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"You will
always remain a legend among our people. For your bravery you will be
rewarded. It is my honor to promote you to Master of the Cavern, and
C'Mander of the Second Spike," he continued. With that he stopped and
waited for the sudden cheers to die down.
"But we still have much to do," C'Mander Derviskopal
shouted to the entire defending force, "We are still under seige, but
we have eliminated third of the drow force. By the will of Gargin, we
will prevail."
Though the words were profound, they did not elicit the
same cheers he had before. The gnomes looked to each other and wondered
at their victory. They had been delivered from the hands of their enemy
by what seemed to be a random act of a wild beast. How could they hope
to duplicate that?
To have come this far was a great accomplishment, Zigny
realized, but there had been no luck involved in the purple worms'
arrival. Created luck was much easier to duplicate. He turned to the
C'Mander and asked for his orders. C'Mander Derviskopal was commander
of the defenders of the Cavern, he had no idea what was happening on
the other fronts. His runners had yet to return from spreading the news
of their victory. He told Master Zigny to secure the chamber and round
up any captives.
Zigny motioned to Reke, who had waited in the shadows for
the Master to finish collecting their orders. Reke stepped close and
leaned in to hear the orders.
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"We secure the
Cavern. Take your men and cover the north passages. Look for weak
points in the debris that may be cleared, but move nothing. I'll take
the southern tunnels. There are drow in there, so watch yourself,"
Zigny ordered, then collected his men and moved out to cover the
southern wall.
At the tunnel opening Reke paused. He heard ringing and
shouting. It must be drow signalling their presence to anyone
listening, he thought. He waited, listening while his Ranks checked the
rubble for a passage. They found none, so he moved them along. Across
the chamber he could see Zigny working his way down the southern wall.
The Master paused often listening, but apparently heard nothing.
Reke and his men stopped at a smaller cave-in to determine
it's depth. They went still to listen for any sign of life. When a
large crash came from behind them, they whirled instantly, coming fully
alert.
Reke spun in time to see the rubble blocking the largest
tunnel come crashing down and roll out into the chamber. He pulled his
weapons and waited to see what caused the crash. When the pincers of an
invert were the first sight to come from the opened tunnel, he prepared
himself to charge, signalling his men to be ready.
When the drow driving the inverts came into view they all
tensed for the command, but it never came. Reke stood unbelieving as
the drow and the invert came to a halt just outside the tunnel.
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