"There's another one!"

"Get it!"

"YAAARRRGH!"

Spurred on by shouts from Slick and Hendrix, Red charged to the front of the group and swung his mighty battle-axe.

K-TANG!

The rugged blade bounced off of the stone with enough force to draw sparks.

"You missed!" Slick shouted.

"I see it, I see it!" grunted Red. The short, yet burly rogue spun on his heels and brought his weapon down in a fearsome arc. This time he did not miss.

SPLUTCH!
"EEEE-"

The rodent's dying cry ended suddenly as its head flew away from its body. It landed not far away with a barely audible 'thud.'

"Uh-huh," Red hummed. He picked up the headless rodent... which was the size of a small dog... and tossed it to Slick. Slick stuffed the bleeding carcass into a large sack... which was already bulging with similar contents.

"I think that's one for everybody, eh?" said Red.

"Maybe a couple more for good measure," Slick replied.

"I think the gentlemen are having far too much fun at this," said Dokan Maxwell. "Wouldn't you say so, Lara?"

Lara looked up at her mentor.

"Let them vent their frustrations out on the rats," she replied. "And accomplish two goals at once."

Dokan nodded, and Lara felt herself smile... knowing that she had given the correct answer. It seemed like it had been months since their fatal encounter with the worms, but it had only been a few days. A few days in a dark, isolated cave with a party that included men who's dispositions ranged from habitually dishonest to criminally insane. With nothing to kill except time and a few strange-looking centipedes, Princeton Park's group had begun to grow bored and restless... and that was a situation that neither Lara nor Dokan wanted any part of.

Thus, they were quite happy when the rats arrived.

The subterranean cave rats were generally similar to their above-ground cousins... differing only in their remarkable size, the paleness of thin coats, and their complete lack of eyes. Having lived in utter darkness for millions of generations, the rodents had simply discarded their sense of sight altogether. Lara suspected that they compensated with heightened senses of smell and hearing. They certainly seemed to have no trouble finding the party. While they were not overtly hostile, the rats had no fear of humans. They would wander the passages and approach the party without caution... possibly to investigate the strange noises or vibrations the humans had brought into the rodent's homes. The larger rats were immediately killed and claimed for food. The smaller ones usually just got stepped on, kicked aside, or thrown against the wall to see how much of a spatter they would make. The latter was one of Red's favorite pastimes.

"If the pattern holds true," Krycek said to Dokan. "Then at the end of this passage we'll run into a fifty-foot rat with fangs."

Lara eyed the mage with suspicion. She could tell that Dokan didn't trust him... so she wouldn't trust him either.

"I rather doubt that," said Dokan. He increased his pace to carry him away from the mage. Lara followed behind him. They passed by a small dead rodent that Zackery had dispatched with his boot. Lara turned her nose up at it.

"I take it that you don't like rats," said Dokan. He spoke in a soft whisper, intended for only Lara to hear.

"Not particularly. But they're now above worms and insects on my list of favorite vermin."

"There are plenty of all three in dungeons. You should keep that in mind."

"I don't intend on spending any time in anyone's prison."

"Oh? I certainly did."

"I'm sure you were there for a reason."

"Yes, I was. The reason was that I was caught."

"On purpose?"

"No, of course not. Why would I let myself get caught on purpose... that would be ridiculous."

"What about the cache of gold and jewels that the warden kept hidden in the lower levels?"

"Ahh... well... how'd you know about that?"

"You were the only man to escape from Damnation Isle... and not only did you escape, but you took the warden's treasure with you. It's one of my favorite stories."

"Well, the truth was a lot less glamorous than the legend, I assure you. And I wasn't the ONLY one to esc-"

"You DID escape with the treasure, didn't you?"

"That's beside the point... what I'm trying to say is that, no matter how good you are, you will eventually get caught."

"You're trying to talk me out of it again."

"No, girl, I am trying to educate you. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Lara sighed and nodded. She'd come to Dokan so that he could teach her to become the world's greatest thief... not to be lectured on her choice to become his protege. So far, Dokan had taught her amazingly little-

"On the contrary," said Dokan. "I've taught you a great deal."

"What? How did you-"

"Predicting thoughts is MUCH more useful than actually reading them. A lot easier, too."

"Teach me how to do that."

"You're not ready."

"Yes I am!"

"When you've mastered your OWN mind... when you know why you do the things that YOU do... THEN you'll be ready to attempt an understanding of someone else. Not before."

"Well, what WILL you teach me?"

"Me? Nothing. But... I do believe there is something you can learn from these rodents."

"Rats? You wish me to learn from rats?"

"Indeed."

"Learn what?"

"You tell me. What about these animals strikes you as noteworthy?"

"They have no eyes."

"Precisely. And do you know why?"

"Because they live in darkness. They have no need for eyes."

"So they adapted," said Dokan. "They lost one sense in exchange for greater sensitivity in the others. They adapted to the situation."

"But earlier, you said that we much CHANGE the situation-"

"And how do you suppose these rats would make light to see, eh? Sometimes you change the situation... other times, the situation changes you. YOU must be wise enough to know the difference."

"EEEEee-" another rodent squealed as Red decapitated it.

"The rats are blind," said Lara. "A stupid adaptation... now they're at a disadvantage against enemies that can see."

"True," said Dokan. "But they're just rats. Any common animal has the capability to adapt... what separates us from them is that we can choose the manner in which we adapt. Or chose not to adapt at all."

"I see," said Lara.

"Not yet. But you will one day."

"EXCUSE ME!" Sutton Woodbridge called from the rear of the group. "I don't wanna be interruptin' everybody's fun with killin the rats and all... but my FEET are tellin me that it's time to make camp and rest for the night. Or for whatever passes for night in this damned place."

"Yeah, these rats is gettin heavy!" said Slick. The sack of deceased rodents was weighing the con-man down.

