The Quest for the Luminae: The Underground of Aetror, #1

By Melody J. Bremen

Thirteen-year-old Milo lives beneath the earth.
He works as a bounty hunter's apprentice in the Underground of Aetror. Along with his master, Rod, he tracks criminals through dark tunnels and does his best to not get killed. He dreams of an apprenticeship to a baker, or a carpenter... or anything safer than this.
Milo has never been aboveground. He's never seen the sun, the clouds, or the sea, and he's happy to keep it that way.
The king of Aetror summons Milo and Rod to the palace. He orders them on a quest for the luminae, mythical creatures with healing powers. For the first time in his life, Milo must leave the Underground. They must find the creature, return with it, or they will be executed. No one has ever seen the luminae and all other quests to find them have failed.
When circumstances separate Milo and Rod, Milo is left on his own. He must continue the quest... and find a creature that doesn't exist.
Fans of quests, mythical creatures, and reluctant heroes will love this first installment in the Underground of Aetror series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Melody J. Bremen
• Release date: Oct 5, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201853082

Book preview

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Copyright

© 2021 Melody J. Bremen

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Printed in the United States of America.

www.melodyjbremen.com

To the librarian who let me take out more books than was allowed on my library card.

Map

Chapter 1

Bounty-hunting wasn’t my first career choice. I wasn’t sure I had a first career choice, but I was certain bounty-hunting wasn’t on the list.

I crouched in the shadows of the stalagmites, the dank smell of mossy stone filling my nose, grit in my fingernails. It was dark out here in the Gamma Sector of the Underground. I was used to the dark. I was used to the crouching and the gritty fingernails, too. As a bounty hunter’s apprentice, it was practically my job description.

I wondered how I would tell Rod that I wanted to quit. In less than a year, I would turn fourteen, and my apprenticeship would end. I hadn’t found the words to tell Rod that I didn’t want to do this for the rest of my days. It really shouldn’t have been so hard to tell him. All I had to say was one sentence, starting with I don’t want and ending with to be a bounty hunter. But each time I geared up to start that conversation, I lost my courage, and something else popped out of my mouth. Something like, My trousers are too short again.

Which was usually true.

I rolled my head from side to side, easing the ache in my neck and shoulders. I’d been at the side of the path for an hour at least, waiting for a sound or for the first sign of light. In the capital city of Kaeterrus, starbirds with glowing bodies flew through the air and gave us light. Out here, clumps of poisonous mushrooms grew from the rock and gave off flecks of light - just enough that I could see a hand’s width in front of me. All else was total blackness.

Something crawled across my hand. I flicked my wrist to be rid of it. Nasty. I hoped it was just a bug. Sometimes, larger critters crawled around these parts. I once saw a rat the size of a newborn babe. Its teeth were bigger than mine. I didn’t stick around long enough to look at any of its other features.

As soon as I quit bounty-hunting, I was going to get myself a job in the Alpha or Beta Sector, where there was always light. Maybe I’d work for a carpenter. I liked to carve. I had a small piece of wood in my pocket, roughly shaped like a cat. Rod thought wooden carvings were childish, so I never whittled when he was around. Since we were usually together, I didn’t whittle much at all. But I could practice and get better at it. The only downside in the carving business was the splinters. I reckoned I could handle splinters.

A sound snagged my attention. Was that a footstep? The muscles in my body tightened and all my attention focused on the path.

Another sound. Yes, those were the footfalls of someone picking their way through the rocks. My pulse quickened.

A pinprick of light appeared. It grew and grew until I could make out the figure of a man carrying a lantern. His silhouette was bulkier on one side, so he must’ve been carrying a satchel or a sack of some kind. As he drew closer, I saw that he had one hand on the satchel, keeping it close. Every few steps, he glanced over his shoulder. If he was trying not to look like a thief, he wasn’t doing a very good job.

I held my breath and pressed back into the shadows as he came close. I ducked my head and kept my hands tucked in near my stomach so his light wouldn’t shine on my pale skin. He passed me, close enough that I could’ve reached out and grabbed him. I didn’t grab him. Wasn’t time yet.

