Strange Companions pt7

Dermott was afraid. Dark, twisting tunnels were no place for a man of his size. The ceiling hung too close to his head and the walls seemed to press in. The feeling of all those miles of stone ready to fall at any moment gave Dermott the shivers. It bothered him a hell of a lot more than the kobolds that chased them. The scaly bastards were out of sight, but their furious howls echoed all around the barbarian and his two friends.

Jon took the lead and set a fast pace despite his injuries. The rogue's little glowing rock cast a dim blue light over the path ahead and made his shadow dance behind him. Dako, soft whelp that he was, came next, tripping over every crack in the path, slowing them down. And Dermott, well, he took rear guard. Fact was, he had the best chance of holding off the kobolds should they catch up. It was a pretty good bet they would too. Unless the ceiling fell in first.

"Move yer scrawny ass," the barbarian shouted, causing Dako to stumble again. Damn wizard didn't know encouragement when he heard it. 

"H-how close - is - is the - out?" The wizard panted. Dermott figured long distance running probably hadn't figured much in the kid's education.

Jon managed a loping shrug. "Maybe a day? We'll rest soon though, don't you worry." The rogue didn't sound winded at all.

Trust Jonai to make everything look easy. The barbarian wondered how much of that was a front. His friend had spent long days being tortured, starved, and carved on. He couldn't be sailing along, easy as you please so soon after. If he had a silver to bet, he'd put it on Jon dropping sooner than the wizard. "My luck, I'll be totin' them both outta here," he muttered. 

"What was that?" The rogue risked a quick glance over his shoulder. It was hard to see his face in this light, but Dermott thought he made out a grin. 

"Just bettin' which a you I'll be carryin' first." 

Jon gave a hoarse chuckle. "Think I'm getting tired?"

Dermott smirked. "Don't think nuthin'. I know it."

"You wish. If you're carrying anybody, it'll be the purple pantywaist there. He sounds like a busted bellows." The rogue picked up the pace as he said it, damn him.

Dako groaned, struggling to keep up. "How- how you c-can- talk . . . running?" 

The barbarian laughed, moving up beside the wizard. The kid's face was pale white, bright red spots stained his cheeks, and his eyes were glazed with exhaustion. Seeing that, it wasn't so funny really. Dako might actually pass out at this rate. Sympathy crept into unfamiliar territory, and Dermott's grin drooped. "Gimme that pack," he ordered the wizard roughly, reaching for a shoulder strap.

Dako didn't argue, just slipped the pack off, almost falling in the process. The barbarian grabbed a flailing arm to steady him. 

"Th-thanks."

"Just run," Jon growled from the front and sped up again. 

Dermott stayed beside the wizard, keeping him on pace. "Don't ya worry," the barbarian told him. "We're gonna get outta this. All o' us." Dako nodded, too winded for words.

---

This was the nine hells. The abyss. Dako was sure of it. Only someone being punished for a lifetime of transgressions would be expected to endure this torment, this endless running. He couldn't even feel his legs anymore. His feet were fleshy clubs, slapping at the stone with each falling step. Sulfur stench and dust burned in his lungs and he was pretty sure his spine had splintered at the base from being jostled. If that wasn't enough, sweat slicked his back, spread unwholesome stains from under his arms and trickled down his legs, an insult to injury.

Dermott jogged along beside him, breathing evenly like this was some evening stroll. Damn him. The barbarian was sweating, but that was normal for the big man. Dako thought it might be easier to take if Jon or Dermott at least pretended to be as winded as he was. I will always be the weak link, he thought despairingly. Why did everything come down to a contest of strength or endurance? Just once, it would be nice to come out on top of a battle of wits or wills. Something the wizard had a chance at, anyway.

"Ya bested that dragon, didn' ya?" Dermott grinned, looking at Dako from the corner of his eye. 

"Ah . . . y-yes?" His thoughts must have been terribly obvious for the blundering barbarian to pick up on them. 

"Couldna got out without ya, right? So quit lookin' like a half-dead sewer rat. Ya got some spunk left. Ya got yer skills, an' me an' Jon, well. We're used ta runnin' an' fightin'. You'll get inta it after a bit." Dermott nodded with certainty.

