“I’m suggesting,” said Niles, “that we remove the treasure to the safety of the chambers below. We shall replace his prize with something he well deserves. We shall pile this room high with wood and set it afire and leave. We will be gone long ere he ascertains the cause and attempts to follow us.”
The work took a day to accomplish, and all the while they expected Morlock or his guards to burst into the room and catch them. But they worked undisturbed until the final faggot was wedged into the large room.
Paris had gathered oil from the men, that they used in sharpening their swords and polishing their leather, and soaked the wood and floorboards with it. When the work was done, they set a bundle of straw to smouldering and left.
Watching from the edge of the crater, upon their horses, they watched as smoke began pouring from one of the castle’s upper rooms. Soon, a tongue of flame licked out, and the castle began to burn. Small black forms could be seen running about, trying to douse the flames, but it soon became obvious that the fire was out of control.
“What do we do now?” said Paris.
“We attack,” said Niles grimly. “I would not leave Morlock in ignorance. Though he will surely vent his fury upon us, he will not have the satisfaction of thinking the men of Astargoth to be of no consequence.”