《The Twilight Chronicles of Magdalena Moonshadow》 Chapter One Castor Longfeather raised his fist in the air, the signal to stop. The rest of their adventuring party¡ªStonefist¡¯s Sentinels¡ªimmediately halted, keeping their tight marching order, even within the confines of the narrow stone corridor. The passage stretched out before them, cloaked in a darkness that the continual light stones they all carried barely punctured. Moisture seeped from the porous rock, phosphorescent fungi sprouted from cracks in the walls, and the earthy scent of decaying leaf vegetation hung in the air. Lena sighed softly, pleased for a break, no matter how brief. After two days underground, her hips ached from travelling over the uneven, rocky surface and the damp and cold had caused her knuckles to swell. At forty-two, she was older than the rest of the humans in the party by a good fifteen years¡ªand was feeling her age. Maybe it was time to part way with the Sentinels and make way for a younger, fitter mage. But adventuring was all she knew¡ªwhat else would she do? Besides, she might be getting long in the tooth, but she still had plenty to offer. ¡°We must be close to the trogs,¡± Castor whispered to their leader, Thrain, a doughty dwarven fighter, who was directly behind him in the marching order. ¡°I can almost taste their stench. There are ten of the brutes, all warriors.¡± The tracker pointed to the ground, which apparently had provided him with such knowledge, but all Lena saw was bare rock. ¡°And they have the girl with them.¡± ¡°Elowyn¡¯s alive?¡± Thrain¡¯s relief was palpable. ¡°Praise Kaldor.¡± Castor grimaced. ¡°At least, she was when they passed by here a couple of hours ago.¡± A matching relief flooded through Lena. She had hoped they¡¯d not be returning a corpse to the captured child¡¯s distraught parents, but until now, they¡¯d not found any evidence either way. ¡°Why do you think they grabbed her?¡± she asked. She hadn¡¯t had many dealings with trogs, but from what she had heard, they usually stayed underground and kept well away from surface dwellers. ¡°Let¡¯s rescue Elowyn first, and figure out the trogs¡¯ motives later,¡± the ranger replied. ¡°What¡¯s with you smoothskins?¡± Ssiltek, their lizardkin rogue, grumbled from behind Lena. ¡°Every time we pause, it¡¯s talk, talk, talk. Let¡¯s get in there before the trogs realise the girl would make a tasty snack and prep her for their dinner. Her father, Master Trader Pryce, promised to double the reward if we get his precious daughter back to Briarwood alive¡ªbut who knows how long she¡¯ll stay that way if we stand about yakking.¡± ¡°We need to know the lay of the land before we go charging in,¡± Thrain cautioned. ¡°Else Elowyn might get caught in the crossfire.¡± Unlike the lizardkin, their leader cared more about the girl¡¯s life than his belt pouch. ¡°Ssiltek, seeing as you¡¯re so keen for action, how about sneaking forward and seeing what you can find out?¡± ¡°I told you, there are ten trogs, all adults,¡± the tracker huffed. ¡°The tracks don¡¯t lie.¡± ¡°Yeah, yeah.¡± Their leader motioned the rogue forward. ¡°But we need to know more than that. Like, have they truly stopped just ahead, or is your keen nose mistaken?¡± Castor huffed even louder. Ignoring the tracker, Ssiltek pushed his way to the front of the Sentinels, then snuck down the corridor. Within a few paces, he melted from Lena¡¯s view. His natural chameleon-like abilities allowed him to blend with his surroundings. That, combined with a lizard folk¡¯s innate low light vision, made him the perfect scout in this terrain. Lena cast a cantrip to warm her hand while she waited. Immediately, a pleasant heat suffused her fingers. Oh, how she wished she had time to remove her boots and do the same for her toes. Her feet felt as if ice encased them. She settled for the non-magical solution of stamping her feet on the ground as soundless as possible and wriggling her toes. ¡°Are you alright?¡± their healer Zahra whispered to her. ¡°I, ah, noticed you¡¯re walking stiffly.¡± Her gaze slid to Lena¡¯s hands. ¡°I guess being down is triggering your rheumatism. Do you want me to cast something to ease the symptoms?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just a little cold,¡± Lena lied. The cleric to Sylara was too observant by half, and she shouldn¡¯t be wasting her healing magic before the battle had even begun. Zahra looked like she wanted to say more, but in the end she just nodded, as if accepting Lena¡¯s words. ¡°I¡¯m back.¡± Ssiltek emerged from the shadows a short while later. Zahra jumped, stifling a squeak of surprise. The lizardkin grinned mischievously, his pointed fangs gleaming in the glow of their light stones. ¡°I wish you wouldn¡¯t do that.¡± She slapped him on the arm with exasperated affection. ¡°There¡¯s ten trogs, alright,¡± the rogue reported. ¡°And yes, they¡¯ve set up camp.