Leaving the Jakara Woods behind, Gunnolf and Lylen could see the sloping grasslands leading toward a wide lake little more than a mile; maybe two ahead. The afternoon sun was past its pinnacle in the sky and a gentle breeze blew over them. The other side of the lake wasn’t visible from this distance but the village of Walthruhn is supposed to be northwest of their current location on the lake’s edge if their map was accurate. The waterfall containing the ruins where Lylen’s partner was last seen was more west than north as well.

  “I hope he’s alright,” Lylen said with worry occupying her tone.

  “Your partner is either alive or isn’t,” Gunnolf replied with indifference. “We will know soon enough.”

  Agitation bubbled within her, “Can’t you be more compassionate?” she complained. “I’ve been working with Atzler for four years and we have a bond of trust between us; I can’t let him down. Not when we’ve saved each other’s skins so many times.”

  Gunnolf was silent and his face was an enigma to her. He appeared totally unfazed. “What is this ruin?” he asked after a few moments of silence.

  “A temple inside the waterfall. Legend says it was constructed to connect prayers to both Ocea, Elemental Dragon Goddess of Water and Serix, Elemental Dragon God of Wind. Its location was chosen to help discourage brigands and looters from entering it. Technically, it is under the jurisdiction of Lilthiken.”

  “So, we need the permission of the amphobos people,” Gunnolf said placidly.

  “No, Atzler and I already received permission from the Dual Elders who govern over Lilthiken.”

  Gunnolf nodded in acknowledgement as they continued. The land was covered in blotches of dry grass and small rocks jutting out of the soil as they headed west. The road was narrower here as it ascended in a winding path. The trees of the Jakara Woods were denser this way seemingly leaving not much room for exit of those woods for anything larger than a single person. To their right, the lake would soon be below them as they ascended. The hike uphill got steeper as they went and a misty breeze occasionally blew over the pair but neither flinched, one step at a time.

  As sunlight was fleeing the sky and a lavender and orange glow was kissing the clouds the pair reached the base of the waterfall. A wall of water rushed over rocks leaving a dry tunnel of jagged stone to the left and right was a wall of rushing water.

  “The entrance to the ruins is at the end of this path,” Lylen shouted over the sound of the waterfall. Worry was written all over her face.

  The pair trekked through, each step bringing them closer. They passed by small nooks leading into caverns, Gunnolf stopped at the first and peered into it.

  Lylen gazed at it as well before saying, “There are lots of these narrow caves along here. It’s how the people of Lilthiken can quickly traverse here but you need to be able to hold your breath inside the confined aquifer.”

  Gunnolf gave a nod of understanding as he simply strode past. Coming to the fifth one, a figure emerged from the cavern. A dual tipped spear in hand wearing blue dyed leather armor. Their flesh was light brown, bumpy, and glistened with water. A pair of eyes wide apart and an amphibious head as they stood upright on two legs but over a half a foot shorter than Lylen.

  “Who approaches the Ruins of Kyros?” the voice had a ripple to each syllable, sounding masculine and almost waterlogged.

  Gunnolf stared at them unsurprised while Lylen gave a jump. “I-I am Lylen, an explorer who has permission of the Dual Elders of Lilthiken to explore the Ruins of Kyros. I have returned with aid to rescue my partner who is trapped in them. Where is Captain Val-Xan? She knows why I left.”

  Standing the odd double-ended spear upright, the frog-looking man kept a stern expression as he asked, “Password spoken by the Dual Elders to prove your tale?”

  Lylen crossed her arms under her breasts and closed her eyes as if trying to remember.

  “Password, or we will take you both into custody,” said the amphibious man, raising his spear as another three of his kind appeared from inside caverns behind them, one with yellow flesh and the other two with green.

  Gunnolf placed his hand to his long blade, his hand wanted to hesitate for he heard the voice in his head again.

  Sixteen more deaths, only sixteen more. Remove these four and the elf girl and only eleven will remain!

  Lylen let the words fly, “Another round of Gold Fly pudding, if you please.”

  The frog-like man and his companions were at ease, lowering his weapon he said, “You speak true, Explorer Lylen. Another day and the password will change once more to keep security tight. I am Dar-gith. Captain of the Ruin Guard standing in for Captain Val-Xan who is enjoying some respite.”

  “I see,” replied Lylen as she let go a sigh of relief.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “You may proceed but who is it that you bring to such a sacred place?” asked Dar-gith.

  “This is Gunnolf Fulin, a mercenary from Saha’dryr,” the elf introduced him.

  Gunnolf gave a short bow.

  “Very well, we shall document and report this to the Dual Elders directly to keep them informed, be wary ahead. Night is coming and Barruks stir around the ruins.”

  “Is there a Sacred Tent available for the night?” she asked.

  “There is but it will cost thirty Zoa for the night.”

  Gunnolf with annoyance in his tone at last said, “It would be foolish to press onward while exhausted. Is there a meal and drink available for that price?”

  Dar-gith replied with a small jump from the kobold’s sudden words, “Y-yes. But understand we are amphobos people so our palette may be quite different from what you’re accustomed to.”

  “Yeah, that Gold Fly Pudding bit seems like a real delicacy,” Lylen added dryly.

  “It is one of the most famous desserts in Lilthiken!” Protested Dar-gith. The other amphobos began muttering among themselves.

  One of them, a green fleshed one spoke out, “Captain, since they have spoken the password, by your leave we shall return to Lilthiken?”

