The sun had begun to set by the time Dhurik finished cooking the remains of the griffon. He had struggled a bit removing the fur and feathers from the beast while Ithan and Storm set up the campfire. Once he had it mounted, though, it was simply a matter of making sure the meat was properly cooked. When he began cutting into the griffon to hand out portions, Taer’inar quickly declined and pulled out one of the rations that he had prepared in his pack.

“More for us, then,” Dhurik grunted as he handed Taer’inar’s portion to Ithan. Ithan examined the meat carefully. It was a bit burnt, but at least it looked thoroughly cooked. He bit into the meat hesitantly, expecting to have to spit it out immediately. Instead, just a moment later he was tearing voraciously into his meal. When he had consumed all of his portion, he let out a satisfied sigh. Taer’inar and Storm gawked at him from across the campfire.

“What?” Ithan asked.

“The fox is definitely the dominant side,” Storm muttered to Taer’inar.

“Indeed,” Taer’inar replied. “Remember when he yipped back in town?” Ithan’s face started burning up.

“Shut up!” Ithan cried.

“He barks, too,” Storm continued.

“Do you think he’s house-trained?” Taer’inar joked. Ithan stood up and glared at the elf. When he bared his teeth, he could not help but make a low, guttural sound. “Uh-oh, I think we made him angry.”

“If he bites me, I’m putting a muzzle on him,” Storm said.

“Leave Dogboy alone,” Dhurik chimed in. He had been sitting quietly eating his meal on the far side of the campfire. Taer’inar and Storm looked at each other and burst into laughter. Ithan looked over at Dhurik and felt his face get warmer.

“You’re not helping,” Ithan growled. Dhurik shrugged and continued eating. With a huff, Ithan sat back down and resumed glaring at Taer’inar as he tried to regain his composure. “Are you done yet?” he asked as the laughter settled down to an occasional snicker.

“Yes, I‍—I think so,” Taer’inar managed to say while trying to hold in another outburst. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, he looked straight at Ithan. His facial expression now had become much more serious than moments ago. He appeared to be studying Ithan again. “Tell me, Mor’lavan. What are you, really?”

“This again?” Ithan asked incredulously. “When will you learn to leave things be?”

“I’m also still curious,” Storm added.

“If I tell you, will you leave me alone?”

“Yes,” said the elf and auran at once.

“Fine,” Ithan groaned. He took a moment to think up a good story, then began regaling the group with his lie. “I don’t know what I am. Everyone from my village is a kitsune, but I was born like this. No one knew what to call me, so they all just called me a freak. About two years ago, when I was fifteen‍—”

“You’re only seventeen?” Taer’inar interrupted. “I should have sent you back with Fenvyre.”

“I think I’ve proven I can handle myself,” Ithan growled. “…Anyway. When I was fifteen the villagers tried to kill me. So I ran away.”

“All the way from the far east?” Taer’inar asked. “I suppose it is a good thing you grew up with hunters. I can’t imagine how you would have survived for so long otherwise.”

“So why did you come here, to Averion?” Storm questioned.

“It’s as far away from home as I could get,” Ithan replied.

“Don’t you miss your family?” Taer’inar asked, leaning closer. “Don’t you want to see them again?” Ithan’s chest ached. If only he knew… he would indeed return home one day, but it would be far from a happy ending.

“I can’t,” Ithan responded as he looked up at Taer’inar. “I just… can’t.” The group sat in silence for a few moments before Taer’inar spoke again.

“Well, I don’t think you’re a freak,” he said. “Or a monster.”

“You are a bit strange,” Storm added. “…In a good way.”

“Er… thanks,” he said as he lay down on the ground near the fire and looked up at the sky. The stars were beginning to emerge as the shades of night drowned out the sun. “How’re we getting into the mines tomorrow?”

“I was thinking we should carefully remove the rocks that are in the way,” Taer’inar replied. “We wouldn’t want to accidentally cause a cave-in.”

“Sounds like a plan,” Storm added. “Do we have a light source?”

“I have some torches,” Taer’inar said as Ithan closed his eyes. “Enough for a few days, anyway.”

“Good enough for now,” Storm replied. “I don’t think we’ll be in there for that long.”

“What about food?” Dhurik asked.

“I have plenty of that for the four of us, as well,” Taer’inar replied, “as long as Mor’lavan doesn’t get to it.”