Dako was exasperated by the man's optimism, but it heartened him too. His appreciation for the brute increased. He might be an uneducated thug, but Dermott was his uneducated thug. Silly as it was, that made the misery of the moment a bit more bearable. The wizard even managed a half smile between gasps for air.

"That's tha way!" The barbarian gave him a half pat - half push to the back. 

Despite Dermott's enthusiasm and Jon's unflagging energy, Dako could tell the kobolds were catching up. It was only natural. This was their terrain, their home. They knew all the paths and could move faster through the twisting corridors. At this rate, the fight would be coming to him soon, and the wizard wasn't looking forward to it. He had never really been in a melee, unless you counted the kidnapping. And the first time the kobolds grabbed them. Neither were exactly shining examples of victory.

This time would be different though. This time, Dako decided, he refused to be captured. He would fight until he was dead, or they were. No being dragged back to the dragon to be tortured and eaten. That fate would be worse than any death in combat. Besides, it sounded so brave. Fighting til the death like a hero from legend. A hero no one had ever heard of, but it still counted didn't it?

Jon skid to a halt ahead of them, ducking to the left. "Here, come on!" The small light he held disappeared along with his bald head.

Dermott and Dako hurried after him. The rogue had turned down a side tunnel, the entrance barely visible behind a dusty pile of fallen rocks. The opening was narrow and Dermott had to suck in his gut, shoulders scraping stone as he squeezed through. The wizard slipped in easily, being shorter and slimmer than either of the humans.

The barbarian stopped once inside and peered up at the dim ceiling. "Think this is safe?"

Jon shrugged, "Safe as any of it, I guess."

Dako frowned. "I - I'm more . . . worried a-about getting lost." He leaned against the wall, trying to catch his breath. Now that they were still, his feet were abuzz with pins and needles, and a creeping burn lit up his calves and thighs as aching muscles spasmed.

"Near as I can figure, this goes up. And I swear, I can feel a breeze from here. The dragon said these tunnels are used to bring in cows and goats, so it can't be too far to the exit. Think I'm lost, wizard?" Jon fixed Dako with an annoyed glare.

"N-no. Just . . . looks - looks the same as e-every other cavern . . . to me." 

Dermott nodded wearily. "Alright. Then I say we move afore the damn rocks fall on our heads. If this leads out, then let's get out!"

"Sure thing. But first we might need to kill some of our scaly little friends." Jon motioned to the entrance behind them. "I don't know if you're paying attention, but they are almost on us. I don't want to be caught in an open tunnel . . . nowhere to hide, no cover. Best part is, in here they can't come at us all together either." The rogue shrugged, "It's the best place I've seen so far to fight. What do you think?"

The barbarian heaved a great sigh and set down Dako's bag. He turned back to inspect the opening. After a moment he shrugged. "Good's anythin'. Ya got more fer us 'er what?" 

"Of course I've got more," Jonai grinned. "So the plan is, Dermott in the hole. I'll back him up and you-" the rogue's orders were cut short as a spear blade jabbed through the tunnel entrance, slicing deeply into the barbarian's thigh. A gleefully malicious howl matched Dermott's bellow of pain as the hooked spear tip rasped against bone on its way out. 

"You . . . traitor! Lying pink weasels! Ixen kills you now!" The leering face of an all-too familiar kobold shone in the dim light for the space of a breath and then disappeared back into shadow. 

"That scaly hag-humping piece of dragon shite!" Dermott picked up a rock as big as his fist and hurled it through the opening. It thudded solidly against flesh, followed by a hissing groan. 

"There go my plans," the rogue shrugged. He slid a small dagger out of his boot, barely bigger than a table knife. "Ready, big guy?"

Dermott nodded.

Jon glanced at Dako, "You can hit them anytime, you know."

The wizard shook himself, pulling his eyes away from the sagging wound in Dermott's thigh. Blood ran down his leg, soaking his fine pants; the layers of muscle and fat twitched visibly as the barbarian readied himself for another attack. How that must hurt, thought Dako. He focused on the opening with an effort of will. It was impossible to target Ixen if he couldn't see him, so first things first.

