They walked for hours, and the journey was slowed by the difficulty of the dark and exhaustion of the villagers. When they asked for rest Nessus urged them on, their persistence drawing down on them like a weight. They ate what little rations and water they had with them. Blink had tried to make the villagers take the majority as they were the most weakened. Yirranna would not hear of it and refused his offerings. She had stood imposingly before him, ‘if we are attacked down here, we will need all your strength to survive it. Best you eat it boy.’ The villagers behind her begrudgingly nodded in agreement, a mask of desperate longing for food on their dirty faces.

‘Just take it. You’ve all suffered enough’, he argued. He couldn’t very well starve them more after what they had been through.

‘D’you really think it will matter if we eat more an you?’ she said eyebrow raised.

‘Quit your stubbornness! If we are attacked, you’re not likely to be able to help let alone escape in this state,’ he was growing angry. How could she decide the fate of those she travelled with. They had the right to decide for themselves, to put themselves first, didn’t they?

‘As I told you boy, we are sturdier than we look. An we’ve not spent as long as you think starving in those caverns. We eat no more than you,’ she place her fists on her hips daring him to budge.

‘So long as they eat Yirranna. And stop calling me boy. My name is Blink,’ he said.

‘Leave them be Blink. They’ll do as they do. Yirranna is right, it is us that will need to defend them should something go wrong and they’re tougher than they look,’ said Brigid coming up beside the stout healer.

‘I don’t doubt them Brigid but…’ he went on before he was interrupted.

‘That’s enough Blink. They have said their peace so leave it,’ she said sternly. Blink grumbled and seethed but he left them with an even share of the rations. Not only was Nessus insistent on driving them on but now he had Brigid’s bossy mood to contend with. Worse still Danu had been lost in her own thoughts since losing her staff and had proved little use. How was it that heroes in those old tales just seemed to get people to do as they asked? Surely, they hadn’t been called boy or bossed about by those they were supposed to be protecting.

‘Why so glum?’ said Ra’Handa as he slumped next to her chewimg on jerky from her pack.

‘I’m not glum,’ he said sullenly.

‘You’re bout as glum as they come ey,’ said Ra’Handa not even attempting to hide her teasing. Blink glared at her.

‘It’s not the time to playing around Ra,’ he snapped. ‘Do you see where we are? Do you see how broken everyone is? Do you see how absolutely damned we are,’ his voice grew louder and more agitated.

‘Mate I see it. Oh, I see it alright. You’re getting too serious for your own good again. Now is exactly the time to lighten up and let it be, ey?’ she said.

‘Lighten up,’ he relied incredulously. He seethed on the inside. There was that flickering flame again, that burning anger on the edges of himself. Had they all gone mad? Was he the only one that could see the danger they were in? Was he the only one that had any sense at all? Lighten up.

‘How can you say that after everything that’s happened,’ he said.

‘There’s no point getting worked up. Everyone is just doin’ their best right now,’ said Ra’Handa. She managed to stay even tempered as she spoke. How did she do it? Blink wanted to scream as loud as he could. He stood and walked away deeper into the tunnel.

‘Their best isn’t good enough Ra. Not when our lives are what we risk for it,’ he said holding back the growing flames that threatened to burn through. ‘And I will not lighten up,’ he called back with far less control on his temper.

‘Is Blink ok?’ asked Danu when he had left.

‘He’ll get over it. Always does. An if he doesn’t I’ll give him a few knocks to the head an’ that should sort some sense into him,’ said Ra’Handa and laughed a little to herself.

‘He’s been tense ever since Rollo’s ship,’ said Danu.

‘Ha! He’s never had a day in his life that he weren’t tense,’ Ra’Handa scoffed.

‘He’s afraid Ra’Handa. Afraid of everything but… most afraid of that anger inside him,’ said Danu looking to the darkness of the tunnel.

‘Suppose he is. We all got reason to be afraid, though he doesn’t need to take it out on everyone. Gets too serious sometimes,’ she said though there was the hint of worry in her tone.

‘He smells of it. The fear and rage I mean,’ said Danu.

‘You smell it?’ said Ra’Handa.

‘Yes. Or at least I could smell it. When I was transformed,’ she explained.

‘Can you still do that without your staff?’ asked Ra’Handa. Danu shrank further if that were possible. She had avoided talking about it much of the trek since their encounter with Pavreck.

