Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2000 12:18:19 EDT
From: Bwstories8@aol.com
Subject: Sword of Kings - Chapter 6

Legal Notice:
The following story contains descriptions of graphic sexual acts.
The story is a work of fiction and has no basis in reality.

Don't read this story if:
**You're not 18 or over,
**If it is illegal to read this type of material where you live,
**Or if you don't want to read about gay/bi people in love or having sex.

The author retains copyright to this story.  Placing this story on a
website or reproducing this story for distribution without the author's
permission is a violation of that copyright.  Legal action will be taken
against violators.

I wish to extend my thank you to Ed for his editorial assistance with this
chapter and to Ian for his suggestions to improve the flow and readability
of this chapter.

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.

E-mail responses to the stories, story suggestions, or other 'constructive'
comments or advice may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.

           *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

The Sword of Kings - by BW  (Fantasy/Sci. Fi.)   Copyright 2000 by billwstories
Chapter 6 - Narrow escapes.                      July 2000

Energetically, Doenilio dislodged some of the small rocks that lay embedded
in the ground around him and he casually sent them rolling down the slope.
As they tumbled down the incline, they picked up speed and rolled to the
pathway below.  They made only the slightest noise as they cascaded down
the hill, but it was loud enough for Sedain's captors to hear.

Back in the enemy encampment, the sound was first heard by one of the
Merropites.  He and one of the Gnomes were sent to investigate the source
of the disturbance.  The two warriors cautiously slipped from their
campsite and crept down the path.  As the two troopers rounded the bend in
the road, they could see the spread-eagled, motionless form of Quintain.
Carefully they approached the dwarf to inspect his still form.  Eventually
they slunk past his head, which was pointed in the direction of their camp,
and they stood at his feet looking back at his face.  This meant the
warriors were facing away from the rock, behind which awaited the others.

Getting their signal from Alaric, Hadwin and Rhys noiselessly sprang into
action.  Gliding effortlessly from around the boulder, they attacked the
unsuspecting duo.  The allies took the small cords they held in their
hands, slipped them quickly over the heads and around the necks of their
victims.  After a brief and barely audible struggle, the troopers let the
lifeless forms of their opponents drop from their hold.  No sooner had the
limp bodies hit the ground than the companions regrouped and busily set
about stripping the clothing from their fallen enemies.  As the garments
were removed, they were handed to Rhys and Doenilio, who were hurriedly
shedding their own attire.  As soon as the duo was completely outfitted in
their counterparts' garb, they moved toward the enemy campsite.  If they
were lucky, they could pass themselves off as the dead warriors long enough
to get safely to the enemy camp.  As they rounded the bend in the path and
came into view of their foes, one of the Merropites hailed Rhys.  It was
obvious that he bought into the disguise and he truly believed that the
Akiktite was his returning countryman.

"Ho, Aglak, what was it that made the noise?"

Rhys, trying hard to deceive the questioner, merely lifted his arm and
waved at the others, signaling them that he wanted them to join him.
Without uttering a word, he also signaled tthem to remain silent as they
went back, indicating that some stealth was required to accomplish whatever
he had in mind.  Rhys and Doenilio watched as the soldiers quickly
discussed something between themselves and they quickly decided which one
of them was to remain back with the prisoner.  Now the group moved down the
road, the two Merropite soldiers following the ones they thought were their
compatriots.

As they slunk back down the path, Rhys and Doenilio were curious about what
the two behind them were doing, but they did not dare to glance back to
see.  For this period of time, the Akiktite and the dwarf were vulnerable
if their deception were uncovered.  If anything about their demeanor seemed
different, those behind them could run them through and they wouldn't even
have the opportunity to defend themselves.  Therefore, they continued
moving along the path with the two unsuspecting foreigners willingly
following them into the trap.

As they rounded the bend, Rhys lifted his arm and pointed to the spot where
Quintain's body still remained sprawled along the path.  Without urging,
the other two Merropite soldiers passed by the two disguised companions and
they went to investigate the still form of the intruder.  Mentally, the
enemy troopers were trying to figure out who this being was and what he was
doing there, when the trap was sprung.  Without warning, Hadwin pounced
from behind the boulder to attack this new duo.  The Nardinian, completely
startling the pair, struck the first soldier with his falchion before the
warrior could respond.  As he removed the weapon from the body of his now
deceased foe, Rhys ran the other fighting man through from the rear.  This
rapid elimination of their two opponents hadn't allowed the victims to make
more than a startled gurgle as they fell.  Now there was only one of the
foemen left and he was back guarding Sedain.

At this time, the final phase of the plan was set into motion.  Doenilio,
still in disguise, returned once again to the encampment of the enemy.  As
he neared the final guard, Alaric notched an arrow on his bowstring and
took aim, letting loose the shaft.  The arrow hit the unsuspecting guard in
the neck, just above the coverage that his mail coat provided.  With little
more that a wheezing sound escaping his mouth, the guard fell harmlessly to
the ground.  Doenilio had been sent in case the arrow missed its target or
if it merely wounded his cousin's captor.  If that scenario should happen,
the dwarf would be there to finish off the gnome before he could harm the
fettered Sedain.  That was unnecessary, however, as Alaric's aim had been
true.  This left Doenilio nothing to do except to free his compatriot.

