Azmeritus was unconcerned about the battle. The ceremony had begun and that was all that mattered to him. The Abitar, which had begun to glow and quiver as soon as the moon broke the horizon, was moved into place adjacent to the sacrificial alcove with the assistance of Prester Jauba and Bishop Skaar.

The royal supplicants were herded into the main chamber by a small squad of Scarlet Brothers. Most came willingly, though Chief Acolyte Zaphyr struggled futilely, resulting in his being bound and gagged at Azmeritus' instruction.

When the Abitar was in place, the mongoose began to chant in a low ominous tone. Almost immediately, the ground began to quake. Cracking and crunching sounds echoed through the cavern. Small stones and pebbles rained from the ceiling and raised small clouds of dust from the rough floor where they fell. Above and around the sacrificial aperture, small fissures began to spread in a radiating pattern, like cracks in glass. The light emitted from the Abitar reached a blinding intensity and the turbulence of the tremor increased with equal violence.

Large chunks of stone now fell in plates from around the sacrificial orifice. As the dull gray stone fell away, it revealed a moist brown leathery layer beneath the crumbling basalt and granite. Azmeritus' eyes widened. Skaar and Jauba stepped back as more and more of the hidden sub-surface was revealed. The alcove opening suddenly lowered, closing completely, then burst open accompanied by a rush of fetid air.

Pools of foul liquid poured from the orifice as it continued to open and close. The leathery surface was now nearly twenty feet wide and ten feet high. Azmeritus took a step back as a sudden intense shake caused the entire roof of the underground chamber to begin crumbling. Everyone in the cave moved to its far edges to avoid injury.

Suddenly, the roof collapsed in an avalanche of stone and scree. The unfortunate monk who had been stationed to watch for the moon fell into the cavern and was quickly buried beneath the geologic assault. The chamber was engulfed in dirt, dust and debris. Visibility was obscured and the noise of coughing beasts could be heard in the eerie darkness.

Azmeritus struggled to see what had happened. Slowly, the dust settled and the mongoose's eyes were transfixed in awe at what was revealed. The stone edifice surrounding the alcove was gone, disintegrated by the violence of the quake. In its place was an enormous and terrifying head, twenty feet wide and fifteen feet high, surmounted by a cluster of a nine black, soulless eyes. A dozen thick squirming tentacles extended outward from around the brute's eyes like a mass of angry cobras striking at the air.

The monster's mouth, which had been the alcove itself, snapped open and shut, sending blasts of its foul breath into the collapsed cave. Its body still lay buried and trapped behind it. The creature swung its head aggressively from side to side in an effort to free itself, without success. This powerful struggling continued for a short while, after which, as if by magic, the monster became still and calmly faced Azmeritus. Jauba and Skaar looked on in terror as the creature seemed to smile and opened it's mouth fully, like a pet asking to be fed. Azmeritus let out a shout of triumph. The Ürgod was awake!

On the northern side of the sacrificial chamber, the wall was comprised of a single solid mass of granite traversed by a deep crack about three inches wide and running along the stone about six feet. This particular flaw in the rock face was not a matter of any concern to Azmeritus or the beasts with him. They were far too busy observing the writhing monstrosity that was Xenophus.

They were unaware that the crack pierced the entire two foot thickness of the wall or that other creatures were closely pressed on the opposite side of the edifice, staring through in an attempt to determine what the clamor and uproar emanating from the cave was all about.

Staring through the opening tensely, trying to see precisely what was happening, Otto moved from side to side, bumping into Willum, who stood still as stone at his side. Willum's gaze did not move or waver. He was staring at a joyful Azmeritus and his blood was boiling.

It was immensely frustrating to the pirate that he was so close to the object of his vengeance without any chance of reaching him through the stone slab. Willum had hoped the wall would be thin enough to knock down with the aid of a log he had brought along as a battering ram, but that was not the case.

"We need ta get in there afore I lose that beast again," Willum blurted out.

Otto stepped back from the wall and shook his head in dismay.
"He's not going anywhere Willum. Besides he's not out biggest problem...whatever it is that just happened in there is what should worry us. I couldn't see what they were looking at...what about you?"

"No, can't see around that there bend. I figger if we kill the mongoose, the other stuff will stop." He faced the young otter, "How kin we get ta where our wolf-pals are breachin' the castle...kin ya take me?"

Otto nodded.
"I can, but we're going to have to wait. There are too many beasts heading down the tunnels right now. We'll be doing nothing but waiting in line to get in. I think we should give our friends some time to get everyone into the castle first."

Willum considered their situation.
"Sorry ta say, but I reckon yer right. It might not be as bad as it seems. If'n we bring up the rear and give Frega a chance ta clear the courtyard, we got a better chance ta get ta that cave without havin' them cursed monks tryin' ta stop us," he sighed heavily, "ah well, I guess we'll hang around here a bit and try ta see what all the hullaballoo next door's about."

