Chapter 11

The three crouched behind the boulder, as silent as their stifled breathing would allow.

Just beyond their hiding spot, the skeleton shambled along the uneven path, the sound of small pebbles scraping along the stone and cascading down the hill. The clacking of the bones was getting closer with each step.

Krarshe prepared himself to turn and unleash a spell, but he felt a hand touch his shoulder. He turned to see Lycia shaking her head ever so slightly, knowing what was going through his mind. Her timing couldn't have been better, as not a second later two more skeletons shambled into the clearing.

A couple of tense minutes crawled by. Krarshe could practically hear his heart pounding in his chest. Lycia's chest heaved with careful breaths. The villager's jaw clenched as he shook with fear. Eventually, the sounds of shuffling could be heard heading away from them, going deeper into the mountains.

After another few, quiet minutes, the three peeked around the boulder again.

Nothing.

All of them breathed a sigh of relief.

"What are you two doing out here?!" the man asked finally.

"We were looking for you," Krarshe said, standing and dusting himself off.

"What?! Why?! Don't you know how dangerous these mountains are?!"

"That's precisely why," Lycia explained as she surveyed the direction the skeletons likely headed off in, based on how the shuffling had faded away.

"We're adventurers, hired to look into the recent disappearances."

"Well, I suspect you just got your answer then! We need to get out of here before they come back!"

"You mean those three?"

He shook his head. "There was a larger group of them," the man explained. "Took me since midday to escape most of them."

"What happened?" Lycia pressed.

"I was just off collecting what dead branches I could find lying about when this group of skeletons attacked me. Didn't even notice them until they had me surrounded."

"I take it that means you don't know where they came from," Krarshe said.

He nodded. "Strangely quiet for a pile of bones, but that's what happened."

"Okay, I think I understand the situation." Krarshe turned to Lycia. "Take him back to the village. Let your mother know what's happening."

"What? Karshe, you-"

"I'm going to see if I can follow them, try and find where these undead are coming from."

"Are you an idiot?! Just stop!"

"Lycia. How many people had gone missing?" Krarshe said calmly.

"Huh?"

"How many missing?"

"N-nine?"

"That means there's potentially nine people out there that need help."

"But-"

"I know, who knows if they're alive or not. But if even one is, wasting any time could mean there are none." He took a deep breath. "Go, make sure he gets back safely. Find your mother, she'll know what to do."

"... Krarshe..."

"I must hurry, or I'll lose track of them." He smiled at her. "Don't worry. I'm strong, remember?"

He didn't wait for a response. He quickly pursued the skeleton, moving as swiftly and quietly as he could. The faint bit of light made the trails a maze of shadows, each boulder a towering beast. Finally, he caught sight of the skeletons, the white of bone standing out in the uniform browns and blacks of the dark hills. A dozen or so other skeletons had joined them, all shuffling in unison down a sloping trail into a ravine.

"Found it, I see."

Krarshe spun around. "Lycia?! What are you doing here?!" he whispered.

"You remember what my mother said. We keep each other safe."

"But- But what about the man?"

"He said he'd be fine. I told him where my mother was and to tell her everything."

"Lycia..."

"Krarshe."

They both stared each other down, neither budging.

"Ugh, fine." Krarshe shook his head in defeat. "Let's go."

"Right behind you."

Krarshe smiled as he led her down the hill toward the ravine. While he wanted to show his courage, part of him was glad to have her here. The other part of him, though, was dismayed. He felt the knots tighten in his stomach and his heart sink as they descended.

* * *

From a distant rocky outcrop, Krarshe and Lycia watched as the group of skeletons shuffled together into a cave. The entrance was at the bottom of the valley, hidden away from view by the natural rock formations that surrounded it. The pair waited a few minutes to see if they'd re-emerge, or if there were any stragglers left behind. Once they deemed it safe, they stealthily made their way to the cave's mouth.

"Hear anything?"

Lycia shook her head. "More shuffling, but it's distant."

Krarshe inspected the cave. It seemed largely unremarkable, aside from its size. He thought he could hear the trickling of water echoing from within it, but it was hard to tell. "I think this cave is natural, right?"

