From: andrea@cm.deakin.OZ.AU (Andrea Todkill)
Newsgroups: alt.pub.dragons-inn
Subject: Kadrys' Tale   (Part 4 of 6)
Message-ID: <3383@sol.deakin.OZ.AU>
Date: 21 Jun 92 00:26:22 GMT

"I will not weary you with the tale of our adventures in the tortuous labyrinth
Xuthl calls his Earthly Abyss. Suffice to say that I always acted as advance
scout, since I was even then quite noiseless in my movements, and my thief's
training allowed easier detection of traps. However, any agility or skill is
worthless when the very earth around you is wrenched apart in an earthquake. To
this day I wonder whether that was accident or some supreme effort of Xuthl's
magery. Whatever the cause, the effect was disastrous. The floor opened beneath
me and I rolled down a steep slope of crushed rock, stones battering my head
and body until I came to rest with a crash and lost consciousness. When I
awoke, I was lying almost entirely buried in a loose scree of stones. The
pressure on my ribs was excruciating. I dug myself out, and lit a torch from my
pack to find myself in a chamber I had never seen before, evidently far below
the one I had left. I called at the top of my voice, but heard nothing. Far
above, the ceiling of the cavern was obscured by the top of the slope. I tried
to climb up there to see if I could dig my way through, but the stones were far
too loose and climbing was impossible. I limped away to explore the cavern,
finding no exit. For hours I sat at the foot of the slope, planning ways to
scale it, and trying, and falling back defeated. Finally I sat, searching my
mind for an answer, trying to stave off the approach of despair. I was down to
my last torch when I saw a flicker of movement from the far end of the great
cavern, beyond the range of my light. 'They've found me!' I thought. I saw a
white form, a human form, approach me from the darkness. For the merest
instant, I took her white draperies for Imariye's robe. Then I realised she was
alone, and carried no light. I saw that her long wavy hair was not brown but as
red as flame. And I saw that what I had taken for a priestess' robe was a white
burial garment. I dropped the torch and put a crossbow bolt through her heart.
The bolt passed right through without leaving a trace and I cursed the day I
bought steel instead of wooden bolts. I opened my mouth to pray as best I
could, though I was no priest and the terror of death was pounding in my heart,
but before I could speak she grabbed me by the chin and forced me to look into
her eyes. And with that I was lost.

"I stood frozen, a frantic mind locked helpless in enthralled flesh. She smiled
at me, savouring my fear, stroking my face. "It has been a very long time... 
I expected a meal, but I may just have found a companion. Why do you tremble?
You will live forever..." She removed her hand and I could speak "Let me go, I
_beg_ you!" I gasped. "Why?..." she began. Then I felt the cold touch of her 
mind searching through my memories. I felt her recognise my yearning to be back
with Imariye'. She bared her fangs and laughed in my face. "Forget that
simpering bitch! For she will forget you. Did you think her holiness would ever
marry you, gutter thief?" Laughing demoniacally, she drew me into her embrace."