Chapter 8

Antonin filled and lit the oil lamps, their smoky flames flickering steadily in the still air.

“We will not go far into this I think Catharina,” he said. “We can leave the oil jar here at the top of these stairs as a marker to others.”

Catharina didn't answer, just pointed to their footprints in the dust. Antonin grinned sheepishly.

Holding a lamp each, up high so the light would not be in their eyes they started down into the gloom. The smooth walls were tiled with a shiny glass like surface and strange scenes were patterned into them. Both Catharina and Antonin studied the murals but apart from the strangely dressed people depicted, nothing else seemed remotely recognisable. A mystery that perhaps the Wind Reader could explain.

They hesitated on the first landing. Go right, or go left? Peering into the dark on each side, the still descending steps angled at a lower landing so that they both descended together.

“Well Catharina. One is the same as the other it would seem.”

Antonin beckoned Catharina to follow, and began down the steps where he stood. Reaching the next landing, they peered downwards. It was very dark. No light penetrated down those stairs save the weak light from their flickering lamps. They eyes were accustomed to the fait glow now though. They had started out in the pre dawn light after all. Holding the lamps high and steady they could see that the stairs branched right again at a lower level again. They had to meet the other set of stairs that descended from the upper level. Antonin realized that this was simply a design to handle large numbers of people going up and down at the same time. Where were they going to or coming from though? Antonin again led the way and they started down. The structure was still solid. No signs of wear or decay. Only a coating of mosses and lichens. Trickles of moisture came from cracks between the stone work and fed the mosses. The mysterious murals followed them down, depicting people in strange garb going about their business in a city much like that above, but with strange vehicles in the streets and in the air that were unrecognisable to either Antonin or Catharina. The people were dressed in strange clothing that appeared to cover them from neck to ankle. Men and women alike in the same cloths, distinguishable only by their physical shapes. The designs were intricate and colourful, despite their obvious great age. Antonin could not believe such wondrous treasures remained hidden and untouched.

Sure enough, the descending stairs rejoined at the next level down and then continued on down in one wide stairway. Twenty people could have fitted shoulder to shoulder across the stairway.

"Shall we continue on?” Said Antonin looking at Catharina.

“Yes,” she replied. “At least we should see where these steps lead to. We have come this far after all.”

Her voice cracked slightly at the end as her first words came floating back up from the dark depths. They looked apprehensively at each other. With a shrug Antonin started down the broad stairway.

They continued down some distance before the stairs ended on a broad smooth area that stretched away on either side into the darkness. It was pitch black outside the small circle of light from the lamps. Antonin stepped carefully forward, the lamp held high. Catharina was close beside him. A short way forward, directly in front the smooth area ended abruptly. Blackness in front of it. It could only be the edge to a precipice that fell away into the depths of the earth. The grey of the strange stone work was smooth and unbroken, and was clearly visible in the faint light from the oil lamps. This only emphasised the abrupt cut off edge further out from the bottom of the steps. Slowly the glow of the lamps penetrated the darkness, bringing the vastness of the cavern into view. It extended away into pitch blackness however as the feeble light could not penetrate so far. Looking about them, they could see small rooms set along the walls. There were sign boards still mounted on doors and covered in layers of fine dust. The vast space was interspersed with huge pillars that disappeared up into the darkness, obviously holding up the roof of this huge room.

Catharina edged closer to the edge of what she thought must be a drop into the depths of the earth itself.

“Take a care Catharina.” Said Antonin. It was obvious though that she was taking great care. Suddenly she let out a relieved laugh.

“What is it?” Cried Antonin in alarm. His voice reverberated back and forth in the vast chamber.

“Come and see, Antonin, but take a care you don't fall in!” She laughed.

“Harrumph.” Declared Antonin and strode over to where Catharina stood casually at the very edge of the grey expanse. His eyes opened wide when he looked over the edge. There, just a small drop below him was another level. Three hand spans at most. There was an accumulation of strange rubbish strewn along the bottom of this drop but neither Antonin nor Catharina were inclined to jump down to see what it was. Strangest of all was the structure that ran in either direction along the pit that they stood above. That it was a pit had become obvious now that they had moved to the edge. The other side could be seen in the lamplight. It appeared to be exactly the same as the side on which they stood. It’s surface disappeared away into the darkness.

