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TheCrimsonKnightOffi — Tomb of the Lost Kings (Part II)
#adventure #elli #oc #sandals #sphinx #tomb #aethermyst_sagas #storytelling #short_story
Published: 2022-07-24 05:21:26 +0000 UTC; Views: 4258; Favourites: 18; Downloads: 1
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Southern Dune Sea
The sun eventually fell beyond the western horizon as the pair traveled north along the crest of a large dune. They had to put up their hoods, initially to keep the blistering sun off their skin, but then to protect against the stinging sands as the wind picked up. The horse had been trudging along, trying to keep an even pace. Hobs’ cart was not large by any means, nor was it loaded heavily, but the young mare still had its limits tested with the harsh environment. Elli would occasionally dismount the cart and walk alongside it, offering water and the occasional slice of melon to keep the animal hydrated. Hobs noted the way that she cared for a horse that was not even hers.
“She seems to appreciate you.” he commented.
Elli looked back at him and smiled, “She’s strong. I think it’s only right that we help keep her that way.”
He chuckled, “I picked her up near Ponston. My old gelding made it perhaps half the journey before he succumbed to age. He was reliable, but he had gotten up in his years. I was stuck on the side of the road with this cart, then a group of hunters had come by. They had lost a lad against some rather nasty dire wolves, but still had this one here. They sold her to me for a decent price. I was relieved that she was already well trained.”
“She seems very sweet.” Elli remarked, “I’m sure she’ll serve you well.”
He grinned at her, “Or perhaps she’ll serve you someday.”
Elli smirked, “Come now, don’t jest. I’d never take an old man’s horse.”
He laughed heartily, “No, I don’t believe you’d take her from me. But perhaps when this journey is over, I may give her to you.”
Elli knit her brow in puzzlement, “Are you serious?”
“Of course. I’ll have no need for one. She’s young, like you. I imagine you could put her to far better use with your vocation, than an old man and his retirement.” he tipped his head assuredly.
“I would be honored.” Elli patted the mare’s neck, “Does she have a name?”
He shook his head, “I haven’t given her one. It’s bad luck.”
“Oh?” Elli’s interest was piqued, “How so?”
“It’s an old superstition among the folks in the east. A horse with a name cannot be used for burden, for that is like putting a family member to labor without benefit. Horses with names that are laden with work, die much sooner than if they are simply put to work as they are.” he explained.
“That seems rather silly.” Elli huffed, “If your companion has no name, what do you call them when you need them?”
“You don’t… they simply know to be there.” his words resounded in her mind with a strange sense of wisdom. A companion that knows you need them, never needs to be called upon. Elli gave the mare one final piece of fruit, then climbed back into the cart. They continued along the ridge until the moon and stars were clearly visible in the vast, inky sky. They halted and setup camp by torchlight. Elli laid out her bedroll and built a small fire while Hobs situated the cart to accommodate his own sleeping arrangement. The mare was let loose of the yoke and Elli tended to it, making sure it had water and grain. The nights in the Dune Sea were a stark contrast to the scorching days. The air was cold and each passing of a breeze brought a chill to those that stayed in the elements. Elli went through her rucksack and fetched a woolen blanket, wrapping it around herself tightly before she sat on her bedroll by the fire. Hobs took out a long, clay pipe and loaded it with a dried, red herb.
“That’s not dorma, is it?” she asked.
He shook his head and let out a few rings of smoke, “This is sweet leaf. The red strain is much more potent than dorma. It helps with sleep.” he offered the pipe and Elli accepted it. She took a long draw and noticed there was a very different aroma and flavor to the smoke than the common dorma plants had. She felt sleepy almost immediately as the stars appeared brighter and the moon appeared larger.
“Wow, this really is better than dorma.” she gave a slight giggle before straightening her composure.
“You’re an interesting one, El’liara.” Hobs said, taking the pipe back, “What made you want to be a hunter?”
“You can call me Elli. I usually reserve that for friends, but I feel like we’ve gotten on pretty well.” she smiled at him.
“Alright, Elli. Why choose the life of the frontiersmen? You seem quite intelligent, why not academia or artisanry?” he took another deep draw, making the pipe glow orange.
