"I say we let them in," the guard next to Miwah muttered. "They know information that only a true Farrowporter would. Besides, we have civilians in there anyway. I see no harm in letting these three in."

"Four," Narrita said sternly as she petted Pierce's back.

"The snake stays out here," the guard replied.

"He's with me," Narrita shot back. "Trust me. He's the best defense that good-for-nothing Governor has against this invasion."

"Narrita!" Miwah said with a stomp of her foot. "Can you just utilize proper manners for once?"

The bandit crossed her arms. "You've got to be firm with the Farrowport Guard. They like to strongarm their way around town. So it's about time they get a taste of what they've dishing out."

"Wait a second..." the wounded guard said. He leaned forward and squinted his eyes at Narrita. "I recognize you. You're the leader of the Cutthroats!"

"Your group is responsible for everything that happened!" The man next to Miwah said. "Almost all of our men have been wiped out because of your group's assistance!"

"They're not my gang anymore!" Narrita replied with furor. "If you want any proof, just keep walking past the Ghenkans I melted, and you'll see them all dead too!"

The standing guard hobbled away from the wall and drew his sword. "With the power bestowed upon me by the Governor... I hereby place you under arrest!" His shaky hand pointed the tip of his sword at the Cutthroat, wobbling the blade back and forth. Unenthused, Narrita swatted the flat side of the sword with the back of her hand, knocking the weapon out of his grip.

"We don't have time for this. Just let us in. The sooner, the better."

"No!" the guard on the ground cried. "We have a duty to—" As the man spoke, Narrita reached down and pulled a set of keys of his belt. She looked through them and quickly picked one out.

"It's probably this one," she said with confidence. The grounded man stretched one arm, only to have a coughing fit. Tamma placed one hand on his back to keep him upright.

"If you let her go through there... then you'll be accomplices!" he stammered.

The hunter shrugged her shoulders. "Sorry sir. But like we said, we have to get inside."

Narrita fumbled through the lock while Pierce loomed over the standing guard. His eyes moved from the bandit and instead focused on the snake as his tongue licked his face. He shrunk against the corner as Narrita opened the gate to the metal bars. "All right you two. Let's get moving." She held the door open wide and gestured with her hand for the other two to enter in first.

"Good work," Miwah whispered to the bandit as she entered the shelter.

"There's the friendly way. Then there's the effective way," she replied.

Soon, all three entered the stone room. People were packed to the sides, all cowering away from the long snake that slithered in behind the other three. Narrita stood in front, her eyes scanning the squirming people as they pressed their backs against the stone walls in near darkness. "Which one is the Governor, Tamma?" she asked.

Tamma looked through the crowd. "I don't see her," she said with disappointment. "Does anyone know where the Governor went?" she asked the crowd.

A well-dressed man stepped up. Upon closer inspection, dirt and a bit of blood stained the lighter parts of his robe. He pointed at a closed wooden door on the opposite side of the room. "She went through there. Took two men with her."

"They've already headed through the escape route?" Tamma asked with worry. She put a hand on the handle and with a hearty pull started to pry it open.

"Yes. The guards outside warned her to let someone scout ahead first... but she was hysterical. She wanted out of here as quickly as possible, so she had two men accompany her."

"How long ago did they leave?" Miwah asked.

"Couldn't have been more than half an hour ago."

"That means if we're quick we can still catch up to them," Narrita said as she helped Tamma open the door wide enough for them to enter. A rush of cold air filled the room, carrying with it a musty aroma that made everyone snort save for Tamma.

"Is it safe to go?" an older woman asked. "Is the attack done?"

"We cleared out the bulk of them. But reinforcements might be coming through at any moment. I'd suggest staying here for now. Lock that gate again in case more Ghenkans show up," Narrita said she ducked her head underneath the door and stepped into the damp cave.

"Why can't we head out through there?" the same old man inquired while crossing his arms. "Are our lives not valuable enough?"

"There might be something far deadlier than Ghenkans living in that tunnel," Miwah said. "We cannot guarantee your safety if you go through." The seamstress entered the tunnel behind Narrita.

"If you want to try your hand at fighting giant bugs, feel free to tag along!" Narrita shouted as they ventured further into the cave. Those inside the shelter stared on with both confusion and fear as Miwah slowly closed the door behind her.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"You have a way with words. Anyone ever tell you that, lass?" Tamma asked the bandit as she guided the group through the narrow passage. The smell of damp soil remained as the door shut behind them. All three looked up, staring at the soft earth that was only a few feet above them. The sides of the tunnel were only marginally wider, giving them a few inches to wiggle with if they spread their arms all the way apart. Embedded throughout the padded dirt walls were glowing chunks of rock that lit up small portions of the path ahead.

"Illumibrick," Tamma said with awe as her finger grazed past the brilliant material.

"The Governor must have been working on this for a while if she's managed to get Illumibrick to light up the path. Must have cost a hefty amount of coin, too," Narrita said as she followed behind Pierce through the tight space.

"You know how she likes everything to be extravagant," Tamma said.

"Good use of taxpayer money."

"Good thing you do not pay taxes," Miwah said.

"That's what I've been trying to tell people," Narrita replied, flashing a smug smile to the seamstress behind her. "I'm sure she never planned on us using this escape tunnel."

"Try to keep the talking down, you two," Tamma whispered as she brought the group to a halt. "I need to hear what's coming up ahead. And I don't want to alert of any Insectus that might be lurking through these tunnels."

Both Miwah and Narrita nodded. The hunter resumed the march, keeping on hand on the wall as she continued the trek. After some trekking, the soft ground below led to a floor of solid stone. The air became colder, and the sound of dripping water became prominent.

"Do you know where we are now?" Narrita whispered. Tamma had stopped again. The trail turned dark, almost pitch black, save for the soft glow of more Illumibrick in the distance.

"Yeah. We must be approaching the series of caves that starts on the other side of the island," Tamma said.

"And no sign of Alson, Daego or the Governor," Miwah said with disappointment. "I hope they are all right."

"I'm getting worried too, lass. I'm starting to think that maybe they got lost."

"Trying calling them," Narrita said.

"You mean just... shout their names?"

"It's better than roaming around aimlessly," the bandit said.

After a quick sigh, Tamma cupped her hands over her mouth. She faced the trail of glowing stones and started to shout. "Alson!"

All three remained silent. They could hear the echo of Tamma's voice travel through the seemingly endless turns and tunnels of the cave system. Once her voice dissipated, they wanted in silence again, listening to the faint currents of air and steady drips of water.

"Tamma?" a wearied voice returned from further down.

Narrita smacked Tamma in the arm with the back of her hand. "See? What did I tell you?"

"Alson!" the hunter shouted again! "Just keep talking! We're coming to help!"

"Help us! Please!" another voice cried, this one belonging to the Governor.

Tamma's relieved face turned back to one of worry. She slung her bow over her shoulder and took swift yet cautious steps in the direction of the echo. Without a word, the others followed right behind her. "I've got a group with me! Everything all right?" Tamma called out.

"Hurry!" the Governor yelled back.

The hunter picked up the pace, sprinting as fast as she could over the damp stone. The light cast by the faded Illumibrick gave her just enough vision to avoid tripping face-first. The further she travelled through the cave, the louder the sounds of the others became. "Hold on! We're almost there!" she shouted as she climbed over a toppled rock. The caverns came to a fork, forcing Tamma to stop again as she looked at both paths. Neither one had Illumibrick placed in the walls to light up the way.

"Left or right?" Tamma asked the group ahead by shouting again.

"We're not sure! That's why we need help!" the Governor sobbed.

Tamma turned around to face the others. "Sounds like it came from the left. What do you two think?"

"I'd say the same," Narrita replied.

Without further hesitation, Tamma continued down the left path of the cave. It wasn't long before she came across the other group within the cave. Three shadows hovered together, blocking the faint light that came from a few magical stones scattered across the ground.

"Alson?" Tamma said with a normal voice.

"Tamma!" the guard turned around, the sound of the metal in the bottom of his boots clomping against the solid floor. He embraced the hunter with a heavy hug in the dark. "I'm so glad you're alive."

"I could say the same about you!" Tamma said while patting him on the back.

"What news do you have? Are the Ghenkans gone?" Alson asked once he let go of the hunter.

"A lot of them are dead. But there are still more roaming the streets. Most of the Cutthroats are gone, too."

"Is everyone else all right?"

Tamma lowered her head, leaving everyone in a long silence. "No," she muttered. "Chaston..."

"Don't tell me..." Alson said with a shaky voice.

"We tried, Alson. We really did."

"What's this about Chaston?" the Governor barked as she limped towards the conversation.

"He's dead," Narrita said bluntly. "The Ghenkans got him."

"Oh dear," the woman said curtly.

The guard leaned against the wall and bashed it with the bottom of his fist. "It's... all because of us! He made sure me and Daego got out first! If we were just a bit faster!"

Tamma placed a hand on his shoulder as she sobbed. "Don't say that! Chaston's death was not your fault."

"But... it could have been prevented! If only..." Alson rubbed the palm of his hand against his face.

"Listen pal," Narrita began, leaning on the opposite wall. "I know you're upset. But now's not the time for all this. I don't think any of us want to be in the middle of this cave any longer than we have to. Let's just focus on getting out of here and getting the Ghenkans out of town."

"That voice. It sounds familiar." Alson lifted himself off the wall and squinted at Narrita. "Wait... you're..." he said as he let one finger hover in front of the bandit's nose.

"Yeah. I'm exactly who you think I am. But do you really think Tamma and Miwah would bring me along if I wasn't here to help?"

"We don't have the time for another explanation, lad," Tamma said. "Just trust her on this one."

"Fine. If you say so, Tamma."

"Where is Daego?" Miwah asked.

"Over here!" he called out from further down the cavern.

"This buffoon has gotten us lost!" the Governor cried.

"Hey! You're the one that wanted to leave the bunker despite what the Farrowport Guard said! Either I lead you or no one would!"

"When you accepted the offer, I had assumed you knew where you were going!"

"I just wanted to get away from all those snobs. Being surrounded by entitled elitist and chopped up by Ghenkans is not how I want to go!" Daego caught up with the others and continued to bicker with the Governor, both raising their voices so loud that no one could make it what either was saying. Miwah stood between the two, cutting their argument short.

"Cut it out! Both of you!"

The arguing pair turned silent and gave each other hateful stares in the dark.

"Let Tamma guide us. If anyone knows how to get us out of here, it is her."

"Anyone should be able to do better than this... lower town filth!" The Governor blurted out.

Daego opened his mouth but stopped himself from saying something. "All right. That plan is just fine with me. Tamma. Are we going back to the estate? Or are we going to actually find wherever this escape route is supposed to lead to."

"I am not back to the bunker!" the Governor protested. "I do not want to be anywhere near those... barbarians! Take me to wherever this maze of an escape route is supposed to go."

"If you say so, ma'am." Tamma walked past the Governor and Daego. She placed her on the cave wall again and started to look around for any possible clues on which direction to travel. "But I suggest that you stay in the middle of the pack. There's no telling what could be in these caves."