《Rise of the DarkWalker: The Chronicles of Carter Blake, Book II》 Chapter 1 Chapter 1 Carter Blake sat close to the fire, sewing yet another piece of leather across a hole in the chest piece of his armor. The wood smoke, curling around his nose, trying to find its way into his nostril, no longer registered for him. Cicadas made their odd noise in the early morning light. Sweat rolled down his broad, muscular back, bouncing over various scars and leaving a trail of clean tan in the caked on grime. He misjudged the angle of the needle and the tip sank into the fleshy part of his index finger. ¡°Damn it.¡± The expletive came low with a sharp shake of his hand. He glanced up at the growing brightness. The rising sun had already popped up behind the tree line. After stretching out his shoulders, Carter resumed his work. A few moments later, he held the cuirass before his critical eye searching for further flaws. Seeing none, he nodded to himself and pulled the boiled leather over his head and strapped the piece into place. Approaching hoof beats brought him surging to his feet, drawing his white broadsword as he rose. The familiar chill raced through his body, settling deep into his bones as the horse with its unknown rider drew to a halt. Raven hair bounced as the rider dropped. A cool breeze bent the flame of his fire over to their face, revealing the face of his wife, Queen Adora Orwen. ¡°Carter!¡± She gave him a wide smile. The single syllable in her mellifluous voice brought an answering smile to him. ¡°It is good to see you, Your Highness.¡± She raised her and looked around. ¡°Please, Carter. Not away from the army. Alone, I¡¯m merely a random Warpriest of Kell¨¹n.¡± Cater looked around. ¡°Where is Angriz?¡± Her half-dragon bodyguard wasn¡¯t usually this far behind her. The queen removed her gauntlets. ¡°He stayed behind to coordinate the additions into the growing army.¡± As she spoke, she finished twisting her hair back into a bun. A couple tendrils of hair came free and curled around her wind chapped cheeks, defying her wish to have it out of her face. He nodded and turned back to the fire. As he tugged his saddlebag over to him, he sat. ¡°Join me, Adora. I¡¯m about to fix dinner.¡± She crossed over to the fire and sat on the log beside him. And then she got a good look at the state of his armor. ¡°By Kell¨¹n¡¯s right eye, Carter. Why do you have such ragged apparel?¡± After placing a pot of water over a tripod above the flames, he glanced over his shoulder. ¡°I can¡¯t exactly go to the armorer when I¡¯m attempting to be captured by Drago the Clanless¡¯s minions.¡± She nodded. ¡°You think he has Dearbhaile?¡± Carter sighed. ¡°I hope he does. I¡¯ve been back and forth through the Abyss, but haven¡¯t heard a word of her.¡± ¡°It¡¯s been six years, Carter.¡± Adora pulled some ingredients out of her bag and tossed them into the water which sent steam into the air. The scent of thyme and onion soon filled the air. ¡°Do you really think she¡¯s still alive?¡± He paused in chopping the roots that reminded him of carrots. ¡°I have to. I made a promise.¡± The queen placed her hand on his shoulder. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t blame you for moving on with your life.¡± ¡°Probably.¡± He tossed the root into the pot. ¡°I would, though.¡± Adora sighed. ¡°Will you be coming to join us any time soon?¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°I¡¯d not be of much use as yet another sword. You already have plenty who¡¯re better with them then I.¡± ¡°Your presence would be good for morale. You¡¯re an absent king too often, Carter.¡± He ran his fingers though his hair as he glanced away. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Adora.¡± She reached out and gently took his chin in her hand, bringing his face up to look into his eyes. ¡°I know the reason for our marriage is for my safety, but my subjects only know that you won my hand in a tournament.¡± She leaned in and placed a kiss on his forehead. ¡°You have nothing to apologize to me for.¡± A smile crossed his lips. ¡°Maybe I¡¯ll make a dramatic entrance, act all Walker of Worlds like.¡± ¡°Have you learned any of what that title means?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not much. Just that it somehow has elements of Chronomancy.¡± She shifted on the log, facing him more. ¡°Time Magic? How is that possible? I¡¯ve been taught that was only for the gods.¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°I only know what I¡¯ve gathered from a scrap of an ancient scroll.¡± ¡°How ancient?¡± ¡°It fell to dust after I unfurled it. I barely managed to make out ¡®¡­Walker¡¯s Chronomancy is¡­¡¯ and then I beheld only dust.¡± She rubbed her chin. ¡°Maybe it was only speculation?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯ve experienced some of it. I call it ¡®Moment of Prescience.¡¯ The ability happens randomly, but it has saved my life many times.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°I am able to briefly peer into the future by a few seconds, and then react based on that information.¡± Adora nodded. ¡°That¡¯s a useful ability to have. I imagine it would be a game changer if you could control it.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± He moved into a crouch by the flames and pulled out a rolled package of meat, intending to put it into the pot. ¡°Did you ¡ª ¡± ¡°Shh.¡± Her eyebrows went up at that admonishment, but she obeyed. Carter stepped back to her. ¡°Do you hear that?¡± His breath tickled her ear at the whisper. She cocked her head to the side and listened. ¡°I don¡¯t hear anything.¡± Her voice was as low as his had been. ¡°Precisely. There should be the sounds of wildlife, but it is silent except for us.¡± Twigs snapped as something approached. He straightened fully and drew his sword, tossing the baldric to the side. The familiar chill raced through his body once more, leaving him feeling as if his very bones grew icicles. Adora drew on her gauntlets and locked them into place. She reached behind her head and pulled her helm forward, the magic within allowing the elf forged metal to flow like water. The bowl-shaped helmet came over her forehead as cheek guards slide up and together over the top of her nose. The metal left holes for breathing, seeing and speaking. Carter peeked over his shoulder at her, smiled, glanced back to the tree line, and then whipped back around to her. ¡°Where¡¯d the helmet come from?¡± ¡°It¡¯s always been here. I didn¡¯t have it drawn up, though.¡± This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work. ¡°Drawn up? Like a hood?¡± She nodded. ¡°Magic.¡± ¡°Awesome.¡± He took a step to the trees. ¡°Where¡¯d you get it?¡± ¡°The temple of Kell¨¹n near Dragon Keep. It was awarded to me for slaying an elder vampire.¡± She walked forward, just behind him. ¡°Maintaining the family tradition?¡± ¡°Not exactly. I¡¯m the first WarPriest in my family.¡± ¡°What about the symbol at the archway of your castle?¡± ¡°Oh, you mean the dragon holding the vampire by the throat?¡± Hearing the cracking of a branch, she drew her mace. ¡°My ancestor, Kandel Orwen, was a half-dragon vampire slayer.¡± Carter stopped and turned to her, putting his back to the edge of the forest. ¡°You are descended from dragons?¡± ¡°Distantly.¡± ¡°Cool.¡± He leaned closer to her. ¡°How distantly?¡± His eyes went from left to right across her face, and then down to her chin. ¡°I don¡¯t see any scales.¡± ¡°That should be a clue, Mr. Blake.¡± He nodded. ¡°Fair point.¡± ¡°What about¡ª?¡± He shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s close by. A demon of some sort.¡± Her brow furrowed. She then closed her eyes and allowed her magic to flow through her. A chill presence came from the trees, moving to behind her husband. ¡°I think it¡¯s a shadow demon.¡± ¡°Shit. I hate those things.¡± He placed her hands on his shoulders, and his hands on hers. ¡°Get ready. I¡¯m going to shove you backward as I leap over you.¡± ¡°Do you know how to fight them?¡± He sighed. ¡°Yes and no.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Instead of answering, he shoved her backward as he jumped. Her surprise caused her grip to tighten, pulling him downward. Instinctively, she placed her foot at his hip and pushed him over her as she landed on the ground. He popped to his feet and spun, sword first. His blade intercepted that of the shadow demon before it could plunge down into her. Adora rolled to the side and Carter stepped forward to press his attack. The shadow creature kicked him in the chest, sending him flying. He somersaulted backward and rose to his feet. With a mighty leap, the creature closed the distance, hammering the Walker¡¯s blade down. He pushed back, and the demon pushed even harder. As it did, Carter rotated his body to the right, out of the creature¡¯s path. The demon didn¡¯t even lose its balance, bringing its other hand around to attack. As it flew through the air, the hand flowed, morphing into a spike which the demon attempted to punch into Carter¡¯s ribs. Adora¡¯s mace, enwreathed in viridian flames, slammed into the demon¡¯s head. The force of the blow buried the weapon into the inkiness which made up the creature where it stuck fast. As she pulled at the haft, the demon¡¯s head morphed into hands holding the head of her mace firm. It then back kicked her in the chest, rattling her body. The metal held, but the back of the cuirass slammed into her sternum, knocking the breath from her. The demon tilted its head, not sure how the woman stood before it. She tapped her chest. ¡°Corundum, asshole.¡± It nodded, drew one arm back, which turned into a sword, and then glanced down at the blade that hacked into its chest from behind. ¡°That¡¯s right, rabbit. I¡¯m still here,¡± Carter said, pulling his weapon free. The wound in the demon¡¯s torso closed up and in a blur of movement, it swung Adora¡¯s mace at Carter¡¯s skull. The spiked head buried itself in the trunk of a tree as he ducked. The mace was pulled free easily and the other arm, now a blade, came for Carter¡¯s neck. He barely turned it aside in time to parry a follow-up mace strike. ¡°Damn it, Adora, you weren¡¯t supposed to arm the fucking demon.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do it intentionally.¡± She thrust her hand forward and a blast of pure force shot into the demon¡¯s back, causing it to stumble. Quick as a rattlesnake, Carter slashed his sword through the demon¡¯s face. It rolled its eyes and caught his shoulder with the tip of its bladed left arm. ¡°Fucker.¡± In a blink, the Walker of Worlds retaliated, chopping half the demon¡¯s arm off. As Adora lunged forward, the whole world slowed to a crawl for Carter. He saw her fist, enveloped with the viridian fire, slam into the demon¡¯s shoulder and her mace shoot from its hand. A short, hard flight later, and it smashed into his face. As his Moment of Prescience faded, the world slammed back into normal speed. Carter dropped to his knees as the flame wreathed fist of Adora punched into the shoulder of the shadow demon just as it struck at his head once more. As he¡¯d foreseen, her smite propelled the mace from the demon¡¯s grip. The weapon flew through the air. Carter caught the mace, and spun with the momentum slashing the flanged cudgel into and through the demon¡¯s knee. The demon toppled to the ground. As it fell, Carter released his grip on the mace, not caring where it flew as he tore off his left glove. He bent his wrist revealing a compartment in his sleeve. He drew a wand from it, thrust it at the demon, and, before it could pull itself back together, bellowed the command word. ¡°EZEERF!¡± The ebon demon turned grey and then blue-white as it froze solid. Carter strode over and hefted a three-foot rock. He slowly lugged it over, and then slammed it into the chest of the frozen demon, shattering it. After collapsing to his knees, he panted. Adora stood over him. ¡°Most impressive, husband of mine.¡± He glanced up at her and scratched at his eyebrow. ¡°Thank you, my queen.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use the wand sooner?¡± ¡°There wasn¡¯t much time for thinking, was there?¡± She paused for a moment before shaking her head. ¡°Not really, no.¡± He spread his hands to the sky. ¡°One problem, though,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°You lost my mace.¡± ¡°Get another.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. That one came from the forge of Morinth.¡± ¡°What favor did you do for the God of Dwarfs?¡± ¡°I helped in the clearing and cleansing of a temple of his that happened to be desecrated.¡± Carter let out a puff of laughter. ¡°So, he¡¯s easily impressed?¡± ¡°It was the one in the UnderRealm.¡± He sobered. ¡°Oh.¡± That place had been overrun by demons and the undead thousands of years ago after the Exehame Clan delved too deep into the earth. ¡°The gift makes a lot more sense, now.¡± He pushed himself to his feet. ¡°I¡¯ll see if I can find it.¡± She shook her head and held her hand to the side. A whistle cut through the air and her mace slapped into her palm. ¡°It¡¯s a Returner.¡± He narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°Very funny.¡± She simpered. ¡°I thought so.¡± She buckled the weapon to her belt. ¡°What will you do now?¡± ¡°Head towards Rivorei.¡± ¡°Demons have captured that town.¡± ¡°I know.¡± His joints crackled as he stretched out his arms. ¡°Ah, that feels good.¡± She removed her gauntlets and hung them from a small hook on her belt. Carter lifted his backpack and slung it over his right shoulder. He walked with the Queen to her horse. ¡°Are you sure I can¡¯t persuade you to come with me, Carter?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not yet. Besides, I¡¯m better away from your forces, serving as a distraction to the new leader of the demons. As long as he knows I am not nearby, he can¡¯t give you his undivided attention.¡± ¡°I wish I knew how he¡¯d managed to take over Belial¡¯s army.¡± ¡°Based on the rumors I heard while searching the Abyss, he¡¯s got the same benefactor Belial had.¡± ¡°Who?¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°No clue, yet.¡± Adora faced him, only inches separating the two of them. She reached out and slid a calloused finger into a new rent in his armor. ¡°Looks like you have more repair work to do, Your Majesty.¡± He looked down. ¡°Gods damn it.¡± She stared up into his eyes as she curled her finger in the hole in his armor. ¡°Carter.¡± Her voice was soft, wanting. ¡°Adora.¡± His was equally soft but cautioning. She stepped closer, the four-inch difference in their height causing her new closeness to bring their faces to near touching. She rose on her toes and hesitantly brushed her lips across his. He pulled back a little. ¡°What are you¡ª?¡± Once more she brushed her lips against his, hoping the softness and need would be enough. He reached up and captured her hands in his much larger ones with care. At the same time, he took a step back. ¡°Adora, my heart belongs to Dearbhaile.¡± His voice was still gentle. ¡°Does it, really?¡± Her eyes searched his face. ¡°Or is it first love? You were fourteen when you met her.¡± ¡°Regardless, I cannot simply throw my feelings, or commitment aside. Would you have me if it were otherwise?¡± Adora sighed as she stepped back. ¡°No.¡± She drew her gauntlets on before swinging up into the saddle. ¡°Forgive me for forgetting myself.¡± ¡°No forgiveness necessary, My Queen. You cannot help how you feel as I cannot.¡± ¡°I just wish our marriage were real, and not for convenience.¡± He rubbed the back of his head as he looked at the ground. ¡°I know.¡± He peered back up at her. ¡°I¡¯ll always be devoted to you, as is proper. Do you still have the phial?¡± ¡°You know I do.¡± She lifted the crystal cylinder attached to the gold chain from between her breasts. The sunlight caught the crimson within, casting a red glow over her metal-clad hand. ¡°I keep it with me wherever I go.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget to use it to call me, if your need is urgent.¡± She gave him a smile. ¡°It would be hard to forget considering it is how I find you. Do you still have yours?¡± He touched his own chain. ¡°I¡¯d pull it out like you did with yours, but mine is under the armor.¡± Though Blood Magic was illegal, when he¡¯d learned of the blood tracking spell, and the more powerful blood summoning one, he¡¯d commissioned the phials, and taught her the magic. She wore his blood and he hers. With the tracking spell, he could find her in the Realm, no matter where he was. With the summoning spell, she could summon him to her side, regardless of what plane he was on. ¡°What do you hope to find in Rivorei?¡± ¡°Not what, who.¡± He ran his hand down the horse¡¯s neck, stopping with his hand near Adora¡¯s knee. ¡°I¡¯ve heard Sera is there, spreading the good word of Drago.¡± ¡°Be careful. I¡¯ve heard dark tales about his enforcer.¡± ¡°You be careful, too. Try to stay as far away from the vangaurd as possible?¡± ¡°Of course. You know me.¡± She urged her horse and nudged it into a fast trot. ¡°Which is why I didn¡¯t ask you to stay off the battlefield all together,¡± he muttered. He lifted his pack to his shoulder and removed the scroll from his pocket. After re-reading it, he headed down the road in the opposite direction of Adora. Soon coming to a crossroad, he glanced at the signpost. One arrow pointed to the right and had ¡°Dunskillen ¨C 18 wheels¡± carved on it. Another pointed to the right and had ¡°Rivorei ¨C 15 wheels.¡± The final one pointed straight ahead and had ¡°Dragon Keep ¨C 30 wheels.¡± Carter glanced over his shoulder. The queen was lost to his sight. The dust raised by her passing had almost finished falling back to the ground with no wind to keep it aloft. He then cast his gaze down and then lifted the golden chain from beneath his cuirass. He studied the crimson liquid in the phial for several moments before reaching up and hanging the chain from the post. ¡®It¡¯ll be harder for her to find me now I no longer have this beacon.¡¯ Lifting the sword from its sheath a couple of inches, he let it drop back and continued straight. Chapter Two Carter managed to slip between the massive iron gates before they slammed shut. The stench of sewage permeated the air. It wasn¡¯t as bad as the Tower of Offal, Moloch¡¯s palace, but it still burned his nostrils. ¡®Why does the governor allow this?¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®It¡¯s a good thing for him Adora has been tied up with the war. She¡¯d probably flog him for letting things get this bad.¡¯ A guard hurried over with a torch in hand. The pleasant odor of burning pine did little to mask the foul air it battled with. The heavy plate of his boots crunched the crushed lime spread over the street to combat the odor. As he drew closer, the torchlight revealed the braided beard and three vertical stripes on his pauldrons of Adam Steen, Captain of the guards. ¡°Halt. Who goes there?¡± His free hand was on his sword, ready to draw it at a moment¡¯s notice. ¡°Dan-Dan, the Dancing Man.¡± Carter knew by the narrowing of the other¡¯s eyes the code was remembered. ¡°Never heard of him.¡± This was a reminder of the age of the code and a request for further verification. Carter sighed. ¡®How the hell do I give him more info about me while maintaining my secret? I want neither ceremony nor the disruption that would be caused by telling the city their king has returned.¡¯ Adam¡¯s hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. ¡®Oh, yeah. My ragged armor.¡¯ He felt like smacking himself in the head for forgetting something so basic. Holding his arms out to the side, he stepped further into the light. ¡°Is Sir Lavitz really so forgettable?¡± Adam relaxed his grip on his weapon. ¡°Not at all, Sir. Welcome back to Rivorei.¡± He gestured to others in the darkness and Carter heard bowstrings being relaxed. ¡°What brings you here, Sir? Searching for another bounty?¡± Carter shook his head. His secret identity as one of the Queen¡¯s bounty hunters allowed him to come and go as he wished, whereas if it were known he was the king, there¡¯d be all sorts of pomp and ceremony in addition to the eyes of thousands on his every movement. ¡°I¡¯m not hunting anyone in particular this night, though I¡¯m always open to collect another for Her Majesty.¡± He followed Adam further into the city. ¡°No, I¡¯m merely passing through this cesspit.¡± ¡°Where to, Sir? The usual spot?¡± ¡°Yeah. The Dire Bear sounds good.¡± Adam chuckled. ¡°Good? You have been away for a while.¡± The two men strode through the dark night, traveling from one island of light to another. In other parts of the city, people were getting ready for bed, but over here, things were starting to pick up. Carter favored the Dire Bear even though it was in the poorest area of the slums, and thus one of the most dangerous sections of the city. Guards rarely ventured here after sunset, preferring to allow the various cutthroats and brigands to rule. No one would ever expect to encounter the King of Dragon Keep to be here. He glanced around. ¡°It doesn¡¯t seem that different from when I was last through. Well, other than being rebuilt.¡± He paused. ¡°Did anyone ever learn why Drago had that vendetta against half-elves six years ago?¡± Adam nodded. ¡°He used his foul magiks to twist them into things worse than orcs.¡± Carter raised his eyebrow. ¡°What could that be?¡± ¡°Gnolls.¡± Carter stopped. ¡°What are gnolls?¡± ¡°Gnolls are hyena-headed, evil humanoids with dirty-yellow fur that wander in loose tribes. They tend to think with their stomachs, most of the time, yet they¡¯ll only attack when they have the numerical advantage.¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s pleasant.¡± Carter resumed walking. The growing sound of music told him they were close to their destination. ¡°Did Mordecai no¡ª¡± ¡°Your coin purse, or your life.¡± The voice coming from the alley was hoarse from a lifetime of dragonweed use. ¡°Throw the torch away and get over here.¡± It also bore no disobedience. Carter reached over and claimed the light from his friend. He held it close to himself, fully illuminating his patched leather armor and his face with the scar running from beneath his right eye, across his cheek and to his chin, neatly dividing his beard. ¡°Recognize me?¡± Silence met his question. He raised the torch above his head and stepped towards the alley. It was empty. ¡°I would say he did,¡± Adam said. Carter turned to his friend and nodded. The men rounded the corner and paused outside the door of their destination. A newly painted sign to the right of the door featured a hulking bear with bony brow ridges and claws like sickles. The artist¡¯s skill was such that a wildness and destructive gleam were apparent in its cold, piercing eyes. ¡°Whoever painted that has incredible talent,¡± Carter said. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°You did this?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to sound so shocked.¡± Adam pushed open the door, ringing a bell above it. ¡°By all the hells, man, why are you a guard, instead of an artisan?¡± Adam chuckled. ¡°As you clearly saw, I can do both.¡± ¡°True, but couldn¡¯t you make more money as a full-time artisan?¡± ¡°Of course. But, I¡¯d not get to serve the people of Rivorei if I did.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Carter slapped the other man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll not attempt to dissuade you further.¡± As the men strode in, their footsteps were slightly muffled by the combination of straw, mud, and sawdust covering the floor. The straw and sawdust were meant to absorb any spilled liquids. The delicious odors of cooking meats and soups clashed with the stench of unwashed bodies. ¡°No bounty hunting tonight, hey?¡± Adam¡¯s voice was pitched low. Carter lounged against the bar, gazing around at the various patrons. He pointed to the corner table next to the back wall. ¡°That one over there is worth two hundred gold.¡± Adam followed his pointing finger. ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s Merk Harper. He¡¯s a new member of the Thieves¡¯ Guild. Is two hundred worth your time?¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s go see.¡± Adam sighed and shook his head. ¡°Here we go again.¡± He beckoned to the bartender. ¡°Dwarven ale, if you please.¡± ¡°How much, Lord Adam?¡± The eye-patched woman asked. ¡°A tankard for now.¡± She nodded, pulled a frosted tankard from under the bar and filled it with the ale. She passed it over and made the silver coin vanish as she leaned on the bar. ¡°Sir Lavitz going to start some shit with the Guild?¡± Adam watched his friend approach the group in the back. ¡°No. They know better.¡± ¡°Merk might not. He¡¯s new.¡± ¡°A few hits from Sir Lavitz will teach him.¡± ¡°I sure wish he¡¯d stay in town.¡± ¡°Why is that, Kaylah?¡± ¡°No offense to you guards, but crime drops to nil when he is. It would be good to keep more of my money.¡± ¡°That¡¯s understandable.¡± Adam took another swallow. ¡°I don¡¯t know where he gets his energy from.¡± A shout drew his attention to the back. Carter tapped his fingers on the hilt of his sword. ¡°Are you certain you wish to test me?¡± The one in the stained dragonhide armor spat over his shoulder. It landed on Carter¡¯s bare hand. In a blink, Carter slammed his head into the table, sending dishes and cups flying. The other three men sprang to their feet and backed away. ¡°Merk, apologize and let¡¯s get out of here.¡± One with an eye covered by a folded cloth tipped his head at Carter. ¡°Sir, Lavitz, please let me¡ª¡± Merk rolled to his feet with a howl and spat blood on the floor. Wiping his mouth, he looked down at his hand. Seeing the blood, he drew his sword. ¡°Ya loosened my teeth, ya bastid. I¡¯m gonna gut ya for that.¡± ¡°Put the sword away before I make you eat it.¡± Carter¡¯s voice was several octaves lower than usual and wintery. Adam sat at the bar and picked up the full tankard of ale. He shook his head when Merk went after Carter instead. ¡°Dumbass.¡± The man swung his weapon, evidentially hoping to end it before his opponent could draw his own. Carter leaned away from the wild cut and waited for Harper to recover. He intended to teach his whole audience a lesson. Harper swung wildly again. Forehand this time. Again, Carter ducked. He popped up before Merk could start his recovery, and shoved the other man¡¯s arm so it wrapped around his own chest. With a swift movement, Carter took Harper¡¯s sword and tapped the back of his head with it. Merk spun, rubbing the sore spot. Carter held up his hand and offered the longsword back. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m sorry. That was luck.¡± He snatched the sword away from his opponent. ¡°Merk, let¡¯s get out of here,¡± another thief said. ¡°Shut it!¡± Merk returned his attention to Carter who stood with his thumbs in his sword belt. He yelled, and charged at him, slashing downward with an overhand chop. The Walker spun a little to his right, just so the sword missed, and as it slammed into the wooden floor, he slapped Merk in the back of the head again. ¡°Get out of here while you still can, lad,¡± Adam shouted. ¡°He fights demons for sport.¡± ¡°Fuck you!¡± Merk once again slashed at Carter. The big man rocked to the left, dodging and then to the right, moving past the second swipe. When his smack impacted Harper¡¯s head this time, the thief stumbled into a table sending the occupants¡¯ dinners and drinks flying. He whipped around with a snarl. Looking over the shoulder of his enemy, he shouted. ¡°Stay out of it.¡± Carter cast his attention over his shoulder, and Merk took advantage, kicking the bigger man in the groin. Carter doubled over with a groan. The thief hacked downward. His sword came to a halt in the gauntleted hand of his target. He pulled with all his might, but the sword remained locked fast as if encased in iron. His opponent raised his head, revealing glowing electric blue eyes. A feral grin sprouted across his face, exposing razor sharp fangs. Merk opened his mouth to scream. An instant later, it was filled with steel which exploded out the back of his skull and pinned him to the ceiling a few feet above them. ¡°Gods damn it, Lavitz.¡± Adam strode over and tugged his friend¡¯s shoulder, pulling him around. Carter blinked. ¡°What happened?¡± Adam shook his head. ¡°What happened? Are you kidding me? You fucking pinned the two hundred gold bounty to the gods-damned ceiling with your fucking sword!¡± ¡°I did?¡± Carter looked at the ceiling. ¡°I don¡¯t¡­¡± He returned his attention to the captain. ¡°You say I did this?¡± Adam¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°I just did.¡± He titled his head to the right. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°I¡­ I don¡¯t know.¡± He turned and hurried outside the tavern. Adam watched him go and then noted the silence. ¡°Back to what you were doing. This doesn¡¯t concern you.¡± He then did his best to ignore the whispers and side-eyed looks as he tried to pull the sword from the ceiling. After pulling straight down did nothing more than lift him from the floor, he elected to wiggle it back and forth until both came down with a thud. Wiping the blood from the sword onto Merk¡¯s clothes, he spotted the other thieves staring. He draped the white sword against his shoulder, ignoring the growing coldness through his armor. ¡°Pass the word: ¡®Sir Lavitz is in a bad mood. Best to steer clear of Rivorei for a while.¡¯¡± ¡°Please, Captain, may we take his body? Merk did have family.¡± Harkness twisted his cloak in his hands. ¡°Aye. Do that.¡± Adam walked to the door, tapping the flat of the sword against his hand as he walked, doing his best to ensure the blade touched the plate as little as possible. As he passed the bar, he grabbed the waiting pitcher of ale. Outside, he found Carter leaning against the tavern wall, staring up at the moon. Without looking over, Carter spoke. ¡°Come to arrest me?¡± Adam snorted and passed him the pitcher. ¡°No. Not for killing that filth. You know why his bounty was so high so quickly, right?¡± Carter took a sip of the ale. ¡°He carried it with him.¡± ¡°Gods, no. He built it entirely here.¡± Adam leaned against the wall of the building opposite of Carter. He pulled a small pouch and rolled a cigarette. ¡°He killed the governor¡¯s daughter in an argument.¡± Carter looked over at his friend. ¡°I thought the Thieves¡¯ Guild didn¡¯t go for killing?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t. They only took him on as a favor to his previous guild.¡± ¡°Let me guess: Assassins.¡± Adam pointed at Carter. ¡°Got it first try.¡± He offered the cigarette to Carter who declined with a raised hand. Putting it between his lips, he patted his pockets. Carter leaned forward and snapped his fingers, producing a flame for the cigarette. Adam drew in a bit of smoke and nodded at his friend. ¡°Thanks.¡± He exhaled a pleasant smelling ring of smoke and glanced at Carter¡¯s empty hand. ¡°You can do magic now?¡± ¡°No.¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°This is due to a minor cantrip on a scroll.¡± ¡°What are you going to do about what happened in there?¡± ¡°Head to the capitol. It¡¯s long past time Mordecai explained to me why I was summoned to the Realm.¡± Adam took a drink from the pitcher. ¡°I¡¯m not even going to pretend to understand what that meant.¡± Passing the ale back, he then took a drag from the cigarette. ¡°Just be careful. Neither guild will be pleased about what happened in there.¡± Carter chuckled. ¡°As you pointed out in there, I fight demons for fun. How will they provide a worry for me?¡± ¡°Even you have to sleep sometime.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Carter nodded. He took the pitcher back and took a final long drink of the ale. ¡°I will actually be looking for a bed. See you tomorrow.¡± With a wave, he headed off into the night. Chapter 3 Soft footsteps slowly approaching his door brought Carter out of a dreamless sleep and to his feet. He drew his sword as he opened his eyes. Ignoring the lamp by the bed, he stole to the door and listened as a knock came on the other side. He heard someone¡¯s muffled sobs. And then another knock, this time louder. He pulled the door open while staying behind it. ¡°Forgive my disturbing you, Sir Lavitz, but I need your help. Captain Steen said you¡¯d be here.¡± The voice was that of a young woman. He glanced at the floor and saw the person¡¯s shadow was hooded and cloaked. ¡°Come in and shut the door behind you.¡± They did as bade and waited for further instructions. He whispered a few words under his breath, and a flame erupted in his hand. The supplicant started, nearly leaping out of their shoes. ¡°Have a seat.¡± They lowered the hood, revealing a young girl of about fourteen, or fifteen. Her curly blonde hair fell to the shoulders of her hand-woven dress. The roughness of the weave and the way she glanced around at the suite told him she was poor. Her being in this tavern, at this time of night, without an escort told him of her desperation. He crossed the room in two strides and lit the lamp before brushing his hands. This served to extinguish the flames and to disguise the burned scroll. Little things like this helped make him seem more formidable than he really was, and kept his enemies guessing. It was one of many tricks he¡¯d picked up from Abelard Silverhame, one of Durrgedenn¡¯s clansmen. ¡®I wonder how that irascible dwarf is getting on?¡¯ The thought was dismissed in a hurry. Thinking of the last time he¡¯d seen them led to thoughts of Dearbhaile, and dwelling on her at the moment was a distraction he couldn¡¯t afford at the moment. Not when someone was asking for help. Her bright blue eyes watched his every movement as he pulled the leather greaves and then boots on. Though her clothing was poor, her manner was almost regal. She sat ramrod straight in the chair and her hands were clasped together in her lap. Her fingers were unadorned, her nails short and ragged. ¡®She¡¯s someone¡¯s servant girl.¡¯ ¡°How may I help you, lady?¡± ¡°I am no lady, Sir, but a washerwoman.¡± His eyebrow quirked, but he said nothing. His persistent silence made her squirm. ¡°Please, Sir Lavitz, my sister has gone missing. Captain Steen said you were good at finding people.¡± ¡°Just not the one I really want to find,¡± he muttered. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, my lord?¡± ¡°Nothing. Why do you want me? Why not the City Watch?¡± ¡°I went to them first, my lord. Captain Steen said to give you this. Said it was important that you see it.¡± Carter took the scroll and glanced at the drawing of a closed fist clutching a lightning bolt. ¡°Shockers. Lovely.¡± ¡°What does it mean, Sir Lavitz?¡± ¡°Your sister was taken by slavers.¡± The girl gasped. ¡°When did you discover her missing?¡± ¡°Last night.¡± ¡°Hmm. I had drinks with Adam, and he didn¡¯t say anything to me about this.¡± ¡°That was found thirty minutes ago. I brought it as soon as he gave me the order.¡± Carter put on his ragged leather cuirass and tied it down. He then slid his pauldrons in place and tightened the buckles under each arm. As he slid his padded leather gloves on, he glanced at the girl. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Olivia, my lord.¡± ¡°And your sister?¡± ¡°Luvinia.¡± He nodded. ¡°Why is someone as young as you working as a washerwoman?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not that young. I am twenty-two summers.¡± He stopped and folded his arms over his chest. ¡°I am responsible for my sister. It is only the two of us. My mother sickened and died when my sister was a year, and my father was killed by a footpad when I was thirteen. I briefly spent time as a nanny at a lord¡¯s house until his wife caught him putting his hand up my skirt when I was sixteen. We were both put out. We were forced to beg for a week before I met my current employer.¡± ¡°I¡¯m guessing that your time as a nanny is why you speak so well?¡± ¡°It was part of it. The rest is because of my employer.¡± She rose when he strapped on his weapons. ¡°Is the leather why you¡¯re called ¡®The Patchwork Knight,¡¯ Sir Lavitz?¡± ¡°Partially.¡± He bent at the waist and twisted from side to side before leaning to either side. ¡°Why do you do this, my lord?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making certain I am nice and limber, and well as making sure I put the armor on properly.¡± He bounced on his toes a few times. ¡°It has saved my life on more than one occasion.¡± He crossed the room and opened the door. ¡°Let¡¯s go see the Captain. Maybe he has an idea where I can begin my search for the Shockers.¡± ### Carter dismounted from his horse about a quarter mile from the town and tied it to a tree a few yards from the road. He stalked forward through the forest, making sure to be quiet enough to not disturb the squirrels and birds. A stiff breeze blew the stench of an open sewer to him, telling him the town was near. He carefully climbed an oak tree near the rough-hewn wall and peered down at the rude town. ¡®Cucaracha. How apropos.¡¯ Men walked back and forth between the small and simply built buildings. The dirt between each was churned into a quagmire of filth and mud. As he watched, one of the men stopped and pissed on the side of the wall. Despite the mess, there was next to no noise. This, combined with its location made finding the Shockers nearly impossible. Steen had wanted to ride in with a full complement of warriors, but Carter had persuaded him to wait until he¡¯d rescued any slaves. He knew someone willing to enslave wouldn¡¯t hold life sacred. Fortunately, they weren¡¯t loyal, either. Steen had wanted a captured Shocker tortured for the location of his companions¡¯ hideout, but the Walker of Worlds had shown him a simpler, more direct way: Lying. ¡®Heh. That slaver must be so pissed off right now. Instead of his freedom and riches, he gets to hang instead.¡¯ None of the men seemed to be paying any attention to the walls, which were all unguarded. ¡®Must be confident of their hidey hole. Heh. Have I got an unpleasant surprise for them.¡¯ Climbing down from the tree, he crawled over to the wall. It wasn¡¯t quite two meters tall. In fact, he was able to peer over the top. Seeing no one around, he boosted himself up, and over. He dropped lightly to the ground and immediately crouched. He darted over to a building and sidled along the wall. A quick peek showed only one bald man nearby, picking his nose. Carter snuck up behind the man, and clamped his big hand over his mouth and held his knife to his throat. ¡°Make a sound,¡± he breathed into his captive¡¯s ear, ¡°and you¡¯ll be dead before you can complete it. Stay quiet, and you can live. Nod if you understand me.¡± His prisoner bobbed his head frantically. Carter yanked him around the side of the building and pushed him against the wall. He stared into his captive¡¯s blue eyes. ¡°Good. How many Shockers are in here? ¡°Tweany-fahve.¡± ¡°Are there any slaves here?¡± ¡°Yeah. Wiv not shipped ¡®em out yet.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Twelve.¡± ¡°Last question: Where are they?¡± ¡°In tha basement of the big buildin¡¯.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Carter reached into a pouch at his side and pulled out a small amount of a brown powder. He tossed it in the man¡¯s face and clamped his hand over his mouth. ¡°Night, night.¡± The guard struggled for a moment, but the slemperwort powder put him to sleep quick. It was a useful bit of herbology he¡¯d picked up in his travels. Perfect for when he didn¡¯t want to kill. Pulling the lacings from his prisoner¡¯s boots and vest, Carter tied the man securely. He straightened and tilted his head, staring at the bound man. ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± He crouched and cut a section of the vest and shoved it in his mouth. Carter slipped through the shadows to another building. This one had light shining out of a window. He cautiously moved at an upward angle until he was able to peer inside. A group of Shockers sat around the room. Some played cards, others played Castles. One, surprisingly, read. An open door was just across from the window. One of them came to the doorway, adjusting his pants and jerked his thumb over his shoulder while saying something to the group. Their laughter came through the closed window clearly. One of the card players stood and went in as the speaker crossed the room and out the door. A drop of cold water splashed on the back of Carter¡¯s neck. He spun, clapping a hand over it. No one was around. Another hit his nose. He looked up at the sky and discovered the dark clouds coiling overhead. More rain fell, wetting his face. At the same time, a fresh breeze kicked up, helping the shower to wash away some of the stench of the town. ¡®This is helpful.¡¯ The opening of another door allowed the sounds of conversations, laughter and click of Castles pieces to come through sharply before being cut off. Carter heard the sound of whistling come closer over the rain. He slipped further back into the shadows as he recognized the tune. It was Tipsy Gob. The tune paused as the man grunted and then it resumed. Just under the music was the unmistakable sound of piss hitting the wall. ¡®He¡¯s within grabbing distance. At the same time, there are ten guys in that room. Along with one who possibly could be one of the prisoners. If I go to rescue that one, my fight with these ten could alert the other thirteen.¡¯ Carter frowned. ¡®And if this guy doesn¡¯t go back in, that could make the others suspicious enough to raise the alarm. Watch it turn out that Luvinia is in there. By all the hells. I hate this shit.¡¯ He pulled back and slipped around the far side of the building and headed to the larger one. Spotting a guard with a torch, he dropped to beside a water trough and crawled to the edge. This vantage point was terrible, especially with the rain, but he didn¡¯t see a way to improve it. The guard had stopped and leaned against the wall. ¡®Wish I had a bow.¡¯ Carter turned his attention to the area around the trough. Thanks to the nearby torchlight and rain, the blackness was deeper where he lay. ¡®I can work with this.¡¯ He slithered through the mud and away from the illumination. Torches lit things, but they also made it harder to see in the dark outside their glow. This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Making it to the side of the main building, Carter lightly mounted the small steps to the porch. Each step was raised the barest minimum and then slid over the wood. He barely allowed any pressure to ensure absolute silence. Even so, he managed to make it to the door in only a few seconds. The door latch turned without a hassle. He glided inside and slowly pushed the door shut. A faint click indicated the latch caught. He headed to the back of the place, keeping away from lit rooms. After finding the stairs, he eased down them, staying pressed against the wall. His knife was in his hand, ready to be used at moments¡¯ notice. And then he heard something he¡¯d been dreading. Footsteps on the floor above, coming directly for the stairs. ¡®Fight, or flight?¡¯ He glanced down at the dimly lit floor beneath. ¡®Fuck it.¡¯ The last few steps were skipped in a quick hop, and then he darted behind a massive barrel. The musky metallic scent of Blackcurrant told him the vat was wine. ¡®Did they steal this, or brew it?¡¯ ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°What was what?¡± ¡°Ye ain¡¯t hear that?¡± ¡°I hear the whining o¡¯ our slaves.¡± ¡°I thou¡¯t I heard somethin¡¯ ov¡¯r by tha wine.¡± ¡°Prolly rats.¡± ¡°I don¡¯ know.¡± ¡°Go look then.¡± Carter tightened his grip on the wooden haft of the knife and grasped the hilt of his sword in his other hand. ¡°Nah. It¡¯s prolly rats like ye said.¡± ¡°Hmph. Pussy.¡± The voices got a little further away, and he relaxed. A faint squeak and then a thunk. One had unlocked a metal door. ¡°Back off, or I¡¯ll run ya through.¡± A faint smack and a someone started crying. ¡°C¡¯mere, girly. We wants sommat fresh.¡± ¡®Fuck. Do I stay put and maintain my stealth, or do I stop them from raping her?¡¯ The question was trivial as his body slipped up behind them seemingly of its own violation. The girl¡¯s cries of terror covered Carter¡¯s swift advance behind the men. While the one laughed and struggled with the girl who fought hard, the Walker of Worlds tapped his companion on the shoulder. He turned and his mouth dropped open in preparation of screaming a warning, but Carter¡¯s knuckles punched into his larynx, crushing it. The torch dropped from his jittering hand and hit the floor. The one with his hands on the girl turned. ¡°Cancha wait yer damned turn? Get yer hands ou¡ª¡± Carter¡¯s large hand wrapped around his throat, cutting off his words and air. The girl fell to the ground as a powerful arm, long used to fighting fiends from the Abyss hoisted him into the air. The slaver clawed at the iron grip around his neck, but the force was unyielding. As his vision dwindled to a pinprick, he managed to kick the man with the glowing blue eyes in the chest. It did him no good. A glint of silver caught Carter¡¯s eye and he released his captive, spinning away and drawing his sword as he did so. However, the attack was not meant for him. The girl had picked up the slaver¡¯s dead companion¡¯s sword and ran it into his body. The blade entered his left side and his falling weight drove it out his side, under his ribs. Carter winced as the slaver gasped in agony. ¡°That¡¯s an ugly way to go.¡± ¡°He deserves worse.¡± The girl¡¯s small voice was gravelly with her hate. ¡°Yeah, but we can¡¯t wait for him to die.¡± Carter thrust his foot forward, catching the slaver¡¯s chin and shoving his head back harshly. A wet crackle indicated his neck breaking. She turned her gaze up to his face. The way his bright blue eyes glowed in the shadows was eerie, yet it didn¡¯t frighten her. He turned to the other prisoners. ¡°Who here is able to wield a sword?¡± His voice was now more guttural and harsh. A strapping lad in plain woven clothes stood up. ¡°I can, milord.¡± ¡°Good." Carter took the newly dead man¡¯s weapon from his hip and tossed it to the prisoner who¡¯d spoken. ¡°Wait here, and kill anyone who approaches and doesn¡¯t utter the phrase, ¡®Patchwork Knight.¡¯ Understood?¡± The man nodded his head. ¡°By your command, milord.¡± ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Onam. I am a blacksmith.¡± ¡°Explains why you¡¯d be able to make a sword. How are you able to wield one?¡± ¡°My father is The Avalanche.¡± Carter tipped his head in a bow. ¡°He¡¯s a legendary knight. The personal guard to Queen Adora herself.¡± ¡°Aye, Sir.¡± ¡°I¡¯m counting on you, Onam. Keep these people safe.¡± Onam clapped his fist over his heart. Carter turned away from the group and started for the stairs, stopping when he almost walked over the girl. ¡°I¡¯m coming with you.¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not.¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°You need to stay here.¡± She crossed her arms and the trophy dangled awkwardly at her side, waggling obscenely. Frowning, she tried crossing them the other way and found it to be uncomfortable, and the sword smacked her shin. She cursed under her breath and rubbed the injured spot. Carter watched, blinking for a few moments, plucked the sword from her and then gestured for her to continue. She narrowed her eyes at him, huffed and folded her arms properly across her chest. She pursed her lips when she saw him fighting off a smirk. ¡°Don¡¯t laugh at me.¡± He made a sound in his throat. ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± ¡°Liar.¡± He finally gave in a released a belly laugh. ¡°See? I knew it.¡± She stomped her foot on the ground. This made him laugh even harder. ¡°Stop.¡± Her command elicited even more laughter. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he held his sides. The sword fell to the ground with a clang. ¡°By all the hells.¡± She bent and snatched the sword up and spun on her heel. She left out a squeal when her feet left the ground. Carter spun around and set her inside the cell. ¡°You¡¯re not coming. You stay here and help Onam protect the others.¡± She hurried over to the door in and made it in time to see him head up the steps. ### One of the Shockers approached as Carter stalked through the halls. ¡°Ay! Who¡¯re you?¡± In response, Carter¡¯s hand shot out, grabbed his face and bounced his head off the wall hard enough to shake it. The slaver collapsed. His loud question, and head being slammed against the wall got the attention of someone in a nearby room. A door opened into the hall. Carter slammed his shoulder into it, trapping and dazing the Shocker who¡¯d been coming out. He smashed the flat of his elbow into the man¡¯s forehead, knocking him out. As this one joined his fellow slaver on the floor, Carter spotted another closed door and kicked this one open. His dynamic entry startled the men inside. Three swift punches later, his count had gone to five. Their cries served to alert their compatriots. Carter drew his sword, threw the door on the other side of the room open, and stepped back as a great sword slashed through the space he¡¯d occupied a moment before. It dug a huge jagged furrow in the wooden floor. A quick backhand slash from him opened the other¡¯s throat. He stepped further in and parried a chop from one of the room¡¯s other occupants. He then spun past a thrust from another. The first man cut at Carter again. He used his sword to guide his assailant¡¯s to the side and once more stepped past a thrust from the second. The first man chopped at Carter¡¯s head. He brought his sword up to block. His opponent pushed down as hard as he could. Carter glanced over his shoulder and then allowed the pusher to gain the advantage while spinning to the right. The sudden shift caused the first man to stumble into the path of his ally¡¯s blade. The second man¡¯s sword plunged into his friend¡¯s stomach. As the men stopped in shock, Carter continued his spin and whipped his sword around. It bit deeply into the back of the second man¡¯s neck, severing his spinal cord and brain stem. Blood rocketed into the air as the two men fell to the floor. One was dead, the other, nearly so. Carter pulled his blade free. It came out with the same sound as a raw chicken leg coming free of the thigh. He jogged through the room and came out in a dining area. An oblivious Shocker sat with his back to Carter, stuffing his face. The remnants of a boar and a chicken were scattered before him. An untouched tureen of soup sat in the middle of the table. The scents of food clashed with the odor of blood and sweat Carter carried with him, making his stomach roil. The noisy way the Shocker ate curled Carter¡¯s lip. The Walker of Worlds slammed the slaver¡¯s face down into the half-eaten meat pie and held him there until he stopped struggling. When he eased the pressure, the dead man slumped to the side, showing gravy, carrots, peas, and pieces of a white meat stuck to his face. He lifted the plate and sniffed. ¡®Rabbit.¡¯ A heavy clanking came to his ears. ¡®Hmm. Sounds like someone is sporting plate mail upstairs. Lovely.¡¯ He spotted the stairs leading up at the other end of the room. He sprinted through, leaping to the table¡¯s top and along its length. He reached the end at the same time the heavily armored Shocker reached the top of the stairs. Continuing his momentum, he leaped from the edge and extending his feet forward, broke the railing free. Adrenaline racing through his veins allowed him to ignore how much that hurt. The slaver laughed and clomped down the stairs. Carter rolled to his feet and picked up his sword. Gripped the hilt in both hands, he swung the weapon like a baseball bat at the other man¡¯s knee just as he stepped down. A shriek of metal scraping against metal and then a jolt up Carter¡¯s arms. His sword broke in two. At the same time, the Shocker tumbled down the stairs in a clatter of steel. Before he could rise, Carter leaped on his back and grabbed the visor at the bottom. As he pulled backward while rising to his knees on his enemy¡¯s back, his biceps bulged and his veins popped up. The slaver laughed initially, thinking he was safe. As the metal creaked and pressure was put on his throat and back of the neck, he first began to moan, and then scream. Cater abruptly switched from pulling on the visor to pushing it as hard as he could. The rounded front of the Shocker¡¯s helmet slammed hard into the wooden floor, sending splinters flying. He lifted the man up and again slammed his head into the floor. The cries cut off. Carter reached out and grabbed the man¡¯s arms and crossed them under his chin. The plate prevented it from being too close of a self-hug, but it was enough to suit the Walker. Holding the man¡¯s gauntleted hands in his own, he pulled back, lifted his the Shocker¡¯s torso off the floor. Carefully balancing himself, he put his foot to the back of the helmet and shoved as hard as he could, while trying to hold onto his hands as long as he could. Carter¡¯s hands lost their grip on the armored ones of his opponent, and all the forward momentum from his pushing foot shot the man¡¯s helm to the floor. The brassart of the left arm hit the ground first. Physics took over and the force of Carter¡¯s foot shoving the Shocker¡¯s head over his crossed arms above the point of his elbow snapped his neck. He straightened, panting. The adrenaline flushed from his body, leaving him shaking and sore. He collapsed on the steps to catch his breath. ¡®By all the hells, that was hard.¡¯ He sat up. ¡®Note to self: Just stab the fuckers in the future. No trying to be Billy Badass.¡¯ ### He slowly trudged down to the basement, tired as hell. Killing sixteen men in one night, after two hours of sleep, took a toll. At the bottom, he called the password out to let the prisoners know it was him. Silence came back to him. ¡®What the hell?¡¯ He took a deep breath to bellow the pass-phrase as he turned the corner. The air left his lungs in a rush as the scene of carnage before him left him feeling as if he¡¯d been punched in the stomach. Blood was everywhere. The men and women who¡¯d been held captive lay here and there, their bodies contorted in death. Onam had nearly been hacked to pieces. The bodies of four Shockers testified to his commitment to protecting the others from the slavers. The girl who¡¯d wanted to come with him was pinned to the wall with a pair of lances under her ribs. ¡®I didn¡¯t even know her name.¡¯ Carter fell against the vat of wine as the great sword in his hand hit the ground. He squeezed his eyes shut. The dead glared in accusation, their unseeing eyes holding him responsible for their fate. A dizziness overtook him and he slid to the floor. He lost track of time, replaying the last moments he¡¯d seen them alive, the hope and happiness on their faces serving to mock him now. ¡°Well, what ¡®ave we gots, ¡®ere?¡± Carter looked up. A man in black leather armor with a closed fist clutching a lightning bolt stitched into the cuirass stood over him, with his arms folded and a smirk on his face. ¡°Looks lak someone who wants to make up fer killin¡¯ my men by bein¡¯ my pers¡¯nal property, ain¡¯t that right?¡± Carter noted his foot on the blade of the sword he¡¯d dropped and then stared up at him from under his eyebrows. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Ah¡¯ll be askin¡¯ tha questions, boy!¡± The man kicked at him. Carter smacked his foot away. He snarled and in a flash, two daggers were in his hands. Heat raced through Carter¡¯s body as he deliberately pushed himself to his feet without using his hands. His hands clenched and released. ¡°Ah¡¯m gonna gut ya, boy, unless you kneel before me right now.¡± Carter tilted his head to either side in sharp jerks, causing crackling pops to sound in the silence. He brought his gloved hands up and cracked his knuckles. ¡°Ya tryina scare me, boy? Bloody Ailfrid don ¡ª¡± A low growl from deep within Cater cut him off. A brilliant glow erupted from his eyes as they shifted to a bright blue. Black and lime flames funneled around him. The man blinked in surprise, uncertainty rising in him. Azure fire plummeted from the ceiling, blowing a huge hole through it, and hit the maelstrom of chaos that surrounded the patch worked leather-clad man. He took a step back. ¡°Wat¡ª¡± The flames merged for a moment and then wafted away. His brown hair lengthened to fall below Carter''s shoulders and turned the purest sable. A silvery, poisonous purple green metal erupted from beneath his skin and enveloped his body. Scalloped edges grew along his forearms. Long, silvery blue claws replaced his hands. His face was the most horrible, though. The flesh seemingly melted and ran, leaving a barely fleshed skull with glowing electric blue eyes. Long, ram-like horns grew out from his temples. Ailfrid turned and ran, slamming the door he¡¯d just passed through shut behind him. Bare seconds later, it exploded as the monster chased him. He tore down the hall and up the stairs at the end, the thud of its footsteps seconds behind his own. He fell over the body of one of his men, and rolled to his feet, dimly aware of the blood flowing down his face from the broken nose and teeth split lip from slamming into the floor face first. His heart and breath competed to be the loudest in his ears as he sprinted. As his lungs struggled to push and pull air into his chest, he cast his gaze over his shoulder to see how close it was. Liquid heat filled his leathers and ran down his legs as he ran. The leering, fang-filled visage was close enough it could have touched him. Glass shattered as he dove through the window, hoping the smaller aperture would slow his pursuer. An instant later, the logs which made the walls burst apart as the monster ripped through them. The slaver couldn¡¯t help himself. He looked back. Before he could register anything, he collided with something that knocked him on his ass. Feeling the hot fetid breath of the monster on his neck, he curled into a ball, covered his ears, scrunched his eyes shut and screamed. An instant later, everything went black. Chapter Four Carter lay on his stomach, face resting on his folded arms, as Dearbhaile ran a warm sponge over his lower back. ¡°Everyone in the club has all eyes on us,¡± she said with a smile. ¡°Indeed. Bring the action with hominy.¡± He raised his head and watched her over his shoulder. Her beautiful auburn hair hung down over her bare breasts, obscuring her nipples and areola from his sight. A green leaf covered her groin. She dipped the sponge into a bucket of fragrant, steaming water and ran it over the entirety of his right buttock with a whimsical smile. As the sponge approached his thigh, he farted. A blast of hot air on his bare ass brought Carter rolling to his feet, arms up in a defensive posture, and eyes popping open a few seconds later. A brown and white cow lowed at him. He stared at it blankly. A thought struck him. ¡®Why was I able to feel the cow¡¯s nose?¡¯ Carter glanced down at himself. ¡°Where the fuck are my clothes?¡± ### Anna Jacoba tapped her clutch-mate¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Jeroen, there¡¯s someone in our cow pasture.¡± He turned and peered out the window to where she pointed. ¡°Why is he naked?¡± She shrugged, causing the mid-morning sunlight to bounce off her blue scales. ¡°Maybe he molested the cow?¡± Jeroen turned to her and narrowed his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re disgusting.¡± ¡°What? I¡¯ve heard it happens.¡± He shook his head and walked out the door of their home, lifting his bar mace as he did. He noted the nude male was a human as he got closer. Those of elvish blood smelled different from humans and going from the two-toned skin and lack of fangs, he was full-blood human. From the way he shifted his weight to the front of his feet and angled himself slightly, the human knew how to fight, and didn¡¯t mind doing so unclothed. Jeroen stopped well out of the human¡¯s reach, but well within his own. He took note of the scars crisscrossing the human¡¯s body as well as the one which split his beard in two. ¡®Some of these are claw and fang marks. Whoever he is, he¡¯s strong to have survived all this.¡¯ ¡°He smells powerful,¡± Anna Jacoba said. The naked human shrugged his broad shoulders. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯ve not bathed in¡­ Wait. What day is this?¡± ¡°Chokkan¡¯s Day,¡± she said. ¡°I meant the date.¡± Jeroen said, ¡°The fourth Chokkan¡¯s Day of Wincarum.¡± The man closed his eyes. ¡°What the hell happened day before yesterday?¡± Anna Jacoba stepped closer. ¡°What are you? Why are you naked? Where are you from?¡± He opened his eyes. ¡°I am a simple warrior named Lavitz. I am from Dragon Keep, and I don¡¯t¡ª¡± He cocked his head to the side. ¡°Why are you shaking your head?¡± ¡°You¡¯re more than a simple warrior, human. I¡¯ve never felt power like yours before. Therefore, I ask that you stop lying.¡± He folded thick arms across his barrel chest. ¡°Never felt power like mine?¡± His eyebrow went up. ¡°I have no idea what that means.¡± Lavitz flicked his gaze over to Jeroen. ¡°Would you happen to have some clothes I could borrow? It¡¯s rather disconcerting to be interrogated while nude.¡± The small turquoise scales near Jeroen¡¯s nose rippled. ¡°Maybe after you¡¯ve bathed.¡± Lavitz nodded. ¡°Fair enough. May I know your names?¡± ¡°I¡¯m Jeroen, and this is my clutch-mate, Anna Jacoba.¡± ¡°Jeroen, I do not trust him,¡± she said in Draconic. ¡°There is a deadly power within him. I do not think it is of this world.¡± ¡°I will accept your word on it, sister. My guard will remain up.¡± ### If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Adora rode up and dismounted. A groomsman hurried up and took the reins, leading the horse away to be cared for. The towering form of Sir Alistair Germori¨¦ strode up to her. She stopped her march further into the camp for him. He could easily catch up to her, but she wanted an update now. The Avalanche was her general in the field and her closest advisor off it. He halted and clapped his fist to his heart. ¡°Sir Alistair.¡± ¡°My Queen.¡± ¡°Report.¡± ¡°There¡¯s an encampment of orcs five wheels to the west. Four wheels to the north is a herd of undead lead by a shrouded being, possibly a necromancer, possibly a cleric. Due to how it¡¯s wrapped, it¡¯s either a mummy or a vampire. To the east by seven wheels is a coterie of cultists attempting to open a bridge.¡± ¡°To the Abyss, or someplace else?¡± ¡°Unknown, Your Highness. We¡¯ve lost four scouts trying to find out.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± She sighed. ¡°Alright. What do you have in place?¡± ¡°Runners on the hilltop overlooking their position with spyglasses. I am about to order harriers to harass the orcs and a platoon of clerics to do as much damage to the undead as possible.¡± ¡°Why so many clerics?¡± ¡°At last count, the undead numbered five thousand.¡± ¡°Shit.¡± She nodded. ¡°A platoon makes sense. I¡¯m sorry for questioning.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my ruler. It¡¯s your prerogative.¡± She resumed walking further into the camp. ¡°Where¡¯s the food tent?¡± ¡°The center, Your Highness.¡± He fell in beside her, his much longer legs allowing him to easily keep pace with her. ¡°Majesty, may I speak freely?¡± ¡®That¡¯s unusual in public. I wonder what¡¯s on his mind.¡¯ She glanced over at him. ¡°Of course.¡± ¡°We could certainly use the aid of the Chronomancer. Were you able to locate him?¡± Adora took a deep breath before shaking her head. ¡°No.¡± She twisted to the side to avoid a red-clad messenger darting past. ¡°You-know-who is still on his hopeless errand, too.¡± ¡°Is Sir Lavitz about to make another excursion into the Abyss?¡± She gave a tired chuckle at his hopeful tone. ¡°Sorry, he is not. Looks like there will be nothing to distract the demons this time.¡± She halted as a line of trebuchets crossed ahead of them. ¡°Sir Alistair, call the drover leading these weapons.¡± The Avalanche saluted and then bellowed to a burly man with two stripes on his chest. He nudged his dappled stallion over. After clapping his fist to his heart, he dismounted. ¡°Your Majesty. General.¡± ¡°Sargent, order four of these trebuchets to the hilltop overlooking the cultists.¡± ¡°You want us to bomb them to the Abyss, Your Majesty?¡± She nodded. ¡°I do. Will you see to it?¡± His once more clapped his fist to his chest. ¡°Personally and at once, my Queen.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She waved him on and then ducked into the cook tent. She grabbed a plate and one of the cooks filled it with camp stew. ¡°Will you join me, Sir Alistair?¡± ¡°It would be my honor, Your Majesty.¡± When his plate was filled, Alistair followed her out the food tent and over to her own. They sat at the lone table after she cleared away the various maps, pens, ink and other detritus. Their gauntlets unstrapped and laid to the side, they ate the simple, yet filling meal. After a few bites, Alistair set his spoon down and folded his fingers together above his plate. ¡°Adora, why do you do this to yourself?¡± She swallowed the spoonful of stew. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t pull that with me, young lady. Dodging the question didn¡¯t work when you were my apprentice, it¡¯s not going to work now you¡¯re my queen.¡± She put down her spoon and rubbed the bridge of her nose. ¡°I love him.¡± ¡°I know this. And yet, you wait on him as if that alone will change things.¡± She slumped back in her seat and idly rocked her spoon by its bowl. ¡°I can¡¯t do anything else. I have a war to wage.¡± ¡°Which is yet another issue. The Walker of Worlds is a formidable ally, and you don¡¯t have him here.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t force him to be here.¡± ¡°Did you ask him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Was it a, ¡®We really need your help, Walker,¡¯ or was it more of ¡®You¡¯d be a big help, Carter?¡¯¡± She mumbled. ¡°What was that, Adora?¡± A sigh escaped her. ¡°The latter.¡± Alistair nodded. ¡°I thought so.¡± He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms, causing the steel of his vambraces to screech over the plackart of his cuirass. ¡°You have to speak your heart and mind. As great a warrior the Walker of Worlds is, he¡¯s not a mind reader.¡± She quirked an eyebrow and gave him a faint smile. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Because he¡¯d have come talk to you as I¡¯ve thought at him many times.¡± ¡°Why haven¡¯t you spoken with Carter before now?¡± She leaned forward and rested her chin in her palm. ¡°Because though he is my king, I do not know him as well as you do.¡± Adora stood and picked up her plate. ¡°I only know a little about him.¡± She ducked under the flap and back into the bright sunlight. Squinting her eyes as she glanced back, she saw The Avalanche had followed with his own dishes. ¡°Did you know he¡¯s five years younger than me?¡± ¡°I did not, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Yeah. Imagine that.¡± She headed back to the food tent. ¡°You know, when the Crimson Walker killed my father, I blamed Carter for the longest time.¡± She caught his questioning gaze. ¡°It was chasing him, you see, when he ran into the throne room. I had never seen one before, just read of them in ancient stories. The Crimson Walker was the first thing I¡¯d ever seen unaffected by dragonfire.¡± ¡°Angriz was unable to stop it?¡± ¡°Of course not.¡± She ducked into the other tent and rinsed her plate in the water left for that purpose. Setting it on the stack of others, she continued. ¡°As far as I know, only an angel is able to contain it.¡± Alistair lead the way back out. ¡°Only contain it?¡± She nodded. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°The king says that a lot.¡± ¡°He says he picked it up from Angriz.¡± ¡°And you seem to have picked it up from him.¡± ¡°Carter says we tend to unconsciously adopt the habits, mannerisms, and quirks of those we greatly respect or love.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°He¡¯s very wise for his relative youth.¡± ¡°He¡¯s made multiple excursions into the Abyss.¡± ¡°Yes, but he¡¯s always survived.¡± ¡°Your Highness, everyone always survives. Until they don¡¯t.¡± ¡°What are you getting at?¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°You don¡¯t approve.¡± Alistair shrugged. ¡°My approval doesn¡¯t matter to the king.¡± He slid his hands into his gauntlets, fastening them into place. ¡°He still searches for his love.¡± Alistair¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Is it love, or obligation which causes him to search?¡± At her shrug, he continued. ¡°If it were a genuine love for the Keeper, then why marry you?¡± ¡°It was to help safeguard my throne. Remember when Weimarcht tried to take over four years ago?¡± ¡°I do. He waited until both Angriz and myself were out of the city.¡± ¡°Yes, and after Angriz proposed a tournament to,¡± she wiggled her fingers, ¡°test the suitors¡¯ worthiness, Carter somehow slipped into the city and entered it after saving Angriz¡¯ life.¡± Chapter 5 Three years ago Carter stared up at the enormous gate. The bas-relief of the Orwen clan seemed to glower at him. The dragon¡¯s eyes appeared to follow him as he shifted to either side, taking in the detail of the device. The sculptor¡¯s skill was such Carter fancied he could see the tension in the dragon¡¯s claw where it gripped the vampire¡¯s neck. The agony in the undead being¡¯s fanged maw and wrinkled brow were almost tangible. ¡®This thing has more detail than the standard crest. Even the one on the castle itself.¡¯ He¡¯d seen that one three years ago while crossing a drawbridge over a moat of acid that was home to small, troll-like creatures called slitters. One had briefly adopted him and had a tendency to come and go at will. ¡®Odd. I haven¡¯t thought of that little guy for some time. I wonder whatever happened to it.¡¯ He scratched his chin, still surprised to feel the hair there. ¡®I should shave soon. Hope I don¡¯t cut my own throat. I¡¯ve not seen disposable razors here in the Realm.¡¯ Carter glanced around again. ¡®Why is the gate closed? There¡¯s supposed to be a tournament for Queen Adora, so why isn¡¯t everyone invited in like usual?¡¯ A warm breeze swept by, ruffling his hair. ¡®That¡¯s odd. I don¡¯t hear the typical bustle. Where is everyone?¡¯ He stepped closer and raised his gauntleted right hand. The bang of steel on iron rang through the air. Moments later, a wicket gate opened to the left of the Orwen crest. A stout man in scale mail stepped through. He wore only a single glove, and part of his jerkin hung below his belt. Patchy blonde stubble covered his cheeks and his eyes were bloodshot. Carter¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡®Something isn¡¯t right here. Captain Skaltitz wouldn¡¯t allow one of his men to be this unkempt. Who is this guy, and why is he here, instead?¡¯ ¡°What¡¯s that racket for?¡± Carter raised his left eyebrow. ¡°To get your attention.¡± ¡°Alright. You have it. What do you want?¡± Carter¡¯s right eyebrow joined the left. ¡°To come into Dragon Keep. Obviously.¡± The guard pushed his sallet up, away from his eyes. ¡°You getting smart with me, boy?¡± Biting back a laugh, Carter said, ¡°Would you know if I were?¡± ¡°I¡¯m getting tired of your mouth, boy.¡± Carter rolled his eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Move aside, let me in, and you never have to deal with me again.¡± The guard drew his sword. ¡°And if I cut you down, no one will have to deal with you again.¡± ¡°By all the hells.¡± Carter sighed. ¡°Where¡¯s your sergeant? I¡¯m sure he wouldn¡¯t approve of your behavior.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± The voice came from the wicket gate. Carter glanced over and spotted the newcomer. A red patch covered his left eye and his golden brown beard was braided. As he approached, his wide body and short stature revealed him to be a dwarf. The guard stood at attention when the dwarf drew near. ¡°Sir! I am¡ª¡± ¡°Shaddup.¡± The command was almost as hard as the backhand that took the guard off his feet. ¡°That was uncalled for.¡± Carter stepped forward to help the guy to his feet. The blow to the side of his head knocked Carter over. He rolled to his feet, his eyes flashing an electric blue for an instant. ¡°You like sneak attacks, I see.¡± He drew his white sword, ignoring the rush of ice the raced down his arm and across his chest. ¡°Care to try that again?¡± The dwarf snorted and spat at the Walker¡¯s feet. A short, quick wave of his hands, and waggle of his fingers, and a massive war hammer appeared in his hands. Carter watched, unimpressed. The summoning of a weapon from a demiplane, or bag of holding, was a common trick. When the dwarf¡¯s eyes flashed white for an instant, Carter threw himself to the ground, thrusting his sword back, over his head. The dwarf appeared where Carter¡¯s back had been, swinging his hammer for his skull. Instead, the snowy blade lanced into the dwarf¡¯s stomach, and under his sternum. Carter rose to his feet, meeting the dying dwarf¡¯s gaze. ¡°You¡¯re the first witchknife I met who used a hammer, but your tactics are the same as all the others.¡± As he withdrew his sword, he felt something slam into his back. He stumbled over the dead dwarf and went to a knee. A wrenching sensation, followed by a kick spun him over to his back. One of the other guards held a bloody hatchet. A flash of silver caught his eye. Carter rolled away, ignoring the scream of agony that tore through him. He pushed to his feet as the guard pulled his sword from the dirt. Three others arrayed themselves before him, attempting to create a pincer around him. Blood flowed heavily down his back. ¡®If I don¡¯t staunch the wound, or use a potion soon, I¡¯m gonna bleed out.¡¯ He rotated his left wrist as he whispered, ¡°Nocht,¡± and a small phial filled with a glowing blue liquid appeared in his hand. One of the guards lunged, driving his sword at Carter¡¯s heart. He parried the strike and shoved the potion into his mouth, crunching down on the magic container. The ashy, rotten grape flavor filled his mouth, momentarily distracting him from the fight as he gagged. Feeling like his insides were on fire, without thinking, he brought his bare hand up to intercept the claymore attempting to bisect him. The jolt of the impact staggered him back a step. One of the men gave a cry of fear and ran, dropping his hatchet as he did. Carter shook his head to clear the water from his eyes, allowing him to see his hand was a deep scarlet and covered with scales. ¡®Great. My dragonskin potion. Just the one I didn¡¯t want. Fucking Gauntlet.¡¯ He then pulled the guard into his white sword. He turned his attention to the last two. ¡°Who wants to die next?¡± His voice was deep, sounding as if he had a mouth full of glass. The smaller of the two shook his head. ¡°Nope. Not while he¡¯s protected by a dragon skin spell. My sword is regular steel.¡± The taller one spoke. ¡°His eyes and mouth aren¡¯t protected by the potion.¡± The guard¡¯s voice was distinctly feminine. ¡°If you want to risk it for no gain, be my guest. I¡¯m getting out of his way. The lord¡¯s elite can fight him.¡± Carter held his sword with a firm grip. ¡°Well, miss? I don¡¯t have all day.¡± He then pulled the blade from the body of the guard and let him slump to the ground. The tall woman watched her companion jog through the gate and then glanced down at the bodies at the Walker¡¯s feet. She returned her attention to him and sheathed her sword. ¡°You win. I¡¯ll not stand in your way.¡± The Walker of Worlds nodded. ¡°Smart.¡± Sheathing his own sword, he stepped over the bodies. He walked through the wicket gate, he said over his shoulder, ¡°You might want to call the Cottar¡¯s Guild to take care of those bodies.¡± Without looking back, he stepped into the city. *** He slipped though the shadows of the alley and darted to the other side when a foul smelling liquid splattered to the ground next to his foot. He shot his gaze up at an open window, catching a maid shaking out the last drops from a chamber pot. ¡°Really?¡± He threw his hands out, indicating the near miss. She shrugged and pulled the louvered shutters closed. Carter sighed and continued down the alley. After a few moments, he paused at the opening and cast his gaze across the plaza to the shop he most wanted to visit. A wand crossed a potion bottle overtop a piece of paper on the sign waving back and forth in the steady breeze. Silver letters outlined in gold proclaimed the shop to be Randor¡¯s Wizardry and Potions. The emporium had openings in major cities and planes across The Realm. All connected to Randor¡¯s demi-plane. Another glance around showed no guards nearby, so he hurried across to the magic shop. The door opened to a jungle meadow. To Carter¡¯s left, a white, frothy cascade of water fell into a pool surrounded by sun baked rocks. He raised his head to find a deep blue sky with clouds scattered about. A green flash caught his eye. As he watched, a green lizard raced down a thick tree truck. It was chased by a martit. The catlike creature adroitly leaped from branch to vine and then to the ground, landing on the lizard¡¯s back. A short squeak was cut short as the martit began its meal. Carter walked forward. The ground was uneven and treacherous with deadfall, patches of slippery mud, and thorny vines reaching out to trip him up. The humidity in the air caused a sticky film of sweat to cling to his forehead and upper cheeks. Birds let out sharp whistles in the distance. A large animal crashed through the undergrowth, hidden by the thick copse of trees and brush. ¡°Randor, where are you? I want to buy.¡± Carter¡¯s loud voice echoed through the jungle foliage. A small pop came from behind him. When he turned, Carter found the area had transformed into a shop. The top of a glass display case formed a counter behind which stood a humanoid man with gold skin and snowy feathered wings. A flowing, silver robe draped over muscular shoulders and covered thick hands. ¡°Master Blake. Welcome back. What can I do for you?¡± His voice was like a rich buttery candy. Carter stepped forward and peered into the display case. Scrolls lay furled next to leather bound books which stood against crystals. Vials of various types of potions stood guard over wands of yew and glowing rings. ¡°I¡¯m going to need a selection of potions and help with this gauntlet of holding.¡± He turned his attention to the wizard as he lay his left hand on the countertop. Randor leaned forward and held a jeweler¡¯s loupe before his right eye. A blue light shot out and ran over Carter¡¯s gauntlet. He nodded as he straightened. ¡°It¡¯s possessed.¡± Carter sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Of course it is.¡± ¡°I can exorcise the demon for a small fee.¡± Randor pulled a small black book from inside his robe. ¡°Shall I put it on your tab?¡± ¡°That reminds me.¡± Carter placed a pouch on the counter. ¡°How much am I up to?¡± ¡°Seventy-four gold, six silver, and four coppers.¡± As usual, the half-celestial named the amount from his formidable memory. Carter withdrew two platinum coins with his wife¡¯s profile engraved on them and handed over the money. ¡°With the change, would you give me six health potions, two more dragonskin potions, a few flame scrolls, and recharge my wand of frost?¡± Randor placed each of the requested items before his customer. ¡°Anything else, my friend?¡± ¡°Yes. How much to teach me the trigger words for scrolls of Unlock, Heal Other, and Locate?¡± ¡°A few more gold than what you have remaining.¡± ¡°And how long will they take?¡± ¡°Based on your previous results?¡± Randor drew the fingers of his left hand down his chin, causing a long beard to appear. ¡°About six weeks.¡± Almost anyone in The Realm could learn magic, if they had the time, innate talent and money. Carter had learned he was only able to learn how to use scrolls and wands. The energies of using magic washed over him like he wasn¡¯t even there. Fortunately for him, magical devices had the energies within themselves and only needed to be sparked by a specific word. ¡°Damn. I don¡¯t have six weeks.¡± Randor raised his right eyebrow. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°I have to find out who has taken over the capital and where Queen Adora is.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± The wizard nodded. ¡°I could set up a chrono field that would allow you the time to learn them, but outside it, no time will have passed.¡± This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. ¡°Excellent.¡± *** Carter stood on a small table with his arms outstretched as a tape measured various parts of his anatomy. A few feet away from him, mannequins stood, covered in parts of outfits. The tailor took notes as she gossiped about the latest events in the capitol. Warm sunlight filled the window next to where she sat and wrote. ¡°Rumor has it the tournament is being held because Queen Adora¡¯s banner men turned on her, demanding she choose one to marry.¡± Carter shifted as the measuring tape took his inseam. ¡°What of her personal guard, the StoneFist Guardians? Did they not stand for her?¡± She looked up from her notations. ¡°Aye, but she is said to have ordered them to stand down due to them being outnumbered. She then declared she¡¯d only marry the man who could defeat all the others.¡± She gestured and the tape landed on the messy table. Scissors, thread, needles and other implements of her trade covered it. ¡°Lord Angriz stands as her champion. None have made it past his bulwark.¡± ¡°How long has the tourney been going on?¡± ¡°A fortnight.¡± She led him over to a cabinet with various fabrics. ¡°Some of the lords are getting restless, saying she chose this as a way to not have to pick. There are also rumors that on the morrow, a group of them will all attack Sir Angriz on his way to the arena.¡± She raised swatches to his chest before discarding them. ¡°Is his route a secret?¡± ¡°Of course not. It¡¯s Sir Angriz.¡± ¡°Good point. Not too many would be stupid enough to attack a half-dragon.¡± ¡°They are.¡± Carter chuckled. The tailor finally nodded after lifting a beige sample and compared it to his eyes. ¡°This will work.¡± She picked up her notepad again, absently brushing errant strands of pale yellow hair from her cheek. ¡°Do you want additional clothes, or just the tunic?¡± ¡°A padded doublet in black would be good.¡± ¡°Padded? In what way?¡± ¡°For protection under my cuirass.¡± Her eyebrows went up. ¡°You¡¯d have to go to a leather worker for that, milord.¡± Carter nodded. ¡°Fair enough.¡± She finished making his tunic, and presented it to him. The high quality of her magical work marked it as expensive, yet the simple color and heraldry marked him as a commoner. ¡°I admit, Sir Lavitz, your heraldry is both unusual and remarkably simple for one of your stature.¡± He pulled the tunic on, and then strapped on his sword. A glance at the simple white broadsword and then back to her. ¡°I¡¯m a remarkably simple man.¡± He next passed her a round and silvery colored gemstone. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Rachni pearl. Pretty and valuable. I outfitted myself with one about twice the size of that.¡± ¡°Rare, too. I¡¯ve only ever heard stories of these.¡± She looked up. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®outfitted?¡¯¡± ¡°I bought a sword, this armor, a horse, a tent and other supplies.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t take this for a simple tunic.¡± She turned to look at it in the firelight. ¡°It¡¯s for saving Angriz¡¯ life.¡± ¡°How¡ª?¡± She looked up, but the shop was empty. Crossing the room didn¡¯t turn him up. After a peek up at the silent bell above the door, she threw the bolt. *** The sun broke through the mid-afternoon clouds as the scent of damp earth wafted past Carter as he fell in step with the huge warrior in chain mail armor. A heavily muscled man covered in Aureate scales, he had what looked like the whiskers of a cat near his mouth, a white mane on his head and eyes of molten gold. Most would call Carter a tall man, but Angriz had at least a foot in height on him. Both men carried helmets under their left arms. ¡°What do you want, human?¡± ¡°To keep you company and to even out the odds.¡± The half-dragon stopped, causing his armor to make a light jangle, and folded thick arms over his massive chest. ¡°What odds?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a squad of mercenaries up ahead.¡± Carter tilted his head in their direction. ¡°Around the corner. Seems like the queen¡¯s former banner men are tired of you playing wall for the queen.¡± ¡°How do you know their location?¡± ¡°I scouted out their positions beforehand.¡± ¡°And how did you know they would be setting an ambush?¡± ¡°I listened to my tailor.¡± The half-dragon placed his hands on his hips. ¡°What does that mean?¡± Carter glanced over his shoulder. A movement further up the avenue showed they were being watched closely. ¡°Sir Angriz, place your hand on my shoulder and laugh like I told you a good joke. They¡¯re watching and getting restless.¡± The other man gave an imperceptible nod, and doubled over, laughing, his large right hand clamping onto Carter¡¯s shoulder. The Walker gritted his teeth against the pain of Angirz¡¯s claws digging into his flesh. ¡°It means that many overlook those they hire for a service and so speak freely.¡± ¡°Why inform me of the ambush? Are you hoping I¡¯ll be lenient during the tournament?¡± Carter¡¯s burst of laughter startled the big man, causing him to straighten. ¡°By all the hells, why would I want that? I want you to fight your hardest. Present me with a challenge.¡± Angriz glared. ¡°Who are you?¡± ¡°Lavitz.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°So? Will you accept my assistance?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± ¡°Against twenty men? Yes you will.¡± ¡°Twenty you say?¡± Angriz tapped the pommel of his sword with his claws. ¡°Think you can handle three?¡± Carter grinned. ¡°Sir Lavitz, there will only be three for you to deal with.¡± The wind picked up, bringing with it the smell of more rain. ¡°Let¡¯s find out.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s.¡± Cold droplets of water splattered against his cheeks. Carter raised his eyes to the sky and saw the swirling grey clouds being pushed to the west, pursued by black ones. After placing his helm on his head, he reached for his belt buckle, freed the end, and then paused. ¡°Do you want any of them alive?¡± ¡°It would be nice, but isn¡¯t necessary.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He finished unbuckling his sword belt and then cast the leather strap to the ground. Striding ahead of the half-dragon, Carter drew his sword and dropped the scabbard. He spun it around with a flourish before thrusting the blade without looking into the shadowy doorway to his left. A gurgle sounded as he withdrew the bastard sword. A leather clad man fell out of the entryway, clutching a gaping, bloody wound in the middle of his torso. The sky opened up. Rain came hard and fast enough to almost drown the sounds of battle. Carter whirled his weapon around, water flying off the blade as he deflected an attack from his right. At the same time, he twisted under his raised arm, and whipped the steel around and hacked into the side of his attackers neck. He went down, blood arcing in the dim afternoon light. As if in slow motion, the rest of the men poured out of the shadowy rain. Carter ducked under one¡¯s chop, and bowing at the waist, spun away from another. He kicked at the water in the street, sending into the face of one of the men. When he raised his arm to shield his eyes, Carter thrust his sword into the man¡¯s belly, and then yanked it out, pulling the blade downward. He spun it outward and the circular backswing terminated in the groin of another behind him. Both victims went down screaming. One a bit more high pitched than the other. A gurgled scream came from down the street. He risked a glance over his shoulder. Angriz held one of the men up by the throat with his right hand while fending off the assaults of two others. The warrior being choked by Angriz went limp and was thrown into the two attacking him. Carter tried to wipe away some of the water from his eyes as he turned back to his own fight. A mercenary dressed head to toe in black waited, rocking from side to side, ignoring the rain rolling off his helm. Something about this one gave Carter a bit of pause. He gripped his sword hilt in both hands, angled in a left to right diagonal. The back clad warrior exploded into motion, sending a wave of rain flying behind him, moving almost faster than he could see. Before Carter could attack, the warrior slammed an arm into him, sending him flying through the air to crash into a wall. He landed on his ass with a splash, mud shooting in an arc all around him. He slumped over, dazed. A shake of his head, cleared it a little, and alloqing him to search for his opponent. He spotted him about to blindside Angriz. Carter bellowed, ¡°BABAU!¡± Angriz twisted around and blew fire at the demon. The inferno raced up the street, flashing the rain into steam as it engulfed all in its path. Carter frantically dove around the corner of the building and into an alley, as the shockwave from the explosion shot past. Before he could relax, he felt the bottoms of his feet burning as the half-dragon¡¯s fire breath charred his boots. In a near panic, he tore them from him and cast them aside. They burned to ash in short order. Steam wafted from the damp soot as he stared at his boots for about a minute. ¡®I didn¡¯t realize how persistent dragon fire was. I¡¯ll have to remember this.