Chapter 276: The first exploration
"These are the first three tunnels, Lord Fateless. But the branch out after twenty or so meters."
Hex faced three openings before him. As agreed, his team entered the burrow first. The opening of the burrow lay at the foot of a hill. This hill differed from the others. The others were just hills formed by sand. This one formed as sand piled over the massive roots of a destroyed tree.
It was hard to tell the difference from the outside. Only after entering through the opening, it became apparent. A massive network of clustered roots, covered by sand, formed the ceiling and walls.
To Hex the entrance chamber – they named it as such – looked like a dome made of roots and sand.
The darkness of the night deepened inside the entrance chamber. Dollaire had proposed to light a torch but Hex refused. Even a faint glimmer would attract the creatures of the dark like moths to a flame. He rather took them by surprise.
"Bashar, you take them and go through the first tunnel," Hex said, grouping Bashar with those he knew. He turned toward the Twins. They didn’t like him but as long as they didn’t obstruct him, he could tolerate them. "You two take the middle."
They nodded. It could be that they preferred each other above the option to tag with him. Whatever the case, he appreciated their cooperative attitude.
"Make sure to proceed with caution. Take it slow if you must. Retreat and regroup, even if in doubt. Am I understood?"
"Yes, Lord." Bashar’s team whispered in unison. The Twins were a bit slower and less enthusiastic.