Chapter Twelve
After what seemed like hours of weaving in and out of the watery tunnels in the semi-darkness and making no progress at all, the old sage collapsed on the damp ground, his breath coming in ragged gasps. Cecil knelt beside him, waiting anxiously for the coughing fit to pass…
"Master Tellah --"
The old man shook his head, his white beard flecked with blood…
"We…must…rest...here!"
He managed to croak between coughs…Cecil nodded in agreement and motioned for Rydia to take the torch. They helped Tellah sit comfortably on the rocky ground before both of them took a seat beside him.
"Is there anything I can do?" Rydia asked eagerly before yawning. Cecil shook his head trying to hide a smile…
"You did enough back there with your bow!"
She beamed proudly then flounced onto the ground, giggling.
"I told you I know how to shoot a bow!"
Cecil nodded, not daring to contradict her.
"And I believe you now!"
Even the old man smiled weakly…awkward silence soon drifted over the group…A light snore from the little girl indicated that she was fast asleep…
After a while Tellah broke the silence:
"She must have been very tired…"
He motioned toward Rydia with a sweep of his frail hand. Cecil nodded…he didn't know what to say…
A pause…
"She is not an ordinary little girl --"
Cecil glanced up quickly…how did the old man know…? Tellah was also looking at Cecil, his eyes shining in the torchlight…
"She is a --"
"--summoner of Mist…" Cecil supplied hurriedly. He studied the old man to see his reaction.
"--Possibly the only summoner of Mist…"
But I won't tell you why, Cecil added silently…although the wise old man probably knows that too…
"She is a very special child," Tellah gazed at her lovingly. "She reminds me of Anna when she was a young girl…"
Cecil nodded.
"--Anna is your --"
"--only daughter…"
The old man finished with a sigh. Then he turned to Cecil, his eyes glimmering angrily.
"She ran way to Damcyan with a bard because I would not consent to their marriage…"
Silence…the little girl's steady breathing and the dripping of water in the cave were the only sounds…the light of the fire was making Cecil drowsy, and he was nearly asleep when the old man spoke once again:
"What is your reason for traveling to Damcyan?"
A pause…Cecil drew a deep breath…
"A friend has the desert fever…I came to find a sand ruby from the cave of the ant-lion…" He leaned back as Tellah nodded.
"Then you too are in a hurry…"
It was Cecil's turn to nod in agreement…he looked at the old man curiously…
"What kind of monster is in these caves?"
Tellah shuddered and frowned.
"I have heard that it is a huge beast that eats all who dare to disturb it ---"
He shook his head hopelessly.
"--But it is the only way to get to Damcyan!"
"Then it's the way we have to go…" Cecil replied with determination…he laid his head back onto the hard ground, unaware of the rough surface…he was very tired all of a sudden…
The fire blazed cheerfully as they slept in the cold dark caves of the Cappodocian Mountains…
* * * * * *
Cecil woke to the sound of muffled giggles…he yawned and stretched…his back ached from sleeping on the cold hard ground but he forced himself to roll over…through his hazy vision he could see Rydia grinning broadly, one hand over her mouth as if she meant to stifle her giggles…one hand held the frail hand of Master Tellah …
"Good morning!" was the old man's greeting, and Rydia let out another series of giggles as Cecil slowly dragged himself to his feet.
"You were snoring loud, Cecil!" she announced…Cecil felt his face flush…he almost insisted otherwise but thought better of it…even the old sage smiled…
"Are you ready, Sir Cecil?"
Cecil nodded…he stooped over to retrieve his sword and slung the sheath over his head…
With Rydia acting as leader, the three travelers started through the dark tunnels again…they waded through pools of water much to Cecil's dismay…in doing it he thought of the robed creatures they encountered earlier…he meant to ask the old man about them…
"Master Tellah --"
Cecil sloshed toward the old man.
"--What were those creatures we saw earlier?"
Tellah paused and glanced at the Knight in surprise.
"I…thought they were tramps…entering the cave to rob a poor old man…"
Cecil shook his head vigorously.
"They were some kind of strange creatures…" He shuddered when he recalled the face. "They walked like men but had the faces of dragons…"
Tellah froze.
"--Men with dragon faces?"
