Hornsbuck chopped off his speech with one slash of his hand and held it up as though forbidding Mika to speak while he stared in all directions with sharp eyes, scanning the forest behind him intently.

Seeing nothing and receiving unspoken confirmation of some sort from RedTail who had been busily snuffling the air with upturned muzzle, Hornsbuck led the roan to a large boulder that stood nearby, a boulder seemingly no different from any of the hundreds that surrounded it. He then gestured for Mika to follow.

Mika did so, thinking that they might be taking a brief break, but Hornsbuck dropped to the ground and began moving stones at the base of the boulder. Mika stared down at the grizzled nomad, totally bemused. What was the man doing?

Hornsbuck moved to the opposite side of the boulder, making certain that the roan was out of the way, and then leaned his shoulder against the rock.

"Get over here and help," he growled, looking up from his efforts and seeing Mika staring at him strangely. Mika joined him, putting his own weight against the rock, although he had absolutely no idea what on Oerth they were doing or why.

Suddenly, the rock began to move. It shivered under their palms and trembled with the antic.i.p.ation of movement.

"Push!" commanded Hornsbuck, straining against the rock, his face suffused with dark blood and his neck corded with effort. Mika obeyed, pushing harder now that it seemed that something was actually happening.

There was a loud rumbling groan, and the boulder rolled to one side, exposing a yawning black cavity at their feet that Mika barely avoided falling into.

He stared into the dark hole with disbelief. He looked up at Hornsbuck who grinned at him broadly. "What is this? Where does it go and how does it come to be here?" Mika stammered. "And how did you come to know of it?"

"Hah!" exclaimed Hornsbuck, slapping his hands on his thighs. "That is for me to know. There are still a few things left in the world that you have not discovered.

"Hornsbuck has had more than a few adventures in his day," he said, green eyes glittering. "I am not just some dusty old nomad who knows nought but wolves and killing. Dainty manners ain't everything. I, too, have my secrets, and they may save your life yet, young pup, so save your laughter and sneers for someone other than I."

Mika felt the blood rush to his face and he sneaked a look at Tam who also appeared somewhat chastened.

"My apologies, Hornsbuck. I did not mean to give offense. I'm sure TamTur and I can learn much from you and RedTail."

Their eyes met and held, then Hornsbuck turned away. "Too much talking," he said gruffly. "You've even got me doing it. Let's go." Sweeping the area with one last look, he grabbed the reins and dragged the roan into the dark hole.

The roan was not pleased at the prospect and attempted to rear, his nostrils filled with the scent of damp earth. But Hornsbuck allowed no such opportunity, holding the reins tight in his huge fist right below the horse's muzzle. He had no choice but to follow where he was led.

Mika was more than a little reluctant himself, having never liked close, dark places. But he followed hard on the heels of the roan with Tam close behind.

The earth sloped gently for the first few feet, and as his head dipped below the surface of the ground, Mika felt a hand grip his arm and pull him aside.

Hornsbuck pulled two of the pitch-stained limbs from the roan's back and, striking his flint, lit them. They burst into flame immediately and began to burn with a bright flame, trailing tails of dark smoke.

Hornsbuck handed both limbs to Mika and then reached up and started pulling on what appeared to be the roots of bushes, that dangled from the earthen ceiling. There was a low, rending groan, and the boulder began to move. Mika's chest grew tight and a feeling of panic came over him as the boulder rolled back into place, blotting out the blue sky above. It settled into place with a solid, final-sounding thump. Mika wondered with a panic if it would ever move again.

"Don't mind," Hornsbuck said roughly, clamping a callused hand on Mika's shoulder, "it ain't so bad, after a bit. You'll get used to it. Come on, we'd best get going. Keep your mind busy so you don't have time to think."

Mika was not too sure about Hornsbuck's logic, but he agreed in principle, so he handed one torch back to the older man and then followed behind the roan, concentrating on his immediate surroundings rather than the thought of where he was.

Their heads and shoulders brushed occasionally against the earth walls and ceiling. Roots poked through the ceiling, flaring briefly as they were touched by the torches. The roan filled the narrow corridor completely and sc.r.a.ped dirt from the walls which fell in Mika's path.

Quite soon, however, the path dropped abruptly in a series of gigantic steps. It gradually widened until it was broad enough for both he and Hornsbuck to walk comfortably abreast, the wolves in the lead and the horse bringing up the rear.

