Page 45 of Wizards & Weavers
“You are a fine warrior, friend Warren. Have you given any thought to the possibility of descending the dungeon to explore its depths? Perhaps in the company of other explorers and adventurers?”
The wizard waggled his eyebrows, his eyes pointedly flitting toward Braiden and Elyssandra. Braiden stifled a laugh. In truth, he didn’t mind the idea of traveling with a fourth adventurer. And a burrowfolk, too! Dudley would never believe him.
Warren pounded the butt of his staff on the ground. He crossed his arms and leaned on its tip. His nose twitched as he searched his thoughts, his whiskers quivering.
“That’s a kind offer,” Warren said, “and I would be lying if I told you I wasn’t tempted. But I have a responsibility to my village. Our people don’t venture very far from our home.”
A village? His home? Elyssandra was right, then. There was an entire settlement of burrowfolk somewhere in the dungeon. The pendulum trap, the stalking from the night before — Warren probably served as a sentry for his people, some sort of scout.
“That explosion opened passages all the way up to your world and deeper down the earth. The rockwalkers, we didn’t use to have so many of them around. We were perfectly happy staying put in the Underborough. Well — most of us. The world outside isn’t for the burrowfolk. At least it’s what the elders say.”
Warren scratched behind his ear, rubbing the length of it as if to soothe himself. Braiden hadn’t considered it that way at all.To Weathervale, and to all the adventurers from across Aidun, this was just another dungeon. To Warren, this place was home.
“Rockwalkers,” Elyssandra said, repeating Warren’s word for the elementals. “Like people made of rock, you mean? The kind that try to kill you with jagged bits of ice.”
“You’ve run into them, then. Nasty pieces of work. They never used to wander too close to the village. And there used to be far fewer of them.” He pinched his thumb and finger until they were the tiniest space apart. “And they used to be a lot smaller.”
Grass rustled as Augustin strode forward, speaking to Warren face to face. “Then surely you’ve considered digging deeper to find the answer. The cause of the explosion, that is, and the source of these rockwalkers. It may still be a threat to your community.”
“That’s exactly it,” Warren said, both his ears and his posture perking up. He snatched up his staff, his paws curling tightly around its shaft in frustration. “I keep telling the elders, and they keep telling me an expedition isn’t worth it. How much longer can we stay safe if the rockwalkers keep coming? And there’s all the adventurers, too.”
His ears drooped as he let out a sigh, his head lolling back, his gaze flitting up to the trees. Daydreaming about more of those pendulum traps, perhaps. More Pulverizers.
Elyssandra cleared her throat. “To be fair, perhaps killing all strangers outright isn’t the most practical approach. My people — the elves, that is — so many of us still believe in seclusion from the other races. Staying hidden was very effective for our purposes.”
Warren’s nose twitched again as he snuffled at the air. “But your people have powerful magic, don’t you? We’ve heard all the stories about the sharp-ears. Magic as old as the earth itself. And we have our ways, but it isn’t enough. Our seers try their best tokeep the village warded from prying eyes, but this has all been so sudden. We’ve had to — well,I’vehad to improvise.”
Braiden’s gaze fell on Warren’s spiny helmet as well as the bolas he’d extracted from Augustin’s clothing. There was clearly a running theme here. Warren had done well with the materials he had to work with.
“And the traps are hardly lethal,” Warren continued. “I was only exaggerating. You’ll be plucking thorns out of your face for a few days, which so far has worked as a good enough reminder for anyone with soft, vulnerable skin to stay away. Now, if only it worked as well on the rockwalkers.”
“Your village is nearby, then,” Braiden said, so curious about where the other traps were hidden that he’d almost missed Warren’s flinch of surprise.
“No,” the burrowfolk said, frowning. “Maybe. Why do you ask?”
“Mainly the fact that we didn’t encounter any traps on the way to this cavern,” Braiden replied. “It’s very clear that you care a lot about your community. We heard you skulking about yesterday, and last night, too, when we went to the pool for water.”
“You’re free to join us if you like,” Augustin said, “but if you feel more useful staying close by your village, then I won’t insist. It’s been lovely making your acquaintance — and very dangerous, too — but duty calls. The three of us need to delve deeper.”
Warren crossed his arms again, nibbling on his lip. “To find the source of the explosion?”
And to discover whatever wonders this place is hiding, Braiden thought, at about the same time that Augustin loudly said, “And to seal this place off from the outside world.”
“Only if it’s necessary,” Braiden stammered, concerned that Augustin might have said something to offend the burrowfolk.“For everyone’s safety, that is. And you’re certainly welcome to leave with us — you and your people — if it turns out that it’s too dangerous to stay.”
The burrowfolk studied each of their faces with dark, thoughtful eyes. Braiden suspected he was about to break his lucky streak of making new friends. But when Warren spoke again, it wasn’t in anger.
“You should come with me to the Underborough. I think our elders should hear what you have to say.”
Braiden and Augustin glanced at each other, as if daring the other to turn down an opportunity to mingle with one of Aidun’s most elusive races. Elyssandra answered for them both with a clap and a delighted squeal.
“Absolutely,” she said, turning to Braiden and Augustin, hands clasped as if pleading with her parents. “Oh, please. Can we go with him?”
“I don’t see the harm in it,” Augustin said. “Though I admit, I am uncertain of your intentions, friend Warren.”
Warren’s ears pricked up. “I can assure you, it’s nothing sinister. Only that I get a sense the village elders might be more swayed if they hear about the dangers from someone who knows what they’re talking about. You’re a wizard, are you not?”
Augustin’s spine straightened, his shoulders broadening and his chest inflating with pride. Braiden rolled his eyes.
