In the tunnel, an eerie chill seeped into my bones with every step and though it could not have been possible, it seemed as though the pitch black darkness grew darker still. I shivered.

“This isn’t right,” Handeln was moaning, “I’ve been down many a tunnel - but never one like this.”

I felt a dull ache - starting in my toes and travelling up my legs - spreading into my knees. The ache grew quickly until it had spread through my entire body so that my every step was a labour.

“Be quiet Dwarf.” Manquer hissed.

A fire had been lit inside me – quite in spite of the chill that surrounded us in the tunnel. My feet burnt with every step. My throat burnt - desperate for liquid. The cold air burnt my throat with every breath I took. Invisible flames burnt through the darkness to tear at my flesh with every step I took.

“Listen Manquer,” Handeln snapped back, “I’ve had it -”

A huge weight was weighing down on me. Pushing me down into the floor of the tunnel. Grinding me into the floor. I couldn’t take another step. Instead, I shuffled forward not even lifting my feet. I tripped over a small rock on the floor of the tunnel and crashed into the back of Handeln’s legs, sending him tumbling into Manquer.

“I warned you,” Manquer whispered, drawing her knife from her belt in a flash and holding it out – point very definitely aimed at Handeln.

“Stop it both of you,” my mother cried. “For goodness sake, can’t you feel it. It’s the tunnel. It’s Nirvaasan. The elf warned us to expect this.” She pulled me up and held me close. “We have come this far,” my mother carried on. “We can’t let this place stop us now; we are stronger than a little dark magic.”

Irritably, Manquer grunted, stashed her knife back in her belt and untangled herself from Handeln. Breathing heavily, Handeln stared murderously at Manquer - but said nothing. Mother still held me and as she did the heat of the tunnel cooled a little. She kept hold of me and the load pushing down on me lessened. She placed her lips on my forehead and the aches subsided.

“You’re safe darling,” she whispered in my ear and I knew that for as long as she was next to me – I was.

I took a step after Handeln. It was easier than it had been before. I took another step and then another. It seemed to me that there was actually some light coming from far away. A small pinprick of light in the distance. Further we walked, and the pinprick turned into a fingernail. Still further we went until suddenly I could clearly make it out. There was a sheet of fabric covering this end’s entrance to the tunnel.

We had made it; We had reached Nirvaasan. I smiled to myself and felt delirious laughter begin to consume me. I opened my mouth to laugh only to find my mother had clamped her hand over my mouth. I turned to look at her and saw her hold a finger to her lips then point to her ears. Following her lead, I listened closely.

“They’re taking care of the traitor Hinweisgeber,” one voice was saying.

“What had she done?” another voice replied.

“I have not heard.”

“It must have been something severe for the council to have got involved.”

The other elf grunted its agreement.

“Do you think it has anything to do with Betrüger.”

“Most things do.”

From behind the fabric, the creak of a door opening could be heard followed by it clicking shut.

“Ahh Betrüger,” one of the elves greeted the figure – their voice suddenly nervous. “This will please you. The council have sent for Hinweisgeber.”

“They’ve taken Hinweisgeber, well that does indeed please me,” Betrüger spoke in a strange cold emotionless voice. Each word was said the same as another. “Do you know when she was taken.”

“They took her an hour or so ago.”

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