"We camp here," said Dokan. Lara saw him glance at Princeton Park, the other supposed 'leader' of the party. She knew that Dokan wasn't seeking approval, but was merely given Park yet another opportunity to embarrass himself and display his utter lack of authority. Park declined... this time... so everyone stopped where they were and began making arrangements for the night.

Firewood was in short supply, but a cooking fire was nonetheless created with a few patches of moss and a lot of Krycek's magic. Soon the cave was filled with the less-than-appetizing scent of roasting rodent-flesh. Naturally, the smell of cooking meat attracted more rodents.

"Cannibals!" Slick spat. Red threw a piece of meat to one of the large rodents that wandered around the edge of the camp. It grabbed the meat and scurried off... much to the amusement of several members of the party.

They camped in a large group, with Princeton's party clustered together on one side of the fire, and Dokan's on the other. Thonia and her two remaining slaves had somehow managed to create their own fire without the use of magic, and they camped a short distance away. Rath Raathruiné slept by himself a good distance away from the others. It was his own choice, but Lara doubted that the others would have allowed him near them anyway... the man's flesh literally crawled. Hundreds... possibly thousands of worms still tunneled their way through his body, occasionally poking their tiny, round white heads out of his skin and wiggling around in the air before plunging into his body again. For the first day or so, Rath's flesh regenerated faster than the worms could eat it... but now the things had multiplied to the point that even his strange metabolism was taxed to the limit. He still walked at the front of the party, using his enhanced senses to scout the area in front of them, but now moved a lot slower than he had been. Lara caught him limping once or twice. And every once in a while he'd succumb to fits of violent coughing. He'd cough up a few bloody worms, spit them out, wipe his mouth on his sleeve and continue on as if nothing had happened. The coughing spells happened with increasing frequency, with their duration and violence steadily growing worse.

"Don't stare at him," Dokan cautioned Lara. He'd just caught her looking at Rath. "He doesn't want your pity."

"But-"

"For now, the worms are content to stay inside him... an all-you-can-eat buffet. As long as they aren't squirming over onto the rest of us, then its none of our concern. Not yet."

Lara nodded, still wishing that there were something she could do for the man.

"Perhaps you should visit with your Amazon friend."

"She is not my friend. And she stinks."

"We have ALL been without the benefit of a bath for quite a while-"

"She stank on the first day."

"Oh... well, the Amazons are renowned for many things. hygiene is not one of them. But perhaps there's something you can learn from her... or teach her."

"You're trying to get rid of me."

"Yes, now go."

Lara nodded and walked through the camp toward where the Amazon and her slaves rested. She felt the cold eyes of the rest of the party following her. She ignored them. She looked back at Dokan and saw him writing something in a book. No doubt it was a book of profound secrets he didn't want her to know. She wondered if he would be pleased or angry of she stole the book from him and read it. Probably both.

Lara left the light of the camp's fire and entered the smaller area of Thonia's camp. The Amazon watched her as she approached.

"Your master send you to spy upon me?" said Thonia.

"He isn't my master-"

"I know he is not your slave, either.. none of these males are. Still, your attempt to fool me shows cunning. Tell me, was it your idea, or his-" She pointed at Dokan, who was pretending not to notice.

"I..uhh... his. He thought it would make things easier, since you don't' like men."

"I DO like males," said Thonia. "They make excellent slaves."

Lara eyed Thonia's two male slaves. They one was cooking rat-meat over the open fire. The other was cleaning Thonia's hunting equipment. The equipment hadn't been USED...but it apparently needed to be cleaned every day.

"Sit," said Thonia. She patted the ground next to her. Lara sat down, but didn't get too close.

"Where is your weapon, girl?"

"Dokan says that-"

"The old one does not permit you to have one?" Thonia grunted with displeasure.

"Of course he does. I just don't need one."

"Nonsense. You expect to become a warrior or a hunter with no weapon?"

"I don't want to be either one of those things."

"Nonsense. All women are warriors."

"Just like all men are slaves?"

"Mmmmm..." Thonia nodded in agreement. "Although some are deluded into thinking otherwise."

"If the Amazons think that all men are slaves... then how-"

"Some slaves are for cooking... some for carrying loads, or cleaning weapons. And others are for satisfaction. And breeding."

"Oh."

"Like that one..." Thonia pointed at the Missionary. He was saying a long prayer over a rather healthy portion of roasted rat. "He would sire many strong hunters. And many hours of-" Thonia looked down at Lara. "-of things you know nothing of."

"You like him?" said Lara.

"Like?" Thonia frowned.

"Why don't you go and talk to him."

"Talk? Why? If I wished to bed him, then I would simply take him."

"And if he didn't want to?"

"Want?"

"Amazons don't believe in love?" said Thonia.

"The love of battle. The love of the hunt. The love that is the bond between sisters. All other desires are weak."

"You really think so?"

"I know this to be true," said Thonia. There was something in the Amazon's voice... a twinge of regret that Lara detected instantly. But she decided to let the matter go. One of the first things she learned as a thief was that prying into other people's pasts was equivalent to digging ones own grave.

"You have such interesting weapons," she said instead. "Where do you get them?"

"A warrior's tools must be made by her own hand... taken from a vanquished enemy... or given freely to her by an elder warrior."

"Why would you take weapons from someone you defeat... it obviously didn't serve THEM very well-"

"You speak as a child," said Thonia. "A child believes that it is weapons that vanquish foes, when in truth it is the warrior's heart that conquers."

"Ohhhh... Dokan would say that it is the mind that is most important."

"Heart and mind are the same in a true warrior. For it to be otherwise is a sure road to death and dishonor."

Lara had to think about what the Amazon had just said. Not to understand it, but to overcome her surprise that the Amazon had said something so profound.

"I suppose that's true for anything... not just war."

