The Simple Delivery by Andrew Claydon

The Simple Delivery by Andrew Claydon

Author:Andrew Claydon [Andrew Claydon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Andrew Claydon
Published: 2022-05-04T00:00:00+00:00


Chapter 16

Cut from the rock itself, like every other part of the Crag, the chamber the group overlooked was vast. Unlike the rest of the Crag, however, effort had gone into making this room look like something out of a castle, albeit a dark mockery of one. In stark contrast to the rest of the complex, the floor was even and the walls smoothed and rounded, with images of skulls chiselled into the stone, lit by rows of torches instead of dim cave moss. Four banners adorned the walls, each with different disturbing imagery that made him squirm if he looked at it too closely.

The centre of the room was dominated by a large, ornate banqueting table with heraldry carved into it. Whilst different again from the banners, it was equally as upsetting to the eye. Five throne-like chairs surrounded the table, each placed before a dinner setting. Golden plates, cutlery, and goblets caught the glint of the torchlight.

‘Told you I knew the way,’ Shift remarked with a glib whisper.

The room stank of blood, and he felt sorry for his new companion, despite their breezy attitude. He couldn’t imagine what butchery they must’ve witnessed here. To the side of Shift, Auron was staring at each banner in turn with disgusted recognition.

‘Down,’ Shift cried in a low voice.

Obeying instantly with no visible sign of danger, he decided he must be getting used to this. He was having plenty of practice.

Concealing themselves behind some weather-beaten barrels discarded on the walkway, they peered below them. The troop of familiars emerged from an entrance directly beneath them, entered the room in their bastardised formation, and passed the table to approach the large double doors at the far end of the room. The door was covered in skulls, and he didn’t believe for a second that they were carved. At least there was no space in the rows. If he did die here he’d hate to have his skull mounted on some vampires door for all eternity.

The familiars split into two lines as they reached the door, flanking it on either side and holding their spears at attention. Were they supposed to be some kind of honour guard? Two without spears moved to the door itself while another, marked by his rusted helmet, stood proudly—if not quite upright—at the head of the group.

‘This is the poorest looking honour guard I’ve ever seen,’ Auron remarked as he watched the familiars organise themselves.

From somewhere beyond the double doors, a gong sounded, the deep note resonating through the air around them. At the gong’s signal, the two familiars at the door pulled the handles. With a wheezing effort from the creatures, the door opened with a creak that sounded much to Nicolas like an inhuman scream.

The familiar with the helm shouted something, and the familiars in the honour guard held their spears forward in salute.

Emerging from the dark opening was a trio of deathly pale youths, flawlessly groomed in well-styled tunics. Though their hair looked messy, it was obviously the result of calculated effort.



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