Descent Into Underearth

  That last argument made him shudder internally.

  “Step aside!” said someone, and Arghen saw the shifting of feet away from him as another pair of boots came into view.

  “A pity you are not a real Captain,” said the Primus’ voice regretfully. “You did magnificently in the military exercise, and I would have been proud to have you as one of my own. But, as it happens, there are other people who would like to have you under their command. I am afraid, however,” he said chuckling, “that they are most definitely NOT from the Military.”

  Arghen’s blood turned to ice as the sound of a knife being slowly scraped against another blade sounded much too close for his comfort level.

  Other Books in the Mist Gate Crossings Series

  The Urban Survivalist

  A Mist Gate Crossings Novella

  By Susan Bianculli

  Published by CBAY Books

  Jason’s life has never been easy. As a member of the Urban Survivalists, a group of homeless kids just trying to survive the streets of New York City, Jason’s day is spent trying to steal and scavenge enough to buy food for himself and his friends. Then one day he chases the wrong girl into the trees in Central Park and out of the everyday world.

  Old Disciplines, New Uses

  A Mist Gate Crossings Novella

  By Susan Bianculli

  Published by CBAY Books

  The search to save Jason takes Lise, Heather and Arghen deep underground into a world of slavery, cruelty and torture: the world of the Under-elves. Finding Jason in such a location will take cunning and all of Arghen’s knowledge of Under-elf life. And if finding Jason weren’t enough of a challenge, it seems that a mysterious enemy is following them. Perhaps Bascom isn’t as defeated as they thought.

  FROM THE LONG ROAD HOME

  THE MIST GATE CROSSINGS, BOOK 4

  PROLOGUE

  The Conductivus, the speaker for the Under-elven souls of the dead, walked with her usual halting steps out of her quarters in the Leadership Ring of the Under-elven city of Chirasniv. Two recent additions to her entourage of souls who were named Jodron and Descora had gleefully told her of a soon-to-be new offering in the Art section of Central Court. The long-mated pair had been killed by the new attraction, plus two others. Filtering out the story through the scattered thoughts and reports from all the other souls who happened to be in the area around her had taken the Conductivus some time, but eventually she’d learned of how Jodron and Descora had lost the fight for their lives, as well as their precious Surfacer and the magical vial of drink she’d wielded at their pleasure.

  The Conductivus leaned heavily on her tall, white walking stick, as much a physical support for her as a symbol of her office, while she made her way through the twisty, unmarked corridors towards Central Court. Everyone she met politely stepped out of her way out of respect for her and her position. Not that she, in her distinctive robes that fluttered almost soul-like around her with every movement she made, would have been mistaken for anything but what she was even naked. She was as soul-like in coloring as a physical being could get: the albino skin of the Under-elves was even more pronounced in her, and her eyes were colorless instead of the usual amber. These attributes were how the rare little one born with the ability to speak with souls was known. The Conductivus had been on duty for a couple of generations of little ones being born, though, and was tiring of her burden. But, mindful of her responsibility to the souls in her care, she headed for Art.

  The souls of Jodron and Descora happily led her to a cage where a noble-looking Under-elf, whose thick white hair flowed down around his shoulders, was strapped naked to an art board. His eyes had been closed, but they’d snapped open at the sound of her staff tapping on the cavern floor as she came and stood in front of him. Despite being bound, he bowed his neck in a polite greeting at her.

  “Conductivus,” he acknowledged her.

  “Arghen, is it not?” she sighed in greeting. “I remembering seeing you in the Civilian Ring not long ago. I remember because your companions were so different inside.” She looked him up and down. “As are you.”

  Arghen nodded agreement.

  “You have wrought quite a commotion in Chirasniv. Was it worth it? And are you sorry for the deaths you have caused?” she asked. “There are two here who are most eager to know.”

  Jodron and Descora drifted forward over her shoulders in anticipation of his response.

  “I believe so, and no.”

  The long-mated pair floated away, annoyed and disappointed at his reply.

  The Conductivus, however, remained. “You remain unrepentant despite the fact that you, an Under-elf, are going to become a work of Art for Chirasniv?’

  “Yes.”

  She sighed again. “I will leave you to it, then,” she said, as a group of determined-looking Under-elves in civilian clothes approached his cage.