Turwaithiel, to the mages first comment, scowled and whipsered harshly, "I am not of noble blood...and I rather be with these people than people like you whom consider themselves more worthy. I trust Raelin amd Kryn with my life." Her glare pierced coldly at the mage and she rode silently towards the gates, staring in wonder when they arrived.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

The mage let his head fall, he was weary and it was starting to show.
Why, when he had saved their lives, had they turned on him like this? he wondered.

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Halarond

Raelin grinned back at Cadenius.
"I'm sure it is....the.." he stopped sundenly to stare at the entrance.
"by the Death Lord...." he whispered to himself
He pulled up his hood once again and let his tongue run over his forked teeth nervously.

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Turwaithiel rode up to Raelin and smiled cautiously, putting her hand on his shoudler. "Calm yourself, my friend."

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Knyn dismounted and circled the black portal warily. Though not large, the trapdoor was imposing in its forbidding, sepulchral aura. Strange runes were engraved on its surface. He bent down to touch it and extracted his hand almost immediately after. The trapdoor was cold, terribly cold.

Grimacing, he grasped hold of the handle. "Ready?" he asked the others.

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The mage dismounted wearily, and hobbled over on his staff.

"Ready" he mumbled.

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Halarond

Cadenius lifted his scarf up, covering his mouth. He then dismounted and said, "Ready when you are?" He rearranged his sheathes so he could easily grab his swords when he needed to.

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I was cured all right.

He pulled hard on the handle. At first, his efforts were for moot. Then, inexorably, the trapdoor began lifting open. Knyn let it fall open by itself, his hand going for his sword.

Nothing leaped out at them from the darkness. The entrance to the Tomb of Kings lay before them, stairs winding down to black oblivion. Holding his greatsword out before him, Knyn took the first audacious step onto the stairway. He lifted a dusty torch from the wall. As soon as his fingers touched it, the sconce flared to life. The flame flickered, casting eerie shadows on the walls of the narrow passage and illuminating more treacherous steps ahead.

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"The Magic is strong here. I can feel it. But the Magic is... Everywhere, and yet.... nowhere... this is strange indeed." the mage managed to whisper into the darkness, more to himself.

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Halarond

Raelin grinned at Turwaithiel, and then plunged into the darkness. Atleast there was one plus to this situation, he was away from the accursed sun.

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The mage followed somewhat reluctantly.

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Halarond

Turwaithiel grinned back at Raelin as she lead her horse into the entrance, though he tried to pull back.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

After what seemed like an eternity of stairs, the floor eventually leveled off. Knyn shone the torch around. It appeared they were in some kind of vast circular chamber. The chill wind continued blowing, scattering cobwebs and debris.

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Turwaithiel rubbed her eyes as dust filled them and coughed quietly, but it seemed loud for no other noise was heard.

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Just became a college freshman; be on sparingly

Raelin smiled in the dark. It felt so good to be surrounded by darkness. It was were he felt he belonged, in the darkness of the night. Besides, so much sunlight was beginning to weigh on him in this journey. He sighed as they continued on.

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At the other end of the circular chamber, a pair of huge ebony doors thwarted their progress. The doors were each at least ten feet tall, wrought of an indefinable black stone. Obscure patterns of runes were engraved on both of them.

Knyn gave them a push, experimentally and without much conviction. True to form, they didn't budge. "Anyone well versed in reading ancient runes?" he asked dryly.

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