The grate came up and was moved out of the way. Dash started to lower himself down, and said, Its going to be difficult, dropping into the dark, but you should hit water about seven, eight feet below you, so expect that. Face the same way I am and move to your right. You wont see a thing, but I know my way around down there.
He let go, which was among the most courageous acts of his life, as every fiber of his being screamed to hang onto the stone and not fall into darkness. For a brief instant it felt as if he had made some terrible misjudgment, for it seemed as if he fell through blackness for a long time, yet only a moment after letting go his feet struck water. He bent his knees and hit the stones under the water and lost his balance. He fell forward, his head going completely under the foul water, and he came up, blowing hard to keep anything in that sewer out of his nose and mouth. His grandfather had warned him about that, claiming that many thieves had fallen in the sewer only to later sicken and die from it.
He quickly stepped to his right, and a moment later another man fell through the hole into the darkness. Here, said Dash, and the man moved toward him in the blackness.
Then two other men came through, and Dash said, Whos here?
Gustaf, said the second man down.
Talwin, said the next voice.
Reese, said the third, and Dash remembered the tall quiet man with whom Talwin spoke from time to time. I saw you three move and took the moment. No sense standing around like sheep.
Dash doubted that; he was certain Talwin had alerted Reese something was afoot, but he didnt care to debate that now. Good, he said aloud. We can use all the help we can getting out of here.
Now what? said Gustaf. Were in the darkest pit Ive seen and the foulest smelling, and what are we to do next?
Dash said, This is part of the old sewer under the wall. If we keep moving back toward the city center, well find a way out of Krondor.
Why not just move away from the city if were under the wall? asked Reese.
Because thisDashs hand struck the stone next to which he stoodis the outer limit of the sewer. To get on the other side of the wall you better be able to chew rock.
Damn, said Gustaf. I thought wed slip out under the wall or something when you told me of the sewers.
They never connected the sewer in the foulbourgh with the inner city. It would make it too easy for an invader to slip in. Dash muttered, As it is, a good crew of sappers could still get in within weeks if they knew this was here. Theres one breach to the other side of this wall, but we must go into the city to eventually get there.
Well, which way do we go? asked Talwin.
Glancing up at the faint light of the hole above, Dash oriented himself. Get over here.
The men gathered near him. Gustaf, put your right hand on my right shoulder. He felt the mercenarys strong hand take a grip of his tunic. Talwin, do the same to Gustaf, and Reese bring up the rear. Listen for my instructions. Dash put his right hand on the wall and said, Lets go, slowly. And if you lose your grip, sing out.
They moved off into the gloom.
Jimmy turned suddenly and put his hand over Malars mouth as he let the torch fall to the stone walkway next to the sewer. As he hoped, the torch began to fail and flicker, allowing Jimmy to step on it, putting out the light. Malar had the presence of mind not to be too shocked by the move, and he endured standing there with Jimmys hand over his mouth.
When Jimmy removed it, Malar heard what Jimmy had, men moving cautiously down another tunnel, nearby. Whispering as quietly as possible, Jimmy said, Someones coming.
Malar nodded.
They stood motionless, listening to the faint sound of men moving slowly. Then one spoke. His voice was muffled and distant and nothing of what was said came through, but Jimmy would have bet a purse of gold they were invaders on patrol. Something about the quality of the speech hinted at an accent. They waited until the sound died out, as the strangers moved away.
Jimmy knelt and felt around in the dark until he located the torch. It was still hot to the touch. He struck a spark with flint and got the flame going again and said, We may have to lose this if we run into another patrol.
You mean walk around down here blind! said Malar, obviously upset at the thought.
I know my way around here pretty well, said Jimmy, expressing a confidence he didnt feel. Besides, if were apprehended by the invaders, were either dead men or prisoners, and Id rather take my chances retracing our route back to the other side of the wall than those two choices.
Agreed, yet your words fill me with little confidence, young sir.
Jimmy said nothing, but glanced around the corner, making sure that no one had quietly snuck up on them. This way, he said, leading Malar toward a large yawning tunnel entrance that opened up across from where they stood. This required them to step down into the filthy water. They slogged through the slowly moving mass of floating char, and less savory debris, and entered the blackness.
Dash felt fingers dig into his shoulder as the sound of men echoed from a distance. In the blackness they couldnt tell from which quarter the sound originated. Nerves were frayed and Dash was concerned one of the three men would panic. Gustaf seemed solid, if nervous, Talwin was quiet, but Reese was given to blurting out pointless things, either questioning how much farther theyd have to move in the gloom, or expressing his apprehensions.
There were places along the way where light came down from above, faint cracks in the street above, or a broken culvert admitting some illumination. Dash was always surprised how bright these areas looked after complete darkness, but knew it was an illusion. He could only see a dozen yards or so on either side of a source of light, and once past, they fell back into a gloom darker than any night he had endured.
The first place he had hoped to find some torches or a lantern according to his grandfathers description had provided no secret cache of useful items. If there had been a secret stone in the corner he couldnt find it. Not the least bit immodest, Dash knew it wasnt there, for if it had been, he would have found it.
The second location was already empty. Someone had emptied it. Dash didnt know if it had been stripped of its contents during the fall of the city or days, even hours before he reached it.
He was leading the men northward as much as he could, knowing his best chance for escape was around the area formerly known as Fishtown. It was one of the few places in Krondor you could enter the bay and with a little swimming find yourself outside the walls of the city. Dash didnt know if the other men could swim, and for the most part he didnt care. While he wanted to see these three men to safety if possible, hed willingly sell them out to get his information back to the Prince.
Keeping one hand on the wall, he led them deeper into the darkness.
Jimmy motioned toward the faint light. Malar nodded, whispering, A way out, young sir?
Perhaps. Boost me up on your shoulders so I can take a look.
Malar knelt, and when Jimmy put his left boot on the servants shoulders, Malar stood, grabbing Jimmys ankles to support him as he was lifted to a point just below the light. Jimmy fought for balance a moment, but Malar kept his motion steady, and Jimmy kept his position as he grabbed a support in the floor above him to keep from falling.