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Morning came carrying the fresh air of the ocean upon its breath. A gentle onshore breeze perfumed the entire coast of Northshire, freshening up the day.
Icthus was the first to venture out of the mound; the smell of the ocean had roused him from his sleep.
Taarl was the next to rise. Stretching out her arms, she yawned, taking in the ozone rich morning.
"It's so clean here, the air is so clear," she said whirling around, suddenly a little girl again playing in the autumn leaves.
"Anywhere smells better than Drakeshire." Icthus hopped onto the top of the mound. "Only death there." He sniffed at the air, flicking his tongue in and out, savoring its salty taste. "Only death."
Kicking at Quin's remains he disturbed a large black fly which he caught with a flick of his tongue. Icthus shuddered, spitting the fly back out. The fly buzzed angrily around his head before disappearing in the forest canopy.
“Disgusting, unnatural thing,” Icthus frowned, scraping the taste from his tongue.
"I never noticed." Taarl stopped spinning, momentarily lost in thought. "I've been there so long I'd forgotten what the real world was like."
"Morning everyone." Yawning, Dekor joined the others in the best of morning spirits. "Wow, this is nice. Make a decent place to live."
"That it would." Icthus hopped down by Dekor's side. "You can trust halflings," he said looking straight at Taarl.
"Icthus, do you think that Zillah could carry all of us?" Dekor asked.
"Easily."
"Good, then we'll get going," he turned toward the mound and called, "Zillah,"
They could feel the heavy footsteps of the belkin as she emerged, stretching herself out in the sun. Dekor climbed on first, followed by an ever eager Icthus. Taarl just stared at the creature then down at the remains of Quin and back again.
"It'll be hard to follow us once we are in the air and I doubt that you'll be able to keep up." Dekor smiled and held out his hand. "Come on, she won't bite."
Taarl took the offered hand and began to climb onto Zillah's back. The belkin stuck her nose under Taarl's rear to give her a shove in the right direction. Zillah snorted at Taarl, growling softly.
Dekor pulled gently on the two flight scales, leaning back as Zillah lifted into the air, carrying all three of them effortlessly into the bright morning sky, awash with reds and pinks. Dekor pointed over to where they had come from. A large group of halflings were approaching the woods beyond the mound headed straight for it and an anticipated confrontation with the belkin. They would have to find another use for their pitchforks and ploughshares now.
The coastline of Northshire was peppered with small coves and sandy beaches. Scattered rocky outcrops lay half hidden beneath the endless foaming tide, except for the area surrounding the Cavern of Souls. Beyond the cavern the beaches were all rough shale and the ocean surface was still, lifeless, as though it too was under the influence of the cavern's master.
Zillah allowed her tail to drag through the treetops as she skimmed in low on their final approach to the Cavern of Souls. She landed in sight of it, sniffing the air with deep snorts. As soon as the traveling companions had climbed from her back, Zillah leapt straight back into the air, snarling at the cavern; nothing was going to coax her back down.
"Not a good place to be," Icthus remarked tersely, looking directly at Taarl. "Do you know what lies in there?" He pointed at the cave with a wavering hand.
"All the souls of those that loved the Dark Mistress," she replied factually, sauntering off toward the cavern’s mouth.
"Do not get parted in the cavern. Stay where there is light," Icthus advised.
Icthus took a firm hold of Dekor's robe and together they followed Taarl into the cavern.
"Where are you putting the portal?" asked Dekor.
"Quin said to put it beyond the second bend," Taarl replied, stepping deeper into the gloom.
"Who was meant to place it? Dekor?" piped up Icthus.
Taarl stopped and turned, trembling violently. "Yes."
"What is it?" Icthus demanded, pulling Dekor back as he tried to reach for Taarl.
"Guardians!" she cried.
Icthus sprang into the air. "Put fire around the corner," he called, landing next to Taarl and snatching the portal ring from her hands. "Lie down," he ordered next. Dekor threw the ring around the corner as the ball of the fire billowed out against the rear wall of the cave. "Do not move," he whispered into Taarl's ear, "and stop trembling. Play dead."
Beckoning for Dekor to follow he jumped onto the cavern wall and made his way toward the bend, his belly hugging the wall. Dekor held a fireball in each hand at the ready.
"What is that?" Dekor breathed, peering around the corner over Icthus' shoulder.
"A soul reaper," whispered Icthus, moving cautiously forward until he had a clear view of the guardian. The reaper's cold breath hung in the air like a morning mist over tranquil water hiding the dangers which lurk beneath. In each of its four huge hands, it held a massive pale blue crystal axe which all looked as though they had been carved from ice. Its pale skin glistened all over with a sparkling of frost. Its only clothing was a tattered loincloth that looked as though it had been ripped from the back of some immense hairy creature. The guardian's teeth were small tablets of stone spotted around a wide pit of a mouth. Its one enormous eye roved back and forth across its broad forehead as it drew in long deep breaths through its open nasal cavity.
"Best left alone," warned Icthus backing away from the corner. "The ring is in place."
"How come it does not attack?" Dekor asked, lifting Taarl from among the crushed bones littering the floor of the cavern.
"It cannot go beyond where it stands. It can sense that something is here, but it can go no further. Once around that corner, the only exit is through the throne room of the Dark Mistress," Icthus chirped, skipping away towards the entrance of the cavern.
Taarl gave a long groaning sigh. They all trooped back outside, their mission accomplished.
