to the ground. He lashed out to finish the job and another flux of wild magic burst in his face, sending him back onto his ass. “FUUUUCKKKK!” he roared.

Marcello stood quietly off to the side, brushing pieces of rubble from his clothes before sighing out. “Lucian that is enough.” He crossed over and grabbed Lucian by his wrist, wrenching him onto his feet.

“Let go of me!” A finger pointed level with Marcello’s face, crackling with magic that dared not leave. Behind, Lucian’s eyes rimmed red with angry tears. He wrenched free and moved to hug himself to quell the tremble of shoulders. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand what I’m doing wrong.”

“You think too much. Every time you mess up, you dig yourself deeper into a hole you can’t climb out of. You let it destroy your confidence and fluster you.” Marcello shook his head. “An unconfident mage is a deadly one. If you mess up, you mess up, just make the most of it. Don’t let it fluster you. Here lets try something else.”

“Try what?” Lucian replied miserably.

Marcello began to cast another spell, a bead of sweat rolling down his temple, and it flickered and sparked upon his fingertips. Rather than a room of dimness he’d meant to summon, Marcello was swept off his feet as his gravity flipped upside down. With feet flailing in the air and his head brushing the ground, he hovered in shock.

Lucian erupted into laughter.

“Well… this is not what I had in mind, but I’m glad it’s been somewhat helpful to you,” Marcello muttered. He glared teasingly up at Lucian. “This is what I get for wasting all my energy cleaning up after you.”

“Oh shut up. Let me help.” Lucian moved to flip Marcello upright, but as soon as he did, Marcello twisted back upside down like a cork bobbing in water. “…Well, hopefully it won’t last long.”

Marcello folded his arms over his chest sourly. “Just let me try again. Come here and don’t fight my magic.” Even upside down, he summoned his mana once more. This time it seemed to be more of a struggle for him as he teetered on exhaustion, before finally Lucian’s vision dimmed to darkness.

Lucian unsteadily stepped back, fumbling to make sure he didn’t fall or crash into something. “You want me to cast blindly?”

“I want you to focus on nothing but yourself and your own magic. Don’t worry about me or what’s going on around you. Just… try not to hit me.”

“If you say so.” Lucian stuck out his hand, copying the same movements as before, and a bloom of flame crackled across his palm, forming into a fiery lance as it shot out and struck the nearest wall. Flawless. Several seconds of silence ticked. “…Did I do it?”

Marcello’s features lit up with approval. “You did. Expertly at that. I’d say this was a succ-” He didn’t get to finish as his inverted self-gravity dissipated and he dropped unceremoniously onto his head. His whole body crumpled and he groaned. “Ow.”

Lucian blindly rubbed the back of his neck, entirely unaware. “Thanks for helping me, Marcello.”

“Don’t sweat it. You’re just better when you’re not focusing on everything else around you. I get it.” Marcello peels himself up from the ground with a tired yawn. “We should actually try to sleep now. I’m running on fumes.”

“I can tell. It’s probably for the best before I end up bringing the cave down.” Lucian stopped. “…Can you let me see again now?”

A simple wave of Marcello’s hand ended the effect of the spell and lowered the crumbling stone wall all the same. “Would you leave a light at my bedside this time?”

“…Of course.”

A little bauble of light glowed dimly from Marcello’s bedside as the man fell into his pillows, while Lucian rejoined at Aven’s side. He curled to the bedroll, a few inches of space between him and the still sleeping man before a shuffle of weight brought Aven’s arms down around him.

“How’d it go?” Aven whispered in a sleepy slur, his stubbled face nuzzling to the back of Lucian’s neck. “You smell crispy.”

Lucian wriggled to get comfortable in the man’s arms. “Were you eavesdropping?”

“Sorta… your yelling woke me.”

“Well it went fine, go back to sleep.”

In seconds, Aven was snoring again, his warm breath brushing over Lucian’s skin.

————————————-

As promised, they were set to leave only several short hours later. A cool wind billowed in through the mine’s threshold, singing down the mountain side. After being fussed over by Lucian, assuring that he had no concussion or further broken bones, Aven limped to the edge and inhaled the fresh mountain air.

Lucian was at his side, fingers sliding across his shoulder and lips pressing to his neck. “Enjoying the view?"

"Think I’m just starting to feel the whiplash,” he murmured. His hand coiled around Lucian’s waist.