"Probably. Why does that matter?"

"Natural caves don't always have a second entrance. Or, exit."

She looked at him. "You know a lot about caves or something?"

"Oh, no. Just remembering a story my do-... My grandfather told me. Moral of the story: caves are dangerous."

"Noted." She paused. "Maybe we shouldn't go in."

"Having second thoughts?"

"No. I was opposed to this from the start. I'm only here to make sure you stay safe, and I'm getting a bad feeling about this."

"Stay here then. I'll go check it out." Krarshe started toward the entrance.

Lycia sighed and reluctantly followed behind him.

The path inside the cave turned and quickly narrowed once inside. The stagnant air was warmer than outside, sheltered from the cold winds coming down the mountain. A pungent mixture of rusty iron and fetid death hung heavy in the air. It was almost enough to make Krarshe gag.

"Gods, this stench," Lycia said, her nose wrinkling in disgust.

"It's pretty awful. Let's hurry up. I don't know how long I can take this."

Lycia nodded silently. "Chiian gra," she whispered aloud.

A small ball of light flickered to life in front of her. She brought it close and shielded the light with her cloak, dimming the light enough to hopefully not give themselves away but allowing them to see the path ahead.

Deeper into the cave they went, the sounds of clattering bones growing louder and stench of decay and rot growing stronger with each step. They both slipped on the loose rocks time and again, more focused on the sounds ahead and searching for danger than their footing.

Krarshe became more nervous with each forked path they encountered. It was becoming difficult to remember which path they'd taken for each one. Please let us not be rushed on our way out... he thought.

Just as he thought that, he saw something.

"Ah!" Lycia exclaimed as she bumped into him. "What are you doing?!"

Krarshe pointed. "I don't think we need the spell anymore."

A soft glow danced on the far wall. Lycia ended the light orb and followed behind Krarshe as he peeked around the corner.

Dozens upon dozens of candles lined the walls and filled little alcoves. Their flames illuminated the pathway, leading down into the depths. The cavern walls had symbols chipped and scraped into them. The etched patterns seemed to be structured like some archaic language, but time had made them nearly illegible.

"Why would undead need candles?" Krarshe asked, figuring the age of the symbols didn't match up with the timing of the disappearances.

"They wouldn't," Lycia commented.

"CURSES! You stupid... useless... Curses!"

They both jumped as a voice echoed through the cavern. Someone was down there, and it didn't sound like someone hiding from the skeletons.

Quietly they continued, their senses heightened. Each breath carefully measured. Each step made carefully, so as to not disturb even a pebble.

The cave opened into a large chamber. Hundreds of candles illuminated it, bright enough to show everything. The etchings on the walls were painted over with ominous red runes, haphazardly written. A myriad of skeletons filled the room, almost all standing about motionlessly.

"Too late, unfortunately," Krarshe said, looking at the far wall.

Lycia looked where he was looking and gasped.

A dead woman lay upon a large stone, dyed in red. Several skeletons appeared to be dissecting her flayed corpse with their rusty blades, discarding chunks of flesh onto the floor.

"Ah! How could you let one escape?! Curses!"

Both Krarshe and Lycia ducked down behind a rocky ridge as the voice yelled out again.

"Well, no matter. I'm prepared now. Stupid peons. Their bones will be useful for my ends... Hurry up with that one!"

The two elves peeked around the corner. A man in a dark hooded robe stood amongst the skeletons, yelling and gesturing at the ones by the dead woman.

"Oh, how lovely might your bones be? I can't wait to see. Mmm... Hurry up! Useless... I'm sorry. I love you. All of you. Yes. We'll be adding more to my collection soon enough, but I still love you all. Soon... Soon!" He started laughing before abruptly shouting, "Hurry! Curses!"

Lycia and Krarshe exchanged looks. "He's insane."

"Maybe just a bit," Krarshe replied.

"Okay, we know what's going on. We need to get out of here before he notices us."

"... I can handle this."

"Krarshe? What- No... Don't do it," she said, looking down at the lightning starting to crackle around his hand. "Don't... Please..."