‘I can… that power doesn’t come from my staff,’ she said shyly.

‘Can you do other things?’ said Ra’Handa.

‘A little. Small things. Nothing like I could with it,’ said Danu.

‘Maybe it’s for the best ey? Magic seems to cause more problems than it solves,’ said Ra’Handa.

‘It is not for the best. Pavreck could do terrible things with it, and I don’t have the powers to stop him now,’ said Danu solemnly.

‘I’m sorry ‘bout that Danu. Magic has been trouble for us lately is all,’ said Ra’Handa.

‘It doesn’t have to be. Life is neither good or evil, it just is, and when it takes it also gives in turn,’ said Danu as she crouched down to the stonework. She closed her eyes and held her hands out close to it. Ra’Handa watched in fascination as very gradually a soft moss crept over the stones. It wasn’t much compared to what Danu had been capable of before, but it was no less extraordinary. Danu breathed heavily as though she had run a great distance.

‘It is difficult down here, but I can sense plants other than those vines,’ she breathed. ‘We can use this to clean some of the wounds and its edible should it come to that,’ she added.

‘Well you’ll have me swallow my words. This should help unknot Blink’s knickers then,’ she added giving Danu a cheeky wink. Danu forced a slight smile. She was glad to still be of help, yet when you had held so much power before, even this effort felt a disappointment.

‘Oi grumpy guts! Danu’s made us somethin’ to eat,’ called Ra’Handa into the depths of the tunnel after Blink.

The journey continued to be slow and although there were enough rations for everyone, meals of moss and dried jerky in a dark tunnel were not going to raise spirits. Despite this they trudged on carefully following the path. There was some comfort in the thought that they were heading toward Dayargain, toward people that would know what to do. Yet at every winding turn they expected to see Pavreck and the golgeists. They certainly came across signs they had been this way, claw marks in the stones and the smell of rotting flesh lingering on the already foul air, yet they never caught up to them. Blink was relieved at this although Brigid and Nessus seemed far less so. Brigid, he understood, she and Yirranna wanted revenge for what had occurred in Tory, their drive forward through the tunnels was not difficult to guess. Nessus, however, was changed and spoke little when they rested. Blink had even caught them talking to themselves on occasion or arguing with not but air. It was impossible to know how many days had passed in this darkness, yet they continued forward.

‘Nessus, what are we going to do when we reach Dayargain?’ asked Blink as they walked.

‘We will find Innais and warn the city of course,’ said Nessus.

‘Yes, but you won’t even tell us what we’re warning them about,’ said Blink frustrated. He was exhausted, they all were. Blink knew his mood had little improved and wished he could have spoken with some reservation.

‘You would have me speak of dark things in a place such as this? Would it steel your nerves? Or would it not cloud your mind with horrors?’ said Nessus. It was clear that the usually calm Ghel was also reaching the limits of exhaustion, but also fear. Blink could smell it on Nessus, a horrible acrid dread of things to come.

‘I’d rather know what I was walking into,’ snapped Blink.

‘Perhaps. But can you speak for those that follow you?’ said Nessus.

‘They have a right to know too. To know if we’re walking them into their deaths,’ said Blink. He was growing more fed up with Nessus’ evasions.

‘The moment we stand upon our two feet as younglings we are walking toward our deaths. That is not so fearful as you may think. It is but the truth,’ said Nessus.

‘That isn’t helping Nessus. Speak plainly for once,’ his voice had the tinge of heat again.

‘You wish for plain speaking? Very well, and may you not quake when you hear it,’ anger flared in their voice. Not an anger as Blink had felt when faced with so much injustice, but the anger that came from having to explain yourself without the energy to do so mindfully of others. ‘Kolkiaravis was one of the most powerful of all the Numinia. A dragon of immense power, command, and cunning. He sought only power, destruction, and control. Had he not been contained he would surely have burned the world to suit his whims. Now that power lies in the hands of a creature so foul as to command golgeists and I must ask you all to walk toward that; to a pain that is most certain. I wished much to not have to share this dark knowledge in this dark place. I wish for my people, my home that is lost, and the Knowledge, and I shall find none.

