Last time on Raiders of the Middle Seas Part 13
“Well well!” Leland said to his men who had gathered quickly, weapons in hand. If he had their attention and fear before, he now had their respect and adoration.
“A couple things we have learned so far. There are many of them inside there. They wait just beyond the edge of the light of the flames. They cannot stand light, not even a little. What we need to do is build little camp fires from the entrance to wherever we need to be, the light from one fire needs to reach the next. Whatever you do, do not block off the light from an opening or they might be able to get at you from there. Understood?”
“Aye!”
Despite the chill that ran down Leland's spine, he stalked forward into the cave.
Raiders of the Middle Sea 14
An hour of more later Leland led the forefront of a network of men that were passing along their wood and more burning brands to the fore. The creatures retreated as the light advanced and finally they stood before their prize.
It took Leland a few moments to even comprehend what he was looking at.
It took Nerod a few moments longer and Nich and the others followed only after that. Before them stood a massive bronze door. The open door in itself would be worth a fortune, covered in etching and engraving of exquisite art depicting fantastical creatures and heroes that fought against these beasts.
He might have paid closer heed to these mythical etchings but he strode forward, eager to be done with this risky venture.
Beyond the door was a hall that was lined either side with chests. Large, heavy looking... he needed to see more. A doubt crept into his heart as he felt as though he was being watched. He steeled himself and carried on.
“Bring more wood!” Leland barked and the command was passed along the line.
There was only one problem with the chamber.
There was massive amount of movement beyond the light’s edges. It seethed like one single unending noise. Like a swarm of them, though he was pretty sure that they could not fly.
Leland walked over to the first of the chests. The container itself was covered in gold inlay and decorated with fancy scrollwork like it belonged in a king’s hoard or a cathedral’s store.
He placed his hand on the lid and as if it was fated he heard yells from the corridor. The yells got louder and louder as information was passed on to the inside of the cave system.
“Captain!” Franco called. “News from the outside. Our store of wood we gathered is depleted!”
“By the Lord!” Leland growled. “Franco. Take this chest! I don’t care what’s in it, the chest itself is value enough. Let’s get out of here!”
“We should leave it where it is!” Nerod said, pressing his hands together. “I changed my mind sailor. My life of the lives of your men aren’t worth it! We should just leave it here and make haste! Carrying it would just slow us down!”
Leland felt blood boil up to his face.
He couldn’t think of a correct vocal response so he spat on the ground. Some of his spit hit a flaming ember which died out. Just that moment there was an animal growl in the chamber that made Leland flinch and look to the side where it had come from. Just beyond the line of light he could see a form moving in the darkness, stamping its clawed feet on the chiselled stone floor.
“Captain!” Franco called. “It’s too heavy!”
“Nich! Help the man!” Leland barked. “Dieter, come up behind us with light in one hand and a weapon in the other. You see something move towards you and you stab it.”
“Yes sir!” Dieter said, holding his sword in one hand and carrying a burning branch.
Franco and Dieter lifted the chest together and they made their way down the tunnel. As they passed their relay points for burning wood Leland pushed more men to watch their backs and bring the light with them.
A few moments later all the light that they had brought with them vanished from the treasure chamber and Leland could hear the creatures surge forth to fill the space that the darkness filled.
Even from Leland’s position in the center of the retreating party he could hear the scrabble of claws or something hard against stone. There were also wet sounds as if the creatures were slimy, or perhaps it was fluid from their mouths, dripping saliva. Leland’s mind ran rampant with the possibilities of what it might be.
The effect was terror inducing to the men bringing up the rear. One man, though Leland could not make out who had dropped his flaming brand and had yelled in panic until someone could give him a replacement. In the tunnel, the creatures stopped, held back by the flaming beacon. Then, as soon as it died out they rushed forward to meet the next wall of light.
The two men with the chest were beginning to slow. “Nerod. Take over from Nich. Nich, Franco, run ahead and get Bugsby more firewood or we are doomed.”
“Aye Captain!” The reply came from his crew.
“I’m a Captain. I don’t carry loads of boxes!” Nerod protested haughtily.
“You are a Captain with no ship and if you don’t co-operate then you shall have no life either.” Leland said and took Franco’s position at the front of the chest and bent his knees. He straightened up with the chest held behind himself.
“C’mon! We don’t have all day!”
Nerod grumbled something under his breath but came forward and lifted the back of the chest off the ground. They started forward and within the first few second Leland regretted having taken up this action.
