Portals by Brian S Pratt

Author:Brian S Pratt [Pratt, Brian S]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Briansprattbooks
Published: 2010-10-27T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

The comings and goings of the Ti-Ocks continued unabated for quite some time. At one point, a solitary creature emerged from the main tunnel beside which loped a beast about the size of a large dog. From his vantage point, all Holk could tell was that the beast had a coat of long fur and a short, stubby tail. He watched the pair until they disappeared into the first of the smaller tunnels.

Would the beast have the same senses as his hounds back home? If so, he could soon be in for a world of hurt. He took some comfort in the fact that the beast had taken no notice of him during its initial pass through the cavern. With any luck, it never would.

Holk watched for more of the dog-like creatures, but none appeared. A short time later, the Ti-Ock and beast reappeared from the smaller tunnel and returned into the larger. Less than ten heart-beats afterward, a mass migration of Ti-Ocks emerged from out of the smaller tunnels. Minutes later, the last creature passed into the main tunnel.

The cavern grew eerily quiet.

Could this be his chance? Were they gone for the night…or day as the case may be? There was no way to tell.

Holk remained still and quiet where he sat against the cavern wall deep within the shadows. When after a span of time passed during which no Ti-Ock returned, he climbed to his feet.

The lantern he hooked over his sword hilt. Slowly, and with every sensory faculty straining to catch any foreshadowing of a Ti-Ock’s return, he made his way toward the main tunnel.

Several carts stood off the track, parked as it were in a haphazard fashion along the cavern wall near the entrance. One had a broken wheel while the top third of another’s side was missing. It looked as if the wood had been bashed away by a massive hammer. Intrigued as to what could have caused such a hole, Holk took in other mining carts that showed similar damage.

Pondering the imponderable would get him nowhere. Reining in his curiosity, he brought his attention back to the mouth of the main tunnel. Flickering torchlight glowed from within.

Moving along the wall, Holk approached. Upon coming to within a foot of the entrance, he paused to listen. There was only silence. Taking it slow, he took the last step and peered around the corner.

The tunnel continued for well over a hundred feet before curving to the left. Torches in wall sconces burned every twenty feet, maintaining uninterrupted illumination throughout its length. Should he risk exploring where it led, there would be no way to remain unobserved should a Ti-Ock appear.

“Okay Scribe,” he quietly whispered, “did you go in there?” Turning his attention from the tunnel to the cavern rock comprising its mouth, he sought Kiernan’s tell-tale red marks.

After searching the rock wall beside which he lurked a foot in either direction and all the way from the ground to as high as he could see, he failed to discover any indication of the scribe coming this way.

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