XXI

This was not good. They were trapped, here in the rocks on the path leading down the mountain side. And this giant monstrous spider was hunting them.

But it didn’t seem to know they were directly under it, which was one of the only good things about the situation, other than the fact that Mai was currently holding a magical barrier of protection.

If the spider attacked…

“How long can you hold up your barrier?” Yoreno asked quietly.

Mai glanced at him. “For a while,” she whispered, “so long as it isn’t attacked.”

Yoreno nodded.

“Then we wait.”

“What?” Dorrin hissed. Yoreno could feel him physically shaking next to him. “And then what?”

“Shh!” Sorika noised.

Yoreno put his finger up to his mouth, indicating the need for silence. “We wait for Dell and Lev. They should be here soon.”

Mai nodded.

Waiting seemed like an eternity, as every moment that went by was one of excruciating awareness of the current and present danger hanging over Mai’s barrier. Yoreno could feel the hairs prickling on the back of his neck, the subtle roll of a bead of sweat down the side of his cheek.

It made him need to scratch.

Swallowing, he glancing about, looking at the spider’s grey legs, of the large black hairs, almost more like dangerous quills that could puncture a forearm easily.

But how much longer would they have to wait before Dell and Lev were finished scouting out the ante chambers of Kilik dungeon? It shouldn’t take long, and yet, here they were, waiting.

Mai, Yoreno, Dorrin and Sorika were not far from the dungeon entrance, or even from the plateau. Had Dell or Lev walked to the edge, they should probably be able to see them, huddled like scared fools.

The spider would surely see them and move to attack. That’s when Yoreno would tell Mai to lower her barrier so they could lunge out and flank the monster.

The legs hanging above moved somewhat, slow and languid.

Mai gasped, though not loudly and Yoreno, along with Dorrin and Sorika, tensed as all their eyes were intently fixated on those moving legs.

Finally they dragged away, and a pattering of many legs could be heard above. They waited silently, Yoreno exchanging glances with the other members of the party. Mai swallowed, Sorika glanced about and Dorrin looked on with unfocused wide eyes.

Breathing in deeply, Yoreno finally whispered, “I think it moved off.”

“Are you certain?” Dorrin asked. His voice was almost cracking.

“Get a grip,” Sorika told him.

“Ouch,” Dorrin hissed. “Why are you doing that?”

“Because you need to be a man.”

“Hush!” Yoreno commanded. “Later.”

“Maybe we should wait for a while longer?” Mai said as she glanced about the top of her barrier. “It could know we’re here—be waiting above the rocks.”

Yoreno shivered with the thought of a monstrous spider hunting them, stalking them and waiting to pounce the moment they moved out of cover.

“Nevertheless,” Yoreno said. “We can’t just wait here. Mai, lower your barrier and then raise it again once I’m out.”

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

“And then what?” Sorika asked.

“If the spider is there, it will pursue me, and once it’s distracted, you attack from behind. Got it?”

“Is that not needlessly risky?”

Yoreno realized just then what Dellwyn must have felt like. “I’m glad you’re worried about me, Sor—but we’re adventurers. This is what we do. Are you ready?”

Sorika nodded wordlessly.

“Got it?” Yoreno asked again as he made eye contact with Dorrin.

The red-haired and freckled tracker swallowed hard, then nodded. “All right.”

“Okay,” Mai said. “I’m going to lower it—but just for a moment.”

Yoreno nodded and Mai whispered some incantation, then swirled her fingers as she made invisible runes in the air.

The barrier fell and Yoreno lunged forward, stamped up the path at least fifteen paces and whirled, his sword at the ready.

Glancing about, he saw no sign of the spider. There were no sounds except for a rumble of thunder overhead. Yoreno realized dark clouds were sweeping in.

Looking back at the others, all huddled against Mai within her protective barrier like scared children, he shrugged.

“I think it’s gone.”

Her barrier lowered and they ventured out, turning and glancing up at the rocks as if Yoreno might be lying.

“You’re right,” Dorrin said. “Maybe it senses those dark clouds?”

Yoreno shrugged at his question as they quickly scurried close to him.

“Where do you think it went?” Mai asked again.

“I have no idea,” Yoreno said. “Maybe it got bored, or maybe Dorrin was right and it sensed the approaching storm and moved off to go find cover.”

“Either way,” Sorika said, “I think it would be wised to move away from these rocks. It could be nearby, so keep your eyes open.”

“Hey!” Lev barked.

Yoreno nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned to find Dell and Lev standing above the trail.

Mai breathed out a heavy sigh and lowered her hand from her chest. “Don’t do that!”

“Perfect timing,” Yoreno said.

“Did we miss something?” Dell asked.