Cecil nodded uncertainly…did the old man know something about them…?
"And--" Cecil felt a chill creep up his spine…God it was awful thinking about the strange encounter...
"--And what..?"
Master Tellah gazed at him expectantly…
"--They had forked tongues…and fangs…."
Tellah shook his head.
"Dear God, it cannot be true --"
He began sloshing through the water with newfound strength…Cecil watched him with a frown before hurrying to catch him…
"What is it?"
The old man said nothing…he simply shook his head as if he did not believe what he heard…
"What do you know about them?"
Cecil finally grabbed the old man's arm and Rydia bounced beside them.
"Yeah! Tell me too!"
Tellah seemed to be ignoring them…he mumbled to himself…still shaking his head, his wispy white hair bobbing left and right…
"It was said to happen…but who would have guessed it could be now…?"
Cecil leaped in front of the old man, forcing him to stop.
"What would be now?" he demanded impatiently. "Quit telling these riddles!"
The old man glared at Cecil for hindering his progress and for speaking so impatiently, but as he was about to speak, a scream from Rydia interrupted him. Tellah spun around, startled, and Cecil followed his gaze toward the direction of Rydia's voice.
"AIEEEEEE!" she shrieked again and Cecil caught a glimpse of her seconds before she pitched forward in to the dark water, sputtering and thrashing wildly.
What in God's name is going on now? Cecil watched in horror as the little girl disappeared into the water…
"Stay here!" he commanded the old man then dashed in the direction of the little girl. He was uncertain as to exactly where she went under and he looked frantically left and right…at last she burst out of the water, coughing and choking and trying to squeal for help all in the same breath:
"HELP! Something's in the water!"
She went under again, the dark water cutting her voice off abruptly…Cecil lunged toward her and extended his arms, and at last he felt her hands clutch his tightly…
"Hold on!" he shouted to her as she thrashed about wildly. "I've got you!"
He gathered her into his arms and she gasped for breath and sobbed as Cecil gazed at her in concern.
"What?"
He frowned as she shifted in his arms.
"What was it?!"
"I don't know!"
Her crying stopped almost as soon as it started and she pointed to her legs.
"Something bit me!"
Cecil scowled as he noticed that her calf was covered in tiny puncture marks and bruises…God not something else…he cursed quietly to himself and hoisted her higher over his shoulder, starting again toward Master Tellah…
"Are you alright, child?"
Rydia nodded, blinking back tears.
"What happened?"
Tellah hobbled after the Knight as fast as he could.
"There's something in the water!" Cecil exclaimed. "Just keep walking!"
The old man asked for no further explanation and they safely made their way to the other side…he helped Rydia onto the embankment first…
"Are you sure you're okay?" Cecil inquired as he clambered out of the water. She nodded shakily and experimented by bounding left and right, nearly toppling into the water again. Cecil helped the old man from the dark water and they stood silently for a moment, gazing at their surroundings…they still seemed to be going nowhere he noticed in dismay…
A slight roaring sound far away caught his attention…he frowned thoughtfully…
"…Listen --"
Tellah seemed about to speak but he took the Knight's advice and also frowned thoughtfully…Cecil nodded…
There was definitely a steady rumbling from the distance…what it was he could not tell, but he wasn't sure if he wanted to know what it was…
"--Sounds like a storm…"
Tellah was first to break the silence…Cecil nodded but scowled again…a storm…? Not in the middle of the mountains…
Cecil motioned for them to follow him into the depths of the cave, hoping that they wouldn't discover what the rumbling was…and hoping that the old man was right when he said it was a storm…
Several ripples of water swirled in the dark water behind them as they disappeared into the darkness…
* * * * *
Cecil groaned…
The situation had suddenly and quickly went from bad to worse…
"Wow! This is gonna be fun!"
After emerging from a narrow and cramped tunnel, they found themselves in a large chamber…They also discovered the source of the steady roar…
Standing upon a huge cliff, Cecil found himself gazing directly into the dark and turbulent waters of a waterfall…he was keeping careful watch on Rydia, who was overjoyed at the idea of leaping into the waters and tumbling to the bottom of the cavern…
Which, as Tellah had reluctantly explained, was the only way to exit the cave…
"Are we gonna jump now, Cecil?"