The structure that could be seen on the floor of the pit was perhaps a long stride out into the centre and stood perhaps knee high above the floor. It appeared to be a continuous iron rail, bolted to a supporting platform. The surface glittered like a highly polished sword, and the sides were coated with a scale of rust. This could only mean that something still used this strange device. Neither had ever seen such a structure. No blacksmith that lived could forge such a piece. It ran off into the distance in either direction. It had to have been made, like the rest of this strange place, in the age of legends. That they had stumbled into the heart of it was pure chance. They would have a tale or two to tell the others. Antonin stood scratching his chin. He looked again at the iron rail. A polished surface meant constant use. Anyone knew this, from warrior to farm hand. The hair prickled on the back of his neck as he tried to imagine what it could be that rode this rail, so far down in the earth. In such darkness. What kind of beast still lived down in these depths that would move along this strange road, ever polishing the iron rail that guided it in the darkness.

It was unimaginable. Nothing in their experience came near it. Nothing in the old stories told of it. Yet here it was, and as easily discovered as a short walk down some stairs. How was it that nothing was known of it.

“Antonin, there are no tracks in the dust down here save our own. If the thieves who took the key came this way, then they left no tracks. I think it unlikely. We should return and tell the others of this place.” Catharina started back toward the stairs.

Antonin was not reluctant to leave, but wanted to see how far the level went in either direction, and what, if anything might be in the silent dusty rooms that lines the walls.

“A quick look Catharina, then we go.” He said. Catharina merely grunted in reply. She would never understand why men had to poke their noses into every nook and cranny they found. It always led to trouble, and invariably it was a woman who rescued them. She trailed after him along the smooth stone, a smile of friendship lighting her face. They would follow each other, even into the mountains around Sara Sara. Antonin grinned back at her and continued on. Catharina stood and waited on the stone platform as Antonin entered the first room near the stairs. She could see his lamp light flickering. Suddenly she felt a shift in the entire air around her. It was the only way she could describe it. Not a breeze on her cheek or a draft in her hair. The entire body of air in the cast cavern had shifted one way then back again. It had lasted but a moment, little more than a heartbeat. Something was happening. The flame and smoke from her lamp no longer went straight up. It was now streaming away at an angle, in line with the run of the rail in the middle of the pit. Catharina was alerted and on her toes in an instant when she felt the strands of her hair start to drift out in a gathering draft.

“Antonin,” she called out. “Come quickly, something is happening out here. Quickly.”

Antonin heard the concern in her voice and came out of the rooms at a run.

“What is it Catharina?” He called worriedly.

“Watch.” She said and nodded at their lamps. The smoke rose from the flame and then flattened out and streamed away into the darkness. It felt to Antonin like the change in the air before a storm. There was still no sound, but the air pressure was certainly changing.

“What could it be?” Wondered Antonin aloud. He walked over to where the iron rail lay in its sunken pathway. His skin went tingly as he heard a low hum coming from the iron rail. It was also showing tiny vibrations. Even as he watched and listened, the hum grew in intensity. Looking away down the length of the sunken pathway to his left he was startled to see a very very faint light like an eye glowing in the depths. It seemed very far away, but it was defiantly watching from the darkness, and unless he was dreaming it was getting larger. It was coming toward them! They must have attracted the beast that lived in these depths.

“Catharina,” yelled Antonin “… The stairs, quickly. Head for the stairs.” He grabbed Catharina’s hand on the way past, speeding for the stairs. What size was this monster that it could move the entire air mass in this cavern with its movements?

Catharina needed no urging. She knew there would be trouble – men always caused it – but she could hear the hum from the iron rail herself now and the glow from the eye of the unknown beast was now lighting up the tunnel ahead of it as it sped toward them. They leapt the stairs two at a time, the beast of the depths now roaring in their ears. Catharina dropped her lamp and it sputtered out as it tumbled back down the steps. They sped upwards, the awful roaring increasing in intensity with every step they took. A sudden blast of air rushed up the steps past them, it’s force enough to nearly blow them up the steps and into the street.

The roaring from the depths stopped as abruptly as the wind died. A faint movement of air back to the depths drawing disturbed dust after it.

Catharina and Antonin struggled out into the daylight and fell into each other's arms laughing and capering about in relief, and with some chagrin at their wild panicky flight.

“What could it have been?” panted Antonin, now resting with his hands on his knees.

“I don't know, but would you like to come back down and see.” Laughed Catharina.

“I think not.” Replied Antonin.

