"Oh yeah, and one more thing...is anybody afraid of tight places?" I raised a shaky hand along with Ewar, Eris, Razar, and Gorzan; but even had I not been afraid, the gravity of Cragger's tone would have pulled down my optimism most disagreeably. "We can still turn back though, right?" Razar squeaked (no one answered him). Cragger began to crawl into the small tunnel, quickly backing out again. He counted each of us on his claws, then took a deep breath. "Well?" said Worriz impatiently (or nervously, it was difficult to tell). Cragger let out a grunt. "Let's have you go first." "Great, just great," said Worriz. "And should I call it an honor or a death sentence?" "Both," said Laval, helpfully. Cragger grimaced. "Well--I'm sorry you feel that way.... Because--uh--you're going next." Laval opened his mouth to speak, but Cragger quickly turned back to Worriz. "Keep your hands where you can see them--and good luck." At this, Worriz nodded and dropped to all fours, then vanished into the dark, confined continuation of the passageway. We all waited in silence; waited for Cragger to call Laval forward and into the passage as well. But he simply stood, eyes shifting, quite possibly waiting for something himself.... I glanced up at the stone ceiling, shivering. The dim blue glow still had no visible source, and the walls were as moist as those of the cavern we had left some time ago. Something about the place was deeply unsettling, and yet comforting at the same time.... I gave a start as a distant yell entered my hearing, then calmed down (but only slightly) when Cragger chuckled with relief. "That'll be Worriz saying it's opened out again. Come on, Laval...."
Slowly, Laval came to the front and got to his hands and knees, sliding the halves of his sword into the passage before him. "Remember," said Cragger. "Breathe." And then Laval was crawling on as well. In this manner, Cragger called the rest of us forth one by one--Gorzan, Razar, Eris, Ewar--offering bits of advice or words of encouragement to each. I waited almost feverishly, wishing my turn would never come, my already oily feathers practically dripping when I heard my name-- "Rizzo?" I shivered again, stepping up to Cragger. "I suppose, then, that you shall be last of all? In the case that one of us did not make it, perhaps?" Cragger tightened his jaw. "That's...that's right. Now fold in your wings..." Taking one last look at the surrounding tunnel, I crouched, then laid myself flat on my stomach and slithered forward. The ground was rough and sometimes jagged; and as I turned my head and slid my shoulders through the opening, the graze in my side reopened. I stopped and closed my eye, the cold rock brushing against the slits of my ears on either side of my head, floor and ceiling. My side throbbed. "Uh...you OK in there?!" came Cragger's voice. Involuntarily, I tried (and failed) to scramble to my feet to return to him; but the side of my head scraped against the rock as I brought it up, and I settled back down again, wincing as it, too, began to throb, and as my mind became clouded with pain and fright.
"Rizzo!" Cragger called out again. "D'you need me to pull you out--?" "I am--fine," I rasped; for in the instant my head had connected with the ceiling, I knew I could not be pulled out. I had forced myself in tightly, and the only way out was onward. "Are you sure?" said Cragger, sounding rather breathless (with worry, I assumed). But I chose to ignore his query, only swallowing and dragging myself further between the solid rock above and below. Sometimes, it seemed to press closer and closer until I was practically crushed, and had to hold my breath to move on; and sometimes the rock grew so jagged that I could not place a hand without cutting myself. But I pulled myself on, making steady progress, my chipped beak clenched tightly. And, at long last, I pulled myself out into an open space and rolled onto my back, straightening my stiff and twisted neck. I stared up at the ceiling of the cavern--for a cavern it was, and not more of the passageway we had been following. The ceiling was lower than in the cavern we'd started from, and no mists hung in corners or up high; but the space was still quite large in all dimensions, and the dim glow was ever present, allowing one to see a fair distance. "Rizzo!" Ewar came to my side and crouched down. "What happened? Did something attack you, or--?" "It was the rock," I croaked, shuddering when he felt the graze in my side. And that was when I noticed that he didn't look quite so fine himself.
