He also realized that everyone else had made their way to the other end of their tunnel, where the pyroclastic flow of hot molten lava blocked their forward progress. They were alone, and the indignity of Baron Footsore"s demand had gone unwitnessed!
And his final realization was that his delay in responding was tantamount to defiance.
“Of course, Lord Baron,” he said, dissimulating with a smile, his guts grinding, his palms sweating. Wiping them slyly, he reached for his apricot-sized ruby.
Red rays dappled the tunnel walls, the stone instantly alight, the color and brightness bringing Marl instant comfort.
“Set it there, Lord Baron,” Caelum said, gesturing to a random rock shelf protruding from the wall. “I"ll not touch it, I assure you.”
Marl wasn"t assured.
“Listen fool, it would
