The Bowl of Souls: Book 01.5 - Hilt's Pride by Trevor H. Cooley Read Free Book Online Page B

again on his way out.
     
    At the back of the cave was a narrow opening and Hilt could see that this was the source of the slime that filled the cave. The flammable substance poured into the cave from this passage in a steady stream. Hilt edged up to the opening and peered inside. There was a faint glow coming from a chamber further down the passage along with a hot and humid stench. He hunched over and walked through the passageway, swords at the ready. The slime flow made for treacherous footing and he had to step carefully to keep from slipping.
     
    The chamber beyond was enormous, easily three times the size of the cave entrance. Phosphorescent fungus lined the walls and ceiling, lending the area an eerie green light. The horrid smell and humidity were intense. In the center of the chamber, a wide pool bubbled and Hilt could see that underneath the slime was a boiling hot spring.
     
    Passageways of multiple sizes and shapes opened up here and there all along the chamber walls. Hilt saw the tiny reflections of a rat’s eyes in the edge of one of these passageways. It was eating some of the glowing fungus and after watching it for a few moments Hilt understood how the behemoth survived in this place. The heat and moisture created the perfect environment to grow the fungus. The fungus was a food source for other vermin, and the behemoth ate the vermin.
     
    Hilt’s eyes widened as he looked to the rear of the chamber. In the darkest corner was a large pile of troll bodies. Hilt had seen nothing like it before. They lay motionless as if paralyzed. It looked as if someone had discarded hundreds of troll corpses in the corner, stacking them haphazardly. He stepped out of the passageway and moved closer to get a better look. Then the entire rear of the chamber shifted and Hilt realized that he had been mistaken. That was the behemoth.
     
    It was a pulsating mass of glistening flesh. All along the surface of the behemoth, pieces of trolls were sticking out. No, that wasn’t quite true. They were growing out of it. Heads, legs, arms, torsos, all protruding from it at different angles. Now he understood where the troll torso in the cave entrance had come from. It had been protruding from the behemoth and was scraped off on the cavern wall. The beast was so large it had to happen from time to time, and it explained why there were so many trolls in the area. If a piece of the behemoth broke free, it would eventually grow into a regular troll.
     
    There was a shudder under his feet and the pool in the center of the room began to boil madly. Every head on the behemoth’s body opened up into a wailing screech. A rush of air knocked Hilt off balance and he nearly slipped and fell. That was the sound they had heard earlier, the behemoth’s roar. Luckily it hadn’t been focused at him or it may have burst his eardrums.
     
    Hilt realized he was looking at the behemoth’s back. Its limbs and head had been shoved down passageways into other chambers, most likely in search of food. His fingers twitched with excitement and he felt the magic stirring within his swords. This was a good time to strike. Now, while its back was turned.
     
    A voice echoed from the darkness behind him. “Hilt! You come out of there!”
     
    Hilt winced. It was Beth. Why hadn’t she obeyed his instructions?
     
    The glistening bulk responded to the sound. It shivered and moved, sliding further into the chamber. Hilt could hear bones within the behemoth cracking as it withdrew its extremities from the rear chambers. The torsos on its back began to stir. Beady eyes blinked. Clawed hands quivered. Heads swiveled, searching for the source of the voice.
     
    “Hilt?” she shouted again. Her voice carried through the passageway remarkably well. Hilt could faintly hear Yntri clicking, warning her not to enter the cave. “You had better be alive in there!”
     
    Hilt swore under his breath. He had no choice. He had to leave.
     
    He bit his lip and twirled