Evan used the spell, Darkbreaker, forming a small green fireball in his palm, cutting through the immediate gloom. Emillia followed suit, though her fireball trembled, much like its caster.

“Don’t be scared,” he tried to reassure her. “We’ll look out for each other. I promise.”

Emillia smiled at him gratefully. “I know, it’s first time nerves. I just don’t want to screw up.”

He understood why the gnomes had dubbed this place the Underworks. The stone walls pressed in on either side. The path was so narrow that Evan knew a larger race, such as an ogre or a troll, wouldn’t have managed to squeeze through. He suspected that might’ve been the gnomes’ intention when they’d built the underground network. Evan’s head brushed the passage’s ceiling as he walked. He felt like a rat in a sewer.

Sintian leapt down the steps, landing gracefully beside them. “Grab your weapons,” Sintian ordered. “We’ll need to save our magic. We don’t want to be all out when we reach the cultists.”

Evan took note, drawing his sword with his free hand. The rasp of Ruaden leaving its scabbard was deafening in the silence. Ruaden was currently in the shape of a dagger, but as Evan held it high he turned the transmutation dial on the hilt, causing Ruaden to lengthen into a sword.

Eventually the Underworks grew higher and wider, opening up into small clearings with several other tunnels that all veered off in different directions.

Fortunately, Turon had been lucky about the directions to Brisnik’s tavern. Scratched into the stone of each new tunnel were various names. One tunnel read: Market! Another was signed: Rat Racing This Way. It was the tunnel furthest to the left, however, which read: Brisnik’s Bolthole, that had to be the one.

They set off down this tunnel quickly. The only noise around them, was their own breathing, which became heavier the longer they walked. After several long minutes they arrived at a much larger clearing. There were only two tunnels here, either side of the cavernous space. One side said that it led to Brisnik’s whilst the other said: Danger! Keep away from this one, you blighters.

“What the hell?” said Emillia, voicing what Evan was thinking.

“I don’t know, but let’s not wait to find out,” he said.

Before Evan took another step, a strange squeaking echoed in the dark. He froze and looked to the others. “Did you hear that?”

The squeaking came again, and again.