As the remaining twenty-three emerged from the fetid water to occupy the sewer, wrinkled noses were the first reaction from everyone. The sewer was heavy with an odour surmounting on rotten onions and manure. At first, the odour was intoxicating, then it seemed to melt away the longer Saurus breathed it in.

A burning blaze of fire suddenly erupted next to them, illuminating the tunnel ahead. Lady Black handed the torch to Hadwin, who took it eagerly. Rats squalled and scarpered as the light disturbed them, disappearing off into the black vastness beyond.

“Stay close and quiet,” Black said, leading them further in. No one moved at first, each looking at one another for support. Who knew what awaited them in this labyrinth of tunnels? And with only a single torch to beat back the darkness, Saurus saw the fear take root in his followers.

They moved surreptitiously through the tunnels, Lady Black leading them eastward, every now and again halting to observe some symbol on the wall. Hadwin raised his torch to reveal the carving of a ship below a horizontal line.

“The webbed Children used these sewers to move about undetected,” Lady Black said, her voice echoing off the walls several times before dying. “their leader said these tunnels were like a back door to any part of the city above.”

Hadwin sniffed, while Saurus observed just how old the architecture seemed. The stone tunnels seemed too straight and edged to be Imperial design, and along the hight of the tunnel, Saurus saw runic symbols—heavily faded from the passing of time.

“These sewers are as vast, as they are old.” Added Black, catching Saurus’ eyes wander upwards. “Made by people long past that, even the Duchess herself didn’t have a detailed map of these complex systems.”

“Who built these tunnels?” Asked Saurus, Black shrugged lazily.

“No one knows,” she said. “Leeside was built on the foundation of dead men. Leeside was half a city built, then abandoned. These sewers are by far the most untouched, given its location.”

“Should we fear anything down here?” Hadwin asked peering around to check the twenty-three were still twenty-three, Lady Black turned with a sinister smile.

“A few things,” she said. “but as long as you’re with me you’ll be safe. I fear the Spider King is using some of these tunnels to harbour his early bites.”

“Early bites, my Lady?” Asked Hadwin curiously. Black raised a forearm, then froze, listening to a noise no one else seemingly heard. She crouched and Saurus found himself mimicking her unconsciously. He looked out futilely, but his eyes could not penetrate the heavy darkness.

“What is it, my Lady?” Hadwin whispered. Black did not answer but instead, stiffed the air. Saurus watched as Hadwin sniffed too, inhaling great winds of air through his dense moustache. The other twenty-three had halted behind Saurus, some brandishing weapons silently, others had already opted to hold their steel the moment they entered the sewer.

Lady Black began to take a few tentative steps forward, every now and again crouching to pick up some scent on the air. Saurus and the soldiers followed, Hadwin now bearing his own steel axe. When at last they came to a junction offering them the dual choice of left or right, Lady Black veered left, then contemplated which way to go. Saurus could tell she was picking up noises and smells they could not, and judging by how unsettled it made the Lady Black, Saurus was now keen to leave this place at once.

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Saurus looked around the junction, first gazing into the black abyss on the left, then gazing at the equally black abyss on his right. He began to hear a growing noise rolling from the left tunnel; they all did. From the left tunnel there came a sound of what could have been described as running water at first, then when the sound grew palpable:

“Water?” Hadwin asked.

“Rats.” Answered Saurus.

“We have to move, Fast!” Called Lady Black speeding off to the right. Without delay, they all tried to keep up, some slipping momentarily on the slick stone floor below. They charged down the right tunnel, attempting to keep up with Lady Black who moved at an inhuman rate. Over Saurus’ clinking armour—that was growing heavier and heavier with every step—he heard the wave rats chasing to meet them. Saurus wished Alaric were here right now, fully able and loaded with Sphene Dust. He had seen Magus’ fill entire rooms with fire back in the capital and right now it seemed the only answer to such a threat. Swords and shields would do little against the mass ocean of nibbling death.

Hadwin had grown weary too, Saurus noted; his steps becoming more laboured and heavier.

“We can—handle a few—rats, my Lady” Hadwin managed through choked breaths. Lady Black turned around to run backwards, her eyes glowing like two red moons.

“It’s not the rats were running from.” She said coldly. “It’s the things hunting the rats.”

Hadwin’s steps seemed to gain a second wind at that, Saurus felt his own armour suddenly grow a little lighter too.

“Up there.” Lady Black shouted, pointing up at a ladder than ran across the side of the wall. Above, the grate was sealed and Saurus could only hope it would budge. Hadwin tossed the torch at the foot of the ladder, then turned to help the twenty-three climb. Lady Black was the first up and despite her slender frame, she moved the iron grate with ease, hopping out onto the surface. Saurus pulled his sword free and stared fruitlessly down the dark tunnel. The sound was rushing towards him, but he saw nothing, Hadwin moved in beside him, his axe in one hand. The two of them waited as the twenty-three rushed to climb the ladder.

“I think I know what chases them Saurus,” Hadwin said. Saurus knew as well.

“Hurry! Climb!” Someone shouted from behind, but Saurus kept his eyes fixed on the tunnel.

“Time to go Saurus,” Hadwin said, tugging at Saurus’ arm. They moved backwards, then Hadwin mounted the first step on the ladder. The twenty-three had all made it to the surface and when Saurus made the first step below Hadwin, the wave of rats came spilling out below them. Hundreds, if not thousands of rats were head-to-head and fleeing. To Saurus, the floor now became a moving carpet of squealing fur. Then the abominations scuttled past and Saurus almost slipped from the sight of them.

Among the sea of rats, Saurus caught glimpses of scurrying legs dash across the walls below him. Flecks of armour still clung to mutated flesh and to Saurus’ great horror, some of the abominations still resembled their human precursor state. Saurus climbed, unable to take his eyes from the passing monsters below when the twenty-three hauled Saurus up by each arm when he reached them. Down the ladder came the onset of other noises, as monster ate rat.

“Close it.” Cried a voice and when Saurus was clear, they lifted the grate over the unplugged hole. Judging by how it took two strong men to lift the grate, Saurus wondered just how the slender body of Black could lift such a thing alone. He looked around for the woman in question, but she had disappeared.

A narrow shadow embraced them from the overarching structures on either side of them. Saurus looked around and found they were in a tight alleyway that ran between buildings like a river. The sky above was just visible through the slate rooftops that seemed to almost touch one another. Which part of Leeside they were in, he could not tell, but by assessing the looks on some of the twenty-three, it seemed they had a fairly good idea.

They had survived the swim, and now the rat-infested sewers, all that was left was the main gate. If they could get the gate open, then the city of Leeside would then rest in the hands of the people willing to fight for her.