XIX

As he exited the crack into the chamber where the bodies had been hanging, scurrying spiders could be heard. Yoreno glanced about critically, but saw none of the cursed arachnids.

He swiped the open space with his torch, left, then right, the fire there hissing and guttering with his fast movement as he continued to look about carefully.

The bodies were still there, the webbing mostly burnt and the desiccated remains mostly charred along with the egg sack.

“The fire did good work here,” Xanderial said.

Glancing forward, Yoreno nodded. The webbing leading through a tunnel corridor they hadn’t seen before was also burnt and charred.

Yoreno suspected the next chamber ahead would be the main nest.

And where the spiderling awaited them.

“Be careful,” Dantera said. She turned and glanced back and Xanderial. “What we didn’t tell you about the spiderling…”

“What?”

“They are often dark magickers as well as monsters that can command the lower spiders.”

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Swallowing, Xanderial asked, “Are they… are they spiders themselves?”

Yoreno turned, waited for Dantera’s explanation, though he knew the answer that was coming.

“No,” she said with a shake of her head.

“Then…” Xanderial said. “Then what are they?”

“An evil abomination,” Yoreno said. “Something between a man and a spider.”

Xanderial’s eyes widened and he reflexively took a step back. “Truly?”

He nodded.

“Then let us kill this beast so we can be done of this.”

“Like an adventurer,” Dantera said with a subtle smile. “We might have to ask your lady if you can accompany us on our quests later on.”

Saying nothing, Xanderial paused for a moment, then finally nodded.

Yoreno turned to make his way through the tunnel, but Dantera put out her arm and barred his way. When he looked at her, she shook her head. “I am the more powerful adventurer. It makes no sense for you to go before me, yes?”

Despite her superior capabilities, Yoreno was not accustomed to having a woman go first, but her point was logical—especially since he was technically her protégé.

“The learner follows the master.”

“Mistress,” she said with a grin. “Then do follow, protégé.”

Yoreno returned her smile. “Lev would tell you not to die.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Then I suppose it is a good think you are not him, or I’d grab you by the scruff of your neck and haul you ahead of me.”

“Jokes?” Xanderial asked. “Really?”

They both looked at him. “Sorry,” Yoreno said.

“When you’ve been an adventurer as long as we have,” Dantera said, “you learn to bring levity to an otherwise dour situation.”

Visibly swallowing, Xanderial accepted her explanation and nodded.

“Now let’s go,” she said with a determined air. “Follow me.”