Chapter 12 The Shadow Rift
It was night but there was enough light from the stars and the moon to see by. Marinae could hear the sounds of horses and the faint jingle of metal from the direction of the road, but the soldiers were too far away to see."They're coming.", Marinae whispered.
"Ssssh.", Kiri hissed.
The sounds of the patrol moved south along the road until they arrived at the point where the group had turned off the road towards the forest. They paused and it grew very quiet.
"They smell Mud.", Kiri whispered.
"Ssh!!", Marinae hissed back.
"Is it too much to ask him to bathe now and then?", Kiri whispered to Marinae.
The voices of the patrol were being carried on the wind. The soldiers didn't seem too concerned about being overheard.
"What is it now?", one of the soldiers said. "We've been riding all day. Can't we just get a move on?"
"Yeah, I've got a nice little tart waiting for me back home.", another soldier added.
A gruff voice hushed the dissenters. They grew quieter and only scatter words could be made out: "Insubordinate", "Rack", "Pike", "Recent tracks". Weamar nervously clutched at his rifle. David readied his knives.
"The tracks lead the other way.", Kiri whispered on the wind.
Marinae turned and looked at the dark sorceress. She sensed magic in Kiri's words.
The gruff voice spoke again. "They lead this way, come on."
Weamar heard the sounds of the patrol fade into the west. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Lead on, Mud.", Kiri whispered with a giggle.
Weamar shrugged and led his horse back towards the road.
"Ahem.", Kiri cleared her throat. "Not towards Drakov's soldiers." She rolled her eyes. "Let's see, they went west.", she said, pointing to the west. "So we go...", she turned her finger around the other way, "…east."
Damon's eyes widened. "Do you know what is in that direction?""Yes.", Kiri said with her eyes widening as well. "Unspeakable, terrifying evil."
Kiri cackled hideously and then stopped herself and cleared her throat. Marinae tried to think of a nasty reply, but couldn't come up with anything bitchy enough, so instead she said nothing.
Damon scowled at Kiri's mocking. "You would lead us to our deaths.", he said harshly.
"Don't worry. Mud will keep us out of danger.", Kiri said nonchalantly.
Weamar looked at the two nearly dead bodies in the cart and thought, "Yeah, worked wonderfully so far."
"Besides. There are patrols all along the road to Morfensi.", Kiri said slyly. "All looking for you."
David coughed, flecking his lips with blood again. "We seem to be short on good options at the moment."
"What's that saying about the devil that you don't know?", Kiri said with a smile.
"Better the one you do.", Weamar replied.
"Yes, well, Mud's been wrong every time so far, so...", Kiri said pointing to the east again.
"I'm going back to the road for a minute, to get an idea of how big that patrol was.", Weamar commented as he stowed his rifle in Dry's bag and tucked his pistols into his sword belt.
Kiri frowned as Weamar headed to the road with Cujia following along behind him. When he reached the road he noted that the tracks indicated a group of six heavy horses. It appeared that one man, large and heavy, knelt to examine the tracks that Weamar had made. Then the patrol had headed off towards the Nachtfliegen. Weamar returned to the group.
"Why would further patrols be more dangerous than that one.", Weamar asked Kiri. "If you can cloud people's minds like that?"
"Because their minds don't stay clouded forever, Mud.", Kiri said condescendingly. "Unlike some people I know."
Weamar acted as if he didn't hear her insult. "So how long have we got before that group turns around?", he asked Kiri.
"About as long as it took for you to go out there and see how many there were.", Kiri replied, nodding her head impatiently.
"So, east?", Kiri asked, getting a little huffy. "Before they hunt you down and slaughter you?"
Weamar turned to Damon. "What great horror lies to the east?"
Damon glared are Kiri. "The Shadow Rift.", he said with an almost reverent tone. "It is a gaping wound in the earth, a great chasm. There are tales of people venturing too close and never being heard from again."
"That's because those people deserved it.", Kiri said self-righteously. "And, they didn't have me with them."
"I know the way.", Kiri added, turning her horse to the east.
Weamar didn't like his choices. To him it was beginning to look as if they were going to die either way they went. But going to Morfensi seemed more likely to offer David a chance to survive his wound.
"How far until we can get help for David if we go east?", Weamar asked Kiri.
"It's less than a day away.", Kiri said looking back at Weamar. "Unless someone slows us down again."
Weamar weighed a day of what might be a lesser peril along the Shadow Rift, against a night on the road against Drakov's patrols. He wished that he had another option.
