Chapter 3 - Figures in the mist
The group heads towards the house of the dwarf, guided by Barleif. The people of the town behave with some tranquility, showing that they are accustomed to that incident happening. Only the guards are more alert than usual.
- What's in the box? - Nom asks Kathrinna with some insistence.
- It is a package that I must deliver.
- Yes, but what is it?
- I don’t know, I don’t ask questions ... I only carry the package.
- Do you carry things without knowing what things are inside?
- Yes, I do that.
- Don’t you want to know what's in there?
- Leave her Nom - Yovun replies - Do not bother her.
- I do not bother her ... I'm just asking her, True that I’m not bothering you, miss?
- Ehhh ... - She laughs something uncomfortable - ... better tell me why you are here, so far from your homeland.
- Nom made a bet with his friends - he replies - I would travel in search of adventure and in 20 years we would see each other again, the one with the best reward will be the winner.
- That sounds funny! ... and what will you win?
- The... bet.
- Yes but ... and well, what did you bet?
- Well... things.
- They are of that kind that are so excited about something, that they don’t even know what they are doing - Yovun replies.
- That isn’t true, of course I know what I do - says Nom. - I accompany a beautiful young lady and her husband on an adventure!
- Wait! Wait! - Egios says - Who do you say is her husband?
- Ahh is that ... I believed ... that ... well ...
- And then you ask why people say that you are clueless - replies Yovun while everyone laughs, including Nom.
- It's here - adds Barleif.
They visualize a house on the river bank, on its facade it shows that in the day a store operates, a light in one of its rooms shows that there are still people awake. Barleif comes and knocks on the door, nothing happens the first time, but the second time a dwarf looks out the window, initially annoyed by the time but after seeing so many people she understands that it’s something out of the ordinary.
- Just a moment!
Barleif, always calm and with a tired gaze turns to look at the others and tells them.
- The dwarfs are sometimes kind of cantankerous, so let me talk to her.
- It seems perfect to me - says Egios - it’s all yours.
Barleif smiles a little, while Yovun moves away, signaling that he will be down the river. Shortly after the door opens.
- Can I help you? ... At this time I have closed the store, but if you intend to buy enough, It doesn’t bother me.
- Mmmm ... no - says Barleif - well, we want to enter the tunnels.
- Ah! no, not kidding, the tunnels are mine, if you want to compete you will have to fend by yourselves.
- No ... it's not that, we want to cross the tunnels, we do not care what's there, we just want a safe way to cross to Hamuleif.
- Do you want to reach the tunnels with the threat of the Valfnar? Are you insane?
- We have to cross quickly - interrupts Egios - we have a long journey and we cannot delay so much.
- Not kidding! There is not even the slightest ...
Kathrinna brings the box to the dwarf and lets her take a look at the brand that is resting on its cover.
- What do you bring in that box, girl?
- We don’t know - Kathrinna answers - and we need to get it out of town, because the longer it’s here, the more dangerous it will be.
- Why did you bring that box to the town? - says the dwarf something uncomfortable - You must give it to the guards.
- If we do that, it will be longer in town, because they don’t know what it is - replies Egios - Please, help us out.
- This is crazy! I just wanted a hot drink and go to sleep and look at everything that is happening now.
- We will pay you for your help - says Barleif.
- Yes, of course you will, it's the least you can do ... let's see, come in...
The dwarf woman invites them to sit in his living room, they even call Yovun to enter.
- If we get to the tunnels, we will be safe. - says the dwarf. - to arrive, the road is clear towards the southeast, there are some special stones that indicate the way, once there, the apes will not reach us.
- Yes, as if in the tunnels there was nothing dangerous - Yovun adds ironically.
- I'm not the only one who goes in search of objects, the continuous entrance of treasure hunters keeps the tunnels relatively safe, there is always the possibility of something unexpected, but hey, that can happen anywhere.
- "Relatively" - says Yovun.
- You don’t have to go old man, - says Nom - if so much fear gives you, just stay in the tavern.
Yovun throws a look at him with half-closed eyes, to which the boy only makes fun.
- Well, how do we go through the apes? - Kathrinna asks.