The bound dwarf was ecstatic at the sight of his countryman, knowing now
that he had been rescued.  After Doenilio had cut the straps that fastened
his cousin, Sedain jubilantly grasped his liberator in a frenzied embrace.
Doenilio thought his excited companion might fracture his ribs with this
bear hug of happiness and he began to struggle to break his grasp.  When
the others arrived to witness this spectacle, they could not contain
themselves and they laughed heartily at the sight.  After much effort,
Doenilio escaped Sedain's hold and gasped to fill his lungs with air.  The
others excitedly exchanged greetings with their companion and then they
listened attentively as he began to recount the tale of how he had been
captured.

"After I left the camp, I crept to a spot just at the edge of this site.  I
lurked in the shadows, just out of range of the campfire, and I felt safe
as I tried to determine the intent of this party.  As I sat straining to
catch bits and pieces of their conversation, my presence was discovered.
Their sentry, who had been silently walking the outer perimeter of their
camp, slipped up behind me.  I was caught off-guard and I had no time to
defend myself.  I was easily taken captive and led back to their camp.  I
could kick myself for the stupidity I displayed in not being more
attentive."  With this he sighed, a look of exasperation crossing his
features, and his face took on a slightly reddened hue.

"As I sat there bound like a hog for market, I listened to their discussion
and I was able to add that information to the bits and pieces I had gleaned
earlier, when I was spying upon them.  It appears that this was a scouting
party that had been sent here to watch the High Pass.  They were looking
for collections of unusually large groups of people or for movements of
military troops.  They had orders to report their findings immediately, to
none other than Madumda himself.  From their conversation, I could
calculate that they had been here for two or three months and they were
uncertain how much longer they were expected to remain.  Anyway, they had
asked me only a few simple questions before you showed up.  I was
anticipating their next move, although not eagerly, as they had not yet
begun their more serious forms of interrogation."  Again he paused, this
time to reflect on the various types of torture they might have used to try
to loosen his tongue.  He shuddered at the thought.

"I told them that I had been out hunting for food and must have traveled
farther out of the way than I had imagined.  Then I told them that after
realizing my error in judgment, I decided to return to my home in Thorold.
I explained that I was making my way there when I spotted the light from
their fire.  They obviously didn't believe me because they argued that
dwarfs do not hunt this far south, especially alone, and hinted that I was
dressed more for war than for hunting.  They were deciding whether to
continue my questioning here or whether they should escort me back to
Treblanc to have their master cross-examine me, when they began to
disagree.  They had been haggling back and forth, weighing the pros and
cons of each option, when they heard a noise.  I now suspect that you must
have caused that disturbance and most likely it was done intentionally.
From that point on, you already know more than I do."

Hadwin quickly filled Sedain in on what they had done and about the plight
of his other captors.  The dwarf was pleased by what he heard and he now
wondered how they could best dispose of the evidence from this encounter.
Quintain suggested that they remove the arrow from the one gnome and put
the uniforms back on their first two victims.  Then they could leave the
corpses as an offering to the animal scavengers that roam the mountainside.
These creatures would effectively cover up all signs of the skirmish as
they performed their assigned roles as nature's garbage collectors.  This
would make it look as though the spies had either misjudged the
ferociousness of these mountain animals or, maybe even better, that they
had contracted some sort of fatal illness while on duty and then the
corpses were devoured by the scavengers.  After some discussion on this
topic, the warriors agreed upon the plan and the bodies were placed
accordingly about the area.  The companions were convinced that this plan
would mislead any of the enemy parties that might be sent to retrieve
messages or relieve this group from their duty.  After the necessary
precautions were taken, the group prepared to rejoin Turquinine and his
charges, so they could resume their journey.

When they returned to the spot where they had camped the previous evening,
they filled the others in on the events they had missed.  When they had
completed their rendering of this tale, they ate a quick meal of dried
meats and cheese, before they set about packing their gear.  When they
finished their preparations to depart, they broke camp, and then set out
toward Thorold.  Shortly, they were disturbing the jackal-like creatures
and other scavengers that had been attracted to scent of death and were now
picking at the remains of the deceased.  The companions didn't slow down in
the least as they passed the area and they continued on their journey.
They now seemed to have a renewed sense of urgency to get to Thorold - that
is, until they came to the High Pass.  This was a large, open area that
they would have to cross in order to get to the dwarf homeland.  From the
inception of this mission, the dwarfs had been secretly dreading this part
of their travels.  It was the one spot along this trail where they would be
the most exposed and, therefore, open to discovery or attack.  With utmost
caution and cunning, they crossed the expansive pass in pairs and scrambled
up the banks on the far side.  Once they were all safely across the open
area, they were now in the central part of the Amber Mountain chain.  They
would continue to hike along the base of the range until they reached the
dwarfs' capital.