The ceiling rose higher and higher until it was more than three man-heights above their heads, and Mika's feeling of oppression lifted somewhat.

He looked about him curiously, noting the smooth blocks of stone underfoot that had obviously been worked by man or dwarf. Metal torch brackets were fixed to the walls at regular intervals, although the wooden stubs that filled them were draped with cobwebs, sad testament to the pa.s.sage of long dark years since they had last known the heat of fire.

"What is this place?" Mika asked in a whisper that rustled about them in ghostly echoes.

"Don't know for certain," rumbled Hornsbuck. "I think it was a mine of some sort, although it seems too fancy for that. There's all kinds of other pa.s.sages coming in here and there. You've got to be careful not to stray."

"Why? What's down the side pa.s.sages? Where do they go?" asked Mika, his voice filled with concern.

"Don't know," said Hornsbuck with a shrug. "Main path takes me where I want to go, so I never tried exploring. I figured it was safer sticking to the main trail."

"Where does the main trail go?" persisted Mika.

"Straight into Eru-Tovar," said Hornsbuck with a broad grin, looking at Mika, antic.i.p.ating his surprise. He was not disappointed.

"Eru-Tovar?" questioned Mika, his eyes wide with surprise. "You mean this tunnel goes straight into the city itself?"

"That's right," nodded Hornsbuck. "Ends up right under an old abandoned temple. Discovered it one night when I was looking for a place to go with a friend. Quiet like, if you get my meaning."

"I know," said Mika with a smile, although it was hard to imagine Hornsbuck snuggling up to any woman. Still, the man did have his positive qualities, and once again he had surprised Mika with his ingenuity.

The pa.s.sage of time was strange and different without the light of day. Mika grew disoriented and he could not tell if he was hungry or tired or how long they had been traveling by the time Hornsbuck called the first halt.

The ceiling and walls had turned from dirt to stone some time ago and now rose in vaulted arches above their heads. The walls were regularly s.p.a.ced with rounded pillars of stone that flowed into the ceiling, more ornamental than functional. The pa.s.sage had taken a sharp turn to the right when Mika became aware of a sound, more felt than heard, that reverberated through the tunnel.

A current of cold damp air struck them full in the face as they intersected a new pa.s.sage. The sound was louder now.

Hornsbuck hesitated for a moment, then turned to enter the new tunnel which was lower still than the corridor they traveled. It was reached by means of a narrow ramp. As they descended, the cold rush of wind grew stronger and their torches flickered wildly and threatened to extinguish. However, once they reached the floor of the new corridor, the draft gentled and the flames steadied.

Now Mika could see the cause of the noise and the damp draft, for on the far left edge of the pa.s.sageway, which now yawned wide enough for twenty men to walk abreast, there ran a fast-flowing torrent of water that rushed by at a pace more rapid than a man could walk. It flowed in the same direction as they traveled.

Mika approached the water cautiously. It was black and oily in appearance and barely reflected the light of his torch. Mika shuddered, not anxious to draw closer nor tempted to slake his thirst from such a concourse. It looked as though it could suck a man under.

"Nasty, eh?" said Hornsbuck. "Don't like the looks of it myself. That's why I filled my waterskins from the stream before we left. Don't want to wet my gullet from the likes of that. Don't trust water at the best of times, and this," he said, nodding his s.h.a.ggy head toward the black water, "ain't exactly the best of places."

Mika nodded his total agreement.

They halted briefly beside the rushing water and built a small fire against the far wall, roasting chunks of meat on the ends of their knives. They sliced off generous portions of raw meat for the wolves and then fed and watered the roan.

"Well, at least she doesn't cost too much to feed," said Hornsbuck as he whacked the princess on the b.u.t.tocks with casual familiarity. "And I've got to admit that she doesn't talk too much. This spell certainly has its good points!"

Somehow, Mika felt offended on the princess's behalf and spoke up, drawing Hornsbuck back to the fire.

"Why are we eating here? It's so cold and drafty."

"Figured the draft might wash away the smell of the food," said Hornsbuck. "I've always figured that there must be some critters living down here. I don't know what they are, and I've never seen any, but it doesn't hurt to take precautions."

"Critters? Like what?" asked Mika, the meat suddenly lying heavy in his stomach.