I waited until his light was nearly gone, then I eased out of my hiding place and followed. Rod and I had been tracking the thief for two days. We knew his hideout was somewhere in this area, but we’d only caught sight of him coming away from the caves, not toward them. Today, we each picked a tunnel to guard in the hopes that one of us would see him on his way to his hideout. It seemed that I was the lucky winner.

Now we’d have our chance to corner him once and for all and get all his loot. The winnings for capturing the thief were double if we could bring back the items he stole. Rod aimed for the highest winnings. He didn’t do things in half-measures.

I followed the thief in a crouch, touching the ground every few steps to keep my bearings. The last thing I wanted was to trip and make a racket. Twice, the light ahead of me disappeared, and I hurried to keep it in sight.

The thief led me through a tangle of tunnels that made up the uncivilized edges of the Underground. The ground was uneven and contained all sorts of unwanted surprises - pointy stalagmites, sudden drops, and deep pools of water. I always considered it a miracle if I made it to the end of a mission with all my parts attached.

Ahead of me, the light disappeared again. I quickened my pace and focused on reaching the spot where I’d last seen it. I waited for the light to reappear like it had every other time. It didn’t. The thief must’ve turned a corner or was on the other side of a boulder. I reached for the small lamp that hung on my belt. I struck a match and dropped it inside, then twisted the lamp’s metal cover so only the smallest amount of light showed.

After a moment, my eyes adjusted. I stood in a cavern with only two ways out - the way I’d come in and a small tunnel ahead of me. I drew closer to the tunnel. I held back a groan. It was so small, I would have to continue on hands and knees.

I shut my light, hung the lamp on my belt, and crawled into the darkness. Grit dug into the skin of my palms and something cold and slimy dripped into my hair. I shuddered at the feel of it and thought about how nice it would be to be apprenticed to a baker. Warm bakery, good smells, fresh bread, and pastries every day… Now I was hungry.

The ground sloped down and the sound of my breathing no longer echoed off the walls around me. I’d reached the end of the tunnel. The blue glow from the mushrooms was brighter here. The steady drip of water echoed from close by. I opened my lamp a crack.

I was in an enormous cavern. A shallow pond covered most of the ground. At least, it looked shallow from here. It could be hard to tell sometimes. Earlier in my apprenticeship, I found that out the hard way. Since then, my left toe was never quite the same. I tried to convince myself that it gave me character.

Chink. A sound from my left. I shut the lamp.

I peered into the darkness. An orange light shimmered - firelight reflected on rock. Something stirred. I crept forward.

The shadowy shapes took form. I was looking into a cave. A small fire danced in the center. The thief crouched over something, his back to me. I saw a cot and a ritzy chest covered in gems. This was it. I found the hideout. Now I could finally get out of here.

I dug into my pocket for a stick of chalk. I silently made my way back the way I’d come, leaving small marks on the rocks as I went.

***

I reached a small stone bridge on the River Skrull. The water shimmered, reflecting the light from the silvery paste that was spread along the edges of the bridge. The paste was used along the edges of roads, paths, and bridges to help light the way. This bridge was so far from the city that most of the paste had worn away and no one cared enough to touch it up.

A tall, lean figure stood on the bridge, lamp in hand. Rod leaned against the side of the bridge, almost relaxed but not quite. He wore his hood up and all I could see was the tight line of his mouth and the shadow from two days of stubble. He wore a bow and quiver strapped to the back of his cloak. It was the garb of a hunter, but it wasn’t animals he was after.

I dropped low and crept toward him, thinking to surprise him. I was a few feet away when he said, You are not as discreet as you think.

I straightened. When did you know I was here?

You have the stealth of an overgrown puppy.

I groaned in frustration. I thought I had you! I tried so many times to sneak up on Rod, but he had the hearing of a bat.

Did you find him?

I flipped my chalk into the air and caught it. I sure did. And his evil lair.

