Sineater

I wasn’t sure what to do with that information.

I knelt down next to the seam and ran my hand over it and felt with my powers. I could feel what was almost like a pulse, but it was so faint, like it was really far away. From what I could tell just by feeling it, there were layers of magic and stone wrapped around a small lifeforce that was at the center of the very large box. I wasn’t sure what was being protected by such an elaborate container, but considering the complexity as well as the cult’s interest in it, whatever it was had to be very important.

I looked up and realized that everyone was waiting for me to explain my epiphany. While I wanted to share what little I’d learned with Vin and Starna, I wasn’t sure how trustworthy the Dwarf was. Vin had at least planted the possibility that Gaelun had been working against us somehow in my head and I really didn’t want to share anything with the Dwarves until I knew exactly where we stood with them.

“Have you tried digging it up?” I brushed myself as I stood up, but there was barely any dust on me.

“Walls start falling in on themselves faster than we can reinforce them.” Tharkun shook his head. “Never seen anything like it. Almost like there is a Vita Elemental inside that thing.”

Honestly, that wouldn’t surprise me. It would explain why there was nothing for Vin to cancel out, why he wasn’t able to even scratch it, and why the Dwarves weren’t able to dig it up. What it didn’t explain was why magical scans wouldn’t work on it. Unless it wasn’t just a Vita rank Elemental inside. There could be a mage too.

My mind instantly thought of a prison, but there was no reason that something that powerful would stay locked up involuntarily. Instead of a prison, it would make more sense if it was more like a safe room. Maybe something that was made to hide some of the Exindo from whatever had come for them during the Great War. With that much power, whatever was inside could live for hundreds, if not over a thousand years, which made it plausible that whatever was in there wouldn’t have died of old age. That didn’t explain how it hadn’t run out of air or food, unless it was a sentient, magical Elemental.

That thought began to frighten me. I wasn’t sure why it was hiding, but if my line of reasoning was correct, then if the cult was able to control what was below my feet, there would be nothing in the world that would be able to stop them.

“I need to talk to Alessa.” I looked at Starna, then realized that Tharkun was still waiting for an answer. “I have an idea about how to get it open, but it’s…” I tried to think of an excuse on the fly. “Secret Sineater stuff.”

One of Tharkun’s bushy eyebrows raised. I could tell by his pose that he wasn’t buying it.

“You won’t be able to contact her from inside the mountain.” Tharkun was nice enough not to point out my partial lie. “You’ll have to go back to the forge.” He looked at Vin. “But the Cam can’t go topside…” He paused while looking for the most diplomatic way to phrase that they didn’t want a Camadt in their city. “He’ll cause too much of a ruckus.”

That was completely understandable and I started to wonder just how prejudiced against my brother he was and how much of his response was from concern over what would unfold if a Camadt walked into their city. I knew that one of the ways that many of the city-states kept their hold on their respective territories was by amping up hype over how a rival was dangerous to their safety and way of life. Usually it involved over inflating the reputation of that faction, then making sure to point out any individuals who could support their claim that the entire city was like that. Sadly, the Camadt were easy targets since most of the universe blamed them for sowing chaos during their bid to control the universe. I wasn’t sure how many of the people on the planet had even been alive during the Camadt War, but it could only be a handful. Most Elder rank beings only lived to be a thousand years old and since those tended to vanish quickly, it would only be the very rare cases that would be from back then.

Granted, with their arrogance and air of superiority, the Camadt hadn’t done much to help their case here, but they had joined in the Great War against the demon army, even if it had only been for a little bit. In my opinion that should have counted for something, but people needed something to hate and the Camadt were a target that most of the races could poke at.

“Can you reach her from here?” I looked at Starna, hoping that she’d affirm that we wouldn’t have to leave my brother behind.

“I might be able to reach the tower of Ammabus, since they have stronger Mages there, but to reach Alessa…” The tanned Elf looked at Vin. “He’s causing too much interference to connect with one of the mages there.”

Tharkun looked pleased with her admission as I turned to my brother. “Are you going to be okay down here by yourself?”

“That ranger group is probably still cutting up the Wurm…” Vin grinned. “Mina probably wouldn’t mind some help. Maybe we can even find something else to fight.”

“Can you make it back to them on your own?” I started doing math in my head when he nodded. “You can meet us where we left our mounts in two days.” If the meeting was going to take longer than that, I’d at least have an idea of how long it would take by then and could plan our next meeting.

“Three.” Vin grinned. “It might take that long to find something interesting.”

I nodded and looked at Tharkun. “Is that acceptable?”

The old Dwarf thought for a moment. “Hmm. I suppose if he’s with rangers, then he’ll be far enough away from the miners.” He sighed. “I’ll send someone to inform the guards to be expecting him.”

“Thank you.” I headed towards the doorway. “We should get moving.” I yawned. It was late and I still had a long conversation with my cousin waiting for me.