The next few days were hard going as the company went higher into the mountains. The forested valleys gave way the rocky cliffs and narrow, winding trails. Wudu, as the company's guide, picked the paths slowly and carefully. Though she knew the trails well, she could not be certain as to their safety. It had rain for a night, and the company were eager to camp in a cave they had encountered on their path. But Wudu entered and sniffed around for only a moment before she hurriedly told the party to the leave the place and seek shelter elsewhere. Myra questioned the troll about this, but Wudu only shook her head and said, "Bad place…"

Eventually, they encountered a ledge, sheltered by an overhanging rock. It was not warm but it was at least dry. As they were setting up camp up, something on the cliff wall caught Erasmus' attention. He could just make out strange colours. He looked closer.

"What's that?" asked Myra as she approached.

"These look like pictures," Erasmus said. "Paintings. But they're very faint. I've seen things like these before, in caves back on my home island. Everyone says they go back to ancient times. Maybe this place was a camping site for thousands of years…"

"Erasmus… look… your sword!"

Sure enough, from the wolfskin sheathe that held the elven sword, a faint light could be seen emanating from where the hilt met the cross guard. Erasmus drew it slightly, seeing the blade seeming to glow with its own light. "Strange… what is…"

But then something else happened. Suddenly, light began to shine forth from the wall itself, revealing many strange letters, glowing with a strange, silvery light.

The others saw and hurried over. Erda looked up in fascination. "This cannot be…"

"What the fuck is all this?" said Pike.

Wudu recoiled. "This is bad! Very bad! We must leave!"

"What?" Erasmus turned to her. "Why? What's wrong."

"Magic!" she cried. "Bad magic! Demons must dwell here! We must go!"

"But the sun has almost set," said Ruadh. "We cannot be scrabbling around ledges in the dark!"

"But…" Wudu tried to object.

"He's right," said Erasmus. "It'll be too dangerous to keep going. Whatever these signs might mean, we'll have to risk it."

"Then keep away from the walls. Please!" Wudu cried frantically.

"Very well then. Come on everybody, let's pick the watches and get some sleep. We'll be leaving as soon as daybreak." Erasmus sheathed his sword and walked away. As he did, the letters began to fade. The others went about there business in tense silence. Erasmus was laying his cloak on the ground when Pike approached. "I think we should have listened to the she-beast…" said Pike.

"Why? What do you mean."

But Pike could only shrug his shoulders. "Don't know."

Later that night, Erasmus tossed and turned, but found he could get no sleep. He found that he felt restless when his hand was not on his sword. He did not feel tired, and soon he got up and walked over to Conn, who was keeping watch.

"Hey Erasmus," said Conn. He saw that the Paladin was carrying his sword. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing. Can't seem to get to sleep tonight. You go get some sleep and I'll take over."

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As the young ranger left, Erasmus took his seat on a rock and packed his pipe. He found his eyes were continuously drawn to the rock wall, which Wudu had told everyone to stay as far away from as possible. Before long, Erasmus walked over to it. Sure enough, his sword began to glow once more, and when he drew it, the words lit up again.

It was strange, he thought. Those words were hidden until his sword was drawn. He began to wonder. What did the words mean? Did they reveal themselves to the sword as though greeting some kindred magic? That did not seem right. The words did not give off the same light, and they seemed… unwholesome… secretive. Perhaps they did not want to be seen, but the power of the sword revealed them.

He sheathed the sword and watched as the words faded. He turned and began to walk away. Suddenly, a chill breeze hit his back. He turned, and saw too late the gaping, shadow portal that stood where the words had been, and the dark figures that leapt out.

Erasmus' hand went to his sword-hilt, but the figures were upon him. He felt a blow to his stomach which knocked the wind out of him. A blow to his head which nearly threw him to the ground. In a moment, a gag had been thrown around his mouth and his arms bound to his sides. Many rough hands hauled him away and into the dark portal. Erasmus saw the company stir from their sleep. Saw them look to him in horror, and then… darkness.

When the blindfold was finally removed from Erasmus' eyes, he found himself in a cave lit by strange, greenish light. Around him stood five men, or at least, what looked like men. They were short with squat bodies but long, sinuous limbs. They were garbed in ragged cloth and animal skins, and they were all armed with knives or clubs. They had long beards and tangled, messy hair, behind from which their eyes gleamed with a strange light. Before Erasmus sat a sixth person sat on a stone chair, garbed in a faded robe and with a golden band about its forehead like a crown. The crowned figure, though he clearly had broad shoulders and a thick chest, seemed withered, a creature which had lost all its youthful strength.

"Who are you?" he rumbled in a gravelly voice. "To trespass onto my mountain?"

"What…" Erasmus could only blink in surprise. A cudgel smacked his head.

"The king asked you a question mortal!" growled one of the small men.

"Well?" continued the robed one. "What gives you the right to pass through our land without paying homage?"

"I… we did not know anything any kingdom."

"Nonsense," the king cried. "This mountain has always belonged to the Dwarf-Kings!"

"Is that it…" Erasmus looked around at his captors. "You are… Dwarves?"

Another knock on the head. "We are asking the questions here! What are you and your people doing here!"

"We… we were just passing through. We go to war north of these mountains. We are on an important quest to save…"

"Rubbish!" cried the 'dwarf-king'. "You are a band of thieves and brigands!"

"And Trolls!" cried another.

"Precisely! Come here to steal the treasures of our fathers! Well we will not have it!"

"We meant no such thing!"

"Then how do you explain this, mortal." The dwarf-king reached behind its chair and brought forth Erasmus' sword. The creature removed the scabbard with its bony hands and held it aloft, staring at with admiration.

"Such craftsmanship! My eyes cannot be deceived. This a blade of the ancient Elf-lords! It's like cannot be made on this earth any more. It can only have been stolen."

"That's not true!" protested Erasmus.

"Oh? Then how does a mortal come to possess a sword like this?"

Erasmus was beginning to grow angry. "I'm a free man, I don't have to justify myself to you!" The cudgel once more cracked against his head. Smack!

"You will tell us, mortal!"

"Make me!"

"Make him!"

Smack!

Erasmus rounded on the club-dwarf "Stop hitting me!"

"No!" Smack!

"Well… one last time… where did you get the sword.

"From… from a barrow." Erasmus muttered

"Ha! Knew it! Grave-robbery! There is no crime which I loathe more…"

"I am no grave-robber! I was given that sword… sort of… And anyway! Who do you lot think you are? You sit there accusing me and mine of being thieves. But here you are kidnapping honest travellers." He looked around at the Dwarves, wild and feral compared to stories he had heard. "I know that the Dwarves have left these places a long time ago. You look like beggars which have just moved in. If anyone here are bandits, it's you lot!"

The Dwarves fell upon him then, beating and kicking him angrily.

"Leave him," cried their leader. "Thief! Scoundrel! Prepare yourself to taste the king's justice!" He rose to his feet, bearing aloft the elf-sword. He ran his skeletal fingers along the edge tenderly. "Such a beautiful blade… oh it will be such a pleasure to test it on your neck. Ha ha ha!"

The other dwarves joined in on the laughter, then they grew silent, as they stared wide eyed at their leader. For behind the dwarf-king, a shadow had emerged.

"Eh? What are you lot…" the dwarf-king turned, but too late. His head burst asunder as a shadow claw slashed out. Two, bright, fiery green eyes burned from the shadow. Erasmus saw a wolfish grin full of fangs, and then it leapt forward.