Trading to the Deeps by C. M. Simpson & Michael Anderle

Author:C. M. Simpson & Michael Anderle [Simpson, C. M. & Anderle, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LMBPN Publishing
Published: 2020-05-04T22:00:00+00:00

16

The Threat from Below

As soon as they stepped through the arch, they discovered a passage that looked like it ran around the circumference of the pit. Roeglin gave a soft whistle and held up his hand.

“Henri, Izmay, take our left. Zeb, Jakob, go right. I need to know.”

My people will join you, Tok said, and one of the mantids moved to join each pair of humans. They can relay what you find.

Henri’s mouth tightened as he looked up at the mantid that joined them.

I am K’tch, it said by way of greeting.

The insectoid that joined Jakob and Zeb gave his name as Etk’k. Both waited for the humans to take the lead.

Roeglin looked at Xavier and Evan. “You don’t have to come with us,” he told them. “You can take the stairs back to the surface and let them know what we’ve found so far.”

The men exchanged glances and looked back at Roeglin.

“We’d rather stay if it’s all the same,” Evan told him. He gestured at the closest tunnel. “Time we saw what happened to those we betrayed.”

That last word came out as a croak and he cleared his throat after, his skin burning a deep red.

Xavier nodded in agreement, his face the same shade.

Roeglin studied their expressions before nodding. He said nothing in return, though, just turned and walked into the corridor.

K’tch’s voice touched their minds. We have met each other and are returning. Henri says to relay that the tunnel goes beneath the stairs but has no openings into it or the center.

“Understood,” Roeglin replied, his eyes gleaming white as he spoke. “Can you, Henri, and Izmay investigate the first tunnel, and Zeb, Jakob, and Etk’k the second?”

It shall be so.

Marsh felt the mantid’s mind leave and forged ahead. As she did, she realized she hadn’t seen the children since Mordan had led the way back through the arch. She reached along the link.

Dan, are the cubs with you?

The kat’s reply came back immediately. Of course. They cannot be left unattended.

Marsh blushed at the kat’s reproof and toyed with the idea of scolding the two youngsters. She brushed it aside as Roeglin’s fingertips touched the back of her hand.

“Ready?”

She nodded, returning the touch before blending with the shadows. “Time to become a ghost.”

“You’re lucky the children know who you are,” Roeglin informed her.

“And that they’re not likely to panic,” she reminded him.

They cautiously made their way along the tunnel, shadow blades drawn and shields ready. The tunnel curved slightly left, but they had only traveled for a short distance before they heard the sound of soft footsteps.

Roeglin hesitated, raising his hand to signal a halt.

Go ahead, he instructed Marsh. I need to know what we’re walking into.

Done. Marsh glided forward, her shadow-blended steps making no sound on the cavern floor.

Behind her, Brigitte dropped back to guard the rear, and Evan and Xavier readied their blades. Marsh moved swiftly, starting to feel the strain of staying blended with the shadow. The tunnel felt subtly wrong, but she couldn’t work out why.

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