The otter nodded and the two comrades returned to their position at the crack in hopes of catching a glimpse of whatever it was that Azmeritus was trying to herd into their world.

At the same instant that Xenophus revealed himself amid the tumultuous shaking of the earth, Frega began leading his troops through the opening Ozab had found into the massive wine cellars of Deev Castle. The quivering ground served as an added incentive for the force to move quickly and it was not long before the entire force stood in the cool dark space. The Lokian commanders stood in a tight circle around King Frega as he gave final instructions.

"Our primary goal remains securing the main entrance so that no reinforcements can be sent onto the castle grounds. The building in which this wine cellar is located stands only one hundred yards from the main gate. Most of the Brotherhood troops will be in the courtyard, however there will be archers and soldiers stationed along the castle walls. They pose a threat to those of us at ground level...therefore...Captain Pretor Barus will begin our attack by leading his wolves up the interior of this building to the wall-top...Ozab will show them the way," he looked at the old mongoose, who nodded in affirmation.

Frega continued, "Pretor will fight his way along the wall-top until he is directly over the gate. At this point we will make our charge across the castle grounds and close and secure the entrance. Once we have completed that, we will seek out the Priest Azmeritus. Do you all understand your instructions?" The wolf-commanders all gave curt nods.

Frega smiled broadly.
"Now we will do what we do best...fight! Pretor...Ozab...get going, we will look to the walls for your signal to begin our attack."

The platoon of wolves led by Pretor and Ozab headed out of the cellar, followed a short time later by the main corps of Frega's troops.

Prince Vasheron had no trouble in leading his Minge warriors into the secret tunnel under the cisterns which led into main mess hall of the castle. The defenders to the rear of the castle purposefully ignored the indestructible Deev, focusing their attention instead on the pirates who had accompanied them. A violent battle ensued as waves of Scarlet Brothers descended on the unfortunate buccaneers, who fought bravely, but were ultimately no match for the far superior numbers of the castle defenders.

The Deev entered the mess hall and found it deserted. Vasheron gathered his Minge and explained his purpose.

"The entrance to Azmeritus' cave will be to our left, as you recall. We will descent the steps down to the path through the waterfall. Kill anybeast in our way...except the albino! He is mine."

"And then?" Captain Mobus asked.

Vasheron gave his subordinate a disdainful look.
"Then doesn't matter...the Deev are due their debt in blood and we shall have it. There is time for future plans when we are hoisting our enemies heads on pikes. Are you all ready?"

One by one the Minge warriors nodded silently. Slowly and with purpose in his black eyes, Prince Vasheron led his beasts to the Mess hall exit.

Egbert and Bobo were watching Wilbur and his gang walking down the beach in the distance when the first of the awakening tremors struck. Realizing the danger from falling rocks near the cliff-face, they moved away from the cave entrance toward the water. They waited until the shaking subsided and the rain of debris had ceased. When it once more appeared safe, they returned to the entrance to Ozab's cave. Bobo was shaking his head and chuckling.

"I had no idea you'd be such a tough client. Protectin' ya against the occasional assassin is one thing, but you got crazy monks, monsters, and the earth 'erself tryin' ta kill ya. I think I need a raise in pay."

Egbert smiled.
"That seems fair, Oi'll double your pay."

Bobo put on a face that he assumed to be stern.
"You ain't payin' me anything."

"Okay, Oi'll pay you triple," Eggy chuckled.

A big smile broke over the nutria's face as the pair entered the cave.
"Now that seems fair. A fella's gat ta feel appreciated.

The tunnels leading from Ozab's lair were clear, all the beasts who had entered were either well on their way to the wine cellar or already in it waiting to attack. Ozab had informed Egbert that the correct path to the interior of the Deev castle was marked with chalk arrows. Unfortunately, the sheer volume of beasts passing by and rubbing against the walls had erased or obscured most of the markers. It wasn't long before the two friends found themselves deep in the bowels of the tunnel complex with no arrows to guide them.

Egbert held his torch out in front of him, scanning the walls.
"Well, so much for a marked path."

Bobo became increasingly nervous.
"We're lost in here, ain't we? We ain't never gonna be seen again in this maze," he said sadly.

Egbert laughed heartily as he draped his massive digging claw over his friends shoulder to reassure him.
"You forget that Oi'm a mole...this is what we do." He paused and lifted his snout in the darkness. It quivered as he sniffed carefully. A big smile spread over his homely face. He pointed definitively down the center of one of the many tunnels leading away from the pair.

"That way, Oi can smell the wine," Egbert said confidently.

Bobo patted his large friend on the back.
"Let's go then. For a second I thought we'd miss out on all those horrible ways to die in the castle."

"You're just lucky, Oi guess." Egbert laughed.

"Yah, that's me," the nutria said meekly.