"They're coming back.", Kiri reminded Weamar.
"Okay, east.", Weamar said, finally giving in.
Kiri smiled broadly. Weamar led them through the forest going east.
Kiri rode next to the cart and looked down at Lynn's hooded figure, "And what is your desire dear?", she asked.
Lynn hid her face from Kiri but she couldn't hide what she was thinking. She looked down at Eliza and held her by the hand. She caressed it softly, hoping that Eliza could feel her touch.
"My mistress can bring you two back together.", Kiri said with a smile. "For the right price."
"Anything.", Lynn whispered. "Anything at all."
Kiri grinned broadly and Marinae shuddered in disgust.
Through the night they plodded along through the forest. More and more of the trees became stark white skeletons and the ground became barren of grass and brush. The sun crept up over the distant horizon and revealed before them a massive canyon. It stretched for as far as the eye could see. It looked just as Damon said, like a great wound in the earth.
"Now, does that look so eeeeevil.", Kiri mocked. "Oh, ick.", Kiri added as a ray of light struck her face. She reached behind her, pulled out a black parasol, unfolded it, and used it to block the sun.
Weamar peered carefully over the edge. The cliff he stood on ended abruptly in a vertical drop of some two hundred feet. At that level there was a roiling cloud of mist covering the entirety of the canyon. Not even the rising sun could brighten the depths beyond.
Marinae had an evil thought, "Let's throw Kiri in to see how deep it is!" Then she felt guilty about how good it made her feel.
"Onward Mud.", Kiri pointed towards the rift. "Mush, Mush.""Onward?", Marinae shouted at Kiri. "Are you out of your mind?!"
"I thought that was a given.", Damon snorted.
"Oh ye of little faith.", Kiri moaned. "Step into the rift and trust in the Lord. You shall not fall."
"Which Lord?", Weamar asked.
Marinae schooled herself to keep from saying "The Dark One", but Kiri seemed to read her mind.
"The Dark One. The Lord of the rift. The devourer of souls. The bringer of darkness. The destroyer of light.", Kiri was talking like a preacher. "Step into the rift.", she assured Weamar. "If your heart is impure and your soul corrupted you shall not fall."
Kiri's reversal of the usual requirements brought a slight grin to Weamar's face. He wasn't evil by any measure, but churches and righteousness always made him nauseous.
"Do I have to show you the way?", Kiri looked at Weamar with scorn.
"You showing me would make little difference.", Weamar admitted. "Since I don't know whether you can levitate or fly in any case."
Kiri just frowned. Weamar dismounted and took some rope out of his saddlebag. He tied one end securely to Dry's saddle and the other end around his waist.
"Hmm. Dope on a rope.", Kiri mused.
Weamar walked Dry to about six feet from the edge of the rift. He peered over the edge, trying to find a way down but there was none.
Kiri watched him and shook her head. "No faith at all."
With her arms outstretched and her eyes closed, Kiri nudged her shadow mount towards the rift. "Oh great Lord of evil, let me pass over the valley of the shadow of death for I fear no evil, because I am evil. Like, duh."
"Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.", Kiri continued. "Erotically."
The unnatural creature beneath Kiri stepped forward and into the open space as though it were solid ground. It took a deep breath and exhaled silver streams of mist from its nostrils and mouth. The mist gathered beneath the horse's hooves and began to form a narrow pathway that stretched from the cliff out into the rift.
"After this quest is done, I'm retiring.", Marinae thought to Rambis.
"Me too.", Rambis replied. "I'm getting too old for this."
"Let's open an Inn.", Marinae thought. "I'll do magic tricks, you'll eat sausages. It'll be heaven!"
"'The Rambis Inn' has a nice ring to it.", Rambis answered.
"...and I shall dwell in the house of the Dark Lord, forever. Or at least until the wine runs out.", Kiri finished and opened her eyes. She looked down at the mists far below her.
"See.", Kiri said to the others. "Now follow me and think evil thoughts."
"That shouldn't be too hard.", Marinae mumbled. Then she looked around innocently, "Did I say that out loud?"
Weamar walked towards the edge, following behind Kiri's bridge. He stepped tentatively on the misty trail. It felt solid.
Kiri enjoyed Weamar's discomfort and decided to add to it. "Of course it will support you, Mud.", Kiri said looking over her shoulder. "You murdered that poor slave girl."
Weamar sighed. What happened with Solance was something that he didn't want to be reminded of, least of all by Kiri. He wondered where she was, and hoped that she was alright.
