A Banner Torn (Book 1 Complete)

Kaelid:

The darkness swallowed them as soon as they squeezed through the hidden entrance. his heart was beating so fast he thought everyone could probably hear it echoing off the stone walls. The tunnel was narrow at first, just wide enough for one person, and the ceiling was so low that even he had to duck his head. Behind him, he could hear the hurt people making scared noises, and one of the delver gremlins was crying softly.

Skitter moved ahead of them like she could see in the dark, her small hands running along the walls to guide her. The rest of them had to feel their way forward, stumbling over loose rocks and bumping into each other. He kept one hand on the wall and the other on his pack, making sure Curio was okay. Every few steps, he felt a gentle pulse of warmth from his friend, like a quiet way of saying I'm here.

As they went deeper, the tunnel started to get bigger. The walls changed too, from rough stone to something that looked like it had been carved by really skilled people. There were patterns cut into the rock, flowing lines and curves that seemed to move in the dim light from Theron's small lantern. The script looked like writing, but not any kind he had ever seen before.

Then something amazing happened.

He felt his enhanced perception spread out like it always did, but this time it touched the walls and something clicked in his mind. It was like a door opening, or a puzzle piece snapping into place. Suddenly, his mental map wasn't just showing him the tunnel they were in, it was filling up with information about passages and chambers that stretched out in all directions.

The energy patterns in the walls weren't just decorations. They were like a giant map, put there by whoever built these tunnels long ago. The ancient systems had been trying to talk to his core, thinking it was some kind of updated version of whatever they used to work with. Now that they'd shared their information, he could feel them going quiet again, like they'd finished their job and could rest.

The map in his head showed him things that made his stomach flip with excitement and fear. There were huge chambers deeper in the tunnels, and passages that went on for miles and miles. Some areas were marked with symbols that felt dangerous, and others seemed to pulse with the same kind of energy he felt in his core shards.

But the most important thing was that he could see a side passage coming up that Skitter didn't seem know about. And his enhanced perception was telling him that the people chasing them were getting closer to the main entrance.

"Skitter," he whispered as loudly as he dared. "There's another way. A passage to the right, just ahead."

The delver gremlin stopped and turned back to him, her big eyes reflecting the lantern light. "How surface boy know this?"

He touched the wall, feeling the energy patterns humming under his fingers. "The walls told me. The old builders left maps in the stone."

Skitter's eyes got even bigger, and she chittered something in her own language that sounded amazed. "Old maps still work? Thought they broken long time."

"They work for me," he said, not really understanding why but knowing it was true. "We need to go that way to hide from the bad people."

Skitter nodded quickly and led them into the side passage. It was even narrower than the main tunnel, and they had to help the hurt people squeeze through. But Kaelid's map sense told him it would open up into a big chamber where they could rest safely.

He was right. After what felt like forever of crawling through the tight space, they emerged into a cavern so big that Theron's lantern couldn't light up the far walls. The ceiling disappeared into darkness above them, and he could hear water dripping somewhere in the distance.

But they weren't alone.

Eyes reflected the lantern light from all around the chamber. Lots of eyes, watching them from the shadows. He felt his heart jump into his throat, and behind him, Marta made a scared sound.

"Peace, surface dwellers," a voice called out from the darkness. It was speaking the common tongue, but with the same accent as Skitter. "You bring Rust-claw tribe member. We listen before we decide."

Skitter stepped forward, chittering rapidly in her own language. The conversation went back and forth for a while, with lots of gestures and what sounded like arguing. He couldn't understand the words, but he could tell Skitter was trying to convince the others to help them.

Finally, she turned back to their group. " 'Big Jim' says we can shelter here tonight. Pursuers will not find this place. But morning brings decisions."

More delver gremlins emerged from the shadows, along with some other people that he had never seen before. There were a few humans who looked like they'd been living underground for a long time, their clothes patched and their faces pale. There were also some young Petrakahrn, their crystal parts glowing softly in the dim light.

One of the delver gremlins was bigger than the others, with scars across his face and arms that looked like they came from fighting. He had to be the Big Jim that Skitter had mentioned. He looked at their group with sharp, intelligent eyes.

"Surface world brings trouble to deep places," he said in careful common tongue. "Praxis hunters probe our tunnels. Send changed-mind humans to find our homes."

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Kael stepped forward. "We're not with the Praxis. We're running from them, just like you."

"So you say. But trouble follows you. Already our scouts report searchers at main entrance."

He felt a chill run down his spine. The Praxis agents had found the entrance already. If they hadn't taken the side passage, they would have been caught.

The Big Jim continued talking, explaining how the tunnel system had become a refuge for people fleeing Praxis expansion. But it wasn't a happy place. Different groups had claimed different areas, and they didn't always get along. Some wanted to seal the tunnels completely and hide forever. Others wanted to use the passages as bases to fight back against the Praxis.

"The changed-mind humans are worst threat," Big Jim explained. "Look like normal people, but consciousness twisted by Praxis methods. They infiltrate, gather information, report back to masters. We catch some, but others still hidden among us."

