A movement to their side! Elves!
Chunky and Ronen intercepted them. Only two. One died instantly as Chunky's sword found its heart. The other was knocked down by the hilt of Ronen's sword. Dazed, the elf lay there, unsure of where he was.
Eme-Redser made her way quickly to him. She reached down and slapped him hard across the face. The pain roused the Dark Elf from confusion. "Ouch, woman-elf, that hurts!" the Dark Elf said.
"More of you will hurt than just your horrid face if you don't tell us the truth."
"What do you want to know. I'll tell you... Then you'll let me go?"
"We surely won't if you lie. Tell us, how many of Ragnhild's minions are in this cavern?"
"We two (he looked over at his dead comrade)... Uh, myself and 5 others. They are Ragnhild's guard. The rest were sent two days ago to attempt a new assault on Torvgold and Lyshovar. They are not due back... if they come back at all."
"The battle goes poorly, does it?" asked Eme-Redser.
"Yes, too many of my brethren are gone. There is talk of revolt. She becomes more vicious and uncaring each day. It seems a Norseman has somehow become her obsession. And then there is her Lord. A vile creature, cold... Who is that blond man behind you; he seems familiar."
"The Norseman," said Eme-Redser. "Tie this cretin up." She looked at the Dark Elf one more time. "Pray we return to free you."
"But you said you would let me go!"
"True," replied Eme-Redser. "But I didn't say when."
The miserable elf was left trussed up in the tunnel as the companions pressed on. Lysette guided them from behind. She remembered the way from the time she and Thoren were captured then led out for execution. Thoren followed wordlessly. His face was more drawn and creased than before. If not for his blue eyes, blond hair and gold ring in his ear, Lysette would not recognize him anymore as Thoren.
The transformation is nearly complete, observed Jayhawk wordlessly. It is the spirit of Absalom in Thoren's body who walks with them now.
Unexpectedly, Thoren stopped and pointed to a dark opening in the tunnel wall. "There," he said in a voice no one recognized as Thoren's. "She seeks to fool then trap us from behind. She is there." He drew out the Sword of Absalom. The others shifted their swords from hand to hand and prepared to rush the tunnel.
Jayhawk's eyes flashed gold, green, then aquamarine. The tunnel was suddenly bathed in light. Chunky, Ronen and Benson charged forward. Thoren followed. Then the Minstrel and the ladies.
The branching tunnel curved and suddenly they were inside a large chamber. Before them were the five elves who guarded Ragnhild. And behind them was the scourge of the House of Torvald, Ragnhild herself...
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Do it, Jay or MRed! [This message has been edited by Civis Romanus (edited 10-01-2000).]