The Quest (The Hidden Realm Book 5) by A. Giannetti

Author:A. Giannetti [Giannetti, A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction & Fantasy, Fantasy, Epic
Amazon: B015WLM15I
Publisher: A. Giannetti
Published: 2015-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

THE DWELLING

Ascilius started awake instantly at the touch of Elerian’s hand, but veteran campaigner that he was, made no sound or movement when he opened his eyes and saw Elerian bending over him.

“Come with me, Ascilius,” whispered Elerian. “I have seen something that requires the attention of a Dwarf.” Knuckling the sleep out of his eyes with his left hand, Ascilius reluctantly rose from his blankets. Taking up Fulmen in his right hand, he followed Elerian away from the overhang.

“What is it?” he asked quietly and somewhat grumpily when they stood shoulder to shoulder before the wall of stone where Elerian had seen the gleam of argentum. “Why did you wake me?”

“If you look closely, you will see that there is a door here,” replied Elerian softly. “See if you can open it.” Ascilius looked closely at the stone face before him, observing for the first time the faint lines which had attracted Elerian’s attention.

“A Dwarf door,” he muttered excitedly to himself. Filled with curiosity, he began to recite opening spells softly in his own language until, finally, there was a click, and a dark outline appeared in the stone wall before him. An instant later, the stone portal swung inward of its own volition on silent hinges. Wide-awake now and eager to explore the mysterious opening before him, Ascilius lit a small mage light which positioned itself about a foot above his head. Small and dim as the glow of a firefly, its faint rays more than sufficed to light the way for him and Elerian. The magical light revealed a small landing and beyond that a flight of rough-hewn stone steps leading down into the base of the outcrop. After stepping cautiously through the doorway, Ascilius paused on the landing and sniffed the air in a professional manner.

“The air emanating from inside this place is stale but it seems wholesome,” he said quietly to Elerian. “It should be safe enough to go on.” Warily, with Elerian at his heels, Ascilius began to descend the stairs. A dozen steps brought him and Elerian down to a large room about fifteen feet long by twenty feet wide. In its center was a large wooden table that had been upended onto the floor. Scattered around it were the remains of a number of chairs and benches, all elaborately carved and polished but dusty with the passage of the years. In the far wall of the chamber was a large fireplace. Hanging on one hinge to the right of it was a heavy wooden door, the dark tunnel behind it partially exposed. To the left of the fireplace, a steady trickle of water ran out of the wall into a stone basin before draining away into a hidden recess. The wall above the basin was lined with wooden shelves, but the crockery and cooking gear which had rested on them at one time were all smashed and broken on the floor below the shelves. Near the left hand wall of the chamber, the remains of another wooden door lay on the floor, exposing the dark entrance to a hall.

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