I wish I knew, Robert thought to himself. I wish I could know what's going on in your head. But the half-elf didn't say anything.

"Shall we go now?" Puff looked at Robert expectantly.

"Now. Robert said.

Rodrith moved along the shadows, and he made his way down the alley quickly to the south. He didn't see anything alive. It seems as if all the dwarves of the valley have been swallowed by the fog. The situation in front of him was troubling, so he walked closer to the shadows.

The emaciated mage could move silently whenever needed. He only wished he hadn't coughed at this critical time.

The herbs he drank had been given to him by Pa-Sarian, as some kind of compensation for the pain the young mage had endured, and it had a pain-relieving effect.

But the surroundings are so treacherous that it looks like its effects are about to wear off.

Plop peeked out from behind his robes, black eyes staring down the alley leading to the main square. "No one. She said, tugging at the mage's sleeve. "Let's go. ”

Nobody—Rodrith thought worriedly. It doesn't make sense. Where had the usual hordes of dwarves gone? He began to have a bad feeling, but it was too late to turn back—Robert and the others had already stepped into the secret passage. The mage smiled sadly. In the end, the plan seemed very stupid. Probably everyone will die in the ruins.

Twoop tugged at his sleeve again, shrugged, put on his hood, and walked with the two dwarves of the valley to the mist-shrouded street.

"That's it. Robert said softly. Opening a rotten door, he looked inside. "It's dark inside and we need a little light. ”

There was the sound of flint and steel from behind, and Calamon lit a torch borrowed from the Fighting King. The warrior handed one to Robert, and ordered another for himself and the river breeze. Robert stepped into the house and immediately stepped into knee-deep water. He raised the torch and saw a steady stream of water along the wall, converging in the center of the room and flowing out through the gaps in the corners. Robert waded to the center of the room and looked down with a torch.

"It's over there. I can see it. "When the others waded in, he said. He pointed to the secret door on the floor. They could barely see an iron ring in the water.

"Calamon?" said Robert.

"Boom!" Hubble said dismissively. "If the dwarves of the valley can open it alone, then so can I. Back point. The dwarf pushed everyone away, reached into the water, and pulled hard. There was no movement for a moment, and Hubble blushed and grunted. He stopped, straightened up, took a breath, and tried again, but there was still no sound, and the door didn't move.

Robert put his hand on the dwarf's shoulder. "Hubble, Puff said she could only go down during the dry season. You've just lifted the water of the entire new sea with you. ”

"That's right. "Why didn't you say it earlier?" ”

Calamon stepped forward. He reached into the water and tugged hard. The muscles in his shoulders arched, and the blood vessels in his neck protruded. Suddenly, there was another sniffing sound, and the secret door opened, and Calamon almost fell.

The water flowed through the secret door, and Calamon gently lowered the door panel. Robert drew the torch closer, and at the bottom of it was a square cavern four hundred feet wide, with a narrow iron ladder in the hole.

"How many have you counted?" Robert asked, feeling his throat dry.

"Four hundred and three," Stone replied in a deep voice, "four hundred and four." ”

Everyone looked down and felt that the air around them was a little cold, and they only heard the sound of water flowing down the cave.

Robert reached out and grabbed his beard. Calamon coughed twice, as if to remind everyone of his brother's presence. Hubble accidentally dropped an axe into the water.

Wade absentmindedly bit his horse's tail. Scarlet Moon approached the river breeze with a pale face, holding an inconspicuous crystal staff in her hand. River Wind reached out and put his arm around her. There's nothing more anxious than waiting.

"Five hundred. Stone finally said.

"It's time too!" Wade slid down the ladder as he sped away. Robert followed, torch held aloft to Crimson Moon, and the others climbed into the city's sewer system. The passage is about 20 feet wide, and at the bottom of the channel is a north-south channel about 5 feet wide.