She gave a subdued laugh, “My parents aren’t originally from Rodera. My mother was born in Forsica, of all places, and my father met her while traveling east, fleeing from the Triskäld invasion in the western states. They met and fell in love, all that sort of mushy garble and went to academy together. The war was already in its late stages and they wanted to travel abroad to teach. Obviously there were some dangers in coming to an enemy country, but they had impressive enough credentials that the Roderan prince saw worth in having them come teach at his school.”
“I suppose that explains why you are lighter complected than most Karysians.” Hobs commented.
Elli nodded, “When I was a little girl, my mother taught me to read but my father insisted that I follow the traditions of my birthplace, so I took up the bow at ten winters. I fell in love with it instantly. The beauty of it and its deadly power were just as the books I read had described. Heroes going out and battling beasts and monsters with naught but their trusted bow and a full quiver at their side was my idea of an exciting and fulfilling life. I practiced for hours a day, every day until I could pluck a coin from the top of a bottle without breaking the neck. I joined up with a hunter’s guild at fifteen and at first they wouldn’t have me because I was too young, but after I showed them that I could shoot with the best of them, they accepted me and paired me with a master hunter. He taught me to track and to conceal myself from my quarry. He showed me the vulnerable parts of every beast that he knew I would come across out here and in the Desimini plains. During that time I also trained with the sword, so that if I ever came to a point where the bow just wouldn’t do, I could still fight to survive.”
“Where is this master hunter now?” Hobs asked.
Elli sighed, “He’s passed on.”
“I’m sorry to hear. How?” Hobs softened his voice.
Elli’s reply was wrought with melancholy, “Not by any sort of grand hunt or dangerous beast... It was the hanging throat that took him.”
Hobs nodded gloomily, “Yes… that blight has taken many from our world. I read the treaty that the Onyx Academy in Sarvale put out a few decades back. No cure for the curse of pure chaos. I say rubbish to that.”
“You think there is?” Elli stared into the fire, then cast her gaze at him.
Hobs looked up toward the stars, “They all know what causes it, yet they do nothing to stop it.”
“The gods?” Elli looked up, “Aren’t they under the oath of Dremerna to never interfere with the mortal world?”
“Does Oz’rith follow such an oath?” Hobs prosed, “Does his curse?”
“Perhaps the gods have faith in us.” Elli offered, “Perhaps they know something we don’t.”
He tamped out his pipe and reloaded it, “You have a great deal of faith in the gods, don’t you?”
“I wouldn’t say that.” Elli replied, “But they did create this world. They sent Oz’rith to the Chaos Plane with the knowledge that he would seek vengeance. Etrys is our mother goddess, she has to have a design beyond what we can see.”
“And yet, she allows the siblings, Katir and Qor, to do battle every one-hundred years, allowing the potential destruction of the world with their battle as they marvel at the spectacle. The gods are selfish, vain and cruel. At least the Fallen Six are honest about it.” Hobs lit his pipe and took a long draw.
Elli looked back at him, “Perhaps it’s our perception of them that is flawed.”
“Oh?” Hobs wreathed smoke around his head, “Explain.”
“We think that because they created this world, that they are perfect… that they have no flaws. That perception in and of itself is flawed. Like any being brought to existence, as with everything in the Aethermyst, there is no perfection, there is only what we know to be right and wrong. They are no different. They are blessed with everlasting life, but they can still be destroyed, right?”
“That is one theory.” Hobs nodded, “That’s why people like Claera Grieve exist.”
Elli huffed, “Claera Grieve is a myth. No witch would seek to destroy their patron.”
Hobs laughed, “You say that so confidently. I can tell you that she is, in fact, a real person. She has been seeking the soul of Mornaal for a long time now, but not for the reason Oz’rith wants.”
Elli smirked, “You’re clearly joking. Surely Oz’rith would not tolerate such betrayal if her goal were to destroy him.”
Hobs offered her the pipe again and she declined, “Who knows what thoughts exist among the gods? Be they benevolent or maligned is not for us to say. We can only do what we must. As for Claera… I suppose we shall see what time will reveal.”
Elli yawned, removed her sandals and laid into her bedroll, “I suppose we will. By the way, that sweet leaf you’ve got really works. I’m exhausted and I think I’ll turn in... Good night, Hobs.”
“Good night, Elli.” Hobs doused his pipe and put it away as he prepared for sleep.
Elli awoke the next morning to the warmth of the sun’s rays. Her eyes opened slowly and her vision clarified to the sight of the burnt out fire pit. She scanned the campsite and noticed that Hobs was still asleep. She scanned further and noted that the horse was not in sight. That was the element that forced her to sit up.
