Tribe of the Snow Tiger (Legends of Windemere Book 10) (38 page)

“The objects we used were both a set and different. For example, the columns were the same design, but each one connected to a separate champion,” Timoran says while preparing to block another attack. Both of the knights unleash waves of fire from their swords, which he deflects through the barrier by spinning his axe. “Their bodies and attacks are immune to the walls, which must be part of the puzzle. The obelisks are different sizes and there is supposed to be all six of us in the trap. This would be easier to figure out if they were not spitting fire at me.” The barbarian is surprised when the golems’ blades shatter from the constant heat. “What just happened? Do they fall apart on their own to make room for fresher enemies?”

Dariana catches the wrist of one golem and uses the arm to block the other’s strike. She can feel how solid the body and sword are, so she finds it strange that those fighting Timoran are so brittle. Kicking one enemy away and flipping the other onto its back, she backs away to get her bearings. Both of her friends are struggling to fight without awakening fresh golems, which has led to Luke receiving a cut across his side. Every box and jade knight is identical, so Dariana turns her attention to the ground. It is a momentary distraction that gives one of her opponents the illusion of an opening. Catching the heated blade between her hands, she shoves it to the side and throws a punch at the hole in its chest. The breastplate caves in and a pulse of familiar energy ripples through her body, numbing all of the muscles in her arm.

“These possess Nyx’s aura, but they’re supposed to have the Compass Key gems inside of them,” Dariana announces, realizing how the trap is supposed to work. She shoves her enemies together, watching them stick for an instant before separating. “These two almost bonded, but the process didn’t complete itself. We’ve seen that they can pass through the barriers, so I assume we can toss them into other chambers. Maybe we’re supposed to rebuild the Compass Key in a certain order. Does anybody see a riddle somewhere?”

“I do not think we are in any position to search and read. Though there is a way to fix that problem,” Timoran says, banging his two enemies together. The pair shatter and crumble, giving him a minute to look around his chamber. “If the clue is in one of the empty areas then we will never find the answer. It has to be somewhere that any one of us can see it. Perhaps in the obelisks if the light hits them correctly. The message could even be on the door, but Nyx would be covering it.”

“I’ll see if I can move,” the channeler mutters while bracing her legs against the hill and pushing off. She gradually stands parallel to the ground, revealing a beam of rainbow light connecting her to the lock. Her head is starting to clear, but her legs go numb and she is slammed back against the door. “Nothing! Maybe it’s under something like the first two times. It has to be somewhere that everyone can get to, but isn’t out in the open.”

“I have an idea, but I’m not going to like it,” Luke declares as he ducks a swing that shatters the other golem. Hearing the gears grinding, the half-elf dives for the platform that is about to sink beneath the ground. “Listen for my signal, Timoran! I’m going to need some help getting out of here.”

Luke crouches when he feels the earth rumble and the elevator lowers, his breath stolen by what he sees. His attention is so focused on his surroundings that he barely registers the stone slab sliding overhead and cutting off his escape route. Far below is a churning lake of beautiful green that the platform is steadily moving towards. He leaps for a narrow ledge near the bottom where he finds ancient gears embedded in the walls. Six telescoping pillars of rust-colored metal run to the surface, each one jutting out of the strange liquid. Exposed pieces of machinery can be seen throughout the immense chamber, causing the half-elf to wonder if they are standing on top of a long lost invention. Luke watches the lowering platform sink into the pool and return with a jade knight standing at attention. With a whining hiss, a beam of energy erupts from the ceiling to strike the golem in the chest and bring it to life.

“How in all of Windemere is somebody supposed to figure this out?” Luke asks out loud. He covers his mouth when he sees hundreds of swords rise from the pool. “Only whispers and I need to find a way to search this place. Though I’m not sure how those golems would get to me. Best not to find out, so I’ll fly around and see if I can locate any clues.”

