Wayward Tail: The Mortal Realms Trilogy, Book 1

New Caves

Morning. Day 6.

Artifax, Throk, and Ladon woke up early. The previous evening, the group spent many hours with the other man in the pub. Rulthaven, the sage, was able to give them the necessary information about the upcoming fork in the road.

Throk would guide the group to that spot, the spot where the mountain swallowed his sister. After they dealt with whatever perils lay in wait there under the Dragonspires, they would use the information provided by Rulthaven to decide to either traverse the mountains, or to forge the Dragonmere.

Landon had agreed to travel with the newly formed company in order to, one day, be reacquainted with his sister, Azrael. Artifax was happy to have the company, yet pondered on his chance of success with the island giants despite having these new companions. He missed Jameth, Irel, Krusk, and Azrael. With them by his side, he knew he would feel limitless in his confidence and power.

The road north led to a large single track path, which in turn, led to the base of the southern most peak of the Dragonspires. These mountains, called the Storm Horns to northerners, and the Dragonspires to natives, were tall and gray and in stark contrast to the lush forest of the Dragon Coast.

Artifax looked up to the peak. There were storm clouds at the summit... "Fitting name," Artifax thought.

The ground rumbled. Ladon asked, "Is that thunder?"

Throk's eyes weren't facing the ascending slope before them, instead his eyes were fixed straight ahead at something unseen. These woods and crags were the homeland of his people. They were the Dragonspire goliath tribes of legend. "No... That was the mountain welcoming Artifax home."

Artifax felt his body vibrate with the rumbling. When the ground ceased to move and quake, the buzzing inside of his skin continued. "I haven't felt this since..." But his thoughts were interrupted by the sight of the grand pit in front of the party. Looking down into the dark hole, there was no bottom in sight.

Throk looked into the darkness and began to get out the group's climbing gear. "This is where we will meet the mountain god. He is the devil that took my sister. She is down there somewhere." He looked at Artifax. "We need you now, my dragon-friend."

At the moment Artifax wasn't sure about anything. His thoughts ran from Layla (Laraelra), to the giants, to this mystery man of the mountain, to the strange feeling occurring in his body. Artifax attached the climbing gear and dangled one leg over the hole. He put on a confident tone. "Well... I do love exploring new caves..." And with that he disappeared below. Throk and Ladon followed him down into the darkness, each shaking their head and smiling at their undersized friend.