‘And you would demand of me to share this. You who are burned by a curse and being devoured by pain and rage. That sword will follow you so long as you hold to that rage, so long as you draw from it, and you will… for the weak and hopeless, power is most intoxicating. You ask me of this… speak plainly in dark places,’ Nessus spoke those last words with the intolerance to the ignorant. It stung. Had Blink not been taken so aback by the outburst of emotion he would certainly have felt the flames of anger. Instead he stopped his pace and looked in shock at the Ghel.

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‘You… knew this sword was a curse and you said nothing,’ said Blink after recovering from Nessus’s words.

‘That is what you have taken from my words,’ said Nessus incredulously.

‘You said nothing to me about it. Maybe I could have gotten rid of it,’ said Blink flaring.

‘That is beyond the skill of any near us and I knew nothing of you. I am of the Ghel’Narran and you are not my responsibility. Preventing a great disaster is,’ said Nessus turning from Blink and creating a small flame in their hand that they used to light the way. Blink stood still feeling the weight and shame of Nessus’s words. They had spoken of a terrible disaster that may befall the city and he could only think of himself. The villagers, Brigid, and Danu walked by him, they had heard the argument and did not look at him. Ra’Handa placed a hand on his shoulder.

‘C’mon mate. One foot in front of the other ey,’ she said gently urging him on.

‘Thanks Ra,’ he said, and they walked on.

It was not much further that Blink’s keen nose caught the smell of rotten sewerage. The air was rank with the filth of the city of Dayargain and the salt of the sea by which it stood. As they walked on, they came to a large opening in the tunnel and the sound of flowing water filled their ears. They passed several walls that had been split and broken outwards either by the grappling of the vines or the laborious work of the golgeists digging. The noticed too that circles of intricately woven runes and symbols traced the walls of the tunnel. After some examination Brigid explained that they had been a type of warding and concealing, though she had never seen something so grant or detailed, many of the runes foreign to her. The tunnel by which they had been traversing all this time had clearly been sealed at both ends with stone and magic. Blink assumed this must have been to prevent anyone discovering the numinia board. It was difficult to fathom that something with the powers Nessus described could have been housed in something so small as to be a playing piece in a game. Although, Blink had seen incredible things since leaving his small life in Bonny. Pavreck wielded great power simply using Danu’s staff or else he would not have been so easily able to break the walls. Eventually they came to a set of iron bars that had been beaten and broken outwards. Pavreck and the golgeists had come this way and managed to force their way through as they had with the stone walls. They gingerly moved through the opening and out in the sewers. The walls here like the tunnel were lined with thick thorny vines across the ceiling. Brigid pushed forward and wasted no time in leading the party to an entrance to the city itself. When they first managed to find a way through it was blocked by a large metal barred gate entwined with thorned vines.

‘Why is it blocked off?’ asked Blink as he examined it.

‘The Daybreakers most likely. We’ve had rat catchers and other folk go missing in and close to these sewers the past few months. I suppose those posturing fools finally did something and closed off all the entrances.’ Blink couldn’t help but notice the disdain in the way she spoke of the Daybreakers. He certainly didn’t think much of them himself after his encounter with Bornwald but for what reason did Brigid dislike them? Afterall, weren’t they supposed to be protectors to the city and the borderlands along with the other guilds?

‘What’dya mean rat catchers have gone missin?’ asked Ra’Handa. The villagers shuffled nervously together searching the walls and darkness around for some hidden danger.

‘Just that. They went missing and we don’t know why. We petitioned the Daybreakers for months to get them to investigate but why would they care about the common peoples?’ Her voice rang with frustration as she spoke. She added at the end under her breath, ‘Dellwier you rock brained fool thinking you could change things.’

‘Is there anywhere they wouldn’t have closed off?’ Blink asked. It wouldn’t help to probe Brigid for information about the Daybreakers now. He needed to get the villagers somewhere safe. They were all exhausted and needed rest. He also didn’t want to spend any longer than he needed down here to discover why the rat catchers had gone missing.

‘They might not have blocked off the sewers at the docks. Innais had sent some of the other proving participants there to investigate,’ Brigid said thinking. Blink had completely forgotten all about the Proving. Ra and I shouldn’t be here at all. We just needed to find a place to be and now we’re caught up in all this. He looked at Ra’Handa and could see a similar thought on her face. Where there had once been excitement about the prospect of adventure there was now uncertainty. This hadn’t been what we thought when we played at being heroes as younglings. Had it? As if in answer to his silent question she flashed that wide grin. That old evasion of true feelings held strong in her yet.

