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They headed in single file down the steps into the dark stone corridor beneath the House of the Beloved, carrying smoking torches, lanterns and weapons. Arthur led the way, with Nimue and Merlin close behind.
Soon they came to the small space with three other passages leading off it, and Merlin pointed out the path to Giolladhe’s.
“I wonder how often they used this?” Beansprout said.
“Depends on what terrible secrets they were trying to keep,” Woodsmoke suggested with a grimace.
“Let’s try this one first,” said Arthur, indicating one of the other two passages. “Can we mark it so we know where we’ve gone? Things could get very confusing down here.”
“Excellent idea,” Merlin said. With a flourish of his hand, he scrawled House of the Beloved in shining writing on the tunnel they had come along. He marked Giolladhe’s passage, and then the one they were about to take, saying, “I shall call this number 1.”
“Inspired,” Bloodmoon said, sarcastically. Merlin ignored him.
For some minutes the passage wound onwards, until it eventually began to widen, and a pale light seeped around them. Arthur called out, “Stop!”
“What’s happened?” Woodsmoke called.
“Come forward – very slowly. We have reached an edge,” Arthur said, sounding nervous.
They shuffled towards the light, and Tom gasped. The passage had opened out, and they were on a narrow shelf, looking out across a large cave that twinkled with a faint blue glow. Far below them was a lake lit from beneath, reminding Tom of Ceridwen’s Cauldron.
“Where’s the light coming from?” Tom asked, as he craned round to look at the cave. It was almost circular, and although the lake was a long way down, the roof seemed far above them too.
“Great Goddess!” Nimue murmured. “It must be coming from daystar sapphires.” She pointed. “There are hundreds set into the cavern walls.”
“What are those? I’ve never heard of them,” Brenna said.
“Very rare stones with strong magical properties,” Nimue replied. “Only those who practise magic use them, and they’re very hard to get.” She gazed around with wonder.
“And yet Raghnall seems to have had his own enormous supply,” Arthur said.
“I wonder,” Merlin said, “could they have been used in Filtiarn’s spell?”
A narrow walkway ran off to their right before petering out, and Merlin felt his way along, heading towards where a smattering of stones came within reach.
“Maybe,” Nimue murmured, deep in thought. “They have the ability to enhance any spell, but the power actually makes them dangerous. I have never used them, even when I had some. If they’re used incorrectly, they can cause what I can only describe as a magical explosion.”
“That’s a long way down,” Bloodmoon said, peering over the edge. He picked up a stone and dropped it. It was several seconds before they heard a faint splash. “I think there’s something down there.”
“Like what?” Tom said, alarmed.
Beansprout dropped to her knees, better to look over the edge. “Can you see that black shape against the blue? It looks like it’s circling around.”
“It’s getting bigger,” Woodsmoke said. “Is that because it’s getting closer?” He looked at Bloodmoon, annoyed. “Have you woken something?”
“I only dropped a stone in!” he said, indignant. “Whatever it is, it’s a long way down. You worry too much, Woodsmoke!”
Before anyone else could comment there was an enormous splash and the black shape emerged from the water, silhouetted against the blue. The shape kept coming, and then a spurt of fire emerged from the blackness, followed by the familiar roar of a dragon.
“It’s a bloody great dragon,” Arthur yelled, pulling Excalibur free with a hiss. “Run!”
But Merlin was still at the end of the ledge, examining the stones.
“Merlin, get a bloody move on!” Arthur yelled, preparing to fight as they stood mesmerised by the dragon’s approach.
And suddenly Tom was aware of Galatine, trembling, its hilt warm to the touch. “How can it live in water?” he shouted as he pulled Galatine free, its opals now swirling furiously.
“Water dragon,” Nimue yelled above the roar, “very vicious, and territorial.”
A blinding white light emitted from her hands, held palms forward, forming a wall in front of them just as the dragon drew level and released another stream of fire.
They instinctively ducked, but the shield held, turning into a wall of flame as the fire hit it. Beyond, the dragon flapped its enormous wings and fixed them with a vicious stare before flying round to circle back, its huge wing span creating a rush of air.
“Wow!” Tom said, rising to his feet and looking with new appreciation at Nimue.
Merlin stumbled, and Arthur ran to him, helping him to his feet. Woodsmoke and Bloodmoon had already drawn their arrows in case the shield failed.
“Get a move on, Merlin,” Nimue commanded icily. She turned to Beansprout. “Join your hand to mine, and hold your other hand out, like me.”
Without hesitating, Beansprout did as she asked, and Tom saw her stiffen as a wave of power travelled through her, strengthening the shield.
Tom watched the dragon turn back towards them, dripping with phosphorescent water, like a sheen of blue fire racing along its wings and dripping down its jaw. It was magnificent and terrifying all at the same time.
Arthur rejoined them, Merlin with him, panting heavily. “Run, now!” Arthur said, pushing them one by one ahead of him into the passage.
The dragon attacked again, closer than before, its wide jaws showing its sharp cruel teeth, just before a powerful stream of flame poured out. Despite the shield, Tom could feel the heat licking closer, buffeted by the enormous wings. Its roar was enraged, and only when it turned again did Nimue drop her hands, grab Beansprout by the arm and run, Arthur following closely behind.
They kept running well beyond the turn in the passage, Arthur yelling, “Don’t stop!”
Another roar echoed down the passage and for one horrible moment Tom thought the beast had somehow followed them. Glancing behind he saw flame coming towards them. “Duck!” he yelled, throwing himself to the ground. Beansprout landed next to him. A flash of flame passed overhead, bringing its own roaring crackle which seemed to last forever, and then it was gone.
