that they could continue into the night. One of his estate workers told me of an invisible power called electricity. Somehow it forces the orblight through thin strips of metal.”
“Then that metal would have to pass through solid rock.” Antony said disbelievingly. “It seems there is much our ancestors knew, that we have forgotten.”
They came to another windmill; even deeper in the cavern, it too turned. Nicholas was compelled to ask. “What is its purpose?”
“These tunnels are called ventilation shafts. Air is drawn up from inside the mountain.”
It made no sense to Nicholas. “I have much to learn. I never knew there was air inside the mountain?”
Antony gave a grunt of amusement. “There are many strange things, but rest assured air is not from inside the mountain. Other shafts draw air in, yet more like this take it back out again. This one is named ‘VN7, it is the seventh in from the North side of the mountain. Between them they refresh all the tunnels.”
Thinking on it Nicholas was sure he could feel a gentle flow of air moving up past them.
At last, long past when he had begun to think that they were actually below the outside ground level, they reached another windmill. Antony stepped through the door to its side onto a metal mesh balcony; high above a huge cavern that stretched into the distance both to their left and to their right. Nicholas saw that here too the entire distance either way was lit from points of light spaced regularly above them.
Antony saw him looking in amazement and nodded in satisfaction. “This way”, he said as he began down the first flight of metal steps. He stopped when he saw Nicholas wasn’t following. “You have a fear of height?”
“No.” Even though he didn’t the stairway looked too flimsy to trust, and the bolts anchoring it against the smooth cavern wall seemed far too few.
“Come it is quite safe.” Antony said looking back up, and smiling, apparently amused at Nicholas’s lack of enthusiasm to follow.
Nicholas looked through the open mesh below him. For a second he was even more scared than he had been on the insubstantial rope bridge. Though this structure was far stronger the view through the steps did nothing to hide that fact they were high in the air. He tried to look confident and forced himself to begin the decent.
Nicholas tried to take his mind off the stairs, and by the time they were at the bottom, he had worked out that this was not a natural cavern. The conclusion left the obvious option that it was man made: if that was so, then it was a gargantuan feat, and for what purpose? The flat floor was wide enough that five or more carriages could be ridden through it side by side, but for that it seemed far more work than was warranted.
A short way away a group of unsaddled horses were penned in a large corral. Antony selected one for himself and one for Nicholas. He gripped the rein and leapt up onto its bare back. “We have some way to go”. He said and with Nicholas in following he cantered off down toward the heart of the mountain.
They passed many fenced animal yards; containing hens, goats, and cows of a type unknown to him; besides many other horses. All the animals looked in good condition; remarkably so, he thought for creatures that could not bask in the rays of the orb. Antony guessed his question as if he had explained many times. “Men for many reasons have lived in this place, before and since the time of the death. It was they who first brought animals here, and these are the product of that line. They have never seen or smelled fresh meadow grass, or the wind over their nostrils. But if destiny is ours, then these shall be the first of their kind to savor those pleasures.”
“Be it so Antony, then it bothers me more that I have betrayed you by leading the guard to the entrance.”
“If that is your only fear then fear not. Our bowmen will go down the path and take the others, then hide their tracks. Anyway I doubt that the entrance is not already known to the soldiers; as is also that an army could not take it when defended by just a few loyal men.”
All the while they had rode Nicholas was in awe at the skill of the ancient builders. To have cut through the mountain in such a manner amazed him. Even at a brisk canter it took quite some time before they reached end of their journey. Antony slowed as they came to; and rode by a row of fully laden wagons. They were stood on one side only awaiting horses. “For when it is time for the rebellion,” Antony said looking over to them. They dismounted; led the animals into the horse pen, and walked a short distance to a smaller side tunnel. Nicholas had already observed these were frequent all along the tunnel, roughly every thousand paces.
Yet another wall bared their way, but this time of timber, with a door set to one side. Once inside he saw that the room contained saddles, horse blankets, and the like. The following room had racks for bows and swords, though few hung upon them.
