Excerpt: The Gauntlet

“This is a 'Gauntlet' and everything, and there's only one prize. The one Docent. So, you'll understand when I say that six is harder to negotiate than three.”
“I do not believe I follow. . .” Titan said.
Lure sighed, rubbing the back of his head nervously, trying to figure out how to put it in a way that the juggernaut and his friends wouldn't tear Lure and his own friends apart. “Well, you see. . .”
One of Lure's companions grabbed hold of the lever, while the other took a step forward, opening its mouth to speak. The voice that exited from its mouth could only be described as the sound of static – either its voice was damaged, similar to Ruse's voice, or this was how it spoke. Either way, the static managed to form words barely comprehensible for the group. “He means to say, see you at the end!” he laughed, quickly mumbling out some unknown words to Titan.
Relic's eyes went wide. “Magic! Move!” Before the three could react, the ground became wet with a pool of black grease. The three, caught off-guard, tumbled head over heels onto their backs. The lever shrieked as metal ground against metal, the steel gate before them rising.
“Master Lure, let us go!” the second companion spoke, its voice a perfect match of the first. Grabbing hold on Lure's hand, the three escaped through the small gate, which slammed shut behind them. In return, the sound of every other steel gate roared as they raised.
“Oh, uh, by the way,” Lure pulled his hand away from his companion's grasp, turning back to the steel gate. “I forgot to mention. The lever summons a few. . . Let's call them friends. Hope you don't mind!” Lure grinned, rushing off down the tunnel and out of sight.
Relic managed to get to one foot before slipping on the grease again, falling flat on his stomach. “That two timing--!” was all he managed to spit, unable to find the words. “'Let's trust them', you said. 'They haven't given us a reason,' you whined. Do you understand my hesitance now, Titan!?”
The juggernaut was faring no better at getting to his feet, unable to even reach his knees. “I apologize, forge brother Relic. If I had known--”
Ruse interrupted the two, clapping twice and pointing to the open gates. The sounds of barking and yapping, though not distinctly canine, echoed through each of the tunnels. A few 'yark' calls accompanied them. “Wonderful. Just what we need,” Relic sighed, managing to get to his feet with a bit of Ruse's help, as the two slowly made their way out of the grease. “Kobolds.”