"Vaerie mitnen!" The wizard scribed a series of circles in the air, each one flowing from the other, infused with his will. In response, four small lights blossomed in the tunnel outside, revealing Ixenjaxo and three other kobolds near the tunnel opening. They cringed, reaching instinctively to cover their eyes. 

Dermott needed no other invitation. He leapt into the gap, fist crunching into Ixen's snout. Before the kobold could react, the barbarian slammed his foot into its chest, shoving Ixen to the ground. Jon was no slouch either. He ducked under the barbarian's kick, sliding past both combatants. His small blade swept out, taking one of the other kobolds in the throat. The rogue side stepped the flailing lizard and was already striking at his second target when the first spray of blood spattered the stone.

Dako swallowed his fear. Fight or die, right? The next spell spun from his fingertips, breath filling it with power and intent. A small, fiery dart no bigger than a minnow shot out to take one of the standing kobolds in the chest. It hissed as the dart buried itself in its scales, leaving a burnt ring behind.

The kobold screeched and sprang forward, slashing at Dermott with a mining pick. The sharp tip met only empty air as Dermott moved out of the way. Afraid for his friend, Dako nearly lost the thread of his next spell, fumbling for the gesture that would conjure a beam of pure cold. The ray hit at an angle, grazing the kobold's outstretched arm. The creature hissed, falling to the ground in pain. 

"Hells, wizard? Aiming for the wall?" Jon joked, jabbing at his opponent's eye. The kobold screamed in pain, swinging wildly. Jonai ripped his blade free and kicked it hard in the ribs, sending the kobold skidding out of the circle of light.

Dermott still struggled with Ixen, though. The kobold howled and spat pure rage, writhing beneath the barbarian's heavy frame. Dermott was too close for the spear to be of any use, so Ixenjaxos abandoned it, opting for a dagger instead. It was a wicked looking weapon made of blackened steel, with a carved bone hilt, the edge serrated and filthy. The kobold managed to gash Dermott's shoulder before the barbarian could pin his arm and the cut bled freely. 

There was no way Ixen could win and the kobold must have known it. He fought with the ferocity of a cornered beast. Sharp teeth grazed Dermott's chest, and the big man took more than one kick to his legs and groin. The barbarian barely seemed to notice his injuries, intent on pounding the life out of their sadistic kobold guard. 

Dako watched with held breath, wishing this was over and done. Dermott, a veteran brawler, had Ixen's legs pinned beneath one knee in a few smooth motions. Now the kobold had only one limb to strike with. Ixen punched and scratched at Dermott's face for a few breaths more, but his body couldn't withstand the pounding. Ixenjaxos fell limp as the barbarian's fist pummeled him mercilessly, knocking scales and teeth across the floor. 

They might have taken out the first of their pursuers, but the caverns still echoed with angry yips. More kobolds were coming, that was certain. "We need to get back inside," Jon hissed nervously. 

Dermott didn't pay him any heed, so the rogue nudged him with a foot, trying for the barbarian's attention. "He's dead! Come on!"

It wasn't enough to deter the raging barbarian. Ixen wasn't struggling, didn't even look to be breathing. His body bucked with the force of Dermott's blows, and his dagger slid from his lifeless grip, clinking against the stone. Dermott snatched the blade and in one bone-crunching stroke, severed Ixen's head from his neck. The barbarian looked up, eyes glazed, spittle flecking his lips and chin. He barely seemed to register Jon or Dako.

"Well, isn't that just perfect," Jonai muttered. Dermott ignored the rogue and walked to the edge of the light. The rogue gave him one more disgusted look before leading Dako back into the smaller tunnel.

"What do we do now?" the wizard asked, feeling light headed and twitchy from the fight. 

"We wait. I can hear more of them coming."

The wizard motioned toward Dermott. "What about him?" The barbarian was standing stock still, breathing heavily as he tapped the dagger in an off-time beat against his leg. 

Jon shrugged, "He'll come out of it. Not much we can do unless you fancy getting stabbed."

"I don't, but he'll die out there," Dako insisted. An arrow caromed off the wall to clatter noisily across the floor, emphasizing their predicament. Dermott roared wildly and raised his stolen dagger, ready to meet the horde. At this rate, the man was going to get shot down before he had a chance to even fight. The wizard tried to think of something to get the barbarian back into the tunnel.