"All is war. There is nothing else. There are enemies here-" Thonia waved her arm in front of her. "And enemies here-" She tapped her palm against her own chest. "All is war. If you are not a fighter, then you are a slave. Or a meal."

Again, Lara was taken by surprise. She resolved to find out more about Amazon philosophy.

"And you are unarmed," said Thonia. "Only children and fools are unarmed. You are too old to be a child."

Thonia motioned to Seerig and barked something at him in a language that Thonia didn't know. The slave rummaged through Thonia's weapons and handed her a small wooden box. She nodded and said something else... Seerig went back to cleaning.
Thonia gave the box to Lara.

"What is this?"

"Now you are not a fool."

Lara opened the box. Inside it was a small round disk, four inches in diameter. Actually it was two disks attached at their center, with a groove running between them. There was a small cord round around the center, and the cord had a ring on one end. Lara took the object out and examined it from several angles. It had a nice weight, with good balance... like a throwing dagger. But clearly it was not a knife.

"You have balance and speed," said Thonia. "But not much strength. This is a weapon for one such as you."

"How does... what is it?"

Thonia took the ring and slipped it on one of Lara's fingers.

"Hold it like this." Thonia positioned Lara's hand so that she held the disk in her palm facing the ground. "Move your wrist this way... and release the pendulum like so-" Thonia made motion with her hand. Lara copied it... she flicked her wrist up, then down, then up again. The disk spun as it descended on the cord, sinking toward the ground... spinning rapidly, yet crawling along its cord like a spider on a web... then zipping back up into Lara's waiting grasp.

"Now this-" Thonia made another motion, which Lara imitated perfectly. This time she threw the spinning disk out away from her... it reached the end of its six-foot string and came back smoothly.

"Now..." Thonia took the disk and pushed a small button on one side. Circular blades popped out of sides the disks. "Now you can slice an enemy's throat before they realize that this is no mere child's toy. There are many types of blades within the disk... some are more useful than others. But now you must be careful when you catch it-"

"Like this?" Lara flung the disk out and caught it effortlessly when it returned.

"Too slow and imprecise," said Thonia. Lara thought she'd done it quite well. Thonia took the weapon from her and turned to Egry, the other slave. She shouted something. Egry took a chunk of rodent meat out of the fire and tossed it into the air-

zzzZZZZTH-TH!!

Thonia deployed the spinning disk so fast that even Lara was surprised. The blade sliced the morsel of meat in half... and then sliced one of the HALVES in half on the return trip. Thonia caught the 'toy' with a snap of the wrist. She returned it to Lara.

"Master that, then I shall teach you more."

"Thank you."

"Go now. Rest. I will not allow these lazy males to force us to camp so early tomorrow."

Lara nodded and returned to the others. They were all asleep now, except for the Rune Missionary. He was on watch, standing at perfect, unmoving attention at the far edge of camp. He glanced at Lara. Lara changed directions and walked over to him.

"She likes you," she said.

"That is unfortunate," The Missionary replied.

"Do you not like women... or do you not consider her to be one?"

"Neither," he replied. "I am a servant of the Lord of the Rune. Every part of my being is devoted to the protection of the innocent."

"You are like a knight, then?"

"Knights serve kings and other worldly powers... MY master is the lord of heaven itself. The king of kings... the one true god."

"Riiiight."

"You doubt what you have already seen of his power?"

"I've seen lots of priests do lots of things. There are probably as many gods as there are people in the world."

"Shadows and illusions... and lesser beings masquerading as the divine."

"That's what they all say."

"You are free to believe as you wish. The Lord of the Rune does not rule by fear or force... like the false gods that men claim to serve."

"There's a new one," said Lara.

"'Tis true. I would not serve a being that controls his followers with fear and threats of divine wrath... a true god would not NEED to do such things."

"So what DOES your god do?"

"He speaks."

"Uh-huh."

"He speaks to all who are willing to listen. Shall I show you?"

"Uhhh... you're gonna talk to... a god? Right here? Now?"

"I will, and you will see."

The missionary removed a small leather pouch from his belt. He knelt down emptied the pouch into his outstretched hand . They were stones... twenty-six tiles of identical size and shape. Each one had a different rune engraved into the front and back. Holding the tiles in his clenched fist, the missionary closed his eyes and began to pray softly. He continued for almost a minute, then he opened his fist and the runestones tumbled out onto the ground.

The missionary opened his eyes and studied the stones. His brow furrowed.

"I've seen the gypsies do this," said Lara. "They use-"

"Shhhh..." said the missionary.

He continued to stare at the runes for a few more seconds. Then looked up at Lara. Of course, the Missionary was so large that even kneeling down, his head wasn't much lower than Lara's.

"The Lord of the Rune has spoken," he said. The man pointed to a particular arrangement of runes. "Here, he speaks of the future. There is much danger ahead."

"That can be assumed based on the nature of our trip," said Lara.

"There will also be a trial by fire."

"That can mean anything. It's too vague."

"Why do you doubt? Have you no faith, girl?"

"Sure, I do," said Lara. "I have faith in myself."

"Your faith is misguided," said the missionary.

"No. You would have me believe in magic stones like these?"

"Magic? These are but pieces of ivory, cut and carved by the greatest and holiest of craftsmen. They are not magic."

"But you said-"

"My god speaks into the souls of his followers. The stones are merely... a tool by which we an understand the words that he has spoken. The high priests of my order do not require such tools, but I am but a lowly missionary."

He reached out to gather the stones, but then stopped suddenly.

"Hmmm...."

"What do you see, now?"

"Here... it says that we must have faith."

"Well what else would expect a god to say?"

"It says that we must have faith... in you."

"Me?"

"You."

"Why?"

The missionary shrugged. He gathered the stones and placed them back into his pouch.

