The Death Ray (Dungeons & Dragons Novel) by T. H. Lain

Author:T. H. Lain [Lain, T. H.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
ISBN: 9780786965038
Publisher: Wizards of the Coast Publishing
Published: 2013-06-18T00:00:00+00:00

“Here, Lord Constable,” the half-elf said as he crossed the basement floor and indicated a blank space on the wall.

“Show me,” Regdar said, squinting at the wall but seeing no sign of a door.

The half-elf traced a straight line with the tip of a finger and Regdar stepped up to the wall. He had to lean in so close to the wall to see it his nose almost touched the rough masonry. There was a crack, no wider than the width of a single hair, but as the half-elf traced its shape Regdar saw it more clearly. The crack outlined the rectangular shape of a low, wide door.

“There’s no handle,” Regdar said. “How do we open it?”

“I’ve been working on that, Lord Constable,” the half-elf replied, “but I can’t find a catch or trigger or anything.”

Regdar nodded and stepped back to survey the wall.

“We’ll need more light,” he said over his shoulder to the young sergeant waiting behind him. “Have lanterns brought in, and bring as many crowbars as you can find … and a pick and shovel.”

The young sergeant nodded and hurried off.

“We’re going to pry it open, my lord?” the half-elf asked.

Regdar shrugged and replied, “Unless you find a better way through before those crowbars get here.”

The half-elf nodded, taking the hint, and went back to his close examination of the secret door. Regdar used the time to survey the hole in the ceiling, marveling at the fact that he could see clear up to the ceiling of the room he shared with Naull.

When the sergeant returned a short time later with a few more men and the necessary tools, Regdar looked at the half-elf with one eyebrow arched.

The half-elf shrugged, shook his head, and stepped aside. Regdar put out a hand and the sergeant set a crowbar across his palm.

“Three men with me,” he said, quickly counting five watchmen in the basement, “the other two stand ready with weapons drawn.”

One of the younger watchmen swallowed and drew his sword in a shaking hand.

“Do you …?” the young man asked. “Do you think it’s still in there?”

Regdar found the hairline crack, set the end of his crowbar in it, and said, “No.”

He heard at least three of the watchmen sigh with relief, heard a second blade drawn, and the sergeant and two of his men pressed their own crowbars into the skinny crack.

It took them several minutes just to chip away at the surrounding mortar enough to get their crowbars set. When the three watchmen nodded to Regdar in turn that they were ready, the lord constable gave the order and they pushed. Regdar didn’t put all his strength into the first attempt, in case the crowbar wasn’t as firmly set or the wall as well-mortared as he thought. The crowbar dug into the crack but the door didn’t budge.

“Are you set well?” he asked the other three. They nodded and Regdar turned his head to address the two men with swords. “I’m sure it’s long gone by now, men, but look alive just the same.

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