What emerged from the hole was unlike the other spiders. Smaller than the monstrosity that had dug the hole in the ground but still larger than the ones they had fought, this new spider was as big as Drevock. A network of white scars zigzagged across its deep onyx skin and one of the legs on its right side had been severed. It had an oversized jaw like the smaller spiders as well as four mandibles that flexed and writhed as it walked. It too was draped in metallic thread, but unlike the smaller soldiers that only had a simple weave, this one was much more exquisitely done. There were patterns and what appeared to be images sewn in throughout that moved and shifted as the creature stalked toward them. As it approached, its mouth clacked and chittered endlessly but just like when Professor Alrik connected their minds telepathically, Gabe could hear its voice in his head as the laugh was replaced with a melodic voice.
¨Ah my precious children, my exquisite brood. What have you caught intruding upon my garden, my shadowy sanctuary? Hmm, the scent of secrets and deception lays thick upon them. Yes, yes whispered secrets and tender morsels, you are, yes. Hidden truths are so delicious, yes very delicious.”
At her words, and the voice definitely had a distinctly feminine quality about it, the hoard of smaller spiders chittered and moved in anticipation. Before they could attack Professor Alrik took a half step forward and raised his hands in a placating gesture.
“Please, we mean you and yours no harm. We had not realized we were trespassing upon your domain. If you allow us to retreat, we will leave you in peace.”
“The audacity, the impertinence!” shouted this new spider through their minds. All of the other spiders in the tunnel reacted moving forward and preparing to attack. They stopped once the female spider started speaking again, this time the anger in her voice being replaced with bemused curiosity.
“Trusting, untrusting, both true and a lie in the same breath. Strange for one with an illuminated soul, yet power without structure collapses. Yes, yes, that’s it, no form to stabilize, and already the edges of the soul burn. Hmm, curious indeed.”
The female spider, whom Gabe was beginning to think of as the queen of this hoard took several steps forward until she was right in front of them. Neither Gabe nor any of his party members dared to move in fear of provoking the hoard to attack. The queen’s mandibles shook and twisted in the air as she inspected each of them in turn.
“One of light about to be eclipsed, one of stone not yet corrupted.”
Her words still sounded through their minds even though she appeared to be murmuring to herself. When she got to Drevock her mandibles began moving much more frantically. She put her face inches away from his and Gabe noticed the way Drevock twisted his grip on his axe, ready to swing with all his might should the queen attack him.
“What’s this? A stalled Stalwart Titan? It has been so long since the Starfallen fled but yes, I can see the connections. Strange, the pattern is flawed, yes, yes, flawed indeed. One strand looped and looped and looped. Don’t they know? Tied in a knot and the mana won’t flow.”
The queen sang that last part like some children’s nursery rhyme, cackling once she finished. This whole situation was throwing Gabe off guard. He had no idea what to make of this strange creature let alone what she was saying. What did she mean when she said Professor Alrik was about to be eclipsed? And what was all this about Titans and Starfallen?
The spider queen shifted her gaze over to Gabe. He stood stock still as she twisted her head to the side. He wasn’t sure how she was looking at him but he got the distinct impression that she was looking into his very soul.
“Life touched, not much there. Potential yes, like seeds waiting to grow, but not yet. Too soon. Perhaps given more time, but time cannot be given, only taken. Yes yes, this one’s time grows short. Alas, it cannot be helped. Not all flowers bloom, it is the way of Life.”
She turned around and started making her way back to the hole the larger spider had created. Gabe let out a breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. The spider queen’s words bothered him but he was more relieved that she was leaving. That relief was replaced with terror when the queen spoke next.
“Broken oaths and twisted souls. Nothing to be done, nothing at all. Food for my brood, yes, yes. Meat to eat, metal to weave, blood to seep into the stone. Life and light, might and stone, yes yes, these will help my garden grow.”
At once the tunnel was filled with the sounds of the spiders’ whirling teeth as they surged forward to attack. Gabe held up his knife, unsure what to do. He might have enough time to recast Restorative Shield but how long would that hold out against this many spiders. All this time he had been worrying about getting stabbed through the heart yet here he was about to be devoured by magical spiders. He closed his eyes, not wanting to see what happened next.
He was fortunate that his eyes were closed because there was a great flash of light that shined so brightly that it left an afterimage even through his eyelids.
“We invoke the Deep Hallow Agreement!”
Professor Alrik’s voice boomed through the tunnel. Rubbing his eyes, Gabe tried to make sense of what he was seeing. Professor Alrik’s hands were glowing with an intense white light and all around him the spiders were shaking their heads, stunned and disoriented. The queen stood frozen halfway into the hole. In the blink of an eye, she was standing in front of Professor Alrik.
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“What trickery is this? No one has invoked the Agreement in millenia. I didn’t think any on the surface remembered the old ways.”
Gone was the edge of madness in the queen's voice and in its stead was a sharp lucidity. Gabe wasn’t sure if the spider’s earlier actions were an act or if whatever the professor had done had broken through her delusions. The two stared at each other for several long moments, or at least Gabe assumed the spider queen was staring at the professor. It was hard to tell given her lack of eyes but the way she angled her face gave the appearance of her looking him over.