“Hobs, where is the horse?” she shouted, quickly casting aside her blanket and rising from her bedroll.
The old man stirred and awoke to the sound of her alarm. He rose and looked about, seeing that the mare was nowhere to be seen. Elli grabbed her bow and quiver, not bothering to put on her sandals as she strode out into the sand. Hobs followed her as she crested the ridge of an adjacent dune. She saw the mare near a small pond of ground water and sighed in relief, until she noticed the nearby dip of sand near the pond. She halted Hobs as he approached and pointed at the divot.
“That’s a sand mantis nest.” she explained, “If she gets any closer, it’s going to attack.”
“Can we draw it away from her?” he asked.
“It senses vibrations in the sand. She’s the closest source of sound.” Elli notched one of her arrows and readied herself to take a shot. She saw the feelers of the sand mantis poking up from the sand, “I have an idea. Be ready to whistle for the horse.”
She loosed the arrow, striking just between the two antennae. The sand began to slide into the divot as a mound rose from the center. The sand broke aside and revealed a wide crest, followed by a set of compound eyes and massive front claws. Hobs whistled a distinct tone and the mare turned and began to trot back toward him. Elli readied another arrow as the massive insect barreled out of the pit toward the horse. She took aim and shot the mantis directly in one of its eyes, halting its advance. She quickly drew another arrow and released it into its maw as the giant insect turned on her, it screeched in pain from the impact. The arrow lodged into its face, jutting out between the crushing mandibles. A strange mixture of screeching and choking could be heard. Hobs quickly got to the mare and led it away while Elli fixed another arrow to her bowstring. She ran around the mantis as it struggled to regain its bearing, using its claws to dislodge the arrow from its eye and crushing the other arrow in its mouth. Elli kept to the side of the injured eye and quickly got behind it. She ran up the backside of its chitinous abdomen, her sand coated feet barely gripping the smooth surface of its back. She drew back the bow and shot it into the back of its head, which threw it into a frenzy. It bucked her off in a fury, sending her into the sand, face first. Elli spit out a mouth full of desert and turned in time to roll away from a massive claw coming down at her. She yelped and scrambled up to her feet, dashing as fast as she could to the creature’s blind side, making it have to turn to see her. It was at that moment she wished she’d brought her sword. The mantis charged her and screeched in anger, looking to devour the pest that injured it. Much to Elli’s misfortune, she had not injured its legs and it was much faster than her with its multiple limbs. She sprinted as fast as she could but her bare feet kept sinking into the dune, making the effort nearly futile. The mantis was upon her and bore down, about to crush her with its mandibles when a ball of fire struck it in the thorax. It crackled and trilled in agony. Elli looked toward the crest of the dune and saw Hobs standing there with his arm outstretched. The mantis stumbled as it burned and Elli took the opportunity to ready another arrow and launch it through its screeching maw. The arrow went through completely and protruded from the back of its head. The mantis wobbled but stayed standing, Elli prepared another arrow but stopped short of shooting when another fireball hit the mantis in the head. Elli opted to run instead of continuing to engage as the creature toppled over, consumed by the arcane fire. She dusted herself off and looked up at Hobs with disbelief. He quickly came down to her from atop the dune.
“Are you alright, Elli?” his concern was genuine.
She aimed her bow directly at his face, “Stay the fuck away from me, mage!”
“El’liara, please let me explain.” Hobs held his empty hands up.
She drew back halfway on the string, “Go on! Explain why you lied to me!”
“You asked me a very sensitive question on a barge full of strangers. What was I to say to you, without knowing if you’d turn me in to the inquisitors?”
“A little trust goes a long way, Hobs!” Elli yelled, “I should shoot you where you stand!”
“I understand you’re upset, but I did just save your life… with magic.” he held his hands still as he could, taking no chance with her reflexes, “Please, lower your weapon.”
Elli slowly relaxed her draw and brought the bow down. She looked visibly shaken from the encounter with the mantis. Her knees felt weak from running in the loose sand and her calves and thighs burned from the exertion. She fell to her knees and Hobs quickly went to her side and offered her his water gourd.
“Here, take this. It has restorative properties. I’m sorry I lied… I hope you’ll forgive me.” he handed her the gourd and she took a few sips. Instantly she felt her dizziness ebb away and her legs became stable once more. She stood up and looped her bow around her back, handing the gourd back to Hobs.
