"It's not that we don't trust you, Trenton," said Furlus.
"Is that so?" said Trenton. "Well, then what is it?"
Furlus scratched his head and hesitated. Finally, he said, "The situation with Lannon is delicate. Those who surround him have been examined very carefully. Their ways are known and trusted."
"You trust an outsider like Jace over me?" said Trenton, his eyes wide. "Jace, who was expelled from the order for dabbling into forbidden sorcery, which he uses quite freely now with those oversized hands? Jace could be an assassin sent to kill Lannon, for all we know."
"That's ridiculous," muttered Jace.
"Yet entirely possible," said Trenton. "And here I am-a member of the High Council and an Investigator who has weeded out many traitors at Dremlock, and Jace is more trusted than I am? That is folly!"
"I would trust Jace with my life," said Cordus, "though I'm not going to go into detail as to why that is so. Just accept what I say."
"Yet you wouldn't trust me with your life?" said Trenton. "This is very shoddy treatment of a respected and loyal Green Knight. Therefore, I am insisting I accompany the party into the mines as part of my sworn duty. You can vote the decision down, but I will call for a Reading of the Sacred Laws."
Cordus sighed. "A Reading will not be necessary and is not what Dremlock needs right now in our time of great troubles. We need unity. Therefore, do what you must, Trenton. You're a good man and a good Investigator."
Lannon didn't like the notion of going down into the gloomy, Goblin-infested mines below Dremlock. In fact, that was always the last place he wanted to go. But he could see the Knights were going to go through with it. And Lannon was certain that Trenton secretly hated him. He could see it in the Investigator's malicious gaze. Trenton seemed like a cold-hearted man who nobody liked, at best, and at worst he was possibly aligned with the Deep Shadow and the Blood Legion.
***
The search party set out that very night, entering a mineshaft in the mountain. The torchlight revealed rusted mining gear and wooden splinters from barrels and crates along a tunnel that sloped downward into the earth. Lannon found himself missing Vorden and Timlin, whom he'd lived with and trained with the entire time he'd been at Dremlock. He felt alone in spite of the crowd that surrounded him-alone and gloomy. The mines were infested with the evil aura of the Deep Shadow and the stench of Goblins, stirring dark feelings. Lannon probed the shadows with the Eye of Divinity, trying to ignore the bizarre knowledge that was revealed to him from ages past-as some hidden truths were better left buried.
Shennen stayed by Lannon's side, while Thrake and Willan scouted ahead for danger. Jace also flanked Lannon. Trenton, who was accompanied by two white wolves, was next, followed by Jerret and Aldreya. The three Dark Knights guarded the rear. It was a small yet formidable group, typical of the way Dremlock operated. Each member had their own unique skills and could contribute something. Yet Lannon also found himself missing Taris' wise, confident presence. In no way was Trenton Shadowbane a comforting replacement. Lannon had never actually seen Trenton fight, but the Investigator was slightly below average in size for a Knight, and his weapon of choice was a slender sword.
"This tunnel looks barely used," said Shennen. "Aside from Vorden's obvious tracks in the dust, it looks like no one has passed this way in a long time. The detour around the bars must have been dug years ago."
Using the Eye, Lannon was able to confirm Shennen's observation. "This tunnel has been neglected for decades, Master Shennen."
"That's rather strange," said Jace. "You would think our foes wouldn't neglect a perfectly good route into Dremlock."
"The presence of the Deep Shadow is exceptionally strong here," said Shennen. "And the stench of Goblins is overwhelming. Yet there is no sign of Goblin activity. I suspect this might be some sort of trap or ambush."
"How could it be a trap," said Jace, "if there is no sign of activity? You said yourself that it looks as if the tunnel has been abandoned."
"I don't understand it," said Shennen, shrugging.
Lannon reached out with the Eye as deep into the tunnel as he could go, but he couldn't see any dangers. He reported his findings.
"I suppose we can go a bit farther," said Shennen, "in light of that news. I trust the Eye of Divinity over my instincts."
"I say we continue on," said Jace. "Lannon can keep checking the tunnel. With the Eye of Divinity on our side, we shouldn't fall into any trap."
"It is my decision," said Trenton. When everyone kept moving, he snarled, "Halt! I am still pondering the situation!"
The company halted, while Trenton stood silently in the torchlight flanked by his wolves. With his silver hair, lean body, and dark eyes, he looked almost wolf-like himself. At last he said, "I guess we will proceed with caution."
"Thank you, Master Trenton," said Shennen, sounding slightly sarcastic. "We shall do our best to stay alert."
Trenton seized Lannon's shoulder, causing the Squire to shudder at the Investigator's icy touch. "You just keep searching for danger, lad," said Trenton. "Death lurks in this tunnel. Make no mistake."
"Okay," Lannon mumbled, chills creeping along his spine. He didn't like Trenton following so closely behind him, especially when all of Lannon's focus was directed ahead.
The tunnel began to narrow to the point where they could barely fit through. Jace, the largest of the bunch, had to practically crawl. Armor scraped on stone, and there were occasional muttered curses whenever an elbow or a knee banged against rock. As a Blue Squire, Lannon wore lightweight, leather armor which didn't hinder his movements. He slid easily and silently along the tunnel. Jerret, however, shuffled along clumsily in his chain mail-almost carelessly. It annoyed Lannon that Jerret was so poorly trained, and equipped, for stealth.
"This tunnel was carved for Dwarves and not giants, obviously," said Jace. "Must have wanted to keep Ogres out or something."
Lannon caught a glimpse of danger ahead-a serpent-like root that was lying in wait to snare someone. He cried out a warning, but he was a moment too late. He heard Thrake bellow a curse.
"It has seized Shennen!" Thrake growled. "Looks like a nasty tree root. It has wrapped itself around his mouth so he can't speak!"
"It must be from a Dark Mother!" Jace called back. "Hack through it before it chokes the life from him!"
"I can't find him!" Thrake said, panic in his voice. "The tunnel has given way to a huge cavern!"
The party surged forward into the cavern, waving torches around. Lannon sensed terrible danger in there and yelled several warnings that went unheeded. The Knights were too intent on saving Shennen.
Black, warty-looking tree roots closed in around them, completely blocking off the tunnel mouth. Bloated Mother Trees filled the cavern, rooted deep into the stone-the reason why the mineshaft had been abandoned. The Dark Mothers had taken over, a menace to every life form except young, nursing Goblins.
The roots moved with terrible speed, winding around the Knights and Squires with a crushing grasp. Jerret-who was not exceptionally strong for a Squire and who possessed very little sorcery-took immediate damage, screaming in pain as some of his ribs cracked beneath the pressure. The others managed to resist by means of muscle or sorcery but were still immobilized.
Lannon was weak from prolonged use of the Eye, and could barely manage to hold the roots in place that were trying to crush him. Aldreya's eyes were closed as she focused on protecting herself. Jace tore his roots free and nearly broke loose, before they closed around him again. The others were wound up tight and struggling just to stay alive. The two white wolves had held back from entering the cavern, and they stood inside the narrow tunnel, whining and pacing. The three Dark Knights had also been cut off, and they hacked at the roots-but their weapons did little damage and the roots kept shifting into new positions.