With their backs to the tower they were able to hold off the undead horde better than they had. It did not last long tired and weary men some with wounds don’t fight well for long. Soon they were all pressed up against the tower the skeletons unrelenting as more waves still came. One of Ireselan’s men got a rusty sword in the throat and Ireselan pushed the dying man into the horde of undead.
“We will not last much longer if this continues half-elf, even with your monster.” Ireselan snarled as he bashed in the head of a skeleton.
Using both his rapier and the club Heljah had made for him; Quinten blocked a thrust and broke the withered arm before the skeleton in front of him could recover and pull it back. Quinten thought furiously before answering. “We need to get inside the tower. We can block the door or thin them out if we need to once we are inside.” he looked up and down the row of warriors pressed against the cold stone of the tower. “Move to the right until we find the tower entrance. After we find it Valasar and Heljah take up flanking positions the rest of you guard their backs.”
They all started inching their way towards the right Valasar at the end of the line once more covered their backs and Heljah was again at the front and forcing a way through the press of undead bodies. The going was slow, having to deal with fighting at the same time as they tried to make it around the building. Quinten looked at in back and in front everyone had the same expression that of desperate men on the brink holding on by a thread.
“Quinten we found the entrance.” Heljah yelled back.
The entrance for the tower looked just as it did in the real world. Minus the dead body of the dwarf. It was a little alcove in the tall tower of dark stone. Heljah and Valasar took up positions on both sides of the entrance and Quinten was impressed to see one of the men-at-arms take a position in-between them. Everyone else crowded into the alcove and looked despairingly at the door. It was the same door that was in the real world absent the key that Quinten had first used.
“Great half-elf we are now as good as dead now.” Ireselan said staring at the door hopelessness sharp on his voice.
“Shut it Ireselan, and you and your men help me try to force it open.” Quinten was painfully aware that Valasar and Heljah were buying them what precious time they had. After trying the point of Quintens rapier and a feeble attempt to kick the door in they all ran into the door with their shoulder. All that that was able to accomplish was six men with sore shoulders.
“Anymore bright ideas?” Ireselan sneered.
Quinten looked at the door helplessly. What was he supposed to do? He looked back and saw that they fight was more desperate now. Valasar was most likely exhausted and Heljah was right there with him. He looked back at the door and had one more idea. He ripped open his shirt and put a finger in the still bleeding cut on his arm. With his finger glistening with wet blood he started to trace the dwarven symbols he remembered seeing in the real world. As soon as he touched the door with his wet finger he felt something go out of him, energy that he didn’t think he had. He continued to write out what he remembered seeing and more energy left him as he did. But as he continued to write what looked like a ghost of a key started to appear. Slowly but becoming more real the more he wrote it was the same key that he had used in the real world. As soon as he put the last symbol he remembered on the door his legs quaking with the effort of holding him up finally gave out and he fell in a heap on the ground.
“Nice work half-elf.” Ireselan bent down as if to help Quinten to his feet. But before he could get close to him Han and Kol were their helping him up swinging his arms over their necks to support him. Kol gave Ireselan such a look that it made the elf back away almost unconsciously. He recovered himself quickly and turned his retreat into going over to the door turning the key and pushing it open. “Move quickly before we are all killed by the dead.”
It was not a moment too soon. The man-at-arms that had stood with Valasar and Heljah went down with a spear in his leg. With a scream he went down clutching his leg. With lightning fast movement Valasar turned using his tail to disintegrate the first row of undead. He bent and picked up the solider and tossed him over his shoulder and made a dash for the open door Heljah coving his retreat. Everyone moved aside has the great lizard rushed passed them into the hallway. Heljah grabbed the key before she came barreling after him. After booth were inside the other three men-at-arms hurriedly closed the door. As the door closed one of the skeletons tried to follow and got smashed to smithereens for its trouble.
Two ever- glow lanterns light up this end of the hallway bathing everyone in a harsh light. Everyone had found a place along the door and walls panting. It seemed that the curse of not healing still held no matter how hard they breathed it didn’t seem to help. Quentin barley felt alive as if he hung to life by a thread. Heljah armor was battered and she had blood running down one side of her face making a fan. Valasar had new wounds and was still losing blood along the one up his side. He had sat the man-at-arms down next to him and removed the spear from his thigh. He sat there and made bandages from the man’s shirt. The man winced each time Valasar touched him even though Valasar was being very careful.
“We…need to….keep moving.” Quinten managed to get out he hardly had any energy to speak at all. “haveto….get to…portal…before it…closes.” Han and Kol looked at him with worried eyes before nodding and getting to their feet. Ireselan looked at Quinten with a sneer and something else maybe a small gloat before he too got to his feet. Han and Kol again slung Quinten between them; Quinten tried to walk but only managed a shuffle.
“Quinten do you think this hall is like the other one?” Kol asked keeping his eye on Ireselan. Quinten managed a nod and before anyone could say anything Heljah had smashed the two ever-glow lanterns.
“What in the seven hells are you doing.” Ireselan yelled in the dark.
“There is a trick to the hall wait a moment and you blind men will see.” Han said roughly. The hallway stated to glow again with the black patches for the booby-traps. “See told you.”
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