  Dar-gith gave a nod. “Make it so, I shall join shortly.” The other three dispersed back into the small caverns. “In any case, I believe that cook from Walthruhn is still at the Sacred Tent and they prepare food you may find more to your tastes. May you both be successful in your journey,” Dar-gith told Gunnolf and Lylen before sliding into a narrow cavern as well.

  The twin moons were rising, and the last ray of sunlight vanished in the black sky as the pair of them came to a small encampment before an ancient temple carved in the cliffside of the waterfall. The ruins had ascending stone steps into a great archway triple Gunnolf’s size that led further in, but the moonlight only allowed so much visibility. Too dark to make out most details.

  Opposite side of the ancient structure was the massively wide tent of light blue cloth. Some people stirred outside the tent, a small campfire burned, Lylen noticed six, all amphobos, two yellow fleshed, and the rest were varying shades of red. One of the yellows stopped them, feminine yet watery voice, “Welcome to the Sacred Tent at Kyros. Thirty Zoa for the night for each of you. Includes a bowl of roach porridge or the guest cook from Walthruhn is making some sort of meat and it includes drinks and a bedroll under our tent.”

  Gunnolf shoved the money for both of them into the amphibious woman’s hand without a word in response as he strode by and Lylen followed.

  “Apologies for my companion. He’s the quiet type,” Lylen said, she then muttered “Thanks,” at Gunnolf who gave no reply.

  The amphobos woman shrugged, “We see his type a lot. Either way, he paid in full so enjoy your respite this night.”

  Inside the large tent, ten more people were there, five of them were travelers; two were human, a man and woman both with black hair in their twenties if Lylen had to guess dressed in long coats of red, merchants of sorts, talking about their next destination. A party of three were clustered together talking about their adventures at a table over mugs full of some amber drink, mead perhaps, an elf man dressed in various monster skins for armor carrying a misshapen short sword on his hip while his two companions were both women. One was human, long red hair tied in a ponytail and striking blue eyes and a coppery complexion wearing a tunic and a whip coiled at her side having a tankard of the same drink and the last was a golden feathered aviar, wearing a green robe and had an iron staff leaned up against the bench she sat on, beak in a book.

  On the opposite side of those enjoying discussion, mead, and food were four more already in bedrolls asleep, seemingly human or elf but characteristics were covered and lastly, the cook was beside a large cauldron. Plump and in their mid-forties if anyone had to place a bet, the dwarven man was clean shaven, brown hair kept in a topknot with the back and sides shaved, odd look for dwarven men but he had a step ladder to allow him to stand over his culinary masterpiece and wiping his hands on his tan apron said he was not simply the best cook in this area, but the only one. Next to him was another cauldron, perhaps that roach porridge the amphobos woman outside the entrance mentioned. Lylen wanted to wretch at the thought of it.

  “Really nice of them to have a Sacred Tent set up,” Lylen said to the tall, dark kobold who was silent. “Sacred Tents are supposed to be enchanted cloths to ward monsters away and offer protection from the weather.”

  Gunnolf and Lylen approached the cauldron, the dwarf gave a bow as he greeted the pair. “Good evenin’ ta ye both. Would ye like a bowl o’ Tiersga stew?”

  “Yes please. That’s a cold climate beast, is it not?” Lylen asked curiously.

  “Aye, from the mountains east o’ Illisea Kingdom where snow is abundant all year. Hard meat ta acquire here in the Low Lands.” He handed each of them a bowl filled with the red sauce stew and large wooden spoons already in the dish.

  “Have you got mead?” Gunnolf asked.

  “Aye, and a little gonroc if ye fancy the stuff,” the dwarven man said in a low tone. Gunnolf gave a nod and pressed two coins of Zoa into the stout man’s hand. “Both it be!” The dwarf pulled out a bottle of gonroc from under his apron, half empty it seemed; gonroc being a strong dwarven ale made from cavern potatoes and distilled with other subterranean vegetables and dropped an ounce into the bottom of a clean tankard and let Gunnolf gulp it down before refilling from the keg to the left of mead. The voice in his head got quieter.

  He and Lylen found a seat along the bench near the other adventurers and merchants. The pair enjoyed the creamy yet spicy blend of stew, with junks of celery, juicy chunks of meat, potatoes, and carrots. Lylen asked a few of the other patrons inside the tent if anyone has been seen leaving the ruins in the last few days but no one had seen anyone and not a single traveler was here for the ruin.

  “Really filling but delicious,” Lylen commented as she got over halfway through her bowl trying to not think of her partner.

  Gunnolf gave no comment as he ate less than Lylen. However, he had gotten up and got his tankard refilled twice more during the meal, paying two more Zoa for each refill.

  “Do you not like it, Gunnolf?” the dark haired elf woman asked.

  “It’s fine,” he gave a wide grin that made Lylen give a jump.

  “I’ve never seen you grin,” she commented giving a slight smile herself. “We’ve traveled all day together and I still don’t know anything about you. I could share some of my past─”

  He cut her off, “I am simply not interested, girl. I am here to escort you and then move on to my next destination. Nothing more.”

  He’s so cold. I feel loneliness from him, but I have no idea how to reach this jerk. Lylen’s thoughts wanted to scream.

  His teeth vanished once more, and he took another bite of food as he would speak no further. As the night continued on, the pair of them would find bedrolls to climb into until morning.