Kiri went further out on the bridge. "I hope that all of you have committed one of the seven deadly sins.", she called out.
"Am I impure for thinking of killing a Drow elf?", Marinae asked Rambis.
"No, I think they give medals for that.", Rambis replied.
"Oh to be a predator.", Marinae lamented.
The smoky bridge snaked across the chasm, twisting and turning but staying on a generally easterly course. The group rode along above the Shadow Rift for hours until they could see nothing before or behind them and only the fog below. As the sun reached its zenith a large cloud passed overhead.
"Uh oh.", Kiri frowned and then turned to the others. "The Dark Lord requires a sacrifice. A human sacrifice."
"Let us over.", Marinae called out. "Then you can throw yourself in, Drow."
"Hello? Hello?", Kiri replied. "I'm not human. Duh. Besides, I'm making the bridge. If I fall we all fall."
Kiri closed her eyes and looked skyward for a moment, then she looked at Weamar.
"Mud.", Kiri said and then paused. "You get to decide."
Weamar frowned. "Then there is no decision to make.", he answered quickly.
"Careful Mud.", Kiri frowned. "The Dark Lord hates riddles."
"Careful? It wasn't a riddle.", Weamar answered. "I told you what I wanted was self-determination."
"Okay.", Kiri smiled wide. "In you go."
Marinae looked into the distance. Where before there had been only fog and clouds, now she saw mountains rising in the distance. And although she was standing still, the mountains seemed to be growing slightly larger as though she was approaching them.
"Is she messing with us again?", Marinae asked Rambis. "I don't even need to ask, do I?"
"It does seem to be the usual course of things.", Rambis agreed.
"We're still moving.", Marinae said.
"Yes, I can see it.", Rambis answered. "The bridge perhaps?"
"I don't suppose you can assure me the others will be safe to the other side?", Weamar asked Kiri skeptically.
"Yes.", Kiri said. "The Dark Lord never needs more than one."
"Well, almost never.", Kiri added.
Weamar rolled his eyes. Even he realized that she was playing with him. He decided to play back. "Okay so what do I do?", Weamar asked. "I've never given myself as a sacrifice to a dark lord before."
"Just jump over the edge and shout out a prayer to the Dark Lord.", Kiri snapped at him.
"Why a prayer? Will he go harder on me if I call him a goat-fucker or something?", Weamar teased, trying to sound serious. "Or is that what he likes, since he seems to go for that sort of person as a follower?"
"Well, it takes one to know one.", Kiri shot back. "Go ahead. Curse him for all I care."
"You don't care whether I appease your lord?", Weamar held back a smile. "Some faithful servant you are."
"Yes, neither I nor the Dark Lord care how many goats you've fucked.", Kiri replied. "Now hop in. Hop. Hop. Hop."
Weamar looked down over the edge as Kiri nervously looked up at the large cloud overhead.
"Can you recommend a landing site, at least?", Weamar said as seriously as he could.
"Are you going in or not?", Kiri said fidgeting.
Marinae looked up to see what Kiri was so nervous about, but the cloud above them looked like just a normal cloud.
"Sure, but I'm only going to get one shot at this, so I want to make sure I get it right.", Weamar answered.
Marinae looked to the east. The mountains were much closer now. She could even make out the spires of a castle among the peaks.
Kiri looked up again. "Crap. Just jump.", she shouted.
Weamar stalled. Kiri cursed under her breath, turned away, and raced off away from everyone.
Surprised, Weamar mounted his horse and gave chase across the thin misty bridge followed by Marinae in the cart and Damon close behind them. Weamar could now see what Marinae had seen, disturbances in the mists to the east. The mountains were approaching faster than they should and ash grey tips of what might be many leathery wings flashed in and out of view. From behind him, as though it were right at his ear, Weamar heard an almost deafening growl. It sounded as if it had been made by a creature right out of the nine hells and was hot on his heels.
"Weamar?", Marinae called out as she too heard the growl. "Go faster."
They did.
The dark castle drew closer as the group rushed over the Shadow Rift. Two spires reached towards the sky, one towering above the roofs of the lower buildings, and the other shorter, pitch black, and windowless. As they approached they could see the high wall around the castle and the heavy drawbridge at the end of the misty bridge. Chains creaked as the drawbridge slowly opened and Kiri disappeared inside. The others thundered across the chasm behind her and across the drawbridge which began to close just as Damon's horse raced in. The giant wooden door swung up and shut with a dull thud.
