Elman was visibly disturbed by the sight of these monsters, more than he had been at any time Saul had known him so far, but Saul was an experienced leader of men.

Despite Elman’s age, rank, and experience, he gladly gave the lead to Saul, falling in behind him as the two of them charged forward to engage the skeleton line.

A glance over Saul’s shoulder showed him that their escape was blocked. A heavy stone door had slammed shut over the doorway through which they had entered, and the only other way out—through a narrow opening in the far wall opposite the entrance—was blocked by a gleaming barrier of golden light. Saul had no doubt that anyone trying to leave that way would find they couldn’t pass the golden barrier. They would have to defeat the enemies in this chamber before they could think of leaving.

Saul led the way, using his black thrall sword rather than casting the Gladesword spell. Elman’s blade was running with fire, and the armsmaster cast his Cloak of Fire spell, but it seemed to have little effect on the skeletons.

Once again, Saul wished for the ability to change the Squad affinity to something other than fire. Perhaps that would come with a level up but, for now, they had to make the best of what they had.

He brought up the School of Earth spells as he traded blows with an ax-wielding skeleton warrior.

School of Earth:

Spells Available: Tier 1

Disguise Tracks (Ranger)

Know the Ground (Ranger)

Cultivate (Crafter)

Spells Available: Tier 2

Earthquake (Combat; Area of Effect)

Heal (Combat: Self; Ally)

Mud Golem (Combat: Summoned Creature)

The Tier 1 spells were not likely to be much use, and the Earthquake spell seemed a bit too risky to attempt to use in an underground chamber, but the Mud Golem spell had been particularly effective so far. The existing golem in its steel armor backed up Zorea and Brand, who had got round the back of the melee skeletons and engaged the archers.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

Saul cast Mud Golem again, this time adding a School of Air combo to the spell to give the golem a bit more speed. The creature appeared from the ground nearby, as stealthy as ever, and proceeded to attack the nearest skeletons. The new golem was armed with a long, pale blade made from mist and magic, and the blade glittered like ice in the gloom of the chamber.

“Use your light magic, Saul!” Brand yelled across the chamber. “I need both hands!”

Saul dispatched the skeleton he was fighting with a stunning blow to the head that knocked the monster’s skull clean off, and the skeleton crashed to the ground in a clattering heap of bones, the blue animating light winking out like a snuffed candle as it fell.

Moving to the School of Fire, Saul pulled up the Light Globe and Overcast it, sending a blindingly bright ball of light sailing up to the ceiling to illuminate the whole scene below.

Elman and Brand dropped their flaming torches to the ground as the new light appeared. Elman pulled a strange-looking short dagger from his belt, while Brand reached into the Squad inventory with his own System access and took out a simple Xornian infantry shortsword.

Brand dual-wielded the shortsword and his own fire enchanted blade and dealt double-handed with the remaining skeleton archers, while Zorea grabbed up a bow from one that had been killed and fired off a round of arrows into the backs of the group Saul and Elman tackled together.

Skeletons were falling left and right, and with every one that was destroyed Saul saw and felt the Gold XP and Squad XP rewards flowing into his Workshop. Elman had gotten over his fear of the skeletons, and Saul saw with interest that the little dagger he carried seemed to be particularly effective against them.

Every time Elman hit a skeleton with the dagger, a black mist floated around the blade, and the skeleton fell back and disarticulated into a pile of moldering bones.

Saul’s two armored golems had met up in the middle and attacked the flank while Zorea and Brand finished off the last of the archers and steamed in from the other side. Elman and Saul drew back, and then charged again. A few minutes later, the triumphant Squad and the two summoned creatures met in the middle of the chamber.

There wasn’t a skeleton to be seen anymore.

“What a fight!” Zorea said exultantly.

“I’m glad we got through it,” Elman said, looking shaken. He’d retrieved the two extinguished torches and hitched them to his pack again. “There’s little I fear in this world, but armored skeletons are a particular problem for me.”

“You did well,” Saul said, slapping him on the back. “Overcoming fear is the most important thing. More important than whether you feel it in the first place.”

The old armsmaster smiled. “Thanks!” he said, and then pointed to the far door of the chamber. “Look, the golden barrier has gone!”

“But the way back has not opened,” Brand added darkly.

Saul looked around. True enough, there was only one way out of the chamber now—through the narrow doorway that had been blocked by the barrier of golden light.

He shrugged. “Let’s go, then,” he said and stepped in that direction.

Before he could go through the door, however, he saw something that made him stop short.

“That wasn’t there before, was it?” he said, pointing at a large wooden chest standing next to the way out.

“I’d have seen it if it had been,” Elman said. The Light Globe was still shining near the ceiling of the burial chamber, glinting on the dark wood of the chest. Elman and Brand approached the chest together while Zorea and Saul held back, keeping an eye out for any new enemies that might appear.

Brand flipped the chest open, then laughed in amazement. Saul came forward to look.

The whole chest was stuffed to overflowing with treasure.