"But..." He looked at the woman's corpse again.

"Let's just get out of here."

Krarshe stood up and extended his hand.

"Karshe, no!" she shrieked.

In unison, the hooded man and all of the skeletons looked up at Krarshe. "Wha-"

"Krandza zerais!"

Lightning erupted from Krarshe's extended palm, bolts of electricity crashing and arcing across the cave room with a deafening boom. The cry of the hooded mage was barely audible above the cacophonous rumble of lightning as he seized and then fell to the ground, unconscious.

After the moment passed, silence filled the room.

"Karshe!" Lycia shouted as she stood up. "Why?!"

"I figured I could handle it," he replied with a confident shrug. "And I'd say I did."

"That's not the point! What if it went wrong?! What if the cave collapsed on us?!"

"I like to think I have a bit more control than... Okay, valid concern. But it didn't. And look, the enemy has been neutralized..." He trailed off as he looked across the room.

"If you had been even a bit off, we'd be dead right now! And another thing-"

Krarshe held up a hand. "Wait... Something's off..."

"What do you-" Lycia looked across the room.

The mage controlling the skeletons remained unconscious on the ground, that much was unchanged. The skeletons, however, remained standing. Unmoving. Unwavering.

Unaffected by the spell.

Suddenly, like a wave rippling across the room, the skeletons began to quiver. To twitch. To shake. The rattling of bones, initially a small clatter, became pandemonium.

"Karshe..."

"I don't know either... But this can't be good..."

The skeletons stopped moving abruptly.

Then, as if freed from their shackles, they began tearing at anything and everything. Some began clawing and scraping at the stone walls. Others began to attack each other. Nothing was safe from their rampage.

Krarshe and Lycia watched in horror as the unconscious sorcerer was torn to pieces, flesh and blood and bone flung across the room.

"We need to go!" Lycia shouted, turning to Krarshe.

The skeletons froze. In unison, their gaze snapped to where the two of them were perched.

Oh no... "RUN!" Krarshe yelled as he took off the way they came, pulling Lycia along by the wrist.

They sped down the uneven cave pathway, past the rows upon rows of candles. The clatter of the skeletons in pursuit was gaining on them.

As they rounded the corner, he caught the glint of metal in the candlelight. Narrowly, he managed to evade the sword's blade as it took a few strands of hair from his head. As he went to shift and change directions, the loose stones of the cave floor shifted and he felt a sharp pain shoot through his ankle, causing him to collapse to the ground.

"Karshe!" Lycia cried as she watched him tumble. Righting herself, she held up her hand. "Hias gra!"

The orb of flame exploded from her open palm, directly hitting the skeleton that Krarshe had just evaded. The flames engulfed it for a moment, illuminating the numerous skeletons ahead of them before flickering out.

"... No..." she whispered in disbelief as she realized the skeleton was unaffected by the flames. She inhaled. "Dza gra!"

A large stone coalesced in front of her before flinging itself into the advancing skeletons, shattering several of them to pieces.

"Come on, Karshe!" she yelled, pulling him up. "We need to get out of here!"

She held on to him as he limped along, taking another, diverging path, away from both groups of skeletons. As he struggled to run, he watched as the scattered bones drew themselves back into place. Once again whole, the skeletons resumed their pursuit.

They ran as far and as fast as they could, following the scarce candles down deeper. The clattering of bones and scraping of rusty blades echoed in the cavern behind them.

Lycia stopped all of a sudden. "Oh no..."

They found themselves in a small, circular hollow, much smaller than where the hooded mage had been. A small sack lay on the ground, a makeshift bed. A book lay upon a wooden box with a lone candle illuminating it.

This was the end of their path. No other exits, save for the one they just came from.

Krarshe twisted around to face the way they came. "Sem kranruenza mrom, dza yanhadis!"

Just as the skeletons came into view, a wall of stone sprung from the ground, sealing the entrance to the alcove.

Krarshe and Lycia both sighed, relieved. Beyond the wall, they could hear the scratching and clawing of the skeletons, the clanging of their iron weaponry beating against the stone barrier, attempting to chip away at it.