He grunted and pushed off the wall. Show me.

We followed my chalk marks back into the depths of the tunnels. I opened Rod’s pack as we walked and pulled out a biscuit. I took a huge bite.

You’re making too much noise, Rod murmured.

We’re not close enough for him to hear me.

We might not be the only ones out here.

Oh. That made me take tiny, silent bites out of my biscuit. We were both very visible in the light of our lamps, and I didn’t like to think that - somewhere in the shadows - someone might be watching us.

When we reached the entrance of the small tunnel that required crawling on hands and knees, Rod turned to look back at me. Through here?

Yes.

Rod’s gaze moved to look at something past me. His eyes narrowed. Quick as a kip, he twisted his lamp shut, then shut mine.

I froze in the sudden darkness, then crouched and touched the ground. That always helped me get my bearings. I listened carefully but heard nothing.

Keep your light off, Rod whispered into my ear.

Did you see someone? I whispered.

Keep moving.

Was that a yes? I jammed the rest of the biscuit into my mouth and hooked my lamp onto my belt. With my hands free, I crawled into the dark tunnel. I didn’t hear Rod following me, but I knew he was there.

When I emerged on the other side, I could still see the orange, dancing light of the thief’s fire. Good, he was still there. That meant we could be done with this job and go home.

Rod stepped up beside me.

That’s his light, I whispered.

A pause. Rod’s hand closed around my arm. We’re being followed, he breathed.

I tensed. Why? We followed others. They didn’t follow us.

Likely someone after the bounty, Rod said.

Now that he pointed it out, I could hear someone coming through the tunnel. Whoever it was couldn’t be all that good at bounty hunting with the way they were clattering along like a bucket full of rocks.

I’ll stop him. Rod let go of my arm and stepped away. It might make a commotion. Be sure the thief doesn’t get away.

Me? My stomach twisted. Rod wouldn’t make a commotion - of that I was certain. He could deal with both the mystery follower and the thief, quick as a kip, without making a sound. He just wanted me to practice the most important part of the job - capturing the criminal. I could track someone all across the Underground, but I was always relieved when Rod handled the apprehending. That was when things often turned gnarly.

The noise in the tunnel grew louder. I had to act quickly before the thief heard us and decided to exit through a back tunnel.

I took a deep breath and crept into the cave.

The thief lay on the cot. He saw me and vaulted off the bed. He stared at me with wild, bloodshot eyes. Where did you come from?

I pointed a thumb over my shoulder. Back thataway.

The thief squinted and looked me up and down. How did you… Is there anyone else with you?

I shrugged. Just me.

Voices came from the cavern behind me. Fine timing, Rod.

The thief tensed. His gaze darted around, landing on a jeweled dagger on the cave floor. Uh oh. He dove for the dagger, I dove for the cot. I snatched up the tattered blanket and tossed it over the small fire.

The cave was plunged into darkness. The smell of smoke filled the air.

The thief made a noise - maybe surprise or anger. His mistake. Now I knew where he stood.

Keeping low, I tackled him. I caught him somewhere around the knees and we hit the ground. I swung a fist as hard as I could in the area where I thought his head would be. I hit something - his shoulder? A sharp pain nicked my arm. Dagger. I rolled away from him.

I needed to get that dagger.

I could hear the thief breathing heavily. Where was Rod? There was no way he wasn’t finished outside, but did he come and help me? No, he did not. I was on my own. Great. I slipped my hand into my pocket and pulled out a length of cord. The ends were weighted with small stones.

I slowly unhooked the lamp at my waist. I twisted it open and tossed it to my left, squinting at the sudden brightness. The thief was just a black silhouette, but I could see the dagger in his right hand. His head moved as he followed the path of the lamp.

With a snap of my wrist, I whipped the cord out. The end wrapped around his right arm two, three times. I yanked. He stumbled towards me.

I should’ve wrenched his arm behind his back and kicked his feet out from under him. I should have. Instead, I hesitated.

The thief struck out with his left arm, hitting