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The left side of her head still throbbing from the attack, Daria awoke with a gasp, her expression livid with rage as she recalled what had happened to her. That bastard had struck her.

Leaning up on one arm to see if he had stolen any of her belongings, she realized that Gregor had left everything behind, including his knapsack full of supplies that he had collected. Stranger still was the message scrolled into the back of a stone. “I am sorry, Daria. Go back.” The simple words, sent a chill through her bones as she realized that Gregor intended to die here. He had decided that his quest was doomed, and had resigned himself to fate. If not for the blow to her pride, she would have felt pity for him, but all she could feel now was hurt. She, in her own way, had come to trust him, and he had turned on her.

She wanted to go after him, if only to slap some sense into the foolish man. But what would be the point? If he truly believed that his quest was doomed, there was nothing she could say or do to dissuade him. But perhaps there was another way.

Pulling out the spell scroll that Gauldryon had given her, she held out her hand, her skin tingling from the magical energy within. Then taking a deep breath as she imagined Gauldryon’s disappointed face, she whispered the incantation. The flash of light and swirl of smoke, revealed a surprised Gauldryon, Pelwar, Tileya, and Glindol. The gnomish wizard, gazing all around him with a worried expression, asked, “Where is Gregor?”

“He ran off without me. I think he plans to die down here.”

Gauldryon, his blue eyes suddenly alive with heat, shook his golden head from side to side, furious. “You were supposed to watch out for him! Keep him alive! That is the task that I set for you!”

Pelwar, his feet planted to either side of him, took one glance around the cavern, and grunted, “Easy, Goldy, I’m sure the lass did her best.”

Hands still wringing in disbelief, Gauldryon bowed his head low in apology. “Please take no heed of me. I did not mean to lose my temper. Tell us what happened.”

His expression softened into stunned amazement as he listened to her tale, the battle hardened paladin slapped a gauntleted fist into his palm. “He shall face justice for daring to lay a hand upon you.” But again he seemed more concerned with the disappearance of Gregor as he looked away from her. Tileya, her usually cheerful demeanor gone, nodded her head in agreement, when Gauldryon continued, “But for now, we must go after him. Have you seen a way past the city’s defences?”

Annoyed at herself for not having thought to scout the area first, Daria shook her head slowly. "No, I had not the time."

“Very well then, we must make haste, and plan accordingly as we move. We cannot allow him to get further away from us. Tileya, find us a clear path forward. Glindol, some night vision if you please, and a potion of haste if you have some.”

The gnome, his face somehow grown older, replied, “I do, but it will be the last few drops. It might be best to save it for our escape.”

But the knight simply waved his hand aside. “One thing at a time, my friend. First we find our disreputable ruffian, then we plan our escape.”

Not exactly sure what she had expected from their reunion, Daria stood there in stunned silence, and watched as Gauldryon outlined his plan of assault in the dirt. Glindol, who had never stopped looking at her, came over, and patted her on the shoulder. His gray eyes somehow able to sense her discomfort as he whispered, “It’s good to see you alive and well. Gauldryon does too, even if he does not show it.”

Looking down at the wizard’s sympathetic face, she felt a sting of pain at the look in his eyes. Did he think she was a naïve girl that needed to be comforted? She was a warrior, born in the red waste same as Gregor, and blooded in battle. And yet, when she looked at the golden haired knight, she could only feel ashamed. Not because Gauldryon did not return her affection, but because she kept allowing her emotions to cloud her thoughts.

Her shoulders squared off as though ready to do battle, she nodded her head to the gnome, and slipped away. The others, too busy distracted with their plan to get over the walls, barely noticed her as she disappeared off among the rocks. She still thought she had done the right thing by bringing them here, but being at their side, no longer felt the same. Besides that, she needed to rectify her mistake.

Hurrying away before they would realize that she was gone, she tried to think like Gregor. He was not some foolish buffoon, despite his attempts to appear so. So he would not head directly for the gates, but perhaps he had found another way.

Studying the huge cavern with a critical eye, she noticed several demons peel away from the others, and head for a large stone overhang that sat to the left of her. Set up high on a precipice, a single brazier had been lit at its tip. Perhaps as a way of guiding the bat winged demons down, who landed, and walked into a dark opening.

With one last glance back at where her friends still stood talking with each other, she hurried away, found a good spot on the cavern’s wall where she could climb, and began her way upwards. A part of her was in disbelief that Gregor had been able to climb up so high, with barely a foothold as she scrabbled about, looking for anything that would support her weight.

Halfway up, her breath coming out in harsh gasps, she looked down, and she thought she could see Gauldryon’s burnished steel plate flash in the darkness. The young knight’s armor, made her wonder if she had made the right decision to leave. But she had to do what she felt was right. She would not be the cause of death for her friends, and someone did have to go after Gregor. She just didn’t think Gauldryon was in the right state of mind to do so.

Taking another deep breath, she continued the grueling climb upwards, pausing only to glance up at the cavern’s ceiling for any shadows, before she pulled herself up onto the stone ledge. The rectangular shaped entrance to the left of her was adorned with carved runes along its edges, and a single glowing red sigil that stood in her path. Shaped into an eye, it had a feeling of malevolence.

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Familiar enough with magic to realize that this way was guarded, she kept a wary look out around her, and tried to think on how to get past this new obstacle. She understood a little of the tongue of demons, but it was Glindol who was the most familiar with them. Still, she thought she did recognise this to be the symbol for death, or was it life? It could also mean undeath, she thought ruefully.

Hearing the flap of wings close by, she eventually whispered a word, and saw the glowing symbol waver, and disappear.

Quickly with no time to lose, she hurried inside, and took shelter in a nearby alcove right next to the entrance. The demon that dropped down onto the ledge outside, was covered in bright red scales, black armor that glistened with magic, and a forked tail that swished from side to side as its golden eyes scanned the area.

Her fists white as she squeezed the hilt of her warhammer, Daria knew she would have to act fast before she was discovered, when two more demons flew down. One of them, taller, and more muscular than the rest, growled, “Kozlak, found the body of a slyrak, his tail badly mutilated.”

“You think an intruder has entered our domain?” asked a second reedy voice.

“Perhaps. If so, they shall regret it. Lord Farghoul leads the hunt.” The mere mention of the name, caused the demon’s two companions to let out low growls. Daria however, perking up at the mention of an intruder, pushed herself further into the shadows, wondering if she could learn more. But it seems the demons were done talking, and marched past her without even a sideways glance, the tapping of their feet on stone, gradually fading away.

Waiting a few seconds longer, she followed the underground passageway down. Lit up by balls of red fire that hung in the air, they highlighted huge stone blocks, square tapestries that showed two burning red eyes, and weapon racks that held spears pointed upwards. With nearly half of them empty, Daria was troubled by the thought of coming up against dozens of these evil monsters. But she quickly had to quash that thought aside. She had to find Gregor, before he did anything else stupid like riling up the demons.

Hunched over as she neared the doorway at the end of the corridor, she saw a room to the left and right of her.