Reunion

Ace's feet moved along with the practiced silence of a true master. His recent years of inactivity, living a life of honest comfort as the steward of Wefpub, hadn't done his skills any harm. He felt strange when he first stepped into the caverns, though; as he slipped back into the darkness.

  He had called the darkness his friend for years, had found a certain comfort there. Now, with only Star by his side, he felt only loneliness. "Too many years with elves and humans," he muttered, trying to dismiss the strange feelings. Dwarves were typically solitary folk, not as social as the other, "softer" races. Strong and independent, they rarely turned to others for help or company. These many years past, Ace realized, had been an exception to his heritage.

  Ace smiled a hidden smile. Growing up an orphan on the cruel streets of Oswegonia, his heritage was long lost now. But the stuff that makes a dwarf is not something that can be taught, but rather it comes from the heart. Just as stone carving had ignited in him, so too were the other natural abilities of a dwarf. In time, he had learned to develop these abilities into skills that had helped him to survive in the slums. And, whether he would ever learn the true nature of his heritage or not, he would always hear the quiet whisperings of his people.

  Grateful not be alone in the darkness, Ace would have had difficulty admitting the company Star provided him. Now, hiding in the darkness, creeping between shadows and distancing himself from the army and his friends ahead, he longed for their conversation.

  Star was, for a wolf, as good a companion to Ace as he was to Gerrod. While Ace didn't have the telepathic link to the canine the ranger had developed, he quickly came to understand the nuances of Star's movements through the darkened caves. Sharing a more limited sense of vision, but a far better sense of smell, Star was useful in helping Ace avoid the many monsters. While these monstrosities would gather to simply watch the likes of the army strangely pass through their territory, they would not think twice about snacking on dwarf meat.

  Many times Star and Ace had encounters of their own, unable to call upon their friends for help. Through these experiences together, where they saved each other's lives countless times, Ace quickly came to trust in the value of Star's friendship.

  When the army would stop to rest, Gerrod would lead Corinna and the girls out looking for Ace and Star. As they gathered around to share a meal, Ace would end up doing most of the talking. He excitedly relayed detailed stories of the strange and challenging encounters that they had that day. Most of the time, these encounters would take place not far behind them, but between Ace's skills, Star's stealth, and the creature's abilities for silence, they would not even know about them. Most of the time, Ace described how quickly, if not easily, these foul beasts had been slain, a tribute to Ace's great strength and Star's speed. While these fights were all potentially lethal, and Ace often had some scar or other to show for his efforts, he seemed to relish the excitement of the moments. This was reflected in his vivid animations as he reenacted most of the battles. Gerrod hadn't seen that old fire burn in Ace's eyes in years. He seemed much younger and more alive than he had in a long time. These adventures were doing Ace a world of good.

  It had been a long time since Ace had seen much fighting. In his younger days, adventuring with Wefpub, he saw a fair bit more than his share, but Ace was no longer that young dwarf. Ace had seen, by his recollection, over a hundred and fifty winters that he remembered, and for a dwarf of his age, with gray streaks in his tired beard, he was doing quite well. The paunch that he had when Gerrod first found him in the inn was gone now, a product of the strict rationing and rigorous exercise. His muscled body had toned quite nicely, especially since entering the challenging caves. Overall, he showed no worse for wear for his experiences.

  One day, when the army stopped, Gerrod and the girls doubled back more than usual to find their friends. They fanned out across the wider expanses of the strange complex of caves as they passed through, and held tighter formations in the narrower corridors that connected the caves. They were careful not to lose sight of each other, but even this was difficult amid the tall piles of rubble and stalactites that covered the cavern floors.

  Gerrod and the women grew concerned when they couldn't find any sign of either Ace or Star. They walked quite a ways away from the army, too far for Ace and Star to still be following. They could have easily lost track of the army, had they decided to continue their march again. Still, they agreed, they had to find their friends.

  Just then, a wall of searing pain washed over Gerrod. His weakened knees couldn't support him, and he fell to the cold floor of the cave. His head felt ready to burst open, and he felt life itself draining out of every muscle of his body. Gerrod suddenly lacked the energy and the will to go on, and in his heart, he knew what must have happened. The ranger found himself adrift in a world of confused fears and pains. There was a fire, an agony in his heart. He tried to clutch at his armored chest, but he couldn't move. It was as if his entire body was somewhere else, and it laid motionless on the cold stone floor.

