375 days until the Arkon Shield falls

No creature may more truly mimic another than a dragon.

—Anonymous player.

Much to my surprise, the four did not jump at the chance I offered. Instead, they drew together in a huddle in the center of the cage and whispered to each other. I stared at them in consternation, unable to understand their hesitancy.

“What do you think they know?” Thornton asked quietly, stepping up beside me.

“I’m not sure yet,” I said, biting my lip, “but whatever it is, it must be something significant for them to consider staying imprisoned instead.”

The minutes ticked by while the two scouts and I waited for the strangers to finish their conversation. I was fast losing patience and was about to call out when the four broke up.

“We’ll tell you what you want to know,” Jain said. The others hung back, content to let him do the talking.

I glanced at the bald man in surprise. He was not the one I would have picked for their leader. “Go on. I’m listening.”

He stared at me for a moment before continuing. “You’re right. We are a dungeon party. We were on our way to it when we ran afoul of the orcs.”

I nodded. Jain hadn’t told me anything I hadn’t guessed already. “Where were you captured?”

The bald man glanced at Pierre. “A few miles southwest of here,” the archer said.

I frowned. As far as I knew, there was nothing but empty forest in that direction. I glanced at Thornton and Cass. Both shook their heads. “What were the orcs doing there?” I asked, turning back to Jain.

“Those four,” Jain said, gesturing to the dead orcs, “were part of an orc squad accompanying a shaman. He was hunting for unique creatures.”

My brows flew up. “What? That makes no sense.”

Cedric laughed hollowly. “Believe me, we were just as surprised.” He eyed me. “Rare beasts—especially mythical creatures—are highly prized amongst certain magic users. New domains are virgin territory, so to speak, and prime hunting grounds.”

I frowned, not sure I believed the death mage. Of what use was a beast to a spellcaster?

“But how could any orc take anything from the forest?” Thornton objected. “I thought the Arkon Shield prevented them from doing that?”

Cedric turned his colorless eyes upon the sergeant. “Wildlife is not considered part of a Dominion’s resources. Our Patrons—” he sneered as he said the word—“may do to them as they wish.”

This was news to me, too, but I didn’t pursue the topic further. I gestured to the containment cell. “Is that why the orcs hauled this cage all the way out here?”

Jain nodded. “Correct.”

“But instead, they captured you.” I chewed on my lip. “Why did the orcs take you four prisoners? Why not kill you?”

Jain and his companions exchanged glances. “We were careless,” the bald man admitted. “When the orcs searched our belongings, they found something that made them suspect our destination. It did not give them the dungeon’s location but told them enough that they thought it worth the effort to torture the information out of us.”

I raised one eyebrow. “This something, was it by any chance a letter written in English?”

Liyanda’s head snapped up. “How did you—”

Jain threw up his arm, stopping her. He studied me intently. “It was a journal actually. Mine. Do you have it?”

A journal? Interesting, I thought, wishing it had been amongst Zumen’s things. It was sure to have been informative. “We found only a slip of paper from it,” I replied, seeing no reason to lie. I paused. “We slew a company of orcs to get it, but I have no idea where the rest of your book is.”

“The shaman must have kept it,” Cedric muttered.

Jain, though, looked skeptical of my claim. “You three killed an entire company of orcs?”

Now that I wasn’t going to answer. “Show them the scrolls,” I said to Thornton. Reaching into his leather vest, the sergeant drew out the three refuge scrolls.

“Hey, those are ours,” Pierre said, thrusting out an arm through the cage. “Give them back!”

Ignoring the archer, I kept my gaze fixed on Jain. “Believe me now?”

The bald man’s eyes narrowed, but he only nodded in response.

“Good,” I said. “Where is the shaman?”

Jain shrugged. “I only know he had to hurry north on some errand or the other. The four you killed were taking us to the same place, only slower.”

“If the orcs prized you so highly,” Cass said, cutting in, “why so small an escort?”

Jain turned her way. “What do you mean?”

“Four orcs traveling alone overnight? Weren’t they afraid?” Cass asked.

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Cedric laughed. “Of the forest, you mean? The orcs have little reason to fear its denizens, girl. Free-roaming creatures in a domain rarely exceed level hundred.”

My lips tightened. Again, the group seemed better informed than we were. I returned to the topic at hand. “Where is the dungeon you are heading to?”

Jain fell silent, his lips thinned, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t go on. “Tell him,” Cedric said. “Without his help, we are not getting out of here.”

Jain nodded reluctantly. “A half a day’s hike west of here is our best guess.”

I frowned. A half-day west? That was within a day’s travel of Sierra and in a region already well-explored by our scouts. I had expected him to state either north, directing us to the Primal Keep, or south to Dead’s Hollow.

“There is no dungeon west of here,” Cass declared.

Jain turned to her. “There is. Our informant is certain of it.”

My ears pricked up at his wording. “But you haven’t been there yet?”

“We haven’t,” Jain said, shaking his head. “But before you think to question our intelligence, know that the source is indisputable.”

My brows crinkled in consternation again. “What makes this dungeon so important? What rank is it?”

The four exchanged glances again. “It is a single-instance dungeon,” Jain said at last.

I barked out a laugh. “There’s no such thing.”

Jain’s lips thinned. “You’re not far wrong, but this dungeon is not one of the standard ones. It’s a hidden dungeon.”

My eyes widened in surprise. “I see.”

“What’s he talking about,” Thornton asked, confusion marring his face.