“Thank you for saving my life…” she gave him a stern look, “…with that said, if you lie to me again, I will leave you in this desert to rot. Have I made myself clear?”
“Crystal clear.” he bowed his head in acquiescence.
“Good, let’s eat and get a move on. Katir will be bearing down on us soon enough.” she headed back to their campsite with Hobs following behind. She made a quick meal of their provisions. Smoked fish and herbs with a pre-made citrus glaze. Hobs complimented her on her skills but she remained aloof with him, still sour over his deception. She opted to walk alongside the mare after they gathered up their gear. Hobs looked forlorn as they made the journey in silence but for the wind howling past, stinging them with sand. Elli kept to the leeward side of the mare but provided it with a set of eye guards for protection. Soon the wind was becoming a monstrosity of its own. It kicked up a sand storm that began to blot out the sky. Elli had no choice but to address the old man as he tried to keep pushing them forward.
“We need to make a shelter!” She shouted back to him, “This storm can kill us if we stay exposed too long!”
Hobs barely could make out her words and she could barely see him nod in agreement, “There is a spell I know for this very thing! Are you agreeable to that?!”
Elli hesitated for a moment, then she nodded, “Fine! Just make it happen quickly!”
He halted the cart and dismounted. He walked to a flat spot of ground and lifted his hands.
“Alhatruista malecorum!”
As he concentrated, Elli watched as a blue mist grew up from the sands and began to form a dome of glowing light. When it finished, the dome stopped glowing and appeared as though it vanished, yet she could barely see that the sand was deflecting off of something that appeared solid. She helped him untether the horse and lead it into the dome, both he and the mare disappeared, leaving her hesitant to enter. She put out her hand and touched the bending image with her fingertips. They entered without pain or any feeling at all, which made her curious. She walked through the perceived barrier and was surprised at the silence that followed. Hobs was calming the mare as he looked up at her.
“It’s an arcane shelter. Only those whom I deem as allies may enter. A useful spell when there are dangers abound.” he explained.
Elli watched as the sand parted around the dome, which could have easily fit another horse and a few more people, “This is really something. I don’t know what to say.”
“Nothing need be said, dear girl.” Hobs assured, “It is what we needed.”
“So, this is magic…” Elli marveled at the construct, “It’s not what I imagined it to be.”
Hobs puzzled at her ignorance, “Your parents are from Emizthar. I’m surprised they didn’t teach you about it.”
“Out here, it’s dangerous to talk about magic.” Elli explained, “They just said it is something that the kingdom didn’t approve of.”
“I see…” he sighed, “It’s a shame that the regime has gone to such lengths to suppress mages. Diem’nix was over a thousand years ago, yet the Templar hold it over us like we are to blame for his evils. I had rather hoped you’d be more amenable to such things, given your willingness to join me.”
Elli huffed, “To be fair, you offered me a large reward for my services. When I asked if you were a mage, I wasn’t sure if I’d continue traveling with you had you said yes.”
Hobs’ expression displayed his dismay, “As a result of my apprehension, I put you in extreme danger. If I weren’t a mage, you’d have been killed. Had I been forthcoming, I could have handled the mantis on my own with no question. I am truly sorry, Elli. I hope you can forgive me.”
Elli attempted a genuine smile, though the truth of his words resonated with her, “Were you not a mage, this sand storm could have done the same to both of us. While I don’t appreciate being deceived, I do recognize the benefit of the current situation. I am not angry enough to be ungrateful for your skills, so I think I can forgive you without pause.”
Hobs nodded contentedly, “You are wise beyond your years, young lady. That will be the key to your greatness someday.”
They waited out the sand storm for hours before the wind subsided enough to allow for safe travel. Hobs had with him a deck of King’s Card, a popular game and a pastime that was shared between the two major continents. Elli had played only a handful of times before, making it easier for the more seasoned wizard to best her, despite her quick learning curve. As they emerged from the magical dome, she set to work clearing the cart of sand and collecting the cargo that had been torn free of the tie-downs. Hobs harnessed the mare and when they had collected themselves, they set off once more. The day wore into the late afternoon when hobs checked his map again and looked to the sky. The brightest of the numen stars were beginning to show and he slowed the cart.
“Is something wrong?” Elli asked.
He shook his head, “No, in fact, according to the map, we are very close.”
