Next they went quickly down an oval shaped, straight, gently sloped passage that was wide enough for three to walk abreast. The elves had obviously done a good job cutting this section. Soon they came to a branch. Above them they could see the castle's footing. Vilef then halted them and said:
"Rollvag, Kuros, and Byc that way; everybody else this way..."
( Here begins the story of the 500 ).
Rollvag, Kuros and Byc only had to walk a short distance when they found an old stream passage up. A very young elf stood guard beside this passage and pointed for them to go ahead. Up they climbed; one hand and then one foot and then found an opening inside a fountain. Out they popped quietly into a huge cavern...
The three adventurers were amazed to see all the sleeping forms lying on the cold floor. They obviously looked mistreated. Here and there they could see some with a sword or bow. All were sound asleep. Upon looking closer they could see that they had made an attempt to wash themselves with water from old buckets. The three of them couldn't help but feel pity for these captives.
Rollvag crept over to one man who looked like a soldier. He put his hand over the man's mouth. The Kanoli warrior gasped, and woke up with a start.
"Friend! Friend! be still!," whispered Rollvag in the Ontor language. "I am not here to hurt you!!!" The man turned to face Rollvag as Rollvag continued:
"Wake the others quietly. Do not shout. Keep the noise down. We have come to rescue you. Tell them that Kip Kanoli is here. Then say: `go quickly one at a time through the passage in the spring.'"
The man nodded, wiped away Rollvag's hand and put his mouth in a wide and sheepish grin. He slowly got to his feet and then proceeded to wake the older men one at a time. The older men then started to wake the younger men; then the youngest. The adventurers watched as the first few scampered down the passage.
The soldier that Rollvag had awakened first stood at the fountain and chastised the evacuees in a hushed manner: "Sheeelah!!," meaning "Silence!!"
Next, Rollvag, Kuros, and Byc made their way to the entrance of the cave. They grabbed pieces of wood and rocks to block the opening. Each of them knew that with this many people, discovery meant defending the opening from attack..
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© Copyright 1999 by Abram Paradies.
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