The day had now dawned, the cloudless sky above a deep blue. The buildings looked sad and neglected in the daylight. Antonin picked up the oil jar and they set off back along the street to where the others waited. Their footsteps were clear in the fine layer of dust that had settled after the windstorm of the previous night.

Mei’An and Luan stood out in the street peering in their direction. The others, Gaul, Rees, Edina and Elsa stood with the horses on the wide entrance of the building at the top of the steps.

“What was that noise?” Asked Mei’An as the two adventurers drew near.

“It sounded like it was coming from deep in the city. We thought the building would shake apart.” She added.

Talking over the top of each other, Antonin and Catharina recounted their adventures, and the sudden arrival of the huge monster along its own tunnel.

The roaring had suddenly stopped so they did not know if it waited below, or had simply continued along its path. They had no idea what it could have been.

“… And I lost one of the lamps!” said Catharina into a sudden silence. Her two friends laughed. Only another Mare Altan would have been game enough to laugh at the discomfort of a warrior. The two boys looked studiously at the buildings up and down the street. Luan was studying the inside of his hat as though he had never seen it before.

Catharina could see all this of course, and went as red as a Bloodroot vegetable. She sputtered and stamped her foot in anger and looked daggers at Antonin.

“It’s all your fault you wool headed farmer,” she spat. “If you hadn't run like a frightened cat we may have seen what the beast was.”

“Me! Run,” he laughed. “I was simply making sure the way ahead was clear for you. You could have gone back down to pick up the lamp.” The grin on his face was too friendly to ignore and Catharina suddenly realized she was being foolish.

“Truly, I was afraid,” she said. “It was like nothing I know to be faced by something unknown in the depths of the earth. Out here in the open is where I am used to fighting. Not buried in a tomb."

Catharina threw her hair over her shoulder in a defiant flick. It was a mannerism of hers that Antonin loved. With a sudden rush he realized that he loved everything about Catharina. “But what would she see in a farm boy?” he thought. Oh, he knew they had been friends since the cradle, but while he had taken his place on the farm she had taken up the spear. That meant that it was most unlikely that she would ever wed other than another warrior. One of the feared Asha Altan. Antonin kicked his toes in the dust. A sudden sense of loss gripping his heart with icy fingers so fierce that he gasped aloud. Catharina looked at him with a quizzical look in her eyes.

“Come,” he said harshly. “Do we plan our quest for the key or play the fool?”

The last aimed at himself. Catharina looked at him from beneath her eyelashes as she bent to retie a bootlace that had loosened. "So Antonin sees me again,” she thought. “But what has upset him so?” She resolved to find out if she could. Catharina had realized when she was quite young that one day she and Antonin would wed. It had been as clear then as the sun coming up in the morning. She knew also that it would not come to pass for many years, but it did not stop her from dreaming. Even when she took up the spear and joined the Mare Altan she knew she just had to wait. Antonin would come to her. She waited and wondered in here secret moments, and continued to discourage suitors from the clans of the men. She would wed Antonin if she had to wait until she was old and haggard and he stooped and grey haired. It was not an obsession, just something she knew.

It seemed the other girls of the village knew it too somehow, for as much as he tried to court other girls in the district, they all soon went their own ways. Antonin never seemed to notice that he and Catharina always seemed to be in the same place at the same time. They were now firm and loyal friends, of that there was no doubt. Catharina could not know that Antonin thought as she did. It was not a subject that had ever come up between them. Perhaps it would one day, but now Catharina could see that Antonin had come to some conclusion in his mind that displeased him. She had no doubt that it was related to her. There suddenly in his eyes was a hurt, mixed with the love she knew he felt for her but had never given voice to.

Mei’An watched this subtle exchange with interest. She resolved to keep an eye on the pair

“Tell me more about this monster Antonin,” said Mei’An. “Did you actually see it?”

“Well,” he began. “When we first found our way down into the vault there was no sign of it. The place seems to have lain undisturbed for a very long time. I think perhaps this is a relic of an age long past. Anyway we looked about to see if there were any signs of the takers of the Great Key. There were no signs that anyone had ever been there. The only tracks in the place are ours. Of course there is the iron rail that is shiny from use, but that is not the tracks of a living thing. It is very strange, but it is man made all the same.”

“What attracted this demon that you speak of – that we all heard?” asked Luan.

“I know not.” He looked at Catharina.

Catharina took up the story as though she had spoken for Antonin all her life. Mei’An noted the flow from one to the other and filed it away.

