“Just eat two handfuls of the hardest rock on the planet. That should suffice for about a day,” Falls says.

“I just thought of something. How cold will it get? Do we need coats or something?” I ask.

“I don't know what is too cold for you. Balthazar protected himself from the cold,” Grug says.

“Wish I knew how to do that,” I say.

“I can go get some protections from mom and dad. They can relink me to the city or I can use the transporter in the city,” Rock says.

“Sounds good,” I say.

“Activate link,” Rock says and vanishes.

“You need food or water Oaky?” I ask.

“Water will be sufficient,” she says, I then notice that her color is getting a very dark tint to it.

“Looks to me you need more than that. You're not used to lack of nutrients,” I say and reach in my belt for a canteen. “Drink this and I will find something for us to eat.”

I pull out the list and find a few items that I figure we all will like. Some fruit for Oaky, some jerky for Rock. And I find some things like a granola mix.

We start to eat and Rock appears, “Got some snacks if you want them,” I say.

“Sure, Dad gave us some bands to wear to keep us warm. He says they will only last at max a day. He says if it is too cold they will fail earlier,” Rock says.

“Okay. We will have to do a quick look and see what we find. Do you need a band, Falls?” I ask.

“No, as long as an earth-man can stand the cold for a short time. I can stand it indefinitely. The temperature has to be extreme for a metal knome to be frozen,” she replies.

We finish eating and drinking then put on the bands. We go to the floating slab and let Grug take us in. I don't even try to look this time. I close my eyes as soon as we start moving.

The ride to the tomb was much longer. Oaky taps me on the shoulder when we stop. I open my eyes to a low flowing fog. It reminds me of what happens when you put dry ice in water.

I step off and almost fall when I hit a thick layer of ice, “I thought there was no water on this world other than really deep” I say.

“We are on the edge of a steam pipe.” Grug says. “Before the tomb started taking the life force of the planet, there was a lot of steam in this tunnel.”

“Did you eat some rocks?” I ask Grug.

“Yes we stopped a ways back. You had your eyes closed, why?” he asks.

“Because the movement of the transport wakes me queasy,” I say.

“Oh, we will have to walk the rest of the way. The transport freezes if it gets any closer,” Grug says.

Oaky and I progress slowly to keep from sliding. At a few spots I get some speed going and slid a ways. Eventually Rock held out his hands and Oaky and I grab them.

We progress much faster because Rock just drags us along. All I see is frost everywhere. The Fog gets higher and higher till it reaches my waist.

We turn a corner and see a wall of deep blue. There are glowing insignias on the wall in a circular pattern. “This is not writing,” Falls says as we stop in front of the wall.

“How is your heat source Grug?” Falls asks.

“Full, Although it is having trouble keeping the heat to my limbs,” he says.

“If you don't mind I am going to use you to recharge the tomb. It is on minimal use. I can't open it unless I recharge it some,” she says.

“But it will kill me,” he says terrified.

“I won't let it. There is a fail safe on it that will shut it down if I walk in front of it. Leave enough room between you and it so I can get in front of you.”

“Are you sure?” he asks.

“Even if I am wrong, and I am not, we can reform you in the forge. You will just be out for a short time.”

“Okay just try not to put me to sleep. I saw what the other guy went through.”

“I won't,” she returns impatiently, “I need you here now to help us. You didn't happen to grab some extra stone did you?”

“No,” he says deflated.

“Hold on I may have something in the pouch,” I say and look at the list. “What about silver?”

“It will help, but save it, we might need it later,” she says.

I look down the list, “Wait your father put just about every type of stone in here,” I say.

“Let me see how far we can go first. I don't want the stone cold. It might create a shock in Grug. Ready Grug?” Falls asks.

“Yes,” he says very nervously.

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

Grug steps in front of the wall leaving plenty of room for Falls. Falls presses two symbols on the left of the circle. A blue beam shoots out the center of the circle and hits Grug.

“I can't move,” he bellows.

“It's part of the set up. Calm down and pay attention to your heat source. When it fluctuates tell me,” Falls says.

“O... Okay,” he stutters.

“Any change?” Falls asks.

“None, heating fine. In fact my extremities are responding better,” he says.

I notice that the fog is dropping rapidly. It disappears and the beam on Grug stops. Grug stumbles back, “It stopped why?” he asks.

“Because it is fully charged,” Falls says.

“You mean they killed earth-men when they could have had an almost indefinite source for it?” I ask.

“Yes,” Falls responds.

“Did you know this?” I ask.

“Yes, I had my suspicions.”

“Then why didn't you say so?”

“Because I wasn't positive,” she returns softly while she studies the insignias.

“Only you Falls,” I say sarcastically. “But it does make you wonder if Balthazar knew a knome would be with us.”

“Of course he did,” Rock says, “They had knome advisers even back then. The one thing I can't figure is, if knomes have always been advisers, how was Falls' people enslaved,” Rock asks.

