Terra Incognita Book one: The Abyss
Chapter Fourteen
The three of them stood in the subterranean hollow, looking down on the gigantic city of Lemuria. The tunnel that brought them here had a cool breeze flowing from it that crashed against their backs and helped relieve them of the musty smell of the cave. Miles did what he could to hold up the injured Donovan, who clasped at his wounded side. Ben stared down at the city with wonder and fear mixed in his eyes. Inside its large walls was a race of human-eating reptilians that lived for war, but at the same time he couldn’t help but marvel at the immense architecture. For whatever reason, he felt confident that everything was going to work out.
“It’s time to put on our charms,” Miles said, helping Donovan stand on his own. From his satchel, he pulled out the charms that Morgause had given them. He held three little brown leather pouches in his hand that were weighted with a strange powdery concoction. Standing in front of Donovan, Miles took one pouch and emptied its contents into his hand. After speaking a few incoherent words, he flicked the ash like substance on to Donovan’s face and then put the pouch around the man’s neck. Moving to Ben, he stood there for a moment examining the boy. Ben held the large book in his hand and the silver sword on his back. Wearing blue jeans, and a collared red shit, he looked rather strange as he stood on the cusp of a strange new world full of frightful monsters and an evil that lurked behind every corner.
“Are you ready?” he asked Ben, who nodded in return. Miles performed the same ritual for Ben and then repeated it for himself. They all stood there for a moment before the mage took the first step down the hill.
The gigantic cave was so vast that Ben felt insubstantial walking around beneath the encroaching darkness that surrounded them. The visibility in the cave wasn’t very good, but with the torchlight, Ben could see the path. He turned to ask Miles a question about their plan but came face to face with a lizard-faced monster. Donovan turned to look as well and almost jumped out of his skin. It took the two of them a moment to realize that they were looking at one another. This amused Miles a bit, as he watched them grope each other in the low light of the cavern.
“Come on, you two, we have to keep moving if we are going to get into the city before they lock the gates,” he said, before noticing the glances they were giving him. “Don’t worry, it’s just an illusion.”
“A very convincing one,” Donovan said.
“Yeah, I can feel the difference with my fingers,” Ben said, rubbing his scaly skin.
“We don’t have a lot of time. Just know that this won’t last long and we have a lot to do,” Miles said.
The three of them wound through the cave, down a curvy path with a field of craggy rocks on each side. They came to a place where the ceiling and floor connected in a natural archway with a honeycomb of recesses running up and down each side. Ben saw that the only light source in this part of the cave was a strange mold growing on the rock surface that had a dull phosphorescent glow. The moisture that clung to the walls intensified the iridescent lighting and helped them see through the darkness. They examined one of the nooks and discovered a tiny room full of personal belongings. There was a bedroll and a chest with a few books and half-melted candles placed around. It was a small, sad domicile, even for the wretched creature that lived there. There was little room and the items stored within were old and decrepit. It reminded Ben of the things he had seen in a secondhand store.
“What is this?” Ben asked, looking around.
“The mine workers live here. This is their home,” Miles said, piquing Donovan’s interest as well. The place was deserted, giving them the eerie feeling of late night trespassing as they looked into each little hole. The humble living quarters were sad and cramped, forcing them to walk through single file. The smell reminded Ben of the dirty laundry that sometimes built up in his room; that musky odor of sweat and bacteria that mingled into a stench that couldn’t be mistaken.
“What a sad little home,” Ben said.
“Well, it’s better than no home at all,” Donovan came back.
“How’s your side?” Ben asked, noticing that he wasn’t limping as bad.
“It’s getting better by the minute. Whatever he gave me, it’s working,” Donovan said.
“The city shouldn’t be much farther now,” Miles said, leading them on. The small tunnel opened up into an extensive grotto. The city was now just a few hundred feet in front of them with its tall walls and colossal statues that stood there passing cold stone judgment on Ben’s tiny stature. The scaffolding that ran up had a number of reptilian men standing on it with their tools, working to reshape each from their original human form into the likeness of a reptile. Outside of the gates was a long line of reptilian people waiting to get in. Most of them were miners with carts full of mined ore and other rocks, ready to be delivered.
