They left the next day after a cold breakfast and mugs of warm klod. Their path led through the empty valleys. The cave happened out of nowhere. Only flags planted by a previous expedition differentiated the small hill that hid their target from the other ones.
Viv looked at the cave entrance. It was square and reinforced by solid blocks of stone. It looked like it could endure for millenia.
//This is the remnant of an underground mushroom farm.
Viv turned to Solfis, surprised that he would talk.
“Ah, so your golem can speak. I was wondering why you would carry it around,” Farren said, while nodding to himself.
“What else can you tell us?” Viv asked.
//My database indicates that the structure will lead underground, with several caverns linked by a network of tunnels.
//Some or all of the tunnels may have collapsed.
//Depending on the size of the installation, the farm could have anywhere between three and seven chambers.
//Larger farms would have a larger entrance.
“I see. How convenient!” Farren continued, “your golem is a knowledge depository! As expected.”
“That he is,” Viv confirmed, “now, we have a large structure to clear. I propose that we proceed as such: we park the sled here with the horses, then circle around to clear revenants because I don’t want anything on my tail when we clear the cave. Then, we go in slowly. Marruk first with the shield with me behind to provide cover. Farren, you watch our six. Everyone agreed?”
“I go first,” Marruk confirmed, and she banged a large fist against her door, errr, shield.
“What’s a six?” Farren asked.
“Our back. You watch our back.”
“How does it relate to six?”
Viv pinched the bridge of her nose. Did they even have watches? She hadn’t seen watches. Farren had asked them to be there ‘half a period after sunrise’.
“Nevermind. You cover my back. Clear?”
“What about your beast? The marsh drake.”
“...”
“...”
“Moral support?”
“You brought her for moral support?”
Viv glared at Farren, who bounced nervously from foot to foot.
“Look, she imprinted on me so she is sticking with me and can defend herself, but she’s still far too young. Got it?”
“Alright, alright, it’s your mission.”
“Yes, so, we clear on the formation?”
“Yes.”
“I will be your shield!”
“Ok, now for the plan. We go to the entrance and make some noise. The entrance can be used as a chokepoint. We stay there until we run out of hostiles, then move in. Rinse and repeat in every tunnel. If a room leads to two different tunnels besides the entrance one, we will stop and plan. Got it?”
“I make noise on your command, shaman!” Marruk claimed. Then, her eyes clouded a bit.
“I mean, witch.”
“It’s fine. We start by sweeping the perimeter, errr, the space around the cave. Come on!”
Viv directed Marruk to open the way. They took fifteen minutes to strut around and take down the stragglers. Viv let Farren purify the remains of those Marruk had bashed down. The Kark woman fought with simple, economic movements. Her vertical strikes with the mace showed that she had a lot of power. Viv thought that she might never forget the repetitive crunch of crumpled spines for the rest of her life.
Eventually, they made their way back to the entrance, and Marruk stood there looking like a one-woman wall. The entrance was large enough for three strong people to walk abreast, yet somehow, the lone defender seemed to occupy the whole space. She looked back and received a confirmation nod from Viv.
The clang of metal on metal resonated ominously in the enclosed space.
Viv felt something coming, though she heard nothing.
Marruk looked back with a raised brow.
“Another?”
“No! They are coming. Eyes forward.”
The Kark woman blushed furiously.
Danger Sense: Beginner 3