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Back to Empire on the HPe3000
... and ...
"It will take us forever to climb back up." Harold complained. He
looked up the curving set of stairs, each edge far out of reach.
"I'll toss you up." the ranger laughed.
"Quiet." Gytha told them. "You two are worse than my young
brothers"
The stairs emptied into a long unlit hall. "It's dark down here."
said Gytha.
""Light enough for me." said Harold. "Don't strike a flint or
use a lightstone."
"I'm no fool." the ranger said. "Is that a glow down there?"
The corridor ran straight and at its end a large square glowed
faintly, a far off light illuminating an open door or arch.
"Very perceptive." the halfling said. "firewood upstairs, its
probably where they store their beer."
"Beer?" said Harald. The ranger perked up at the word.
"If we find any they'll be none for you." scolded Gytha. "I've
seen you in your cups."
"I've heard these giants draw a potent brew." the ranger smacked
his lip. "I'll take a skinfull back."
"You two stay here." said Harold, the halfling crept silently down
the hall. He slid along the western wall and ran a hand across the floor.
He felt no hidden lines or cracks, no thread thin wire to trip or
trigger an alarm. From his vest he pulled a metal case and opened it.
Inside, a small silver mirror with a handle which folded out. He made it
a halflings handbreadth long, then turned the mirror back at angle to see
into the room beyond the outlined open square.
The light was dim, a single torch set far down a northern wall and
far, far to the west, a distant sparkle near to the ground, the twinkle of
gems, or glass more likely. Otherwise the huge vault like room was empty,
the floor showed dust but a cleared path ran from this open square and
curved to the southern wall.
Cautiously Harold turned the mirror back and forth, then up toward
the ceiling, a vaulting roof. He crept forward into the room, but as his
hand felt for traps he touched deep gouges worn into the stone floor.
The gouge was several fingers deep and wider than his palm. Harold
swept his hand back and forth and found another then another still. The
gouges formed a line across the door, Harold looked up but could see
nothing along the inside of the arch. Heavy spikes he thought, and
stepped back into the hall. A trap, how was it triggered? What did it
release? These giants were not subtle, this trap seemed out of place.
Harold slid back down the wall, he checked the floor for traps
again but found no other sign.
"What did you find?" asked the ranger and Gytha both.
"A trap of some kind, but these giants build too high." the
halfling said.
"Can we help?" Gytha asked.
"Yes. I don't run away from traps. Come on, the hall is clear
at least, I've checked it twice."
"All this crawling about," said Harald. " I don't like it at all."
"You'd like falling in a pit even less." said Harold.
"I can find my way." the ranger answered back.
"In the woods maybe, but here, with stone halls and locks and
traps made of steel and springs.... I think not." the halfling smugly
said.
"Must you two argue over every little thing?" Gytha asked
exasperated.
"Yes." said Harold. "Come on then, follow me." the three, ranger,
cleric, thief, walked down the hall with care.
* * *
(To Be Continued)