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The minutes crept by slowly as they crept down the path. Nox’s ears were still ringing with the strange vibration in the air that only he seemed to notice. He wondered why the others couldn’t hear it, but the thought left him as he spotted something just beyond the edge of the torchlight, stopping him in his tracks. The tunnel ahead of them had shifted from hand carved stones to a naturally formed cavern, the ceiling thick with stalactites. A few slow drips fell down on them, the cold water finding bare skin wherever it could. Ahead Nox saw a greenish glow glinting off the smooth wet walls, filling the tunnel with a warmth that hadn’t been seen since they entered the ruins. The air was thick with moisture and a sweet floral scent began to waft through causing each of them to take a deep breath. The hum had grown louder, vibrating through the rock and making the bottoms of his feet go numb. Pausing for a moment, he turned back to the group, handing the torch to Jager and pulling his spear from his shoulder.
“Can you hear that?” he asked Jager and the others, looking for any sign of recognition on their faces.
They all shook their heads, giving each other confused glances.
“Keep close. There’s something up ahead,” he whispered, holding his weapon at the ready.
Jager nodded and they continued, pressing forward at a slower pace. A small metallic click signaled Lana unsheathing her sword, Voran following suit a moment later. Tension filled Nox’s muscles as he kept close to the wall, creeping down the hallway toward the light. His skin tingled as the hum grew louder in his ears. The feeling wasn’t unlike when his wool cloak rubbed against itself and caused the hairs on his head to stand up, but multiplied many times over. He found himself tensing, waiting for the shock that was soon to follow.
Excitement built up in his chest, hovering somewhere between anxiety and elation. He didn’t know what lay just around the next bend of the tunnel, but whatever it was, he wanted to see it. In all his years of scrounging he’d never come across such a strange feeling, even in the darkest or most ancient of places.
Nox held his breath as he rounded the last curve, peeking around the edge of the tunnel wall at the source of the light. Before him the tunnel suddenly opened into an almost spherical chamber with unnaturally smooth walls. Along the edges were large rectangular alcoves with crumbled stone at their bases. They may have once contained torches or were merely decoration, but were empty as far as he could see. A single beam of sunlight from the world far above tore through the stone ceiling. The shaft of light fell upon a small island in the center of a large pool, rising out of the water like a dias. Upon it grew green vines and moss, spreading over a boulder sized crystal much like the ones he’d seen in the stairwell into the ruins. In the very center of it was an unnatural shape, glinting bright silver in the sunlight. Immediately he knew it to be the source of his dream song.
“What in the world...” Jager whispered, looking across the pool coated in lily pads.
A few stems had broken the surface and exploded into flowers, the delicate pink petals catching the light. Nox deeply inhaled their intoxicating scent, his eyes still fixed on the silver cylinder resting on the crystal. There was no denying his urges now. He had to have it.
“What are you doing?” Voran whispered as Nox began kicking off his boots.
“Can’t you hear it?”
“I don’t hear anything.”
Nox didn’t know what to make of it. The hum had grown so loud that he was having a hard time making out Jager’s words. He could even feel it reverberating up through his entire body. Whatever it was, it must be important and worth a fortune.
“I’m gonna go get it.”
“Is that a good idea?”
“How the hell should I know?” Nox chuckled. “But I guarantee you it’s worth something and that’s why we came here. I’m not walking out of here without it.”
He didn’t look back before he took his first step into the water. It was freezing cold even though the plants seemed to be thriving. Algae coated most of the water’s surface, clinging to his skin and clothing as he pushed further in. Using his spear for balance he continued forward, the pool quickly deepening to waist height, then nearly to his chest before he reached the small island. Face to face with it he saw the delicate moss was in bloom, tiny filaments highlighted by the sunlight, reaching up toward the ceiling. A few thin vines grew over the surface and it even looked like a tree had somehow sprouted in the past few weeks, its first true leaves unfurling in the light. It was exceptionally beautiful.
Careful to do as little damage as possible, Nox pulled himself up into the light. The moss gave him something soft to kneel on as he leaned against the crystal, staring at the strange cylinder sitting atop it. There was a small slot where the tube had been originally, but it looked like someone had broken it out long ago. For some reason or another, it had found its way back. The metal was completely untarnished in the moist air and more brilliant than any silver he’d ever seen. Along its surface were a series of runes that stirred something inside him. They looked as if they were dancing to the song that thrummed through the stone, now so loud he could hear little else. He found he could no longer resist it. With a trembling hand he reached out, wondering what would happen when he finally touched it.