As they talked, Kaelid noticed that Brannic was looking worse and worse. The dragonkin was trying to hide it, but he kept pressing his hand against his side, and his scales had lost their shine. When he thought nobody was looking, he'd lean against the wall like he was having trouble standing up.

Theron noticed too. He went over to examine Brannic more carefully, and he could see the worry on the healer's face.

"The internal damage is worse than I thought," Theron said quietly to Kael. "The enhanced agent's attack did something to slow the healing."

"What does that mean?" Marta asked, her voice scared.

"It means he needs proper medical attention, the kind I can only provide with my full supplies back in Aldermere. And soon."

Brannic straightened up, trying to look strong. "I can continue. The mission is more important than one soldier."

"No," Kael said firmly. "We're not losing anyone else. Not if we can help it."

Big Jim had been listening to their conversation. "There is surface exit, closer than main entrance. Leads to valley one day from human settlement. But dangerous path, closer to Praxis patrol routes."

He felt his stomach twist up. They were going to have to split up. He could see it in the way the adults were looking at each other, making those silent decisions that grown-ups made when they thought kids weren't paying attention.

"The humans we rescued need specialized care too," Theron added. "I can't help them properly down here."

And that settled it. Kaelid watched as the group he'd come to think of as his family started to break apart.

Brannic would go back to the surface, along with Theron and the three hurt humans whose minds had been damaged by the Praxis. Two of the healthier delver gremlins would guide them to the closer exit. It was the smart thing to do, the tactical thing to do.

But it still felt like his heart was being torn in half.

"I should go with Brannic," Theron said, but he was looking at him and Rannek with worried eyes. "But I don't want to leave you boys."

"We'll be okay," he added, trying to sound braver than he felt. "Marta and Kael will take care of us."

In his pack, he felt Curio pulse with warmth, reminding him that he had another protector that nobody else knew about.

The underground inhabitants provided supplies for both groups. They gave Brannic's group food and water for the journey to the surface, and they gave the remaining group guides and information about the deeper passages.

When it came time to say goodbye, he felt tears burning behind his eyes. Brannic knelt so he was at eye level with them.

"You boys have been braver than most soldiers I've known," he rumbled his voice rougher and more strained than usual. "Keep taking care of each other, and listen to Marta and Kael."

"Will we see you again?" Rannek asked in a small voice.

"When you return our village family, I will be there, I will keep your mothers, and family safe." Brannic said looking at them, and finale Marta.

Theron hugged both boys tightly. "Remember what I taught you about taking care of injuries. And remember that being brave doesn't mean not being scared. It means doing what's right even when you are scared."

The refugee humans just stood there with empty eyes, not really understanding what was happening. That might have been the saddest part of all.

After Brannic's group disappeared into the tunnel that led to the surface exit, the remaining group sat in the big chamber feeling lost and alone. He kept touching his pack, drawing comfort from Curio's presence.

"We should rest," Kael warned. "Tomorrow we continue deeper into the tunnels."

But he couldn't sleep. He lay on his bedroll, staring up into the darkness and listening to the sounds of the underground. Water dripping. Small creatures scurrying in the shadows. The quiet breathing of his friends.

In his pack, Curio was very still, but Kaelid could feel his friend's alertness. The slime was probably listening to everything, learning about their situation, ready to help if needed.

When morning came, Skitter led them deeper into the tunnel system. The passages became more elaborate as they went, with more of the flowing script covering the walls. his enhanced perception kept picking up the energy patterns, and the puzzle pieces of information from them in his core shard felt more active than ever.

"These tunnels connect to Petrakahrn territories," Skitter explained as they walked. "But deeper places have old rules. Ancient guardians and tests become active. Might be challenged to see if worthy to pass."

They walked for hours through passages that seemed to go on forever. The stonework became increasingly impressive, with carved pillars and archways that looked like they belonged in a palace. But there was something unsettling about it too. The energy patterns in the walls were stronger here, and sometimes he thought that he could hear whispers in languages he didn't understand.

The young Petrakahrn in their group seemed excited to be getting closer to their people's territories. They talked crackled and ground their stones among themselves in their own language, their crystal parts glowing brighter as they went deeper.

But then Skitter stopped suddenly, her big eyes wide with fear.

"Something wrong," she whispered. "Smell changed-mind humans. Recent passage."

He extended his enhanced perception as far as it would go, and his blood turned cold. There were people moving through the tunnels ahead of them. People who felt wrong, like the Praxis agents they'd been running from.

"How is that possible?" Marta asked. "How could they have gotten this deep?"

"Infiltrators," Kael said grimly. "The Big Jim warned us. Some of the changed-mind humans have been hiding among the underground peoples."

They were trapped. Behind them, the tunnels led back to areas where Praxis agents were searching. Ahead of them, more enemies waited in the deep passages.

But as he stood there trying not to panic, he felt something new from his core shards. The puzzle pieces weren't just organizing information anymore. They were connecting to something bigger, something that felt ancient and powerful.

The Old Ways were waking up around them, and somehow, Kaelid felt like he was being watched by the walls themselves.

In his pack, Curio pulsed with what felt like anticipation. Whatever was coming, they would face it together.