  Allison was the first to rush to his aid. She picked his head up and placed it in her lap. Her strong arms around him, her eyes looking into his. Gerrod could see her lips move, but he couldn't hear what she said. Her hands fell over his face, and he found himself staring into a flash of blinding, healing light. Moments passed before Gerrod became keenly aware of the warmth of his blood flowing once more.

  Corinna was there. There was a pained, useless look of confusion and concern on her face. There was nothing she could do to help him, and she trusted in the faith she held in her dear friends to do what they could. She pleaded for them to help him, but he could tell from their reactions, sharing her concern, that there was little they could do. Slowly, Gerrod felt strength flow back into him, unhurriedly like molasses. After a few minutes, he realized that he would survive, but he also knew that he would never be the same again. Thanks to the healing of his friends, Gerrod found the strength to stand again, but he knew it wasn't nearly over yet.

  Gerrod closed his eyes and concentrated, trying to make contact with Star, but he couldn't sense him within his mind. For the first time since he found him, that part of him was empty. He had always been able to contact Star without any problems, and this sudden failure confirmed his fears. He rushed into the darkness, fearing the worst for his friend as well as his companion. Gerrod had to find them.

  In desperation, he broke the code of silence, and dared call out Ace's name. His own voice sounded alien to him, echoing throughout the chambers. Though he spoke softly, the echoes expanded his voice to fill the air. He drew startled, angry looks from the women, but they understood the concern on his face. They strained their ears for a response. After a few seconds of agonizing silence, Gerrod heard the distinct sounds of movement off in a secluded corner of the very chamber they were in. He motioned to the others, and they closed in, ready for anything that might have dared made the noise.

  As they neared the location where Gerrod thought he had heard the noise, they drew their weapons and crept in the last few feet. Flicker ignited in its radiance. They knew the blaring light from his sword and the lanterns would make them an easy target, but they also hoped it would help to blind any monsters who might not have ever seen such light here in the Underworld.

  In the dancing shadows of the flickering lanterns, hidden behind a mound of thick rock, they found the crumpled pile that was Ace and Star. Ace slumped against the cold wall of the cavern, his head bobbing on the edge of consciousness. An inanimate Star laid with his head nuzzled into Ace's lap, his thick, soft fur matted with blood.

  "No!" the denial screamed through Gerrod's skull, stringing out into the eternal emptiness that he felt. If spoken out loud, the army would have heard that wailing, but it was so horrifying that they wouldn't have dared sent a scout to investigate. It was so full of sorrow and pain that it would have sent chills up the spines of those that had done this. At that moment, they w
ould have rather wished they were dead than to have to endure that deafening death cry. Gerrod's eyes locked onto Star's. He stared into those blank orbs for several long moments, waiting, looking for a quiver, a blink. None.

  Gerrod reached out for him, needed to feel the warmth of his body, the softness of his fur, but he was met with the hardened muscles and bronze armor of Allison, who had dropped her false visage. Her dark brown eyes replaced those of Star's, and she held Gerrod from him in her secure hug. She squeezed him as if to try to pinch him off from the pain he felt inside. It didn't work.

  Amanda rushed in to aide Ace, who had several terrible wounds of his own. He had lapsed unconscious again, his beard filled with a mixture of his and Star's blood. Even in this battle-torn state, lost to dreams of victories, he had refused to remove his protective arm from around Star. Corinna helped Amanda separate the two and get Ace out in the open where she could bandage his open wounds which still spurt out what blood he had left. His features were beaten almost to obscurity. Gerrod had never seen his friend in such a sorrowful state. He was bleeding from everywhere a man could bleed, and they all feared he would meet with the same fate Star had.

  No longer with the strength to stand, Gerrod's legs buckled and he fell to his knees in fervent prayer to Mya. His own words were strengthened as he heard Allison's soft, sweet voice whispering her own sacred words to her god. A true believer in Mya all his life, he had been blessed by the grace of his god many times. He prayed now for the safety of Ace, and the return of his most dear companion, whom he had always considered to have been a gift from Mya to begin with. Gerrod prayed not so much with words but with an unstoppable stream of thoughts, memories, and tear filled pleas.