- Well, that's the complicated part - adds the dwarf. - There is a short way, that, if we move fast, with some luck we will arrive without crossing with any, ... but the truth is that we have no idea where they will be. The best thing would be to have a bait and move them away from the place, but ... given the situation, it is best to camouflage ourselves and for that I have the right thing... but not here.
The dwarf goes to the window and after looking outside a little she says again.
- Wait for me here, I know where to get what we need ... but ... well ... it is better that you stay here.
- If you need to bring cargo, I can help you - adds Barleif.
- No, ... it's not much, ... but the person who sells it to me, well, is very distrustful, so it's better that I don’t ... that I go alone, you know ... I'm trustworthy. I will not be long, wait here.
The dwarf leaves the house, Egios looks out the window watching as she leaves between the houses, then turns to look at Yovun, who smiles, Egios nods.
- Something happens? - Kathrinna asks
- It's time to leave - says Egios - I'm afraid that our dwarf friend will bring more than we need.
- What are you talking about? - Nom question
- When you showed her the box, it was a double-edged sword, it is very possible that she is so worried that she will go to warn the authorities, so please, everyone get out of here.
- Mmm ... the door is locked from the outside - says Yovun. - She has locked us up.
- There must be another door - adds Barleif - perhaps back.
Yovun beckons Nom to go check, Egios goes to the door to see if he can force the lock.
- I'm afraid it's blocked from the outside, the lock has nothing to do - says Egios.
- Well, we need an idea soon - says Yovun - I think we are running out of time - he says pointing towards the light of torches that appear between the houses.
- Here, there is a door! - Nom yells from the floor below.
They all run to the place and see a small reinforced door, the size needed for a dwarf, also blocked. Again Egios tries to force the lock.
- These dwarves - says Egios - have always been very good at making locks
- Hurry, we are running out of time - says Yovun
- Need help? - says Nom
They then hear some voices and feel that they are opening the outer door. Yovun and Barleif run to close the door of the floor below, Nom joins them and put some objects that block. Yovun then goes to Barleif.
- We'll have to tear down the door, - says Yovun. - Get out Egios.
- Already ... I almost have it.
- It isn’t true - says Yovun removing him from the place.
Then both begin to lash out hard against the door, which manages to move in place but still doesn’t open. Again they try without success, Nom finds a metal tube in the place and prepares to knock on the door, then, they listen to the guards who have entered and have found the door closed.
- Don’t try to run away! We can help you! - Shouted one of the guards.
- Do not resist! - they get to listen to the dwarf, who then speaks in a low voice to the guards - they have the box, I know it’s dangerous.
The men try again, then Kathrinna approaches.
- There is no time, give me space.
Everyone retreats a little from the door, and then Kathrinna slams the door firmly on the bolt, at the second blow the metal bolt bends and some nails are released, on the third blow the door opens fully. The men look at each other while Kathrinna takes her stuff and starts to leave.
- Are you coming or not?
- Yes ... of course we're going - says Egios.
The door goes to a small patio, after jumping the fence they run towards the river and continue towards the north, arrive at another house and hide behind its walls.
- Great, now we are fugitives - says Yovun.
- Well, but we already have the information we needed - adds Egios.
- And how do you plan to leave the town, old man? - Question Nom.
- Black market - says Egios - how do you think smuggling enters a town like this? - Then turn to look at Kathrinna - I hope you made good friends this afternoon.
- You don’t have to worry about that - she says with a smile.
The group sneaks through the alleys, some guards patrol and know they are looking for them, they continue with caution. Again they hear the horn of the people, the guards who walk in the streets are soon called to reinforce the defense, apparently the Valfnar have attacked a part of the walls.
- That's good, they will not look for us, at least for a while, it will be easier to go for our things - says Kathrinna to Egios
- Yes, it’s necessary to recover them, - Egios responds, then addressing the others he says - you go ahead, we will see you in the tavern where Kathrinna found you.
They nod and leave, Kathrinna tells Egios.
- You should go with them, I can move faster in the night and bring all our things without being seen.
- No ... no, you will not go alone - he says firmly - no one will move alone, I will accompany you.