The dwarven contingent was becoming very light-hearted to think that they
were only a few leagues from their homes, and their joy became contagious,
spreading through the entire company.  Kieren, Garreth, and Romaric found
it difficult to contain the excitement they were now feeling.  The boys
were desperately anxious to reach the dwarf kingdom and witness, for
themselves, an entire city built underground.  They couldn't even begin to
imagine the marvels that awaited them and they were now more invigorated
than they would have been for any of the major festivals that they
celebrated in Aurelia.  As they continued along the mountain path, the sun
began to fade and they decided that it would be prudent to make camp for
the night.  Several members of the party went off to search for game and
wood, just in case they were able to have some fresh meat for their evening
meal.  They knew that a fire would have to be kept very small, but it would
be worth the risk if they had a chance to eat some wild game.  They would
just dig a pit to put the fire in, so it would not be visible to anyone
else.  Those not looking for food or wood set up camp; this time, that
meant Rhys and the three boys.  They kept their weapons at the ready and
their eyes open while they carried out their task, just in case of attack
or unwanted visitors.

Shortly, Alaric returned to the camp with news of a cave he had discovered,
not far from their current location.  He suggested that they should take
advantage of this natural shelter and stay there for the evening.  He
pointed out that it would offer them additional protection, help conceal a
fire, and it would be more defensible than an open camp.  Seeing the logic
in this argument, they sent Quintain and Hadwin with Alaric to inspect the
cavern.  Soon the party returned to fetch the others.

The cave turned out to be quite large and dry.  Fortunately, it had no
other inhabitants, particularly wild animals, or any other passages leading
from it, so they needn't worry about what might lie beyond.  One guard
could easily protect them and allow the others time for much needed sleep.
When dinner was completed, another hasty meal due to their complete
exhaustion and lack of success on the hunt, they all lay down for the
evening.  The only one who remained awake was Doenilio, as he took the
first watch.

The boys moved their bedding to the back corner of the cave, deep in the
shadows, and they stripped completely before getting under their covers.
They were hoping that they could get a little relief tonight and help each
other get rid of the sexual frustration that had been building over the
past few days.  They couldn't even take care of their own needs in private,
as the warriors watched them closely whenever they were out in the open.
Tonight they were given more leeway, as the cave provided enough protection
so the others didn't have to watch over them.  This might be their last
chance to enjoy this simple pleasure until they reached Thorold or possibly
longer.  They quickly talked amongst themselves, came up with a plan, and
decided they would begin as soon as they others had settled in.  It took a
while, but soon they could hear the gentle breathing and light snoring of
their protectors.

Immediately Garreth reached under Kieren's blanket and he began to stroke
his friend's limp cock.  He could feel it begin to stiffen almost as soon
as he touched it, and within seconds it was completely hard and ready for
some action.  He pushed Kieren's blanket aside and he began to pump his
buddy's boy meat with vigor.  The prince had to bite his lip to restrain
the moans of pleasure that he wanted to release, and he let himself get
swept away with the wonderful feelings that Garreth's soft, smooth hand was
providing him.  Garreth was using long strokes, completely pulling Kieren's
foreskin behind the flange of his mushroom head before pushing it back up
until it engulfed the sensitive glans again.  Kieren was starting to pant
now, as he inched closer and closer to his release.  Garreth sensed this
and increased his pace on his friend's magic wand.  When he felt it begin
to swell and get even harder, Garreth's palm flew even more quickly and he
squeezed Kieren's dick even tighter.  It only took a few seconds more
before the prince's cock exploded, sending ropes of his boy seed flying all
over.  It hit his body, from his nose to his navel, hit both Garreth and
Romaric, and some landed on Kieren's blanket, while the rest coated
Garreth's hand.  The elf continued for a few additional strokes before he
let the prince's penis fall limply on his thigh.  The elves let Kieren
recover as they cleaned his spunk up from all the places where it landed.

When they had finished wiping up everything around them, Romaric moved over
next to Garreth and he started to fondle his friend.  Garreth threw back
his blanket, to give Romaric accessibility and to try to keep his blanket
clean, and within seconds Romaric had Garreth's penis standing proud and
tall.  Romaric wrapped his fingers and thumb tightly around the granite
pole and he started to stroke it in long steady strokes.  Garreth's skin
slid easily back and forth, as Romaric's hand caressed and manipulated his
pride and joy.  Garreth was beginning to feel light-headed and those
wonderful feelings were starting to emerge from his toes and work their way
up his body.  Little beads of perspiration were beginning to form on his
brow and his breaths began to come more quickly and not as deeply.
Romaric's hand moved faster now, as Garreth approached the 'promised land',
and Romaric had to place his other hand over Garreth's mouth to muffle the
little noises that were escaping his compatriot's lips.  Kieren was just
coming out of his post-orgasmic bliss when he looked over and saw Garreth's
body stiffen, just as several volleys of boy lava erupted from his friend's
dick.  Romaric kept pumping for another minute or so, until the waves of
pleasure subsided and the last of Garreth's juices flowed from the slit in
his prick.  Kieren and Romaric teamed up to clean off their friend before
Romaric jumped back over to his original position and waited for his trip
into bliss.

