Jerret watched Lannon vanish below--beyond the light of Jace's torch. Lannon had gone into total darkness with only the Eye of Divinity to guide him. Being able to see in the dark was a huge advantage, yet Jerret found himself questioning their decision to split up. The party had just drastically weakened itself, gambling on Lannon's speed and skill. It was a significant gamble.
"Now I guess we wait," said Jerret, with a sigh. He sheathed his sword and folded his arms across his chest. "I hate waiting."
"I suspect it won't take long," said Jace. "With the Eye to guide him, Lannon should quickly locate the prince...or his body at least."
Lothrin glanced at Jace, then looked away.
"The prince is alive," said Dallsa. "I know it in my heart."
"Then you have better instincts than I do," said Jace, "because I'm not sure of anything. If Vannas still lives, it is only by some miracle of the White Flamestone. Our foe would have no reason to keep such a dangerous warrior alive. We aren't dealing with a fool here who captures his enemies for no good reason--only to watch them get rescued later. We're dealing with a genius of strategy who has fought and won many battles throughout the centuries. I'm certain of that."
"I trust the Divine Essence," said Aldreya.
"All well and good," said Jace, "but your god has little influence in this domain. Here, evil rules supreme."
Lothrin's eyes narrowed. "So you're saying we've wasted our time coming here, that my cousin is already dead."
"We haven't wasted our time," said Jace. "Far from it. We still have hope of regaining the White Flamestone. But sadly, the prince probably won't be around to use it." Jace bowed his head. "He will truly be missed."
Jerret wanted to disagree with Jace, but he couldn't. Vannas probably was dead and gone, and the White Flamestone was now heavily guarded somewhere in Wallrock Fortress. He could see by the look on Dallsa's face that she felt the same way. Aldreya, however, bore her usual stony expression.
"We can't give up hope," said Vorden, but he looked weary.
"Sometimes hope simply runs out," said Jace, with a big sigh. He tried to light his pipe but everything was too wet. "It seems my hope for a good smoke has run out as well. What, then, is left for us?"
"But it doesn't make sense," said Lothrin. "Why didn't this demon--or whatever it is--just kill Prince Vannas back near camp and be done with him quickly? Why did it lead him away for quite some distance before the trail vanished?"
Jace scratched his head, frowning. Then he grinned at Lothrin. "Ah, excellent observation, my fine Ranger. Excellent observation! I actually didn't think of that. Well, I've changed my mind, then. The prince is probably still alive. Now if only I could get my pipe lit. Can you lend me some Knightly fire?"
Lothrin sighed and walked away.
Aldreya dried Jace's tobacco with her sorcery. "Now you can't accuse me of being cold hearted simply because I no longer call you Uncle Jace."
Jace took a puff and grinned. "Of course I wouldn't do that. You're my favorite...Green Knight. I would pat you on the head like I used to--if I didn't think you would burn my hand off for the effort."
"And you need a waterproof tobacco pouch," she added. "There is no excuse for letting your leaf get wet--even that foul Norack leaf."
Jace held up the pouch. "It used to be waterproof, but I guess it has aged poorly over the fifty years I've had it. I suppose I'll be needing another one."
They fell silent for a time.
Finally Dallsa walked to the stairs and glanced down into the darkness. "Hurry back, Lannon," she whispered, her face tense with worry. She cocked her head to one side. "I hear noises down there, like battle!"
"Stay away from those stairs," said Aldreya. "They are dangerous. What you hear could be a trick of the dark sorcery to entice you below."
Reluctantly, Dallsa did as ordered.
"We will continue to wait," said Aldreya.
Jace yawned. "Anyone have anything interesting to talk about?"
"You're the wandering adventurer," said Aldreya. "And you're two-hundred years old. If anyone has anything interesting to say, surely it must be you." Her tone was somewhat sarcastic.
"Well, I don't," said Jace, yawning again. "I'm talked out."
"That's a first," said Aldreya.
Jace waved at her dismissively, then sat down and leaned his back against a barrel. "I suppose I will sleep for a while. Wake me when Lannon gets back...if he ever does." He bowed his head, eyes closed.
Dallsa glared at him. "How can you sleep right now?"