"I won't forget you." Lilia nodded, smiling in amusement in spite of the situation. It was certainly true that she wouldn't forget him! "But why don't you move somewhere where I can visit you?" She suggested. "I'd never make it to the River of Argolen on my own, and I'm sure you'd be happier somewhere where there are people to play your pranks on."
Shellycoat brightened, his eyes twinkling. He hopped up onto the bridge and whirled around in a circle. "Yes, yes, Lilia knows best! Shellycoat will go home to say good-bye to the river creatures. And then he will go back to the cities of the land folk and make merry!"
Shellycoat danced around with an excited clattering of shells, then turned and gave a slight wave. A moment later, he jumped off the bridge and into the rushing water with a mighty splash. Then there was silence.
As they headed away without their impish guide, Dylan realized the sprite had even grown on him, though he wouldn't have admitted it to anyone. Shellycoat's mischief was harmless, after all, not malicious as Nolan's taunts had been.
And the bogle had been a welcome distraction from the dangers they would soon face. Dylan only realized that now that Shellycoat was gone.
Ahead the great gate of the Elven mines loomed above them in the side of a mountain. Around it lay the scattered ruins of makeshift homes and workshops and the dust of three thousand silent years.
The hundred foot gate still held fast, but Aiovel quietly muttered some words in an ancient tongue that swung the doors back noiselessly on their hinges. As they passed under the silent rubble of the colony and under the great yawning mouth of the mines, Ronan and Aiovel lit torches on two dried branches that Aiovel had found under a tree across the bridge. They held them aloft as the companions descended into blackness.
Gil felt the chill creeping into his bones as the shafts of daylight diminished behind them. He could almost taste the bitter wind stirred up by the opening of the gate. The air was dank and stale and full of strange hollow echoes of distant water dripping into deep pools. Gil's eyes refused to adjust to the dim light. Still, they darted from side to side uneasily, wary of the distant walls to either side of the wide passage, of what might lurk beyond the range of their torches.
Gil was glad Dylan was behind him! He wouldn't have wanted to worry about what might be following them, either.
After a while, side tunnels appeared in the main passage; at least Gil guessed that's what they were. Actually, Gil could sense them better than he could see them, for the air became biting cold as they passed by the obscure arching apertures.
"How many elves lived here?" Ronan wondered out loud, his voice echoing unpleasantly loud against the far walls.
"A lot of them came here from Maedera, two days travel west of here." Galanor replied quietly. "But as you might imagine, they didn't live here long. This was a working mine, not a city. There never was enough food to be found up here to sustain a large number, and the road getting here is too steep and stony for wagon wheels. In the old days, the Silver Elves had the Dragorians carry supplies up the mountain."
"How did they see what they were doing?" Gil asked, looking around.
Aiovel chuckled. "There used to be torches along the walls. Galadon destroyed them all to deter the Silver Elves from following them when he fled to Gildorland."
Gil tripped suddenly on a loose rock in the path. He fell face first into the dirt, but quickly brought his hands down to stop himself. He climbed back to his feet, brushed the dirt from his cloak with hands stinging with raw scratches, and bent down to pick up the stone.
It glinted in his dirty hands under the flickering light of the torches. Silver! It was a small lump of pure silver! Gil felt giddy. He tried, but he couldn't manage to hide his smile. A moment later, Lilia had caught sight of it.
"What is that?" she asked, narrowing her eyes, but Gil could barely discern her features.
Gil held the silver piece out in his hand but snatched it back before Lilia could grab it.
"You did that on purpose!" Lilia whined. "Fine, don't share! I didn't want your precious rock anyway!" But inside, Lilia made a mental note to return here on her way back to Windfall.
"Do you think it's lunch time yet?" Mygdewyn ventured after they'd been walking several hours.
"Who can tell?" Ronan said. "It seems like this tunnel goes on forever."
"This place is nothing compared to the great dwarf cave ruins in the Black Mountains." Galanor interjected, musing aloud. "They have passages hundreds of miles long that take you from one end of the mountains to the other."
"Dwarf caves?" Mygdewyn asked, intrigued. "Where are they?"