Rydia nearly flung herself over the precipice in her excitement…Cecil made sure that he didn't answer too soon because she would have leaped at the slightest nod of his head…he said nothing directly to her and instead folded his arms over his chest seriously:
"Listen…since this is the only way out, we have to make sure we at least do this rationally --"
…I don't want anyone drowning at the bottom…he wanted to add…the old man nodded in agreement, looking quite nervous about attempting the feat…
"-- When we get to the bottom, we don't know when or if the monster will attack --" Cecil chose his words carefully so he wouldn't discourage either of his company from continuing. It was obvious that a pack of wild dogs waiting hungrily at the bottom wouldn't discourage Rydia…but Cecil was slightly concerned about the old man…
"--No matter what happens, we have to stay together!"
Cecil emphasized his last words; then as an afterthought:
"And Rydia --"
He stared at her pointedly.
"--Don't use your bow at all!"
She scowled and poked out her lower lip angrily. Cecil continued before she had a chance to defend her skills:
"When we get to the bottom, don't panic!"
He thought it sounded like an amazing suggestion…quite ridiculous actually…but he continued nevertheless:
"If you can't touch the bottom, tread water for as long as possible…I'll help you when we find out that everyone's okay…"
He finished, dropping his arms to his sides. The others nodded…Cecil watched the old man…
"Master Tellah, are you sure you'll be okay?"
Tellah waved the question aside nonchalantly.
"My strength will not fail until I see my daughter again!"
Rydia tapped her foot impatiently.
"Cecil! Come on!"
With a final sigh of defeat, Cecil nodded.
"Remember what I said!"
"--Stay together!" Rydia declared, her eyes sparkling as she gazed at the rushing water. Cecil meant to tell her that he was actually referring to her bow; but she had already grabbed Master Tellah's withered hand, laughing merrily.
"Come on, Master Tellah!" she urged, pulling him forward. "Let's jump!"
He clutched his staff with determination, giving Cecil a good-natured wink.
Then, holding hands, Tellah and Rydia plunged into the surging waters… Cecil waited for a moment longer before leaping behind them, wondering if this would be the craziest action he would ever take…
* * * * * *
Cecil shot to the surface of the dark pool, coughing furiously…to his relief he discovered that he water was not deep…it came only to his waist…He immediately scanned the area for Rydia and Master Tellah and after a heart-stopping moment, both of their heads emerged from the boiling waters. Rydia sputtered loudly in the water and shouted a greeting to Cecil. He was alarmed to see the water level reach to her neck…all that was visible of the little girl was her head…the old man was in chest-deep water several yards away…
Now…about the monster…
"Do you see anything?" Cecil ventured as quietly as possible. The old man shook his head grimly.
"Not yet…"
Cecil groaned…the way Tellah spoke it seemed that an encounter with the creature was inevitable…
"Maybe it's…hunting…somewhere…"
"Cecil!"
Rydia's shrill voice broke the silence…Cecil groaned again but turned toward the little girl.
"I can't even walk in here, Cecil!"
She waved her arms wildly above her head.
"The water's too deep!"
Rydia began haphazardly wading toward him. Cecil watched her for a moment…it was true…the water was too deep for her to remain safely standing…
"Hold on!"
Cecil started toward her, forgetting about the possibility of an attack by a creature.
"Wait there and I'll get you!"
To his surprise she obeyed, and he struggled against the flowing water. The cavernous room was silent except for the steady pounding of the water as it fell in torrents down the ledge…Cecil gazed up as high as he could and marveled at how far they had fallen…was it such a good idea to suggest leaping into the dark waters with no idea where we would be when we landed? No…but it was our only choice…Cecil smiled…I'm glad I didn't have to see it from here before I made that decision…
As he painstakingly made his way toward the girl, he thought he felt something brush past his leg…it's nothing, he told himself hastily…my imagination…
His heart leaped as he imagined what it might have been; just to be safe he kicked his leg into the waters…there was nothing…nothing at all…
A sudden chill crept through his body as he glanced into the dark water…he saw nothing…the water churned from the force of the waterfall…it's nothing…
Cecil hurried toward the little girl faster than before…
"Please hurry!"