"Well, this will buy us some time at least."

"Chiian gra," Lycia said, conjuring an orb of light as she blew out the candle. "But for how long?"

"I don't know. Hopefully long enough for us to devise a plan."

"And if not?"

He looked at her. "Let's just hope it doesn't come to that." The worry on her face compelled him to add, "If it does, I have another plan." While he tried to not lie regularly, he felt it was the best course here.

"I'm sure you do. You always seem to. Just like with those wild gryphons."

"That's the time you pick?"

She shrugged. "It's what came to mind first."

"Ugh... Please don't remind me."

The two chuckled for a moment before the situation pulled them back to their dire reality.

"... So, what is this place?" Krarshe asked, just trying to distract her from the noise of their pursuers.

"A cave?"

"I know that. I mean, this particular room."

"I assume this is where that necromancer was living," Lycia said, gesturing to the makeshift bed.

"And I assume that book is his too."

"Yeah."

They both looked at it.

"What language is this? I don't recognize it," Lycia said.

"Me neither." Krarshe touched the book to close it and felt a sickening feeling shoot through him. A corrupting sensation like he'd never felt before. Or, rather, once. But where?

"Krarshe?! Are you okay?"

Lycia was hovering over him. He hadn't even realized how far he'd recoiled, now nearly across the room from the book.

"Y-yeah. Yeah, I'm fine." He paused. "Something's... not right. About that book, I mean."

"Hmm?" Lycia looked at it again. She closed the book and inspected the cover, seemingly unaffected by it. "I mean, yeah, it gives you a kind of sinister feeling. Especially this lettering stitched onto it. Also, this texture..."

"The texture?" Krarshe asked, limping over to her.

"Yeah... Something about this feels... wrong."

"... Well, we probably shouldn't be playing with it. That much is certain."

"Mmm." She put the book down again.

Krarshe slid up against the stone wall, opposite the hastily-erected barrier and sat down. He rubbed his now throbbing ankle. Curses... Why'd this have to happen? He realized his curses could have been aimed at his ankle or just the situation in general, but was content to not settle for one or the other. Curse them both.

Before too long, Lycia sat down next to Krarshe, getting shoulder-to-shoulder with him. He heard her sigh. "... Now what?"

"I don't know," he said. "Think we can last until help arrives?"

"I'm not sure, but I hope so," she said. In spite of her words, there was a sense of defeat in her voice. "We are pretty deep in the mountains. Deep in a cave within said mountains."

"... Without having told anyone where we were going..." Krarshe nearly choked on these words, yet another of his mistakes that led to this dire predicament.

No more words passed between them after that. They just sat there beside each other, trapped in this cold, dark cave. The noise of metal clanging against the stone wall that sealed the room's entrance continued tirelessly. For voiceless skeletons, the horde made a dreadful racket.

Krarshe noticed Lycia anxiously fiddling with her thin, golden braid. He pressed against her and asked, "Remember when we first met?"

"Huh?"

"Back at the academy's store. You were wearing a red dress."

"Oh. Umm, I guess I remember. What about it?"

He shook his head. "I just really liked it. The dress, I mean. It looked good on you."

Lycia looked at Krarshe, surprised. "You're bringing this up... now?"

"I was just trying to not think about..." he trailed off with a gesture toward the far wall.

"Oh. Well... Thanks, I guess..." She slumped back against Krarshe. After a minute she said, "Remember that time I came and you were covered in dust?"

"Hmm? No, not really. That could have been any time. I was basically coated in it daily."

"Really? Hmm... Well, I just remember one particular day well. ... I think it was the first time we... really talked."

Krarshe thought for a moment. "Oh! Yes, I remember that day!"

"Mmm... Me too."

"Ugh, why'd you have to bring up that time now? That was too embarrassing."

"It's... actually a memory I'm quite... fond of..."

Krarshe looked at her. She was turned away from him. If only he could see her expression right now. "W-well... It WAS embarrassing. So can't we talk about any other times?"

"Would you rather talk about the time you, the mighty Krarshe, t'was defeated by a flock of chickens?"

