Page 9 of Ruins of Magic
“I’m fine. There’s a path. I can see light up ahead.”
It took Taneth a minute to find the gap in the wall that Arion had gone through. There was no sign of him on the other side.
“Arion?” he called out again.
“I’m here. It’s okay. Follow the light,” he instructed.
Taneth gripped the torch tighter as his free hand went to the hilt of his sword. He marked an X in the dirt every few yards to ensure they could find their way back out. He knew there was an extensive cave system throughout the mountains, and it would be much too easy to get lost amongst them.
Arion stood in awe at the entrance to a magical cavern. His heart was racing, and he was struggling to believe what he was seeing. Ancient runes, many of which he recognized from his studies with Zallon, covered the walls and they were glowing brightly.
“What is this place?” Taneth asked when he approached from behind.
“I don’t know,” Arion said unsure if he should share the truth with his friend.
“It’s dry and warm here. Far warmer than the front cavern. We should move our things,” Taneth said.
Arion couldn’t take his eyes off of the glowing runes it was so bright in places that it was practically blinding him. So all he could do was nod.
“I think with a few more torches it will be bright enough to see, and more importantly we should be safe for the night. Can you look around and make certain there are no other entrances or inhabitants we need to be aware of?”
Arion stared at him dumbfounded. “You don’t think this is bright enough?”
“With only our two torches? What if one of them goes out? It’s not worth it. Leeric and Garron can fashion a few more and I’ll show them the way if you think you can handle securing the place.”
“Do you not see the light?”
“What light?”
“The glow from the runes?”
“What runes?” Taneth asked. He moved his torch around as he examined the walls of the cavern. There were a few dull markings. “You mean these?” he finally asked.
“Yes. That one is a protection rune and it’s blinding me from its light,” Arion confessed.
“It must be magic. I can barely make out the mark in this darkness.”
How could that be? Arion wondered. Why could he see them so clearly and Taneth could not?
“Do you think it’s safe?” he finally asked, drawing Arion from his thoughts.
He looked around again. Protection runes of various types were carved all around the place. There were also a few unique ones that he didn’t recognize.
“It feels safe. I think it’s protected by magic,” Arion finally said.
“Good enough for me. I’ll be back soon,” Taneth told him before disappearing back into the darkness until even the light of his torch was gone.
Arion looked around in amazement.
“What is this place?” he asked aloud.
“I’m glad you asked,” a small voice replied causing him to nearly jump out of his skin.
“Who’s there?” he asked, shining his torch in all directions.
“Put that thing down before you burn yourself, druid.”
“Druid? I’m sorry to say you have me mistaken for someone else,” Arion told him.