“Shut up, already,” Ithan snapped. There was a brief silence, then some shifting in the dirt.

“Good night, then,” Taer’inar grumbled. After a grunt from Dhurik, the only sounds Ithan heard from his companions were their breathing as they attempted to sleep. Ithan opened his eyes once more to see the stars in full view beyond the now dim light from the campfire. They shine so brightly here. By the time he fell asleep, the campfire had nearly died out.

🙡◊🙣

Ithan gazes up at the stars from his bedroom window in awe as they twinkle in the night sky. The moon is full and bright, lighting up the city below. A woman’s arms are draped around him tenderly.

“Make a wish, darling,” a voice whispers in his ear as a streak of light flashes across the sky. Ithan closes his eyes and thinks hard about his wish. After a moment, he knows what he wants.

“I wish‍—” he begins as he opens his eyes to a crimson sky. The stars have disappeared, and the moon is nowhere to be found. The city below is drenched in the blood that falls from the sky. Ithan tenses as he looks around to find that the woman has vanished. “I wish you were still here.”

🙠◊🙢

Taer’inar and Storm were still bundled tightly in their bedrolls when Ithan woke the next morning. Dhurik had already left the camp.

“Wake up, you two,” Ithan called as he stood up to stretch. Storm sat upright almost instantly, while Taer’inar lay motionless.

“Five more minutes,” Taer’inar grumbled.

“Lazy elf,” Ithan muttered in Elvish.

“I am not!” Taer’inar exclaimed as he opened his eyes and pulled himself up from the ground. “Who said that?” Storm pointed at Ithan.

“Thanks,” Ithan said as Taer’inar walked over to him. Storm simply shrugged in response.

“I am not lazy,” Taer’inar repeated. “I’m just tired. It’s cold here and I didn’t get much sleep.”

“That’s unfortunate,” Ithan replied. “We can’t really keep Dhurik waiting, though.”

“I swear I didn’t think he was going to be this much trouble,” Taer’inar sighed. He packed up his bedroll and prepared to move out.

“It would’ve been nice for him to wake us up before he left,” Storm added. “Oh well. Let’s go.” Ithan nodded as he followed behind the pair, grateful that their sleep had not been interrupted in the night by other hostile creatures.

Dhurik was already hard at work clearing away the rubble from the entrance to the mine when the three of them arrived. He turned his head toward the group for a moment as they approached and then grabbed another rock and tossed it aside.

“How long have you been over here?” Taer’inar asked.

“Since daybreak,” Dhurik grunted as he lifted a larger rock and set it next to the entrance. “There’s more rocks here than I thought.”

“You’ve been doing this for two hours already?” Taer’inar continued. “Aren’t you tired?”

“This? It’s nothing,” Dhurik replied. “Just a warmup.”

“I think your warmup’s over,” Ithan said as he stepped forward. “I’ll clear the rest.” He motioned for Dhurik to step away from the rubble that remained in front of the mines. When he was a reasonable distance away, Ithan muttered an incantation and held out his hand toward the rubble. Moments later, an incredibly loud, high-pitched sound began to emanate from the rocks, forcing Ithan’s companions to cover their ears. The rocks began to break apart as the sound faded, revealing the mine entrance.

“Oh,” Dhurik muttered as he took his hands away from his ears. “That’s useful.” Ithan smiled at his handiwork.

“Please don’t do that again,” Taer’inar said as he walked over to the entrance.

“No promises,” Ithan replied. As the party made their way inside, Taer’inar pulled out two torches, lit them, and handed them to Dhurik and Storm. There were two corridors just inside of the mine: the corridor to the left appeared to have a room near the end, but the one on the right ended abruptly with a large hole in the floor. Near the hole were the remnants of a pulley system. The rope was missing and the lever that controlled the system was destroyed.

“It’s no good,” Taer’inar said after he approached the hole and peered into it. “The platform is destroyed. Did anyone bring rope, by chance?”

“Maybe there’s some in that room over there,” Ithan replied as he pointed down the other corridor. He and Storm walked briskly to the room at the end of the other corridor. It was a bit small, and there were broken crates filling much of the space within. It might have once been a storage room, but now most of the crates were empty. With Storm’s torch lighting the room, Ithan searched through the remains of the crates until he found an old coil of rope.