‘Can you show us the way Brigid?’ he asked.

‘Of course I can,’ she said annoyed by the question. Brigid took the lead closely followed by Nessus and Blink. Nessus had not spoken a word since their argument in the tunnels. They held back whatever they wished to say to one another. No good would come from talking now, not when they both needed rest. Perhaps Nessus was right about not sharing dark tales in dark places.

Brigid led them through the tunnels stopping now and then to gather her bearings for their location. They heard no sounds except those of their own footsteps and very occasionally the sounds of the city above. More than once they found themselves reaching iron bars or even whole sluice walls closed to redirect the flows of sewer water. The only constant were the menacing vines tangled above their heads as they went. Blink thought it strange that the vines appeared to be only sign of life beneath the city, if all the rat catchers went missing then shouldn’t this place be crawling with them? As if in answer to his question Blink saw within the darkness the shape of something hunched over. Blink halted the group and pointed ahead. It was difficult for the others to see but after a moment they heard the sounds of tearing flesh and loud gnashing of the creature eating. The large group were standing at an intersection of tunnels with the creature far ahead of them. Blink edged forward to get a better view. He could see that the creature was twice his size and hulking over, its bulging grey back muscles tensing as it ate whatever pitiful victim it had found. As Blink got closer, he could make out the spires of horns protruding from its fleshy shoulders and arms. Blink felt the fear rising from within his core and slowly drew the sword. He could feel the blade tempting him and goading him into letting it take over. It was wordless; however he could feel it saying, isn’t it better to feel my wrath and strength rather than this fear? Let me go. Let me run wild. Let me tear and rip! Blink shook his head trying to dislodge the feelings. Nessus had warned it would consume him… though he and the others would need to live long enough for that to be a true risk. The creature before him stopped chewing and stood up letting its arms fall to its sides. In each long-clawed hand was held the remnants of what appeared to be human arms and legs. Blink could now see the pitiful mass on the ground. He recognised the clothing as he saw the others. They were at the Proving. These were the adventurers that had been sent here. They had failed and lost their lives to this monstrosity in the darkness. Blink’s stomach lurched as he took in the gruesome scene. This could have been us if we had chosen this from the job board. It still could be us. That usual feeling of a lump rising in his throat was there. I’m afraid… Of course I’m afraid. What sane person wouldn’t be? It’s coming! The creature before him turned its great horned head and body to look at him. Its head was no different from the rest of its body, covered in small horns and twisted tusks protruding from its mouth. The creature grunted and reared itself backward standing as tall as it could in the tunnel, the horns on top of its head reaching the vine covered ceiling.

‘Everyone run! That way! Now!’ he screamed at the group behind him. They needed no encouraging and the group of villagers ran pushing one another down the tunnel to Blink’s right. As they did the creature before him charged, deadly horns threatening to run him through. Brigid dived in front of him with her small shield held high. It was nothing against the force of the creature as the horns easily tossed her and Blink aside. The creature slammed into several of the villagers, pinning them to tunnel wall. There were screams all around them and as Blink looked up from his place in the rank sewer water on the ground, he saw the horrific visage of the creature with two of the villagers impaled on its horns, their blood running down its face and bare chest. He turned to Brigid; she was holding her shield arm groaning through gritted teeth; it looked broken. Yirranna was by her side to defend her and ushered the other villagers on. Her face showed anger and grief but held firm in her stance. The creature grunted what could only be interpreted as a disdainful arrogance at Yirranna stand.

‘You foul hoard beast of The Corruption! Turn your attention here!’ Came the voice of Nessus. The creature eyed Nessus as the swirls of dark energy streaked around their form. The monstrous creature roared, and spittle mixed with blood flew from its maw. It shook the dead villagers from its head and charged again, this time at Nessus. Instead of goring them through it bounced off what appeared to be a clear dome surrounding the Ghel’Narran.

‘Blink… This isn’t our fight. We can’t fight a Shad’ahgar,’ said Danu coming to Blink’s side helping him up.