¡± Castor crossed his arms. ¡°Told you so,¡± he huffed. ¡°The girl¡¯s with them.¡± Ssiltek ignored the interruption. ¡°They¡¯ve tied a rope around her ankle and tethered it to a rock, so she can¡¯t run off. But she appears unhurt.¡± ¡°Good news.¡± Thrain murmured, then motioned for the rogue to continue. ¡°They¡¯ve bedded down in a small cave, off the main passage. There¡¯s another exit on the far side of the cavern, but I don¡¯t know where it leads. Could be a dead end, or could continue on.¡± Their leader frowned. ¡°Hmmm. That means they have a potential escape route. We¡¯ll have to make sure they don¡¯t have time to run off with Elowyn, before we can get to her.¡± ¡°Over half of them are asleep,¡± Ssiltek said. ¡°But two remain on guard, a big bugger and a little one¡ªlittle for a trog, that is. Another couple of them are awake, but off duty.¡± He flashed another grin. ¡°Lucky for you lot, they¡¯ve lit a fire, so there¡¯s plenty of light.¡± Apart from the lizardkin, only Castor had lowlight vision¡ªa shortfall Ssiltek loved to remind them of at any opportunity. ¡°Right, here¡¯s the plan,¡± Thrain said. ¡°First, we need to sneak closer.¡± ¡°Sneak? That means move quietly, right?¡± Ssiltek shot a pointed look at their barbarian fighter, Ragna Bjornsdottir. Last time they¡¯d done a sneak attack, she had tripped over a root and gone down in a clatter of armour and weapons, costing them the advantage of surprise. Their leader ignored the snide aside. ¡°Castor, Ssiltek, and Lena, you¡¯ll bring death from afar. I want your first attack centred on the big trog, as I assume he¡¯s our greatest threat. Then, Ragna and I will rush him, and you lot can shift your missiles to the trogs nearest the girl.¡± Lena nodded, trying to look calm, but she was feeling uncharacteristically jittery. They¡¯d faced worse foes and greater odds. What was wrong with her? Perhaps being so long below ground was affecting her. It had been ages since she¡¯d accompanied Stonefist¡¯s Sentinels on a subterranean job¡ªand now she remembered why she avoided them these days. The cold sapped her strength, and the endless days spent in darkness frayed her nerves. ¡°Zahra, you¡¯ve got the most important job,¡± their leader directed his attention to the cleric of Sylara, thankfully oblivious to Lena¡¯s nerves. ¡°I want you to circle around to Elowyn, while we distract the trogs, then get her out of that cavern as quick as you can.¡± ¡°Why not get Lena to cast Fireball or Meteor Storm,¡± Ssiltek asked, lowering his brow ridges belligerently. ¡°That way, we can take down most of the trogs at once.¡± ¡°We can¡¯t risk Elowyn being injured with an area attack spell,¡± Thrain replied. The lizardkin shrugged. ¡°So what if she is? Zahra can heal her.¡± Their leader huffed in exasperation. ¡°Right,¡± he said, drawing his axe. ¡°Everyone know what they¡¯re doing?¡± They all nodded. ¡°Excellent. May Kaldor give us strength.¡± To prepare for the impending combat, Lena cast Mage Armour and Zahra Spirit Shield, then the Sentinel¡¯s crept forward in their usual marching order: Castor at the lead, followed by Thrain. Lena and Zahra¡ªthe least armoured and most easily wounded¡ªmarched in the middle, then Ssiltek and finally Ragna brought up the rear. Within a short time, they reached a small side passage that branched off the primary tunnel that the rogue had told them about. Lena¡¯s heart thudded against her ribs and her palms grew sweaty as Castor led them off the main path. Pull it together, she inwardly chided herself. She was acting like a green journeywoman mage fresh out of training. The ranger showed no such nerves. He padded along silently, his bow in hand and an arrow nocked. Now they were closer, the smell of a campfire intermingled with the stench of the trogs¡ªan unpleasant melange of rotting fish and stale sweat¡ªreached her nostrils, and the low guttural rumble of their speech was just audible. This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. Castor made a quick hand motion, pointing his forefinger point to his eye then ahead, signalling they were almost in sight of their foes. Lena¡¯s pulse bolted like a frightened horse as she flexed her swollen hands to prepare for spell-casting. The movement sent sharp pains shooting through her knuckles, making her wince. She should have taken up Zahra¡¯s offer¡ªbut it was too late now. They turned a corner and the narrow passage widened out into a small cavern. The layout was exactly as Ssiltek had described: a campfire in the centre of space provided welcome light and revealed a dark passageway leading off the cavern on the far side. Several large mounds were arrayed around the fire¡ªtrogs who¡¯d covered themselves with what looked like dirt and leaves¡ªwas that their version of blankets? Two of the creatures sat by the fire, staring at a battered gameboard half-covered by black and white oval stones. A young girl was huddled in