"I must stand guard now. You should sleep... we will talk more about the Lord of the Rune in the morning. If you wish."

"Maybe," said Lara. She had no intention of becoming a 'convert'... but she was interested in learning about the man who wielded so much power and claimed to speak to a god through pieces of polished ivory. She also wanted to know something else. "What is your name?" she asked.

"I am called Malyk."

"Guard well, Malyk," Lara said as she walked away.

"Always," the missionary replied.

Lara found Dokan laying against the wall. He appeared to be sleeping peacefully, although she knew that he was probably in some kind of meditative state that would rejuvenate him, yet still allow him to awaken at the slightest sound or movement. Lara had yet to master that particular trick.... she still needed REAL sleep. She curled up beside him and closed her eyes.

"Did you learn anything, child?" said Dokan. He hadn't even opened his eyes. His breathing was still slow and deep... yet he spoke as if he were wide awake.

"Yes," said Lara.

"Good. A day in which you learn nothing is a day that is wasted. Remember that. Now sleep, so that your mind can remember what it has learned."

Lara intended to ask Dokan what sleep had to do with learning remembering, but she was asleep before the words made it to her throat.

---

The next day began like most of the others that came before. Dokan and Krycek were the first ones up... although it was doubtful that they had slept at all. Rath would have been among the early risers, but this time he remained immobile until well after everyone else was up. Thonia and her slaves awoke next. Then the others. The criminals, specifically Red and the strange man who had yet to reveal his name, picked a fight with Sutton Woodbridge and the other workers just as they always did. Dokan and Krycek broke it ups... just as they always did. The Rune Missionary said a particularly loud and annoying prayer to the Lord of the Rune... just as he always did. This time, Lara actually paid attention to the words.

Within an hour they were underway. Rath took his usual place at the head of the party, walking at a distance of sixty feet ahead of the main body of the expedition. Without the benefit of any light, Rath was out of view at half that distance.

They caught up with him five minutes after they began.

Rath lay motionless on the ground, like a corpse that had been tossed aside and left behind. Only this corpse was breathing, and it had an erratic but still discernable heartbeat. His skin bubbled and squirmed as the worms clustered beneath just it... perhaps in preparation for a mass exodus from a depleted meal.

"Oh, my," said Princeton Park. The man appeared more concerned than he should have been, given his particularly loathsome personality. Lara guessed it was because Rath was one of the major obstacles preventing Park's 'party' from slaughtering him in his sleep.

"Looks like he's dead to me," said Red. He kicked Rath lightly with the tip of his boot. Rath's shriveled hand shot out and grabbed Red's ankle.

"I'd thank you kindly not to kick me again," Rath hissed. It actually sounded more like a wet gurgle.

"Certainly don't SOUND dead," said Slick. "Not quite, anyway."

Red raised his battle axe.

"You wanna keep that worm-eaten hand, you'll be takin it offa my foot right about now."

Rath released Red and then slowly got to his feet. Very slowly. It was like watching a one-legged cat try to climb a tree. Finally he was upright. Rath coughed up a mouth full... no, an entire lungful of worms... along with most of the lung they inhabited.

"Dear gods, the man's a walkin' corpse," said Sutton.

"I guess bein' immortal suddenly ain't all its cracked up to be, eh?" Red chuckled.

"A true warrior would ask to be relived of his misery," Thonia added. She grasped her spear and looked expectantly at Rath.

"Don't hold your breath," Rath sneered. "I'm still healthy enough."

"Healthy enough for WHAT?" said Slick. "The guy just dropped dead... temporarily, anyway. We still gonna have him out front?"

"Healthy or not, you are clearly unfit to lead the party," said Thonia.

Rath appeared ready to contradict her, but one of his ears detached itself from his head and dropped to the floor. Quite a few small, white worms wiggled out of the hunk of flesh and were quickly dispatched by Rath's boot. A new ear was already growing in place of the old one... but it wasn't growing nearly as fast as it should have.

"Back 'o the line, worm-bait," said Red. "You ain't walkin out in front of me!"

"You'd rather have me behind you?"

"Huh? Hey, wait a minute-"


"I shall lead the group," said Thonia.

Everyone fell in line behind the Amazon, and the party continued as it had done before. Rath faded into the rear of the group, where his almost constant coughing indicated that he was still alive... for now. He managed to keep up with the others, but Lara noticed that he did so with increasing difficulty. Lara wondered what would happen when Rath was too weak to keep up with the party. It was bound to happen sooner or later... so what would they do. Leave him behind? She didn't think Dokan would go for that. Thonia would want to kill him where he lay. So would Red and the other criminals. And the Rune Missionary would probably consult his 'god' before making a decision.

But what would SHE do? Lara didn't know how to feel about it. She certainly had no loyalty to Rath... or to anyone else except Dokan. But she didn't have anything AGAINST Rath, either. She wanted to ask Dokan which was the correct opinion to hold, but she knew that he'd just ask her to form her own and think for herself.

Lara heard Rath cough violently and then fall. Then she heard him get to his feet and stumble after the party. Whatever opinion she was going to have, she'd better decide on it soon.

Thonia led the group in silence... as Rath did. She and her slaves walked ahead of them. She sent a slave back to report on any potential dangers or obstructions she encountered... of which there were remarkably few. Branches in the tunnel were always decided on which branch led downward at the steepest angle... a method that hadn't lead them astray yet.

Lara noticed that the temperature rose steadily as the group descended further beneath the surface.

Dokan, Krycek and Park took great interest in the phenomenon. The others didn't seem to notice. At least not at first.

"Gods-DAMN its hot!" Hendrix swore. Sweat was pouring down his face, plastering his dark hair to his head. Everyone else was in a similar condition of sweltering misery.

"Ninety-five degrees, to be exact," said Dokan. "I suggest we slow our pace and increase our intake of water."