- I am a creature of the night, I can really do this alone.
- I say no, come on ... let's not waste time.
At Egios' insistence, Kathrinna just follows him.
- You still don’t trust me? - she says as they run towards the inn.
- Did we meet a week ago? More or less? ... you will not expect me to trust blindly in you. I think you don’t trust me as much or I'm wrong?
- Have I ever checked your stuff?
- Oh, hey ... it's not the time for that, I already apologized.
- Well, but you should know that I do trust you, otherwise I would not have asked you for help on this trip.
- That's... good to hear... just that... hey, you should not be so easily trusting strangers.
- Bad experiences?
- It's... common sense ... and well, yes, the experience doesn’t help either.
- Kathrinna laughs a little - I hope someday you tell me all that.
- Maybe, when I have more confidence... - He says with a smile -... come, the owners don’t seem to be here, let’s take advantage.
Both enter the inn and easily sneak to his room, Egios rushes to check his suitcase that everything is there, and after make sure all is ok he takes his things, Kathrinna does the same, then both leave. In the hallway they find the innkeeper.
- Are you leaving?
- Yes - Kathrinna hastens to say
- It's dangerous outside - says the old man. - we’re under attack, the Valfnar attack us.
- Is that we find a friend - says Egios, seeing that the man doesn’t know that the guards are looking for them - He will let us be at his home.
- Ahh... well, that's the way it is.
- If they come asking, just say we're already leave - Kathrinna says as she gently runs her hand down the side of his face.
- Oh yes... sure... - says the man as he draws a smile something lost on his face. - have a good travel!
They start moving again, leave the inn and head towards the tavern.
- What the hell was that? - Egios question
- What thing?
- What did you do to that man?
- I didn’t do anything to him, I just used some feminine suggestion.
- You are very dangerous.
- Ah! Come on ... are you going to get like this because I said something suggestively to a poor man?
- Don’t do it, I know there are vampires with very strong seduction powers ... so just in case and to avoid problems ... for now keep your hands away from me.
- She breaks into laughter - yes, you are a unique one.
- I'm serious, do not tease.
- I swear I will never use my seduction superpowers in you. - she says raising her hand and with a burlesque seriousness. - You have to relax a little.
- Tell me you bought your potions.
- Yes, I bought a good portion, it will even be enough for us both.
- All right, make sure you take them regularly.
- Hey, you already seem like my mother.
Egios looks away with a faint smile. Kathrinna stops him and then points to him beyond the streets, the dwarf tries to convince some guards to follow her but they are committed to keeping the beasts at bay, so none of them agrees to her demands. They continue on their way and arrive at the tavern, where Yovun, Barleif and Nom have already collected their things and prepare to leave.
Yovun guides them through the alleys to a sector of bad death, enter a house after giving a couple of coins to the doorman, the house is no more than a facade towards alleys and courtyards full of merchants offering all kinds of objects of dubious origin. You can see witches and fortune tellers who offer their occult services, men of bad reputation and women of bad fortune. A witch tries to read Egios' hand but he quickly takes it away.
Nobody would think that there was such a place behind the town, it is like a different world, a gnawed and rotten world where garbage is spread like a disease, because the street has no owner, the laws have no one to make them work.
Yovun greets some men and after asking them some questions they direct him towards a shack, there they find a tent, the wood gnawed by insects and cracked by the years has not been repaired in a long time. However, the objects shine in shelves finely decorated and shone, a woman appears behind a door of cloth and without saying a word begins to clean the shelves. A man appears behind the same door, with a big smile, exaggerated by his robust mustache and wearing a thin but old and discolored shirt welcomes the group.
- Welcome! - says the man - Welcome to the store of Salib, I have all kinds of objects, brought from distant lands ... of the best quality! ... come, degus, look lady, this necklace of emeralds fits very well with you.
- We need another kind of service - says Egios - One that you doesn’t have on display.
- What service ... do you need?
- We need to leave the city. - adds Egios.
- Mmm…
- And if possible, make it easy for us to go south.
- The man smiles, gets closer to the table and looks at them - it is not exactly the best time to leave, ... this will be worth a good portion.
