Years of the Covenant: Part 4

Darkness consumed the depths of the chasm below him. Small rideges dotted the chasm walls, but just above him was an out-cropping that proved problematic. The walls of the chasm were in clear sight all about him, vast and wide. But here they sharply narrowed, with the outcropping cutting off the ascent ... he was trapped.

How in the world was he expected to reach the top of the pillars? And with that thought a hissing roar echoed from behind him. On the east end of the chasm, or at least what he perceived to be east, a couple of pillars behind him there was a dark, gaping cave.

Dried blood crusted his skin while dew and sweat beaded his face. His clothes were torn and tattered, dehydration was setting in, and he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten. He shook those thoughts from his mind. None of that mattered now; all that mattered was staying alive.

As he wiped the sweat from his eyes and brow, he could see a cluster of rocks wedged securely above the cave entrance. Vannolyn knew he couldn't climb for much longer, he'd been at it for hours and his muscles were beginning to severely strain. He climbed several feet further up the pillar, pulled out and arrow, tied his rope to the arrow head, and wedged it deep into the crevice until it was fully secured.

He then took the other end of the rope tied it to another arrow. Pulling the bow from his shoulder he situated himself about the pillar so he could have a clear shot at the cluster. Vannolyn placed the arrow, pulled the twine taught, and let it fly. The slack of the rope went tight the instant the arrow was imbedded right above the cave entrance.

Then he pulled the grappling hook from his pack. Resting one prong firmly on the tight rope to test its strength, he then let go of the pillar, sliding down the length. Air rushed by his face, making drier and more brittle. He let go of the rope just feet before the entrance, slamming into the cave floor, and letting a painful groan.

His body was in screaming agony as he forced himself to his feet. With one hard yank the rope came free; he wrapped it up with the grappling hook and replaced it in his pack. As he turned to get a better look at the cave, he instantly regretted the choice going that way.

Skulls and bones of all creatures littered a floor of sharp, polished black stones. The air was rank and smelled of rot that was set in a low cast of think mist that clung to the floor. Vannolyn was repulsed at the sight of the decayed remains, but he did not falter. There had to be a way through this hell hole.

He stepped lightly, making sure not scraped the rocks or crush the bones. Light echoes trickled across the walls as he moved through the tunnels.

Hsssssss!!!

Vannolyn froze instantly, something else was in this honeycomb of passage ways. He moved faster, now running through the tunnels. His heart raced, and he heard another loud hiss echo with vibrations down the walls ... it was drawing closer. Suddenly he tripped over a loose rocke and hit the ground with a loud THUD! For a moment he didn't move as he felt a thick flaky substance beneath him.

It felt like parchment, but as he opened his eyes a look of shock and disbelief took over ... not parchment ... very large skin sheddings. This creature was some type of serpant.

Vannolyn, now more frightend than when he faced the dark umberhulk, was racing down the tunnels making no effort to cover sounds of his footfalls. Another hissing roar shook the cave corridors, the creature was very close ... it was tracking him.

All of a sudden the tunnel came to end opening into a sparsely illuminated cavern. It was enormous in size, littered with more ivory remains and old rusted weapons. But there was something else here, something that gripped his soul with terror. Frighteng stone statues of drow, humans, and countless other races dotted the cavern floor; other less fortunate victims. He realized at once that this wasn't just any serpant ... no ... it was a basalisk!

As he looke upward he saw what he had been praying for. Holes in the cavern dome dotted the ceiling like skylights. At the far end of the cavern was a pile of rocks and boulders that provided natural stairs to one of the lower holes. He weaved his way through stone graveyard, trying to make as little noise as possible ... suddenly it was there.

Anothe hiss came ... it was in the cavern. Vannolyn ducked down and turned to see the biggest, most massive serpant he had ever seen in his life. Its body was black with a green sheen, its teeth razor sharp, and a small fin on the back of its colossal head. But the eyes ... he did not dare look upon those.

Vannolyn hid behind the statue of a berserker, blocking himself from sight. At his feet was a large, rusted old shield. He lifted it carefully, making sure not to cause a ruckuss. He took a deep breath recalled the words that had saved him from the dark umberhulk ... 'embrace the darkness'.

He stepped lightly once more, concentrating on melting into the darkness. The creature was feet away now, watching its surroundings, trying to find the intruder that had entered its lair. Vannolyn kept the shield held high as he made his way towards the boulders.

Placing the shield across his back, he climbed very slowly, taking sure steps as he heaved his way up towards the opening. He had reached the the top of the boulders and his escape when the shield came loose.

He caught it, but not before it had banged the rocks sending a loud echo shaking through the cavern. The basalisk turned at once and spotted him instantly. Vannolyn frantically replaced the shield and scrambled for the opening with the basalisk close on his heels.

Vannolyn, now facing death, burst from the opening with a leap. His eyes darted as he realized that was a much larger outcropping. The pillars were in sight, but not within reach. And then realized it at once ... an anciet, ruined bridge lay at the top of the pillars.

