Dark Deeds (Part 7)
The night approaches
I hear the sound skittering cockroaches
we pass through the town incognito
the eerie smoke guides and dances
look up in the distance see a tower rising
the sorcerer inside abiding
then we turn another direction
beacon and tension
the guide invisible to the citizens
like we follow on intuition
hear the sounds of work ending
clacking hooves and children laughing
the crash of hammer on an anvil
a family saying prayers for a meal
come around the edge of a small house
smell the venison roast
the trailing smoke now leads below
our impasse and we halt
leading down into a sewer vault
I lift the grate and motion
you wave a hand
conjuring a mystic orb
it glows cold hovering above your shoulder
we drop down into the dark abyss
levitating with slow descent
pass along a dank corridor
rats scurry into a corner
sloshing through the mire
see the blue smoke guiding interior
finally opens into a giant cavernous space
rotting wine casks and haphazard stored goods
growing mold and nests of small cobalt mushrooms
a pool saddles the wall
at the center a giant statue stands
cold stone eyes and hand raised
runic great sword at the ready
god Tyr missing a hand
our mystical guidance ascends
darkness inside no impediment to our enchantments
we move up a staircase leading toward a gate
try to open the way but rust and grime pervades
I trace some symbols in the dust
call the spell and the locks bust
the bolt falls away with a crash
we prep for a clash
no one is coming so we move forth
suddenly you come back into this plane
I can see your face determined
this ancient pathway
unused and abandoned
we follow the trail
up another flight of stairs
hear ruckus laughter and the sound of tears
pass through more labyrinthine corridors
wretched souls locked in cells
smoke points the way to an ornate door
it creaks open and we pass through
into a dimly lit room
torches on the walls and another passage
see a guard move in the distance
we slip inside a nearby room
can hear them playing cards at a table
"The general plans to invade later today"
one of them drops a wine bottle shattered
they laugh and clatter
"Its a great day for pillage and blood splatter
those weaklings won't put up a fight
just work all day
then we come and take their food away."
Your eyes burn with rage
I raise my hand and a dark flame builds
light intense though black as night
bursts of shadowy flame pour out in flight
consumes the room until
only charred ashes remain
no one there to hear the screams.