She looked around at the still endless sea of sand and gave him a puzzled look, “As I said before, there isn’t much out here. Perhaps we should turn back. I won’t expect a full pay for my company, as we are obviously empty handed.”
“You’ve earned your keep, my dear, but you still doubt the power that the forces of magic can produce… observe.” he pointed to the horizon and she saw a bright, white object sticking up from the sand. The object was in the shape of a four sided pyramid, but much smaller than any of the tombs she had seen built along the Karys. It was no bigger than the shelter he had conjured, yet it looked as though it had never been scored by the sands and winds. The protrusion appeared to shine by the light of the stars alone, disregarding the orange glow of the setting sun. The pair climbed down from the cart and approached the anomaly.
“What is that?” Elli asked.
“It is the marker of the entrance.” Hobs replied.
“Entrance, but I see only more desert.” she observed.
He chuckled, “Aye, but observe closely and all will be revealed.”
The wizard stopped walking and held his hand out to keep her from moving ahead. He held out both of his hands and smiled, “It was here that I had planned to reveal the nature of my power and here alone you would have been forced to make your decision to stay. Since you have already chosen to stay, there is no longer a need to hide what I can do. Arcanum Abolishetus!”
The sand surrounding the white object began to dissipate, melting away with a blue glow at its fringes. The object became taller as the desert gave way to a breathtaking garden of brilliant color. Beige became green and the chasm of a courtyard was revealed before them. The depression was deep and rocky. Cliffs of red stone held back the true dune sea as the white protrusion became an obelisk of alabaster, covered in ancient runes and glyphs. The garden was the most gorgeous scenery Elli had ever seen. Flowers and fronds of brilliant hues danced in the light of the stars with the breeze that carried through. El’liara found herself staring into something heavenly, outside her comprehension. A path was revealed before them, winding downward into the vast orchard of precious color.
Hobs stepped back and admired his find, “After all my years of research, to see it with my own eyes is truly beyond my reckoning.”
Elli stepped up to the precipice and gawked at the sight before her, “All this time this was here… and no one ever came across it. How?”
“The world has its own defenses against those that wish it harm.” Hobs explained, “Those that came before knew to hide this place, using magic to mask it from unwanted attention.”
“It must be really important then.” Elli marveled, “To go through so much trouble.”
“Sacred.” Hobs added, “One of the most valuable places in Karys.” he scouted the pathway, “It appears the path will not accommodate the cart. Unhitch the mare, we still need her to help carry equipment.”
Elli complied while hobs climbed into the cart and unlocked a large chest in the back. He removed a bundle of torches, several canvas sacks and a prybar. He also took out a satchel that clanked as he put it over his shoulders. Elli took a coupled of horse blankets and draped them over the mare, then helped hobs load up a set of saddle bags with his wares. They headed down the pathway carefully, not knowing how stable the ground beneath them was going to be. As they neared the bottom, the pathway converged into a stone pathway that led to a large veranda, surrounded by limestone pillars. Fountains and pools of crystal blue water were aligned on either side of the garden and thick ropes of vines wrapped their way up the stone columns. At the far end of the veranda was a statue of a massive sphinx. The pedestal that the statue sat upon was adorned with alter rugs and incense bowls. It appeared to be a shrine at the base of this godlike being. Behind the sphinx, a great wall of granite and gold lay beyond, with a large gate sealed with some form of ancient, mechanical lock. Between the statue’s lionlike feet sat an ornate box. The pair approached the statue slowly, in awe at its pristine form. They stopped short of the altar and Hobs took a large coin from his satchel. He laid the coin on the shrine and knelt on the ornate rugs before the sphinx. Elli stood back and watched him perform the queer ritual.
“Great guardian of kings, I beseech your permission.” he almost sounded as if he were praying to the statue. Elli looked around as if to try and see a way to enter the tomb when she heard a deep, yet stoically calm voice boom from in front of them.
“Horbeleus, son of Delani and Orstos. El’liara, daughter of Riala and Hemaron. What do you seek?”
Elli nearly pissed herself when the voice not only identified her but knew the names of her parents. She drew her bow and quickly readied an arrow, drawing back and aiming at the statue, “What the fuck was that? Who said that and how do they know my name?”
Hobs held up his hand to stop her, “Please, Elli! Do not do anything foolish. It will be okay, I promise.”
Elli lowered her bow reluctantly, “Show yourself!”
