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![]() The three companions continued along the mountain path, wondering how they were supposed to find the secret entrance to the caves containing the River of Steel. Gradually the smooth mountain road changed into rougher terrain. There were jagged edges in the rock, sharp spikes and pebbles almost like caltrops. The way twisted at strange angles and seemed to double back, but fail to return to the original way, even though it should have. "I think we are lost," Nirahr said. "Maybe we should retrace our steps and find Lonewolf to guide us." "We cannot go back," Ishra said. "We have shifted into another plane an hour ago. The only way out is through. The gate was one-way, but this is not a dead end." Braktus had also noticed something was amiss. The sun had disappeared and the blue of the sky felt strangely wrong. He did not have a keen sense for planes, but he had been away from the material worlds long enough to know Ishra spoke the truth. Nirahr regarded her with strange eyes, as though he realised for the first time, she was an attractive woman. After another hour of walking, they reached an intersection, allowing them to go into three different directions. Ishra decided to continue straight ahead, but a few intersections later she realised they were now in a labyrinth. Strange rock formations beetled the passages, spikes, arches and overhangs of alien and ominous shapes shadowed the paths with unwholesome patterns. "Can you climb one of the walls and see, if you can find a path. I may be able to use some magic, but I need at least a destination," Ishra said to Braktus. "Why isn't it possible to tell the magic to lead us to the exit of this maze?" Nirahr asked. He was strangely aggressive and short-tempered since he had realised that he was in a different world without Lonewolf. Ishra sat down lazily, revealing her shapely legs and eyed Nirahr suspiciously. Braktus scanned the rock walls critically. "There may be exits to nether planes," Ishra said. "There is no way to know with a maze like this one. You never were a patient person, right?" He only nodded, staring at her with a strange gleam in his eyes. Ishra knew the man feared her, but the intent written in his expression was clear. Braktus reached the top of the wall and pulled himself up carefully. The wall was surprisingly wide. He scanned the area, but even from this vantage point, there was no obvious destination. Several passages were covered with a complete roof, which suggested possible exits, assuming the next stage of this journey was subterranean. He tried to memorise their positions before climbing down, but Braktus suspected, the physical layout of the labyrinth meant little. It was a mental test. He stepped on the ground silently, seeing Ishra and Nirahr looking at each other in mutual antipathy. The woman smoothly rose and joined her partner, ignoring the man. Braktus stayed closer to her now, as they made their path through the labyrinth. At another intersection they disagreed, which was the best path. It seemed Nirahr accepted only the leadership of Lonewolf, and even that only out of fear. "Then go your own way," Ishra said amiably. "Do not complain to us, if you get lost." Nirahr growled: "You will get lost." He stalked away. Ishra and Braktus made their way through the strange rock labyrinth at a leisurely pace, only looking at each other to agree on the path they would take. "Why did you tease him?" Braktus asked, when he was sure, Nirahr was out of hearing. "I had to know," Ishra said. "I just wonder, how much Lonewolf knows. He is strangely docile next to her." Braktus chuckled. "She is bigger and stronger than him," he said. "I am stronger than him," she spoke. "He does not know," Braktus said. It took them only thirty minutes to find the first covered passage. A single woman was there, nude and whimpering. She seemed hurt and lonely, but neither adventurer trusted her in this place. Braktus, who was more gentle than his partner knelt next to her. "What is wrong with you, milady?" he asked with a soft voice. There was no answer. "Look at me," Ishra demanded. The woman turned a bit, but dared not look into the eyes of the other. Her face was tear streaked and dirty. Ishra grabbed her chin and forced her gaze upon her. The other tried to avert the eyes, but Ishra saw the fear in them. "I am no gorgon," she said. "Why do you refuse to look at us, or speak with us?" "I have lost my husband," she said. "Cruel men chased him away and now I cannot find him anymore. He is frightened and my strength has failed." Ishra looked at the woman. She did not entirely believe her. "Your partner is monstrous to behold, is he not?" she asked. "How did you now?" the other asked. She was a small and lithe blonde with pale blue eyes, full lips and soft muscles. "I am from the planes," Ishra said. "I know humans and their accursed xenophobia." "Why are you running nude into the mountains? The upper ranges