Krarshe's jaw dropped. "Where'd you hear that?!"

"As if Marcel wouldn't talk about it..."

"Marceeeeeeeeeel!" Krarshe howled.

Lycia let out a giggle. "It's fine. I'm sure none of the other people he told about it will let it go down in the annals of history."

The two continued to talk and reminisce for an unknown amount of time. Krarshe would have guessed it'd be well into the night by now. Gradually, they ran out of topics with which to distract themselves. The banging of the skeletons outside the room once again became the only sound.

"... I hope we can make more memories, Krarshe..."

Krarshe could feel her press against him harder. He swallowed and pushed back into her, trying to comfort her, remind her that he was here with her. "... We will. I promise."

With renewed determination, his mind started working, trying to figure out what options he had to get her out of this stone prison. He wouldn't let her die here. Even if it meant revealing everything to her.

Not a moment later, there was a commotion outside. Both Krarshe and Lycia jumped, startled. Krarshe moved to shield her from whatever horrors were coming, ignoring the stabbing pain in his ankle. He readied his spell for what was to come next.

His stone barrier crumbled.

As he was about to unleash his spell, he heard a voice. One he recognized.

"Lycia! Krarshe! This way!" Taliarrah yelled.

"Mom!"

"Come, hurry!"

Lycia grabbed Krarshe as they both made their way out of the room. The skeletons had all sunk into mud on the ground up to their necks, struggling to get free of the muck. The two carefully made their way along the edge of the cave while avoiding the mud trap and the flailing skeletons.

The three of them fled as fast as Krarshe's injury would allow, back out of the cave and into the mountains. After Taliarrah sealed the cave entrance with a stone barrier spell, they all safely returned to the village.

* * *

Krarshe and Lycia sat, each wrapped in a blanket in the far corner of the village chief's home, warming themselves up by the fire after spending much of the night in the cold cave. The pain in Krarshe's ankle had quickly subsided after drinking the healing potion his master had brought. It was completely healed by the time they'd arrived back in the village.

Taliarrah was still discussing the situation with the chief on the other side of the room. She'd said nothing to the two of them all the way back to the village, and, upon arrival, immediately went to wake the chief.

Krarshe warmed himself as he watched, rubbing his arms with icy hands. He wasn't aware of how cold he'd actually become until it contrasted with the warmth by the hearth. The fear of imminent death can be quite distracting. Lycia yawned next to him, eliciting a yawn from him as well.

The distant discussion seemed to conclude with a nod from the village chief as he hurried out into the night. Taliarrah sighed as she turned and walked over to the fireplace.

"On your feet!" she commanded.

Krarshe and Lycia both sprang to their feet, their sleepiness blown away. The tone of their master's voice warned them of the scolding they were about to receive.

"What... were you two... thinking?"

Neither spoke beyond a nervous haw.

"You both wandered off into unfamiliar territory, as night descended, pursuing armed undead..." She glowered at them. "KNOWING that we were here because people have been going missing..."

Krarshe and Lycia both looked away. Hearing it spelled out, Krarshe realized how foolish a decision he made. Still, he spoke up in his defense. "I... I thought there might be a way to save them..."

"Oh? Save them? From the undead? Do tell me, Krarshe. How would you do that? Hmm?" Despite her being shorter, it felt as though she was towering over him. Her scathing tirade continued, "Are you adept at divine magic? Are you a cleric? Or did you plan to just blast them into oblivion, taking down the mountain in the process?"

Krarshe started to answer but stopped, closing his mouth as he shrank away.

"You've clearly NEVER dealt with the undead. You have no idea how resilient they can be. You once again got overconfident and challenged an opponent that you couldn't handle. And for that, you almost got yourself and my daughter killed!"

Krarshe winced at the rebuke. He understood his mistake. Having his folly shoved in his face repeatedly was painful. And having no recourse but to accept and face his own mistakes only made it worse.

"And you! What were you thinking, following this idiot?!" she said, turning to Lycia. "I thought YOU would have more sense than to charge off into danger like that!"

Lycia just looked up at her mother, her mouth moving to speak but unable to utter a sound. Finally, she broke down into tears.

