Legends Of Zyconia Part 8

Outside the wind whistled across the lifeless desolate wasteland known as the Caverns of Death. Chasms and large caverns littered the rocky plain like the rubble of some ancient ruins. The landscape stretched for miles and not far beyond was the Eastern Sea, a majestic blue strip on the horizon. Already the army was setting up camp. Nightfall would come soon but Terrek knew his work was not yet finished for the day.

Terrek approached his aides who were gathered nearby. close to the mouth of the nearest chasm.

"We'll have to tell everyone not to get close to the chasms. We don't want a tragedy like that on our hands," he began.

"It appears we'll also have to descend into the chasm to recover the crystal," Terrek looked around at his aides.

Then he carefully removed an ancient tablet from one of the pouches on his belt.

"Now I can tell you what I couldn't tell you before."

"The Council thought it best that only I should know the most vital information about the location of the crystals. This tablet was found not long ago in an old mine outside Victory City. Most of it could not be deciphered, but the part that was led the Council to believe that one of the crystals was within these caverns. John, Hemoth, Ricsis, Lynx, Adam, Zachary, Jessica and Perrin you will all come with me into the caverns," Terrek decided.

Then he turned to his remaining aides.

"Juliana make sure the people are allowed a meal before nightfall. Jason you will be in charge of the camp in my absence. And one last important thing, be on your guard in this evil place."

Moments later, a rope fell into the darkness. Down, down, then in an instant it stopped, reaching the cavern floor. Almost immediately, one at a time Terrek and his aides descended down the side of the cavern. When everyone had climbed down Terrek peered around the huge cavern with the light of his newly lit torch.

Carefully they all headed through a tunnel winding downward in the side of the chasm. Their torches gleamed off the phosphorescent walls. Cracks riddled the walls and other tunnels could be seen through the larger cracks. The walls of the tunnel were very smooth as though it had been formed in some unnatural manner.

Suddenly the group came to a fork in the road. Two separate tunnels curved off in different directions. Terrek took his dagger and marked an X on the wall. Then he turned around to address his aides.

"We can't afford to be split up in this place, follow me." Terrek spun around and headed into the tunnel spiraling off into the northeast.

Tunnel after tunnel Terrek was forced to choose each time, eventually the group came out into a huge cave. The cave was huge and its high ceiling was covered with large spikes hanging down like the malformed mouth of some fang-toothed creature. The walls were covered with phosphorescent dust that glowed. flooding the tunnel with a dim light. It was bright enough though that Terrek almost didn't need his torch. At least a dozen other tunnels led into the cave from different directions. At the center of the cave was a large pile of bones. They appeared to be human. Terrek approached the pile; his aides close on his heels. Slowly he knelt down and picked up one of the fragments.

"They appear to be human bones," Terrek said quietly.

"What manner of beast is capable -," Hemoth was cut off by a loud rumbling.

Tremors caused the cave to vibrate.

"What is it'?" Jessica screamed in fear.

Terrek looked around as the tremors escalated. Then his eyes grew wide with realization as he bellowed.

"Deathworms!"

At the same moment the wall on the opposite side of the cave shattered, sending chunks of rock in all directions. Everyone scattered as a gigantic serpentlike beast slid into the cave.

TO BE CONTINUED...

TO READ FROM THE BEGINNING GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 1

TO READ THE PREVIOUS PART GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 7

TO READ THE NEXT PART GO TO: LEGENDS OF ZYCONIA PART 9