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

“Dogboy! Blue Man!” Dhurik shouted from outside. “Get out here!” When Ithan turned back toward the room’s entrance, two shadowy figures stood in his path. They slowly drifted forward toward him and Storm.

“It looks like we’ve got our own problems in here,” Storm said as he dropped his torch to ready his bow. Ithan grabbed the coil of rope and summoned his glaive. Before he had a chance to attack, the figures moved in and swiped at him and Storm. Storm was able to dodge, but Ithan felt claws scratch his left arm before he jumped away. Irritated, he uttered a spell and aimed at the creature, firing a blast of energy at it. It dissipated, and the other one did soon after with Storm dispatching it. A blast of frigid air blew through the room as they approached the entrance.

“We could use some help out here!” Taer’inar called. Storm picked up his torch and he and Ithan ran out into the main area. Small imp-like creatures covered in ice had surrounded Dhurik and Taer’inar.

“What are these things?” Dhurik cried as he swung at one of the creatures.

“Frost sprites, I think!” Taer’inar replied as he tried to dodge one of the creatures’ attacks. He was moving more slowly than he had when he was fighting the kobolds; his legs were covered in ice.

“Sorry Taer’inar,” Ithan called as he held out his hand to the creatures, “but I’m going to have to do this again.” He began his incantation as the sprites continued their assault on his companions.

“Do what again‍—” Taer’inar began as Ithan completed his spell. Another loud sound rang out in the cave, and the sprites exploded, firing shards of ice in every direction. Dhurik and Taer’inar both were skewered by the shards, and after a moment Taer’inar fell to the ground. Ithan’s heart sank as a pool of blood began to form beneath the elf. He dropped his glaive and rushed over. He knelt in front of him and pulled his bag off his back, searching frantically for something to stop the bleeding. He pulled the spare clothes that he had packed out and began tearing them into strips of cloth. He began wrapping the cloth around the elf’s torso, being careful not to move him too much as he did so.

“He’s not dead yet,” Dhurik said as he picked shards of ice out of his arm. “But he will be if we don’t hurry up and stop that bleeding.”

“I’m working on it,” Ithan muttered through gritted teeth. He tightened the cloth just enough to make it taut around Taer’inar’s body, then waited. After a few minutes, he was relieved to see Taer’inar open his eyes and look up at him. “Thank the gods,” he sighed.

“You tried to kill me,” Taer’inar grunted as he slowly sat up, clasping his chest. He took off his pack and pulled out a glass flask that contained liquid that looked much like the blood pooled around him. He pulled the cork out of the bottle and drank it.

“I didn’t try to kill you,” Ithan snapped. “How was I supposed to know they’d do that?”

“I was only joking,” Taer’inar said as he stared blankly at Ithan. “But next time, please think about what you’re doing before you use magic recklessly like that.” He stood up and put his pack back on. “Now, shall we continue?”

“Hang on!” Ithan cried. “You’re in no condition to keep going! We should get you back to Greenreach!”

“There’s no need,” Taer’inar replied, pulling the cloth that Ithan had wrapped around him off his body. The wounds, to Ithan’s surprise, had closed marvelously quickly. “This potion I got from town did wonders.”

“So, I tore up my clothes for nothing…?” Ithan muttered.

“I’ll buy you new ones when we get back,” Taer’inar said. He began walking over to the hole on the other end of the cavern, followed behind by Dhurik and Storm. Ithan walked behind them, taking the rope that he had found off his shoulder. Dhurik took the rope, found a good place to tie it off, and hurled the rest of it down the hole. Now that he was here, Ithan looked down the hole to find what might have once been a platform for the elevator broken into many pieces. There were shuffling sounds coming from just beyond the hole, deeper into the mine.

“So, who’s first?” Dhurik said.

“There’s something down there,” Ithan whispered as he looked back to the party. “Hand me your torch, Storm,” he said, holding out his hand to the auran. Storm complied, and Ithan tossed the torch down the hole. Two elvenoid creatures were peering out of the opening below, but retreated as the torch hit the ground in front of them.

“Oh good,” Taer’inar said, “more heads for Dhurik.”

“Great,” Dhurik replied. “Then I’m going first.” He grabbed on to the rope and began to climb down. As loose rock fell to the ground from under Dhurik’s hooves, the creatures appeared once again, grumbling incoherently. They each wore only loincloths, and they both carried large clubs.

“Careful, Dhurik,” Taer’inar warned.