¡¯ At the same time, his screaming ankles reminded him of his burned feet. The soles were blackened, cracked and bloody. The flames had seared the nerves of the bottoms of his feet. ¡°By the Abyss, Lavitz. I am sorry. I did not realize how far my breath weapon would go.¡± ¡°Relax, Sir Angriz. It¡¯s not your fault. You couldn¡¯t have known about the flashover effect of your breath interacting with water.¡± ¡°Flashover effect? What is that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s what happens when water is superheated into a gas. It¡¯s rather explosive as you may have noticed.¡± Carter opened a panel in the center of his breastplate, revealing a hollow with a small ampule containing a viscous green liquid. ¡°A pocket in your cuirass? That¡¯s pretty reckless. You¡¯re giving up a lot of protection.¡± Carter looked up at him. ¡°Fortunately, my face presents a much more tempting target.¡± He pulled the stopper from the phial and emptied it in one swallow. He shivered as the icy chill of the healing potion flowed through his body, soothing the aches away and taking care of the burns on his feet. He watched, fascinated, as the blisters went down, the red mottling smoothed to an even tone, and the swelling faded. His heartbeat slowed and strengthened while his breathing evened out and became deeper. Seconds later, he rose to his newly healed feet. ¡°I never get tired of seeing and experiencing that.¡± ¡°What was that?¡± ¡°A healing potion I got during my journeys.¡± ¡°May I?¡± Angriz held out his hand. Carter shrugged and passed him the empty vial. The other man sniffed the opening and then narrowed his eyes. ¡°This is Abyssal.¡± ¡°What of it?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll want to be careful, Lavitz. Abyssal stuff can cost you your soul.¡± ¡°It gives me an advantage and heals me fully. I¡¯ve not had issues with it in three years.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve been lucky.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Angriz gave him an odd look. ¡°Let¡¯s get to the tournament, eh?¡± The half-dragon nodded. ¡°Are you going to get yourself new shoes, or boots before then, or were you planning on using that as your excuse for why you didn¡¯t win?¡± Carter laughed. ¡°The only reason you ended up with a higher count than me tonight is because your explosion killed the rest of them. Otherwise I¡¯d have handled them.¡± ¡°Like you handled the demon?¡± Angriz clapped the other man¡¯s back as he guffawed. Carter caught himself before the half-dragon¡¯s blow knocked him to the ground and nodded with a wry smile. *** Apple wood torches cast a pleasant smelling light over the throne room. The queen reclined on her throne like a panther. Her long, raven hair hung over her shoulders to her breasts. Her bangs drew attention to her piercing blue eyes. The azure dress she wore did little to hide her muscular frame. The half-dragon knelt before the throne, head bowed. The queen drummed her nails on the side of her seat. ¡°Why are you so late, Sir Angriz?¡± She deliberately kept her gaze on the half-dragon. ¡®It wouldn¡¯t do for the guards to catch me watching them. Waiting for a moment of inattention.¡¯ ¡°Your Grace, I regret to report my lateness due to being attacked by unknown assailants.¡± ¡°Were they so formidable then?¡± ¡°Their numbers were troublesome.¡± She lifted an elegantly curved eyebrow. ¡°Oh?¡± She lifted her hand. ¡°Rise, Sir Angriz, and gaze into my eyes.¡± He did as bade, locking eyes with her. ¡°Report.¡± As he spoke, she surreptitiously noted how many of the guards were watching the report. ¡°A number of men, accompanied by a demon attempted to ambush me as I headed to the market. Fortunately, I was warned of the attempt by a warrior in patchwork armor.¡± Adora¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°How did this warrior know of the attack?¡± ¡°He said he was informed by his seamstress.¡± She blinked. ¡°How did she know of it?¡± Angriz shrugged. ¡°According to him, people often speak freely in in front of those they claim to be inferior, or otherwise unworthy of notice.¡± The queen nodded. ¡°I have found this to be true as well.¡± She took a glass from a tray offered by a servant. ¡°What is this warrior¡¯s name?¡± ¡°He called himself ¡®Lavitz.¡¯¡± ¡®It can¡¯t be. Can it?¡¯ The question raced through her mind as she sat up straight and leaned forward. ¡°Where is he now?¡± ¡°He is just outside the throne room, Highness.¡± She snapped her fingers at the men standing near the portal. ¡°Summon this Lavitz. I wish to see this mighty warrior.¡± The huge doors parted with a loud groan. The torchlights behind him shrouded his appearance, but, ¡®The walk is his. The casual saunter, like that of a mighty lion. The erect bearing. The swagger.¡¯ The doors shut with a bang, cutting off the light at his back, allowing her to see his face for the first time. ¡°Good evening, Your Grace.¡± The smoky voice and cocky grin told her all she needed to know about his identity. Without turning her gaze from him, she said, ¡°Everyone out.¡± ¡°But, Your Majesty¡ª¡± One of the guards spoke up. ¡°Now!¡± Her voice, though quiet broke no argument. The various courtiers, and attendants scurried from the throne room. ¡°You as well, Sir Angriz.¡± ¡°Are you certain, Your Grace?¡± She stepped from the dais and placed her hand on his forearm. ¡°I¡¯ll be safe with Lavitz. No more questions. Just leave us.¡± He sighed, clapped his fist over his heart and bowed. ¡°As you command, Your Grace.¡± He rounded up the guards who were reluctant to allow her to leave their sight. When he threatened to eat some of them, they moved with alacrity. Lavitz stood there as she walked around him after they were alone. She hesitantly reached out and touched his chest and looked up into his eyes. He let out a brief chuckle at the wonder in her beautiful blue eyes. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me, Adora.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Queen Adora.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± He placed a kiss on her forehead, pausing to inhale her fragrance. ¡°Payback from when we last saw each other.¡± It elicited a snort from her. ¡°You¡¯ve grown.¡± She then slapped his chest. ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°The Abyss.¡± Her eyebrows shot up. ¡°How is that possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s merely another plane. Not ethereal, so you don¡¯t have to be dead to visit.¡± ¡°How did you survive?¡± ¡°Barely at first. And one day at a time.¡± He intertwined his fingers together and placed them at the back of his head. ¡°Ultimately, it was because I am the Walker of Worlds.¡± ¡°You learned about your abilities?¡± She clasped her hands together as she bounced. ¡°That is wonderful news.¡± ¡°Not exactly.¡± He hung his head. ¡°I¡¯m only a little further on that journey.¡± ¡°Did you at least find Keeper Dearbhaile?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m starting to worry I never will.¡± Carter heaved a deep sigh. ¡°So, what is going on here? You¡¯re having a tournament to choose a husband because your banner men betrayed you?¡± ¡°Yes. Shortly after you left on your travels, I returned to gather my army to counter Drago¡¯s atrocities. At first, things were great. We won several battles and gained more followers. By the end of the twelfth month after you slew Belial, the tide had turned harshly. ¡°Soon after that, I woke to find myself surrounded by men with drawn steel. Men who had fought beside me, in my name, now demanded that I turn over command of my soldiers. When I pointed out the men would only obey royalty, I was charged with picking one of them to be my husband. If I refused, they would abandon me in the middle of battle to join Drago.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still Queen, though. Why didn¡¯t you order the ringleaders arrested?¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t left alone until we returned here, and by that time, my former guards were replaced by other men. I had no choice.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I should have been here for you.¡± He wrapped his arms around her and hugged her. ¡°What of the tournament?¡± ¡°A ploy to make sure they didn¡¯t get their wishes. I declared that I¡¯d only marry the one who defeated all the others and my champion. Because none of the cowards wished to risk their lives, they decided to keep it nonlethal and came up with a joust and grand melee.¡± Carter leaned against a window sill and stared at the crowds wandering outside the castle. ¡°I have an idea that might help, Adora,¡± he after several moments. ¡°Oh? What is that?¡± He straightened and turned to her. ¡°You could choose me.¡± Her heart lurched in her chest at his words. But, ¡°They¡¯d try to murder you in your sleep before the marriage could happen.¡± His left eyebrow went up. ¡°Do you really think they¡¯d try to kill the Walker of Worlds?¡± Adora turned away and paced the hall, hugging her arms to her chest. ¡°It¡¯s risky. I don¡¯t want you hurt, Carter.¡± ¡°Alright. We¡¯ll wait to announce who I am until after I defeat Angriz.¡± She stopped and turned to him, lowering her arms. ¡°You can¡¯t defeat Angriz. No one can.¡± ¡°He was my first teacher, plus I¡¯ve been fighting demons for the last three years. I¡¯m pretty sure I can beat him.¡± His confidence and body language almost made her believe him. Almost. ¡°Let me sleep on it, and I¡¯ll give you my answer in the morning.¡± ¡°Fair enough. In the meantime, though, why not tell me about this Drago. Who is he, and why are you at war with him?¡± ¡°Drago the Clanless is a charismatic Dark Dwarf with a vendetta against half-elves who wants to take over The Realm.¡± ¡°What do you mean, ¡®a vendetta?¡¯¡± ¡°Every place his army has conquered has seen the complete annihilation of the half-elf population.¡± ¡°He¡¯s been killing them all?¡± Adora nodded. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°He blames them for the ¡®inequalities¡¯ in everyone¡¯s life.¡± ¡°Let me guess: People believe him.¡± She nodded again. Carter sighed. ¡°Gods damn it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s a worry for another time. I¡¯ll have servants prepare you a room for the night, and I¡¯ll let you know what my decision is tomorrow.¡± Chapter Six Carter unbuckled his cuirass and his temporary squire pulled it away. She passed him a wooden bucket of water as he sat in his tent. He emptied the contents over himself. The comparatively cold water helped clear his mind and cooled him off at the same time. Shaking his head, he wiped water from his eyes and blew more from his mouth. Opening his eyes, he accepted the offered towel and rubbed his chest down. ¡°Bloody hell, I¡¯m stiff.¡± ¡°It¡¯s due to all the hits you took in the grand melee. From the way they focused on you, I¡¯d say the other combatants weren¡¯t happy to have you there.¡± She ran a stiff brush over the leather of his armor. ¡°You¡¯re correct. They were not pleased.¡± ¡°Milord, why did you not object to running this gauntlet of challenges? Lord Hathshire is also recently arrived, and he did not have to.¡± He placed his fist near his hip on his upper thigh and leaned forward, his other hand playing with his beard. After a few minutes, he glanced at the red-haired young woman. Though she appeared to be focusing on the task at hand, her body language told him she waited for his answer. ¡°To send a few messages to the assholes who made this tourney necessary.¡± She dropped his cuirass at the expletive and then hurriedly picked it up again. ¡°The most important message is crossing the queen in the future will get them a severe punishment from me.¡± The squire turned to him. ¡°Why from you, Milord?¡± ¡°Because I¡¯ll be her husband, and I protect my queen with force.¡± ¡°Milord, if I may be so bold, but if you don¡¯t win, would you take me?¡± Carter lifted his cuirass over his head and fastened it down. ¡°That is bold indeed.¡± A trumpet sounded, signaling the beginning of the one-on-one combat. ¡°I apologize, Milord.¡± ¡°You have nothing to apologize for.¡± He placed his helmet on and strode from the tent as he secured it in place. The sun was high in a clear and cloudless sky and the heat was up, causing a shimmer to the air. Sand crunched underfoot. Nobles sat in seats around the arena walls. The queen sat under a canopy with guards at her shoulders. He traversed the arena grounds and discovered Angriz already out and performing a loosening routine. ¡®Oh great. The fucker now wields a fucking great sword.¡¯ The half-dragon spun his weapon with one hand, causing the weapon to almost sing as it sliced through the air. Angriz spotted him and sheathed his sword at his hip. Both men approached the raised dais and knelt before the queen. She rose and gazed upon the warriors for a moment. She raised her hand, and then, ¡°Rise, ye mighty, and BEGIN!¡± Carter leaped to his feet and jumped away, drawing his sword as he moved. Angriz took his time about it. He then cast his large blade to the ground at the Walker¡¯s feet. He froze, not sure what his opponent had planned. ¡°I yield to Lavitz,¡± Angriz said. His deep voice carried to the crowd who buzzed unhappily. ¡°Yesterday morning, he saved my life. I¡¯ll not cross blade with him.¡± Carter used his foot to flip the great sword back towards his opponent. ¡°Pick it up, Sir. I did not battle all those others for you to surrender to me. I came for a challenge and I shall have one.¡± He watched the section of the arena closest to Adora, carefully ignoring her. The gathered men whispered to one another while another stared right at him. ¡®Must be the ringleader of this whole charade. He¡¯s dangerous.¡¯ Angriz stood with his arms to his side. ¡°I said I cannot fight you. My honor forbids it.¡± ¡°No? Does your honor allow you to ignore the stain on your whore queen¡¯s behalf?¡± Carter sighed. ¡®Forgive me, Adora. I do not mean these words.¡¯ ¡°Ware yourself, Lavitz. I will kill you for insulting the Queen.¡± ¡°The queen you can¡¯t be bothered to fight for?¡± Carter sheathed his sword, and turned away, but not far enough to lose sight of the half-dragon. ¡°She can¡¯t be that good, if she has a half-bred who won¡¯t even fight on her behalf. Then again, I¡¯ll probably see her later when I visit the brothels.¡± He tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword, lifting it partly. Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. With a roar, Angriz charged him, not even bothering to pick up his sword. ¡®Fuck. He was supposed to use his weapon. This is gonna suck.¡¯ He drove sideways into Angriz¡¯s feet, knocking the warrior to the ground. He rolled and then rose, and cast aside his sword as the angry man charged him again. This time, he stood his ground. Angriz swung wildly, leading with his claws. Carter pin wheeled his arms back out of the way, twisting his body to either side, keeping his chest out of reach as well. A thunderous kick to the chest sent the Walker flying to crash into the wall beneath Adora¡¯s seat. Angriz leaped feet first at the dazed Carter. Seeing the dark shape flying towards him, Carter somersaulted forward, managing to barely get out of the way of the attack. Rising to his feet, he intercepted Angriz¡¯s next assault by slamming his forearms against the half-dragon¡¯s and moving back. Again and again, he blocked or dodged. In desperation, he lashed out with a kick to Angriz¡¯s stomach, causing him to double over. Shaking his arms, Carter moved out of range. He rubbed the sting from his arms. ¡®Damn. He hits as hard as the demon lord Chronweis.¡¯ Angriz looked at the ground and then picked up his great sword. ¡®Fucking hell. I should have accepted his forfeit. What was I thinking?¡¯ As the half-dragon strode forward, Carter retreated in a counter-clockwise arc. He watched closely, knowing he¡¯d have seconds at most to react. Angriz stopped his advance and moved sideways. ¡®Gods damn it. He¡¯s realized I was angling for my sword and now cut me off. Well, as long as he stays out of his range, I¡¯m golden.¡¯ Carter threw a quick glance behind him. ¡®The wall is too far away.¡¯ As he returned his focus to Angriz, he saw the half-dragon take a deep breath. He raced forward before dropping and rolling as a great gout of flame shot over him, scorching his body as it passed. As he rose to his feet, he was met with a kick to his chest that sent him flipping heels over head and left him breathless. He tried to pull in air, but a flashing agony left him unable. He tried again as his panicked brain fought for oxygen. Angriz lifted him in the air by the top of his head and a fist slammed into his mouth. His vision went grey. ¡°Kill him!¡± Angriz looked to the stands. One of Donnell Maverick¡¯s men stood near the railing, hands gripping the top of it so tightly his knuckles whitened. ¡°I will not. I have killed none of the other challengers for Her Majesty¡¯s hand.¡± Maverick leaned forward. ¡°None of the others insulted the queen. You¡¯d be doing him a mercy, killing him quickly, as opposed to him having his tongue ripped out and being quartered for his crime. Would you not agree, Sir Angriz?¡± Angriz growled as he looked for guidance. Adora gave him a slow nod. Once more he bent and lifted Carter by the top of his head. ¡°Thanks, buddy.¡± Carter clapped his hands to the sides of Angriz¡¯s head, just behind his snout. Bellowing with pain, the half-dragon warrior released his enemy who then thrust both his fists into his chest as he landed on his feet. Carter gave his head a quick shake as he kicked the inside of Angriz¡¯s left knee hard enough to buckle it. Angriz fell to his knee as he cried out. Grabbing the back of the warrior¡¯s head, Carter pulled it forward as he thrust his right knee up hard. Angriz fell and landed on his back, unconscious. Carter looked up to the queen¡¯s box. ¡°I apologize for what I said to provoke Sir Angriz, Your Highness. Though my words were a slight to your honor, they were not intended to belittle yourself, but to anger the great knight that he would battle me.¡± ¡°Your crime will not stand, outlander!¡± Carter glanced over at the one who shouted. He snorted and then returned his attention to Adora. ¡°What say you, Majesty? Will you accept my apology?¡± ¡°Apology or no, you broke the law!¡± The man jumped into the arena and hurried over to Carter. The Walker of Worlds whirled around, clamped his hand around the interloper¡¯s throat, hoisted him into the air with one hand, and spun, slamming him against the arena wall below the queen¡¯s seat. ¡°Do not dare to presume to tell me of breaking laws when you yourself try to speak over Her Grace.¡± He thrust the man away from him and released his hold. Adora watched as Corbin tumbled over the ground after he¡¯d been thrown. Carter was far stronger than he¡¯d been three years ago, and he¡¯d killed a half-demon Prince of the Abyss then. ¡®I wonder how this will play out. Will Corbin manage to provoke Carter into killing him, or is the man I ¨C like going to be the sort of person I could-¡¯ ¡°You¡¯ll pay for that insult.¡± Corbin screamed as he got up. ¡°Please, put it on my bill.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll kill you.¡± ¡°No.¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°It would be the height of stupidity for you to even try.¡± He gestured to Angriz¡¯s unconscious form. ¡°Look what I did to him. You¡¯re not even close to the level of his squire.¡± ¡°I¡¯m better than he was.¡± Carter laughed. ¡°Then why are you not King?¡± In response, Corbin drew his sword. Again Carter shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t do it. It¡¯s not worth it.¡± The other man screamed and charged. Carter sighed. ¡°So be it.¡± He took three long strides forward, and thrust his foot in his attacker¡¯s face, cutting off his scream as he hit the ground. He raised his foot and looked down at the bloody faced man. ¡°Feel better? Get that all out of your system?¡± He moved closer to the arena wall. ¡°Or do you want to try again?¡± The man held his face as he rolled to his feet and spat a few teeth to the ground. He picked his sword out of the dirt and charged again. As he chopped at Carter with an overhead strike, the Walker of Worlds stepped to the side and spun on his right leg. The man¡¯s sword dug itself into the dirt of the arena. At the same time, Carter¡¯s left foot smashed into the back of his assailant¡¯s skull, sending him crashing to the ground like a rag doll. He walked over to the fallen man and kicked his sword across the dirt. After nudging him onto his back to find the unknown man to be unconscious, Carter turned back to the crowd with his arms in the air. ¡°Are you entertained?¡± He bellowed to them. The roar of the audience answered him. He glanced up to the queen to find her with a wide smile as she applauded. Chapter 7 Present day Carter stepped out the front door of the house, tugging at the sides of the waist of the loaned trousers. The male half-dragon was significantly wider than he. ¡®Wonder if he might have a thin rope I can use as a belt for a time?¡¯ He paused to glance around. The still air smelled of shit. A glance to his right showed him a large building. ¡®That¡¯s probably the barn.¡¯ Lowing of cattle told him why the air was so fragrant. A rhythmic pounding of metal on metal drew him around to the side of the house. The turquoise half-dragon worked at an anvil, his back to Carter. He stepped past a hen laying in the middle of the pathway. It opened an eye and watched him go by, but gave no sign of moving. He chuckled to himself. Three steps away from the chicken, he felt something sharp poke his shoulder. In a blink, he threw himself forward in a twisting somersault that ended with him upright and a couple feet away from the attack, his hand grabbing for his missing sword. He brought his head up, searching for an incoming attack, and flushed when he saw the female half-dragon staring at him, her hand still raised in the act of poking him for his attention. His ears hot, Carter brought his hands together as if he were washing them and then quickly folded his arms. ¡°You¡¯re a twitchy human, aren¡¯t you?¡± She lowered her hand. ¡°Um.¡± He dropped his arms and then tucked his hands behind his butt, back of his left hand in the palm of his right. ¡°You startled me.¡± ¡°So I see.¡± She titled her head to the left. ¡°I am sorry about that.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay. Anna, right?¡± ¡°Anna Jacoba.¡± Carter raised a finger in the air. ¡°Right. Presumptuous to assume I can use your first name.¡± Again, her head went to the left. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I should have said, ¡®Miss Jacoba.¡¯¡± She shook her head. ¡°You are odd, human. My name is Anna Jacoba.¡± She pointed at her brother. ¡°And he is Jeroen.¡± ¡°Jeroen Jacoba, right?¡± ¡°No.¡± Her tone said he was stupid. ¡°Jeroen. I am Anna Jacoba.¡± ¡°Oh. I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m used to people having a forename and surname.¡± She tilted her head to the left. ¡°What are those?¡± He scratched his head. ¡°Well, with me, my forename is Carter.¡± ¡°Your name is Carter Blake.¡± ¡°Well, yes. But that is my full name.¡± ¡°I do not understand.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°Most humanoids have multiple parts to their name. A forename, which is given at birth, and a surname, which is inherited from the family.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To differentiate people with the same forename.¡± ¡°But your name belongs to you. How can anyone else have your name?¡± ¡°Some names are popular, and so many families might use it for their child.¡± She shook her head. ¡°That is insane.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Carter folded his arms behind him. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°Names have power.¡± ¡°Well, yes, but only Truenames.¡± Anna Jacoba stepped closer to him. ¡°You know Name Magic?¡± ¡°Yes and no.¡± She shook her head. ¡°You either have the knowledge, or you do not.¡± He raised his right index finger. ¡°Or you have some knowledge, but you have no ability.¡± She tilted her head to the left. ¡°I do not understand.¡± ¡°I have academic knowledge of Truename Magic. I can tell you about it all day long, but I can¡¯t show you how it works.¡± ¡°Why would you seek only partial knowledge?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t seek any knowledge of it.¡± She blinked. ¡°Then how did you get it?¡± ¡°Truename Magic came up in a few conversations, and I¡¯d ask what they were talking about. So, I know some of the basics. For examples, Truename Magic is purely oral. Writing a truename down doesn¡¯t mean anything. You have to be able to pronounce it properly. Personal truenames are even more powerful. And, because they are, certain beings have Truename Wards, which can cause the magic to backfire.¡± ¡°Carter!¡± He turned to Jeroen¡¯s voice. The half-dragon beckoned him over. ¡°Excuse me. Your brother wants my attention.¡± ¡°Of course. May we speak more later?¡± He nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± Carter crossed the yard to Jeroen¡¯s forge. The other man stepped away from the anvil and held up a gambeson to Carter¡¯s chest. ¡°This should fit. Try it on.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± As he pulled it over his head, he said, ¡°What for, though?¡± ¡°I¡¯m making you some armor.¡± ¡°Thank you, Jeroen, but why?¡± ¡°I did not think you were going to want to stay here, and travelling these roads is dangerous.¡± ¡°Good point. Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± He tugged Carter over to a short wall. ¡°Stand here while I measure you.¡± *** Carter slowly lifted his right leg to take a step forward. The additional weight from the plate made it harder. ¡°By all the hells. How do people move in this?¡± Jeroen snickered. ¡°The same as you do in your leather.¡± Carter turned, and over balanced, hitting the ground with a cacophony of sound. ¡°Ow. Fucking hell.¡± Laughter sounded above him. He pushed the visor up. ¡°Stop laughing.¡± Jeroen reached down and lifted him back to his feet, still chortling. ¡°How is it you don¡¯t know how to wear plate mail?¡± ¡°I never needed to. My leather was just fine.¡± ¡°Plate is better protection.¡± ¡°Unless my enemy is using an axe or hammer.¡± ¡°Oh? What protection is leather to those weapons?¡± Carter sighed. ¡°Fair point.¡± The half-dragon smirked. ¡°Come with me.¡± ¡°Can I take this off, first?¡± ¡°No. You need to get used to it.¡± ¡°Why? I¡¯m going to replace it as soon as I can.¡± ¡°Because until you do, this is the only armor you have available. Leather armor isn¡¯t something I know how to make.¡± ¡°The gambeson is leather.¡± ¡°I bought it. From the leatherer.¡± ¡°Leather armor would have been better,¡± Carter mumbled. ¡°Armor has to be custom fit.¡± Jeroen put his hands on his hips. ¡°You should know this.¡± ¡°I do, but I¡¯m allowed to complain.¡± The armorer shook his head. ¡°Not when you are getting it free.¡± He waved his arm as he turned away. ¡°Follow me.¡± ¡°Follow you where? We¡¯re already outside.¡± ¡°Over to the corral.¡± Carter scratched his head as he tromped behind his host. ¡°What is it with everyone in this country fighting in horse corrals? Where are the horses?¡± ¡°We have to buy more. We finished the herd last week.¡± He stopped. ¡°You what, now?¡± ¡°We finished eating the last of the herd last week.¡± ¡°You ate your herd of horses?¡± Jeroen stepped through the gate. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°We were hungry, of course.¡± ¡°Why not cows, deer, chicken, goats, rabbits, sheep, or pigs?¡± ¡°We eat them, too.¡± He leaned on the top rail of the corral, watching Carter struggle. ¡°Too?¡± ¡°Yes. We are dragons, after all.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Carter stepped a little faster, and fell. ¡°Gods damn it.¡± ¡°We have a lot of work ahead of us.¡± After helping Carter to his feet and into the coral, Jeroen picked up a wooden sword. He handed it to the other man and took up a second one. Carter eyed the half-dragon. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be wearing armor?¡± He smirked. ¡°If you were accustomed to yours, I probably would. Since you are not, I do not have to worry.¡± ¡°I could get lucky.¡± Jeroen lifted his sword in a high guard. ¡°That is not likely.¡± When Carter lunged, Jeroen pirouetted to his left and swatted him in the back as he stumbled and fell. He watched as Carter struggled to his feet. ¡°Not as easy as you thought, is it?¡± ¡°Alright, you proved your point.¡± He rested his hands on the pommel of the practice sword with the tip in the dirt. ¡°What now?¡± Jeroen tilted his head to the right. ¡°Proved my point?¡± He gave a brief chuckle. ¡°There was no point to be made. We must continue your training until you can move as easily in plate as leather.¡± He then pointed his weapon at Carter¡¯s chest. ¡°Training with swords also trains you in movement in the armor.¡± ¡°How much time do you think I have?¡± A shrug. ¡°As long as it takes. If you do not wish to die, that is.¡± *** The bare-chested half-orc stumbled passed and hit the ground, sliding. The crowd went silent in shock. Their undefeated champion lay crumpled with mud surrounding his face. If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. Sera nudged him onto his side. She didn¡¯t want him to suffocate. He¡¯d been a good challenge. Walking over to the elf ring official, she held out her hand for her winnings. As the odds against her had been fifteen-to-one, she knew her purse would be hefty. A gentle breeze blew her light brown curls across her face. When the ringleader placed thirty silvery white coins in her hand, she scowled. ¡°What¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Your winnings.¡± The tone of his voice indicated he thought she was an idiot for asking. ¡°I wagered two hundred gold on myself. At fifteen-to-one, that¡¯s ¡ª¡± ¡°Three thousand, I know,¡± he said. ¡°Thirty platinum coins is the equivalent of three thousand gold coins.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Her face warmed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought you were trying to cheat me.¡± The elf chuckled. ¡°Do you think I¡¯m Drago the Clanless?¡± ¡°Why? Is he a cheat?¡± ¡°Among other things.¡± ¡°Hmm. I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± She walked down the busy street, careful not to allow any to brush against her. One run in with a cutpurse was enough. She had ended up with a broken neck for her audacity, but that was beside the point. ¡®When Drago wins, there won¡¯t be any more thieves. He¡¯ll make sure everyone has their fair share.¡¯ Heading between two buildings, she found herself cut off by a man brandishing a short sword. She drew to a halt. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking that platinum, girly.¡± The darkening of the alley told her a much taller being had entered the alley behind her. A quick peek at a curtained window showed the distorted image of an ogre. ¡®Oh, just what I need: One of those ugly fuckers.¡¯ ¡°No.¡± Sera shook her head. ¡°You won¡¯t.¡± ¡°I eat?¡± She glanced over her shoulder. ¡°Him? Be my guest. Would save me the trouble of punching his teeth out.¡± The ogre scratched his head. ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°Crush her!¡± Sera flattened herself against the wall to her right as the ogre¡¯s large club slammed into the ground. A spray of fetid mud shot into the air and all over her. ¡°You fucker!¡± Her yell was a mix of anger and disgust. She landed a sideways thrust kick at the ogre¡¯s jaw and regained her balance as the huge creature fell against the opposite wall. The man chopped at her with an overhand strike. She pushed off the wall and spun to her right, ending with her back against his chest. An elbow under the point of his chin caused him to stumble backwards. The recovered ogre charged at her with a bellow. Sera dropped to the ground with a roll, hitting his left leg just below the knee. The ogre tripped over her and flew into his companion. Both hit the ground and lay unmoving. She warily rose to her feet, not taking her eyes off the two. Neither budged as she got closer. When she stood over them, she saw why they hadn¡¯t moved and relaxed. The ogre had the human¡¯s sword buried in his throat and the human¡¯s head had a puddle of blood and brain around it. ¡®Looks like a broken cobblestone crushed his skull when the ogre landed on him.¡¯ She shook her head. ¡®Damn, that was lucky.¡¯ She straightened and continued on her way. ¡®I hope Drago is ready to march, soon. We need to stamp out the inequalities that make people have to steal.¡¯ ### The golden skinned being flexed the two wings growing from his back as he watched the brown haired young woman walk off. A couple of moments later, a searing white light radiated from him and expanded outward. The light vanished in a blink. And the winged being was gone. ### To Sera¡¯s surprise, the gates of Mhor Cauldgh were thrown wide. Normally, they were shut as majority of travellers arrived by ship, or boat. Visitors by land were so rare, the city guard tended to forget the protocol for them. In six years, she¡¯d witnessed three land-based arrivals. She drew closer, and noticed a distant roaring, rising and falling like the waves at the piers of the city. A couple of guardsmen, in full silver plate mail saluted as she entered. One, whose plate was a brilliant blue, strode over to her. He clapped his left hand to his chest, brought his heels together with a clang, and raised his visor, revealing a red haired human man with steel gray eyes. ¡°Commander. Welcome back.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, Griffon?¡± ¡°Lord Drago is giving a speech to his people. All came, from wheels around.¡± She scratched her chin. ¡°Interesting. Carry on.¡± He saluted once more, lowered his visor, and returned to his post. She passed through streets that were emptied of all but patrolling guards. ¡®Gotta keep looters away.¡¯ She sighed. Somehow, people still slipped through the cracks and ended up stealing. ¡®It¡¯s not their fault. The price gougers still manage to slip through also. I think at the end of the week, I¡¯ll have to lead a few patrols through the shop quarter to ensure no one is charging more than their fair share. Price gougers were horrific exploiters and they¡¯d need either reeducation, or to be made an example of.¡¯ The roars grew clearer, letting her know she drew closer to their gathering place. Drago¡¯s volume must have been immense for her to hear it from this range. ¡°What more could they possibly have destroyed? The worst thing, though, is the destruction of the faith in our People, the elimination of all hopes and all confidence. In six years they have not succeeded in mobilizing in any way the powers slumbering in our People; on the contrary! ¡°Out of their fear of the awakening of the nation, they have played people off against one another: the city against the country, the salaried workers against the civil servants, those who work with their hands against those who work with their brains, and so forth, and vice versa. ¡°The activism of our races was entirely consumed at home; outwardly, only fantasies remained: fantastic hopes of a cultural conscience, a law of nations, a world conscience, ambassador conferences ¡ª and the world treated us accordingly. ¡°Thus Mhor Cauldgh has slowly disintegrated, and only a madman can still hope that those forces which first caused this disintegration might now bring about the resurrection. If the present parties seriously want to save Mhor Cauldgh , why have they not done so already? Had they wanted to save Mhor Cauldgh , why has it not happened? Had the men of these parties honestly intended to do so, then their programs must have been bad. If, however, their programs were right, then either their desire cannot have been sincere, or they must have been too ignorant or too weak.¡± Sera stopped. ¡®I can hear him perfectly from right here.¡¯ She glanced up at the mid-afternoon sky. ¡®I should use this time free of crowds of people to visit Iormungand¡¯s new shop. I¡¯ve had reports he¡¯s been spreading dangerous and harmful ideas.¡¯ After nodding to herself, she headed down the street to the merchants quarter. ### The Gorauch carefully closed the drawer to its original half-open position. He crossed the floor as silently as the shadows from the sunlight and carefully searched the bookcase. He ran his fingers over the edges of the shelves, taking care not to trigger any hidden traps. Discovering none, he tilted the books one by one, hoping to open a secret door. As he reached the third shelf, a noise from downstairs told him he was no longer alone. He slipped over to the door and listened. The steady, heavy tread on the steps came from someone who was sure of themselves, and wasn¡¯t trespassing. A quick stride to the window, and distant roar of the crowd, said Drago continued with his speech. Two strides later, he stood behind the door, waiting for the newcomer to enter the den. He caught the scent of vanilla buried under sweat as she entered. The curly brown hair and hide clothes revealed her to be Drago¡¯s enforcer. ¡°Lady Sera. What brings you here?¡± She turned her head and regarded him over her shoulder. ¡°My job, Corath. Why are you here?¡± ¡°My job. I suspect Iormungand is allied with the Walker, and I¡¯m looking for evidence.¡± ¡°Why not simply bring him in and question him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want his lies. I want to know where the Walker is.¡± ¡°Last I heard, he was near Dunskillen and had wiped out a local gang of slavers.¡± ¡°How long ago was this?¡± ¡°Four days.¡± ¡°Four?¡± He growled under his breath. ¡°If I leave now, it¡¯ll take me another two to get there.¡± He shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m behind by six days, but it can¡¯t be helped.¡± He refocused on Sera. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯m now closer than I have been in six years.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t forgiven him for killing your brother, have you?¡± ¡°I told him Wen was possessed and he killed him regardless. No. I have not forgiven Carter Blake for murdering my brother.¡± She nodded. ¡°I understand completely.¡± ¡°What, no speech about how revenge is bad?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± She titled her head. ¡°You¡¯re getting justice for you brother. This is a good thing.¡± ¡°I wish Elder Glurath understood that. She¡¯s constantly telling me revenge is empty.¡± ¡°Well, it is. However, you¡¯re not going after revenge. You¡¯re going after justice. There¡¯s a big difference between the two.¡± ¡°Really? They seem to be the same to me.¡± ¡°Possibly because Common isn¡¯t your first language. Revenge is mere retaliation. Justice is impartial and morally right.¡± She folded her arms over her breasts. ¡°You would have gone after Carter even if his victim wasn¡¯t your brother.¡± Without answering her, he went to the window. The cobbled streets below were still empty with the exception of a couple guards. ¡°Did you find anything during your search, Corath?¡± ¡°No.¡± He turned back. ¡°But, all I searched was the desk and the top three bookshelves. Iormungand could still have something hidden in here.¡± ¡°We should finish our search, and then you can go after the Walker.¡± The elf nodded. ¡°The two of us together will both be more thorough and faster than either of us alone.¡± ### Thirty minutes later, the two stood outside the shop keep¡¯s house. ¡°We didn¡¯t find anything. Does that allay your suspicions, Commander?¡± Sera shook her head. ¡°No. It¡¯s entirely possible that it was hidden better than we anticipated or disguised with magic.¡± ¡°That is true.¡± Corath scratched his head. ¡°What is next?¡± ¡°For me? I¡¯ll meet up with Lord Drago and get an Inquisitor to aid my search. As for you,¡± she paused and glanced to the sky. ¡°It¡¯s after midday, so you should get a horse and head to Draith¡¯s temple.¡± He sighed. ¡°As you command. What will I be doing there?¡± She tossed him her pouch of platinum coins from her fight. ¡°Paying them to transport you to Dunskillen. It¡¯ll cut down on your travel time.¡± ¡°A teleportation spell is two thousand gold. I¡¯ve never seen that much at once and I¡¯m six hundred years old.¡± ¡°You should get out more often. That purse contains thirty platinum coins.¡± ¡°This is platinum?¡± He bounced the pouch. ¡°This feels like two pounds. Where did you get so much money?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not important.¡± She waved her hand. ¡°What is important is finding and killing Carter Blake.¡± ¡°Thy will be done.¡± ¡°Why are you talking like that Corath?¡± ¡°I am formally accepting your order to kill Carter.¡± He turned to stare down the street at the city walls. ¡°If my Elder asks, I can tell her to use tulak-nor, the truth spell, to read my words.¡± ¡°Has she forbidden you to hunt him?¡± ¡°No.¡± He glanced back to Sera. ¡°She lives.¡± He strode down the street and merged with the crowd of people returning from the speech. She nodded and headed in the opposite direction. ### The young girl raced through the fog, tears running unheeded down her cheeks. The skitter of feet behind her told her the monster was close. She risked a glance behind her. Her look caused her to miss the stone in her path. Her bare foot smashed into it and she tumbled to the ground, scraping her hands and knees on the scree. With a cry, she rolled across the ground. Her pursuer came to a slow stop. The fog swirled away, giving her another look at the horror which killed her big brother. The creature¡¯s corpse-white flesh was revealed for a few moments. Its eyes glowed a nauseating shade of acid green and its smile revealed fangs like the teeth of a steel trap. A faint pinkish foam coated them. When it raised its thin, boney arms, the skin on its forearms began to ripple and tear. Boney protrusions slowly grew from them, sending a spray of a greyish liquid hissing to the ground. The projections lengthened until they extended four feet from its wrists. It ran a pale green tongue along each sword-like protuberance. The girl screamed. ¡°Precious, tasty precious.¡± The words were almost hummed. ¡°The animus calls to us.¡± The creature nearly sang the words this time. A large fist shot out of the mist and smashed into the side of the monster¡¯s face, sending it flying into the dark. ¡°Everything is alright now, little girl.¡± The voice was deep and boisterous. ¡°Why? Because I am here.¡± A huge, towering knight stepped into her line of sight. Torch light danced over heavy plate mail, revealing a bearded face with a wide smile looking down at her. His facial hair was split by a jagged scar which ran across his cheek and up to just beneath his right eye. She gaped up at the knight. He¡¯d punched the monster away! Even her friend, Knight Captain Wethers hadn¡¯t been able to do that and he was the strongest man she knew. The monster leaped from a tree at the knight¡¯s back. ¡°Look out!¡± As her warning had left her throat, the knight had spun around, caught the monster by the throat and slammed it to the ground. He then smashed his fist into its face, making it cry out in pain. A few more heavy punches and the monster stopped moving. The knight stood up straight, pulled his glove off and wiped it clean. He put it back on and turned to her with a wide and cheerful smile. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that, little girl. I, Sir Lavitz, have vanquished the demon.¡± And then he have a mighty laugh. He walked over as his laughter faded away, and leaned down, offering her his other hand. She took it and gasped as he lifted her from the ground and to her feet as easily as he blinked. His laughter boomed out once more. ¡°Why do you laugh so much, Sir Lavitz?¡± ¡°Are you afraid anymore?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No, Sir.¡± ¡°That is why, little girl.¡± He smiled his wide smile. ¡°If I am laughing, everyone will know everything will be alright.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Lavitz.¡± She gave him a smile. ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± He placed his large hand on her head. ¡°What is your name?¡± ¡°Madikate Gwint.¡± ¡°How far are we from your home?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I was running too fast.¡± ¡°Do you know how long you were running?¡± She shook her head. He snorted as he shook his head. A glance up to the sky showed him the sun were near its zenith. ¡°Alright, Madikate. Looks like we get to backtrack you.¡± A tilt of her head to the right. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°It means that we¡¯re going to be looking for broken branches in bushes, your footprints in the dirt, your hairs in low hanging tree limbs. All those signs will show us where you¡¯ve been.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± He swung the girl onto his shoulders. ¡°Hold tight. I walk fast.¡± She grabbed his chin in both hands. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°What does your hometown look like?¡± ¡°It has a mill on the river. And a lot of people.¡± ¡°Does the river sit on the north of the town?¡± ¡°No. It goes in the middle of town.¡± ¡°That sounds a little familiar to me.¡± He stepped over a creek and paused y a bush. A section of it was smashed to the side. ¡°Here¡¯s one place you came past.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°See how the side is broken to the side and pointed towards us?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°That means someone ran through it. I¡¯m guessing that someone was you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Back to the town: Does the mill have a large green stone?¡± She bounced on his shoulders. ¡°You do know it! You might even know my parents.¡± Her voice¡¯s volume went up in her excitement.¡± ¡°It is possible.¡± He noted a torn piece of cloth and followed the small trail beneath it. A breath of wind brought the scent of pine to them along with an undercurrent of petrichor. As he strode along, the animals resumed making their familiar noises. ### Water dripped from the stone ceiling and puddled on the edge of the altar before spilling over the side of the stone. Greasy black smoke danced above the merrily jumping flames of oak torches in rusty brackets. Screams rent the air, and something that sounded like a pillow smacking the floor came to the ears of the Dwarf. Drago the Clanless knelt before a blood soaked altar. He wore a loincloth and the arcane sigils which called to his god. The symbols were only enough to arouse Karesh¡¯s attention. The offering on the altar would hopefully be enough to appease the capricious deity. The Dark Dwarf shivered recollecting what happened the last time he¡¯d sought to commune with the god. Then, the adolescent half-elf wasn¡¯t enough, and Drago had to immediately offer the lives of his royal guard. That had been a gory affair. The twin scents of sulfur and attar filled his nose as an ebony smoke seemed to dip from the ceiling and coalesced into a roiling cloud. Drago switched to breathing through his nose to avoid losing his dinner. A hollow, sepulchral voice sounded from within. ¡°What do you want, Drago?¡± In response, the Dark Dwarf owed forward until his forehead rested against the cold stone floor. ¡°Lord Karesh, I beg a boon of you.¡± ¡°Get to it.¡± ¡°How does one bend a god, my lord?¡± The inky cloud swirled and tumbled for a moment. ¡°It is simultaneously easy and difficult to warp a deity, Drago. It takes days of pointless torture, and special husks filled with their divine essence. In order to harm a deity, much less torture one, you need a specific kind of alloy. But first, you need to capture one. Each of these tasks is infinitely more dangerous and onerous than the one that came before.¡± ¡°Then warping Kell¨¹n will be simplicity in itself, Lord Karesh.¡± The ebony smoke whirled and twisted for several second before coalescing in the bulging-eyed spider-faced form of the Bane of Life. ¡°Explain.¡± The clack of its mandibles almost made it hard to understand, but long communication with his god allowed Drago to decipher the words with ease. To answer the Death God¡¯s demand, he strolled over to a table and rotated it, revealing the bound form of the God of Elves and the Woodlands. Karesh laughed. ¡°Excellent, Drago. You once again exceed my expectations.¡± ¡°What do I need to get next, my lord?¡± ¡°You need Imperium Alloy. To manufacture this rare substance requires Celestial iron and Abyssal silver. While you collect those metals, you¡¯ll also need creatures sacred to him. Retrieve these, and I shall reveal the next step.¡± Drago rubbed his hands together. ¡°Soon, master. Soon you will be manifest on this world. Soon you shall wreak havoc on all life, as you wont.¡± The smoke burst apart, startling the Dark Dwarf as the lights extinguished. Brow wrinkled, Drago turned and lit a brazier. He turned to where the effigy of his god had swirled and a big human, as wide as he was tall, stepped into the light. Long, thick brown hair flowed down to his shoulders. Dressed in blue pants and a white shirt, he cut an impressive figure. His way of moving was fluid, graceful like a cat. ¡°Hello again, Drago.¡± His voice was silken, yet deep. It made for an interesting contrast. Drago retreated. ¡°Master Lucas.¡± Chapter Eight ¡°You¡¯re awfully pale, Drago.¡± Lucas grinned at him. ¡°Were you not expecting me? Or, were you hoping I wouldn¡¯t find out you¡¯re conspiring behind my back?¡± ¡°N-no.¡± ¡°Which are you saying no to?¡± Lucas stalked forward, enjoying the way the Dark Dwarf scrambled backward, trying to stay out of reach. ¡°The surprise of my visit? Or are you attempting to lie about betraying me?¡± ¡°Y-your visit is a surprise ¡ª¡± ¡°No shit.¡± ¡°Buh-but, I¡¯m trying to learn how to break Kell¨¹n for you, Lucas.¡± In a blink, the large man rolled over the table and lifted the Dwarf by his jerkin. ¡°Do. Not. Fucking,¡± he threw Drago across the room where he crashed through a wooden table. ¡°Lie to me.¡± The door burst open and six orcs swarmed in. Seeing their master in a pile of splinters and shattered wood, they raced to the attack. Lucas glared at them, his eyes turning a bright yellow. All six burst apart like soap bubbles, their blood splashed against the walls and ran down them. Lucas returned his attention to the Dark Dwarf, his eyes back to their normal blue. He crossed the room and lifted Drago to his feet, brushed the debris from the Dark Dwarf¡¯s clothing, and helped steady him on his feet. ¡°Now.¡± He smoothed down Drago¡¯s jerkin. ¡°Where were we?¡± He smiled. ¡°Oh, yes. You were trying to tell me you sought information from your god for me.¡± His smile flashed into a scowl. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I kill you right now?¡± Drago looked down at the orc blood and then back up at the fat human. ¡°You need me to be your front man to Carter Blake. To keep him distracted while you retrieve the artifacts you need.¡± Lucas squatted down, bringing his eyes level with the Dwarf¡¯s. ¡°Do you really think I need you to do that?¡± He winked. ¡°Or do I want you to?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a need.¡± Drago nodded. ¡°Because while the Walker of Worlds might not hunt you down, Hevelca certainly would.¡± ¡°Heh.¡± Lucas rose to his full height and reached behind him. Bringing his hand out, he revealed a long object covered by a cloth. ¡°Look.¡± He unwrapped the material, revealing a dagger of a silvery black metal. ¡°Imperium Alloy. With this dagger, I could peel the flesh directly from the skull of Hevelca, or any of her friends.¡± He flipped the weapon around and held it by the blade, presenting the hilt to Drago. ¡°Use this to extract the information from Kell¨¹n here. Oh, and tell dear Sera, when she returns, to find you a unicorn colt. It¡¯s one of the creatures sacred to the Woodlands God.¡± Without waiting for a response, he raised his hand. A door appeared, and opened. A bright light shone from within, blinding Drago. As his vision cleared, he saw to his great relief, Lucas had gone. ¡°That human is mad.¡± *** Carter stepped out of the forest and stared over a small wooden bridge at the smoky remnants of a town. The light was fading as grey clouds rolled in, creating new shadows and dark patches around them. The wind wailed between distorted trunks, carrying the sickly stink of burned wood. A plonking sound came as a light rain started. ¡°Sir Lavitz, we should hurry so we can get out of the rain.¡± ¡°Getting out of the rain would be nice, but we should be careful as well.¡± He swung Madikat down off his shoulders and passed her a knife, hilt first. ¡°If anything, or anyone tries to grab you, jab them with this.¡± ¡°A-are you sure?¡± He glanced down at her and gave a wide smile. ¡°I am. It might buy you enough time to escape.¡± He rested his hand on top of her head. ¡°I¡¯ll be next to you as much as possible, but if I tell you to run, you obey, okay?¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± ¡°Remember, everything is fine.¡± Another nod. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Because you are here.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± He then crossed the bridge while holding her hand. Despite the town¡¯s destruction, the arch was a solid under his feet as if it were recently built. The area was thick with the acrid odor of smoke and the sick, sweet scent of rotten meat. Rain continued to come down, but fortunately no harder than before. As the pair walked into the midst of small homes, Carter detected the scent of decayed vanilla. ¡®L¡¯Arc demons were here. Which means we¡¯re probably not going to find anyone alive. That Soul Eater must have been sent to kill any survivors that ran. What were they after? Casual destruction, or something more sinister?¡¯ They came to the center of the town and spotted a person in a brown robe kneeling beside a body. He tapped Madikate on her head and when she looked up at him, gestured for her to stay put. Drawing his borrowed sword, he moved closer. They rose and turned, pulling a hood up over their head. When they caught sight of him, they paused and let the hood fall back to their shoulders. Her soft emerald scales gleamed in the dim light. ¡°Carter?¡± He hadn¡¯t heard that soft and feminine voice in about five years. ¡°Weijia Fujii.¡± He sheathed the sword once more. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time.¡± She nodded. ¡°Yes, it has.¡± ¡°What are you doing here?¡± The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°I¡¯m on the trail of a Soul Eater.¡± ¡°I killed one not too far back.¡± She straightened. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Pulverized its skull.¡± She looked him over. ¡°With the cross guard of your sword?¡± He sheathed his blade and raised his fist before waggling his fingers. ¡°With this.¡± ¡°What?¡± *** Sera waited for the orc guard to unlock the wooden door. Were the prison above ground, it would have made an impressive tower. As it was, they were almost a half mile under the mountain, leaving the air cool and damp. Her hands were filled with a tray of food for their prisoner. ¡®What does Drago want with her, anyway?¡¯ She straightened and entered the cell after the sentry stood back. Setting the tray on the lone wooden table, she turned back to accept a torch from the orc. The door shut and the lock clicked. As Sera held the flickering light aloft, it revealed a disheveled Elf dangling from cuffs bolted to the stone wall behind her. Her electric blue robe was grimy and tattered in places. The once white trim was now a dingy grey. Though her face was bruised and bloody with a rag tied around her mouth, she was still beautiful. Her emerald eyes watched Sera¡¯s movements without fear. The marks on her face were from the orcs ungentle way of questioning her. After six years, they knew no more than they had before starting. ¡®She¡¯s a tough one. Long years of intermittent torture, but she remains unbroken. And now Drago wants to try a new approach.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m going to uncuff you so that you may eat. Don¡¯t bother trying to cast any magic.¡± Sera tapped the amber gem at the Elf woman¡¯s throat. ¡°This new necklace of yours negates it.¡± She produced a key from her belt and inserted into the lock. The damp air had caused a bit of rusting of the mechanism, so she had to jiggle the key a bit before the cuffs popped open. The Elf spat the rag out and to the ground. ¡°I see ye dinae have a weapon. Does Drago think I need one tae take ye hostage?¡± Sera laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t carry weapons because I am the weapon. On my world, I am a master of unarmed combat.¡± The other woman smiled and tapped the silver collar around her neck. ¡°And yet, I have this.¡± ¡°I may be a combat master, but I¡¯m not stupid. I don¡¯t have any real defense against your magic except that negation stone.¡± She waved her hand at the tray of food. ¡°Hungry?¡± The Elf woman sat. The repast set out on the table was simple. And vegetarian. ¡°Nae meat, lass?¡± ¡°I thought you Elves were vegetarians.¡± ¡°Would it nae have been wiser tae ask me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sorry for assuming. Future meals will have meat.¡± ¡°Thank ye, and yer forgiven.¡± ¡°What were the orcs feeding you before?¡± ¡°Veegah. It be considered a delicacy tae them. Tae regular folken, it be squirrel-flavored gruel.¡± ¡°Yuck.¡± Sera turned her head away, disgust all over her face, and shuddered. She kept watch on the Keeper from the corner of her eye and noted her slipping the knife up her sleeve. She turned back, marveling at Dearbhaile¡¯s composure. ¡®I¡¯ll allow her to keep it until I¡¯m ready to leave, but in case she tries to attack me with it, I¡¯ll be ready to put her down hard. I wish I knew why Lord Drago wants her alive, though. It would be simpler to kill her.¡¯ ¡°So yer masters have decided tae change tactics, eh?¡± Sera dunked a biscuit into her soup. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Typically, this be around the time when the orcs would haul me off tae be tortured.¡± She sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry about that. These archaic assholes think that it works.¡± ¡°What do ye mean?¡± ¡°Torture only works if it¡¯s arousing for the torturer. Getting information?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not even close. The tortured will say anything to get the pain to stop.¡± ¡°If ye can get them tae say anything in the first place.¡± ¡°That is true.¡± Sera leaned back in her seat and crossed her legs. ¡°And to answer your question, yes. I will be asking you the questions from here on out.¡± The Elf woman lifted her bowl and took a drink of her soup. She set it down and pressed a napkin to her lips. ¡°What makes ye think ye¡¯ll be any more successful than tha orcs?¡± ¡°Well, for one, I could have spiked your soup with a truth potion.¡± Eyes wide, the Elf pushed her bowl away. ¡°I said I could, not that I did.¡± ¡°And ye could also be lyin¡¯.¡± ¡°You are correct. However, I hate lies. The truth is so much better.¡± ¡°How so?¡± ¡°When you lie, you have to keep track of what¡¯s been said. There¡¯s no need for that when you speak the truth.¡± ¡°Aye, but what kind of truth?¡± Sera titled her head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There be all kinds of truth: Metaphorical truth, empirical truth, perspective truth, philosophical truth.¡± Sera blinked. ¡°I don¡¯t know anything about those.¡± She then shrugged. ¡°The only type of truth I deal with is whether two plus two equals four.¡± ¡°That would be an empirical truth. Empirical truth deals in evidence. Perspective truth deals in how ye see things.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Is Lord Drago good, or evil?¡± ¡°He¡¯s good, of course.¡± ¡°Aye, from yer perspective, he be. From mine, he be evil.¡± ¡°How can you say that, though? He¡¯s fighting to end inequalities, oppression and injustice.¡± ¡°And how does tha torture fit in?¡± ¡°I ¨C uh ¨C hmm.¡± ¡°I take yer stamerin¡¯ tae mean ye cannae quite fit that tae tha idea he be good, eh?¡± Sear rose from her seat. ¡°I¡¯ll be taking the knife back with me with the rest.¡± The Elf tilted her head. ¡°What knife?¡± ¡°The one you slid up your sleeve.¡± The Elf woman stood as well. ¡°I dinae know where yer talkin¡¯ about.¡± Sera tossed the table against the wall. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Take it.¡± Dearbhaile released her grip on the blade so it slipped into her hand. ¡°If you can.¡± A quick spin of the blade, and she held it by the handle in a reverse grip. She slashed at Sera who blocked it by hitting the inside of her forearm with both hands. The Elf struck at her with her other hand, but again, Sera blocked it the same way. The Keeper jabbed the knife at Sera¡¯s face. She intercepted that attack with a redirected forearm to forearm shot. The knife point shot to her hip, but she knocked it away with her right hand. The Elf jabbed at her stomach but she leaped back out of reach and then punched her in the face. Recovering faster than she thought she would, the other woman feinted at her shoulder. When her arm came up to deflect, the Elf woman flicked the knife around, went with the deflection, caught the flipping blade with her other hand, and sliced up at Sera¡¯s chest. She brought her wrists together and slammed them down on the Elf¡¯s, knocking the attack away. The Keeper circled her arm, again flipping the blade to hold it by the handle, and stabbed at her neck. Sera brought her hands up, left hand at the Elf¡¯s wrist, and her right at her elbow. She attempted to disarm the other woman, but a stiff palm strike to her sternum sent her stumbling back. The Elf swung the blade, trying to slice her opponent¡¯s throat, but she ducked, a return slash was also ducked, and this time, Sera leaped up and slammed her fist in the side of her opponent¡¯s face. The Keeper staggered back, but managed to stay upright. As she came around to face her again, Sera leapt in the air and reverse spin kicked the Elf¡¯s chest, sending her tumbling back over the upended table¡¯s legs. While she rolled to her feet, Sera took three running steps and launched herself at the other woman, sending her knee crashing into the Elf¡¯s chest. She flew back and slammed into the wall, losing the knife. Refusing to go down, she caught Sera¡¯s right hand as she punched and countered with a stiff shot of her own. Sera stumbled back, a red mark on her cheek. She threw another punch, and the Elf ducked it, sending a fist into her abdomen. Her body went to the left against her will, but she managed to drive her elbow into the Elf¡¯s forearm, deflecting her follow up strike. The prisoner launched an overhand right. Sera leaned back, brought her hands in and judo threw the Elf woman to the floor while holding on to her right arm. Just as she brought her head up, Sera drover her knee into the Elf¡¯s face, breaking her nose, and sending her back to the floor. Six orc guards swarmed into the cell, all pointing their weapons at the fallen Elf. A that point, she sank back, knowing she was defeated. In short order, she was once again chained to the wall. Sera walked up to her, rubbing her sore cheek with her right hand, and holding her sore side with her other hand. ¡°Congratulations, Keeper Dearbhaile. You gave me a tougher fight than anyone else ever has.¡± ¡°Were it nae for tha guards, tha outcome would have been much different.¡± ¡°You¡¯re probably right. Where did you learn to fight like that?¡± ¡°I be apprenticed tae a Vaush-Tauric.¡± ¡°I hope to meet him some day. It would be fun to fight him.¡± ¡°She would eat ye, lassie.¡± ¡°Good to know.¡± With gesture to the guards, the seven left. Chapter 9 The rain continued to fall as Adora slogged through the mud. The downpour helped clear the air of the stench of the latrines, unwashed men and horse shit. She paused to allow a patrol to rush past and continued at her march. Earlier, one of her guards had awakened her with a message of a badly wounded scout barely making it back alive. ¡®What could be so important, he wouldn¡¯t allow the healers to begin working on him?¡¯ Thunder rumbled in the distance. The horrendous odor of putrefying flesh told her she was near the surgical tents. The repugnant perfume was undiminished by the rain. ¡®This was a smell I wish I¡¯d never had to become used to.¡¯ Ducking under the heavy canvas flap at the front allowed the smells of rotten flesh, vomit and blood and the sounds of pain intensified by the heat to assail her with all their fury. Unable to control it, she recoiled before shaking her head and moving forward. ¡®I wish I had more healers. The few that I do have are burning themselves out with the near constant use of their magic.¡¯ Divine magic was different from arcane in that holy magic was channeled through the worshipper from the celestial realms while arcane magic utilized what was in the environment. Mortals weren¡¯t meant to channel the amounts of holy energy through their body the clerics, paladins and the other Warpriest had to to heal the numbers of her army. The inside of the hospital tent was as bright as if it were under the noonday sun. Occasional flashes came from various beds as clerics¡¯ blessings from the gods allowed for intense healing or resurrections. She paused as a newly resurrected warrior released a torrent of vomit on the ground near her feet. Adora had heard from soldiers who¡¯d been returned from the dead the experience wasn¡¯t pleasant. She passed a couple of beds with sheets pulled over the heads of those who they hadn¡¯t made it back in time to bring them back. The gods placed stringent limits on the spell. In addition to only having an hour from time of death, the spell needed expensive components and could only raise people who were killed. If you died of old age or illness, only the gods could bring you back. They tended to not do that. Despite her hurry, she made certain to pause next to each wounded, yet conscious solider and offer a brief word of encouragement, or a soft squeeze of a hand. Five minutes after she entered, she was met by one of the healers who brought her to the wounded scout. His scale mail was ripped to shreds. His upper torso wasn¡¯t in much better shape. It was a miracle he¡¯d made it this long. His breathing was short, and shallow. When she leaned over, the scent of corruption smote her like a closed fist. It was much more putrid than the usual stink of the tents. ¡®He¡¯s not long for this world.¡¯ As if he sensed her presence, he opened his eyes and locked his stare on her face. ¡°I am here as you asked.¡± She knelt next to his bed, and took his bloodstained hand in her own. ¡°We are doomed, my lady. Drago has opened a rent in the fabric of the plane. Hordes of demons pour through from the Abyss in a torrent.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Your Highness. Maybe half a million, or more.¡± He cast his gaze down his ruined body. ¡°I was attacked by a Viserious, and barely escaped with my life.¡± He captured her hand. ¡°My Lady, his army swarms this way, even as we speak. We have no chance.¡± A fit of coughing sent flecks of blood to her cheeks. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t think I¡¯m going to make it. Tell my mother I love her, and tell my father I slew many before I fell?¡± Another round of coughing overtook him. ¡°I will. And, I name you a Knight of my Watch.¡± The slackened grip on her hand told her her words fell on deaf ears. She turned to the healers. ¡°Send word to the clerics: He is to be resurrected.¡± A wizened cleric stepped over to her side. ¡°Your Majesty, we¡¯re nearly out of crushed hypersthene. It¡¯s the core component of the spell.¡± ¡°Damn it. How much do we have left?¡± ¡°Enough for maybe three more resurrections.¡± He wrung his hands. ¡°I¡¯m terribly sorry, Your Majesty, but Drago¡¯s army has been quite effective at cutting our men down.¡± ¡°Yes, and now demons will be pouring through a portal to join them.¡± Adora ran her fingers through her hair. ¡°We¡¯re going to have to retreat.¡± ¡°Has there been word from His Majesty?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Not yet.¡± She crossed the tent and moved the flap. The thunder from the pouring rain did little to muffle the sounds of battle. ¡°I don¡¯t know what we¡¯re going to do.¡± A runner spotted her and came to her. ¡°Your Highness, a report.¡± ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Outriders say a company of Lyxo and Shauxtine demons are headed our way.¡± ¡®Oh, fuck.¡¯ Adora took a deep breath and slowly released it. It wouldn¡¯t do to show her fear. ¡°Okay. Get to the quartermasters and tell them it is time to move to the rear. Any knights, runners, or mages you encounter as you go, send them to me. Got it?¡± ¡°Tell the quarter masters it¡¯s time to move to the rear and send you any mages, knights, or runners I meet along the way. I do.¡± ¡°Good man. Go!¡± She swatted his rump as he ran off to deliver her messages. ¡®I wish I had Carter here with me. Or Robilar. Chronomancy would be a potent weapon. Potentially a war ending one.¡¯ She strode to Sir Alistair¡¯s tents. The massive knight from the Northron Expanse was her second. The only man she¡¯d met bigger than The Avalanche was Angriz. He was also the only warrior she knew who¡¯d fought the half-dragon to a draw. ¡®Carter is still the only one to defeat Angriz.¡¯ *** Dearbhaile dangled from the manacles, blood flowing freely from her nostrils. The chain of the manacles went through an iron eyebolt above her head. She carefully pulled her right arm forward and her left went up and close to her head. She wiped some of the blood away and stared at it on her fingers. *** ¡°Magic is a tool like any other, but certain types of magic are forbidden, Dearbhaile.¡± ¡°Why would magic be forbidden?¡± ¡°Because it involves pledging your soul to otherworldly entities.¡± Dearbhaile stared up at her teacher. ¡°But, Lady Soo-jau, what magic be requirin¡¯ ye tae promise yer soul?¡± ¡°Blood magic. It is taboo.¡± The blue dragon shifted to her human form. ¡°It is said to come from demons.¡± *** ¡®I hope this works.¡¯ Dearbhaile narrowed her eyes as she concentrated on the blood on her fingers. ¡®I pledge my soul to the Walker of Worlds.¡¯ Nothing happened. She sighed. Her stomach clenched as her heart felt like it shrank. She then clenched her fist. As her knuckles bunched, a green flame erupted over them. ¡°Yes!¡± She punched her right hand in the air triumphantly and then gasped as her left bunched hard against the metal cuff. ¡°Damn it.¡± She pushed with her mind, feeling like a membrane was pushing back and then with an almost audible pop, heat shot through her body as her chains exploded. A shard of metal flew across the room, bounced off two walls and flew back, cutting her cheek in a thin line. ¡°Ow.¡± The door to her cell flew open and a large orc in heavy plate mail stormed in, war-hammer in hand. Seeing her free, he lifted the weapon in a threatening manner and crossed to her. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. She raised her right hand and a wave of force shot from her palm. The orc was blasted from his feet and back out of the cell, taking a huge chunk of the wall and doorway with him. Orc and debris splattered against the far wall. ¡®That was unexpected. I wonder what else blood magic can do?¡¯ *** Carter glanced up at the setting sun with his hand up between it and his eyes. He then curled his fingers to his hand until the sun reappeared just above his middle and index fingers. ¡°Hmm. It¡¯s about two hours until sunset. Let¡¯s set up camp near the town walls.¡± Weijia came over. ¡°Madikate will be disappointed we haven¡¯t found her family yet.¡± ¡°Which is a good thing.¡± She titled her head. ¡°How is that?¡± ¡°Means the odds they survived are greater. Not much greater, considering a Soul Eater was here, but still.¡± ¡°Good point.¡± ¡°Sir Lavitz!¡± The girl in question jogged up. ¡°I searched the house and the temple like you said, but both were empty.¡± He nodded. ¡°We¡¯ll search more tomorrow. For now, see if you can find any dry wood for me.¡± ¡°Yes, Sir.¡± She ran off. ¡°How come you¡¯re allowing her to search by herself?¡± ¡°It gives her purpose and it¡¯s safe enough.¡± ¡°What about bodies?¡± ¡°Unfortunately, she¡¯s already see a lot of them. She¡¯ll become desensitized soon enough.¡± Weijia clasped her hands together in front of her waist. ¡°And what would you like for me to do?¡± ¡°I¡¯d like for you to set up the tents and fire pit. I¡¯m going to make sure no one is around and hunt for dinner.¡± He picked up a bow and quiver of arrows he¡¯d found in an abandoned shop. ¡°I¡¯ll be back after sunset.¡± *** Carter knelt on one knee, carefully using the point of a nocked arrow to move a bush¡¯s branches out of the way as he focused on the buck. He waited for the wind to stop blowing in his face, though he was grateful the deer couldn¡¯t smell him. ¡®Come on, wind. I¡¯ve only got about twenty minutes of sunlight left.¡¯ A shadow detached itself from a nearby tree and tore the animal¡¯s head off with a single swipe. The breeze died down, allowing the tree branches to stop moving. The dancing shadows stopped and the fading sun illuminated the demon. It had four long, thick arms, the lower two of which were planted on the ground and two muscular legs. Long and sharp looking horns stuck out of its skull-like head. An elongated, heavy tail swished back and forth like a cat¡¯s. The fiend lowered its head to feed, the glowing silvery orange eyes locked to its meal. Its wings unfurled and began to flap, stirring up a pleasant breeze. The wings were black near the demon¡¯s shoulders and faded to red near the primary feathers. A stripe of yellow delineated the covert feathers. Carter drew the bowstring further back before releasing it, and sending arrow on its short flight to the demon¡¯s chest, just below the upper leftmost shoulder. The demon yowled and whirled, snapping at what it thought was a nearby attacker. Seeing nothing around, it sniffed at, and then licked, the arrow protruding from just beneath its shoulder. It bit the shaft of the arrow and pulled it out of its body with a whine and then raised its head. Carter watched its muzzle twitch and flex as it tried to scent him. ¡®That¡¯s not gonna work with the wind blowing into my face, demon.¡¯ The wind shifted as it picked up, blowing his hair over his face and his scent into the demon¡¯s face. It charged at a dead run. Carter rolled around the tree which shook violently as the demon crashed into it and drew his sword. An awful howl rose in the air. He carefully stepped back around the tree to find the demon lying down, clutching its skull. He shook his head as he snorted with laughter. ¡°Stupid Lyxious.¡± He crossed his right arm over his body, gripping the sword near the pommel. His left hand lightly gripped the hilt near the cross-guard. When he got within a couple of feet of the Lyxious demon, it raised its head and bared its teeth at him. Quick as a blink, he whipped his sword up and around, cleaving through its skull. He wiped the blade clean and sheathed it. He crossed the clearing to the decapitated deer and dressed it. *** Carter spitted the deer meat and hung it over the fire. ¡°We¡¯re not going to be able to stay here tonight.¡± Weijia glanced up from the bed she was making. ¡°Why not?¡± He used his thumb to point over his shoulder. ¡°Lyxious demon was out there. Where one is, more are usually, too.¡± ¡°How much time do we have?¡± He shrugged. ¡°No clue. We¡¯ll eat and then push on. I¡¯ll carry the girl when she gets too tired to continue.¡± She raised her left index finger. ¡°Are you sure we have time to eat? ¡°If not, I¡¯m going to be a grumpy guy.¡± She gave a brief chuckle. ¡°Where do we go from here?¡± ¡°Rivorei isn¡¯t too far.¡± ¡°Seventeen Wheels.¡± She pointed to the other end of the destroyed town. ¡°That way.¡± ¡®Damn, I came that far? How?¡¯ He shrugged. ¡°Okay, then. What do you suggest?¡± ¡°My village is about two Wheels to the southeast.¡± ¡°Have you encountered any demons over there?¡± Weijia shook her head and watched Madikate approach. ¡°No. We¡¯re warded.¡± Carter raised his eyebrows. ¡®That¡¯s powerful magic. I wonder who set it.¡¯ Before he could voice his thought, Madikate dropped and armful of wood to the side of the fire. ¡°Excellent work.¡± She beamed at his praise. ¡°Now, I¡¯m afraid I have bad news.¡± Her smile faded. ¡°What?¡± ¡°We have to travel after we eat, which means all your hard work was for naught.¡± ¡°Not really.¡± She shook her head. ¡°If anyone else comes this way, they might be able to use it.¡± ¡°That is true.¡± She sat down, crossed her legs, and accepted the plate of venison. ¡°What kind of monster was it?¡± Weijia waved her hand. ¡°That¡¯s not¡ª¡± ¡°It was a demon.¡± He held the girl¡¯s gaze. ¡°A Lyxious demon.¡± ¡°Carter!¡± Weijia squawked. ¡°How could you?¡± He leaned back against a tree. ¡°How could I not? It¡¯s dangerous out here and I¡¯m not going to lie about it.¡± ¡°You can skip talking about scary things without lying to her.¡± He turned his attention to the girl. ¡°Madikate, would you rather be ignorant of the dangers that we may face, or would you rather know?¡± ¡°I want to know.¡± He nodded at her and then looked back at Weijia. ¡°There you have it.¡± She glared in response which elicited a grin from him. He turned back to Madikate. ¡°Would you be okay with us taking you to Weijia¡¯s village for your safety while we search for your parents?¡± ¡°I¡¯m slowing you down, aren¡¯t I?¡± Carter sighed. ¡°Yes, but that¡¯s not the real reason I¡¯d like you to go.¡± Weijia growled at him as the young girl leaned forward over her folded legs. ¡°What is the real reason, then?¡± ¡°To keep you safe from wandering demons.¡± Carter leaned forward as well. ¡°And so I can find you quickly when I find your folks, if I find them.¡± ¡°Carter!¡± ¡°Sir Lavitz, why does Weijia keep calling you Carter?¡± He sighed. ¡°Because she doesn¡¯t know how to keep secrets.¡± Madikate frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°I mean, my real name is Carter Blake. Lavitz is my secret identity.¡± ¡°You lied to me.¡± ¡°Yes and no.¡± She titled her head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Hmm. How to explain.¡± He scratched the top of his head as he stared at the ground. ¡°Oh, yeah.¡± He straightened and locked his gaze on the girl. ¡°Both are me. Carter Blake is how I was born and live most of my life. Sir Lavitz, the Patchwork Knight, is how I travel in secret and help people.¡± Madikate stuck her finger in her left ear and wiggled it. After a couple of seconds, she shook her head. ¡°Sorry about that. My ear itched.¡± Carter chuckled. ¡°I can relate.¡± ¡°My mom told me you saved our Queen by marrying her.¡± He nodded. ¡°Among other things.¡± ¡°So you save people as Carter Blake, too.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± He gave her another nod. ¡°But sometimes, a king can¡¯t be seen.¡± ¡°Sir Lavitz is how you work in the shadows then.¡± ¡°That¡¯s an¡­ interesting way to put it.¡± He titled his head. ¡°Why would you frame it that way?¡± Madikate shrugged. ¡°My daddy used to work for the Queen¡¯s father. He would say things like that.¡± ¡°Your father sounds like an interesting man.¡± ¡°He was before he died.¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry to hear that. When did it happen?¡± ¡°When I was eight summers.¡± Weijia spoke up, reminding them she was still there. ¡°It¡¯s just you and your mom?¡± Madikate shook her head. ¡°No. My mommy married again last winter.¡± Carter stood and stretched. A wave of heat slammed into his chest, knocking him to the ground. It tightened into a ball of liquid fire, leaving him gasping for air. As suddenly as it hit, heat vanished. He opened his eyes to find Weijia and Madikate kneeling beside him. ¡°What happened, Carter?¡± He blinked. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position. A look at his armor showed it didn¡¯t have a mark on it. ¡°I felt like I was hit by a fireball spell, or a Tianarri smacked me.¡± He touched the breastplate and found it cool. ¡°Well, it wasn¡¯t a fireball.¡± He slowly rose to his feet, reaching out to the tree trunk in case his knees wanted to give way. He offered his left hand to Weijia and his right to Madikate. They took his offer and he easily pulled them to their feet. He ignored their concerned looks and raised his eyes to the sky. A meteor flashed by the full moon. The rest of the sky was free of clouds, but the stars and moon weren¡¯t enough to allow them to safely travel. They¡¯d need a torch. He¡¯d also need to keep his hands free in case of an attack. ¡°Hey, Weijia, do you have an everbright torch?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t. Usually, I camp or am home at this time of night.¡± ¡°Damn. I don¡¯t have one, either.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have anything other than your armor and sword.¡± She reached out and rapped her knuckles on his breastplate. At the metallic noise, she frowned. ¡°When did you start wearing metal armor over leather?¡± ¡°A half-dragon made it for me to replace my leather.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Said it¡¯s better. Raeppa.¡± A knapsack materialized on the ground before him. He reached in and withdrew an ax. On catching Weijia staring, he smiled. ¡°Pocket dimension spell. Keeps a few things handy for me.¡± ¡°When did you learn magic?¡± He laughed as he straightened. ¡°Hsinav.¡± The knapsack disappeared. ¡°I haven¡¯t. I bought this.¡± ¡°How?¡± She flapped her hands. ¡°They¡¯re incredibly expensive.¡± ¡°I am both a king, and an adventurer. Money comes easy to me.¡± Carter paused, his hand over his mouth. ¡°Well, not easy per se, but at a greater rate than for regular folks.¡± Weijia and Madikate watched as he used the ax to cut a rough handle at one end of a log and then made cuts at the other. He then used the ax to scrape fat from the deer hide and spread it over the end of the log. Next, he passed the log¡¯s thicker end back and forth over the fire before keeping the end in it. When he lifted the log by the handle, a flame danced at the top. He passed it to Weijia. ¡°Here you go. A light for our hike to your village tonight.¡± ¡°Why do I have to carry it?¡± ¡°I need my hands free in case we¡¯re attacked, and I¡¯m not sure Madikate could hold it properly.¡± ¡°I can fight as well as you can.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Okay.¡± He took the torch from her and turned away. ¡°How long did you spend in the Abyss, by the way?¡± Madikate hurried to walk to his left on the opposite side of the torch. Weijia scrambled to catch up also. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°You did say you could fight as well as I.¡± He shrugged again. ¡°I was wondering if you¡¯d spent as much time there as me.¡± ¡°I, uh, what?¡± Carter glanced over to her. ¡°The Abyss? The plane of evil where the demons and devils usually reside?¡± He used his free hand to slap at a bug biting his neck. ¡°How long were you there?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know anyone living could go there.¡± She sounded as if the wind had been knocked out of her. ¡°Why not? It¡¯s just another plane like the Realm.¡± ¡°What?¡± Chapter Ten The Elder sat on a throne of elk antlers beside a crackling fire. A band of hide covered his right eye. The other glowed bright gold. His thick torso had a series of tattoos depicting spiders, the full moon, a bear, an eagle and the head of a lion. Ash-colored hair flowed down to a thick, braided beard of the same shade. A necklace of teeth and claws dangled around his wide neck. In a meaty paw, a cup made from a skull. A pipe with a sweet smelling smoke was held to his lips by the other. An oak-like leg was draped over the other at the knee. ¡®It was a rather feminine way to sit,¡¯ Carter thought. His voice turned out to be fairly mellow considering his size. ¡°My daughter tells me you¡¯re the Walker of Worlds.¡± Carter¡¯s eyebrows rose. He turned to Weijia. ¡°Really? Are you telling everyone we meet who I am?¡± The Elder chuckled. ¡°Not her.¡± Carter turned back. ¡°Huh?¡± A door just behind the throne opened and Carter¡¯s heart leaped in his chest. A gigantic black bear sauntered into the room. He took a couple steps back, bracing himself for a fight. However, the animal flopped over on its side at the Elder¡¯s feet. It glanced at him, huffed, and then lay its head on crossed paws. ¡°There¡¯s nothing to fear from Bjorn, Carter Blake.¡± The honeyed voice saying his name like that caused him to whip his head around to the speaker so fast his neck popped and then his jaw dropped. A flame-haired, curvaceous woman dressed in a low-cut, ankle-length dress with a slit running up to the lower end of a thick black belt stood at the open door. The belt appeared to be metal and the buckle area was in the shape of a dragon¡¯s head. Carter flicked his eyes to the bear and noticed a similar belt around the animal¡¯s head and ears with the nose of the dragon head going partly down the bear¡¯s snout. Returning his attention to the woman, he saw she¡¯d walked closer and stood with her weight was on her left hip which jutted outward causing her dress to part, revealing a slim, yet muscular leg that went into a knee-high leather boot. He quickly brought his gaze to her face. ¡®Either her underwear is high cut, or she¡¯s not wearing any.¡¯ She winked at him, and he blushed. ¡®Can she read my mind?¡¯ ¡°How do you know I¡¯m this ¡®Walker of Worlds¡¯ person?¡± He folded his arms. ¡°Maybe your info is mistaken?¡± She gave him a slow smile. ¡°It¡¯s not mistaken, Carter.¡± She shifted her stance to mirror his, right down to the folded arms across her chest. ¡°My information is never wrong.¡± He raised his left eyebrow. ¡°How is that?¡± ¡°I know things.¡± She raised her left eyebrow. ¡°Many kinds of things.¡± He dropped his arms to his hips. ¡°Alright. Who are you?¡± ¡°I am Weijia¡¯s sister.¡± She placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Would you stop doing that?¡± ¡°Doing what, Carter?¡± ¡°Holding your body the way I am.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s fun.¡± ¡°It¡¯s irritating.¡± She straightened. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I did not mean to irritate you.¡± She clasped her hands in front of her middle. ¡®If she¡¯s not careful, she¡¯s doing to spill out of the top of her dress.¡¯ He began his turn back to the Elder, but froze when she bit her lower lip and tugged her dress down, showing him more of her cleavage. Face aflame, he whipped around to face the Elder fully. ¡°Would you be willing to take Madikate in as I search for what happened to her family? Demons attacked her town and some were still in the area.¡± ¡°I will, if you¡¯d be willing to also to cleanse the resting area of our ancestors of the blight that is infecting it.¡± ¡°What kind of blight?¡± ¡°An infestation of undead,¡± Weijia said. He raised his left eyebrow. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that be better handled by a cleric, paladin, or Warpriest?¡± ¡°All we sent have failed.¡± Carter scratched his beard, his index finger running over the scar that cut it in two. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll do it.¡± The Elder set his feet flat on the floor and leaned forward making his throne creak. ¡°Really? That simply?¡± ¡°Of course. A few undead wouldn¡¯t be much of a problem, right?¡± ¡°For a warrior as great as you, of course not.¡± ¡®He¡¯s putting things on rather thick. What am I missing?¡¯ Weijia¡¯s sister stepped up and rested her hand on Carter¡¯s arm. ¡°May I come?¡± Her voice came in a breathy whisper like warm honey. Carter swallowed. ¡°Sure.¡± She gave him a slow smile. ¡°I¡¯m glad to hear it. My name is Delena.¡± *** Carter turned to his guide. ¡°May I ask you a very personal, and possibly rude question?¡± His horse¡¯s ears flicked at the sound of his voice. It still wasn¡¯t accustomed to its new rider. She arched her eyebrows and returned his gaze. ¡°Weijia is my adopted sister. We grew up together after her father and my mother were killed in a raid by vampire bandits.¡± Carter nodded. ¡°That¡¯s fucked up.¡± He paused for a moment. ¡°Does this mean I may not ask?¡± She chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I thought that was the potentially rude question.¡± She leaned forward and rubbed her horse¡¯s head between its ears. ¡°You may ask your question, Carter.¡± He wiped sweat from his forehead with a piece of cloth. ¡°Thank you.¡± He drank water from his canteen, grimacing at its warmth. ¡°So, I¡¯ve been wondering: What the fuck are you doing with a dire bear?¡± She laughed again. ¡°Bjorn? He¡¯s my dear friend.¡± The animal in question glanced up at his name. ¡°I saw.¡± Carter nudged his horse closer to hers. ¡°How?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a druid.¡± He tilted his head to the left. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a nature mage?¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Delena smiled. ¡°That¡¯s a simplistic way of looking at it. I am a guardian and ward of nature and all His wildlife.¡± ¡°Whose?¡± ¡°Kell¨¹n¡¯s, of course.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a popular deity, isn¡¯t he?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I could not say. All I know is to venerate Him.¡± ¡°Golondir not liked, or just unknown?¡± ¡°He¡¯s typically worshipped by dwarves. Of course, there are exceptions. I know a half-orc who follows Golondir.