on herself near the flames. Her face was dirt-stained and tear-streaked, but her mouth had an obstinate set. She might be a captive, but she wasn¡¯t cowed. Elowyn immediately spotted the Sentinels, her eyes widening in surprise. But so did the nearer sentry. It grunted in alarm and raised a heavy club studded with iron spikes. It was time to attack! Lena began chanting and Castor tried to get a bead on the larger guard, but the smaller sentry was in the way. Uttering a low curse, the ranger changed target. He loosed his bowstring, and his arrow thudded into the smaller sentry¡¯s chest. A heartbeat later, Ssiltek¡¯s bullet smacked into its temple. The trog tottered visibly, but didn¡¯t go down. By the stars, it must be tough. Such blows would fell most foes. A ball of purple and blue light appeared between Lena¡¯s palms, raising a slight wind that stirred the tendrils of her grey hair. Drawing back her arm, she flung her Magic Missile at the big sentry, now a visible target thanks to her companions¡¯ efforts. A low whimper of pain escaped her as the movement jarred her swollen joints. Her ball of mage fire zipped unerringly across the cavern, then, to her dismay, dissipated in a soft violet glow as it hit the large trog¡¯s armour. Blast and mage fire! He had magical protection. Once the missiles had gone off, Thrain and Magda ran forward, weapons raised, making a beeline for the larger sentry. Alerted by the flash of the ineffective magic missile, the two game-playing trogs tossed aside the board and grabbed their weapons¡ªone a stone axe, the other a spear tipped with sharpened bone¡ªand were kicking their companions awake. ¡°I heard you cry out. Are you hurt?¡± Castor asked Lena, although his steel gaze remained fixed on the enemy as he nocked another arrow . ¡°I¡¯m good,¡± she shot back, cringing at her lack of self-control. As she prepared her next spell, Lena spotted Zahra edging her way around the cave and toward the captive girl, who had backed up as far away from the trogs as the rope tethered around her ankle allowed. Good¡ªat least that part of their plan was still on track. Beside her, Castor¡¯s bowstring twanged again, while Ssiltek swung his sling above his head. Both missiles smacked into the smaller sentry, one after the other, and it finally went down. One down. Nine more to go. Lena itched to cast Fireball, but the risk to her companions¡ªand Elowyn ¡ªwas too great. Snorting in annoyance, she sent her next Magic Missile flying toward the axe-wielding trog, who¡¯d been sitting at the game board moments before. Her mage fire exploded into the creature¡¯s chest, and he reeled back, crying out in shock and pain. That was more like it! Her victim¡¯s large, pale-yellow eyes locked on Lena. He sprinted toward her, his jaws gaping, revealing rectangular, chipped teeth. Hastily, she wound up another spell. Her Mage Armour wouldn¡¯t hold for long against a direct attack¡ªwhich is why she avoided hand-to-hand combat. Despite the danger, her blood sang, her earlier nerves evaporated. This was why she hadn¡¯t retired. For moments like this, when you never knew if the next breath would be your last. She stretched her hands wide, and a sparking bolt of magical lighting formed between her fingers. Throwing back her arm, she cast the bolt at the advancing trog¡ªonly at the last minute her fingers cramped, and the lightning sizzled harmlessly above the creature¡¯s head. The trog flinched, then its thin-lipped mouth stretched into a smile when it realised she missed. Lena¡¯s teeth clenched. She¡¯d been banking on her spell to slow her attacker. And she¡¯d hadn¡¯t time to cast another. The trog covered the remaining ground between them in a few long strides, then he swung his axe. She dodged to one side to avoid the blow, but her reflexes were too slow. She saw the axe arching toward her, and her body tensed as she waited for the weapon to smack into her glowing Mage Armour. Only at the last moment, Castor thrust his long sword between them. Sparks showered down on her as the axe slammed into the blade. She scrambled backward, getting as much distance as she could between her and her attacker. With a lithe motion, the ranger moved into the spot she¡¯d just vacated, positioning himself between her and the trog. The creature swung again, and the ranger parried. Their weapons locked, and the stronger trog grinned as he bore down on the slender half-elf, forcing him to give ground. ¡°Firefly!¡± The simple cantrip flew from her lips and, a heartbeat later, an insect made of fire and light zipped toward the trog¡¯s face. The creature flinched, his attention switching from his attacker to the magical firefly. Taking advantage of the distraction, Castor slid his blade into the creature¡¯s unarmoured belly. The trog slid to the ground, a puzzled expression on his face as the life faded from its eyes. ¡°Thank you,¡± she gasped, scrambling back to her feet. The ranger frowned, panting slightly from the fight. ¡°What happened? Why did your lightning miss?