James M. Ward The Pool 01 Pool of Radiance

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and began hoisting herself up, arm over arm. Her movements were smooth and
ef-fortless, and before she reached the top, she was actually marveling at the
ease of her own movement.
Ren stood dumbfounded at the bottom of the cliff, an-choring the rope, his
face a mask of confusion.
Tarl's face bore the same expression of bafflement.
"D'you suppose we should follow that woman?" Ren asked, gazing up at Shal.
Tarl didn't answer. Instead, he started up the rope. Ren followed, and soon
the three squatted together atop the cliff, facing the charred walls of the
ancient fortress of Sokol Keep.
The blackened walls were encrusted with sea salts. Molds, weeds, tall grasses,
and saplings were doing their best to infiltrate the stone wall, growing
profusely from large cracks in the coarse blocks. Beyond the tall grasses, at
the end of the keep farthest from where the three stood, they could see the
top of the stairway Tarl had sighted from below. No one waited at the top. A
wide pathway led from the stairs to the keep's dilapidated wooden gates.
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"If it weren't for the dark veil that hovers over this place, it would almost
be pleasant," Shal said quietly.
"It seems so quiet, so peaceful."
"The aura of evil is strong here," Tarl whispered back. "Can't you feel it? I
don't think we're going to fool what-ever inhabits this place by trying to
come in the back door."
"Maybe not," whispered Ren, "but I still think we should take our time and
have a good look at the grounds before going in."
"No," said Shal. "Tarl's right. If there are undead here, we aren't going to
surprise them no matter which way we come from."
Ren glanced at Shal, surprised by her forcefulness. "Okay, lady. Whatever you
say." Striding right up to the front door went against every thieving bone in
Ren's body, but he could feel a rush of excitement as he pulled out one of his
short swords and prepared to lead the way. "Stay behind me, on either side,"
he whispered to the others. "Move with the grass, not against it. Try not to
leave a trail. Like this," he said, parting the grass gently with his extended
sword and stepping lightly so as not to make a sound.
Ren passed through the tall grass with the ease and si-lence of a leaf
floating to earth. Shal and Tarl did their best to imitate his stealthy
movements, but despite their efforts, the grass made a distinct rustling sound
with their passing. Suddenly, without warning, Ren came to an abrupt stop. Ten
feet in front of him, a skeleton hand was pushing its way up through the
ground. Clods of earth flew up in all directions as a skeleton warrior burst
from the ground and began to walk toward them. Dirt and fungus clung inside
its eye sockets and to the remnants of its leather armor. Sow bugs, beetles,
and grubs scurried to the ground by the hundreds as the skeleton strode
forward, and maggots streamed from the crea-ture's open mouth.
Tarl shook off his own panic and charged in front of Ren, holding out his holy
symbol. "Die, creature!
Rest! Do us no harm!" The skeleton came to a halt, reached for-ward one last
time, and collapsed to the ground.
Ren walked up to the remains of the skeleton warrior and started peeling off
its decayed armor.
Shal stifled a gasp. "By the gods, Ren, what are you do-ing?"
"Looking for loot. What do you think?"
"You can't rob the dead!" Tarl exclaimed vehemently.
"It's it's sacrilege!"
"It certainly can't do any more harm than stealing from someone who's alive.
What's he going to do with any-thing, anyway?" Ren asked, continuing to
rummage through the creature's remains. He found nothing under the armor, but
then he noticed that one of the skeleton's bony hands was clasped tight shut.
Forcing it open, Ren removed a heavy bronze chain.
"Nice work, Brother Tarl. I think you just killed a friendly messenger. Take a
look at this." Ren held up the chain. An embossed medallion hung from it.
Tarl looked on in horror. Ren was right. The warrior had tried to offer them a
medal of Tyr to wear inside the keep. Tarl let out a slow breath as he
examined it. It was identical to the medallion Sot had given him, and it [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

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