"Actually, there are hundreds of different clan caves in the Black Mountains." Galanor replied thoughtfully. "But years ago when the dwarven Kings hid from Scathaechir when he would have driven them out of the ancient dragon lands, the dwarves sealed all of the entrances to their caves, except one in the west of Daegoras, on the northeastern most arm of the mountains.
"Actually, it's not too far from the marshes, if I remember it correctly. The last entrance is hidden among the great boulders, small and unobtrusive as far as cave mouths go. Only just wide enough for a wagon, and too narrow for even the smallest ibrun."
"They're still there?" Mygdewyn asked, excited.
"Oh, yes." Galanor nodded. "I'm surprised you didn't know. Only they have to keep to themselves in order to survive. A few years ago I heard that a dwarven kingdom near Dunlaith tried to open their caves to trade with the Western cities, thinking they were far enough away from Scathaechir.
"But then, sometime later, I heard that their venture had ended horribly. Their kingdom was destroyed; King Agar and his dwarves were all slaughtered by Scathaechir's son Vaelcruithir. So, you see, the other dwarves are not likely to show themselves outside of their mountains."
"D-do you think they were my people?!" Mygdewyn cried.
"Hmm," Galanor said, chewing his lower lip thoughtfully. "I suppose it is possible. There might have been a few survivors from Agar's kingdom, but I've never heard of any."
"Well, I was only a young child when Ronan's father Fildenod found me in Dunlaith." Mygdewyn observed. "I don't remember anything before that and little of the years immediately after. But it could be that I came to Dunlaith from the Black Mountains."
"Yes," Galanor said, "but there's no way of knowing for certain. You could always go back to the Black Mountains and see what the dwarves know about Agar's kingdom..."
Mygdewyn cringed as an image of Scathaechir's lair flashed through his memory. "I think I'll have to forego that journey." He said grimly.
"What are we going to do about lunch?" Ronan asked.
"Well, unless there's something in here you'd be willing to eat, I'd say we'll have to do without." Aiovel replied.
"Surely I can conjure up something—" Ronan began.
"No." Aiovel shook her head. "Not here. Magic attracts attention, especially when there are magical creatures about. Dangerous magical creatures. But don't worry. We should reach the upper pass by dinnertime tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Mygdewyn's jaw dropped open.
"Wasn't it the upper pass where you had to turn back on your last attempt at this quest?" Dylan asked, remembering what she had said when they met in Gyfen. That meeting seemed more like two years ago, not three weeks ago.
"You've got quite a good memory," Aiovel admitted, nodding. "Yes, the upper pass is what I'm mainly worried about."
"Exactly what is the upper pass?" Ronan interrupted seriously.
"This tunnel extends only halfway through the Silver Mountains," Aiovel explained. "That was as far as the elves had reached when Maedera and the mines were destroyed. Since the tunnels extended so far, the elves cut several steep roadways up through to the top of the mountains above where the Dragorians could collect the mined silver. The last and largest was known as
the upper pass."
"So why don't we take an earlier roadway? I'd rather climb over the mountains and have some dinner, if it's all the same." Mygdewyn snorted.
"The other passes were narrow and have been filled in by falling debris over time with no one around to keep them clear." Aiovel explained. "I've tried to clear them out, but I haven't had much success. But the upper pass leads to a cave at the top of the highest mountain; the passage was clear not three months ago when I came after the snows melted."
So why couldn't Aiovel get through it then? Dylan wondered.
* * * * *
Aiovel left her torch burning that evening, leaned against the left wall of the passage. The bedrock below them was too hard to support the torches. Gil shifted uncomfortably on his thin blanket before settling onto his side, his face toward the torch. His stomach rumbled fiercely, but he was too tired to care. A moment later, he turned again, deciding it would be better not to leave his back exposed to the wide unknown.
Gil wasn't sure why he found it difficult to sleep. Aiovel and Galanor were on watch, and he knew that they weren't likely to nod off. Even had they been so inclined, Mygdewyn would have made it difficult; he was snoring loudly not far away. Ronan managed to bat the dwarf with his right arm, though Gil had been sure the elf was asleep. The effort produced the desired effect, though; Mygdewyn stopped snoring, and Ronan settled back into sleep.