are freezing cold." Braktus asked. "I had a gown, but when I climbed the mountains it was torn by rocks and my moccasins were shredded by sharp pebbles. I had to leave the remains of my dress as a bait for the men, who followed me. I fear it has not thrown them off my trail." Ishra looked at Braktus. She turned to the woman again. "We can protect you from the men, if they come for you, but we are not trackers. I am a simple warrior and he is a thief." The blonde finally relaxed. "I can follow tracks," she said. "I am not as soft as I look." She led them through the maze, until they were approached by a group of bullies. They were mean-looking burly men. "This bitch belongs to us. She couples with monsters. We will give her what she deserves." Ishra drew her sword, staring at the men hard. "I know why she did not chose any of you," she said. "Her relations are for her to decide, not for you. You better go home, or someone will get killed." She patted her sword, which seemed too large and heavy for her. "You better get out of our way," one of the man said. "Otherwise we will treat you the same as her." Braktus had gone. Ishra looked at them and realised they would not back down. She charged into the group, killing four men with the first overhead swing of her sword. The terrified men tried to draw their weapons, but it was too late for them. Ishra fought with cold fury and lethal precision. Men in the back rank collapsed dead. The last one was caught between the hammer and the anvil, between the size of Braktus and the unnatural strength of Ishra. He died. The blonde woman avoided the bloodstains and led the two others through the maze. They reached another cave, were a tall and gaunt creature with green reptilian scales waited. Tentacles sprouted from its joints and crotch. It did not belong to any species either adventurer recognised. The blonde woman hugged the creature and buried her face in its chest. The creature tenderly and gently caressed the woman, belying its terrifying experience. Ishra looked into its gentle eyes. "Before we leave you to enjoy each other's company, I want to inquire the way to the River of Steel. It seems we are lost in this maze." When the two adventurers left, they heard a moan of pleasure from the position of the two they had just brought together. Quickly Ishra and Braktus followed the directions and met an old hermit. Ishra went through the description she had been given another time. The path did indeed end here. The old man seemed lost in thought. "Excuse me," Braktus said. "We are looking for the River of Steel." The man looked at them. Most of the face was hidden beneath his long mane, beard or the bushy eyebrows. His green eyes were of startling brilliance. "The River," he said. "Yes. You want to fight the phane." Ishra and Braktus settled down on the cleared rock floor and listened, as the man lectured them on the nature of good and evil, on their deeds and on the effect of the River as a bringer of focus, rather than a purger of evil. Many hours must have passed, but the colour of the sky and the direction of the sunless light did not change. The two adventures fell asleep in each others arms, before the old man was done. "Rest well, children, I will guard you," he said. When they awakened in strange surroundings, the couple quickly focussed on an old man with green eyes. "I will now show you the way into the dungeon," the man said. Again Braktus was not sure, how the information had been provided. It was not exactly speech, but neither magic nor psionics as he understood them. There was something strange in the laws of interaction in this plane. He looked at Ishra, who was unconcerned and together they followed the instructions of the sage. They travelled for many hours, until they entered a cave. "We are on another plane," Ishra said. Her eyes were glowing strangely in the dark. Sunlight filtered through holes in the ceiling, sending rays of bright light into the darkness. Nirahr was also there. Obviously he had just arrived himself. Ishra saw that his clothes were stained with blood. Some uncanny intuition told her, he had faced similar trials. He had brutally raped the woman, slaughtered the other men and the partner of the woman. Then he had raped her again and finally murdered her. He had then tortured and killed the sage. Ishra knew they would be there again for the next adventurers entering the maze. She knew that neither Braktus nor she herself were free of evil deeds, but there was great regret in both. Nirahr on the other hand seemed to be possessed by a demon. Braktus had known evil men and cut their throats, throttled them in their sleep or stabbed their hearts. He had, at that time, not cared, if they deserved a chance at redemption or not. All the people he had killed, had been strangely normal, but there was something unfathomable in the nature of Nirahr. He looked at Ishra, who led the way, as usual. |
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