The second tunnel

"What happened, Lord?"

Hex met Bashar and the twins as he exited the partially collapsed tunnel. Dollaire and Rublena looked at him with mild interest. Hex suspected they came to keep up the facade. Bashar, on the other hand, looked worried.

'With the third one gone and the second one a dead end, he knows I must continue through the first. And he doesn't want that.' 

"Spiders. Quite a few. The battle went out of control, resulting in the collapse. Don't worry. I will explain it to your Lord." His short explanation and irritated look gave the impression that he didn't wish to continue with that topic. 

No matter how unwilling they were to accept such a vague reply, they couldn't protest. 

"In that case, please let us continue with the first tunnel, Lord," Bashar proposed with a wide grin. 

"You guys proceed. I will take a short rest. The battle expanded a lot of my energy."