- Of course - says Nom, putting on the table a shiny metal statue, shaped like an old landlord.
- Where did you get that? - says Kathrinna.
- Quiet - Yovun says - Nom is very agile with his hands, and very useful.
- Well, this statue is an excellent treasure - Nom says becoming important while playing with his fingers on the table, turns to look at Kathrinna and says in a low voice as Salib checks the object - No one betrays the good Barleif, that dwarf has no honor.
- And a little thief says it - Kathrinna whispers.
- Hey, you should thank me, I saved your skin.
- Perfect! - says Salib - there is a deal! I love this piece - then call the woman who approaches the place - She is Libai, she will be your guide.
- Very good - says Yovun taking the statue - but it will go with us until we are outside, then we will send it with her.
- Oh no... no no no no... - Salib says - Give me the statue and she accompanies you, no statue, no deal.
- The statue will be yours if you comply with your part, ... we need an insurance that you will not leave us lying down or you will sell us to the highest bidder, the statue goes with me.
- Very good, very good ... take it, Libai knows the way better than me, but make sure you pay me.
The group leaves behind the woman, who again leads them through the alleys, she is wearing a long dress, somewhat dusty but relatively common, her hair is pulled back a little at shoulder height and covered with a hood, she never says a word. Despite being so late at night, it is a place that never sleeps, is always active no matter what star illuminates the sky.
They arrive at a large abandoned building, cross the lobby and arrive in a small room, there a staircase leads down to the inside of earth, two men guard the place, after greeting the woman, continue to find a spiral staircase. When descending to the bottom, they arrive at an underground cavern, a river crosses by its interior, several men move boxes of merchandise from some boats and towards the surface.
The woman, still silent, takes them to one of the boats where a man waits, she gives him some coins and then makes everyone go up. The sailor guides them through the stream into the interior of the caverns.
- Shouldn't we be going outside? - Nom question
- I guess they know what they do. - says Egios
The trip continues for several minutes, the small lamp that hangs in front of the boat provides the only light in that cavern. The sailor paddles peacefully while the woman sits watching the distance and without saying a word.
- Hey! ... Are you mute? ... Hey, lady! - Nom says.
- Do not bother her - Yovun replies - leave her alone.
- Look at her, she looks like a zombie... aren’t you a zombie, right? ... eh ... ma'am?
Yovun gives him a light blow on the head, which Nom stops bothering. Egios turns to look at Barleif who has begun to do some kind of prayer while holding a statuette in his hands.
- He has a phobia of darkness - Yovun tells him. - As a child, the shadows attacked his village and since then, he feels that he’s being pursued in such dark environments.
- He does well - Says Egios - You can not lower your guard, although I would hug my sword more.
- You've been through a lot, isn’t you, Mr. Egios? - Yovun says.
- Quite, for someone my age, maybe something incredible.
- Well, it seems we have time ... you can tell us a little ... well, if you want.
- Egios laughs softly - ... I don’t think it's a good time, but a lot of my story, I tell it in my books,... you should read them.
- Ah... I'm not much into reading. I prefer to listen to the stories of a good storyteller, while I enjoy a cold beer and the company of a woman.
- And how has it been doing so far?
- Until now ... pretty well I would say ... I could even say that ... hey, is it there?
A light begins to glimpse in the distance, the boat continues sailing until arriving at a kind of port inserted between the darkness of the cavern. The woman gets out and beckons them to follow her. Several men work there as well, although most of them are sleeping at the moment on some hammocks. Many warehouses full of boxes and barrels extend to the sides, and at the bottom there is a wooden structure that allows them to ascend towards the surface.
At the end, a grotto with more boxes and supplies, some men working and others watching, the exit between the rocks completely hides the place for anyone who does not know where it’s going. The woman accompanies them to the exit, finally speaks.
- So far is the deal, if you continue in that direction in a few hours will be at the entrance of the caverns.
- Thank you - says Yovun, as he hands her the statue.
She nods and then disappears back into the grotto. The group is in the middle of the forest, the night is quite cold and a little mist slips between the trees. There seems to be no indication of the presence of beasts in the vicinity, so the group begins to move forward.
