Part 7: In the Dungeon

"UNI!!"

"Be quiet!" the Orc growled again. "Master will decide what to do with you later."

Bobby pounded on the door of the cell. "Give me a chance and I'll show you where to shove your Master! Let her out!"

"Cool down, Bobby," Presto said, putting a hand on Bobby's shoulder. "He's not gonna listen--"

"Back off!" Bobby violently shook off Presto's hand, gave the door one last kick, then retreated to a corner of the cell. He sat down heavily and put his head in his arms.

Diana and Eric, in their cell, heard it all. "Eric," she whispered, "is it me, or do you think Bobby's been acting a little flakey?"

"A little? He's flakey as a box of breakfast cereal."

It was what he saw in the city; his first true taste of death. He can be healed--

"Thank you, Sigmund Freud," Eric interrupted, "but the first order of business is getting us out of here."

"Hey, Uni," Presto said, "can't you teleport out of here?"

Majnoun thought of that already; these cells are warded against a unicorn's magic.

"Then we'll just have to use our heads," Hank said. "I mean, if we can't outsmart an Orc, we're slipping."

Diana spoke up; "Let me try something."

Eric looked dubious. "Am I part of this something?"

"You just have to be able to bluff--like you did to get us in the park." Diana then whispered her plan to Eric.

"Oh, gimme a--" he started shouting; the others all shushed him. "That gag is so old, it's collecting Social Security," he whispered to Diana. "I've seen it in the movies a dozen times!"

"Somehow, Eric, I don't think Orcs rent too many videos. Now, do you want to take the chance or not?"

The others didn't hear anything for a minute or two; then Eric's voice piped up. "Hey, Spam-for-Brains! Get down here!"

"Be quiet! Master will deal with you--"

"Yeah, yeah; I know. But still, you've gotta come down here now!"

"Master will deal--"

"Alright, but you're the one that's gonna end up with the smoked pork butt when your master finds out one of his prisoners has escaped."

That finally cut through to the Orc's repetitive sense of duty. He lumbered down the steps, turned to the cell and looked in. All he could see was Eric. "Where she go?"

"To tell the truth, I didn't notice. I was a bit distracted by what you've done with this place. It's simply fabulous. Who's your decorator?"

Whether Eric knew it or not, he was hitting a sore spot with this Orc by ignoring him. He growled as he fumbled with the keys, found the correct one and unlocked the door. No sooner was he over the threshold and in the cell than Diana, hanging from a ceiling beam directly above the door, swung her legs in a powerful arc. Her boots caught the Orc on the side of his head. He spun around twice from the force of the blow before falling over unconscious.

Diana dropped to the floor, grabbed the ring of keys and was headed out the cell door when Eric called to her. "Hey!" She looked at Eric, who held both fists over his head.

"What's that all about?"

"Pretend I'm holding a sign with a ten on it. You're definitely a gold medal athlete."

"And you're definitely a silver tongued flatterer," she smiled. "Thanks."

She ran across the hall and started unlocking the others' cell. Bobby was back on his feet as soon as she started sorting through the keys; the instant the door was unlocked, he threw it open, grabbed the keys and went to the last cell on the right. The others were a little behind him, watching as he tried to find the proper key.

"What about unlocking the cell that has our weapons?" Eric asked.

"This first," Bobby muttered, intent on finding the key. After a minute he found the right one, turned it in the lock and stood back.

What stepped out of the cell was a vision none of them could have expected. The awkward, mischievous colt of a decade before had given way to a white mare whose every physical attribute was--perfect. She still had her fiery red mane and tail--the same color as Sheila's hair, in fact--but in the gloomy corridor, they added to her dazzlingly white coat. She seemed to shed her own light. Even Bobby, so anxious for this moment, didn't know what to say or do. It was up to the unicorn to walk over to him, put her nose against his hand and nuzzle it, like a cat asking to be petted. Then the whole gang had their hands on her, caressing and hugging, as she thought, Oh my beloveds, I am so happy to see you again, and sad as well.

