The Invasion Of The Sombers. Jordi Villalobos

the human one, being the only lady in the group, was the one who had it bad when it came to establishing friendly ties, although she immediately established a good friendship with Masarif, and with the rest, being a woman with a strong and at the same time carefree character, she answered with audacity and sympathy to "masculine" jokes, achieving a good relationship of camaraderie. Anyway, although it was difficult for us to recognize it, from the first moment Marlen and I crossed furtive glances that, partly because of shyness and partly because of cowardice, neither of us did anything to make them go further.

      At last we arrived at the Mazorik’s refuge, composed mainly of intercommunicated caves and well adapted for group coexistence. Each had a small alcove equipped with a bed, a table, a chair and all the necessary tools for writing, as well as for small manual work. There was also a fireplace for use as a kitchen and a large table for eating together. One of the larger rooms was used as a classroom for classes and study and had shelves full of books and parchments, maps, alchemical laboratory materials, desks and smooth walls that could be used as slate, writing with charcoal, which only Mazorik was able to clean with a simple snap of the fingers.

      A few days later a giant arrived that Mazorik presented us as Garrak, an expert warrior. He told us that the seven stones could only be obtained in the heart of seven magical mountains, far away and in very dangerous places, to which only a giant like Garrak could have access.

      We all took his explanation for good and accepted Garrak as another one of ours, although his clumsiness in general and his lack of understanding in intellectual matters made him not get along too much with anyone except Burak, a giant like him.

      Garrak disappeared from time to time some days, reappearing with numerous wounds that we healed among all with the teachings of the master, but satisfied, because Mazorik taught us every stone that Garrak provided him and this filled with joy to the enormous warrior.

      This is how the months went by during which Mazorik became a great master, teaching us all with patience and pretending kindness when needed and an unbreakable rigidity when necessary to bring out the best in each one of us.

      Even today, remembering that time, I do not understand how he could deceive us so well, showing us a false face of infinite goodness when, in reality, he was so evil.

      And between Mazorik's classes and Garrak's comings and goings, time passed until only one of the stones was missing. So, I will continue my story on the night that the giant Garrak got the last stone that closed the circle of the seven jewels of magical light that Mazorik needed for his abhorrent plans.

      Beneath the Celestial River

      Frienia, year 1815 of the second era.

      Guided by the White Magician, after two days the princes and their troops arrived at an extensive and fast-flowing river which separated them from the huge mountain that was already about four days away.

      “How may we cross this river? The other bank is very far away and the flow is very strong,” Syriel addressed White Magician.

      “This is the Celestial River, the widest one of these lands. It won't be long before nightfall, we'll rest here, and tomorrow we'll look for a safe passage. Don't worry, we'll find someone," replied the magician.

      While the others were preparing the camp, the princess and Baldrich continued the hard training to which the White Magician had subjected them since they left their den.

      Hours later, the group was ready to dine the appetizing fish which they had fished abundantly in the wild river, and which had been roasted and piled up waiting to be shared, but suddenly they all disappeared swallowed by the ground.

      As they approached cautiously, they saw a tunnel gradually entering the earth's interior.

      “Mole-men!” Garin said.

      “Yes, they populate these lands and they're getting more and more extensive. With an extraordinary sense of smell and an insatiable appetite, they will have come to the smell of our supper," corroborated the White Magician.

      “Are they dangerous?” Syriel wanted to know.

      “They wouldn't be in an open-field-battle, because they are almost blind and very clumsy on the surface. But, well-coordinated, they could sink the ground that supports an entire army in a single instant and leave them trapped in a dead-end," said the magician.

      “Then, as a precaution, we should move to those rocks," proposed the prince.

      “It would be prudent, yes," accepted the magician. “Although I don't think they’d attack us, they're not violent if they're not disturbed. They are very frightened and slippery, but I will try to ask for their help," said the elf.

      “Help?” Syriel was surprised.

      “They could solve our problem of crossing the river," said the pearled sorcerer.

      “A tunnel under the river! Magnificent!” exclaimed the prince enthusiastically. “I will accompany you," proposed Syriel.

      “It is better that I go alone, I can guide myself well in the darkness. Carrying torches or any source of light would be taken as a sign of hostility for them. If someone were walking with me, I would only delay and frighten the mole men," concluded the elf magician.

      A few moments later, the White Magician was lost in the darkness of the tunnel.

      Elenir perceived as a large group of small minds lurking crouched where they were about to pass: a narrow passage between two elevations of steep rocks.

      The princess made an energetic gesture of stop and all the retinue stopped at once, vigilant before an imminent danger.

      The mental exploration of the powerful sorceress detected the restlessness of the creatures when they were uncovered, although she was unable to discern the type of enemy that was trying to ambush them, but she did know that they were not of great size and felt safe to defeat the victim who had discovered them, which worried Elenir even more.

      After weighing several options, the princess threw two powerful rays of fire upward on each side of the road, causing two landslides and rocks that dragged most of the surprised vermin, killing and bad tempering much of them.

      The dark ones saw that they were horrendous and small beast of the approximate size of an arm, with very powerful jaws of very sharp teeth which would have got them into trouble if they had it not been detected them before.

      After finishing off the wounded creatures and making sure there was no more stalking, they proceeded on their way with as much caution as possible.

      At dawn, the White Magician returned to the surface, and when he stood before the princes, he informed everyone.

      “They will help us, but first we have to help them. In one of their galleries a beast has slipped in that terrifies them and does not allow them to pass. If we get rid of that beast, they will dig the tunnel under the river for us," said the snowy wizard.

      “Do you know what kind of creature it is?” asked Syriel.

      “Well, some people said that he was throwing heat. I've thought of a dragon, although it wouldn't fit in these galleries; maybe it's a baby or maybe some other kind of creature we don't know. In any case, I don't think it's very dangerous, because if it were, there wouldn't be any mole-man alive down there," replied the wise magician.

      A few minutes later, a retinue formed by the princes, the White Magician, Baldrich, Bellamir, Garin, five human soldiers and five orcs entered the galleries.

      “Who is going to lead us to the beast?” the prince asked.

      “They have shown me where it is," replied the magician. “I think I will know how to take you there without losing us.”

      The white-skinned sorcerer brought out of his hands some luminous spheres that floated over the heads of the group and provided enough light for all of them.

      After advancing