Gil turned over, and the hard edge of his scepter pressed into his hip. He moved quickly, but the scepter had pinched bone, and his skin throbbed painfully.
It was strangely quiet.
Gil opened his eyes and turned over. Aiovel sat slumped against the wall. Her eyes were closed! Gil stared. Galanor looked the same!
He looked around to the still forms of the others, all asleep, when he heard a soft rustling sound behind him. Gil whirled around and cast aside his blanket, peering into the darkness. A large, gelatinous form rose above Lilia and Ronan.
The head swayed, undulating, spraying a fine mist onto them. Lilia's necklace glowed in warning, but she didn't stir.
The great circular jaw of a giant worm gaped horrendously, ready to strike its unwary prey. So far, it had taken no notice of Gil.
Gil drew his sword and leaped to his feet, kicking Mygdewyn as he rushed in front of the worm to defend the sleeping companions. But the dwarf remained where he lay.
"Get up!" Gil screamed in warning, but no one stirred. Gil slashed at the giant worm frantically, his sword glowing a pale blue in the dark. The worm recoiled from its light, and Gil cut a great gash along one of its segmented rings. The creature balked and slithered away, apparently unused to its victims fighting back and not equipped to defend itself from the cruel bite of Gil's blade. It was a creature of stealth and surprise, but it was no match for lively prey.
Gil waited, uncertain how to wake his companions. He knelt beside Dylan and kicked him hard in the ribs, hoping the prince would respond. Nothing happened, and Gil drew his boot back to try again.
"Take it easy there, Gil!" Rodruban said, grabbing Gil by the arm and pulling him from Dylan. A moment ago, he'd been Ronan! Then Gil heard Aiovel and Galanor stirring by the wall.
"You're awake!" Gil cried, overcome with relief.
"Yes," Rodruban nodded, an amused smile twisting one side of his mouth. "Natural magic only works on me when I'm caught unaware, and then not for long." He observed, now smiling complacently. "But I believe we owe you our lives, Gil." Rodruban added and clapped Gil on the shoulder.
"Yes, indeed." Aiovel agreed, drawing beside them. "It's a good thing you heard it coming before you were put to sleep."
"I didn't think creatures like that could affect a dragon." Gil said, perplexed.
"The next time it won't be able to." Aiovel nodded briskly. "It takes our kind only one encounter with such a creature to develop a counter-magic defense against its spells. It wouldn't have eaten Galanor and me, but we would have awakened too late for the rest of you." Aiovel added. "You'll notice how it went for Lilia and Ronan first—the weakest targets, or so it thought."
"Why didn't you warn us about that thing?" Gil asked wanly, shivering. "If I hadn't been unable to sleep—"
"I'm sorry, Gil. But I didn't know about the worm specifically." Aiovel shook her head. Galanor appeared beside them and nodded agreement. "I told you all there are many monsters we would have to look out for." Aiovel continued, undismayed. "But the worm at least will not bother us again."
"All the same," Rodruban put in. "I think I shall keep watch with you this time. In case he decides to return."
"I do hope he does." Galanor said, grinning widely. "I haven't had a decent meal in days."
* * * * *
The next day, the others woke to a groggy start. Gil supposed it was morning. He really couldn't tell anymore what time it was outside the mines. The time they gained in missing breakfast was soon lost in sluggishness as they continued down the main passage. The tunnel dipped in and out at times but remained predominantly constant.
Dylan thought he was going to go crazy if they didn't get out of the mines soon. Aiovel's explanation of what had happened the previous evening certainly cleared up the minor mystery of why he'd dreamed he was drowning in a pool of slimy goo in the marshes near Dunlaith. When he awoke that morning, the first thing he'd noticed was the film coating his armor. Dylan had shot up in alarm, to the supreme amusement of Lilia and Rodruban.
Late in the afternoon, Aiovel stopped them as the tunnel widened sharply.
"There it is ahead." She shouted. "The upper pass at last!"