Hobs sighed, but before he could chide her impudence, the statue began to change. The white stone took on color, the face of the sphinx turned a deep shade or blue and the armor it wore was of gold, dotted in large jewels. Its eyes glowed and its massive wings unfurled. Elli’s jaw dropped open in disbelief. Even the mare backed up in anxious apprehension, whinnying at the transformed goliath. The sphinx fixed its gaze upon her and she felt the urge to loosen her grip on her bow, dropping it to the ground.
“What do you seek?” it asked them again.
Hobs stood and stepped back from the shrine, “We seek entry to the tomb of the sacred kings. To drink from the Font of Life.”
Elli knit her brow at his declaration, “The what?”
Before he could answer, the sphinx returned its answer, “Only the wise and worthy may enter to drink the healing waters. You must answer my riddles correctly… or be destroyed.”
“Hobs, what the fuck is happening?” Elli was becoming increasingly alarmed.
He ignored her and addressed the sphinx, “I accept your challenge.”
“All that is under the light of the gods bends to my will…” the sphinx began, “The boughs sway and break, the sand shifts and flows, the ocean breaks and swells… what am I?”
“You are the wind.” Hobs answered quickly.
“You are correct.”
Elli watched with bated breath as it began its next puzzle.
“Unpredictable and random, armies cannot stand in my presence. I appear in the face of fear and rage and evil favors my wrath… What am I?”
“You are chaos.” again, Hobs was quick to answer.
The sphinx nodded, “You are correct.”
Sweat beaded on the back of Elli’s neck. The first two riddles seemed too simple.
“I turn bones to dust, metal to rust and mountains to sand. Nothing can escape the certainty of a grasp that cannot be seen… What am I?”
Hobs paused at the third riddle. It was not as clear as the first two. Elli slowly knelt down to pick up her bow and stepped back, she waited and looked nervously at the old wizard.
“You are time.” Hobs seemed less certain about his answer. The sphinx spread its wings high and puffed out its massive breast.
“You are correct.”
Elli sighed with relief and put away her bow. Hobs likewise let out a deep breath. The sphinx settled back into its previous position, wings folded at its side as it lowered back down to its belly. The box between its feet opened and revealed an octagonal stone with a pair of handles jutting from it.
“You may enter.” the sphinx assured, “A word of warning before you do. The blessed dead still guard the treasures of the kings. They will not yield to your worthiness nor show mercy to your cries. Be swift and claim your prize, or you may end up joining them in their eternal dominion. No beast of burden may enter sacred halls. It will remain safely in the garden.”
“I understand. We shall hasten our journey and extend to you our gratitude.” Hobs replied and turned to El’liara, “Come, leave her here, we take what we need and nothing more.”
“Can we trust this creature?” Elli asked, “It did threaten to destroy us.”
Hobs gave her a reproachful look, “Why do you think I offered you so high a reward? It was not because of your striking looks… it was because of the risk.”
“What good is thirty-thousand dragma if I don’t live to use it?” she argued, “What if it eats the horse while we’re gone?”
Hobs nodded at the sphinx, causing Elli to do the same. She furrowed her brow incredulously as she stared once more at a statue. She looked back at him, “Doesn’t negate my point.”
He shook his head, “I need you more than the horse does. I cannot defend myself against the dangers within on my own.”
Elli looked at the mare, then at the tomb entrance and growled in frustration, “Fine, but if anything happens to that horse, I’m going to be pissed.”
“Duly noted.” Hobs huffed, “Grab the torches and the sacks and come along.”
As she fetched what he requested, Hobs made his way to the door with the stone key. He fitted it into the locking mechanism and twisted it a half turn. A plume of dust spurted from the sealed crack between the doors and a series of clanking noises could be heard beyond. The doors separated slowly, revealing a wide flight of stairs before them. Elli appeared at his side and handed him a torch.
“Inflammae.” Hobs waved his hand past the torch head and it caught fire. He touched it to hers and lit it.
“That’s a neat spell.” she commented, “I’ll have to remember that one.”
They stepped into the tomb and descended the long staircase. Columns rife with more runes and glyphs glowed in the light of their torches as they ventured deeper into the darkness.
Note: Sorry it took so long to post the next part, sometimes life keeps me too busy to sit down and work on these stories. Stay tuned for the next part to be released. The artwork is already finished and waiting for the story to catch up so get excited for more action to come as Elli faces the unknown dangers of the tomb.