- There are no signs of the Valfnars - says Nom - They must be having fun in some farm or in the wall of the city.
- Don’t let your guard down - adds Barleif - beasts can appear at any time.
- I want to see one ... I've never seen them - says Nom
- Surely you don’t want to see them - says Yovun.
Egios gestures to stop as the fog begins to thicken.
- Maybe we should look for a refuge - says Yovun.
- No - Egios replies - we can’t stop now.
- Who are they? - Nom adds pointing to two figures that can be glimpsed in the fog.
Hardly recognizable, two figures appear on the road in front of them, both of the same size. Everyone takes their weapons, as soon as Kathrinna takes out her dagger, the eye immediately puts it’s gaze on Egios, Yovun and Barleif look at each other, then they hear the voices of those men.
- Hand over the box. - They say in unison while their voices melt in the fog.
Egios turns to look at the group, all seem serenely calm.
- Who are these guys? - Yovun asks in a low voice.
- The cult of Q - says Kathrinna
- The what?... I had never heard of them. - he replies.
The men speak again in unison.
- Kathrinna, return what is not yours.
Egios turns her to look with some strangeness, she grabs the box with force and then Nom throws a stone against the men. Yovun looks at him with a big face of surprise at the impulsive act of the boy who only smiles innocently without even understanding why he did it himself.
The stone reaches the silhouettes and in doing so both disappear into the air. Nom smiles at them then Kathrinna grabs him by the arm as well as Egios. Barleif and Yovun are put in attack position.
- What are we waiting for? - says Nom
- None of this is good - says Yovun.
A loud roar is heard in the fog and then from the direction where the men were, a huge figure appears, tearing the air with its powerful arms, while its jaw shows its teeth in an almost mad way, it goes towards the group despite the fact that in his frantic march it seemed as if it could not see any fixed goal.
The group reacts and moves to get out of the path of the beast, but with a swipe reaches to knock down Barleif before he could be at a safe position. The creature's speed prevents it from stopping instantly, Egios and Nom rush to lift Barleif to continue the escape.
- We have to get to the caves - says Barleif - there we will be safe.
- That thing will soon bring more with its screams - says Yovun - we will not reach the caverns.
- We have to kill him then - says Egios, even though his hands tremble, he takes his sword and intends to face the creature - Come on!
The beast attacks again in an onslaught, the ape would have the height of almost 3 men and the muscle of a dozen of them. His fangs protrude from his mouth and a thick layer of hair covers the top of his head and back. The closer the beast approaches, the more his legs tremble, he can not believe that he is so afraid, just a few meters away and he feels the sword slipping from his hands. He looks at the beast that is almost on him and then with a strong shake, Nom takes him out of the way, at the time, Barleif and Yovun put a trap on one of the legs of the creature that clings to it and makes it stumble and fall. Quickly Kathrinna and Nom try to tie the arms of the ape, but this is easily released every time they try, Egios comes then and throws a bottle to the head that when breaks a steam starts to emanate, the creature inhales and begins to get dizzy.
- Now, now - says Egios - it's time to run.
- No, no, you have to finish it before you call the others - says Yovun, who approaches and coldly buries his sword on the neck of the creature that little by little remains motionless. - A live one is a possibility less that we have.
- Let’s go to the caverns - says Barleif
The group starts fleeing again among the trees, the fog begins to fade and even some rays of the sun begin to appear. They hear some more grunts in the distance, from where they have left the beast, but they they can only keep going.
- It's over there, - says Barleif, with a certain enthusiasm totally strange in him.
The entrance is a depression at the base of the mountain, a stone path enters between the rock and descends as if heading towards the center of the mountain. The wall of rock and earth on each side blocks the light from the road and at the top the plants use their leaves to finish catching the few rays of sunlight that could reach the ground. The humidity can be feeled between the vines and a silence takes over the place.
The group continues the descent, then a slight tremor is felt and some stones fall from above. Barleif looks at them all and with his hands beckons them to calm down.
- It's normal, it always happens.
- You say it as if you kept in these places, which I don’t believe - says Yovun
- Ha ... how could someone live in this hole - says Nom, while he takes some leaves from the vines and chews them a bit, then spits them out - even the plants taste bad, that disgusting.