"We aint' got much water left," said Sutton. "We dropped half of it off the cliff, remember?"

"Water is not a concern," the Rune Missionary. "The Lord of the Rune doth provide for his servants... sustenance for mind, body and soul-"

Malyk tapped the sharp end of his staff against the rocky ground... and instantly a small fountain of pure... and COLD... water sprang up from the spot he'd touched.

"Now THAT'S what I'm talkin' about!" Sutton blurted. He stuck his face into the fountain and drank his fill, then filled his canteen. Everyone else did the same, except for Thonia. She and her slaves would have no part of the magially-summoned water.

"Nice trick," said Lara.

"It is no trick... it is the power of my lord."

"Interesting that your god will provide for people like Red and the others."

"Perhaps the Lord of the Rune is not as judgemental as the gods you know."

"But he won't heal Rath? Why is that?"

"The will of the divine is more than a mere child... or a missionary... could understand."

"Dokan says that there is nothing beyond our understanding."

"And how much time have YOU devoted to studying the divine?"

"Uhhh..."

"You cannot expect such understanding to simply fall upon you... you must strive for it. Until then, you cannot hope to understand what the Lord of the Rune chooses to do or not do."

"Oh. In the meantime, Rath is gonna die."

"Perhaps" said Malyk. "Or perhaps not. But at least he will not die of thirst."

The temperature rose higher and faster as they continued. Soon they were taking breaks every ten minutes to keep from passing out.

"We're close to something," said Krycek.

"Lava flow, most likely," Princeton Park replied. "We may need to go back and find an alternate path around it..."

"That will not be necessary," said Thonia. She had returned from scouting the area ahead of them. She was coated with so much sweat that she looked as if she'd just gone swimming. "I have found something. Come."

Thonia went back the way she came, followed by Princeton, Dokan, Krycek and Lara. The next 100 yards brought a drastic increase in temperature, and then they saw it.

The passage ended in an enormous cavern, roughly circular and over 200 yards in diameter. The ceiling was 75 yards overhead. The walls were charred and blackened from the heat. Huge pointed stalactites hung down over the lake of fire that stretched before them. It was a sea of molten rock. Hot lava poured out of several vents in the wall and formed a lake of unknown depth before finally flowing out through a few larger openings. Small islands of solid stone dotted the fiery landscape, and several thin, meandering trails seemed to lead out into the lake. Some dead-ended, slowly sinking down beneath the liquid rock. Others ran from wall to wall, or from island to island. But the vast majority of the cavern's floor was simply glowing, red-hot lava.

"I told you it was lava," Park said smugly.

"There-" Thonia pointed to one of the larger stone passages. It was like an elevated walkway, at its lowest point it was eighteen feet above the lava's surface. It was more than wide enough for several people to walk side-by-side.
It lead out to one of the small stone islands, from which another, slightly smaller passage lead to the opposite wall. Twenty feet up that wall was another cave entrance, almost exactly like the one in which the party was standing. "Our path lies there."

"Looks dangerous," Dokan said. "The temperature of molten rock-"

"I can use my magic to lower the temperature in our immediate vicinity. It'll still be hot, but if we cross quickly... AND if the passage doesn't collapse..."

"We'll take it," said Princeton. "Go get the others."

"I think we should examine this situation a little more closely-"

"Quiet, old man," said Princeton. "We have an obstacle, and we have a means to overcome it. WHAT is the problem?"

Dokan frowned at the lake of lava, but didn't say anything. Lara didn't see what the problem was either... except having to trust Kryek's magic to keep from being boiled alive by the heat. THAT she didn't like one bit.

"I'll get the others," said Krycek. He left to fetch the rest of the group.

"This is too easy," Dokan whispered to Lara. Lara couldn't see what was EASY about it... but after Dokan mentioned it, she did get a sinking suspicion that they'd missed something.

After ten minutes of noisy protests from the group, everyone assembled themselves and let Krycek cast a 'cone of cold' over the group. Thonia objected, instead deciding to rely on a foul-smelling salve which she smeared on her skin.

"Great, now she smells even worse than before," Princeton grumbled.

"Fire-drake manure is a known protectant against heat," said Thonia. "Foolish male..."

"Did you just say... never mind," said Sutton. "I'll pretend I didn't hear it."

Walking out side of Krycek's magical field of cold, Thonia led the party across the stone bridge. Even with Krycek's magic, the temperature rose to nigh-unbearable levels after only a few feet.

"We're gonna be boiled alive," Slick moaned.

"Then you're welcome to climb back up to the surface by yourself," said Krycek. "The REST of us will endure this minor discomfort and continue on to whatever treasure awaits us."

"Minor discomfort?"

"Shut up and walk," said Red.

After a few yards, it actually became too hot to talk. It took every ounce of energy they had to simply keep moving through the oppressive heat. Krycek strengthened his spell, and the temperature dropped a few degrees... almost enough for the party to notice.

They were halfway to the large rock outcropping that marked the center-point of their journey. Everyone wanted to stop and rest, but no one wanted to stop moving. Every step they took brought them closer to safety.

Or so they thought.

"Did... did anyone feel that?" said Dokan.

"Feel what, old man?" said Red. "I didn't feel- Oh."

Red felt it too. A subtle thump... a slight vibration in the ground beneath them.

"Air pockets in the lava," said Princeton. "Nothing to worry about."

The entire stone walkway shuddered.

"THAT was no air pocket," said Krycek.

Just then, a fountain of hot lava erupted out of the lake not far away. Molten rock sprayed up into the air, and everyone was so busy scrambling to avoid the deadly globs of flaming death that no one noticed that the eruption was not a natural occurrence. The giant reptilian head, perched atop a long, serpentine neck, slid silently through the lava towards the party. Its fanged mouth was large enough to swallow two men whole. The mighty, bulging jaws opened as it drew close-

"WE ARE ATTACKED!" Thonia shouted. She turned and aimed he harpoon at the giant monstrosity. She fired, but the weapon bounced off of the things scales... she may as well have thrown a toothpick at it.

