Chapter 128: Denied entry
Irwin walked deeper into the caverns, moving through the narrow passages. To his surprise, as well as Crithann and Scintilla could see in the dark, he was still able to see even farther. So, as he had when he'd been with Daubutim long ago, he was the one in the lead.
Ten minutes after they had entered, he saw movement ahead. Blurry movements as things seemed to pass the end of the wide, rocky tunnel they were moving through.
"Irwin?" Scintilla asked, standing beside him.
"I think we are there. There's movement up ahead," Irwin said as he continued moving ahead.
As he reached the end of the corridor, he saw it led up to a spacious chamber where a mass of Imps were moving inside. Before he could decide if he should run inside with his flame on, Crithann pushed him aside and walked forward.
"Follow me," the towering Viridian grunted as he stepped into the cavern.
Irwin shared a quick look with Scintilla, then followed him.
Crithann moved inside a few steps, then stopped, letting out a surprised hiss. Irwin stepped around him to get a clear view.
An emerald-rank portal hovered at the far wall, but there was no sight of Balarn or Relinda. Instead, Imps were rushing into the Portal one after the other while a much larger Imp stood to the side. Towering over the others, with wings on its back and golden rings attached to its nose and ears, it was glaring at the Imps moving into the Portal.
That's like the one Greldo told us about! Irwin thought as he searched for Balarn again.
Even on a second inspection, there was no sight of him.
"They must have brought Balarn through the portal or somewhere else," he muttered, his worry for the other smith growing.