The Tower in the Shadows

"At least it's not raining."

The groan from the rest of the group that followed this statement was not a surprise.

The six of them, with three-pack donkeys, were moving into a valley much deeper in the Shadow Way Mountain range than they typically did. They were deep into the forest that covered all the valleys.

"How much farther are we going to go, Aldric?"

Aldric stopped, which halted the rest as he turned. Looking over the five others, he weighed his answer.

"Another day at most unless we find a spot to investigate."

There were some groans, but they all understood. They were a mining scouting expedition. They were all men of the Nescan City States with brown hair, eyes, and weather-beaten olive skin. They were equipped with few weapons but quite a bit of mining gear and rugged clothing. Supplies were still good; as it was summer, hunting had been plentiful. But the change of seasons was soon and no one in the party wanted to be in these mountains when it came.

"Come on, men! Our families in Tyboon are counting on us."

"Not as much as the Nescan tax collectors!"

This came from Sotum, the group's joker and Aldric's oldest friend. They all laughed at his antics, which had helped with the long journey and many failures. Aldric did not admit it, but he was getting worried. Travelling as deep as they had into the mountain range had been a risk, as they usually just skirted the edges, looking for surface-level deposits revealed by the past winter's weather. This year, he had organised a group to go deeper.

"It is nearly midday. We will stop for food before pushing on."

This pleased the group as they dug out travel rations and water flasks. Aldric walked further up a slop to see if he could get a better view.

He saw the river they had been following in the distance, not too far away. They had been forced to make a detour but had found it again. The valley was covered in the same dense trees as the last they had traversed.

"See anything?"

Sotum said as he came up behind him.

"Yes, there's the river."

He pointed to the water flowing in a break in the trees.

"Thank the Gods! We have a route home."

"You're right. It is so easy to get lost in these woods."

Aldric was sure they all feared this fate as the forests were dense and dangerous. His friend was quiet, looking back at the others and Aldric knew something was on his mind.

"What is it?"

Sotum looked at him, concerned about something.

"It's Randar and Justim."

Aldric said nothing; he just faced his friend and waited.

"I think…..I think they are also on a Pixie hunt."

Aldric hissed through his teeth. This was the worst thing he could have heard. Addiction to Hylonia's Kiss had devastated parts of many cities. The only thing that had halted the rate of addiction was the near extinction of the Pixie race and the withdrawal deaths of most addicted to it.

"Are you sure!"

He was insistent but kept his voice low so as not to carry.

"Saw a net in their gear last night strapped to their donkey."

Aldric let out a deep breath. This strangely made sense. He did not know the two men as they had joined the group at the last minute with their own supplies and a donkey to carry them.

"What are we going to do?"

Sotum asked, wondering what his friend would do.

"According to the Old Empires maps of this region, there was a watch tower over the rise there." He pointed to a small hill a few leagues away. "I planned to hopefully find its ruins and use them as a base for scouting this valley. There was no change to that, but tonight, we must talk with Randar and Justim."

The rest of the day went as planned for the group. They crossed through the trees and began walking up a hill. Aldric had told them that an Old Empire watch tower over the rise and its ruins would be the base camp from which they would scout the local mineral deposits.

This gave them extra energy, as they knew that the first part of the journey was almost over.

The forest around them mainly comprises three types of trees: Black Pine, Evergreen Oak and Shadow Beech. These trees added to the land's reputation as eerie and unwelcoming. They blocked out what little light there was; underneath, the canopy was always dark with twisting shadows. Nothing but moss lived under most of it, covering the ground in a spongy layer they had to walk on. This made travelling harder, as the moss hid depressions and rocks.

Branches and sticks were common, making firewood plenty full when they camped at night. Many were fashioned into walking sticks that were used to test the ground as they walked. During the day, they used light stones to help them navigate through the forest. The soft white light gave them a limited view, but it was better than nothing.

As they crested the rise, they all saw the gap in the trees. There was no wall of light to meet them as the mountain's shadow now hung over the area. They stopped and looked over the rest of the valley, surprised by what they saw.

A Cythian Watch Tower.

Standing. Apparently, it is still intact but overgrown with plants. They were not too far away, and what seemed to be a treeless floodplain separated them. They would have to go down and then up the other rise to reach it.

"That's odd."

Aldric heard Sotum say as they checked the area for threats before advancing to the building. He had the same mindset as his friend. The Old Empire built things well, but without maintenance, the elements should have worn down that tower and its support wings.

"Do you think anyone is living there?"

Sotum asked him. Turning to him, he saw the concern in his eyes.

"Only one way to find out."

Aldric said and began the descent onto the floodplain. The others followed him, ensuring the donkeys did not trip and fall on uneven ground. That would be a significant issue for the expedition.

Crossing the distance did not take long and the others talked about how they were ready to start. This area had been abandoned not long before the collapse of the Old Empire and even then, was never genuinely explored for mineral deposits.

The others did not initially notice Aldric and Sotum's concern, but they fell silent when they reached the building proper.

"What do you think, Aldric?"

Sotum asked the question they were all now thinking. The group were all in their twenties. Eager men in their prime to find fortune, but no one in this world and profession made it to their age by being stupid. Aldric was the oldest and most experienced and the others listened to him.

"We search the grounds around the building first. Then, if we see no signs of tracks, we check the building. Randar, Justim, stay and guard the donkeys."

The two men nodded and the rest spread out and walked around the building. When they were out of sight, Justim checked the door. It is the only part of the exterior with no plants growing up.

"What are you doing?"

Randar hissed at him.

"Just seeing what's here."