¡± ¡°A half-orc, eh? Hmm.¡± ¡°You sound surprised.¡± ¡°I am. The half-orcs I¡¯ve met seemed to favor Kaile.¡± ¡°Who is that?¡± ¡°Now, you¡¯re sounding surprised.¡± He grinned. ¡°Kaile is the orc God of the Wild.¡± ¡°How did you learn of him?¡± ¡°During my journey in the Abyss, I encountered a fang on a Blooding.¡± ¡°A what on a what?¡± ¡°A Fang is fifteen orc and half-orc warriors. Blooding is a rite of adulthood in orc culture.¡± ¡°Did they know you as the Walker of Worlds?¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°They only knew me as a human who killed a Shianxi by himself.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She was quiet for a few minutes. ¡°How? They¡¯re almost as deadly as a Crimson Walker.¡± ¡°In the Abyss, you learn how to kill demons, or they kill you.¡± She nodded. ¡°That makes sense.¡± He grinned at her as he dismounted. As he reached for the saddle belt, the horse vanished, replaced by a stone figurine. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands. When he noticed her standing in front of him, he looked up. ¡°Caleus¡¯ Wondrous Figures?¡± He passed it to her. ¡°Yes.¡± She placed it in a pouch on her belt. ¡°Where did you encounter them before?¡± ¡°Victory Keep. Mordecai showed me one. Said they were rare.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You have at least two.¡± She dipped her head. ¡°At least.¡± Carter raised his eyes to the immense gateway sealing the way forward. When he approached the rock-iron gate itself, the telltale sheen of silvery red told him a powerful ward was in place. ¡°You have the key, I presume,¡± he said over his shoulder. ¡°Would have been foolish to drag you all the way out here without it.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± He stepped back to watch Delena work. She removed a silvery red disk from another pouch and pressed it to the gate. A blue flash and the portal swinging open told him the key had ended the ward spell. She stepped to the side and waved her left arm at the opening with a bow. ¡°Impressive.¡± ¡°Is the snark warranted?¡± ¡°Always.¡± He winked at her. *** The Keep they stood outside of was in terrible condition. Ivy covered walls had entire sections missing, having fallen due to the elements and time. The drawbridge was down and splintery-looking. An ancient portcullis was frozen halfway up and coated with rust. A tree grew out of the top of a ruined tower. Algae floated on the surface of the stagnant, half-filled moat. They crossed the creaky drawbridge with care. As they got to the middle, a section crumbled under his right foot. She grabbed his arm, helping him to regain his balance. He looked down into the hole his foot had punched into the bridge. Ripples raced to the sides of the moat away from where pieces of the bridge had fallen in. He glanced back to her. ¡°That fall would not have been pleasant. Thank you.¡± ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± The ducked under the portcullis and paused. The interior was dim with some of the midday sunlight wafting through holes in the wall. Motes of dust and cobwebs danced on the faint breeze. The stone floor was covered in patches of puddles, moss and mold. Cracks ran through the once well-made stonework. ¡°The people who once lived here must have been nobility or royalty.¡± ¡°As far as I know, my father is neither.¡± ¡°How did he afford all this?¡± Carter waved his hand at the decrepit grandeur. Delena shrugged. ¡°I just grew up here.¡± ¡°How did you get driven out of here? You¡¯re a druid, right?¡± ¡°I am, but my magic isn¡¯t suited to fighting the undead.¡± Carter faced her fully. ¡°What would y¡¯all have done if I hadn¡¯t happened to come to your new village?¡± ¡°The same as we had been doing: Destroying any undead that wandered out of the valley while working to raise enough gold to get clerics to come cleanse the land.¡± He pointed to the wall. ¡°Those holes don¡¯t happen very quickly. My world has castles hundreds of years old and they don¡¯t have that many.¡± ¡°Go look at the floor under them.¡± He frowned, but did as she bade. Other than stagnant water and moss, the floor was clean next to the wall. He turned back to her. ¡°Magic? Was it vampires?¡± ¡°A lich.¡± Carter rubbed his jaw. ¡°An undead wizard complicates things a bit.¡± ¡°A lot. I have no idea where his phylactery might be.¡± The Walker sighed. The phylactery held the lich¡¯s soul. As long as it remained intact, the lich couldn¡¯t truly be defeated as it would continue to be resurrected. ¡°By all the hells.¡± He put his hands on his hips. ¡°You or your father could have told me this before we got here.¡± ¡°Why does a lich attacking bother you?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not the lich that is the issue, it¡¯s not knowing the phylactery¡¯s location. I can destroy both by myself, but without knowing where the soul jar is, I need a holy being to ward the vale from the undead¡¯s return.¡± He scratched his head as he stared at the ceiling. ¡°I have no connection to holy magic.¡± ¡°What about scrolls or wands?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No.¡± ¡°That is unusual. The gods do not typically block the just from accessing celestial magic.¡± She leaned in, staring into his left eye. ¡°You are just, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°I like to think so.¡± ¡°Maybe they don¡¯t like you for some reason?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t know the Walker of Worlds would have any trouble with a lowly undead.¡± Carter blinked at her. ¡°Do you know how the powers of the Walker work?¡± ¡°No.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Me, either.¡± ¡°How do you not know how your powers work?¡± ¡°No one taught me. I didn¡¯t even find out I¡¯m this Walker of Worlds until I got here. By all the hells, I don¡¯t even know what it means.¡± She stepped closer to him. ¡°Then how did you survive the Abyss? Or is that just a legend?¡± Carter raised his right index finger in the air and then unbuckled the straps holding his cuirass in place. He then lifted it over his head, revealing a chainmail shirt and gambeson. He then removed both, leaving himself bare chested. He waved his hand downward in front of his torso and used his fingers to call attention to the various marks and scars there. A couple had faint glowing auras to them. Once more, he held up his index finger and then turned, presenting his back to their perusal. After a few moments of silence, he said, ¡°So. Mere legend, or no?¡± He turned to face her once more. Delena moved closer and gently tugged at his shoulder with a cool hand. He obliged and showed her his back again. She skimmed a fingertip over a wedge-shaped scar near his spine. ¡°This one looks different from the others.¡± Carter lifted his gambeson and slid his arms into the sleeves. ¡°Because it was caused by a hand axe, not claw or fang.¡± He turned back as he buttoned the padded shirt. ¡°I¡¯m curious about something.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°With the abundance of healing magic available, how is it you have scars?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t always have healing potions available. I¡¯ve run out in perilous occasions. I¡¯ve also been ambushed.¡± ¡°That makes sense.¡± She pointed to a rough and jagged scar on his abdomen. ¡°What¡¯s this one from? ¡°Tianarri moss.¡± Her eyes widened. ¡°How did you remove it? Demon Lords use it to track certain prisoners because its roots spread throughout the victim¡¯s body.¡± ¡°It does.¡± Carter closed his eyes for a moment. ¡°Being in the Abyss spurred its growth and the effects it had on me. It had grown tendrils like hair, or fur. Tearing it out of my body threw me out of the Abyss and nearly killed me. Fortunately, a witch who lived near a small portal found me and then nursed me back to health.¡± ¡°Witches aren¡¯t known for their altruism,¡± she said. ¡°How much do you owe her?¡± Carter chuckled. ¡°It keeps changing.¡± ¡°You may have to resort to killing her to become free.¡± ¡°Which wouldn¡¯t be easy. Especially as she¡¯s bound our life forces together.¡± Delena muttered under her breath as she raised her hand towards Carter¡¯s chest. A blue light surrounded her hand and an answering light rose from his heart. A gold string, braided with a red one, raced into the distance before vanishing from sight. She sighed and lowered her hand, the lights fading away. ¡°It¡¯s a complicated spell.¡± ¡°According to the witch, it¡¯s called a ¡®Heart Spell.¡¯ She said as long as nothing happens to her, I¡¯ll be fine. However, I¡¯m bound to her until my debt is repaid.¡± ¡°That¡¯s really open-ended, Carter.¡± He threw his hands up. ¡°I had no choice. I had to agree, or die.¡± He pulled the gambeson on and smoothed it out. ¡°I chose to live.¡± ¡°I would have, too,¡± Delena said. ¡°Do you think she¡¯ll interfere with what we¡¯re doing here?¡± The Walker tugged the chain shirt on. ¡°She hasn¡¯t yet hampered my activities.¡± He raised his cuirass. ¡°Give me a hand with this, would you?¡± As she helped him buckle the armor in place, the druid subtly breathed in his scent. To cover her action, she said, ¡°What is the plan for the keep?¡± ¡°Do you have a map?¡± ¡°I do.¡± She tightened the last strap on his armor, then crossed to her saddle bag, and pulled out a furled parchment. After rolling it out on the floor, she glanced to Carter. ¡°Where are we?¡± She studied the map for a few seconds and then pointed near the southeastern part of the map. ¡°We¡¯re here.¡± Carter leaned over to see where she pointed, and then pointed to a dot about an inch to the north. ¡°Bisquine is about seven wheels north. They have a temple dedicated to Chokkan. Last time I was there, a Fist of Keldur¡¯s paladins were garrisoned just outside the city.¡± ¡°His paladins wouldn¡¯t be of any use to us, would they?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Carter rose. ¡°Undead break the Law of Death.¡± ¡°Makes sense, then.¡± He pulled on his gauntlets and furled the map. ¡°Would you please conjure those Wondrous Horses?¡± A horse snorted. He turned to find two sable stallions. The nearest pawed the ground. ¡°I already did, Carter.¡± He smiled at her. ¡°Excellent.¡± He swung up into the saddle of the closest horse. ¡°Mount up and let¡¯s go to Bisquine.¡± Chapter 11 Carter looked at the sea of people moving through Bisquine like the waters of high tide. Cramped wooden stalls, staffed with sweaty vendors, surrounded the central plaza about twelve feet away. Bright fabric ceilings flapped in the slow breeze which brought the scents of spices, midden rot, over-ripe fruit, and other odors to them. People called out to friends, potential customers, and shouted at the antics of wandering entertainers. The early morning sunlight bounced off the droplets of mist curling around people¡¯s feet and the legs of tables. The damp clung to their skin and hair before dripping down to their clothing. ¡°It seems like it is either market day, or a festival, Carter.¡± ¡°I noticed.¡± He dismounted and walked to the central gate which was wide open. A stream of people waited to get inside. Two guards inspected the arrivals while archers watched from above with crossbows ready for any trouble. After about thirty minutes, the line thinned enough for them to stand before the guards. ¡°Purpose of visit?¡± ¡°Are Keldur¡¯s paladins still protecting the city?¡± The corner of the guard¡¯s lip curled in a sneer before smoothing. Carter was almost convinced he¡¯d imagined the look. ¡°They are, sir.¡± ¡®There¡¯s no hiding the disdain in his voice, though,¡¯ Carter thought. He glanced at the markings on the other man¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Is there a problem, Corporal?¡± He shook his head. ¡°None, sir.¡± The Walker glanced over, and spotted the others watching them with a studied casualness. ¡°Very well. Anything I need to be aware of?¡± ¡°There¡¯s a bulletin on the hiring wall. Read over it.¡± ¡°Thank you, sir.¡± The guard nodded and waved them on. When they had passed out of earshot of the guards, Delena spoke up. ¡°What was that all about?¡± ¡°Something has happened to cause Keldur¡¯s paladins to fall out of favor with the locals.¡± ¡°What do you think it was?¡± ¡°I¡¯d wager we¡¯ll find out at the hiring wall.¡± He paused at a stand with smoke rising from a cook stove. The scent of roasting meat battled with that of raw. Flies buzzed around the bloody viscera in a wagon nearby. ¡°Pardon me, good sir.¡± ¡°Beef is three silver per ell, mutton is five, deer twelve and pork is five copper per ell.¡± ¡°I need salted. Do you have any?¡± The butcher shook his head. ¡°The closest I have is brined.¡± ¡°Alright. Give me an ell of brined pork.¡± He nodded, wiped his hands on a cloth and lifted the lid on a nearby barrel. He dipped out a bowl of pork and passed it to Carter. ¡°Here you are, ser. Seven coppers.¡± Carter passed the bowl to Delena and produced a gold coin. ¡°I am sorry, ser,¡± the butcher said. ¡°I have not yet made enough small coin to change this.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll allow you to keep the difference in exchange for some information.¡± ¡°Milord, I do not know enough to be worth this much.¡± ¡°May I be the judge of that?¡± ¡°Of course, Milord. I am sorry, Milord.¡± ¡°Relax, sir. I¡¯m not the type to whine to the guards that you didn¡¯t bow and scrape enough before me.¡± Carter dropped his hands to his belt and rested his thumbs near the buckle. The butcher relaxed and resumed sharpening his tools. ¡°What questions do you have, ser?¡± ¡°When we came in, a guard didn¡¯t seem too pleased with Keldur¡¯s paladins in the city. What happened?¡± The butcher shrugged, arms wide. ¡°No one knows. They suddenly became a lot less tolerant: Closing the brothels, taverns, and gaming dens. They also outlawed brewing, gaming and sex work. When the Lord Mayor protested, they cut him down with holy fire. Even if you make a friendly wager, you get arrested.¡± ¡°What do you call a friendly wager, sir?¡± Delena said. ¡°Innocent things. A girl apprentice told a boy one she wagered she¡¯d get her chores done before he got his finished. Before he could respond, one of those Paladins arrested her and she was flogged at noon the next day.¡± Carter growled. ¡°I hate bullies.¡± ¡°Carter, we don¡¯t have time for this.¡± Delena placed her hand on his shoulder. ¡°You can¡¯t try to right every wrong you come across.¡± He looked at her hand until she dropped it. ¡°Usually, I¡¯d agree with you, but not when kids are being picked on.¡± He rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. ¡°And not when I¡¯m about to hire them.¡± ¡°Carter, kids are always getting picked on. Usually by other kids. You can¡¯t save them all.¡± ¡°True. I¡¯m not a god, just a very good looking mortal.¡± He ran his left hand through his hair. ¡°I may not be able to save all the kids, but you can be assured I¡¯ll do my damnedest to save those I know about.¡± ¡°How can you save those already hurt?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t. I can only make sure no others are.¡± He glanced back to the butcher. ¡°Are the Paladins still garrisoned on the other side of town?¡± ¡°They¡¯ve taken over the Lord Mayor¡¯s house.¡± He pointed to a large manor on a hill within the city walls. ¡°Be careful, Milord.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Carter gestured for Delena to follow him. *** The squire took his time looking over the duo standing before him. A flame haired, curvaceous woman dressed as a druid stood next to a man in ill-fitting plate who held his full attention. Dressed in full plate, he was clearly new to the armor, yet his aura glowed with long experience killing demons. It was also silver, rimed with black. The guard had never seen one that color. Even the auras of Chokkan¡¯s warriors were the same golden white as their own. Besides the aura, the demon slayer had a dark brown beard bisected by a scar which ran across his right eyebrow and down his cheek. Somehow, he still had his eye. The way he stood with his hands behind his back indicated he was more than how he¡¯d introduced himself. ¡°You don¡¯t look like a Patchwork Knight.¡± The man spread his hands in a ¡°what can you do¡± look. ¡°I had to switch armor.¡± ¡°Is that why it looks like it doesn¡¯t fit?¡± The so-called Patchwork Knight nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve only had about two months to get used to it. I¡¯m used to leather.¡± The guard narrowed his eyes. ¡°That¡¯s a bold declaration.¡± He turned to open the door. ¡°You¡¯re either very powerful, or very stupid.¡± As the two passed him, the so-called ¡°Patchwork Knight¡± smiled, and said, ¡°Maybe both.¡± The squire shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so¡­ Demon Slayer.¡± *** This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. A lean and muscular man dressed in brown and green leather armor came down the steps before them. His shoulder length sable hair was in two braids. He sauntered over to the pair watching him. ¡°What, no greetings for me, Carter?¡± ¡°I find your sudden appearance here disconcerting at the least, Robilar.¡± ¡°Especially after five years, right?¡± Carter nodded as he folded his arms over his chest. ¡°Were you able to track the Lamp of Allah-ah-din?¡± Robilar froze and then heaved a great sigh. ¡°I did.¡± ¡°And?¡± Robilar clenched and relaxed his hands as he spoke. ¡°Someone I trusted betrayed me. Fucking vampires.¡± Carter blinked. ¡°Um, Robilar, why in the Abyss would you trust a vampire? They¡¯re evil.¡± ¡°Not all of them.¡± He sat on one of the steps. ¡°I was on a different world.¡± ¡°No, way!¡± Carter bounced on his toes. ¡°You can travel through outer space?¡± ¡°What? No.¡± Robilar rubbed his hands together as if washing them. ¡°I was in another universe.¡± Carter¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°The multiverse is real?¡± His voice cracked on the last couple of words. Robilar leaned forward. ¡°Are you okay man?¡± At Carter¡¯s nod, he continued. ¡°Of course the multiverse is real. How else were you thinking you came to the Realm from your world?¡± Carter rubbed his eye. ¡°I thought it was another plane of existence, like the Abyss?¡± He paced between the door of the mayor¡¯s house and the bottom of the steps Robilar sat on. ¡°Why were you thinking that?¡± ¡°Because Dearbhaile¡¯s mother was from my world.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Do you know what that means?¡± ¡°Carter? Are you going to introduce your friend?¡± He faced her quickly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I forgot you were here.¡± He raised his hand to indicate the Chronomancer. ¡°This is Robilar Blackweave. Robilar, this is Delena.¡± Robilar nodded and she returned it. ¡°How do you two know each other, Carter?¡± She said. ¡°Robilar helped me out of a few tight spots my first year in the Realm. I used to trust him with my life.¡± ¡°Why used to, Carter?¡± Robilar sounded hurt. ¡°It¡¯s been five years, man. Neither of us are the same people we were back then.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve changed that much.¡± Delena held her hand up in the stop motion. ¡°That¡¯s not important.¡± She stepped closer to Robilar. ¡°What is important is, can you help us?¡± ¡°He¡¯s a sorcerer, not a cleric.¡± ¡°How do you know I didn¡¯t get blessed?¡± Carter laughed. ¡°Because you¡¯re still alive. Five years ago, holy water would have set you on fire.¡± ¡°By Kell¨¹n¡¯s Right Hand! Are you a demon, Robilar?¡± Robilar laughed this time. ¡°No. It¡¯s an old joke of Carter¡¯s based on my irreverent behavior.¡± ¡°And your deviance,¡± Carter said. ¡°Wasn¡¯t deviant.¡± ¡°What does Carter mean, Robilar?¡± ¡°Robilar likes eating ass,¡± Carter said. ¡°What?¡± Delena looked back and forth between the two mean. ¡°When Robilar likes to have sex, he likes sticking his tongue in her asshole.¡± ¡°Shut up, Carter. That¡¯s private and normal.¡± ¡°Bullshit. I don¡¯t do it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re a virgin.¡± ¡°I¡¯m married.¡± ¡°Wait, what?¡± Robilar beamed. ¡°You found Dearbhaile? When?¡± His smile turned into a scowl. ¡°And why wasn¡¯t I invited?¡± ¡°Adora.¡± Carter¡¯s voice was flat. ¡°Huh?¡± Robilar stretched his legs out, down the steps and crossed his ankles. ¡°Fill me in.¡± ¡°Later.¡± He glanced back to Delena. ¡°Any ideas as to where to go?¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ask the guard before you two came in?¡± Robilar said. ¡°He¡¯s a paladin, not an ordinary guard.¡± Delena¡¯s low voice was confident. Carter glanced over to her. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Couldn¡¯t you detect his magic reading your aura?¡± ¡°No.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Can you teach me how to do that?¡± ¡°Our magics aren¡¯t compatible.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He scratched his jaw. ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°Your aura.¡± ¡°That explains everything.¡± ¡°Your tone says otherwise, Carter,¡± Robilar said. ¡°Ya think?¡± Robilar snorted and tapped Delena¡¯s shoulder. She glanced back. ¡°Do you know which way to go?¡± She nodded. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°How do you know where to go?¡± ¡°I¡¯m following the signs.¡± Carter looked around. ¡°What signs?¡± She sighed and spun to face the two. She muttered something they couldn¡¯t hear and passed her hands over their eyes, standing on her toes to reach Robilar¡¯s. He gasped as the auras of the paladins flared into existence. ¡°Whoa. Cool.¡± Carter cast his gaze all around and froze, his attention caught by a baleful red aura in the basement. ¡°Lavitz.¡± When he didn¡¯t react, Delena smacked the back of his head. ¡°Focus.¡± He whirled on her, his eyes glowing an electric blue. ¡°I am focused.¡± She stepped back as his gold aura shifted to a silvery purple green. Before she could say anything, Robilar waved his hand, and she froze with one foot in mid-step. Carter blinked at her still form with her mouth partially open. He looked over to Robilar. ¡°What happened?¡± Robilar tilted his head to the left. ¡°I froze time to ask you the same thing.¡± ¡°You can freeze time?¡± ¡°For a limited period. No more than about two minutes. It¡¯s taxing.¡± He raised his hand to forestall more questions. ¡°Later. Now, what the hells just happened?¡± Carter circled his hand. ¡°You gotta give me more than that. What do you mean?¡± ¡°Your aura went from gold outlined in black to a silvery purple-green and your eyes started glowing after turning blue.¡± ¡°Your guess is as good as mine.¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t even know it happened.¡± ¡°What where you staring at when you were looking at the floor?¡± Carter pointed. ¡°That red aura. It¡¯s either a demon, or someone possessed for a long time.¡± ¡°How do you kn¡ª¡± ¡°Are you okay, Car- Robilar, how¡­¡± Delena¡¯s voice trailed off. Then, ¡°What¡¯s going on with you two?¡± ¡°Later.¡± Carter pointed towards the ceiling. ¡°That aura is the brightest. Let¡¯s go visit.¡± She nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± They climbed a long flight of stairs and then walked down a hallway. Candles showed the only decorations were the symbols of Keldur. Robilar poked Carter in the back and then pointed at them. ¡°How?¡± Carter shrugged at the whispered question. ¡°We¡¯ll find out soon.¡± At the end of the hallway, they stopped before two broad shouldered guards in plate mail. Both had the symbol of their god etched in the breastplate. Each held a halberd in the hand closest to the doors. A long sword rested in a plain black sheathe at their opposite hips. The halberds came down in an X, blocking the door. ¡°Halt. Identify yourselves.¡± The instruction came from the one on the left. Carter drew himself up straight. ¡°I am Lavitz, called the Patchwork Knight.¡± The guard nodded and turned his intense gaze to Delena. She also stood straighter. ¡°I am Delena, daughter of Elder Hrogr of the Halfbreed Clan.¡± Another nod and the gaze turned to Robilar. ¡°I am Robilar Blackweave, a humble sorcerer.¡± ¡°Lie.¡± The simple word was barked in anger. Carter turned, eyebrow raised. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The guard pointed to Robilar. ¡°He lies about what he is.¡± The halberds lowered and pointed at the Chronomancer. ¡°What are you?¡± Carter stepped back, placing himself between the blades and Robilar. ¡°Not a threat. Relax.¡± The two men looked Carter over before raising their weapons. ¡°What do you want?¡± This time, it was the guard on the right who spoke. His voice was softer than his fellow¡¯s. ¡°We would like to speak with your commander.¡± ¡°Do you have an appointment?¡± Carter shook his head. ¡°No, but I know your commander would like to speak with me.¡± ¡°What makes you think that, Lavitz?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve fought the forces of Moloch.¡± He then opened his arms wide. ¡°And, as you see, I am still alive.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve fought the minions of the Lord of Pestilence? Congratulations.¡± His voice could cure beef. ¡°Did I mention it was in the Abyss?¡± ¡°Oh?¡± The guard pulled off his left gauntlet. His revealed hand was blackened and withered. ¡°Stygian ice, or felldrake?¡± ¡°Felldrake.¡± He pulled the gauntlet back on. ¡°So, you have been in the Abyss. That¡¯s a little more impressive. That doesn¡¯t answer why you think the commander would want to speak to you.¡± Carter scratched his head. When Robilar tapped him on the shoulder, he glanced over to him. He held out a small book, bound in human flesh. ¡°It¡¯s a Fiendish Codex.¡± Carter carefully took it. ¡°You want me to¡­?¡± ¡°Offer it to the commander.¡± ¡°You certain?¡± He nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why you asked me to hold on to it for you.¡± Carter raised his eyebrow, and then nodded. ¡®Must have been in the future. Fucking Chronomancer.¡¯ He turned back to the two. ¡°Will this be of interest to your commander?¡± He held up the Codex. The guard raised his visor as he leaned forward. ¡°Oh, my. It¡¯s real.¡± He straightened and thumped the door with his open hand. He opened the door at a muffled command and stuck his head in. After a brief conversation, he stood upright and stepped back. Both guards raised their halberds and opened both doors as they stepped to the sides. ¡°Thank you, gentlemen.¡± The three took a step forward and they guards raised their hands. ¡°Only one of you may enter.¡± ¡°By all the hells.¡± Delena¡¯s voice was full of exasperation. Carter lifted his own hand. ¡°Relax, Delena. It won¡¯t take me long.¡± ¡°I hope not.¡± He tossed a grin over his shoulder at her and walked into the room. The doors shut behind him. *** A white haired man sat at a desk before two wide open balcony doors. A gentle breeze ruffled his hair as he wrote. Every couple of moments, his hand reached up, dipped his quill into ink, and then came back down to his parchment. Carter glanced around, taking in the understated opulence of the office. The canopied bed at the opposite side from the desk showed the room was also the bedroom. A bearskin rug lay before a stacked, yet dead, fireplace. A trio of candelabras stood on the mantle place. A blank spot on the wall showed a large something ¨C probably a painting ¨C had once been there. A thick, smooth, carpet ran up to and under the large desk. Carter felt his feet sink into it as he walked up to stand before the desk. The man looked up, showing a lined forehead and a bearded mouth set in what seemed to be a permanent frown. He held out his hand. Carter noted the callouses from where he gripped his weapon. ¡°Let me see it.¡± Carter ignored the tone of command in his voice and passed over the book. ¡°All the way from the Abyss.¡± The commander opened it and flipped through a few of the pages before shutting and tossing it to the side of his desk. ¡°What can I do for you, young man?¡± ¡°A number of things. First, though: Are you aware you have a demon, or someone possessed in your basement?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°There¡¯s an aura of blood in your basement. That means you either have someone possessed down there, or it¡¯s a demon.¡± ¡°You must be mistaken. There¡¯s no way either is in our basement.¡± ¡°Shall we go look? Then you can see for yourself.¡± ¡°There is no need. I placed the wards myself. No demon, or possessed can come into our headquarters.¡± Carter sighed. ¡°I have a lot of experience with these things.¡± ¡°I doubt you have been fighting demons for over thirty years, young man.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. It¡¯s only been six.¡± ¡°You see?¡± The commander picked up his pen again. ¡°You¡¯re mistaken.¡± ¡°In the Abyss.¡± He looked up. ¡°What?¡± ¡°My six years fighting demons. They were in the Abyss.¡± The old man snorted. ¡°Of course they were.¡± He waved his hand at the Codex. ¡°And yet, you somehow didn¡¯t recognize this was a fake.¡± ¡°It¡¯s genuine.¡± It was the commander¡¯s turn to sigh as he picked up the book and paged it open. He spun the tome around to face Carter. ¡°Written in the Common tongue?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not at all.¡± ¡°You see this in Common?¡± ¡°What? Of course I do.¡± ¡®Truth Scroll.¡¯ The mental command to his glove brought the magic item from the holding dimension and into his hand. ¡°Laever!¡± The powerful spell shot out and dissolved the magic which disguised the demon as the scroll burned to dust. Carter drew his sword. ¡°C''¨¦tait d¨¦sagr¨¦able, Walker.¡± The hulking demon resembled a powerfully muscled orangutan, with a cruelty that burned in its rheumy red eyes signaling a hateful intelligence. Its visage was dominated by a pair of oversized fangs jutting from its lower jaw. Its fur was rusty red and matted with filth. Carter gripped his sword in both hands and took a step towards the demon. A brilliant white light flashed and he knew no more. Chapter Twelve Chapter 12 Carter came to as light pierced his eyes and drove a spike into his head. He brought his hand up to shade them, but was brought short. A jangling told him he was chained. After a few seconds, he managed to look around. Dust, kicked into the air by horses¡¯ hooves, hung in the still air until the caged wagon passed through it, coating the other prisoners with grey. A train of horses, ridden by dark elves, paced the caged wagon. Carter traced the chains at his wrists with his eyes, finding them attached to the bars of his pen. He pushed himself to his feet and gripped the bars of his cell. One of the elves rode closer and shouted at him. ¡°What¡¯re you staring at, human?¡± Carter stared through him and refused to answer. The rider drew his sword and pointed behind his prisoner. ¡°Get back there, or I¡¯ll run you through.¡± When Carter continued to ignore him, the elf jabbed his sword into his stomach, piercing the ragged, heavily patched leather armor. As blood trickled down his belly where the point nicked his flesh, Carter tensed minutely. Another elf rode up behind the first and slapped the back of his head. When he whipped around, the second glowered. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m teaching this human to mind his place.¡± ¡°Harming the merchandise isn¡¯t your place. Get in the back of the line.¡± Chastened, the dark elf turned his horse to the back. The other one cast a spell, closing the wound in his belly before riding back to his place. The rocking of the wagon stopped as the dirt road became paved. Carter noted the stricken trees, bare of leaves, strangled by the pink Tianarri moss of the Abyss. Spikes of Stygian grass stabbed through the rotten patches of native grass. The corruption of the demonic realm grew more evident the further the wagon rolled. The prisoners who either were able, or still cared enough, crowded around the bars of the cage, staring wide-eyed at the coming end of their journey. Carter remained in place as the approaching scent of decayed vanilla informed him the wagon drew close to L¡¯Arc demons. After the wagon halted, a stunningly beautiful and statuesque woman with milky skin, raven hair and batwings sprouting from her back strode up to the back. She flicked her hand at Carter who stared back impassively, noting her blackened gold plate cuirass. When he didn¡¯t budge, she hissed at him. ¡°Move, meat.¡± He released the bars and took a solitary step back. The demon sneered at him and unlocked the bars. The entire back dropped down, forming a ramp from the back of the wagon. A misstep would cost someone a broken ankle, or worse. ¡°Do you need an engraved invitation? Get down here, meat.¡± Without blinking, Carter slowly, heavily strode down the makeshift ramp until he stood before the demon. She glared up at him. Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Get over there with the rest of the meat. Mistress Haavastaad will be eager to crush your insolence.¡± Again moving with deliberation, he moved to where the demon directed. After a couple of steps, he felt the demons hand on his back, between his shoulders, forcing him to move faster. ¡°Move with alacrity, meat.¡± He pressed into the ground hard with his left foot and pivoted toward it. The L¡¯Arc, focused on hurrying him, overbalanced and stumbled past before she went sprawling. As other demons laughed, the fallen L¡¯Arc leaped to her feet and made to run him through with her serrated blade. A blue-skinned hand locked around the demon¡¯s hand, stopping her strike cold. ¡°This will not do.¡± Carter glanced over to see the lithe frame of the demon who saved him. Horns sprouted from her temples and wrapped around her head like a crown. Orange hair flowed down her back, over her ebony dress. ¡°You should have more care when attacking the Patchwork Knight, Eyiness. Even when chained.¡± Silver eyes locked on Carter. ¡°Isn¡¯t that right, Sir Lavitz?¡± Carter tilted his head in a bow. ¡°Lady Haavastaad, Tyrant of Knowledge. I was wondering who¡¯d managed to capture me.¡± *** ¡°¡­One thing I should like to say on this day which may be memorable for others as well as for us Dwarves: In the course of my life I have very often been a prophet, and have usually been ridiculed for it. During the time of my struggle for power it was in the first instance the Half-Elfish race which only received my prophecies with laughter when I said that I would one day take over the leadership of the State, and with it that of the whole nation, and that I would then among many other things settle the Half-Elfish problem. Their laughter was uproarious, but I think that for some time now they have been laughing on the other side of their face. Today I will once more be a prophet: If the international Half-Elfish financiers in and outside The Realm should succeed in plunging the towns and villages once more into war, then the result will not be the assimilation of the world, and thus the victory of Half-Elves, but the annihilation of the Half-Elfish race in The Realm! ...The villagers are no longer willing to die on the battlefield so that this unstable half-breed race may profiteer from a war or satisfy its Old Blood vengeance. The Half-Elfish watchword "Warriors of the world unite" will be conquered by a higher realization, namely "People of all classes and of all races, recognize your common enemy!" Sera listened to the cheers as Drago finished his speech. ¡®I have to admit, he is very persuasive.¡± A couple of moments later, the dark dwarf strode up. She looked him over, noting a couple new scars on his muscular grey-skinned arms. An open bascinet sat on his bald head. His ebony eyes locked on hers. ¡°Where have you been?¡± ¡°Doing my job.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve not been by my side for a fortnight.¡± She rolled her eyes. ¡°My other job.¡± ¡°Did you learn anything from the Keeper?¡± ¡°Yes. You were right about her turning to blood magic.¡± Drago nodded. ¡°And what of Corath?¡± ¡°Last I knew, he was heading to Dunskillen to track the Walker.¡± She snorted in derision. ¡°He believes he¡¯ll be able to kill him.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t underestimate your Gorauch. It only takes a little luck to catch the Walker off guard.¡± ¡°Surprise has been the downfall of many.¡± A raspy voice said behind Sera. She whipped around and caught the lanky turquoise scaled half-dragon by the throat. ¡°Sneaking up on people and announcing yourself is a good way to get killed.¡± ¡°Sera, release Jeroen. He¡¯s important to our cause.¡± She did as the dwarf ordered. ¡°How is this abomination important?¡± Ignoring the slight, Jeroen answered. ¡°The Walker trusts me and my sister.¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t answer my question.¡± ¡°We are True Name mages.¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°True Names are how the universe itself knows you. When you use a being¡¯s, or object¡¯s True Name, you can exert unparalleled control and power over it. The cosmos itself seems to hear the True Namer¡¯s instruction, and reorders the universe in accordance with the spoken words.¡± Sera raised her eyebrow. ¡°Are you saying you would be able to control Carter simply with his True Name?¡± ¡°With his True Name, I can remove his very existence.¡± Chapter 13 Sunlight danced across the gravel arena floor. Beams struck flecks of mica and bounced into the warrior¡¯s eyes, nearly blinding him. Deep, heavy growls came from the darkness ahead of him. Skeletal fingers tipped with ragged claws gripped the side of the gateway as the creature heaved itself further into the light. Clumps of flesh, sinew and fur dripped from large paws. A milky eye dangled from its socket above a jagged muzzle which opened in a roar. The other eye glinted with scarlet malevolence. ¡®An undead werewolf?¡¯ The warrior rubbed his hand across his forehead. ¡®That¡¯s gonna be a bit harder than the drow were.¡¯ In a blur of motion, the werewolf hurtled across the arena floor and hammered the warrior into the far wall. Roars of approval came from the demonic audience. The warrior slowly stirred and rose to his feet, knees wobbling. He shook his head to get the blurriness from his vision, to no avail. He smacked the side of his head and glanced up to see the undead monster rise to its full height before him. An upward swipe sent the warrior¡¯s head into the area as the rest of his body flew back to crash into another arena wall. The demons leaped to their feet with another mighty roar of approval. Carter left the barred window, went to the far wall of his cell and slid down to sit on the floor. ¡®How do I always end up in these situations?¡¯ Five days he¡¯d been here and was no closer to escaping than before. ¡®Haavastaad is living up to her reputation of knowing everything. I tried to sneak out of here, and I was captured almost immediately. I attempted to feign an illness, and my guard poured what had to be five gallons of water over my face. And, none of the bars are rusty with Tianarri moss on the walls, either.¡¯ He chuckled. The half-demon Belial had set up that trap for him when he was fourteen and his prisoner in another arena. A series of clicks alerted Carter the wall with the window was about to rise. ¡®My turn again.¡¯ He shook his head. ¡®Surely she knows I¡¯m King of the Realm, so why am I not dead, or ransomed, yet?¡¯ He pushed himself to his feet and walked to the cell wall as it rose. He¡¯d tried to stay inside before, to refuse to fight for their entertainment, but the wall he¡¯d been sitting against had slid forward, pushing him out into the arena. He shielded his eyes with his hand, and peered up at the audience. Adrenaline shot through his body as a grin grew on his face. Haavastaad sat in her throne in the center of the seats high above the arena floor. A gate on the opposite side of him creaked open. A black blur shot out and directly at him. Carter dove to the left and rolled to his feet in time to see the undead werewolf slam into the far wall and stick. Cracks and gore blasted up and out from the impact zone. ¡®What the fuck did that?¡¯ A horn sounded from behind him. He turned to see a massive twelve foot tall, crimson skinned fiend stalk out of the holding area. It wielded a colossal great axe with a ruby in the base of the shaft. Filmy white eyes flashed as it leered, showing off its jagged slavering fangs. A snake protruded from the side of its neck, coiling and hissing with malice. The demon twirled the axe in its clawed hand before spinning it behind its head and passing it over to its other. It vanished from his sight. The world slowed to a crawl as his Moment of Prescience activated. The demon, now behind him, buried its axe in his shoulder, nearly cleaving him in two as the demonic audience roared with elation. Time jolted into motion again and Carter threw himself to his right. The axe just missed him, getting buried into the ground up to the part where the blade was affixed to the handle. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. He kicked at the demon¡¯s inner elbow, but its right arm deflected the blow and caught him by the ankle. A second later, he was airborne and then crashing into the arena wall. His head slammed into the brick and he hit the ground, insensate. The demon growled and looked to his mistress. Haavastaad leered and nodded her head. It returned its attention to the fallen Walker of Worlds and stalked over to him. The greataxe rose into the air, held aloft by both hands, before being brought down with tremendous force. With a sickening squelch, the beard of the weapon was buried deep in Carter¡¯s back, nearly cutting his torso in two. *** Adora released a yawn that threated to crack her jaw as she used a cloth to wipe away demon ichor. Angriz staggered in, stumbled over to his cot, and collapsed on it, face down. ¡°It was that bad, my friend?¡± He turned his head to the side. ¡°Indeed, Your Highness. My throat feels raw from all the fire I was breathing.¡± ¡°Can that happen for a half-dragon?¡± She dropped the begrimed cloth into the water basin as she faced him. ¡°No. I¡¯m exaggerating.¡± He turned on the cot and regarded her through half-lidded eyes. ¡°We lost a lot of men closing that last portal.¡± Adora closed her eyes and bowed her head. ¡°I know. I hate that we don¡¯t have the materials to resurrect them.¡± Angriz sat up. ¡°I wish we¡¯d discovered shutting the portals would send the demons back sooner.¡± ¡°Maybe if I¡¯d spent more time studying and less time fighting, we¡¯d have learned it sooner.¡± He rose to his feet and crossed over to her, laying his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Studying the scrolls and tomes we found two days ago? After we¡¯d already run out of crushed hypersthene?¡± She opened her mouth to object, paused and then sighed. He nodded. ¡°It¡¯s tempting to blame yourself, but it¡¯s even more ridiculous than usual.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She interlocked her fingers and raised them above her head as she yawned. After rubbing her eyes, she said, ¡°Any idea where Sir Alistair Germori¨¦ is?¡± With a flash of evening sunlight, the large man in question stepped past the tent flap and entered. Adora smiled. ¡°Perfect timing, Sir Alistair.¡± ¡°Your Majesty.¡± The knight bowed. ¡°I come with the casualty report.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Seven hundred permanently dead, six hundred sixty-eight maimed, and two hundred thirty-four wounded.¡± He glanced over to Angriz who took a deep breath and back to his queen. A couple tears rolled down her cheeks. ¡°H-how¡ª?¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°How many can be restored to normal?¡± The Avalanche ran his left hand over his cheek. The rasp of stubble seemed loud in the tent. ¡°About three hundred.¡± ¡°The healers are out of clear quartz and tourmaline,¡± Angriz said. ¡°It¡¯s like their commander knew our precise supply.¡± Adora wiped her face and eyes, clearing away the tears. ¡°Gentlemen, I¡¯d like input for our next moves.¡± Angriz leaned back against the map table, dislodging a few of the figurines which indicated troop locations. ¡°We should send out small bands to raid Drago¡¯s encampment. Let¡¯s make them uncomfortable for once.¡± The Avalanche stayed quiet. ¡°Sir Alistair?¡± Adora turned her focus to her First. ¡°Do you have any ideas?¡± He nodded slowly. ¡°Yes. One. But, you¡¯re not going to like it.¡± She raised her left hand to forestall his next words. ¡°I¡¯m not going to retreat. Those soldiers didn¡¯t die for nothing.¡± The knight stood at attention. ¡°Summon the King.¡± Adora dropped her hand. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting that.¡± ¡°He¡¯s one man, Alistair.¡± Angriz straightened. ¡°As formidable as he is, there¡¯s not much more he can do.¡± ¡°His Highness has more experience fighting demons than anyone I¡¯ve met.¡± Alistair had his right index finger on his left pinky. ¡°He is a symbol the army can rally around, especially reunited with Adora.¡± His index moved up to his ring finger. ¡°He has abilities no one else does.¡± His finger ticked to his middle one. ¡°He¡¯s the Walker of Worlds.¡± Index fingers touched. Both men looked to the queen. She nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Adora gathered the components for the tracking spell. After carefully assembling them, she concentrated, searching for her heartbeat. The steady soft drumming filled her being and she then cast her focus outward, seeking her blood¡¯s call outside her body. Her eyes popped open when she felt it about thirty feet from where she stood. ¡°He¡¯s here!¡± She jumped into the air and then hugged herself. ¡°He¡¯s not far away. She raced out of the tent, ducking under the flap. She ran around a cluster of men slumped around a fire. ¡°What¡¯s wrong Your Highness?¡± One called. The men leaped to their feet, drawing their weapons. ¡°Carter¡¯s here.¡± Her voice trailed behind her. She skidded to a stop near a signpost. Her gaze darted around. No Carter. Her chest felt tight. ¡°What the hells?¡± The group of men stopped behind her. Angriz stepped forward. ¡°Your Majesty?¡± She raised her hand and closed her eyes again, once more seeking out her blood. A pulse came from the weathered post before her. She opened her eyes and moved closer to it. An arrow pointed to the right and had ¡°Dunskillen ¨C 18 wheels¡± carved on it. Another pointed to the right and had ¡°Rivorei ¨C 15 wheels.¡± The final one pointed straight ahead and had ¡°Dragon Keep ¨C 30 wheels.¡± The beat had come from the vial dangling between the arrows to Dragon Keep and Dunskillen. She scowled and pulled it off the post. She then pulled out the phial she wore. A piercing white column shot down from the heavens and faded, revealing her guardian, Azriel. ¡°Do not, Adora.¡± Chapter Fourteen Black and lime flames funneled around the body, causing the demon to leap backward. Azure fire rained from the sky, converging on the fallen Walker. The flame droplets merged over his body before swirling in a whirlpool and vanishing in a brilliant flash making the audience¡¯s shadows leap away. His body rose like a puppet being lifted with jagged strings. His limbs flopped and jerked, His brown hair lengthened to fall below Carter''s shoulders and turned the purest sable. A silvery, poisonous purple green metal erupted from beneath his skin and enveloped his body. Scalloped edges grew along his forearms. Long, silvery blue claws replaced his hands. His face was the most horrible, though. The flesh seemingly melted and ran, leaving a barely fleshed skull with glowing electric blue eyes. Long, ram-like horns grew out from his temples. Glowing, electric blue eyes snapped open as a bellow like all the denizens of the Abyss screamed through him at once. The crimson-skinned demon roared back in challenge. The Creature blitzed over and gripped the demon by the lower jaw with its claws and ripped downward and out. The demon choked a gurgle before the Creature slammed the torn off mandible through its skull. Silence fell across the audience. A blink later and the Creature appeared among them and set about ripping, clawing and biting through the massed demons. Some tried to fight back. They died first. Others tried to run. Those died tired. Haavastaad stood watching with her arms folded. She towered over the Creature standing before her. ¡°What are you?¡± The Creature leaped up, gripped her face and flung her into the arena floor. The demon lord¡¯s body hit, sending up an eruption of dirt, dust and rock. She pushed herself up to a knee and glanced at her ripped tunic. She tore it the rest of the way off, revealing shining bronze skin. The demon lord looked up at the standing creature. ¡°Your throw was impressive in its unexpectedness.¡± The Creature tilted its head to the left. ¡°You won¡¯t catch me off guard like that again.¡± It vanished from sight. Haavastaad spun around, searching for it. She found it standing behind her. It backhanded the demon lord across her cheek, sending her flying across the arena and into a wall. Dust and rocks exploded outward from her impact point. She climbed out of the crater and spotted the Creature holding a massive chunk of arena wall over its head with one hand. ¡°What the¡ª?¡± The boulder flew at her with incredible speed. ¡®My only chance is to destroy it.¡¯ She thrust her fist out, intercepting the piece of wall and shattering it. Before she could clear the cloud of debris from her eyes, another blow sent her back to her throne and through it. She staggered to her feet, bronze skin cracked. A dirty greenish ichor flowed from the cracks, her mouth and nose. ¡°I¡¯ll kill you!¡± Her voice was so strident chips flew off the damaged brick walls around them. ¡°How da¡ª?¡± The Creature cut off her words with its clawed hand covering her whole face as it leaped high into the air. At the apex of its leap, it hurled Haavastaad down into the ground before it flipped over and dove after her. She rolled to her feet and threw a fireball at it. The Creature dodged to the side and hit the ground feet first, barely missing the Demon Lord who cartwheeled to the side, grabbing a sword as she came back to her feet. It shoved its claw into the air and pulled a pure white blade from seeming nowhere. ¡°That can¡¯t be,¡± Haavastaad said. The Creature vanished from her sight. She cast her gaze around and it appeared right in front of her slicing her from abdomen to left shoulder. As she collapsed, she named her killer. ¡°DarkWalker.¡± *** Delena glanced over to Robilar. ¡°He has been gone a long time, right? I¡¯m not imagining it?¡± The Chronomancer shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re not imagining it.¡± He turned his attention to the door where their friend had disappeared about an hour before. ¡°Can you feel anything in there?¡± ¡°Efil.¡± The spell radiated out from her and passed through the walls, ceilings and floors of the keep, showing her the locations of the guards, mice, a couple of dogs and even a cluster of roaches in the wall being stalked by a couple spiders. It bounced off the room the Walker had entered and ended. ¡°Whoa.¡± Robilar refocused on her. ¡°What?¡± She raised her index finger, signaling for him to wait. ¡°Why do you think your commander would have his office warded against a Detect Life spell?¡± She leaned closer to the guard. ¡°He likes his privacy?¡± The guard shrugged. Delena narrowed her eyes. ¡°The spell only reveals the living and dead, no other information.¡± Another shrug. ¡°I don¡¯t know much about magic.¡± Robilar scowled. ¡°Aren¡¯t you a paladin?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m unable to touch magic.¡± He turned to look at Delena and saw she¡¯d done the same. ¡°How are you with Keldur¡¯s paladins if you can¡¯t touch magic?¡± Robilar said. ¡°I am the best lancer in Bisquine,¡± the guard answered, pride evident in his voice. ¡°His sister is one of Keldur¡¯s favorites.¡± The other guard said with a snort. ¡°Hey, Thom, that¡¯s not why I¡¯m here.¡± The first guard had a whine in his voice. The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Whining does not befit a Bisquine guard, Manuel.¡± A woman in shining silvery armor shoved the doors open behind Delena and Robilar. An ornate helm sat on her head. A flanged mace hung at her waist and a round shield hugged her back. ¡°I need to speak with the commander.¡± Her voice was rough and scratchy as if she spent a lot of time bellowing. The guards stiffened to attention. ¡°He is in a meeting, Captain Giada.¡± ¡°They will want to hear this.¡± ¡°What¡¯s going on, Captain?¡± Delena stepped forward. ¡°Our friend Lavitz is in there with the commander.¡± Giada¡¯s black eyebrows rose. ¡°The Patchwork Knight?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Robilar said. ¡°Keldur¡¯s Heart.¡± Giada pulled her shield and mace. ¡°He¡¯s in grave danger.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°The commander is a demon.¡± ¡°Hey, wait.¡± Thom shouted, gripping the haft of his weapon with white knuckles. ¡°You can¡¯t make accusations like that without proof.¡± Manuel lowered his pike. Giada raised her shield to intercept it. Just before they clashed, Manuel and Thom froze. The captain caster her gaze back and forth between them. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry,¡± Robilar said, stepping past her. ¡°They¡¯re in Temporal Stasis.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Time Magic,¡± Delena said. ¡°He¡¯s really good at what he does.¡± Giada grimaced. ¡°Um. Uh.¡± Robilar seemed to reach into the wall like it was a cabinet and withdrew a blue crystalline sword after rummaging around for a few seconds. ¡°Ah. Here it is. I knew I will put that in here next week.¡± He cast a grin to the women. ¡°I¡¯ll have need of it in there, and I almost forgot that.¡± Giada stood straighter. ¡°I-uh. Wha¡ª?¡± Delena patted her back. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You¡¯ll probably not get used to it. I still haven¡¯t.¡± Giada stared at Delena. Robilar came over and patted her shoulder. ¡°Come on. Didn¡¯t you want to see your commander?¡± She shook herself as if refocusing. ¡°Yes. It¡¯s imperative we do.¡± She took a deep breath. ¡°This city depends on it.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± Delena said. ¡°You¡¯ll see shortly.¡± The head of her mace ignited in a silvery flame as she headed to the closed doors. ¡°Tsrub.¡± The doors exploded inward. The bearded, white-haired old man in ornate plate mail leaped to his feet. ¡°What is the meaning of this?¡± His outrage seemed to make his voice almost a growl. ¡°In the Name of Keldur, I command you reveal yourself!¡± Giada shouted, voice filled with power. The old man¡¯s visage shimmered and bubbled before a shining silvery light shot from her hand and engulfed him. A second later, the light vanished, and a demon stood before them. The hulking fiend resembled a powerfully muscled orangutan, with a cruelty that burned in its rheumy red eyes signaling its hateful intelligence. Its visage was dominated by a pair of oversized fangs jutting from its lower jaw. Rusty red fur was matted with filth. ¡°Alors, tu m''as d¨¦couvert. Comment penses-tu que cela va se terminer pour toi ?¡± ¡°With you dead, or banished back to the Abyss.¡± Delena gasped as her hand flew up and her fingers touched her lips. ¡°Tha-Tha-that¡¯s a demon.¡± ¡°It is,¡± Robilar said. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Before she could respond, the demon attacked. Giada launched a spell blowing the demon through the wall in an explosion of silvery light and clouds of dust and brick. It thrust a clawed hand into the tiles of the roof it found itself on, causing some to rip up and cascade to the edge. It raised its head to see the dust clearing and the trio step through the shattered wall. The demon rose to its feet, laced its claws together and pushed them forward, making its knuckles crackle. They raced forward, Delena drawing a short sword. The smaller woman pulled ahead and the demon smashed its claws downward. She was knocked to the side. Before it could follow through, it had to deflect Robilar¡¯s sword swipe, causing him to spin around. Giada thrust her mace at the demon¡¯s unprotected ribs, but it managed to knock her weapon to the side. Robilar continued his spin, bringing his blade around to decapitate the demon. It ducked. Delena brought her sword chopping down at its head. The demon spun around her attack, and brought down its fist against Giada¡¯s mace. She kept it from slamming into her face, but was knocked flat on the tiled roof. The demon continued its motion around, intercepting Robilar¡¯s blade and shoving it to the roof before thrusting its elbow into his jaw. Delena charged from behind, but the demon continued around and intercepted her blade with its claws, sliding it around and throwing her to the edge of the roof. Ceramic tiles scattered before her body as she skidded along and went over. Giada caught her hand. ¡°Hold on!¡± ¡°Trying!¡± Giada¡¯s legs spread out, slowing them both, but gravity had a good hold on them. Robilar chopped at the demon, but it managed to knock his sword into the roof again. He let his left hand go, and looped it around and downward, catching the demon in the side of its head. The mighty blow spun the demon, and it reached out a hand to catch itself on the roof. Robilar swung his sword with his right hand, trying to chop into the demon. It caught the blade in its other claw and shoved up, managing to ram its skull into Robilar¡¯s jaw. He fell back, vision blurry. Out the corner of his eye, he spotted a silvery rope like spell latch onto the side of a window. Giada used her spell to pull both of them back to the middle of the roof. Delena used the momentum of Giada¡¯s titanic pull to fly through the air and swing at the demon¡¯s throat. The demon deflected her strike, spun around to block Giada¡¯s and duck under Robilar¡¯s. It thrust its shoulder into Robilar¡¯s chest, knocking him back to crash into a window. Glass shattered around his body and rained to the roof in a sparking rainbow of light. Giada struck again as the demon spun back from its shoulder check, but it overpowered her slice. The demon continued around to chop down at Delena¡¯s sword. She caught his strike and twirled back, guiding its claws down to the roof. Robilar swung to cut off the demon¡¯s head, but it managed to bring its claws up to deflect the attack. The Chronomancer simply brought his crystalline blade back around in the other direction. The abruptness of the change in direction caught the demon off guard and it was knocked back. It managed to bring both claws around to attack him, but he managed to duck and spin towards the demon¡¯s back. It struck once more, causing Robilar to bring his blade up to intercept the claws. The demon¡¯s ferocity sent him flying back and face first onto the roof. His sword skittered away. It strode forward to continue its assault, but Delena got in its way. She launched an attack at its neck, but the demon grabbed her hands in a large paw, shoved them down to the roof, jabbed its fist into her ribs, cracking a few and then launched a haymaker at the side of her head, knocking her to the rooftop. As she crashed to the ground, Giada thrust her hands forward and a silvery beam of light blasted into the demon¡¯s torso, making it slam into the wall of a bell tower. The bell rang out from the impact. The demon rose, legs shaking. Robilar charged in with a roar and slammed the demon back into the wall with a tackle. The top of his head smashed into the wall, sending him to his knees. The demon rammed its elbow down into the back of Robilar¡¯s head, knocking him flat. Giada leaped in with a silvery light around her fist. The demon caught her hand as she released the spell and both flew back in opposite directions. She flew through the air and through a window. Robilar, bloody streaming from his nose and a cut above his right eye, rose to his feet and slammed a fist into the demon¡¯s face, breaking its nose. The demon howled and backhanded Robilar. He flew back and landed next to his sword which hand been knocked from his hand. As he wrapped his hands around the hilt, he glimpsed Delena attacking the demon once more. She attacked the demon with a forehand slash, it deflected the blade away, so she reversed her grip on the hilt and swung back on the same plane. The demon caught her sword in its grip and lifted her in the air. She rocked her body forward, kicked the demon in the face and pushed off, back flipping out of range. She landed on her feet and charged, sword overhead. The demon caught her by the throat and lifted her before carrying her towards the edge of the roof. Giada flung out her hands and silvery ropes wrapped around the demon, causing it to drop Delena near the end of the parapet. As the demon struggled against the spell, Robilar hurried over and pulled Delena back. He called the crystalline sword to his hand as the demon broke free of the bindings, causing Giada to fall back. The demon stalked forward, but Robilar caught it by the shoulder and spun it to face him. With a grunt of effort, Robilar plunged his blade into the demon¡¯s chest. It roared in pain and then punched him. Robilar landed flat on his back. Using both hands, the demon pulled the sword out and planted its point in the tiles beside it. Slowly, the demon rose once more. It stepped to the fallen Chronomancer, clawed hand over its wound. Delena took advantage of its distraction and slashed the back of its knee. The demon collapsed and Giada struck, casting her binding spell around the bell tower¡¯s top and pulling with all her strength. ¡°Keldur, please, lend me your strength.¡± Power flooded through her muscles as her deity answered her prayer. Her celestially enhanced strength allowed her to topple the bell tower over onto the demon. The weight smashed the demon through the keep and into the basement. The trio carefully approached the hole and stared down. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you do that earlier?¡± Robilar said. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you put the demon in temporal stasis?¡± Giada retorted. He shrugged. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t have been able to affect him, then.¡± ¡°Seems the noise got the attention of the others in the Fist,¡± Delena said. Robilar nodded. ¡°Indeed. Let¡¯s go fill them in, and maybe learn what happened to Lavitz.¡± Chapter 15 Dearbhaile finally found an open door leading outside. She ran forward and bounced off an invisible membrane, falling to the ground. She picked herself up and carefully moved to the door. Raising her hand, she reached out and touched the force keeping her trapped inside. ¡®Is this a Wall of Force spell, or a Dimensional Anchor?¡¯ Her hand slid up and around the barrier, trying to sense the spell. ¡®It feels¡­ sticky?¡¯ She peered closer. ¡®That doesnae seem right.¡¯ Stepping back, she raised her hands. ¡®Let¡¯s try this.¡¯ ¡°Nepo.¡± Blue light shot from her hands and hit the barrier. The magic spread out and faded. ¡°Should have known it wouldnae be tha¡¯ easy.¡± She took a deep breath and concentrated, gathering the magical energy within her. ¡°Kcolnu!¡± White light shot out and hit the shield. Once more, it spread out and faded. ¡°Gods damnit! I be too close for this bloody thing tae stop me!¡± Lips pinched, she raised her head, narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists. Her stomach tightened and limbs shook. She bit her lip, drawing blood. When she tasted the coppery flavor, she smiled. Red lightning flashed around her hands before they were thrust at the doorway. A split second later, a section of the wall ¨C about ten feet wide and nine high ¨C vanished in an explosion of dust. ¡®Great. It be raining.¡¯ A gust of wind curled around her body, swirling her robes around her, and stinging her exposed skin. ¡®Kell¨¹n¡¯s ball, that be cold. Guess it be sleet and nae rain after all.¡¯ As she headed to the hole her magic had blasted into the wall, a jagged white flash covered the sky. Twenty seconds later, sound crashed around her, rumbling and boiling before fading away with an occasional grumble. ¡®That be about sixteen wheels from here. A safe distance.¡¯ She took a deep breath and headed out into the cold. ¡®Ah just hope I be able tae find shelter before Ah succumb tae tha¡¯ cold.¡¯ ### Dunskillen was a fairly large town. It was dominated by the old castle looming over the outer walls. For more than three hundred years, it perched in the Deven Hills to the west of Dunskillen. The locals knew it as the Black Keep. Corath had known the builder and still called it Castle Stahl. The wizard Anarawd constructed it to be a school and place to continue his studies while running the city as Lord Mayor. About thirty-two years after it was completed, Anarawd vanished. Local rumors attributed his disappearance to everything from an escaped demon lord extracting revenge for imprisoning it, to the wizard being killed by an uncontrolled magical eruption. The reality was the wizard had imprisoned several demi-gods, used their powers to turn himself into a lesser god and went to serve in Chokkan¡¯s court. The Gorauch shook his head, dismissing the memories and strode down the High Street to the Silver Dragon Inn, a bustling tavern where he usually gathered information. The air was alive with spices and honeyed scents. Candied nuts, exotic fruit, sweetbreads and glazed pastry lined the tables in the market, a gauntlet of temptation for those trying to hang onto hard-earned Nix. Vendors shouted to get the attention of wandering people while a nearby butcher sang loudly as he sharpened his knives. Slabs of beef hung next to dressed birds above fish resting on beds of crushed ice. Golden light played around the butcher¡¯s hands as he waved it at buzzing flies, causing them to vanish. Corath continued through the crowd of townsfolk, trying to keep too many from bumping into him, a favorite tactic of cutpurses. The rhythmic ringing of a hammer pounding steel came to him as he came close to Eigyr¡¯s Arms. He paused, considering for a moment to see how she was doing, and maybe get his weapons sharpened. The gregarious half-orc weapon smith was perhaps his favorite person in all the Realm. She was fond of trading stories with customers as they studied her wares. She¡¯d frequently offer to spar with someone who wasn¡¯t sure what weapon they wanted to buy, doing her best to maintain an aloof demeanor as they did. ¡®Why not. She might have heard something about Carter.¡¯ He waited and watched her work until she thrust the white hot metal in a barrel of liquid. It sank in with a hiss and a puff of flame which danced on the surface for a moment before going out. ¡°Hello, Eigyr.¡± ¡°Corath.¡± She dropped the hammer she¡¯d been using on the anvil, yanked off her gloves and hurried around the counter. Throwing her arms around the elf, she hugged him tight. ¡°Oof, careful.¡± He said, coughing. ¡°You almost crushed my ribs.¡± ¡°Pshh. Stop being a baby.¡± She beamed at him, her forest green eyes sparkling. ¡°It¡¯s been so long. What have you been up to?¡± ¡°The usual.¡± His smile thinned. ¡°How about you?¡± ¡°Oh, you know.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Still trying to find a man who can keep up with me.¡± ¡°Not even in the River Quarter?¡± She laughed. ¡°Oh, please. Those fools think more with their dicks than anything else.¡± ¡°I heard an orc named Bullmahn was certain he had what it took to, quote ¡®tame that haruun blacksmith.¡± The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. Another shrug. ¡°Never saw, nor heard of him.¡± ¡°How about Carter Blake? Heard of him?¡± ¡°The King?¡± She guffawed. ¡°Who hasn¡¯t?¡± ¡°The illegitimate king, you mean.¡± ¡°Shhh.¡± She placed her large hand over his mouth while looking frantically around. Seeing no one paying attention to them, she pulled him into her home, and shut the door behind them. ¡°You have to be careful talking like that around here.¡± ¡°I can take care of myself.¡± ¡°Not against the entire army of guards.¡± He sighed. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± He looked around. Bookshelves shared space with display mannequins. Colorful tomes sat spine outward above and below swords, maces, daggers, and hammers. Some of the mannequins were fully dressed in complete armor sets. Others had only a few pieces. One only wore a helm. Scraps of leather, awls, spools of thread and various other tools were scattered on the table beside it. An open book lay draped over the arm of a stuffed chair near a newly laid fireplace. ¡°Like what you see?¡± She waved her hand at the room. He blushed and chuckled. ¡°I do. I think this is the first time I¡¯ve been in here.¡± ¡°It¡¯s the first time any man has been in here.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Why do you call Carter an illegitimate king?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the one who murdered my brother.¡± Her hand shot up and covered her mouth. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been hunting him ever since.¡± ¡°I am so sorry, Corath. How can I help?¡± ¡°Do you know anything about his possible location?¡± She shook her head. ¡°All I¡¯ve heard is the King has been missing for the last couple of weeks. He¡¯s rumored to be looking for someone, or something, but I haven¡¯t heard what, or who, it might be.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Corath turned to the door. She reached out and touched his shoulder. ¡°Would you like to stay for a while? Maybe have something to eat?¡± He stopped and turned back. ¡°I can do that.¡± ### Carter yawned and stretched. His hand hit something hard that slid away with a clatter. Something heavy enough to rock the ground landed nearby. He opened his eyes and glanced around. A rocky wall rose up to his left and the footsteps came from above his head where he lay and to the right. He rolled his head up and around, arching his back as he did, but he couldn¡¯t see anything. He flattened and then sat up before turning. What he saw took his breath away. It was a regal and statuesque silver dragon. It had a beautiful frill that began at the top of its head and flowed all the way down its neck and body to the tip of its tail. The frill was silver towards the body, fading to a purple hue at the edge. The dragon had two long, smooth silver horns with black tips, pointing up and back from its head, a pronounced sharp frill under the chin, which had the rough appearance of a goatee. The dragon also smelled like rain. It stopped and stared down at Carter before sniffing him. ¡°Where did you come from, Little One?¡± The dragon¡¯s voice was a deep bass rumble. It was also masculine. ¡°An arena.¡± Carter blinked rapidly. ¡°How did I end up here ¨C wherever here is?¡± ¡°I do not know.¡± The dragon looked around Carter, checking something out. ¡°When I left my nest, you were not here, yet when I returned, you were.¡± He turned to see where the dragon was looking, and found large, oblong objects nearby. Their coloration was a bit cloudier than that of the dragon. ¡°Are these your eggs?¡± ¡°They are.¡± Carter scrambled away, taking care not to touch any. ¡°My children are unharmed, human.¡± His voice was distinctly amused. ¡°Fortunately for you.¡± ¡°Fortunately, period.¡± The silver dragon brought his head closer, and puffed air in Carter¡¯s face. ¡°Are you trying to intimidate me, dragon?¡± ¡°Belinthrax.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°My name. It is Belinthrax.¡± ¡°Is that your True Name?¡± Belinthrax¡¯ head shot up and he glared down at Carter. ¡°Certainly not. Do you think I am that foolish?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I recently learned of them, and just blurted out the first thing that popped into my head.¡± ¡°Do you often ¡®blurt out the first thing that pops into your head¡¯ as you say?¡± Carter snorted. ¡°According to my wife, I do it all the time.¡± ¡°Very well. I accept your apology. Try not to allow it to happen in the future.¡± Carter peered around, taking in the vista behind Belinthrax. ¡°Are you a human?¡± The dragon brought his head down level with Carter¡¯s. He blinked. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You do not smell as others of your kind.¡± ¡°What do they smell like?¡± ¡°The land and the seas.¡± Belinthrax moved away and curled up next to his eggs, nuzzling them. ¡°You smell like the Abyss and the celestials.¡± ¡°Oh. I spend a lot of time there, trying to find my love.¡± ¡°Your love is your first, and it is faint. Is your love a demon?¡± The dragon shook his head. ¡°Those ¡®loves¡¯ do not last.¡± ¡°Faint?¡± Carter furrowed his brow. ¡°No. She¡¯s not a demon. She¡¯s a Renline.¡± ¡°An elf from the Kelthron Reaches?¡± The dragon rested his head on a rock near Carter¡¯s leg. ¡°I did not know any were still alive.¡± ¡°She was training to be a Keeper from a Vaush-Tauric when we met.¡± His head rose from the rock. ¡°Truly?¡± ¡°Yes, why?¡± ¡°They are usually hermits who do not like to be disturbed from their studies.¡± ¡°Which? Keepers, or Vaush-Taurics?¡± ¡°Vaush-Taurics.¡± ¡°Out of curiosity only - and please, don¡¯t take this as me requesting otherwise ¨C why haven¡¯t you attacked me for being in your nest?¡± ¡°I intend to allow my mate to decide what to do with you.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Carter rose and an icy wind cut across his body. ¡°Bloody hell.¡± He crouched down. ¡°What happened to my clothes?¡± Belinthrax bought his head closer to Carter and sniffed him again. ¡°You seem to have left them behind.¡± ¡°But where? I don¡¯t even know how I got here.¡± Carter peered around, looking for something to cover himself with. ¡°Should you not have wondered that before?¡± ¡°Probably, but I was distracted by meeting a silver dragon.¡± ¡°Platinum.¡± Carter paused. ¡°What?¡± ¡°I am a platinum dragon, not a silver. Silvers are lesser dragons, closer to drakes than full bloods like myself.¡± ¡°I was taught drakes were younger dragons.¡± Belinthrax rumbled. ¡°A myth we allow to perpetrate. No, Burned Celestial, drakes are lesser dragons. There are three types of dragonkind. Full bloods, drakes and wyverns.¡± Carter raised his left hand with middle and index fingers extended. ¡°Two questions. One, why did you call me ¡®Burned Celestial?¡¯¡± His middle finger dropped. ¡°Two, what¡¯re the differences in dragon types?¡± ¡°You smell like a burned celestial, so that is what I named you.¡± The dragon stretched out next to his eggs. ¡°Wyverns have a pair of hind legs instead of a set of four. Where my forelegs are, a wyvern has its wings. They also have a poisonous stinger at the tip of their long, thin tails. Drakes resemble us, but without wings. They¡¯re also a lot smaller than us, with the biggest being only the size of a large horse. We True Bloods are either Chromatic, or Metallic, based on the coloration of our scales.¡± ¡°As a platinum dragon, you¡¯re clearly a Metallic, right?¡± A nod from the dragon confirmed his guess. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you killed me, Belinthrax?¡± ¡°My first instinct was to do so. However, your scent intrigued me enough I decided to satisfy my curiosity instead.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that have been reckless? What if I¡¯d been here to steal your eggs, or smash them?¡± The dragon rumbled. ¡°You would have been encased in a block of ice before you got far.¡± Before Carter could say anything else, a dark shadow covered them, and another platinum dragon landed on the plateau. A feminine voice came from this one. ¡°Why is the Walker of Worlds in our nest and naked?¡± Chapter Sixteen Adora Orwen glared at her celestial guardian, Azrael. The angel stood before her, muscular arms crossed over his broad chest, wings folded against his back. ¡°Why shouldn¡¯t I summon my husband?¡± Her voice lowered the temperature several degrees. ¡°It would not be safe.¡± His voice had the echoing quality that indicated he was speaking with celestial authority. Alistair jogged up. ¡°Your Majesty, you¡¯re not supposed to run off wit¡ª.¡± He spotted the angel, halted beside the queen and bowed. ¡°Lord Azrael.¡± He straightened. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± ¡°He says I¡¯m not supposed to summon Carter.¡± She looked the angel up and down. ¡°You¡¯re here under orders from Chokkan, aren¡¯t you?¡± The angel gave a single nod. Adora rolled her eyes. ¡°Of course.¡± She turned to her general. ¡°We¡¯re not going to get any real answers from him. Lord Chokkan teaches it is not for gods to give mortals all the answers.¡± ¡°Why is that, Adora?¡± The echoing voice persisted. ¡°What would happen if we gave you all the answers to your questions?¡± She paused. ¡®What were my lessons on that? The instructors didn¡¯t dwell on this part for very long.¡¯ An image of a red haired knight at a slate board appeared in her memory. ¡®Oh, yeah. Ser Keered.¡¯ She smiled at the memory, and turned back to the angel who spoke with the voice of the chief deity. ¡°We would stagnate due to not growing, learning, or experiencing life for ourselves.¡± ¡°Correct. While we may ¡®interfere¡¯ in the lives of mortals as your husband puts it, we only want what is best for our children.¡± ¡°How was telling me not to summon Carter not best for me?" ¡°You will learn why soon enough.¡± Pure white light surrounded the angel and when it faded away, he¡¯d vanished. ### ¡°Why do you think I¡¯m the Walker of Worlds?¡± Carter crossed his arms across his chest. The female dragon was engulfed by silvery flames and when they faded, a muscular, broad shouldered and bald woman stood before him. She had gray skin, mottled with dark and light patches and coin sized bone-and-skin growths speckling her arms, shoulders, and torso. Her eyes were a brilliant blue which seemed to glow under her jutting eyebrow ridge. ¡°I knew your grandfather, the previous Walker. You have aspects of his scent.¡± Carter sat on a rock, close to Belinthrax. ¡°Do you know what happened to him?¡± ¡°The last thing I heard of him, he and the new god, Chokkan, were going to honor the great warrior Kandel Orwen.¡± ¡°How could he have been here four thousand years ago?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I do not know. Maybe time moves differently on your world.¡± ¡°How do you know I¡¯m not of this world?¡± ¡°Think about it, Carter.¡± The Walker slapped himself on the forehead. ¡°My grandfather. Duh.¡± She nodded. ¡°Chokkan summoned him to aid in his war with some of the other gods.¡± Carter felt his jaw drop. ¡°My grandfather was summoned to The Realm to help battle gods? ¡°Yes. That is part of the Walker¡¯s duty, to help maintain the multiversal balance.¡± ¡°How do you know all this?¡± ¡°I knew your grandfather¡­ very well.¡± Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon. ¡°Does that mean¡ª?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Carter shuddered. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have asked.¡± A mental image of his grandfather and this female dragon shot through his mind. ¡°Ooh, shouldn¡¯t have visualized. Ugh.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Say, Belinthrax, are you able to shape shift, too?¡± Silvery flames engulfed him, and the platinum dragon stood next to him. He now was about five and a half feet tall, and was slender. Pale-skinned and red-haired, he also had deep green eyes. He wore a simple robe with a thin silver chain around his neck. ¡°No.¡± Carter guffawed. ¡°Smart ass.¡± Icy air wafted over him once more, making him shiver. ¡°What the hells? I was pretty comfortable a few moments ago, now I¡¯m reminded I¡¯m naked and on a mountain.¡± ¡°Apologies, Walker.¡± Belinthrax breathed out a gust of flames, heating the rocks near their eggs a glowing red. ¡°We dragons generate a tremendous amount of body heat, so we do not feel the cold the same as you.¡± Radiant heat wafted over Carter, warming him considerably. He moaned with pleasure. ¡°While this is nice, do you have any spare clothes I could borrow?¡± The female dragon passed him a small pile of folded clothing. ¡°Try these on. They may fit.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± He unfolded simple cotton pants which he slid on and then held up the tunic. While the design was ¨C to his uneducated eye ¨C fancy, it was made from wool. He tugged it on. ¡®Wow. This is so warm.¡¯ He smiled as he glanced down at it. ¡°It fits me so well. Almost as if you knew my size. These bits are amazing.¡± ¡°I have conjured clothing for centuries.¡± She smiled. ¡°And thank you.¡± She passed him stockings and leather boots. ¡°These will fit, too.¡± He chuckled. ¡°From ¡®may fit¡¯ to ¡®will fit.¡¯ I like it.¡± ¡°The first were made for general purposes and these were made specifically for you.¡± ¡°Thank you again.¡± ¡°You are welcome.¡± She sat on a rock near him. ¡°How did you end up here?¡± ¡°As I told your mate, I have no idea. The last thing I remember, I was fighting for my life in Haavastaad¡¯s arena.¡± ¡°And then?¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°I woke up after brushing against something which clattered away.¡± He glanced around. ¡°I was over there.¡± He pointed. Belinthrax walked to where the Walker of Worlds indicated and picked up a skull. ¡°One of my chewing toys. I like to gnaw on it as I ruminate.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± He sighed. ¡°Would either of you be willing and able to get me back to where I was, or to Queen Adora?¡± ¡°Yes to both.¡± The male platinum dragon walked over to stand before Carter. ¡°However, you have a big choice to make.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The choices are rather important for both you, and The Realm.¡± The female dragon said from behind her mate. ¡°If you go back to where you came from ¨C the arena ¨C you will be able to soon after gain an ally that Adora desperately needs.¡± Belinthrax stared intently into Carter¡¯s eyes. The female dragon spoke up. ¡°If you go to her ¨C instead ¨C you¡¯ll soon after learn more about who you are and why you¡¯re here.¡± Carter rose and moved around the eggs, stepping carefully to not disturb them. He shook his head. ¡°What are you leaving out?¡± She dipped her head. ¡°A wise question.¡± Belinthrax nodded. ¡°There are things we¡¯re leaving out.¡± ¡°Possible consequences for your choices.¡± Even in her humanoid form, the female had a distinctly draconic smile ¨C showing too many teeth and a predatory air. ¡°The ally may cost Adora her war. If, that is, you are unable to get them on your side.¡± ¡°Going to her, on the other hand, may help you achieve your destiny faster, but may also cost you her totally.¡± Silvery flames covered the elf and Belinthrax¡¯s dragon form stretched out next to the eggs once more. He lowered his head next to Carter¡¯s. ¡°This we have seen.¡± ¡°Bloody hell.¡± Carter ran his fingers through his hair. ### Dearbhaile strode up the hill to the small hut. ¡®I wonder if L¨ªadan is still here?¡¯ The hut seemed to have been pulled from the hill by magic for its construction. Various dried herbs and flowers hung from the eaves above lintel. Mushrooms lay in a bowl partially covering the opening of a rain barrel. The round wooden door sat open, allowing fresh air to circulate throughout. She crossed the threshold, and waited for her eyes to adjust to the dimness within. Her sharp elven hearing could detect no sounds inside. ¡®Bah. She nae be here.¡¯ Dearbhaile turned her head, bringing her left ear forward. ¡®Me hearing be better from this side, but I still hear no one.¡¯ As her eyes grew accustomed to the near darkness, she was able to make out the details of the small home. A cauldron dangled from a hook over hot coals. The lid danced and jittered as the contents bubbled. Tongs for gripping the lid and a spoon for stirring the contents hung on the wall beside the fireplace. ¡®Should I move or stir it?¡¯ She stepped closer and the whiff of mint and rosehips tickled her nose. ¡®No. She¡¯s brewing a remedy and I don¡¯t know where she is in the process.¡¯ A large table sat nearby, covered with various herbs, flowers, and fungi. Knives hung above a carving board, and behind a mortar and pestle. Jars and bottles of a mix of shapes and sizes rested on a rack hanging from the wall. A calcinator stood with unlit twigs between its legs. One root caught her eye. The brilliant green color drew her in, and she swiftly picked it up and stuck it in her mouth. A sweet explosion hit her tongue and she closed her eyes in bliss. ¡°You¡¯ve never been able to resist slemperwort root.¡± The familiar voice came from behind her. ¡°Even when we were kids.¡± Dearbhaile spun around. ¡°L¨ªadan.¡± The other woman nodded. ¡°Sister.¡± ¡°How have ye been?¡± ¡°Well. Yourself?¡± ¡°Not tae well. Six years ago, I be kidnapped by tha half-demon Belial. I¡¯ve only recently escaped after much torture and torment.¡± ¡°By Kell¨¹n¡¯s drippy asshole, how did you manage that?¡± Dearbhaile laughed. ¡°Yer vulgarity has always amused me, L¨ªadan.¡± The laughter vanished as if it had never existed. ¡°Ah use Blood Magic tae escape.¡± L¨ªadan¡¯s hands flew up to cover her mouth. Face pale, and eyes wide, she stared at her sister. ¡°Tell me you¡¯re joking, please.¡± Chapter 17 Carter glanced around at the arena where he¡¯d been held. Bodies of demons lay here and there. Some were missing body parts, others were whole. All rested on dried puddles of ichor. Seats were broken and destroyed. The walls of the arena had bricks and chunks of mortar missing. As he moved down to the floor of the arena, he spotted bodies embedded in the wall. Some were broken alone the top, and impaled on the spikes that were to protect the spectators. The gates to the prisoner areas were ripped apart and none were behind them. ¡®What happened here?¡¯ He found the cell he¡¯d been in, the graffiti he¡¯d put there to mark his time as a prisoner was the giveaway. He glanced in, not intending to go further. ¡®I spent enough time in that cell. It has nothing for me.¡¯ A sparkle near the back wall caught his attention. ¡®Hold on. What¡¯s that?¡¯ He walked over and reached to pick up the sparkling object. A flash went off behind his eyes and he collapsed. ### The crackling of a torch and chatter of teeth woke him. ¡®Ugh. Being knocked out all the time like this sucks. Feels like my head is trying to pop off.¡¯ He sat up, clutching his head. A slow creaking to his left made him open his eyes and look in that direction. A skeleton stood there opening and closing its jaw. Carter pushed himself to his feet while watching the skeleton. Its jaw opened and closed again before it turned away. ¡®Am I really going to follow a skeleton?¡¯ He moved to the doorway and glanced down the hall after the bony guardian. It moved in a loose-limbed waddle. In the other direction, a solid wall. ¡®I guess so.¡¯ As he walked behind the undead, he noticed a series of scrapes - like nails on rock ¨C and several sharp squeaks. He moved with greater care and stealth. A few moments later, he found himself at an opening to a small, circular chamber. It was cobbled with cracked granite. Four dead bodies were within, three sprawled on the floor, and one standing up with a javelin skewering its skinny chest, pinning it to a wooden door. The bodies were dressed in simple leather armor. Their red skin was dulled by death. Carter stole over to the bodies, and examined them closer. All four had long, floppy ears, bulging yellow eyes and jagged teeth. ¡®Goblins.¡¯ He knelt next to one on the floor and lightly touched it¡¯s skin. ¡®Desiccated. They¡¯ve been dead a month, or more. Rats were at them at one point. Wonder why they stopped eating them?¡¯ A couple squeaks came from behind him. He whirled around, but saw nothing. Water dripped down from above. He followed the wetness upward with his eyes. He tilted his head to stare at the rest of the tower. Loose masonry rose up thirty feet to open and cloudy sky. The intervening floors and stairs were long gone. He returned his attention to the dead goblins and took a step back. Before him were a pair of dire rats. The size of a golden retriever, they were covered in coarse fur that was brown-black in color. Large, yellowed incisors dripped saliva as the two hissed at him. He glanced around and spotted a short sword near a goblin corpse. The rats separated and stalked forward. ¡°Not much time. I hope I get my hand on this sword with my somersault.¡¯ He launched himself forward into a somersault, grasping for the blade. At the same time, the dire rats leaped for him. One flew overhead, but he felt the other¡¯s paw scrape over his head. It wrapped its tail around his neck as his fingers clutched the hilt. The rat around his neck tightened its tail and bit his shoulder. Carter bellowed in pain and chopped backward with the sword. The rat dodged and the blade cut into his shoulder. ¡°Mother fucker!¡± He threw himself back to the floor, managing to land on the dire rat with a crunch of bone. The tail loosened a bit. The other one bit his other shoulder. ¡°Fucking rat.¡± He swung over his body, and managed to nick the second rat on the neck. It squealed and pulled back. Carter quickly reached up and pulled the tail from around his neck. He rose to his feet, stabbing the dazed rat panting on the ground. The remaining rat jumped at him. Intercepting it with the edge of the sword blade, he managed to bisect it due to its own momentum. He leaned over, hands on his knees and panting from the sudden fight. Blood ran down his back and chest from the throbbing bites on his shoulders. ¡®Hope they didn¡¯t have any diseases.¡¯ He straightened and lifted the shirt from his torso. Moving his head back and forth, he tried to get a good look at his injuries, but the angles were all wrong. ¡®Damn it.¡¯ He inspected the doors nearby. One opened to a small room. ¡®Looks like a closet.