His face was scratched, as were his arms and hands. An ugly green-and-purple bruise swelled on his shin. I slid away from him and heaved myself to a sitting position. "Ewar?" I said. Seeing the look on my face, he glanced down at his arms. "Oh--don't worry about me. This'll heal." I held a hand to the gash in my side, and I felt the corners of my beak turn down. "And this? Will this heal?" "Oh--" He sighed; and I thought, for a second, that he would answer me. But he didn't. "Here," he said, pulling me up painfully. "We found something...out of the usual." "Do tell," I gasped, cringing when I moved to take a step. Ewar started off across the cavern at a most disagreeable pace, and I limped after as best I could, putting extra weight on my left (real) foot. All of the others (excepting Cragger, who had yet to turn up) were crowding a small alcove in the far wall, and, as I came up behind them, I found that they were staring at a very large, very thick book sitting atop a knee-high stone pedestal set with sparkling blue gems. Aside from this, though (and those standing there), the alcove was empty: a simple, narrow addition with a rounded back wall. I tried to push past Razar for a better look at the dusty tome, but as soon as I had passed him, he snatched my shoulder and pulled me apart from the others. I clenched my beak to keep from crying out in pain, and barely managed to hiss, "I have no more treasure for you!" Razar waved a hand. "I know that, my friend! But I've been thinking--since this place isn't made of gold, d'you think they'd have a treasure room?" I squinted at him. "You have asked me this before. Many times before." I winced as my side throbbed. "And my answer remains the same: no."
"Now, I should like to see what this book is all about" --I nodded to the alcove-- "And why it is here; if you shall excuse me." But Razar gripped my arm tightly, and pointed to the only adjoining passageway (nothing like the slit near the floor from which we had come), which supposedly led deeper into the mountain. "Just imagine," said he, "the treasure room could be down that tunnel a bit--" There was a twanging sound from the passageway then; and before I could think about what it was, a burning pain erupted in my chest, and I stumbled backwards, clawing at it and gasping. Unfortunately, I chose to glance down then, and I saw both my hands close around the black-and-white-feathered shaft of an arrow. I continued to stare at it in shock, already beginning to feel my life drain out of me. It may have been a second or a year before I looked up; but when I did, a lion stepped into the cavern, holding up a bow, an arrow drawn back so far the feathers brushed his cheek. He bore a remarkable resemblance to Laval: powerfully built, red-maned, golden-eyed, a smooth and handsomely set face. But despite all this, his true age shone through: a black patch of roughened fabric covered one eye, rings of scarred gray flesh surrounding the other; his mouth was turned down, and he moved with an expertise that seemed to come from another age. Like the Gatekeeper, he wore a long, gray cloak over his usual garments (in his case, a blue tunic with a kilt to match). It seemed that the instant he had come in, all light and happiness fled, leaving behind fear and confusion; his presence being somehow stifling.
There was no mistaking it: this was Loradus. At last, he had come to us. I fell to my knees, still gripping the arrow shaft, and gasped. So this was how it would end. I coughed wetly. My vision began to fade. Struggling to hold my head up, I saw Loradus turn his gaze to rest on the oversized book in the alcove. Instantly, Eris made a move towards it, and Loradus turned his arrow on her. They stood this way for several moments, then Eris said, "Don't even think about touching this. It's--it's--" "I'm afraid I know what it is," said Loradus, his grim voice another indicator of how old he truly was. "But I can make things very painful for you if you don't step aside right now." When she didn't move, he inclined his head towards me. "He is dying. Only the Chi Fountain can save him now. And I'll show you the way if you step aside." Still Eris didn't move, and I finally let my head bow, the pain fading to a dull ache that throbbed and echoed throughout my body. The voices became soft and distant. "You don't seem to understand," Loradus was saying, somewhat edgily. "I want to help you. Many long years I have searched for that book, and now you have found it instead--" "If you need it, we're not giving it to you--" "You don't want to help us, you want us dead--" "You took over my tribe--well, you won't take over me--!" "No," hissed Loradus. "Be silent--you're deafening yourselves to the truth!" There was another twang! of his bowstring as (I assume) he let the arrow fly. A sharp intake of breath, and then (as Loradus had wished) silence. I lifted my head for what I knew would be the last time.
