Deke Brolin Rhol by Doug Backus Read Free Book Online Page A

from safety. It was time to save as many of his people as he could, and with that in mind he spoke.
    “Anyone without a sword in hand, turn now and get to the depot! We will hold the Ralcriff off. Close the gate and collapse the tunnel if a Ralcriff comes within striking distance.”
    Lealian s never backed away from a fight, but they did not question Jayden’s authority. Knowing he had the Lealians’ best interest at heart they reluctantly obeyed. 
    Fifteen warriors fought the never ending onslaught of Ralcriff as they backed their way to the depot. By the time the Depot was in sight only three of them remained alive, Jayden, Oisin and Aiden, who was one of the most respected of the elder warriors in Leal.
    Jayden looked at them admiringly. Both were covered in blood and gore. Aiden had use of only one arm and Oisin had several Ralcriff quills stuck into his side, no doubt from when he had tackled one to save Jayden.
    Jayden himself had suffered the wrath of the Ralcriff quills and could feel them protruding from his neck.  Jayden looked ahead to see more Ralcriff running toward them. With a heavy heart and a nod to both of them, he gave a final order.
    “Collapse the tunnel!”

Chapter Eight
     
     
     
    Deo led Deke deeper into the cavern; he gave off a glow which provided just enough light to see in the depths of the tunnel. Although Deke was still unsure of his surroundings and who Deo was, he followed him obediently. Deo was a welcome friend considering what he had gone through in the last few hours. 
    At Deo’s insiste nce they walked in silence. The cavern walls were laced in minerals of some sort that sparkled as they passed. After a prolonged period of walking in silence Deke’s imagination began to take over. The minerals became thousands of eyes glaring at him as he passed by. What were once stationary towering cones of molten rock hanging from the ceiling now appeared to come alive, jumping out in front of him.
    It made Deke nervous and he madly patted his pockets for any sign of the spearhead he had pulled from his cheek. For some reason it gave him some comfort. When he felt a lump in his pocket he sighed in relief. Although he didn’t know exactly why the arrowhead was so important, he felt some sort of energy when he held it. Unfortunately, as he gazed at the object, it also reminded him of the gash in his cheek, which in turn reminded him of the searing pain emitting from it. Deke placed the arrowhead safely back in his pocket hoping this would relieve the pain. It didn’t.
    After several tense hours of walking through the winding corridors they came to a dead end.  Deo faced the wall and began to chant in a low sort of grumble “Solert a piony du sa trquil.” 
    T he wall in front of them became slightly transparent. Deo walked toward it motioning Deke to follow him. It was a strange sensation as he placed his hand into the wall. It felt like he was dipping it into a cool stream, sending a shivering sensation up his arm. When he sidled slowly through his body became relaxed and revived, so much so he felt almost like he was floating. In mere seconds he was on the other side staring in disbelief at what surrounded him.
    He was standing on the edge of a meadow of bright green grass that swayed slowly back and forth as if dancing for him in the wind. A lone tree, which Deke could not identify, stood in the middle of the meadow. The tree’s trunk was at least fifty feet wide and it stood hundreds of feet high. Its long branches reached out over the entire rock ceiling and draped down over its walls almost touching the ground again. The leaves were a brilliant red. He could see an abundance of black fruit, about the same size as apples slightly hidden behind almost every leaf. 
    A stream of water flowed steadily from a hole in the wall of the cavern and fell several feet into a flowing stream that cut its way through the grass and disappeared under the trunk of the tree.  
    On the far side of