Elyn and Thork found themselves on the threshold of another dining hall, noisy and filled with Men eating. Overhead, a great chain-hung bronze oil lamp burned, its light struggling against the darkness churning within this chamber as well.
“Why two dining halls, Thork?” whispered Elyn. “One before and one behind.”
Thork shrugged his shoulders, then inclined his head, silently indicating that they should press onward.
And as they crossed this room, the shadows oozed and writhed, first revealing and then concealing the dimensions of the hall, as well as the shapes within. Yet as they went, the two could see that it was a large chamber, filled with tables and benches and warriors at mess; and in the north-east corner a spiral stairwell twisted upward, while along the center of the eastern wall gaped another black opening.
Through this latter portal they slipped, and came into another dark chamber. And Elyn could see nought but gloom, though just below the threshold of hearing it seemed that she could detect mutterings: obscene whisperings. And she drew back in revulsion, her feet hesitating to carry her into this vile place. Yet Thork drew her inward; and reluctantly, without sight, she followed his lead.
“It is a gathering hall of some sort,” he growled, “empty.”›
Suddenly he stopped, then led her sideways, as if stepping around some barrier. “Symbols inlaid upon the floor, Princess.”
Again Thork stopped, and Elyn stood in the murmuring murk, unheard mutterings, chantings, filling her with loathing, unable to see aught but a vague squat ebon shape in the blackness before her. “An altar, Princess”-Thork’s voice was grim-“stained, etched with runes, carven channels to runnel sacrificial blood into a stone basin. Behind the altar is a dais, and a great throne sits against the wall-” Thork’s words jerked to a halt, and his grip tightened upon Elyn’s hand, and after a pause he whispered, “There is a great silver warhammer hanging upon the wall above the throne.”
Leading Elyn around the altar, “Three steps rising to the throne,” he said quietly, his voice nearly swallowed by the silently gibbering blackness, and she followed him up onto the dais. “I’ll climb,” he breathed, releasing her hand.
Elyn stood in the blackness, listening, hearing Thork’s axe tnk against stone as he set it to the floor, leaning the helve against the arm of the throne, listening to the press of his foot as he stepped upon the seat before them. She could see dark moving upon dark, and hear the creak of his leather boots as he mounted up on one arm of the chair. “Thork, hold!” she whispered urgently. “I cannot believe that Adon’s Hammer would be left unguarded. ’Ware, for this could be a trap.”
Long she waited, the muttering shadows whispering obscenely. At last Thork’s words came down to her: “You are right, my Lady: it is a trap. And this hammer be not silveron, for it has not the feel nor the heft of that metal. I have placed it back upon the pegs, one of which I deem would have sprung a snare or caused an alarm to sound were I to have let it pivot upward when free of the maul’s weight.”
Thork climbed back down. “It is not the Rage Hammer, Princess, but instead a snare with a glamour set upon it to deceive the unwary. The true Kammerling be elsewhere.”
“Oh, Thork, mayhap Adon’s Hammer is not here at all,” whispered Elyn, dismay in her voice. “Perhaps all that is here is a hammer under a glamour, and those who say that the Kammerling lies in this castle have been fooled by this deception.”
“Nay, Lady,” growled Thork. “Andrak has no cause to have a false Kammerling on display within this holt unless it be a ruse to protect the true hammer lying elsewhere in his keep.”
“True or false, we must carry on. Yet let us do so when I can see,” hissed Elyn, frustrated by her lack of sight. “Let us get to a place where we can hide, and take our rest, and resume the search at first light on the morrow.”
And so they withdrew from the evil sanctum and went back through the dining hall and kitchen and into the great hall beyond, keeping to the walls and threading among the whispering shadows. Back to the stairwell leading up from the great hall they went, and upward, where they found quarters for the dayguard; and therein were water barrels, and the twain replenished their supply.
And ebon shadows and veering twists and unexpected edges and silent mutterings filled the ways they traversed, confusing the eyes and mazing the mind. Yet now Thork led, for Elyn was easily turned about, at times insisting that they had come this way before. But with Dwarven surety, Thork’s feet were not fooled, and steadily he pressed upward through the ebon shadows, seeking a sanctuary where they could rest.
Up another set of stairs they went, and still one more flight, and everywhere the way was glutted with darkness mouthing obscenities. And now and again, even Thork had to pause, had to feel his way, for Châkka eyes, as marvelous as they are, still cannot see in total darkness, and in many places where they trod there was a complete absence of light. Yet onward they forged, looking ever for a place of safety, a place of rest.
At last the two came up into a storage attic within the great black building, cold and dark. And there they sat down in the mad, tittering gloom, in a distant corner, taking crue and water ere attempting to sleep.
And Elyn’s dreams were filled with darkness and fright, whispering shadows clutching at her, giggling obscenely, muttering abominable blasphemies in her ear, trapping her in wrappings of wicked murk. And she could not escape.
Elyn came awake with a start, reaching for the saber lying at her side. Soft footsteps approached, and a dark form moved toward her. To one side, pale day shone weakly through a small round window below the peak of the attic roof, the wan light struggling with the writhing darkness within. Elyn lay quietly, feigning sleep, yet the hilt of the saber was in her grip, and she was fully ready to attack. But as the figure stepped quietly into the light, Elyn clapped her free hand over her mouth, stifling laughter: it was Thork, bearing a chamber pot.
Having taken care of their immediate needs, Elyn and Thork sat below the round window and ate crue and sipped water and stared into the whispering blackness, wondering at its foulness.
“There is this about it, Prince Thork,” said Elyn. “Even had we not this silveron amulet to hide us from hostile eyes, Andrak’s own ensorcellment of the light and shadows would work to protect us as well. For though it serves to obscure the detail of the keep within, so too would it provide us with concealment.”
“Aye, Princess,” responded Thork after a pause, “there is that. But were this twisting darkness not here, our task would be eased considerably. For as it stands, we will have to search every square foot of this strongholt, else we could pass within touching distance of the Rage Hammer and never see it.”
Elyn took another bite of crue and chewed thoughtfully. “Now that we are here, Thork, and have seen somewhat the layout of Andrak’s castle, at least from the outside, what we need is a plan.
“I propose the following: First, let us keep to the inside of this building and spy through the windows until we garner what watches are stood and when Andrak stirs about, for I would not have him come upon us unawares. Second, we should avoid the bailey if at all possible, for Andrak’s eyes might espy us from afar should we step into the open. Third, we should try to deduce where the Kammerling lies, given that it is somewhere within this holt. Fourth, we must think upon just how we are to escape once we have Adon’s Hammer, for the way we entered is not likely to be open to us: we must get out of these walls and down from this spire; the portcullis and gate are apt to be shut, and the bridge will most likely be drawn, not spanning the gulf. Lastly, our supplies run low, hence, we must search for sustenance to see us out of these mountains, for they are barren of wildlife and we are like to starve; it will not do for us to make off with the Kammerling only to have it lie lost in the wilderness, guarded by our two skeletons; nay, we must survive to bear it to Black Kalgalath’s lair and deal him a deathblow.”