Dylan didn't see anything until they were almost upon it. The passageway had been cut into the steep side of the wall ahead, twisting over outcroppings up thousands of feet and out of sight.
"I don't see any light up there. How do you know the pass isn't blocked?" Dylan asked, stalling despite his earlier eagerness to get out of the mines. He really wasn't in the mood to scale a mountain. Or a passage cut inside of one.
"Why don't you just fly us to the top," Lilia suggested sweetly, looking at Galanor. "There's plenty of room in here." Apparently she didn't care much for rock climbing, either.
Galanor said nothing.
"Good idea," Mygdewyn put in.
Galanor's brows knitted together in concentration. "I don't think that would be a good idea." He said.
"Why not?" Lilia demanded, pursing her lips. "I can't climb all the way up there on an empty stomach!"
"I can't either," Mygdewyn agreed.
"Well, Galanor?" Aiovel said, giving him a significant look. "Should we risk it?"
What risk? Dylan didn't like the sound of that. "Wait a minute—" he began in protest, but Lilia and Mygdewyn shushed him.
"I suppose we could fly up part of the way." Galanor conceded.
Before Dylan could object, Galanor turned into his dragon form and flapped his membranous wings.
"Marvelous. Extra weight and no air currents." Galanor commented dryly in a deep, rumbling voice.
Lilia, Mygdewyn, and Rodruban jumped onto Galanor's tail, happy at the prospect of sitting down for once.
"What's Galanor so worried about?" Gil asked as he, Aiovel, and Dylan followed the others.
Aiovel chose not to answer. "Just hold on." She said, smiling bleakly. "We've still got a lot of climbing to do, and we won't have time to rest later."
* * * * *
At the top of the shaft, Galanor stopped ascending. His wings beat furiously as he tried to maintain a stationary position while the others climbed to the top of the passageway. The shaft had narrowed to the point where Galanor could go no further in dragon form, but Aiovel assured them that they were only a few hundred feet from the top of the mountain.
A moment later, Galanor hopped adroitly to the passageway, already in elven form, his cloak drawn about him,
his clothes grasped tightly in his hand. They waited a moment while he reclothed himself, and then set about hiking up the rest of the way. Galanor kept to the rear. Gil supposed it was because he and Aiovel were the most sure-footed, and that he hoped to stop any of them from falling if they stumbled on the rocky path.
Gil couldn't imagine how any wagon would make it up the passage, though it was wide enough for one. At one time perhaps the stones had been laid smooth, but now several jutted askew. In the dark, a single misstep could become fatal.
Finally the passage leveled, and a narrow opening appeared in the wall of the mountain. Gil supposed this was the beginning of the passage through the upper cave; by Aiovel's account, the cave extended only a half mile before opening up into the side of the largest peak in the Silver Mountains.
To Gil's surprise, Aiovel stopped in front of the opening and cast her torch down into the shaft behind them. It sailed down, diminishing from sight and sound. They could not even hear it hit the bottom. Then Aiovel tried to grab the druid's torch.
"What do you want me to give it up for?" Rodruban exclaimed, aghast. "We'll be no better off than blind men!"
"Give it to me!" Aiovel cried. "You'll just have to try to follow in my exact footsteps!" She said and wrested the torch from him. Gil stared at her in the even dimmer light; this wasn't the Aiovel he thought that he knew at all! He supposed she had a good reason for being forceful, but he understood the druid's objection only too well. It was bad enough being trapped in here in the first place. But trapped in the dark?
As Aiovel tossed the torch away, blackness descended. There was nothing else, only darkness. Gil couldn't even see his hands when he brought them up before his eyes. Gil almost panicked, but Galanor caught his shoulder.
"Hold on to me." Galanor said reassuringly. "Take two steps forward until you find Dylan and hold on to his cloak." Gil did so, and a moment later, he found himself shuffling over rocks and into a wide passage.
The cold struck him like a blow to the stomach. He gasped for breath, but the frigid air stung his lungs. His nostrils began to freeze up; he closed his eyes since he couldn't see and angled his cloak down over his aching forehead with a toss of his head, still holding on to both Galanor and Dylan.