"Hey! Hey ugly!" He half-shouted, caught between the desire to get Dermott's attention yet avoid the notice of kobold archers. The barbarian barely looked his way, still roaring his unseen enemies. 

"What are you doing?" Jon hissed. "When he's like this, he'll hit a friend quick as anybody else." The rogue shook his head, "You've got to let him handle it."

Dako nodded but stayed at the tunnel opening. His eyes strayed to the headless body of Ixenjaxo. He'd hated the kobold as much as Dermott, but seeing the beaten corpse turned his stomach. He'd never seen a barbarian rage and found it terrifying. How could one being hold so much fury that even when your enemy was dead, you fought on and on?

That's it! The wizard darted forward and grabbed the kobold by the shoulders. The body wasn't as heavy as he thought it would be, and he was able to hoist it up by the arms. 

"Yip-yip sssstupid soft skin!" Dako did his best to imitate Ixen, walking backward as he waved the corpse' arms. "I kill your friends!" He added, wriggling back into the tunnel. 

"You clever little bastard," Jon chuckled, stepping up to snatch the kobold's head and hold it above the savaged neck. 

Dermott's head turned a fraction and his eyes went wide when he saw Ixenjaxo moving again. Bellowing, he rushed the tiny opening. The barbarian almost didn't make it in, wide as he was. And it wasn't quite a fast enough escape. A kobold arrow hit his calf, sticking in the muscle. It wiggled back and forth as Dermott came at them. Dako and Jon dropped the body, backing away in time to avoid the barbarian's driving fists. He bayed like a hunting hound as he turned what was left of the kobold's head to mush.

The mob pursuing them slowed to a stop at the tunnel entrance, wisely wary. The sounds of Dermott's rage and the bodies and blood outside gave them pause, but cowardly as kobolds are, they still had the adventurers hugely outnumbered. How much of a fight could three wounded soft skins give? As the first of them pushed into the tunnel, spears jabbing, Dermott turned from his gory work and attacked them. The kobolds didn't stand a chance.

The smart ones stayed back, sending arrows flying into the narrow gap. Those kobolds suffered under Dako's barrage of spells. It's not so hard this time, the wizard thought. Somehow, after that first brief skirmish, this felt almost natural. He felled one with his magic dart and another he dazed. Another kobold was blinded by a flare and ran screaming into the darkness, clawing at its eyes. With each enemy that fell, his confidence grew. Perhaps he wasn't so useless after all.

Jon caught him grinning. "Think you're something, eh? First fight and already getting a warrior's ego?"

Dako shrugged, "Well, I am doing nicely, yes?" He sent a colorful spray of light into the gap and the three kobolds beyond it froze mid-attack, stunned or paralyzed. Easy pickings for the enraged barbarian.

"A good wizard wouldv'e taken them all out by now. Your just poking at them, leaving me and Dermott the dirty work." Jonai said it with a wide grin, bald head beaded with sweat and speckled with drying blood. For the first time since Dako met him, he realized this was the rogue's kind of humor. This . . . friendly taunting. 

The wizard grinned back, cheeks feeling oddly stretched. "If you were any good, I wouldn't need to."

Jonai laughed in response, a warm sound totally at odds with the chaos before them.

Just as Dako was beginning to feel optimistic, Dermott dropped. His whole body sagged to the ground and the big man let out a hoarse groan. "Ah, great timing," Jon muttered, darting toward the opening. His short knife slashed and jabbed as the remaining kobolds boiled forward. He did his best to hold them off but there were just too many of them. Time seemed to slow as Jonai dodged the first spear but the next drove into the rogue. He grunted with pain, turning to slash at the kobold's arms. 

Dako wasn't sure what to do. He had no chance against the kobolds if they got up close and personal. I did say I'd die fighting, the wizard thought, grabbing for his pouch. He hadn't much magic left, but there were other options. Dako tugged out the book that held the snake sigil. It had saved him before, so why not trust it again. He flipped through, eyes scanning the arcane text. Dako needed to find something that would be powerful enough to destroy the kobolds and delay any pursuit. But there would be a cost to it. The spell would be lost to him once cast, all knowledge of it burned from the page and his mind as if it had never been. That was the price for using magic beyond your means. 

