Duendewood: Children of Ruin, part twenty-eight

Jacques watched as the dead things all turned to look at him. He stopped, knelt. "Blessed Ancestors," he began, "your descendants have returned, and sent us ahead to clear the way for them." 

The dead ones remained still, jackal-headed, studying him. "I seek to open the passage to the surface, that they may come and learn of your wisdom in order to reclaim your greatness."

He waited for the space of a breath.

Another. 

Another. 

Then the figure on the central throne opened its mouth. "They survived, then?"

Jacques nodded. "They did indeed. Let me bring them to you, and I will prove it. I know we are not welcome here, and depend solely on your mercy. Let me open their way to you, and we will depart."

The jackal-headed figure at the far left end of the crescent asked, "How long has it been?"

"I don't know," Jacques admitted. "Graznir Toothtaker probably does."

"Your accent..." said the one just to the right of the central throne.

"Is it hard to follow?" Jacques asked, deliberately slowing his words. "I'm sure many thing have changed since you took shelter here."

"They are enemies, robbers, vandals," said the one on the far right of the crescent of thrones. "We should destroy them."

"We have taken nothing," Jacques said, "and fought only in self-defense. We did not break anything, either. Check for yourself, if you like."

"What do you know of us?" asked the figure on the central throne. 

"Very little," Jacques admitted. "I know your people ruled here, or near here, a very long time ago. Graznir tells us that there is a legend of a Sealed Tomb which contains the knowledge of his ancestors, and he hopes that this place might be it. He said that if nothing moved in the darkness, that would be a disappointment."

The central figure looked around at its fellows. "We will meet with this Graznir. The intruders will depart. And perhaps, at long last, all will be made well."