“Let’s get in line; hopefully it won’t be long,” Miles said, taking position behind a Lemurian man with a crooked back and a heavy load of tools in his hands. The poor twisted man had the distinctive look of defeat on his face and carried the aura of the soullessness that came with it. Even though he couldn’t relate, Ben still felt sad for the Lemurian. He could see the struggle with every movement the reptile made, and understood how hard his life must have been.
“Take your mind off of it for now. We have a long journey before us and stress like this will only drag you down,” Donovan said picking up on Ben’s sadness.
“Yeah,” Ben replied. He knew Donovan was right and tried his best to choke down the feelings of sorrow that were rising in his throat.
“Tell me, what else do you know about me?” Donovan asked. The dreaded question had rolled off the man’s lips and Ben wasn’t prepared to answer it.
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean,” Ben said, trying to dodge the issue.
“I don’t know, I just can’t shake this feeling of separation and longing. It’s like I’m missing something from my life. Maybe it’s not something, but someone, like a lover or family member. If that were true, it could explain my connection with you,” Donovan smiled.
“I honestly don’t know anything. I found you there and took you in as you were. If there were more to tell, I would,” Ben said, trying to end the conversation. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Miles flash him a glance. The look was almost too telling for Ben’s comfort, but he let it go. The three of them stood in silence for a long time, as the line got smaller and less daunting.
After an hour, they stood before the large stone gates, which were the size of mountains themselves, or at least that was how Ben saw them. He stood there marveling over the quality and craftsmanship that was so apparent in the swinging doors. They must have been five feet thick and five times as tall, each carved from one solid piece of stone—an impressive feat in itself. The gargantuan wall that surrounded the city had similar dimensions, but was stationary and in places was carved from the stone face itself.
Nervousness crept into Ben’s stomach as they stood there waiting to pass the guards and be admitted into the city. The knot tied in his guts was intense, but he felt safe with his new friends. Time and trial had brought them closer together and he could feel something stirring within that gave him hope that one day, it wouldn’t be so scary anymore. He looked at Miles, and then at Donovan, and felt hopeful. Even the sense of responsibility he felt for Donovan didn’t seem so heavy now that he had shared the secret with Miles. They stood there together; ready to face whatever came as the guards waved them up.
Standing there before the lizard men, Ben noticed how these Lemurians were more brutish, as if bred for the physical labor of guarding the entrance. Their bodies had spines and thick scales with multicolored patches. Their muscular builds were intimidating to behold as he stood there looking up at them. Their scrutinizing eyes passed over him as they spoke in a strange tongue that he couldn’t understand. Donovan glanced back at him with the same worried look on his face, which calmed as Miles spoke in the same unfamiliar language of
guttural sounds and sharp whistles.
Ben watched their glares, convinced that they weren’t buying whatever story Miles was giving them. Panic hit the back of his throat, drying out his mouth. He knew they were caught when the two hulking sentinels stepped in closer. As they did, an explosion ripped through the wall to their left, exciting the crowd of people behind them, who then dispersed into a riot of screams and hysteria. Miles grabbed Ben and Donovan as the two guards ran toward the action. He pulled them into the city just in time to watch the doors slam closed with a thunderous boom.
It wasn’t until they were standing in the courtyard behind the gates that they breathed again. They looked around, unable to comprehend what had just happened. In the distance, they could still hear the sounds of commotion coming from behind the walls. Another explosion shook the ground, and they tried their best to get out of the way as a group of guards barreled past them. The stampede of soldiers almost crushed Ben, who hadn’t moved as quickly as the others.
“Come on,” Miles yelled, leading them away from the chaos.
Ben was expecting the place to resemble the dingy cave system they had just passed through, but before him was a beautiful city with long well-crafted streets and amazing architecture. The buildings weren’t like anything he had seen before; most looked as if they had been carved straight from the stone itself. Above his head was a collection of catwalks that connected most of the buildings together by hanging rope bridges. The soft glow of the lights was the most interesting attribute of the strange city because it radiated from large crystals of various colors. Closer inspection showed that the brilliant gems were a naturally forming occurrence that the inhabitants had managed to cultivate into a viable source of illumination.
