Tunnel Rat

Chapter 482: The Journey Begins

Milo thought he knew what was coming: Slavery, forced to mine the ores Bloth needed, and some of the tribe being sent to the warring Elves to build the Castle that predated the island being called Fort Hopeless, but there was more beyond that, and the information helped him understand just how evil Thirteen and the city of Blothmazdan were. He needed to comb through the tower from top to bottom, but for now, the important thing was listening to Dinderfinkums, and finding out what was driving him to such desperation.Milo shifted his shoulder, and while painful, it was working. His host quit talking as he shifted on his rocky bed. Slowly he sat up and stretched, then walked to the stone table where a tantalizing wheel of cheese was waiting for him. Carving a generous slice, he sat upon the stone chair that appeared behind him. "I would love to see this cave, and others, if you would allow, it may help me solve your problem."

"But...I have not yet told you the problem."

"You haven't but it will involve your tribe, and the more I know, the better I can help. My kind are curious...I need to know things. Please continue the tale of your tribe and then we'll talk about your problem."

Dinderfinkums began to talk, but Milo could tell that he was becoming agitated.

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"Find who? Someone from your tribe?"

The old rockshaper raised an arm and pointed. "He is there, far away, in the city of Blothmazdan. I can feel him as he comes into his power. He is angry in a way that is foreign to my tribe, and very powerful. He needs training that only I can give him, and then he must pass this on to those who come after."

Milo blinked twice. "Just to be clear, you want me to go to an evil city of Ur-Khemysts that I know nothing about, except that they consider me a slave. Infiltrate it and search for someone from your tribe. Free them, escape, and bring them back here before you die."

Dinderfinkums nodded, "I would be in your debt. While you travel, I will aid your companions in their quest to harvest the nests of the Gneiss-Lurkers and secure what is left of the magical ores found in that cavern. I am more powerful than any of my kind have ever been, and I offer that power in exchange for your help in finding the lost one."

"And babysitting."

"Ah, yes, the mines are not far, but I would request that Tweedle and Ringtail care for my tribe while I assist your tribe."

Milo smiled, "Good. That will keep them from following me."

Dinderfinkum's eyes grew wide, "You will do it?"

Milo stretched fully, bones popping into place, and feeling much better. Part of it might have been the powerful cheese, but the idea of visiting Blothmazdan to free a slave appealed greatly to him. So did learning more about the place, and what kind of threat it might pose. And maybe causing a little trouble while he was there. Or a lot of trouble.

"Well, I will need a few days to prepare and plan. Luckily I have several of the finest minds in two worlds to assist me. Show me the way out of this place, please. I have a very dead Ur-Khemyst upstairs and I need to know all of his secrets."