Seeing her daughter distraught, her expression slowly softened. She moved closer and hugged her. "... I was just terribly worried. So, so worried. I'm not angry anymore, okay?"

She made some muffled noises into her mother's clothes.

"I know, I know. I just wish you'd been more cautious. That you'd have come to me instead of running off."

"It was my fault," Krarshe said. "She was trying to keep me safe by going with me."

Taliarrah looked over at him. Reluctantly, she said, "I did say to keep each other safe..."

"And she did that," Krarshe added, trying his best to mend the situation. "I probably wouldn't have made it if she wasn't there to help carry me."

His master smiled. "I admit... it makes me a bit proud to hear that." She gave Lycia another squeeze.

Lycia choked out a half sob, half laugh, still being partly muted by Taliarrah's collar.

"Why don't you go to bed? You've had a long day, and I think you've learned your lesson." She released Lycia, bringing one hand to her daughter's cheek. "I need to speak with Krarshe still, so you go on ahead."

Lycia paused before wiping her cheeks with her sleeve and nodding quietly. Her glistening green eyes glanced at Krarshe as she turned and left.

As he watched her leave the room, Krarshe could feel the imposing presence of his master bearing down on him.

"Krarshe," she said, calmer now.

"I know..."

"You evidently don't." She said with a heavy breath of disappointment and frustration, sitting down at the meager sitting area the village chief had assembled for their arrival. "Sit."

Krarshe bit his lip, knowing this wasn't going to be pleasant. He pulled the chair out slowly and sat down across the table from Taliarrah.

"First, understand that, despite how upset I am, I'm glad you're okay too."

Krarshe nodded, still waiting for the upcoming admonishment.

"But, this is EXACTLY what I keep warning you about. No matter how weak or simple an enemy may appear, you must treat it with caution. Otherwise, there will undoubtedly come a time when your error costs someone's life. Either yours, or another's..."

Krarshe continued to nod, eyes downcast. He knew there was wisdom in her words. He always knew. It didn't make overcoming his overconfidence any easier though.

"Truthfully, both of you are lucky. Had the ruckus from the cave not been echoing throughout the hills, I don't know if I could have found you. And I don't think you realize how close they were to breaking through to you two."

"I... I would have protected her- protected Lycia..."

"I'm sure you would have tried. Not sure shielding her like you did when I opened the path would have sufficed, but you certainly would have tried." She sighed. "This is why I keep telling you, you need to THINK first, then act. I admit, you are powerful. The sheer volume of mana you've demonstrated still perplexes me. But raw power cannot solve everything. If you wanted, I'm sure you could have brought the entire mountain down upon them, effectively sealing them away forever, but it would have come at a disastrous cost. I'm sure you understand."

Krarshe didn't even nod this time. He just sat quietly, the gravity of it all crushing his spirit.

"I want you to remember this."

"Honestly, I wish I could just forget it..."

"No. Remember it. Engrave it upon your body, mind, and soul. It's not often that one survives such a grave mistake." She put a hand on his shoulder. "Consider yourself lucky. Few experience such a powerful lesson. But, understand, if you fail to learn from even this, I may not consider you a worthy student going forward."

He grit his teeth. "U-understood..."

"Now, it's late. Go get what rest you can. We'll be on guard duty for the next few days."

"Guard duty?"

"I merely trapped them inside the cave. Undoubtedly they'll find a way to dig out. I told the chief to send a missive to Dragonsfall requesting assistance dealing with these undead. We'll need to be sure to keep them imprisoned until the cleric arrives. Shouldn't be more than five days, and that'd only be if a cleric wasn't readily available. Which, given the city-state's reputation, I highly doubt."

"Right..."

"Sleep well, Krarshe. Or, as best you can."

Krarshe stayed seated as she left. He mulled over it all, his mistake, her lecture. "... Krun!" He slammed his fist on the table in front of him. His hand throbbed. Good. He wanted it to. He hated himself more than words could express. His stupidity pained him. He could feel his lip quiver, his vision began to blur.

He sat, wallowing in self-loathing, alone. This lesson came at a high cost, indeed.