As soon as Romaric was repositioned, Kieren reached over and began to play
with his mate's floppy sausage.  It didn't take much teasing for that
sausage to become a bone and Kieren attacked it like a playful puppy.  He
had fondled and squeezed the foreskin on that little toy until the elf's
dick became too firm and the skin too tight to do anything more with it.
At that moment he began to let his fist slide gracefully up and down its
length, stimulating all the nerve endings that existed just under the
surface.  Kieren loved both of his friends so much that these special times
together were as important to him as anything else they did.  He would do
anything for these two elves and being able to give them this small
pleasure made him feel good inside.  He loved to watch the expressions on
their faces every time they had a sexual encounter, knowing that their
faces didn't lie when it came to pain and pleasure.  This was one of those
times and Kieren could read the rapture on Romaric's face and the prince
felt satisfaction from knowing that he was the cause of his friend's joy.
With a few more strokes Romaric's body arched skyward, so only his
shoulders and his feet touched the blanket beneath him, and ribbons of his
alabaster milk came spewing out from the tiny mouth on the tip.  After a
handful of spurts left his cock, Romaric's body relaxed and fell back down
to the floor of the cave.  Kieren gave the elf's prick a couple more quick
jerks before he released his grip.  Romaric was lost in the afterglow of
the event and he was still swooning as Kieren and Garreth proceeded to
clean up the viscous liquid from the puddles that dotted Romaric's body.

Now that each of the boys had a chance to release some of that pent-up
sexual anxiety, they cuddled together under their blankets and fell asleep.
Kieren, being in the center position, had his arms wrapped under and around
the shoulders of the two elves, and they had their heads on his chest and
their upper legs thrown over one of Kieren's legs, the one closest to them.
Their combined body heat collected under the blankets and kept them warm
and cozy all night long.  Together, they shared one of the best nights'
sleep that they had experienced since leaving the protection of their
homeland.

The evening was passing quietly and peacefully, and the companions enjoyed
their most relaxing rest since Leander.  The guard had already changed
three or four times as dawn approached.  The company was still lounging
restfully on the floor of the cave as Hadwin's turn at guard-duty was now
at an end and he went to awaken Alaric for his turn at this duty.  The
Nardinian shook the elf until he opened his eyes and he waited as the elf
attempted to shake the fog from his body.  Alaric continued to stretch and
yawn as Hadwin moved back to his bedroll to resume his rest, a rest that
had been interrupted so he could take his turn at the watch.  The elf left
the cave, so he could relieve himself of the prior evening's drink, as the
first pale strands of light began to pierce the darkness that had consumed
the area only minutes before.  Still slightly groggy from his disturbed
slumber, the elf thought that he perceived a noise off in the distance.
Immediately he crouched and strained to hear or see more.  He waited in
this position for several minutes before he heard anything else, and then
he concluded that he must see what was out there.  He decided to crawl
carefully in the direction of the sound, to determine if there was any
threat to their safety.  Making his way along the ground, he soon
discovered the source of the disturbance and he became alarmed.  Hurriedly,
he retreated to warn his companions.

Alaric slipped back into the rocky shelter and he gently roused his
comrades, one at a time so as not to startle them and cause them to shout
out in alarm.  He would indicate to them immediately that they were to
remain quiet until he had finished waking the others.  After each of the
party had been awakened, he gave them time to shake the cobwebs from their
minds and regain their senses.  The entire company was staring at Alaric in
anticipation, waiting for him to explain why he had disturbed their
slumber.  Most of them had assumed that it must be a somewhat urgent matter
or the elf would have waited until they all woke on their own.  Now, Alaric
alerted them about this new threat.

"There is an enemy patrol wandering in the hills, slowly moving in this
direction.  I counted twelve of them in the party, but there may be others
that I did not see."  Suddenly the company was fully alert and listening to
the elf's every word.  "Even though they seemed to be headed this way," he
continued, "I do not know if they are aware of our presence.  I could not
tell if they were looking specifically for signs of our passing or if they
were just checking the area in general."

"Do you think they discovered the patrol that we eliminated?" inquired
Romaric.

"If they did," responded Hadwin, "then they are surely searching for the
ones who murdered their comrades."

"It would be hard to say whether or not they discovered the bodies, but
they do seem to act as if there is an urgency in their mission."

"Do you think that we can hold them off from in here," questioned Garreth,
"or would it be better if we left the cave and faced them out in the open?"

"For now, we are probably safer here, but we are putting ourselves at risk
if we are discovered.  If they find us holed up in this cavern, they could
send one of their troops back for reinforcements while the others kept us
pinned down.  There is an equally good chance that this hollow space in the
mountain could serve either as our fortress or our tomb."

"We must think of Kieren first and foremost," suggested Rhys, "for we must
protect him above all else, including our own lives.  Whatever plan we
devise, its primary purpose must be to keep him safe.  This entire mission
depends on his well-being more than our ability to reach Treblanc."