“Whiplash? You mean from that little thump on the head?"

Aven flushed. ”….no. My life.“ His eyes glittered as they searched the mountainside. The snow gathered at the peaks and the vast expanse of blue skies spilling out over the horizon. "Things just seemed so much more simple before. I fought. I didn’t have to think. I didn’t have to feel. Now… I’m just left to work it all out alone. Do you see who I am?"

"Who you are?” Lucian fell into thoughtful silence. Then, the edge of his lip twisted upwards. “…I see a dumbass.” He kissed the man’s cheek. “Come. We’re close to the supply tunnels. We should be seeing Crinti soon, so be ready.”

It was twilight when they finally found the tunnel system. Laying on their bellies overtop a ledge of stone, the trio gazed down at the great opening sinking down into the mountain’s depths. It was most certainly the supply line. Crinti elves spoke with their drow partners, monitoring their Arkaiun slaves who dragged crates up to the surface. Weapons, poison, resources… and who knew what else the drow had concocted for their surface allies. “Those must be the umberhulks,” Marcello murmured, pulling Aven from his thoughts.

Two great, hulking, powerfully built beasts flanked the opening. They were a cross between what looked like a great ape and a beetle, with a low rounded head that was dominated by a pair of clicking mandibles and rows of triangular teeth. Bug-like eyes blinked above armored plates that covered every inch of their chitinous bodies.

Beside the mine, a river poured down from the mountain’s peak, frozen water spilling down its side beside its opening.

“So this is it,” Aven whispered. “All we need to do is just have Marcello seal up the entrance with stone and then we’re home free.”

“That’s right,” Marcello growled. “I was hoping the umberhulks wouldn’t be here, but…they aren’t fireproof. We’ll slay them first, so that they can’t simply burrow through the cave-in and then set to dismantling the beams supporting the tunnels.”

“We can’t just march right in,” Lucian hissed. “We need to be careful…. Let me begin dismantling the beams while you and Aven focus on the umberhulks. When they’re dead, the tunnel will be ready for you.”

“Good idea. Turn us invisible, and we’ll try and get closer.’

Lucian’s nod was firm. The arcane words that whispered from his lips were quiet, articulate, and the gesture of his hand impeccable. And yet… Aven felt a pang in his chest. A surge of energy. A surge of chaotic energy.

“Now?!” He hissed at Lucian who flinched at the failed spell.

“What do you want me to say?! My magic has been a fucking piece of shi-”

They heard something.

The sound of rushing water.

Slowly, the three turned as the river began to rise. It towered above them, casting its shadow upon the ground as it rose higher and higher into the bitter cold sky. A massive being, composed entirely of water stretched up towards the sky, the entirety of the river making up its immense body.

The blood drained from Aven’s face. “…good distraction, love. Marcello, can you please turn us invisible?"

Below, the crinti and the Arkaiun slaves were in a panic. They scrambled for their weapons, their supplies and Lucian’s eyes narrowed slightly. ”…no…“ He whispered. "No, this is perfect!”

“What about this situation is perfect?!”

“The river.” Lucian grabbed Marcello’s sleeve. “If we were to direct it inside the tunnels, it would be catastrophic. Everyone inside would drown. All of their supplies would be damaged or destroyed. The tunnels would be flooded, and as far as I know, umberhulks can’t swim.”

Marcello’s eyes widened a tad. “Brilliant, Lucian. That could certainly work. We’d just have to-”

“What about the Arkaiuns?” Aven hissed.

“What about them.” Marcello’s voice was laced with an unfamiliar coldness.

Aven scowled. “They’re slaves. They didn’t choose to be there, they were forced to! If we flood those tunnels, then the Arkaiuns will be drowned just the same as the others.”

“And so what would you suggest?” Below, the water elemental was beginning to attack the Crinti, grabbing one of them with its watery fist and the soldier drowned in its grasp.

Aven flushed. “I…I don’t know. But..we can’t do that. It’s not right.”

Marcello drew a sharp breath. “There’s only so many people I can give a damn about!” He snapped out in a hiss. “We’ve come too far to back down now. If we simply turn tail because of a few Arkaiun deaths, that means my sister will have died for nothing.” He turned to Aven. His single eye flared. “I refuse to let it all be in vain.”

“And I refuse to let innocent people die! Lucian…surely you can do something.”

