The Invisible Field

The womans steps were hesitant as she moved through the labyrinth. There was far too much at stake to rush. She had been here twice before, but it had been so long ago. She had been another person then. Odd how such things happen.


A snort sounded to her right. The woman whirled, the air vibrating with the speed of her blade. Cries of pain ripped the dark and she cursed darkly in sylvan. A soft lilting melody sprang from her lips and silver fire swirled around her like a serpent. The beast’s cries cut off, her blade slashed again. The smell of blood and wet bowels flooded the tunnel.


Then there was nothing but the soft padding sound of leather clad feet, and the chiming of mithral chain. She raced across the rough stone floor, carefully scanning the path ahead. The think, musty smell mushrooms assaulted her nose. She swallowed and quickly slowed. There was another passage up ahead. Running in the underdark was pointless anyway. You never got away. You just died tired.


She took the passage to the right, passing through the great stone bolder. She pulled out a map and consulted it briefly; praying to whatever god would hear her that nothing saw her brief very dim light. It took several moments for her eyes to grow accustom to the light. She whipped the tears away with the back of a gloved hand and took her bearings.

Not much farther and she would be at the darkness. She still had no idea what the darkness was and it occurred to her that she should have brought a mage. But wasn’t that the story of her life, should of, could of, would of. There was nothing to be done now but press on. She was tired and hungry. The journey here had taken her to close to Dabel’kith lands. She had debated resting before she entered the maze, but in the end had decided against it. The minators might kill her if she made a mistake due to fatigue. The Dabel’kith most certainly would if she was found sleeping so close to their holdings.


She murmured the command to dispel the light and tucked the map back into her belt. She was close. Down the passage and to the left and she would be at the gate. She dodged another patrol then she was there. The portal was tucked away in the small tunnel. Some sort of invisible field that blocked the path, or perhaps it was blocking the darkness. She was uncertain. She had no idea what this portal was, but she was going to try to find out.