She stood proudly in the darkness, as if she were unaware that she was almost knee-deep in sewage. Her boots kept the stuff from her skin, and she'd intentionally worn disposable clothes... since she knew she'd never get the smell out.
The smell was bad. Not horrible, or stomach-turning. But very bad. It was a necessary evil. She had to make sure this was done right.

The explosions had already collapsed the tunnels for at least a mile going in. It had taken a lot of time and lots of expensive magic to keep the sound of the blasting from reaching the surface. But that part was done. Now, the workers... workers who either would not or COULD not ask questions... were laying the bricks to seal the entrance, just as they had done at the other place. And, just like at the VonSinterbourne estate, the mage was on hand to work his craft.

Lara watched him. He was strange man. Not the type of man that Lara would ordinarily trust. He reeked of ale, and the outlandish colors of his clothes marked him as either colorblind or half-insane. But he certainly knew his magic. He held each brick carefully and whispered the arcane words into it as if it were the ear of a lover. He edged the wards with a precision that Lara hadn't seen anywhere else. He did this for each brick before handing it to one of the silent workmen to be put into place.

The wards were strong. The mage had assured her that, should any brick become broken or separated from its neighbors... or if unfamiliar magic were used in close proximity to them... that the entire town would wake up wondering what that loud booming sound was coming from under the city. And why fire was shooting up out of the sewer grates in the streets. Very strong magic indeed...

In fact, Lara could feel the magic from ten feet away. Not good. The corners of her lips curled down into a slight frown...

"Lovvorn will mute the field so that it is undetectable from a distance," said the man beside her. He must have seen the change in her expression. "Exactly as was done in the VonSinterborne ruins."

"Good," said Lara. "Just because this is a sewer, there's no need to be sloppy. This needs to be done right. Perfect."

Her companion nodded. Lara watched the men work... watched each brick be gently settled into place. And with each one, her heard grew that much heavier.

"Five weeks," she said. "Five weeks and still no sign." She shook her head and swallowed the lump in her throat.

"You waited as long as is advisable," said December.

"How do I know that?" said Lara. "He could be on the other side of this tunnel right now... trying to dig his way out. And we're here sealing him in... setting traps..."

"I doubt that."

"You think he's dead, then?"

"Dokan Maxwell spent his entire life doing the impossible," said December. "Men who have seen him die with their own eyes have been made out to be fools."

"What I saw was no illusion-"

"There was no corpse. And even if there were... that is no guarantee. Not for Dokan."

Lara took her eyes off of the bricks long enough to look up at the man beside her. A wealthy jewel-trader... who was to jewel-trading what Dokan Maxwell was to real estate.

"You're trying to make me feel better," she said.

"I do not know you," said December. "And thus I care not for your feelings one way or the other. However, if anyone could escape what you described and return to the surface unscathed... it is Dokan Maxwell. And if that were the case, then all of the stone and magic in Montfort would not keep him away. But there is also that which you had not considered..."

"Considered?"

"Dokan transferred his entire fortune into your name before you departed. Everything that was his... is yours. It would still be yours even if he were standing here next to us now. To me, this is the action of a man who did not plan to return at all. Not to Montfort."

Lara hadn't considered that. She'd THOUGHT of it briefly, but she'd banished the thought from her mind. She wouldn't allow herself that false hope. Not when there was so much more work to do.

"The list," she said, changing the subject.

December reached into his pocked and handed her a scroll. She took it.

"Libraries," he said. "Every place that claims to possess copies of Dr. Parks books."

"Thank you," said Lara. She inspected the list. It was longer than she expected. She wondered if Dr. Park even knew that his works were so widespread. Probably not. "He wasn't a bad man, you know," she said. "At the end, yes... but before that, he was just... just misguided."

"I would not know," said December.

"DONE HERE!" Lovvorn called. The fat mage waved his hands in front of the new brick wall that sealed off the old, unused section of Montfort's sewer. The new bricks suddenly became old and crumbling... and covered with the same slimy moss that coated everything else in the sewer. The tangible aura of magic faded away to nothing. It was as if no work... magic or mundane...had ever been done. Lara inspected their handiwork. Even to her keen eye, there was no difference between this part of the sewer and any other.

She nodded in approval. The workmen began gathering their materials

"I owe you much, December," said Lara.

"You owe me nothing," he replied. "Save for the continuation of the agreement I had with Maxwell."

"Mutual respect. I don't bother you... and you won't bother me."

"Exactly as it was with your mentor."

"I only wish he could have taught me more before he... went elsewhere."

"Perhaps he still can," said December.

Lara thought for a moment, trying to figure out what December meant. His words could have meant anything...

"Perhaps your inheritance is greater than you believe," he added.

"I don't unders-"

"This is not the first time that Lovvorn has performed work on his behalf," said December as he followed Lovvorn and the workmen away from the work site. "Work of a similar nature."

"Where?"

"In the library. A thorough might reveal something worthwhile to one who would call herself a student of Dokan... certain journals that only one as skilled and diligent as he could retrieve safely."

"I see," said Lara.

She watched December and the others leave... listened to the echoes of their progress through the sewers fade until she was finally alone. Then she just stood there, watching the wall. Watching. And waiting. And wondering...

The End

copyright 2000 by Dark Icon (Marc Washington), and Werewolf