He rolled over to see Beansprout looking at him wide-eyed in shock. He scrambled to his feet and grabbed her hand, pulling her up. Behind him, Arthur was lying on top of Nimue, shielding her from the flames. Ahead the others struggled to their feet.
“Keep going,” Woodsmoke said, and they ran the rest of the way, only slowing down when they reached the other passages.
“That was close!” Bloodmoon said with a wry grin, and he sank to his knees breathing heavily.
“It’s not funny!” Woodsmoke said. “We could have been killed!”
Brenna was the only one not breathless, having flown ahead of them. “You really should think things through first, Bloodmoon,” she said, a note of disapproval in her tone. Tom knew she had a soft spot for Bloodmoon, and she couldn’t help a small smile escaping; Bloodmoon gave her a wink which she tried to ignore.
She turned to Merlin. “Are you all right, Merlin?”
Merlin leaned against the wall, clutching his chest. “I think so. At least I’m alive.”
Nimue was cross. “Bloodmoon! I didn’t even get a chance to get some stones. Now I’m going to have to go back when the damn dragon has calmed down.”
“Dear lady, fear not,” Merlin said. He opened his hand to reveal a clutch of stones. “I prised them free before Bloodmoon nearly killed me.”
Arthur smiled and patted his shoulder. “Well done, old friend.” He turned to Bloodmoon. “Had enough excitement, or shall we carry on?”
“Always onwards, Arthur,” he said, getting to his feet. “After you.”
The next passage snaked downwards, and then split into two.
“Which way?” Tom asked.
“Left,” Arthur said, decisively.
This passage was short and ended in another cave, but this one twinkled in the light of their lanterns.
“Herne’s hairy hooves!” Bloodmoon said, incredulous. “It’s a huge pile of gold and jewels!”
“And weapons, shields, and ornaments,” Woodsmoke added, holding up a helmet. Although it was tarnished, it still reflected a gleam of torchlight.
“Dragon hoard,” Nimue said. “But where’s the dragon?”
She circled the pile of jewels, and called out, “There’s another exit. Bigger this time.”
Joining Nimue, Tom saw she was right. “I guess a dragon needs a much bigger passage than the one we came down.”
“So do we explore it?” Woodsmoke asked.
They gathered around the entrance, but it was impossible to see more than a few feet ahead.
“It could go for miles,” Nimue said, shaking her head.
“But what if the spell is hidden down there somewhere?” Tom said.
“Let’s check out the other passage first,” Arthur said. “If we have to we’ll come back here.”
“I could fly down, see where it heads?” Brenna suggested.
“It’s too dangerous,” Woodsmoke said.
Arthur nodded. “I agree. I don’t want us splitting up.”
“Look at this,” Bloodmoon said. He stood at the edge of the hoard, where he had been pulling objects aside, rummaging in curiosity. He held up a sheet of translucent scales. “Dragon skin.”
“Oh, that’s disgusting,” Beansprout said with a grimace.
“But useful for spells,” Merlin added. He took it from Bloodmoon, carefully folded it, and put it in his cloak.
They headed back to the last passage, and it again led downwards, a mixture of winding path and rough steps, until eventually they came to a thick wooden door. Arthur tried it, but it was locked.
“Who locks a door down here?” Tom asked, exasperated.
“Someone who wants to hide something,” Arthur answered.
With a flick of his wrist, Merlin unlocked the door with magic.
“Can you teach me that?” Bloodmoon asked.
“No!” Merlin said. “You cause enough trouble.”
They pushed the heavy door open and their lanterns showed a small square room. All along one wall were alcoves, filled with candles, bones, artefacts and scrolls. Along another wall was a roughly hewn wooden table. Beansprout, clearly wanting to practise magic, lit the candles from a flame she produced in her hands.
“This must be it!” Arthur said. “Where else would you hide a spell you don’t want anyone else to find?”
They fanned out around the room, and started to pull objects from the alcoves.
“Gently,” Merlin called to the others as he extracted a scroll, “the paper’s fragile.”
“What animals are these from?” Tom asked, pulling down a skull with a sharp snout and huge hinged jaw.
“Marsh snakes?” Woodsmoke suggested.
“A marsh snake? It must be huge!” Tom said, turning the skull over.
“They’ll eat you in one big gulp,” Brenna explained.
Tom put the skull back on the shelf with a grimace.
Merlin and Nimue had pulled several scrolls out and carefully unrolled them on the table.
“These look like contracts,” Nimue said, puzzled.
“Between who?” Arthur asked, looking over her shoulder.
“The sylphs and Raghnall. And this one,” she said, unrolling another, “is between the sylphs and Giolladhe.”
“For weapons, I presume?” Woodsmoke said.
“A design for an amulet, a large one by the look of it. To go on one of their towers, I think.” She squinted in the light, and held the lantern closer. “I think it’s to repel dragons.”
Beansprout interrupted from the far end of the table, where she stood with Bloodmoon. “I think we’ve found it.” In front of them on the table was a wooden box, an image of a wolf engraved on the top.
“The only thing is,” Bloodmoon said, “we can’t open it.”
Merlin hurried over. “It could be it, I suppose,” he said, turning the box over, examining it carefully. “It’s either been sealed by magic, or just some clever lock.”
“It’s the best lead we have for now,” Nimue said. “Nothing else here suggests the spell.”
“But what if it isn’t?” Tom said, not liking the idea of coming back down here again.
“Let’s take anything of interest,” Woodsmoke suggested, casting an appraising eye over the room, “including those contracts. And then let’s get out of here.”