“It must have been the lamps I think,” she said. “I could see the light reflecting from its one huge eye even far along its burrow. It’s roaring was fearsome and shook the very stone on which we stood. We could feel it’s breath as we ran. I think it nearly had us, trying to tumble us back down into its lair with a final blast of its breath. The noise stopped suddenly so we do not know if it waits below or has gone back into its tunnels.”

Mei’An stood quietly, tapping her pursed lips with a forefinger. The other stood listening with looks of wonder on their faces. Except Luan. Nothing seemed to disturb his features. Antonin wondered not for the first time what it would be like to stir him up. He didn't want to find out. Just wondered.

“I have heard from other Wind Readers that there used to be a means of travelling vast distances very rapidly, by means of strange underground ways. I wonder if this could be a portal. I must contact other Wind Readers and see what I can discover. If this is indeed one of the strange portals mentioned in our writings, we will find it very useful.” Mei’An didn't mention how she was going to contact other Wind Readers. The girls looked at her in expectation, but she only turned to Luan and said,

“How is it that you have never mentioned knowing of this place? You led us here in the storm without even having to think about it, it seems.”

“I knew of this place – this city,” said Luan. “From past adventures. I did not know of this portal. I have sheltered in this place on occasion in my journeys to the Great Sandy Blight and beyond.”

Mei’An’s face took on a faraway look. She seemed deep in thought. Her lips were just moving as thought she followed the words she was thinking. Suddenly she shook her head and her focus snapped back to those present.

“There is much excitement amongst the Wind Readers at your find,” she said to Antonin and Catharina. “They have all asked that we investigate it further to see if it really is a portal. They all know bits and pieces of the old stories of course but no mention any creatures such as you describe living in the depths. Perhaps it is some wild beast that has taken up residence down there and can be hunted out.”

Everyone was staring at Mei’An. Except Luan. They had all heard of the strange powers of the Wind Readers, but this was the first time that any had seen such a demonstration of just what it meant to have those powers.

Antonin and Catharina looked at each other apprehensively. They were no longer frightened and had never been really. More startled and caught up in the strangeness of the dark places they had found. However they were none too keen to repeat the experience.

Edina came over to Catharina. “We will all go and investigate this beast and flush it from its lair. It will not stand a chance against all of us.”

Elsa, Rees and Gaul all crowded around.

“Why do we wait?” said Elsa.

“The thieves of the Great Key could be escaping even as we tarry here,” said Rees.

“Antonin said there were no signs,” said Gaul and the group fell silent. “I think we should go back and pick up the trail where we left off. Not go chasing after some legendary tale.”

“I agree,” said Mei’An before anyone could respond. “ But I believe it is important to at least investigate this place. We can take a quick look and we must then find our way back to the Great North Road.” With a meaningful look at Luan she took her horses reins and set off along the road in the direction of the entrance to the tunnels. Luan strode alongside and the other straggled along with Gaul bringing up the rear. No one had eaten yet, and Antonin muttered something about adventures on an empty stomach. To his great surprise he heard Mei’An comment “We will eat when we eat.” Without turning her head. She must be six to eight paces ahead, and could not possibly have heard him. Antonin resolved to keep his thoughts in his head in future, especially around Wind Readers. Catharina glanced at him and smiled. Luan tied a rope along the balustrade and the horses were hitched to it. Luan finished giving his horse a handful of oats and strode to the head of the stairs.

“We should each have a lamp, and our weapons drawn.” He commented to no one in particular.

The lamps were set up and lit, weapons drawn and they started down. Edina, Elsa and Catharina each had their short bows in hand. An arrow nocked and held in place by strong fingers. Gaul and Rees, with Antonin all had swords drawn and spread out in a line one step back up from the warrior maidens. They knew better than to try and lead the way in front of the girls. Mei’An and Luan brought up the rear. Mei’An was calm in the knowledge of her own power and Luan seemed to be bristling with hardware. A sword in each hand, as well as the lamp grasped in his right hand. If needed he would simply drop the lamp from his fingers and flick the sword into his full grip. They moved together down the stairs into the inky blackness. Their passage a bright pool of light. They came upon the lamp that Catharina had dropped in her earlier flight. A slightly embarrassed chuckle escaped Catharina as she retrieved it. There were no other sounds save their breathing. Not a breath came from the depths. Arriving at last on the lower level they stepped out onto the stone platform and gathered along the edge of the sunken track.