¡¯ The one with the goblin pinned to it swung open to reveal a narrow chamber. Cold and damp, it was empty except for a tiny shrine, melted candles, and a single, dusty bottle with a red liquid. ¡®Is that a healing potion? Oh, please let that be one.¡¯ He picked it up, opened it, and waved his hand over the opening. Sage and mint scents wafted to his nose. ¡®Ha ha, excellent.¡¯ He tipped the liquid into his mouth and swallowed. A warmth ran through his body and he felt his wounds knit closed. Energy washed through him, bringing a smile to his face. ¡®Ooh, energy rush. Forgot about that part.¡¯ Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. He stopped, eyes wide. ¡®Damn it. I should have saved it. No telling when I¡¯d be able to get another.¡¯ Carter backed out of the shrine room and opened the last door. The masonry walls of the hall were like the tower behind him, crumbling and in disrepair. The far end was especially bad as the ceiling had collapsed, sealing it off. The other end was in better shape. The walls were solid looking and a door sat closed. Leading with the point of the sword, he moved with care to it. The door was stone, and hand a rearing dragon carved on it. A small keyhole sat in the middle of the dragon¡¯s open mouth. ¡®Damn it. I gotta go back and see if I can find a key.¡¯ As he took a step back to the tower, a dire rat leaped from a hidden crevice near the wall. Carter lurched in surprise as the rodent landed on his chest. It bit at his chest. Before it could succeed, he grabbed it by the nape of the neck and flung it to the floor. The rat hit the masonry with a stunned squeal, and before it could recover, Carter ran it through. A glint at its neck caught his attention. ¡®I¡¯m not gonna fall for that again.¡¯ He prodded the object with the tip of his sword and was rewarded with the clink of metal on metal. ¡®Is that a key?¡¯ He bent close. ¡®I¡¯ll be damned. It is. Was this creature someone¡¯s pet?¡¯ He shuddered. ¡®Gross.¡¯ He snapped the string collar around the rodent¡¯s neck and lifted the key. When he slid the key into the dragon¡¯s mouth, a white light shot over the door and it swung open with ease. ¡®Excellent.¡¯ Carter peered into the doorway. The dust of the ages covered the surface of everything in the large gallery beyond. Four alcoves were across from him. When he poked his head further inside, he spied four more along the wall where he stood. Each nook contained a small sphere on a stone plinth, covered in dust, cracked and dark. One at the far alcove shone with a soft green light. Faint music seemed to be coming from it. He gazed upward. ¡®Any animated objects flying overhead? Those suits of armor in the Abyss were difficult to defeat. Left me bruised for weeks.¡¯ The air was as empty as the rest of the gallery. ¡®Good.¡¯ As he approached the orb, the faint music increased in volume and intensity. Carter¡¯s eyes drooped and he turned back the way he came. ¡®Gotta go back.¡¯ He sprinted out of the gallery and when he came back to himself, he was in the tower room with the dead goblins and rats. ¡°What the hell?¡± He peered around. ¡®Oh, interesting. That sphere has a compulsion effect on it. The music must be how it works.¡¯ He jogged back, and when he reached the gallery with the orb, he plugged his ears with his fingers. He approached it and the music was muffled. He studied it, trying to find some way to turn it off. The music grew louder still and he once more sprinted out of the room. ¡°Gods damn it. Back here again?¡± The goblins didn¡¯t respond. Nor did the rats. He sighed. ¡°Guess I¡¯ve got to break it.¡± He scooped up a chuck of broken wall and once again headed to the gallery. ¡®I¡¯m going to try this once, and if I fail, I¡¯m climbing out that tower.¡¯ He looked down at the floor, checking how far he had travelled through the dust previously. ¡®Is it possible to be outside this thing¡¯s range?¡¯ He decided to stop a foot before his footprints did and threw the stone. When the piece of wall collided with the sphere, it shattered with a hiss and the green light faded away. Silence reigned. ¡®That¡¯s good. Let¡¯s see what else is in this room.¡¯ He moved around, studying each plinth and cracked glass sphere. One, near the middle of the wall near where he entered had one side worn smoother than the rest of them. ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯ He lightly touched the base of the crystal sphere where it was smoothest. A click sounded. With a rumble of ancient gears, a section of wall slid into the ground, spilling a cloud of dust. ¡°That¡¯s interesting.¡± He entered the doorway and found himself in another dusty hallway. It spanned about twenty feet from one side to the other. Red-veined marble statues lined the hall. Each resembled an elf in primitive armor. The far end of the hallway ended in a wide stone arch which opened into a broad room from which a yellowish light emanated. A dark pit started about three feet after the terminus of the corridor. Dust coated the everything, floors, walls, and statues. ¡®Wait a second. That dust is disturbed.¡¯ Carter moved closer to an empty plinth. ¡®Hmm. More dust. Means whatever moved this dust did so a while ago.¡¯ He straightened and moved into the room with the pit. The yellow light came from within. He peered over and spotted upright spikes rising from the floor. ¡°That would suck to land on.¡± The flap of leathery wings caught his attention. ¡®I¡¯m not alone in here.¡¯ He looked around, but didn¡¯t see anything. ¡°Come out, come out, whoever you are.¡± The flapping came closer and a winged humanoid came into the light from the other side of the room. It seemed more pitiful than frightening at first glance, a hunchback-like monstrosity about the size of a dwarf with arms nearly as long as its body. Its distended mouth was full of cracked, yellow teeth, and its red eyes glared at Carter with unabated loathing. ¡°Dretch.¡± As if naming it was the signal it was waiting for, the demon flew across the pit and attacked. Carter waited with his sword angled tip forward and hilt back near his shoulder. The dretch swiped at his face with a long arm, claws at the end of its hand extended to rip at his flesh. The Walker drove his sword forward and around in an arc to intercept the assault. The dretch yanked its arm back and flew in a tight circle. It attacked with its other arm. He again arced his sword around to parry the demon. The dretch again safely withdrew its arm and flew in a circle, this time going in the other direction. Carter kept his eyes on the demon, and reached down to the floor to collect a rock. The demon paused its flying to hover in place, watching. He straightened and threw the rock before the demon could react. The stone flew true and hit the demon on the forehead, knocking it backward. ¡°You broke the pact! I am free!¡± The demon¡¯s yell was gleeful and it flew near the ceiling, out of Carter¡¯s reach. It ignored him as it moved out of the area and down the hall. ¡®It could talk?¡¯ Carter glanced down the hall and then shook his head. ¡®Weird.¡¯ ### Sera stalked down the mausoleum¡¯s hall to its central chamber. ¡®Drago consorts with all sorts of disgusting beings in his desire to win this war.¡¯ She paused next to an ornate sarcophagus. ¡®If I didn¡¯t know any better, I¡¯d swear he is as evil as those damned half-elves.¡¯ She rapped on the lid with the back of her knuckles. The richly carved lid slid to the side and an elf dressed in archaic, yet richly appointed clothing sat up. ¡°I wish you would not do that, Sera. It is rude and uncultured.¡± The elf¡¯s voice was soft and breathy. ¡°I¡¯m not going to say your name three times, Betelgeuse.¡± ¡°I cry your pardon?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a reference to my world. Never mind.¡± ¡°Fascinating.¡± ¡°On your feet, vampire. Lord Drago has a mission for you.¡± ¡°As you wish, Rishka.¡± He swung his legs over the side of the coffin and rose. She sighed. ¡°I¡¯m still not your beloved.¡± ¡°No one and nothing can change my mind. You are sacred to me.¡± ¡®Okay, that was actually sweet.¡¯ Outwardly, she rolled her eyes. ¡°Whatever. Lord Drago wants you to track down Adora and kill her.¡± ¡°Does he have a preference for how he wishes for her to die?¡± ¡°Just make it as public as possible. Let her people see no one is beyond his reach.¡± He swept forward in a bow. ¡°As the Lord commands.¡± She nodded. ¡°Good.¡± The vampire took her hand in his larger, colder one and brushed his lips across her knuckles. ¡°One day, Rishka, I hope to show you how much I care for you.¡± She stared at him. ¡°We haven¡¯t had that many interactions, so how much could you really care?¡± He placed his hand on his chest, over his heart. ¡°You wound me.¡± He took her hand again. ¡°You enhance my life like no one else, in ways I never imagined.¡± ¡°You have your mission, Deoradh¨¢n.¡± He paused. ¡°As you wish, my lady.¡± He griped the side of his cape in his right hand, swept it over to his left shoulder and vanished. ¡®As if I¡¯d have anything to do with a knife-ear, much less a vampire.¡¯ Her upper lip curled in a sneer. Chapter Eighteen Carter entered yet another dust-covered room. Cracked and broken scarlet-hued marble tiles covered the floor. Dingy and splintery wooden panels covered the walls he could see. The rest of the room was filled with floor to ceiling shelves. Faded spines lined the shelving. Unusual script flowed along the book bindings in tarnished filigree. He wandered the library, unsure of what he was searching for. Near the middle of the repository, a tome caught his eye. It looked recently used and had a glow about it. He reached up and pulled it down. The dark purple book had brassbound pages of parchment. The cover was made of demon leather. It was held shut by a clasp in the shape of a four-fingered demonic hand. When he lifted the clasp and opened the cover, the words within seemed like they tried to leap off the page into his head. With all his will, Carter managed to yank the book down and away from his eyes. ¡®That was a clever trap.¡¯ He set the dangerous book on a nearby table before scrubbing his face with his hands. ¡®What kind of place am I in where a copy of the Daemonum would be in a library, casually displayed?¡¯ He returned his attention to the tome, running his thumb and index finger over his mustache and bearded chin. ¡®What should I do with you? You¡¯re sure to be valuable, but I¡¯m not sure how yet.¡¯ His thumb brushed over the scar on his cheek. ¡®Alright, I¡¯m going to try to read this once more. Maybe the trap was a single use deal.¡¯ He reached for the cover and paused. ¡®I hope so anyway.¡¯ He flipped the cover open again. The script swirled around before smoothing into legible words. ¡°Despite barely surviving my trap, you would continue? Very well. Many are they who would gladly have knelt before me, promising their fortunes, their families, their very souls to possess the volume you now hold in your hands. No matter how mighty you believe yourself to be, no matter how great your imagined knowledge¡ªon matters of demon scholarship, you are a feckless neophyte in my sight. ¡°Was it wise to set hard-won knowledge to paper and bind it in this tome so sneak thieves such as yourself could creep away with it? Perhaps not. But unless you are a new type of idiot, you know that I am hunting you as you read this. So find what knowledge you can in this book, for the time in which it might succor you is short.¡± He blinked at the two pages of threat and braggadocio. ¡®Who wrote this?¡¯ He flipped through the book and turned it on its back. In the lower right of the back, near the spine, he spotted the author¡¯s sigil. The design featured the infinity symbol turned sideways with a double-barred cross located at the midpoint. ¡®Piamon?¡¯ His eyebrows rose. ¡®While the arrogance sounds like him, associating with demons does not. I wonder what brought this on?¡¯ Piamon was a famous paladin of Chokkan who, prior to Carter, was known for surviving the longest in the Abyss. Normally an easygoing and jovial man who had given the clothing off his body to those in need, when the subject of demons came up, he became a brusque, stoic warrior. It was rumored his hatred of demons was what prevented him from ascending to fight at Chokkan¡¯s side. Carter shrugged. ¡®A mystery for another time.¡¯ He carried the book to a wooden door and opened it. A ten-foot square chamber on the other side was hewn from stone. Crudely drawn symbols and glyphs covered the walls. A pit in the center contained a still burning fire. On the other side of the blaze, another door sat open. A small wooden table sat on the wall next to the door. Meat, in various bits of butchery lay on the table next to roots, fungi, and eating implements. A small reptilian creature came into the room, focused on the table. Its scales went from reddish-brown along its neck to black near its clawed hands and feet. Small tan horns wrapped around its head and ended at points next to its temples. Its long jaw reminded Carter of that of an alligator, long and with a rounded snout. The creature used its sinewy and digitigrade legs to leap onto the table where it swept ingredients into a cauldron. Carter moved closer to the creature which spun and flung a knife at him in the same motion. He managed to use the book in his hands to deflect the attack. ¡°What the hells? Why did you attack me?¡± ¡°Youse startled Rhipon.¡± The reptilian¡¯s voice was gravelly, and yet feminine. ¡°And your reflexive response was to fling a knife at me?¡± She nodded. ¡°Ise small. Has to bees on guard.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± He stepped closer, and she raised another knife. He lifted his hands to show they were empty except for the book. ¡°I¡¯m not going to attack you.¡± ¡°What youse doing?¡± ¡°I¡¯m trying to find my way out so I can return home.¡± ¡°Youse is escaping?¡± Carter raised his left eyebrow. ¡°Is it escaping if you weren¡¯t imprisoned?¡± ¡°How youse get in?¡± ¡°I was in the arena and I found something shiny in a cell. When I touched it, I was knocked out and came to in here.¡± ¡°Youse must go to a cell.¡± He stiffened. ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°Lady Haavastaad doesn¡¯t like when prisoners wander around.¡± ¡°Really?¡± His voice went deep as he grinned. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind running into her.¡± ¡°I must insist youse go back.¡± ¡°I must refuse.¡± The reptilian raised her clawed left hand. The long, thin fingers wreathed in an orange light. The magic cast sinister shadows over her crocodilian maw. A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. ¡°Youse has no choice.¡± Carter threw the Daemonum sideways in an arc at the magic user¡¯s face and ran in behind it. She raised her glowing hand and a blast of force shot out, deflecting the book and causing Carter to stumble. He regained his balance and leaped at the table, chopping his sword down at her head. She jumped to the side, but he managed to cut a furrow down her left arm. She cried out and the magic vanished. He stood above the tiny mage. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± She glared up at him while holding her injured limb. ¡°Lady Haavastaad will kill youse.¡± Her voice was filled with venom. ¡°Probably not.¡± He stabbed the reptilian through the chest. He picked up the book and went into the area she¡¯d come out of. The odor of rotten meat filled the air, nearly causing him to gag. He swallowed and lifted his shirt collar over his nose. ¡°Fucking hells.¡± A look around showed several rusty hooks on the walls, some filled with skinned and flyblown carcasses of large rats. Mushrooms sat on low shelves next to herbs and roots. A few large cave cricket corpses lay on a cluttered table nearby. An open door at the far end showed a long corridor. Crumbling and broken flagstones lined the floor. A couple of near pristine cobblestones made him wary. He poked them with the tip of his sword. The one on his left fell into a pit filled with spikes. When he poked the one on the right, it too fell into the pit, but there was a small, narrow, bridge going across left behind. ¡®Do I risk crossing this, or do I try jumping over and possibly fall in?¡¯ Carter scratched his forehead and then drew his index finger and thumb over the sides of his chin. ¡®On the one hand, this tiny thing could crumble under my weight.¡¯ He leaned over and tapped the bridge with the hilt of his sword. ¡®On the other, the rest of the floor could.¡¯ He straightened and studied the rest of the floor on the other side of the trap. ¡®I¡¯m going to go for it.¡¯ He backed up to the end of the hall and ran forward. About a foot before the edge of the pit, he jumped, pushing off the floor as hard as he could. He flew through the air and he landed on the other side, hitting the floor and rolling towards the other closed door. A second later, he popped up to his feet. He opened the door and found another hallway. Deterioration and decay ruled here just as in the rest of the place. Three rows of marble columns carved in the form of dragons marched down the hall, two to the sides, and the third down the center. Three more reptilians patrolled in a circle near the middle of the corridor. One had black scales, another white, and the last had green, blue and yellow. Carter walked towards them, sword at his side. When the little creatures spotted him, they fanned out, pointing their spears at him. ¡°Where youse come from?¡± The question came from one with ebony scales. He jerked his thumb back over his shoulder. ¡°Back there.¡± ¡°How youse get in here?¡± The white scaled one spoke up. ¡°Magic.¡± The three looked at each other and squeaked at each other. ¡°Um, look guys, I just want to get out of here.¡± The reptilians ignored him. He waved his hand. ¡°Guys?¡± No response. ¡°Hey, lizards.¡± His voice being several octaves deeper made them shut up and glare at him. ¡°Thank you.¡± He slid his sword behind his belt. ¡°Now, how do I get out of here?¡± The multicolored one spoke this time. ¡°Youse must talk with Queenly.¡± ¡°Okay, where is this Queenly?¡± ¡°Follow.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± When they moved back the way he came, his eyes widened. ¡®Shit.¡¯ He travelled with them back to where he¡¯d left the dead female. ¡®Do I bullshit them and say it wasn¡¯t me, or should I run?¡¯ The reptilians froze at the sight of the fallen one. The clack of wood hitting the floor sounded briefly as their spears fell from their hands. The trio clustered around the female and they squeaked at one another. Carter watched them mourn and felt a bit sorry for them. ¡®Wish I could do something for them.¡¯ He laced his hands together, index fingers up, and extended before touching his nose with them. ¡®Irrational, considering I killed her to defend myself, but still.¡¯ The multi-colored one raised its head and whipped it around to glare at him. ¡°Youse.¡± He lowered his hands and positioned his left near the hilt of his sword. ¡°It wasn¡¯t me.¡± ¡°Youse came from here.¡± He shrugged. ¡°It was the one-armed man.¡± The reptilian got to its feet. Carter shook his head. ¡°Don¡¯t do it.¡± It darted forward to pick up its spear. The Walker of Worlds lunged forward, drawing his sword and stabbed the small creature through the neck. It gurgled and collapsed. He glanced over and noticed the other two staring at him, lips curled in rage. ¡°Mourn your friends and forget you ever saw me.¡± He returned his sword to his belt, turned and exited the room, closing the door behind him. He then sprinted down the hall, back to where he¡¯d first encountered the reptilians. Spotting two doors, he tossed open the nearest and then ducked into the second, shutting it after him. Six small humanoids were chained to a pillar to his right. The chains were thick and rusted. The stink of filth and sewage punched him in the nose. Dull blue eyes stared at him. Broken weapons and shields lay in a careless pile nearby. He held his finger before his lips and hid behind the door. Several minutes passed. The prisoners stared at him. The door opened at last and a reptilian with white scales entered. ¡°Youse see a hume?¡± They stared at it, silent. It shook its head. ¡°Stupid slaves.¡± Carter stepped forward, thrusting his sword. The tip punched into the reptilian at the base of its skull. It dropped to the ground without a sound. As he stepped back, the prisoners shifted. One waved his fingers and the dead reptilian vanished. Moments later, one with ebony scales entered. ¡°Where Meeker?¡± Carter made to repeat his last attack, but something caused the reptilian to spin to see him. It managed to raise its spear in time to deflect his strike to the side. Instead of it doing into its neck, the blade sliced through the reptilian¡¯s cheek. The reptilian shrieked in pain and thrust its spear at him. Carter dodged to the side and somehow grabbed the shaft of the weapon in his left hand. A second later, it was almost ripped from his hand, but he barely held on. When the creature jerked on the spear again, Carter allowed the motion to propel him forward, chopping down with his sword. The reptilian raised its hand to shield itself. His sword cleaved it in two. As the little reptilian shrieked, it released the spear and Carter yanked it away. He spun at the same time and slashed its throat, putting the thing out of its misery. The chained humanoids whispered among themselves and then chanted, ¡°Savior! Savior! Savior!¡± Carter waved his hands to gain their attention, and when they quieted, said, ¡°Do any of you little people know where I can get the keys to free you?¡± One with a ragged goatee spoke up. ¡°We¡¯re gnomes, not little people.¡± ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°Check the brightly colored kobold. He might have them on his belt.¡± ¡°Of course he would.¡± Carter jogged back to where he left the multi-colored being. ¡®Kobold? Hunh. Wonder why I¡¯ve never heard of them before now?¡¯ He found a set of rusty keys on his belt and pulled them free. ¡®Then again, I¡¯ve never heard of gnomes before either.¡¯ He returned to the chained gnomes and unchained them all. The first gnome who¡¯d spoken to him seemed to be the leader. ¡°Thank you, Sir. I am Raniero and these are my companions.¡± ¡°I am Lavitz, called The Patchwork Knight.¡± Raniero glanced to the others and then back to Carter. ¡°We have heard to this Patchwork Knight. He¡¯s supposedly called so because of the many patches¡ª.¡± ¡°In my leather armor which was left¡­ somewhere.¡± Raniero¡¯s light eyebrows went up. ¡°You don¡¯t know where you left your armor? Isn¡¯t that dangerous?¡± Carter nodded. ¡°It is, indeed.¡± He turned back to the door. ¡°In the meantime, I have to find my way out of here, and back to my tasks.¡± ¡°We can help you with part of that, if you¡¯d allow it.¡± ¡°You know the way out?¡± Carter looked back. ¡°Excellent. Let¡¯s go.¡± Chapter 19 Smoke and the screams of the dying filled the air. Adora didn¡¯t know where to turn. Her guardsmen were all either slain, or scattered. Alistair and Angriz were off leading other segments of her army, trying to push back this surge of demons. She stumbled to a halt as the ground shook beneath her feet. It mounded up like a blister and then exploded. First, four large, sharp looking horns rose from the dirt. Next, an iridescent azure exoskeleton appeared. Then, the creature¡¯s eight emerald eyes and slavering jaws which opened and closed ninety degrees from normal ascended. ¡®Great, a Tigellio. Just what I didn¡¯t need.¡¯ She threw a hurried glance around. None were aware of the demon, caught up in their own issues. ¡®Damn, I wish Carter were here,¡¯ she thought for the tenth time that morning. The fiend shook the dirt from its carapace and peered around. Spotting prey, it lurched after it, moving faster than she expected. ¡®Oh no you don¡¯t.¡¯ She swung her mace as hard as she could. The weapon thundered into the demon¡¯s shell, sending cracks through the chitin. The Tigellio stopped and turned. As it did, a yellowish light rose from the fissures in its back and as it faded, she saw the thing had healed. It turned ponderously and swiped at her with an immense claw. She ducked, and leaped up, striking the beast¡¯s mandible, cracking it. The demon bellowed and smote her in the side. She sailed through the air and hit an oak hard enough to dislodge leaves. She felt a pop deep in her chest as her breath left her in a white hot rush. There came a sickening crunch as she hit the ground awkwardly and her leg broke. Her vision shrunk down to a deep black pinpoint. She wanted to scream from the agony, but was unable to draw a breath. She heard a high-pitched whistling and then a sullen boom. An instant later, she was drenched by a wave of a foul smelling gleet. Her stomach rebelled but a hot fingertip grazed her forehead. A heartbeat later, her stomach settled and her pain was gone. Her now clear gaze beheld the being before her. His head was haloed by the sun. He stood nine feet tall, and five across his shoulders. Two enormous white wings spread out from each shoulder, and then swept back to rest against his body. Bulging muscles rippled under his golden skin. He was bald, yet the most beautiful, perfect being she¡¯d ever seen. ¡°Azrael,¡± she breathed. The angel gave her a brief nod and snapped his wings wide. A searing white light radiated from him and expanded outward. She blinked her watering eyes, and the light vanished along with the angel. She peered at the remnants of the Tigellio and got to her feet. Adora looked around and spotted her mace several feet away. As she ran to it, a L¡¯Arc dropped in front of her, folding her wings back over her shoulder. The scent of decayed vanilla hit Adora, making her lip curl in disgust. Or maybe it was the nudity of the temptress demon. ¡°Pretty little queen, all alone, and with no weapon. How sad.¡± The demon¡¯s voice was poisoned honey. The queen smiled. ¡°Poor little demon. Unaware of what I am.¡± The beautiful demon¡¯s brow wrinkled. ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± Adora punched at the demon. The L¡¯Arc smirked as the queen¡¯s fist his her jaw. Adora cried out and shook her hand. ¡°Foolish human. You can do noth¡ª¡± The WarPriest¡¯s vermillion fist collided with the demon¡¯s skull, sending holy fire through her and knocking her on her ass. The demon jumped to her feet, holding her smoking jaw. ¡°A warpriest is never without a weapon.¡± Adora brought both fists up to head level. The L¡¯Arc screamed and swung her claws. Adora ducked and swayed away from the attack. She rotated her torso around, staying away from the wild assault. The demon swiped at the queen with her left hand. Adora rocked her body under and around the strike which flew over her head. She completed her rotation with a punch to the side of the demon¡¯s head. The L¡¯Arc stumbled back, dropping to her butt before scrambling backward and returning to her feet. She screamed again, and charged, throwing wild, arcing claw swipes. Adora ducked or swayed away from each before catching the demon with a left hooking punch that flared vermillion just before impact. A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. The L¡¯Arc stumbled backward, black ichor leaking from her nose and mouth. The WarPriest lunched forward. The demon threw a swipe upward, hoping to catch her opponent coming in. Adora ducked to the left and launched and overhand right that exploded against the demon¡¯s forehead. The L¡¯Arc collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut. Adora bent and picked up her mace. ¡°You fought well, demon.¡± A mental command suffused the weapon with celestial magic. ¡°However, you are a demon, and an invader.¡± She swung the mace in a short arc. The flanged head tore through the demon¡¯s skull. She took a deep breath and jogged to where she¡¯d last seen her army. The midday sun seemed incongruous with the torn up and muddy ground from the battle. Honeysuckle and jasmine twinned with blood, smoke and viscera to create a schizophrenic symphony of scents. As she ran, the ground shook and an odd shrieking filled the air. She stopped and stared at the huge demon now striding across the battlefield. It was about nine feet tall and was wide as a house. It was humanoid in shape and walked on its knuckles. The oversized hands were tipped with emerald claws. It had a head like an elephant with long, curved tusks, small rheumy yellow eyes, and a long coiling truck tipped with a thick spike. As it marched, the truck would lash out and alternately wrap around and throw one of her soldiers, or pull one into its mouth. ¡°Bloody hell. That¡¯s an apocalypse mammoth.¡± The words sounded like they were squeezed out of her lungs. She pulled the blood-filled phial from under her armor. ¡®We¡¯re going to need Carter for this.¡¯ ### The screams echoed off the stone walls and faded away. A large fire pit sent dancing shadows through the room. Another scream sounded as the dark-haired dwarf in blood begrimed clothes pushed a finger into a wound in a human¡¯s chest who screamed in agony. The dwarf withdrew his finger, wiped it on a rust brown rag and picked up a quill pen. Dipping it into an inkwell, he made a few notations and blotted the parchment as his subject sobbed. He gestured and a pair of orcs turned large cranks, rotating the table with the prisoner until it was flat. Ignoring the man¡¯s begging, he took up a thin bladed knife, and then sliced a line from the man¡¯s left shoulder, across his chest to his right. Then, he did the same at the human¡¯s waist, from hip to hip, ignoring the wails of pain. A line was cut down the center of his torso, connecting the other two. The prisoner shrieked even louder than he had before. Blood gushed from the new wound. The dwarf placed the blade next to other sharp instruments and picked up a wooden bowl. Gathering some of the contents in his bloody hand, he sprinkled it over the human while chanting. The orcs watched the black powder begin to glow and change color as it liquefied. Wherever the magic liquid touched, the blood withdrew into the man. The two looked at each other, and then back to the dwarf. He pulled the wound wide, eliciting a scream that sounded like it tore the human¡¯s throat. A sharp foul odor flooded the room as the tortured man voided his bowels. To the amazement of the orcs, no further blood flowed from the injuries. They stepped closer to better see, drawing the dwarf¡¯s attention. ¡°You appear puzzled, my friends.¡± His voice was smooth, powerful. They nodded. ¡°Allow me to hypothesize. You desire to know why the human¡¯s lifeblood no longer flows.¡± Another nod from both. ¡°The conjuration is named ¡®Prohibere Sanguinem.¡¯ It maintains life while I conduct my experimentations.¡± The orc to the left spoke. ¡°Why you experiment, Master?¡± ¡°I seek knowledge of better interrogation techniques.¡± The one on the right tilted his head. ¡°What information you seek?¡± Drago stared at him, stone faced. ¡°You¡¯re joking.¡± ¡°From new tortures.¡± The dark-skinned dwarf giggled. ¡°Why, for when I get my hands on Keeper Dearbhaile, of course. I will learn the secrets of the Vaush-Tauric, and I will find where and who the Walker of Worlds is. And then I will become a god.¡± The left most orc spoke up again. ¡°What Vaush-Toric?¡± ¡°A Vaush-Tauric is a sage among dragons. These learned beings are the most powerful of their race, just below the avatars of their gods.¡± A door at the far end of the room opened. Moving with a swiftness that belied their bulk, the orcs slipped between their master and the opened door. One orc drew a hammer from his hip and muttered a command word. Seconds later, the small tool expanded into a huge War-hammer with a wicked looking spike at the opposite end of the blunt one. A bluish glow surrounded the head. The other unhooked a coiled chain and stretched it out with a rattle, spinning the large spiked ball at the end. The two prepared themselves to fight to their deaths to protect their lord from the intruder. None were allowed to disturb him in his laboratory. When the human dressed in deer skin, with shoulder length, curly brown hair entered, the orcs dropped to a knee and placed their left hands over their right chest, covering their hearts and offering their fealty as their weapons clattered on the floor. Sera flicked her gaze over them and walked past, ignoring the orcs¡¯ salutes. She didn¡¯t care for the ugly creatures, always cringing in the face of a superior foe, and then plotting behind its back. Like the demons, but mortal. Drago continued his experiments, unconcerned with who might have entered. The orcen warriors would have given him enough time to prepare for any enemy. Though she hadn¡¯t seen him in battle, she knew enough about his training regimen to believe he¡¯d be a formidable enemy. ¡°You know that won¡¯t actually work, right?¡± He turned to face her. ¡°What do you mean ¡®it won¡¯t work¡¯? Why wouldn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Those being tortured will tell you whatever they think you want to hear to get the pain to stop, regardless as to its veracity.¡± ¡°That cannot be.¡± She raised her eyebrows. ¡°Want to bet?¡± Without waiting for the Dwarf¡¯s answer, she crossed to the bound human. ¡°Is the man torturing you a dragon?¡± He stared up at her, his pupils dilated. ¡°N-no.¡± She held her hand open above the prisoner. ¡°Baseline question. Now, we test.¡± Sera picked up a thin needle from the cart next to the table. Tenderly lifting his right hand, she carefully and slowly inserted it under the nail of his index finger. The man¡¯s shriek was blood curling. She then yanked the needle out, eliciting fresh screams. Gently cupping his cheek, she hushed him, soothing his terror. After he quieted once more she looked deeply into his eyes as she pulled Drago forward. ¡°Now, what is he? Tell me true, and the pain will cease.¡± The human whimpered. ¡°It¡¯s okay. You will not be punished.¡± The man panted. ¡°A dragon, milady.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She then punched her knuckles into his throat, crushing his windpipe. ¡°You see?¡± ¡°Alright, so torture is useless for extracting real information, but why did you kill him?¡± ¡°I gave my word.¡± ¡°Now I have to get another.¡± ¡°Unfortunately, my lord Drago.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Or.¡± He raised his right eyebrow. ¡°Or?¡± ¡°Or, you could refocus on winning hearts and minds.¡± ¡°Do you think that will aid me in achieving my goal of becoming a god?¡± ¡°I do not know how apotheosis works, but I do know that having the people on your side would help you achieve Lucas¡¯ task.¡± Drago sneered. ¡°I don¡¯t like him either, Lord Drago, but do we seriously need another powerful enemy at this point?¡± ¡°You make good points, Sera. I am glad Belial summoned you to this world.¡± Chapter Twenty The gnomes led him down a corridor. The section ahead was dark. Raniero pulled a stick wrapped with jute and used a flint to ignite it. The acrid tang of pitch filled the hall as the torch ignited. Carter noticed the hall ahead was a shattered and ruined mess, widening out into a large open space filled with tumbled stone, broken masonry, and bare earth. A pool of stagnant water was nearby. As the group entered the cavern, the ground under their feet trembled for a moment, and then a rumbling sound filled the air. Seconds later, a huge, three-armed monster erupted from the ground, scattering dirt and debris everywhere. Its gaping, jagged tooth-filled maw at the top of its head snapped hungrily. The creature had a wide, pebbly, and rocky body resting upon three stumpy legs. Six eyes opened above each arm. ¡°Be careful, Lavitz.¡± Raniero held out his free arm. ¡°That¡¯s a norz. They¡¯re immune to fire, electricity and slashing damage.¡± Carter glanced down at the sword in his hand. ¡°Well, this is useless.¡± He stuck it behind his belt. ¡°There may not be a need for a fight, though.¡± ¡°Really? Why?¡± ¡°The norz may simply be looking for food.¡± ¡°What does it eat?¡± The rocky monster made a sound like gravel being crushed. A gnome with a ponytail made a similar noise and then spoke to the others. ¡°The norz is hungry and wishes to barter for any minerals we may have.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any on me,¡± Carter said. ¡°I lost my things a couple of days ago and haven¡¯t been able to get back to them.¡± ¡°I have siderite.¡± Raniero pulled a large chunk of the reddish mineral from his pack. ¡°What does the norz have?¡± The ponytailed gnome spoke with the creature and then said, ¡°It has hypersthene.¡± Everyone stiffened. The rare gem was worth kingdoms. ¡°How much?¡± Carter¡¯s voice was strained. The ponytailed gnome crunched at the norz and then gasped. Carter placed his hand on the gnome¡¯s shoulder. ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°It has thirty pounds and it thinks hypersthene is worthless. It knows of a huge vein in the UnterRealm.¡± ¡°Whe¡ª?¡± The Walker of Worlds was limned in a silvery light and then vanished in a flash of brilliant white. ### Carter appeared in the middle of chaos. His Moment of Prescience activated, slowing the world to a crawl. A charging demon that looked like a horrific cross between a silverback gorilla and an Asian elephant from his home world rammed its tusks into his chest via his back and then flung him as it trampled Adora underfoot sending a wide splatter of blood and gore across the ground. Things slammed back into normal speed and he dove at Adora, knocking her to the right and out of range of the demon. He curled himself into a ball and peered up in time to see the demon run overhead. ¡®Ew, it¡¯s anatomically correct for a bull elephant.¡¯ The inane thought ran through his mind as he jumped to his feet. He ran over to Adora and picked her up to her feet. ¡°What did you summon me into, woman?¡± ¡°We need help with that maledict demon.¡± She pointed and he turned to see it returning. ¡°Fucking hell. I don¡¯t have my equipment.¡± This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. ¡°Why not?¡± They dove apart, barely missing the demon¡¯s charge. ¡°I¡¯m still trying to figure that part out.¡± He got up. ¡°I have an idea. Let me borrow your mace.¡± He held out his hand. ¡°What do you have in mind?¡± He grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll see.¡± The maledict came to a sliding halt and turned. ¡°Be careful.¡± She passed him her weapon. ¡°Aren¡¯t I always?¡± He charged to meet the rush of the huge demon. ¡°Not in all the time I¡¯ve known you, my love.¡± She said it quietly, certain he wouldn¡¯t hear it. Carter ducked under the maledict demon¡¯s swipe and smashed Adora¡¯s mace into its knee. The fiend roared with pain as its limb buckled. Carter stood to the side as the huge demon collapsed. He redirected its swipe at his head to his right and spun inside its reach. He then grabbed the mace handle with both hands and brought the weapon down with all his strength on its head. The maledict¡¯s skull gave way with a sound like a breaking watermelon. Before he could celebrate, seven L¡¯Arc demons landed around him. *** A black rift appeared in the air before Adora. The center glowed red as a demon stepped through. A tall, crimson-skinned figure with the head of a moose, and a rack of blood-soaked antlers jutting from his skull stood before her. His eyes were deep pools of black, which smoldered with a crimson spark of malignant intelligence. The figure¡¯s torso and arms were those of a hairy, muscular man, but his lower half was like a minotaur¡¯s, ending in legs with cloven hooves. The menacing figure brandished a large mace with an antlered head much like his own. Adora stared at him, eye bulging. Her body trembled and her jaw clenched. Unnoticed sweat ran down her face. As she backed away, her legs felt like they were going to give way at any moment. The demon took a single step towards her, and she fell to the ground, shaking her head. ¡°Nononononono.¡± The denial fell from her lips. *** Carter moved in a tight circle as he studied each of the L¡¯Arcs. In a sudden flurry of movement, they attacked. One ran in and jumped, throwing a clawed hand at his face. He leaned back and as she landed from her miss, he swung the mace and smashed in the back of her skull. Two others attacked. One threw out a left handed swipe while the one next to her threw out her right a second later. He knocked away the first strike with the handle of the mace and blocked the second with the top. His right leg swung out and he kicked the first attacker¡¯s left knee, buckling it, and then rammed his left shoulder into the chest of the second, the impact sending her to the ground. A fourth bellowed as she attacked from behind with an overhand right punch. He spun around and deflected it with his left elbow. He then straightened his arm, sending the back of his fist into her face. As the demon recoiled, a fifth punched at his head. Carter rotated his right arm, blocking her strike with the mace. He stepped forward and head-butted her in the nose. The demon¡¯s nose broke with a crunch and black blood gushed out as she stumbled back, putting clawed hands to cover the afflicted area. A sixth demon threw a roundhouse kick at his body. He caught her leg, dropping his mace. He then threw his left elbow forward into her pelvis. The demon dropped with a scream, clutching her groin. The seventh demon bent to retrieve the weapon. He stepped forward and rammed his knee into her face. The L¡¯Arc was driven upward into his downward elbow. Her neck snapped. When the queen screamed, he whipped around. He saw the demon raise its massive club. ¡°Adora!¡± His bellow was loud enough to catch her attention. ¡°Catch!¡± He hurtled her mace and she raised her hand. The weapon went from flipping end over end to flying handle first into her hand. She swung it into the demon¡¯s leg, but it didn¡¯t even react. The demon reached down, gripped her by the neck and hoisted her in the air. She kicked and swung her mace at the demon¡¯s arm. It drew its massive club back. Carter could see what was coming. ¡°Noooo!¡± His cry was loud enough to get her attention. As Adora looked at him, he launched into an all-out sprint. The demon swung. ¡°Please, please, please. Let me get there in time.¡± Tears rolled down his face which felt like it was on fire. His gaze was locked on the demon¡¯s arm. He strained for it, visualizing himself getting in the way of its strike. His muscles tensed and tightened. Everything else faded away. Men stopped their battle cries, their screams of pain and shouts of determination. The roars, bellows and noises of the other demons dropped. Wind against his face from his run disappeared. A rut in the earth, barely wide enough for his foot to fall in, tripped him up. In his heedless drive to save his wife, he was unable to maintain his balance and he hit the ground in a belly flop. The impact with the ground knocked the breath from him for a moment. He shook off the pain and shoved himself upward. His fall knocked him out of his panic induced tunnel vision. No one and nothing moved. ¡®What the fuck?¡¯ He stared around, finding impossible things. Demons were frozen in mid-leap. Fireballs, ice-bolts, arrows, and streaks of lightning hung in the air. Adora¡¯s soldiers were caught with weapons stilled from their attacks - some in the bodies of demons, some whiffed with their enemies having dodged out of the way and a couple were in the bodies of their fellows having over committed to their swings. A demon paused with its face buried in the guts of a warrior as another held the heart of its opponent in its upraised claw, blood hanging down in the air. Carter returned his gaze to the moose-headed demon and was mesmerized by the glowing silvery blue and green tether attached to its back. He walked up to the demon and reached out to touch the light. Before his hand could touch it, a feeling like a shock ran through his nerves as it bent away from him. He yanked his hand away and the light returned to its previous place. ¡®How the hell is everything else frozen but this?¡¯ Chapter 21 Dearbhaile stared at her sister. ¡°What do ye mean?¡± ¡°Blood magic has devastating repercussions.¡± ¡°Ye use it.¡± ¡°Yes, and I was banished from our village.¡± ¡°What do ye mean, ¡®banished?¡¯¡± ¡°Mam and da said ye¡¯d run away because ye did nae want tae be Keeper.¡± L¨ªadan sighed. ¡°Of course they did.¡± She sat with folded legs next to the fire, and patted the floor next to her as she smirked. ¡°I wonder how they would react to learning you know Blood Magic.¡± ¡°Tha same, I¡¯d wager.¡± Dearbhaile sat next to her sister. ¡°A good question for them be how they¡¯d react knowin¡¯ it does nae have to be a pledge tae evil bein¡¯s.¡± L¨ªadan finished her own drink. ¡°They already know about that part. It¡¯s the act of using our blood to power magic they have issue with.¡± ¡°I always be told blood magic required pledgin¡¯ oneself tae an evil outsider.¡± The elder sister raised her eyebrows. ¡°You pledged yourself to evil?¡± ¡°Nae!¡± Dearbhaile stood in a rush. ¡°I learned I be able to do blood magic by pledging mahsel¡¯ tae tha Walker O¡¯ Worlds.¡± ¡°Who is the Walker of Worlds?¡± ¡°He be¡­¡± Dearbhaile trailed off as she thought. ¡°He¡¯d actually be a man now.¡± ¡°Now?¡± ¡°Aye. I met him as a lad o¡¯ fourteen.¡± ¡°He¡¯s now grown?¡± ¡°If he follows the patterns of humans from our world.¡± L¨ªadan raised her hand. ¡°Wait. What does that mean?¡± ¡°He be from another world. One where all this be a game.¡± The elder Renline scowled. ¡°Our lives are a game to him?¡± ¡°Nay, sister. Our world touches his through the medium of a game.¡± Dearbhaile smiled. ¡°To be fair, I had tha¡¯ same reaction ye did when he firs¡¯ told me of it.¡± She stood. ¡°May we catch up as we search out me Rishka? It be tae long since I¡¯ve seen him.¡± L¨ªadan rose with a nod and lead them outside. ¡°So, you actually fell in love with Corath? Surprising.¡± ¡°Nay, it be another.¡± Dearbhaile paused from walking down the path. ¡°How do ye know about Corath?¡± The dark-haired elf ruffled her sister¡¯s hair. ¡°As if I wouldn¡¯t keep an eye on my sister? Just because I was an outcast, didn¡¯t mean I stopped loving you.¡± ¡°Ye say ¡®Banished,¡¯ an¡¯ ¡®Outcast,¡¯ but ye¡¯ve nae explained it. Why were ye exiled?¡± ¡°For practicing Blood Magic.¡± Dearbhaile took her sister¡¯s hand as she resumed walking. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Do you remember how I was always playing with my magic?¡± ¡°Aye. Ye were fascinated with it.¡± ¡°Of course I was. Unlike Father, and the rest of our clan, I didn¡¯t see it as something from Kell¨¹n to simply use. I felt it was a gift to be mastered. Every time I conjured a flame in my hand at the dinner table ¨C which you would giggle over ¨C I wanted it to do something different.¡± A single crackling flame appeared in the middle of her upturned palm. ¡°I would try to make it split in two.¡± The flame parted down the middle with a small whoosh, and she held two columns of fire. ¡°Or dance on my fingers.¡± The flare divided again and rolled out to each of her fingertips where they moved to unheard music. She beamed at Dearbhaile¡¯s clapping. Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. ¡°One day, in the Wilds, I tried to get the fire to wrap around me like a suit of armor.¡± An instant later, and L¨ªadan was so wreathed. ¡°I was attacked by a L¡¯Arc servant of Lucien. My flames did nothing to him. He easily overpowered me and decided to torture me for fun. Covered in blood, I suffered the worst pain in my entire life when he sliced off my right breast.¡± Dearbhaile peered at her sisters top which clearly showed the cleavage of two healthy breasts. ¡°Ye have two, though.¡± Another smile. ¡°Yes. It was something I learned how to fix many years later.¡± Her smile faded. ¡°I scream in agony as the demon¡¯s claw rips through the skin at the base of my breast. Blood gushes, hot and slick from the wound and drips from the severed flesh. He grins at his prize. Rage overpowers the pain as cold blooms inside me. I reach up and tear away my restraints. The L¡¯Arc¡¯s smile vanishes as he draws his serrated blade and cuts at me. I grip the jagged metal, snapping it. More blood flows from my hurt hand, but I ignore it. My fury is reserved for the demon. I slap both hands to the sides of his head and power explodes from my palms. The demon¡¯s head vanishes in a black ichor mist.¡± Dearbhaile gasped and gripped her sister¡¯s hand tighter. L¨ªadan shook her head and seemed to come out of the trance. ¡°Sorry about that, irm?zinha.¡± ¡°Ye remember, too.¡± Dearbhaile hugged her sister. ¡°I be sorry ye suffered through that.¡± ¡°Yeah, me too.¡± She chuckled. ¡°Mother and Father knew what happened as soon as they found me and saw the demon¡¯s remains. My newly discovered power had sealed my wounds, but left me unconscious. Later, I was lectured on the evils of Blood magic and forbade to use it ever again.¡± ¡°Somethin¡¯ tell me ye did nae listen.¡± ¡°Of course not. You saw how I made regular magic bend to my will. Naturally, I had to discover if I could make this new power obey as well.¡± She raised her top, revealing her firm and whole breasts to her sister. ¡°As you see, I did.¡± ¡°What lead to yer banishment?¡± The smile left L¨ªadan¡¯s face. ¡°I¡¯d rather not think about it, Dearbhaile.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± They walked in silence for a bit. Their feet caused twigs to crunch and leaves to dance in from of them. Birds sang as a breeze brought the scent of pine to them. ¡°Oh, gods, what is that stench?¡± ¡°We be near a farm. That be cow shite ye smell.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not smelled anything so foul before.¡± ¡°Ye be crazy. It be delightful.¡± She pointed. ¡°Look! Ye can see the mill wheel in the river.¡± L¨ªadan cast her gaze in the direction her sister indicated, but didn¡¯t know what she was supposed to find. Half of a bridge went into the water, next to it had to have been a boat, but it seemed too tiny. Boulders were scattered as if a wandering giant had dropped them from her pockets. An endless field of towering green danced on the breeze behind a slat-railed fence. On the other side was a bunch of cows with long horns. Someone wandered along them. ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about, irm?zinha.¡± Dearbhaile tapped her shoulder and pointed again. ¡°Next to the tower, irm¨¢ m¨¢is vella.¡± She spotted the immense wooden wheel being turned by the rushing current of the river. ¡°What¡¯s that for?¡± ¡°It turns a huge grindstone which crushes the wheat, and sometimes corn, to make flour for your bread.¡± ¡°Wow.¡± She gave her sister an admiring look. ¡°How do you know this stuff?¡± ¡°From me time with tha Vaush-Tauric. I learned a great deal while with her.¡± Dearbhaile raised her eyebrows. ¡°How do ye not know it? Do ye not live in that cottage I found ye in?¡± ¡°That¡¯s recent. Before, I¡¯d spent most of my time in cities, studying at one college or another.¡± ¡°How far have ye pushed yer magic?¡± ¡°You know how you¡¯re able to use Blood Magic differently than your regular magic?¡± ¡°Aye. With nay words or reversin¡¯ them.¡± ¡°I¡¯m able to do that with all my magic.¡± ¡°How?¡± She grabbed L¨ªadan¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Will ye show me?¡± Her sister chuckled. ¡°Of course I will, irm?zinha.¡± ### A titanic, muscular, golden skinned bald man appeared in the middle of the frozen battlefield. Easily thirty feet tall, he glanced around until he spotted Carter and strode over. He shrank with every step until he faced the Walker and was only a foot taller. ¡°Kronos. What brings the Titan of Time to the Realm?¡± ¡°You do. You¡¯re not supposed to cast localized Time Freeze spells.¡± Carter looked around at the frozen battle. ¡°Is that what this is?¡± The titan slapped himself on the forehead. ¡°Damn it. Too soon.¡± He sighed as he dropped his hand. ¡°You¡¯re older, but not yet old enough.¡± ¡°What?¡± Carter shook his head, exasperated. ¡°You¡¯re still as confusing as you were when I saw you six years ago.¡± Kronos snorted. ¡°And you¡¯re still as untrained as you were then.¡± Carter looked at him, eyes narrowed, corners of his mouth turned down and his arms folded. After a few seconds, he said, ¡°And who would train me? No one wants to even tell me what I am.¡± Kronos laced his fingers together with the index fingers raised and brought them up to his face so his fingers crossed his lips. He stared off into the distance and then took a deep breath. ¡°Seek out your grandfather. He¡¯s somewhere here in the Realm.¡± Thunder rolled across the clear sky. He turned his gaze upward. ¡°I know. Shut up.¡± Carter raised his right eyebrow. ¡°Will you tell me where?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not allowed.¡± ¡°What was that comment you directed to the sky?¡± ¡°Not important.¡± He reached out and placed his hand on Carter¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I have faith in you.¡± ¡°Thank you, I guess.¡± Kronos smiled. ¡°So much I¡¯m going to allow you to figure out how to restart time here.¡± ¡°What?¡± Carter straightened. ¡°I can¡¯t do that.¡± A shrug was the only response he got before the Titan of Time vanished. ¡°Sonuvabitch.¡± Chapter Twenty-Two Immense heat baked down on Corath¡¯s head as he staggered to a halt. Waves of heat danced above the blasted ruin of a town in the crater below. Local tales told of a star which fell from the heavens and touched the once massive trading city and a huge explosion which followed after. After the fires had gone out and the smoke had cleared, this desolate wasteland was all that was left of the green and vibrant oases. People had tried to explore the area, but odd happenings had either driven them off, or they¡¯d vanished. The few that returned had reported work tools randomly breaking, animals spooking and panicking, and slaves screaming of impending doom. Everyone questioned also reported terrifying dreams of getting buried under tiny grains of sand and slow suffocation. The sides of the crater were exposed rocky walls filled with cracks, crevasses and cavities. A rough staircase was carved into the side, leading down to an adobe clearing covered in sand. Squat adobe buildings huddled around the clearing. The buildings were falling down in some areas with others missing chunks of walls or roofs. The ones he could see were also missing their doors. ¡®They¡¯re pretty close to the edge of that crater. I wonder if some fell in?¡¯ Corath shook off the thought. ¡®Doesn¡¯t matter. That rogue informed me Carter had been seen here. I will at last kill him for my brother. First, though, I need water. I drank mine too fast on the journey out here.¡¯ He staggered down to the small village. When he reached the plaza, he discovered a crumbling well that had previously been hidden behind one of the fallen buildings. Trickling water could be heard echoing up from the sandblasted basin. A frayed rope was wrapped around a desiccated wooden crank. A chipped stone bucket waved in the hot air. Sweat rolled down Corath¡¯s dry face as he gasped while leaning over the opening. ¡®I hope that water down there is still good.¡¯ The rope squeaked as he used his shaking arms to haul the heavy bucket of water up. The faint metallic scent of the water made his mouth pucker as he brought the edge to his cracked and dry lips. The immediate coolness from the water on his lips shocked him at first, but swiftly soothed away the sting from the iron in it. He drank deeply, the water feeling like a healing potion as it washed down his parched throat. Each gulp felt like life returning to his clenched muscles which relaxed and slowed their trembling. After drinking his fill, he gazed around him, panting. A building with a small spray of sand coming from the door caught his eye. ¡®That one.¡¯ The sand crunched under his feet as he stepped into the much cooler building. The shade from the hammering sun brought the temperature down at least ten degrees. The omnipresent grit covered the floor in drifts and shallows. It piled against three doors to the north, east and west of the wreck. Corath pulled at the eastern door which opened with a scream of sediment-filled hinges. Inside, the sun fell in the room through cracks in the roof, providing dim lighting, revealing old iron barrels. The penetrating scent of an oily naphtha told him they were filled with lamp oil. He left the door open and turned to the one to his right. He wiped his arm across his forehead, clearing away the accumulated sweat. Using the bottom of his jerkin, he dried his burning eyes and reached for the iron door. Wrapping his callused hand around the handle, he tugged at the door, but it remained firm. Corath gritted his teeth and pulled harder. Hinges rattled as grains of sand fell from the cracks around the door but the click of a bolt told him the door was locked. ¡®Maybe its age has weakened the lock.¡¯ He braced his right foot against the wall next to the doorjamb, and heaved with all his might. He yelled, veins in his neck and arms popping up as his muscled bulged in his arms and legs. The portal creaked and groaned, but it remained unyielding, resisting his mighty effort. He stopped his effort, and stood with his hands on his knees, panting as droplets of sweat rolled down his forehead and off the tip of his nose. ¡®Fucking hell.¡¯ He straightened with a groan and turned to the last door. He yanked on its handle and the barrier flew back, coming off its hinges. He let it go and it hit the sandy floor with a muffled clang. Inside were the broken shells of what had been barracks bunks. The skeletons of the frames were all that remained. A wide crack ran down a far wall. ¡®What is going on with that crevasse?¡¯ When he approached, he discovered the crack was an opening in the wall, leading down into darkness. As he followed the passage, he noted a large amount of garbage and other refuse. ¡®Seems a number of beings live in this cave.¡¯ A large area opened out from the path he followed. A faint, sickly sweet stench lingered in the air. A cluster of black, egg-like pustules shuddered and writhed, oozing a yellowish fluid. Several humanoids clustered near the leaking objects. A scabrous black layer coated their bodies. As they trembled, cracks formed in the black, allowing an oily yellow fluid to drip out and splatter in vile pools on the floor. ¡®What the fuck?¡¯ He froze, horrified by the sight. A blinking light to his left caught his eye. A scarlet hued sword with its point rammed into the stone floor flickered with an ethereal light which cast shimmering reflections to the stone of the cave walls. A slow smile spread across his face as he contemplated the weapon. His heart thumped slow and hard, almost in time with the flash from the sword. A deep, primal hunger to possess the blade filled him. His breath quickened, filling his lungs with not just dry, stale air, but also a sense of the power of the mighty blade. A vision of crossing swords with Carter before he cut the human down with ease passed before his mind¡¯s eye. He could almost feel the balance of the mighty weapon in his hand. The promise of unparalleled strength and victory was nearly on his tongue. The fierce yearning for the sword burned within his blood. It was his destiny and nothing would prevent him from claiming it. When he stepped towards the sword, the quivering black humanoids shot upright. They spun to face him, revealing their revolting forms. They seemed to be formed of black ash through which yellow ichor flowed like blood from exposed veins. Their mouths gaped with horrid teeth and their clawed fingers looked eager for fresh victims. The creatures leaped to the attack as Corath charged them. One slashed at him with its claws and he drew his sword, deflecting the strike upward as he ducked under its arm. He whipped his sword up and around, striking above its groin and cutting upward. His blade screamed as the point dragged against the substance coating their bodies. He ducked under a wild swing at his from the side head and hook kicked the creature in the belly. As it fell back against a couple more of its fellows, Corath ran over and gripped the hilt of the sword stuck point-first in the stone floor. As his calloused hand wrapped around it, he found himself in the forest near his childhood home. Birds sang, whistled and hammered on tree trunks. Cicadas whined as a pair of squirrels chased each other from branch to branch. In the near distance, he could hear the babbling of a brook as its waters rolled over the rocks he¡¯d used to cross from bank to bank. A soft breeze brought the sounds of children¡¯s laughter and adults conversing from his village. Corath turned in a circle, but there was no sign of the cave or its inhabitants he¡¯d just been fighting. When he faced the direction of the village again, he caught sight of a floating man with long hair covered with a cloak. Wind Corath could not feel made the man¡¯s hair and cloak dance. ¡°Who are you, mage?¡± The elf kept his voice calm. ¡°Where have you brought me?¡± ¡°You know who I am, Gorauch.¡± His voice was low and rich. ¡°Think on it.¡± ¡°How in the Abyss would I know you?¡± Corath scowled. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you before.¡± A small smile grew on the floating man¡¯s face. It became bigger as he saw the growing comprehension on the elf¡¯s face. ¡°I do know you.¡± You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. ### Carter finished cutting the throat of the last demon and sheathed his knife. He yawned and stretched as he cast his gaze over the frozen tableau. Once time resumed, the hundreds of demons would drop dead along with many of their victims. He headed back to where his wife stood, just as frozen as everyone else. He paused my the moose-headed demon and studied the glowing silvery blue and green tether attached to its back. ¡®I wonder¡­¡¯ He drew his knife again and cut at the light. A frenetic tingle raced through his nerves and he jerked back. ¡®Nope. That¡¯s not going to work. I wish I had Belial¡¯s sword again.¡¯ He visualized the weapon, seeing in his mind¡¯s eye the gleaming, double-edged blade adorned with intricate Abyssal runes, the crossgaurd with its intricate etchings and the leather wrapped hilt sweat-darkened from his many battles wielding it over the years. The pommel had a frosted silvery blue gem set in it, the light would gleam and sparkle across its facets. He remembered the deep, bone chilling cold that raced through his body each time he drew it. The chill was not a mere touch but a penetrating force that seemed to spread with malevolent intent. It would start where his calloused fingers wrapped around the hilt and then it would wind its way up his arm, seemingly turning it into a numb block of ice. The sensation was like being touched by the frozen breath of an ice demon. His muscles would tighten involuntarily as the wave would sweep across his chest. He¡¯d shiver briefly before releasing the frigid breath he¡¯d been holding in a cloud of vapor. Just as quickly as it came, the hyperborean feeling would vanish, allowing him to fight as normal. A gleam just to the left of the demon caught his eye. Without thinking, his hand shot forward and he gripped a hilt. As he pulled it to him, the familiar sensation of frozen tingles raced through him. The cold radiated from the sword¡¯s core, working its way up to his shoulder, and then across his chest, as it spread a paralyzing numbness that impaired his breathing. The frost reached his torso, where it turned his breath into visible puffs of vapor and dulling his senses to a distant, frigid haze. Carter faced the sword¡¯s freezing grip with an unwavering resolve. Drawing upon his inner fire, he infused himself with an intensity that countered the blade¡¯s icy power. He flexed his fingers, pulling air slowly into his nose and then released it in a burst of exhalation. He gritted his teeth and then spun away, swinging the blade in a sideways figure eight. As the feeling returned to his body, he lashed out at the tether at the moose-headed demon¡¯s back. It gave way with a snap and Carter landed on his ass. He pushed himself to his feet and stared at the demon. ¡®It looks smaller, somehow.¡¯ He then looked back to the sword in his hand. ¡®Now, how did I get this? Did I do it be imagining how it looked and felt? Is that a part of my power? The power of the Walker of Worlds? Could I do it again? Can I do it with anything, or just with something that is mine?¡¯ He paused. ¡®Wait. Can I do that with Dearbhaile?¡¯ ### ¡°So, who is the Walker of Worlds?¡± ¡°A human named Carter Blake.¡± L¨ªadan chuckled. ¡°No, irm?zinha, not his name. What does he do?¡± ¡°Accordin¡¯ tae tha Vaush-Tauric, he be a guardian of balance to the universe.¡± Her older sister¡¯s eye widened. ¡°He sounds like he¡¯s very powerful.¡± ¡°Aye, he would be if he knew how his powers worked.¡± ¡°Why doesn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°He was summoned tae our world without knowing who he was.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°A wizard named Mordecai.¡± The women paused outside the tavern at the heart of the village, its sturdy stone walls stained with the ages. A faded and chipped sign swinging gently in the mid-day breeze depicted a large ball-like creature covered with drooping eyes and a silly smile next to a spilled tankard of ale. ¡°The Drunken Beholder, Dearbhaile?¡± The other elf shrugged. ¡°I didnae name it. Last I be here was six years ago, and I do nae remember much of the place. I was nae in me right mind at tha time.¡± ¡°What happened?¡± Dearbhaile reached for the handle of the weathered door. ¡°Inside, first.¡± When they stepped inside, they were greeted by the scent of roasting meat and freshly baked bread, mingling with the tang of spilled ale. Wide open windows allowed the afternoon sun to illuminate the place with various lamps augmenting the light. The wooden beams holding the ceiling were in shadows and a large, cold hearth dominated the far wall, logs rested in a neat pile, waiting for the time for them to be ignited. The tavern was a hive of activity even at this time of day. Long, scarred wooden tables were surrounded by various villagers and covered with plates of food, spills and tankards. Men and women shared conversation and laughter as two teen girls and a buxom older woman passed between the tables and a backroom carrying dishes, food and pitchers, deftly handing them to the customers that ordered them. A burly man with a think beard, ruddy cheeks and big smile deftly poured drinks, carried on conversation and distributed plated filled with savory looking pies which oozed vegetables, meat and a rich sauce from behind a crowded bar. Over in a corner, a minstrel plucked a lute and sang a song while enraptured children danced, or sang along. Above the bar hung a collection of trinkets and curiosities: a dented helmet etched with the holy symbol of Kell¨¹n, a bundle of dried herbs, a gleaming sword with a yellow aura, and a faded tapestry depicting a long-forgotten battle. Each item whispered its own tale, adding to the rich tapestry of the tavern''s history. The sisters picked a table in a corner near the window and sat. L¨ªadan turned to her Dearbhaile. ¡°Is it time now?¡± Her sister snorted and shook her head. ¡°Always impatient for stories. You¡¯ve not changed in the last century.¡± L¨ªadan smiled as she shrugged. One of the girls came over. ¡°What can I get you lovely elves?¡± ¡°Two tankards of dwarven ale and keep them coming for half an hour.¡± She nodded. ¡°Which vintage? We¡¯ve got mountain, jungle and UnderRealm.¡± ¡°UnderRealm.¡± L¨ªadan almost barked out the name. She caught her sister¡¯s raised eyebrows. ¡°What? It¡¯s my favorite ale.¡± Dearbhaile chuckled. ¡°Yes, UnderRealm, please.¡± The teen smiled and said, ¡°Coming right up.¡± She headed to a door near the bar. ¡°Now, tell me about you not being in your right mind.¡± ¡°Do ye want the long version, or tha short?¡± ¡°As I¡¯m guessing we¡¯re in a hurry,¡± L¨ªadan paused and sighed, ¡°Give me the short version.¡± ¡°That admission hurts, nae?¡± Dearbhaile said as she winked at her sister. ¡°You know I love long stories, so quit stalling.¡± A grey haired woman set down two frosty metal flagons of a green frothy ale. L¨ªadan gave a small squeal of happiness and grabbed a cup in both hands. She raised it to her nose and breathed deep. ¡°Ooh, this is a fresh batch.¡± She beamed up at the woman. ¡°Thank you so much. ¡°My pleasure.¡± She returned the wide smile. ¡°Would you ladies like something to snack on while you drink?¡± Dearbhaile shook her head as she passed a golden Flair across the table. ¡°Not right now, ma¡¯am.¡± She nodded as she lifted the coin. ¡°As you wish.¡± She turned to the bartender. ¡°Rauk, we have a tab started at table twelve.¡± Her clear voice carried across the establishment. ¡°Aye, Lyka.¡± Lyka moved off to tend to other patrons and L¨ªadan turned to her sister, green foam on her upper lip, eyes wide. ¡°Carter¡­¡± L¨ªadan raised her hand. ¡°Wait. Who is he again?¡± Dearbhaile rolled her eyes. ¡°He be tha Walker of Worlds.¡± ¡°Ah. Sorry.¡± Dearbhaile shook her head and continued. ¡°Carter lost his eyes due tae witnessing an angel fightin¡¯ a Crimson Walker an¡¯ he be brought tae me teacher by a half-dragon knight. Tha Vaush-Tauric restored his sight, an¡¯ told him tae choose between savin¡¯ a friend, or endin¡¯ tha war.¡± ¡°Admirable that he¡¯d chose the friend, but what has it cost?¡± ¡°That be it, he did nae choose Lady Orwen.¡± ¡°The queen?¡± L¨ªadan leaned forward. ¡°Aye, but she not be crowned yet.¡± ¡°Yet there is a war going on.¡± ¡°Indeed. That be because of a fight Carter had had with Sir Angriz and meself, leadin¡¯ tae him breaking tha Time Stop.¡± ¡°Why did you cast that spell in the first place?¡± ¡°I be badly hurt in an ambush set by Belial.¡± ¡°The demon prince?¡± ¡°Aye. Tae give me a chance tae heal, and Sir Angriz time tae train Carter, I had him set tha stones.¡± L¨ªadan raised her hand again. ¡°Wait a second. Did you not consider the ramifications of not only having someone else place the stones, but someone with the power of the Walker of Worlds do so?¡± ¡°I was nae in me right mind at tha time. I was seriously hurt.¡± ¡°How bad?¡± ¡°What do ye know of Belial?¡± L¨ªadan grimaced. ¡°Indeed.¡± Dearbhaile took a drink of her ale. ¡°This is good.¡± Her sister beamed again. ¡°Told you it¡¯s my favorite.¡± Dearbhaile resumed. ¡°I be too close when Carter broke the spell, and it knocked us out. When I came to, I had nae idea of who I be, or him. He brought me here tae regain me memory, and sold himself tae Belial in exchange.¡± ¡°That is an impressive level of devotion. How long had the two of you known each other?¡± ¡°About two months.¡± L¨ªadan tilted her head and raised her eyebrows. ¡°He¡¯s young, isn¡¯t he?¡± ¡°Indeed. He be fourteen when we met.¡± ¡°Oh. Adolescent love. How cute. But, shallow.¡± ¡°Shallow? Did ye just forget that I said he sold himself tae Belial tae get me memory back?¡± ¡°That was stupid on his part.¡± ¡°Ye¡¯d rather I not know who I be?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not what I¡¯m saying.¡± ¡°Then what is?¡± ¡°He had no idea if Belial would keep his bargain or betray him.¡± ¡°Carter though tha half-demon would betray him, so he made Belial grant his request first.¡± ¡°Makes sense.¡± L¨ªadan raised her tankard, draining it. ¡°What about him was so appealing to you? Was it the fact he¡¯s the Walker of Worlds?¡± ¡°Nae. It was a bunch of little things.¡± ¡°Such as?¡± ¡°Well, things like how he¡¯d always light up when he saw me. Or how he would look for me first in a group. It was also how he wasn¡¯t afraid to make the hard choices and how, even though he didn¡¯t want the cloak of leadership, and found it uncomfortable, he wore it anyway. He was capable of great wisdom.¡± ¡°A fourteen-year-old human? Showing great wisdom?¡± ¡°Aye. Sometimes.¡± She pushed her hair out of her eyes and raised her own empty cup in the air. One of the girls came over with a pitcher and refilled both their cups before heading to another table. ¡°He¡¯d lose his temper at bad times, yet he wasn¡¯t afraid to admit when he was wrong.¡± She glanced over to see her older sister peering at her doubtfully. "It be hard tae explain.¡± ¡°Then maybe it¡¯s not love, Dearbhaile.¡± The Keeper stared at her sister. ¡°What do ye call it when the first thing on yer mind in the morning and the last thing at night be this one person? When ye find something amusing, or interesting, they be the first one ye want to share it with? When any time they smile at ye, yer heart feels so full of them, ye want to shout to the world how they make ye feel?¡± ¡°I would call it love,¡± L¨ªadan said softly. Chapter 23 Carter pictured Dearbhaile. Her hair, a fiery dark orange, hanging over her right shoulder in a braid, catching the sunlight and turning into a brilliant halo of crimson and gold. Her eyes were the color of grass after a rain, they sparkled with a keen intelligence and a hint of mischief, as if she held a secret that no one else could fathom. Long, delicate lashes framed those captivating eyes, giving her a look of perpetual enchantment. Her lips were like sun-ripened strawberries, her skin was smooth and fair. Her high cheekbones and delicately pointed ears gave her an exotic allure, accentuated by the intricate arcane symbols on her pale azure robe. He looked around, but saw nothing. ¡°Aw, this is bullshit. How can I get a sword, but not an elf?¡± He froze. ¡®Wait. Is that the limit? If it¡¯s an object I can get it, but if it¡¯s a person, I can¡¯t?¡¯ He scratched his beard. ¡°This would be so much easier if I had a teacher.¡± Carter went over to Adora and placed a sword in her hands. He raised her arms, making sure both hands were on the hilt, and swung the blade at the large demon¡¯s throat along the same path his dagger had traced earlier. After placing a kiss on her cheek, he walked off, away from the battle. ### He stood outside of an ancient keep in terrible condition. Ivy covered walls had entire sections missing, having fallen due to the elements and time. The drawbridge was down and splintery-looking. An ancient portcullis was frozen halfway up and coated with rust. A tree grew out of the top of a ruined tower. Algae floated on the surface of the stagnant, half-filled moat. In the middle of the half rotten drawbridge was the hole his foot had made last time he¡¯d been here. ¡®How odd that Adora¡¯s summoning brought me back so close to here.¡¯ He stared up at the crumbling top of the edifice, watching a raptor of some sort gliding through the air. ¡®I still don¡¯t know what I¡¯m going to do about the lich within, but I suppose I¡¯ll think of something.¡¯ He returned his attention to the bridge before him. ¡®I¡¯m so glad I have that teleport scroll in my gauntlet. Just hope the demon will let me have it on the first try.¡¯ He rotated his left hand, visualized the scroll he wanted and whispered the command word. ¡°Noct.¡± A bulbous vial with a lemon colored liquid appeared in his hand. ¡°Godsdamnit, not my night vision potion. My scroll of teleportation.¡± Exasperation filled his voice as he slide the potion to his wrist and it vanished inside the gauntlet. Once more he visualized the scroll, rotated his wrist and uttered the command word. This time, the correct item appeared. ¡°Thank you.¡± After focusing on the spot beyond the rusty portcullis, he lifted the scroll and uttered the activation word. ¡°Eaunai.¡± Golden energy swirled around his body and an instant later, he the interior which was dim with some of the evening sunlight wafting through holes in the wall. Motes of dust and cobwebs danced on the faint breeze. The stone floor was covered in patches of puddles, moss and mold. Cracks ran through the once well-made stonework. He approached one of the partially melted windows. A mound of old leaves, twigs and bits of stone were piled near it. Here and there, bits of glass sparkled in the debris, probably from the broken windows. Most of the window was covered by ivy. He pulled some to the side, and peered through. Outside, the ground still bore the scars of the battle which felled the keep and drove out Delena¡¯s family. Remnants of siege engines littered the field below; broken catapults, shells of burned arrow towers, and a couple ballista lay with broken a bowstring or a busted torsion spring. Carter pulled back from the window and cast his gaze around the ruined room. A dark stairwell to his right lead down. A sturdy looking door and a shuttered gate were the only other objects in the area. Carter stroked his beard as he considered the doors and stairwell. ¡®Do I go down, or forward?¡¯ He glanced up at the ruined floor above. Stone walls rose up to wooden rafters going back and forth high above. Gaping holes marked places where the upper parts of the old tower collapsed into the area below. He moved over to one of the holes, taking care to stay away from bricks near the edges and peered in. A deep drop into darkness greeted him. ¡®Note to self, don¡¯t fall in there.¡¯ He approached the shut gate. It was a massive structure, built from thick, weather-beaten oak and reinforced with bands of iron that had long since rusted to a deep, reddish brown. The wood, once vibrant and strong, was now aged and splintered, bearing the scars of countless winters and battles long forgotten. A large fancy emblem, once proud, was worn and faded, the details almost faded to time and weather. He ran his fingers over the sigil and looked at the powdered metal they picked up from it. ¡®Either Delena¡¯s father is older than I thought, or she lied. This has the age of decades on it, not a couple of years.¡¯ He grasped the heavy iron ring that served as the gate¡¯s handle. As he lifted it, flakes of rust floated to the ground and it squealed in protest at having to move for the first time in many years. He pulled, muscles in his arms bulging. The gate groaned in protest as he applied pressure. The iron bands creaked and the wood shuddered as the gate slowly came open. The opened gate revealed a long, narrow hallway. Murder holes lined each side, above his reach. Dim sunlight came through, highlighting motes of dust drifting through the air. Dust and debris lined the ancient stone floor. A great crevasse ran along one wall which was partially fallen into the hall. The side closest to him was fairly intact, but the one closer to the wall was in complete ruin. Inside the fissure, a lichen green statue ¨C missing its head ¨C lay face down. Its outstretched arms appeared to be holding the walls open. He could make out another dark hole around the chest area of the statue. When he reached the other gateway, he found them partially open. When he slipped in, he noticed a once-grand throne room which lay in eerie silence, its former splendor a distant memory. The air was thick with dust, disturbed only by the occasional breath of wind that slipped through the cracks in the stone walls. Columns of marble, once polished to a gleaming white, now stood chipped and scarred, the fine carvings that adorned them eroded by time. The floor, a mosaic of an ancient hunt, was cracked and uneven, with vines forcing their way through the gaps, reclaiming the space for nature. Broken tiles littered the ground. The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. At the far end of the room, the throne itself stood as a grim testament to the passage of time. Carved from dark, ancient wood, the once-majestic seat was draped in the remnants of a once-luxurious animal hide, now moth-eaten and faded to a dull brown. The wall to the right of the throne once a masterpiece of art depicting the kingdom¡¯s greatest victories, had crumbled in places. Sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting bright beams across the room, illuminating the ghostly remnants of what had once been a seat of power. Carter gazed at the room, taking in the ancient room. To his right, he spotted the cleft in the floor from the hallway. Both sides of it were smooth this time. He crossed over and peered in. Worn steps, carved directly into the stone, descended into the darkness below. A faint draft rising from the crack, carried with it the cool, earthy scent of the underground. The steps were narrow, barely wide enough for a single person, with rough, uneven edges that suggested it had been carved in haste. ¡®Let¡¯s see what¡¯s down there.¡¯ As he descended, the air grew cooler, the scent of damp earth growing stronger with each step. The light from the throne room above quickly faded, swallowed by the encroaching darkness, until only the faintest glow from above remained, a distant memory of the world left behind. The stairwell spiraled down, deeper into the earth, its twists and turns disorienting and its descent seemingly endless. The silence was profound, broken only by the echo of footsteps and the occasional skittering of unseen creatures that called the depths home. He rotated his left wrist and uttered command for a torch which appeared, lit, in his hand. The flame flickered in the dim light, casting dancing shadows against the rough stone walls as the torch burned steadily in the Walker¡¯s hand. The scent of the burning torch filled the narrow passageway, a pungent mix of tallow and jute. At the bottom of the stairwell, where the air was thick and the darkness nearly impenetrable, the crackling torch gave the air a faint, greasy odor, one that clung to his clothing and hair, permeating the air with a scent that was both earthy and metallic, like the faint whisper of a distant battlefield. The smell was a constant companion, wrapping around him like a shroud, a reminder of the fragile light he carried into the depths of the unknown. ### Carter walked along a rough-hewn corridor, the torch punched through the shadows. Something plinked into a puddle, the sound echoed through the dank air. He lay his hand on the moist wall and peered around the corner. The hallway ahead appeared to be empty, but the stench of rooting flush gave away the presence of undead. ''Skeletons or zombies?'' He paused, waiting for confirmation. Skeletons required different combat tactics from zombies. Oddly, they were tougher, too. ''Do skeletons require a bigger connection to the Necromantic Plane?'' Peeking around the corner again revealed no more than the last time. ''Doesn''t really matter. I''m going to have to go through them in order to continue.'' An insect whined near his ear, causing him to swat like a dog scratching its ear. He dropped the torch into a deep puddle, casting him into darkness. Carter placed his hand on the wall and tread slowly. He had no desire to fall and hurt himself ¨C or, worse ¨C die. Despite his care, he still stumbled over a trunk when the wall turned a corner. ¡°Godsdamn it.¡± He gingerly felt around until he found the wall again. Sliding his hands down, he hit something slimy. He recoiled from the touch of alien coldness, and then wiped his hands on his pants as he crouched. ¡®I wish I had another torch.¡¯ Relocating the chest, he forgot to check for any traps, and paid for it when a few thousand volts of electricity slammed into him, and knocked him on his ass. Ozone filled his nose as he gingerly rolled back to his feet. Flickering light drew his attention to the now burning chest. ¡®By all the hells.¡¯ Whatever had been in there was now most likely destroyed. The flames showed him wooden dummies, a couple weapon racks with rusted weapons and some straw filled targets. ¡®Must have been the training room back when it was occupied by the living.¡¯ He moved to head away from the fire and a gleam caught his eye. The firelight had briefly reflected off of something shiny near the bottom of one of the racks. When he bent to examine the object, a line of icy fire raced along his back. ¡°Motherfucker,¡± he cried, spinning away. As he straightened, he discovered the pike welding zombie. The reanimated corpse thrust its weapon at him again. Carter leaned to the side and caught the haft of the spear. ¡°Not this time, zombie.¡± He kicked the undead''s chest, knocking it back and making it lose its grip. He slammed the pike''s point through the zombie''s eye and out the back of its head, pinning the creature to the wooden weapon rack behind it. It slumped limply. He carefully and swiftly looked himself over. ¡®Wouldn¡¯t be good to have injuries for the blood of that monster to get into.¡¯ Carter straightened and retrieved his sword from where it had fallen. ¡®There¡¯d be a lot of unhappy people if I became an undead.¡¯ He paused. The dim, flickering light revealed a thin strand of wire just above the floor, not six feet from where he stood. ¡®It would be smart to get a torch and to have a pole to keep me out of range of other traps.¡¯ A turn and scan of the rack, showed him a halberd and a cluster of torches. ¡®Jackpot. These will come in handy.¡¯ Four of the torches went behind his belt as the fifth was lit. As the head burned merrily, Carter hefted the weapon and tapped it against the wall. The metal clanged reassuringly off the stone and the wooden haft held up under the vibrations travelling through it and up his arm. He nodded to himself. Stepping over the wire, he reached back and broke it with the halberd. A nine foot section of the floor dropped into a shaft. ¡®Devious. The wire was at the center of the pitfall.¡¯ He squatted beside the hole and held the torch over it. The dancing light didn¡¯t show him much. The hole was too deep. ¡®How far into the ground does this go? I thought I was at the bottom already.¡¯ Carter straightened with a shrug. He moved to the other side of the room, meticulously scanning for traps with each step. His eyes caught sight of a plain black sarcophagus, standing oddly on its end. Before he could react, the lid fell away with a deafening crack, shattering on the stone floor. From within, a skeleton, its bones clattering with unnatural life, stepped forward, a sheathed sword at its side. Its hollow eye sockets seemed to lock onto him instantly, as if it could sense his presence through some dark magic. Without hesitation, it drew its weapon and charged. Carter was ready. He raised his halberd, the sharp tip meeting the skeleton¡¯s advance. The undead creature impaled itself through the right eye socket, its skull shuddering with the impact. With a swift, practiced motion, Carter twisted the pike, sending the skull spinning through the air, where it smashed against the far wall. He exhaled, thinking the fight was over. But a sudden, sharp pain slashed across his belly, snapping him back to the moment. The headless skeleton continued to attack. The torch in his off-hand, though quickly disintegrating under the assault, served as an impromptu shield. He growled in frustration, feeling the heat of the dying flame, and swung the halberd with renewed fury. Bone met steel with a sickening crunch. He smashed the sternum, then the clavicle, and finally crushed the pelvis of his relentless foe, leaving it in a heap of shattered bones at his feet. Panting, he barely had time to catch his breath before he looked up and saw them¡ªan entire crowd of skeletons, their bony fingers clutching weapons, all advancing on him. He glanced down at the ruined remains of his pole weapon, its once-formidable length now splintered and battered. ¡°Damn.¡± Chapter Twenty-Four Carter drew his sword, the familiar iciness passed through his body and set his teeth on edge. ¡®This isn¡¯t going to do me much good against these boneheads. There¡¯s nothing to really cut.¡¯ He glanced down at himself, feeling the lack of his armor. ¡®Not like me, anyway.¡¯ The skeletons marched forward steadily, their hollow eye sockets fixed on him, moving without hesitation or caution. ¡®Not having brains and being undead would allow for that.¡¯ They¡¯d been down there so long that they had taken on the odor of mustiness that clung to the rest of the dungeon, a damp, earthy scent that filled his nostrils. Even so, the creak of ancient tendons and joints as the skeletons moved set his teeth on edge. With a grunt of exertion, he blitzed into them, slamming the hilt of his sword into sternums¡ªboth exposed and hidden by rusted armor¡ªcrushing shoulder sockets, splintering forearms, shattering hips, and snapping clavicles. The clash of metal against bone echoed through the chamber, mingling with the sharp tang of sweat. Their weapons¡ªswords, spears, daggers, maces, and others¡ªpounded at or sliced through his body, the sting of each cut and the impact of each blow sending jolts of pain through him. At first, his wild attacks kept him ahead of the onslaught, his sword smashing through bone and armor with satisfying crunches. But as their numbers dwindled, they pressed in closer, their skeletal limbs moving with tireless precision. More strikes began to land¡ªglancing blows at first, then more direct hits. The sharp burn of a blade slicing across his thigh, the dull ache of a mace striking his ribs, each impact driving him back. Whereas before, he¡¯d pressed relentlessly forward, now he was in full retreat, his muscles screaming in protest as he tried desperately to fend off their relentless attacks. Fatigue had kicked his butt a long time ago, and now every breath felt like fire in his lungs. His movements were slower, each swing of his weapon felt like he drug it through water, and he was coming perilously close to exhaustion. His field of vision narrowed, the edges of the room blurring and darkening, the flickering torchlight creating ghostly afterimages in his tired eyes. Sweat dripped down his face, stinging his eyes and making it harder to see. Desperation clawed at him, his grip on the hilt tightening as his strength waned. He could hear the skeletons¡¯ clattering bones all around him, their weapons singing through the air, the smell of decaying leather and old death overwhelming his senses. He gritted his teeth, pushing back the dizziness threatening to overtake him, knowing that if he fell now, there would be no getting up. ¡®If I risk a glance back, I¡¯ll eat at least four shots to my chest.