The ongoing collection Volume XXX 

By J. R. Wagner

TheNeverChronicles.com

       

                               J. R. Wagner TheNeverChronicles.com

Volume 30 The twenty-fifth day of October The year is unknown So it was that we passed beyond the cavernous hall, through a hidden alcove in the far corner and began to descend a set of stairs. I attempted to question Akil but was met with a terse reply requesting –no, demanding silence for the duration of our travels that day. Down we traveled. Our only light a small pink orb Akil had conjured as the glow from the hall receded. The stairs wound down in no discernable pattern until, with a splash, I stepped into ice-cold ankle-deep water. Akil sent his light orb on ahead (convenient things these orbs) revealing a long narrow tunnel that appeared to continue on forever. When the orb was but a pinpoint of light, Akil sighed, conjured another light orb and sloshed onward down the tunnel. We must have walked for miles with no indication of rise or fall in the gradient. The water maintained its bitter cold temperature, quickly wicking all sensation from my feet. When we reached the orb Akil had sent ahead, he conjured another from his palms and pushed it down the tunnel. As we repeated for the twenty-fifth time, Akil began muttering under his breath. Whether curses or incantations, I know not. My knee began turning in a most undesirable direction forcing me to bite my cheek to keep from crying out. I could taste the blood in my mouth and found solace in tonguing the flap of bleeding flesh, which kept me entertained. I began humming to myself just once. The expression on Akil’s face as he turned around –no doubt as a result of the sound, quickly quelled my behavior so I continued to flick away at my cheek skin while hoping my knee wouldn’t turn wrong again. As we reached the orb for the thirty-third time, Akil finally came to a stop. My teeth were chattering from the cold and despite valiant efforts to prevent the sound from escaping, the clacking of my teeth echoed in the tunnel. Akil turned and slowly inspected me as I stood injured, shivering and no doubt pathetic looking in every way. Then, something strange happened. Akil Karanis began to laugh. It was quiet at first and initially, I took offense to his chortles but soon we were

       

                               J. R. Wagner TheNeverChronicles.com

both gripped by uncontrollable fits of laughter. The sound of our ruckus echoed down the passage .in both directions. Eventually, we laughed ourselves out and stood grinning at each other like fools, both bathed in pink light. Akil shook his head, raised his index finger and said something in that strange language of his. A gust of wind began sending chills down my back. Soon, the wind was gale-force and the ankle-deep water was splashing up against my legs. After another several minutes of this, I uncurled from the hunched position I had assumed and glanced at my feet. The water along the bottom of the tunnel was gone leaving dry stone in its wake. My boots were similarly dry and my toes had quickly gone from numb to pins and needles. Akil brightened his orbs and continued on as if we had never stopped. I cannot say how much longer we walked. The last number of orb sending and collecting before I ceased counting was in the seventies. On the verge of collapse from exhaustion, I saw something ahead. A light. Not pink but white –natural light. Outside. Akil picked up the pace. My legs screamed with the pain of objection yet something told me to maintain the silence. After a few dozen paces, he broke into a run –something I’d thought impossible for a man his age yet he quickly pulled away as I reached my maximum speed. Soon I could only make out his blackened silhouette against the light ahead. I squinted as I neared the exit –or the light source, still not sure which, having lost all sight of my leader. Then, I was out. Blinded by the brightness, I began rubbing my eyes. Two gusts of air passed by my ears on either side and I knew in an instant Bronchio and Swat had been following silently behind the entire time. Finally, my eyes adjusted and the world came into focus. Akil was standing not far away on a black sand beach. His arms were outstretched; his face tilted upward inviting the warming sunshine. I turned back for a look at the tunnel entrance but only a vine-choked cliff rose up from the black sand shore.