The Black Fountain

It took a while to open the latch as it was very rusty. When he finally pried it open he looked below him. Below the latch he saw a very dark passage. Goater took his staff and went down into the passage. He descended down on a staircase. The passage as Goater noticed was very dark and damp. Down below him he saw a faint light. It didn’t take Goater long to get down the stairs. When he finally did he saw a large domed building. He walked slowly to the building. All around him was water. He guessed this place must have flooded. But when Goater looked into the water closely it was the color black. He shuddered at the thought of falling into the water.

Although the water looked stagnant, he was very tempted to drink from it.. He had not drunken in two days. Goater reached for the door handle that led into the small domed building. He grabbed the door handle and opened it. He looked inside and heard splashing water. Far off into the distance he saw a dark figure, one which resembled a man, next to a large object. He gulped and began to walk towards it. When he got close he saw the figure turn its head toward him. Goater stopped and held his breath. He looked straight into the face of which was drinking from what looked like a large basin. Its eyes were pure red. It had a stern look on its face. Goater could not stand the glare. It pushed him back like a strong wind. Then the man opened its mouth and screeched. Goater held up his staff and tried to resist the monster’s voice pushing him back.

He was able to get closer but every time he did he felt his ears slowly swell up. Soon he was sure they would burst, but he had to do something. He got closer step by step, his ears exploding. As he got only a few feet from the beast he felt cold blood drip from his face and ears. With all of his strength he charged the beast with his staff sending it flying back. It landed on its back, screeched, then turned and ran off into the darkness. Goater toppled over in pain holding his ears. He could barely move. He laid there for hours it seemed before he managed to move slowly to the large basin. He shakily stood and noticed the basin. Water filled it. He knew he was close to death. Goater took his final breath and fell into the basin. Now the dark domed room was full of darkness and death.

The soldiers were in rage. "Where are they!" spoke one of them. "I don’t know...They must have fled in fear!" Fred searched the fort angrily. They had traveled all this way for nothing! A small soldier approached Fred. "Fred sir. We have their trail. The are traveling north. Come and see."

Fred nodded and followed the small soldier, Beff, to the trail. When they got there Fred examined it with utmost care. He preserved every step. He followed it about a mile up the way where it stopped. When he got back evening was upon them. "What he you learned?" asked Beff. Fred ordered the men to gather in the fort. He decided now that Pedrick would never come back.

He had been gone too long. He would speak of the rebellion now. "My friends! We must leave this place and follow the trail north." The soldiers began to agree. Beff stood. "Are you suggesting we follow Getrau’?" Fred shook his head. "No my friends.