Allamu made his way in complete darkness. An awkward, crouching half-crawl allowed him to follow the trickle of water he had heard earlier. Shouts from the central chamber echoed through the twisting passageways. One of the voices was Sabit’s, but Allamu knew he could not find his way back to help her, even if he … Read more
Sabit twisted the priest’s arm. The priest folded to his knees. The long knife clattered to the ground. “Take your hands from His Honor,” Melcior shouted as he tackled Sabit from behind. The two hit the ground hard and rolled, struggling. The priest crawled around Batuul’s pedestal, seeking the fallen knife. Wensa yanked her arm … Read more
Wensa struggled to draw breath as she stumbled to her feet. Ignoring the pain in her arm, she struck at the priest’s hand holding her hair. His grip was like iron. Melcior opened his mouth to question, but was silenced by a glare from the priest. “Your Honor!” Sabit choked out between coughs. “Stop!” The … Read more
Following the crash, the passage mouth vomited a cloud of dust into the central chamber. Torches instantly extinguished by the wind, the chamber fell into darkness filled with the sound of coughing and the skitter of settling rocks. Melcior relit the first torch, one side of his face scorched badly. Shambling toward the center, he … Read more
“You should know that when Sabit learns what you are actually doing, she will kill every one of you,” Allamu said as he slowly walked down the passageway, Melcior’s dagger perilously poised at his throat. “Sabit is a powerful warrior, and I am glad that I saved her from her cruel, impending death,” Melcior said. … Read more
“You have such long legs, you ought to be walking faster,” Wensa snapped at Sabit after bumping into the spear woman yet again. Sabit led the two of them through the labyrinthine paths between the Wicked Rocks. Above them was a twisting slice of blue sky, but all sides were vast expanses of warped black … Read more
Allamu held the torch as Melcior led the way, deeper into the inky depth of the caverns. The soft splash of sandals through shallow water seemed very loud in the stillness. “You have ventured a long way from home,” Allamu said, slowing to examine a mural covered by dust and webbing. “The sea voyage alone … Read more
As quickly as a striking snake, Sabit moved to shield Allamu from the rain of stone with the only defense at hand. With a mighty lunge, she grabbed the boar pole and hurled it—boar and all—across the mouth of the pit. It diverted smaller pieces of rubble from their deadly course. A massive chunk of … Read more
The four made their way to the very heart of the Wicked Rocks. At the base of the tallest stone spire, a pit opened in the ground, gaping like an open wound. After Allamu and Sabit had hung the boar carcass between two jagged boulders, Melcior gestured the group toward the pit. Allamu asked, “Is … Read more
A strange party they made. Melcior led the way through the maze of towering, claustrophobic Wicked Rocks. The tall, thin captain wore a tunic of smooth cloth, tattered at its hem by the harshness of the island, its embroidery spoilt by twigs and mud. Melcior’s brain buzzed with plans and concerns. Would the newcomers embrace … Read more