Almost the Chosen One

Season 2 - Episode 9: The Dark Caverns

Steve and I walked side by side through the narrow cavern. Our torches struggled against the deep shadows, their flickering lights hemmed in by the surrounding stone walls.

We slowly made our way forward, ready at any moment for some lurking creature to spring from the shadows and attack. Other than a constant dripping noise in the distance, the soft echo of our footsteps was the only sounds.

Steve held his torch in one hand and his double bladed axe in the other. He was ready to strike if there was trouble. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him. I kept a tight grip on my wooden staff, poised to unleash some enchanter magic on any shadowy attackers.

Our journey continued on for what felt like half an hour. Thankfully, we didn’t come across any hungry cave beasts. My initial anxiety of entering the cavern faded away, replaced by boredom and fatigue.

“Do you think this passage has an exit?” Steve said.

“I sure hope so,” I said. “Otherwise we’re in for a long, boring walk back.”

A clinking sound echoed in the distance.

I froze and motioned for Steve to stop. “Did you hear that?” I whispered.

Steve gave a serious nod. We stayed silent, waiting for another noise. A few more clinking sounds echoed through the cave.

I put my finger in front of my lips and motioned ahead. I crept forward on the balls of my feet with Steve close behind.

The clinking sounds grew louder as we stalked our way forward. Fire light flickered against the gray stone walls in the distance. The low rumble of voices engaged in conversation drifted toward us.

Adrenaline rushed through my body. We weren’t alone in this cavern. I strained to listen closely to discern how many people there were. There were at least four different voices speaking. At minimum, we were outnumbered two to one.

I doused my torch and Steve followed suit. If we could see the light from their fire, ours would be a dead giveaway.

Ahead, the cavern opened up, a wide open underground space coming into view. The space was nearly the size of a football field with a stalactite covered ceiling looming over a hundred feet above.

A large campfire burned in the middle of the space with dozens of men gathered around it. The fire cast tall shadows of the men against the surrounding walls, making their presence seem all the more ominous.

Steve and I crouched against the walls of the cave, trying our best to stay hidden. My first instinct was to turn and run back the way we came. But a long walk back to a treacherous cliffside didn’t offer much in the way of escape.

The leather armor and plentiful weapons strapped to their belts marked these men as warriors. What they were doing gathered in a deep underground cavern was anyone’s guess.

The low murmur of their voices continued but I could only pick out bits and pieces of their conversation. I gathered they were planning some kind of attack and drawing up battle plans.

“What now?” Steve whispered.

“Maybe we should go back,” I whispered.

“To what? The cliff? We don’t have any climbing gear, remember?”

I stayed silent. There were no good options.

“Maybe we can blend in,” Steve said. “Pretend like we’re with them.”

I narrowed my eyes. “We don’t even know who they are. Or what they’re doing here. For all we know, they work for Vyrkine.”

“Even better. We join his band of thugs and become double agents. We’ll earn their trust and sneak right into his hideout.”

It wasn’t the worst plan but it definitely wasn’t the best. I made a quick head count of the warriors. There were about thirty of them.

“There’s not enough to get lost in the crowd,” I whispered. “They’ll know we’re not with them.”

“Well, what’s your brilliant plan?”

A sharp, cold blade nudged my throat just under my chin. I froze, glancing up at four tall armor clad men standing behind us. They all had their swords drawn and pointed at our necks.

“Indeed.” The warrior with his sword held at my throat spoke. “What is your brilliant plan, spy? I’m curious to hear it myself.”

I swallowed hard, wondering how in the world we could talk our way out of this one.