¡¯ The skeletons pressing their attack the hardest all wielded long swords, so he was in no hurry to look. The sharp edges of their blades gleamed menacingly in the dim light, each one ready to tear through flesh and bone. Four weapons cascaded at his chest in a wave. The rush of air as the swords came down was a blur of motion, but somehow, he managed to deflect, block, or parry all of them. As he parried the last one, he caught a break. Carter¡¯s sword shattered the skeleton¡¯s wrist, the sound of cracking bone echoing in the narrow corridor, causing it to drop its mace, which clattered loudly against the stone floor. In desperation, he kicked his foot upwards. The toe of his boot caught the pommel just right. The weight of the mace sent a jarring sensation up his leg as it bounced back up far enough for his left hand to shoot out and catch the hilt. ¡®Damn it. This shit always happens. I do something incredibly badass, or awesome, and no one is around to see it. If I try to tell anyone, none will believe me.¡¯ His grip tightened on the mace and the cold metal pressed into his palm. A blade slicing through the fat near his ribs brought him out of his reverie in a hurry. The sudden, searing pain made him gasp. Carter hurled his mace, and another miracle occurred. The head smashed into the eye socket of a skeleton, knocking it backward. At the same time, another came forward to take its place, but the mace¡¯s handle tangled in its ribcage, and both fell. The dull thud of bone hitting the floor was oddly satisfying. He now only had two to deal with. After dodging their attacks, the swish of their blades narrowly missing his skin, he chanced a glance over his shoulder. A narrow corridor led away from the skeletons and whatever other nastiness lay beyond them. The cold, damp air from the passage seemed to beckon him, a possible escape from the relentless assault. A forehand smash with the grip of his blade sent the skeleton on his right into the one on his left, giving him a few moments of breathing room. He turned and ran, his heart pounding in his chest, the rhythm matching his hurried footsteps. It¡¯s never a good idea to blindly run down a passageway in a dungeon, even one that had once been a castle of some sort. The sudden click under his feet reminded him. Not taking the time to think, Carter dove onto his stomach and hoped like hell he hadn¡¯t triggered a floor trap and thus made himself easier to kill. The rough stone scraped against his armor, the impact jarring his entire body. You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. Something swiftly brushed the bottoms of his feet, and there came a tremendous boom. The shockwave rattled his bones, reverberating through the corridor. He glanced back in time to see half a skeletal forearm, wrist, hand, and sword fall to the floor. The rest was between the lengthwise wall and the new dead end behind him. Not taking any further chances, he studied the floor ahead of him and also scanned the walls to either side. The sweat on his brow felt like fire as he discovered his fingertips were millimeters from activating another pressure plate on the ground. ¡®Fuck, that was close.¡¯ Carter carefully rose and stepped over the plate. The rest of the corridor was trap-free, but his senses were on high alert, each creak and groan of the ancient structure setting him on edge. He came to a dead end in a long corridor, which terminated in three doors. The one on the left had a picture of an open treasure chest filled with gold and jewels, the one in the middle had an image of a skull and crossbones, and the one on the right had a picture of a dragon battling a tiger. The details were breathtaking, the carvings so intricate he could almost feel the tension of the depicted battle in the air. ¡®Hmm. Which one do I want?¡¯ He folded his big arms over his wide chest and looked between them all. ¡®Eeny meeny miney mo it is.¡¯ The rhyme was recited, and he picked the door with the skull. ¡®International sign of danger. Apropos.¡¯ As he reached for the handle, his body twitched, reminding him of the aches and pains of his recent battle. ¡®Gods, I wish I had a healing potion.¡¯ ### The world snapped back into motion with a violent jolt, as though the very air had been torn open with a deafening crack. Adora, her breath catching in her throat, felt the ground beneath her boots shift, the gritty texture of the dirt and scattered pebbles digging into her soles, the warmth of the earth cutting through the leather. Blood splashed across her face, hot, wet and fetid, as her sword tore through the throat of the huge moose-headed demon. For a moment, she was disoriented, the familiar weight of her sword a comfort in her hand, but something was wrong. The noises around her were not what she was expecting to hear. Instead of the deafening clash of battle, all she heard was scattered thumps and the agonized cries of wounded soldiers. She strained to hear the echoes of combat, but her hearing confirmed what her eyes were telling her ¨C the battle was over but for tending the injured. Around her, her army stood frozen in disbelief. Eyes wide, weapons at the ready, they had been poised engaged in combat just seconds ago. Now, they all stared at the same shocking sight. Across the battlefield, the once-terrifying horde of demons lay crumpled on the ground, their twisted bodies still, their grotesque faces frozen in expressions of surprise. The acrid stench of sulfur and blood filled the air, sharp and biting, mingling with the metallic tang of black ichor seeping from their throats. Each demon had been struck down with surgical precision, their throats sliced cleanly, as if by an invisible blade. The hot air felt thick, almost suffocating, the cloying smell of death clinging to her skin and clothes. Adora blinked, her heart pounding in her chest as she tried to make sense of the scene before her. She could still taste the iron tang of adrenaline on her tongue, the sharpness of battle not yet faded from her senses. Her hand clenched around her sword hilt, knuckles white, the rough leather grip digging into her palm, grounding her in the surreal reality before her. Her eyes darted from one fallen demon to the next, their once-glowing eyes now dull and lifeless. How could this have happened? They had been outnumbered, on the brink of what should have been a desperate last stand. Yet now, the enemy was vanquished, and she didn¡¯t know why. Then, she noticed it¡ªa lack of a familiar sound, laughter, full and boisterous. She peered around, but could not find him. ¡®I know he¡¯s here. I summoned him a couple of minutes ago, but why can¡¯t I hear him?¡¯ Sir Alistair approached. Blood¡ªnot all of it his own¡ªstreaked down his face, mixing with the sweat that had dried into a sticky film on his skin. His once gleaming armor was dented and stained, the deep gashes and claw marks telling of the brutal melee that had just taken place. His sword, still gripped tightly in his hand, dripped with dark, viscous ichor. ¡°Your Majesty, you seem perturbed.¡± He surveyed the battlefield, eyes narrowed against the acrid smoke that hung heavy in the air. The ground was littered with the twisted, contorted bodies of the demons they had slain, their forms dissipating into foul-smelling ash that the wind would soon carry away. The scent of sulfur and burning flesh clung to his nostrils, making it hard to breathe. ¡°Where is His Highness?¡± She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± Her muscles trembled from the strain of the prolonged fight, and every bruise and cut screamed in protest. But she paid no mind to the pain; it was a familiar companion, one she had long since learned to endure. The taste of copper lingered on her tongue, a reminder of the close calls, where her teeth had clamped down hard in desperate moments. ¡°The battle seems to have been won with an expeditious use of a Time Stop spell.¡± He glanced back to her. ¡°Did you know His Highness had it in his repertoire?¡± Another shake of her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t. It¡¯s not a spell that can be inscribed on a scroll.¡± ¡°Maybe he found an artifact?¡± ¡°He would have given it to me.¡± As she wiped a gauntleted hand across her brow, the metallic tang of blood and sweat filled her senses. A deep weariness settled into her bones, heavier than the weight of her armor. She wanted nothing more than to collapse, to let the exhaustion claim her, but there was still work to be done. She sheathed her sword with a final, grim determination. ¡°No, it¡¯s something different.¡± With one last glance over the ruined battlefield, she turned away, Alistair following a pace behind her. Each step carried her further from the carnage, but the horrors of the fight lingered in her mind, a dark shadow that would not easily fade. Adora knew she would carry the scars of this battle for the rest of her life, both seen and unseen. Chapter 25 Carter found himself in an armory. Racks of weapons lined the walls, along with dummies in armor. A large, black lacquered display case stood in the center of the room. Naturally, this grabbed his attention. Crossing over, he peered through the glass top. On scarlet fabric was a type of war hammer. On one side was a sharp pick and the part of head that would be used to pound spikes was itself spiked. The long shaft was about 3 feet in length and had white leather wrapped around the middle and nearer the end. ¡®I want it. It¡¯s exquisite.¡¯ He reached out, and then paused. ¡®What a minute. I¡¯ve got to be a lot more careful.¡¯ He then looked the case over. Top, bottom, and all four sides and found no evidence of any traps. He attempted to lift the cold lid which refused to budge. He growled to himself as he pondered his next move. ¡®Wait. This is real life, not a videogame.¡¯ Lock picks, or keys weren¡¯t needed. Stepping to the side to avoid flying glass, he raised his sword above the glass and slammed the hilt into the glass which shattered. With a grin, he reached in and lay his hand on the haft of the hammer. A nuclear bomb went off in his head, and he collapsed. ### ¡°By all the hells my head hurts. What the fuck did I get hit with?¡± His voice was rough, as if he¡¯d been screaming for hours. He ran his dry tongue over his teeth which were throbbing. ¡®All there, at least.¡¯ Though it was dim, the light filtering through the window high above him seared his eyes. Damp stone at the backs of his hands told him why he smelled mildew. Rodents squeaked nearby. ¡®Well, at least I¡¯m not alone in here. Wherever here is.¡¯ The increasing presence of burning oil told him of the approach of his captor before the sliding shuffle of their footsteps did. ¡®Man, if another demon has caught me, I¡¯m going to be pissed. Why the fuck didn¡¯t I check for traps on the hammer itself?¡¯ It was too late to worry about that. A faint jingle and then the clunk of the lock tumbling proceeded the squeal of hinges as the cell door swung open. The pink-skinned flame-bearded man ducked into the suddenly much smaller room and rose to an impressive and imposing nine feet. ¡°Holy fuck.¡± Carter craned his head up at the giant¡¯s face. ¡°How¡¯re you even allowed?¡± ¡°So you¡¯re awake, Walker of Worlds. Good. The Master will be pleased.¡± Carter winced, expecting the ceiling to begin falling at the boom of the huge man¡¯s voice. ¡°What are you?¡± ¡°Have you never seen a giant before, Little One?¡± Carter¡¯s eyebrow rose. ¡°Little One?¡± He mouthed the words, not used to being called such by anyone. ¡°Being perfectly honest,¡± he said, ¡°I thought you guys weren¡¯t real.¡± ¡°As you can see, I am very real.¡± ¡°Ya don¡¯t say.¡± The giant¡¯s brows beetled. ¡°Are you mocking me?¡± ¡°Would you notice if I were?¡± Before he could blink, the giant had Carter lifted to his eye level as easily as the Walker would a melon. ¡°What do you think, Little One?¡± ¡°You have got to stop leaving me these openings.¡± The giant dropped Carter. ¡°Stifle yourself, or I¡¯ll forget that you¡¯re needed in one piece.¡± Unable to get his feet beneath him in time, he hit the ground and fell to his right hip and hands. Agony shot through him. Carter snarled at the pain and rough treatment, his vision flashing crimson for a split second. ¡®Did I literally see red for a second?¡¯ ¡°That will be enough, Detmold.¡± This voice was soft, feminine. Carter glanced over, and not seeing anyone, glanced downward. The squat, wide-bodied female with thick, golden hair was dressed in ermine robes. ¡°Holy shit. Are you a female dwarf?¡± She nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll be damned. I thought you all were a myth, like unicorns.¡± Her face showed no expression. ¡°It is interesting you resort to flippancy in your position. Sir Lavitz isn¡¯t supposed to be so reckless.¡± Carter shrugged. Showing surprising strength, she lifted him close by his shirt collar. ¡°The Walker of Worlds, on the other hand, well, he¡¯s not known for his tact. Why is that, Carter Blake?¡± He blinked his eyes rapidly. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, who?¡± She shoved him, causing the back of his head to thump into the wall. Stars exploded across his vision which then tunneled to dimness. She shook him hard. ¡°No, no. Wake up. Focus!¡± Her hand slammed into his cheek, shocking him to consciousness. Carter leaned to the side and heaved. Though the dizziness remained afterwards, the nausea faded. He returned his gaze to her and discovered there were now two. ¡®Yay. I have another concussion! If this keeps up, my brain is going to be permanently scrambled.¡¯ ¡°Why would you attempt sarcasm while a prisoner, Carter?¡± He took a slow breath, hoping it would clear his mind some. ¡°One, my name is Lavitz. Two, snark is different from sarcasm. Snark is a sharply critical comment. Usually. Sometimes, it is used to denote the obvious. Sarcasm is the use of irony to mock or show contempt.¡± ¡°Thank you for the entomology lesson.¡± ¡°That was snark. However, the word you wanted was ¡®etymology.¡¯ Don¡¯t feel bad. Lots of folks get those two confused.¡± She slapped him against the wall again. ¡°Enough with your snark!¡± ¡°No, that was flippancy.¡± She growled and lifted him off the floor by his shirt collar. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you if you keep it up. I bet you won¡¯t be laughing then. Lock him up, Detmold.¡± As the giant obeyed, the dwarf woman whirled and stormed from the room. Carter watched her leave through watery eyes. ¡°You know, Detmold, it¡¯s no wonder you¡¯re so dim. She¡¯s a freaking idiot.¡± The giant¡¯s reply was to press his hand firmly against Carter¡¯s chest, crushing the air from his lungs. The Walker wheezed, trying to pull a breath in, but the weight of the hand kept him from doing so. He struggled against his chains to no avail. After five seconds, the giant released his pressure, allowing Carter air. He collapsed, coughing and gasping. Detmold left without another word. ¡®I¡¯ve got to stop needling those physically stronger than me when I¡¯m at their mercy. It¡¯s going to kill me one of these days.¡¯ Carter¡¯s head dropped to his chest. ¡®How the fuck am I going to get out of this mess?¡¯ ### The blare of a shrieker spell, sharp and piercing, cut through the air like a knife, followed by the searing white-hot light from a sunburst spell that shattered the darkness. The sudden onslaught yanked him from his brief nap, the afterimage of the light still burning behind his eyelids. His head throbbed with the echoes of the relentless noise. ¡®I managed thirty seconds that time. If this continues, I¡¯m going to go mad.¡¯ The tortured symphony of shrieks and flashes of light had been ongoing for what felt like an eternity, each blast leaving him more frayed than the last. This torment was somehow worse than what he endured as Belial¡¯s gladiator. Back then, at least, he¡¯d been allowed the mercy of sleep. The noise abruptly ceased, leaving a deafening silence in its wake, the intense light fading into a dim glow cast by a pair of flickering torches. The sudden quiet made the ringing in his ears more pronounced, and the world around him swam as his eyes struggled to adjust. After several moments, he forced his head to lift just enough to see the dwarf woman sitting in a chair across from where he dangled, her silhouette dancing in the unsteady torchlight. ¡°It is good to see you, Carter,¡± she said, her voice smooth, but with an edge that scraped against his raw nerves. ¡°Lavitz.¡± He spat the name, the insistence on his secret identity a constant thorn in her side. It usually pissed her off. ¡°Your name is Carter Blake, and you¡¯re the Walker of Worlds.¡± Her words were clipped, each one a command rather than a statement. ¡°No. No, I¡¯m not.¡± His voice was hoarse, rasping out the denial as if it cost him every ounce of his strength. She stood, the leather of her boots creaking as she crossed the chamber, her presence looming larger as she leaned in close, her breath hot against his skin. ¡°As you wish,¡± she said, her tone soft with danger. ¡°Do you want the spells to stop?¡± ¡°Nah. I¡¯m enjoying them. If you listen just right, you can hear music in the patterns.¡± His words came out dry, laced with sarcasm, but there was a quiver underneath, betraying the exhaustion that weighed him down. ¡°Still with the jokes, I see.¡± She shook her head, her expression shadowed in the dim light. ¡°I guess you¡¯re not interested in my proposal.¡± She straightened, the chain of keys at her waist jingled softly as she turned and headed for the door. ¡°Wait a second. I never actually responded,¡± he called after her, his voice cracking slightly. The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She paused, her hand on the doorframe, and turned back, her eyes gleaming like polished steel. ¡°You did when you joked about the shrieks making music.¡± ¡°Okay, fair point. What is your proposal?¡± He forced himself to meet her gaze, though the weight of it felt like an anchor dragging him down. ¡°Answer my questions, and it will stop.¡± ¡°I have been. You just don¡¯t like them.¡± ¡°Then you know what you have to do, right?¡± Her voice had a predatory edge, each word enunciated with calculated precision. ¡°Of course. I have to keep pissing you off.¡± He managed a weak smile, the effort almost painful. She crossed to him once more, her steps deliberate and slow. ¡°Why would you want that?¡± Her voice dipped lower, a dangerous curiosity simmering beneath the surface. ¡°Because if you continue, you¡¯ll kill me.¡± He leaned his head back against the rough stone wall, the smile on his lips widening, though his eyes were tired. ¡°And that¡¯ll piss you off even more.¡± She nodded, a glimmer of something unreadable in her eyes as she stepped back. ¡°Good points. Looks like we¡¯ll have to switch things up.¡± She reached out with a silver key that glinted in the low light and unlocked his manacles. The sudden release sent a wave of agony shooting through his arms as they dropped, dead weight at his sides, and he couldn¡¯t stifle the cry that tore from his throat. ¡°Get some sleep,¡± she murmured, her voice almost gentle now. ¡°You¡¯re going to need it.¡± Arms dangling uselessly at his sides, shoulders throbbing with each beat of his heart, he tried to clutch at his injuries but couldn¡¯t bring his hands to the source of the pain. The agony was too intense, his muscles locking up in protest. The dwarf woman ignored his soft whimpering, her boots clicking sharply on the stone floor as she exited the cell, the heavy door creaking shut with a final, echoing thud as she locked it behind her. He slumped where he sat, his body sagging like a marionette with its strings cut. With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes, but the relentless throb of blood pounding in his temples and the ironclad grip of the migraine clamping down on his skull made it impossible to relax, let alone sleep. The smoky tang of fire-roasted meat suddenly cut through the haze of pain, slipping past his defenses. It was rich and savory, the scent wrapping around him like a warm embrace. His jaw tightened involuntarily, a deep ache spreading through it as his mouth flooded with saliva, betraying the gnawing hunger that clawed at his insides. Carter attempted to sit up, but a sharp, twisting pain shot through his stomach, doubling him over and leaving him gasping. ¡®Come on, damn you. Get your ass around to the food.¡¯ The thought buzzed in his mind, a desperate command that fueled his next moves. Slowly, agonizingly, he began to drag himself across the rough stone floor toward the source of the smell. Each inch was a battle, the jagged edges of the stone scraping his fingertips raw, the tender skin splitting open and oozing blood, but he ignored the fiery sting. Sweat dripped from his brow, the salty beads burning his eyes and trailing down his face to mingle with the grime caking his skin. His breaths came in shallow, ragged bursts, each one a struggle as his strength waned. After what felt like an eternity, his face finally hovered near the plate. The haunch of meat was tantalizing, its surface slightly charred, giving way to glistening juices that seeped from the tender flesh beneath. The rich aroma was stronger now, unmistakably beef, and it sent another wave of hunger crashing through him. His heart pounded in his chest, not from excitement but from sheer exhaustion, each beat a reminder of how close he was to his limit. He hesitated, his vision blurring as his eyelids grew impossibly heavy. With a soft sigh, his head sank to the cold, unforgiving stone floor, the rough texture pressing into his skin. The plate of food remained untouched, only inches from his face. Seconds later, sleep claimed him, the weight of days without rest and the toll of his recent exertions finally overwhelming his gnawing hunger. ### Carter jerked awake, the memory of the tantalizing scent of food still lingering in his mind. His stomach clenched painfully as he realized the meal was gone. With a groan, he lurched to a sitting position, the dim light of the dungeon casting everything in a sickly scarlet hue. ¡°Where the fuck is my dinner?¡± His voice, hoarse and filled with raw hunger, echoed through the cold, stony chamber. The unexpected ferocity of his own growl startled him, and he fell back against the rough wall, a defeated sigh escaping his lips. ¡®Gods damn it. That fucking midget taunted me with it, knowing I was too worn out to sate my hunger. I¡¯m gonna scalp the bitch.¡¯ The thought of vengeance fueled his anger, and he slammed his fist onto the stone floor. The sharp sting from the impact barely registered through the haze of his exhaustion and pain. A sudden, heavy thud from the lock on the door pulled his attention, making his heart skip a beat. ¡°Christ. Now what?¡± he muttered, bracing himself for whatever new torment awaited. The door creaked open slowly, the sound grating against his nerves, as if whoever was on the other side was hesitant, or perhaps savoring the moment before they entered. His breath caught in his throat as the figure stepped into the dim light. All thoughts of food, pain, and anger evaporated in an instant. Before him stood a woman, breathtakingly beautiful, her presence a stark contrast to the grim surroundings. Her robes were the palest azure, shimmering faintly in the dim light, their silver trim catching the scarlet glow and turning it into something almost ethereal. Her fiery dark orange hair cascaded over her right shoulder in a thick braid, each strand catching the light like molten copper. Her eyes, vibrant and green as the summer grass, locked onto his, and for a moment, he felt a warmth he hadn¡¯t known in years. Her lips, full and red like sun-ripened strawberries, parted slightly as she stepped forward, the soft ivory of her skin glowing in the gloom. A small golden necklace rested just above the swell of her bosom, the pendant¡ªa delicate bird¡ªglinting faintly as it caught the light. ¡°Dearbhaile,¡± he breathed, the name escaping his lips like a prayer. She raised a slender finger to her lips, her expression serious. ¡°Ye have tae be quiet, Carter. No one knows I be here.¡± ¡°How¡ªWhen?¡± His mind raced, struggling to comprehend how she could possibly be standing before him. ¡°It does nae matter now. I¡¯m here tae rescue ye.¡± Her voice, though soft, was filled with an urgency that pulled him from his daze. Dearbhaile moved swiftly, ducking under his arm to help him to his feet. The scrape of his back against the roughhewn wall sent a fresh wave of pain through his already battered body, but it wasn¡¯t enough to clear the fog of shock and disbelief clouding his mind. ¡°I¡¯ve searched everywhere for you,¡± he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. ¡°Where were you?¡± ¡°Drago¡¯s had me in his citadel. I was his prisoner all this time. But I escaped.¡± Her words came quickly, as if she was trying to condense years of suffering into a single breath. ¡°How?¡± The question hung in the air, heavy with unspoken fears and suspicions. ¡°I¡¯ll tell ye later, ye silly l¡ª¡± Her words were cut off as his mouth crashed into hers, desperation and longing fueling the sudden, intense kiss. His tongue slid across her lower lip, coaxing her to part her lips, and when she did, he delved deeper, savoring her taste, as sweet and intoxicating as he remembered. He felt the softness of her lips, the warmth of her breath, and for a moment, the cold, harsh reality of the dungeon faded away. Dearbhaile¡¯s movements were hesitant, her tongue timidly following the motions of his. But as he gently sucked on her tongue, swirling his around hers, she began to match his rhythm, her kisses growing bolder, more assured. The world outside their embrace ceased to exist, leaving only the two of them, lost in the moment. But the moment was shattered when she pulled back, her breath coming in short gasps. ¡°Carter¡­ That was¡­ Wow. What came over ye?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not seen you in six years, Rishka. How would you have preferred I greet you?¡± His eyes crinkled at the corners, a wide smile on his face, the rare expression of joy almost foreign after so long in darkness. ¡°Something a little more¡ª¡± Her words were abruptly cut off as a massive hand clamped down on her shoulder, yanking her out of the cell with brutal force. The suddenness of it was jarring, the transition from intimacy to violence so swift that Carter barely had time to react. ¡°Dearbhaile!¡± he shouted, lunging forward to grab her, but a giant foot slammed into his gut, the impact smashing him back into the wall with bone-rattling force. The pain exploded through his body, leaving him gasping for air, but the fear in his heart for Dearbhaile outweighed any physical agony. ¡°Stay put,¡± a deep, gravelly voice ordered, the sound of it chilling Carter to his core. ¡°Detmold,¡± Carter gasped, the name filled with equal parts fear and fury. Dearbhaile''s scream echoed down the corridor as the giant slammed the door and dragged her away. Carter hurled himself at the door, fists pounding against the unforgiving wood in time with the frantic rhythm of his heartbeat. The door stood unyielding, but as his fury built, something primal within him snapped. His hair, once brown, cascaded past his shoulders in a wave of inky blackness. Metallic scales, shimmering with a poisonous blend of silver and purple-green, erupted from beneath his skin, spreading rapidly across his body. His forearms bristled with scalloped edges, and his hands morphed into gleaming, silvery-blue claws. His face melted away, flesh sloughing off to reveal a skull, eyes burning with electric blue light. Ram-like horns twisted out from his temples as he unleashed a roar that shook the very walls. The door detonated into a cloud of dust and splinters. The creature slammed into the far wall, only to spring off with terrifying speed, driven by pure instinct toward the sound of Dearbhaile¡¯s cries. It hurtled down the corridor like a missile, launching itself at the giant in a blur of motion. Detmold, anticipating the attack, ducked and caught the creature by the leg, swinging him through the air with bone-shattering force. Its body crashed into the stone floor, leaving a crater in his wake. The giant lifted it effortlessly, smashing him into the opposite wall, the impact echoing through the hallway. Detmold repeated the brutal assault, the creature in his grasp limp and unresponsive, a mere object to be crushed. He paused only when the stone beneath the creature¡¯s battered form was reduced to jagged shards. Dust lingered in the air, a silent witness to the devastation. Satisfied with his victory, Detmold leaned in to inspect the creature, but something changed. A red glow enveloped its body, and then, in an instant, it was gone. The giant blinked, confusion briefly crossing his face as he scanned the room for any sign of his opponent. He turned back toward the cell where he had left Dearbhaile, peering inside. Nothing. A faint sound¡ªa soft thud¡ªcame from behind him, and before he could react, ironclad arms seized his head. The force was unimaginable, the grip unyielding. With a sickening crack, his head twisted sharply, the sound of his neck breaking resonating through the corridor. Detmold''s body slumped to the ground, lifeless. It rode the giant¡¯s corpse to the ground. As the body thumped to the ground in the silence, it stepped away. The creature¡¯s eyes locked on Dearbhaile staring with slack-jawed horror. Her terror wasn¡¯t recognizable, only her familiar features. It entered the room with predatory grace and she backed away quickly. ¡°What the fuck are you?¡± Her sharp voice caused the creature to pause. Its head tilted to the left. The creature recognized the words, but not their meaning. It was it. Didn¡¯t she know this? It always recognized her. The creature pulled her into his arms for an embrace. The action was instinctive, a habit buried deep within the its fragmented memories. But something was wrong. It stiffened, the comforting scent of warmth and familiarity replaced by something foul¡ªspoiled, rancid vanilla. She smelled like spoiled vanilla. Its grip tightened, fingers digging into her shoulders until the bones shifted, sliding unnaturally beneath her skin. She screamed in agony, a high-pitched noise which grated on the creature¡¯s ears. Then her body convulsed as her muscles rippled like waves, and her tendons snapped taut as bones broke and reformed. The being in its grasp appeared to be a stunning, beautiful, statuesque and nude woman with flawless milky skin and raven hair. Large bat wings growing from her shoulders fluttered as she struggled to escape. Her slender black tail curled and uncurled around his neck as she fought. Her red eyes glowed with terror. A low, guttural snarl rumbled from its chest, revealing rows of serrated teeth meant for tearing flesh. The demon¡ªthis false thing¡ªshrieked, desperation in her eyes as she raked her claws against its body. The talons snapped like brittle twigs, her screams only feeding its rage. It threw her aside, with another feral bellow that shook the walls. She hit the floor, ichor oozing from the gashes its claws had carved into her flesh. Her wings fluttered weakly, dragging her broken body away from the creature¡¯s relentless fury. She backed away, pushing the floor with her feet as her arms were useless. The creature had crushed her joints in its fearsome grip. ¡°Where¡¯s Cart ¨C urk.¡± The creature grabbed her throat, not liking her voice. ¡°Der-va-la.¡± Its voice was like rocks being crushed. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± the demon gasped. It roared and squeezed his hand. The immense pressure in his grip pulverized her neck and forced the ichor back into her head which popped off under the strain. As her body collapsed, the creature caught her head and brought it close to his nose. The skull-faced being sniffed it, and then cast away the decapitated skull. It lifted its head, inhaling deeply. The air was empty, devoid of what it sought. Dearbhaile¡¯s scent¡ªgone. Only the acrid stench of blood and death remained. With a final, breathless roar, it disappeared, leaving nothing but an explosion of violet light in its wake. Twenty-Six ¡°I am the legend you have sought ever since Dearbhaile cast you aside like so much refuse.¡± Corath stared at the man floating before him. After a few moments, he realized the mage wasn¡¯t floating, but was perched on the pommel of a sword. A sword that was an exact duplicate of the one he held in his hands. Corath¡¯s mind raced, disbelief warring with the cold dread that seeped into his bones. ¡®How could this be possible?¡¯ The sword, the mage, everything defied reason. In the blink of an eye, the man closed the distance, moving from a rod away to standing mere inches before him, as if time had folded in on itself. ¡°Do not waste your thoughts on what is possible, Corath.¡± The mage¡¯s voice was a whisper that seemed to echo inside the elf¡¯s skull. ¡°Worry only about how you will find me.¡± The mage extended a long, spindly finger with too many joints bending at odd angles. When it touched the Gorauch¡¯s fevered brow, a cold unlike any other seeped into his skin, sending a shiver down his spine, as though the very essence of winter had invaded his soul. A flash erupted behind his eyes, and he went flying back on his ass, sliding back across the jagged, hot floor until his back slammed against the unforgiving cavern wall. Gasping, Corath struggled to regain his senses from the jolt. As the fog in his mind cleared, he looked up to see the creatures he¡¯d been battling all knelt before him. Ignoring the creatures, he stared down at the two swords in his hands. One was unremarkable in its design, with a blade just shy of three feet long and a crossguard that bore the marks of countless battles. The steel, once polished to a mirror sheen, was now dulled by time and use, its surface etched with fine scratches and tiny nicks, each a testament to the countless blows it had deflected. The hilt, wrapped in leather that had long since lost its original color, fit comfortably in his hand, molded by years of a firm grip. The leather was frayed at the edges, darkened by sweat and grime, and worn smooth where he had curled his hand around it time and again over the centuries. The pommel, once a simple rounded shape, was now chipped and dented, bearing the scars of battles fought and enemies bested. Thousands of memories were wrapped up in this ordinary weapon. The other sword bore a series of wicked barbs along the lower third of its blade, each one honed to a cruel edge that promised pain with every strike. The steel, infused with a mysterious substance, glowed faintly with a reddish tinge, as if the weapon itself had been forged in the heart of a volcano. Three dwarven runes, inlaid in gold, gleamed against the darkened metal, their ancient symbols whispering of long-lost secrets. The grip, wrapped tightly in red dragonhide, was supple yet strong, the scales still bearing a faint warmth as though the beast¡¯s fiery essence remained. It ended in a pommel carved from a 3-inch-long dragon fang, sharp and lethal, a reminder of the creature''s deadly bite. The guard, fashioned from bright red metal, flared out like a pair of leathery wings, each vein and ridge meticulously crafted to evoke the fearsome majesty of a dragon in flight. This was no ordinary blade; it radiated an aura of malevolence, as if the very spirit of the dragon had been captured within. The barbs, the runes, the fang¡ªall spoke of a weapon designed not just to kill, but to instill terror in the hearts of its enemies. Whoever wielded it would command not just fear, but also a dark respect, as though they had made a pact with a force beyond mortal understanding. Without further thought, Corath cast aside his ancient blade and stood with the new one in his grasp. As he sheathed it, he finally glanced at the kneeling creatures before him. When he¡¯d approached the weapon earlier, they¡¯d attacked. Now he held it, they bowed. ¡®What does this mean? Will they be my minions? Or will they stay here?¡¯ He looked them over, taking in the blacked substance that had ignored the bite of his previous sword and the yellowish ichor that stained the ground with an acrid stench. ¡®While they¡¯d make a formidable army, I can¡¯t take them with me, yet. I must find that tomb Teivel showed me. It¡¯s deeper in this hellish desert.¡¯ ### Corath strode through the eerily silent desert, unaffected by the relentless heat. His new sword protected him from the heat with its magic, making thirst, hunger, and fatigue distant concerns. As he walked, the oppressive conditions seemed to melt away, leaving him unfazed and resolute. A recent sandstorm swept through the area, and the once-shifting dunes had settled into new forms, their smooth surfaces disrupted by jagged outcroppings of ancient stone. In the midst of this barren landscape, a dark opening yawned at the base of a newly formed dune, the entrance to a tomb long hidden beneath the sands. The sandstorm had stripped away the layers of time, revealing the weathered stone archway that led into the depths below. The entrance, carved from sandstone, bore the marks of age, its surface pitted and worn, yet still adorned with faint inscriptions that hinted at forgotten rites and buried secrets. A pair of pillars, half-buried and crumbling, flanked the doorway, their surfaces etched with arcane symbols of entrapment that had been spared the ravages of time by their entombment. The air around the entrance was heavy with the scent of dust and something older, something that had lain dormant for centuries, waiting to be discovered. You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. The sun, low on the horizon, cast long shadows across the entrance, its rays illuminating the first few steps that descended into darkness. The tomb, once lost to the desert, now beckoned with the promise of untold mysteries and dangers. The newly uncovered entrance stood as a silent invitation to any who dared to venture within. Corath paused and studied the weathered runes carved in the door. Cruel time and sand had failed to completely erode the elegance they¡¯d been chiseled with. They were of an elven dialect long lost to history, yet he found they were easily read. ¡°Hearken and heed this warning: Disturb not the hallowed crypt of the bound Teivel, whose dark dominion once enslaved legions. The ancient wards that enshroud this sacred tomb are both shield and curse, guarding against those who would awaken the slumbering wrath of the imprisoned sorcerer. Tread not upon this hallowed ground, for the fury of the mage, bound by eldritch chains, shall befall any who dare trespass. Let the ancient seal remain unbroken, lest calamity befall thee.¡± Knowledge, apparently placed there by Teivel¡¯s earlier touch in his vision, of how to open the door floated up from the depths of Corath¡¯s mind. He brushed his left hand over the door, causing the sandstone to spiral away as if driven by a hidden breeze. A hole, matching the blade he wore on his hip, was revealed. He inserted the sword, which turned by itself, and the door responded with deep thuds and hollow clicks. After quiet returned to the desert air once more, the sword popped out. He withdrew and sheathed it. As the door settled into the ground, Corath felt a rush of dank, musty air. ¡®How does this desert tomb have moisture in it? Did I just breathe in some poison by not shielding my face?¡¯ He entered the tomb, his worry quickly fading as he reassured himself of the legend¡¯s intentions. ¡®Teivel wouldn¡¯t have sent me here to die by poison.¡¯ As he crossed the threshold, a dim magical light flickered to life on the ceiling. It barely illuminated enough of the chamber to allow him to see a channel running along the floor from a western location. It lead to long dead and dried vegetation in the room. ¡®Water must have run through there, providing irrigation. I wonder what caused it to vanish.¡¯ He stepped further in and a faint waving shadow caught his eye¡ªa twisted shrub, one rod tall, with waxy leaves and foot-long thorns. The plant¡¯s limbs, adorned with ancient bones and armor, were as dangerous as they were eerie. A thorny vine lashed out, aiming for his neck. Corath ducked just in time, feeling the barbs scrape his scalp. He drew his sword and cut the vine in two, but the plant shuddered and more vines lashed out. The many remains of victims tangled in the plant¡¯s limbs suggested its vines were quick. Yet, with the mystical sword in hand, they seemed to move in slow motion, giving Corath a crucial advantage. Several rapid slashes removed the threat from the bizarre plant. ¡®What a strange guardian. What else might be in here?¡¯ He crossed the rest of the room and entered an archway into a domed chamber. The feeble illumination came from the ceiling, the flickering light scribed across the like scattered stars. In the heart of the desolate chamber stood a weathered fountain, its once-proud basin now a cracked, dusty relic of a bygone era. The stone, veined with intricate patterns, had long lost its luster, replaced by a patina of age and neglect. The sculpted figures, once vibrant with the water''s play, were now ghostly outlines, their faces obscured by layers of grime and decay. The air around it hung heavy with the silence of abandonment, and the faintest echoes of forgotten murmurs seemed to drift through the room like wisps of an ancient memory. The fountain''s dry bed, cracked and empty, lay in stark contrast to the grandeur it once commanded, a silent testament to time''s relentless erosion. ¡®This must have been an important feature due to its fairly central location.¡¯ Corath considered the dusty thing. ¡®I wonder if this was a natural spring that was turned into this ornamentation?¡¯ He detected runes, a finger in height, ran around the rim of the basin. He again found them easy to read. ¡°A passage to Lord Teivel is only granted by offering oneself as a sacrifice to the sacred scarabs.¡± Two doorways sat opposite of the fountain. Upon entering the leftmost room, he discovered a fresco room, its walls a tapestry of fragmented splendor and desolation. The once-vivid murals, depicting scenes of mythical feasts and celestial battles, were now a patchwork of crumbling colors and half-erased forms, their edges disintegrating like fragile parchment. Chunks of plaster had fallen away, scattering like ancient debris around the room, revealing the faded remains of a grand narrative buried under layers of grime and decay. Shattered pieces of imagery clung desperately to the walls, their vibrant hues muted by the relentless encroachment of time and sand. The room, cloaked in a heavy silence, bore the mournful evidence of its former glory, a cryptic whisper of Teivel¡¯s civilization lost to the desert¡¯s eternal embrace. He exited and crossed the fountain room to the other doorway. A dark corridor greeted him. As he stepped in, ancient torches flickered to life, granting shifting light to his eyes. The narrow passageway was flanked by walls covered with remnants of ancient tapestries. The drapery, once vibrant with the colors of finely woven thread, now hung in tatters, their images smudged and faded by the relentless encroachment of sand and time. The floor, uneven and covered in a fine layer of dust, was strewn with shards of broken pottery and fragments of decorative stonework, echoing the grandeur that had long since been eroded. The air was thick with the musty scent of ancient decay, and the silence was punctuated only by the occasional drip of distant moisture from unseen cracks. The torchlight, dancing in an unfelt breeze made the tapestries seem to dance with ghostly life before they once again faded into the shadows, as if the tomb itself wished to whisper its forgotten story to him. The next room was rather ordinary. Another basin sat near the unadorned far wall. When it approached, it brightened, revealing a fountain of shiny black carapaces which surged upwards as if to attack him before they fell back into the bowl. One raced up the rim. It gleamed like polished obsidian. Its smooth, reflective shell caught the light with every movement, casting deep, shifting hues of midnight blue and green. Delicate, intricate lines traced along the edges, suggesting natural patterns in the way light played over the surface. The scarab¡¯s legs were slender and precise, and its antennae were finely segmented, giving it an air of delicate precision. Its compound eyes sparkled with an enigmatic, otherworldly intelligence. It stared at him for several heartbeats before turning back to join its brethren. Without hesitation, as if being pulled forward by an unknown entity, Corath stepped to the fountain, and climbed in with the deadly insects. Chapter 27 Thick smoke and the metallic stench of blood filled her nose as Adora fought and killed the swarm of demons. Warriors screamed in pain and howled battled cries as demons roared in triumph or agony. Her sword arm was weary and sore from the bloody claw marks near her bicep. A tyrant had caught her with its talons while she fought a L¡¯Arc in the last fight. Adora twisted to the side, avoiding the tail spike of a lesser demon. Before it could recover, she caved the side of its skull in with her heavy mace. Ichor and brain tissue clung to the spikes. A piercing scream sliced through the noise, causing mortal and demon alike to freeze. A titanic winged shadow passed over the intermingled armies. She looked up. ¡®Fuck. An abyssal drake. Of course it¡¯s one of those. As if we didn¡¯t have enough to worry about already.¡¯ Fire the color of jade billowed from the drake¡¯s maw and hit the ground as it flew overhead. Humans, elves and dwarves were engulfed in the conflagration while the fiends capered gleefully. The conflict had been barely even before. Now it was almost a rout. Catching movement from the corner of her eye, Adora ducked the pincer swipe of an alpha demon. At the same time, she slammed her mace into its sternum with a crunch she could feel. The ground shook, taking her attention from the fiend¡¯s dying convulsions. She looked up and saw the drake had landed. In the air, its serpentine movements had seemed graceful. On the ground, it moved like a half paralyzed snake. A cavalry soldier and horse were swallowed whole as it lowered its head. The hulking figure in scarlet trimmed ebony armor which leaped down made her heart lurch. He was one of Drago¡¯s most powerful allies, the demon general Kholo. Most scattered before his onslaught, but a few brave knights raced to challenge him. They, too, fell to his saw-tooth sword. Before long, there was a wide path between her and him. She stared, eyes bulging. Her whole body trembled as she retreated. ¡®I¡¯m going to die. I don¡¯t want to die. I¡¯m too young to die. I never got to kiss Carter again. I wonder what he¡¯s up to?¡¯ As Kholo approached, a black apparition appeared between them, raising an explosion of dust and causing the combatants to pause. When it passed away on the breeze, the apparition was revealed to be a man in grey dragon skin armor with a crystalline blue sword held behind his back. The weapon, about the length of a broadsword, had a blade that looked about two inches wide with a beveled tip and was held behind his back. The demon general halted. ¡°Robilar.¡± The Chronomancer stood upright and tipped his head. ¡°You¡¯ve heard of me. How delightful.¡± ¡°Not for you. There is a bounty on your head, Time Lord.¡± ¡°No, I¡¯m not the Time Lord. She¡¯s not born yet.¡± ¡°What?¡± Kholo¡¯s head tilted a bit to the right. ¡°Never mind.¡± Robilar swung his sword out to the side. ¡°Recognize this?¡± The broadsword, forged from a rare blue crystal, shimmered with an otherworldly light, its flawless blade refracting colors like a living prism. ¡°No. Should I?¡± ¡°Really?¡± Robilar peered at the blade and then back at Kholo. ¡°Nothing?¡± ¡°No, why?¡± ¡°Huh.¡± He scratched the back of his head. ¡°I¡¯d have sworn you¡¯d recognize it especially as I took it from you five years ago.¡± The demon general growled. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you ¨C or your little sword - before, human.¡± Robilar grinned. ¡°Half.¡± The general roared and swung his great saw-toothed sword for Robilar¡¯s head. The Chronomancer leaned back, the blade whizzing through the air. Kholo whipped it back around in an arc, aiming to take his enemy¡¯s head as he straightened. Robilar ducked and the weapon took a few of his hairs. ¡°Close one there, demon.¡± A third whirling attack. Robilar twisted his torso in an arc while side stepping. Kholo recovered and stepped out of his reach. Robilar planted his sword in the dirt, leaving himself unarmed. Kholo spat on the ground and the two circled each other. Seeing all eyes were on the Chronomancer and demon, even that of the drake, Adora sidled around. She tightened her grip on her weapon. Closer she drew to the fiendish creature. Its head spun to focus on her. She jumped in the air in false triumph, and pointed. The abyssal drake whipped its head to where she indicated. In a blink, she leaped to its back, her mystical armor helping to propel her. The serpentine neck shot up and around. In a single, fluid motion, she swung her mace down with both hands, driving it into the drake¡¯s skull with every ounce of strength she had left. The scaly plate gave way beneath the tremendous blow and the drake slumped, dead. As the immense beast collapsed to the ground, she leaped off its back with a battle cry. Robilar and Kholo ceased their fight at the sound of the drake¡¯s death and looked up. The demon general¡¯s head rose just as she brought her weapon down onto his forehead. Both crashed to the ground. Adora¡¯s momentum sent her tumbling over the demon¡¯s corpse, her arms awkwardly pinned between their bodies. White hot agony lanced through her left arm as it broke with a wet crunch. She screamed and blacked out. ### Adora opened her eyes to a blur of dimness. After a few blinks, the canvas roof came into focus, rippling in a hard wind. ¡®What happened?¡¯ She blinked a couple more times as she put her fingers to her temple. ¡®Oh, yes. Kholo.¡¯ She remembered the heady feeling of soaring through the air and crashing down on the demon lord, driving her mace into his skull before colliding with the ground. ¡®My arm.¡¯ She lifted both limbs before realizing in surprise that neither hurt. ¡°You¡¯re finally awake. That¡¯s good.¡± She sat up and looked to her right. Robilar lounged in a chair near her bed with his feet propped up on her table, ankles crossed. He sliced up a green-skinned and white-fleshed oblong thing with an etched steel knife and ate it. The food¡¯s scent was fruity and floral while also delicate and sweet. It reminded her of cool morning dew on orchard fruits. ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a pear. From down south.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been all over the land and never encountered anything like it.¡± ¡°The other side of the ocean.¡± He took his feet down and leaned over, offering a slice. ¡°Try it.¡± Adora accepted the piece of pear and studied it. It was wet and sticky. The skin was like that of an apple. She glanced back to Robilar. ¡°It¡¯s fruit, and good. I¡¯d not be eating it if it were dangerous.¡± ¡°While it may not be dangerous to you, it might be to me. You¡¯re not human, after all.¡± ¡°I¡¯m half human.¡± He shrugged. ¡°The other half is Goldrine.¡± ¡°What is Goldrine?¡± ¡°Precursor elves.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± ¡°The Goldrine were the first elves created by Kell¨¹n.¡± He sat back and sliced another piece of pear before eating it. ¡°They¡¯re extinct. Wiped out in a war with the Moon Dwarves.¡± ¡°I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about.¡± He shrugged. ¡°I know. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± A cloud crossed his face. ¡°Try the fruit. You¡¯ll like it.¡± Giving him a final skeptical look, she bit into the exposed flesh where his knife had sliced away a bit. The fruit was soft, and smooth, with a sweet, slightly floral taste. Her eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Thish ish wommerful!¡± He nodded and dipped his hands in a bowl of water on the table next to a vase of honeysuckle. He flicked droplets of water on her. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you stole my kill. I wanted to kill Kholo.¡± Despite the lightness of his words, there was also a hint of regret in his voice. She swallowed after chewing. ¡°Stop pouting. Your posturing was taking too long. I also had the element of surprise, and took advantage of it.¡± ¡°Yeah, but you¡¯re not supposed to be fighting like Carter. His way is dishonorable.¡± Flipping the blanket off her, Adora swung her legs off the bed. ¡°Tell me, Robilar: If you¡¯re slain, will it matter how honorable you were? Will you know?¡± ¡°Yes, of cour¡ª¡± ¡°No you won¡¯t. You¡¯ll be dead. We both know Chronomancers don¡¯t get an afterlife.¡± He folded his arms. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯ve been reading some of the histories.¡± ¡°Is it wrong?¡± He turned his head away. ¡°Didn¡¯t think so.¡± He shot to his feet. ¡°Why am I to be punished for my ancestors sins? I had nothing to do with them!¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you benefiting from their actions?¡± He helped her to her feet. ¡°Tell me, Your Grace: Would you see it as a benefit to outlive all of your friends and loved ones?¡± His voice was softer now. ¡°To see them die over and over again? Would it be beneficial to know that no matter what you try, you¡¯ll ultimately fail to keep them alive and you¡¯ll have to continue without them?¡± His mercurial mood was dizzying. ¡°Of course not.¡± She studied him. ¡°What has you in such a spiral of mood swings?¡± ¡°Carter is going through something dangerous, and I can¡¯t help him, even though I know what it is.¡± A maddening and persistent tickle, dancing on the edge of her skin popped up between her upper shoulders. She raised her right arm up, to reach it, but she wasn¡¯t flexible enough to get it. The itch skittered down her spine, and she brought her left arm up and back to intercept it, but her arm wouldn¡¯t bend enough. Robilar cleared his throat, rose and turned away. She paused in her attempts at relief and tilted her head. ¡°What?¡± He gestured in her general direction. Adora glanced down. The position of her arms, and her sindon chemise being as thin as it was, highlighted her breasts. She dropped her arms and spun back to her bed, drawing a blanket to her chest. ¡°You could have said something, Robilar.¡± ¡°Apologies, Majesty. I didn¡¯t realize you were going to stand.¡± She huffed and looked around. Spotting her trunk, she went over and opened it. After retrieving her kirtle, she proceeded to put on breeches and a gambeson. Robilar was studying a map at her table when she turned. If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. ¡°What are you looking for?¡± He raised his head. ¡°Carter¡¯s movements.¡± A wave of his hand drew her closer. He pointed at a town. ¡°Lavitz was spotted here with a guard sergeant in a tavern. According to a thief, he got into a confrontation with an assassin who was supposed to cool off. Said his eyes changed to a bright blue, and his nailed the assassin to the ceiling with his sword.¡± Robilar peered over to gauge Adora¡¯s reaction. Her right hand was over her mouth and her eyes were wide. ¡°What happened after that?¡± Her voice was whisper quiet. ¡°The sergeant hurried Lavitz out and he went after a local gang of slavers.¡± He returned his gaze to the map and tapped an area a wheel to the south of Rivorei. ¡°The guard followed after him around dawn, and later told his captain they¡¯d found no survivors, just an abattoir.¡± The queen leaned forward, placing her hands to either side of the lower right corner, sighed and glanced up at her friend. ¡°What else?¡± The Chronomancer shrugged. ¡°He vanished for a couple of months, and then popped up two and a half wheels from Bisquine.¡± He tapped the map. ¡°I found him in an ancient keep where he was trying to help a village with their undead problem. Lich, to be exact. We went to Bisquine, to gain the aid of Keldur¡¯s paladins, but he vanished after going to speak with their commander, who turned out to be a shape-shifted demon.¡± ¡°By the Abyss.¡± Adora wiped her hand across her face. ¡°What¡¯s the next report you have of him?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t.¡± ### Carter clutched his head as he slowly sat up. ¡®By all the hells, what happened to me?¡¯ He looked around. The dying light of dusk cast long, eerie shadows across the dense foliage, with hues of deep purple and fading orange mingling in the treetops. ¡®What happened to me? How did I get here?¡¯ A flash of Dearbhaile being grabbed and killed by the giant, Detmold, popped into his mind. ¡®Okay, I remember that, but nothing else. Why? What¡¯s happening to me?¡¯ Water dripped from lacy green fronds and snaked down the thick rope of vines wrapped around tree trunks. The rhythmic drip of water from the leaves created a soft, persistent patter against the forest floor, mingling with the distant, fading calls of diurnal creatures. Uncertainty hung in the warm, wet air as the creatures prepared for the long stretch of darkness. In the distance, a monkey howled to its tribe, causing the others to take up its noise. The sounds of nocturnal animals rose as they roused themselves. ¡®Great. It¡¯s night, I have no idea where I¡¯m at, and I have no supplies.¡¯ He glanced down to his hip. ¡®Or a weapon.¡¯ The pounding of waves caught his attention. ¡®Is that the surf near me?¡¯ Rising to his feet, he turned to the sound. ¡®If there¡¯s surf, maybe I¡¯m near a harbor, and can learn where I¡¯m at.¡¯ With a faint smile on his face, and lightness in his feet, he hurried to the sound of the water, took a step into nothingness, and fell. The world spun wildly and wind rushed past his ears as gravity pulled him into a disorienting descent, leaving his stomach somersaulting. Time seemed to stretch, before the water hit him with a stinging slap, cold and shockingly abrasive, sending a jarring shiver through his entire body. The air exploded out of his mouth. Water ¨C cold and salty - rushed in, choking him. Disoriented and drowning, he kicked franticly as his lungs burned, trying to find the surface to no avail. Arms weak, lungs screaming to let in air, but was in reality water, Carter felt himself slipping away from the world. ¡®Shit. I¡¯m going to die. I don¡¯t want to die. I need to get back to Adora¡¯ The thought of the queen galvanized him, giving him a burst of energy to fight harder, but it didn¡¯t last. His final struggles caused him to sink faster. His awareness faded. Strong arms wrapped around his chest and pulled him sideways. In seconds, he was on land, insensate. He was laid on his back and powerful arms compressed his chest rhythmically until the water was expelled from his lungs. Carter coughed and gagged, the air rasping in and out. His rescuer helped him to a seated position. ¡°Slow breaths at first, Handsome.¡± He became aware of how soaked he was when the breeze racing over his body made him shiver. Finally, the coughing fit passed. His throat still burned. His rescuer was indistinct from the rest of the night. Yet, he felt comforted and safe with the unknown person who had saved his life. ¡°Who are you?¡± His voice was hoarse and pained. ¡°And, thank you for saving my life.¡± ¡°I am Amando, prince of the Mer.¡± There was a smile in the other¡¯s voice. ¡°And, you are welcome.¡± The silhouette bowed with one leg forward and both arms cast to the side. Carter slid back until he leaned against a tree. He cast his gaze around and realized the moons were hidden, or hadn¡¯t risen yet. The heavy darkness felt oppressive. ¡°Would you be willing to start a fire, or do you prefer the dark?¡± ¡°Oh. I am sorry. I forgot you humans do not see like we do.¡± Amando moved off into the night. Carter looked up at the starry sky. None of the constellations he¡¯d become familiar with were in evidence. ¡®Am I even still in the Realm, or have I travelled to another world?¡¯ The smell of salt water and a heavy tread told him when the Prince of the Mer returned. Branches clattered as they were dropped in a pile. ¡°So, what is your name, Handsome? Or, may I keep calling you that? You are easy on the eyes, as you humans would say.¡± Carter, now more composed, focused on the conversation at hand. He was eager to find out more about this enigmatic prince and a possible alliance. ¡®Adora could use the help with her constant battles with Drago¡¯s demons.¡¯ ¡°My name is Ca¡ª Lavitz.¡± He barely caught himself in time, almost giving his real name instead of his Patchwork Knight persona. ¡®Hopefully, Amando didn¡¯t catch that.¡¯ ¡°Are you flirting with me?¡± ¡°I am, indeed, Calavitz.¡± Flame shot up from the wood, crackling merrily. He turned to the Walker. ¡°I¡¯d rather eat you, but I¡¯m sure that would be moving too fast.¡± Amando winked, the firelight casting a mischievous glint in his eyes. Carter smirked but stayed on guard, knowing the stakes of this encounter. Now there was light, Carter got a good look at his rescuer. He was about six feet, six inches in height with long red hair, a thick beard, broad muscular shoulders and a narrow waist in what appeared to be green tights. His bare chest was smooth and well-muscled. ¡°I¡¯m flattered, but I¡¯m taken.¡± ¡°I bet I could make you forget him.¡± ¡°I doubt you could make me forget her. She¡¯s my wife.¡± ¡°Oh. I beg your pardon.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. As I said, I¡¯m flattered.¡± ¡°Really? Most would take offense.¡± ¡°For being hit one while married? Where I¡¯m from, that¡¯s taken as a sign they¡¯re still attractive.¡± Amando raised an eyebrow, a faint smile playing on his lips. ¡°Indeed, customs vary greatly between cultures. I¡¯ve encountered many peculiar practices among humans.¡± Carter laughed. ¡°Indeed. So, where is the Mer nation?¡± ¡°In the ocean.¡± ¡°Wait. You¡¯re a merman?¡± Carter looked the Prince over. Other than the slight greenish tinge to his skin, he didn¡¯t see anything that indicated he was. Amando stiffened and his skin rippled, showing hidden scales. Carter¡¯s eyes widened as he saw the earlier playfulness from his savior was gone. In its place, was regal stiffness and a scowl. ¡°It is considered a deadly insult to my people to be called merfolk, or any variation.¡± ¡°I-I apologize, Your Majesty. I did not mean to offend.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not like other humans I have encountered, Calavitz.¡± The Mer titled his head and considered Carter. His bearing no longer as stiff. ¡°Um, it¡¯s actually Lavitz, not Calavitz.¡± ¡°Forgive me. I misunderstood when you introduced yourself.¡± ¡°You are forgiven. So, how long can you stay on land?¡± ¡°For about a month. Provided we take frequent saltwater baths, that is. Why?¡± ¡°I¡¯m hoping to persuade you to join the army of my wife, and queen against the forces of Drago the Clanless.¡± The Mer uttered a bark of laughter. ¡°Not a chance.¡± Carter paused and poked the fire with a stick. ¡®Adora¡¯s forces are stretched thin. If we don¡¯t find allies soon, we could lose everything.¡¯ He returned his gaze to the Prince. ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°We don¡¯t get involved in the affairs of land dwellers.¡± He sat on a fallen tree trunk. ¡°We have enough issues with them polluting our seas.¡± ¡°I¡¯m willing to do anything to get you to change your mind.¡± At Amando¡¯s leer, he hurriedly corrected himself. ¡°Almost anything.¡± The other man smirked. ¡°Like what?¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Something only I could do?¡± ¡°You can¡¯t even swim. How do you expect to be able to do anything I can¡¯t?¡± ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not something you aren¡¯t able to do. Maybe it would be something you weren¡¯t allowed to do.¡± ¡°I am Prince of the Mer. I can do anything.¡± ¡°Your people have no treaties with other peoples? No taboos?¡± Carter scratched his jaw. ¡°Your father hasn¡¯t forbade you from doing something?¡± Amando crossed his right arm over his chest and rested his left over it while rubbing his chin. ¡°You know, there might be something you could do for me.¡± ¡°No sex. I see you looking me up and down like a steak.¡± Carter grinned. The Prince chuckled. ¡°No, no sex, even though it would blow your mind. I¡¯m actually thinking of an item that was stolen from us seven generations ago by the Swamp Elves.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It is called ¡®Conker¡¯s Blade,¡¯ and is an artifact wielded by my ancestor, Imelda the Conqueror. She used it to unite the Mer, ending millennia of war between the tribes.¡± ¡°What does it look like?¡± ¡°The blade resembles the rostrum of a carpenter shark made from diamond. The cross guard is pearl and the pommel is onyx.¡± ¡°Sounds like an impractical weapon, but I can get it.¡± Carter stretched. Amando eyed him. ¡°Just like that? You think it¡¯ll be that easy?¡± Carter rose and twisted his upper torso to the back and side. After it crackled, his did the same on the other side. ¡°I never said it would be easy, Your Highness. I said I could do it.¡± The Prince of the Mer rose. ¡°How?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll see. Now, how about you show me where these Swamp Elves live?¡± ### The whine of mosquitos served to distract Carter a little from the wet rot scent that washed over him with each step. ¡®Phew. I can¡¯t tell if that¡¯s something dead, or just stagnant water.¡¯ He pulled his sticky shirt away from his chest trying to allow coolness to go over the sweat trickling down his body, but the heavy air offered no respite. He paused, and glanced away from the trail to the encampment across the swamp from where he stood. ¡®The shortest distance between two points is always a straight line,¡¯ he mused. A six-point buck dipped its head down to drink. Water near its head erupted upwards as a large alligator lunged from under the water and caught the deer by the neck. The gator pulled the kicking and screaming buck under the water and rolled, churning up the water. ¡®The longest distance between those two points, leads to longer life,¡¯ he decided. ¡®Gotta find another way to the encampment. I hope this is where the swamp elves are. The last one was abandoned for years.¡¯ Slapping his bicep crushed a mosquito which decided he was tasty. He resumed his slog through the mud and rain fell on him once more. ¡®Yay. More rain. Just what I was hoping for.¡¯ The rain served to remind him of the burning at his crotch that he¡¯d almost succeeded in pushing out of his mind. ¡°Fuck this chaffing sucks. I¡¯d give almost anything for some dry clothes and powder.¡± As he grumbled to himself, Carter reached up to push away a dangling vine, only to freeze when it moved in his hand. The vine wasn¡¯t a vine at all. It was a huge python, lazily yawning to reveal the inside of its grayish-pink mouth. Carter¡¯s pulse quickened. ¡°Sorry, bub. Didn¡¯t mean to disturb you.¡± He ducked under the snake, careful not to make any sudden movements, before continuing on. Before he got two steps further, six men rose from the ground - elves with skin the color of wet earth, their bodies streaked with moss and tangled in vines. Their eyes, narrow and gleaming like polished stones, watched him with cautious intent. The mud that had concealed them clung to their limbs as they rose, blending seamlessly with the swamp until they stood, eerily still, as if they were part of the landscape itself. The two closest wielded spears with flint tips and the four further away pointed cocked bows at him. Carter held his hands out to the side to show he wasn¡¯t armed and looking for a fight. One of the men with a spear jabbered something at him, but he had no idea what it was. ¡°Can you understand me?¡± The men tilted their heads to the side. A nearby elf spoke in a rapid, lilting language. Carter blinked rapidly as his brow furrowed. Sweat crept through his beard as he tapped his lower lip with his index finger. ¡°I am Sir Lavitz. I¡¯m looking for swamp elves.¡± The same elf shook his head slowly. Carter dropped his head. ¡®By all the hells. Why have I never checked to see if there is translation magic?¡¯ The spear wielder to his left jabbed the weapon at him, coming close to his stomach. Carter snatched the weapon from his hands. The archers drew back their bowstrings which creaked under the pressure. He then offered the spear in both his hands to the one who¡¯d spoken. ¡°I don¡¯t think he should have it back.¡± He nodded to the now disarmed elf. The elf lowered his spear and leaned on it, laughing. He accepted the other one¡¯s weapon, and then waved for Carter to follow. The elves started for the village at a jog with the one he¡¯d disarmed sending him a black look. ### Alistair stood talking to a swarthy man clad in plate greaves and boots. The Avalanche¡¯s great size partially hid the stranger, but Adora could see the wiry man wore a belt, two knives and a great sword across his back, and nothing else. ¡®Who is he, and why is my general being so deferential to him?¡¯ She watched for a moment longer before a cleared throat behind her reclaimed her attention. She turned back to the Chronomancer, Robilar. A score of candles, dancing in the cool breeze, provided the only light which was directed at the table with a map of the region. A collection of pins with her symbol on them marked where her army lay. Another set had an unfamiliar sigil on them, about six inches from her army. Shadows from the pins played over the map, alternately obscuring and revealing details of the vellum. He stood on the other side of it with his arms folded. ¡°Sir Alistair knows his job, Majesty. Making plans for countering Drago is currently more important than a supplicant.¡± ¡°I think he¡¯s more than an mere petitioner, Robilar.¡± She sighed and turned back around before crossing the tent to her general and the mysterious man he was speaking to. The men ceased their conversation and turned to her. Alistair stood at attention and saluted while the stranger smiled. ¡°Hello, Adora. It is good to see you again.¡± She stopped with a frown. ¡°Who are you?¡± He glanced around, making sure only the four of them were near. ¡°Azrael. But, for your men¡¯s purposes, I am called Nathaniel.¡± She stiffened and her hand flew to her chest ¡°Why are you here? Isn¡¯t that forbidden?¡± Her guardian angel rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°Things are a bit¡­ chaotic in the Outlands. Kell¨¹n isn¡¯t responding to prayers, Azerith is missing and Chokkan¡­ Well, the less said about him, the better.¡± He sighed. ¡°The Walker is needed now, more than ever, but he cannot be found. I grew tired of waiting for orders, and came to do my duty in person.¡± ¡®Tired of waiting for orders? What could have the gods in such disarray?¡¯ As she processed what he¡¯d just said, Adora got a sinking feeling in her gut. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®Azerith is missing?¡¯¡± ¡°He¡¯s not in the Silver City, and isn¡¯t granting his worshippers their spells.¡± She tugged at her gambeson as she chewed at the corner of her lip. ¡°It sounds like the Outlands are in disarray.¡± After a few minutes, she came back to what he¡¯d said last. ¡°What duty are you talking about?¡± ¡°To keep you safe, of course.¡± He straightened to his full height and put his hands on his hips. ¡°I would speak of this further with you later.¡± ¡°Certainly, Your Highness.¡± Azrael bowed. As she turned to Alistair, Robilar tapped the angel, and nodded for him to follow. Outside the command tent, Robilar lead Azrael around to the back, away from the others. ¡°How much are you planning on revealing to her?¡± He said in a near whisper. ¡°Most of what she asks.¡± ¡°But, she can¡¯t know about ¡ª¡± ¡°Relax, Chronomancer. I will not tell her of her destiny.¡± ¡°That is a relief.¡± Robilar sighed. ¡°Did you truly believe I would be so irresponsible?¡± ¡°Honestly?¡± Robilar put his hands on his hips. ¡°I never thought you would decide to inhabit the corpse of a human, decide to bare your absurdly perfect muscles, and literally fight beside your charge, so as far as I knew, it was within the realm of possibility.¡± ¡°Is the snark necessary?¡± ¡°As the Walker of Worlds likes to say, ¡®Absolutely.¡¯¡± Azrael narrowed his eyes. ¡°I have fought alongside my charges before. I never told them of their destiny.¡± Robilar leaned forward. ¡°You never fell in love with a charge before, either.¡± ¡°No.¡± The angel shook his head. ¡°No, I didn¡¯t. Becoming attached to a charge is forbidden, and could lead to Falling.¡± The Chronomancer raised his right eyebrow. ¡°You know you can¡¯t lie to me, right? Time bows before me.¡± Azrael looked away, and swallowed hard. ¡°That point is moot. I will protect her with my life.¡± The Chronomancer put his hand on the angel¡¯s arm. ¡°Only if there is absolutely no other way. If you think there is a sliver of a chance she will live without your sacrifice, you take that sliver.¡± He kept going a few steps and paused before returning . ¡°What? Why?¡± His brow was furrowed. ¡°I know your fate, too.¡± Chapter Twenty-Eight The man before Adora stood over six feet tall, his long red hair and thick beard adding to his imposing figure. He wore steel greaves and carried himself with a posture that radiated generations of power. She leaned forward in her seat. ¡°You say you know my husband?¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°You have my attention. How may I help you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve come to help you, Your Highness.¡± She glanced over to Alistair who shrugged. Returning her attention to the man, she did her best to meet his eyes, but he wouldn¡¯t stop flexing his impressive pectoral muscles. ¡°How will you flex, I mean,¡± she stopped, feeling her cheeks warm. ¡°I mean, what is your plan for aiding us?¡± ¡°I am Amando, Prince of the Mer. I have three courtoons of elite warriors I¡¯m going to loan you.¡± ¡°How many is that?¡± Alistair said. ¡°A courtoon is ten thousand.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to loan us thirty thousand warriors?¡± Adora sat back. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I made a deal with your husband.¡± ¡°How is Carter?¡± ¡°Who?¡± ¡°My husband, Carter Blake.¡± ¡°Your Highness, I made a bargain with a man named Lavitz.¡± Adora widened her eyes. ¡®Kell¨¹n¡¯s balls, Carter. Why didn¡¯t you reveal your hidden identity to our potential ally before you sent him to me? Or better yet, why not warn me?¡¯ ¡°Prince Amando, I apologize, but Sir Lavitz wasn¡¯t being entirely honest with you. He is an ally, but my husband¡¯s name is Carter Blake.¡± ¡°He lied to me?¡± A scowl appeared on the Mer Prince¡¯s face. Adora winced. ¡°Unfortunately¡­ Yes.¡± ¡°That scallywag most likely won¡¯t even do as he said and regain my family¡¯s ancestral weapon.¡± His voice was almost a growl. ¡°Prince Amando, I can assure you he does honor his word.¡± ¡°How can you? He lies.¡± She nodded. ¡°In my experience, it¡¯s only about relationships, not about deeds.¡± ¡°Do you trust him, Queen Adora?¡± ¡°With my life.¡± ¡°Then you¡¯re either foolish, or loyal to a fault.¡± ¡°I am neither, sir. I am a queen who owes her throne and her life to that man. He has successfully completed every task I put before him. He is also the most honorable man I know.¡± ¡°An honorable man who lies?¡± She sighed in exasperation. ¡®By the Abyss, Carter. This is why you¡¯re upfront with potential allies.¡¯ ¡°Everyone lies.¡± She said. ¡°As a prince, you should know this better than almost everyone.¡± Alistair stepped forward. ¡°If I may interject, I believe the deal might be important.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sir Alistair.¡± Adora leaned back against her map table. ¡°Prince Armando, are you still willing to loan us your soldiers?¡± Amando folded his arms with slightly narrowed eyes. ¡°Are you willing to give me your word as Queen that Sir Lavitz will honor our agreement?¡± ¡°I am.¡± The prince took a deep breath and slowly let it out while considering. ¡°Very well. I will honor my side of the bargain.¡± He unfolded his arms and tilted his head to her. She straightened with a smile. ¡°Thank you. They will come in handy against Drago¡¯s forces.¡± Amando bowed. ¡°You¡¯re welcome, Highness.¡± ¡°What kind of deal did you make with Sir Lavitz?¡± ¡°The kind that gains you three courtoons. The details are between he and I.¡± ¡°Would you tell me, Prince Amando?¡± The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°I am sorry, Queen Adora, but I will not.¡± ¡°Fair enough. Thank you for the warriors. Will they need anything?¡± ¡°Access to barrels of sea water.¡± ¡°How many?¡± ¡°Ten thousand, every two weeks.¡± ¡°Ten thousand!¡± Alistair turned to Adora. ¡°Your Majesty, how ¡ª¡± ¡°They will have it.¡± Amado bowed and walked out. She bit her lower lip as she watched him go. ¡°Your Majesty, ten thousand barrels of sea water will be a logistical nightmare.¡± She nodded. ¡°That¡¯s why we¡¯re going to employ teleportation specialists.¡± She turned back to the maps on the table. ¡°We¡¯ll also need the aid of some coastal towns and villages.¡± ¡°Agreed. Send emissaries.¡± ¡°As you will it.¡± Alistair glanced back to where the prince had exited. ¡°I''m not familiar with the Mer. Why do they need the sea water?¡± ¡°Because they¡¯ll dry out without it. Their kingdom is underwater.¡± ¡°They¡¯re amphibious?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°The prince looked tasty, didn¡¯t he?¡± She whipped around. ¡°Alistair, really?¡± He shrugged. ¡°He¡¯s got a nice ass.¡± ¡°What about your wife?¡± ¡°She¡¯d probably agree.¡± ¡°She wouldn¡¯t mind?¡± ¡°After all the women she¡¯s brought to our bed? I think she¡¯d like the change of pace.¡± ¡°Hunh. I never knew.¡± He shrugged again. ¡°I thought everyone knew.¡± ¡°No.¡± She rose from her seat and crossed to the map. ¡°I need you to send a runner to the town of Mibrey and hire teleporter mages to bring the sea waters.¡± ¡°That will be quite expensive, Your Highness.¡± ¡°The Mer will be worth it.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± ¡°When I was a girl, I saw a Mer in the Grand Melee celebrating my parents¡¯ anniversary. She won against a hundred other warriors without a single wound.¡± She glanced over her shoulder. ¡°If one can do that, imagine how well thirty thousand will do.¡± He clapped his fist over his chest and bowed. ¡°I¡¯ll see to it at once.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± ### Corath found himself in a room with a very high ceiling. Four intricately decorated pillars supported the twenty-foot dome. Two bronze doors, still as shiny as the day they were hung, stood partially open to the west. A fountain on the opposite side contained scarab beetles scrabbling over each other. He stepped closer and saw it was identical to the one he¡¯d stepped in earlier. ¡®No need to go through there again.¡¯ He rubbed his left eyebrow. ¡®Not yet, anyway. I¡¯m not leaving until I¡¯ve found Teivel.¡¯ Dropping his hand, he turned and crossed to the open doors. The doors, plain and shining, had an eldritch glow about them. When he stepped through and beheld the ancient corridor before him, he heard rumblings and clicks echoing along the dimness as if traps were either activated, or deactivated. The hallway stretched endlessly down into the gloom, its sandstone walls etched with ancient runes that seemed to shift under flickering torchlight. The air was dry, suffocating, carrying the faint scent of incense long burned away, and the distant echo of something unseen¡ªperhaps the wind, or perhaps something older, waiting. Massive stone pillars lined the passage, each carved with twisted serpents and forgotten gods, their eyes glowing faintly as if watching intruders. The silence was so heavy it pressed against his ears like a weight. Only the soft sound of sand, trickling from the ceiling, broke the stillness. He took a deep breath and headed down the slanted corridor. It terminated in a pentagonal chamber. Two walls angled out at ninety degrees from where he stood, and the two sides furthest away angled inward to meet a wall at the far end. A great sarcophagus lay on a raised dais before that far wall. More sandstone pillars lined this ancient chamber. A mummified arm jutted from the sand as if reaching from the grave. Its desiccated fingers curled tightly around an onyx orb, veins of dark magic pulsing faintly across its surface. ¡®Gruesome.¡¯ A deep, gravelly voice boomed out, causing Corath to start. ¡°Who disturbs my slumber?¡± The Gorauch swallowed hard, and straightened himself, tightening his hand on the hilt of his sword which he held aloft. ¡°It is, I, Corath. You told me to seek you out.¡± The broad-bladed greatsword with its series of wicked barbs along the lower third of its blade gleamed in the dimness before sending out a pulse of power which collided with the sarcophagus, sending dust and sand dancing along its surface. ¡°You said you would teach me. Do so.¡± He tried to ignore the faint trembling in his body. The lid of the sarcophagus shuddered and slid open with a grinding of stone on stone which echoed through the chamber. A creature floated up and then spun upright to face him. The creature''s rotting robes, once the finery of a wizard king, now hung in tattered strips, adorned with faded symbols of power. Crimson light danced in its empty eye sockets, burning with ancient malice. A faint whiff of ancient rot hit Corath¡¯s nose as the undead creature drifted closer. The lich stared down at him. ¡°I am trapped in this infernal tomb. You must free me before I can teach you.¡± Its voice sounded as if filled with the sands of the ages. Corath tensed. ¡°How can I do that?¡± A long, boney arm stretched out a skeletal finger, pointing at the mummified arm behind him. Corath turned and drew back his sword, ready to destroy it. ¡°Wait.¡± Dust puffed from the lich¡¯s mouth. ¡°Before you attack it, you must know its secret.¡± The elf lowered his weapon as he turned back. ¡°Due to the spell I am held under, when you strike that orb, I am going to attack you. I will fight with my whole arsenal to kill you. I cannot do otherwise.¡± Corath¡¯s eyes widened. His legs tightened as he warred with his desire to run. His chest tightened, each rapid heartbeat a painful thud, as if it might explode. His breath came in ragged gasps. He swallowed hard and gripped the sword with both hands, his knuckles whitening under the strain. He then set his jaw and gave a curt nod. ¡®Slow, deep breaths. You can do this.¡¯ He inhaled through his open mouth and pushed air through his nose, slowly. ¡®Chop the orb and then dive away from it.¡¯ He tensed his muscles. ¡®Wait.¡¯ He turned back to the lich once again. ¡°How am I going to be able to defeat you? You¡¯re a mage.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to have to figure that out for yourself.¡± Corath cursed under his breath. ¡®Of course, there aren¡¯t easy answers. Never are.¡¯ He sighed. ¡°You¡¯ve got to be pulling my pizzle.¡± Teivel stared without responding. The Gorauch gritted his teeth, and shifted his grip on the sword. With a mighty battle cry, he chopped the orb with all his strength. A surge of power rippled through the air as the sword cut clean through, shattering the dark onyx. Fractures spidered out in all directions, the orb crumbling to dust with a shriek that echoed like a dying scream. The warrior staggered back, the force of the blow sending a pulse of magic through his arms and he crashed to the floor on his butt, his sword clattering beside him. His arms tingled from the surge of power that went through them. Air puffed out of his mouth as he panted. ¡°You¡¯ve done well¡ªfor now.¡± The lich landed on the floor as light as a feather. ¡°Now, for the true test.¡± Chapter 29 The wizened elf sat cross-legged before a fire inside the teepee. Pine scented smoke drifted upward from the small crackling flames. The elf escorting Carter pointed to the opposite side of the fire from him and slipped out to be with the rest who¡¯d escorted him. The Walker scratched at a cluster of mosquito bites on his forearm. ¡®Imperious fuckers.¡¯ He glanced to the elf at the fire, watching him with a serene expression, and then sat on an animal skin rug opposite of him. He cocked his head to the left. ¡°Do you speak my language?¡± The white-haired being jabbered a musical string of sounds Carter couldn¡¯t understand. He threw his hands up. ¡°Fucking hells.¡± He slumped back and crossed his arms. ¡°Why would this guy be any different.¡± He heaved a sigh. The elf blinked at him, calm and unimpressed. Carter dropped his hands to his hips and gazed into the fire. The orange and gold flames licked hungrily at the artful pile of logs. The crackle was soft and steady, soothing. The pine scent mixed in a pleasant fashion with the earthy smell of the ground beneath them. Light cast a warm, golden glow against the canvas walls, where shadows danced in time with the flames. A small draft made him glance up in time to see the elf moving his fingers in small motions as he chanted something in his musical language. ¡°Can you understand me, Walker of Worlds?¡± The voice cut through the silence like a blade. He jumped to his feet and drew his sword. He angled the blade in a defensive posture as he spun in place, casting his gaze over everything in the shelter. Shelves of delicate, crystal vials held glowing liquids, silvery threads of gossamer traced blinking symbols he¡¯d never seen before, and a turquoise mirror showed flickering images of other worlds. ¡®No one else is here. Where did that voice come from?¡¯ A soft chuckle made him return his gaze to the elf who watched him move around. ¡°I have cast a spell of understanding, Walker. We may more easily communicate.¡± Carter cleared his throat as he winced. ¡®Translation spell. Of course.¡¯ A tingling swept up the back of his neck and over his cheeks as they warmed. ¡°That¡¯s embarrassing.¡± Though he muttered the words, when he turned to face the elder, he detected a faint smile on the wizened elf¡¯s face. ¡°Sit.¡± The elf gestured opposite of him where Carter had sat before. ¡°Please.¡± He sat and met the elder¡¯s pale blue eyes. ¡°Why did you call me ¡®Walker of Worlds?¡¯¡± ¡°Because I see your soul. You are the Keeper of Balance.¡± ¡°Wh-what d-do you mean?¡± His voice was breathless as he stammered. ¡°You are guardian of order and justice with the power to slay or banish gods.¡± Carter''s throat tightened. The word "slay" echoed in his mind, absurd and terrifying. He had faced demons, yes. But gods? He shook his head, as if trying to shake off the weight of the elf''s words. ¡°Wait, wait, wait.¡± Carter raised his hand. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®slay gods?¡¯ That¡¯s crazy.¡± ¡°As crazy as spending time in the Abyss, hunting and killing demons?¡± The elf watched him, waiting for his response. ¡°Demons are different from gods. Lower level in power.¡± He remembered cutting down L¡¯Arc demons with ease. A Tigellio was bigger, but almost easier. They mainly had size whereas the L¡¯Arcs had seduction, and shape shifting. ¡°Some aren¡¯t.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not encountered any.¡± ¡°They exist, Walker.¡± Carter rubbed his fingernails through his beard. ¡°Alright, assuming I accept your words as true, why?¡± ¡°That is your legacy and duty, Walker.¡± The elf reached into a bag next to him that Carter hadn¡¯t noticed before. He withdrew a pipe and stuffed it with an aromatic herb before lighting it with a twig from the fire. ¡°Your line was created to battle gods who¡¯d become too far gone and abandoned their portfolios.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not explaining why.¡± ¡°The progenitors decided it.¡± Carter leaned back, mouth open. He blinked for several seconds and then closed it. The elder watched him, smoking his pipe. ¡°Ho¨C?¡± He stopped, blinked more. ¡°Wh¨C?¡± Again, he stopped. ¡°Are you well, Walker?¡± ¡°I¡¯m still trying to process.¡± Carter rose and paced around in the teepee, listening to the murmur of outside voices. As he walked, the runes on the canvas glowed and changed colors. After a couple of passes, he noticed they flashed in time with his heartbeat. ¡®Cool.¡¯ He took a deep breath and spotted something moving in the mirror he¡¯d noticed earlier. He crossed to it and saw ships travelling through space firing lasers. ¡®Whoa. Reminds me of Star Trek or Star Wars.¡¯ A blink, and a woman in an all-white suit flying through the air above a futuristic city appeared before him. He leaned closer, resting his hands on the plinth before the mirror. ¡®That both looks like Earth, and not. Maybe it¡¯s in some distant future? How is she flying? If she can fly, maybe I can kill a god. Or many, if necessary.