A rumbling came from beneath his feet and then a shattering explosion of dust and stone filled the air as the massive black body of the basalisk broke through the opening. The creature was enraged that it had been tricked so easily.

There was no way to escape the beast now. He pulled the black sword from his sheath and armed himelf with the rusted shield. Vannolyn knew the basalisk was watching his every move, waiting to strike, but he didn't dare try to look it in the eyes; lest he become one of the many statues he saw.

Without warning it struck, missing him by inches as Vannolyn vaulted out of the way and its teeth sank into stone. This was his chance Vannolyn rushed the beast from behind, and with one wide sweep of his blade removed the basalisk's eyes. It hissed furiously as its vision went black. He then jammed the shield in its gaping and fastened jaw as it wrenched wildly free its teeth, that would hold it off long enough for him to find an escape.

Now, with just a hair of composure, Vannolyn replaced the ebony blade and removed two arrows from his quiver. He sprinted as fast as he could for the end of the outcropping. In complete desperation he jumpted ... for a few endless seconds flew across the chasm until he slammed into the nearest pillar, arrow heads digging into the stone. The impact jarred him for a moment, but his adrenaline kicked back in and he fought tirelessly to climb to the bridge. As he looked back at the outcropping he realized the basalisk was gone, like it had never been there.

Vannolyn didn't question his fortune he merely accepted it. As he heaved himself over the railing of the stone bridge his body collapsed, heaving from the pain and wear on his body. He let himself recover a moment as the exhaustion trickled through him.

Heavy breaths escaped his mouth as he turned himself on his back. Blood and sweat coated his ebony skin. His long white hair was in tatters and tangles. Steadily his heartbeat slowed as he closed his eyes and let his breathing return to normal.

Hssssssssss!

Instantly his eyes snapped open just as he caught sight of the basalisk towering over him and the bridge as it lunged for him. With lightning speed he rolled to his side, the basalisk's fangs just catching him across his lower and upper back as its teeth sank into stone.

White hot pain shot down the whole of his back, but he didn't slow, depending on the adrenaline alone to keep him going. He whipped out the dark blade once more, springing to his feet just as fast. The creature was free again preparing to strike.

Lunge and lunge, the basalisk struck with a amazing speed. Even without the use of its eyes it could still track his every move. Vannolyn dashed and jumped, evading its strikes with just enough speed. It struck again and this time Vannolyn was sent sprawling from the recoil across the stone.

The wind knocked straight of him. His sword flew from his hand, falling against the edge of the bridge. Quickly, he struggled to his feet and dashed for his weapon. The basalisk prepared to strike once more. Vannolyn turned about with his weapon with just in time to see the gaping maw of the creature. He let a desperate scream as the blade flared to life once more with brilliant white fire.

With one swing he severed a few teeth from its jaw. However the weight of the beast slammed into him, sending him and the basalisk over the edge of the bridge. Raging winds filled his ears as the beast fought him relentlessly in mid-air. With one striking blow of his fist to the basalisk's head he finally freed himself of its body's tangle.

He took the still glowing, white sword in both hands and jabbed into the nearest stone pillar. Sparks flared wildly as the blade grinded against the pressure of his fall. Suddenly the blade caught his fall was halted with a jolt. The basalisk fell further into the darkness, sinking into the mist with fading echoes of its monstrous streaks. His eye's followed it until was gone and completely out of site.

With what little strength that remained he pulled out his dagger and used the two blades to make the climb back up. The hidden magic of the black sword had gone dormant once more. It was a strange weapon to say the least, but it had now saved his life twice.

The pain was beginning to set in, but he felt a fever starting to come on as well; poison from the wounds across the back. His entire body screamed in agony. As he pulled himself over the edge of the bridge again dizziness and weariness set in. And there they were, the four teeth and right fang that he'd severed from the beast's mouth; he picked them up and pocketed them within his tunic. His vision was fuzzy as well. And then he, despite his dimensia, saw it ... the demon.

It was a massive stone demon wreathing the mouth of a hand-made cave. He limped the whole distance of the bridge, struggling to put one foot in front of the other. As he approached the demon, three hazy shadows formed at the mouth of the cave. Fighting to keep clear sight, he realized that these shadows were actually silhouettes; two short ones and one tall.

When he was just within a few feet of the entrance he finally realized exactly who these men were.

"Well done young drow." Darrien Hoss said in approval, clapping his hands lightly together.

"You! ... It's you!", Vannolyn croaked as he coughed and weazed. He keeled over almost at once, and passed out from the pain and exhaustion. Darrien looked down at Vannolyn through the small eye slit in his Ninja robes, a smirk hidden beneath his coverings.

With a snap of his finger the two children of night at his side picked up the bloody limp body of Vannolyn. And altogether, the four men disappeared into the cave ... and the fortress of Night Watch.