Miles led their small group into a bazaar with low hanging canopies and fat wooden kiosks that cluttered the gravel walkways. Hundreds of people crowded the streets as they acted out the play of their ordinary lives, uncaring of the dangerous pandemonium erupting outside. They felt safe inside their fortress city, despite the war that was now standing on their front step, demanding it be let in. Ben wondered if any of them even knew the extent of what was going on. He even searched the crowd for a glimpse of Azothothus, despite the fear the man invoked.
“Are you sure they can’t see us?” Ben asked, trying to relax.
“If they haven’t yet, they aren’t going to,” Miles replied.
It wasn’t hard for the three of them to disappear into the crowds, because the reptilian Lemurians weren’t interested in anything but their own personal problems. Ben watched as they rushed around to the different stores and markets, buying and trading their wares, each trying to haggle for the lowest price. It was interesting to watch these beings, who seemed so alien to him, living out lives that weren’t so different from his own. Though the setting and race were different, the actions were very familiar. In the mishmash of people, Ben fixed his gaze on the eyes of a person that seemed to know him. As they stood there making eye contact through the sea of people, Miles spoke up.
“Good eye, that’s her. Follow me,” he said with a wave, leaving the two of them behind. Ben and Donovan traded a questioning look before following Miles. The three of them trailed the slow-moving woman into a dark, cramped alleyway with no exit. The street here was empty, making it the perfect meeting place for the four of them.
She was a Lemurian woman with light green scales and huge lidless eyes with slits like a snake. Her clothing was nothing but a humble cloth that covered the important parts. Ben couldn’t help but notice her lack of female anatomy, but still had little trouble distinguishing her sex from the big bulky males that wandered around like brutes. Miles stood face to face with the woman for a moment before saying anything.
“Diostist, it’s been too long,” he said, leaning in for a hug. She didn’t bother reciprocating the affection, but rather pulled away from his embrace.
“You shouldn’t have come here. Things aren’t stable enough for you to be pulling your shit,” she replied.
“Shit? We only need safe passage to Atlantis,” Miles said with a slight grin.
“And you thought you could get it here?” she came back with obvious anger.
“You are the only person I know who’s been there; otherwise, I wouldn’t be here bothering you. If you are so pissed, why did you agree to meet us?” Miles asked. Ben and Donovan stood watching the drama between the two build up.
“Because I missed you,” she said, coming in for a surprising kiss. Miles reciprocated the sentiment by meeting her lips and the two collided with intense affection that left the onlookers stunned. Standing before Ben and Donovan were two unnatural-looking creatures pressing against each other with all the passion of young lovers. After a moment, she pulled away.
“I can’t be seen like this; my husband would have me killed for sure, but please know that I have missed you.” She looked into Miles’ eyes.
“And I, you,” he replied. “So, about our problem.”
“Yes, it’s going to take me little while to get it figured out. Do you have anything you can be doing, or anywhere you can go?” she asked. The obvious concern in her voice was striking. Ben was surprised to see that someone was actually capable of caring for the callous wizard he had come to know. Even though he had saved their lives, Ben had thought of him as self-serving.
“I guess we could wander around the market until you get back,” he said.
“If you must. I’d prefer you hide somewhere, but with all the turmoil, getting back into the city would be impossible. Here,” she said, handing him a coin purse. Miles opened it and poured a few of the coins out. “They were minted here so you won’t raise suspicion when you use them. Just be sure to interact with the people as little as possible. I’ll find you when I’m ready.” Then she left them.
“What was that all about?” Ben asked Miles.
“We were lovers once,” Miles said, a twinge of pain in his voice.
“She’s a reptile. How does that even work?” Ben asked.
“She’s not a reptile any more than you are,” Miles came back.
“So, it’s just an illusion then?” Donovan asked as they exited the alley.
“Right,” Miles replied.
“What’s the story there?” Ben asked.
“We met a long time ago and had different plans for our lives. She wanted to learn more about the Lemurians’ magic, and I had my own plans. She worked with Morgause to create a powerful illusion and came here to live,” Miles said. Ben wondered how much sorrow his friend felt. He and Diostist were still in love but couldn’t bring themselves to compromise their goals for that love.
“If I could find love, I don’t think I’d let it slip from my hands,” Donovan said.
“Well, no one asked you,” Miles said.