"How come?" Presto asked..

You are here because of me. When I was captured near the hidden valley, I was brought here, and Majnoun told me that I was to be the bait to bring you here.

"Well, it didn't work out that way," Hank said. "If anything, we should be apologizing to you, for getting you in this mess."

"I don't want to break up the class reunion, guys, but there's still our weapons which are locked up, and an Orc jailer who isn't."

"So go take care of it, Eric, or is that too hard for you?"

Eric was about to answer Bobby in kind when Uni looked at him. Please; he can't help it. Eric stopped for a minute, then reached for the keys. Diana went back to the cell and tore off a strip of the Orc's cloak, which she used to gag him.

"So you've been living in the Valley with the other unicorns." Presto continued.

And it was amazing to me at first. I'd never before known my kind, or my powers, or even my real name.

"You've got another name?" Hank asked.

In the Realm, as in your world, there have always been very few unicorns, and all of us know when another is born. The others remembered the story of a colt called Firemane, who vanished shortly after she was born, and we all realized the truth.

Presto nodded. "The name suits you."

But DungeonMaster would visit the valley from time to time after you went home. He and I would have long talks, and he would call me Uni. I liked that.

"What did you talk about?" Hank asked.

About you, our time together, the rest of the Realm. That's how I vanished in the first place; I'm different from other unicorns. I like roaming around, wandering to new and strange places. DungeonMaster calls my curiosity a blessing and a curse.

"That's DM all over," Eric nodded, handing round their weapons; "won't even give a unicorn a straight answer."

"Anyway," Diana spoke up, "Majnoun got it wrong. We weren't brought back to look for you."

I am not surprised. Majnoun is quite mad, I fear. He holds long discussions with himself, as if he is two people, and neither one makes much sense. Some distress tears at his mind, and that of Rahmoud--and here Uni deliberately kept her thoughts away from Bobby--their pain is much greater than Bobby's.

"Well, now that we've got these back," Hank said, holding up his bow, "we should drop in on Majnoun and have him answer a few questions."

"Yeah," glared Bobby, "like where's my sister."

I don't believe that he knows--or perhaps he does. A few days ago, after I was brought here, I tried to cast my mind into his. It is painful; the several voices make me dizzy. But he was very excited about something; not happy, that's the wrong word. But he was glad about something. He said that he had a pretty little prison for his pretty little thief.

Hank's head shot up at that, and he looked Uni in the eye. "Say that again."

I know; talking of a pretty little thief when Sheila's role here was as a Thief. I see you have her cloak here, but I had no idea until Majnoun mentioned it that any of you were coming back.

"But somebody did. Presto, you may have hit it when you said we were getting in deep. Think about it; when Majnoun captured Uni, how were we supposed to know? He did it to get someone else's attention; probably DungeonMaster. Only it doesn't work at first, so he brings in some Orcs and starts the massacres at the towns."

Diana interrupted. "Then that means that everything was done just to get us back here."

"But it doesn't make sense if Majnoun's the one doing this," Presto put in. "We didn't even meet him when we were here last time."

"So we're looking at someone who we did meet last time; someone who carries a very big grudge."

"Hank, you know who you're talking about," Eric said in a shaking voice. "We all know it. What do we do?"

"I don't know, guys. It all points to Venger, but nobody knows if he's still imprisoned in the Crystal Cavern. That's why we've got to go up and get some answers from Majnoun."

If it is Venger who is behind all this, do you plan to destroy him?

"I don't know that either, Uni. I had a clear chance at him once, and I just couldn't do it."

Be glad that you could not. DungeonMaster and I have spoken of many things, including his need to keep balance in the Realm. One thing he said reminded me of that time in the Dragons' Graveyard, and made me glad that you could not find it in your heart to kill Venger.

"How can you be glad Hank didn't finish him off?" Bobby asked suspiciously.