“He’ll be fine,” Storm said as he readied his bow. He fired an arrow at one of the creatures, piercing it through the eye. It shrieked and backed away from the elevator shaft. “Taer’inar, you go down next,” he continued as he readied another arrow. Taer’inar nodded and began climbing down behind Dhurik. After he had climbed down a good distance, Ithan followed. Storm stayed stationed at the top, continuing to fire arrows at the creatures as they approached the opening at the bottom of the hole. Ithan continued climbing down as Dhurik landed and began swinging his axe at the creatures. Storm had stopped firing arrows by the time Taer’inar made it to the ground and had started climbing down behind Ithan. By the time Ithan’s feet touched the floor of the ruined elevator, the creatures had already been slain.

“Have at it, Dhurik,” Taer’inar said as he sheathed his swords. Without hesitation, Dhurik began beheading the corpses with glee, seven in total.

“Whoops,” Dhurik muttered as he picked up the last head, “now there’s too many heads.”

“That’s a shame,” Ithan said, shaking his head slowly. “That poor head is going to have to go on without a stake.” Dhurik leered at Ithan, and in defiance he forced the last head through one of the stakes that he had already mounted. “That’s fair.”

The room here was an antechamber of sorts; there was a passage at the other end leading into the mines proper. There was a minecart filled with rocks to the left of the passage, and dirt-covered rails led from the room through the passage.

“Let’s rest here a moment,” Taer’inar said as he sat on the ground. He crossed his legs and closed his eyes. “Try not to disturb me while we rest.”

“This whole stop-and-go business is starting to tick me off,” Dhurik huffed, leaning against the wall. “I just want to smash things.”

“You can smash things after I finish scoping out the area,” Taer’inar replied. “Now please, I need some peace.” While they waited, Dhurik paced around the room and Storm examined his arrows. Ithan simply watched Taer’inar curiously. When Taer’inar finally opened his eyes, three black bats appeared before him in a puff of smoke. He whispered something to them, and they flew off into the passage, one going to the right and the other two to the left. After another moment, he began to speak again. “The right passage is fairly short and ends in a rather strange area. There seems to be a pond and… a door? A large door covered in some kind of writing. I can’t quite make it out through the bat’s vision. The left path leads to the mines. There are a fair few gems still in the walls, and‍—oh!”

“What is it?” Storm asked.

“They’re gone,” Taer’inar replied. “They said, ‘It’s cold,’ and then I lost them.”

“Maybe it’s best we don’t go that way, then,” Storm said. “At least, not right now.”

“I agree,” Taer’inar said. “Let’s explore the other passage for now. I want to get a better look at that door.” He stood up and walked toward the passage.

“Are there things to fight down that way?” Dhurik asked as he, Storm, and Ithan followed behind Taer’inar.

“I did see something floating around over there, so possibly,” Taer’inar said. Dhurik grinned. As the group moved through the passage, they found themselves at a fork. Taer’inar ushered the group toward the path on the right. Frigid air flowed out from the other path‍—no, it was flowing into it, as if the warmth in the air here was being sucked away. Ithan tried to ignore it, though, following his friends. After a minute or so, the tunnel opened up into a large cavern. Before them was a large pool of water that appeared to be quite deep. Large stones lay across the pool and led to a platform on the other side. On that platform, there was a giant set of stone doors, elaborately decorated with carvings on the outer edge. There was something red on the door, but Ithan could not make out what it was from here. Two small lights danced in the air above the pool of water, and occasionally flickering out of sight.

“They’re pretty,” Ithan said.

“They’re will-o’-wisps,” Taer’inar said. “They eat souls.”

“Oh,” Ithan lamented. He had imagined his soul being eaten many times, but not by such small and pretty things.

“Can I kill them?” Dhurik asked earnestly.

“I’d leave them alone,” Taer’inar replied. “They probably won’t bother us if we don’t bother them.” He took a step toward the pool and prepared to jump over to the nearest boulder. However, instead of jumping forward, he pulled out his swords and jumped backward. “There’s something in the water,” he announced to the others. At this, Ithan summoned his glaive and prepared himself, looking toward the pool where Taer’inar had set his sights. The water started to move unnaturally, and a tendril burst from the pool, reaching out toward Taer’inar. With a quick slash, Taer’inar deflected the tendril of water and it retreated back into the pool.