Powerful. Expendable. Jon's cries of pain lent speed to his search. Quickly, quickly, or I'll die reading. Some of these spells were so complex, Dako wasn't even sure of the purpose, and some required materials he didn't have. He dearly wished the author had included an index. Skin to stone? No. Rope Trick? What did that even do? Black tentacles might have potential, the wizard thought with a shudder. Tentacles were never good. Ball of fire . . . Dako read it and then read it again.

With a touch of sulfur and soil of bat, evoke the flame. Hurl it upon those who would do you ill, burn them and their kith and kin to ash. Let the fires devour them and everything that does stand beside them. That sounded . . . effective. Of course, unleashing so much destruction in a closed space might do as much harm as good, but what was life without risk?

Fear coursed through his breast as the wizard lifted an arm and threw. Where there was only empty air, a palm-sized flame sprang to life at the first words of the spell and as it sailed through the air, it grew larger, crackling merrily like a hearth fire. Jon's eyes grew big as it passed, and the kobolds struggling with him looked up from their bloody work. The ones beyond the tunnel entrance began to flee, but it was too late for that. As the ball of flame reached the destination Dako thought would be safest, it burst.

It was so bright, the wizard was force to clench his eyes shut, holding a hand up to block out the light. The cave shook as heat erupted across the stone, charring it black. The kobolds caught in the blast crisped and curled, the smell of burning meat churning the wizard's stomach. A sudden wind, hot and dry, pulled Dako toward the flame and then reversed its course just as quickly to push him back again. And then it was gone, leaving only soot and smoke behind.

"Damn," Jon whispered hoarsely. He didn't need to finish off the last two kobolds. They let go of him and fled into the cave, running back the way they'd come. 

Dermott lay there, chin slimy with foam, glazed eyes fixed on the ceiling. Dako wondered if he was aware of what was happening around him. It was hard to tell. The wizard knelt beside him and waved a hand in front of the big man's face. "Hey? Can you hear me? We uh, we got them. You're safe now."  

The barbarian gurgled, mouth working to shape words but nothing intelligible came out.  He just stared upward, making gawping wet noises. After a moment, Dako followed the line of his eyes to the cavern roof. It was cracked there, a raw jagged cut that split the stone from where they sat to the tunnel opening. A trickle of dust fell out of the crack followed by a staccato patter of tiny rocks.  

"Oh, oh gods!" The wizard grabbed Dermott's shoulders and tried to pull him back. Jon didn't even ask why he was tugging on their fallen friend, just grabbed an arm and helped. The big man grunted with pain as they pulled on him and then passed out. It was a near thing; the barbarian's legs were barely clear when the rock gave way, crashing into the floor. Dust blinded them the last few steps as they stumbled to a stand still. 
The tunnel entrance was impassable now. From ceiling to floor, the opening was filled with a jumble of stone, still shifting and groaning ominously. 

Jon sat down and began to tear strips of cloth from his shirt, cleaning and bandaging his wounds in exhausted silence.

Dako stood still for a moment, mind spinning. He'd just single-handedly laid waste to a horde of kobolds and managed to destroy a centuries old dragon tunnel. He could still feel the power of that magic in him, the exhilaration of speaking destruction into to being, willing the world to change shape at his whim. It is intoxicating. Though fear still ate at him, it was nothing compared to the pure joy of magic. 

His moment of victory was cut short by a soft groan from the unconscious Dermott. One look told Dako his friend was in terrible shape. There was so much blood, so many wounds . . . "What do we do?" he asked Jonai.

The rogue sighed, leaning back against the wall. "Know any kind of healing?"

"No . . . I mean, I know a bit about powders and which tonic-" 

"Anything useful?" Jon asked, cutting the wizard's answer short.

"No," Dako replied. 

"Well, I guess clean him up, wrap the wounds. I'm gonna close my eyes for a bit, but if you need help, say so." Jonai gave the wizard a tired smile before leaning his head back, eyelids firmly closed. "Don't look so worried, kid. Dermott's been through worse. He'll survive." 