“This is all manmade.” Said Mei’An. “And very old. Very very old. No living creature dwells here.” Mei’An paused a moment, looking about her. She added. “At least no creature that lives as we understand the word.”

The three boys moved a little closer to the girls. They were Warrior Maidens, but it was a sense of security in numbers that prompted the whole group to move a little closer together. Luan of course didn't move. Nothing moved him and he was utterly fearless. He held his lamp high and strode away along the edge of the pit. He could be seen finally only as a bobbing light far along the platform. Finally they could see his lamp light glittering on the wet stones of an arched tunnel entrance. The rail in the pit reflected the light as it disappeared into the cavern. They could hear his muttered comments as an echoing whisper in the cavernous vault. He strode by them in the other direction but again came up against a wall where the shiny rail disappeared into a tunnel similar to the one at the other end of the platform. Luan came back to the group.

“This is obviously some sort of waiting area,” he said. “ The iron rail is shiny from use and disappears into the depths in both directions. Whatever it is that still moves down here does so regularly. I will see what is to be seen on the far side.” With that he jumped down into the pit. He was closely followed this time by the three Maidens. They climbed carefully over the centre rail. None willing to touch it. None could guess at its use, but it was plain to see that it was regularly used.

“Perhaps the demon we had heard last time was chained to it?” thought Catharina. In a moment they were on the other side, and Luan strode off in one direction with Edina, while Catharina and Elsa went to the right.

“There are more stairs over here, just like those we came down.” Called Luan. Both could be seen in the dim light now that eyes were accustomed to the glow. The far side appeared to be exactly the same as the side they had entered on. Two entrances. “That would be useful to remember.” Thought Mei’An.

“Come back this side Luan, Catharina, Edina and Elsa.” Called Mei’An. Within a few moments all were together again.

“We should look into these side rooms for signs of life, then go on our way.” Said Luan. All nodded in agreement.

“We search in pairs?” Offered Antonin, walking with casual stride to Catharina’s side. Mei’An arched an eyebrow and smiled a secret smile to Catharina.. Antonin looked from one to the other but nothing was being given away. He shrugged and started off toward the side rooms.

Rees and Edina moved off along the way, Gaul with Elsa and Mei’An and Luan each heading toward the dusty rooms lining the walls. Rees and Edina entered one room that was built out from the wall rather than into it. It was thick with the settlement of long undisturbed years. Even the slightest movement of the two young people with their sputtering lamps was enough to raise swirls of fine dust. The room was full of benches, strange symbols marked on their surfaces. Rees tapped a surface of one with his sword hilt and it rang with a metallic sound. The dust was so thick little could be made out on the surfaces.

“Very strange.” He muttered. This was not a place where he really wanted to be. Edina blew a strong breath onto one of the bench tops raising a choking cloud of dust. Her eyes were watering and she was coughing and sputtering and finally gave out a huge sneeze that she thought for a moment had loosened her head on her shoulders. The convulsion of the sneeze brought her hand hard down on the surface of the table. It was covered with small knobs and levers. Strange script written under each object. It was just as she bent to peer at the area now cleared by her hand thumping it that she noticed with a start that some of the strange shapes on the table now glowed with a faint green light. Edina jumped back with a yell. She stumbled into Rees. He had stepped over to see what she had found. With everyone so on edge he felt the hair on the back of his head rise.

“Look!” Gasped Edina, pointing at the surface of the bench. It was now covered in shapes all glowing green in the dim light. Most were still covered with a layer of dust, but the green light could still be seen winking through it.

"Something is changing. I must have done something. Let’s get out of here!” Her voice rose an octave. As she was speaking a glow could be seen starting in crystal like objects set in the roof of the room. The pair backed away from the table, now a field of glowing green. Interspersed in the green were other colours twinkling under the dust like fireflies. The glow in the roof crystals was getting brighter by the moment as though awakening after a long period of inactivity. Occasionally they dimmed a little, but always rapidly regaining brightness. Rees and Edina bumped shoulder to shoulder as they dashed for the door. Spilling out onto the flat platform they dusted themselves off a little self consciously. Edina gulped – “Mei’An, come quickly” she called. She thought Mei’An was perhaps the only one who could explain what was happening. They could all see the crystals in the roof of the cavern, each now beginning to glow into white light. Edina and Rees stood rooted to the spot.