Because of what DungeonMaster told me; that he who destroys Venger, becomes Venger.

The others fell silent, contemplating the fate that almost befell Hank.

Just a moment, Uni interrupted. Majnoun has just left the palace.

"Is he running away?" Diana asked.

No. In fact, this may be good news for us. The battle at Menelik was fiercely fought, with many casualties on both sides. One of these was Rahmoud, hit in the shoulder by an arrow.

"Is it serious?" Presto asked.

They think so. Please bear with me; I hate reading Orc minds. Filthy brutish things. Ah; Rahmoud has lost much blood, but has also lost much of the drug that kept him under Majnoun's control. Majnoun is going to Rahmoud to regain that control.

"Can we get there first?" Hank asked. "If we can get Rahmoud back on our side--"

It can be done, but only if I take one of you on my back. Majnoun travels with several Orc guards, which slows him down. Even if I were to swing to the east to avoid being seen, I could still get there before him. But I must leave now.

Hank glanced at the small window set high up in the dungeon wall. Twilight was filling the sky. "How long would it take?"

A couple of hours each way; we could be back here by daybreak.

"Uni, I know we're asking a lot of you--"

Don't be silly; you have done more for me than I could ever repay in a lifetime. You are all my beloveds. Bobby, we must go.

"Are you sure about that?" Eric asked nervously. "I mean, after all, Hank is the leader--"

Eric, I know why you worry, and how Bobby feels about Rahmoud. I have my reasons. Thinking to the group again, Hank, your bow will work down here. Shoot the wall at the end of the corridor.

"Shoot the wall?  Then what?"

You can tunnel from there to the surface, and come out to the east of the palace. The few Orcs that are left here will not be there.

"I never thought I'd be taking instructions from you on shooting this, but--" Hank drew back until the energy-bolt appeared in the bow. Then, without even knowing where the instinct came from, he twisted his wrist as he let go of the bowstring. This caused the bolt to corkscrew down the corridor and into the wall. It proceeded to dig up through the stone wall and the sand beyond it at an angle, leaving a tunnel whose sides were almost as polished as glass.

Without another word, Bobby climbed up on Uni, grabbing two handsful of her mane. As soon as he did so, she dashed to the tunnel, up and out into the desert. She was already at full gallop when she came out into the evening sky and veered off toward the northeast.

After a while, Hank turned to the others. "We'd better do some cleaning-up in here. How's the guard?"

"Gagged and still unconscious."

"Sounds good, Diana, but tie his arms and legs up as well, then lock him in one of the cells. And see if the door that leads to the castle can lock from this side." Diana went to carry out Hank's instructions.

Eric glanced at the tunnel. "I know Uni said the tunnel opens up where there aren't any Orcs, but still--"

"Relax, Eric, it's magic time." Presto advanced on the opening, not seeing Eric roll his eyes skyward.

Hank gave Eric a dirty look, then turned to Presto. "Okay, go for it."

Presto held his hat out in front of him, passing his hand over the opening:

"Abracadabra allakazoo
Give us a barrier the Orcs can't get through!"

A miniature bolt of lightning shot out of the hat toward the tunnel entrance. It exploded--and left a single strip of yellow police tape strung limply across the opening.

"Good going, Presto," Eric said. "That would sure keep me away." He walked over to the police tape and sliced it in two with a swipe of his shield. "That hat's still batting a thousand, I see," Eric smirked.

"Maybe I should just hang it up," Presto muttered, walking into a cell.

"The other door is locked from our side," Diana reported.

"Then that leaves the tunnel. We can take turns keeping watch on it until Bobby and Uni get back. Anyone mind if I take the first watch?"

"You got it, Hank, and you're welcome to it."

"Fine, Eric. I'll call you in two hours."

Eric looked around, noticed Diana wasn't in the corridor. Then he saw her sitting on a bunk in the cell that had held their weapons. Through the open door they could see into what was Uni's cell opposite, where Presto was already asleep. "How you doing?"