- No one lives here - says Barleif - at least, nobody at this time.
- No wonder they left - says Nom - I would have done it too.
Suddenly one of the apes falls from the top through the hole, throws a defiant look at the group and a loud roar to which several more roars are answered that are heard on the top of the place, Egios sees a grotto between the wall of the rock and soon they all go in, the ape tries to grab them but the entrance is small for him, however inside it is not very spacious either and there is really no where to go.
- I said it, it was a very bad idea - says Yovun - we should have stayed in the town!
- Calm down Yovun - says Barleif - We'll get out of this, as we always have.
- We’ve always left because I help you! - says Yovun - and you always get me in trouble for not closing your mouth!
- I have a plan - Kathrinna tells Yovun.
- A plan? I have a better one, why I don’t give you back the money and teleport me to the town, do you agree?
- I thought you were braver.
- I'm brave, not stupid.
- I have a plan, I'm sure it will work. - she says while passing the box to Yovun, because of the weight he puts on the floor.
- Let's see ... what's your ingenious plan?
- I'm going to go out and I'll distract them.
- What you what? - Egios says - You’re crazy, they will tear you apart!
- As a vampire I am the most agile of the group, I have more chances of achieving it ... I will go out and while I’m distracting them, you will flee towards the caverns.
- Hey! Hey! I'm also agile - says Nom - I'm going with you, Ma'am.
- It is not necessary that you come, I can do it.
- Two... they are much better, more possibilili ... that thing. I help you, I'm sure you do not regret it.
- Yovun - Barleif tells him - We can do it, we can try it.
- There is nothing more to do. - says Yovun - We must achieve it, .. you better come back, I don’t want to ruin my record.
- Quiet, I'm sure I'll be back ... and with Nom by my side, it'll be easier.
Egios looks at Kathrinna as she prepares to leave, he doesn’t know if he wants her to return or not, it's a strange situation, in a certain way, he wants her to return, although he does not understand how he can worry so much about a girl he knows so recently. On the other hand, it’s as if he felt that if she doesn’t return he would have to fulfill the mission alone, there are many things that she probably hasn’t told him yet. Egios takes Kathrinna's hand and squeezes it hard, she turns her eyes and Egios looks at her with determination.
- You are coming back.
She smiles at him and then leaves the cave followed by Nom, with great agility dodges the attempts of the ape to catch them, they run upwards while the ape chases them. Egios, Yovun and Barleif take the opportunity to move towards the entrance of the caves with the box. They hear the roars of the beasts that lurk but their mind only has one mission, to reach the cave. Yovun slips and the weight of the box makes Egios stumble, Barleif releases it and falls while sitting, with difficulty Egios clings to some roots and vines and with his leg prevents the box from being hit hard, this nevertheless causes a strong wound. Yovun and Barleif rejoin and help Egios move the box to the entrance.
Barleif runs to help a little Egios with his wound while Yovun stands at the door to wait for Kathrinna and Nom, his stress can be felt in the vibration of his hands, he passes his hand several times over his forehead drying a cold sweat.
- They will come back - says Barleif.
- You shut up - Yovun replies.
Egios tries to say something but Barleif stops him.
- He's just stressed, don’t worry.
Yovun looks out and manages to spot something, with a big smile on his face comes Nom carrying Kathrinna in his arms, there is no sign of the creatures. Yovun hurries to hug them.
- Damn, - he says - next time, you have to listen to me, next time we'll stay in town.
- You're crazy buddy! - Nom says with energy - if you had seen what ... - Kathrinna gestures to Nom and he stops his word, looks to the sides and smiles, then continues - it was crazy, we almost did not count it, that was as ha! ... and then pwa! And dodge this! And it was ... it was great brother! ... I never felt so alive!
Kathrinna approaches Egios who is still on the floor.
- You're good? got hurt?
- Those are the risks of adventure. - he says - the important thing is that we’re still alive and the mission continues.
- Thank you, I will surely pay you, this trip will not be in vain.
- He laughs a little - ... I hope so.
Kathrinna retakes her box and together with the group they go into the cave.