Suddenly, orange flames spat out of the giant lizard's open mouth.

"Look out!!" Someone shouted.

Everyone scrambled, going back the way they had come, but the column of roaring flames followed them, sweeping across their path like a scythe

"-AIEEEEEEE!!!!"

"HENDRIX!" Cole cried as his friend became a charred skeleton before his very eyes. The fringe heat from the blast enveloped Cole, washing over him as he screamed. He took the blast in the face... his eyes boiled and burst in their sockets. His clothes ignited. Blind and on fire, Cole ran screaming in random directions

"DROP AND ROLL!" Krycek shouted. The mage was already attempting a spell, but he was too late. "NO!"

Cole ran straight off of the edge of the walkway. He dropped like a screaming stone, hurtling the short distance to the hot lava below. He never made it. The giant reptile spotted him. It's head and neck shot down like an arrow

SNAP!

The giant jaws closed around Cole's doomed form an instant before it would have hit the lava. Thin trickles of blood trailed down the corners of the thing's mouth... then the heat boiled them away.

"RUN! RUN!" Slick shouted.

But it was no use. The party was too far away from the safety of the passage. They were dangerously exposed, and the creature knew it. It opened its mouth and prepared to roast several of them alive-

KTHAZZZZZZ!!

Wicked streams of lightning arced across the lava-lizard's skull. The Rune Missionary's blast had no effect... other than to draw the lizard's attention.

"RUN, MALYK!" Lara shouted. She'd been walking in front of the missionary when the creature attacked, and was just now running past him.

The creature reared back and prepared to spit its flame.

The missionary turned and grabbed Lara as she ran past-

"HEY!" she protested.

Malyk dropped to his knees and lowered his head-

The flames roared over them, turning everything into a bright orange flicking nightmare... but the fire never touched either of them. A shimmering barrier of golden light had surrounded them both. Lara had no idea what it was or where it came from... but it was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. The flames licked harmlessly at the barrier, keeping the flames back.

"How-?"

"The Lord of the Rune is both shield AND sword for the innocent," said Malyk. The missionary's voice was strained... as if he were struggling and in great pain.

"HOLD ON!" Lara heard Krycek shout. A second later, both the flames AND the shimmering barrier were gone. Lara slipped out of Malyk's grasp and started to run, then she realized that Malyk wasn't following. He still knelt in place, struggling to get to his feet. Whatever he'd done to create the barrier, it had drained every ounce of strength from his body.

"RUN, YOU FOOLS!" said Krycek. The mage was gesturing furiously. Lara looked up and saw that a thick fog had enveloped the fire lizard's head. "The freezing fog won't confuse it for long!"

"WE'RE DOOMED!" Princeton Park screamed as he ran past Lara and Malyk. Dokan was right behind him. He grabbed Lara with one arm, and grasped Malyk with the other. With Dokan's help and his own staff to lean on, Malyk got to his feet and staggered back toward the passage.

A fresh blast of flame evaporated Krycek's freezing fog spell. The mage ran as fast as he could, and Thonia passed him as if he were standing still. He reached the passage just as more flame engulfed the passageway behind him. Krycek threw himself to safety in the nick of time. Drayn and Borris grabbed him and yanked him further back into the passage.

"Who did we lose?" said Dokan.

"Hendrix and Cole," Zackery replied. "That's it, I think."

"Great... both our climbers are dead!" Princeton groaned.

"And a lot of our climbing EQUIPMENT as well," said Kryek.

"Malyk can hardly stand, but he's uninjured, I think," Lara reported. "He saved my life."

"And how come he couldn't do that when there were GIANT BUGS trying to eat us!" said Princeton.

"Because the lord's supreme protection is not for ones such as you," said the missionary. "Only the innocent."

Lara decided not to tell Malyk that she wasn't exactly as 'innocent' as he though. His 'supreme protection' might come in handy again later.

"The creature has returned to the depths," said Thonia. She had crept back to the passage's opening and had now returned. "As if it were never there."

"Oh, it was THERE all right," said Sutton. "So much for THIS route... how far back was the last branch in the passage?"

"Perhaps there is another way we can cross THIS passage," Kryek mused.

"'Scuse me?" said Sutton. "Were you not paying attention a few seconds ago?"

"Can your magic levitate us across?" said Dokan.

"All of you? Not at the same time. Alone or in pairs would take hours. And if I have to keep you cool at he same time. But we may not need-"

"I'm NOT going back across that bridge," said Sutton. "No way!"

"What if the creature didn't know we were there?" said Krycek. "It was undoubtedly alerted to our presence by our footsteps. Vibrations on the bridge...."

"Or possibly by your magic," said Dokan. "Some creatures, especially reptiles, are sensitive to the active use of such energies."

"I know how we can get across," said Lara. All eyes turned to her. "I know how we can cross without the creature hearing our footsteps... OR without using Krycek's magic."

"And how is THAT, little girl?" said Red.

"By not MAKING any footsteps."

"Oh, she's a brilliant one..." said Slick. "Real genius... right up there with Princeton Park, I'd say."

"I resent that!" said Princeton. "The child has obviously been overcome by the heat-"

"No I haven't. All we have to do is avoid touching the stone. Someone could climb up the cavern wall and attach a line. Then fly across to the other side and attach the other end of the line to the-"

"Wait, wait, wait," said Zackery. "...did you say FLY!? You expect us to fly across?"

"Not all of us. Just one."

"And how will THAT happen?"

"The same way that squirrels fly."

"Squirrels don't FLY!" said Sutton.

"Actually," said Thonia "... they do. The child has a bold plan."