¡¯ As Carter leaned closer to the mirror, the image shifted. The futuristic cityscape faded, replaced by an infinite darkness, swirling and alive. From within the abyss, two pinpoints of burning light¡ªeyes, vast and ancient¡ªemerged. They locked onto him, their searing gaze cutting through the void, through time, through the mirror itself. A deep, guttural rumble echoed in his ears as if the very universe was growling. Shadows twisted and writhed around the eyes, coiling like serpents, and Carter felt the weight of something immense¡ªsomething watching, waiting. The air in the teepee thickened, and the fire dimmed as if even the flames feared that presence. A great weight fell on his shoulders and the hairs on his body stood. He shivered. ¡°Walker?¡± Carter¡¯s heart leaped into his throat as the elf¡¯s papery voice pulled his attention away from the mirror. He spun around, wide-eyed, breath catching in his chest as his mind scrambled to understand what he¡¯d seen at the end. ¡°Have you finished processing?¡± ¡°N-no.¡± He pointed at the mirror. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± ¡°That¡¯s is the Mirror of Possibilities. It shows some things that may come to be.¡± The elder waved his hand. ¡°Do not let it bother you.¡± ¡°Easy for you to say. You¡¯ve gotten used to stuff like that.¡± He ran his fingers through his rumpled dark hair. ¡°They don¡¯t have things like that in the Abyss. Not even in Haavastaad¡¯s realm.¡± The elf raised his eyebrows at Carter¡¯s revelation, but didn¡¯t follow up on it. He stretched out his legs and yawned. ¡°Walker, are you still processing the progenitors, and your role in their design?¡± Carter sighed and sat by the fire again, running his fingers through his dark hair. ¡°I¡¯m trying not to.¡± The elder raised his bushy eyebrows. ¡°Why is that?¡± Carter stared into the fire without seeing the flames. ¡°Where I¡¯m from, progenitor means one that begins, an originator.¡± The other nodded. ¡°Yes?¡± He raised his eyes to the swamp elf. ¡°Something that came before the gods?¡± He shivered. ¡°That¡¯s overwhelming.¡± ¡°Why are gods and demons something you can accept, but something which came before is more difficult to?¡± Carter laced his fingers together and leaned on them. ¡°I¡¯ve met demons and gods. Not progenitors.¡± The elf laughed until he coughed smoke. ¡°Ah, youth.¡± Carter ignored the outburst and coughing. ¡°Elder, what are the progenitors?¡± The elf raised a finger as his coughing faded away. He wiped tears from his eyes and conjured a waterskin and drank deeply. Trickles of water ran down the sides of his mouth. He lowered the skin and swiped the wasted water away with the back of his hand. He offered it to Carter with a slight shake, and when he shook his head, the elf set it beside him. ¡°The progenitors,¡± the elf said, his voice a soft hum, ¡°are the architects of everything. They crafted the worlds, the stars, and all that fills the void. The gods are their creations, mere caretakers of the universe¡¯s endless cycles. But some gods forget their purpose.¡± He leaned forward and placed a boney finger on Carter¡¯s chest, above his heart. ¡°That is where you ¨C and your ancestors ¨C come in.¡± A commotion outside drew their attention. Carter rose, hand on his sword, and glanced at the elder. The elf, wrinkled face set in a stern expression, nodded. The Walker ducked under the teepee¡¯s flap into the evening light. He shaded his eyes against the glare of the setting sun. Shadows grew long on the ground as the evening light penetrated the canopy of trees. Moss-covered, dome-shaped houses ¨C constructed of branches, mud, and stretched bark ¨C clustered around a plaza with a communal fire pit. Swamp elves clustered around a band of warriors ¨C the same ones who¡¯d brought Carter here - holding the ends of ropes which bound a woman. They wrapped around her torso, and arms behind her back. Her sweat soaked brown hair clung to her red cheeks. Dirt and bruises marred her freckled face. The blue surcoat she wore was torn and muddy. The leather of her trousers were scuffed at the knees. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. ¡°I¡¯m going to kill you.¡± Her rich, alto voice, though hoarse with anger, was clear and strong. Sweat rolled down her face, drawing lines though the dirt, as she fought the ropes. A mighty yank tugged an elf closer as he over-corrected when yanking back. As he stumbled closer, she snapped at him like a wild dog. He pulled away just in time. ¡®Almost got him that time.¡¯ Carter smiled. ¡®I like her spirit. She¡¯s a warrior of some kind.¡¯ He looked over the elves holding her. ¡®None seem to have any weapons she might have carried. Is she a brawler, or other kind of hand-to-hand fighter?¡¯ One of her captors turned towards the elder¡¯s teepee and yelled something in their musical language. Carter glanced over his shoulder to see the wrinkled hand of the swamp elf leader holding the teepee flap up before he glided out as graceful as a swan. The elves struggled with the ropes as the woman continued to fight. When she¡¯d get a foot under her, one would yank her bindings to knock her off balance and back to the ground. She yelled and cursed and started all over again. Carter strode over. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± His bass rolled over the crowd, quieting them, and caused the woman to pause her struggles. ¡°The guards caught her sneaking through our territory and she attacked them.¡± The elder watched her fighting the ropes. ¡°Bullshit.¡± She spit the word. ¡°I was travelling through the woods, and they attacked me. I merely defended myself.¡± She shifted from side to side, trying to free her arms. ¡°Please, calm yourself, miss.¡± Carter squatted and placed his hand on her shoulder. ¡°Allow me to find out what¡¯s going on here.¡± ¡°Why should I trust you?¡± ¡°My name is Lavitz. I¡¯m called ¡®The Patchwork Knight.¡¯¡± She paused and looked him over. The leather brigandine over his torso was scarred, pitted and patched. The repairs went from almost invisible to obvious and ragged. They were done by different levels of skill. His faulds and tassets were similarly rough. The edges of his vambraces and greaves were frayed and jagged. ¡°So you are.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡°Are you allied with my captors, sir?¡± He shook his head. ¡°Not yet, but I¡¯m hoping to be.¡± He glanced over to the elder. ¡°Despite learning more about myself, I originally came here as a favor to an ally.¡± She stopped her struggles. ¡°I¡¯ll wait for a bit. See if you¡¯re a man of his word.¡± She leaned forward as much as the elves would allow her to whisper in his ear. ¡°If you betray me, I will get free, and I will hunt you down.¡± She moved back to stare into his eyes from inches away. ¡°And I will kill you.¡± ¡®The way she said that last says she¡¯s deadly serious.¡¯ He nodded with all the solemnness her statement demanded. He returned his attention to the elves, a bit surprised they¡¯d waited patiently for him to finish talking with their prisoner. The elder waited with his hands behind his back as serene as he¡¯d been the entire time Carter had been here. He slid over to Carter as if he walked on the air. ¡°Walk with me, young man.¡± Carter raised his right eyebrow, but didn¡¯t question the elf¡¯s choice. The elder conjured a gnarled wooden cane and set off past the gathering of houses. Carter followed after and the woman called out. ¡°What about me? Don¡¯t leave me like this!¡± He glanced over his shoulder. ¡°Relax. I¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll be fine. I promise. Just cooperate.¡± He then hurried to catch the old elf who moved gracefully through the thick, moss-covered roots, his gnarled hand resting lightly on his twisted cane. Carter struggled to match his fluid pace as his boots sank into the muck. Mist clung to the trees, draping their ancient, gnarled branches like ghostly shrouds, and the distant croak of unseen creatures echoed through the dark swamp. Sweat clung to his face and neck as the humidity kept it tight to his skin. He stumbled on the uneven terrain while the elder glided over root and water as if the swamp was a part of him. He slapped at mosquitos biting him and frogs croaked ¨C a deep, echoing sound that seemed to reverberate the stillness. The heavy scent of decaying wood and wet moss filled the air, mixing with the musty odor of stagnant water. ¡°Hcrot.¡± The command word brought a light torch from his glove of holding. It crackled as flames danced along the oil-soaked cloth, casting flickering light and shadows across the surrounding waters and hillocks. Its orange and yellow tendrils twisted upwards, licking at the darkness, while the scent of burning wood filled the air. Something he missed splashed in the fetid liquid as the sudden light startled it. Moths, drawn to the light, sparked into nothingness as his motioned caught them in the flames. He cast a glance at the elder, who strode ahead with the ease of someone who belonged here, his gnarled wooden cane tapping soundlessly on the earth. ¡®Is it magic that makes him so light on his feet, or something else? Either way, I can¡¯t shake the growing sense that the swamp itself recognized the elf as one of its own. Meanwhile, it seems intent on making my every step a trial.¡¯ He wiped the sweat from his brow, and retrieved his water skin from his belt on the other side of his scabbard. He drank some of the warm liquid before putting the lid back on and rehanging it from his belt. His breath quickened, frustration bubbling in his chest as he hurried to catch up. The mist swallowed the sounds of distant voices from the village behind them, and for the first time since arriving, Carter felt truly alone in this eerie, ancient place. After stumbling behind the elder for a couple of hours, Carter reached out to a tree and used its trunk to catch himself from falling. He panted under the oppressive humidity. He armed sweat from his face again, but as before, it didn¡¯t help. His legs burned from his march as he leaned against the tree. ¡®Hell of a workout, wandering through a swamp.¡¯ The moon, hanging like a judging eye, illuminated the clearing before them. The elder waited for him in the middle of the glade, both hands resting on his cane. ¡®I bet that¡¯s merely for show.¡¯ Carter shook off the uncharitable thought and pushed away from the tree. ¡®I think this is the most cardio I¡¯ve done without fighting since I¡¯ve been here in the Realm.¡¯ Carter walked through the clearing until he stood before the elder. ¡°Why are we out here?¡± ¡°It is time you knew who you are, Carter Blake. And what that means.¡± Carter¡¯s left eyebrow arched. The elder sounded like a different elf out here. Before, his papery voice indicated his age, but after the trek through the swamp, he know sounded young and full of life. ¡°Why do you sound different?¡± The elf gave him a faint smile. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°A test of my observational skills?¡± Carter tilted his head and then nodded. ¡°Alright. Back in the village, you stood with a slight slump as if the years weighed on your shoulders. Your voice was thin and aged, and your eyes seemed clouded by the firelight in your teepee. After our walk, you¡¯re more erect, your voice is full and deep, and your eyes bright and clear under the moonlight.¡± Carter made a show of glancing around the swamp. ¡°I¡¯m betting you¡¯re mystically tied to this wetlands, and our hike has revitalized you.¡± The elder¡¯s smile widened. ¡°Very good, Walker.¡± He moved around his companion. ¡°You are correct. You¡¯re also not covering your identity.¡± He stopped inches from Carter¡¯s nose. ¡°Is it because you¡¯ve decided to trust me?¡± He stepped back and shook his head. ¡°No. Not fully. You¡¯re curious, but wisely, your hand hasn¡¯t strayed far from the hilt of your sword. Your legs are slightly spread and you¡¯re resting your weight on the balls of your feet, ready to leap into a fight in a second.¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°A habit of mine. I¡¯ve always got to be ready. I¡¯ve been ambushed many times. Including by those I¡¯ve thought were allies, or potential ones.¡± He paused. ¡°In Bisquine, I spoke to who I thought was the commander of a Fist of Keldur¡¯s paladins, but he turned out to be a demon in disguise, and he somehow teleported me into another location.¡± The elder drummed his fingers on the top of his cane, brows furrowed. ¡°Did you go back to deal with him?¡± Carter shook his head and lifted his legs, trying to get the tightness out of them. ¡°Nah. My friends took care of him.¡± The elf wrinkled his nose. ¡°How did they know about this demon?¡± ¡°They were with me, and when I didn¡¯t return, they¡¯d have entered his office and then discovered it.¡± The elder raised his right eyebrow. ¡°Fascinating.¡± Carter smirked. ¡°Agreed, Mr. Spock.¡± ¡°I cry your pardon?¡± Carter chuckled and shook his head. ¡°From my world. Never mind.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± The elf nodded. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re wondering why I brought you out here.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Carter slapped a fly on his arm that was biting him. ¡°This swamp of yours doesn¡¯t like me.¡± A faint feeling niggled at the back of Carter¡¯s mind, that he had forgotten something. He leaned his head to the left, and frowned at the ground. Tendrils of mist from the swamp swirled around his legs. Clouds of tiny bugs spun about his face until he waved them away. ¡®I came here for something else. Not to learn about my abilities, though that information is handy, but something else. Something important.¡¯ He paced through the moonlit meadow trying to catch the illusive thought. ¡®Somehow he knows my real identity and that I¡¯m the Walker of Worlds. He also knows what that means, it seems, or at least part of it.¡¯ Silvery light spilled over the landscape, casting long shadows that danced among the tall grasses and vibrant wildflowers, which shimmered like stars scattered across the ground. ¡®But, I came to his village for something else. Damn it, why can¡¯t I remember? Is it due to a spell, or was the rush of information and that vision in the mirror too much?¡¯ The dark waters of the swamp mirrored the moon''s brilliance, rippling gently as if whispering secrets to the night. The croaking of frogs provided a rhythmic symphony, punctuated by the occasional rustle of nocturnal creatures stirring in the underbrush. A flash of a thick beard, a bare chest and green tights popped into his head. ¡®Aquaman?¡¯ His eyes widened. ¡®Shit, no. Amando! Prince of the Mer.¡¯ The weight of his mission came flooding back. He had not ventured into this forsaken land to learn about his place in the Realm or unlock some grand destiny. No, his true mission was far simpler¡ªand far more urgent. He had come to retrieve Amando¡¯s ancestral weapon, Conker¡¯s Blade. It was the Prince¡¯s condition for aiding Adora in her war with Drago the Clanless. Guilt gnawed at him as his stomach burned. He had let himself get lost, distracted by whispers of who he really was while the one person who counted on him more than almost anyone waited on the brink of destruction. ¡°By all the hells, I just remembered.¡± Carter felt his face warm. ¡°I¡¯m here for someone else, not me.¡± The elder had his nose buried in the glowing petals of a flower with petals that were a kaleidoscope of colors which shifted subtly in the moonlight, like liquid rainbows caught in a gentle breeze. He glanced over to Carter, shimmering pollen caught on his smooth cheeks. ¡°Ah, yes. I was afraid of that.¡± He set it down. Delicate, shimmering filaments spiraled from the flower¡¯s center, releasing tiny sparkles that floated lazily through the air, resembling starlight descending upon the meadow. He straightened, once again resting his hangs on the top of his cane. ¡°You have a choice before you.¡± Carter stared at the elder. ¡®Does he look younger now?¡¯ He rested his hands on his hips. ¡°No. My choice has been made.¡± The elf raised his hand. ¡°Wait for a moment, Walker.¡± He lifted his cane and collapsed it between his hands. ¡°Hear me out.¡± The now smaller cane went between his lips, and the he lit the end like it was a cigarette. He waved his hand to a large hillock. ¡°In there, you will find your answers.¡± Smoke came from his nostrils. ¡°The choice before you is what you take inside with you.¡± Carter stroked his chin. ¡®The old beard is getting thicker and longer.¡¯ He shook off the irrelevant thought. And dropped his hand. ¡°Where did that tor come from?¡± ¡°It has been here, waiting for you to be ready to see it.¡± The Walker of Worlds drew in a sharp breath through clenched teeth. ¡°What do you mean by the choice is what I take inside with me?¡± The elder gave him a small smile. ¡°What is in your heart is what you will find inside.¡± His eyes glowed a faint green as he raised his cigarette. A pulse of emerald erupted from his body and he was gone, leaving behind only the faint scent of damp moss and a swirl of mist where he once stood, his presence erased as if he had never been there at all. Carter blinked against the fading light, a curse caught in his throat as his grip tightened on his sword. His jaw clenched as he stepped forward, as if the elder might still be there, but only silence and swamp mist greeted him. "Kell¨¹n¡¯s balls!" Adora¡¯s favorite curse was growled under his breath, the questions he''d meant to ask now hanging heavy in the stagnant air, unanswered and slipping further from reach. He faced the hillock fully. The cave mouth yawned from the side of the hillock, half-obscured by hanging vines and slick with moisture from the swamp¡¯s ever-present mist. He stood at its edge, scanning the uneven ground for signs of disturbance, his instincts prickling with caution. The air smelled of wet earth and something faintly sour and unfamiliar. He knelt briefly, running his hand over a patch of flattened reeds near the entrance, then glanced up at the dark tunnel beyond. His sword remained loose in its sheath, but his every sense was alert¡ªif there were traps, they¡¯d be hidden well in a place like this. He crossed the threshold of the cave and was swallowed by the darkness. Chapter Thirty Adora glanced around her dining hall, her gaze rising to the vaulted ceilings adorned with tapestries woven from silk, each depicting the Realm''s storied history¡ªgreat battles, alliances, and the legendary coronation of her ancestor Kandel Orwen. The walls were made of gleaming marble threaded with turquoise. Her long dining table, seating fifty or more, was draped in embroidered azure and white cloth, with the family crest¡ª a dragon clutching a vampire''s throat¡ªsoon hidden beneath trays, candelabras, and dishes laid out by the servants. Traditionally, she would be the last to enter, but tonight, she wanted to throw her guests off their games. She didn¡¯t have time for the usual shenanigans and veiled conversation. Her people were dying by the thousands thanks to Drago¡¯s demons and other minions. She didn¡¯t intend to allow any more horrors like what she found at the tiny half-elf village. She shuddered at the memory. ¡®Charred remnants of homes stood like blackened skeletons against the twilight sky, their once vibrant banners now ash, drifting through the air like mourning veils. Naked bodies of emaciated half-elves, twisted and lifeless, lay scattered across the scorched earth¡ªno signs of struggle, only the eerie stillness of a massacre completed with cold precision. The fields, once ripe with crops, were razed to barren soil, and the well where children once played ran red with the final remnants of their blood. There were no survivors, no trace of life, just a ghostly echo of what once had been.¡¯ Adora gave herself a mental shake and gripped her fists behind her back. The vileness of what she saw would live with her for the rest of her days, but she couldn¡¯t focus on it now. It was almost time for a different battle. Her herald approached. ¡°Your Highness, I present Lord Tyrese Hathshire the Fourth of Bisquine.¡± A short, rotund man entered and knelt before her. He wore a green velvet cloak over dragonhide clothing. His family crest of a dragon skull over crossed swords was proudly emblazoned on his chest. The golden threads gleamed with protective magic. ¡°You may rise, Lord Hathshire.¡± When he did, she took a good look at him. She¡¯d not seen him properly at the tournament for her hand three years ago, and he usually begged off attending these things. ¡®What are you up to?¡¯ His face, sharp and aristocratic, with eyes that gleamed like cut gems, revealed nothing of his inner thoughts. Only cold calculation, and barely disguised ambition. He graced her with a smile that didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°Thank you Your Majesty. I am appreciative of your invitation to your magnificent home.¡± His unctuous voice slithered in her ear, coming close to making her squirm. ¡®Do you, yourself foolishly consort with demons, or are you unaware demons are in your city?¡¯ She tilted her head at him and then glanced up as the herald announced the next guest. ¡°Lord Donnell Maverick of the Great Land Plains.¡± She narrowed her eyes. ¡®This Abyssal whore.¡¯ She ground her teeth. ¡®I hate that I have to deal with him after his conspiracy to force me to marry him three years ago.¡¯ Carter had wanted to kill him, but Maverick¡¯s connections and lands made that impossible. The Great Lands Plains grew over ninety percent of the food the Realm needed. Additionally, his people loved him, seeing him as a benevolent lord who made sure they were both well fed, and protected. Prior to his attempted coup, a massive drought had hit the Realm, and he¡¯d emptied his stores of food and water for the people who saw him as their savior. Moving against him would cause civil unrest at a time when she needed all her resources to battle Drago the Clanless and his demon armies. Donnell swaggered into the hall the room with the confidence of a man who had never heard the word ¡°no.¡± His every movement was deliberate, calculated, as if the world itself turned on his whim. Clad in finely tailored silk and gleaming armor polished to perfection, he radiated power¡ªboth inherited and seized through relentless ambition. A sneer flashed across his face before he hid it behind a cocky smile. His gaze swept across the hall, lingering on the queen as if she were already his possession, a trophy that had simply yet to be mounted. ¡°Adora.¡± His voice was a smooth, condescending purr. Adora schooled her face into a blank mask. ¡°Queen Adora is the proper way to address me.¡± Her voice dropped the ambient temperature several degrees. ¡°Of course, Queen Adora.¡± His voice oozed with a slow, deliberate drawl. ¡®This snake makes me want to scream and stab him with a salad fork.¡¯ She gave a half smile and tilted her head to him. ¡°Much better.¡± Her arm came up and indicated the dining table. ¡°Have a seat, and maybe join Lord Hathshire in conversation.¡± The herald approached once more. ¡°Your Highness, I present the Vaush-Tauric Lady Soo-jau.¡± ¡®Oh, this will be interesting. Carter told me wonderful things about her.¡¯ The dragon had restored his eyes after witnessing Azrael¡¯s revelation had destroyed them. She was also Dearbhaile¡¯s mentor. Lady Soo-jau floated into the room, wearing robes of azure and sapphire. As she walked closer, they billowed out gently like waves across a lake. Her blue-tinged face had a small webbing of wrinkles. Gold eyes held warmth, humor and wisdom. Her presence radiated power unlike that of the Lords who had preceded her into the dining hall. Adora felt a wide smile spread over her cheeks as warmth spread through her body. At the same time, she felt a shiver run down her spine, the intensity of the dragon¡¯s presence weighing heavily in the air. It was as if the room had shrunk, the walls closing in around her, reminding her of the formidable power that stood before her. She took a deep breath. ¡®Though I¡¯m both excited and a little intimidated by her, I must steel myself. None in this room is allowed to think of me as anything less than their queen.¡¯ She swallowed. ¡®Even her.¡¯ Lady Soo-jau dipped in a formal bow. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± Her voice was a melodic yet authoritative timbre that filled the hall. ¡°I am honored to be here in your castle.¡± She rose from her bow and gazed deep into Adora¡¯s eyes. The queen felt the piercing inspection went deep into her soul as if the Vaush-Tauric knew all her intimate thoughts and secrets. ¡°Welcome, Lady Soo-jau. I am honored by your presence at this dinner.¡± She stiffened her back. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. The dragon gave her a small smile, that hinted at secrets yet untold, leaving Adora with a sense of unease¡ªlike a pawn standing before a queen in a game she didn''t fully understand. She held Soo-jau¡¯s gaze, summoning the weight of her position, but felt the pulse of nervous energy fluttering in her chest. It was a delicate dance¡ªacknowledging the power of the ancient dragon while firmly establishing her own dominion. The knowledge that Soo-jau had seen so much more, lived through epochs of history, pressed on her, but Adora was determined to stand her ground. ¡°Your wisdom is as renowned as your presence,¡± Adora continued, her words flowing with practiced grace, determined not to show how deeply the dragon¡¯s aura resonated within her The Vaush-Tauric gave her another bow and crossed to near Lords Maverick and Hathshire. The two men paused their conversation and turned to her. Hathshire straightened in his seat, and flicker of uncertainty crossed his face as he took in her blue-tinged skin and regal posture. ¡°Lady Soo-jau, your presence is¡­ quite striking.¡± His words were halting as his smoothness faded a bit. Maverick leaned forward. ¡®I wonder how she will respond?¡¯ An easy smile crossed his face when she arched an eyebrow at Tyrese¡¯s words, but didn¡¯t respond. ¡®Ah. She ignored the weakling. She¡¯s smarter than she looks. How can I use her?¡¯ He rose and gave her a small bow. ¡°Lady¡­ Soo-jau, was it?¡± His question came out in a drawl. ¡°It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance.¡± ¡°Yes, it is.¡± Lord Hathshire said quickly. ¡°Why?¡± Her simple question made both men pause. Hathshire fiddled with a goblet as he sank back into his seat, and Maverick gaped for a moment. He closed his mouth as something dark flashed across his eyes. He cleared his throat. ¡°Why, my lady, it is because your reputation precedes you.¡± His velvety voice carried a hint of rancid honey. It¡¯s rare to meet someone of such¡­ legendary stature.¡± ¡°My reputation?¡± She arched an eyebrow. ¡°In what way is it¡­ legendary, I believe you put it?¡± "Why, Lady Soo-jau, your reputation is legendary for both your wisdom and your... unique abilities." His tone was smooth, laced with subtle implications. "I¡¯ve heard tales of your influence reaching far beyond the borders of our Realm." He spread his hands in a gesture of admiration. "To encounter one as storied as yourself is, of course, an honor." She blinked. ¡°Interesting.¡± She gave them a small curtsey. ¡°Excuse me.¡± Without waiting for a response, she moved to speak with a servant. ¡®That bitch.¡¯ Maverick¡¯s blood pounded in his ears as he glared at her back. ¡®How dare she dismiss me.¡¯ He ground his teeth. ¡®Calm yourself, Donnell. Don¡¯t let anyone know she got under your skin. She¡¯s beneath you.¡¯ He inhaled and then slowly exhaled. ¡°That Soo-jau is something else, isn¡¯t she, Lord Maverick?¡± He turned his gaze back to Hathshire. ¡°Absolutely, Tyrese! Lady Soo-jau is indeed something else. Something you¡¯d be wise to not underestimate with your predilection for trivialities.¡± He took his seat again. ¡°But enough about her; let¡¯s discuss what truly matters¡ªthe plans for our future and how we can leverage this dinner to our advantage.¡± ¡°Indeed, Lord Maverick! While the Lady is certainly a force to be reckoned with, it is our own fortunes that deserve our utmost attention. After all, alliances can shift like sand in the wind, and those who are unprepared may find themselves swept away. I propose we consider how best to position ourselves amidst the changing tides of this Realm¡ªboth with the queen and our esteemed guests.¡± ### As Carter stepped into the cave, the only light came from the flickering torch in his hand, casting jagged, wavering shadows across the stone walls. Its flame sputtered as it fought against the damp air, releasing the faint scent of burning wood mixed with smoke. Warmth radiated from the flickering light, though it barely held back the surrounding cold, casting an orange glow that danced wildly across the slick cave walls. The darkness pressed in from all sides, impenetrable beyond the flickering light that barely stretched a few feet ahead. Damp air, thick with the scent of wet earth and mold, clung to him, swallowing his breath almost as soon as it left his mouth. The torch sputtered, fighting against the silence, casting shadows that twisted and writhed along the walls. Each shallow breath Carter took filled his mouth with the stale, metallic taste of damp stone and lingering decay, heavy on his tongue. The cold air carried a faint bitterness, like mossy earth soaked in stagnant water, leaving an unpleasant, gritty film at the back of his throat. The uneven stone floor was slick beneath his boots, forcing him to tread carefully with each step. Water dripped steadily from above, each drop splashing into shallow puddles that reflected the orange glow of the torchlight, creating brief bursts of shimmer before dissolving into the inky blackness. The cave¡¯s narrow passage twisted ahead, winding deeper into the earth, the walls jagged and lined with veins of strange minerals that glimmered faintly whenever the torchlight brushed against them. Carter¡¯s grip on the torch tightened as his eyes strained to see farther into the gloom, every shadow a potential threat, every whisper of sound amplifying the tension. Ahead, the passage opened into a wider chamber, and the light from Carter¡¯s torch barely grazed the edges of the room, leaving most of it shrouded in darkness. The air felt different here¡ªdenser, almost alive with an ancient energy that prickled at his skin. The stone walls were cold to the touch, covered in slick moss and strange markings he couldn¡¯t decipher. The flame flickered wildly as if the cave was breathing, the light shrinking and expanding as Carter¡¯s heart pounded in his chest. Carter blinked, his grip tightening on the torch as a figure stepped out of the shadows¡ªhis grandfather. Sixteen years had passed since he''d last seen the man, but the face was unmistakable. What was different, though, was the armor. It was plate armor, but unlike any he¡¯d seen in the Realm before ¨C clinging to his body like a second skin and made from an unknown alloy of a silvery purple-green metal. ¡°Grandpop?¡± His voice was filled with disbelief. His grandfather had vanished ten years before he¡¯d been summoned to the Realm. The old man¡¯s sharp blue eyes locked onto his, filled with a familiar intensity, his long silvered brown hair cascading over his broad shoulders. His posture was firm and unwavering, belying his advanced age. ¡°How¡­ how are you here?¡± His eyes swept over his grandfather¡¯s form. ¡°What are you wearing?¡± An easy smile passed across his face, and he faded from sight. Carter''s breath caught in his throat, the cold readiness in his chest replaced by a rush of warmth¡ªa flicker of hope that vanished the moment his grandfather did. ¡°Don¡¯t leave me again.¡± His voice was thick with unspent tears. As the vision faded, Carter stood frozen, his arm still outstretched, grasping at the empty air where his grandfather had been. A hollow, aching silence filled the cave, more suffocating than the darkness itself. The weight of the years, the lost moments and unspoken words, pressed down on him, and his chest tightened with a grief he hadn¡¯t allowed himself to feel in so long. He lowered his hand slowly, his fingers curling into a fist as if trying to hold on to the fleeting image, but all that remained was the bitter taste of absence, an emptiness that gnawed at his soul. He swallowed hard, but the lump in his throat wouldn¡¯t go away. After several moments, Carter continued through the cavern. The oppressive atmosphere continued to weigh on him, and the air seemed to thrum with power. He found himself drawn to a large chamber. Before him stood a warrior in form-fitting silvery, purple-green armor like his vision of his grandfather. Sable hair hung over his bowed head. A familiar snow white blade was held in a spiked gauntleted fist. A low growl came from him. Carter titled his head. ¡°Who are you?¡± The warrior tossed his head, throwing his hair back and revealing a skull-like visage with sparking and glowing electric blue eyes. A pair of horns grew from its temples and curled around like that of a ram. Poisonous green slaver dripped from jagged fangs. Carter ripped his sword from its sheath. The familiar chill spread through his body, but it was irrelevant as he readied himself for battle. His knuckles whitened on the hilt as he rolled his shoulders, making sure they were loose. His stance widened a bit as he rose to the balls of his feet. He angled his sword, ready to parry or strike. ¡°Okay, what are you?¡± With a guttural roar, the creature leaped to attack. Chapter 31 Named for the great sea serpent which had once dwelled in the bay, Mibrey had grown from a small town with one pier into the most important port in the land. Tons of cargo passed to and from its many docks. Mibrey was governed by a small council of merchants who had made their fortunes trading and hauling cargo. The city was protected on two sides by the walls of the ancient caldera that had formed the area. A huge wall with a massive gate formed the remaining side. Robilar reined in his horse and stared down at the bustling seaport. A sea salt breeze tossed his brown hair across his face. ¡®Even from up here, I can hear the pounding of the waves against Slayer Rock. Then again, this place has grown a lot in the last forty years. Is it even still called that? I hope so.¡¯ Slayer Rock had been given its name when the adventuring party who¡¯d founded the town stood on it to battle Mibrey the sea serpent and won. ¡®I wonder if that¡­ woman is still here.¡¯ He scratched his knee through his buckskin pants and then nudged his horse into a canter as sea birds cried above him. ¡®Never mind her. I have more important business than old dalliances to deal with.¡¯ ### He pulled the horse to a halt and dismounted, stunned by the ebon-haired beauty before him. Her flawless ivory skin contrasted starkly with both her tresses and her scarlet lips. An onyx stone sat in the hilt of a sword strapped to her back, angled high over her left shoulder, in easy reach of her hand. Her hair hung over her shoulders and dropped to either side of generous breasts barely covered by an odd top which ended just beneath them, and revealed her cleavage. Her long, lean torso was exposed, showing off the outline of her abs that didn¡¯t quite make a six-pack. Her pants, the same shade as her hair, were slung low enough to show the tops of her hips, and held in place by a winged skull belt. He flicked his eyes back to the cross guard of the sword. ¡®Yep. Same as her belt buckle.¡¯ He bowed. ¡°Greetings. I am Robilar ¡ª¡± ¡°Blackweave. I know who you are, Chronomancer.¡± He put his hands on his hips. ¡°You have an advantage over me, Miss¡­?¡± ¡°You may call me Drake.¡± His eyes travelled over her small frame, looking beyond the physical. He then shook his head. ¡°You¡¯re not of dragon blood.¡± ¡°I never claimed to be. Drake is the name I gave you.¡± ¡°Alright. Who are you, Drake, and what do you want?¡± ¡°I¡¯m a bodyguard, and I¡¯m here to meet you on behalf of the Court of Blood.¡± ¡°Never heard of them.¡± ¡°Nonetheless, they have heard of you.¡± She folded her arms under her breasts. ¡°They require a favor of you before they grant your request.¡± He paused. ¡®She¡¯s used to using her attractiveness as a distraction. Though her arms are folded, her left hand is subtly positioned closer to her sword, and her stance is widened. She¡¯s also made sure to turn a bit more side on to present a smaller profile, like a duelist. Her movements are almost imperceptible. I think I like her.¡¯ ¡°What request? I¡¯ve not made one.¡± ¡°You¡¯re going to request shipments of seawater on behalf of Queen Adora for her new Mer allies.¡± Head cocked to the side, Robilar narrowed his eyes. ¡°How do you know this?¡± ¡®Something isn¡¯t right, here.¡¯ She shrugged. ¡°The Court of Blood knows all.¡± He raised his hand and the world paused. The air itself seemed to solidify. Birds hung motionless in the sky, their wings frozen mid-beat. The dust kicked up by his boots lingered in the air as though suspended in a glass jar. Even the faint rustle of the leaves had stopped, leaving only a peaceful, calming and weighty silence. As he walked around her, he ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°What the hell is this ¡®Court of Blood,¡¯ how do they know so much about me this woman is able to recognize me without us ever meeting?¡± He stopped in front of her leaned closer, staring deeply into her ebony eyes. ¡°This incredibly beautiful woman.¡± ¡®Why does she remind me so much of Tiffany? It¡¯s almost like her appearance and mannerisms were designed for this meeting.¡¯ Her eyebrows went up. ¡°Why thank you. You¡¯re rather handsome yourself.¡± Robilar leaped back with a yell, drawing his sword. A rush of ice hit the pit of his stomach. ¡°Is something wrong, Mr. Blackweave?¡± She gave him a small smirk. Adrenaline dumped into his body, giving his hands a subtle tremble. ¡°How the fuck are you moving and talking? I froze time.¡± His muscles tensed, ready to strike. She tapped her buckle. ¡°This allows me to ignore your magic.¡± He closed his eyes and shook his head. His ancestors had created them to aid in their war against the Time Gods. ¡°Your masters toy with dangerous things.¡± His voice was soft. The young woman smiled, enjoying his discomfiture. ¡°They don¡¯t ¡®toy¡¯ with anything unless they know all about it.¡± ¡°Just be careful with that artifact, Child. It can cause great harm.¡± ¡®How did they get hold of a Goldrine artifact? I thought I hid all of them. Either someone discovered my sanctuary ¨C scary thought by itself ¨C or I missed some. Either way, I can¡¯t let her, or her masters, know I¡¯m going to be watching her carefully.¡¯ She smirked again. ¡®¡°Child¡¯? I¡¯m four hundred years old. That removes me from that category.¡± ¡°Four hundred, huh?¡± He sheathed his sword, but kept his hand on the hilt. ¡°I wish I could remember being that young.¡± With a flick of his wrist, the world groaned back to life. The breeze hit him first, tugging at his cloak as the sound of birdsong slowly filled the air, as if the world were waking from a deep slumber. She gazed around at their surroundings with a slow shake of her head, eyes wide. She took a step back, as she stiffened. Her hand moved to her sword¡¯s hilt before she paused, and returned her attention to him, face schooled into blankness. He ducked his head so she wouldn¡¯t see his smile. ¡®I caught that, young lady. You were awed by my power.¡¯ He glanced up, nonchalant and caught her glanced up at the sky to the birds flying past. ¡°¡®That young?¡¯¡± She narrowed her eyes as she tilted her head. ¡®I can¡¯t let him realize I¡¯d been surprised by what temporal power in action looks like.¡¯ She took a breath before continuing her question. ¡°Are you saying you¡¯re a lot older than that?¡± ¡®Hmm. The Court doesn¡¯t appear to know everything about me. Or else, they simply didn¡¯t tell her. That¡¯s useful. I might need that advantage later.¡¯ He nodded. ¡°Several tens of thousands of years older.¡± He waved his hand, allowing time to flow forward once more. ¡°What is this favor your Court of - Blood, is it? - wants?¡± ¡°Drago the Clanless is searching for the Lamp of Allah-ad-Din. They want us to make sure he doesn¡¯t get it.¡± His eyebrows drew together as he bit his lip. ¡®Fuck. That artifact is in this dimension? And this organization knows about it?¡¯ ¡°By ¡®us,¡¯ I¡¯m guessing they want you to accompany me.¡± She nodded. ¡°They do.¡± He wiped his hand over his face as he sighed. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go.¡± He picked up the horse¡¯s reins and faced her again. ¡®I¡¯m going to keep her close, and try to tease more information from her about her Court of Blood. And if they really understand the danger of an artifact that can warp reality.¡¯ She blinked. ¡°Just like that? No questions about what the lamp is? No complaining?¡± Robilar gave her a half smile. ¡°Just like that. I know what the lamp is. I¡¯m too old to complain to no point.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± She fell in beside him. ¡°What¡¯s your real name?¡± ¡°Erna.¡± ¡°Battling to the death is serious business, huh? Kind of an understatement, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your name. It means ¡®battle to the death,¡¯ and ¡®serious business.¡¯ So, I combined the meanings to make a joke.¡± ¡°Oh. Heh heh.¡± He chuckled. ¡°You need to work on your fake laugh, Erna. That was terrible.¡± ¡°Pssh. That was a great fake laugh.¡± ¡°Nope. I wasn¡¯t convinced.¡± ¡°Not only were you convinced, but you felt good because you got the pretty girl to laugh.¡± He snorted and dodged out of the way of a group of children racing after another. Neat rows of houses lined the thoroughfare. Past the first intersection, he spotted the massive and ornate buildings of the local guilds. A massive hammer and anvil denoted the smith guild while a book surrounded by ever changing flames hovered outside the mage guild. A two story sign written in every known language showed him where the scriveners were located. On the other side of the jewelers¡¯ guild, - revealed by the shiny gold-plated door with glass baubles around the knob ¨C was the market place. Awash with color, numerous shops and tents filled the wide plaza. Barkers called to potential customers as the air brought the scents of sizzling meats and different flowery perfumes. A man in a plain brown robe draped a cloth over his hand and whipped it away with a flourish and a bow, displaying a bouquet of wildflowers. ¡°Flowers for your lady, Sir?¡± Robilar glanced over to Erna. ¡°You¡¯re my lady now?¡± She shrugged. ¡°Will saying yes get me flowers?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°Tsk. You suck at flirting.¡± He was saved from answering by their arrival at the council hall. Finely dressed men and women scurried about, intent on their travels while nobles sauntered up with their retinues. The main building was an impressive edifice with statuary and inscriptions abounding. Trees grew in perfect rows between stately windows and surrounded by a well-manicured lawn. Wide marble steps rose to twelve foot wide doors guarded by soldiers in heavy plate mail which shone in the cloudy afternoon sun. Both men stood with one hand on pikes seated at forty-five degree angles and their opposite hands tucked behind their backs. As Robilar climbed the steps, a hooded woman in emerald robes trimmed in white embroidery walked out of the doors. She waited with her hands clasped before her. He paused a couple of steps below where she stood. ¡°Robilar Blackweave on behalf of Queen Adora to see the Mibrey Council.¡± She nodded. ¡°We know. We are Wizard Sixth Class, K?tharina Unruhestifter.¡± Robilar covered his mouth in an attempt to smother his laughter, but it escaped anyway. When Wizard K?tharina raised her right eyebrow, he shook his head. ¡®¡°Pure Troublemaker?¡¯ Is that really your name, or did you have to adopt it?¡± As she glared, Erna tapped his elbow. He turned to her. ¡°No antagonizing wizards, Robilar. It¡¯s bad form. Apologize, ask her forgiveness and make the arrangements.¡± ¡°Spoilsport.¡± He returned his attention to the wizard. ¡°Wizard Sixth Class, K?tharina Unruhestifter, I Robilar Blackweave, Chronomancer and Right Hand of the Walker of Worlds, do humbly beg your forgiveness for my rudeness.¡± K?tharina¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You know the Walker of Worlds?¡± ¡°I¡¯m also a Chronomancer.¡± ¡°May we travel with you? We¡¯d love to meet him.¡± Robilar rolled his eyes at her gushing. He threw his hands up as he shrugged. ¡°Sure, why not. It¡¯s not like I¡¯m here to do anything other than pick up Carter Blake¡¯s fangirls.¡± This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. K?tharina clapped her hands. ¡°Yay!¡± He turned back to Erna. ¡°You see what you¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t blame me. I had nothing to do with it.¡± ¡°Fine. We¡¯ll blame Carter.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± ¡°Hey, no blaming Carter for anything!¡± He looked back at her. ¡°What about what he does, K?tharina?¡± She shook her head. ¡°Nope. Not even then.¡± ¡°Fucking fangirls.¡± K?tharina flicked her eyes back and forth between them. ¡°Did you rehearse that chorus?¡± ¡°No, though that would have been fun,¡± Erna said with a snicker. ¡°Alright, ladies. Enough joking around. I have an important mission.¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± K?tharina raised her hand, palm up and a yellow flame danced above it. Within the fire were the shadowy images of the Council. ¡°Lord Robilar,¡± said a distinctly feminine voice, ¡°where is the water to be delivered?¡± ¡°Queen Adora¡¯s army. It¡¯s encamped just outside of the remnants of Rivorei.¡± ¡°Thank you, Councilor.¡± ¡°Will you be off to retrieve the Lamp for us?¡± ¡°For you?¡± He placed his hands on his hips. ¡°That¡¯s a new wrinkle. I thought you merely wanted me to prevent Drago from getting his hands on it.¡± ¡°If we have it, Drago cannot, correct?¡± Robilar nodded. ¡°Fair point. Where¡¯s the last place you head of it being?¡± ¡°Rumors put it as being in the dungeons of Castle Stormhome.¡± ¡°Ah. Lovely.¡± ¡°You have heard of it?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know of many who haven¡¯t.¡± He scratched his cheek. ¡°It is considered the most dangerous place in the Realm.¡± ¡®It¡¯s also not far from my ancestral homeland, a place I¡¯m reluctant to go back to. I don¡¯t need to relive the war in my memories any more than I do nightly.¡¯ ¡°If you have need of any supplies, feel free to take what you need from the mage¡¯s guild.¡± ¡°Thank you, milady.¡± K?tharina closed her hand and the flame vanished. ¡°To the guildhall, then?¡± ¡°To the stables.¡± He turned with a wave for the ladies to follow him. ¡°You need horses.¡± ### Castle Stormhome stood at the foot of the Bleak Hills fifty miles from Victory Keep, ancient home of the Orwen clan. It was a crumbling monument to madness, rumored to be filled with treasure and halls laden with traps. The archmage who built it vanished without a trace four thousand years ago along with her husband, family, and all in her household. The castle ¨C otherwise untouched by time ¨C served as a tempting task for treasure hunters, adventurers and would be-rulers ever since. Robilar looked down at the imposing building with foreboding. Few who entered the palace returned. K?tharina watched Robilar¡¯s broad shoulders stiffen as he stared down at Castle Stormhome. The wind, cold and sharp, tugged at their cloaks, stirring the heavy air that smelled faintly of damp stone and rusted metal. The mage drew her horse up next to him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Robilar?¡± ¡°I lost friends in there, K?tharina.¡± His grip on the reins tightened, the creak of leather barely audible over the low moan of the wind. K?tharina stared at Robilar, her curiosity tempered by a rare moment of restraint. She saw the weight in his posture, a man bracing against memories that threatened to resurface. The castle¡¯s looming presence seemed to press against him, as if the stones themselves whispered of the past. She wasn¡¯t close enough to ask for details, but she knew loss when she saw it. She touched his arm. ¡°I am sorry. Was it¡­ recent?¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± He gave a chuckle that faded into a sigh. His jaw clenched, eyes dark and distant. K?tharina¡¯s hand hovered near his arm, but she drew back. The silence between them thickened, even the birds had gone quiet. Robilar¡¯s breath hitched, almost imperceptibly, before he finally exhaled¡ªa sound more like a sigh than relief, as though even breathing was a reminder of those who couldn¡¯t. ¡°No, not from your perspective.¡± A bug zipped near her face and she waved it away. ¡°What do you mean?¡± She raised her eyebrows as she leaned closer to him. The desire to know more was palatable. ¡°Fifty years is a long time ago to you, but for me, it was practically yesterday.¡± She straightened. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°Some things aren¡¯t worth revisiting,¡± he said softly, the words disappearing into the air as quickly as they left his lips. Erna rode up, catching the last few words. ¡°He¡¯s thousands of years old, girl.¡± K?tharina turned, stunned, then back to Robilar, the weight of his age settling alongside the shadow of the castle. ¡®Thousands of years? And grief still hits him like this? His life must be full of agony.¡¯ He nodded and clicked his tongue at his horse, sending the animal into motion once more, guiding it down the path to the forbidding castle. ### The demon¡¯s garden was in full bloom on the castle¡¯s parapet. Fleshy limbs, devoid of mark or characteristic danced under the midday sun. No thought, or soul remained to these mindless creatures. Their animus had been ripped from them to power their master¡¯s fell magic. Unclean, oily water lay on the ground underfoot. Ebony fur, a lion¡¯s mane and a kingly bearing marked the being watching the three approach. A telepathic call went out, rousing the thin skinned warrior seated beside him in deep sleep. Glowing green eyes opened, revealing hollow sockets and skin stretched taut over the bone just beneath. The warrior grinned, revealing needle sharp teeth as a bony hand tightened on the haft of a war hammer. ### Not even the least glimmer of light escaped the castle¡¯s black windows. Broken battlements sketched a ragged line across the sky, as damp gusts swept through, carrying the sharp, earthy scent of incoming rain. The wind pressed cold moisture into their clothes, making the air feel heavy and clammy. Lightening flashed overhead, jagged spikes reaching down to Castle Stormhome¡¯s crumbling battlements. Erna shivered as a creeping chill settled over them, the kind that warned of rain soon to fall, thickening the mist that swirled up from the valley to their left. ¡°I can almost feel the evil that lurks within.¡± She glanced to her left. ¡°K?tharina, are you certain the Lamp of Allah-ah-din is in there?¡± ¡°That is what the Mibrey Council said.¡± Shifting her attention to the path they¡¯d taken down the plateau, K?tharina said, ¡°I¡¯m glad we¡¯re finally down that road. I hate heights.¡± ¡°¡®I?¡¯ What happened to the ¡®We¡¯?¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s just the formal way the Council speaks. Since I¡¯m away from there, I can talk like normal folks.¡± ¡°Hunh. You seemed more regal when talking the formal way. More memorable.¡± ¡°Hey, Robilar, are you going to allow her to talk to me this way?¡± Silence was the only response from the Chronomancer. They looked over to him to see his attention was riveted on the castle. Almost unwillingly, they, too, turned their attentions to it. A blot of night detached itself from one of the towers and moved out onto a walkway. Lightening flashed again, showing the shadowed form of a humanoid, staring down at them. Sepulchral wind moaned up from the valley, sounding like the howls of the damned. ¡°Who is that?¡± Erna said. ¡°You mean, ¡®What is that,¡¯¡± Robilar said in a voice that frosted the air. ¡°That was once one of my companions. She¡¯s now a vampire thanks to the former lord of this castle.¡± K?tharina took in the tension radiating from his body and stayed quiet. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Robilar.¡± It was a long time ago. The Anila I lost is long dead.¡± ¡®And it¡¯s my fault. If I hadn¡¯t gone back to my previous self, she¡¯d still be alive.¡¯ ¡°Robilar, it sounds like this Anila meant a lot to you¡­ Was she someone you loved?¡± Her voice was soft. ¡°Drop it, Erna.¡± ### Her eyes, burning with an unquenchable thirst, took in the clouds, plateau and the three people below. She placed a hand over her long still heart and muttered a name, as a promise, or a curse. ¡°Robilar.¡± The decayed mass almost twitched at the once beloved word. Anila grimaced, and her sharp canines promised mayhem. A bitter wind blew leaves around her, billowing her fur lined cape. Another flash of lightening from the storm¡¯s underbelly lit up her angular features. Her muscular features revealed someone long accustomed to wielding absolute authority. On her face was no pity, or mercy. Her eyes narrowed as she spied the rapidly approaching wagon. [Slow. Do not overtake Robilar and his companions.] Her telepathic command was immediately obeyed. The skeleton horses were reined in by her spawn. It wouldn¡¯t do for him to discover the wagon¡¯s contents so soon. The wagon¡¯s dark cargo shifted under the tarps. She gave a hideous smile. Soon, he and his friends would enter her castle. Soon, she would deal with them. Personally. She knew why they were here. Knew what they sought and why. And relished what would be their ultimate fate. ### A wolf howled in the distance. Robilar shook off the old memories. They¡¯d interfere with the mission. ¡°Let¡¯s go, ladies. Don¡¯t want to keep the rulers of this castle waiting.¡± ¡°Robilar, is there something you¡¯re not telling us?¡± He flashed them a humorless grin over his shoulder. ¡°Yes.¡± He then grasped a long iron handle and pulled the massive wooden door open. The hinges squealed with unused and rust. Dust sifted down from overhead. Erna shrugged at K?tharina and followed him inside. The ladies paused behind Robilar as he waved his hands before him. K?tharina peered around at the small area they were in. The room was illuminated by flickers of fire in the mouths of six coiled serpents which formed archways branching off into different sections to the east, west and north. Their mouths sent the light towards them, cloaking the rooms behind in darkness. Robilar reached into the air in front of him. K?tharina gasped as his arm up to the mid-forearm vanished. He tugged on something and reverently pulled a sheathed sword out of¡­ somewhere. The hilt was obsidian with a sapphire gem in the pommel. He unsheathed the weapon, revealing a broad-bladed longsword with a series of wicked barbs along its lower third. The metal of it had been infused with some substance that gave it a bluish tinge, except for elven runes inlaid with alchemical silver. ¡°Wuh-what is that?¡± ¡°This is ¡®S¨«w¨¢ng de sh¨«zh¨§,¡¯ or ¡®Deathbringer¡¯ in Celestial. I¡­ um¡­ ¡®borrowed¡¯ it from someone who forged it to attempt to kill the Walker of Worlds.¡± ¡°They want to kill Carter?¡± K?tharina¡¯s voice went higher. ¡°No. This was intended for two Walkers ago.¡± K?tharina scratched her head. ¡°I¡¯m confused.¡± ¡°Yeah, me, too, Robilar. I thought there was only one Walker.¡± Robilar chuckled. ¡°Carter is merely the latest in a long line.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Erna put her hands on her hips. ¡°How many have there been?¡± ¡°Ten.¡± He sheathed the sword after giving it a twirl and buckled it to his waist. ¡°Let¡¯s go get that lamp.¡± He picked up a length of wood from the floor, lit it in the fire, and led the way forward. Cobwebs hung from dust covered columns running up to the vaulted ceiling. Stone gargoyles snarled from their perches around the edges of a balcony running the length of the room about twenty feet from the floor. Cracked and faded frescoes adorned the walls, nearly obliterated by the centuries of neglect and decay. Two great bronze doors stood closed at the opposite end of the room. To their right, a wide stairway wound up into the darkness. A narrow hallway extended to their left. ¡°Okay, Erna, which way do you want to go?¡± He turned to her when she didn¡¯t answer him, and found her staring, transfixed, at the hallway opening. ¡°Erna?¡± He poked her, causing her to jump with a small scream. ¡°What did you see?¡± ¡°I-I didn¡¯t see anything, but I heard someone telling me that you would abandon us after stabbing me in the back with that sword.¡± He rubbed his chin. ¡°Seems like Castle Stormhome is up to its old tricks.¡± ¡°W-what does that mean?¡± Occasional flashes of lightening spilled into the room through the jagged glass and tarnished copper frames of the large window in the wall opposite of where they stood. Otherwise, the room stood in oppressive shadowy darkness barely pierced by the pitiful light of their lone torch. A chill breeze danced over their exposed flesh, raising goosebumps. Hundreds of dusty cobwebs hid the ceiling from view. At the far end of the hall, a huge throne sat on a raised platform with its back to the room. The three separated to explore. ¡°Stormhome may be stone, but malevolence has filled it for millennia. It is almost alive.¡± Erna gulped as her heart continued to race. ¡®Just what I needed to hear.¡¯ She suppressed a shiver and wandered to a collapsed doorway which partially barred the way up. When Robilar raised the torch to examine something on the other side of the room, an answering flicker came from the wall to her immediate left. Closer examination revealed a dust fogged mirror. She wiped away some of the dust and straightened her hair a little. ¡®Wait a second. Did I see that right?¡¯ Erna raised her hand again, and waved. Sure enough, her reflection was delayed by a split second, as if it had to wait to see what she¡¯d do. She leaned closer, fascinated in spite of herself. Her reflection shifted slowly, the skin sagging into gray hollows, until the face staring back at her was no longer hers¡ªjust a decayed corpse, lips peeled back over rotted teeth. She screamed and leaped back, hand over her heart. At the same time, her reflection gradually reverted to its original state. The others hurried over at her outburst. As Robilar comforted her, K?tharina ignored them and examined the mirror herself. Seeing nothing amiss, she turned and said, ¡°Erna ¡ª,¡± a movement out of the corner of her eye caused her to stop and whip back around to the mirror. Again, nothing was amiss. K?tharina hugged her arms tighter, trying to fight the chill creeping up her spine. ¡®That¡¯s weird.¡¯ Robilar continued to soothe Erna in the mirror¡¯s reflection. When K?tharina blinked, her own image was suddenly attacked from behind. She watched, rooted to the floor as she stared into the mirror, as her reflection died in agony only inches away on the other side of the glass, leaving behind only a blood-splattered surface. K?tharina¡¯s heart leaped into her throat, and she stumbled back, trembling hand gripping her sword hilt as though it were the only thing keeping her grounded. She never saw what had attacked her reflection. ¡°Robilar,¡± she voice was higher than normal, ¡°Can we get the fuck out of here?¡± She stared at him, face pale, eyes wide and shocky. ¡°Now?¡± He nodded. ¡°Of course. We¡¯ll search - ¡± ¡°No.¡± She shook her head violently. ¡°I want to leave this castle.¡± K?tharina''s voice echoed in the room. An unfamiliar gravelly voice cut through the air. ¡°Though you entered of your own free will, you may only leave when we allow it.¡± The harsh words were filled with malevolence. All whirled to the throne. Short, black fur covered the lean frame of the humanoid with wolf-like features sat there. Long sharp claws peeled spirals of wood from the arms as he glared down at the trio. ¡°Lucien. Long time no see.¡± ¡°Robilar. Why couldn¡¯t you have died like you were supposed to?¡± At his cackle, the women turned to stare at him. Erna shivered. ¡®That was a creepy laugh from him. Didn¡¯t think he was capable of that sort of thing.¡¯ ¡°I¡¯m a Chronomancer, remember? It¡¯s a lot harder to kill me than merely stabbing me in the kidney.¡± His brow drew close as he folded his arms over his chest. ¡°Was the lycanthropy worth betraying your brother?¡± ¡°Yes. I was no longer as weak as you.¡± ¡°Instead, you became a betrayer, and a monster.¡± The werewolf lunged to his feet. ¡°You dare call me a monster after all you¡¯ve done?¡± ¡°I never harmed children.¡± Robilar¡¯s voice was nearly a growl. ¡°Lessons needed to be taught.¡± ¡°By all the hells, Lucien, listen to yourself. You¡¯ve justified your atrocities?¡± ¡°You abandoned us. Left us to die.¡± ¡°After you stabbed me in the back. Me! Your own flesh and blood. After you sold me out to the vampire, Romulous.¡± Erna turned to K?tharina mouth agape, and grabbed her upper arms. ¡°Did you hear that? They¡¯re related?¡± Her voice was a sharp whisper. The other woman responded with a shaky nod. ¡°You choosing to fight him lead to my family being slaughtered. He confirmed that.¡± The lycanoid stalked down the stairs to the main floor of the throne room. ¡°How many times did I swear to you that the person responsible for the death of my Lisbeth would die at my hand?¡± ¡°Many.¡± Robilar unfolded his arms and cracked his knuckles. ¡°How many times did I swear to rip your heart out of your chest for your betrayal?¡± ¡°I neither know, nor care.¡± ¡°You should.¡± ¡°And why is that?¡± ¡°Because - ¡± Robilar sheathed his sword ¨C ¡°I have a debt to pay. One that is long overdue.¡± The werewolf cackled. ¡°You can¡¯t kill me. I know your weakness.¡± ¡°Says you.¡± Lucien launched his assault. His claws rocketed to Robilar¡¯s face, but the Chronomancer twisted to the side, allowing the attack to shoot past. An instant later, the werewolf brought the back of his fist to Robilar¡¯s nose. He ducked, and the claws whistled through the air. Lucien struck for his face once more, wrinkled snout baring fangs. Robilar batted it away with a serene expression. The werewolf¡¯s left fist came for his chest, and he swatted that away. A split second later, the right came in with a grunt of effort. Robilar smacked it down. The werewolf once more clawed at his head. He ducked again. And then leaned back, dodging as the werewolf used his momentum to continue the strike. The werewolf¡¯s claws tore through a stone pillar, sending clouds of powdered rock and stone splinters through the air. Another punch was dodged to the side. ¡°Stand still and fight me, coward!¡± The werewolf¡¯s howl was filled with frustration. This time, Lucien bought his claws down diagonally to rake the Chronomancer¡¯s chest. Robilar hopped back, just out of reach. A lunging strike came for his face yet again. His own fist to the lycan¡¯s inner shoulder halted that. Lucien swung his other fist at Robilar. Robilar countered by crossing his enemy¡¯s arms. The werewolf responded by kicking at his knee. He drew it back in a hurry. Lucien arced his foot around and kicked at Robilar¡¯s stomach. He hopped back once more, and found himself up against a wooden weapon rack. A thrusting side kick made him roll to the side as Lucien¡¯s foot shattered the haft of a polearm and the middle of the stand. Wooden splinters exploded through the air at the impact. Chapter Thirty-Two The half-elf huddled in the corner, shivering and burning in turns, the fiery cuts on her back weeping steadily. Shaking, she closed her eyes and touched a dry spot on the wall, moving her finger in soft, slow strokes. In her mind she saw Jothan, sweet Jothan, and held onto his smiling face. Jothan¡¯s face flickered between reality and a memory she feared she¡¯d lose forever, the only warmth in the cold grip of her captivity. Soon she could no longer ignore the approaching heavy footsteps of Ortho, her captor, torturer and soon, executioner. The dark dwarf approached in heavy, deliberate steps, his smile a flash of black decay. A bloodied leather apron covered his sweaty girth and he carried a key in one hand. She wept as the dwarf''s thick hand grabbed a handful of the rags she wore and pulled her out of the cell. The chain attached to her ankle cuff slithered across the floor behind her like a dead snake. Ortho reached down and unlocked the manacle which fell to the stone with a clang. He then dragged her by her ankle to the torture chamber. She screamed, clawing at the unyielding stone floor. Her nails caught in the seam of where two flagstones interlocked and tore off, peeling up and away in a bloody mess. A swiftly approaching shadow caught her attention. As they passed through an island of torchlight, the shadow resolved into a woman dressed in buckskin with curly brown hair. The human pressed a finger to her lips and stole forward a little faster. The half-elf¡¯s leg was dropped when the human¡¯s arm shot around the neck of the dark dwarf and pulled him back. He pulled frantically at her arm, but to no avail. Within seconds, his slumped and she lay him on the floor. She turned and lifted the former prisoner in her arms and strode back the way she came. Outside, the human helped her onto a horse. For the first time, she spoke, ¡°When you¡¯re safe, tell everyone that you were rescued by my master, Drago the Clanless.¡± She slapped the horse¡¯s rump. Sera watched as the half-elf woman was carried away to freedom. ¡®Though this is separate from my mission, it will aid Lord Drago with winning more of the common people to his side.¡¯ ### Carter ducked under the creature¡¯s outstretched claws and bisected it before it could land. He spun and watched it fall in two pieces. The creature¡¯s skull-like visage faded into mist before showing his own reflection for a brief, unsettling moment and then the entire thing faded into nothingness. As the mist cleared, Carter frowned, unsettled by how easily the creature had fallen¡ªalmost too easy, like it hadn¡¯t been a real threat at all He blew out his cheeks like a fish, and then let them relax. ¡®What. The. Fuck.¡¯ His shoulders drooped for a moment before he sheathed his sword. ¡®I¡¯ve seen something like this before, but I swear by Kell¨¹n¡¯s left nut I can¡¯t remember.¡¯ He furrowed his brow, a nagging sense of familiarity gnawing at him. The creature, the mist¡ªit was all too familiar, like a half-forgotten dream hovering just beyond his reach, taunting him with the knowledge that he should remember, but couldn¡¯t. ¡®I wonder what Adora would say to that version of her favorite curse?¡¯ He then stretched with a mighty yawn. ¡®Damn, I¡¯m tired. How long have I been awake now?¡¯ He shook himself and twisted his wrist, activating his gauntlet. ¡®Hcort.¡¯ At the spell trigger, a lit torch appeared in his hand. The jute, soaked in beeswax, crackled as it sent shadows dancing on the cavern walls. As the smoke trailed around his head, Carter headed further into the cave. ¡®I¡¯ve got to find Conker¡¯s Blade.¡¯ He rounded a turn in the cave, and found himself face-to-face with an eerie statue. The figure stood as tall as a man, but its proportions were disturbingly wrong¡ªits broad, hunched shoulders and misshapen torso frozen as if in mid-lurch, like the thing had been captured just before lunging toward him. Its head was grotesque: a mass of stone tentacles fanning outward from where a face should have been, resembling some twisted mockery of an octopus. Carved from a greenish-mauve stone, its surface was slick with condensation, giving the eerie impression that the creature¡¯s rubbery skin might still be alive, glistening in the dim light. The creature¡¯s bloated, pupil-less eyes stared blankly ahead, hauntingly lifelike despite the cold, unmoving stone¡ªan eternal gaze, watching over the depths of the cavern. In its upraised right hand, a turquoise dagger with a spiral hilt and a broad, serrated blade that tapered to a sharp point. The teeth rose around the blade as if it had been made from coral from the deepest part of the ocean. A constant drip of water came from the tip of the dagger, but there was no evidence of it below the statue. Carter reached out to catch a droplet, but it vanished on impact with his hand. ¡®Interesting. It¡¯s an illusion.¡¯ He glanced up at the dagger. ¡®Is that one, too?¡¯ He reached up, and the dancing torchlight made the tentacles appear to reach for his head. He leaped back, heart thumping and sword half drawn, before realizing it was only a trick of the light. ¡®By all the hells. That earlier vision has me jumpy as fuck.¡¯ He let the sword drop back. And took several deep breaths. His shoulders shook with a silent laugh. ¡®How would I even fight a statue?¡¯ A brief flash of a scarlet knight passed through his mind, followed by a scream of soul rending grief and a glimmer of white. His whole body trembled before he successfully shoved that memory to the back of his mind again. ¡®Focus, Carter,¡¯ he commanded himself. Unable to resist the urge, he reach up and touched the dagger. It almost jumped into his hand. ¡®That was weird.¡¯ ¡°You have freed me. Take me back to my people.¡± Carter held the dagger away from his body and stared at it. ¡®I¡¯ve heard of intelligent weapons before, but not encountered them myself. Is this one of them?¡¯ ¡°I am.¡± Carter looked the weapon over, bemused. The blade of the dagger was infused with an alchemical process that dyed it turquoise. The metal itself was an alloy resembling that of the sword he¡¯d taken from the half-demon, Belial. He touched the edge with a caress and cut himself. He yanked his hand back, and stared at the deep and bloody cut. ¡®Kell¨¹n¡¯s balls, that¡¯s sharper than I expected.¡¯ As the blood dripped to the ground, he placed the dagger behind his belt and retrieved a healing potion. ¡°Do you often touch the edges of new weapons you encounter?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he said, absently. He poured a little of the glowing liquid on the wound. And hissed in pain at the contact. ¡°How else would I know if it needs to be sharpened before I use it?¡± The cut filled in, healing that would have taken a month by itself, done in seconds. ¡°You¡¯re not very intelligent, are you?¡± Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°I¡¯m not the one stuck in a cave, on a statue of an ugly creature.¡± ¡°I¡¯m a poniard.¡± Carter could almost feel the contempt from it. ¡°I have no control over where I go, or end up.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Do you have a name?¡± ¡°I am Conker¡¯s Blade.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± He grinned. ¡®Now I can fulfill my side of the bargain with Amando.¡¯ ¡°The Prince of the Mer?¡± The dagger quivered behind his belt, vibrating his cuirass. ¡°No, thank you. Deliver me to Alba, his sister, instead. She¡¯s a better fit for me, than that dullard.¡± Carter pulled the dagger free and held it before his eyes. ¡°I made an agreement.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care.¡± ¡®Interesting dilemma. Do I keep my word, or do I make a dagger happy?¡¯ ¡°Poniard.¡± ¡°Whatever.¡± ¡®If I keep my word, Adora gets another army as reinforcements for her war against Drago. If I make an intelligent dag ¨C poniard ¨C happy, who knows what will happen, besides potentially having more war on my hands. By the Abyss, I don¡¯t want to make these kinds of decisions. Adora is so much better at them than me. I¡¯m more suited as a weapon.¡¯ ¡®Ha-ha! Brilliant.¡¯ His face glowed as he danced a small jig. ¡®That¡¯s a wonderful idea.¡¯ ¡°What is?¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to pass you to Adora. She¡¯ll make the decision for me.¡± ¡°No. You will take me to Alba.¡± ¡°You will stifle yourself, or I¡¯ll hand you over to Amando.¡± Carter could feel the dagger¡¯s anger almost physically as he headed back outside the cavern. ### Music from the troupe of minstrels wafted through the air as her guests danced or sat listening. Some were clustered together holding a myriad of different conversations. She knew some negotiated trade, others alliances, and more than a few vied for Lady Soo-jau¡¯s attention. Adora took another sip from her goblet of ginger water. ¡®I hope this settles my stomach from the Shakshuka soon.¡¯ The hill dwarf dish was tasty, but the spices they used hurt. ¡®I shouldn¡¯t have had any, knowing what it does to me, but etiquette dictated I did.¡¯ Ambassador S¨¦aghdha had presented it with a huge smile. She crossed the room to peek out the window. Tall oaks and ancient pines stood as silent sentinels as flickers of light from fey playing illuminated their branches. The full moon cast silver light down on the tree tops. The silhouettes of a cloud of bats fluttered by the glass. The soft shuffling of footsteps creeping up behind her caused her shoulders to tense as her calm vanished like smoke. ¡®Time to be the queen again.¡¯ She sighed, a long and heavy sound. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± A familiar, and detested drawl told her who it was without needing to see him. ¡°Lord Maverick.¡± She continued to face the forest. She knew his arrogance demanded her attention, and her duty was to give it to him. ¡®I¡¯ll be damned if I move according to his whims.¡¯ A wolf trotted by, pausing to glance up, as if it felt her gaze, before disappearing into the bushes. She turned to face him, certain her pause irritated him. ¡°What brings you before me, Donnell?¡± His eyes widened a fraction before he hid his surprise behind his smooth smile. ¡°The war effort, of course, Your Majesty.¡± She placed her goblet down on the window¡¯s sash, and laced her fingers before her. ¡°Will you be committing your armies?¡± ¡°Well, you see, Your Majesty, I would, but they¡¯re needed at home to defend my people who depend on me for their protection.¡± He gave a simper. ¡°You know how it is.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Her voice was cool, but her face gave nothing away. ¡°I also know how it is to stand between them and annihilation, personally.¡± He paused, hands clenching for a moment, the movement almost imperceptible. He then gave her a slight bow. ¡°That is, of course, part of the reason I came to speak with you, Your Majesty.¡± A muscle jumped in his jaw. He took a deep breath. ¡°You simply must stop personally fighting.¡± His drawl was back. ¡°It is unbecoming of our Queen, and ¨C forgive me, Your Majesty ¨C but if something were to happen to you, there is no heir to take over if the worst should happen.¡± His words dripped with faux concern, but the condescension in his tone belied his words. ¡®He thinks he¡¯s more clever than he is, but he can¡¯t seem to hide his arrogance. What is your real game, Maverick?¡¯ His shoulders were too tense, his stance too wide, a faint sneer playing at his mouth. ¡°No heir to take over?¡± She raised her right eyebrow. ¡°Let me guess: You think I should name one. Perhaps as soon as tonight.¡± ¡°Well, I¡ª¡± ¡°Maybe even you.¡± She nodded. ¡°As position you¡¯d hate to accept, yes?¡± ¡°Well, I suppose I could be persuaded...¡± He allowed his voice to trail off. She titled her head without another word, and swept off. Maverick watched her leave with a glare darkening his face. Lord Hathshire came up behind him. ¡°That didn¡¯t go the way you thought it would, did it, Lord Maverick?¡± Maverick sneered, showing his canine. ¡°You think?¡± *** Lady Soo-jau approached Adora and gave her a small bow. ¡°Your Highness.¡± Adora acknowledged the Vaush-Tauric with a nod. ¡°Lady Soo-jau.¡± ¡°You may wish to watch that one close.¡± Adora studied Soo-jau''s face carefully, searching for any crack in her stern expression. ¡®Is the warning out of genuine concern, or does she have an as yet unknown agenda? It¡¯s hard to be wary of someone Carter spoke highly of, but I don¡¯t know much about her.¡¯ ¡°You mean Lord Maverick? I¡¯m used to his antics.¡± ¡°While dangerous, he is not the one of whom I speak.¡± She moved to stand beside the queen and looked across the room to Hathshire. ¡°He is.¡± Adora followed her gaze. ¡°Lord Hathshire?¡± She glanced back to the rumored dragon with a furrowed brow. ¡°He¡¯s a schemer who wants to ally with Maverick. He¡¯s rather dim.¡± Soo-jau narrowed her eyes at Adora. ¡°He¡¯s a werewolf.¡± Adora felt herself rock back on her heels. Her gaze lingered on Hathshire across the room, narrowing slightly as she weighed Soo-jau¡¯s words. He had always struck her as nothing more than a dim-witted opportunist, hardly a threat unless aligned with someone sharper, like Maverick. But if Soo-jau was right¡­ what else was he hiding? Could there be more to his clumsy politicking than she had first assumed? ¡®If she¡¯s correct, then I have to rethink every interaction I¡¯ve had with him.¡¯ She forced herself to remain calm, despite the pulse of unease that flickered at the edge of her thoughts. ¡®Am I being too cautious? Or too dismissive? I can¡¯t afford to make decisions lightly¡ªthe court is watching my every move. If Hathshire turns out to be more dangerous than I anticipated, how could I smooth over this lapse?¡¯ ¡°Interesting accusation.¡± There was a temptation there¡ªjust enough to make her wonder if it was worth investigating further. ¡®Could Soo-jau¡¯s warning be a piece of a larger puzzle? But no, I have too many responsibilities to go chasing after rumors. ¡°Do you have proof?¡± ¡°I know the scent.¡± ¡°I am sorry, Lady Soo-jau, but I cannot take that as proof.¡± She returned her gaze to Hathshire and Maverick in time to see the latter brush off the other and stalk off. ¡°Besides, you¡¯ve not said whether he is a natural one, or cursed.¡± The Vaush-Tauric placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Does that matter?¡± ¡°Of course.¡± Adora took a pair of goblets from a tray and passed one to her guest. ¡°A cursed werewolf isn¡¯t necessarily to blame for his actions. His curse might be what makes him do the travesties he does.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t that only apply to his actions under the full moon?¡± The queen rolled the cup between her hands and sighed. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°So, what will you do, Your Majesty?¡± Adora turned her attention back to Soo-jau. ¡°All I can do is keep a closer watch on him. He¡¯s only guilty of being an ass based on what evidence I have at the moment.¡± Soo-jau nodded. ¡°A wise choice.¡± She cast her gaze across the room. ¡°Is Lord Angriz in attendance?¡± ¡°That¡¯s an abrupt change in subject.¡± Adora snorted. ¡°Why are you asking about him?¡± Soo-jau faced her directly. ¡°It is a private matter. Draconic in nature.¡± Adora¡¯s eyes widened briefly. ¡®So she is a dragon after all. Fascinating.¡¯ ¡°Now, I¡¯m really intrigued, but as it is private, I will inquire no further.¡± The queen looked about. ¡°He is over by the buffet table.¡± ¡°Thank you, Your Majesty. If you will excuse me.¡± Adora watched with a small smile flickering at her lips. ¡®Didn¡¯t even wait for my acknowledgement before heading to him.¡¯ She gave a slow shake of her head. ¡®Dragons are¡­ different indeed.¡¯ ¡°You allowed her to leave without permission, Your Highness?¡± The oily voice slithered into her ears, making her cringe inside. ¡°That is¡­ interesting.¡± She turned to see the rotund form of Lord Tyrese Hathshire standing close to her. She took as step back and studied him for a few seconds. His oily black hair was slicked back, giving his face a sheen that matched the gold rings on his pudgy fingers. The overpowering scent of lavender clung to him, thick and cloying, as if attempting to mask something less pleasant. His gaze, quick and calculating, flickered over her body, making her skin crawl. ¡®Is the perfume to hide his natural musk as a lycanthrope?¡¯ ¡°Lord Hathshire, are you questioning me in my own castle?" Chapter 33 Robilar stood, watching the vampire intently. The air around them was thick, oppressive, carrying the faint stench of decay. A distant wind howled through the ancient stone corridors, its hollow sound like a whispered warning. Anila¡¯s eyes glowed with an eldritch green light in hollow sockets, casting an eerie reflection on the damp stone beneath her bare feet. Needle-sharp fangs gleamed in a threatening smile. Her white gown presented an interesting contrast next to her greyish olive skin. ¡°Robilar. How utterly good to see you.¡± Her voice was warm, honeyed. He stared at her, eyes soft as the memories of who she used to be flew past his mind¡¯s eye. And then the one he most tried to forget came back: Her rising from the grave and feasting on the sacrificial infant, the faint cries rising and then fading into silence, before he could stop her. He swallowed hard at the memory. ¡°Anila.¡± His voice was cold, and hard. Anila glanced at Lucien, hanging in mid-air where the Chronomancer¡¯s spell held him. As she walked around the werewolf, her bare feet made no sound on the stone floor, though a faint chill seemed to radiate outward with every step. She noted that Robilar stayed between her and the women with him. ¡°Still protecting mortals?¡± ¡°Always.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t protect me.¡± Her voice raised at the end. She shook her head as she trailed a hand down the partially uncoiled flank of the lycanthrope, leaving behind a glistening line of frost. Robilar¡¯s shoulders slumped. ¡°I couldn¡¯t protect you. Sangris was the first of her kind I¡¯d ever encountered.¡± The ancient being, gaunt and skeletal, with deep-set eyes and a bat-like, almost reptilian visage had Anila in her iron grip. Sangris¡¯ greyish-white face was buried in Anila¡¯s neck, deep scarlet bubbling up from her fangs. The holy symbol hung in Robilar¡¯s hand, impotent. None of the traditional weapons worked against the primordial vampire. Anila gazed up at him from under her brow. ¡°You never traveled back to save me, either.¡± He narrowed his eyes. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Robilar, you¡¯re a Chronomancer. You think I don¡¯t know what that is?¡± She watched with a faint smile as his brow furrowed and his head tilted. ¡°How, you wonder?¡± Her smile widened again. ¡°I know all about you.¡± ¡°Do you, now.¡± His voice deepened as he straightened. ¡°Are you certain of that?¡± A chuckle escaped her as she lowered Lucien to the ground. A ripple went through the air, and the werewolf rose smoothly to his feet. ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°You¡¯re toying with things you do not understand, Anila.¡± ¡°I understand a great deal more than you think.¡± She slapped Lucien¡¯s back. ¡°Sic ¡¯em, boy.¡± The werewolf leaped at Robilar with a snarl, the sound reverberating off the cold stone walls like the growl of a beast far larger. The Chronomancer raised his hand to cast a spell. The monster crashed into him in a whirl of snapping fangs and lashing claws. They hit the floor and rolled, both fighting for dominance. The werewolf used his greater weight to gain the advantage and pinned Robilar¡¯s hands to the ground as he straddled his brother¡¯s hips. As he thrust his muzzle at the Chronomancer¡¯s throat, Robilar¡¯s skull intercepted his maw in a head-butt. Lucien reared back, howling in pain. Several of his teeth fell out as his head went back. Robilar shook his bloodied head, trying to clear the crimson from his eyes. He bucked his hips and managed to twist to his side, dislodging the werewolf from where he sat. Lucien drew back a fist, intending to rake his brother¡¯s face with his claws, but Robilar¡¯s hand flashed out and caught his throat in an iron grip. The werewolf recoiled and the Chronomancer took advantage of the movement to plant his feet at his opponent¡¯s hips and thrust upward while pulling his grasp down. Lucien flipped overhead and crashed to the stone floor. Bits of the broken wall danced on the ground. Robilar kipped up and pushed his fist at his stomach and then thrust his now open hand out. A bright light appeared and a shadowy form stepped out. ### Angriz¡¯s sword clove through another demon¡¯s skull. ¡®I¡¯m glad we don¡¯t need enchanted weapons against the rank-and-file demons. Else an already difficult task would be impossible.¡¯ He pushed his hand through his pink-tinged mane as he jogged forward, searching for the demon¡¯s general. His claws caught on pieces of dried gore, eliciting a growl as pain raced through his scalp. ¡®I must cleanse myself soon. This blood is irritating in between my scales.¡¯ A crimson shockwave raced across the battlefield in the distance. The Celestial magic reached into the heavens. ¡®Now I know where Azrael is.¡¯ He angled his path to intercept the angel. Around him, the clash of steel and demonic roars filled the air, mingling with the cries of fallen soldiers. The ground beneath his feet was slick with bloody mud while the battlefield choked with bodies, both human and demon. The general could wait a bit longer. As he ran across the battlefield, cutting down minor demons with ruthless efficiency, he growled at the loss of another of his men. ¡®I hope Azrael doesn¡¯t wear himself out. Many of my army need resurrection.¡± He paused to kill a L¡¯Arc with three economical slices of his sword. ¡®If only he¡¯d teach the spell to my mages and clerics, we¡¯d not lose so many.¡¯ He ran through another L¡¯Arc as she attempted to control one of his soldiers. The angel¡¯s resurrection spell didn¡¯t require the highly expensive and rare crushed hypersthene. The army was slowly being whittled down by the seeming limitless demonic horde. In this war of attrition, his people were being decimated. Each lost solider was like a dagger in his chest. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. A Lyxo demon reared up, its three heads snapping at him. With ruthless efficiency, Angriz hacked off the right foreleg, cut one of the throats, decapitated another head and stabbed the third head under the jaw. The point of his sword punched through the top of its skull-plate. He resumed his jog, pausing frequently to assist a beleaguered warrior. About halfway to Azrael¡¯s side, the quaking of the ground knocked him sprawling. For a moment, the world spun¡ªhis vision blurred, his heart racing. He struggled to rise, his muscles protesting. As he waved his hand before his face to clear the dust, a putrid stench made his stomach rebel. ¡®No. It can¡¯t be. Not now.¡¯ Out of the swirling dust, the demon emerged¡ªan abomination of twisted flesh and writhing heads. Its scaled body stretched across the battlefield, each of its heads snapping at the battling men, its roars shaking the ground beneath them. The stench alone was enough to bring soldiers to their knees, a sickening blend of sulfur and decay that clung to the air like poison. Men screamed. ¡°HYDRA! RUN!!¡± ### Carter exited the cavern, sweat clinging to his arms and face. The thick humidity made it hard to breathe. Flickering light caught his eye. ¡®Why is it always some flickering thing to catch my eye like I¡¯m a magpie?¡¯ He headed closer to it and just off the path he and the elder had cut through the swamp, a swirling portal shimmered with vibrant hues, casting eerie reflections on the dark, stagnant water. Colors spiraled in mesmerizing patterns¡ªdeep violets and fiery oranges twisted with emerald greens and electric blues¡ªcreating an otherworldly glow that danced across the gnarled tree roots and hanging vines. The mist surrounding the portal seemed to be drawn toward it, swirling with the motion of the vortex, while faint crackling sounds echoed like distant whispers. Despite the swamp''s usual stillness, the air around the portal buzzed with energy, making the hairs on the back of his neck rise as the colors pulsed in hypnotic rhythm. He gripped the hilt of his sword, ready to draw it at moment¡¯s notice. He approached the spiraling light with slow, deliberate steps. His sharp eyes flicked between the twirling colors and the surrounding swamp, keeping alert for hidden traps or ambush among the twisted roots, hanging vines and clinging mist. The twin moons in the sky stared balefully at the scene beneath them. He crouched near a bush when he heard a faint susurration coming from the portal. ¡®Where did the elder swamp elf go? I thought for sure he¡¯d wait for me to pass his test.¡¯ He tilted his head as he studied the light. ¡®Or is this another test? Maybe the a continuation?¡¯ Carter¡¯s breath slowed as a faint, melodic hum seeped from the portal, curling around his ears like a distant lullaby. At first, it was subtle¡ªa whisper beneath the rush of wind through the swamp¡ªbut soon it grew, harmonizing with the rhythmic pulse of the swirling colors. His hand, slackened from his sword as the tones deepened, weaving through his thoughts and pulling his gaze into the heart of the vortex. ¡®Why is this so magnetic? I¡­ sense¡­ danger¡­ yet¡­¡¯ His feet moved on their own, drawn closer with each step, the portal¡¯s glow casting strange, flickering shadows across his armor. His awareness of the swamp faded, the world narrowing to just the sound and light ahead. The hum grew sweeter, almost tender, wrapping him in a comforting embrace, until his fingers hovered inches from the shimmering surface, trembling as they reached out instinctively toward the beckoning glow. A spark jumped to his fingers, snapping him awake. ¡®What the hell¡ª?¡¯ Before he could complete his thought, the vortex leaped forward, engulfing his hand, and yanked him inside. ### The granite boulder exploded in a storm of dust and razor sharp pieces from the magical attack. As the debris bounced harmlessly off her shield, Dearbhaile was attacked by her sister wielding a curved blade. She ducked under the slash and sidestepped the stab, using the ancient trees to her advantage. Dappled sunlight alternated between illuminating and shadowing the sisters as they battled. The sunlight flickered across L¨ªadan¡¯s blade, casting shifting glints of gold as it sliced through the air. L¨ªadan pulled the sword back and whirled her arm around to cut at her sister¡¯s belly with a forehand swipe. Dearbhaile leaped back, sucking in her stomach. L¨ªadan continued the circling of her swipe, and while her sister kept her gaze on the blade, kicked her in the belly. As the air exploded from her chest, the younger woman collapsed, holding her stomach as electric pain raced through her, and gasping for air. L¨ªadan stared down at her sister with narrowed eyes and shook her head, slamming her weapon into the dirt, point first. ¡°How many times do I have to tell you, irm?zinha? Keep your shield up!