The wind coming from it was forceful enough to push Almon back. Rein leaned into the wind and pressed on, one slow step after another.

  Bram dug his feet into the dirt and pushed his hands out in front of himself to break through the biting wind. Being the third one in the line made it a little easier for him to get through.

  “You can always climb on my back, little dwarf,” Kraw shouted to be heard over the wind’s howl.

  “Not on your life,” Bram lifted his legs one at a time and brought them back down with purpose, determined to make it through this.

  “How about me?” Lux asked.

  “Oh hell no,” Kraw said. “Your hooves would dig into my sides. Besides you probably weight twice as much as the dwarf.”

  Lux bent forward, using Bram as a break in the wind. His bare skin turned red from the cold of the wind and was glad for the fur on his legs.

  Almon slowed even more. His blood turning to ice in his veins. Bram caught up to him and pushed from behind. Rein was getting further and further away.

  “Common man, you can’t stop,” Bram shouted.

  “I can’t,” Almon shivered. “my legs won’t move.

  Snow piled around his feet, his body now so cold he could no longer see his own breath.

  “Rein, wait up.” Kraw bellowed.

  It was no use, Rein was too far ahead. He put his arms around Almon and pulled. Nothing happened, he was frozen to the ground.

  “Almon, you can do this, you have to move.” Bram tugged on his arm. “Think of Gwen.”

  “Gwen,” Almon whispered. He could see her beckoning him to come to her.

  Lux and Bram pushed from behind. Almon strained against the cold and reach a hand out as though he were reaching for some distant ghost. Her face warmed him and the snow disappeared from his feet.

  He had something to move toward. He struggled to lift his legs and take step after step, the cold wind still biting at his skin where it was exposed.

  “That’s it,” Bram said. “You’re doin it. Just a few more steps.”

  Chapter 15

  Cave of deception

  Rein waited for the others to catch up. Inside the cave it was warm, a fire burned in the middle of the large opening and he stood on the far side warming his hands.

  “Thanks so much for waiting.” Bram huffed. “Why didn’t you stop when I shouted your name? Almon almost didn’t make it.”

  “I’m not your babysitter if you can’t keep up stay behind.” Rein pushed past Almon.

  He lifted a torch from the wall and continued through the dry cave.

  The ground was hard as stone and the air sweet. The smell of flowers made this place feel familiar to him like somewhere in a dream long since gone.

  He closed his eyes and saw his mother’s face. Not the face of the old frail woman she had become but the soft young features of the woman he once loved.

  It wasn’t until his father died that she became the power-hungry bitch he came to loathe. He sighed, taking in a deep shaky breath, opened his eyes and pressed on.

  “Try and keep up,” he shouted at the group. “or stay here where I’ll be able to find you when this is done.”

  He didn’t wait for an answer. Rein rounded a corner as the others lifted torches from the walls. He heard a soft voice calling his name.

  “Mother?” He asked.

  “This way, Rein.” The voice beckoned him.

  It was sweet like a whisper but echoed in the memory of his mind. When he was a little boy, before his father died, his mother would play hide and seek with him. She would hide and have him seek her out by listening for her voice and when he found her she would squeal with laughter, lift him up and spin in circles.

  He was unsure what turned her into the bloodthirst, power-hungry bitch he had grown to loathe in the time of his father’s passing.

  Rein didn’t remember much about his father, other than he was always working, plotting and scheming against neighboring villages.

  Much older than Rein’s mother, his father ruled with an iron fist over Hope Falls. He heard his mother say that the old man’s death was no accident. She told Thomas she was sure he’d been poisoned. The loyal butler told her not to fear, he’d never let her meet with such an untimely death.

  “Rein, find me.” The voice called again. His heart ached for the simpler time when his mother showed him, love.

  Rein continued walking through the tunnel. The ground now covered in a shallow puddle of water, his feet splashing with each step.

  Ahead the tunnel opened to a large room, light shone from a large hole in the high ceiling. He looked up and watched as clouds passed overhead. He heard the others coming through the tunnel, they were much closer now.

  Under the opening was a pool of crystal clear water. Lux bent down, scooped a handful and brought it to his mouth. His head swam and visions appeared in the water.

  He saw the elven village burning, heard the screams as flames engulfed the tree houses. He gripped the sides of his head and let out a painful shriek.

  Bram was just about to sip water from his own hand when he heard the wail and decided not to. He looked into the water and saw his brother in bed with his wife. His heart ached, his face burned and he punched the image.

  “Don’t.” He put his arm in front of Almon blocking him from the water. “Don’t drink it. Don’t even look into it.”

  “What is it?” Kraw asked stepping up to the water’s edge. “What did you see?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Bram said turning away.

  Kraw looked down. He couldn’t help himself. He needed to see what the fuss was all about. At first, all he saw was his own reflection, the water turned cloudy and swirled.

  He kept his eyes glued to the scene that was becoming clearer. His father stood next to him at the entrance to the dwarven mine smiling down at him. “You’ll be back home before you know it.” His dad lied. Kraw wiped away the tears from his young face and managed a half grin.

