The Thieves Guild
by Jake Kerr.
Episode 129:
The River.
Darla stumbled and Mayla reached over to grab her arm to help, but
Darla shrugged her off, mumbling to herself.
As the temperature got colder, tensions got hotter.
To make matters worse, the constant drips of water from the ceiling far above
only added to the miserable atmosphere.
Everyone was cold and damp, and to make matters worse, the supply of
torches was dwindling. The only good news was that they had plenty of water and
cave animals were abundant enough to provide food.
I thought the entrance led to the road?
Darla didn't address the comment to anyone in particular.
Prosper, however, took the comment personally and stopped in front of her,
glaring. "It does.
But how am I to know if we missed a turn or a side cavern that opened up to the road?"
He pointed a finger at Darla's chest.
"Or maybe we haven't reached it yet, which works for you as you don't seem to be doing anything more than
stumbling forward."
Mayla rushed over.
Hey, let's all calm down. We're down to our last few torches and we need to work together.
She turned to Prosper.
We are looking closely at every dark recess and potential opening or tunnel.
No one has missed anything.
She then turned to Darla.
This mountain is massive. We can't give into despair.
No one said anything, and the group of four continued their
dispirited journey through the mountain.
Later, as Prosper angrily stomped further ahead with Catrina,
Mayla whispered to Darla.
We are climbing higher into the mountain. Do you think that's worrisome?
I think so. I am worried because this is nothing like the road we took from Ness.
I feel like we are making progress, but where will we end up?
Let's think this through. The road leads from east to west and we entered through Prosper's cave from the
south. I doubt we will cross over it or under it, so we are either walking in the same direction
via a different tunnel, or we are heading south.
Darla adjusted the torch in her hand.
They were running low on torches, and she was doing her best to have it burn slow
by holding it at an angle. She wasn't sure it would help, but as the
light didn't burn as bright, she hoped it did.
Just then, a collection of water droplets splashed onto the torch,
almost putting it out as the flame was so low.
As Darla cursed, Mayla grabbed her arm.
That's it.
What's it?
What's south of the road near the entrance to the mines?
Darla thought for a moment, and then smiled.
The Falls.
The Falls was another of the rather plain names that Ness used for
its iconic landmarks, like Great Gate and Great River and North Fork.
In this case, the Falls was the name of the massive waterfall that emerged from the
mountain and formed the Great River.
Look at all this moisture. We have to be near the waterfall.
And if it's not that, maybe it's an underground river that we can follow.
The two increased their pace and caught up to Prosper and Catrina.
They explained their theory, which everyone agreed seemed quite possible.
The snows of the mountain streamed down through cracks and fissures to a river that
emerged near Ness.
"As we walk, let's be quiet
and listen closely. We may hear the rush of the river and know which direction to go."
Three days later, the last torch burned out and they had heard nothing but a
gloomy drip, drip, drip of water drops.
The four of them huddled in the dark, debating their options.
"Can't you see? We've been following this dry riverbed the whole time, and you said there's a
river that leads to Ness.
This must have been a tributary.
So, all we need to do is keep following it."
"This can't be a tributary. We're moving up.
That's why it's getting colder and colder."
Mayla was glad that Darla didn't let bitterness or sarcasm enter her voice.
They all had to work together.
"Even if it would flow down to the way we came from,
it still had to originate with water.
It would just be blocked. So, we are at least moving in the right direction."
"That's true. Moving forward seems to be the best option."
"Moving forward is our only option. What else are we going to do, head back to where we started?"
Mayla could hear Darla adjust her position in the dark, as if
irritated. She reached out to take her hand.
After poking her in the ribs and rubbing her hand down her arm, Mayla
clasped Darla's hand.
"But you're right. This seems to be moving in a good direction, and besides, the dry
riverbed is at least smooth and clear."
We still don't have light.
In response, a light flashed in Prosper's hand.
The suddenness of it in the utter darkness was blinding, but as Mayla's eyes got used
to it, she could see that it was a soft light that filled just enough to
encompass the four of them.
"I can provide light."
"No, my love, you can't.
We can feel our way with sticks or our hands."
"It's okay, love.
It is a simple spell. The damage will not be too bad."
With his other hand, he grabbed the handle of their makeshift cart.
"We need to make better time, however.
And," he nodded at the remaining contents of the cart, "we'll be eating raw
meat."
To Mayla's surprise, Darla walked over to Prosper and gently touched his
arm.
"Thank you. I know you are sacrificing much."
Prosper didn't reply, but turned and started hauling the cart
forward, his soft light guiding their way.It was
Catrina who first heard the river. She rushed forward and to the left, leaving the
shroud of light.
I hear it. It's over here.
Catrina, be careful.
Prosper walked toward Catrina. Mailer and Darla followed right
behind. Mailer could hear the river.
Every step made the rushing sound louder.
Catrina knelt before a crumbled cavern wall.
Increase the light.