"Aye," added Turquinine.  "I cast mine vote to remain steadfast.  This
alcove is easily defensible and methinks we couldst best protect our liege
from this strategic vantage point."

"But can we afford to take that kind of risk that we will be able to hold
out and protect the prince?" asked Doenilio.

"Maybe a few of us could go out and distract the patrol while the others
escaped," offered Quintain.

"No!  We are already too small a group as it is," Alaric countered.  "We
must stay together as one unit."

"Couldn't we just hide in here until they leave?" asked Romaric.

"We could try," countered Sedain, "but they would have to be very poor
trackers to miss our trail, if they are truly searching for us.  We weren't
very careful to cover our tracks as it started to get dark and we made our
way to this cave.  We assumed that we would have time this morning to erase
the signs of our passing and then we would be leagues away from here before
our bloody deed from yesterday was discovered."

"Wait," interrupted Rhys.  "Listen to me carefully and see how this
suggestion sounds to you."  Everyone drew closer to Rhys as he began to
detail the plan he had hastily formulated in his mind.  As the others
listened to this great, dark warrior, Kieren let his mind drift over
thoughts of his own, completely shutting out his friends and their
conversation.

'There must be something I can do or say,' the prince thought to himself,
'that would help us get out of this predicament without losing another from
our number.  After all, the others are only here because of me.  They
volunteered to come along to protect me, and now I feel obligated to do
something to help them.  But what is it I can do?'  Carefully he considered
the situation, mentally examining their strengths, their weapons, and what
precious little he knew about the enemy.  He had already made a pledge to
himself that he would not allow another of these brave soldiers sacrifice
his life just to protect him.  He had been devastated by the loss of
Selvaggio and that death still weighed very heavily on the young man's
soul.

His mind raced from one idea to another, quickly dismissing them as too
foolhardy or too risky to succeed.  When all seemed hopeless, he remembered
his medallion and Beraut's explanation of its power.  Cautiously he pulled
the chain out from under his armor and he began to nervously finger the two
surfaces of the medal.  Quietly Kieren scanned the interior of the cave.
He was looking to see if he could devise an alternative plan by finding
some small possibility that they might have missed earlier while examining
the cave.  Discovering nothing new, he decided that he had no alternative
but to use his medallion to rescue them all.  There was still some
hesitance on his part as he lifted the pendant between his palms, for he
remembered the wizard's words of caution that the use of this magic could
reveal his presence to Madumda.  Reluctantly he formed a triangle around
the circular pendant, using his fingers and thumbs, and he whispered his
one word request, "ESCAPE!"

Like a bolt from heaven, a bright blue beam leapt from the lavaliere's face
and it radiated toward the rear of the cave.  Romaric thought he had heard
his friend say something, so he turned and looked in that direction to see
if Kieren was speaking to him.  He was shocked to find the prince standing
motionless with the thin, sapphire ray projecting from the medallion on his
chest.

"Look at Kieren," the elf blurted out in a voice just slightly louder than
a whisper.  "What is he doing?"

The others turned in unison to discover what the young elf had already
seen.  Rhys sprang from where he was kneeling to stand by the young man's
side, fearing that his youthful charge was in danger.  When the Akiktite
was able to scrutinize the situation further, he began to comprehend the
significance of what the prince was doing.

"I believe that Master Kieren has discovered another course of action," the
warrior stated matter-of-factly, "an option that we had not considered."
Rhys let his eyes follow the path of the luminous thread, carefully
examining its route.  Realizing the beam extended beyond his line of
vision, he turned to the dwarf standing next to him and spoke.  "Sedain,
would you please follow the light and see where it leads?"

Sedain nodded his compliance, grabbed a piece of firewood from the
remaining fire, and he made it into a torch.  He caused the glowing end of
the log to ignite into a flame and then he moved toward the rear of the
cave, using its illumination to guide him.  Cautiously, he followed the
thin ray of light as it turned the corner and moved out of sight of the
others.  In a short time he returned, all excited.

"The cave bends around back there and leads into what appears to be a dead
end.  Upon closer examination, however, there is a slender rift in the
rock, an opening to an underground passagee.  I did a quick check of itand
the beam from Kieren's medallion continues on, along a tunnel underneath
us, until it fades from sight.  I believe our benefactor has shown us
another way out of this tight spot."

"Is it safe to follow it?" Hadwin wanted to know.

"As safe, or safer, than what awaits us here," responded the dwarf,
pointing toward the opening to the cave.  "It is my opinion that this is
our best option."

"Well, I for one suggest that we take it then," offered Quintain.  "I and
my countrymen are at home in the bowels of the mountains, though we are not
familiar with this particular place.  I believe, from my brother's
description, that we have uncovered an underground riverbed.  If this is
so, then it will lead us to the spot where it deposits its watery contents.
The three of us shall volunteer to go first, to see where this magical
pointer leads.  I say that we have a much better chance to escape unnoticed
if we use this route and I doubt that the patrol would find this exit
without similar magical assistance."

