Free The Call of Kerberos by Jonathan Oliver

surrounding several of the other islands in the archipelago, though he'd never seen any of them up-close before.
    Dunsany took the oars out of their loops as they drifted to a halt on the pebbles of the beach, while Kelos leapt out to secure the boat.
    As Silus stepped ashore he could hear a strange low buzzing, as though a vast colony of bees were somewhere nearby. He turned to look at the rest of the crew but none of them seemed to have noticed anything out of place.
    "Can you hear that?" He asked Katya.
    "What am I listening for?"
    "I don't know. It's sort of a weird buzzing."
    "I don't hear it."
    Trying to shake his head clear Silus followed the rest of the crew. As he drew closer to the standing stones, a pressure began to build up behind his eyes and a sharp pain gripped his head. Feeling nauseous and dizzy, he reached for Katya's hand.
    "Silus, what's wrong?"
    Ahead of him the stones swam as though in a heat haze. Gentle whispers filled his head and the monoliths began to glow.
    "Silus?"
    He staggered past the line of stones and fell to his knees, splattering the ground with vomit. Silus took deep breaths and, slowly, his head began to clear. He looked back and the stones stood silent, the air around them untroubled.
    "What happened?" Katya said, kneeling beside him.
    "I don't know. The stones, they filled my head with this awful noise."
    "Are you alright old chap?" Dunsany offered his hand and helped Silus to his feet.
    "I'm fine, I think. Those stones, what are they for?"
    "No one knows," Kelos said, joining them. "But from what I have noted of the markings they probably held some religious significance for the early islanders. The minerals from which these rocks are carved are fascinating. I haven't seen anything like them elsewhere. They may even be unique to Sarcre. Why do you ask?"
    "I seem to have an adverse reaction to them. Or maybe it's just the heat?"
    Kelos looked at him with some concern, before Dunsany linked his arm in his and marched with his friend towards the volcano.
    "Onwards team," Dunsany said.
    "Where exactly is this ship of yours anchored?" Jacquinto said. "This is a pretty small island and I can't see this mighty vessel that you've been enthusing about."
    "Ah, but the Llothriall isn't anchored at this island." Dunsany said, leading them to the foot of the volcano, where a cave opened up in the dark rock.
    "Come on Dunsany, this is ridiculous!" Silus said. "You're leading us on some sort of merry chase now."
    "Actually, this is the right way to the Llothriall ." Kelos said. "It may seem strange but you'll understand the reasoning behind it soon."
    "He's quite the showman," said Father Maylan. "Dunsany, I don't suppose you've ever considered the priesthood have you? I'm sure that a man with a flair for the dramatic such as yourself would fit right in."
    "Funnily enough," Dunsany said. "It's not a vocation that I have ever considered," and he led them into the side of the volcano.
    As the darkness closed around them Kelos summoned a light to his palm. It burned with a steady glow that revealed their surroundings perfectly.
    They had to stoop as the roof of the cave angled down, but the tunnel soon widened as it turned sharply to the right and descended. There was a powerful smell of sulphur and steam rose from fissures in the walls, coating them in moisture and making their clothes cling clammily to their limbs. Silus felt for Katya's hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as they followed the crew. He was wondering how much more of the stifling heat they could take when the tunnel levelled out and the temperature dropped.
    The stone that surrounded them now gave off a pleasant coolness and the smell of the sea permeated the passage. The crash and susurrus of waves echoed around them and Silus wondered what kind of harbour they were being led to, so far beneath the ground.
    It was hard to measure the passage of time as they walked along the tunnel, but Silus thought that at least half an hour had