Realms Beyond: Book 1: Status Quo by Ben McFadden

Author:Ben McFadden [Ben McFadden]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Feedbooks (http://www.feedbooks.com)
Published: 2009-08-19T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Terrorists and Monsters

“Now what do we do?” Gern asked, placing his hands on his hips and facing the obstacle that lay before them.

According to the route marked on the map, the group was to follow the main cleft of Lightning Chasm south until it branched, which they had done. They were then to take the southwest branch. This they had also done. They had walked the southwest branch for several miles, passing minor branches and numerous cave entrances. But it seemed the map had no advice concerning what lay before them.

The branch had been narrowing steadily for a good distance, having thinned to a width of just a few yards, thus it had not taken much for a presumably recent rockslide to effectively block the way completely.

“We could climb it,” Brel suggested, peering up along the pile.

“Are you joking? Some of those boulders look like they could come rolling down at any moment,” Meln protested.

“Maybe one of your spells would help,” Theana retorted acidly.

“Well, this is surely our latest challenge,” Kresan said reasonably. “There has to be a way.”

“Wait. The caves,” Theana said, brightening. “We’ve seen a lot of cave entrances. Let me see that map.”

Kresan obligingly spread the map out on a flattish rock and Theana bent over it.

“Yes. See, the map shows that the rock between the main branches is riddled with caverns and tunnels. I bet there’s a way through to the other side of this obstacle!”

“The caves?” Brel echoed, peering into a nearby opening, though this one was too small to enter. “Do you think that’s a good idea? Maybe we should look for the Guides behind us and be sure…”

“I think it’s a terrible idea,” Meln grumped, crossing his arms on his chest.

This seemed to help Brel, and everyone else, make up their minds. “If it’s the wrong thing to do, the Guides will stop us. They said they’d be close enough to keep an eye on us. Let’s go.”

“I’m telling you,” Meln continued as the group turned and started back the other way in search of a suitable opening, Theana in the lead. “We’ll regret it. We should find the Guides…”

But, faced with the choice of standing alone on the Chasm floor in the fading afternoon or following, Meln was soon reluctantly trailing behind, still grumbling to himself.

If only the Guides had not left behind schedule, they might have been present to inform the group that Meln, for once, was right.

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