“Let’s hold a council,” said mayor Grob as he put his thinking fingers together. “We have to find a way to Atlantivanne, any suggestions?”

  “Atlantivanne may be lost as well,” said Goin, “just like Dunharn.”

  “You are right, that is a possibility,” said Grob, “do you have a plan Sir Goin of Atlantivanne?”

  “Yes, we get off this island, and slay that monster behind this treachery, the Lord of the Dragons himself!” said Goin.

  “You mean Zarlock?” said Grob.

  “Yes mayor.”

  “Okay, let us consult the Water Spirit, she lives in a well at the bottom of this cavern. It is a very steep climb, only the strongest dwarf could make it.”

  “I will go,” said Janice, “I slayed a real dragon, so I am the strongest dwarf here.”

  “Incredible, I had no idea Lady Janice Windart was here,” Grob fathomed to reach for the stars.

  “Wait,” said Rune, "let me go, she tried to kill me, she is not trustworthy.”

  “Is this true Lady Janice?” Not exactly, I was just trying to scare Rune, knock him off his pony, I had no idea he would be impaled by my lance, I didn't mean to, I am sorry Rune.”

  “Where was he impaled?”

  “Look, right here,” Rune stood and pointed to his chest.

  “There’s a hole in his armor, yet he is not scarred, how is that possible?”

  “I do not know,” Rune shook his head.

  “Incredible… you will both go.”

  “But,” said Janice.

  “If I am the judge and jury, I’d have to say it was an attempt at murder, and if you don’t help your brother, you will go to the Dunharn Dungeon and rot with the zombies for a long time until the war is over, or never over, Lady Janice, I am no respecter of persons when it comes to the law. I will lock you in and throw away the key.”

  “Fine!” she replied.

  Rune smiled and raised his eyebrows twice at Janice. She was furious.

  “When they go into the deep passage," said Grob, “we will leave for Atlantivanne.”

  “Are you sure?” said Goin, “I do not want to leave them here alone, the zombies will be here when we leave, those are my children. That is not safe.”

  “We can’t stay here any longer,” said Grob.

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  “I will go with them,” I said. “It is storming out; I can hear the rain from the entrance. I am not going out in bad weather.”

  “Alright,” said Grob, “but we need to get the rope from your rickshaw first.”

  “The rickshaw is with us in the cave, show Grob the rope,” said Goin.

  “Aye, that’s good you brought the rickshaw in, now we don’t have to risk our lives to get the rope,” I said, “and I don’t have to get wet in that storm anymore.”

  “All right, you were not going to get the rope anyway Ledge,” Goin laughed at him,” and Lady Janice and Sir Rune, no goodbyes, we will meet again my children.”

  I smiled about not having to get the rope.

  “Okay, father.”

  “Aye, father, if you say so.”

  “Take good care of them, Ledge.”

  “I will.”

  “Get going.”

  I followed behind Janice and Rune; they seemed to be led by the smell of smoke. We each grabbed a roaring torch from the wall. My hands blistered from the heat as I held the bumpy oak-brown torch. Beads of warm sweat ran down my face that tasted bitter and salty.

  The mine had a sturdy foundation with wooden pillars, but you never know when it might collapse. There were earthquakes vibrating the walls in these parts and the plates were ready to shift at any moment—or the nearby volcano could erupt and bury the mine. I would be trapped inside and die a horrific death. I am hungry, but there is no time to make dinner now.

  Janice took the rope from me, and she led the way. I noticed echoes vibrating as we went deeper in, there were sudden squeaks of mice or the beating wings of black vampire bats. I could almost taste the damp mold in the tunnels, and smell rodent droppings.

  I was bloated and picked at my nose as I was nervous. My pans clinked in my pack whenever I stepped. Hundreds of mice heard our sounds and now there was a river of rodents running down the tunnel. I held my breath and was still as a sculpture until the mice passed over me.

  “Ledge—be quiet!” Janice whispered sharply.

  “I am sorry Lady Janice; I couldn't help it.”

  Janice had a frustrated look on her face at me.

  When the squeaking of the bats got louder, I looked up and bat droppings were all around us. We held their shields above our heads as we walked by hundreds of bats. Our beautiful shields and armor were tarnished, not that I cared.

  Janice took out her short sword and started slaying bats.

  “Janice, what are you doing?” Whispered Rune.

  “I hate bats!”

  “They don’t like us either,” replied Rune.

  “Yeah, and who else?” She rolled her eyes.

  “Stop it, stay focused on our goal,” I said.

  We held onto each other as the bats flew deep down the cavern.

  “The bats are gone, relax,” Janice’s voice echoed down the shaft causing an avalanche of rocks deeper inside.

  Rune shushed Janice. She gave him an impudent glare back.

  “Stop!” Janice held her torch and looked down, “here’s where we climb, I’ll go.”

  “No, let me,” said Rune.

  “Ledge, you take the scroll of Spiral Fang. I do not know if I’ll make it back, this cliff looks steep. Guard it with your best axe!”

  “Aye, Lady Janice.” I took the map.

  Janice tied the rope around her waist, “You two stay up here, I’m going to save the day and see the Water Spirit myself. Step back and hold the line tight, do not drop me!”

  Janice almost lost her balance while she got into position and began her descent, one foot after the other, holding onto the jagged rocks.

  She adapted to the climb rather quickly, and midway she asked for more rope.

  “Let it down a little,” she echoed, and pebbles came rolling, tickling her face and fingers. The dust from the rocks blinded her for a moment and she almost lost her footing and grip.

  “Tie the rope around your neck Janice,” hollered Rune, laughing at her. And more pebbles came from Rune as he stepped to yell down the pit.

  Rune really doesn’t want Janice to hang, I hope, I bet he regrets those words. They are siblings that deep down, I know, care for each other.

  An hour later, the line went limp. We did not know if she fell to her death or made it down, and Rune asked to go down next, but I needed to rest first as he pulled up the rope, and his elbow came flying in my face. Janice triple knotted the knot. I hate to undo knots.