¡± Concern and frustration filled her voice. Dearbhaile set her jaw as she pushed herself up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, irm¨¢ m¨¢is vella. Let me try again.¡± ¡®When she swung her sword with her left hand, she followed it by kicking me with her left foot. Let¡¯s see if she does it again.¡¯ ¡°No. It¡¯s time to eat. We can resume then.¡± L¨ªadan picked up and sheathed her blade. ¡°I still don¡¯t understand why you want to learn to fight with swords.¡± A gust of wind stirred the leaves above, drying the sweat on Dearbhaile¡¯s brow. She picked up a water skin and drank deeply before answering. ¡°As I already told ye: Travellin¡¯ with Carter taught me tae try tae prepare for anythin¡¯. I might end up in a situation where I be unable tae use me magic.¡± ¡°I get the preparing for anything, but how would you ever end up not being able to use your magic?¡± The elder elf lead the way back to her home. ¡°You¡¯ll never be without your blood.¡± A woodpecker¡¯s rhythmic tapping echoed in the distance, mixing with the rustle of squirrels scurrying through the canopy above. The earthy scent of moss and damp leaves filled the air as the sisters moved through the undergrowth, their footsteps muffled by the soft, loamy ground. ¡°What if I be bound?¡± ¡°What if you were? Even the little from biting the inside of your cheek is enough to free yourself.¡± ¡°An¡¯ if I be also gagged?¡± ¡°Use your nails to scrape the flesh from your thumbs.¡± She looked over her shoulder. ¡°Also, how could you use a sword if you¡¯re tied up?¡± ¡°That be a completely different question.¡± Dearbhaile jogged a little to catch up to her sister¡¯s longer strides. ¡°Yer question¡¯s how could I be prevented from using mah magic. I nevair said I¡¯d attempt to use a sword if I be bound.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯m confused. If you¡¯re not tied, why couldn¡¯t you use your magic?¡± ¡°Robilar says there be things called anti-magic fields. They can stop magiks from working.¡± Dearbhaile brushed aside a low-hanging branch that almost hit her face, feeling the rough bark scrape against her palm. L¨ªadan paused as she straightened. ¡°Who is Robilar?¡± ¡°He be a Chronomancer friend of Carter¡¯s.¡± ¡°A Chronomancer?¡± The elder woman resumed walking, twigs and dried leaves crackling under her feet. ¡°They are real?¡± ¡°He claims he be tha only one.¡± L¨ªadan¡¯s hand tightened on the hilt of her sword. ¡°Has he mentioned The Timelord?¡± ¡°Nae. Not that I¡¯ve heard anyway.¡± Dearbhaile hurried and caught her sister¡¯s hand, bringing her to a stop. ¡°Why? What be wrong? Do you think he was lying?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible, but I don¡¯t know. Not mentioning The Timelord is meaningless by itself. It¡¯s a secret prophecy. I¡¯ve only heard of the title, not many details.¡± ¡°What did ye learn?¡± ¡°The Timelord is supposed to be the one who can restore things to their proper way of being.¡± ¡°What be tha meanin¡¯ of that?¡± L¨ªadan shrugged. ¡°I never found out. But, it¡¯s a mystery I¡¯ve puzzled over for many years.¡± She grinned. ¡°You know how I am with mysteries.¡± ¡°Aye. Ye¡¯d nevair let them be.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± She resumed walking. ¡°I wonder if he¡¯d tell me if I asked. Robilar, I mean.¡± ¡°Almost anything be possible.¡± ¡°I still can¡¯t believe you fell for a human kid.¡± ¡°He¡¯s not a kid!¡± ¡°He was when you met him. And at your age.¡± ¡°Why does this bother you so?¡± ¡°Because, irm?zinha, I love you, and I don¡¯t want you hurt.¡± ¡°Carter would nae hurt me.¡± L¨ªadan¡¯s eyes softened and her lips trembled. ¡°I don¡¯t want to see you shattered when he¡¯s gone.¡± She swallowed hard. Dearbhaile¡¯s hand on her arm stopped L¨ªadan. ¡°What do ye mean? Did ye have a foreseein¡¯?¡± ¡°Dearbhaile, I don¡¯t have to. He¡¯s a human. You¡¯ll live far longer than he.¡± ¡°Nae. I won¡¯t.¡± ¡°What? Why not?¡± ¡°He¡¯s the Walker of Worlds, remember? When he comes into his power, he¡¯ll cease to age.¡± L¨ªadan blinked, trying to understand the implications. ¡°You mean he¡¯ll be immortal?¡± ¡°What would that even be like?¡¯ She shook her head. ¡®The oldest elves lived only six thousand years. We rarely make it a thousand, now.¡¯ ¡°Unless he¡¯s killed, he¡¯ll never die of old age, infirmity, or illness.¡± ¡°Which means¡­¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have, at most, a millennium.¡± ¡°Does he know?¡± Dearbhaile shook her head. ¡°And I don¡¯t know how to tell him either.¡± Chapter Thirty-Four Feeling like his body was turned inside out and put back together backwards, Carter stumbled to the ground and dropped to his knees with a thud. The sharp, stinging pain raced up his thighs and down to his feet. His chest tightened, each breath shallow as if the air itself resisted him. He pressed his palms into the ground, the rough texture reminding him he was alive, but his limbs felt foreign, weak. He hated this sensation¡ªthis helplessness. There had been too much of it lately. It jolted the dizzy feeling from his mind. He found himself in the middle of a plaza with a crowd of people nearby. Murmurs of the crowd reached his ears. People pointed at him, and several approached with objects he didn¡¯t recognize, but knew from how they were held¡ªlike they were ready to attack¡ª had to have been weapons. His heart pounded in his ears, drowning out the murmurs. ¡®Are they all staring?¡¯ He shifted uneasily, feeling exposed and hunted. Something primal stirred in his chest. ¡®I¡¯ve faced worse before, haven¡¯t I?¡¯ But this felt different. He was alone. Uncertain. ¡®I¡¯ve fought my way through horrors in the Realm, stared down demons from the Abyss, but this is new¡ªa battleground where the rules are unknown, and I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯m cast as hero or villain.¡¯ The approaching people were dressed in wet looking, blue-black armor that pulsed rhythmically as if it breathed. It even went over their heads. Their exposed skin was an iridescent blue that reminded him of fish scales. They paused a few feet from him, and then one came a couple steps closer. This one was larger than the others, and had glowing symbols etched in its skin that pulsed in time with its breathing. It pulled off its helmet, revealing a male. ¡®I wonder if he¡¯s a Mer.¡¯ The thought was the first coherent one he¡¯d had since coming here. Carter shook his head and had to lock his teeth against this vomit that tried to escape. ¡®Nope. Can¡¯t make a bad impression by spraying puke over everyone.¡¯ The warrior¡¯s voice, deep and resonant like the churning of ocean currents, cut through the rising tension. ¡°You are not of the sea.¡± His eyes¡ªlike gleaming black pearls¡ªnarrowed. ¡°How is it that you stand here? The sea does not welcome outsiders.¡± Carter blinked, still trying to shake the dizziness from his head. He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by another voice. ¡°We should return him to the depths.¡± This voice was colder, more impatient. It belonged to another warrior who stepped forward, holding a long, ornate trident that hummed with a strange energy. His grip was firm, and he held trident with the forks pointed at Carter. ¡°He is not one of us. Let the sea judge him.¡± ¡°No, we should bring the interloper to the King. Allow him to decide.¡± This voice didn¡¯t stand out from the crowd. The first warrior continued to study Carter, waiting for his answer. ¡®Should I run, fight, or just be honest?¡¯ The thought flashed through his mind as he gathered himself into a crouch, ready to spring into action. ¡®I¡¯m not going to get very far with running, especially as I don¡¯t know what those weapons can do. Fighting would be a massacre, probably of me, which wouldn¡¯t be fun. Honesty it is, then. I hope they¡¯re open to listening.¡¯ ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t know.¡± A maelstrom of uncertainty churned inside him. ¡°The last thing I remember was seeing a swirling portal of light that¡­ called to me, and then I hit the ground here.¡± The second warrior to speak stepped forward. Carter tensed, ready to defend himself. His mind raced. The weight of the trident seemed to press down on him, unseen but tangible. It thrummed with energy, more advanced than any he¡¯d encountered in the Realm before. Or on Earth. ¡®If he twitches wrong, I gotta stop him as quick as possible. Will a neck strike even be as effective on these guys?¡¯ And then, a commotion came from behind the warriors, causing them to glance over to the noise. ¡°You¡¯re always making a dramatic entrance into my world, aren¡¯t you, Carter?¡± The guards dropped to a knee with left hands clapped to their chests as a familiar bearded red-haired Mer swaggered through the crowd. ¡°At least this time you¡¯re not drowning.¡± The Prince of the Mer gave a lopsided smile, his eyes full of mischief and an unspoken challenge. ¡°Though it was good to have you in my arms.¡± Carter rose and bowed at the waist. ¡°Your Majesty.¡± ¡°So formal, Carter? I thought we were friends?¡± The Walker straightened and glanced at the surrounding warriors. ¡°Well, after how these guys responded to me, I wasn¡¯t too sure.¡± Amando lifted his hand to the warriors and they rose. ¡°Judge them not, Walker.¡± His voice had changed from flirtatious to regal. ¡°They are protectors of our people. They¡¯re doing what is necessary.¡± Carter nodded. ¡°Up to, and including tossing newcomers out to be judged by the sea?¡± The Prince glanced over the warriors, and focused on the one Carter spoke of before returning his gaze to the Walker of Worlds. ¡°Including.¡± ¡°That¡¯s unfortunate, Your Highness. They might accidentally kill a potential ally.¡± ¡°Barring yourself, Walker, allies don¡¯t show up uninvited.¡± Carter took a deep breath. He drummed his fingers on the hilt of his sword. ¡°You know, your high and mighty tone is pretty off putting, Amando.¡± ¡°He is our Prince, land dweller.¡± The impatient warrior spoke up again. ¡°And I am a King.¡± Carter deepened his voice, filling it with ice and iron. Amando raised his eyebrows. ¡°Nice basso profundo, Your Majesty.¡± He smirked. Carter narrowed his eyes. ¡°The almost dizzying way you go from imperious to teasing seems to be to be intentional. Who is it meant for? Me,¡± he glanced to the still kneeling guards and back to the Prince, ¡°Or them?¡± Amando winked. ¡°On your feet, men.¡± He then turned and headed back the way he came. Amando¡¯s wink held a flicker of mischief, and as he turned, Carter caught the briefest brush of his arm. A touch too casual. The guards, unaware of the unspoken tension, snapped to attention in unison, fists striking their armor with a wet slap. Carter suppressed the instinct to recoil from the sound, the slick pulse of their strange armor only adding to the uneasy knot in his gut. He wiped his hand over his face and then caught up to the Prince. ¡°I¡¯ve got something for you, Your Majesty.¡± Carter reached for his belt where he¡¯d placed the dagger. Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. ¡°It¡¯s Amando.¡± The Prince glanced over his shoulder. ¡°I thought you were married?¡± He said with a big grin and pointed look at him. Carter followed his gaze down to his belt and groaned. ¡°Bloody hells.¡± He held up Conker¡¯s Blade. ¡°I meant¡ª¡± ¡°No. Do not.¡± Amando lit up. ¡°Conker!¡± He snatched the weapon from Carter. ¡°I¡¯ve missed you.¡± Carter blinked, staring at his now empty hand. He hadn¡¯t seen the Prince move. He looked up at Amando, back to his empty hand, and once more to the other man. ¡°That was rude.¡± ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry, Carter.¡± He fluttered his eyes at him. ¡°I was just so excited to have Conker back, I just reacted.¡± Carter drummed his fingers on his sword hilt. ¡°I thought he was called ¡®Conker¡¯s Blade?¡¯¡± ¡°He?¡± Amando tilted his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°The dag¡ªponiard spoke to me. Aloud and mentally.¡± He shook his head at the memory. ¡°Like he was intelligent.¡± ¡°Oh, that is interesting.¡± Carter lengthened his stride until he walked beside the Prince. ¡°In what way?¡± ¡°Conker¡¯s Blade, as I mentioned before, is an ancestral weapon. It¡¯s also an artifact and symbol of our people. While powerful, it is no more intelligent than that wall.¡± ¡°So, why did you want it so bad you promised three courtoons of your warriors to aid Adora in exchange for me retrieving it?¡± ¡°Family pride, Carter.¡± ¡®I don¡¯t believe you. Family pride doesn¡¯t fit how you act.¡¯ Carter nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Amando smiled. ¡°Good.¡± He stopped before a lowered drawbridge. It lead to a building that looked like a perfect blend of natural growth and Mer craftsmanship, rising from the seabed like a living monument. The lower half was constructed from living coral, vibrant and teeming with life. Twisting coral branches wove together to form walls, some sections delicate and translucent, others thick and fortified. Fish of every color darted in and out of the coral¡¯s gaps, and bioluminescent sea plants clung to the surface, casting an eerie glow that illuminated the deep, murky waters. Carter followed the shape building and then froze. The flickering light through the watery sky above held him riveted. He felt light-headed. ¡°A-are we underwater?¡± Amando¡¯s smile faltered as he caught the panic in Carter¡¯s eyes, the way his chest heaved and his hand shot out, grasping at nothing. ¡°We are, Carter. We have been the whole time.¡± His voice was soft, soothing. He stepped closer, ready to grab the Walker if he went crazy. Carter¡¯s breath hitched, and his chest tightened as if the weight of the ocean pressed down on him. His vision blurred, heart pounding wildly in his ears. He clawed at his throat, gasping for air that suddenly wasn¡¯t, his knees buckling beneath him as the edges of his world closed in. ¡°H-how¡­¡± He shook his head. ¡°Wha-why aren¡¯t I drowning?¡± He turned wide, shocky eyes to the Prince of the Mer. Amando held up his hands. ¡°Because we¡¯re not currently in the water.¡± He gestured around him. ¡°This is where were have our limited interactions with air breathers. A bubble of force keeps the area dry while still being in our natural environment. We Mer can pass through like it is air, but air breathers are gently repelled.¡± Carter took a couple of deep breaths. ¡°Okay. I am ready.¡± He rose to his feet and stared up at the rippling currents which caused his panic attack moments ago. ¡®You will not defeat me, or stop me.¡¯ He tensed his muscles to force the trembling to halt. ¡°Let¡¯s continue our journey, Your Highness.¡± ¡°Are you certain, my friend?¡± Amando¡¯s voice was soft, caring. ¡°Indeed.¡± ¡°Very well.¡± Amando turned back to guiding them to the castle. A couple of the warriors murmured behind him so he took smaller steps to allow them to overtake him. ¡°I told you were should let the sea judge him, Commander. This one showed his deficiency when he saw the grandeur of the Royal House.¡± ¡°Just so you¡¯re aware, if you have a moment of weakness on land, I won¡¯t belittle you for it.¡± Carter didn¡¯t look at the warrior as he spoke. ¡°Instead, I would try to help you.¡± He then lengthened his steps to his normal stride and caught up to Amando. ¡°That was a diplomatic way to put him in his place, my friend.¡± ### The light faded revealing an ebony clad warrior whose eyes glowed as if with a silver flame. In a blink, he lifted Lucien by the scruff of the neck, and launched the werewolf through a window. As the tinkle of broken glass danced through the air, he continued his motion and attempted to decapitate Anila with a spinning back slash. She turned to mist and the crystalline blue blade whipped through the cloud at neck level. She reformed and glared at Robilar. ¡°You summoned a Hell Knight? What are you thinking?¡± Robilar chuckled. ¡°Silly vampire.¡± He dismissed her comment with a wave and gestured to the newcomer. ¡°He is so much worse. Meet Robert Worthington, agent of the F.S.I.A. and slayer of the supernatural.¡± He glanced at the other. ¡°Can you believe she thought I¡¯d waste time or energy on a pathetic hell knight?¡± Robert¡¯s long white hair flapped around his shoulders in the breeze from the window. The black cassock swayed less energetically around his ankles. He tilted his sword up near his shoulder. ¡°Robilar, you handle Lucien, and I¡¯ll take care of Anila.¡± Robilar nodded. ¡°Done.¡± He noted Erna and K?tharina crowded behind a stone pillar, trying to avoid the battle. He waved his hand, indicating they stay put before diving out the window after the thrown werewolf. Erna gasped as she covered her mouth with her left hand, her right reaching out to the Chronomancer. Robert split into two copies of himself. Anila¡¯s eyes widened as her lips curled in a snarl of defiance. She raised her hand, a ball of fire growing from her palm. The flames boiled in fury as she readied her attack. One copy plunged his sword into Anila¡¯s heart, driving her against the wall as he ducked. The other appeared out of the darkness like a wraith before his sword cleaved her neck, burying his blade into the same wall. The ball of flame flickered out as the vampire exploded into ash and dust. The two copies of Robert tapped their swords together with a clink and melted back into one being. He hurried to the broken window, hair billowing behind him. He looked out, but the heavy rain made it impossible to see. A flash of lightening illuminated the werewolf stalking the Chronomancer from a tiled rooftop. Robilar seemed focused in front of him, peering into the shadows under the eaves. The castle''s towering stone walls glistened under the heavy rain, dark cracks snaking through the ancient brickwork as the storm beat down. Thunder ripped across the sky as wind whipped his hair across his face. The pounding deluge running into his eyes burned as the water mixed with the sweat from his head. Lucien carefully set a dripping paw on the slick tile as he prepared to pounce on the man below. K?tharina called out from inside. ¡°Robilar. Where are you?¡± The sound of her voice made him look up to the window he¡¯d leaped from. ¡°What?¡± The torrential rain muffled her words. Lucien crashed down into Robilar, driving him to the ground with a grunt as the wind was knocked from his chest. He crouched over the Chronomancer, slavering jaws poised over his throat. Robilar¡¯s hands atLucien¡¯s neck were the only thing holding him back. Robilar¡¯s sword bounced away over the cobblestones and ended in a cluster of pale white grass. ¡°I¡¯m going to enjoy ripping your throat out.¡± The werewolf¡¯s words were almost spit at the Chronomancer. ¡°I know it won¡¯t bring them back, but at last, Lisbeth and my boys will have justice.¡± He glanced over his furry shoulder at something in the rain, nodded and turned back. ¡°And maybe their ghosts will stop haunting me.¡± Robilar, arms trembling, paused in pushing his brother off him. ¡°W-what?¡± The rain in his eyes burned almost as much as when the sweat was mixed in. ¡°You didn¡¯t know?¡± Lucien¡¯s voice was almost causal. ¡°Their specters have chased me for the last century.¡± He then flinched as if touched by something his captive couldn¡¯t see, rising up a bit.. ¡°But it¡¯s okay, see? They¡¯ll leave me alone once I kill you.¡± His snout wrinkled and relaxed. ¡°Yeah. That¡¯ll be the solution.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not how that works, Lucien.¡± His voice was strained, disbelief and frustration mixed in. He worked his leg, pulling it up between them. ¡°If you¡¯re being haunted, the only way to lay the spirits to rest is to burn their bodies.¡± ¡°No!¡± Lucien threw his weight back on his brother, forcing his leg down and to the side. Agony raced through Robilar¡¯s thigh and hip. ¡°Why not?¡± He asked through gritted teeth. The werewolf giggled. ¡°I ate them.¡± Showing a lupine grin for a second, he went back to snarling. ¡°Romulous said to complete my transformation. I had to.¡± Another giggle. ¡°Eat their bodies.¡± He lunged for Robilar¡¯s throat with a roar. Robert nodded to himself. ¡°I¡¯ve heard enough.¡± He glanced at the women hiding. ¡°I¡¯ll be back.¡± He planted his foot on the windowsill and leaped through. Erna scampered over to the window and stared out at the downpour. Robert landed behind the werewolf with a wet thump. Lucien paused his attack and turned to the new noise. Before his turn could be completed, Robert punted him off Robilar. The werewolf flew through the air, a short, hard flight which terminated in a stone wall. Robert held his hand out to Robilar. The other man took it and rose with a grimace of bared teeth. ¡°Fuck that hurts.¡± He growled the words. Robert nodded, still holding Robilar¡¯s hand. He stared into his eyes. ¡°It is time.¡± Robilar nodded, closing his eyes for a moment. He opened them and nodded again. Robert gave him a small smile and touched the center of Robilar¡¯s forehead. Golden light exploded around the men as they melted into each other. Chapter 35 Sera folded her legs under her on the large chair next to the crackling fireplace. The sweet smell of hickory filled the air. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. What is your endgame with Carter? What was the point of Belial getting him to infect himself with Tianarri Moss?¡± ¡°What do you know about the Walker of Worlds and what he does?¡± Drago spoke without turning from the map spread over the long table. She shrugged. ¡°Not much. I know Lucas wants his power.¡± She folded her hands over her knee. ¡°As far as to what he can actually do, I¡¯ve not seen much.¡± The Dark Dwarf made a mark on the chart. ¡°The Walker of Worlds is capable of fighting, and defeating, gods. He ¨C or she ¨C can kill, or banish them if need be.¡± ¡°How is this possible?¡± ¡°It¡¯s how they were created. Other than that, I don¡¯t have a clue.¡± ¡°If Carter is able of fighting gods¡­¡± She trailed off with a frown. ¡°Why do I put myself as his opponent?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve seen him. Watched him fight. What do you think?¡± He turned and stared up at her, leaning against the chair with his arms folded over his barrel chest. ¡°He seemed like any other man.¡± She scratched her elbow. ¡°Yet he fights demons with ease.¡± ¡°Go on.¡± ¡°Is he only a threat to gods and demons?¡± ¡°You saw his performance in Belial¡¯s arena. Do you think he¡¯s only a threat to them?¡± Sera ducked her head, resting her mouth on her wrist, deep in thought. Drago waited. He knew she would get it. After several moments, she raised her head. ¡°He got better with each fight. The arena was to train him, then?¡± ¡°It was to test and assess. As you say, he improved with each battle. Though Carter is untrained as Walker, he is still a deadly threat.¡± ¡°Then did Belial not kill him outright?¡± ¡°Think about it. When you realize the answer to that question, you¡¯ll also learn the reason for the infection.¡± ¡°He wanted to control him. And it backfired.¡± She rose from her seat and crossed to the table. Glancing at the map, she noticed Drago seemed to be creating a path. She tapped the freshest mark. ¡°Is this where he is?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Shall I gather an army and take him?¡± ¡°We cannot right now. The land is warded.¡± ¡°Damn it.¡± Leaning against the table, and resting her elbows on the map, she tapped her fingers together. ¡°Why are they called ¡®Walker of Worlds¡¯?¡± ¡°Because that is what they do. They travel from world to world in the multiverse, bringing balance.¡± ¡°Wait. There really is a multiverse?¡± He titled his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°In my world, the idea of a multiverse is only a mathematical theory without empirical evidence for it. It¡¯s only one of many about the universe, though.¡± ¡°What is a theory?¡± ¡°Well, as scientists define it, a theory is a coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± He turned back to his map, drawing reports closer to him. ¡°What is a scientist?¡± ¡°An expert in science, which is systemized knowledge.¡± ¡°Like magic?¡± She shook her head. ¡°No. In my world, magic doesn¡¯t exist.¡± Drago straightened and faced her. ¡°Magic doesn¡¯t exist? But, it is an integral part of life. How can life exist without magic?¡± His voice was higher pitched, his eyes blinked rapidly. ¡°In my world, gods don¡¯t exist, and so, didn¡¯t create life.¡± ¡°Where did it come from, then?¡± He leaned forward. ¡°The stars.¡± He scratched his chin. ¡°The stars?¡± ¡°Yes. The stars are made of elements that lead to life after billions of years.¡± ¡°How, though?¡± She shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t really know. I¡¯m not a scientist.¡± ¡°That is very odd.¡± Another shrug. ¡°What does this have to do with Carter?¡± ¡°Nothing. I was curious about your world.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t explained how having control of Carter will help you make things equal between all the races.¡± ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± Crossing over to a shelf, he pulled down a book and flipped through it. As he did, a blue winged bat flew into the room and landed on the table. Sera reached for it and Drago spoke. ¡°If you value your hand, don¡¯t.¡± She yanked her hand back and it grew into a tall man dressed in high quality robes. ¡°I¡¯d not have torn off her hand, Lord Drago. What kind of man do you take me for?¡± His tone was deep, melodic with a hint of laughter. ¡°I take you for a vampire, Rorikil. Which is what you are.¡± The newcomer smiled. ¡°True, but I¡¯m not a werewolf like Devoril. Now, he probably would have taken the lovely young lady¡¯s hand.¡± He turned and bowed, giving Sera a good look at him. Snow white hair was slicked back from piercing ice blue eyes. His azure robes were of an antique design that the lich Zatanna favored. A scarlet brocade doublet was detailed with arcane symbols surrounding a silvery stag. Worn, yet polished to a mirror sheen boots clad his feet. ¡°What do you have to report, Rorikil?¡± Her question was a demand, laced with imperiousness. An elegantly arched eyebrow curved up. ¡°Who are you, little one?¡± He cocked his head to the left as he imperceptibly leaned forward. She shifted sideways with a slight movement. ¡°Drago¡¯s second. Now answer my question.¡± Her hips dropped a few inches. He locked his eyes on her. She smirked and then shut hers. ¡°Commanding doesn¡¯t work on me, Vampire. I know how to combat it.¡± He darted forward, moving faster than Drago could follow. Sera halted his advance with her hand on his throat. She lifted him in the air with ease. ¡°I¡¯m also stronger than you, no matter how old you are. Last year, I killed the First for being too snippy.¡± Sera opened her eyes and locked gazes with her captive. ¡°I did it with my bare hands.¡± Setting him back on his feet, she growled, ¡°Now, you have something to report?¡± Rorikil rubbed his neck, not sure why it burned. ¡°Carter is no longer in the land of the Swamp Elves. He has gone north, into the mountains.¡± He tilted his next from one side to the other. The burning was a bit worse. Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation. She glanced to the Dark Dwarf. ¡°Now may I go after him?¡± ¡°Why do you want to face him so badly?¡± ¡°I want to see if he¡¯s gotten stronger.¡± ¡°You think surviving for six years in the Abyss isn¡¯t proof enough?¡± ¡°Of course not. I do it for fun, remember?¡± ¡°I do. And it always worries me when you go.¡± She crossed over to him and placed her hands on his shoulders. As she leaned over, he rose on his toes and so she could kiss his cheek. ¡°If you¡¯re not careful, my lord, people might think you care.¡± He swatted her butt. ¡°I do care, Sera. I don¡¯t know what I would do if something happened to you.¡± ¡°The day the untrained Walker of Worlds can defeat me if the day I stop fighting.¡± She then strode out of the library, pulling the door behind her. Rorikil waited until her footsteps faded away. ¡°I can¡¯t believe you were able to say that with a straight face.¡± He bared his fangs at the closed door. Drago smirked. ¡°It¡¯s easy to lie to those you¡¯ve relieved of their virginity.¡± He crossed the room to a desk shrouded in magical darkness and sat. He retrieved a scroll and unfurled it. ¡°Human women get very emotionally attached from that.¡± The vampire chortled. ¡°You were her first lover?¡± The Dark Dwarf nodded. ¡°May I have her when you grow bored?¡± Drago smirked. ¡°As always, my friend.¡± ¡°Good. I owe her for that stunt she pulled.¡± Rorikil rubbed his neck again. ¡°Still burning?¡± ¡°Yes. What does she have on her hands?¡± ¡°Powdered silver. It¡¯s a nasty trick she picked up from one of these.¡± He waved at the book shelf. ¡°So that is why I couldn¡¯t break free.¡± Drago nodded. ¡°I¡¯m guessing that is how she was able to defeat the First?¡± The vampire raised his right eyebrow. ¡°Partially. I fed him a sanctified human first, though.¡± ¡°How did he cross you?¡± ¡°By attempting to make a deal with the Walker.¡± He lifted a quill from an inkpot and wrote on the parchment. ¡°He didn¡¯t get far.¡± ¡°That was stupid. Do you need me for anything else, my lord Drago?¡± ¡°Not right now. Go get someone to eat. I¡¯ll call for you if I need you.¡± ¡°By your leave, Sire.¡± The vampire bowed deep. After his lieutenant left, Drago dropped the quill back into the ink and rested his chin on his hand as he gazed out the window. ### The Mer throne room was a breathtaking fusion of natural wonder, regal craftsmanship and advanced technology, carved deep into a massive coral reef. Towering columns of living coral, teeming with vibrant marine life, rose from the ocean floor to form the room¡¯s vaulted ceiling, with shimmering schools of fish weaving through the translucent arches. The walls are adorned with glowing, bioluminescent plants, holographic displays and swirling patterns of polished shell, reflecting the pale light of the sea through enchanted crystal windows. Carter felt the subtle resistance of the water as he moved, every step a careful balance to avoid floating, unlike the graceful drift of Amando¡¯s robes. At the room¡¯s heart, the throne itself appeared to grow from the coral, an intricate masterpiece of twisting branches and an alloy of the same sort as Conker¡¯s Blade. It was encrusted with pearls, glimmering gems and screens in the arms with shifting scenes. The Mer King sat, his presence as formidable as the ocean depths surrounding his court. An orange-black trident leaned against the back of the throne, yet within easy reach. His imposing figure was draped in seaweed-like robes which rivaled the regal finery of Carter¡¯s wife. Carter¡¯s own armor, ragged and patched, normally a point of pride for him made him feel rather shabby in comparison. ¡®Leather really stands out next to the flesh-like coral armor of the guards outside.¡¯ He glanced over to his guide. Amando had been uncharacteristically quiet since their arrival. The usual playful glint in his eyes was replaced with something more serious¡ªa tension Carter had not seen before. Even now, as they approached the throne, Amando¡¯s steps faltered ever so slightly, not as fluid as usual. The Mer King did not rise to greet them. His voice, when it came, was as sonorous as the ocean, as if itself spoke through him. ¡°You must be the surface dweller my son has taken an unseemly interest in.¡± ¡°Unseemly, sire?¡± Carter cocked his head to the right. ¡°You¡¯re a land dweller.¡± ¡°Father, Carter i¡ª¡± ¡°Silence.¡± The monarch¡¯s voice was razor sharp. ¡°In here, I am your king.¡± He leaned forward. ¡°If you paid as much attention to your duties as you do to the surface world, you¡¯d remember this.¡± The prince wilted under the rebuke. Carter opened his mouth, and then closed it. ¡°Speak, if you must, human.¡± Carter¡¯s fingers twitched toward his sword hilt out of reflex, then he forced his hands to relax as he fought the urge to defend his friend in this court where words carried more weight than steel. ¡®How would Adora handle a dick like this?¡¯ A memory of how his wife handled Donnell Maverick after his attempt to force her to marry him three years ago. She¡¯d been gracious to the asshole and ignored his actions, saying that due to his power as lord of the breadbasket of the Realm, he was politically untouchable. ¡°Kind of like this dick.¡¯ Carter glowered at the Mer King, jaw tight. ¡°I am the Patchwork Knight, Lavitz of Rivorei. I had the honor of aiding His Highness the Prince in retrieving a family heirloom from the Swamp Elves.¡± Carter bowed over his outstretched right leg in the manner of Adora¡¯s court, his movements precise despite the resistance of the water. The King narrowed his eyes at the display. A couple of moments later, he spoke, his tone a bit softer. ¡°Is this true, Amando?¡± The prince bowed deep, his left hand over his right pectoral. ¡°Yes, Your Majesty.¡± The King leaned back, lacing his fingers together and resting his elbows on the arms of his throne. The back curled forward, shading his eyes from where Carter and Amando stood. ¡°Interesting.¡± He lifted his chin. ¡°How did you manage to recover Conker¡¯s Blade?¡± Carter shrugged. ¡°I asked for it, Your Majesty.¡± ¡°Did you now.¡± The King parted his hands, letting them fall outwards. ¡°Yet again, you let me down, boy.¡± His voice was low as he shook his head.¡± ¡°But, Fath- um, Your Majesty.¡± Amando stepped forward. ¡°Silence.¡± The single word slammed into them like a wave. Amando froze. ¡°Do you know why I assigned you the task of retrieving Conker¡¯s Blade?¡± The prince shook his head as his shoulders sagged. ¡°Did you even think about it, or was your only thought, as usual, how to get out of your duties?¡± Carter shifted as he watched father berate son. ¡®I want to speak to Amando¡¯s defense, but I may make things worse.¡¯ He watched Amando¡¯s knuckles whiten as he clenched his fists. ¡®Come on, man. Speak up. Don¡¯t let him walk all over you. It¡¯s just as important for a King to not cower as all the rules he¡¯s been imposing on you.¡¯ Amando raised his head. ¡°No, Sire. My only thoughts were how to achieve your task without risking any of our people.¡± The King grunted. ¡°That is good, at least.¡± ¡®Kell¨¹n¡¯s balls, man. Did that actually cause you pain?¡¯ Carter took a deep breath as he watched the interplay. ¡®While it is irritating Amando was willing to risk my life, it also makes sense to not want to put his subjects in danger. Pretty shrewd, too.¡¯ The Mer King sighed. ¡°Alas, that is not enough.¡± He shook his head, long hair swirling through the water. ¡°I¡¯m not sure it would be wise to leave the Kingdom in your hands.¡± Amando stiffened. ¡°What?¡± His voice was low, hard. ¡°How can this be, Your Highness?¡± Carter noticed the bared teeth, and flinty eyes. ¡®He¡¯s pissed. I wonder how he¡¯s going to handle things?¡¯ The King rose from his seat and trod down the stairs of the dais, hitting each step with an almost audible thump. He stopped near his son and rested his hand on his shoulder. ¡°Amando, I know this displeases you, but I present you with an opportunity.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Though his jaw was clenched, the Prince kept his emotion from his tone, sounding curious only. ¡°I¡¯ll give you a tidal surge to prove me wrong. If you can, I will step down with gladness in my heart.¡± Carter¡¯s eyes widened. ¡®Step down? What? Does that mean what I think it does?¡¯ He blinked. ¡®What is a tidal surge?¡¯ The King leaned in. ¡°Fail me again, however, and I¡¯ll banish you to the Leviathan Depths myself.¡± Amando gave his father an incredulous stare as he stumbled back. He squeezed his eyes shut as the King strode out of the throne room, the water swirling around him and leaving the men in a cold, suffocating calm. Time felt it slowed for Carter as he watched his friend. ¡®That sounded ominous.¡¯ He tugged at his cuirass and cleared his throat. ¡°Um¡­¡± He paused. ¡°That¡­¡± He paused again. ¡®What do I even say to that?¡¯ ¡°Was an ultimatum. And an unfair one.¡± Amando¡¯s voice was hollow. He opened his eyes and gazed at Carter. ¡°By the Leviathan, how am I supposed to prove him wrong without a task? Especially in that timeframe.¡± His chest heaved, as if the ocean no longer caressed, but crushed him with its weight. ¡°Timeframe?¡± Carter rubbed the back of his neck. ¡°What timeframe?¡± ¡°A tidal surge.¡± Amando chuckled. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the King?¡± Carter spun his hand, feeling the water resist the motion. ¡°That¡¯s a time frame? How long?¡± ¡°Oh, right.¡± Amando smacked his forehead, making his hair swirl around his head. ¡°You¡¯re not familiar with how we calculate time down here.¡± He cupped his chin. ¡°Um¡­¡± He flicked his index finger as if counting. ¡°Forty-five days as you land dwellers mark it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not much time.¡± ¡°No.¡± The Walker thought for a couple of heartbeats. ¡°What are the Leviathan Depths?¡± Amando¡¯s face fell and he paced before his father¡¯s throne. ¡°It¡­It¡¯s a cold place. Not a cold like you may have experienced on the surface, but a bone-chilling, soul crushing place. Legend holds the Leviathan itself dwells there.¡± He paused and turned a pallid face to Carter, lips and chin quivering. ¡°No Mer has ever returned from there.¡± He swallowed hard. ¡°My father didn¡¯t just threaten to take my inheritance, or to banish me.¡± His voice dropped to a whisper. ¡°He promised condemnation to eradication.¡± Carter stroked his beard. ¡°What is the Leviathan?¡± Amando shrugged. ¡°What we know comes from legends. Some say it is reptilian in nature, others claim it is a colossal crab.¡± He sat on the stairs of the dais. ¡°We don¡¯t even know if it comes from Darfellan, or his ex-wife, Echinoloth.¡± ¡®If I remember Gods and Goddesses correctly, he¡¯s the god of the ocean and seas while she is the goddess of storms.¡¯ Carter pressed his palms together and rubbed his index fingers against each other. ¡®I wish I¡¯d bought that BattleHammer supplement when I¡¯d seen it at the Inner Harbor back home.¡¯ Amando continued. ¡°The god of the ocean is a temperamental deity, but so is the goddess of tempests.¡± He snorted. ¡°Could belong to either, or neither.¡± ¡°If none have seen it, why are you so afraid of it?¡± The prince shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not afraid of the mythical Leviathan. I¡¯m terrified of the real location said to be its home.¡± He rose to his feet. ¡°That¡¯s a big difference.¡± ¡°Fair enough.¡± Carter nodded his head. ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Amando rubbed his forehead before running his fingers through his red hair. He took a deep breath. ¡°I have no idea how to achieve a nebulous task, so I think I should continue my arrangement.¡± He draped his arm over Carter¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Let¡¯s go see if your wife needs any more help.¡± Chapter Thirty-Six Adora watched the servants passing among her guests, serving various finger foods and drinks as she sipped Renline wine. The tart vintage was one of the last since those elves had gone into hiding. They¡¯d been one of Drago¡¯s first targets before he¡¯d focused his genocidal efforts on half-elves. ¡®His machinations are so chaotic. My spies tell me he¡¯s promising his people equity and their fair share, justifying his actions against those he claimed were privileged, while his demons randomly attack any they come across.¡¯ Her fingers tightened on the wineglass¡¯s stem. ¡®Where was the Renlines¡¯ equity?¡¯ A cluster of people had gathered around Lady Soo-jau in almost a mini-court. ¡®Meanwhile, she has granted me the privilege of her attention while also seeming to be unaware of how almost everyone is fawning over her, trying to gain her favor, holding court in my home.¡¯ Adora sat her glass down as her nemesis Donnell Maverick approached. ¡®What scheme have you come up with now, Donnell?¡¯ She held back from rolling her eyes by the barest grasp at royal decorum. ¡°Your Majesty, I simply must¡ª¡± The closed doors of the dining room burst open and a maid stumbled in, holding her neck, deep scarlet flowing over her fingers, before falling to the floor, dead. Adora froze, gaze locked on the dead girl as the music came to a dissonant halt. A collective gasp raced through the room, almost ruffling her hair. A high-pitched scream sounded, triggering others and sending her guests scrambling away from the blood spreading from the maid¡¯s body. Donnell Maverick shoved a servant over as he turned to run, the glasses crashing to the ground with the wooden serving platter adding to the discordant cacophony. His elbow hit Adora¡¯s glass, knocking it over, sending chilled wine over her shoes and stockings. One of the noble women who¡¯d been speaking with Soo-jau fell over an overturned chair in her mad scramble away from the dead girl. A cluster of her guests, some crushed against it, shoved the dining table back in their haste. The queen jolted back to herself. ¡®I¡¯ve got to get these people out of here. Kell¨¹n, give me strength.¡¯ ¡°Everyone!¡± Her voice thundered across the room cutting through the panic. ¡°I need you to gather behind me and prepare to exit the room in an orderly fashion.¡± The metallic scent of blood clashed violently with the sweet smell of Renline wine and savory meats on toppled dishes. Before anyone could move, an imposing humanoid figure ducked under the doors and straightened to its full height of twelve feet. A powerful aura of darkness enveloped its grotesque, yet well-developed form. It possessed avian feet, grey skin, four wings that smoked and gleamed with oil, and a feral bird¡¯s beak in an otherwise handsome face. Electricity raced along the blade of a huge great sword in its meaty left hand. Adora bit back the scream that tried to rip from her chest. Her people would panic if she showed her own fear. ¡°Pazuzu.¡± The word came from a growling Lady Soo-jau. She stood off by herself, an icy gaze locked on the being. ¡°Soo-jau, my darling.¡± The creature¡¯s voice was like rancid honey. Her lips parted in a snarl. ¡°You trespass on my territory, demon.¡± Her own voice was hard as granite, and caused the temperature to drop several degrees. Adora shivered and ushered the people out the dining room while the demon was distracted by Lady Soo-jau, fighting her desire to give battle to the demonic being. ¡®Kell¨¹n would want me to rescue the innocent.¡¯ ¡°My darling, it is not by my hand that I am here.¡± The demon uttered an easy chuckle. ¡°I have been summoned to be a savior.¡± ¡®Summoned to be a savior?¡¯ Adora paused in guiding Donnell out the door, not realizing his back was under her hand. ¡®Was it Tyrese Hathshire? Or someone else?¡¯ ¡°Mortals ill need a savior such as you, Pazuzu.¡± Her voice was now an elongated growl. Soo-jau¡¯s body shifted violently. Her mouth stretched, nose elongating¡ªfangs breaking through as her teeth sharpened. Fingers fused into three talons, each tipped in black. Her body expanded, muscles knotting, and her feet tore through her slippers, revealing powerful claws. Her robes dissolved, scales shimmering in their place as her shoulders broadened. With a crack, immense wings burst from her back, curving over her shoulders. Her head, blunt and fierce, bore a massive forward-curving horn, another point rising behind it, and rows of hornlets that lined her brow and nostrils. She glared at Pazuzu, arcs of lightning crackling between her fangs¡ªa warning of the storm waiting within. At the sight of Lady Soo-jau turning into a dragon, the servants and guests cried out and they began to push and shove at one another, each trying to get out the door without worry for anyone else. The scrum became bunched up as the doorway was only wide enough for two people to walk through at a time. ¡°Take your time, people.¡± Adora shouted the words, but could not hear herself over the screams. ¡®I doubt anyone else heard me, either. I wish I knew a spell to make my voice heard over everyone else¡¯s.¡¯ She didn¡¯t see who threw the first punch, but soon fists and feet were flying everywhere. An errant punch clipped her ear, making blood flow. Pain exploded from the strike as she briefly fantasized about cutting everyone down. Ear hot, she instead shouted. ¡°Settle the fuck down.¡± Her voice came like thunder, but at the same time, Pazuzu struck at the dragon Soo-jau, drowning her command out. ¡°One at a time, everyone.¡± The magically charged command came in the unmistakable voice of Lord Tyrese Hathshire of Bisquine. The crowd settled down and followed the order without further noise. Hathshire¡¯s voice was rich and powerful, as if filled with magic. Adora felt her mouth drop as she clutched her chest. ¡®What the hells?¡¯ She glanced around, searching for the unctuous Hathshire. A knot formed in her belly as she hunted the man through narrow eyes. ¡®What is he up to? Is he genuine, or is there a hidden motive?¡¯ She found him just outside the exit, waving the guests and servants through. A group of armored guards, wearing his family crest guided them through the corridors to the outside. ¡®Where are my guards?¡¯ Her chest tightened. ¡®This had better not be one of his, or Maverick¡¯s schemes.¡¯ A sharp cracking noise brought her out of her thoughts with a jolt. She looked over her shoulder to see Pazuzu lift Soo-jau from where she lay on the ground, head weaving, and slam her down once more. ¡®Oh, hells, no.¡¯ Her jaw clenched. ¡®I will not let that stand.¡¯ She cast a holy strike, building the spell in her palm. ¡®This is surely going to get his attention. Lady Soo-jau will be able to recover.¡¯ The celestial power continued to grow. ¡®When he reaches for her again¡­¡¯ The power burst into silvery sparkles that faded away as if sucked back into her.. ¡®Adora, he is Primordial. Save the people.¡¯ The unfamiliar voice made her freeze. She looked upward. ¡®Who are you?¡¯ No response came. The bunched up crowd at last made it down the hall to the outer doors where they bunched up again. This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. She pushed her way through the people, some to turned to scowl before recognizing her and parting. The scent of decayed vanilla told her what she¡¯d find before she poked her head out. The creature appeared to be a stunning, beautiful, statuesque and nude woman with flawless milky skin and raven hair. Large bat wings unfurled from her shoulders as fought and killed Adora¡¯s guards, marring her tempting form. A slender black tail curled and uncurled around her legs as she moved. It would whip out at random moments and skewer someone who pressed his sword against hers. Her red eyes glowed with hunger for blood. ¡®Oh, great. A L¡¯Arc.¡¯ She gave a small shake of her head with a pinched expression on her face. Her vision wavered as a sudden wave of pressure went through her head. ¡®Damned headache.¡¯ She raised a trembling hand to calm the panicked crowd, the air around her heavy with the smell of smoke and scorched fabric. The distant rumble of collapsing stone punctuated the silence as she stepped forward to face the seductress demon. She noted Hathshire leaning forward over a servant¡¯s shoulder, eyes locked on herself. He licked his lips as they twitched into a small smile. She rolled her eyes as she focused on the demon. A guard in the middle of deflecting the demon¡¯s strike spotted his queen and leaped back from the L¡¯Arc. Adora whistled, a sharp shrill that caught the demon¡¯s attention. ¡°Ooh, the queen herself.¡± The L¡¯Arc¡¯s voice was throaty and smoky, hinting a carnal pleasures. ¡°How¡­ delectable.¡± Adora snorted. ¡°Does that tempt anyone?¡± She angled her head in curiosity. The L¡¯Arc¡¯s expression warped from an inviting smile to a snarl in an instant. She leaped to strike the queen in a blink. Adora caught the demon by the throat and held her in the air, viridian gleaming over her hand. Her muscles trembled from the demon¡¯s weight and the celestial magic coursing through her. The demon shrieked as the queen¡¯s grasp smoked. She raked her claws across Adora¡¯s wrist, trying to get away from the terrible burning. Adora bore the pain, ignoring the blood dripping from the demon¡¯s claws. She tightened her grip and the bluish-green light intensified. The shriek of demonic agony changed to a gurgle as the demon¡¯s movements slowed. Her arms slumped to her sides, leaving the L¡¯Arc dangling. With a grunt, Adora lifted the demon higher and her head popped off. Ichor fountained into the air and dropped onto the queen, covering her in black. The sulphur scented fluid chilled her and stung her skin where it landed. ¡°Kell¨¹n¡¯s balls.¡± Her cry bounced off the walls and she gave a theatrical shake of her body. ¡°That was nasty.¡± She wiped her hands against a pillar as she moved back to the murmuring crowd. A couple lords and ladies backed away from their bloody queen with faint squeals of disgust. She met Tyrese¡¯s eyes and winked at him with a smirk. ¡®That¡¯s what I think of the demons you¡¯re able to summon, Hathshire.¡¯ He shoved forward, causing people to stumble and almost forcing Donnell Maverick to the ground. ¡°Why are you playing with that demon, and not fighting the dragon and demon she summoned into your home?¡± The smirk dropped from her face like a boulder from a cliff. Adora stepped forward, forcing the lord to tilt his head back. ¡°I play with nothing, and I was commanded to get everyone to safety.¡± A muscle in her jaw twitched, though her voice was frosty. Donnell rose to his feet, face flushed. ¡°What the hells, Hathshire?¡± Spittle flew from his mouth. A sharp, electrified tang filled Adora¡¯s nostrils, the unmistakable scent of lightning in the air. Pazuzu smashed through the dining hall wall in a cloud of shattered stone and dust. The Primordial flew down the hall before crashing to the floor. His passage ripped up the flagstone floor in a furrow that lead to where he lay against the door of the servant¡¯s entrance into the castle. A chunk of the dining room wall smashed the Lord of the Great Land Plains into a raspberry jelly. A woman fell to the ground in a faint as another shrieked. Adora raised her hand to get everyone¡¯s attention back to her. Chunks of marble and plaster littered the floor, coating everything in a thick layer of white dust that clung to her dress and skin. ¡®I¡¯ve got to get to my armor and weapons.¡¯ A colossal three-toed foot crushed a fallen section of wall, pulverizing it under the weight of a step from the indigo scaled Soo-jau. Balls of electricity sparked where her eyes had been. Her titanic jaws parted and a blue-white glow built up. Jagged forks jumped between her fangs before she thrust her head forward, sending a pulsating line of lightning down the corridor into the Primordial¡¯s chest. ¡°Get down!¡± Adora almost screamed the warning. For the most part, lightning doesn¡¯t care how you try to guide it, it just wants to get to the ground as soon as possible. Majority of Soo-jau¡¯s breath weapon hit her target, but some leaped out to hit those not fast enough to drop. Their screams cut off as their bodies jerked and twitched while errant electricity raced through their bodies. The unfortunate few turned black and bloody as the heat and electricity fried them crisp. They at last hit the ground, cracked skin blackened, and bloody, dead as the breath weapon faded. Ozone, smoke, and burned flesh filled the air. Sobs and screams filled the air. In the distance, swords clashed and demons roared, reminding the queen the battle still raged outside the servants hall they were in. Adora¡¯s eyes darted from corpse to living subject, not settling for more than a blink as her stomach roiled. She felt jittery and her back hurt from a muscle spasm. She ran a trembling hand over her face as the ground shook with the rapid passage of the dragon¡¯s charge to continue her attack on the Primordial. Saliva filled her mouth as her stomach tried to send its contents back up. She spat to the side and clenched her teeth against the pending sick. She took a deep breath and pushed herself to her feet. ¡®Focus, Adora. Get everyone to safety, and then break down. You are the queen and WarPriest of Kell¨¹n. Act like it.¡¯ She helped a rumpled man to his feet before realizing it was Tyrese Hathshire. She jerked her hand away as if burned. He gave her a smug look, but the paleness of his face and the sweat rolling down his left cheek gave away his turmoil. ¡°Head back to the dining room. Go back out of there the way you came in when you were announced.¡± ¡°And be killed? You¡¯d like that wouldn¡¯t you.¡± His face flushed as he cast the accusation at her. ¡°I¡¯m going to be sending everyone that way.¡± She felt her upper lip curl in a sneer before forcing her lips tightly together. He opened his mouth, but she cut him off before he could make a sound. ¡°Obey. No arguments.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°Or stay to die.¡± She shrugged, already turning away. ¡°It¡¯s up to you, Lord Hathshire.¡± Without waiting to see what he chose, Adora raced down the debris-strewn corridor to aid the rest of her people. ### A thunderclap rent the air, its roar mixing with the clash of metal, the screams of demons and men locked in battle. Blood soaked mud squished underfoot as a tall, wide man dressed in ragged leather armor appeared just beneath the many noses of the hydra. They arched back in surprise. And instant later, another man, this one shirtless, showing off an impressively muscled torso, appeared beside the first. ¡°Holy shit, Amando. That was intense.¡± The one in ragged armor stumbled and then steadied himself. He covered his mouth with his hand as if trying not to be sick. The blond hair man laughed, a hearty guffaw. ¡°I told you. Directed teleportation is spectacular, yet not for the fainthearted.¡± He slapped the other man on the back. ¡°Ow.¡± Both chuckled at the ragged man¡¯s dry sound. The multi-headed demon recovered from its surprise and lunged for the dark-haired man¡¯s head, fetid breath leading the way. A streak of white, and the hydra¡¯s mouth was clamped on a sharp blade which split its mouth wide. It recoiled with a squeal, green blood flowing from its cut and raining down on the ragged man. The acrid stench of chlorine hit the air above them. He brushed the stinging and smoking fluid from his exposed skin. ¡°Those reinforcements would be handy, right about now.¡± The dark-haired man said. ¡°You would be correct, Sir Lavitz.¡± Amando snapped his fingers and more explosions rent the air. Instantaneously, thousands of men, dressed in glistening blue-black armor appeared with swords, nets, harpoons and other assorted, exotic weaponry. Without waiting for orders, they launched themselves at the army of bewildered demons which hadn¡¯t expected reinforcements to teleport in. That had been their domain only. The few moments of shock allowed the new comers to slaughter demons by the score. Unholy shrieks filled the air. Lavitz¡¯ weapon sliced through the neck of a hydra head as if it were a hot knife through warm butter. The demon reared back, stumbling in pain, uttering a bizarre ululation. One of the eight remaining heads looked at its wound in disbelief. A silver bubbling liquid seared the stump shut. The head whipped around to Lavitz, and screamed in rage. It lashed out, and then detonated. The shockwave sent the hydra to its knees. Amando pushed his hands through the air in the direction of a couple other heads which swelled and then popped like overripe melons. In a blink, Lavitz whirled his blade around in a figure eight pattern, taking off two other heads. More of the silver liquid bubbled and sealed the wounds. The prince of the Mer snapped his fingers and the remaining heads exploded in a shower of green ichor. Lavitz swaggered over to the stunned Angriz. ¡°Miss me, my friend?¡± He took in the ragged, patchwork armor, the gore covered beard with the scar running through it, and knew his friend was still in disguise. ¡°You¡¯re late, Sir Lavitz.¡± His gaze cool and steady beneath his aureate scales. ¡°I am not. I arrived precisely when I meant to.¡± ¡°You promised me reinforcements nearly a year ago.¡± He waved his hand at the armored warriors battling the demons. ¡°What do you call these?¡± He put his hands on his hips. ¡°Late. As I said.¡± ¡°They cannot be late, as I never said when they¡¯d be delivered.¡± Angriz growled. ¡°You¡¯re impossible.¡± ¡°And precise.¡± He grinned at the golden-scaled half-dragon. He snorted and turned away. ¡°What am I ever going to do with you, Sir Lavitz?¡± He watched the tide turn in the battle he¡¯d been on the verge of losing before. As no demon was close at the moment, he risked a look over his shoulder at his disguised king. ¡°Hmmm.¡± Carter had bowed his head, pretending to give it a great deal of thought. Angriz shook his head. ¡°Go do what you do best and kill lots of demons, Sir Lavitz.¡± ¡°Are you commanding me as my general, or as my friend?¡± The half-dragon chuckled. And jogged off to help finish the fighting. Carter directed his attention back to the Prince. ¡°Well, Sire, ready to go back to slaughtering demons?¡± He grinned. ¡°Turnabout is ¡ª ¡± ¡°Fair play,¡± Amando finished and smirked. The prince of the Mer clasped his hands together and as he drew them apart, a golden light grew, revealing a silvery-blue trident. As he pointed it at the horde of demons, Carter could almost hear the surf pounding on a distant beach. ¡°Ready to battle more of Drago¡¯s minions, my friend?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Chapter 37 Dearbhaile grabbed her sister¡¯s arm as she pointed over the cliff where they¡¯d discovered an army of demons clashing with one of mortals. Despite the distance, the discordant cacophony of demons screaming, and howls of pain and triumphant battle cries of the mortals reached their ears. ¡°Tha-that¡¯s Carter. My Rishka be down there.¡± ¡°Really?¡± L¨ªadan pried the other woman¡¯s fingers from her forearm and let her gaze linger on the bright red imprints before flicking it to her sibling¡¯s face. ¡°How do you know?¡± Dearbhaile raised her right eyebrow. ¡°Are you serious?¡± ¡°Yes. Didn¡¯t you say it had been six years since you last saw him?¡± ¡°Well, yeah, but¡­ I¡¯d still know him anywhere.¡± ¡°Again. How?¡± ¡°He be me Rishka. We be connected, like he be part of me.¡± As she spoke, the warm ember in her chest where her connection to him resided flared, comforting her as if he had his arms around her. ¡°Six years is a long time. Especially for a human.¡± She put her hands on her hips. ¡°What are ye trying to say, irm¨¢ m¨¢is vella? ¡°I¡¯m saying that just because you¡¯re still in love with him, doesn¡¯t mean he¡¯s still in love with you.¡± ¡®Could L¨ªadan be right?¡¯ Dearbhaile ran her hand down the front of her robe, smoothing it as she pondered the question. She shook her head, red hair flying across her face and obscuring her jade eyes for a moment. ¡°No, Carter wouldn¡¯t ¡ª I mean, he¡¯s still¡­¡± She shook her head. ¡°He loves me. I¡¯m sure of it.¡± L¨ªadan hugged her younger sister. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to do this to you, but you have to be prepared.¡± The Keeper hugged her sister tighter, and then gently pushed away. ¡°I know Carter. I have faith in him.¡± ¡°I¡¯m glad. I hope you¡¯re right.¡± L¨ªadan nudged her shoulder into Dearbhaile¡¯s. ¡°Now, tell me why you¡¯re certain he¡¯s down there.¡± ¡°Yer Renline, same as me. How do ye not know what the Rishka be?¡± ¡°Knowing intellectually is different from knowing viscerally.¡± L¨ªadan pulled her golden hair over her shoulder and smoothed it down as if it were a pet. A warm gust of wind ruffled her hair in spite of her strokes. ¡°It¡¯s hard to explain in a different way than I did earlier.¡± Dearbhaile scratched her chin with a ragged fingernail. ¡°Hmm. You know how a moth is drawn to a flame, or other source of bright light?¡± L¨ªadan nodded. ¡°It¡¯s similar to that, except not destructive to me. He¡¯s like an irresistible draw, and I have a longing to be with him. It¡¯s more intense when he¡¯s nearby.¡± ¡°But, is it real, or wishful thinking?¡± ¡°It¡¯s real. No doubt. There¡¯s a connection between us. I¡¯m certain I could tell it was him, even if he were disguised.¡± ¡°That sounds like magic.¡± ¡°It is when he touches me.¡± Her sister¡¯s words were so low, L¨ªadan almost missed them. ¡°Have you two had sex?¡± She leaned forward with a smile. Dearbhaile fiddled with the ends of her sleeves. ¡°N-no.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°Th-that¡¯s personal!¡± L¨ªadan snickered. ¡°I never could understand how someone who liked sex so much found it so hard to admit it, or even to talk about it.¡± Dearbhaile shoved her older sister¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m a private person.¡± ¡°Yeah, so private when you¡¯d return from wherever you snuck off to with that Gorauch, you¡¯d have bite marks on your neck, and your hair would be a tangled mess.¡± L¨ªadan cackled. ¡°To say nothing of how your clothes were in such disarray.¡± ¡°Shut it, you.¡± Dearbhaile swung at her laughing sister, who ducked the half-hearted attack, and then kicked her legs out from under her. The Keeper hit the ground and rolled across crunchy leaves, coming to her feet and throwing a ball of air at her big sister. L¨ªadan waved her hand and the ball changed direction, heading back to its caster. As it flew, it grew larger and burst into flames. It howled and crackled, leaving dancing shadows underneath it. Dearbhaile raised her hand, palm out, and the fireball went out. L¨ªadan applauded and a tremor raced through the plateau, knocking the women off their feet. They looked around, and then Dearbhaile wordlessly pointed to the edge of the cliff. A silvery purple light connected the sky to the ground. The light flickered, and then detonated without a sound. The flash blinded them for a bit. Tears running from their eyes, both rubbed at the injured organs as a wall of hot wind nearly knocked them from their feet. Flying dust, twigs, rocks, and dead animals tore at their skin. ¡°What the hell was that, Dearbhaile? Did you see?¡± Lowering her hands, she tried to blink away the after image of the column of light as water ran from her eyes. ¡°No. All I saw was the shaft of light. How about you?¡± ¡°The same.¡± L¨ªadan brought her hand down over her bloody face, releasing healing magic, and only feeling an icy blackness where her power had been. ¡°Dearbhaile!¡± Dearbhaile turned to the sound of her sister¡¯s panicked scream and found her staring with bulging eyes and flaring nostrils. ¡°What? What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°My magic doesn¡¯t work!¡± L¨ªadan crumpled to the ground, sobbing. ### As Carter cut down yet another demon, the ground shook beneath his feet, nearly toppling him. He leaped back as a noxious fume erupted from the newly formed crevice. As he watched, a heavily armored, gaunt giant with pointed ears and dark gray skin formed from the cloud. A sour, burnt stench wafted from the creature¡¯s flesh, filling the air with the smell of scorched earth and rot. Its hands ended in long yellow claws, and its snarl showed sharp fangs. Still surrounded by a thin fog of swirling vapor which formed into tormented faces that screamed in terror and pain, it raised a tree trunk sized great sword and brought the weapon down with tremendous force. Carter dove to the side and rolled to his feet as the giant lifted his blade for another assault. A glint from the corner of his eye was all the warning he had. He dropped to the ground, not even trying to duck the sword that hacked at the side of his neck. Quickly rocking onto his right side enabled him to dodge the giant¡¯s attack. He did a kip-up, bringing his own sword up to the side, blocking another swipe from the back. He spun to see his other assailant. This creature looked as though it was constructed from a grisly assortment of decaying human body parts, stitched and bolted together into a form the size of an ogre. It smelled faintly of freshly dug earth and dead flesh. A whistle came from above him. Carter jumped to the side, and the huge sword of the giant smote the ground where he¡¯d been standing, shaking the ground beneath his feet. He leaned back on his heels and the other creature¡¯s sword kissed a line across the cuirass of his armor, peeling back the dark leather. Carter then had to yank his arm close to his side as the giant¡¯s sword came down again, almost cutting the limb off. ¡®Shit that was close. Why am I so slow?¡¯ He leaped over the attack that came from the flesh golem. ¡®That one nearly took my legs. Bastard.¡¯ He angled his sword to counterattack, but had to dive backward as a scythe came for his throat. He risked a peek over his shoulder. The latest assailant was a muscular humanoid with thick, black-green skin, and stringy white hair. Its visage was reminiscent of a human skull with a prominent jaw. Large hands ended in long, thick claws. The scythe flew back into its hand and was then spun in a circle by a thin chain. The air whistled as the blade cut through it. Carter threw his legs wide as the flesh golem¡¯s sword buried itself in the dirt between them. He kicked the monster in the elbow, but nothing happened except a flash of pain in his foot.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. He somersaulted backward and to his feet. Another flare of anguish made him stumble. The stutter-step almost cost him his life as the giant chopped at him again. Only a last second pivot away on his uninjured right foot saved him. He could almost feel the icy touch of death on its edge. It did not save him from the cut above his hip. The tip of the sword parted the weakened seam of his leg armor and ran icy fire just above his left hip. Hot blood flowed from the wound and down his leg. Off balance, he was unable to avoid the giant¡¯s new attack: A simple kick. The force of the blow sent him through the air, directly at the dark-skinned Abyssal Assassin. The demon grinned and thrust its claws forward, catching Carter in the right side of his chest. His head snapped forward with the force of his sudden stop. Two of his ribs snapped under the impact which knocked the wind out of him. ¡°We have at last killed you, Walker.¡± Its fetid breath washed over him from its sibilant hiss. With the last of his energy, Carter slapped his hands to the sides of the demon¡¯s head and sharply twisted it to the left. A meaty pop came to his ears as the Abyssal Assassin collapsed, dead, dragging Carter down with it. Its head rolled loosely under his hands before he released it to roll away from the carcass. The still partially closed claws stuck in his chest stopped him with a blaze of agony. He could only groan with pain before slumping back. As he panted, the ground shook with the approach of the giant. ¡®I gotta get up.¡¯ Pushing up with his lead-filled arms left them shaking and him sweating from the pain. He gritted his teeth and pulled at the demon¡¯s arm with his right hand. Sweat dropped from the tip of his nose and plopped on the death rictus of the Abyssal Assassin. A mighty paw clamped down on the back of his neck and lifted him with ease. His throat nearly tore from the scream as the still flexed finger claws buried in his chest pulled downward from the weight of the corpse they were attached to. The tangy, metallic taste of blood filled his mouth, reminding him of how grim his injuries were. A massive sword came hurtling towards his limp body. His fingers twitched, useless, as his weapon sat in the dust, too far away to be of any use. He rose higher in the air. His eyes blinked shut. When they opened again, most of the Abyssal Assassin was on the ground beneath his dangling feet. The giant bellowed its frustration at not being able to kill him. The stupid abomination continued to raise its prey above its swing. After several more attempts, the creature roared again and then hurled Carter away. The Walker rolled on the ground, the embedded claws nearly making him faint. A glint of light caught his attention. ¡®My sword.¡¯ The blade rested about a foot away from his hand. Despite knowing of his impending death, the grainy roughness of the churned earth beneath his hand as he slid it to the hilt reminded him he still had life left. His fingers tightened on the worn smooth leather wrap of the sword¡¯s hilt. ¡®At least I can die with my hand on my sword.¡¯ He flew through the air and slammed against a wall. When the stars faded, he spotted the flesh golem¡¯s sword stabbing for his face. With a desperate grunt, Carter slashed his weapon upward, severing the arm bringing death to him. The disembodied limb flew to the side and he was slammed against the wall once more. The flesh golem placed the stump of its arm at the end of the Abyssal Assassin¡¯s. Tendons and sinew wrapped around each other as tissue stitched itself together. The golem tested its new arm by flexing the claws stuck in his chest, drawing a scream. When the claws were finally withdrawn from his chest, Carter fell to his knees. The blurry world dimmed before his eyes. The flesh golem leered at the kneeling man and drew its arm back. Razor sharp claws raced with deadly intent for the back of his neck. A column of silvery purple light rocketed into the sky, surrounding the Walker of Worlds as he knelt, waiting for death to claim him. It exploded without a sound, sending a shockwave through the air as the ground shook. A gauntleted hand caught golem¡¯s descending limb. An unyielding grip, stronger than steel slowly crushed the borrowed bones of the construct¡¯s forearm. Sable hair grew out and draped over his shoulders. When he slowly raised his head, the demons and construct saw electric blue eyes glowing out of a skull-like visage. The being rose to its feet, Carter Blake long gone. Continuing to hold its arm outstretched above its head, the creature easily held the flesh golem in the air by the mangled hand. A thrust of its hand against the construct¡¯s upper chest disintegrated the sternum and launched the head into the air. The demon¡¯s breath hitched, its massive form shrinking back as shadows seemed to deepen around the creature. Its voice, usually a bellow, fell to a trembling whisper that cracked in the quiet ¡°Duh-DarkWalker.¡± Teeth flashed when the dark shadow of the Walker of Worlds grinned. ¡°Yasssss.¡± ### ¡°What do ye mean, yer magic dinae work? Ye have blood magic.¡± ¡°Not anymore. I¡¯ve tried to cast spells, but nothing works.¡± L¨ªadan grabbed her sister¡¯s upper arms. ¡°I feel naked without my magic, Dearbhaile. I¡¯m used to reaching for the warmth of it at my core, but when I reach for it, I feel an empty void.¡± She paused, tears running down her cheeks. ¡°I-I¡¯m scared.¡± The last bit was moaned. The young Keeper stroked her sister¡¯s forearms. ¡°It¡¯ll be okay, irm¨¢ m¨¢is vella.¡± She gently pulled herself free. ¡°I think it is a Spell of Negation.¡± She pulled her sister into a hug, running her hands over her back. ¡°No.¡± L¨ªadan shook her head against her sister¡¯s chest. ¡°It¡¯s not that. I know the feel of that spell. This one is different.¡± She leaned back to gaze at her sibling. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Your heart is racing. Why?¡± ¡°What are you talking about?¡± ¡°Your pupils are dilated and your accent is gone.¡± Dearbhaile waved off her comment and walked to the edge of the cliff. ¡°I¡¯m certain it came from down there.¡± She pointed at the distant battle. ¡°Or, at least, that is the reason for whatever happened.¡± She cast her gaze over her shoulder. ¡°You coming?¡± ¡°Coming where?¡± L¨ªadan detected the tension in her sister¡¯s shoulders. ¡°No jumping down the cliff side! You¡¯d not survive.¡± Her hand shot out and gripped the back of the azure robes Dearbhaile wore, yanking her back when she attempted to jump. Dearbhaile whirled on her sibling. ¡°What the fuck are you doing?¡± ¡°Saving your life.¡± She gestured at the valley floor, thousands of feet below. ¡°You want to die that badly?¡± ¡°I would not die.¡± ¡°This is reckless even for you, querida irm¨¢.¡± Dearbhaile smiled. ¡°No, it isn¡¯t.¡± ¡°How would you survive?¡± L¨ªadan leaned over the edge, taking in the rough cliff side. ¡°Our magic is gone, remember?¡± ¡°Yours is.¡± Dearbhaile snapped her fingers and produced a warm flame. ¡°Mine is not.¡± ¡°H-how is that possible?¡± L¨ªadan stared hungrily at the fire. ¡°One of the things that separates Keepers from other Renline is our mastery of other types of magic.¡± She waved her hand and the flame disappeared, replaced by a flowering rose, the delicate scent mingled with the smell of the grass at their feet. ¡°Magic from other worlds.¡± Another wave and the flower became a gleaming dagger. ¡°This magic is called ¡®Transmutation.¡¯ It is the core of Alchemy.¡± ¡°How would this Alchemy allow you to survive that long fall?¡± ¡°Well, it wouldn¡¯t be a fall. I would transmute the air into ice and slide down. Near the end of the slide, I¡¯d thicken the air ahead of me into a cushion, bringing me to a gentle halt.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you demonstrate this power before?¡± Dearbhaile shrugged. ¡°I didn¡¯t need to.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t need to?¡± L¨ªadan scratched the back of her head. ¡°Um, what about when Belial had captured you? Or when you were escaping? Or even to rescue Carter?¡± Dearbhaile put her hands on her hips. ¡°Okay, you have me there. Those would have been great times to do so.¡± ¡°Then why didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°It didn¡¯t occur to me.¡± L¨ªadan clapped her right hand over her face and shook her head. ¡°I know, irm¨¢ m¨¢is vella. I feel like an idiot for not thinking of this until you pointed it out to me.¡± ¡°As well you should. How much did you miss out on due to forgetting your magic?¡± Dearbhaile¡¯s lips thinned. ¡°No need to belabor your point, L¨ªadan. I already conceded it.¡± A sudden heaviness to the air interrupted the brewing row. The women froze, staring at each other before the shock of evil sent chills down their limbs. ¡°Tha-that¡¯s guh-gotta be¡­¡± L¨ªadan was unable to finish the thought. L¨ªadan waved her hands in a complex pattern and reached for her power. The lack of warmth was a shock to her system. ¡®Oh, right. No magic.¡¯ She swallowed, trying to dislodge the lump in her throat. ¡®Sobbing won¡¯t help us against this thing.¡¯ The weight of the air was suffocating. She gasped for breath as a chill spread through her body and stole the sound from the air. The unholy force even made the sun dimmer. ¡°The DarkWalker.¡± Dearbhaile¡¯s voice was a whisper as she trembled. ### Lady Soo-jau lay on the ground, a huge rent in her side. Dark blood pooled on the shattered ground where it ran from the wound and filled cracks in the marble. Sparks of electricity jumped over it, not allowing any to approach her. Light from the broken wall caressed her fallen form as if the moon goddess Generys sought to comfort her. The Primordial demon Pazuzu stood across from Adora, partially blocking the injured dragon from her view. He scooped a cowering guard from the ground and bit his head off. Blood ran over his hawk-like beak as he tilted his head back and swallowed the bite without chewing. His wings flared out, touching the opposite sides of the hall and then shot back, folded and trembling. His head jerked oddly and the oil from his wings dripped down the walls. Smoke rose from the trail of fluid as it ate into the stone. The hiss of melting stone melded with the faint crackle of electricity from Soo-jau¡¯s blood. ¡®Loan me your strength, mighty Kell¨¹n. This will be my last stand, but aid me in standing between this demon and my people as long as possible.¡¯ ¡®Adora, my faithful servant.¡¯ The familiar voice of her deity sounded¡­ off. She straightened. ¡®My lord?¡¯ ¡®Protect the innocent.¡¯ ¡®Why do you sound different?¡¯ ¡®P-pay no mind to that.¡¯ She got a flash of her god¡¯s face with teeth clenched and lips peeled back and a sense of nausea and wheezing breaths. ¡®Fuh-Focus on Pazuzu. Your only hope¡ª¡¯ The warmth of Kell¨¹n¡¯s grace vanished, leaving behind only cold and stale air. She squealed and then clapped her hand over her mouth. Her skin tingled and she felt hot. ¡®What just happened?¡¯ ¡°Something wrong?¡± Pazuzu¡¯s cloying voice dripped with mockery. His beak clicked in some form of laughter. She returned a grin as spring-time warmth ran through her body. Green filled her eyes, shifting from lime to emerald to apple, the colors casting shifting shadows over her cheekbones. A slight dizziness, as if she were a bit drunk made, her head spin. An irrepressible giggle built up and erupted from her core. The shadows the Primordial demon cast seemed to shrink back in pain. ¡°Oh, this is...¡± Her voice was bubbly, light, almost carefree as it trailed off. ¡®I haven¡¯t felt like this since Kell¨¹n chose me as his WarPriest. This is his divine favor.¡¯ Her face flushed as an almost forgotten warmth suffused her body that reignited her spirit. Life itself pulsed through her being, reminding her of the purpose of her calling. All worry, anxiety and tiredness vanished from her. She bounced on her toes before she shifted her stance to the unarmed style Carter said reminded him of one from his world. Her arms were up, fists near her face. Her weight was balanced, right leg supporting her as her left was raised, knee level with her hips. Green light played over her fists, casting vibrant reflections onto the cracked walls, creating a contrast to the shifting shadows pooling around Pazuzu. Chapter Thirty-Eight Corath walked along what Teivel had called Norwind Road. ¡®Maybe it was a road during his time, but it¡¯s more a sandy riverbed.¡¯ Its ancient course cut through bluffs and hill sides, creating steep canyon cliffs streaked with veins of quartz and other minerals he didn¡¯t recognize. Stumpy bushes with gnarled branches and thorny, dust-caked briars grew along the tops from what he could see. The desert wind blew gritty sand up and into his face. Thanks to the sword he¡¯d won from Teivel, the heat and thirst no longer bothered him. Before the mystic sword, his cheeks would have been chapped, and his lips cracked from dehydration. He passed through the shadow of a tall, lone rock with striations of different layers. The ever-present wind and sand had scoured it smooth. He¡¯d passed them sporadically. Sometimes, they¡¯d even been in clusters. When he was a sapling, his teacher had called them menhirs. He paused in the cool shade and drank from his waterskin. Though the sword protected him from dehydration, centuries of habit didn¡¯t fall out of use that quickly. The cold liquid slid down his throat, a sharp contrast to the dry air. He scanned the area. Except for the occasional hardy bit of vegetation, the area was devoid of life. It had been so thoroughly hunted no animal life remained. Even the scavengers had fled. The few tracks and droppings he¡¯d seen were several years old. In the distance rose a lonely tower. He squinted his eyes as he peered at it. ¡®Seems like it¡¯s about 150 chains from here.¡¯ Glancing up to the cloudless sky towards the sun, he calculated the time left in the day. ¡®I have about six hands left in the day.¡¯ His gaze returned to the tower. ¡®I can get there in half a hand.¡¯ He nodded to himself and resumed his walk. ### Thirty minutes later, he was near the base of the tower. Here, the ground dropped deep into the earth. The cliff walls blocked the remaining sunlight, leaving the defile in a premature evening gloom. He hadn¡¯t even noticed how far above him the clifftops were. A vulture landed above and watched the elf as he studied the tower. It sat equidistant from each wall of the canyon. It rose about three hundred feet from base to jagged peak, but still below the top of the cliffs. A faint mustiness tinged the air. The tower¡¯s face was covered with gargoyles, carved faces, porticos and other baleful textures. The stonework was ancient, but of superb ¨C almost supernatural ¨C quality. To the west, a low building squatted against the spire. The single-story structure was old, but not as much as the tower. It also wasn¡¯t as well-built. Small piles of dust near the base showed where mortar had crumbled from between the bricks. Corath walked over to the crumbling side building and saw the wooden door had fallen off a hinge and dangled open. Splinters and wood dust lay on the ground underneath where they¡¯d been carried by time. Shadowy forms caught his attention. He stepped closer to the doorway and the dim light revealed to his sharp eyes several humanoid forms on the ground, facedown on loose earth. A sharp charnel reek hit his face when something inside moved. Turning his head, he spotted a coyote and a few small rats. The animals were eating the corpses. A faint melody haunted the place¡¯s interior. As he scanned the room, he detected the light coming from vines next to each body, growing along the walls and the floor. ¡®Something is off about those vines.¡¯ He narrowed his eyes and then shook his head. ¡®Not my worry.¡¯ Turning away, he searched for another way inside the spire. After finding nothing, he stepped back and cast his gaze upward. ¡®The distant top appears to be the only way in.¡¯ His eyes traced from the jagged top to the base. ¡®It looks to be about four and a half chains high.¡¯ He rubbed his right eyebrow. The air grew cooler as the hidden sun sank lower in the sky. ¡®It will be night soon. I have no choice but to climb. Fortunately, the roughness of the wall will provide plenty of handholds.¡¯ *** Ten minutes into his climb up, he paused with his feet wedged into a crevice to shake out his burning wrists. ¡®I haven¡¯t done this in far too long. I forgot how much it hurts when I haven¡¯t used these muscles.¡¯ After flexing his fingers a few times to work out the tension, he glanced up and found another handhold. As he worked his foot out of the crack, his left foot¡¯s toes slipped on a loose rock and he slid down a few feet before catching another handhold. He cried out from the burning of the scrapes from his hands and fingers. His breathing was rapid and shallow as he clung to the wall with trembling fingers. His heart thumped and jolted in his chest, feeling like it skipped a beat every so often. A few minutes later, he lifted his face from the cool stone wall and opened his eyes to look up. ¡®Whew. I¡¯m closer to the top than I expected. Only about a chain left.¡¯ *** At last, he reached the top and rolled himself over to his back, limbs trembling. He tried to catch his breath as sweat rolled down his face to his hair. The dark sky above stared down at him with indifference. Even the stars seemed to twinkle coldly. A slithering thump made him sit up. His eyes bounced off various dark shapes, not finding anything moving. All his dark vision revealed to him was fallen stone from the jagged crenelations, debris from where mortar had crumbled, and ancient bones.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. He rose shakily to his feet and drew his mystical sword. Heat suffused his body, firming up his muscles and strength. Steady once again, he focused more on an odd shape to his left. A breeze gusted up, hitting him in the face with the stench of rotting meat. His eyes winced closed for a moment as the powerful odor briefly overwhelmed him. A coil of something wet and muscular wrapped around him. The suddenness and strength of the attack made him gasp as his eyes flew open. As the air left his lungs, the cold coil tightened before pulling him off his feet. Each time he breathed out, the creature which had him tightened its grip around his chest, making it harder to inhale. His chest burned from the grip and difficulty breathing. He flexed his shoulders, trying to break free. He was no match for the creature. ¡®Sard! This thing is stronger than me. I have to think of something, or I¡¯m dead.¡¯ His stomach felt rock hard. ¡®I need to get my revenge on that Carter Blake for killing my brother, or Wen will never forgive me.¡¯ His sword rolled in his grip. ¡®Wait. I have my sarding sword. I¡¯m an idiot.¡¯ Corath turned the weapon so the blade was edge on to his body and with the last of his strength, flicked it against the coil around his body. Gravity made the strike harder than his lack of motion. The mystic sword cut deep and the coil released him, flinging him away. He tumbled and bounced before hitting the parapet of the spire. The impact against the crumbling stone broke it free, sending it falling to the valley floor far below. His sword hit the stone floor with a metallic clatter. He rolled to his feet, vision blurry, and glanced around, trying to ignore the pounding of his head and the nausea welling up inside him. And then, he caught sight of the creature that had attacked him. It resembled an octopus with the wings of a giant bat. Six short arms danced behind two longer ones as the leathery wings slowly beat the air. A beak nestled in the center of three bulbus, moist looking eyes. The chill night breeze brought the scent of stagnant sea water to his nose. The vile odor tilted things in favor of sick. His body betrayed him, heaving uncontrollably until the contents of his stomach spilled onto the ground. The sour burn lingered in his throat, tears stinging his eyes from the strain. Before he could recover, the creature attacked, two tentacles striking him. The impacts, one after the other, thudded into his body. The first, drove him to his knees, and the other, knocked him to his back again. The blows reverberated through him, making him dizzy. He gasped from the pain and managed to roll beneath the next attack. The soft moisture, and sour stench told him what he¡¯d rolled through. ¡°Ugh!¡± He pushed himself to his feet, brushing the vomit away. ¡°Chokkan¡¯s bones, that¡¯s disgusting.¡± His yell startled the creature, causing it to hurriedly loop around and away from its attack. Corath¡¯s gaze darted around the area, searching for his sword. He spotted it at the edge of the parapet. ¡®I have to get to it before that thing attacks me again.¡¯ He ran to scoop up the blade as the abomination flew down, tentacles grasping. He dove forward into a somersault, grabbing his mystical sword at the same time. As he came back to his feet, he thrust the weapon into the air. The creature, unable to change direction, impaled itself. Its weight and momentum, plus the sharpness of the sword, sent it sliding down to the cross-guard. Gravity reasserted itself, yanking his arm and sword downward. The creature slid off, and thumped to the ground. Its tentacles curled in and relaxed a final time. Corath¡¯s arm jerked awkwardly, and a flash of pain knifed through his bicep. The flash of pain was a sharp, burning sensation that spread from his forearm to his shoulder. He dropped his sword as every attempt to move his arm felt like twisting a knife in raw flesh, forcing him to clench his teeth against the pain. ¡®Sard, that hurts!¡¯ He flexed his fingers, sending fresh jolts of discomfort up to his shoulder. ¡®This isn¡¯t good. I don¡¯t have any way to heal myself. Fool that I am, I never considered it.¡¯ He unstrapped his baldric with care, but each movement still jolted him with pain. Only by clenching his teeth was he able to keep from crying out. Taking off the strap took far longer than he was used to. The baldric dropped from his trembling fingers. ¡°Chokkan¡¯s balls.¡± His frustrated yell felt like it tore his throat. He kicked at the sheath, sending it tumbling away. He stared, mouth open as it ended up teetering on the edge of the roof. He gasped, body tense as it rocked to a halt, balance on the flagstones. A sigh escaped his lips as it stopped without going over. He slumped, hand over his mouth. As the tension rushed from his body, leaving his muscles weak, he collapsed to his knees. ¡®Thank Chokkan.¡¯ He clasped his fists together and touched them to his forehead. ¡®Pray later.¡¯ Teivel¡¯s mental command came through their bond as if he were whispering in his ear. ¡®You have to get inside the tower. The next piece lies within.¡¯ ¡°Master, do we truly need it?¡± Corath rose to his feet and retrieved his sword. ¡°This should be enough, right?¡± He lifted the blade before his eyes and turned it, checking for damage. ¡®If you want to risk not getting revenge for you brother, yes.¡¯ Teivel¡¯s mental voice was cold. ¡®If you want the certainty of destroying Carter Blake, then no.¡¯ The Gorauch nodded. ¡°Yes, master.¡± A chill gust of wind smacked him in the face with the smell of rotten meat once more. He winced. ¡®Ugh. I forgot about that when that creature attacked me.¡¯ He peered around and spotted a mound at the other end of the top of the spire. The odor seemed to be wafting from there. He approached and discovered the gruesomely slain, and half-eaten body of a winged reptilian laying atop a mound of coins, statuary and artwork. Some of the treasure seemed to have fallen in a large hole melted in the stone at the base of the pile. ¡®Some of these bite marks look to have come from that creature, but these others look¡­¡¯ He bent closer. ¡°Humanoid?