Yesterday, the Virgos had accepted the surrender of the remaining Horde led by Glybothar, but there was no time to rest: the surviving Horde leaders had fled to Dark Mountain, and the Virgos' captain was, by all reports, held prisoner somewhere deep in its bowels. The Borials and the Aody stayed to secure the city while the Virgos prepared to set out as soon as they were ready.
If they had known what they were in for, they might have taken a little longer to rest and recuperate. The march from Stonefist to Dark Mountain was not a terribly long one, but it certainly seemed that way to the war-weary men and women of the Virgo.
The Virgos marched in sections, the different departments led by the department heads. Jonathan Lataro and K'Lara headed the entire force. One-eyed Garek's engineers were behind them. Benton's security was to the left, and Johnny's Marines were to the right. The rest of the departments marched behind the engineers.
As the dread mountain drew nearer, more details became visible. It was impossibly steep and slender for its imposing height. Some unknown geological forces must be at work holding it together, otherwise it would surely collapse under its own weight. It sides were cracked and furrowed by deep fissures, and the faint line of a path could be seen spiraling its way up to an opening halfway up the mountain face. At its peak, a cauldera that looked like an open wound spewed and belched forth noxious vapors and oily smoke that slithered partway down the mountain before being dispersed on the wind.
But it wasn't these gloomy physical aspects of the mountain that affected the Virgos as much as the unbearable psychic beating they were receiving. Every step toward the evil mountain seemed to make it this feeling stronger. It was as if there was a presence in the mountain that was pure evil, and was exerting all its will against them to stop them. To oppose this evil mind force and walk toward the mountain was like trying to walk while hip-deep in thick mud.
Benton had no way of explaining this phenomenon, but as he looked at the haggard faces of his men he could tell some of them would not be able to make it all the way. He ran ahead and conferred with Lataro. After a minute, a halt was called, and most of the Virgos collapsed on the ground, grateful for a break from fighting the "mud".
The department heads were summoned, and after a short meeting, it was decided that each would take a small group of their strongest-willed people and continue on to try and rescue the captain, while the rest of the Virgos would remain here and guard their escape route. Garek and Johnny jogged off to collect their teams, and Benton did the same.
Benton would keep his group small. He waved Sitto over to join him. Then, from somewhere behind him, a deep voice resonated, "We would join thee, Benton."
Benton turned to see the golden giant Thuddius and Dweezle the Nirkno. He smiled and said, "Of course, Thudd. I'm glad to have you two along." But then Benton had a thought. If Thudd is here, that means that...
"I'm coming too!" interrupted a woman's voice. Francesca came running up and parked herself beside Thudd.
Benton sighed inwardly, but just smiled and said, "Of course, Francesca."
So, the five of them set off, Benton and Sitto in the lead, Thudd and Francesca following a few paces behind and Dweezle bringing cheerily up the rear. There was no road between here and the beginning of the path that spiraled up Dark Mountain, so they had to pick and clamber their way over the broken and shattered terrain. As they went, the way got steeper and steeper.
Sitto asked, "So, what's your plan, Benny?"
Benton thought a moment and said, "Simple, Sitto. We sneak into the mountain, defeat the guards, free the captain, and then make our escape."
Sitto was flabbergasted by Benton's 'plan'. Finally, he managed to reboot his brain and say, "Reports put about fifty guards in the mountain. That's ten to one odds!"
Benton nodded in agreement, but he'd misunderstood Sitto's meaning. He replied, "Yes, I agree. With ten to one odds we shouldn't have too much trouble. The Horde should have defended this position more heavily."
Sitto just shook his head, and followed Benton up the mountain side.
At this point, the ground was a little less rough, but was criss-crossed by deep chasms. Most were wide enough to jump across, but the going was still treacherous. As they climbed, Benton noticed that the fine powder that was covering the ground here was getting deeper and deeper. At one point, Francesca sank down up to her waist and had to be pulled out by Thudd.
Benton hunched down and scooped up a bit of the powder and tasted it. He tossed down the rest, stood up and said, "Just as I feared. Ash from recent volcanic action has covered this area. It appears that some of the chasms openings have been covered by the stuff, and if we're not careful, the surface ash could give way sending us plummeting to the bottom.
Benton started off again. He was still talking, "The slightest misstep could punch through the ash and drop us into a deep piiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii...!!!" Benton plunged beneath the earth in mid-syllable.
The surrounding ground cracked and caved in, quickly enveloping Sitto too. He disappeared into the fissure with a desperate "I'll get you for this Bentooooooooooo...!!!"
Francesca yelped and jumped back out of range of the gaping pit just in the nick of time to avoid being sucked in herself. Dweezle did the same. Hopefully, the other Virgo teams were having better luck. As soon as the ground stopped shifting unpredictably, Thudd rushed over to the edge of the precipice and peered in. Francesca and Dweezle cautiously joined him.
But there was nothing to see. Below, all was dark.