'Aye, and tis the Council of Wizards' magic that pointeth the way," added
Turquinine.  "Our liege summoned its power and I suggest that we dare not
question our good fortune."

"You're probably right," Rhys conceded.  "We shall be happy to do whatever
you dwarfs suggest."

"Good!  Then all of you pack up your belongings quickly and then make
yourself a torch," instructed Sedain.  "We will light them once we have
rounded the corner and have passed through the crevice to the opening
below.  You will feel much more at ease down there with a torch to light
your way."

Hastily everyone rustled up their belongings and tied them into a bundle.
They made their torches next and they formed at the rear of the cavern,
leaving only Alaric to watch out the mouth of the cave for approaching
danger.  Now they were ready to drop down into the unknown reaches of this
new tunnel and make their escape.  Kieren was still frozen in his trance,
focusing all of his energy on maintaining his link to their lifeline.  Rhys
moved to Kieren's side and made it his duty to assist the prince on his way
out of the grotto.  Gently he took the young man by the arm and he led him
to the back of the subterranean chamber and through the slender opening
that existed there.  Cautiously, they moved forward, behind the dwarfs,
following the glow from their guiding light.  Now they reached the point
where they would have to lower themselves downward to the tunnel below.  It
wasn't a big drop, only maybe three or four meters in all, but they used a
rope to lower the dwarfs first, followed by the two young elves.
Turquinine and Hadwin anchored the rope above, so the others could climb
down.  When it came to Kieren's turn, Rhys went down below to join the
others, while Turquinine and Hadwin lifted the boy up and lowered him down
to the others.  When that was finished, Hadwin went down next, before the
big knight summoned Alaric to follow.  When the others were safely below,
Turquinine threw down the rope, sat on the edge of the crevice, and he
dropped to the floor below.  Everyone was fine and they reassembled
quickly.

"Quintain was right," Doenilio advised them.  "This tunnel appears to have
been created or broadened by the flow of an underground river.  It probably
meandered through this dark abyss for several centuries before it began to
dry up.  It appears to be headed in a northwesterly direction, which is
precisely the way that we should be heading."

The others smiled at this news and they moved down the passage to inspect
it.  There was more or less a ledge running along what remained of the
river, created over the years by the eroding effect of the flowing waters,
before the river dried up to the trickle that it was now.  As the years
passed by, the river carved deeper and deeper into the center of its bed,
leaving a flat walkway that had been polished smooth by its ancient
predecessor.  Now the contingent moved forward, being ever so careful on
the slippery aisle over which they now traveled, following the current of
the stream to lead them away from their pursuers.

As they trudged along the path, which seemed to stretch endlessly on, the
men of the north became a bit apprehensive about not knowing exactly where
this tributary was leading them.  The dwarfs, sensing their uneasiness,
continued to try to keep the hope of their companions alive.  They
explained how they had been lost or disoriented on similar unfortunate
forays below the surface, and each time they had elected to follow another
uncharted river.  On each occasion the waterway had led them unerringly out
of their predicament and to a place where they could find their way home.
They added that every underground river must end somewhere, but they
omitted the part that included the scary fact that some of them ended up in
subterranean lakes.  The information they gave the others seemed to be
enough to lighten their concerns and to encourage them to keep moving
forward.  Even though they were moving at a snail's pace, they were still
looking for the pot of gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow.  As they
plugged forward, they began to hear a muffled roar that grew more distinct
with every passing footstep.  Immediately, the dwarfs recognized this sound
as that of rushing water, possibly plummeting over a short drop.

"What is it?" Hadwin asked, concerned.

"It could be one of two possibilities," Quintain responded.  "It is either
the river emerging from its dark hiding place and spilling into the open or
we have reached an underground waterfall, which could plunge us deeper into
the depths of these mountains."

"Well, I for one hope that it's leading us out into the open," the
Nardinian quipped back, "for I do not relish the thought of descending
further below the world that I am used to living in."

"I hope it is emerging, too," snapped the dwarf, "but, even if it isn't, we
are no worse off than we were before."

"That's easy for you to say," retorted Hadwin, "but I'm used to fresh air
and sunlight, not these musty old halls in which we now roam."  Realizing
that he had probably already said too much, the warrior let the
conversation end there, before he needlessly spooked the youths.

Despite his bravado, Quintain was also bothered by the possibilities.  He
was troubled by the inconsistency between the loudness of the noise and the
small amount of water that seemed to be flowing down this nameless river.
The fact was, there wasn't enough water in this little ditch and it wasn't
flowing with sufficient force to account for the rumblings that they were
now hearing.  Nonetheless, he kept his suspicions to himself, so he didn't
alarm the others.

The three dwarfs continued to lead the way, zigzagging in front of their
friends while they tried to determine which possibility awaited them.  The
rest of the party followed blindly behind them, not knowing what else to
do, but all the while praying for the best.  As they drew nearer to the
roar of the water, the tunnel began to grow lighter and they could
definitely tell that the air was fresher here, compared to the stagnant air
they had been breathing since they first entered the tunnel.  This burst of
fresher air seemed to renew their hopes and it brought them back to life.
Alaric, who was always on the lookout for new discoveries, spied what
seemed to be the source of light that was brightening their path now.
Without hesitation, he suggested that they should be wary as they
approached it, not knowing if it was natural or artificial, or even if
there might have been others guarding this area.  Secretly he was worried
that there might be others who knew about this trail and that they might
possibly have stationed guards to protect it from being used.

