Contents
Chapter 17
Overview
Skeer deliver seven caged cratalacs that pass the ward, forcing a desperate fight. Clovis is badly wounded, and Arpix fells one creature with mercury before everyone retreats into narrowing tunnels.
Separated in the dark, Evar and Arpix search for Salamonda; several cratalacs are mysteriously slain by a cat named Wentworth, hinting at Yute’s unseen aid.
Summary
Evar, uneasy among the humans and tending an injured Kerrol, hears heavy movement below the plateau. Investigating, he finds skeer pushing whitish, woven spheres uphill. A runner tests the invisible ward and fails, but the skeer line up seven spheres at the barrier.
As the first sphere breaks, a cratalac emerges, soon followed by others. Despite Arpix urging retreat, Clovis charges and inflicts severe damage but is seized and grievously wounded. Evar retrieves her and falls back. Arpix hurls a rock laced with quicksilver residue from cinnabar; the struck cratalac collapses, its armor sloughing off. More creatures free themselves, and Evar buys time while Arpix helps Clovis to the tunnels.
The group retreats through narrowing passages as cratalacs force their way in, causing panic and separations. In darkness they realize Salamonda is missing. Arpix explains his “mercury as catalyst” trick and its toxic effect on the creatures. Though warned, Evar resolves to search; Arpix insists on guiding him through the maze.
Following distant digging and then a sudden frenzy of cratalac screams, Evar and Arpix reach a partially collapsed side passage strewn with butchered cratalacs. Salamonda, dusty but alive, emerges and credits a small cat—Wentworth—with killing the monsters, suggesting Yute sent the animal to protect her.
Who Appears
- EvarWatcher and protector; discovers skeer plan, rescues wounded Clovis, leads tunnel retreat, and braves the dark to find Salamonda.
- ClovisWarrior who charges the first cratalac; badly wounded in a brutal clash and is evacuated to the tunnels.
- ArpixScholar-leader; identifies cratalacs, uses mercury from cinnabar to fell one, guides Evar through tunnels to rescue Salamonda.
- SalamondaKind older human separated during the retreat; later found alive, saved by a mysterious cat.
- KerrolInjured companion; anxiously tracks events and argues against Evar’s risky search.
- WentworthMysterious cat that slaughters multiple cratalacs underground; believed to be sent by Yute.
- SkeerEnemy force that delivers seven caged cratalacs to breach the warded plateau’s defense.
- CratalacsNight-hunting monsters released by skeer; breach the ward, maul Clovis, pursue survivors into tunnels.