Tellah gazed around the cavern nervously…Cecil nodded…I'm trying…
After his efforts the Knight arrived at Rydia's side. Despite her situation she was smiling gleefully.
"Cecil, my arrows are all wet!"
She brushed hair out of her mouth.
"But I didn't lose my bow!"
She displayed the weapon proudly…Cecil couldn't honestly say that he was overjoyed about it…but he offered her a half-hearted smile before gazing around the cavern.
"Come on…take my hand and I'll help you get on my back…"
"On your back?"
She gaped at him, extending her small hand reluctantly.
"You don't care..?"
"I don't care --" Cecil assured her quickly. "--Hurry!"
She giggled as he hoisted her from the water and tried to maneuver her onto his shoulders. Her fingers wrapped around his throat, cutting off his breath for a moment…
"Wait Cecil!"
She shrieked in his ear loudly, untangling her arms from the strap on his dark sword.
"Your sword's in the way!"
Cecil mumbled a curse…he had forgotten about his sword…
"Here…"
He gave her his hand again…
"Sit on my shoulders…"
She clutched his hand tightly and climbed to his shoulders…at one point she knocked his helmet sideways, blinding him, and he grunted and groped intently to reposition it…at last Rydia was seated proudly on his shoulders…Cecil didn't know how long she would be there, so he thought it to be the best idea to move as quickly and carefully toward Master Tellah as he could…As he pivoted toward the old man, Rydia's voice pierced the silence again:
"Master Tellah!"
In her excitement she almost toppled forward over Cecil's head.
"Look at me!"
She smiled and waved blissfully at the old man, who was wringing the water from his wispy hair…He offered her a weak smile but as he opened his mouth to reply, his eyes opened in horror…
"Dear God!"
Tellah disappeared into the depths of the water.
Cecil stared, terrified, and shouted for the old man…Bubbles churned violently where he submerged, and after a moment he surfaced, sputtering and screaming hoarsely… what now…?
Wrapped around his thin waist was a shiny scarlet tentacle…
The old man opened his mouth to scream again but the churning water gushed into his mouth…he disappeared again…
"Master Tellah!"
Cecil released Rydia's legs and snatched the Dark Sword from its sheath. Rydia's legs splayed out and off she toppled into the water with a splash. Cecil fought vainly to make his way toward the old man before he realized that he had lost Rydia…he whipped around frantically and saw her slapping around in the water…
"Rydia!" he shouted urgently. "Stay there!"
She didn't seem to be in danger so he turned back toward Tellah. The frail man struck at the thick tentacle with his staff. It glided hesitantly around his waist as he repeatedly struck at it…after several agonizing minutes Cecil arrived at Tellah's side gasping for breath…He lashed out with the sword and felt it bury into the tentacle…A hiss erupted nearby as blood glistened on the leathery tentacle, mingling with the water…Cecil whirled around after another hiss drifted from the water…
A dome-shaped head rose slowly, deliberately; a dimple in it indicated where the eye would open…a small mouth gaped in the water…the eye opened and glimmered wetly, a dark green iris peering around the cavern…
With another sinister hiss the head disappeared into the dark water…
"Master Tellah!" Cecil grabbed the old man’s thin shoulder. "Are you okay?"
Tellah gasped and choked weakly.
"Worry…not…about…me!"
He pointed a thin finger at Rydia.
"Bring…the child…over here…"
Cecil gazed back and saw Rydia’s head protruding from the water…
"Rydia! I’m coming!"
He started for her again, his eyes darting left and right to catch a glimpse of the hideous creature lurking beneath the water…
"Cecil, are you and Master Tellah okay?"
Rydia watched him wide-eyed.
"I’m scared!"
Cecil quickened his pace.
"Hold on! I’m going to take you back to Master Tellah!"
Tellah watched them fearfully.
"Beware of the beast Octomamm!" he shouted hoarsely. "Hurry as quickly as possible!"
When Tellah mentioned the beast, Cecil thought he felt something brush past his legs…he hastily plunged his hand into the water and groped around…nothing…he was only a few feet from Rydia…
"Cecil –"
She sounded frightened.
"—Did you see that big eel grab Master Tellah?"