As they grew closer to the breach that allowed the light into the shaft,
they realized that this was not an ordinary opening.  They could see now
that there was a torrent of water cascading over the opening out of this
tunnel, a spillover originating somewhere higher up the mountainside.  The
waterfall kept the entrance shielded from casual view and made sure that it
remained hidden to the unsuspecting world.  The companions would have run
for joy toward this obvious exit, if it hadn't have been for the
treacherous footing that the mist from the waterfall created on this
ancient pathway.  Instead, they just moved along at a less than brisk walk,
knowing that they would reach their destination eventually.  As they drew
within fifty meters of this radiant opening, their hearts were lifted with
excitement, as they could distinguish daylight and the hues of the world
that existed beyond the mouth of this passageway.

The dwarfs moved forward to examine the mouth of this tunnel, to look for
signs of danger and to investigate what lay beyond it.  Looking through the
opening, they encountered an unceasing deluge of water which originated
somewhere above them and tumbled effortlessly into a large pool below.  The
pool was located about ten meters below the mouth of the tunnel and there
was not an obvious way to get from one place to the other.  This collection
of occurrences was the reason that this natural phenomenon had been
previously undetected and had given them a route to escape a less than
comfortable predicament.

While the dwarfs had been inspecting the opening, Garreth and Romaric tried
to rouse Kieren from his trance-like state.  They began by calling his
name, but he didn't respond to their voices.  Then they gently nudged him,
not sure how roughly they should be with him to get him to release his deep
concentration, but he failed to acknowledge their efforts.  Finally the
boys began to shake him, like they would if they were trying to awaken
someone from a very sound sleep, and Kieren began to shake off the effects
of using the medallion.  His body started to go limp and both elves jumped
to his side to help support him.  Now they waited for him to retake control
of his own body, as he also regained control over his mind.  As he slowly
returned to the here and now, he looked at his two companions, his
expression speaking the questions that were still trapped in his brain.
The elves responded to those unspoken words and explained to him what had
happened, where they were, and that they were waiting for the dwarfs to
decide their next move.  Their conversation came to a halt when they heard
one of the dwarfs speak.

The entire party turned and listened to Sedain as he gave instructions on
how they would get down from this perch.  They were advised to watch him
closely, as he moved along the mountain's side and descended along the
slippery rock wall.  He would locate and mark off all of the foot and hand
holds they would use to traverse the cliff and climb down from this
precarious position.  He emphasized that they must concentrate on every
move that he would make and mentally note it for their own use.  He
cautioned them that, if they missed even one minute detail of his
demonstration, it could result in their loosing their footing or grip, and
they would plummet unceremoniously to the ground or pool below.  Everyone
heeded his words and they memorized every move that he made.  With a rope
tied to their waists as a safety measure, the others began to inch their
way over the same route that Sedain had taken.  One by one they followed
the dwarf, going down the rock face in a very particular order.  Alaric was
the first to go after Sedain, followed by Turquinine, the three youths,
Hadwin, Rhys, and then finally the other two dwarfs.  This was so they
could anchor the rope on the upper end as the others were lowered, until it
came to the final two dwarfs.  Their skills were adequate to do it without
the safety line, which was why they waited until the end.  Once they were
down on the ground below, they lay along the edge of the pool, recovering
from the exertion of their recent descent.

As they rested beside this watery haven, they couldn't help but notice how
cool, refreshing, and inviting the water seemed.  Mentally they longed to
enjoy its pleasures and their bodies pleaded with them to partake of its
refreshing and soothing potential.  The idea was quickly discussed, as each
member of the party had the same longing, and it was finally agreed that
various members of the group would scout the area for possible danger.  If
it were deemed safe enough, they would be allowed to enjoy a brief respite
and relax in the beckoning water.  After a quick, but thorough, search, it
was concluded that there was nothing in the vicinity that could even
remotely be construed as a threat.  This meant that they would be allowed
to bathe in this inviting oasis.

It was the youthful trio who were the first to disrobe and dive into the
crystal blue, miniature lake.  Enthusiastically, the others soon undressed
and followed them in, leisurely enjoying the warm, relaxing embrace of this
watery retreat.  They waded, they swam, and they floated merrily about the
surface, totally enthralled by this simple pleasure.  They rejoiced in
absorbing the warming touch of the gentle rays of the sun as they removed
layers of dirt and grime that their travels had produced.  This seemed to
be the best medicine that they could have received at this juncture, as it
rinsed the weariness and soreness from their overworked muscles.  It also
provided a spiritual boost to their sagging morale, giving them the best
diversion they could ever have hoped for, other than reaching Thorold.
This was the relaxation that they had all secretly been praying for.