¡± A cluster of coins shifted to his left, making him turn as he tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword. As his voice echoed off the jagged stone spikes, a shape burst from under the coins to his right. As he jolted from the unexpected noise, his sword lead the turn. The blade erupted through the skull of the humanoid form before he became aware of what it was. Mummified skin wrapped the remains of a twisted skeleton. The remnants of its jaw and teeth were jagged needles. Sharp claws tipped boney hands. Pieces of ancient robes still clung to the corpse. ¡®A wight of some kind. I wonder what raised that undead monster.¡¯ A broken, bone-white plaque, knocked free from the skeletal being¡¯s attack, lay at its feet. ¡®Maybe this?¡¯ He bent and picked it up. The plaque was warm to the touch. Sharp runes decorated it. ¡®Hmm. This is draconic writing.¡¯ ¡°The Vow: With my brothers and sisters, I abide the¡­¡± The next part was missing, broken off. He shifted it in his hands to continue reading. ¡°¡­until such time as Teivel awakens the core¡­¡± He arched his brow. ¡®Master? What does this mean?¡¯ ¡®Someone thinks I am supposed to awaken a core of some sort.¡¯ He felt a mental shrug come from the ancient mage. ¡®It is irrelevant. Continue inside. Try the hole next to the treasure pile.¡¯ ¡°Should I retrieve some of it?¡± He received no response. With a roll of his eyes, he tossed the plaque to the hoard where it clinked to a stop, and moved to the melted hole. A rope dangled within, leading to the dark depths. He gave it a couple of tugs and found it strong. He nodded to himself and climbed in. Chapter 39 Adora watched the Primordial, waiting for an indication as to whether he would attack physically, or magically. A soft breeze whistled in through fallen stonework and ruffled her ebony hair, tossing strands across her cheeks. Pazuzu vanished from her sight. ¡®Wha¡ª?¡¯ A thunderclap blew out the walls of the servants¡¯ corridor, and knocked everyone sprawling. Debris rained down in choking clouds of dust, the acrid tang of shattered stone filling the air. Jagged fragments littered the ground, the sharp edges glinting faintly in the dim light. Holes widened in the crumbling walls. The corner where the remanent of the wall met the floor caught her as she rolled. Her breath left her in a pained rush and her skull thudded against the brick, the sound seeming to come from inside her head. Her eyes watered as she tried to make out what had happened. As the blurriness faded, and her head throbbed, she could make out a masculine, silvery, poisonous purple-green metal-clad form standing and holding Pazuzu in the air by the stomach as blue-white electricity danced over his body. He had scalloped edges on his forearms and ram-like horns curled from the sides of long, sable hair. The air shimmered faintly around him, charged with an unnatural energy that made the dust swirl in slow, deliberate patterns. The flickering light seemed to bend toward him, casting long, distorted shadows across the wreckage. Cracks spiderwebbed through the ground beneath his feet, faintly glowing with an eerie blue-green hue. ¡®Huh-how¡­?¡¯ The fog in her mind made her thoughts feel solid and heavy, as if they didn¡¯t want to move. Her headache radiated through her like a storm. Each blink felt like an ice pick stabbing her eyeballs. The being launched Pazuzu into the air with ease and then punched him with the other hand. His metallic armor hissed with the movements. The Primordial flew through the air with a whistling sound and exploded out the wall behind the fallen Soo-jau¡¯s draconic body. Stone clattered to the ground as the dragon roared from additional pain. As stonework crashed to the ground, the newcomer vanished from her sight before blinking beside the bleeding dragon. Soo-jau raised her long, serpentine neck, her iridescent sales catching the light from the fires around the damaged castle. ¡°Deh-dark¡­¡± Blood dripped from between her sharp teeth as she struggled to speak. ¡°Wahlk¡­¡± The words rasped out in broken syllables, her once-elegant voice now weak and strained. A tremor rolled through her, and she collapsed back, her massive frame thudding against the fractured ground. The impact sent tremors through the rubble-strewn floor. Blood seeped in dark rivulets from her torn side, pooling around her claws and staining the jagged rocks beneath her as her chest heaved from her exertion. ¡®DarkWalker? Is that what she was trying to say?¡¯ Adora¡¯s pulse quickened, the fragmented name striking her like a blow. The sheer effort it had taken Soo-jau to speak told her the name mattered ¡ª and that it terrified the dragon. ¡®Why does that creature scare a dragon?¡¯ She shook her head, setting the world to spinning. ¡®I¡¯ve got to get up.¡¯ Adora paused, panting. ¡®She will die if I don¡¯t heal her.¡¯ She pushed herself to shaking hands and knees, locking her elbows which kept trying to fold under her weight. ¡®I hurt so bad.¡¯ She sucked in air. ¡®But, that¡¯s not as important.¡¯ The stone beneath her palms felt cold and uneven, slick with her own blood and the dust of the destruction from the DarkWalker¡¯s appearance and throwing of the Primordial down the corridor. The air stung her throat with each ragged breath, carrying the metallic scent of blood mingled with scorched earth. Every movement sent tiny shards of rock skittering away, their faint echoes lost in the distant rumble of falling stone.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. As she crawled the hallway, splinters of masonry stabbed her hands and sliced her knees. The utter silence except for Soo-jau¡¯s harsh breathing was worrisome. ¡®Where did everyone go?¡¯ The crowd of people who¡¯d been pushing and screaming to get out earlier were gone. She hadn¡¯t even noticed when they¡¯d disappeared. ¡®Did they run back to the dining hall, or were they killed?¡¯ Tacky wetness stung her scraped palms. A glance down revealed the body of the servant Pazuzu had dropped when the DarkWalker had attacked. Blood had pooled around his shoulders from the ragged stump of his neck. Other than the gore, he reminded her of a toy a minor noble¡¯s daughter had broken when they were children. When she hadn¡¯t gotten her way in a game they¡¯d been playing, she¡¯d twisted the doll¡¯s head off in a fit of pique. The girl¡¯s father had punished her while Adora¡¯s own father had said not even being royalty could protect her from the whims of others. The attack by Pazuzu was a painful reminder of that lesson. Adora pushed herself to her feet, trying to ignore the screaming of her body. Her legs quivered with every step, the bruised muscles threatening to give way beneath her. Her heartbeat pounded in her ears, a steady drumbeat of will. ¡®My hurts are unimportant.¡¯ The words had become almost a mantra. ¡®I must save Lady Soo-jau.¡¯ On shaky legs, she reached the bleeding dragon, gritting her teeth and dropped to her knees. When she placed her hands on her side, the blue dragon¡¯s immense head whipped around to lock and intense gaze on the queen. While not as fast as before her injury, she was still capable of defending herself from a human. The queen raised her hands. ¡°Easy, Lady Soo-jau. I only wish to heal you.¡± The Vaush-Tauric closed her eyes and curled her neck over her shoulders above the great wound. ¡®Great Kell¨¹n, grant me your favor that I may heal this mighty dragon of her hurts.¡¯ After her prayer, Adora waited for the great warmth to flow through her again. Nothing happened. She opened her eyes and cast them skyward. ¡°Lord Kell¨¹n?¡± ¡°H-he¡¯s not answering, ch-child?¡± Her stammering voice came with a guttural growl. Her claws, tensing with each throb of pain, dug into the marble floor like it were butter. The injury bubbled blood with each rasping breath. Adora shook her head. ¡°No. I don¡¯t understand it.¡± ¡°In-nn,¡± the dragon panted, ¡°eons past, a guh-god stopped answer-ring¡­¡± She trailed off, wheezing. A moment later, ¡°whuh-when they-they fell, or¡­¡± Her head slid down her body and thudded to the floor. ¡°No, no, no.¡± Adora whimpered. ¡°You can¡¯t die.¡± The queen threw her head back and screamed. ¡°Someone, please, help me!¡± The air shattered with a deafening crack, and debris rattled against the fractured walls. Adora flinched, pressing her hands to her ears as the force rolled over her. When she opened her eyes, her breath caught in her throat. She recoiled when she met the skull-like visage of the DarkWalker. Intense, electric blue orbs stared at her. Shadows over its cheekbones danced in the flickering light from its eye sockets. The ram-like horns at its temples enhanced the creature¡¯s monstrous appearance. She bit back a scream as it took a step toward her. The ground under its foot crumbled and dust swirled up and around its legs. She scrambled to her feet, nearly falling over them as she rushed to stand. The DarkWalker¡¯s head moved as if he were searching for something, reminding her of a dog. It reached out a clawed, skeletal finger and lightly touched the center of her forehead. She froze as what felt like lightning shot through her body from her head to her toes. Liquid heat ran through her body, centered on her core. She moaned as she stiffened. ¡°I hope I¡¯m not interrupting.¡± The voice oozed into the air, sweet and venomous, cutting through the charged silence like a blade dipped in honey. Her eyes flew open as a stentorian growl reverberated through the air. The DarkWalker stood, legs wide, body low, and arms wide, ready to grapple its challenger. The air vibrated with the sounds of warning flowing from within it. The bloodied form of the Primordial weaved as if his balance was shot. Gore poured from a gaping hole where an eye had been and his beak had fractures running through it, the tip gone. A couple of his wings were missing as well. Despite his injuries, Pazuzu oozed menace and danger. The very moonlight retreated before the might of his shadows. The DarkWalker pointed to the wounded dragon, the silent command crystal clear. Adora reached for Soo-jau¡¯s trembling form as an icy fire radiated through her. ¡®What in the Abyss is this?¡¯ ¡°We can¡¯t have this.¡± Pazuzu¡¯s saccharine voice ripped through the fraught silence, and he lazily waved his hand in a downward motion. A ripple of the void blasted through the air and sliced through the Vaush-Tauric along her fore shoulders and neck. A torrent of blood rushed over Adora, knocking her back, as the now dead dragon¡¯s body fell in three parts, the formerly iridescent scales dull. The queen stared with bulging eyes at the corpse. Tears fell unbidden as she sat back, frozen. Chapter Forty The stench of slaughter filled Corath¡¯s nose as he opened the wooden door. The bodies of humans, elves, dwarves and even a half-dragon, all long dead and strangely deflated, lay about the chamber in various stages of decay. He shook his head and made to close the door again. ¡®Disgusting, but ultimately unimportant.¡¯ A slight movement on the shadowy floor caught his eye. He stepped in and discovered a tiny humanoid, laying on the floor and peering up at its hand, languidly weaving about. ¡®A halfling?¡¯ He raised his eyebrows. ¡®What is she doing?¡¯ He stepped closer and discovered her eyes were half-lidded. Her skin was pale and waxy, with blue veins standing out harshly against her ashen complexion. Her chest rose and fell almost imperceptibly. ¡®She looks like a vampire¡¯s victim.¡¯ He leaned over to peer at her neck. Twin punctures in her neck leaked crimson, the only color on her otherwise pallid body. She carried the stench of a bloody and unwashed being. ¡®She¡¯s definitely a vampire victim. I wish I could save her, but I have no health potions, nor healing magic.¡¯ He sighed and shook his head. ¡®She¡¯s too near death to move otherwise.¡¯ Corath turned and crossed the room, shutting the door behind him. To the right of the rope he¡¯d used to lower himself from the roof, a splintered wooden door dangled from a single rusty hinge. ¡®I wonder if the dragon did that.¡¯ He peered into another shadowy. The circular chamber within contained several stone sarcophagi. Their lids were carved with the likeness of an ancient elf with reptilian characteristics. Small rocks crunched underfoot. He moved in and gazed at the one closest to him. ¡®This one resembles that girl who¡¯d travelled with Carter six years ago.¡¯ He cocked his head. ¡®What was her name again?¡¯ He rubbed his upper lip. ¡®Oh, yes. Weija Fujii.¡¯ He rested his right hand on his hip as he nibbled his left thumbnail. ¡®She was obsessed with him, wasn¡¯t she? I wonder if I could use that.¡¯ Corath turned and left the burial chamber, his steps crunching over old bits of stone and bones. The other rooms were empty of all but a litter of rocks and funerary wrappings. ¡®This tower was either a mortuary, or dedicated place of worship for the undead.¡¯ He shuddered. ¡®Disgusting.¡¯Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. A stone door stood open at the end of a hall. ¡®What¡¯s this?¡¯ He cast his gaze around the opening. ¡®This is well-crafted. If It hadn¡¯t been open, I wouldn¡¯t have found it.¡¯ When he poked his head past the threshold of the door, he spotted a stairwell heading down in a spiral. The floor was dusty, but otherwise clean. ¡®I haven¡¯t found the artifact Teivel sent me after yet.¡¯ He went down the stairs with care. The air grew chillier as he descended. ¡®I also haven¡¯t heard from him in a while. He must not have further instructions for me.¡¯ The stairs ended at a long corridor. Shadowy, wide niches opened on either side of the hall. Sarcophagi filled the niches. Corath stepped closer to one. ¡®This is a lot more ornate than those upstairs. These elves look a lot more draconic than the others.¡¯ He brushed his fingers over the carving, wiping away some of the centuries old dust which clung to his hand. ¡®Going by how big these horns are in comparison to the rest of his head I would say this is the resting place of a half-dragon.¡¯ He sneezed. He stepped over to another sarcophagus. This elf wore a full-length tunic, and veil. Her dress was unadorned, but her resting place was adorned with religious iconography. Unlike the others, she was a full-blood. ¡®I don¡¯t recognize these symbols. I wonder who she worshipped, and why she¡¯s not a half-dragon.¡¯ Corath gazed across the hall. ¡®That one is different. It seems to be metal while the other two are stone and feels hot in comparison.¡¯ He moved over to the coffin and traced his fingers over it. ¡®Jutting jaw, sloped brow, prominent lower teeth and a crest at the top if his head. I¡¯d say you were a draconic-blooded half-orc.¡¯ He leaned forward. ¡®Going by the scales carved in, the people who buried you esteemed you highly, and wanted to ensure others knew it was a grandsire or grande dame who was a dragon.¡¯ He straightened. ¡®A dragon on the roof, and dragon-bloods in this mausoleum.¡¯ He tapped his chin. ¡®Is this the ancestral home of dragons?¡¯ He shrugged. ¡®No matter. Teivel wants this blue-white orb he called The Fist of Ra. I better continue down. See if it¡¯s held below.¡¯ He moved away from the sarcophagi, back to the stairs. When his left foot went into the floor with an audible click, he shook his head. ¡®Sard it. I should have known there would be traps.¡¯ He tensed, ready to spring away from the attack. Though he was braced for the unexpected, the lids of the sarcophagi breaking and crumbling made him jolt. He spun, drawing his sword as his heart thudded in his chest. Two undead stepped out of their resting places, bringing the smell of dusty decay. One creature looked like a gaunt, nearly skeletal corpse its rib cage filled with horrid, writhing viscera. Its tongue was its most noteworthy feature¡ªlong, cartilaginous, and clawed. Despite being long dead, the rot coming from it smelled wet, and its footsteps sloshed. The other undead looked like a withered and desiccated corpse, with features hidden beneath centuries-old funereal wrappings and the ragged remnants of a monk¡¯s robes. It moved with a slow, shambling gait and groaned with the weight of the ages. ¡®Undead.¡¯ He sighed. ¡®I am woefully unprepared for this fight.¡¯ Chapter 41 He blinked, and the skeletal corpse with its guts hanging out was in his face. Bony fingers grasped at his arms, leaving stinging scratches along his biceps. The wiggling, cartilaginous tongue whipped at his face, the claw at the tip trying to grab his face. He recoiled, and was brought up short. The creature was far stronger than he¡¯d thought it would be. Foul odors from the zombie-like creature made his stomach roil. Corath hauled back and the undead yanked him closer. He went with its pull, turning his shoulder to its chest and ducking his head as he rammed it. The combined momentum knocked the creature stumbling back. He looked up in time to dodge back from the wild swing of the mummy¡¯s two fists. It hopped forward, both feet leaving the ground as it swung at him again. He did a back handspring out of its range. The mummy leaped forward again as he landed and his feet and straightened. He thrust his foot at its chest as it landed. Before his kick landed, the mummy clamped both hands around his calf and swung him to the right. Corath flew through the air and bounced against the floor, briefly knocking the wind from him. The corpse creature didn¡¯t give him a moment to regain his breath, flying through the air in a mighty pounce. Lungs burning, Corath jumped to his feet, drawing his sword and swinging it upward to impale the undead thing as it landed. His left leg buckled from where the mummy had gripped it, throwing off his attack. Instead of it being impaled on the mystical blade, the creature instead had its right arm cleaved off at the shoulder. It staggered back, hissing. He reached down to rub the burning leg, and pulled up tatters of leather armor. ¡®Sard. Mummy rot. Fortune favored me this time. She only took my left greave rather than the leg itself.¡¯ A brief image of his leg rotting away under the mummy¡¯s corrupting touch flashed through his mind, making him shudder. He gasped as the corpse monster lashed out with its tongue again, instinctively throwing up his right arm to block the attack. His chest burned, as a lightning bolt of agony lanced through him. His right arm dropped to his side and would not obey his mental command to rise to block another attack from the corpse creature. The numb arm jerked him to the side, saving him from the assault. He stumbled over loose stones as he retreated. His sword squealed against the stone floor as he drug it behind him. A flash of movement from the corner of his eye made him throw himself backward as the mummy crashed into the corpse monster. As he hit the ground and tucked into a roll, agony lanced through his side like a blade twisting between his ribs. Something inside him shifted with the motion, making him twitch from the shockwaves of pain. He flopped gracelessly to his back, fiery pain washing over his chest as his lungs burned for air. ¡®Sard it. I¡¯m done for.¡¯ He wheezed, as a lump formed in his throat and heat rose behind his eyes. He blinked away the blurry wetness, trying to focus on the undead stalking him. ¡®I¡¯m sorry, Wen. I cannot avenge you after all.¡¯ ### The DarkWalker screamed. It sounded as if all the souls in the Abyss bellowed with him. He punched a hole in the air and ripped out a sword. The blade was an ethereal blue crystal, gleaming with an otherworldly light. Flawless and translucent, it caught the firelight and scattered it in brilliant cerulean and turquoise sparkles. He vanished from Adora¡¯s sight and then reappeared behind Pazuzu. Three flashes ¨C one above the Primordial¡¯s head, one in front of his torso and one at his hips ¨C came in an instant. The ancient demon fell in three pieces, oily blood hissing as it ate into the walls and floor where it hit. The DarkWalker stalked towards her. Adora¡¯s eyes blurred. The last thing she saw was the being surrounded by a golden cylinder of light. *** Adora woke, the brilliant sunlight making her blink. Silvery clouds drifted across the bright blue sky. Small black spots glided overhead before the shifting of light revealed them to be a pair of hawks flying way up high. She sat up, right knee bent, and glanced around. Long grass, seeded with wildflowers danced in a gentle breeze which carried their delicate scent to her. As it wafted over her skin, it ruffled her dress and hair. A small, fluffy creature with long ears, a twitchy nose, and a soft, round body hopped onto her knee. Delicate, and translucent wings, shining in the sunlight like stained glass, folded along its back. Shining black eyes watched her intently. ¡®A bunnyfly?¡¯ Adora¡¯s eyebrow raised. ¡®I thought they were extinct.¡¯ She reached out to pet the animal but it sprang away, its veiny wings helping it to glide further than its long hind feet could propel it.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. She raised her hands and rubbed her eyes. As she did, flashes of the DarkWalker went across her mind¡¯s eye. The skull-like face, half melted and with glowing blue eyes. The ram¡¯s horns at his temples. The ease with which he defeated the Primordial. Adora shook her head as she lowered her hands. ¡®Stop thinking of that.¡¯ She turned to her right. ¡®How did I get here?¡¯ Her tongue poked into her cheek as she studied the meadow. Scarlet star-shaped flowers with emerald stems caught her eye. ¡®Slemper flowers?¡¯ She crossed the two yards to them and squatted down to inhale their minty scent. ¡°I love these.¡± A thump to the ground behind her caused her to jump to her feet. ¡°I know.¡± The deep, commanding voice was familiar. As she completed her turn, she smiled at the sight of her guardian. The large, muscular angel with silver skin and snow-white wings smiled back. Like the rest of him, his teeth were perfect. His topaz eyes regarded her warmly. ¡°Azrael.¡± She stretched. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you, my friend.¡± She adjusted her dress, smoothing wrinkles. ¡°What are you doing here? What am I doing here?¡± ¡°I brought you here for your safety.¡± He spread his arms wide. ¡°It is part of my personal plane.¡± ¡°My safety?¡± She snorted. ¡°You¡¯re a bit late with that.¡± She gestured to the blood and grime on her dress. ¡°As you see, I¡¯ve been through it.¡± He gazed at her with a slight smile on his perfect divine face. A light breeze tossed a curl of his sable hair over his forehead. Adora paused with her thumbs pointed at herself and then glanced down. Her gown was pristine and she had no marks from the attack on her castle. Her face grew red as her breathing quickened. Brow lowered, she glared at the angel. ¡°Are you trying to make me doubt my fucking memories, Azrael?¡± He raised his hands, palms out. ¡°Peace, Adora. I wished nothing of the kind.¡± He sighed. ¡°I meant only to show you that here, you are healed and safe.¡± She clenched her hands. ¡°You chose a fucked up way to do so.¡± He nodded. ¡°You are correct. I am sorry.¡± Hearing the sincerity in his voice, Adora relaxed her hands and took a deep breath. As she let it out slowly, she rubbed the back of her neck. ¡°I¡­ I kind of overreacted, huh?¡± Azrael tilted his head in acknowledgement. ¡°It is understandable. You went through a lot.¡± She nodded. ¡°True, but I should have trusted you more. You¡¯ve always been my most stalwart defender.¡± She looked around at the perfect plane. A butterfly hovered over a cluster of white daisies, its wings shimmering like coins in the sun. At the same time, fingers of warm air raked through the plush meadow grasses, stirring up the scents of wild strawberry and goldenrod. ¡°This place reminds me of Kell¨¹n¡¯s realm when I was summoned there to be fully anointed as a WarPriest.¡± Adora froze as her breath caught in her chest. A flash of the God of Woods and Nature¡¯s face in agony passed across her mind¡¯s eye. Her stomach felt rock hard as she spun back to Azrael. ¡°Kell¨¹n is in danger. We must save him.¡± ¡°You must find him, before you can save him.¡± He stepped to the side. ¡°There is a more pressing concern, however.¡± Behind him, on the ground, lay the unconscious form of the DarkWalker. His body lay unnaturally still, the glow from his eyes dim. Around him, the air felt heavy and fixed. It felt saturated with a quiet, oppressive power that hinted he was far from truly defeated. The plane seemed to hold its breath, ready for him to rise once more. She blinked several times as she involuntarily stepped back, right hand to her mouth. ¡°Ha-how¡­¡± She cleared her throat. ¡°How did you stu-stop him?¡± ¡°Abiomancy.¡± His voice was steady and comforting. She turned to the angel, but kept her eyes on the DarkWalker. ¡°What in the Abyss is that?¡± ¡°A form of proto magic. It hasn¡¯t been used since the Creation.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you use Divine, or Celestial, magic?¡± ¡°I tried. Apparently the DarkWalker is immune to them. She crossed over to him, moving with care and then crouched down to consider the skull-like visage. ¡°How is that possible?¡± Azrael shrugged, and folded his arms. ¡°It would seem that this shadow of the Walker of Worlds is exceptionally powerful.¡± She glanced over her shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s still Carter. There¡¯s no need to be so formal.¡± ¡°For all intents and purposes, that is not Carter Blake. It does not even share his vessel.¡± ¡°And yet, it still holds dear all the same that he does.¡± ¡°It tried to kill Amando before I distracted it.¡± She cast her gaze over the angel really focusing on him. His flesh was paler than normal, he stood stiffly and sweat rolled down his hawk nose to his bow-shaped lips. She stood and crossed to him. ¡°How bad are you wounded?¡± ¡°Not terribly.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not seemly for angels to lie.¡± She pushed his arms to the side and opened his cloak. The roiling wound on his side made her gasp in shock. The stanch left her gagging. After she caught her breath, she sat on the ground near the DarkWalker and picked up its hand. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you healed?¡± ¡°It is a wound of Chaos magic.¡± ¡°Despite the gravity of your tone, my question remains unanswered.¡± ¡°Due to your limited understanding, Adora, it only seems thus.¡± He closed the cloak once more. ¡°Chaos is at the heart of the power of the Walker of Worlds.¡± Azrael leaned against the map table. After wiping his face with his forearm, he continued. ¡°It disrupts all. Even Divine magics.¡± A wave to the DarkWalker. ¡°For some reason, that is even closer to Chaos than Carter.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°So ¨C what? ¨C you suffer with the wound until you die?¡± He nodded. ¡°If I don¡¯t return to Avernus.¡± ¡°Then go!¡± ¡°I cannot. I must protect you from that.¡± He gestured to the DarkWalker again. ¡°He won¡¯t hurt me.¡± ¡°Amando said the same thing. And then it ripped a hole in his chest.¡± She swallowed and returned her gaze to the DarkWalker. This being had utterly dominated a demon that gave an ancient dragon a beating. And yet¡­ ¡°He had ample opportunity to attack me, but he didn¡¯t show any desire to.¡± She shook her head. ¡°Instead, he protected me.¡± Adora raised her eyes to her guardian. ¡°He even killed a Primordial demon after it killed Lady Soo-jau.¡± ¡°Adora, I believe trusting this dark shadow to be foolish, yet I will honor your choice to do so.¡± He sighed. ¡°Against my better judgement.¡± He muttered the last. ¡°I heard that.¡± She placed the DarkWalker¡¯s hand on his stomach. ¡°In the meantime, you¡ª¡± Adora stopped, stunned. The beautiful meadow was gone. In its place, a dimly lit cavern. A domed ceiling glittering with veins of quartz that caught the dim glow of molten pools along the floor. Stalagmites jutted upward like jagged teeth, framing a colossal hoard of gold and jewels that shimmered in the flickering light. The air was thick with the scent of earth and sulfur. Water rushed nearby, tumbling over stones and falling an unknown distance into a pool far below. She spun in place and screamed. The colossal DarkWalker stood watching her take in her surroundings from a few steps away. ¡°No hurt Adora.¡± His voice was like rocks being crushed, his speech simple. Her hand on her chest, she tried to catch her breath. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to find you standing behind me like that.¡± He shrugged. ¡°Where Dearbhaile.¡± Her skin tingled as she raised her index finger in the air. She bent over, hands on her knees as she took a deep, slow breath, and then let it out. Adora straightened when she felt hot air ruffling her hair. She stepped back at finding the DarkWalker¡¯s skeletal face inches from her own. ¡°Why are you sniffing me?¡± ¡°Smell good.¡± ¡°Thank you, but no sniffing. It¡¯s rude.¡± Another shrug. ¡°Where Dearbhaile.¡± His voice somehow grew deeper in tone. ¡°I don¡¯t know. She¡¯s been missing for almost seven years.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°A half-demon captured and hid her away.¡± She glanced around the cavern. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°Dragon lair.¡± He stepped over and ran his clawed fingers over a pair of ovoid shapes partially hidden behind a stone shelf. ¡°Eggs.¡± He turned and pointed at her. ¡°Protect.¡± ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be best to leave them for their parents to care for?¡± ¡°Vaush-Tauric eggs.¡± She felt her jaw drop. ¡°These are the offspring of Lady Soo-jau?¡± ¡°Find Dearbhaile.¡± Adora groaned. ¡°I¡­ don¡¯t want to.¡± She covered her face as it grew hot. ¡°Why?¡± She gave a long, slow sigh. ¡°Because I want Carter to be mine.¡± Wiping her hands down her face she looked into the electric blue eyes of the DarkWalker. ¡°But, if we don¡¯t find her, Carter will be unhappy, and I don¡¯t want that.¡± The DarkWalker tilted his head to the left. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°I love him.¡± Chapter Forty-Two A bright, shining light filled the dim chamber, making Corath squint against it. ¡°Go to your eternal rest in Keldur¡¯s name.¡± The command was given in a gravelly feminine voice, charged with holy power. He felt the cold power wash over him as the undead retreated before exploding with unearthly howls. Viscera and bone hissed as the divine magic passed through them. A moment later, warmth rushed through him as his wounds were healed. He opened his eyes to find an olive-green skinned female face with a jutting jaw, prominent lower teeth, and a sloping forehead staring at him with piercing jade eyes. Braided black hair hung over her left shoulder. He slid backwards over the rough and cold stone floor as he sat up, noting the half-orc wore ragged robes and was barefoot. A simple wooden sigil of weighing scales ¨C the symbol of the God of Law ¨C hung from her neck. ¡°Thank you for the save, Lady.¡± ¡°I am no Lady, sir. Simply Daelah, a supplicant of Lord Keldur.¡± He pushed himself to his feet and twisted his torso, enjoying the pops and crackles his back made as she rose with him. ¡°Nonetheless, I thank you again.¡± She bowed her head to him. ¡°You are most welcome.¡± She gave him beatific smile. Corath crossed the chamber and retrieved his sword. ¡°I am Corath.¡± He dropped it back in its sheath and glanced up to catch her studying the weapon. ¡°That is a¡­ dangerous sword, sir.¡± She locked her eyes to him, as if staring into his soul. ¡°You should be careful with it.¡± He nodded. ¡°Certainly.¡± He gave her a slight smile. ¡°It is a bane weapon, after all.¡± ¡°It is more than that.¡± She fingered the sigil around her neck. ¡°I feel you know this as well.¡± He opened his eyes wider and nodded. ¡°Riight.¡± She knew by his tone he was mocking her, but only responded with a smile. ¡®He knows. He¡¯d not try to deflect, otherwise. I would pry more, but my mission is more important.¡¯ ¡°Why are you in here? How did you get into the tower? Its four and a half chains high.¡± He titled his head. ¡°You don¡¯t look like you have climbing gear.¡± ¡°Lord Keldur sent me here to find something, and He provides.¡± He shook his head. ¡°Fucking ascetics.¡± At his mumbled words, she chuckled. ¡°I get that a lot.¡± Corath looked her over again, noting the many patches and ratty hems of her simple robe. ¡°Took a Vow of Poverty?¡± She nodded. ¡°I did. It brings me closer to my Lord by freeing me from distractions.¡± ¡°I thought the God of Law didn¡¯t care about such things?¡± She brightened. ¡°He does not, but since I have taken my Vow, I hear Him clearer than ever.¡± ¡°Hmm.¡± Corath moved over to the ornate sarcophagus the mummy had stepped out of to attack him. A sharp chill bite into his flesh, causing him to shiver. The onyx coffin was inlaid with gold which wrapped around it, before swirling into arcane glyphs. Twin rubies, delicately cut lay in the pile of rubble left by the broken lid. He picked them up and bounced the gems in his hand. They made a clicking sound, reminding him of a pair of dice. ¡°Here.¡± He tossed her one. She snatched it from the air and held it before her jade eyes. The edged orb gleamed with a dark aura and felt icy. ¡°Lord Keldur, do my eyes deceive me, or is this indeed one of the items you sent me to retrieve?¡±This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. A pillar of silvery flame shot down from the ceiling illuminating the chamber. The shadows fled before the divine light as it highlighted every crack and crevasse between the stones as it engulfed the half-orc woman. A voice that made the tower tremble answered. ¡°Yes.¡± An instant later, the flame vanished, leaving her with her hands clasped before her, the now room-temperature ruby between them. She opened her eyes and smiled at the warrior. ¡°Thank you, sir. You have aided me and Lord Kelder greatly this day.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°This is one of a demilich¡¯s phylacteries.¡± ¡°How did you know?¡± ¡°It was too cold for the short flight when you threw it to me, and yet when you held it, it was not cold at all.¡± His eyebrows went up and he rubbed his hands together. ¡°Why do you think that?¡± She pointed to his motions. ¡°You weren¡¯t doing anything like that when you held it, just when you¡¯re beside the mummy¡¯s sarcophagus.¡± He glanced over his shoulder at the empty box and stepped away. ¡°Why are you here?¡± Her tone was conversational. He glanced back to Daelah. ¡°I¡¯m here to retrieve an artifact for my master.¡± ¡°Your god?¡± He shook his head. ¡°An arch-mage.¡± ¡°What artifact are you looking for?¡± ¡°It¡¯s called The Fist of Ra. Do you know it?¡± She tapped her chin with her finger as she gazed into the distance. After a few minutes of silence, she lifted her left eyebrow and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve not heard of it.¡± She reached over her shoulders and scratched between them. ¡°What is it?¡± Corath shrugged. ¡°My master only described how it looks, not what it does, other than helping me to avenger the murder of my brother.¡± ¡°Will you be continuing down the tower?¡± He nodded. ¡°May I come along? We might be able to help each other on our quests.¡± She bounced the ruby in her hand. ¡°After all, you¡¯ve helped me with part of mine. It¡¯s only fair I do at least the same.¡± ¡°It would be good to have companionship again. I¡¯ve wandered alone for some time.¡± ¡°Great.¡± She gave him a bigger smile than before. ¡°Let¡¯s go through this area.¡± She indicated a door partially hidden behind the sarcophagus of the skeleton with the tongue. Corath peered at the revealed corridor. It was about a chain long splitting into a T-shaped intersection. The air was thick with the scent of ancient stone and lingering decay. A huge tapestry hung at the end. It depicted a scene with red-skinned humanoids capering in the foreground with a brass cityscape in the background, all seeming to be in an inferno. High above soared a colossal red dragon. The ceiling was low and arched, etched with faded runes in an unknown language that pulsed faintly with an eerie green glow, as though whispering secrets from a forgotten age. He walked down it, his stride firm and resolute. His steps clicked out an unmistakable cadence. Daelah¡¯s steps were soft and almost hidden, brushing against the cool, dusty surface of the stone floor as she moved with an unhurried grace. At the end, they peered to the left and right. The small, dusty altar to the right caught his eye. He approached and studied it. ¡°Someone recently used this.¡¯ Some of the dust had been brushed away by a clawed hand, exposing a leafless tree. He felt her sidle up beside him. ¡°What do you think that is?¡± He pointed to the tree. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but it¡¯s recent. Look.¡± She pointed to the color differences. ¡°See how this part is brighter than this one?¡± She turned to look at him. ¡°It means it¡¯s fresher.¡± ¡°I see.¡± He leaned down to get a better look at it. ¡°It¡¯s still dingy, which means it¡¯s not very recent.¡± ¡°Agreed.¡± She looked down the opposite hall. ¡°Shall we go that way?¡± He nodded and followed her. The black marble door was carved with skulls, spikes, tentacles, eyes and mouths. Draconic runes were inscribed above the lintel. ¡°Do you know what it says Daelah?¡± She studied it for a few seconds. ¡°It says something about someone being interred within, but it¡¯s too worn to make out the name.¡± He tried to open it. ¡°Sard it. Locked.¡± ¡°Step back¡± He glanced to her and then obeyed. ¡°Nepo.¡± After she uttered the command, a bluish light leapt from her hands and engulfed the door before seeming to shatter in thousands of pieces. A seires of hollow clicks came from the door and then it swung open. She finished weaving her fingers in a complex pattern and spoke. ¡°Thgil.¡± Daelah thrust her hand toward the ceiling and her spell flashed up and illuminated the room within. Yellow tile flooring greeted them. A worn pathway lead over to a spiral stair entering the floor. Ragged threads of rotted tapestries clung to the walls, too far destroyed to tell what their scenes had been. A five-foot-diameter iron pipe emerged from the floor in the opposite side from the stairs. It was sealed with a shiny metal cap carved to resemble the door they¡¯d just opened. Corath moved over to the pipe and examined it. ¡°Do you think this might be a faster way down?¡± She walked over and spotted the same draconic message as above the door, but clear and fresh in comparison. ¡°¡®Ootuhg is entombed here. Only fools cross the threshold.¡¯¡± She shrugged. ¡°I would say, ¡®No.¡¯¡± He snorted and moved to the stairs. He felt his left foot sink in the floor a bit and yanked it back, almost falling. Behind them, a squeal of tortured metal came as a hidden mechanism turned a long still crank, opening the pipe¡¯s lid. It hit the wall with a crash. ¡°I think we¡¯re about to meet Ootuhg,¡¯ he said as he drew his sword. A hiss and sibilant hum came from within the pipe. ¡°What gave it away?¡± Daelah gripped her sigil firmly. ¡°Lord Keldur ward and guide us.¡± Chapter 43 Lucien howled and launched himself through the air. Robilar caught him by the throat and slammed him to the rain-soaked cobbles. Water splashed up from the puddle the werewolf landed in as the breath left his lungs in a rush. ¡°Not going to happen, little brother.¡± Robilar sighed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry I could not save you, or your family, from Romulous, but I will save you from yourself.¡± ¡°You are too weak, brother.¡± The words came with a wheeze. Robilar held out his hand to the side and the blue crystalline sword slapped into his palm. He held the blade length-wise across his brother¡¯s throat with the hilt next to the ground. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Lucien. I have failed you.¡± Tears rolled down his cheeks, blending with the rain, and fell to the lycan¡¯s face. ¡°Do it, you coward. Cut my neck, if you dare.¡± Lucien blinked the rain from his eyes and glared up at his brother. ¡°Damn your soul for fratricide.¡± A silvery black void formed behind the werewolf¡¯s head and Robilar threw himself to the side. As Lucien sank in, he lashed out with one last swipe of his claws. They tore through the cobblestones of the ground, just missing their target. Robilar jumped to his feet in time to see the werewolf vanish into the portal. ¡°Mother fucker.¡± His scream ripped through the downpour. ¡°Language, Mr. Greenleaf.¡± The voice was full of mocking laughter even though none was uttered. He whipped around to the sound so fast water flew from his soaked hair. A ball of flame popped into existence above the hand of an athletic and strong warrior woman with long, auburn hair styled in a high ponytail, which complemented her striking blue eyes. She wore a white and gold outfit resembling a battle leotard, adorned with intricate patterns and a gold tiara-like headpiece that highlights her noble and commanding presence. Thigh high leather wrapped boots that almost matched her hair completed the ensemble. He narrowed his eyes against the rain while enjoying the bit of heat from her fire. ¡°Who are you, and what have you done with Lucien?¡± She bared her teeth in a grin as lightening flashed and thunder rolled through the sky. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him. He¡¯s safe. You should be focused on the Lamp.¡± He raised his left eyebrow. ¡°What lamp?¡± She gave him another toothy grin. ¡°The Lamp of Allah-ah-Dinh. The artifact the Mibrey Council ostensibly wants you to find.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Where are K?tharina and Erna?¡± ¡°They¡¯re in the castle¡¯s throne room.¡± ¡°Are you certain?¡± He shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s where I left them.¡± She nodded. ¡°I know.¡± ¡°I trust them.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± A snort escaped her. ¡°Sorry.¡± ¡°You still haven¡¯t told me your name.¡± He shifted his grip on his sword. ¡°Nor have you told me what you¡¯ve done with the werewolf.¡± ¡°I have not.¡± She leaned forward. ¡°What will you do about it?¡± ¡°I have ways of making you talk.¡± ¡°Kinky, sir.¡± She waggled her eyebrows and then straightened. ¡°But, there¡¯s a faster way.¡± She walked close to him and whispered in his ear. ¡°You could go back in time, and stop me from taking him.¡± ¡°Whu-what? Tha-that¡¯s impossible.¡± Her words made ice rush through his veins. ¡®How the hells does she know I can do that? Does she know I¡¯m a Chronomancer?¡¯ She nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Robilar thrust his sword at her middle, but the mysterious woman vanished. She reappeared at a window and called out to him. ¡°Hey, Chronomancer, you have a dilemma before you: Do you come after me, or do you retrieve the Lamp? You can¡¯t do both, and Erna is escaping with it now.¡± ¡°Gods damn it.¡± Robilar splayed his hands out in front of him and pulled the latent magical energies from his core. Sweat rolled down his face as he focused on the seething sphere of molten ball of power. His arms shook and trembled as he took it from inside himself with care. A droplet of perspiration landed on the swirling orb and hissed as it flashed into vapor. The ethereal and almost living sphere roiled and rolled between his fingers before his flung his hand out, releasing the magic. His knees shook as the ball shot into the air before exploding in a searing burst of light. The rain froze in a surreal tableau. Lightning locked mid-flash across the churning sky, its jagged fingers suspended in blinding brilliance. The roar of thunder dulled to an odd hum as it stretched endlessly into silence. The raindrops hung motionless in the air like a thousand shimmering beads. The wind, once howling and relentless, vanished in an instant, leaving an eerie stillness that pressed against the skin like a suffocating blanket. Each of his breaths felt thick and deliberate, as though the atmosphere itself congealed, and the electric tang of ozone lingered sharp in his nostrils, unbroken by the usual rush of the storm. The ground beneath his feet was slick and alive with puddles that rippled once but never settled, the entire world captured in a fleeting, eternal moment.The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. He ran over to the open door in the wall of the castle and darted through the hall. He dodged a zombie locked in mid-step, its decayed limbs mid-lurch and its milky, lifeless eyes fixed in a perpetual glare. The stench of rot lingered in the still air, while flakes of dead flesh, caught mid-crumble, clung unnaturally to its motionless form like a grim testament to its unending decay. The undead was about to grab K?tharina from behind as she was focused on sneaking by an open window. She stood frozen mid-step, her emerald robes trailing behind her as though caught in a gust, the white embroidery along the edges glistening faintly in the dim light that filtered through the open window. Raindrops clung to her robes and hair, suspended in the air like tiny jewels, reflecting the muted glow of the storm outside. Some looked as if they were about to hit her face, driven by the now still wind. Her hand hovered inches from the windowsill, fingers spread as if to steady herself, while her face, half-turned to the outside, bore an expression of cautious focus, frozen in the act of sneaking past. Beyond the window, streaks of rain hung motionless. The faint scent of wet earth mingled with the chill of the unmoving storm. Robilar paused and considered the tableau before him. ¡®Should I help her, or leave her to the zombie? On the one hand, she isn¡¯t in the throne room where I left her, and she could be innocent. On the other, she is in danger.¡¯ He sighed and then cleaved the zombie¡¯s skull in two. The weight of his strike carried the crystalline sword deep into its chest cavity. He withdrew the blade and walked into the throne room. Erna squatted by the chair, frozen in the act of pulling the prize from a hole in the floor by the throne. The oak shavings from Lucien¡¯s claws had been swept to the side. Her left hand clutched the armrest of the throne, muscles frozen in the act of her rising to her feet. Her ebon hair trailed across her cheek and forehead. In her right hand, she clutched the modest yet enchanting vessel. It was crafted from burnished brass that gleamed in the faint torch light. Intricate carvings of swirling patterns danced along its surface. The delicate lines hinted at the arcane power sealed within. ¡®The Lamp of Allah-ah-Dinh. This artifact has the power to warp worlds and grant its wielder nigh unlimited abilities.¡¯ He prized it from her grasp with care, determined to not harm the thief. ¡®It just costs them their soul.¡¯ He opened a temporal closet and stored the Lamp within. Time resumed with a crackling burst, the torchlight flaring wildly as thunder roared through the shattered window. Erna gasped as her hand clutched empty air where it had held the lamp. She stumbled upright. ¡°What the hells?¡± ¡°Behind you.¡± Robilar folded his arms across his chest. She spun with a gasp to face him, one hand on her chest, the other behind her back. ¡°What did you do with the Lamp of Allah-ah-Dinh?¡± ¡°Why are you asking me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the only one who could have taken it from me without a fight.¡± She glanced down to the winged skull on her belt. ¡°I still have my nullstone, so I¡¯m guessing you have found a way to circumvent it.¡± ¡°I do.¡± ¡°You¡¯re not going to elaborate?¡± He shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t trust you.¡± ¡°Why? You knew my mission was to help you retrieve the Lamp. You went off to fight your brother ¨C a werewolf, by the way ¨C so I continued with it.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t know I had a brother, much less his curse, did you?¡± She shook her head, raven tresses briefly covering her face. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Interesting.¡± ¡°How?¡± ¡°Either your Court of Blood didn¡¯t give you pertinent information, meaning they¡¯re incompetent,¡± he uncrossed his arms, spreading his hands wide, ¡°Or they didn¡¯t know about him.¡± ¡°Meaning what?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t know all, despite what you¡¯ve been told.¡± Lightning illuminated the throne room for a split second before thunder crashed through the air. ¡°Robilar.¡± K?tharina¡¯s yell echoed through the area. ¡°Where are you?¡± ¡°In the audience chamber where Lucien was.¡± He directed his voice over his shoulder while keeping his eyes on Erna. ¡°Fucking Chronomancer.¡± She stalked into the room, covered with rain, blood and gore. ¡°Look at me!¡± Erna leaned around Robilar. ¡°What happened to you?¡± ¡°She¡¯s covered in the remnants of a zombie that was about to attack her as she snuck by a window.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nasty.¡± K?tharina¡¯s voice was raised in a whine. Robilar snorted. ¡°You should have stayed put like I¡¯d asked.¡± ¡°I saw an opportunity to complete our mission and I took it.¡± Erna placed her hands on her hips. ¡°I¡¯m not going to apologize for it.¡± ¡°Would you have given the lamp to myself, your Court of Blood, or the Council of Mibrey?¡± ¡°The Court of Blood, of course.¡± He nodded. ¡°And that is why I¡¯ve placed it out of their reach.¡± ¡°Who are you to decide if something should be outside of anyone¡¯s reach, Robilar?¡± K?tharina said. ¡°You¡¯re a Chronomancer.¡± ¡°Which means I¡¯m uniquely qualified to say it should be outside the grasp of almost everyone.¡± Erna shook her head. ¡°How do you have so much arrogance to think you know better than those who have spent centuries studying the artifact?¡± He snorted. ¡°Only centuries?¡± He shook his head and walked to the doorway he¡¯d used when he came back in. ¡°Amateurs.¡± K?tharina reached out to stop him. ¡°Robilar, please wait.¡± He paused. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°How is the Court of Blood amateurs, and what do you mean, ¡®only centuries?¡¯¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been fighting those who have misused the Lamp of Allah-ah-Dinh for millennia.¡± ### Adora watched the DarkWalker studying the dragon eggs. He¡¯d been at it for hours. They rested in a sprawling nest of molten rock and shimmering gemstones, their blue-black shells veined with fiery blue lines that pulsed faintly like a heartbeat. The cavern''s oppressive heat cast rippling shadows across the walls, and the faint scent of sulfur mingled with the soft crackling of the eggs'' protective shells. He occasionally turned one, then the other, before delicately poking them. ¡°What are we doing here?¡± He turned his electric blue gaze on her. She still shivered at the melted skull-like visage, but not as much as before. ¡°We wait.¡± ¡°Wait for what?¡± The DarkWalker ignored her. She smoothed her silvery gown down as she straightened. ¡®Though he is terrifying, I don¡¯t believe the DarkWalker intends to hurt me. He¡¯d have done so by now.¡¯ ¡°I do not wish to wait for an unknown time.¡± She turned away from the DarkWalker and crossed the cavern. As she wove between stalagmites, she hunted for a hint of a breeze, or a cooler patch. Something to show her the way out. Rushing water brought her to a pool with a majestic waterfall at the end. Stones with streaks of emerald green, rust red, and golden ochre rested in the water, their crystalline edges catching the faint glow of luminescent fungi clinging to the ceiling. She looked up and yelled, arms out and hands splayed before yanking them back to cover her chest, finding the skull-like face of the DarkWalker eye level to her. ¡°Don¡¯t do that!¡± The DarkWalker¡¯s shoulders shook as he laughed silently. Chapter Forty-Four Adora rolled her eyes and stepped around him. He held a massive arm up in her way and shook his head. ¡°Stay. Safe.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t stay. I have people who are depending on me.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t matter.¡± She titled her head to the side. ¡°They matter to me. They¡¯re my people and it is my duty to help keep them safe from predators like Drago the Clanless and his army of demons and idealogues.¡± ¡°Must find Dearbhaile.¡± ¡°Do you have any ideas where to look?¡± She placed her hands on her hips. ¡°Carter and I have scoured the Realm for six years, and haven¡¯t had any luck in locating her.¡± ¡°Stormhome.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± She blinked and found herself in a different place. A hot breeze wafted across her cheeks, bringing the pleasant scent of pine and honey to her nose. Long grasses shushed as animals ran through them. Nearby, bees buzzed around their hive. She raised her eyes to the bright blue sky with thick white clouds drifting across it. Her dress rustled against the grass as she sat up. A flock of birds burst from the trees in a thick cloud as something startled them. Off in the middle distance, a ruined castle hunched against an imposing mountain. Even from here, she could make out the decay and disrepair of the building. Despite the damage of time, it still bore a firm grasp of elegance to its architecture. A shadow passed over her face as the DarkWalker, standing over where she sat, pointed to the castle. ¡°Stormhome.¡± ### Adora studied the DarkWalker as he watched the castle in the distance. The sun didn¡¯t reflect off the silvery purple green armor. Sable hair fell to his shoulders with a few errant pieces fluttering in the breeze. His thick arms hung at his sides, palms facing his thighs. His long legs were about a foot apart and his balance was on the fronts of his feet. A dragonfly zipped by and alighted on his shoulder for a second, wings slowly flapping, before flitting away again. Sweat rolled down her neck to her upper back where the cool breeze dried it. She reached back and tugged her smock away from her kirtle before waving her hand over the area. ¡®By the Abyss, it is hot.¡¯ ¡°Why are we here?¡± ¡°We get Lamp.¡± ¡°What lamp?¡± She scratched her ribs with her right hand as sweat rolled down them under her dress. ¡°Magic.¡± She sighed. ¡®I don¡¯t know if the DarkWalker is a simpleton, or just terse, but it is aggravating trying to converse with him. I want Carter back.¡¯ She gazed around and spotted a path leading down. The pale brown dirt had edges lined with wildflowers wilting under the relentless sun, their once-vibrant colors fading to dull hues. As she walked it, she saw the parched plains below stretching out in a haze of shimmering heat, the grasslands brittle and cracked as each of her steps stirred a faint cloud of dry dust. She glanced over her shoulder at the sound of a heavy, slow tread behind her. The DarkWalker strode the path, not noticing the heat, or seemingly the scenery. He turned his head to each side and when a bush to the side rattled, moved up between her and it. A deer with a rack of antlers bounded out and reared up when it saw him. As it kicked its forelegs out defensively, the DarkWalker darted forward and shoved the animal¡¯s chest. It fell over and kicked at the ground as it scrambled to its feet. The DarkWalker watched as it rose and leaped away, leaving a pile of pellets behind. He then moved behind Adora again.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. The veridian light faded from her body and eyes as she dropped her hands and pulled her magic back within herself. ¡®By Kell¨¹n¡¯s right hand, he protected me.¡¯ She nibbled at her left thumbnail. ¡®How much of Carter is in him?¡¯ The trail disappeared into the cracked ground of the plains, where a wall of shimmering heat seemed to rise. The crunch of dried earth gave way to the crackle of dry grasses. She used the sleeve of her gown to wipe away the sweat on her face. The dust mixed with the perspiration to leave a caked-on feeling on grime afterwards. A deep thud hit the air, causing her to spin around, magic engulfing her hands once again. She let out an inadvertent squeal when she found Carter laying on the ground, naked and unconscious. ¡°Cah-Carter!¡± ### Carter groaned as he stirred, his head pounding with a relentless, throbbing ache that seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat. He pressed his palm to his forehead, squinting against the light as the pain sent sharp jolts through his temples, leaving him disoriented and struggling to remember where he was. ¡°Son of a bitch, my head is killing me.¡± He blinked away the building wetness in his eyes as he slowly managed to open them further. ¡°Where the fuck am I?¡± Warmth ran through his skull, soothing away the pain. He moaned in relief as the familiar feeling of healing magic washed over him. He glanced over his shoulder. Adora knelt behind him, clad in a dusty gown that reminded him of what she wore for diplomatic meetings. Her right hand hovered near his shoulder, silvery green light still wrapped around it. As he watched, it slowly faded. ¡°Adora?¡± He rubbed his head, glad the pain was gone. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± He turned back, taking in the parched earth and dry grasses. ¡°Where are we?¡± He turned back, feeling the dry dirt scrapping his skin, and glanced down. ¡°Wait, where are my clothes?!¡± Adora giggled. ¡°What question do you want answered first?¡± Carter blinked. ¡°Where are my clothes?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± She shrugged. ¡°I found you here, naked and unconscious.¡± He sighed. ¡°Gods damn it.¡± He ran his fingers through his hair. ¡°Where are we?¡± ¡°We¡¯re not far from a ruin called ¡®Stormhome.¡¯¡± ¡°Where is that?¡± She pointed to the distance. ¡°Over that way.¡± ¡°What way?¡± He followed the direction she pointed in, but didn¡¯t see anything except the horizon. ¡°Over the horizon? Let me think¡­ It¡¯s been so long since I thought about this formula.¡± Carter¡¯s brow furrowed as he stared into the distance, his mind grasping at fragmented memories of time in school and reading text books. ¡°Formula?¡± Adora rubbed below her eye. ¡°When did you take up alchemy?¡± ¡°What?¡± He bit his lip. ¡°Alchemy?¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, geometry.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Math from my world.¡± He waved his hand at her. ¡°Hush for a moment.¡± He traced shapes in the dirt before leaping to his feet. ¡°That¡¯s it! The square root of one point five times my height.¡± He looked back to the horizon. ¡°It¡¯s about three miles to the horizon, so we should be able to see, or almost reach it in about an hour of walking.¡± Carter refocused on the environment. ¡°Then again, with the heat, it would take longer if we don¡¯t have water.¡± ¡°A couple of problems with that, Mister Blake.¡± He turned back. ¡°¡®Mister Blake?¡¯ Since when?¡± ¡°Just now.¡± She looked him up and down, then whistled. ¡°I had no idea you had so much hair and were that muscled.¡± He looked down. ¡°Bloody hells.¡± He spun away, and placed his hands over his groin. ¡°I forgot about that. I am sorry, Adora.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not. You have a fantastic body, husband.¡± ¡°Really?¡± He glanced back and snorted. ¡°Your consistency is admirable and refreshing.¡± He chuckled. She shrugged. ¡°I still want you, and also respect your wishes.¡± ¡°And you enjoy messing with me.¡± ¡°And I enjoy messing with you.¡± She giggled. ¡°Now, what do we do about getting you some clothes, and us some supplies?¡± Carter looked around, taking in more of the area. Patches of dried wildflowers, their petals faded and curling, dotted the parched ground, breaking up the otherwise barren expanse. In the distance, waves of shimmering heat blurred the horizon, giving the illusion of water where none existed. Off to the left, about a half mile away, trees grew. Their twisted branches clawed at the sky as though pleading for rain. Beneath their distant shade, the dry grasses clung stubbornly to life. The faint scent of pine and scorched bark came to them on the warm air. He pointed. ¡°Think we might find water over there?¡± Adora nodded. ¡°Yes. There might be more deer, too.¡± ¡°More?¡± He peered at her. A nod. ¡°Indeed. The DarkWalker knocked on over not far from here.¡± ¡°The what?¡± He furrowed his brow. ¡°Is there someone like me?¡± ¡°From what I understand, he is your shadow.¡± His eyes widened. ¡°My shadow? He¡¯s like me, but¡­ evil?¡± ¡°Not that I¡¯ve witnessed.¡± She shook her head. ¡°More like you unleashed.¡± ¡°That¡¯s concerning.¡± He tapped his lips and searched for the other. ¡°Do you know where he went?¡± ¡°He vanished, but I know where he is now.¡± Carter turned to face her, modesty considerations gone. ¡°Where?¡± Adora stepped forward and tapped his broad chest. ¡°In here.¡± Chapter 45 Carter narrowed his eyes as he tilted his head. ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Do you want to have this conversation while naked, or while dressed?¡± ¡°Both is good.¡± Adora chuckled. ¡°How would we do that?¡± She spread her arms wide. ¡°We don¡¯t have any weapons or supplies, after all.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll have to make them, of course.¡± ¡°It will take us hours.¡± Carter nodded. ¡°Indeed. But it is necessary.¡± ¡°True.¡± She started walking to towards the woods. ¡°What¡¯s the first step?¡± ¡°Finding water.¡± She turned her head to him. ¡°Not shelter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for flint so I can make tools to create a shelter.¡± ¡°How long do you think we¡¯ll be in there?¡± ¡°I plan no more than two days.¡± He strode ahead, keeping watch as he marched. Each step covered ground with an ease and speed that made Adora scramble to keep up. She found herself almost having to jog to stay just behind him. ¡°Carter, slow down, please.¡± She gasped and paused, hands on her knees. Sweat flowed down her forehead to her cheeks and chin where it beaded up and fell. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m sorry.¡± He halted. ¡°I¡¯m not used to travelling on foot with people.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t forget, we have no water, and it¡¯s hot as the Abyss here.¡± ¡°Depends on the layer.¡± She straightened. ¡°What?¡± ¡°Only two layers of the Abyss are hot. Three are cold. One is humid. Four are temperate.¡± She blinked. ¡°Right, you¡¯ve spent a lot of time in the Abyss.¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± He nodded. ¡°More than anyone alive.¡± Carter resumed walking, but at a slower pace than before. Adora hurried to catch up, and then matched his steps. The edge of the woods loomed ahead, where the parched grasses gave way to clusters of scraggly bushes with browning leaves, their branches gnarled and twisted as if warped by the relentless heat. Beyond them, the first row of trees stood like sentinels, their bark dark and cracked, with sparse tufts of green fighting to survive against the oppressive heat. A few minutes later, they passed the tree line, and the air shifted, feeling a little cooler under the shade of the trees. The heat gave way to a hushed stillness, where the faint rustle of leaves replaced the crunch of dry grasses underfoot. Shadows stretched long across the ground, dappled with spots of golden sunlight filtering through the treetops. He paused. ¡°Do you smell that?¡± She glanced at him. ¡°I smell a lot of things.¡± ¡°I¡¯m speaking of a particular scent. A crisp, refreshing aroma, cutting through the breeze and when you notice it, you feel invigorated.¡± She shook her head and shrugged. ¡°Mint.¡± He gave her a small smile. ¡°It means we¡¯re not far from a source of water.¡± Between a cluster of willow trees and holliver bushes, he spotted sedges. They were a tall and slender plant with triangular stems rising above clusters of fine, grass-like leaves that swayed in the breeze. Behind it, the clear water of a brook called to them. The gentle noise of it rushing over small stones were a soothing contrast to the surrounding heat. It was like a siren call to their parched throats, and the faint sparkle of sunlight reflecting off the rippling surface made it seem like liquid relief flowing just within reach. Adora stepped forward with a smile that turned into a scowl when Carter grabbed her arm, halting her forward motion. ¡°What are you doing?¡± ¡°Being cautious. A cornugon might be near. They like to ambush thirsty travelers who try to drink from running water and drown them.¡± ¡°Oh. How can you tell if one is nearby?¡± He pointed to the ground and shrubbery. ¡°There will be signs.¡± He stepped to the left and crouched, pointing. ¡°See this?¡±Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit. He leaned back to allow her to crouch beside him and spot the pointed tips and faintly splayed edges of the tracks he detected. She nodded while trying not to look at his¡­ parts dangling low. ¡°These are deer tracks. They¡¯re fairly fresh, meaning at least one was here recently. If a cornugon were around, these wouldn¡¯t be this neat.¡± ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Deer are prey animals. They¡¯d flee from the scent of a predator like a cornugon.¡± Adora shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s amazing how much you¡¯ve learned and grown since Mordecai summoned you here.¡± Carter straightened and continued on. ¡°It was either learn, or die.¡± He crouched by the water and cupped some of the water. ¡°Start with a small amount so you don¡¯t get cramps.¡± She crouched next to him and mimicked his motions. ¡°Like this?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± He waded into the water and cast about until he found an off-white chunk of stone. When he lifted it, he knew by the chalky feel, it was what he¡¯d been searching for. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± ¡°Flint.¡± He shook his hand, flinging glistening droplets of water through the air. ¡°This is the first of our tools for crafting basic weapons and clothes.¡± ### Drago stood on a stage, his voice magically amplified to carry through the wide city plaza under the warm noonday sun. It brimmed with life on the warm spring day, the scent of blooming jasline flowers mingling with the rich aroma of fresh bread from market stalls, while the sun cast golden light over the cobblestones and clustered Dwarves gathered to hear him speak. ¡°I repudiate the word ¡®Pirol¨¥tar¨©yati.¡¯ The Elf who coined the word meant by ¡®Pirol¨¥tar¨©yati,¡¯ not the exploited, but those who work with their hands. And those who work with their intellects are defamed bluntly as ¡®burijo.¡¯ It is not the character of a Dwarf¡¯s life which forms the basis of this designation, it is simply the affair - whether a Dwarf works with his brain or with his body. And in this turbulent mass of the hand-workers, the Elf recognized a new power which might perhaps be his instrument for the gaining of that which is his ultimate goal: World supremacy, the destruction of the Realm.¡± Drago raised his arms, his deep voice reverberating through the enchanted air. The crowd leaned forward their faces lit with fervor as his words struck home. They, like him, were Clanless and outcast. ¡°And while the Elf ¡®organizes¡¯ these masses, he organizes business, too, at the same time. Business was depersonalized, i.e., made elven. Business lost the Dwarven character of work: it became an object of speculation. Master and Dwarf were torn asunder . . . and he who created this class division was the same person who led the masses in their opposition to this class division, led them not against his Elfish brethren, but against the last remnants of independent national economic life.¡± He brought his arms closer to his chest, fists balled, as his impassioned words resonated with the unhappy Dwarves in his audience. At last, someone understood how many felt at being left behind. The g¨¥to they lived in was impoverished and ugly while the rest of the elven city was beautiful and prosperous. ¡°And these remnants, the burijo which also was already Elvenized, resisted the great masses who were knocking at the door and demanding better conditions of life. And so the Elfish leaders succeeded in hammering into the minds of the masses the Renline propaganda: ¡®Your deadly foe is the burijo; if he were not there, you would be free.¡¯ If it had not been for the boundless blindness and stupidity of our burijo, the Elf would never have become the leader of the Realm working-classes. And the ally of this stupidity was the pride of the ¡®better gradation¡¯ of society which thought it would degrade itself if it deigned to stoop to the level of the ¡®Commoner.¡¯ The millions of our fellow countrymen would never have been alienated from their people if the leading layer of society had shown any care for their welfare.¡± As he paused in his speaking, he was greeted with a roar of approval and thunderous applause. Drago allowed the cheers to continue for a few heartbeats before continuing. The golden sunlight seemed to cast a halo around his head, showing he had the sun god¡¯s favor. ¡°Let the Elves hear us today, from this plaza to the farthest reaches of the Realm¡ªour hands, our minds, and our unity will forge a future they cannot control! Now, I ask you, my fellow Dwarves: will we stand idly by while the Elves dismantle everything we hold dear, or will we rise as one and reclaim what is rightfully ours? Because the time for division is over; the time for Dwarves to stand tall and unshaken begins now¡ªtogether, we will rebuild a Realm they cannot destroy!¡± After his concluding remarks, the crowd erupted with cheers, throwing things and random spell bursts into the air. Drago watched as his men worked through the crowd, conversing and passing out scrolls of his writings. In some cases, certain soldiers slipped women coins. The Dwarven women would all clasp the giver¡¯s hands, tears streaming down their faces as they thanked their savoir. This day, their children would be able to eat. The vampire Rorikil watched from the shadows as his master worked the crowd. ¡®More will join Drago today. His speeches are effective, but the soldiers working the crowd are the perfect toppers.¡¯ Sera spoke beside him. ¡°Lord Drago¡¯s speeches are inspiring, no?¡± Rorikil started, and grabbed his chest. ¡°You almost gave me a heart attack.¡± She glanced at him with a blank face. ¡°You have to be alive in order to suffer one.¡± The ancient vampire rolled his eyes as he stepped further into the shadows. ¡°You really shouldn¡¯t wear your contempt so openly. It¡¯ll make you enemies.¡± She smirked and stepped out so the sun¡¯s rays fell over her. ¡°None can stand against me, so it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± ¡®The arrogance of youth.¡¯ He shook his head. ¡°Even you have to sleep.¡± ¡°Indeed. I have my ways of protecting myself even then.¡± Drago walking while rubbing his hands interrupted their posturing. ¡°Good day, my friends. What news do you have for me?¡± ¡°The Gorauch named Corath thinks he has a way to defeat Carter Blake.¡± Sear turned to walk with the Dark Dwarf. ¡°He apprenticed himself to an entombed lich by the name of Teivel to do this.¡± Drago paused before a door and snapped his fingers at an orc guard next to it. The orc raised his helm as he knelt before his lord. ¡°Find Devoril in the library, and tell him to stop cataloguing the info within, and start collecting any information he has on Teivel.¡± The orc clasped his left hand to the right side of his chest and rose before hurrying to do as commanded. Drago opened the door and stepped through. ¡°What do you have for me, Rorikil?¡± He crossed the richly appointed room and sat at a wide, elegantly carved desk before resting his elbows on it and folding his hands. The afternoon sun shining through the open window highlighted his stout body. The vampire crossed to stand in front of Drago, making sure to stay in the shade, and folded his arms behind him. ¡°The DarkWalker has risen.¡± Chapter 46 An unwholesome creature with a body that had the form and fluidity of an amoeba slithered from the pipe with a wet squelch. Its surface mimicked the pale, mottled hue of decaying flesh, though it pulsed with unnatural fluidity. Countless eyes and toothy mouths constantly formed and disappeared all over the creature, often retreating into its body even as they became apparent. Its many mouths produced low, rasping whispers like dozens of voices choking on blood. A wave of a sickly sweet stench, like that of spoiled fruit hit Corath and Daelah. The odor almost knocked the Gorauch over as he gagged, fighting to hold his gorge back. Daelah stumbled backward, nearly halting her prayer as the undertone of a noxious stench wafted from the oozing mass. It combined the stink of decomposition with an unsettling sulfuric note, which made breathing it an ordeal. A pseudopod lashed out and latched onto Corath¡¯s arm. His cry of pain combined with the gurgling, slurping noises of the abomination¡¯s many mouths. The agony and feeling of a draining washed through him, dropping him to his knees. The ascetic finished her prayer and rammed her weighing scales sigil in the air, bellowing. ¡°In Keldur¡¯s name, back off!¡± The pseudopod ripped away, taking a chuck of Corath¡¯s arm with it, as the creature¡¯s sibilant hisses switched up to haunting moans. It recoiled, partially retreating into the pipe. She raised her hand to Corath and golden light played over his arm. His skin grew and stitched together as the healing magic played over it. He ripped his sword from its sheath and the blade burst into flames as he thrust it at the amorphous creature. It let out an unearthly scream as it shot away into the pipe, escaping the fire-based attack. Corath leaped to the side as the door slammed shut with a thunderous clang. ¡°What was that?¡± Corath stared at the door on the pipe as he rose to his feet once more. ¡°I¡¯ve not seen a creature like that before.¡± ¡°It was a cornugon. An abomination from beyond our realm.¡± Daelah stepped forward and used a scrap of metal from the floor to scratch a series of symbols into the conduit. ¡°There. That should keep it trapped within.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard of them, but not that they drain vitality from people.¡± She scratched her cheek. ¡°Is that what it did? I thought it only had grabbed you.¡± He shook his head. ¡°No, I felt a draining sensation and then I was immediately weaker. If it hadn¡¯t been for your magic, I¡¯d have fallen.¡± She bit her lip as she glanced back to the pipe and then back to her companion. ¡°It must have become vampiric, somehow.¡± She wrapped her arms around her body as if cold. ¡°Somehow?¡± He blinked. ¡°Are you saying they aren¡¯t by nature?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve not heard of the abominations being so before.¡± She shrugged. ¡°But what I know has come from journals of those who survived encounters with them before. There is most likely a lot we don¡¯t know.¡± He nodded as he glanced around. ¡°Looks like our only option is to head back the way we came. I don¡¯t see another way through since you blocked off that pipe.¡± *** Back in the room with the sarcophagi, the pair glanced around. Corath stepped over to the one which had held the mummy. A short hall, no more than a quarter of a chain long, ended at an archway with a set of stairs spiraling down. ¡°Have you seen this area?¡± His voice carried through the chill silence. Her bare feet whispered over the stone with muted slaps as she caught up with him. ¡°Yes. The floor below is where I entered the spire. I came up when I heard your battle.¡± ¡°What¡¯s down there?¡± ¡°All I had time to find was the room I came into and those steps.¡± ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s go see what is on the next floor.¡± She nodded and followed him down. Bioluminescent fungi provided dim light as they followed the winding path below. The stairs ended in an open room. Stone blocks of all sizes squatted in the chamber under a layer of dust. Some were completely square while others showed evidence of a sculptor¡¯s chisel: Rough heads, arms, faces and other forms were visible. A workbench against the eastern curve was cluttered with the rusty implements of a common design. A small, humanoid skeleton with the ragged remains of a leather apron sprawled near the chair of the bench. The skull had a flat face, and a wide mouth filled with small, sharp fangs. The arm bones would have reached to the knees if it had been upright. A rusty hammer lay near a clawed hand. ¡°Do you think it is undead?¡± Corath said as he brushed dust from a stone block. He sneezed as the rising particles tickled his nose. Daelah made a triangle with her hands and whispered something before looking through the hole. After a second she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s a normal goblin skeleton.¡± ¡°You must have seen a lot of them to recognize it on sight.¡± He glanced at her over his shoulder. ¡°I used an Identify spell. Prior to this mission, in fact, I hadn¡¯t left the monastery since I was a child.¡± She gave him a small smile as she lifted her chin and straightened her shoulders. ¡°I was the best in my humanoid anatomy classes, though.¡± They wove around the rough, carved blocks to the doorway at the opposite side from the stairs. He ran his fingertips along the hilt of his sword. ¡°Did you receive any stigma for being a half-orc?¡± ¡°All lives are balanced in the eyes of the Great Justiciar.¡± The axiom came automatically, as if by long rote. She glanced down at her unadorned robes, fiddling with the robe belt. ¡°Some of the other students could be cruel, though.¡± ¡°I can relate.¡± She paused by the open door and gazed at him. ¡°You can?¡± A musty tang came through the passage. He nodded. ¡°My whole race is looked down on as a barbaric and stupid people, just because we live differently.¡± She leaned forward, taking in his blue eyes and braided black hair with feathers and shells. ¡°I thought the Renline were looked up to?¡± ¡°They are. However, my people, the Gorauch, are separate from our cousins.¡± He reached up to touch one of his braids, showing it to be longer than the others. ¡°We hold to the ways of Kaile, for the most part. He keeps us like our name, ¡®The Simple People.¡¯¡± ¡°What does that mean?¡± She peered through the doorway, finding another chamber. ¡°It means we prefer to eschew the city lifestyle of our brethren. Instead, we roam and hunt freely.¡± She pulled back and glanced at him. ¡°Elves live in cities?¡± ¡°The most numerous race ¨C the Renline ¨C does ever since they created Greenweaving.¡± ¡°What is that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s what they call using magic to shape trees and other plant life into homes and other buildings like humans and dwarves use stone.¡± She stared at him, eyes wide. ¡°That sounds amazing.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°If you¡¯re sheltered, maybe.¡± He gestured to the doorway. ¡°What¡¯s in there?¡± ¡°An empty room littered with small rocks and rotted funerary wrappings. I saw a couple of doors at opposite sides.¡± Corath stepped in and found it to be exactly as she described. He knelt by a scrap of wrappings and tried to pick it up. The ancient fabric fell apart at his touch, leaving a dingy smear of dust on his fingers. He rose and moved over to the door on his left.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it. It was rough and splintered, its weathered planks warped and cracked with jagged edges that threatened to catch skin or cloth with the slightest touch. He pushed it with his foot and it collapsed in a cloud of dust. It tickled his nose, making him sneeze three times. He shook his head as he sniffled. After rubbing the water from his eyes, he glanced around. Two round, rusty metal vats took up most of the space in the chamber. They were each about a rod in diameter and six links tall. One was empty and the other filled with an opaque liquid from which a faint, bitter fragrance arose. The wall across from him and the one to his right held shelves on which dozens of glass jars sat, though their layers of dusty prevented him from seeing what they held. Daelah crossed the room and lifted a jar. After brushing it off, she shuddered and placed it back. ¡°That¡¯s got some sort of brown organ in a greenish fluid. It seems like it¡¯s leathery.¡± She shook again. ¡°That¡¯s disgusting. Who would do something like that?¡± Corath shrugged. ¡°An alchemist, or a necromancer? Maybe even a researcher.¡± ¡°A necromancer makes sense.¡± Corath lifted one of the bottles and brushed the dirt off. This one had a yellowish liquid, and a preserved organ. ¡®Looks like someone dried a heart out, and then put it in here to get wet again. There¡¯s not much room in there for it, though.¡¯ ¡°Not a researcher?¡± He said. ¡°What would they have been researching?¡± He shrugged as he returned the bottle to the shelf. ¡°Who knows. Maybe it was about drying techniques.¡± ¡°Eugh.¡± Daelah shivered. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here, please?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± As he turned to leave, he rubbed against the full vat, disturbing the liquid. It bubbled and a pallid hand popped up to the surface. He froze, waiting to see if anything else would rise. The hand slowly sank with bubbles rising and popping. ¡°Keldur ward us.¡± After her prayer, a translucent and pearlescent shield shimmered into place between them and the vat. Nothing happened for several moments, and she allowed the ward to fade. ¡°That was creepy.¡± She glanced at her companion and he jerked his head in the direction of the door. They exited the research room and crossed the original one. Rocks crunched over his boots as he moved to the opposite door. This one was a bit different from the last as it had the remnants of a bronze relief bound to it. It swung open with a scream from the rusty hinges. As he stepped over the threshold and into the room, ancient torches flickered to life, granting shifting light to his eyes. Dust filled the ancient chamber like a grey snow, covering everything in a fine powder that leaped into the air with each step. Broken glass from jars and vats competed with stoney debris, small rusted tools and puddles of a strange liquid in crowding the floor. ¡°Be careful of the glass, Daelah. I doubt you¡¯d want any of this to get into a cut.¡± She smiled. ¡°Thank you for your concern, Corath, but I¡¯ll be fine. Years of walking barefoot has toughened my skin and glass won¡¯t penetrate.¡± He nodded as he squatted near the spot where liquid had lay. He touched a fingertip to it and found the area dry, yet tacky. It had the same faint bitter scent as the liquid in the other room. ¡°I think this is the same stuff as in that vat.¡± He wiped his hand on his pants. Daelah made a triangle with her hands again, and once again whispered something before looking through the hole. ¡°It¡¯s a mix of herbs meant to preserve flesh.¡± ¡°Do you think your spell could tell us about the metal on the door where we came in?¡± ¡°If Keldur wills it.¡± She shrugged. ¡°Gods don¡¯t have the interest to watch us all the time.¡± Corath shrugged. ¡°Never mind, then. While I¡¯m curious, it¡¯s not that important what these rooms were used for.¡± In the corner of the room, a statue of a dragon carved from red-veined white marble squatted next to a set of stairs marching down to the next level. He reached out to touch it, and discovered an incredible smoothness and an unusual warmth radiating from it. The heat increased until he yanked his hand away with a yell. He lashed out with his foot, kicking the statue down the stairs. It banged and clashed against the stone steps and smashed a door below with a deep thud. A high-pitched whistle came from where it landed and then a shriek sounded a bit further away, as if in the same room. ### Carter stood on a hill overlooking a small village. He pointed down at it as he called to his companion. ¡°There¡¯s a village down there, Adora.¡± She huffed as she came up the steep side he¡¯d traversed with ease. ¡°Excellent. We can get us better clothes than these hides.¡± He glanced down at the uneven stitching of his clothes. They and the jagged edges were a testament to his meager skill with stone tools. ¡°I think they¡¯re pretty good for my fifth try.¡± She lifted her stone mace. Its haft was wrapped in tightly wound sinew, and though the chipped rock head bore the marks of trial and error, its balanced weight and firm binding showed the first signs of true craftsmanship. ¡°You did better with this.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She looked to the village he¡¯d pointed out and spotted something he¡¯d missed. ¡°You see that in the back?¡± He leaned forward as he stared down. ¡°It looks like a graveyard. Is that a pillar, or a statue further in?¡± A gust of wind yanked a lock her ebony hair free of her leather tie and across her face. She pushed it away as she answered. ¡°I can¡¯t quite tell. Let¡¯s head down and see what we can find. Maybe they have a map of the area and we can figure out how to get to Stormhome from here.¡± ¡°Good idea.¡± He pushed his own hair back from his face. The brown curls did their best to cling to his fingers under the wind¡¯s guidance. ¡°I have them on occasion.¡± She smiled and bumped him with her shoulder. He chuckled. ¡°Only on occasion.¡± He caught her hand, lifted, and kissed the back of it. Heat rushed through her as she blushed. ¡°If you¡¯re not careful, Your Highness, I might fall in love with you.¡± ¡°¡®Your Highness,¡¯ is it?¡± He nudged her with his shoulder. ¡°Being formal with your husband?¡± ¡°Shush.¡± She hurried down to the village, leaving him to laugh as he caught up. *** The town consisted of squat, thatch-roofed homes clustered along dirt roads, their weathered wooden walls darkened by time and exposure. A central well stood at the heart of the settlement, its stone rim worn smooth by years of use, while a few market stalls had their wares on display near the open space around it. Clusters of people, some with satchels or baskets, moved around the square, browsing the stalls or chatting with neighbors. Human children yelled and laughed at the antics of baby goats in a pen near the stables. A couple of Dwarves looked over a copper half-dragon¡¯s armor next to her forge. A breeze carried the scents of spices, fresh bread and grilled meats to Carter and Adora as several elves walked by carrying covered baskets. ¡°Excuse me, serrah,¡± Carter said. ¡°Where did you get those wonderful smelling foods?¡± A broad-shouldered elf paused and looked him over. ¡°You know some Gorauch?¡± ¡°I do.¡± He waved his hand at his ratty attire. ¡°I¡¯m The Patchwork Knight, Lavitz.¡± The Gorauch raised his eyebrows and waved for his companions to continue without him. ¡°I have heard of the Patchwork Knight. If you are indeed he, you¡¯re smaller than I expected.¡± Carter chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten that a few times before.¡± ¡°The food came from that tavern.¡± The elf pointed. He then leaned closer. ¡°They might have need of the services of the Patchwork Knight.¡± ¡°Why do you say that, serrah?¡± Carter straightened and checked if his sword was clear in its sheathe before finding it missing. ¡®That¡¯s right. I lost it a while ago thanks to the DarkWalker, whoever he or it is.¡¯ ¡°That tale is best told by those within. Good luck, serrah Knight.¡± With that, the elf hurried off. Adora watched him go and then looked to her husband. ¡°What do you think he meant?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go find out.¡± The three-story tavern sat at the other side of the stables. Its ancient stones were etched with faded runes of a bygone era while a timeworn fa?ade, adorned with ivy that seemed to weave spells of its own, housed a door that creaked with the weight of centuries. Above it, a weathered wooden sign squeaked in the breeze, depicting a faded pictograph of a spindle wrapped in curling thread, its once-bold lines worn soft by age but still clear enough to mark The Old Spindle Tavern. Inside, everbright torches provided full light. The air was infused with the scent of enchanted herbs from the hearth, and the soft murmur of various conversations. Serving women hustled back and forth between the kitchen and tables some with laden trays, others with empty ones. One paused for a moment to say, ¡°Find yourselves an empty table and we¡¯ll be right with you,¡± before spinning off to the kitchen. Carter led them over to a carved table and held a seat out for Adora. After she sat, he took the chair across from her, and glanced down at the scene of a magical battle. ¡°Do you know this one?¡± She studied the scene for a moment. ¡°It seems to be of an army of elves fighting one of dwarves.¡± She looked back to him. ¡°There were many of those, centuries ago.¡± Before he could respond, a commotion rose from a back room. They turned to see a brown-haired man in an apron and simple clothes stride into the room. He was followed by a redhead with short hair in scale mail and a prosperous looking dwarf. The man in the apron stopped at their table and said, ¡°Are you mercenaries?¡± His tenor voice contrasted with his wide shoulders and barrel chest. His glare seemed to dare them to deny his charge. ¡°We have need of adventurous types. Brave and courageous folks, right now. We¡¯re willing to pay good gold.¡± Carter raised his hand. ¡°Hold on. Introductions would be polite.¡± ¡°I am Ian, but we don¡¯t have time for banalities.¡± ¡°Well, Ian, where I am from, introductions are not only good manners, but also good sense.¡± He leaned back against the chair and hung his elbow along the top. ¡°I am Lavitz, by the way, and my companion is a WarPriest of Kell¨¹n.¡± The redhead spoke up. ