Dulrak stood facing the secret door that presumably led out of the tomb.

“Should we venture down that way?” asked Isa.

The dwarf shook his head. “Too dangerous.”

“We can’t just stand here.” Isa looked around the dimly-lit room.

“Sure we can. Or better yet, you should sit.”

Isa opened her mouth to protest, and then decided that she really didn’t feel all that great, so she sat down. With her back propped up on a side wall, Isa pulled her knees to her chest. “Do you know these guys? I mean, have you encountered them before?”

Dulrak shook his head. “There are many cults in the area. The Hinter, it’s a harsh place, makes the folk who live here pull together. It’s survival, at least at the start, but to keep the tribe together, you have to find commonality. Language, custom.” Dulrak waved a hand. “Religion. Surely you have those things where you’re from.”

Isa shrugged. “Some places more than others.”

Dulrak nodded and patted the black dire wolf on the side. The wolf was almost as tall as the dwarf. He scratched the dire wolf between the ears, and Isa heard him say, “We’ll see Arna a little later. Need to conserve my spells, right?”

When had the white dire wolf left? Isa tried to think back to the battle. Arna had almost ripped that wizard’s arm off – Isa remembered that. If only she had. Might have saved Isa some trouble. And then Alice was beside her, with her crossbow in hand. But that was about the last thing Isa remembered.

Alice. She seemed so unfazed by this tomb and the creatures inside it. Casting spells here and there. Traipsing off with Lund and Mery. Alice had even shrugged off the giant snake that fell on her. As if that were a common occurrence! She hadn’t aged 10 years, and unlike Isa, she hadn’t become petrified at the sight of the mummy.

Isa frowned unconsciously. What was wrong with her, that she had suffered so much and Alice so little? They were both outlanders, strangers in a strange land and—

A small voice in the back of Isa’s mind said, Is that true? Do you really know where Alice is from? Maybe she’s not from Vermont.

“Nonsense,” Isa whispered. “Stop being an idiot.”

“Hmm?” Dulrak glanced at Isa. “Do you need something, lass? You should try to rest. Your health is still quite low. Wish I had a few goodberries. A small bit of healing, but they taste good, and they just make you feel better, eh? The way a good meal can make you feel better when you’re low.”

Isa nodded. When was the last decent food she’d had? At the inn? The meal they’d shared with Dockma and Flanor, those snakes. She tried to remember what they’d all eaten. And had Alice done or said anything strange? Were there any indications that perhaps this wasn’t all new to her?

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

She seemed to have taken the last 5 days in stride. Had Isa herself been as sanguine on her first trip through Varana? And why was it so much harder now? Isa had never faced anything as challenging as this tomb. What’s to say that she wouldn’t freeze up again? What if Alice fell and Isa was too frightened to heal her?

You’re supposed to be the strong one, the experienced one. Get your head together.

Isa shifted positions on the hard, stone floor. All these thoughts were useless. Wondering about Alice, useless. “Just talk to her,” Isa muttered to herself.

“Oh man, Lund just picked up the arm.” Alice’s voice was in Isa’s head.

“What? What the hell?”

After a pause, Alice said, “Message, babe. Cantrip.”

“Right. You OK? Everything OK?”

At Isa’s words, Dulrak pushed himself off the wall. “What’s happening? What do you hear?”

“It’s Alice,” she told him. “No news.”

“Yeah fine,” said Alice. “Just practicing. And the arm.”

“Have you found the urn?”

“Just getting to the room. Probably almost out—”

“Al? Ally?”

“Are they alright?” asked Dulrak.

“I think so. I— I think she’s probably at the limits of her message spell.” She paused. “That’s probably all it is, right? Range? There’s nothing— They didn’t get attacked or….”

“Let me send Batraz. He can check and if they are fine, he’ll come back.”

“And if he doesn’t?” asked Isa.

Dulrak murmured in the dire wolf’s ear. “Then we’ll know to go join them. Give it ten minutes?”

Isa nodded and stood as the dire wolf raced from the room.

“I have enough magic to give you a healing,” Dulrak said.

“Save it. I have one dose left. I’ll do it now. Who know what’s going to happen, right? This place has been quite the surprise so far.” She put her hand flat against her chest and pressed her palm into the locket that Ysel had given her, the necklace that had started this whole adventure. Silently she prayed, “Let me get out of here in one piece.”

Dulrak was watching her. “Better?” he said.

“Better.” Isa nodded. “I don’t feel like I’m going to fall over.” She rubbed her face. “I want a long, hot bath when we’re done here. Any spa recommendations?”

“Ha! If it’s baths you want, the Fang Tribe is your best bet. Quite clean people and they have—”

Peck came gliding in, landed on a shelf by the door, and cawed.

“Oh no.” Isa covered her mouth. “Oh shit. Dulrak, I don’t think— What if I freeze? What if—”

“You don’t have time to worry. Trust your god and your blade.” With his warhammer in hand, Dulrak was out the door and down the hall.

Isa followed on his heels, and Peck flew past them both, cawing in short bursts. Isa could have overtaken Dulrak, with his short legs, but in the narrow hallway, Isa knew it was best to keep single file. The hall was dark so Isa pulled out her sun blade which shone like a torch in the gloom.

A minute later they were in the room where they’d fought the mummy king the second time. Isa was gratified to see that his body was still where it had fallen. Moving past him, Dulrak turned left and up a new hallway. Isa knew this must be how Alice and the others had gone, but she couldn’t help but slow down for fear of traps.

With her right hand lightly touching the wall, Isa carefully made her way along the passage. Dulrak and Peck were easily 20 feet ahead. As Isa watched, the dwarf disappeared into a doorway to the right, but she forced herself to go slowly.

When she was 15 feet from the door, Isa could hear fighting, and she felt anger flare up. Is this your doing? she silently asked Ysel. Why are we here? What’s the point of this? I don’t like it. “In case you even care,” she added softly.

Isa hadn’t expected a response, so she wasn’t disappointed when none came.