Limbeck’s heart sank. The elf was moving confidently through the tunnels, which meant that the elves must know all about them. Did they know about the Heart Room and the metal man? Were the elves the ones responsible for shutting down the Kicksey-winsey?
The dwarf had to find out for certain and the one way to find out was to spy on the elves. He would see where they took Haplo and, if possible, what they did to him. And what he did to them.
Wadding what was left of his sock into a ball, Limbeck wedged the sock into a corner and, moving more quietly (without his boots) than any dwarf had ever moved in the history of the race, he crept down the hall after Haplo and the elf.
Haplo had no idea where he was, except that he had been brought to one of the underground tunnels dug by the Kicksey-winsey. Not a Sartan tunnel… No. A quick glance at the wall confirmed his thinking. No Sartan runes, anywhere. He banished the thought as swiftly as it came. Of course, the serpents now knew about the secret Sartan tunnels, if they didn’t know about them before. But best not to let them know anything else, if he could help it.
Except that Bane…
“The boy?” The serpent-elf glanced at Haplo. “Don’t concern yourself. I sent him back with my men. They’re real elves, of course. I’m their captain—Sang-drax is my name in elven. Rather clever, don’t you agree?* Yes, I’ve sent Bane along to the real elves. He’ll be of far more value to us in their hands. Quite a remarkable mensch, that Bane. We have great hopes for him.
“Drax” means “dragon” in elven. “Sang” means snake.
“No, no, I assure you, master.” The red eyes flickered. “The child’s not under our control. No need. Ah, but here we are. Feeling better? Good. We want you to be able to concentrate fully on what the Royal One has to say.”
“Before you kill me,” Haplo mumbled.
Sang-drax smiled, shook his head, but he made no response. He cast a casual glance up and down the corridor. Then, keeping a firm grip on the Patryn, the serpent-elf reached out, knocked on a door.
A dwarf opened it.
“Give me a hand,” said Sang-drax, indicating Haplo. “He’s heavy.”
The dwarf nodded. Between them, they manhandled the still-groggy Patryn into the room. The dwarf kicked at the door to shut it, but didn’t bother to see if he’d succeeded. Apparently, they felt secure in their hideout.
“I have brought him, Royal One,” called Sang-drax.
“Enter and welcome to our guest,” was the response, given in human.
Limbeck, stealing along behind the two, soon became completely lost. He suspected the elf had doubled back on his own trail, and he watched anxiously, half afraid that the elf would come across the woolen thread. But Limbeck concluded he must have been mistaken, for they never did.
They traveled a great distance through the tunnels. Limbeck grew tired of walking. His bare feet were icy cold and bruised from stubbing his toes on walls in the dark. He hoped that Haplo would start to feel better; then, with Limbeck’s help, they could both jump the elf and escape.
Haplo groaned, didn’t look particularly energetic, however. The elf didn’t appear concerned over his prisoner. He would pause occasionally, but that was only to shift his burden more comfortably on his shoulders. He’d then continue on, an eerie red glow—coming from some unknown source—lighting his way.
“My goodness, elves are strong,” Limbeck remarked to himself. “Far stronger than I’d imagined.” He noted down this fact to be taken into account should full-scale war ever be mounted against the enemy.
They took many twists and turns down winding corridors. Then the elf came to a halt. Easing the injured Haplo back against the wall, the elf glanced casually up and down the corridor.
Limbeck shrank back into a convenient passageway located directly across from where the elf was standing and flattened himself against the wall. Now Limbeck knew the source of the eerie red glow—it emanated from the elf’s eyes.
The strange eyes with their fiery gaze flared in Limbeck’s direction. The horrible, unnatural light almost blinded him. He knew he’d been discovered and he crouched, cowering, waiting to be apprehended. But the eyes’ flaming gaze passed right over him, flitted on down the corridor, and back again.