This Dark Endeavour (with Bonus Material) by Kenneth Oppel

Author:Kenneth Oppel [Oppel, Kenneth]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4434-1281-0
Publisher: HarperCollins Canada
Published: 2011-09-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 10

THE DESCENT

“Someone should stay behind with the horses,” said Konrad.

Despite Temerlin’s careful map, it had taken us a good half hour to find the entrance to the cave in the foothills. It was a man-size cleft in a rocky outcropping, partly hidden behind shrubs. The four of us dismounted and started to unload the gear from our saddlebags.

“The horses can take care of themselves,” Elizabeth said. “We’ll hobble them, and they can graze. I saw a creek just over there where they can drink.”

“I think you should stay with the horses,” said Konrad.

I smiled to myself, knowing what was coming.

“I’ll do no such thing,” she said indignantly. “Victor knows how capable I am.”

“I’ll vouch for it a hundred times over,” I said.

“I didn’t say you weren’t—” Konrad began.

“Then please don’t insult me by suggesting I shouldn’t come. You stay with the horses if you like.”

“I will stay with them,” said Henry, eyeing the cave opening with some horror. “There is the small matter of my claustrophobia.”

I looked at Henry. “I didn’t know you suffered from that affliction as well.”

“Oh, yes,” he said. “Quite badly. In combination with my fear of heights and my general excess of imagination, it creates a veritable typhoon of fear.”

“A very nice turn of phrase,” said Elizabeth, filling her pack.

“Thank you,” said Henry. “In any event you’ll want someone out here in case you get lost and need rescuing. I brought some books to read.”

“An excellent idea,” I said, thumping him on the shoulder. “Write some poetry too while you wait.”

“Indeed,” he said, inspecting his pocket watch. “It is now nine in the morning. In order to reach the chateau before sundown, you will need to be back here no later than six o’clock.”

“Nine hours,” I said. “More than enough time for a stroll and a bit of fishing, eh, Konrad?”

“Don’t be surprised if we’re back before lunch, Henry,” he said, shouldering his rucksack.

“Be careful,” said Henry, as I buckled on my scabbard. Just knowing my sabre was at my hip made me feel armoured, invincible.

“Konrad, you have your clock?” Henry asked.

“Of course,” he said, nodding at me. “We both do.”

We passed through the opening, and in that one step, summer evaporated. An ancient cold emanated from the stone. We’d done well in dressing warmly. The cave was large, and clearly no stranger to humans. Near the entrance the remnants of campfires were scattered about, and pictures and names scratched on the stone walls. There was the whiff of urine and animal scat.

“Is your pack too heavy?” Konrad asked Elizabeth.

“I’ll manage,” she said.

Mine was certainly heavier than I would have liked. Outside, when Konrad and I had divided up the gear, we’d made sure that our two packs were the weightiest.

Elizabeth set hers down and, without preamble, pulled her skirt off over her boots. Beneath she wore a pair of pantaloons.

She caught me staring at her. “You didn’t think I was going to go caving in a dress, did you?”

“Of course not. Very sensible,” I said, hoping she couldn’t see the heat in my cheeks.

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