  Once the bandages were in place, Amanda and Corinna joined Allison and Gerrod in their circle. They huddled together for strength, each holding onto the others. Ace was most dear to all of them, and Gerrod's great friends felt and shared in the grief that was his personal loss. In the time they had known him, Star had managed to endear himself with everyone. Amanda and Allison focused their prayers of healing on Ace, but his wounds were so critical that it would be a long time before he would even regain consciousness. Their prayers complete, they vowed to continue until Ace was back in shape.

  Amanda was a powerful cleric, as was Allison. Before long, Corellon Larethian would answer the prayers of his highly regarded servants, and restore Ace to fitness.

  However, this would do little for the fact that Star was dead. While Gerrod did not have the strength to stand, his will forced his body into motion. Allison pleaded him not to, but there were things that had to be done; preparations that had to be made. He cursed the Underworld, for he knew that a true and proper funeral pyre would not be possible to help send Star's spirit onto Mya. As the only alternative, he carried Star's crumpled body to a space they cleared between boulders, and placed him in a shallow grave. They covered him with smaller rocks. Gerrod felt badly about having to leave him here, in the forever darkness. His place was in the forest. He realized that even if they left then for the surface, it would be weeks before they arrived. Gerrod prayed for Star's understanding as Amanda said a blessing for him.

  Exhausted from their prayers, and the long day of marching with the army, Gerrod ushered Amanda and Allison off to sleep in a small side cavern, not far from where they had buried Star. Corinna, who attempted to stay with the ranger, soon joined them. Preferring the comfort of solitude, he insisted she rest as well. He would not be sleeping for some time.

  With Flicker shining as a solitary memorial flame over Star's grave, Gerrod sat the entire time guarding the entrance to the small corner of the cavern where his world had been shattered.

  Again, in the infernal darkness of the Underworld, it was impossible to measure the passage of time, but after what must have been several hours, though it felt like days or weeks, Allison woke well rested. She immediately checked on Ace, as Gerrod had done several times. She initiated her prayers of healing over him, and many of the minor wounds could be seen closing up under the guidance of her god. These exhausted once more, she would not be able to do so again today, and until spending more time performing the rites and ceremonies required of her station.

  Allison came to sit next to her friend at the edge of the vast cave beyond. She simply sat there, staring into the darkness in silence, mirroring what he had been doing all night. It was a reverent, respectful gesture, surprisingly understanding and tender for the woman of action. Gerrod had been studying the emptiness of the darkness for hours, refusing to allow his blinded eyes to slip into the infrared spectrum. He refused what warmth that sight offered, accepting stoically the nothingness beyond the constant flickering of his sword light. Allison seemed to be able to respect that and share that emptiness with him.

  There had been times in his life when Gerrod had been in almost as bad shape as Ace, but he didn't know if he had ever felt such pain, before or since then, as he did in that dark solitude. The sense of loss overwhelmed him, and the emptiness that was within was complete. He had endured Corinna's leaving, bouncing back decidedly well after hearing that she wanted to go to Midkemia without him. While at the time he had felt that had devastated him, he was still not as completely destroyed as he was at that moment. While he loved Corinna very much, Star was a part of him, both spiritually and physically. That voice, that had filled a part of his mind he hadn't ever realized was empty, was now gone. It left a vacuum that he refused to allow to be filled, determining, rightfully so, that nothing ever could. Part of his very life force had died with Star, and as he felt his life light dim inside, he knew it would never again shine as bright.

  He wasn't sure how long they sat there, of course, but neither of them said a word or moved more than a muscle, so that when Amanda and Corinna awoke some time later, their meditation was complete. When Corinna emerged from the small room they had been sleeping in, Allison simply gave Gerrod a look and a smile. In that, he felt only care and love, not a hint of pity, which left him with that same dignity and respect she had kept with her silence. This whole experience served to show him a side of Allison that, especially as a young child, he had never even imagined existed.

  "Good morning," Corinna began, more out of habit. Realizing there was certainly nothing "good" about it, she regretted it as soon as she had uttered it. In all likelihood, it wasn't even really morning. Nothing seemed right here in the wretched Underworld. "Amanda is up. She's tending to Ace."

  Gerrod simply nodded in absent acknowledgement. Still not willing to break the silence, Allison did the same, inviting Corinna to a nearby seat. She accepted, joining their silence.

  When Amanda came a while later, appearing drained by the powers of her healing, she announced that Ace would be stable enough to be moved that day.