"Measure the depth of the water. Wade was about to jump into the water when Robert warned. The Kander grasped the ladder in one hand and sank the Houpak staff into the dark water below. The Houpak staff sank about halfway through. "Two feet deep. Wade said happily. He jumped into the water with a thud, and the water was about up to his hips. He stood in the water and looked at Robert expectantly.

"That direction," Robert pointed. "South. ”

Wade held the Houpak staff high and went down the river.

"What about the spells we used to lure?" Stone asked, his voice echoing.

Robert was thinking about it, too. "We may not hear it here. He wanted what he said to be true.

"Rodrith won't have a problem, don't worry. Calamon said solemnly.

"Robert!" Wade ran to the half-elf. "There's something down there! I can feel it with my feet. ”

"Keep walking. Robert whispered, "I hope they don't go hungry." ”

Without saying a word, they continued to wade through the water. The torches create strange shadows on the walls, making people nervous. Robert saw something lunge towards him more than once, only to find that it was the shadow of Calamon's helmet or Wedhoopak's staff.

The tunnel stretched two hundred feet to the south and then turned east. The group stopped. At the eastern tributary of the waterway, a ray of light is cast from above. This is – according to Pounce – the Dragon's Lair.

"Extinguish the torch!" Robert whispered, plunging the torch into the water. Robert leaned against the sticky wall and followed the Kander, its red lines visible in the darkness to the sight of Robert's elves. Hubble was complaining incessantly, and the water here had made his arthritis worse.

"Shhhhh Try not to make any noise and let them lean quietly against the ladder going up.

"No one bothered to lock the iron gates on the floor. Vedra entered Robert and whispered to him. "I can open it if I have one. ”

Rob nodded, he didn't mention that fluttering could also open the matter. The skill of picking locks was to him as proud of a knight was to a beard. They all stood knee-deep in the water, silently watching Wade climb the ladder.

"We still haven't heard anything outside. Stone muttered.

"Shhhhhh

The iron gate did have a lock, and it didn't take Wade more than a few minutes to open it. Then he quietly lifted the iron gate and looked out. Suddenly, darkness fell over him. The darkness was almost as heavy as lead, and it almost made him let go and lose the iron gates. He hurriedly put the iron gate back into the distance without a sound. Quietly climbed down the ladder and crashed into Robert.

"Wade. Robert grabbed him. "Is that you? I can't see it? What did you do?"

"I didn't know, all of a sudden everything went dark. ”

"What do you mean you can't see?" Stone whispered to Robert. "Where's your elven sight?"

"No," said Robert, solemnly, "like in the Dark Forest—and outside by the well......"

Everyone stood in the water without saying a word. Everyone could only hear their own breathing and the sound of water dripping.

The dragon is up there - waiting for them.

Chapter 21 of the main text: Sacrifice and the city that collapsed again

Despair more terrible than darkness gripped Robert. It's my plan, our only chance of escaping, he thought. Looks like no problem—it should work!Something went wrong!Rodlis—did he betray us? No! Robert clenched his fists.

The mages were unlikable and incomprehensible, but he was loyal to them, and Robert could swear by them. And what about Rodrith? Possibly dead. It doesn't matter at all now. Everybody is going to die.

"Robert" - the half-elf felt a hand grip on him tightly. He recognized it as Stone's deep voice - "I know what you're thinking, we don't have a choice, there's not enough time. This is our only chance to get the platinum disc. We won't have another chance. ”

"I'm going to take a look first," Robert said. He climbed the ladder to take a look. Beyond the iron gates was pitch black, darkness created by magic. Robert put his hands on his head and thought. Stone was right – time was running out. But can he trust the knight's judgment? Stone wants to fight the dragon!Robert climbed down the ladder.

"We're still going up. He said. All of a sudden, he just wanted to get it done quickly and then he could go home. Return to Willow's home. "No, Wade. He grabbed the Kander and dragged him down the stairs, "The warriors go first—Stone and Karamon. And then the others. ”

The knight couldn't wait to step forward, his sword pounding on his hip.