“Does the Agreement still stand?” Professor Alrik’s tone was calm, not a trace of fear or hesitancy in his words. Gabe’s heart was thundering in his chest as he watched the two face off. As the silence stretched on Gabe was certain that Professor Alrik’s gambit was going to fail and that the spiders were going to attack again. The smaller ones had shaken off the effects of the stun spell and were shuffling in place.
Eventually, the queen retreated a few steps and started murmuring to herself again, the brief moment of lucidity gone.
“Old truths illuminated, yes, yes, light shines through his soul. Ancient pacts invoked, but does the accord still hold? No Starfallen to enforce, no consquences for broken threads. ”
“We will barter for safe passage and information.” Professor Alrik hadn’t moved, his hands still blazing with light.
“Four lives, the cost would be high, yes, yes. Equivalent exchange yes, yes, four live comes at a price. What could be given for such a prize?”
“Your garden is quite lovely. This lichen is quite unique, I doubt there is anything like it in the world.”
Professor Alrik’s reply seemed to catch the spider queen off guard. He continued before she had a chance to respond.
“It is such a shame that the lichen does not survive being removed from the wall. How nice would it be to be able to collect it and cultivate it somewhere else? If only there was a way to safely move it without it crumbling to dust.”
“Life’s gift is to be admired not touched, yes, yes. It is an insult to her blessing to think otherwise. Life interwoven with death, plant and stone, light and dark, this is the beauty of my garden.”
Even through the melodic quality of her mental voice, Gabe could hear the regret that tinged her words. As much as the queen may say she thinks the lichen should be left alone, Gabe could tell that a part of her wishes the lichen wasn’t so sensitive. He may not know exactly how the professor knew to invoke the Agreement, but Gabe could see what he was going to offer as trade. As much as it pained him, he agreed that the lichen would be a fair trade for their lives if the queen would accept it.
Without taking his eyes off the queen, Professor Alrik directed his next words to Gabe.
“Gabriel, could you please retrieve our gift from the pack. I believe that we have kept our fair host in enough suspense.”
Moving with deliberate slowness to not provoke the hoard, Gabe took a few steps over to where Simon stood and reached into the pocket where he’d earlier placed the lichen. A jolt of fear raced through his body as he reached in and didn’t feel anything. Had the lichen turned to dust in the bag? Without it, did they have anything else to trade with the spider queen?
His concerns were unfounded as his fingers brushed across the waxy leaves of the plant. Just to be sure there wouldn’t be an issue, he quickly recast Aura of Vitality with his free hand as he pulled out the lichen. Still folded into a neat pile, the lichen looked healthy and vibrant as Gabe held it out to the queen.
With the same speed she exhibited earlier, the queen was suddenly in front of Gabe, her front legs reaching toward the lichen.
“What is this? Of course, life’s light preserves Life’s gift, yes, yes. Unbound and freed, no longer contained.” Her words came tumbling fast and excited. Having her so close to him caused the hairs on the back of Gabe’s neck to rise. He really hoped the professor knew what he was doing.
“As a sign of appreciation for your willingness to honor the Deep Hallow Agreement, we offer this patch of lichen to you as a gift.”
Professor Alrik nodded towards Gabe. Understanding his meaning, Gabe extended the lichen towards the spider queen. She immediately snatched it up between her front legs and held it in front of her face. She examined it for a few moments before chittering in excitement. One of the smaller spiders rushed toward her side so quickly that Drevock almost attacked. It was only his discipline as a warrior that stayed his hand once he recognized the spider wasn’t attacking.
Still holding the lichen, the queen began spitting out a metallic thread. Her mandibles caught the thread and in a matter of seconds, they wove something that looked like a patterned rug. Being so close to her, Gabe could see the symbols being woven together. He was almost certain that he saw a few that looked very similar to the pattern he used when he cycled his mana. The woven metal glowed with the same green light as Gabe’s aura. Once she was finished, she draped the metallic fabric across the smaller spider and gently placed the lichen on top of it and the spider scurried away down the hole in the ground.
Capitalizing on the moment, Professor Alrik continued.
“In exchange for safe passage through your domain and information on the prize we seek, we will harvest five more patches of similar size for you. One for each of our lives and one for your counsel.”
“Unbalanced, Life’s gift is great but does not equal life. Five per life, yes, yes. That is fair, that is balanced.”
Professor Alrik finally relaxed, the glow leaving his hands.
“That is more than acceptable. Twenty more patches of lichen for safe passage and you answer our questions. We have a deal.”
“Life is exchanged for life, not knowledge. Answers you seek, more must be given. Yes, yes, this is fair. Do we have an accord?”
Reluctantly the professor nodded. Instantly all of the spiders began exiting through the hole in the ground. The spider queen turned around and followed behind her hoard.
“Deals struck and oaths honored, yes, yes. Follow me, lots to discuss. The secrets of the Starfallen, nations on the brink of war, prices to be paid, debts to called, yes, yes.”
With those parting words, she disappeared down the hole.