  Gerrod didn't want to leave, not ever. The thought of leaving that burial chamber and following the army farther into this unholy place did not appeal to him in the least. He didn't want to leave until he understood why, or even how his life-companion had died. There was obviously a bitter struggle, but they hadn't found any slain beasts. It was unlikely that Ace and Star would have gone down without a fight. His heart longed for revenge on those that would have wronged him so, and destroyed his friends. He was sure the others must have shared this sentiment, but he knew, as they did, that they must be moving on.

  Allison fashioned a stretcher out of a blanket and the shafts of some broken spears they found, possibly from the battle with Ace and Star. They gently rolled Ace's battered and severely beaten body onto it, and with Allison on one end and Gerrod on the other, they headed back toward the army.

  They were quite a distance behind the troops, and were lucky to be able to find them again, just as they were breaking up their own camp. If they had lost them in this vast complex of twisting tunnels and weaving caverns, they wouldn't likely ever find them again.

  They followed behind the army at their se
cretively safe distance once more, hoping their false soldiers wouldn't be missed. They were forced to stay back. It wouldn't have been wise to allow the army to find them out of nowhere toting around an unconscious dwarf. Besides, drained from their efforts to heal Ace as quickly as possible, Amanda and Allison didn't dare ask Corellon for their guises back. They knew the limits of what they could expect from their god. One of the secrets of staying in good standing with Corellon was, they explained, not to get greedy for the gifts he gives you, but to make due whenever possible. The gods had been good to them so far, and they hoped to continue.

  Several rest periods later, they were glad to hear the murmurs of a man waking from a long rest. Still too weak to move, Ace regained consciousness with a start. Excited eyes flew open and scanned around in a panic; perhaps reliving the final fleeting moments of his terrible battle. With grateful resignation, Ace calmed some and winced at the pain that flooded into him for the first time. "Just relax," Amanda comforted him, propping his head with a soft bedroll. "You've endured much, Ace of Wefpub. It's going to be a while more before you're up to moving about."

  "Star!" Ace cried out, louder than he should.

  "It's going to be all right, Ace. You're okay now," she assured him in soothing, whispered tones. Lacking the strength to argue, he closed his eyes and nodded back off for more rest.

  It was not as long before Ace woke again, this time calmer and more resolute. "Star?" he asked, again his first concern. Amanda could tell by his sedate expression what Ace suspected.

  "No," she confirmed his fears. She did not want to tell him, to upset him, but he had already figured as much, and he deserved the truth.

  With his usual calm, Ace simply closed his eyes and let the tears flow from the puddles that gathered there. "I-I tried to get to him," he explained in pained breaths. "I'm sorry, Gerrod. By the gods, I tried...."

  "I know you did, Ace. You did everything you could." Gerrod had to choke back his own tears. It troubled him to see Ace struggling so, but he welcomed the confirmation that Star had died valiantly. He had died fighting for his friend's life, and that was all Gerrod needed to know -- for now. "I know it wasn't your fault, Ace. You can tell us about it when you're feeling better."

  Ace, a stubborn dwarf, would not accept being kept down for long, but as of yet, he had no choice about it.

  "You listen to your healers, now Ace," Corinna encouraged. The feisty old dwarf glared at Amanda and Allison with a snarl.

  Truly defeated, Ace was left alone to dwell in his own misery. He replayed the agonizing moments over and over in his head. "I tried to get to him," he repeated in his mind, trying to convince himself he had actually done all he could. He didn't know how he would face Gerrod; didn't know if he ever could.

  It was still a few days later before he could find enough breath to talk freely. He had punctured a lung, among other things, but through the grace of the gods, he had been healed. He didn't care much for being carried around in the stretcher, and he let them know in clear tones. They took it all in stride, with a smile. The old Ace was coming back.

  "Star and I were following behind," he started the anticipated narrative, "keeping to ourselves and the shadows as we had been all along. Star seemed to have sensed something, 'cause he stayed right close to me. He stopped, sniffing at the air, and I scanned around with me night sight, but I couldn't see anything unusual in the darkness. Nothing but rocks anyway, so I kept moving on, even though Star stopped.

  "I should have listened to the wolf. He knew something weren't right, but I went on ahead, leaving him to his own business. I got out about fifty feet, when all of a sudden it was as if the rocks seemed to move. Before I knew it, about twenty beasts surrounded me. I could hear and feel them all around me, but I couldn't see them with my heat vision. They must have been cold-blooded and blended in with the heat of the rock, I figure.

