Outtakes from MLTF -- The Undercity, Part 3 of 3

Today is the last part of The Undercity scene that didn't make it into the final version of Magic Lost, Trouble Found. (I posted the first two parts over the past two days, so scroll down and read it all at once, if you'd like.) I'd posted a different version of this scene last month -- that one took place in The Ruins; this scene is in Mermeia's Undercity. Karl Cradok, the crime lord of Mermeia, has kidnapped Quentin. If Raine gives Karl the amulet, she gets Quentin back in one piece. In streamlining the book, my editor and I decided that the Karl/Quentin subplot had to go. But both Karl & Quentin are still in reserves as characters to be included in future books. Karl's a slippery one, and Quentin's known for getting into everything--so who knows where they'll turn up? ; ) Enjoy!

As I climbed down, the rickety wooden ladder groaned, but held. Most of the wooden beams supporting the packed earth tunnel had seen better days. Some had fallen away altogether leaving no visible means of support. I had a spell in mind should the tunnel pick sometime in the immediate future to collapse. It was one of those things I hoped didn't happen, but considering recent events, I thought it prudent to be prepared.

The Undercity was a lovely place, full of damp and mold, and slimy things that slithered into dark corners. No doubt Karl felt entirely at home. Parts of it also routinely flooded during high tide. Like I said, a lovely destination.

Eiliesor was non-committal. Phaelan didn't like it at all. Janek and I didn't like it either, but then we'd been here before and had good reason for our mutual case of the heebie-jeebies.

"An underground city," the paladin murmured.

"Basically," Janek said. He spoke in the barest whisper and used a muffle spell to keep the sound from traveling in front of us. "Most of Mermeia's built on a swamp. Not the most stable place to build. Backfilling helped, but not enough. The first buildings sank, the second efforts were built on top of the first. Those didn't sink. Most of the time."

Phaelan looked around uneasily at the wet walls. "Kind of like a drowning man climbing on someone else's shoulders to save himself."

"Kind of." Janek grinned. "Nervous, Captain?"

"Damn right. I'm a sailor. Water's supposed to be under you, not rushing down an underground alley when the tide turns."

"The water down here doesn't rush, Phaelan," I assured him, or at least tried to.

Last time I was down here, the water didn't rush--I opened a door and it just fell on me. I didn't even try to hold back the shudder that came with that fond memory. Karl had some nasty little surprises tucked away down here. This time I was determined not to trigger any of them.

"Not usually," Riggs added. "Sometimes Mermeian construction standards leave a lot to be desired." His face lit up with a boyish grin. "Made it easy to catch William Lark's smuggling ring, though. Once that wall collapsed, the canal flooded the place and shot Bill and his gang out the Dock Street sewer tunnels like rats out of a hole."

Phaelan's horrified expression indicated he didn't need to know that.

The tunnel we were in parted in three directions, another fork appeared further down the left and right tunnels. The one in the center curved after another twenty feet or so, but didn't fork. Karl was trying to get crafty. I'm sure those tunnels led somewhere, but it wasn't anywhere we wanted to go, and nothing living down there was anything we wanted to meet. Being able to find things wasn't only relegated to objects or people. I could also find my way. Usually. Everyone had an off day. Besides, I'd been here before.

"Which way?" Mychael asked.

"Center tunnel." It was the one without any forks. It was also the darkest. Those who guarded Karl may be the biggest, but they weren't necessarily the brightest. He tried to keep it simple for them. Keeping them from stumbling into some of the Undercity's less desirable areas kept them alive to protect him a little longer.

"Is that what the beacon is telling you?"

"No, it's what I already know."

Phaelan peered into the gloom. "Hmmm, looks dangerous." He nudged me in the ribs and winked. "You go first."

"Me?"

"That necklace of yours hasn't let you get killed yet. I'm thinking it's not going to stop playing watchdog now."

Chivalry isn't dead, but sometimes when it gets around Phaelan it takes a nap. Apparently, he thought the beacon was dependable. I wished I shared his confidence.

On Monday, I'll announce the identity of the next Character-of-the-Week. Send me your questions throughout next week and the character in the "hot seat" will answer them next Saturday.