"I'd rather be in Philadelphia. Want to join me?" She patted a spot on the bunk next to her; Eric sat down. "I'm not going to be able to get any sleep anyway. I don't know how Presto does it." Diana reached over her head, stretching like a cat, in a way that Eric thought was rather attractive. "So, what now?"

"If I may make a suggestion; how about a quick round of 'Truth or Dare'?"

Diana looked at Eric as if he had just said grass was growing out of his head. "Are you completely crazy, or just not aware of what's going on?"

"What's going on? Let's see; Bobby's gone; Uni's gone; Sheila's still gone, and we have to find her before she has her baby and all of reality goes up for grabs. We're waiting to see who shows up first: Rahmoud, who may be nuts, or Majnoun, who definitely IS nuts. So how do you suggest we spend the time?"

As Eric reeled off their circumstances, Diana couldn't help smiling. She thought for a moment, then said, "Okay, but only if I get to ask the first question."

"You're on."

"Okay. When was your first serious kiss?"

"Let's see. That would be Christmas Eve, my senior year in high school."

"Must have been serious, if you remember that clearly."

"I remember more than that. It was a dance at the country club; the Sweet Sixteenth birthday of one of my prep school peers, Penelope--Penny for short. She had an older sister, Tracy, who was my age, but already a college freshman. She was at home for a couple of days, before spending the Christmas holidays in London with some classmates. Even though my dad sent me there to fix me up with Penny, I felt more comfortable with Tracy. We talked for awhile on the dancefloor, then ducked behind the bandstand to continue the conversation. I don't remember saying anything in particular, but at one point she grabs my shoulders, pulls me toward her and starts damn near pulling my teeth out with her tongue."

"Nothing in particular, huh?"

"I swear I don't know what set her off. I was, to put it mildly, surprised, then I started kissing her back the same way. I guess that was what she wanted, because that seemed to turn up her temperature. But right then, Penny sneaks behind the bandstand. She couldn't complain about me too much; she had some other guy in tow. I just took off out of there, and spent the next day or two trying to avoid both of them."

"So this was after we got back from the Realm?"

"Yeah."

"Which means that, last time we were here, you were a virgin!"

"Well, if you want to be technical about it--"

"And you were ready to marry the Queen of Zinn?! Didn't you think about what would happen on your honeymoon?"

"At that moment, I just wanted to sleep in a bed for the first time in months; I didn't worry about if someone else would be in it."

"Er-ric---"

"Hey, Truth. And yet another bone I've had to pick with Dear Old Dad. The only time in my life I ever tried to ask him about sex, I was eleven. Like everyone else at eleven, I was going through changes, and didn't understand half of what was going on. So I make the mistake of asking him. All he says is, at the right time, I should let Nature take its course."

"No offense, Nature Boy, but I wish it would have happened between you and the Queen of Zinn, just as long as I could have been a fly on that wall."

"You think I wouldn't have figured it out?"

"Face it, Eric, last time we were here, you tried to put the moves on Venger's sister!"

"Yecch; don't remind me. Anyway, I think you've gotten in two or three questions. Maybe I can have a turn?"

"Go ahead."

Eric thought for a few seconds, then asked: "When did you get over Kosar?"

Even though there was little light left, Eric could see the smile fade from Diana's face. "What makes you think I've gotten over Kosar?" she asked hesitently.

"Then you haven't gotten over Kosar?"

"Eric, it's--it's not that simple." She sighed and stayed still for over a minute before speaking again. "After Starfall, DungeonMaster told me that I'd known Kosar before, and would know him again, in ways I couldn't understand. He never explained that--he never explains anything--so I've tried to figure it out on my own. I know that I'm not going to just bump into him one day back on Earth, like Bobby and Terry, and I know he isn't back here in the Realm. I don't know if I'm over him; I just know that I won't see him again until--" Diana stopped the sentence.

"Until what?"