The siren song had grown almost unbearably loud, but the moment his skin brushed against the cold metal, it stopped. Nox pulled his hand back, shaking his head, the silence suddenly deafening. Straining his ears he listened for the hum once more, but there was nothing. Again he reached out and this time took the cylinder in his hand. There was no reaction. For some reason he’d expected something grand, like an explosive trap or another dream-like vision. Anything really, but there was just silence and stillness around him, only the occasional drop of water falling to the pool below.
“Well?” Jager called over the water. “What is it?”
“I... I’m not sure. But it’s metal, that’s at least something,” Nox responded, a hint of disappointment in his voice. “And it’s gone quiet.”
He’d come all this way looking for the source of the mysterious noise only he could hear and it turned out to be nothing more than a hunk of scrap. He turned it over in his hands, examining the oddly carved surface. It was lighter than he expected and as he flipped it over he heard something inside tap against the end of the tube. It was hollow. Holding it up to the light he searched it for a seam, but he couldn’t find one. He pulled and twisted at it, trying to find any way to open the cylinder. It didn’t budge. Nox glared at it in frustration, wondering what it could possibly contain.
Pulling his pack around, he stuffed it in, hoping it would be worth how cold and wet he was going to be for the next couple of hours. Sliding himself off of the island with care, he slipped back into the water and waded to shore. On the other side he plopped down on the bank, wringing out his pants the best he could without getting completely nude in front of complete strangers. He felt a tug at his pack and instinctually yanked it around and to his chest. Behind him he saw Jager with a look of surprise on his face.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Nox growled, pushing himself to his feet and grabbing his spear.
“Sorry,” Jager smiled. “I should have ask—”
“Is that why you agreed to let me join you?” Nox snarled, his voice growing louder. “So you could make off with whatever I found and keep the money for yourself? Maybe stab me in the back while I’m not looking?”
“No, I—”
“All you people are exactly the same! Someone tries to help you out and all you can think of is yourself!”
“Keep your voice down,” Lana urged him, reaching out a hand.
Nox slapped it away. “Keep your fucking hands off me!” He pushed himself to his feet, brandishing his spear toward the others, fear overpowering all his senses. “Better yet, keep away from me.” Taking a few steps toward the entrance to the cavern he looked over the three of them, their astonished faces staring back at him. “I should have known better. You can’t trust anyone, especially scroungers,” he spat. “Good luck getting out with your skins intact.”
“Nox, wait!” Jager called.
But Nox had already turned his back. However, before he could take his first step, a resounding crunch filled the cavern, echoing down the tunnel and over the pool of water. Everyone froze in place. Only a few feet away he saw pieces of the stone wall falling away, scattering across the floor and splashing into the water. Between two of the empty alcoves was now a new hole and standing inside it was a skeleton dressed in armor. Its skin was dry and taut, pulling over its bones like a rotting drum. Nox and the others stared, having no idea what caused the stone to suddenly give way.
Taking a deep breath, Nox reached up a hand and pressed it against his chest. His heart was pounding, the adrenaline still rushing through his system. Switching his spear to his other hand, he shook out his fingers. He’d been gripping it so tightly that they’d gone numb.
“Nox,” Jager said softly, taking a few steps toward him. “I wasn’t trying to steal from you, I just wanted to take a look. I should have asked you first. I’m sorry.”
Nox gave him a once over. Everything from the kind smile to the look of guilt on his face was strange to him. Nobody looked at him like that unless it was Abi or his mother. He knew better than to trust people. It wasn’t like they were going to be friends or anything. After the job was done they’d all go their separate ways. That’s the way it had to be, for Nox’s safety and their own. But still, something in Jager’s expression gave him pause, making him reconsider.
Nox stared directly into Jager’s eyes, his voice filled with distrust. “Don’t touch my bag again. And keep your distance from me.”
“Understood. You have my word.”
“Guys,” Voran said quietly. “Something’s wrong.”
“What is it now, Voran?” Jager asked, turning on his heel, clearly exasperated.
“The corpse is breathing.”
Nox lifted his gaze to the skeleton on the other side of the room. There was a flurry of dust sparkling in the sunlight and he couldn’t tell if his eyes were tricking him, but it did look like it was moving. Switching the spear back to his dominant hand, he took a few steps forward, putting himself between the group and the rest of the cavern. Squinting, he looked across the water, trying to figure out what Voran had seen.