As he reached his hand toward her and started to explain that it was not an eel, a gurgling hiss exploded nearby and a tentacle shot from the water, slithering around Rydia’s arm. Cecil recoiled in surprise and Rydia shrieked, jerking frantically and pummeling the tentacle with her fist…it refused to loosen its grip…
"HELP!"
The tentacle tightened and began to drag her into the water…good God not again…
"Hold on!"
Cecil gripped the slippery sword handle.
"Watch out!"
Cecil raised the sword high, threatening to slash the creature to pieces, but as he swung the sword toward the tentacle, another one shot toward him, encircling his waist…he snatched away from the serpent-like tentacle but another slithered up his thigh and coiled around his waist…
Rydia’s eyes were wide with terror…she still weakly pounded on the tentacle, but her mouth was inches from the churning water…
"Cecil!" she gasped breathlessly, her free arm groping wildly for him. He hacked at the tentacle but he was fast losing strength as the one oozed further up his waist…between breaths he managed to croak:
"Rydia! Go…to…Master…Tellah!"
Before she was dragged under the swirling waters she reached into the quiver on her back and snatched an arrow from it, stabbing it deep into the soft flesh of the tentacle. A high-pitched squeal gurgled from the water nearby, and as Cecil craned his neck away from the slimy tentacle that entwined his chest and shoulders, he glimpsed the scarlet, dome-shaped head rise from the water in the midst of the bubbles and steam…A single slit was etched into the hideous face, and it parted slowly to reveal a wet, sickening green eyeball with a deep black pupil…There was a small mouth, slightly open, which sputtered before it sank again…the tentacle around Rydia’s arm loosened, and she pushed it away hastily.
Master Tellah gasped as he glimpsed the tremendous octopus…
Instead of making her way toward the old man, Rydia struggled toward Cecil, who had tentacles coiled around most of his body…She grabbed at one and tried to tear it loose; when that didn’t work, she gritted her teeth and kicked fiercely at the tentacle underwater. She only succeeded in kicking Cecil’s shins but he couldn’t shout because a tentacle threatened to wrap around his mouth. Good God, Rydia get out of here, he wanted to scream; at last he tore the slimy tentacle from his mouth and yelled her name, but she immediately thwacked his shin with her boot, and the tentacle tightened around his mouth again…
"Master Tellah!"
Rydia squealed in Cecil’s ear…he squeezed a tentacle in his fist to force it loose; and the old man uttered a startled shout as the octopus’ head surfaced in front of him. His face was ghost-like…he lifted the staff in his frail arms and smacked the head repeatedly but with little effect.
Quick as a flash another tentacle darted around Cecil’s legs…his sword was wrenched from his hand and he had to breathe erratically through his nose…the dark horned helmet tipped back and nearly fell into the water…over the roaring of the waterfall and the violent thrashing of water he was dimly aware of Tellah grunting weakly as he clubbed the huge creature…
I can’t die like this, Cecil screamed at himself…For God’s sake I can’t die here…with a new found strength he grasped the tentacle and snatched it away from his mouth, spitting in disgust…the slime dribbled from his mouth but he ignored it as he shouted desperately at Rydia to help Master Tellah; she promptly drew her fist back and socked the tentacle directly into Cecil’s face, which in turn slapped his helmet from his head. The tentacle immediately curled around his head and concealed his face, blinding him and cutting off his breath…
Well, I guess I tried…his mind raced crazily as he discovered that he couldn’t breathe…he couldn’t move…I’ll die here after all with this creature…and Rosa will probably die too without the sand ruby wait what am I thinking she’s probably dead now so I don’t really care if I die too…
Tellah saw Cecil’s plight and watched helplessly as Rydia tried to help him. He knew he couldn’t make it to Cecil fast enough, and the octopus lurked between him and the Dark Knight. The huge looming eye finally opened and stared at the old man through its milky lens…He felt a tentacle start to wrap around his feeble leg, and with a shout of derision, Tellah flung himself through the water toward the lumpy head, his staff raised high…
With one last burst of strength the old man buried the wooden staff into the black pupil…
There was a sickening squish as the staff entered the staring eye, and greenish-yellow sludge began to seep from the socket…An ear-piercing shriek mingled with a loud blubbering as the head thrashed left and right.