"Here's the only way I can describe it so it makes sense. They say that there's this bright shining light, and you're supposed to walk toward it, and that there'll be someone there, a loved one, to guide you--"

Eric's mouth was suddenly dry. "Diana, you're talking about dying."

"Yeah. That's the problem; I won't know how I feel about Kosar until I see him, and I won't see him until I'm--I'm--dead. God," Diana shuddered, "that's the first time I ever said that out loud."

"I guess that's the one thing that scares everybody."

"Not me. I'm not supposed to be scared of anything, and usually I'm not. That's a gift from my dad, I guess; the great scientist. He taught me to look at things as they really are, and never to be afraid of them. And I haven't been afraid, Eric; you know that. The Realm threw everything from giant worms to camel-dragons at us, and I took it in stride. Compared to that, it was no big deal when Sam and I got a flat tire in San Bernardino, and we went looking for help in the wrong bar. I ended up taking out four redneck bikers with a poolcue, and I didn't even break a sweat. But that's not what scares me. I've got three big fears, but they're really the same fear. In the Hall of the Celestial Knights, they tried to get to me through my fear of getting old. But it isn't just being old; it's also being infirm and--the big one."

They sat quietly for a moment, then Eric took off his gauntlets, laid them on the bunk, and took one of Diana's hands in his. "Come here for a minute." He stood up, and pulled her toward the window. As they reached it, the light of the Realm's moons fell on Diana's face; he could see she'd been crying, and--for a moment--he was sorry he'd started this. "I don't suppose you recognize any constellations out there."

Diana wiped her eyes, then looked out the window. "Of course not. I don't know where we are or anything."

"You think you could find the spot Kosar disappeared to?"

"Eric--why are you doing this?"

"Well, your dad the scientist, and my dad the businessman--you think either of them would believe in Starfall, even if they were here to see it?"

Diana smiled in spite of herself. "It is hard to imagine."

"Everything here's been hard to imagine, even if you have lived through it. Anyway, what I guess I'm trying to ask is--you think you know what death is, but what if you're wrong?"

"Is this supposed to cheer me up? I'm still going to die someday."

"And you think you're the only one who gets the heebie-jeebies thinking about that? You think I haven't spent a few nights wide awake, thinking about the one thing my money can't buy? Look, maybe there will be a tunnel of bright light; or maybe we'll have to get in a boat and cross the River Styx. It really doesn't matter. After this crazy Realm, there's not a lot I'm sure about, but I believe this: part of being afraid to die is regretting what you didn't get to do while you were alive. So just do what you have to do, and you end up with fewer regrets." He waited for a moment, watching Diana as she continued to stare out at the night sky. "So, have you got any unfinished business? That you want to talk about, I mean."

"Eric, no offense, but can I be alone for a while?"

"Yeah, sure. I guess we'll call the game a draw." He picked up his gauntlets and started for the cell door.

"I used to--" Diana started. Eric stood in the doorway as he waited for her to start speaking again. "When we got back home, I'd go out almost every night. I'd go to the observatory on campus. I practically grew up there; my dad showed me how to run the telescope when I was ten. So I'd sneak over to the observatory and just start scanning the skies, looking for Kosar. It took about a month before I started feeling really stupid."

"Hey, don't say that," Eric said softly, walking back to Diana. He hesitated only a second before wrapping his arms around Diana in a hug which she returned. "Nothing is stupid if we do it for love." After a few more seconds he turned to leave the cell again.

"Eric--thanks."

"Hey, anytime." He left Diana staring out at the stars with a look of peace on her face. He saw Hank at the mouth of the tunnel. "My turn, I guess."

"Right; thanks." Hank took a few steps down the hall, then leaned his bow against the wall and sat down where he was. "It's gonna be a long night until they get back."

"Yeah, then the fun really starts. Will we have to--" Eric turned to see that Hank had fallen asleep on the spot. He smiled and turned back toward the tunnel, watching and waiting.

Coming October 15 :

Part 8: In the Desert