User blog:Gandr Adderbane/Two Swords; Descent

Please read Two Swords; The Return of the Rapscallions before you read this, because this is the sequel. If anyone would be interested in being on an update list, say so in a comment.

Prologue: The Deep Places of the World
The mouse was sitting in a large circular cavern. He was not alone, around three or four score others sat around him in concentric circles. It was quite dark; the only illumination came from some phosphorescent lichen or moss that was growing on the wall, and also from a pair of strange, curved, blades on the mouse’s arms. They started at his elbows, and ended several inches past his hand. They were made of a clear glass-like material, and glowed with a pale light. All of the other mice in the cavern carried similar weapons, but unlike the center mouse’s, theirs were colored, and intricately carved in a variety of ways to resemble entwined vines, waves of water, or jagged bolts of lightning, and they were not glowing. They were silent, watching the one in the center, who after some time finally spoke.

“Yes, Naurimbor is coming again; I can feel it.”

Another of the mice answered, “How soon? Every day Gorthumbar and his armies draw closer; we cannot stop him. Not since Naurimbor came last time have the Deepmice been driven so far back.”

The mouse in the center looked at him, “I do not know, but it will be soon, meanwhile…” he paused. The quick patter of running footsteps was coming from a tunnel that led into the cave. A moment later another mouse stumbled into the cave. He was bleeding, and panting heavily.

After catching his breath, the newcomer babbled out his report, “They’re coming, lots of them, in the north tunnel! I left Tasardin, and Gondithil to hold the passage, but they won’t survive long without help!”

The center mouse glanced at his blades. The glow was noticeably brighter, and had taken on a blue tinge. He nodded, “We must go.”

All the mice in the cave surged to their feet. With the mouse with the glowing blades leading the way, they poured into the tunnel, shouting warcries.