Just as Cecil thought he couldn’t hold his breath any longer, the tentacles drooped lazily into the water; he shoved and kicked them aside…Rydia was so frightened that she envisioned him still bound tightly, so she planted a boot to his shin with such force that he cursed loudly and sprawled into the water…
"Cecil!"
Rydia reached out to grab his hand.
"NO!"
Cecil stood hastily despite the throbbing of his shins…
"I’m fine!"
Water splashed around his mouth as he backed away from her.
" Really!"
He spun around to Tellah, who was kneeling on the small embankment.
"Master Tellah!"
The man gasped weakly.
"Are you okay?!"
No answer…Cecil snatched his helmet from the water.
"Come on!" he instructed Rydia, reaching one arm around her waist and heaving her on his side. She bounced up and down, giggling as he made his way toward the old man.
When he finally reached the embankment, Cecil hoisted Rydia beside the pitiful man and tossed his helmet before scrabbling onto the side himself…
"Master Tellah?"
He knelt beside the sage.
"You’re not hurt, are you?"
Rydia also knelt beside them, and the old man gave a faint smile.
"Thank you…"
He breathed weakly.
"I…am…fine…"
Cecil nodded with relief…he helped the old man stand as Rydia peered at the sunlight, which was visible through the opening of the cave..
"Master Tellah –"
Her voice echoed unusually loud through the cavern.
"—You killed that big old snake, didn’t you?"
"Octopus –" Cecil finally had the opportunity to explain what the creature was.
"—It was an octopus…"
Rydia glared at Cecil then skipped to the old man’s side as he nodded at her with a determined look.
"Child, with the strength of God I was able to drive my staff into its eye…"
Cecil smiled ruefully.
"I hope his strength can cure my shins…"
"Oh!"
As Rydia approached him curiously, Cecil realized he had said the wrong thing.
"—What happened?"
She studied him with genuine concern.
"How did you get hurt?"
"It’s nothing," Cecil replied hastily, lest she prescribe some sort of unusual cure. She sighed with disappointment and hopped into the sunlight...it cascaded over her and made her greenish hair sparkle.
"Cecil –" she began thoughtfully. "Let’s go! I’m ready to get a sand ruby so we can help Rosa…"
"Wait –" Cecil said abruptly. "The ant-lion is a huge monster living in a dark cave."
He hoped his words would discourage her from wanting to go…
"—It’s too dangerous…"
Rydia spun around and stared at him wide-eyed. "But…I’m not scared of the dark!"
Cecil lowered his head…if only it were as simple as not being scared of the dark…he couldn’t possibly try to explain that to Rydia…he only said:
"When we get to Damcyan, you can stay and wait for me there until I get the sand ruby –"
"But I wanna go with you, Cecil!"
Cecil sighed…good Lord he hoped she didn’t start whining…he wouldn’t know how to take care of it…He stood and retrieved his horned helmet.
"Listen…in Damcyan there’ll be some more little girls and boys to play with, and –"
"Cecil –"
Rydia’s lower lip began to tremble.
"—You said you’d take care of me!"
Cecil froze…what can I say to that? I did make the promise…
"—I know…but –"
"You told that nice lady you’d take care of me!"
A tear trickled down her cheek.
"Rydia –" the old man gazed at her. "—Please listen to Sir Cecil –"
She burst into tears without warning and snatched her little bow from the ground.
"You have to take care of me, Cecil!" she sobbed…without another word she turned and scampered toward the sunshine peeping into the dank tunnel…
"Rydia!"
Cecil shouted desperately for her.
"Come back!"
He started after her as Tellah climbed painfully to his feet.
"Oh my heavens, do not let her stray too far!"
The old man hobbled as quickly as he could after the Knight.
As Cecil stepped into the bright sunshine, he was blinded. He heard Rydia’s voice call to him meekly.
"Cecil, look!"
When his eyes adjusted to the sudden bright light of the sun, he looked in the direction of her voice. His breath caught in his throat at the sight…
Standing several hundred yards away was the magnificent Damcyan Castle.
Even from a distance, it was obvious that something was terribly wrong…