The Collapsing Tunnel - Chapter 25

 

25 - Ana / Shaatka / Ashke / Mosek – Return to Two Forges

Once they get a rhythm pushing the cart, Ana volunteers to scout ahead again. If the way is clear, she’ll tell the school they are on the way.

The cartwheels squeak and the travelers grunt a bit as they push, but the echoes are soft, as Ana moves ahead as quietly as she can.

There isn’t as much fungus as in goblin tunnels, making it so dark. But darkness is her friend. She knows this. There are dwarven lamp sconces on the walls. But they are all unlit. No dwarf patrols in this part of the tunnel. She taps the ‘Open road. All Clear’ sign on the cavern wall. “Bruna, watch over us.” She thinks and continues.

After a bend in the tunnel, there are small patches of blue-green. Ana touches one and feels the carved impression where the fungi is growing. Scout path marks. Probably close to the school. She taps ‘Big Turn, Path Marked’. This time, she waits to feel the response of ‘Good. Go on’

Up ahead, there is a mixture of blue-green and yellow lamp light. Lamps turned low, not bright but steady. “Probably bedtime for the school,” She thinks.

About to tap a message when she sees movement. It looks like a shadow moving from a smaller, unlit building to a much larger one.

“No one mentioned Aniniwiin Sukaniniwin at the school.” She thinks as she unslings her bow. The shadow moves to a set of large double doors. Ana wants to rush, but she steadies herself and continues watching and moving closer.

After a few moments, she hears the mechanical sound of a lock being unlocked. She stops, and there is no movement at the door. A moment later, she hears hinges squeak and sees the door move, then close. As quietly as she can, she rushes to the door. She feels the handle. It’s unlocked, so she opens the door and glides into the building. She sees a long hallway, once again lit by lanterns with their wicks turned down to a faint glow. She listens. Hearing a faint silk sound on polished stone. “That’s not a Master or a student.” She thinks as she also continues down the hallway, watching any movement more than the shadow sliding between lamps. A door opens to a dark room, then softly closes. “Not good. Not Good!” Ana thinks as she increases her pace, making more noise than usual. She gets to the door and softly opens it.

A whispered voice says in Durask. “In the morning, they will find you, shaved and dead. Your school dies tonight.”

Ana feels for an arrow and notches it. Shoots at the shape. The arrow sticks into it. It grunts and turns in the darkness. She grabs another and shoots. She hears the sound of crystal on stone. She shoots another arrow. The shape becomes a dark puddle on the floor.

 A female dwarf with an intricately woven beard turns the lamp up. She sees Ana at the door with a bow. “Silent Hammers!” She screams. “Silent Hammers!” The lights come on, and people rush into the hall. Ana stands there, bow in hand, silently pointing to the brown cloaked form on the floor with three arrows sticking out of it.

Master Varu and Master Shii come up, looking at the camouflaged scout. “Master Brenna. This is an Aniniwiin Sukaniniwin, a silent hunter from the borders.” Master Shii says, nodding to Ana.

She finally speaks, still pointing. “I think that was a Silent Hammer.” She then points to a finely edged obsidian blade on the floor.

The students all press closer to Master Brenna’s room, until Master Helka says in loud Mishikwe, “Students should be asleep. There is work tomorrow. Return to your beds.”

Ana hears some grumbling and whispering, but from apprentices, that’s to be expected.

The Masters all enter the room, “Brannik,” they say as they remove the hood. The dwarf’s unblinking eyes stare at the wall. Master Shii removes one of the arrows. There is an armor-piercing bodkin tip. “A good choice. You saved her life.”

Ana admits, “I felt blindly in the dark and drew the first arrow. I was not going to let him do what he said.”

They all look at her with curious stares. Ana continues, “He made a crucial mistake; he whispered his threats before doing them. He gave me time to stop him.”

“Where did you come from, Silent Hunter?” Master Brenna asks.

“Ashke, Mosek, and Shaatka are bringing a cart of food. I’m the forward scout.”

 By the time the cart turns the bend, they see bright lamps all around the school. Master Kordal and the old cook are standing by the storehouse doors, waiting for them. Shaatka sees others at a small building carrying out bundles and bringing them to the storehouse. “They must be raiding the Chapel storehouse now that we’re back.” Ashke jokes to Mosek.