"But we lack the equipment," said Dokan.

"No we don't," said Lara.

"You brought it?"

"Yes."

By now, everyone in the party except for Lara and Dokan was hopelessly confused. The two thieves exchanged knowing glances, and then Dokan spoke.

"I'll do it," he said.

"The suit won't fit you," Lara replied. "It was custom made for me. I have to do it."

"I won't allow it," said Dokan. "No one here will allow it."

"I will," said Malyk. "We must trust the girl. The Lord of the Rune has spoken of his very instance. My trust is in my lord... and my lord says that we must trust the girl."

"There are other ways," said Dokan. "We can find another way across-"

"Will someone PLEASE explain what the hell we're talkin about?" Princeton snapped.

In the short silence that followed, Lara could almost hear Dokan thinking. Finally he nodded reluctantly.

"I'm still waitin to hear an explanation," said Princeton.

"Watch and learn," said Dokan. "And I do hope you aren't afraid of heights."

---

The suit was exactly as it was when she used it to steal the mask of Tyute. A black jacket, pants, mask, gloves and boots. The long flaps of cloth that stretched from her wrists to her ankles were just as sturdy as the wings of a bat... or a flying squirrel. The wings wouldn't allow her to truly fly, but why fly when gliding was good enough. She donned the suit while Dokan prepared the other supplies... mainly a cord long enough to stretch from one end of the cavern to the other.

"She will climb up the wall and attach one end of the cord," Dokan explained to the doubtful members of the party. "Then glide across and attach the other end to a lower point. The rest of us will slide along the cord, letting gravity pull us across quickly... before the heat kills us."

"What are you two," said Sutton. "Circus performers?"

"I was once," Dokan said.

"Ya know," said Slick. "This whole thing... it seems reeeeeal familiar..."

"Perhaps you saw it at the circus?" Dokan smiled.

"This cord is gonna hold all of us?" Red said doubtfully. The cord was actually little more than a string. But it was a special material, constructed to Dokan's own design.

"It'll hold all of us and then some," said Dokan. "Although I suggest we go across one at a time,"

"IF she even makes it across," said Zackery. "I don't like this... trusting a girl-"

"I'm ready," said Lara. Now she didn't look like a girl. Dressed in all black, she looked more like an assassin.

"Dear gods, what kind of childhood did SHE have," Sutton mumbled.

"Attach the cord with this..." Dokan handed her a jar of a thick, slimy substance. "Quick-setting glue. The heat will bond it to the rock in seconds. I developed it myself."

"Of course," said Lara. The mask over her face muffled her voice.

"Try not to make it look too easy," Dokan said with a wink.

Beneath her mask, Lara smiled. Then she was off.

The stone wall of the cavern was hot... almost like an oven. Fortunately her suit was heat resistant. She didn't think about the heat as her fingers found find the tiny holes and crevices she needed to pull herself up. She climbed like a professional... no, like someone who had done it every day since birth. With Dokan's cord coiled around her shoulder, she scurried up the wall without disturbing so much as a pebble. She made not one sound... not even when the heat of the rocks began to seep through her suit.

She didn't need to look down to judge her height. She measured her own distance as she climbed, and she knew when to stop. She uncoiled a length of rope that reached to the passage below her, and then attacked it to the wall with a glob of Dokan's glue. She waited for it to set. Sweat soaked through her clothes, and the heat of the lava made it hot against her skin. She ignored it.

A minute passed. She yanked on the cord... it wouldn't budge. The glue had attacked it to the rock more securely than any climbing spike. She made a mental note to get the recipe from Dokan when this was over. If he was inclined to share it.

Lara started climbing again. She needed to get some extra height if she hoped to make it across the wide pit. She'd need to go almost all the way to the top. She attached the coil of cord to a special contraption on her belt... it would feed the cord out smoothly as she climbed... if it worked the way Dokan had designed it. Of course it would.

Lara's nimble fingers darted across the rock like a spider's legs... touching lightly and testing just enough to ensure her that each handhold was safe. More minutes passed. Her skin was so hot that it actually began to feel numb in places. But it stung horribly in others.

This is easy, she told herself. I've done much harder than this... just not as hot.

The yards went by slowly and steadily as she climbed. Finally she stopped and looked behind her. The lake of molten rock stretched below. And on the other side of the lake was a tiny black dot on the wall... a cave, just like the one that the others were hiding in now. All she had to do was reach it.

"Child's play," she whispered.

Moving slowly and carefully, Lara repositioned herself so that she was facing away from the wall. She looked down at the lava. She felt the incredible heat rising up to meet her. It was going to be a lot hotter once she jumped.

"Time to get it over with," she said.

Before she could hesitate or get nervous, Lara leapt out away from the wall. She spread her arms as legs as she fell. The black wings caught the air and billowed out. For the briefest instant she seemed suspended in mid air... unmoving... then she fell. Not straight down, like a rock... but a slow glide like a lazy hawk riding a rising updraft. The heat was intense, yet the rising hot air only made her glide easier. Still, she felt blisters rising on her skin.

Lara soared down across the lava, trailing Dokan's cord behind her. The opposite wall loomed ahead. She was going to miss the other passage... but that was okay. As long as she didn't miss the WALL. The temperature rose and rose and rose as her glide took her lower... closer to the deadly lava, and the creature that lived in it. She didn't look down. Not only would the rising heat scorch the exposed portions of her face, but the lava would only distract her. She needed to concentrate on the landing, because she would only get one try.

And it was coming... right... about...

"NOW!"

Lara didn't SEEM to be moving that fast, but she was. One instant the wall seemed far away, and the next it was right in front of her. Her eyes raced back and forth, scanning for hand holds...

BAM!

She slammed into the superheated stone hard enough to bounce her off... which would have been a disaster. She grabbed the rocks that she'd spotted the instant before she impacted. One gave way... then the other... she slid down... Lara grasped at more cracks as she slid down the wall...