¡± Lena grimaced as she began weaving her hands once more. ¡°We all have bad days.¡± Only she¡¯d been having them more and more often. ¡°Never mind me,¡± she hissed. ¡°We need to keep the trogs busy, so Zahra and the girl can get away.¡± Castor picked up his bow once more and drew another arrow from his quiver. Meanwhile, across the room, Thrain and Ragna had brought down the big trog in a brief but bloody fight and were pursuing the rest of their trogs, who were fleeing toward the exit on the other side of the cavern. Zahra had sawed through Elowyn¡¯s bonds and was running toward their position, while Ssiltek¡¯s bullets harried the spear-wielding trog, before it could intercept them. A moment later it fell, Castor¡¯s arrow lodged in its eye socket. Lena let her spell dissipate and her aching hands fell by her sides. Was the combat over? And so swiftly? Thank the stars. Unable to cast her large magics, thanks to her cramping hands, she was more a liability than a help. The retreating trogs fled from the cavern, and Thrain slowed, lowering his axe¡ªbut Ragna, her teeth bared, spittle flying from her lips, ran after them, her massive great sword raised. ¡°Stop,¡± their leader bellowed after her, but the barbarian was in the grips of battle frenzy and paid him no heed. With a grunt of frustration, the dwarf sprinted after Ragna and in moments they were both out of sight. Castor, Ssiltek, and Lena exchanged a confused glance. ¡°That definitely wasn¡¯t in the plan,¡± the ranger asked. ¡°Should we go after them?¡± The lizardkin shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ve got the girl.¡± He pointed to Elowyn. The girl and Zahra had just arrived, the air shimmering around them. The cleric¡¯s Sanctuary spell caused Lena¡¯s gaze to slide away from them as if they weren¡¯t there. ¡°If the boss and that dumb barbarian want to go charging into the darkness, that¡¯s their problem.¡± ¡°I better check that headstrong barbarian hasn¡¯t got them into more trouble than they can handle.¡± Castor nocked another arrow and strode toward the back of the cavern¡ªjust as Ragna reappeared and sprinted back towards them, her face ashen. ¡°Fomorian,¡± the barbarian bellowed as she sprinted toward them. ¡°Fall back.¡± Panic seized Lean by the throat. She¡¯d never encountered one of these monstrous giants from the depths, but knew them by reputation. ¡°Lena,¡± Thrain appeared moments after Ragna, his short dwarven legs pumping as he ran for his life. ¡°We need Fireball!¡± Eyes widening, she murmured the verbal components as her throbbing hands wove a complex pattern. And an orange-yellow molten ball of flame began forming between her palms, its glow casting strange shadows on the cave wall. An inhuman bellow blasted out of the archway, and then the Fomorian appeared. The giant underground dweller lumbered into the cavern, its massive form stooping to avoid scraping the ceiling. Its skin was a mottled grey, its hair a tangled mess and, in its gnarled hands, it wielded a colossal club fashioned from a massive tree trunk, studded with jagged shards of metal. Lena''s hands shook as the pain in her joints intensified under the strain of casting the spell. The molten ball of flame between her palms flickered and wavered, causing her insides to spin like a whirlpool. "By the stars'' light, please!" she whispered, trying to steady her hands by mental force alone. But as she prepared to release the spell, a sharp pain shot through her knuckles, causing them to spasm. The Fireball fizzled out in a shower of harmless sparks. "No!" Lena gasped, panic bubbling through her veins. The Fomorian let out a guttural roar, its beady eyes locking onto Thrain. Having spotted her spell fail, their leader was charging toward the beast with his axe raised. He was trying to protect the rest of them, the brave fool. The subterranean giant swung its massive club toward the dwarf with terrifying speed. Thrain tried to dodge, but the weapon caught him square on. The shards of metal scraped down his left arm, severing muscle and sinew, leaving the limb hanging uselessly at his side. He collapsed to the ground, clutching his shoulder. ¡°Thrain,¡± Lena screamed, her voice laced with pain. ¡°No!¡± By the gods, this was all her fault. It should have been her hurt, not him. ¡°Fall back!¡± Castor snarled. ¡°We need to get the girl to safety.¡± Zahra hesitated a moment, then pushed the white-faced Elowyn at Ssiltek. ¡°Get her out of here.¡± The lizardkin didn¡¯t need to be asked a second time. ¡°Come on, lass. Uncle Ssiltek¡¯s is going to find you and him somewhere safe to hide.