As Kieren relaxed in his watery bed, his thoughts raced to the time when he
and his two friends had discovered a clear little pool not far from his
father's fields, in the Woods of Wildoness.  In his mind's eye he could see
the three of them, all about nine or ten years old, checking out this newly
found hideaway for the first time.  After some discussion, they deemed it
clean and safe enough to swim in.  Everything was perfect, except they did
not have their swimming attire with them and they didn't want to run all
the way back to their homes to retrieve it.  Finally they decided on
another course of action, one that would save them the time and the effort
of going back to their homes.  Hesitantly, and with an undue amount of
embarrassment, the lads agreed to swim nude for the very first time.
Turning their backs to each other, they cautiously removed their clothes
and tried to keep their nakedness from being seen by the others.  After
some giggling and some momentary lapses in their guard, they finally
relaxed and dropped their preoccupation with keeping their bodies hidden
from their friends' curious gaze.  Eventually they strutted uninhibitedly
in front of each other, allowing the other two to satisfy their curious
nature and put an end to the silliness.  Now they could run and frolic
merrily about, chasing after each other, and diving in and out of the water
hole.  They would swim from one end to the other until they could swim no
more, and then they would get out and rest until they regained their
strength for another go.  From that day on, the triumvirate never hesitated
or thought twice about going au naturel in their favorite retreat, and this
decision would only lead to bigger and better things.

Kieren's mind now raced forward in time to the summer when the boys began
their journey into manhood.  It was just two short summers ago that their
bodies had begun to develop and change, responding to the ticking of their
biological clocks.  It was the time when they started their arduous trek
through adolescence, a journey they had not yet completed, and it was also
the awakening of their own sexuality.  This was the most memorable of their
carefree summers and the last time they were able to remain free of the
duties and responsibilities that awaited them.  It was during this period
that they had built a fort in one of the nearby trees and they had tied a
heavy rope to a branch that extended out and over the swimming hole.  They
paraded incessantly to take their turn at hurling their bare, bronzed
bodies from the rail that encircled their woodland castle, swinging wildly
through the air and dropping into their personal recreational area.

For days at a time they would camp out beside the pool, preparing their own
meals from the supplies they would bring with them, and sleeping in their
sturdy fort that rested several meters above the woodland floor.  It was at
this time that they first pledged their oath of brotherhood to each other,
vowing unswerving loyalty and allegiance to each other, regardless of the
circumstances.  Now their lives were inseparably entwined and their futures
were dependent upon each other's decisions, moods, and destiny.  It was
also at the very same time that they began their innocent sexual
encounters.  One afternoon they had been playing some childish games when
they began to wrestle with each other.  Romaric had taken the opportunity
to torment Kieren as Kieren wrestled with Garreth, that was until Kieren
had enough of his treatment and went after him.  Kieren wrestled Romaric
down and pinned his shoulders to the ground, with his arms extended above
his head.  As Romaric bucked to get free of his friend, their penises began
to rub against each other and they became as hard as the tree trunks that
surrounded them.  Soon they were beginning to feel things that they had
never felt before.  It wasn't much longer before they were intentionally
pushing their hips into each other, grinding their cocks together, and
causing these wonderful feelings to continue.  Before they knew what was
happening, their erections exploded, sending their first streams of
immature boy juice to pulse from their slits and cover their bodies.  After
they collapsed on each other and rested for a couple of minutes, they
ultimately broke free and explained to Garreth what they had felt.  A
little later Kieren did the same thing with Garreth and, later that
evening, Garreth and Romaric tried it with each other.  From that day
forward, the boys enjoyed almost daily sex sessions together.

These recent thoughts caused Kieren to search out his soul mates, to
reassure himself that everything was as it should be.  Confident that
nothing was amiss, he swam over to the two elves and swiftly dunked them
below the surface of the water, causing a lengthy free-for-all to begin.
The rest of the party had already exited the water as the boys continued to
play their youthful games.

The adults began to dry themselves, as best they could, with some of the
extra clothing that they carried in their packs.  Next, they clothed
themselves in their traveling gear and they prepared for the resumption of
their expedition.  When all of this had been completed, they circled around
each other to talk things over before they set out once again.  They were
forced to move a short way away from the pool to talk because the boys were
still making enough noise splashing and playing about in the water to make
it difficult for them to hear each other clearly, even in this close
proximity.  The dwarfs now enlightened the others as to their exact
whereabouts.  They had just swum in the pool below Majestic Falls, which
lies near the headwaters of the Clearwater River.  This place was not very
far from the dwarfs' stronghold, so they didn't have much farther to go
before they reached their destination.  They were, finally, back on course
and they were where they should have been, had they not been forced to take
so many detours along the way.  They were now only a few leagues from
Thorold and the dwarfs calculated that they should be able to get there
easily before dark tomorrow.  It should be fairly easy going from here on
out.

              *    *     *     *     *     *     *     *

If you have enjoyed reading this story, you will find other stories by me at
http://members.tripod.de/wolfslair, in the 'Other Stories' section.
E-mails may be sent to: bwstories8@aol.com.