‘What do you mean? We have to help Nessus,’ he said pointing at the Shad’ahgar now slamming its enormous, clawed fists into the magical barrier surrounding Nessus. More nightmares and monsters. More things I thought couldn’t possibly be true. A Shad’ahgar was a true horror of The Corruption and shadowed lands of the south. We’re doomed if we stay here, doomed, thought Blink as Danu tugged at him. He looked over to see Nessus’ teeth clenched, and their face coated in sweat. They looked as though they were using all the strength left within themselves to maintain the barrier.

‘This is beyond us. Please trust me. We have to go,’ she pleaded tugging at his arm. Brigid and Yirranna moved past them. Pain still marked Brigid’s face as she said, ‘She’s right Blink. This thing… it is a creature twisted by the corruption same as the golgeists. It is too much for us, even if we weren’t exhausted.’ Not waiting for a response Yirranna pulled her on down the tunnel that the villagers had ran through.

‘But we have to…’ he started saying as he saw Ra’Handa’s lithe powerful form run up the side of the tunnel wall and jump off it, daggers in hand coming down at the Shad’ahgar. As she was about to land her strike it turned and swung a muscular fist tossing her aside as though she were no more than an annoyance. She landed hard against the stonework of the tunnel.

‘Ra!’ he called. She stood slowly. She was alive and merely winded from the fall.

‘All of you! Get out whilst you can! I cannot hold much longer!’ called Nessus through hammerings of the Shad’ahgar’s fists at the barrier.

‘I will bring the tunnel down and block its way! Go!’ Nessus yelled. Danu tugged at Blink’s arm urging him to follow but he refused. Ra’Handa still catching her breath strode toward him. ‘Ra, we can’t leave him he…’ Blink was cut short by the pommel of her dagger colliding with his face, knocking him unconscious. She lifted him over her shoulder.

‘He’ll be alright. Let’s get outta here,’ she said to Danu. Ra’Handa looked back at Nessus.

‘Don’t you dare die down ‘ere Nessus! We’re comin’ back for ya. If you die I’ll find a way to bring you back to life just so I can thump yer head in again ya hear!’ Ra’Handa called out. Nessus wore a smile through gritted teeth.

‘I look forward to your beating Ra’Handa! Now get out of this place!’ Nessus said just as the barrier failed. Ra’Handa turned and ran after the rest of the group down the tunnel. Her heart was heavy, and tears began to fall down her face as she ran. For all her joking and gruffness her heart ached as did any others. The stonework beneath her feet rumbled as Nessus caved in the tunnel behind her. The rumble and clammer of stones colliding echoed through the tunnel and gouts of dust plumed forward. Ra’Handa hoped that Nessus would be alive. I meant it Nessus… I’ll thump that head of yours in if you’re dead. By the Gods I hope we find you. The thought surprised her, the gods had little to do with her and her lot. Belief in them was privilege to those that knew nothing of hardship, that knew nothing of survival.

The group continued running toward the smell of salt water and fresh air. Before long they found the tunnel exit that brought them to a rocky unkept slope by the docks. Ra’Handa expected to see the villagers and her friends lying in wait. As she climbed the rocky slope to the city streets by the docks, she was instead greeted by the shiny sight and glory of the Daybreakers in lined regiment. Their armour glistening blindingly in the sunlight.

‘We’ve been looking for you lot for some time. Haul ‘em in!’ came the voice of a tall muscular blonde man at the forefront of the battalion. He looked to be their commander. Ra’Handa looked around for her friends. Danu and even Yirranna were clapped in chains with the villagers of Tory. They were being roughly ushered toward cages atop carts pulled by horses. Brigid still clutching her broken arm was cursing at the guards and yelling from the sides. She was being held back by a young man that looked to be not much older than herself wearing the armour of the Daybreakers. He was handsome with dark skin. She swore at him and hit him as only she would to someone well known to her.

‘Let me go Dellweir! You pig headed lout!’ she persisted.

‘Innais wants you back at the guild Bid. You can’t help ‘em if you’re arrested too!’ Dellwier pleaded and Brigid continued to thump him with her good arm. Several of the Daybreakers took the unconscious Blink from Ra’Handa and placed her in irons. She didn’t fight, she knew better than to push her luck now. All their lives depended on thinking clearly and not acting rashly. Ra’Handa tried to remember her training with The Magpies. She tried to focus on the plan. As she was pushed into the caged cart, she was already thinking of their escape.