Catrina started grabbing rubble and tossing it aside.
She was desperate and frantic as she clawed at the stone.
Prosper stood behind her, not stopping her.
He increased the intensity of the light, revealing a pile of stones that looked like it
had come from a collapsed tunnel ceiling.
There was a gentle grade, and near the top was a tiny opening.
With the light filling the area, it was now clear the sound was coming from that
opening.
Here. Help me clear this.
Catrina scrambled up the stone. It was somewhat steep, but
she had little trouble getting to the top.
She was pushing rocks forward and backward, and the gap increased in size.
It's here. The river is on the other side.
Mailer and Darla rushed to help, scrambling up about halfway up the grade,
but the pile was too steep to Catrina's left and right.
Catrina, we can't move the stones until you get down.
Catrina ignored them and pushed rocks forward.
She was making quick progress as she shoved the top of the pile of rocks forward,
down toward the river. Each push made the river louder.
It wasn't a roar, but more of the echo of splashes.
"At least it's not a raging river," Mailer thought.
A heavy push forward made Catrina lose balance, and she slid forward a bit.
Be careful.
Prosper started forward.
Here. Let's work from the bottom. It is unsafe being at the top of this rubble.
Catrina ignored him and continued clearing the gravel.
It will go faster with me clearing the top.
All I need to do is create enough room for us and, perhaps, the cart.
She had cleared enough room that she could almost make it through.
I can't see anything,
but the river is definitely through this blockage.
Mailer was unsure what Catrina was doing, but the stones were so
small and she had cleared so much already that Catrina had crawled high enough
to sit on the top of the pile.
Catrina, go slower. This is dangerous.
Catrina replied by sitting at the top and using her legs to kick the rocks
down the side toward the river.
Each kick of her feet cleared a bunch of rocks. She turned to Prosper.
Stop worrying.
This is just faster.
She kicked as she looked down at Prosper, and that's when the section of stone she was
sitting on gave way. Catrina cried out as her body slipped from
view. All Mailer could see was a desperate hand swinging back for a
grip, but then that, too, slid down to the other side.
Mailer and Darla started to clamber up the stone, but Prosper had already
leapt past them.
He climbed to the top, and all Mailer could see was him holding out his hand,
his light as bright as a sun and filling every shadow.
Prosper's head desperately scanned from left to right as he looked down the other
side of the pile.
Catrina!
There was no answer. Prosper was staring to his left.
Mailer wondered why he wasn't looking at the bottom of the stone pile on the other side.
Is she not at the bottom?
Prosper didn't answer, but turned toward Darla and Mailer.
Please,
come up here and help me. We must get to the bottom.
"This can't be good," Mailer thought.
The pile must have been steep on the other side.
Darla clambered to the top first, and after pushing a bunch of rocks out of the
way, she secured a grip on the wall as she helped Mailer up.
As Mailer reached the top and looked out to where Prosper's light shone,
it suddenly all made sense.
It was indeed a pile of stones.
They weren't large, and it was easy to shove them out of the way.
Catrina had quickly done so,
but it was an unstable pile that, on the other side, led down directly
to the river.
The river wasn't loud, but it was clearly wide, deep, and
fast. Not as wide as the north fork, but not as small as a creek
either.
Prosper was sobbing, and Mailer looked around and knew why.
Catrina had slid down the other side, directly into the river.
There was a small bank to the left and right that widened, but at the point of the
ceiling collapse, there was no bank or ledge, just the unstable stone.
Perhaps she swam to a bank downriver?
She can't swim,
and it was pitch black.
She wouldn't even know where to go.
He stared downstream, the river curving into blackness
in the distance.
Catrina!
At that moment, Mailer had the sudden feeling that Prosper would throw
himself down the slope and follow his wife into the river.
She reached over and put her hand on his arm.
Do not despair. She may be downstream. We don't know.
We must at least try to save her.
Mailer's hopeful words transformed Prosper.
Yes!
Yes, she is alive. The river simply took her too far for us to hear her.
Prosper looked to the left, down below Darla.
Before Mailer could stop him, he slid down the pile of rubble, guiding
himself toward the bank downstream.
Thankfully, he landed on the bank on his knees.
He stood up and looked up at Darla, holding out his hand.
Hurry.
We must save her.
What about the cart?
There is no time. Follow me now or follow me later in darkness.
Be careful.
Darla let go of the wall to the left and slid down toward Prosper.
In the light, and with knowing where to guide oneself, the descent wasn't
nearly as treacherous as it looked.
Mailer quickly followed, sliding into Darla's arms.
Prosper had already started marching down the bank, the distance between them
already leaving Mailer and Darla in darkness.
I'm worried about losing our food.
Darla looked back up the pile of stones as she held Mailer tight.
As Prosper rushed recklessly forward, Mailer pulled away and started
following him.
I'm more worried about losing our source of light.
(dramatic music plays)
(bubbles popping) A Podcast Alchemy
production.