Mei’An and Luan came out of a room further along and immediately saw the glowing crystals in the roof. The others had heard Edina’s cry and had come out, and now stood transfixed by the appearance of the glowing crystals. Suddenly the crystals, one moment glowing gently, blazed into a brilliant white light. All shadows were banished and the vast chamber was lit up as though in full daylight. Everyone was ready for instant flight. Nothing further happened though. Their eyes became accustomed to the bright light and they could now clearly see the space in which they stood. It was obviously ancient. There was nothing like it anywhere on the world that Luan could name. He had travelled far and wide in his associations with Mei’An, and even long before that unlikely association. This was the first time he had ventured below ground in these strange ancient cities though he knew of a number of others, and had even seen these entrance ways in ordinary cities occupied still by people in various countries.

The strange crystals shone steadily but nothing else moved in the stillness. The only sound was the breathing of the small group, and a steady clicking sound coming from the room so hastily abandoned moments before. Edina looked at Rees in question. “Will we see what that is?” She said. Suddenly with a cry of discovery Luan jumped down to the level of the iron rail. He straightened up with an arrow in his hand. It was an arrow made for a long hunting bow. The sort used by those who frequented the mountains of the Dragons Spine. The fletching was black. Raven feathers. Someone had indeed passed this way after all and recently. The arrow was new. The wood of the shaft new and well tempered. The bindings were still neat and fresh with oil. Everyone knew what this meant. A band of the Dark Lords helpers had to have come this way. Where they had gone could not be guessed. Did they use these ancient and long deserted cities? Did they regularly travel these dark tunnels?

Those of this group had left the perfect mark of their passing. Luan grinned for the first time that Antonin could recall. If it could be said that a wolf was capable of smiling. Luan climbed back to the platform and handed the arrow to Mei’An without a word. She closed her eyes and curled her fingers around the arrow shaft. Immediately sweat stood out on her brow, easily visible now in the bright light. She started to tremble. A low moan escaped her slightly parted lips. As she started to sway unsteadily Luan pressed open her fingers and snatched away the arrow.

“Enough!” he commanded. His face was a study of concern. He caught Mei’An around the waist. She was about to fall. Unsteadily she pushed herself away from Luan.

“I am all right now my friend,” she said. “Truly that arrow is deeply stained with the spirit of the Dark One himself. That arrow comes directly from Sara Sara. They who have stolen the Key have passed this way very recently.”

“Then we are left with no choice it seems” said Luan. His face once again a mask. The only betrayal of concern were his quick glances at Mei’An. The Guard Companions were bound to their Wind Readers by more than an oath of allegiance. They were all Master Swordsmen. They all belonged to an ancient guild said to have originated in the times before the last great struggle with the Dark Lord. It was said they were ageless. It was said they were immortal. They never commented themselves. It was well known though that no one had ever seen a young Guard Companion. Their Guild took no recruits. Indeed, no one even knew if a Guild House existed though everyone knew someone who had seen one. They were as mysterious as the Wind Readers whom they served. There were those who roamed the world alone and those who served. There were Wind Readers who had bonded more than one Guard Companion and some as many as three. They never married and in all cases the relationships were never personal, never beyond friendship. Each was free to seek companionship where they might with others, but always if bonded they remained together. Neither the Wind Readers nor the Guard Companions ever sought other companionship though, except very rarely. It had only been known of in ancient times. Never in this age. The rules and customs had been too long in place. They had few companions among ordinary mortals. The awe, or even plain fear of them was too strong. The Guard Companions were utterly without fear. There was nothing that they would not face. A few blazing lamps were certainly not enough to cause apprehension in one such as Luan. Nor was the black feathered arrow he now held casually in his hand. There was little doubt that the warriors of the Dark Lord had passed this way. The question that occupied Luan, was which way had they gone. How had they travelled? Had they been devoured by the beast that seemed to live in the tunnels? Or was the beast the key to the whole mystery? Many questions and no answers. Yet.

The small group stood together looking about the vast cavern, now even the remotest corner was shadowless. Nothing could hide here now. The strange bright lamps were a wonder. By what magic they worked not even Mei’An could fathom. There were many mysteries long buried with the ancients. This ancient city was one of five that Mei’An now knew of and Luan had found a number of others in his long travels. This was the first time that either of them had discovered a portal in one though. In all truth neither had ever sought the fabled portals in such cities anyway. In the end, all it had taken was the natural curiosity of a young farm boy. One who seemed to be linked in some strange way to the developing storm. It seemed that he and his companion Catharina were being drawn ever tighter into the threads of the new age lace being formed.