131 The Descen (1/2)
\”Is that it?\” I asked, my hand pointing toward the deep chasm where the pool of an oasis should have been.
Yet, instead of a bright pool of freshwater surrounded by palm trees and other healthy plants, all we could see was a wide gaping hole leading downward.
\”Yes,\” Shanks answered from his spot at the front wagon. \”We should hurry. The gates to the Undercroft close at dawn.\”
\”We would have gotten here faster,\” I pointed a thumb behind me, \”if you guys didn't insist on carving up that ashworm for parts.\”
\”An ashworm's carcass sells pretty well, Commander,\” Varda repeated the benefit she'd given before to convince me. \”The fangs along would be ten Leprechauns each to the right buyer.\”
\”Your quartermaster's right,\” Shanks chuckled. \”Besides, the tale of defeating an ashworm might even open a few more doors for you in the Undercroft… people love a good story.\”
I sighed. \”Alright, let's get this over with… so, who wants to go into that black hole first?\”
\”Looks kind of ominous,\” Luca noted.
Despite his words, he urged Jade Shadow forward.
\”Did you really have to say that?\” I complained.
Not that I believed in this omen stuff, but there really was no need to tempt fate.
\”You coming?\” Luca asked as he glanced back at me.
I smirked while thinking my little brother was growing up.
Luca had changed somewhat in the last few months. He was more confident now and far less whiny about his circumstance. Maybe even a little more reckless like me, a fact clearly exposed in that fight against the ashworm.
I urged Myth Chaser forward while wondering how we were going to get the entire caravan down into the city when Luca called out again and told me there was a path that spiraled down the edge of the chasm.
\”It's big enough for a wagon to go through, I think,\” he reported.
\”Of course it is… how else do you think we merchants get to the Undercroft?\” Shanks smirked.
With me, Luca, Varda, and Shanks' carriage leading the way, we journeyed down the chasm in a single wagon line, traversing a path on the western wall that continued to spiral deeper and deeper into the hole.
Only a bit further in and the wall began to glow at intervals with the luminescence of the light-emitting gemstones common in Broken Sellsword's Canyon.
They lit up one by one and traced the path ahead of us, turning what would have been a perilous journey into just another stroll down a strange fairy highway.
We'd journeyed about fifteen minutes down when I finally saw a much brighter light source below me, although I couldn't tell what exactly I was looking at.
\”Luca,\” I called. \”Send word to Thom in the rear that I want him to send scouts down there before we arrive. Observe and be ready, just in case.\”
\”Are you expecting a fight?\” Luca asked.
I refused to tell him that Qwipps' earlier rants about omens had slightly gotten to me.
We continued our journey, and after roughly half an hour, the front of our convoy finally landed on flat ground.
Ahead of us stood two giant stone braziers, each one filled with light-emitting gemstones piled on top of each other in the shape of Christmas trees.
The braziers lit up the bottom of the hole, revealing the two massive double doors at the opposite side of our path.
Enna suddenly appeared at my side as if she'd been spit out of the mist. Three other drow warriors accompanied her.
\”Kobolds ahead, Commander. Guards by the look of them,\” she said in a voice that was almost a whisper.
I glanced down at Thom's cousin, impressed with her stealth skills and how the shadows seemed to cling to her as she stood there. More and more, it seemed she and her friends were turning into the ninjas of the fairy world.
\”Should we end them quietly?\” she asked.
\”Let's hold off on that…\” I said quickly. \”We don't want to leave a bad first impression.\”
\”Very well,\” she said, nodding. \”My team and I will keep out of sight in case a sneak attack is required.\”
That said, she and her three fellows vanished into the shadows.
Luca whistled.
\”Aren't you happy the mess I caused ended with the Hazy Moon joining our side?\” Luca asked jokingly.
I smacked him lightly in the back of his head. \”Lucky for you Thom was reasonable. Otherwise, we'd have made really bad enemies…\”
Having Shanks along on this quest was proving to be quite a boon for us. The easy talking troll deftly managed the kobold guards protecting the entrance to the Undercroft. He greased a few paws with a bit of Leprechaun gold and shared a bit of info about our cargo, which he claimed included, \”The biggest ashworm carcass you've ever seen!\”
He'd playfully elbowed the leader of the kobold guards right before dropping an ashworm tooth in its paw.