¡± Grabbing her hand, he fled back the way they¡¯d come, towing the girl behind him. Ignoring the danger to herself, the cleric darted over to Thrain. She grabbed him by his unwounded right arm and tried dragging him backwards¡ªonly he was too heavy. She couldn¡¯t even budge him. ¡°Come on, you big ugly dwarf,¡± she pleaded, her eyes wide and panicked. ¡°Pull it together and help me. I can¡¯t get you out of here on my own.¡± Castor raced over to join her and grabbed their leader¡¯s other arm as the Fomorian plodded toward them. Desperate to redeem herself, Lena¡¯s mind raced. Her hands were too cramped to perform a major magic, but the trog hadn¡¯t liked a light flying into its face¡ªand the subterranean giant had reacted to the campfire. Perhaps she could use that against it? Muttering under her breath, she gestured at the flames, ignoring the dull ache in her fingers. ¡°Flare,¡± she commanded, pouring all her will into the minor spell. The campfire roared in response, its flames flaring up toward the ceiling, belching sparks. Roaring in fear, the Fomorian flung up a hand to protect its face from the unexpected heat and light. Taking advantage of the distraction, Zahra and Castor half-dragged, half-carried Thrain¡ªand his precious axe¡ªback toward the cavern entrance, effort etched on their faces. Lena gaze flicked between them and the subterranean giant, her fingernails digging into her palms. She didn¡¯t know what else she could try if it recovered before the others got away. But her simple cantrip gave them the time they needed. Lena waited until the rest of the Sentinels were a safe distance down the small passageway, then darted after them. Her legs were jelly as she backed up, her eyes on the Fomorian the whole time. A few heartbeats later, the subterranean giant recovered from its fright sufficiently to lumber after them, only it stalled when it reached the exit. Thankfully, its body was too massive to fit into the tight space, no matter how it twisted and struggled. It reared back, then smashed its club into the stony walls beside the narrow entrance, sending chunks of stone flying as it roared in rage and frustration. Stone shards pinged off Lena¡¯s Mage Armour, and she hastily retreated, guilt and remorse weighing down her every step. Chapter Two Lena found the rest of Stonefist¡¯s Sentinels huddled together near where the narrow corridor that led to the trogs cavern met the main passageway. Their leader, Thrain Stonefist, lay groaning on the hard rock floor while Zahra bent over his prone body, her hands glowing as she wove her healing magic. Their rogue Ssiltek, the ranger Castor Longfeather and barbarian warrior Ragna Bjornsdottir stood at regular intervals around the pair, thrumming with tension as each kept watch in different directions. She hovered nearby, feeling useless and alone. No one would look her way. In truth, they seemed to be making a pointed effort to avoid looking at her. The only exception was Ragna, who glared at Lena from time to time, her stare so caustic it could melt steel. ¡°That¡¯s the best I can do for now,¡± the cleric said finally. She straightened up, her face wan and dark rings below her eyes. Zahra must have used all her power on their leader. Stars help them if anyone else needed healing before the cleric could rest and replenish her magic. ¡°We need to get you to the temple of Sylara in Stonehaven," Zahra said to their leader, her voice tight with worry. ¡°They can properly repair your limb there, but it will cost us.¡± Thrain grunted in acknowledgment, his jaw clenched against the pain. ¡°At least it was my left arm,¡± he said in an attempt at humour. ¡°So, I can still use Ironfang.¡± The dwarf¡¯s axe had been in the Stonefist family for generations. Lena had lost count of how many times she''d watched him polish it by firelight, crooning to it like a lover while his actual wife waited for him back home. ¡°Lucky for us you¡¯re strong enough to wield it one-handed,¡± the cleric replied, trying to match his light tone. But she knew¡ªthey all did¡ªthat he was in no condition to fight. ¡°I''m sorry you got hurt rescuing me,¡± Elowyn said in a small voice. ¡°I''ll ask my father to arrange transport for you, as thanks for rescuing me, so you won''t have to walk the three days from Briarwood to Stonehaven city.¡± Their leader smiled wanly. ¡°Thank you, little one. That''s a kind offer.¡± Zahra and Lena exchanged a relieved glance. Thrain''s pride would never have allowed him to accept the suggestion if the Sentinels had proposed hiring a cart to transport him. The distant thunder of a club striking stone echoed down the narrow side passage, forestalling any further conversation. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here,¡± their leader said, lumbered to his feet with a grunt of pain. ¡°Before that fomorian brings the ceiling down on our heads.