Dragon Wolf Hero
Chapter 8
Vor fought back the waves of slime monsters filling the corridor. The walls were damp and the light from the crystals in the rock was dim, muted by the slime dripping from the ceiling.
Sennranor remained cautious and studied the slime while her companions pushed deeper into the dungeon. “The core energy in the slime is from the dungeon and appear to be the first of many challenges.”
Wilstra touched the wall and ran down the corridor into the mass of slimes forming in the dark. “The rocks feel like the inside of a living thing and there is nowhere for the living to hide in these dungeons.”
Vor dropped the sword he carried for self-defence and protection at all times, in his role as the king of the northern lands. He prepared to transform into his dragon form to clear the slimes from the walls and was stopped by a firm hand on his shoulders. He looked back and said, “The slime will close the passage if we stand here and do nothing. I can sense the dragons approaching from the deep. “
Wilstra said, “The lines of power radiating from the core are visible to me and the dragons want to face the king of the northern lands. The warrior elf should return to the surface and report to the caravan.”
Sennranor refused. “I will protect the king until the transformation powers stolen by the humans are removed.”
Vor pick-ed up the sword and stood surrounded by waves of approaching slimes like a rush of water from an opened faucet, as the dwarf and the elf continued to argue in the corridor. The sting of a slime caused one hand to go numb.
In an instant, his mind flashed to his previous life and the memory of a jelly fish at a beach. He pushed in front of his companions and cleared the passage with a pulse of fire launched from a small magic circle he imagined forming in the air like a sheild. “I remember seeing this move in a computer game while recovering from a jelly fish sting one summer. The feeling was the same as the sting from a slime.”
Sennranor ignored the continuing protests from the dwarf and said, “Computer game? Jelly fish? There are fish that resemble the slime monters?”
Vor laughed. “Computer games are simulations of battle and great for testing strategies and battle plans. Tell me, is the corridor safe?”
Wilstra ran ahead with a hand on the wall. She shouted back to her companions, “The dragon magic you released was too powerful. The dungeon in this area is dead. The slimes are gone. The path is clear.”
Sennranor leaned close to the king, “Tell me about these simulations of battle. I searched the world for good teachers and found none worthy.”
Vor was loosing the feeling in one arm. “Perhaps another time, I need to rest.”
Sennranor placed one hand on the arm while a deep green glow surrounded the king. “The poison is gone, but the numb feeling will continue to get worse before it improves. I will carry you.” She wrapped one arm around the king and continued to explore the dungeon.
“Ree-Nin will not be pleased to hear an elf warrior carried me through the dungeon. She gets jealous.”
Sennranor stepped to one side and dropped the king. “Ree-Nin is not here.”
Vor leaned with his back to the wall until the numb feeling was gone.
Wilstra stomped on the floor and placed one hand on the wall, tracing a small magic circle around a shattered crystal. The light was restored in the corridor. “The crystals are alive. The power of the dungeon is gone in this area so the walls are free to glow as they will for a daughter of the dwarven king.” She turned from the group and explored the corridor searching for a path to reach the inner core. “I can do this alone, go back to the surface.”
The corridor collapsed behind the group and the dust and debris sent the companions running down a steep slope into a large finished section of the old mines. The floors and walls were lined with cut stones and statues.
Vor stumbled as he slowly regained the feeling in his legs and Sennranor helped the king stay on his feet until the group found a small inner chamber to rest.
Wilstra described the room as a secure vault.
Sennranor dropped the king and admired the valuable contents of the room. “The dwarves abandoned these treasure rooms. Gems. Gold. Silver. Why?”
© J. Bateman
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