Merlin led me north away from the enemy pickets. We entered a grove of trees, and then he stopped before a stone shrine against a hill. On the face of the shrine, a branching tree was carved in bas relief. It appeared heavy, but the druid pushed it aside with ease revealing a tunnel high and wide enough to fit two horses walking abreast. We entered.
The path descended down a short way before leveling out. New torches lay stacked against the wall. Taking a flint and steel hanging from a hook, I struck a flame to one while Merlin levered a counterweight to move the shrine back over the tunnel mouth.
The four-mile journey seemed to take an eternity, but I was surprised at where we came out. I extinguished my torch and left it in the tunnel. Then I looked around at the high ceiling and board