And through the dense fog that obscured my vision almost completely, I could see Laval, bent double, an arrowhead protruding up. "Alright, enough--" Worriz drew his Maulus and charged Loradus, but the lion merely extended a hand, spreading his palm unnaturally wide, speaking strange, soft words. Worriz froze mid-step, then toppled backwards as thick layers of rock grew out from him, encasing his entire form; and when he struck the ground, the rock shattered, leaving him lying there, shivering. It was then, before the others recovered from shock, that Loradus swung his bow to rest on his back and rushed over to me. "Answer me this instant," he muttered. "Do you want my help?" "Yes," I said, but no sound left my beak. Loradus seemed to understand, however, and he closed his narrowed yellow eye and twisted a hand again. Instantaneously, the cavern came back into focus and I found I could move freely again--but then a wave of pain struck me, and I cried out. "Why not...remove...the arrow?" But Loradus ignored my pitiful wheeze and said, "Should give you another hour or so...in any case, I'm glad you're being reasonable." I attempted to draw breath; it was terribly difficult. "Don't mention it," I huffed, suddenly realizing what I had just agreed to. A moment ago, accepting Loradus's help had seemed preferable to certain death--but not now. Another hour? Would that be enough time to find the Chi Fountain, assuming Loradus was telling the truth, and it could save me? Or would he simply take the book and disappear?
My frustration with the situation grew and grew as Loradus "healed" Laval as well, then stepped back to better face every one of us. "Come now; did you not want to find the Chi Fountain?" "Oh, we did," I said softly. "On our terms..." Laval closed his eyes, taking deep breaths. "What have you done to Cragger?" he suddenly asked. I turned my head sharply in alarm (the resulting pain forcing me to my knees) as realization struck me: Cragger still had yet to come through the small passage to us. "Nothing much," said Loradus. "He is merely immobilized at the very center of that rat-hole. Now--please hand over the book." "No!" I cried, anger and frustration at last bubbling over. "You want us all dead, yes? Then lift whatever charm it is you've placed upon me, so that my death may be swift and painless!" Loradus's face darkened noticeably, his glare as piercing as any arrow. "You have more reason to trust me than you know," he whispered. I raised my eye to his. "And I believe I have more reason to doubt you than even you know." Loradus reached a hand behind his back in reply; I could feel the others watching, waiting, but I kept my gaze on Loradus, prepared for the worst. Or so I thought. His hand reappeared, a large, pink flower clutched in it. I heard Laval and Gorzan gasp. "Put that away," I hissed. "If you want my trust, you will remove the ch--" "You are in no position to be giving orders," Loradus growled softly. Then, in a breathtakingly swift movement, he hurled the flower at Laval.
I watched in horror as it spun end over end through the air, stopping abruptly at Laval's snout. Laval batted it away at once, but the damage had been done: the lion's head sunk down in a hunch, his eyes two orbs of swirling red. "The book," said Loradus, pointing. Laval began to shuffle towards it, beating aside all those in his path: Eris, Razar, Gorzan.... Desperately, I got to my feet and lunged in the direction of the book. My left hand slapped down upon the cover, sending up a plume of dust; but in that instant, my legs gave out and I fell heavily onto my stomach. The head of the arrow was forced up through my back. The pain was excruciating; I let out a scream that seemed to tear the back of my throat. "Stop this!" A powerful voice cut through the blinding agony that filled my mind, and I heaved myself up on both elbows, shivering and breathing with extreme difficulty. Ewar was clasping the book tightly to his chest, switching his gaze from Laval to Loradus and back constantly. "There's no need for this!" he said. "I'll give you this book--but only if you heal everyone first." I tried to croak, "No," but all that came forth was a gurgle. Loradus nodded slowly. "Agreed. They still have parts to play in this, after all, as you do..." Ewar stared into Loradus's eye for what seemed an eternity ere holding out the book, in both hands, for him to take.