“Can I kill that?” Dhurik asked impatiently.

“Yes, please do,” Taer’inar said.

“I can’t shoot what I can’t see,” Storm muttered. He had his bow ready and aimed at the water. When the water began to stir again, he fired at it, then let out an irritated sigh. “I can’t tell if I hit it if my arrows just sink through it.” He drew another arrow and took aim again. Another tendril appeared from the water, this time lashing out at Ithan. It wrapped around his leg and yanked at it, making him fall to the ground as it pulled him toward the water. He tried to stab at the tendril, but it seemed to be ineffective. Dhurik reached out to grab Ithan but missed, and Ithan was dragged into the pool and underneath the surface.

“Don’t hit Mor’lavan!” Taer’inar’s garbled voice called as Ithan was pulled deeper into the pool. An arrow shot past his head, glowing brilliantly with an unusual light. The force pulling him down released him momentarily, and he began kicking frantically trying to swim back up to the surface. Alas, his hooves prevented him from gaining any distance. Only a few moments later, the force once again took hold of Ithan, this time wrapping around his waist. He was almost out of time. He kept kicking as arrows continued to fly through the water, and he even tried to grab at the entity to try to break away from it. By now, his companions’ shouting voices seemed far way. The lights of the will-o’-wisps still danced above, though very faintly. Am I going to die? He tried once more to break free from the force dragging him down, and everything faded to black.

🙡◊🙣

Ithan is immersed in darkness. He can see his own form, but nothing beyond that. He thinks he is floating in water, but he cannot tell. There are faint murmurings from afar, as if someone is trying to speak to him. He recognizes the voices, but he cannot place where they are from. Then, another voice rings out clearly across the vast emptiness, as if someone is standing directly in front of him.

“Why have you come here?” the voice says. Ithan knows this voice, too, but again cannot place it. “What is it you seek?”

“I came here for power,” Ithan replies. “For vengeance.”

“Vengeance?” the voice questions. “Against whom?”

“Varian Aranis. My father.” The words leave him with a feeling of disgust.

“What has he done to earn your ire?”

“He killed my mother. He took her life right in front of me.”

“I see. And so, you seek to avenge her.”

“Yes.” Ithan looks around to search for the source of the voice. “Where are you? Who are you?”

“I am a friend. I have heard your story, and I am prepared to assist you. But in exchange you must do something for me.”

“What do you want from me?”

“When the time comes, I shall tell you.” Ithan feels a sudden pulse of energy course through him, and the darkness begins to change to white light. “For now, Ithan Aranis… Live.”

🙠◊🙢

“Live!” a voice cried as a sudden force thrust into Ithan’s chest, causing him to cough up the water that was in his lungs. “Oh, thank the gods!” When Ithan opened his eyes, he was on the ground in the cavern, with Taer’inar kneeling next to him and Dhurik and Storm standing above the two of them. The lights of the will-o’-wisps had vanished, and only the light of Dhurik’s torch remained in the cavern.

“I’m alive?” Ithan asked weakly. He tried to sit up but did not have the strength.

“Only just,” Taer’inar replied. “Your soul was nearly taken. We had to kill off the will-o’-wisps after Storm took care of the water elemental.”

“Almost lost you there, Dogboy,” Dhurik huffed. “Can’t have that.”

“Thank you,” Ithan said. He struggled again to move, then looked back up at Dhurik. “By any chance, could you carry me?”

“Yeah, sure,” Dhurik grunted as he lifted Ithan off the ground and hung him over his shoulder. “I would’ve liked to keep fighting, but Birdbrain wants to go back.”

“‘Birdbrain’, huh?” Ithan laughed, grinning at Taer’inar.

“Don’t make me change my mind,” Taer’inar grumbled. “We can still leave you here.”

“You’re bluffing,” Storm muttered. “You wouldn’t dare leave a comrade here. Least of all Mor’lavan.”

“Wh-what are you implying?” Taer’inar’s face twisted. Storm shrugged and followed behind Dhurik as the minotaur began carrying Ithan out of the cavern through the passage.

“Did you get to take a look at that door?” Ithan asked.

“What?” Taer’inar replied. “Oh, that. We can come back later. For now, we’re going back to Greenreach.” Ithan smiled again, grateful to his companions‍—his friends‍—that they would put a hold on their adventure to ensure that he could continue on with them.