“Because,” Falls begins still studying the insignias, “There are many more knomes then dragons. There was only a small group that were around dragons to become advisers. It was other groups that were enslaved.”

“But don't all knomes know what all other knomes are doing through the underground?” I ask.

“Yes,” She replies.

“Then why didn't the dragons help?” I ask, a bit upset.

“Because they didn't know,” she returns without emotion.

“Why not?” I ask, confused.

“Because they weren't told. It was not important to tell them,” She says.

“Not important? It was their people. You could have got free earlier,” I say flabbergasted.

“We are free now. I don't see the problem,” she says, still concentrating on the glyphs.

“Sometimes you are infuriating Falls,” I say exasperatedly.

“I think I might have the combination, but it has been centuries since this language has been used. These glyphs are from the first set ever used. My connection to the underground has been severed so I cannot double check,” Falls says.

“If I was able to get you in contact with your father would that help?” I ask.

“I believe so. I should be able to connect to the underground if I can see another knome. That way I can also inform the underground of our progress or lack thereof,” She says.

“Yeah, Yeah, what ever,” I say. I use the wormhole to contact her father. He looks at me confused till Falls comes into frame. Then after five seconds she walks off and says, “Okay.” I dismiss the window.

“In that short time you were able to tell them everything and get a check?” I ask.

“Actually no, it took me a little longer because I wanted to get updated on some friends of mine,” she says.

“And they think texting is fast,” I say.

“Texting?” Grug asks.

“Something in the human world in our universe. Where I am from magic doesn't exist,” I say.

“Strange world,” Grug says.

“You're telling me,” I say.

“I can either open the tomb up but leave it functioning. Or I can shut it down. I suggest leave it running since you know now how to keep it running. Just be sure to have the one recharging it eat two handfuls of the hardest rock for safety measures,” Falls says.

“What about the cold?” Grug asks.

“The planet will recover. It will just take a while for the area to warm up,” she says.

“Okay leave it running for now. You can teach me what you know and the chieftain can decide later,” he says.

“Okay are we ready?” Falls asks.

“Punch away,” I say.

Falls presses glyphs very quickly. I think some were pressed multiple times. I am sure she hit every symbol at least once. There is a slight hum in the air and the wall opens. Not like a normal door, but out from the center of the circle. When it finishes there is no sign of the blue wall.

A corridor continues out of sight, “Be careful they might have guards posted,” Falls says.

“You mean there might be knomes alive still in here after all that time?' I ask.

“It is possible. I have come to the conclusion that the knomes in this dimension were militant,” she returns.

“She may be right,” Grug says, “They did function through their military.”

“Great a knome lost in here for centuries still thinking knomes rule,” I say.

“Sounds maddening,” Rock says.

We all walk cautiously through the tunnel. After a few minutes I see what looks like lead pillars on either side of a door. When we get within a few feet of the doors the pillars morph into lead knomes.

“Please don't kill us,” they say in unison.

“Why would we kill you?” I ask.

“We know the rock people have taken over. We just want out of here,” the one on the right says.

“How do you know that?” I ask.

“We still are connected to the vein. It stopped filling us in after the last knome left,” he says.

“Do you know how to get to your kind again?” I ask.

“No, only Rank one and higher had that information to open the portal. Now they are all gone. It is just us and the Head remain,” he says.

“You mean your leader?” I ask.

“No the Head: Highly Effective and Destructive. It guards the inner sanctum,” he says.

“You mean it will attack if we go in?” I ask.

“Yes, but if you allow us to live we will tell you how to deactivate it and teach what little magic we have. But I see you already captured a Gold, so there is nothing we can really teach in magic,” He says.

“There is a lot you can teach,” Falls says. “I am not from this dimension and don't plan on staying.”

“So it is up to you, Grug. Will you be as heartless as your slavers? Or will you show these men that your people have compassion.” I ask.

“I cannot speak for my people. But I can promise I will do my best to keep them alive. I lay my protection on them. Any who harms or kills them will answer to me,” Grug says.

“That is all we can ask,” the knome says. “We know all the functions of the storage facility up to the inner sanctum. We can't help you there. As for the Head, the easiest way is for her,” he points at Falls, “to say deactivate. It should obey all gold knomes it considers has authority over it.

If that doesn't work you will have to deactivate its power source. That is the hard part. It will protect it with its life. The rod sticking out of the central control console is the switch for its power. You just need to pull it out.”

“Well Grug if you want to get to know your new buddies, me and my friends are heading to central command,” I say.

“Okay be careful,” Grug says.

The lead knome presses a button on the side of the door and it slides open. It reveals a long narrow corridor just tall enough to walk erect in. I hear what sounds like metal grinding in the distance.

Falls takes the lead as we slowly follow the corridor. At the end of the hall is another door. As we get within a couple of feet of the door it opens.