“Hidden dungeons,” I replied absently, “are one of many peculiarities of the Trials. They are said to be unique and can run contrary to all the Trials’ usual rules.”

Jain smiled. “So you are not wholly ignorant—” his eyes roved over our gear—“despite your shoddy equipment.

“Which settlement are you from?” Pierre asked suddenly.

I ignored the question, keeping my eyes fixed on Jain. “You will give us the location of this dungeon.”

The rogue folded his arms, “No. The location is ours, earned by right of blood and death. We will not allow you to claim our prize.”

I stared at him coldly for a moment. Despite the bald man’s implacable expression, desperation shone keenly in the eyes of his companions. I could force them to tell me, I knew. But I wouldn’t. Jain’s words had struck a chord in me.

I didn’t believe any longer that they were orc collaborators. And while I did not trust them enough to share our secrets, I wasn’t about to force them to reveal all of their own.

“A trade then,” I said at last. “I will free you. In exchange, you will allow me to accompany you into the dungeon.”

Liyanda laughed. “What? You? Why would we need you? You may be a hotshot mage in whatever godforsaken settlement you spring from, but we don’t need a novice like you getting in our way.”

My lips thinned, but I did not respond to her retort. “You will turn down the aid of another mage?” I asked, no trace of irritation in my tone.

Cedric was shaking his head. “Liyanda is right. Mage you may be, but we’ll not endanger ourselves by taking a newb into the dungeon.”

“Trust me,” Pierre added, his gaze resting meaningfully on my hobbled foot, “a dungeon is no place for the likes of you. You will not last long in there.”

“Ah,” I said, “I managed well enough on my own in the last one I entered.”

The three were taken aback by my response for a moment. “You’ve entered a dungeon?” Pierre asked disbelievingly. “On your own?”

“He lies,” Liyanda snarled.

I said nothing.

Jain was studying me thoughtfully. I’d noticed that despite the derision of his companions, he’d remained silent. “Which dungeon?”

“The Primal Keep,” I replied, making no mention of its location. “It’s a rank one dungeon.”

“Why should we believe you?” Cedric asked. “For all we—”

“You have a deal,” Jain said, brushing aside the mage’s protest. “Let us out, and we’ll let you accompany us.”

✽✽✽

Not unexpectedly, Thornton was not happy with my decision. Stepping forward, he pulled me back before I could free Jain and his companions. “We must talk,” the sergeant said, making no effort to lower his voice.

I glanced at the group in the cage. They were watching us. “One moment,” I said to Jain and led the two scouts to the edge of the clearing. “Go ahead,” I said when we were far enough away not to be overheard.

Thornton opened his mouth, but before he could get a word out, Cass spoke. “What are you doing, Jamie?” she demanded, scowling at me. “Going with these people is foolish.”

Thornton grunted. “I wouldn’t have put it so bluntly, but Cass is right. You shouldn’t trust them.”

I sighed. “I don’t. But I don’t think they are our enemies. And what will you have me do? Leave them locked up in the cage?”

Cass dismissed my words with a wave of her hand. “By all means, free them. But send them on their way, back to wherever they’ve come from.”

“That would be foolish, Cass,” I said softly. “Somehow or the other, this group has discovered the location of a hidden dungeon. Do you know what that means?”

“There’s no reason for you to go to this supposed dungeon of theirs,” Thornton argued. “There are dungeons aplenty.”

“No, there aren’t,” I said, shaking my head. “And not all dungeons are equal. A hidden dungeon is a pretty precious and rare resource, sergeant. We cannot let this opportunity pass unheeded.”

“But—” Thornton began.

“Besides, you two are missing the point,” I said, speaking over him.

The scout closed his mouth with a snap and waited for me to go on.

“More intriguing than the dungeon itself,” I said, “is the question of how those four found it in the first place. How do you suppose they did that?”

The scouts frowned but remained silent, having no answer for me.

“Jain’s group is more knowledgeable than us,” I went on. “They are better equipped, and they are higher-leveled, too. Learning how they achieved any of those three things is valuable on its own, but all three? Priceless.” My gaze flitted between my companions. “I know it’s risky, but I must venture into the dungeon with them.”

Cass folded her arms. “Then I’m coming with you.”

I shook my head gently. “You can’t. You two will have to carry news of our discoveries back to Marcus and Jolin.”

“That can wait,” Thornton objected.

“No, it can’t,” I said. “The village needs to be warned that orcs are roaming the forest and likely have a base somewhere in the foothills or the mountains.” I held the pair’s gazes. “In the meantime, I will try to win over Jain’s group and get them to share what they know with us.”

“And entering a dungeon with them is the best way to do that?” Thornton asked skeptically.

I chuckled. “Actually, it is. Those four are power players, I’m sure of it. They wouldn’t be out all this way by themselves otherwise. Despite the danger, the dungeon’s spoils are too tempting for them to resist.”

Cass glared at me. “That describes you perfectly too.”

My amusement faded. “I know I’ve played fast and loose with the odds before,” I said quietly. “But I’ve thought this through, and I’m convinced that accompanying Jain’s group is the best course. Now, will you do as I ask?”

Cass’ glare didn’t relent, but Thornton spoke in her place. “We will,” he said decisively. The redhead frowned at the sergeant but didn’t protest.

“We will set out in the morning,” Thornton continued. “I will carry word back to Woodspire and Cass to Sierra.”

I nodded gratefully to the pair. “Thank you.”