“What could I do, Aven?” Lucian whispered. “There’s too many Crinti, too many drow. And I imagine the Arkaiuns are so brainwashed, if we took up arms against their masters they may join the fray. And we have the elemental to think about! Aven, we don’t have time for the luxury of worrying about slaves!”

Aven’s gaze darkened. Disgust filled his chest, his lungs, his throat until he could barely breathe and he stood. “Do whatever you want,” he pushed out. “I’ll have no part of it.”

Lucian’s heart twisted as he watched his lover leave. Aven. So kind hearted… he couldn’t see when sometimes, the hardest things must be done in the name of the greater good. “How are we going to lead it to the entrance? It’s so big…”

“I’m not sure,” Marcello murmured. “But…we have to do it-”

Both of them froze as they heard a sound. Crying. Not the panicked shrieks of elves and men, but children, from within the mines. The blood drained from Lucian’s face. “…children?” He whispered. “What the hell are children doing here?!”

“They must be Arkaiun slaves.” Marcello was keenly aware of Aven glaring daggers into the back of his head. His fist clenched. Unclenched. They should just do it. Just fill it up. The entire thing. Then they wouldn’t have to worry, they’d just be able to go home and-

“Damn it,” Marcello snarled as he grabbed the reins of his horse and heaved himself on top.

“Marcello?!” Lucian said. “What are you doing?”

“Cover me, Lucian! I’ll lead the elemental inside, find the children and teleport back here, but you need to keep the Crinti off of me!”

“What? Marcello, that’s-”

Lucian was given no time to finish. Marcello’s heel slammed against the side of his horse and with a rear of kicking hooves, the horse trampled down the side of the mountain, sliding across loose stone as it hurtled towards the entrance.

Amidst the battling with the eldritch elemental, Crinti spotted the human charging towards them on horseback. They cried out orders in a panic, crossbows leveled at him and spat a volley of bolts towards the man.

None of them hit.

All of them deflected across the expanse of an arcane shield Lucian conjured. One of the Crinti soldiers leapt towards him, swinging his sword and with a kick of Marcello’s boot collapsed on the rocky stone. At last, Marcello stood before the entrance, gazing up at the titanic elemental. He needed it’s attention. Marcello grit his teeth, lightning crackling across his fingers. “Down here!” He roared, and threw his hand forward.

The elemental bellowed and twitched as lightning charged across its body. He could see it’s body turn towards him, cascading limbs quivering with anger and the man set his jaw. “That’s right,” he growled. “This way.”

The elemental didn’t march towards him.

It deflated into a roaring river that surged towards him, slamming the Crinti standing by into the walls and drowning them in seconds. Panic exploded in Marcello’s chest and with a snarl, he tore his reins around and sped into the tunnel.

It took everything he had to maintain control over his horse. He leapt over barrels and boxes, and his horses’ hooves skidded around corners as he passed by confused Crinti soldiers and Arkaiuns, and could hear their screams drowned out as the rushing water that chased him flooded through the tunnels.

The crying.

It was getting closer.

He charged forward, faster and harder, his fists twisting into the reins and then - he saw them. A young girl and boy, dressed in rags as they cowered together, clutching on to one another as the crushing waters rushed towards them.

He just had to grab them. Marcello could feel the spray of water behind him, could feel the icy cold as it sloshed against its back, closer and closer and with a roar, he leapt from his horse’s back and grabbed the children’s arms, screaming the arcane words as the river rushed over him.

The portal spat him out on the mountainside, right beside Lucian and Aven who jumped back a foot. “Marcello!” Lucian dropped down to one knee and grabbed his shoulder. “You got them… you crazy bastard, you got them, is… is it done?”

“It’s done,” Marcello choked out. His entire body was soaked with freezing water, along with the children who quivered in terror, looking up at the strangers. “The tunnels… they’re flooded… it’s over…”

There was no celebration as Lucian draped a blanket over the man’s shoulders and they looked down at the ruined tunnels. Countless dead. Arkaiun. Crinti. There was no sense of victory, after their long journey. Only… exhaustion.

Aven was the first to move. Every motion felt heavy as he gently took Marcello’s arm and pulled him to his feet. “…night is falling,” he murmured. “We need to get these children to a village, so that we can get home.”

“Home.” The word was hollow on Marcello’s tongue. No. He didn’t believe it would feel like home for a long, long time. A shuddering breath spilled from him as he pushed to his feet. “…all right. Let’s go.”