The Von Eisenstein mausoleum was a vast structure deep in the old and derelict noble quarter of the graveyard. Just like the slums beyond the imposing iron-spiked graveyard wall, the final resting places of Tal's wealthiest families had seen better days. No surprise, considering that an old man and a boy were responsible for several acres of the dead.

At least the crypt was easy to find, its foundation indeed sunken by several feet, giving the once magnificent temple-like structure a decidedly different look. Echser tilted his head, squinting at the ancient behemoth with its massive stone blocks, its weather, and time-eaten gargoyles and statues. Some of them lay tipped over, layers of lichen and graveroots shrouding them like spider webs. The longer he looked, the more the ancient tomb reminded him of a massive toad perched on uneven ground. The analogy was more disturbing than he cared for. Would this ugly brute gobble them up like a fly? Gulp them down into its slimy stomach and devour—

Something hit him in the back.

"Is everything all right, old friend? You look a tad pale," said Craven, slapping him again for good measure. The lunatic could move as silent as a wraith.

"Worried? Worried! Of course, I am worried! Who in his right mind wouldn't be?"

"I am not."

"That's what I am saying!"

"Nonsense, my friend..." Echser went rigid as Craven reached up and draped a comradely arm around his bony shoulders. The audacity of the man! The gall! "I am probably the sanest person you will ever meet, and though it may be hard to believe right now – I am doing this for your benefit."

"My benefit?" gasped Echser. "Benefit!?"

"Quite so."

"How in the name of Science should any part of this nightmare turn out to be a benefit?"

Craven gave him a smile that, combined with his fathomless dark eyes, reminded him very much of that of a shark. "You will see, old friend, you will see."

Echser wiggled out of his embrace. "And what's this thing with 'old friend' all the time? I only met you a week ago, and the things you've done to me this day alone... No friend would ever be so cruel. Ever!"

Craven's grin grew wider still. "Oh, that's where you wrong. Something you will come to understand soon enough, I am sure, and as to why I call you old friend'?" A lazy shrug. "It is simple enough. You are my only friend, and thus, you are my oldest friend."

Echser blinked, not sure how to dispute this explanation – it was quite logical, after all. "But—"

Muffled voices interrupted his train of thought. Moments later, Hornbach and his assistant Stefan came into view, muttering to one another. The youngster had exchanged his spade with a large sledgehammer, Hornbach carrying crowbar and spade. The old undertaker had also changed into fresh garments and made a thorough attempt at cleaning himself. His long grey hair was still wet, his wrinkled skin scrubbed pink, yet when he drew closer, Echser could not fail to notice that the stench of the sewer still clung to him like a discarded lover. He glared balefully at Echser.

The alchemist blinked. "What?"

"You know 'what', beanpole!"

"Beanpole! The outrage!"

Craven padded the air in a calming gesture. "Peace, friends, there is no time to argue. The shadows lengthen... We only have two hours of daylight left, then the ghouls will rise from their slumber, and things will become exceedingly more difficult. Best put those tools you brought to good work."

The undertaker shot Echser another sullen look, then nodded. "Aye. Good thing the graveyard be closed for this business. Wouldn't want ta think people their good 'n proper city officials be robbin' graves or somesuch."

Craven smiled, and a more wicket thing Echser had never seen. "Then let us not stand on ceremony here and slay some ghouls."

Echser hung his head and trudged after this company of fools with a heavy heart, following them up the uneven stairs, only to have an unexpected surprise halt their advancement. For as soon as the two undertakers had freed the entrance from its layers of graveroots, a smooth stonewall greeted them.

"What the heck?" muttered Stefan, scratching his head. "There's no door."

Hornbach gawped at the wall. "Huh. Guess it is one of those. Perdition!" He threw down his spade. "It's sealed by magic or somethin'. Won't get in that way."

"Hmm. It might be so," said Craven, intently studying the walls. "Or..." He stepped forward, running his gloved fingers over the worn relief of some maidens in mourning on the right-hand wall.

Echser blinked. "Er, what are you doing?"

"Searching..."

"For what?"

Click.

The screech of stone scraping over stone made everyone but Craven flinch, then the wall slowly swung open to reveal a dark entrance. The stench that wafted towards them made Echser gag. It was the sewer all over again but mingled with the stink of decaying flesh and something else. Something decidedly feral...

"Puh!" said Hornbach, waving his hands before his face. "Smells like a bear pit."

"More like a pit full of dead bears," muttered Stefan.

Craven smiled. "Then we have come to the right place."

***

"I am taking point," said Craven. "Master Hornbach, I think it is best if you stay close to me this time. Stefan? See to it that our tall friend does not get into any troubles, will you? He still has a long night ahead of him once we have purged this infestation."

Echser's head whipped around. „I do?"

"But of course. Ghoul carcasses rot away rather quickly. Harvesting and refining their... bounty will have to be taken care of as soon as possible."

Echser moaned, already more tired than he could ever remember being in his whole life, but left it at that. After all, trying to get compassion from the lich killer would be like trying to squeeze blood from a rock. They walked inside, their lamps soon revealing a scene of utter devastation. The large interior was akin to a temple in its dimension, one that had been thoroughly defiled.

"By Science," Echser muttered, feeling decidedly weak in the knees.