"So what else did you want from me?" Dekor asked, holding Taarl in front of him by her shoulders.
"We were sent to offer you our help. Barramon, the lord of the undead, would like to give you the opportunity to get revenge on the Mage Guild. He knows what it is like to be exiled by the guild." Taarl knew there was no point in trying to lie with Icthus at hand, so she just told the truth as it would be easier in the long run.
"So, why the need to come here to the cavern at all?" Dekor looked up at the sun in the clear blue sky, suddenly hungry.
"Barramon wants the Dark Mistress. He has been trying, for over four hundred years, to have an audience with her."
"He is the only one that could enter the cavern and live as he has no soul to lose," Icthus said, also watching the skies.
"How do you know this, Icthus?" Taarl asked, stepping away from Dekor.
"I met Barramon when he first came this way. He got to the wetlands before he ran out of ideas. I was at the Wailing Cliffs when he and his men tried to make sport of me."
"So you're the one!" Taarl slumped untidily to ground, tired. "The toad that stole his soul." She laughed to herself.
"That would also make you the same tattlejack that helped Vargor to escape capture in Nitewold," added Dekor.
"It is true, and much more also." Icthus turned slowly around. "I also have Vargor's soul," he thought for a moment, "among others."
"How do you do it?" Taarl asked. "I sense no soul ties on you, Icthus. Dekor has one to Zillah, but you have nothing, how so?"
"For you, it is a tie. For me, I keep them until I need them. They keep me alive. When Vargor dies I will get his life energy and Barramon’s also. I can use any soul to prolong my life. My father is over six hundred years old." Icthus shrugged.
"Will you be taking mine anytime soon?" queried Dekor as he too sagged into a heap next to Taarl.
"Call Zillah, we must leave," urged Icthus pulling Dekor up onto his feet.
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"Zillah!" Dekor called loudly. "What's up, Icthus, why the sudden urgency?"
"You are both being soul tapped. The Cavern of Souls is right under us. You are in great danger," Icthus insisted. "Now, call her from your heart, as a lover."
"Zillah," called Dekor, following Icthus' instruction.
Suddenly Zillah appeared right next to them.
"Wow!" Dekor exclaimed breathlessly, struggling to his feet.
Zillah reached over and, grabbing him by his collar, she lifted him onto her back. Next she did the same with Taarl. Icthus jumped up in a single bound and held on tight to the others. Zillah trotted over to the cliff edge, spread her wings and leapt into the thermals rising from the white-faced cliffs. Getting home was going to be a lot easier than getting here.
Zillah flew with the grace of an eagle, being careful not to disturb her weary passengers. Keeping low, she skimmed the surface of the ocean with her long, serpentine tail. Just a few hours later, they were back in Gamran Mire where Jinpo was waiting to serve a meal.
"The power of the cavern is strong I see," Jinpo remarked, handing Dekor a bowl of aromatic fish stew. "Eat, it will remove the effects of the dark lord."
"Dark lord?" Taarl queried, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.
"The one whom the Dark Mistress serves, Nehushtan," answered Icthus, dipping his hand into Dekor's bowl and taking a choice piece of fish. "That is why she is called the mistress."
"I see you have a pet, young warlock," Jinpo remarked, chucking a large razor fish to Zillah, who caught it with a snap of her jaws. "A splendid specimen. She will serve you well. Icthus, have you been instructing our friend?"
"Yes," replied Icthus. He threw another razor fish to Zillah, who was clearly enjoying this game, bobbing her head excitedly, her eyes fixed on the haul of fish hung by their tails on the drying racks. "I will train the belkin also."
"Good," Jinpo nodded before turning his attention to Dekor, "I see you lost that vile undead thing while you were gone. Could not be trusted, that one." He tapped Taarl's foot with his stick. "What of you?"
Taarl spluttered. "I'm not like them, they just serve my needs," protesting, she began to tremble.
"No need to fear here," Jinpo assured her. Looking over at Dekor he explained, "Leeches cannot hide fear. Good signs when danger is near. You have a good spouse here."
Dekor spluttered. "I wasn't looking for one."
"But you found one," Jinpo grinned, looking directly at Taarl. "Well, you family or not?"
Taarl opened and closed her mouth without protest, looking from Jinpo to Dekor to Icthus and back again.
"Is she laughing at me?" Taarl asked, pointing at Zillah. "Even the lizard is against me!"
"You must return to Barramon," resumed Jinpo. "Let him know the portal is in place so he can do what he must. But do not stay with him. Once he opens the portal, it will be best to distance yourself. Soon you will meet with Vargor," Jinpo continued, placing his hand on Icthus' shoulder. "Let them both have their souls back. It will be to Barramon's undoing and will ensure that Vargor is indebted to you. But keep the ties that bind."
"Understood, Father, I will do as you say," Icthus replied, his shoulders sagging, until the distraction of food revived him.
"Whatever was in that stew did the trick. I feel much better, thank you." Dekor stretched out his arms, yawning.
"Nehushtan’s power grows. You must have been close to him," Jinpo explained taking up a seat on a small chair fashioned from twisted reeds. "He can drain an unsuspecting soul just by being close. Once you know what he can do, you can resist him. Then he is powerless. Only The Holy Order can overcome the Divines, but they are no more with us." Jinpo bowed his head, sighing sorrowfully. "The world is not what it was. The time is right for the prophesied one to come, I feel." He nodded his head gently. "Yes, is time."