Gardens of Mist (The Traveler's Gate Chronicles: Collection #2) by Will Wight

better shot,” she said. “I wasn’t thinking of my reputation at the time, I was just trying to make sure we killed the monster. Besides, it’s not like this is over. We still don’t know who summoned it in the first place.”
    “Sure you do,” Valin said. “Enosh. It’s always Enosh.”
    “We’ll have to be more specific than that, I’m afraid.”
    Valin nodded absently, still looking at the Strugle’s corpse. “That’s it for me, then, I guess. My job’s done. I was almost hoping it would take longer.”
    “Hoping you would run into a dragon?” the armored man asked. His voice was somewhat muffled by the helmet.
    Valin spread his hands helplessly. “Not entirely. The Territories are fascinating; I can never see enough of them. I’ve never spent much time in Tartarus before, so I was hoping to get to know it a little better.”
    He hesitated, then added, “And you never know. Maybe this will be where I finally do find my dragons.”
    Lieutenant Roshan shrugged. “Well, good luck to you. Tell the Queen we were grateful for your assistance, and hers. If it helps…I’ve heard rumors of fire-breathing snakes with golden scales. Not dragons, exactly, but close.”
    “It’s just a tale we use to keep the novices up at night,” one of the men put in. “But hey, you never know.”
    Valin had certainly followed up on less. “Where?” he asked.
    “Supposedly, in the center of the Labyrinth.”
    He picked up his satchel, slinging it over one shoulder. “Can you point me in the right direction?”
    “It’s a labyrinth,” Lieutenant Roshan said. “That’s not just a name. It’s a big maze.”
    “Right, got it. So no one knows where the center is.”
    Oh, well. He would just have to find it himself. He liked things better that way anyway.
    “Before I forget…” Roshan said, and tossed him his gold medallion. “I had a real battle with myself about giving that back to you. It may have saved my life today. The voice is a little creepy, though.”
    Valin snatched the medallion out of the air and tucked it away in his satchel. He hadn’t forgotten; part of him had been hoping that Roshan would stay quiet and try to keep the artifact for herself. He should have known better.
    “You wouldn’t be willing to part with your sword, would you?” Valin asked hopefully.
    She laughed. “Pick one up yourself. There are plenty around here. If you want a good one, though, you’ll have to come see me in the forges.”
    “Oh, well. It was worth a try.”
    Valin raised a hand in farewell and headed out of the room and back into the razor-filled hallway.  
    Then the Wanderer walked deeper into the Steel Labyrinth, looking for dragons.

    You will find that the Red light of humility shines strongly in the Labyrinth, for many of its Travelers hold fast to the old ways. Rather than guiding them, we must ask them to guide us.

    -Elysian Book of Virtues, Chapter 6: Red

More Stories In…

    THE LIGHTNING WASTES
    (The Traveler’s Gate Chronicles, Collection #3)

    Coming January 2014

    Also, check out Will’s website for book updates, news, original fiction, and his long-forgotten True Name!

    www.WillWight.com