Transforming into the griffin, Lucy forgets that the ledge she is on is narrow and her first step nearly sends her tumbling into the liquid jade. Easily avoiding the blades that rise from the lake, she flies a few feet above the pool and weaves around the metal towers. After several spiraling passes, she fails to find any markings beyond those created by time, dormancy, and friction. Guessing that the clue must be where any of the champions can find it, the griffin heads for the ceiling and searches for the source of the beam that activates the golems. A space for the Compass Key is in the dark stone, but it is nothing more than crackling energy surrounding an orb of glass. The rest of the smooth area is covered in thick shadows that require she find a way to get more light into the balmy underground.

Stretching her wing, Lucy knocks on the stone slab below Timoran and waits for him to smash his opponents. The gears in the walls roar to life and the two platforms lower toward the jade lake, allowing thick beams of sunlight into the chamber. Due to a mild enchantment on the stone, the shadows refuse to recede from the edges of the openings. Fearing that she has failed, the griffin is about to leave the underground, but stops at the sound of the Compass Key space humming. As the process of activing the new golems begins, two of the gem spaces send the crackling beams of energy into the creatures. The display creates enough light to erase the darkness spell and reveal some writing in the stone. Hovering upside down, she lets Luke’s bard’s memory etch the words into his brain before making her escape. The elegant beast soars out of the nearest hole before it can close, knocking the jade knight off the platform as she passes. Before she can get very high, a burst of magic engulfs the griffin and teleports her back to her original box where she becomes Luke once more.

“There was a riddle around a spot that the Compass Key is supposed to fit into,” the half-elf says, dodging the waiting golems. He flips and rolls while remembering the faint letters that becomes clear within a second. “The six must become one. Join as in the olden times and earn the raw core. The second part is what loses me. By the way, there’s a giant pool of liquid jade beneath us. Probably enough to make thousands of these golems, so fighting our way out of this isn’t going to happen.”

“Raw core is what ancient casters called the elements,” Dariana replies, tossing one of her enemies into the two fighting Timoran. All three stick and separate, leaving the barbarian facing all of them. “Sorry about that. None of my ideas are working. There should be elemental symbols somewhere since we need to go in a specific order. Again, I think not having the real Compass Key has broken the trap. Not in our favor either.”

“Why would Gabriel send us here if we could not get inside?” Timoran asks, smashing the golems and turning to face the opening. No longer wanting to be patient, he prepares to destroy the new jade knight as soon as it appears. “The change to the Compass Key must be taken into account. The trap is working off Nyx’s energy instead of the artifact, so that might alter the riddle.”

Luke laughs when an idea comes to his mind and he spins around both of his enemies. “The impatient tattoo and her power surges. I don’t think we’re meant to solve this trap like it was originally intended. Nyx is supposed to overload the thing. You picked a nice time to keep your temper under control, big sister.”

“Well, crazy stunts are your specialty, Luke,” Dariana claims as she kicks her opponent in half. She grabs the fallen sword and jams it into the platform with the hopes of jamming the mechanism. “Stop sitting around, Nyx, and get to work. I think we can all agree that you’ve had enough of a rest.”

“Stop making fun of me!” the channeler snaps from the doorway. Her body erupts with fiery magic, which she plunges into the hill. “Everyone told me to behave and now you want me to get mad. It’s not my fault that I listened.”

Veins of crimson energy run along the granite slabs and into the obelisks while the golems freeze in mid-movement. The tapered pillars shatter into dust, causing the shimmering barriers to flicker out of existence with a high-pitched shriek. An explosion can be heard from underground and the champions feel the jade pool slam into the cavern’s ceiling. Tiny spurts of the green liquid pop out of several spaces, the molten stone hissing as it solidifies on the ground. With a second blow, the metal platforms fall away to release geysers of jade into the sky. Pelted by a emerald rain, the three barbarian guards retreat into the tunnel that collapses behind them. With no other path to follow, the champions sprint towards the hill where Nyx remains stuck to the door. Luke steps out of the way as Timoran and Dariana lower their shoulders and ram into the entrance, which shatters under the devastating impact. The nimble forest tracker catches Nyx as he dives through the opening, the damaged frame splintering and crumbling apart. The last thing the champions see through the falling dirt is a rising flood of liquid jade that traps them in Aintaranurh.