The weight of the chest was punishing to Leland. He had no idea why he hadn’t thought of getting someone else to do the work for him. He couldn’t co-ordinate another replacement now and besides that, he would lose face with the men. Even in this dire situation, if he were so lucky as to survive then it would cost him later.
Not if. He will survive!
So he gritted his teeth and he marched heavily forward but he was soon huffing and puffing at the effort. He felt drops of sweat running from his hairline down the side of his face and drip down on to his chest as he walked.
The pirate captain behind him was also suffering under the strain but would not admit to weakness. Nerod was swearing under his breath and muttering in a language that Leland could not understand.
Behind them there was suddenly a scream from one of the men and a kind of wet chop into flesh. Men yelled but above them all Leland could hear Dieter shouting at the other men.
“Holdt! What’s happening there?” Leland shouted.
“Leave him! Leave him for the Lord’s sakes!” Holdt was shouting at the other men. “Come back here with that torch and stay in the line!”
“Holdt!” Leland shouted again he continued in their flight backwards.
“Captain!” Dieter replied finally.
“What happened?”
“We lost Gurhard Captain. Some kind of hook and rope had shot out and dragged him back into the darkness!”
“Keep together! We have to get the hell out of here!” Leland shouted back at the men and all of a sudden Leland and Nerod emerged out of the mouth of the cave. He dropped the chest and caught Nich’s eye as he did. “Nich. Take the treasure and keep it close nearby!” He turned just in time to see Dieter and the four remaining men retreating before the sounds from the inside of the cave.
“Stop!” He commanded them, pushing heavily against the backs of two of the men. “We don’t want those things to come out here in the darkness!” The sun had set completely. He couldn’t believe how quickly the time had gone. “Keep the line! Bugsby! I want a bonfire in the mouth of this damn cave! We need time to get the hell away. The rest of you, keep facing the cave with your brands!”
The men obeyed and Leland kept a good eye on the operations.
He had the nagging feeling that he was missing something in his supervision as the men carried out his orders and then he saw it to the side of his vision, the pirate captain trying to sneak off into the darkness.
Leland strode over to where the man was trying to creep away unnoticed. He put his foot down on the length of rope that spanned from one ankle to the other and the man tripped and fell to the sand. “And here I thought you were going to enjoy having your portion of the loot.”
The pirate captain barked a sour laugh. “You think I want a small share in just one chest? That’s not why we came to this island. If I stay all I share in is a share in the death happening all over again.”
“Yes well, let’s not change the odds shall we?” Leland helped the man back onto his feet and steered him back to where Bugsby and Franco were ferrying parts of the fire across to the entrance.
The little bonfire was proving efficient. “Right! All of you now! Leave the line, except for Dieter! Keep your sword out. Rest of you build that bonfire and go get more firewood!”
“Aye!” Came the general cry.
“Nich. Take one man and start heading back to the ship, get that boat ready so we can get off this island. If you get to the beach well before us, make a fire. Set the whole forest alight for all I care!”
“Yes Captain!” Nich said and he called one other sailor over and they started off down the beach with a single brand in Nich’s hand.
Cries of bestial frustration and what might even have been fear reached his ears and Leland looked up to the cave tunnel. Nothing was trying to come through the flames or even to touch the light that shone directly into the cave. He heard a rumbling sound off to the side of the cave mouth.
“Oh my Lord.” Leland breathed. “Back! We need to go! Dump your last batch and bring fire with!”
“The bonfire is not ready Captain!” Bugsby cried. “It will die out in twenty minutes!”
“That won't matter! They are burrowing out the side!” Leland shouted. “Run!” He grabbed the pirate captain’s collar and followed his own advice, dragging the pirate behind him.
Next time on Raiders of the Middle Sea
Leland slowed and looked around. It looked as though everyone was here.
“Good.” Leland said. “Everyone is here.” He said to nobody in particular. He walked alongside Nich. “Two men change with Nich. Let’s keep close together. Keep your lights on!”
The men did not have a chance to reply as the night air was split with blood curdling screams of animal fury from the direction of the caves.
“Oh by the old Gods and the new!” One sailor cursed.
New to Raiders of the Middle Sea? Begin Reading previous Episodes!
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 1 / Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 2
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 3 / Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 4
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 5 / Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 6
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 7 / Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 8
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 9 / Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 10
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 11 / Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 12
Raiders of the Middle Sea Part 13
World of Kedra