And he did so, lifting it with as much care as it had been offered. I had half-expected him to laugh maniacally the instant it came into his grasp, but he merely cleared it of dust with a puff of his breath and turned his gaze back to Ewar. "Hurry it up," said Ewar, a clear note of anxiety entering his voice. Loradus narrowed his good eye and took a step back, reaching inside his cloak. "Yes...as you wish." With a jerk, I reached out an arm and began the arduous process of dragging myself forward, for I was convinced that Loradus would pull a knife rather than anything of use to us. But when he drew his hand out, a teardrop of brilliant azure water rested on his palm. "A droplet from the Chi Fountain," he said, pressing it into Ewar's hand. "Rupture it and let its energies wash over those in need of them." "You don't have any more?" Loradus tightened his lips. "No; just the one right now. I can lead you to the Chi Fountain, you know..." I felt something rise in my throat, and I bent over, trying to keep it within my beak. Then a hand came to rest on the back of my quivering head. "Keep still," said Ewar quietly, and I heard something shatter. A soothing chill entered my wound, and I closed my eye as it spread through my entire form. I could feel my tissues weaving themselves together where they had been broken, my mind being fully cleared of pain, my life returning.
Loradus had told the truth after all. Carefully, I pulled myself to my knees and looked down at the protruding arrow shaft. "Go on," came Loradus's soft voice. I looked up; he was still holding the book in both hands, though his eye was focused on me. "Pull it out," he said. I narrowed my gaze. "The arrow, you mean?" It was then that I noticed that the others (excepting Ewar and Laval) were strewn about the cavern, almost as if a windstorm had passed through. I got to my feet, expecting pain that never struck. With a jolt, I remembered that Loradus was watching me, and I turned my gaze back to him. He did not answer my query. Closing a hand around the arrow, I asked, "Why must I remove it?" Still he gave no answer. Not wanting to turn my back to him, I swiveled my eye slightly. "Ewar?" I said softly. "Yes?" he returned. I made a quarter-turn in place, so as to keep Loradus in my sight. "Thank you for heali--" I broke off as Loradus jerked a hand away from the book in a strange sort of signal. And I was about to rush at him when I felt pressure around my lungs, and heard a short thip! My beak dropped open, my eye squeezed shut, and I exhaled sharply. Then I whirled about to find (as I had expected) Ewar clutching an arrow. He had removed it painlessly and without mess. I drew close to him, hissing in a voice that I hoped would not carry to Loradus's ears. "Why do you do as he orders? He is our enemy, remember!" Ewar frowned. "Maybe...but he can help us. He just did."
"Are you not holding the arrow that nearly took my life?" Ewar looked down at it and swallowed. "We don't have another choice." I drew breath, measuring my words carefully. "You saw the Anti-Chi he carries, yes?" I could feel Loradus' eye boring into my back as Ewar nodded very slightly. "Right," I murmured, lowering my voice further. "And now ask yourself: why would he willingly lead us to the Fountain?" Ewar clenched his beak. "I...don't know." I opened my beak, then, sensing a presence hanging over my shoulder, closed it and did the same with my eye. "I don't mean to disturb you," said Loradus, his warm breath riffling the feathers around my left ear-slit, "But I was under the impression that you wanted to find the Chi Fountain. Soon." "We do," I heard Ewar say carefully. "But everyone else needs healing--" "No harm has come to the rest of your friends--that is to say, except for Laval." I felt Loradus step back, and I let out a breath. "The others are merely in a dream state, for which I am responsible." I had been wondering about this, since Laval clearly had not the strength to knock out four creatures in succession with but four casual swipes of his paws. But why? Why had Loradus done it? I looked around at the unconscious forms of the others--Worriz (though he had already been down), Gorzan, Razar-- --Eris. I felt my shoulders sag and instantly turned about to face Loradus. The beginning of a sly smile was starting to touch the corners of his mouth.