  A dwarf slapped his hide and ushered him through the opening. He looked back and watched as his father left. It was the last time he would see his father.

  Kraw looked up to see the others continuing on without him. He shook his head and walked quickly to catch up.

  Chapter 16

  Sands of time

  “I wonder how far we’ll have to go before we find the sandpit?” Bram asked.

  “Apparently that long,” Almon chuckled as Rein disappeared through the floor.

  “Move.” Kraw stepped past Bram and stood where Rein had disappeared.

  The floor was just as solid here as it was anywhere in the cave.

  “How… Is there something special we’re supposed to do?” Almon asked.

  “I don’t…” Kraw said before the ground swallowed him too/

  “You're next.” Bram pushed Almon.

  The young elf stumbled and vanished as soon as his feet hit the right spot.

  Lux didn’t wait to be pushed he hopped over and was gone in an instant.

  “Here goes nothin,” Bram said to himself.

  He walked carefully to where the others had vanished and waited. He looked down at the sandy floor and saw the flute laying there. He lifted it and sand poured from it. The sand gave way under his feet and he found himself falling.

  Bram flailed his arm and kicked his legs but never let his grip on the flute loosen, not even a little. Through the sand, he watched his life played out as if a spectator in a lucid dream.

  He saw the little boy that never quite measured up to his father’s expectations. His younger brother besting him at swordplay and archery practice.

  For punishment, his father sent him to work side by side with the prisoners of the mithril mine. Hard, dirty work was what his father thought he needed to make him a stronger man. At the tender age of ten, what did Bram know of being a man?

  Bram found himself in the mine several times a week. So often in fact that some of the prisoners were sure he was one of them. He even befriended a young mouthy Kraw. He didn’t know when enough was enough and Bram witnessed many of Kraw’s whippings from his father. When he could he snuck food to his unlucky friend.

  The scene changed and he was a young man standing on the deck of a merchant ship. His father had put his arm around him and clapped him on the back as they walked to the bow.

  He remembered this day. His father had been drinking heavily, celebrating his most recent financial victory. The humans were buying mithril as fast as he could mine it and weapons as fast as the dwarves could make them.

  When they walked to the very end of the bow, rain started pouring from the sky. The wind had picked up and white peaks formed in the rough water.

  His father pulled himself up on the bowsprit and sat on the pole as though it were his noble steed.

  “Dad, get the hell back here,” Bram called to him. His father just laughed and kicked his feet. A large wave came up right in front of them and crashed over the deck. His father was gone.

  When he did make it back home his mother blamed him and announced his younger brother as king. There was nothing left to see but the falling sand as he spiraled down fast and faster. He landed with a thud next to Rein.

  “That was intense.” He said.

  “You could say that.” Rein dusted sand from his pants and stepped to the side, cautious not to be hit by anyone else falling from nowhere.

  “Are we the only two who’ve made it?” Bram asked.

  “Apparently not,” Rein pointed to shoe prints on the sandy floor. “I was wondering what happened to the flute when I fell.”

  Bram handed Rein the flute, glad to be rid of it. He walked in the direction of the footprints and found Almon next to the wall in a darkened corner. His face looks solemn and his head hung low.

  “Are you alright?” Bram asked.

  “I don’t want to talk about it.” Almon huffed and went back to where Rein was waiting for the others.

  “That wasn’t so bad,” Lux said breaking the group's silence.

  “Speak for yourself,” Almon said and shoved past the unbalance satyr.

  “Now that we’re all here, what do ya say we get on with the last trial?” Rein asked.

  A soft wind blew through this part of the cave that smelled sweet like honeysuckle. Lux breathed in deep, his eyes closed and a vision of Dana laying in the tall spring grass surrounded by daisies filled his mind.

  He wasn’t paying any attention to where he was going and walked into the back of a brooding Almon.

  “Watch it, kid,” Almon grunted.

  Chapter 17

  Burning Bridges

  Bram sauntered in the back of the group as they continued through the cave. He realized the disappointment he must be to his father. Then there was Kraw, the young centaur that never seemed to know when to keep his mouth shut, now an adult and no longer considered a friend.

  His eyes kept finding the scars on the side of the one person that saw his father for the monster that he truly was. Bram’s father took perverse pleasure in punishing the young centaur. He let the dwarves delve out the punishment for all the other prisoners, but Kraw was his own personal whipping boy.

  Rein led the group through the cave toward the immense heat and strong smell of sulfur that lingered ahead. The air had grown so thick it was hard to breathe. A red ominous glow filled a large room that was so hot Rein thought his skin might char like a piece for meat left on the fire too long.

  “Let’s get this over with.” Rein grumbled as he wiped sweat from his brow.

  Each step they took was purposeful, deliberate. The ground was hot in some areas and cooler in others. It shook and vibrated softly yet noticeably.

  “I don’t know if I can go on,” Lux said. He stumbled and he tried to walk on, bracing himself on the smooth wall.

  “We’ll help keep you up.” Almon lifted lux’s arm and put it around his shoulder.

  They approached a gaping fissure halfway across the room. Rein stood on the edge and looked down. A river of lava flowed burping gas bubbles of sulfur.