*****

Flames erupt from stone sconces that are high on the walls, their light filling the entire chamber. Round tables with sturdy chairs give the room the appearance of a tavern, complete with a bar taking up the right hand wall. There are nearly one hundred bottles of alcohol on the lower shelf that runs along the base of a flawless mirror. A large chandelier hangs crooked from the ceiling with a ‘No Swinging’ sign dangling from its iron rim. Carts with empty dishware and cups have been gathered in a far corner, the small collection blocking a thin door to what the champions assume is a bathroom. A stage with various instruments sits opposite the entrance and the skeletal remains of a bard remains on a stool, his boney hand holding a feathered hat out for tips. The smell of fresh ale and hot food drifts from a metal door that routinely opens and closes because of a soothing breeze. Brief glimpses into the kitchen show hanging pots and pans, which glint in the flickering torchlight.

“I did not expect anything like this,” Timoran admits as he leads his friends down the middle of the room. He runs a finger along a table and finds that there is not a single mote of dust. “The guardian must be very neat and organized. Strange that it has not approached us. I was under the impression that we would be greeted or face another challenge.”

“I do sense something here,” Dariana whispers while rubbing her temples. A strong presence surrounds her and she attempts to make contact before a psychic jolt hits her brain. “Purple boots rice puzzle box. Tickle! Elephant gnome underwear. Spank me!”

Dariana claps her hands around her mouth and tries shaking her head clear of the fog that is making her spout embarrassing gibberish. The others jump away when a tiny penguin clambers out of her ear and grows to its full height. With a gentlemanly bow, the animal puts on a tasseled cap and waddles to the bar where it crawls into the ice box. Applause erupts from around the room and the chairs stomp their wooden feet to create a deafening symphony. Nyx attempts to use a magic sight spell to find the source of the enchantments, but the casting causes her eyes to leap out of her head. Free of their sockets, the twin orbs fly around the chandelier and land on Timoran’s shoulders to nuzzle against his warm hair. More applause causes them to disappear in a puff of smoke and return to the half-elf’s face.

“Are we being attacked or toyed with?” Luke asks, taking a cautious step toward the bar. A tap on his shoulder makes him whirl around and he continues spinning like a top. “I’m definitely going with the second option. I want to throw up, but I’m really afraid of what will happen if I do.”

“Spiders breeches pomegranate,” Dariana blurts out, groaning at her own voice. She points emphatically at Timoran, her finger lancing out and curving to go into Nyx’s mouth. “Salty. Hag turtle door scratch sternum.”

“What can I do against something like this?” the barbarian asks, reaching for his axe. The weapon floats off his back and coyly bats his hand away. “If this is the guardian then it could be corrupted. Although it does not appear violent like some of the others. Perhaps there is a way to draw it out and kill it before things get worse.”

“So close to the answer!” screams a musical voice from every corner of the chamber. Luke stops spinning and Dariana can feel her mind relax, the suffocating influence leaving with a cackling laugh. “I was so happy to finally meet the champions. Sure, I’m missing the fun one and the smartest one. Though four out of six isn’t a terrible turnout. Too bad I now learn that my master is the dummy. Not the little one, but the big, burly one. All you can think about is killing me?”

“You did attack us,” Nyx mentions, creating a fireball in her palm. Her hand raises above her head and the spell becomes a chocolate pie that she mashes into her own face. “At least that tasted good. I get the feeling that this thing could have killed us by now. With very little effort too. So what do we do?”

“Don’t guests announce themselves?” the hidden guardian asks.

“Don’t proper hosts greet their guests at the door?” Luke contends with a grin. His lips keep stretching until the top of his head falls to the floor and he scrambles to put it back on. “We don’t want to hurt you if you’re friendly. You have to understand that two of the other guardians we ran into tried to kill us because they were corrupted. We figured the same challenge was happening here when strange things started happening. How am I still talking while in this state?”