"Don't know," Hornsbuck said with a shrug. "Could be almost anything. All sorts of critters like the dark better than the light. Could be kobolds or gnolls or bugbears or trolls or gnomes, dwarves, goblins, or even orcs, for all I know. I can't say for sure. I just keep my eyes open when I'm down here, and I don't dally."

"How long will it take to get to the city?" Mika asked, looking around uneasily at the mention of all the horrible possibilities.

"Two days, two nights," said Hornsbuck. "If we don't run into any trouble. I figure that with two of us, it'll be easier to keep watch, although RedTail and Tam should let us know if any thing's on our trail. Leastwise, I hope so."

So did Mika. They packed up and set out again after their brief respite, following a long, confusing set of tunnels. Mika had only admiration for Hornsbuck's amazing memory, for as far as he could tell, the older man consulted no map other than that which he held in his mind.

They had descended to a pa.s.sage that lay even further below ground than the water tunnel when Mika noticed that it was becoming harder and harder to stay on his feet.

The path was rougher here, the walls and ceiling far less refined than the upper levels, and he stumbled often. It grew more and more tiring, just walking. He stopped for a minute, resting against the wall and felt the fatigue in his legs. Even Tam's tail lay limp between his legs, and he walked with his head hung low.

"Hornsbuck," Mika called. "Let us stop for the night. I am weary and would rest."

"Pah!" spat Hornsbuck. "You young pups have no endurance. Why, I could walk for many an hour more and never even feel it!" But Mika noticed that he did not argue the point further but set up camp in a matter of moments.

Camp was a rude affair with the roan tethered on one side and the wolves resting on the other. They ate their meat cold and raw and washed it down with water.

Mika lowered the princess to the ground, although Hornsbuck thought it a waste of time, and arranged her neatly along the wall, wiping her hands, wrists, and face with a dampened square of silk, ripped once again from the bottom of her dress.

The closer they got to their destination, the more Mika imagined what she might be like if she wakened.

"I've taken care of her well, under the circ.u.mstances," Mika a.s.sured himself, under his breath. "After all, what do I know about taking care of princesses? It's not like I asked for the job! That d.a.m.n fool giant went and got himself killed; it's all his fault!"

Tam's dark eyes reflected laughter in the light of the torches, and after a moment, Mika grinned too. Then, lying down on the cold earth, he closed his eyes and slept.

Chapter 19.

SOMETHING WAKENED MIKA, although he was not sure what. A soft sound perhaps, a whisper of movement, or maybe just intuition. Whatever it was, it caused the short hairs on the back of his neck to rise up in p.r.i.c.kles.

He lay there in the dark, for the torch had gone out while they slept. He strained against the darkness, trying to see, but it was hopeless; the dark was impenetrable.

Then it came, the softest sibilance of movement, yet he could not tell where it was coming from. Off to his left, or maybe even behind him.

His hand inched toward his sword, and he hoped that Hornsbuck was awake, too. Yet he could not call out to his comrade without letting whatever was lurking know he was awake . . .

He closed his hand round the handle of his sword, the metal cold and rea.s.suring, but now there was no sound, no hint that he was not alone. Doubt swept over him and he wondered if he had been mistaken.

Perhaps it had been but a dream. Perhaps, it had been . . . Pain, excruciating pain, pierced his ankle like two red hot pincers, and shot up his leg, twisting and coursing through his body like fire through dry tinder.

Mika screamed aloud, all thought of silence abandoned as the agony continued to chew its way through his ankle. Lifting his sword, he slashed down at the unseen a.s.sailant, once, twice, three times, feeling his blade cut through little or nothing.

Light flooded the tunnel and a rough hand covered his mouth, choking off his screams. Mika thrashed about wildly, fighting the hand, and raised his sword to strike.

"Don't be barmy," Hornsbuck whispered harshly. "What's the matter with you? Are you tryin' to call every monster in the place down on us? Quit your noise!"

"My ankle! My ankle!" Mika gasped, doubling over and gripping his booted ankle with both hands, his sword dropping uselessly to the ground with a dull clang.

"Ain't nothin' but a measly centipede," growled Hornsbuck in disgust, wrenching the pincers of the creature open with his bare hands and thrusting it head first into the flame of the torch. It shrilled a brief high-pitched scream, then crumpled as the fire shriveled and blackened its segmented carapace.