He heard the rattling breath before he saw the chest heave, the skin tearing away from the ribs. A dark blue glow flashed in the skeleton’s eyes like flames, crackling against the yellowed bone as the skull turned to face him. He’d never seen a creature like this before, but he’d heard stories. All of them came rushing back to him at once along with a name.
Draugr.
“Run,” Nox whispered.
The skeleton began to move, bony hands wrapping around the outside of what Nox now realized were a long line of crypts ringing the room. Most of them were already open, which mostly likely meant there were more draugr nearby. Another deep rasping breath filled the bones, causing the ribs to crack. The armor clanked against the stone, filling the once silent room with its echoes. Nox turned on the spot to see the other three staring on in horror, watching the draugr come to life before their very eyes.
“Run!” he cried, grabbing them by the cloaks. “Move you idiots!”
A strangled cry rang out behind them as Nox forced them out of the sunlit room. The green glow fading quickly behind them. Thankfully Jager had the good sense to keep both of the torches lit. He handed one to Nox who was at the front of the group, leading them up the tunnel. Their feet pounded against the stone floor as they ran, no longer attempting to keep quiet. Voran went down once, his foot sliding through a pool of water and crashing into the cavern wall. Lana quickly helped him to his feet and continued running. Behind them the clanking of armor and hoarse cries gaining on them even at their breakneck pace. At the first fork Nox turned toward the large open cavern, waving everyone in.
“In here,” he called. “We need to find a place to hide! We’re not going to outrun it!”
Jager led the group forward, Nox taking up the rear. He dared a quick glance backward, but saw nothing in the darkness. Their only hope was to disappear into the ruins and sneak out after the draugr had passed. Putting on a burst of speed he caught up to Jager. The torchlight blossomed in front of them as they came upon the first buildings. To his surprise they were mostly preserved, the smooth stone almost glossy against the reflection of the firelight. Nox dodged to the left, taking the first street he came across, the others following closely behind. Then he took a right, another right, and then a left. His only goal was to put as much distance between himself and the draugr as possible.
The cobblestone streets made their progress noisy, but they were mostly clear. Several bodies were still strewn across them, some with armor and some without. Most looked like the ones at the entrance, frozen in time until the slightest touch sent them crumbling. But they didn’t have time to pick them over. Their lives were more important than money for the moment.
Another quick left brought them into an open square with an empty fountain in the center. The fountain itself was a carved stone statue of a nude woman with the head of an owl, a strange combination of feathers, claws, and skin. Cloth was draped loosely over her figure and at her side was a tall staff, the top of it an upside down pyramid made of the same blue glowing crystal Nox had found. It was realistic and nonsensical.
Without a word Nox waved the others on, pushing them down the square and directing them toward an open door of what looked to be an abandoned shop. Ushering them inside they quickly ducked behind the front wall, collapsing onto the ground panting. Nox tried to close a door behind them, but found only dust and rusty hinges, the wood lost to time. Instead he took a spot under the window and doused his torch. Jager followed suit and in an instant they were plunged into absolute darkness.
For a long moment all Nox could hear was the heavy breathing of the group as they tried to catch their breaths. As his eyes began to adjust he was surprised to find them drawn upwards. The ceiling of the shop they were in was speckled with crystals, all glowing a faint blue. It wasn’t much, but just enough to make out the barest outlines of their surroundings, like pale starlight. Nox turned to the window who’s glass had long since crumbled away. Peering out he saw the roof of the cavern was dotted with crystal formations as well. As his eyes adjusted further he found he could make out most of the square. Everything was bathed in a pale blue as if the smallest sliver of a moon had risen high above them.
For a long moment nothing stirred in the cavern, the eerie silence filling their ears. Nox felt his heartbeat slowing, finding its way back to a more normal pace. His breathing slowed and he flexed his fingers gripping the spear to let the blood flow back to them. Scanning back and forth, he prayed they had lost the draugr.
“Do you see anything?” Jager asked quietly, from his spot next to Nox.
“No,” he replied, his voice still shaky.
He turned his head to the left, then back to the right. Suddenly his heart jumped to his throat. There was a dark figure standing at the edge of the square, its crackling blue eyes turned in his direction. Behind it were another two pairs of the same eyes, each looking directly at him.
“They’re here,” he whispered into the dark.