  "I tried to light a torch, but they were on me before I could move. I felt the sting of spears ripping into me from every direction. I swung around, me axe stretching to get a hold of at least one of them, but the cowards were still chucking their spears from too great a distance.

  "I was still trying to light my torch when, in the spark of the flint, I caught a look at the beasts. They were huge, probably seven feet tall, and thick built. They looked like lizards, all scaly and stuff, but they were brown and gray, not green like you hear tell of the lizardmen of the Eternal Wetlands. Muscles bulged from their sturdy frames, and they carried stone axes, too. I could hear them talking in throaty gurgles.

  "When they closed in on me, I started to smell what Star must have been noticing. The most horrendous stench you've ever laid nose to came from the filthy beasts. Now you know I'm not one to be turned weak from a little bit of stink, but this was so bad that even I began to wretch.

  "I lost it at that point. Too busy gagging on vomit and their foul odor, I couldn't defend myself. Stone axes and sharp claws lit into me at every turn. They had me surrounded, and so disoriented, I couldn't have run. Even though they out-numbered me so, they weren't about to cut me any slack. They seemed to enjoy just taking swats at me.

  "Dazed by their attacks, I lost grip on me axe. I remember stumbling about, being hit and batted about by those things like I was a rag doll. I never felt so frustrated and mad in my life. I was helpless to defend myself, and they wouldn't let up long enough for me to regain my head.

  "Then, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a flash of red heat, as Star came charging in. He leapt atop one of them and had him dead before they crashed to the ground. He had at three or four others, going for arms, legs, throats, whatever he could get those nasty fangs into. You should have seen him go at them.

  "I was still knocking around, down on me knees by then. I didn't even have the strength left in me to stand any more, and I could feel I had blood coming out everywhere. I knew I wasn't for long. I watched Star through eyes that filled with blood faster than I could wipe them out. I tried, crawling on my hands and knees, but I couldn't get to him.

  "Stone axes and sharp claws slashed into Star's gray fur, and soon his blood was splattering as well as mine, if not worse. It seemed that those monsters were even stinking more, if possible, as they desperately tried to cut down that wolf. They were clearly upset that he was hurting them so bad. Star really had them going.

  "Through it all, Star refused to yelp or acknowledge the pain of his wounds. He wouldn't slow, and he gave them more than their due. Realizing they weren't fairing well against the wolf, they made their retreat. By then, Star had taken too much to be able to give them chase. Just for good measure, they all stomped on me or gave me one last slash with their claws on their way out. While I tried to fight against the pain, the loss of blood must have been too much, because I passed out. I was left for dead.

  "Star must have dragged my limp body into that corner and hid me there. He saved my life, I know that for sure. These were foul beasts, Gerrod, and you should be proud of the way he took after them. I've never seen such a vicious fight or such cruel beasts. If only I'd paid more credit to Star in the first place --"

  "Sounds like they were in for you, either way," Corinna argued against Ace's shame. "Either way they would have had the jump on you."

  "You were greatly out-numbered, an impossible fight," Allison agreed.

  "Most vile evil, to be sure," Mandy added her support.

  "There wasn't anything you could have done, Ace," Gerrod agreed. "Star helped you on his own right. He died defending his friend against the evil of the world. That's the way it should be, the way I hope to die."

  Gerrod felt everyone turn and look at him in concern.

  "But not for a long time," he assured them. "There's still too much evil left in this world. I'm far from done with this place yet," he vowed, sending smiles across his friends. Even Ace managed a heart-felt chuckle, wincing at the pain it brought.

  Ace's complete recov
ery was a slow one, and he took care to complain the whole time, though they knew he was grateful. Personally, Gerrod suspected Ace even started to enjoy his newfound authority. He ordered them around from his place on the stretcher like a king ordering his peasants from his throne. He enjoyed their company too, after such a long time being forced to walk alone in the dark.

  There were many times that a tear would form in the corner of Gerrod's eye for his lost companion. At night, whenever he heard the wind blow through the treetops, if he listened just hard enough, he could still hear Star's voice talking to him; and that place in his mind where he once was, was not so empty. Gerrod would always miss Star, but as long as the wind blew, he knew his friend would never be far away.

  Chapter 19

  The Jaws of Death Itself