The Circle Line (The Complex Throne Book 1) by Ben Yallop

Author:Ben Yallop [Yallop, Ben]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-01-05T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Ten

The cool dark tunnels of the London Underground were fresh after the smoke of old London. They walked for some time, Weewalk never allowing them to stop and, only occasionally, when there was no other route, taking them through the brightly lit stations. Eventually he paused before a door in a dark tunnel. There was no handle or keyhole. Weewalk moved his hand over the door, using presence to release the hidden mechanism inside and open the way, ushering them through before closing it carefully behind them. A stone archway lay ahead of them, a symbol of a mermaid etched into the stone at the point of the curve. Darkness hugged at the walls.

‘Here we are.’ said Weewalk, ‘We'll be safe in no time.’

At the sound of his voice a shadow detached itself from the wall to the side of them. Sam immediately thought of Ferus and tensed, ready to run, but as the figure stepped into the faint light of a bare weak bulb hanging from the middle of the ceiling Sam saw that the stranger was small, a similar height to Weewalk, but less stocky. The figure spoke in a gruff voice.

‘Oose dere, ooo are ya?’

Weewalk spoke ‘Hödekin, is that you?’

‘Owd Hob?’ exclaimed the stranger and immediately bent to one knee.

‘Weewalk.’ said Weewalk sternly and the stranger rose sheepishly and came forward to grasp hands with him.

‘Sorry. Old habits.’

Sam could see that they were both kobolds but where Weewalk was thick set Hödekin was slim. Hödekin wore more common place clothing than his mine kobold cousin, but still the clothes looked as though they had been taken from a young boy. He wore a red cap firmly pulled down on his head. His round eyes peered out from under the peak.

‘Off to the Mermaid are ya?’ he said looking at them in turn ‘Well, you'll be welcome there sure enough. Jēran is taking in lots of folks at the moment, calling them all in, he is. Not safe for us no more. Riven are up to something. Yeren are prowling around. Yes, Jēran will see you safe at the Mermaid.’

‘But what are you doing here, old friend?’ asked Weewalk.

‘Jēran decided to post a guard, he did. Heard a rumour someone was coming through here. We take it in turns to watch the doors to the Mermaid. There are many paths to the Tavern.’

‘Here, let me introduce you to my friends.’ said Weewalk. ‘This is Hadan and Sam. This is Hödekin, a good friend of mine. A house kobold from the old days.’

Hödekin shook their hands, giving both of them a broad grin as he looked up into their faces.

‘Well,’ he said, ‘from the looks of you a hot bath and hot food is what is needed. Don’t let me keep you here.’

He turned to the archway and waved his hands. The line immediately sprang into life, sucking at what little light there was in the room. After giving their thanks they each stepped through the portal and away from the London Underground.

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