It opened without any resistance. Looking in, he saw a room with a fireplace and some furniture. Another door was located directly across from him.

A quick flash of soft pink light caught his attention.

"Give me the tracking crystal now!"

"What… why?"

"Stop talking and give it here."

Randar mutters under his breath but pulls the crystal from one of their bags on the donkey. He hands it to the other man and leans through the doorframe. The crystal is in the palm of his hand and after a few seconds, it glows a faint pink. Justim withdraws back from the doorway and turns to show his partner.

"Pixie."

Both men say in unison as they begin to grin. Before they say anything else, they hear the returning miners and quickly hide the crystal and close the door. Aldric and the others will soon be back with them.

"Anything?"

Justim asks the men.

"No signs of any tracks."

Sotum echo’s Aldric’s statement. So, there is no sign of anyone living here.

"Maybe someone was living here but has died."

"Maybe."

Sotum was talking to Aldric as he examined the building again. Something concerned the party leader, but they were unsure what. Sure, the building intact was strange, but there could be a dozen reasons.

"Are we going in?"

Justim prodded Aldric with the question. He and Randar were barely hiding their excitement.

"We enter. But only four of us. I want…."

"I will go in."

Justim cut Aldric off.

"So will I."

Randar added.

Aldric looked at the two men, unsure why they were so eager but instantly on alert. He was now sure something was going on here, but what?

"Very well."

Aldric turned and opened the doors in front of the group. The room was dark, as all the window shutters were closed. He made out a fireplace, table and chairs. More furniture and another open door were further back in the room.

"We will enter, but weapons drawn. Sydar, guard the donkeys."

The six men pulled their blades from the sheaths at their belts. They were all armed with Nascan short swords.

Aldric enters the room first, with the other four following him—they spread out as they entered as far as they could. Each was alert, looking for any dangers. They moved forward around the large table in the centre of the room. Aldric reached the other side and looked through the open door to the tower's base.

"Aldric!"

The five men span to face the entrance. Something was making the donkeys nervous.

"Shadow Wolves in the trees!"

Sydar was tense and sweating, looking towards something the others could not see outside the building.

"God's damn them! Get the donkeys in here and close the doors!"

The five men rush back to the entrance and pull the donkeys into the room. The animals' agitation only worsened as they crossed the threshold into the building. Aldric and Sotum closed and locked the doors while the others calmed the animals. Aldric lit the lantern with a light crystal in it.

"We need to check the rest of the building. How are the donkeys."

Aldric was looking around.

"They're still upset."

Sydar told him. Aldric continued looking around.

"Sotum, light the fire. We need more light in here. We cannot risk opening the shutters."

Sotum was soon at the fireplace setting the fireplace. He pulled out a striker and flint. He was working to get the fire going. The fire caught and was soon roaring in the fireplace.

"I will stay with the donkeys."

"Thank you, Sydar. The rest of us will search the building."

Randar was standing with his back to the group at the door to the tower. Aldric was unsure but thought he saw a flash of light as he turned the lantern off. He should have noticed Justim taking a pack from their donkey. They moved into the building.

"Light the torches on the wall. It's too dark in here."

The four torches are lit on the wall, removed from their holders and spread to the others, apart from Aldric.

"Justim and I will head down into the basement and look around."

Aldric looked hard at him. He was not sure what his game was. But at the moment, he needed to secure the building.

"Very well. Meet us back at the entrance when you are done."

They nod to him and walk down the stairs. The twisting staircase took them from the sight of the others. Aldric turned to the others.

"Let's start with that door."

## ## ## ## ##

Justim turned as they reached the next floor, checking that they were not followed.

"Randar, why are we down here?"

Randar turned at Justim's concerned whisper. He looked up the stairs to see if they were being followed. Once satisfied, he pulled the crystal he used earlier and showed it to his companion.

"The pixie's trace is stronger down here. Get the net out and give me the lure."

The other pulled the pack off his shoulder after he put his sword back into its sheath. He was forced to put the flaming torch down as he assembled the net and handed the lure to Randar.

Randar placed the small bag into a pocket but was forced to put his sword under the arm holding his torch.

"The cage in the bag?"

"Yes."

Justim showed him the lantern-shaped cage to hold a pixie. He then closed it.

"Ready?"

Justim nodded after standing. The net and torch prevented him from holding his sword, so he would have to rely on Randar to protect him. The pack was again slung over his shoulder.

"Let's go."

They continued to descend, moving as silently as possible, trying not to spook their prey. They reached the basement floor and encountered the first thing that concerned them.

"The stairs keep going."

Justim whispers to Randar. He nods, unsure of what this means. The Old Empire military buildings were built to the same standard design across the lands it once covered.

"So?"

Before he could answer, they both saw a brief flash of soft pink light from further down the stairs. Randar motioned and they continued. Because of their torches, they could not get too close yet.

They continued down as the stairs took them deeper into the earth. They reached the second floor and still, the stairs went on.

"Randar, this is not right!"

Justim was afraid now and was barely whispering. Before Randar could speak, the pink light was visible further down the stairs. Greed soon overtook the fear both men were feeling.

"We continue."

Again, they continue further down. The wind stairs continued as they caught the flash of light drawing deeper. Eventually, they reached the third level, where the stairs ended. They found the only corridor leading from the stairs and followed it.

They came to an open doorway on their left and a closed one on their right. The light led them to the left. Randar walked through into a room with Justim close behind. Something was different and it was Justim who expressed it.

"Randar……Why is there grass on the floor?"

Both were looking down, but before anything else could be said, there was an angry squeal as a black boar charged from the darkness.

Then the screaming started.