Dozens of smashed open interment niches lined the walls in neat rows, shattered grave plates and coffins cluttering the dirty marble floor. No corpses were in sight, just bits and pieces of garments along with a treasure hoard of coin and jewelry lay about. There was even a cobweb-shrouded and jewel-encrusted sword. For the briefest moment, Echser considered picking it up to have some means of protection but quickly abandoned the thought. Above all, he was a man of science, not of violence.

Hornbach's eyes went wide at the sight of the discarded treasures. "My-my..." He swallowed hard, casting a furtive glance at Stefan. "Looks like a lotta work ahead of us, my boy. Lotta work. Cleanin' up t'is mess and puttin' those precious, precious baubles back where they belong. Lotta work."

Stefan nodded, his Adam's apple bobbing as he swallowed hard.

Echser gawked at the two. He was once again shocked into speechlessness by their diligence, for a moment even forgetting about the danger of their situation. A fortune lay scattered about here, enough that lesser men would have been tempted to line their pockets. Not these two, though.

The alchemist nodded, oddly proud. Tal has chosen his civil servants well...

"No bones," muttered Stefan, dispelling the magic of the moment. "No bodies, no nothing... Where—"

Craven chuckled. "Ghouls are like dogs. They love to chew..."

"Great," muttered Echser. "Just what I needed to hear."

They made their way over the slanted floor, their steps sending up puffs of dust. Craven led them straight to the rear of the structure, the stench becoming worse with every step. Soon their lamplights carved an enormous toothless maw from the darkness – the stairs leading down into the belly of the beast – warm miasmic air pressing against them.

"Bah." Echser tasted acid tickling the back of his tongue.

Craven inhaled deeply through his nose, which in turn made everybody gag. The Lich Killer tilted his head. "What does it smell like? Describe it to me."

"What?" choked Hornbach. "Yer makin' fun of us, boy?"

"I would not dream of it, master Hornbach. My sense of smell – or taste for that matter – is virtually nonexistent. Call it a handicap, if you will."

"Not in this place," Stefan muttered.

"Still, be so kind as to describe it to me."

"It's... it's the sewer, all right, but there is something else. It stinks of rot, of corruption, and of something feral..."

Hornbach nodded. "Like a bear pit in summer."

Craven smiled. "Excellent. The nest might not be far then. You best ready your weapons, meine Herren, and fasten your lamps to your belts, so you will have your hands free. Like so... The ghouls should be still asleep by now, but you never know. Oh, and watch the ceiling. Corpse eaters are excellent climbers thanks to the suckers that line their hands and feet."

The eyes of the two undertakers went wide. As one, they said, "The what now?"

"Suckers," offered Echser, always happy to enlighten the ignorant. "Small holes in their hands and feet lined with teeth studded suction cups. According to Zoller's Brut der Nacht, Ghouls can create enough of a vacuum with them to latch onto virtually any surface. Naturally, the adhesive they secrete from the glands in their hands also helps."

The two undertakers just gawped at him. Damn it, had he used too complicated words again, stunning their little peasant brains? This often happened. Way too often... Just one of the many burdens an intellectual titan like himself has to carry on his shoulders.

At least, Craven seemed to have understood, blasting them with a bright smile. "Any surface includes human skin, in case you have wondered. Once a ghoul has a hold on you, he will not let go, even in dead. Keep that in mind, my friends."

With that cheery statement, Craven walked to the first step and gazed into the abyssal darkness. His torch flickered in a draft of foul air, and once again, Echser had the image of some great beast in his mind, ready to devour the lich killer. Sadly, he wasn't that lucky.

"Watch your step," Craven, briefly turning around, "and remain as quiet as you can." He winked. "Here there be monsters."

It wasn't what you would call a reassuring statement and all Echser's anxieties and fears flooded back in a rush. The two undertakers didn't look much better. They nodded and made the sign of Ahn, voicing quick prayers to the God of Gods. Echser, too, was tempted to utter an entreaty for the first time in his life since his childhood but quickly fought down the urge. He certainly would not commend his soul to a god that burned men like him – men of science – on the stake. Instead, he muttered, "Science protect me."

Step by step, they ventured down the lilting stairs, down into the dark, down into the miasma. The air became even warmer, obscenely so, the walls grimy and slick with moisture. In a way, it was like creeping into that ghoul tunnel all over again, his heart thump-thump-thumping louder with every step he took. At least he wasn't alone this time. At least—

He slipped on something, gawked, and came down smack on his bony behind.

Crack!

"Gah!" Pain shot through him, up his spine, bullying into his brain like a cuckolded husband into his bedroom. He gasped, tears welling up, blurring his vision. "Ah... I think I broke something." Fingers trembling, he reached behind, then pulled splintered femur from under his butt. "Oh."

Craven did not even turn around. "Stefan, be so kind as to assist my clumsy friend and see to it that he treads more carefully from now on. Oh, and Echser?"

"What?"

"It wounds my heart to think it, but cause one more racket like this, and I will use you as ghoul bait. Do we have an understanding?" His voice was just calm and casual as if he was talking about the weather, but Echser did not doubt for a moment that he meant it. The lich hunter turned around, lifting his lamp, the light illuminating his handsome features, but not the soulless emptiness in his eyes. Both Stefan and Hornbach withdrew a step, and then another as Craven smiled. "Understood, my friend?"

Thump-Thum-Thump...

Echser swallowed hard. "Un... understood."

"Splendid."

Then Craven turned around leading them down, down, into the bowls of the graveyard.

*****************************

I hope you are having fun. Since the ONC is coming to an end, I might have to crank up the releases - so good news for you. :P

Wish me luck!

M.