  “Now what?” Kraw asked. “There’s no way across and it’s too far to jump.”

  Rein picked up a pebble and tossed it into the fiery river. A flame shot from where the rock hit. He turned from the gap and looked around the room. His throat was dry and soar making him cough.

  “Perhaps we should just throw the flute in,” Almon said looking over the edge.

  “No, you can’t.” Lux pleaded.

  “But it would surely be destroyed and we could simply be done with it.” Bram kicked at the ground, loose dirt drifted down to the sea of fire sending flame shards toward the ceiling.

  Rein pulled the flute from the bag over his shoulder and thought for a moment about seriously throwing the damn thing into the lava pit.

  A soft sweet voice filled his head. “Remember what the hermit said. This is the third trial. You must find the faith within yourself to return me to my master.”

  “Did you guys hear that?” Lux asked, his voice trailing off.

  Rein stared at the ground. He heard the voice but wasn’t sure if that’s what the kid meant and he didn’t want to say anything and have the guys think he had finally lost his mind.

  “Hear what, little man?” Kraw brought his hand down on Lux’s shoulder.

  “Never mind,” Lux said.

  “So boss, how are we going to get across?” Bram asked.

  “You just gotta have a little faith.” Rein shrugged.

  He brought the flute to his lips and blew. The sound was soft like the distant rumble of thunder before a storm. The ground shook and there was a loud thud.

  “What is that?” Bram covered his ears. It sounded like a boulder rolling down the side of a mountain.

  “What the hell?” Kraw looked like he saw a ghost, his face void of all color.

  Rein thought the poor beast might pass out. Kraw pointed at a massive rock that was easy as three men standing on each other’s shoulders. It was rolling down the path they had come from and was headed straight for them.

  “Run!” He shouted and got out of the way.

  The group gathered as tightly as they could against the wall, panting they watched as the rock covered the gap in the floor. It was wedged in place.

  “Hurry, I don’t know how long it’ll stay there before it falls.” Rein said running to the rock bridge.

  They took turns crossing over the rock until everyone was on the other side. A pillar of stalagmite was blocking another hermit from view.

  “It’s about time.” The hermit said. He walked over to the open gap in the ground and stepped forward, but he didn’t fall.

  Almon’s mouth fell open. “But, how?”

  The man took another step on the invisible bridge, then another and another. He turned back around and walked to the group, “You were told to have faith.”

  “I did have faith.” Rein said holding up the flute. “I chose to put my faith in something I could see.”

  “And what of the others?” The hermit asked.

  “We put our faith in Rein,” Bram said.

  “Speak for yourself,” Lux spoke up. “I put my faith in the flute he has.”

  “You say you put your faith in the flute but what happened when you played it?” The hermit asked.

  Lux bowed his head, “Those terrible things only happened because someone else played it.”

  “Someone else played it?” The hermit raised his eyebrows. “But how did they get it away from you?”

  “They just took it.” Lux stamped his foot.

  “So you were unable to protect her?” The hermit grinned baring perfect white fangs.

  “Protect who?” Lux asked grimacing at the sight of the sharp bones shards that hung from the hermits’ gums.

  “Syrinx, of course.” The hermit laughed.

  “What are you talking about? Who is Syrinx?” Rein scratched his head.

  “The satyr knows.” The hermit placed a blackened finger on the side of his nose. “Never mind all that.” He said. “Step through the portal.”

  The back wall had opened up. A light brighter than any had ever seen shone through. Rein couldn’t see anything but the white light. Still, he had come this far. He walked up to it and stopped just short of going through.

  “Well, are you guys coming or not?’ Rein asked.

  Chapter 18

  The portal

  Turning back to the opening Rein stepped through. He found himself back on the black sandy beach at the mouth of the cave. The sky was deep red and the ocean as black as the sand he was standing on. There was a yellow-orange hew that seemed to cover everything and the air smelled of old blood and rotten meat.

  A colossal man came toward him followed by a very tall satyr with short snubbed horns. The satyr had short curly brown hair that matched the fur on his legs. A necklace of seashells hung around his neck. His skin was pale for a woodland creature.

  The man towered over Rein by at least a foot, his arms as big around as Rein’s chest. He wore white loose-fitting cotton trousers and a long white tunic. Atop his head was a crown of golden leaves.

  “You have kept us waiting a long time, Reinhard Arakelian.” The giant of a man said.

  “Do we know each other?” Rein asked.

  “Do you really not know a god when you are face to face with one?” He asked.

  “Yeah well there are so many of you, it’s hard to keep track. Besides I’m not aware of a God who keeps one of those as a pet.” Rein pointed at the satyr.

  “He’s Zeus, I’m Pan, blah blah blah. Give me the flute!” The satyr rolled his eyes and snatched the flute from Rein’s hand.

  Pan brought the flute to his lips and whispered, “Syrinx, my sweet love.” And without blowing into it the flute played the most beautiful tune Rein had ever heard, bringing tears of joy to his eyes. Clearly, she was happy to be back with him.

  “Walk with me, my son.” Zeus put his arm around Rein’s shoulder.

 

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