¡± The Sentinels trudged back the way they came, their progress slowed by their leader¡¯s regular needs to rest. To Lena¡¯s aching hands and hips, the underground tunnels seemed even damper and colder than before. What¡¯s more, her spell casting had sapped her more than usual. She¡¯d been fooling herself and it had taken almost losing Thrain to make her face the truth¡ªshe was too old for this life. Misery consumed her. Stars, how she longed to get back out in the sunlight again, and away from this heat-sucking rock and the perpetual darkness. Luckily, the other members of her group soon shared her wish. After a near miss when they almost blundered into a nest of giant spiders, Thrain declared they must seek a safer route. While the rest of them waited in a defensible side passage, Castor scouted the surrounding area. He returned about two turns of the sandglass later, saying he¡¯d found a way back to the surface, although the route would add a good half day to their journey. Their leader considered his words, then gave a weary nod. ¡°I¡¯d rather be above ground than below it while we¡¯re weakened, even if it takes longer.¡± The ranger led them through a warren of passages, which seemed to double back on themselves more than once, until they reached a narrow tunnel that climbed steadily upward. The tunnel twisted and turned, and more than once they had to clamber their way over rockfalls. At least the undisturbed dust showed they were the first to use this path in ages so they were unlikely to encounter trouble, apart from that caused by the terrain itself. Her calves aching from the steep ascent and her hips throbbing thanks to her rheumatism, Lena plodded along wearily. Soon, a slight breeze flowed down toward them, carrying the faint waft of pine resin. They must be near a way out of this hell hole. The fresh air lent them all strength, and the Sentinels moved along more quickly, as if buoyed by the thought of seeing the sky once more. ¡°Silence,¡± Castor whispered back from the front of the Sentinels¡ªnot that any of them were speaking. They were all too bone-weary. ¡°We¡¯re almost at the surface and I don¡¯t want to alert anyone or anything of our presence. I¡¯ll scout ahead and make sure we¡¯re not walking into danger.¡± The ranger loped ahead of them, but in a short while, he was back, waving them forward. ¡°The way is clear.¡± Thank the stars. For once Zaldrin, the god of luck and chaos, was smiling down on them. They emerged from the tunnel into rugged, mountainous terrain. Jagged rocks and steep cliffs surrounded them, with sparse vegetation clinging wherever it could find purchase. A dense forest stretched out below them, the canopy of the ancient trees spreading out below them in a patchwork of vibrant greens. Lena inhaled deeply, letting the crisp air wash away the memory of underground stenches¡ªthe rotting-honey stench of the fungi, the fishy reek of the trogs, the mineral dampness of stone. They were still a long way from Briarwood, but after everything that had happened below, the kiss of sunlight on her face once more was a blessing. They started their descent, picking their way carefully along what appeared to be an old goat track. The path was difficult and jarring, and more than once she had to bite down on her lower lip and stifle a hiss of pain. ¡°Can I help you over the rough bits?¡± Elowyn skipped along beside her, nimble as a mountain goat and seeming none the worse for her ordeal. ¡°I¡¯m happy to hold your hand so you don¡¯t stumble so often.¡± Ssiltek sniggered. ¡°Yeah, Lena. Do you need to hold someone¡¯s hand? Ragna¡¯s free if you don¡¯t want to burden our little guest.¡± Lena shot him her most withering look, although she knew from long experience that the lizardkin rogue would pay her no heed. She kept her voice gentle as she responded to Elowyn. ¡°That¡¯s a kind offer, child, but I should be fine.¡± They continued down the mountain, but, as she found herself stumbling more and more often, the girl quietly slipped her hand into hers. ¡°It¡¯s so I don¡¯t get scared,¡± she whispered to Lena. ¡°Not because you need the help.¡± Lena smiled at her gratefully, and this time she wasn¡¯t too proud to accept the aid. ¡°Were you scared when you were with the trogs?¡± She was keen to know the answer¡ªand distract herself from the difficult journey, and the difficult decision she knew she must make. Lena wasn¡¯t sure if she should be asking the child such a question, in case it upset her, but Elowyn seemed remarkably resilient. ¡°I was at first,¡± the girl replied. ¡°But I soon realised they weren¡¯t going to hurt me. They even lit that fire for me, when we stopped in the cave for the night, to keep me warm, after they saw me shivering.¡±This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Ah, so that explained the campfire. It was a stroke of luck for the Sentinels that the trogs were so soft-hearted. Although, such behaviour was not at all what she expected of them based on their reputation. ¡°Did they say why they''d kidnapped you?