Saturday, March 8, 2008

Chapter 17 - Part 11

Delegado frowned at how quickly the scrolls were being used, but said nothing. He saw no other choice. Thomas was moving his hands, shaping the hard underground rock like it was soft clay with the druidic scrolls that he had.

Behind them the two little grunting demons that had been keeping watch were dead. They may have been dangerous opponents, as they had some kind of spitting poison, but Delegado had taken them both out with his bow before they’d had a chance to do harm.

“There we go,” Thomas said. “Get them in there and I’ll narrow the entrance.”

“Hiya!” Delegado called, leading the three horses in. Feather followed as well. The space that Thomas had fashioned in the side of the tunnel at the base of the escarpment was wide, with several niches for Feather and plenty of ventilation holes. Once they were all inside, Thomas finished the spell, narrowing the entrance to only five feet wide. Delegado set about making another staked holding rope while Thomas added two light spells and an illusory rock wall to cover the entrance.

“That’s the best I can do,” Thomas said. “We’re going to need more of these scrolls.” He did not need to add that they had a better chance of finding a Silver Flame preacher in the Wastes than an artificer’s sales booth.

“Yeah, I know,” Delegado said, taking more arrows. “Don’t leave any potions or oils.” He grabbed some sunrods and some alchemical flasks. “In fact, leave only the food and water and tents.” Thomas nodded, and also took the staff that Oalian had given him.

“Your mark can only tell you about traps and terrain features,” Thomas whispered as they started moving down the tunnel away from the horses. “Not guards, right?”

“Right,” Delegado said. He heard movement. “But I think we’re going to find those soon enough.”

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