"From frying pan to fire, I misdoubt.", Marinae said to no one in particular.
The courtyard was empty of people other than the ones who had just rode in. The walls and corners were shrouded in darkness and cobwebs. It looked as if no one had been there in centuries.
"You could have gotten us all killed.", Kiri shouted at Weamar. "Stable boy!"
"No, you could've gotten us all killed.", Weamar shouted back. "I didn't stop us halfway across with some bullshit about a sacrifice."
"Hello?", Kiri pleaded. "I was trying to get you killed, not everyone."
"Would I lie about something like that?", Kiri asked. Her face remained angry at first, then she cracked a smile and started laughing at Weamar. "You should see your face right now.", she said, enjoying herself immensely.
"Of course you'd lie. I didn't claim I was stupid, either.", Weamar said angrily.
"Yes. Who would believe you?", Kiri laughed. "Ha! Everyone."
"I know now why the Drow suicide rate is so low.", Marinae jeered. "You can't jump out of a cave."
Kiri bristled at Marinae's insult, partly because she didn't have a good comeback. "I'll get her for that.", she thought to herself.
From a shadowy corner a young man approached. The others noticed that there was something odd about him, however. Although his clothing was not unlike what a stable hand would wear at one of the finer inns of a wealthy city, his pale gray skin was drawn tightly across his bones. Also, his eyes were completely white. He shuffled slowly towards Kiri.
Lynn climbed out of the cart and stretched her legs. She looked around. "Where are we?", she wondered.
"Take their horses to the stables.", Kiri ordered the stable boy. "And give them food and water because they're a-live. Okay?"
The stable boy nodded slowly and groaned out something that might have been a "Yes mistress." He reached a desiccated hand out towards the reins of Weamar's horse.
"Well, you're not completely stupid.", Kiri conceded, turning back to Weamar and still giggling. "I mean you didn't actually jump into the rift."
Lynn helped David out of the cart, then picked Eliza's lifeless body up in her arms, holding her tightly. Dry backed up several steps as the stable boy reached for her reins. The stable boy stepped forward and reached again. Each time he did so Dry pulled back. The boy groaned pitifully, stepped forward, and reached again.
Weamar walked to Dry and took her reins. "It's okay, girl, it's okay.", he repeated to his horse and handed the reins to the stable boy. Finally the stable boy was able to grasp the reins. He then moved over and reached for the reins of Marinae's horse, and had the same problem until Marinae helped him out. The stable boy held the reins of both horses in one hand and went to Damon. As he did so a millipede squirmed its way from the tear duct at the corner of his left eye and scurried around to his ear where it disappeared. Damon passed the reins over in disgust and helped Adederia down. The stable boy shuffled away with the horses and cart.
Kiri walked over to David and held her parasol over them both. "We're here. How many parts do you want fixed, dear?", she said with a grin.
David didn't answer, he was in too much pain. He wobbled a little trying to stand on his own and didn't even look at Kiri. Weamar gave David a shoulder to lean on.
"Hmm, he's been struck deaf now.", Kiri lamented. "More to fix. Follow me."
Kiri walked up the stairs to the large hall. Statues of man-sized spiders guarded either side of the stairway and several large raven-like gargoyles stood on the roof.
"Ravens.", Marinae thought to herself.
Inside the hall it was so dark that no one except Marinae and Kiri could see very well. The hall was large and was shrouded in shadows and cobwebs just as the courtyard was. The stained glass windows let in little light and depicted evil scenes of dark elves, black magic, and terrifying underworld creatures. Suits of armor stood on either side of the hall, motionless. Weamar wandered around behind the group, gawping at the sights around him as his eyes slowly adjusted to the low light.
As Kiri walked her guests through the foyer they saw portraits of distinguished dark elves wearing fancy robes. On the far wall was a large portrait of a gaunt Drow woman with a stern, confident look on her face. She looked as though she was looking straight into their hearts.
"Oh James.", Kiri called out. "Show our guests to their rooms."
From out of what appeared to be a closet came another gaunt individual. He was, or had been, an older gentleman, and was clad in the finery of a house butler. He had the same milky white eyes and desiccated flesh as the stable hand. James' steps were more sure and deliberate than that of the first servant but he still moved stiffly. He bowed low before Kiri and gestured to the others to follow him.
"Dinner is in an hour. Don't be late.", Kiri said, leaving her guests alone with the zombie butler.
"I'm almost afraid to ask what they'll serve.", Marinae said to Weamar as the butler led them to their rooms.