¡± Lena asked. The question had been troubling her from the beginning. In all her years adventuring, she''d never known trogs to show interest in surface dwellers unless threatened. ¡°Only one of them spoke Common.¡± Elowyn frowned. ¡°He kept calling me ''earth-mover''s daughter'' and muttering something about ¡®the turquoise water.¡¯¡± Lena''s eyebrows rose. Earth-mover''s daughter? Turquoise water? What did any of that mean? Master Trader Pryce dealt in furs and cloth, not precious gems. Or could turquoise water be some exotic alcoholic spirt? She was too tired to think clearly, but something about this nagged at her. She was missing vital pieces of this puzzle. They¡¯d made it about a third of the way down, before the sun began to set, casting a warm glow over the rugged landscape. ¡°I vote we find somewhere to stop for the night,¡± Zahra said, her concerned gaze flicked between Thrain, who was swaying from fatigue, and Lena, who was limping markedly thanks to the pain in her hips. ¡°If anyone twists their ankle, I¡¯ve no magic left to heal them until morning.¡± Their leader gave a curt nod, too tired to speak. Castor scouted about and then led them to a sheltered spot, in the lee of a large rock, where the Sentinels set up camp with practised efficiency. The ranger checked out the area, to make sure there were no nearby threats, while Ssiltek and Ragna gathered wood for a fire. The pair spoke quietly to each other as they worked, casting the occasional glance in Lena¡¯s direction. Her cheeks burned in shame¡ªthey were discussing her failure. She knew it. A liability. The word had been echoing through her mind all day. While Zahra made Thrain as comfortable as she could, Lena recruited Elowyn help her gather up some dried grasses and moss from the alpine meadows just above the tree line. The icy evening air nipped at their cheeks and caused their breath to come out in visible puffs, while the distant call of a mountain bird, heading back to its roost for the night, echoed through the valley. The girl puffed up in pride at being given a task and set to her work willingly. ¡°What is this stuff for?¡± she asked, holding up the edge of her skirt up to create a makeshift basket, which she was quickly filling. ¡°Kindling?¡± Lena stretched out her cloak and piled the dried vegetation on top of it. ¡°No, we¡¯ll sleep on them. They¡¯ll protect us from the cold ground and make our beds comfier.¡± She needed the insulation more than the younger, more hardy members of their group, who¡¯d just as happily go without. Elowyn¡¯s brow furrowed as she considered Lena¡¯s words. ¡°The grasses are a bit scratchy. Won¡¯t they stick into us and keep us awake?¡± Lena let out a tired chuckle. ¡°I don¡¯t know about you, but I¡¯m so exhausted, nothing will stop me from sleeping.¡± She finished piling the foliage onto her cloak, then gathered the four corners to create a crude knapsack and hoisted it over her shoulder. The day¡¯s events weighed her down as much as the burden did, if not more so. Together, they lugged their bundles back to the main camp, with the young girl shooting concerned glances her way. Once they had made a few more trips and had a sufficient supply, Lena scooped out some hollows in the hard earth, one for each of the Sentinels, biting down on her lower lip to fight the pain in her knuckles. Elowyn giggled as she lay down on her makeshift mattress, testing its softness. ¡°It¡¯s actually kind of nice,¡± she admitted. ¡°Like lying on a meadow.¡± Oh, to be young again, and so quickly able to forget your troubles! But hearing the lass chuckle was a welcome balm to her troubled heart. No matter what else came of this adventure, rescuing Elowyn made all the pain and whatever came after worthwhile. Although, they hadn¡¯t got her safely home yet. She knew better than to count a job done too soon. ¡°Hey, Lena,¡± Ragna called, as she arranged the wood they¡¯d gathered in a small pit surrounded by stones. ¡°Light the fire, would you?¡± She wandered over to the barbarian, with her young charge trailing her. Muttering the magical incantations under her breath and waggling her fingers, Lena drew heat from the air around the stacked lumber. Steam rose from the damp wood as it dried, and then with a whispered ¡°Spark,¡± she sent a tiny ember dancing into the kindling. Flames caught and spread, bringing welcome warmth with it. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re a mage,¡± Elowyn said, her eyes as wide as an owl¡¯s. ¡°I knew someone was casting spells when you rescued me, but I was too distracted to see who.¡± ¡°I¡¯m the Sentinel¡¯s battle mage,¡± Lena replied wearily. For now. Ssiltek snorted. ¡°She used one of the best out there.¡± Lena''s cheeks burned as hot as the campfire, but what hurt the most was that he was right. Stars, she couldn''t bear to think about it now. "Do you like magic?" she asked the girl, seizing on the welcome distraction. Elowyn nodded, almost dancing with excitement. ¡°You bet. I¡¯ve hardly ever seen any cast before¡ªno exciting magic, that is.