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.Twicebefore, the harsh blaring of the horns had brought death and destruction.What was the terribleportent of the dread music this time?"Whoever Wears the Crown, Rules."So loud and startling was the sound of the horns that Caramon nearly lost his footing on the wetstone.Reacting instinctively, Berem caught him.Both men stared around them in alarm as theblaring trumpet calls dinned loudly in the small chamber.Above them-up the stairs-they couldhear answering trumpet calls."The arch! It was trapped!" Caramon repeated."Well, that s done it.Every living thing in the Temple knows we're here, wherever here is! I hope to the gods you know what you're doing!""Jasla calls-" Berem repeated.His momentary alarm at the blaring trumpets dissipating, he continued forward, tugging Caramon along behind him.Holding the torch aloft, not knowing what else to do or where else to go, Caramon followed.Theywere in a cavern apparently cut through the rock by flowing water.The archway led to stonestairs and these stairs, Caramon saw, led straight down into a black, swiftly flowing stream.Heflashed the torch around, hoping that there might be a path along the edge of the stream.Butthere was nothing, at least within the perimeter of his torchlight."Wait-" he cried, but Berem had already plunged into the black water.Caramon caught his breath, expecting to see the man vanish in the swirling depths.But the dark water was not as deep as itlooked, it came only to Berem's calves."Come!" He beckoned Caramon.Caramon touched the wound in his side again.The bleeding seemed to have slowed, thebandage was moist but not soaked.The pain was still intense, however.His head ached, and hewas so exhausted from fear and running and loss of blood that he was light-headed.He thoughtbriefly of Tika and Tas, even more briefly of Tanis.No, he must put them out of his mind.The end is near, for good or for evil, Tika had said.Caramon was beginning to believe it himself.Stepping into the water, he felt the strong current sweeping him forward and he had the giddyfeeling that the current was time, sweeping him ahead to-what? His own doom? The end of theworld? Or hope for a new beginning?Berem eagerly sloshed ahead of him, but Caramon dragged him back again."We'll stick together," the big man said, his deep voice echoing in the cavern."There may be more traps, worse than that one."Berem hesitated long enough for Caramon to join him.Then they moved slowly, side by side,through the rushing water, testing each footstep, for the bottom was slick and treacherous withcrumbling stone and loose rock.Caramon was wading forward, breathing easier, when something struck his leather boot withsuch force it nearly knocked his feet out from under him.Staggering, he caught hold of Berem."What was that?" he growled, holding the flaring torch above the water.Seemingly attracted by the light, a head lifted out of the shining wet blackness.Caramon suckedin his breath in horror, and even Berem was momentarily taken aback."Dragons!" Caramon whispered."Hatchlings!" The small dragon opened its mouth in a shrill scream.Torchlight gleamed on rows of razor-sharp teeth.Then the head vanished and Caramonfelt the creature strike at his boot once more.Another one hit his other leg; he saw the water boil with flailing tails.His leather boots kept them from hurting him now, but, Caramon thought, if I fall, the creatureswill strip the flesh from my bones!He had faced death in many forms, but none more terrifying than this.For a moment he panicked.I'll turn back, he thought frantically.Berem can go on alone.After all, he can't die.Then the big warrior took hold of himself.No, he sighed.They know we're down here now.They'llsend someone or something to try and stop us.I've got to hold off whatever it is until Berem cando whatever he's supposed to do.That last thought made no sense at all, Caramon realized.It was so ludicrous it was almost funnyand, as if mocking his decision, the quiet was broken by the sound of clashing steel and harshshouts, coming from behind them.This is insane! he admitted wearily.I don't understand! I may die down here in the darkness andfor what? Maybe I'm down here with a crazy man! Maybe I'm going crazy!Now Berem became aware of the guards coming after them.This frightened him more thandragons, and he plunged ahead.Sighing, Caramon forced himself to ignore the slithering attacksat his feet and legs as he waded forward through the black, rushing water, trying to keep up withBerem.The man stared constantly ahead into the darkness, occasionally making moaning sounds andwringing his hands in anxiety.The stream led them around a curve where the water grew deeper.Caramon wondered what he would do if the water rose higher than his boots.The dragon youngwere still frantically chasing after them, the warm smell of human blood and flesh driving theminto a frenzy.The sounds of sword and spear rattling grew louder.Then something blacker than night flew at Caramon, striking him in the face.Flailing, tryingdesperately to keep from falling into that deadly water, he dropped his torch.The light vanishedwith a sizzle as Berem made a wild grab for him and caught him.The two held onto each otherfor a moment, staring-lost and confused-into the darkness.If he had been struck blind, Caramon could not have been more disoriented.Though he had notmoved, he had no idea what direction he faced, he couldn't remember a thing about hissurroundings.He had the feeling that if he took one more step, he would plunge into nothingnessand fall forever."There it is!" Berem said, catching his breath with a strangled sob."I see the broken column, the jewels gleaming on it! And she is there! She is waiting for me, she has waited all these years!Jasla!" he screamed, straining forward.Peering ahead into the darkness, Caramon held Berem back, though he could feel the man'sbody quivering with emotion.He could see nothing.or could he?Yes! A deep sense of thankfulness and relief flooded his pain-racked body.He could see jewelssparkling in the distance, shining in the blackness with a light it seemed even this heavy darknesscould not quench.It was just a short distance ahead of them, not more than a hundred feet.Relaxing his grip onBerem, Caramon thought, Perhaps this is a way out-for me, at least.Let Berem join this ghostlysister of his.All I want is a way out, a way to get back to Tika and Tas
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