Mika groaned with pain and bent nearly double, clutching his b.l.o.o.d.y ankle, for while the thing was dead, the awful pain continued.

"I don't understand why you're carrying on like this," said Hornsbuck, as he stared at Mika with disgust. "It was just a little one, barely even two feet long. Why, once when I was traveling-"

"Hornsbuck, I don't care if you eat them ten feet long for breakfast every morning," Mika said through clenched teeth. "The d.a.m.n thing bit me, and it hurts like the devil. Aren't they poisonous?"

"Poisonous? Well, yes, I suppose they could be," mused Hornsbuck, stroking his beard as he tried to remember. "Maybe so, but not a lot," he finally concluded.

"Hornsbuck, a little bit dead works just the same as very dead," gasped Mika, propping himself up against the wall next to the princess. Steeling himself, he withdrew his bloodstained hand, pulled off his mutilated boot and examined the wound.

The skin was already turning purplish-blue on either side of the twin gashes, each of which extended the full width of the ankle and appeared relatively deep. The flesh was sore, and the lips of the wound had swollen shut, sealing inside whatever poison had been injected into his body.

Mika sighed deeply, noting the two crimson lines that were already inching their way up the calf of his leg, leaving a deep throbbing pain in their wake that seemed to increase as he watched.

Mika hated pain and blood, especially when it was his own, and even more so when he had to inflict it on himself on purpose. Yet there was nothing else to be done; if he did not treat the poison, it would only get worse. Much worse.

Under Hornsbuck's amused eye, Mika seared the blade of his knife in the flame of the torch, then, without pausing, slashed the flesh above the ankle, cutting across the two lines of poison. Blood flowed freely, pouring down his foot in dark streams. To his surprise, he felt immediate relief from the awful pain. Soon, the blood turned bright again and the flow diminished and then slowed to a trickle.

Acting nonchalantly, Mika rummaged in his pouch and found a horn of healing salve that he thought appropriate. Its princ.i.p.al ingredients were borage, bittersweet, red clover, golden seal, and mullein, all of which were used in cases of blood poisoning. To that he added a handful of cobwebs scooped from the walls, to aid in clotting.

He smeared the wounds with the thick salve and webs and ripped yet another strip from the remains of the beautiful silk dress to wrap around his ankle.

"Done?" Hornsbuck asked politely, although laughter still twinkled in his eyes.

"Done," replied Mika.

"Then let us be on our way," said Hornsbuck, gesturing with a broad sweeping movement of his hand, indicating the path beyond.

"But isn't it still the middle of the night?" asked Mika.

"Who can tell and what does it matter down here where there ain't no light?" said Hornsbuck with a grin. "We're up, so we'd best be going."

There was no arguing with the man's logic, so with a shake of his head, Mika got to his feet and put his boot back on, which, he noticed, still smelled slightly of rabbit stew.

He was astonished to find that there was little or no pain in the ankle and congratulated himself on his fine healing skills, choosing not to remember that he had made the salve months ago under his father's explicit direction.

The wolves were all too glad to leave the tunnel, skirting the blackened remains of the centipede with obvious aversion.

"Thanks a lot," muttered Mika as he limped along next to Tam. "I thought you were supposed to sleep with one eye open. My faithful companion, always alert, never surprised. Hah! That centipede could just as easily have gotten me by the neck, you know. Then where would you be?"

Tam licked his lips and, meeting Mika's eyes only briefly, looked away.

"All right, all right. I'm not too wild about centipedes either. I forgive you . . . this time," Mika said grudgingly, and they walked along the dark pa.s.sage in companionable silence.

It seemed that Hornsbuck also spoke to RedTail, conferring with him quietly when they came to junctures that the older man seemed unsure of. In those instances, Hornsbuck seemed to talk to the wolf and then listen to a reply that Mika could not discern. It puzzled him, but he was certainly not going to ask. A nomad's relationship with his wolf was sacrosanct. Twice, Hornsbuck and his wolf seemed to disagree. Once, Hornsbuck did not take RedTail's advice and they turned left rather than right. RedTail remained at the juncture, allowing Hornsbuck, Mika, Tam, and the horse to go off without him. Quite soon, however, Hornsbuck had to admit that the wolf had been right, and the entire party was forced to return to the juncture and follow a smirking RedTail along the route the wolf had preferred.