skulls and extremity fragments were everywhere. Colin shuddered and resisted the urge to regurgitate. He walked toward the manacles to feign interest in them in case the captain had been watching him.
"How many times have you led this expedition?” requested Colin.
The big man turned to face him. “Since the beginning when you were just a lad."
"Is there another way out in case Hyde decides he would like us as well, despite our impurities?"
The captain cackled. “Aye. And for sure, he is not a just creature. He would just as likely consume or cinder any of us, and he has tried to do so on numerous occasions. The procedure is to bring the sacrifices in row by row, then have some men stand by the exit and others on the upper decks in case something goes awry.” He gesticulated upward and Colin saw a large overhang of rock with a ladder leading to it.
"Is there only one exit out of the cave?” inquired Colin.
"There is folklore that states there is another down the left passageway, but that is also where the beast dwells. Once Hyde begins feeding, he breathes fire and brimstone for close to an hour. For that reason, we have not had the opportunity to see if the tale is indeed true."
"Why is he not venturing out now to investigate?"
"I told you, he can smell souls! Smells their souls, he does. I reckon you and I are low on his list of devourables for the day."
* * * *
The women rode behind Nathaniel. They snaked their way up the winding mountain path with Nathaniel on a great chestnut horse, the twins on appaloosas and Bella on a young mare. They followed the trail of the three wagons and soldiers deep into the night without rest. Nathaniel was surprised at their level of endurance. As the sun began to rise, Raena brought her mount up to Nathaniel.
"Can you tell me what your captain has planned?” inquired Rae.
"Well, Commander McCullough was to recruit as many of the faithful as he could to go on the expedition, then attempt to free the children and slay the beast if possible,” he began in a thick brogue which reminded Rae of a Scotsman.
"However, only ten of the twenty-five on this trip are faithful. I've acquired daggers for you to conceal, as well as small swords for each of you in case you need to defend yourselves."
"How much further are they?” Rae asked anxiously.
"Not much further now. We'll venture to the top of that ridge. They will stop the wagon train and await nightfall. The sacrifices always occur at night."
Rae searched his face. “Have you seen one before then?"
Nathaniel's expression turned steely as he replied, “Yes, I witnessed my first when I was seventeen. By twenty-one, I learned of the resistance and immediately joined.
"We will be victorious, or die trying. This is no way to live. If we are to continue our lives in this fashion, death would be a welcome change."
The party rode in silence, all wrestling with their own personal fears and apprehensions regarding the destiny of the innocent souls they pursued. They continued upward on the trail till it was necessary for them to lean forward in their saddles to assist their mounts with the climb. Trees were clustered close together and due to the elevation, the air was becoming close, more difficult to breathe.
"What is that smell?” requested Bella, her small, waifish nose wrinkled in disgust.
"It smells like chemistry class when we used hydrogen sulfide,” suggested Rae.
"That, miladies, would be Hyde. You should all try to rest for a bit."
Nathaniel gestured below them in the distance; the wagons were barely perceptible in a circle. “You will need as much strength as you can muster. I know not what awaits us once we approach the lair."
* * * *
Night fell. The soldiers began to remove ten sleeping children at a time from the wagons, and carried them into the cave.
"McCullough! Have the men move the children into the inner chamber first!” the captain bellowed over the thunderclaps that had begun moments ago. “If
"How many times have you led this expedition?” requested Colin.
The big man turned to face him. “Since the beginning when you were just a lad."
"Is there another way out in case Hyde decides he would like us as well, despite our impurities?"
The captain cackled. “Aye. And for sure, he is not a just creature. He would just as likely consume or cinder any of us, and he has tried to do so on numerous occasions. The procedure is to bring the sacrifices in row by row, then have some men stand by the exit and others on the upper decks in case something goes awry.” He gesticulated upward and Colin saw a large overhang of rock with a ladder leading to it.
"Is there only one exit out of the cave?” inquired Colin.
"There is folklore that states there is another down the left passageway, but that is also where the beast dwells. Once Hyde begins feeding, he breathes fire and brimstone for close to an hour. For that reason, we have not had the opportunity to see if the tale is indeed true."
"Why is he not venturing out now to investigate?"
"I told you, he can smell souls! Smells their souls, he does. I reckon you and I are low on his list of devourables for the day."
* * * *
The women rode behind Nathaniel. They snaked their way up the winding mountain path with Nathaniel on a great chestnut horse, the twins on appaloosas and Bella on a young mare. They followed the trail of the three wagons and soldiers deep into the night without rest. Nathaniel was surprised at their level of endurance. As the sun began to rise, Raena brought her mount up to Nathaniel.
"Can you tell me what your captain has planned?” inquired Rae.
"Well, Commander McCullough was to recruit as many of the faithful as he could to go on the expedition, then attempt to free the children and slay the beast if possible,” he began in a thick brogue which reminded Rae of a Scotsman.
"However, only ten of the twenty-five on this trip are faithful. I've acquired daggers for you to conceal, as well as small swords for each of you in case you need to defend yourselves."
"How much further are they?” Rae asked anxiously.
"Not much further now. We'll venture to the top of that ridge. They will stop the wagon train and await nightfall. The sacrifices always occur at night."
Rae searched his face. “Have you seen one before then?"
Nathaniel's expression turned steely as he replied, “Yes, I witnessed my first when I was seventeen. By twenty-one, I learned of the resistance and immediately joined.
"We will be victorious, or die trying. This is no way to live. If we are to continue our lives in this fashion, death would be a welcome change."
The party rode in silence, all wrestling with their own personal fears and apprehensions regarding the destiny of the innocent souls they pursued. They continued upward on the trail till it was necessary for them to lean forward in their saddles to assist their mounts with the climb. Trees were clustered close together and due to the elevation, the air was becoming close, more difficult to breathe.
"What is that smell?” requested Bella, her small, waifish nose wrinkled in disgust.
"It smells like chemistry class when we used hydrogen sulfide,” suggested Rae.
"That, miladies, would be Hyde. You should all try to rest for a bit."
Nathaniel gestured below them in the distance; the wagons were barely perceptible in a circle. “You will need as much strength as you can muster. I know not what awaits us once we approach the lair."
* * * *
Night fell. The soldiers began to remove ten sleeping children at a time from the wagons, and carried them into the cave.
"McCullough! Have the men move the children into the inner chamber first!” the captain bellowed over the thunderclaps that had begun moments ago. “If
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