“I recognize the odd soles of the man’s shoes. It is Rancor Ruse we are tracking. I’m sure of it.”
Rancor was one of the biggest thieves in Taelgonoth. And also Stone’s biggest enemy.
“Rancor. It figures,” said Aithrod. “Well, at least they’re on foot so it will slow them down and enable us to catch them faster.”
This wouldn’t be the first time they hunted down this crook. Stone had managed twice before to bring Rancor back to the king. But somehow the man always seemed to escape before he could be imprisoned.
Stone glanced upward next, scoping out the horizon. “They are probably hiding with the gemstones in one of these caves.” He inspected the footprints more closely. He opened his pouch and dropped the gem into it, and then replaced his glove.
“Well, there are plenty of caves in Taelgonoth. Which one should we search first?” asked Aithrod.
Stone surveyed the footprints that led to the closest cave.
“Rancor is a weasel and a thief. He has stolen money from everyone through the years. However, this time he’s gone for royal jewels.” Stone secured the reins of his horse loosely to a tree. Then he started in the direction of the footprints. “He can’t really be planning on staying in Taelgonoth. He must plan to leave here. But, oddly, he’s not heading for the water and a boat.”
“How can you be sure he wants to leave?” asked Aithrod.
“He’d never be able to sell the jewels. Not when everyone knows they belong to the king. Plus, he knows I’ll find him sooner or later. Nay, he’s leaving. I’m sure of it.”
“But where would he go?” Aithrod was right behind him.
“Come, Fang,” Stone called his huge white hound. The animal looked more like a wolf than a dog. Fang came running over to him, skidding to a halt at Stone’s side.
“A mysterious hooded man has been seen lurking around town the past few days,” reported Aithrod. “The townsfolk fear for their children and their belongings. He goes from house to house, taking what he wants. What he needs. His face is always covered. He’s also said to have an accomplice.”
“Yes,” agreed Stone. “The second set of footprints. Have you heard if Rancor has killed or hurt anyone?”
“Not that I know of,” answered Stone’s friend.
“What are the reports of what he’s stolen from the commoners?”
“Mostly food and clothes.” Aithrod shrugged. “I wonder why he hasn’t stolen horses.”
“Because he knows he won’t be able to use them or take them wherever he is planning to go.”
“You might be right. He’s planning on leaving Taelgonoth with the king’s riches and selling them perhaps across the sea. Still, he could have used horses to get there. This makes no sense at all. If he is trying to escape Taelgonoth, then why head for the caves?”
“Rancor is up to something. Something different than what he usually does,” said Stone. “We need to find him and his counterpart and bring them to justice as quickly as possible. With each day that passes and the king’s gems missing, the people are going to start losing faith in their sovereign. King Helix will lose all respect. Or what little is left of it. Attackers might even try taking over the castle if word gets out that his security is weak and lacking.”
They approached the cave and Stone led the way inside. Fang pitter-pattered past him, sniffing around in the night. It was dark and damp as caves usually are. It was also strange that the footprints just suddenly stopped right inside the entrance. And where they stopped was a dry and scorched area on the cave floor.
“This is odd.” Stone hunkered down to inspect the scorch marks while Fang sniffed around scratching at the cave floor. When Stone leaned in closer, he felt a blast of heat hit his face. The air in front of him quickly changed from cool to dangerously hot. He jumped up in surprise.
“Something’s happening,” Aithrod called out. “I don’t understand what it is but I am starting to see something appear.” Aithrod rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
Stone saw it, too, and stumbled backwards. Colors of blue, pink and orange appeared inside the cave, creating a circular motion that kept expanding. The light formed an egglike shape that grew taller and wider until it was large enough to encompass a person. It was accompanied by a strange sound like metal scraping against metal. An acrid stench of something burning filled the air. It caused a shiver to run up his spine. Stone had never experienced anything like this before. He had no idea what it could possibly be. As the sound grew louder, he and Aithrod had no choice but to cover their ears.
“I could be wrong, but I think it’s a portal opening up,” Stone shouted, not able to believe his eyes. Fang stood next to him, barking furiously at the unseen foe.
“A what?” asked Aithrod, cringing from the sound, his hands still over his ears.
“Be on your guard. I’m not sure what might come through.” With his crossbow over his shoulder, Stone grabbed his fighting staff from his friend. Aithrod yanked a dagger from his waist belt, holding it out in front of him for protection. Fang’s head lowered. With a deep growl, the dog showed its teeth.
“I don’t see anyone coming through,” yelled Aithrod.
Stone squinted his eyes, thinking he saw rocks or a cave on the other side. For a mere second he even thought that he saw movement, but he couldn’t be sure. “Neither do I,” Stone answered. “But I think I know where our thief has disappeared to. Follow me.”
“Wait! What are you doing, Stone? You’re not really going to step through that thing, are you?” Aithrod shook his head. “You’re crazy. We have no idea what might happen or even to where it leads.”
“Stay if you’d like, but I’m going through. Come on, Fang,” he commanded his hound. Stone first reached out with his staff, seeing the end of it disappear into the swirling portal. Then he carefully stepped forward, and walked through the opening with his dog following on his heels.
Immediately, a swishing noise filled Stone’s ears. He was sucked forward through the portal, being thrown from side to side. It was as if a huge breeze toyed with him like a leaf in the wind. His knees buckled and he felt his body being tossed around like a doll. He hit the ground hard. Rolling and dropping his staff, it clunked against the stone floor before it rolled just out of his reach. Fang landed next to him yelping, his feet still running in midair.
“Aaaaaah,” he heard Aithrod scream from behind him, still inside the portal. Stone quickly rolled out of the way just as his good friend hit the ground next to him. Fang reached down and licked Aithrod’s face.
“Thanks,” grumbled Aithrod. “But that doesn’t help much, Fang. It was a hard landing.” Aithrod gently pushed the dog away and rubbed his shoulder.
Then, there was that sucking sound again. Just as fast as the portal opened, it snapped shut and disappeared from sight.
“Damn! It’s gone,” gasped Aithrod. “And now, we’re stuck here. Wherever here is.” He looked around the dark cave.
“It’ll open again. Somehow. I hope.” Stone got to his knees.
“Where are we?” Aithrod lie on his back, staring up at Stone.
“I’m not quite sure.” Stone took a moment to look around, brushing off his clothes at the same time. Spying his staff on the floor of this cave-like structure, he walked over and bent down to pick it up. But when he did, a sharp pricking feeling stabbed him on the backside. He grabbed the staff, whirling around, thinking it was the dog.
“Stop that, Fang!” Instead of his hound, he saw a group of small, strange beings no taller than his knees. They peered up at him, seeming leery of Stone’s arrival. These cave-dwellers were human-like, but much, much smaller. The lot of them seemed to be a mixture of both men and women. They all wore tall, colorful pointed hats. “What the hell,” he grumbled, getting another poke on the backside, and spinning around to discover that they were surrounded on all sides by these little people. The men all had long white beards. The women wore long gowns and were round and busty. Fang sniffed the air, half wagging his tail, not sure if they were friendly and wanted to play or if they were a threat. Then the dog stopped and hunkered down and let out a slight growl.