The rogue seemed to fall asleep immediately, chest rising and falling in soft,even breaths. He looked so pale and worn. Dako wondered if either of his companions would make it. He was nearly untouched, a few scrapes and some dust . . . Jonai and Dermott had taken all the hits for him. Protected him.

The wizard knelt down by the barbarian, guilt supplanting his pride. Much good blowing things up did if all your friends died afterward, Dako thought. Dermott had so many injuries: slashes and gashes, bruises, cuts, and probably broken bones. The wizard started with the goriest. He was no expert, but felt pretty sure it was bad for so much blood to be on the outside of someone. Dermott groaned in his sleep, twitching at Dako's ministrations. He was as gentle as he could be, but it was no easy task. The kobolds had inconsiderately damaged the big man in hard to reach places - front, back, and side.  

The barbarian's eyes opened as Dako cleaned a shoulder wound. It was all swollen and red, and the joint looked crooked. 

"Leave it be," the barbarian mumbled.

"Sorry, it's got to be done. Just try to sleep through it," the wizard urged, patting the big man's hand. 

Dermott took a slow, deep breath, wincing as Dako pulled a cloth strip tight over the wound. "I can't get ta sleep with ya poking me," the barbarian complained thinly.

Dako shrugged, "Well, I'm almost done. Give it a minute and then I'll put out the light and we can all get some rest."

"Ya don't need ta do that," Dermott rasped, reaching with one clumsy hand toward the glowing orb. "Ya can leave tha light and quit yer proddin'."

"Pffft. You're all bandaged up I think." Dako finished with the gash, satisfied that the wound was covered for the moment at least. He picked up the little light and looked at it. "You know, it's easier to sleep in the dark." 

"Nah." The barbarian's brows drew together. "I don't . . . I don't want that dark ta be the last thing I see."

The wizard wasn't sure what to say to that. "It won't be. Jon says you've lived through worse than this."

Dermott nodded, "Yah. Still. Leave it."

"Alright," Dako shrugged, setting the orb closer to the barbarian's head. "I didn't know you were afraid of the dark."

"I'm not afeared." Dermott's scowl deepened. "I just - I hate the dark." He fixed the wizard with a pained look. "So leave it."

"I said I would." Dako smiled, hoping that would ease his friend. Instead Dermott only looked more annoyed.

"Ah, what have ya. Take tha light if ya want, then," he growled, turning his head away from the wizard.

Dako was confused. "I said I would leave it . . . I don't like the dark either. I feel like we've been down here forever." That we'll never get out.

"Hmmph. Can't believe I'm bein' motherhenned by a damn wand-wavin' long haired, pointy-eared, soft skinned townie. Just let me be." 

The wizard put a hand on his arm, "I'm not mothering you, ass. Not any more than Jon does. Or you do me. Who was it offering to carry me out of here?"

"It's differ'nt. Yer a kid. And Jon's . . . he's Jon." Dermott sighed. "Just hate lookin' sa damn weak. I'm a grown man cryin' about dyin' in tha dark. It's-"

"Understandable," Dako interrupted. "No one's dying, anyway. So shut your mouth and sleep."

Dermott shifted his head slightly. His gaze was open and vulnerable, despite the awkward grin below it. The barbarian reached for Dako's hand, squeezing it painfully. "An' yer gonna make that a promise, huh? Much ya know about anythin'." 

It was just another of the barbarian's joking litany of insults, but Dako felt a need to reply. He did his best to squeeze the big man's hand back, though Dermott didn't seem to notice. "Yes, I will make it a promise, you . . ." he tried to think of a suitable jibe.

"Goat-loving lubberwort?" 

Dako laughed and the barbarian joined in, giving a little groan of pain between guffaws. "Yes, that. And I'll have you know, I am quite educated. I know lots of things. So . . . there." The wizard grinned, feeling an idiot. 

"Yeah, yeah. Ya gonna let me sleep now?" Dermott closed one eye, watching Dako with the other.

"I've been telling you to sleep since you woke up! By all the gods, you would try the patience of a monk." The wizard stretched out on the hard stone, and though it seemed sleep would be long in coming, it took him in moments.