They passed through four or five such rooms before they came to living quarters, and by their number it indicated to him that a substantial number lived, or had lived under the mountain. He was now in the presence of twenty or more of them. Almost all turned in their direction as the pair entered. With the exception of two, all were unknown to him. One of those was Reigel: who strangely showed no surprise at seeing Nicholas: the other was Simeon.
Simeon strode to him, and they clasped their arms around each other. “By all that has ever lived it is good to see you again Nicholas,” he said happily.
“And you too Simeon.” Nicholas replied. Simeon seemed taller and much more powerfully built than Nicholas remembered. “You look well, though I doubted the day would come that we would meet again this side of heaven.”
“And from what I hear you were as good as waiting there for me.” Simeon turned, his arm still gripped Nicholas’s shoulder, and he pulled him around to face the others. “Friends,” he announced, “This is Nicholas of the family Day. He and I have been friends from the time of our first steps.”
It was some time before Nicholas was not involved with one or another in conversation. Reigel offered nothing to the exchanges, or even joined in them; instead preferring to sit in a corner by the small cooking fire. Mostly he stared at the embers, though occasionally looking at the dwindling group around the table. He looked neither interested nor bored.
“I could hardly believe my ears when Reigel here said that you were coming with all haste.” Simeon's said, a tinge of sadness replacing his previous, joyous tone. “He has told us of what has passed…How your… I thought of the family Day as my own... I am truly sorry.”
“A great deal has happened, and my life has changed beyond any comprehension that I would have had a few short weeks ago. I am still troubled to talk of it, so let it be said that I accept your sympathy, but naught can change what is past now. I have to accept that it is over and begin once again.” Nicholas gripped Simeon's arm. “But this time our futures are once more together.”
“They are.” replied Simeon earnestly. “Though the road is a different one than either of us could ever have imagined.”
“So tell me,” said Nicholas. “If I must be one of the life of an outlaw, what am I to expect?”
They talked long into the night, one by one the others in the room taking their leave.
It was only when all but Antony and Simeon had gone that Nicholas realized that Reigel too had left: it seemed to be a signal for them all, for soon after they showed him where he was to sleep.
He awoke refreshed and in high spirits to the smell of cooking, something he had not had the pleasure to experience for some time, but it appeared as he entered the room that he was also last to get up as everyone else had finished eating.
“Nicholas,” called Simeon standing up from the table. “Sit here,” he walked casually over to the griddle, and began to fill a plate.
Nicholas stared in pleasure as a plate of pork and eggs was laid in front of him, along with a whole loaf of barley bread. He began to eat as Simeon sat beside him. “It gave me great pleasure to talk of old times last night,” Simeon said genuinely.
“As it did to me Sim
eon, and though I doubt it will be as interesting as your life has been there is much more. You remember Rebecca daughter of Tim Wilkins. I wager you do as she had an eye for you; well she…”
Simeon slapped him on the shoulder. “Now my memory is that those looks were more in your direction than mine; but these are things are not breakfast fare, so keep them for another time.” Simeon looked at the faces around the room and smiled. “...And away from over eager ears.”
“Nicholas grinned. “I will, and I hope I am welcome to stay as there will be much time spent on such trivia.”
“You are one of us now and you can stay as long as you wish, but that time may have to be cut short as you arrive at a crucial time. We are ready to free our lands from oppression.”
Nicholas looked at Simeon and then around the room. “You are ready?”
“Yes Nicholas, we are. Last night I told you of our cause and how we will take freedom back.”
“You did.” Nicholas was almost speechless. “And I believed you spoke of a time yet to arrive. I did not realize you were seriou… spoke of this present time?”
“Well I did, and it is that time.” Simeon didn’t wait for any response. “Nicholas. I will come straight to the point. You are the kind of man that we need in our fight. Join us; free the lands from the yoke of tyranny that is strangling