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have any mages in your village?¡± she asked, surprised. While magic users were rarer than other trades, most settlements above a hamlet in size held at least one. ¡°We¡¯ve got Aldrin Wayfinder,¡± the girl replied. ¡°He¡¯s an elemental mage. But he¡¯s about a hundred years old and will only use his magic on village improvements, like making it easier for landholders to run their farms, and boring stuff like that.¡± Her freckled nose wrinkled, showing what she thought of such practical magic. ¡°I¡¯ve asked him to cast something fun, but he always refuses.¡± Lena''s gaze settled on the campfire, a frivolous idea taking root. It would be a waste of her power just to indulge Elowyn''s fancy, but the child had just survived a terrible ordeal... Using the light cast by the dancing flames, Lena wove a butterfly of vibrant crimson and gold that trailed sparks as it flapped its tiny wings. The creature flitted around Elowyn¡¯s head, casting a gentle glow over her dirt-streaked face. The girl watched it, open-mouthed in wonder, as it circled her several times, then dissolved into the night. Elowyn gasped in wonder. ¡°That was amazing. Make another, please,¡± she begged. ¡°Another time, little one,¡± Lena replied. Ssiltek gave a slow clap. ¡°Looks like you have a bright new future ahead of you, Auntie,¡± he sneered. ¡°As a magician at children¡¯s parties.¡± Ragna guffawed loudly, then an uncomfortable silence fell over the rest of the Sentinels, broken only by the soft chirping of some nocturnal insect and the crackle of the fire. Lena eased herself down onto the ground, staring into the campfire. The air was thick with unspoken words, and a heavy weight pressed down on her chest. "I let the Sentinels down today," she said, her head bowed, unable to avoid saying the words that they were all thinking. Twenty years of victories and close calls, of saving each other''s lives and building a reputation as one of the most reliable adventuring companies in the region¡ªand now she was the weak link. "Nonsense," Zahra said, quick as ever to leap to her defence. "I had noticed the arthritis in your hands was playing up earlier. I should have made sure the symptoms were under control before we went into battle." Lena winced. The cleric''s attempt to shoulder the blame made her feel worse, not better. "No, Zahra. It''s obvious to me, to all of us, after my failures today that I''m too old for this game." She gave a heartfelt sigh. "This adventure will be my last." A hush fell, heavy as a winter cloak. Even the nocturnal insects seemed to fall quiet. Lena glanced at Ssiltek, expecting him to make a snide comment, but the lizardkin was uncharacteristically silent, only his twitching tail revealing he¡¯d even heard her words. Elowyn¡¯s brow furrowed, puzzlement written around her young face. A calloused hand covered hers. "Are you sure?" Thrain asked, his voice rough with emotion. "Not all our missions are as¡­ arduous as this one. You are welcome to join us on less taxing jobs? And Zahra said she might be able to help you manage your condition?" Lena met his gaze, seeing in it all the battles they''d fought together, all the victories they''d celebrated, all the losses they''d mourned. "You''re kind to make such an offer," she said, tears stinging her eyes. "Kinder than I''ve earned, given my recent failures, and more generous than is wise for the Sentinel''s success. But my mind is made up." Ragna''s shoulders relaxed ever so slightly. Ssiltek''s tail stopped its agitated motion. Even Castor seemed to release a breath he''d been holding. She couldn''t blame them. "With Lena leaving, we''ll need another magic user," the barbarian said, breaking the silence. At least the barbarian didn''t waste her breath on false platitudes. "There''s a young shaman from my tribe, who''s keen to join us. I may have mentioned him before." "Yeah, once or twice," Ssiltek huffed. "No¡ªmake that a hundred times." "He promises to be powerful once he has more experience. Mayhap more than Lena was in her prime¡­." The barbarian trailed off as Thrain fixed her with a sharp look. Lena felt a sad smile tug at her lips. How many times had she been that eager young mage, certain she could outdo those who came before? The wheel turned, and now it was her turn to step aside and let a younger magic user take her place. "What will you do?" Zahra asked, her caramel-coloured eyes filled with concern. "Adventuring is all you''ve ever known." The question hit her like a physical blow. What did she have besides her magic and her place with the Sentinels? She attempted to summon a smile, but managed only a small lift of the corners of her mouth. "Don''t worry about me. I''ll come up with something. I always do." Stars, she prayed she was right.