"Ewar," he said, his eye staring deep into mine. "Would you be so kind as to awaken them? Time grows short." Ewar flicked his eyes from Loradus to me, then nodded hesitantly. I didn't at all like the thought of staying near Loradus, however, and I snatched Ewar's arm the instant he began to edge away. "And I shall be joining him." Loradus's faint smile grew almost imperceptibly. "Why so nervous, Rizzo?" I swallowed, narrowing my eye. "Ah, but I don't even need to ask," Loradus went on, lowering his voice. "The answer's practically written across your face...." I finally managed to pull my eye from him, limping over to the sleeping form of Eris. Bending down, I placed a hand on her feathered forehead. "Do wake up," I whispered. Gradually, her golden-yellow eyes blinked open; and taking a breath, I moved on to Razar. It took very little time to wake them all, and once Ewar and I had finished, Loradus beckoned everyone to gather before him. Ewar was the first to speak: "What about Cragger?" Loradus dismissed this with a slight wave of his hand. "He's fine where he is, I say; and he will stay there until I decide to release him. Now--" "Cragger comes with us," said Worriz menacingly. Loradus tilted his head. "He stays where he is. Now I'll hear no more about it." "I said--" "No more." For a moment, Worriz's features hardened into stone once again. Then he turned away, growling softly, ears flattened back. "You will follow me to the Chi Fountain," said Loradus, staring around at all of us. "It's a good place to start...." He turned sharply on his heel and started off down the passageway, ordering Laval to join us as well. And as I began to follow after, I stepped on something large and soft. The Anti-Chi, lying forgotten on the ground.
Loradus led us through the winding passage for quite some time, ignoring anyone who tried to speak to him. Those that were insistent were repelled violently by a sweep of Loradus's hand. By now, the lion had taken to reading the enormous book as he walked (he had set it hovering in the air, open, to drift along before him), and the sound of a page turning occasionally echoed into my hearing. The rock grew increasingly wet underfoot, but Loradus did not slow his pace in the least. He continued to flip pages, the water in his path flowing to either side to avoid coming in contact with him. The rest of us, however, slipped and splashed over the rock as we struggled to keep up. Laval had fallen behind, not having removed his own arrow (as well as not being fully healed). Deliberately, I slowed my step until I came beside him. "How are you faring?" I asked. Laval grunted. "You needn't concern yourself with such things. Master Loradus draws near to his goal." "Which is...?" Laval turned his eyes on me, twin points of crimson light. "Not for you to know." "I was under the impression that--" --It mattered not if I knew. I turned away, blinking, remembering what Lennox had said when we had first captured him all those moons ago: I can tell you exactly what you want to know, it changes nothing.
Quite suddenly, another memory of Lennox flashed through my head. In the dim light of a cave, he stood over a fallen Ewar, knife in hand. Repeatedly, he would try to stab the eagle; and every time, he would fail, the blade merely bouncing back ere it could bite flesh. Soon, I would pick up the nearby Valious and charge in between the two, forcing Lennox away.... A terrible thought began to form in my mind, and I quickly turned back to Laval. "What do you know of the eagle, Ewar?" Laval's eyes widened, then narrowed; but he said nothing in reply. I swallowed, choosing my words carefully. "Loradus set a price on his head, did he not?" "He did," Laval growled. "What is it to you?" A great deal more than he knew. Ewar had stood before Loradus, conversed with him, and was now following directly behind him. Had Loradus simply not known it was him? No, it couldn't be: Loradus had called him by name. But then what did the lion want with him in the first place? I gasped as Laval's hands suddenly closed about my neck, and he pushed me into the wall with such force that I felt the moistened rock shudder behind me. "Say that again?!" Had I been paying attention to anything other than the hands about my neck, I would have seen Loradus and the others disappear around a corner. But I could only shiver and try to make sense of what Laval had said.
