Siscci by R.L. Parker

Author:R.L. Parker [Parker, R.L.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0000000000000
Publisher: Ayrelon Press LLC;
Published: 2024-04-24T08:30:39+00:00

* * *

An hour later, she found herself at a hole. It looked more like a gash cut into the ground, or a wound, than it did a natural formation. It was too wide to jump across, but not overly large. There was no sound of rushing water, so it didn’t appear as if a river had carved it into the landscape. She didn’t know the area, so she wasn’t sure how long the hole was, and therefore how long it would take to get around.

Sylk listened for a few minutes, standing on the edge of the cliff. An owl hooted in the distance. A small creature scampered away nearby, likely frightened by the call of its predator. Crickets were singing, and small flying insects were buzzing about. She heard no footsteps of a human following her, and no sounds she could identify as a large animal anywhere nearby.

For the first time in days, she felt safe. Exhausted, filled with physical pain, and on the verge of passing out... but safe.

Clank, clank, echoed a sound from the bottom of the hole. The sound was sudden, and out of place. She let loose a small gasp before catching herself, and covering her mouth out of reflex with her right hand; a movement that sent a fresh wave of pain through her back.

Clank, clank, clank, came the sound again. She was certain it was the sound of metal banging against stone, somewhere down in the depths below.

“Hello?” she said, leaning into the ravine just a touch. No response came. She wasn’t sure if there was a person down below, or if she’d spoken loud enough to be heard. Just to make sure, she lowered herself to the ground, moving as gingerly as she could, until she had extended her head out over the opening and could feel comfortable yelling a little more loudly.

“Is anyone down there?” she called.

“Oh, thank Galrath!” said a man’s voice. The sound was faint, indicating he was very far below her position. He sounded as if he might have been just as exhausted as she was.

“I need help. I’m being chased by some men, and I’m wounded,” she called out.

“I’m stuck down here. I... I have food, and bandages—a whole mess of supplies, really. I’m the only one left down here.”

“How bad are you stuck? Can you get out soon? And... where’s the exit? I’m leaning over a cliff right now, probably right on top of you.”

“Oh? There’s a fissure above me, and I can smell the forest on the breeze. I’m in an old dwarven mine. Came here on an expedition, but then part of the mine caved in and killed most of the crew. If you could climb down, and lend a hand, we could get through this debris in a few short hours. If I have to keep digging by myself, this could take days,” he explained.

“Climb down? I may not have the strength. My back is terribly wounded, and I’m on the verge of passing out as it is.

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