Then she stopped. Her left hand and right foot had found purchase... and that was enough. She looked around... the passage was twenty feet above her. Then she looked back at the cord that now stretched across the length of the chamber. Perfect. She secured the other end of the cord to the wall, waited for the glue to dry, and then climbed effortlessly up to the passage. She pulled herself in... happy to be out of the inferno. It was over 100 degrees in the passage, but it was ice cold compared to what she'd just been through. She attached the end of the cord to the lip of the passage so that those that followed could use it to climb up without having to touch the rock. She looked across to the others and waved her arms, signaling a success. She'd done her part... the rest was up to them.

---

Dokan wanted to be the next one across, but Thonia beat him to it. She hauled herself up the cord to where Lara had secured it to the wall, then clamped onto it with a metal hook and slid across. Then she climbed up to the second passage, joining Lara on the other side..

"See how easy that was?" said Dokan.

"SHEEEEET, ain't no way!" said Sutton.

Despite his objections, Sutton followed Dokan, and the others quickly fell in line. There weren't enough hooks or clamps for everyone to secure themselves to the line, so some of them used strips of leather or lengths of cord to slide across. Everyone even obeyed Dokan's instructions to NOT scream bloody murder as they slid over the molten rock. The equipment took longer than expected, and the Rune Missionary proved to be a problem... the man was simply took weak to climb. It took the combined strength of Zackery, Vithor and Juzh to help the man up and across. Still, in a little more than a hour, everyone was safely on the other side of the lake of hot lava... with no sign of the creature that had attacked them.

Everyone except one man.

Rath brought up the rear. He had little trouble climbing up the wall and securing himself to the cord, but as he slid across, Rath suddenly went limp. He slammed into the far wall with enough force to break several bones... and then he just hung there.

"Is he dead again?" said Red.

"Hard do say," said Zackery. "Somebody gonna go down and check?"

"Not me," said Red.

"I'll go." Lara grabbed the rope and started down.

"Hey, that guy's got worms in 'im," Slick protested. "You can't just go down there and grab 'im... they'll get on you, too."

"We can't just leave him!"

"Now would be a good time to sever ourselves from that... thing," Thonia growled. "He was a walking pestilence, even BEFORE the worms."

"We're in no danger from the worms as long as the missionary can work his magic," said Dokan. "I'll go-"

"I've already gone," said Lara. She stepped off of the edge and lowered herself down. She reached Rath a few seconds later. He wasn't moving. And she could hear the man's flesh sizzling from where it still touched the hot stone wall. Dokan had given Rath the one remaining climber's harness to use, and that was what had saved his life so far... otherwise he would have fallen into the lava when he passed out. Lara went lower.

"Are you awake?" she called. Rath didn't reply. But that didn't mean he was dead. She went lower still, and reached out for his arm-

"DON'T TOUCH HIM!" someone called from above. Lara ignored it. She brushed a few worms off of the man's sleeve and grabbed his wrist. She pulled him towards her, but she was took weak to haul him all the way to the passage.

"SOMEONE PULL US UP!" she called. Lara reached down and removed Rath's knife from his belt, then used it to slice the cord below where they hung. Now they swung free... dangling in the air. "HURRY!" she shouted.

The cord began to move... someone was pulling them up. It was all Lara could do to keep hold of Rath's arm as they sloooowly rose up toward the others. When they reached the edge, Thonia grabbed Lara's arm and yanked both her and Rath up into the passage. Rath collapsed onto the hot floor and didn't move.

"See... all that for nothing," said Slick. "He's as dead as... well... something dead."

Rath's mouth suddenly opened and he gasped... a long, wet, gurgling breath that ended in a hideous cough.

"Or maybe not," said Slick.

"Somebody help him up."

"I ain't touchin' him!"

Rath stood on his own. A slow, agonizing process. Even when he was upright, Rath swayed unsteadily on his feet... ready to fall over at any moment. He stumbled backwards and leaned heavily against the wall.

"...how..."

"I pulled you up," said Lara.

"...shouldn't... have..." he mumbled. "I can hear 'em... in my head... eating... everywhere... in my... brain... everywhere...can't feel... anything... "

"Are you ready to accept your peace, now?" said Thonia. She had her knife ready.

"...no..." Rath staggered away from the wall. He snatched the shaded spectacles from his face and tossed them away. He only had one eye left. He removed his coat and shirt... revealing the half-eaten flesh beneath. He undid his pants-

"Hey, what are you doing!" said Zack.

-and pulled them off. Now naked, he staggered toward the edge of the passage. His intention was obvious.

"WAIT!" Lara called. She ran after him, but Malyk grabbed her. "LET ME GO!"

Rath stepped over the edge and was gone.

"NOOOOO!!!"

Now the missionary released her. She ran to the edge, and heard the splash just as she reached it. She looked down... something charred and skeletal was just sinking beneath the surface. Fresh flames danced around the spot for a few seconds, then they too were gone.

"RATH!"

"Heh, heh, heh," said Red. "No more mystery-man to protect you now, Park."

"You were saying?" said Krycek. He stepped in between Princeton and Red.

Several others joined Lara at the edge. By the time they arrived, there was nothing left to see.

"How deep do you suppose it is?" she said.

"It's lava," said Zackery. "Doesn't MATTER how deep it is. He's gone. And we should be going, too."

"I agree... this heat is dangerous," said Dokan. "We must get out of this area before it overwhelms us."

Lara looked up at Dokan.

"You didn't see this? You couldn't 'predict' this?"

Dokan said nothing. He seemed lost in thought for a few moments as he looked down at the lava. Then he turned away-

"Let's go," he said to the others. "Mourn the dead later, the living still have a long way to go."

[To Be Continued]