"We are always the last to go. Wade grumbled, pushing the dwarf as Hubble slowly climbed the ladder. "Hurry up. Wade said. "I hope nothing happens until we arrive. I've never spoken to a dragon. ”

"I bet dragons have never spoken to the Kanders!" said the dwarf dismissively. "You idiot, do you know we're all going to die? Robert knows, I can hear it in his voice. ”

Wade stopped, as Stone slowly pushed the iron gate open. He said, grabbing the ladder. "You know what? Hubble," said the Kander gravely, "my countrymen are not afraid of death. In a way, we even welcome it – this last, and greatest, adventure.

But if I want to give up this life, I will feel a little sorry. I'm going to miss a lot of things"—he patted the bag on his body—"my map, and you and Robert. Unless," he added happily. "We all go to the same places when we die. ”

Hubble suddenly felt himself see the ever-optimistic Kander fall to the ground with a stiff body.

He felt a pang of heartache, but thankfully the darkness had overshadowed the expression on his face. He cleared his throat and said deliberately rudely, "If you think I'm going to live with a bunch of Kanders when I die, you're even crazier than Rodleys." Let's go!"

Stone was carefully lifting the iron gate and gently placing it aside. It made a slight grinding sound that made him clench his teeth nervously. He easily crawled out of the hole and turned back to help Calamon as he was desperately squeezing out, whose massive size and the weapons he carried with him made it difficult for him to move.

"Oh my God, be quiet!" Stone hissed.

"I have! I have!" muttered Calamon, finally crawling out of the hole. Stone held out his hand to Crimson Moon. The last to come up was Wade, and he was glad that nothing exciting had happened before he came up.

"We're going to have to have a little light. Stone said.

"Want light?" replied a voice as cold as a winter night. "Okay, let's give you a little light!"

The darkness receded quickly. The group found themselves standing under the roof of a huge garden. The light cast from the gap in the ceiling shone coldly on the companions—and a large altar in the center of the circular room. The floor next to the altar was strewn with jewels, coins, and other treasures of the dead city.

Surprisingly, the gems did not reflect the light, and the coins appeared dim. The dim light illuminated nothing but a huge creature on the altar that looked like some beast.

"Do you feel betrayed?" the dragon asked lightly, with an unabashed mockery in his tone.

"The mage has betrayed us!where is he?does he serve you?" shouted Stone, angrily, stepping forward and drawing his sword.

"Back off, disgusting knight of Sorenia. Go back, or your mages will never be able to cast spells again. The dragon lowered its head and glared at them with terrifying red eyes. Then, slowly but gracefully, she lifted one of her front paws, and under it, lay on top of the altar—it was Rodris.

"Little brother!" Calamon shouted, desperately rushing to the altar.

"Stop, you idiot!" the dragon hissed. It placed one of its front paws lightly on the mage's body. With all his strength, Rodrith turned his head, looked at his brother, and made a gesture, and Calamon stopped

。 Robert saw something moving on the ground, it was a flutter, and she hid in the treasures, too frightened to speak, and the rod of Lotres's Mazzis lay beside her.

"One step further, and I'll pierce this poor human!"

Calamon blushed, "Let him go!" he shouted. "You fight side by side with me!"

"I'm not going to fight any of you," the dragon said, flapping her wings lazily. Rodrith twitched as the dragon's claws moved slightly, the dragon's claws now sinking into his flesh. The mage was covered in beads of sweat the size of beans. His breathing was choppy.

"Don't even think about moving," the dragon said disdainfully. "We speak the same language, remember, I just need a word, and the corpses of your friends will have to be fed to the dwarves of the valley!"

Rodrith seemed to resign himself to his fate, and he closed his eyes in exhaustion. But Robert saw the mage's hand moving and knew he was ready to cast the last spell. [.]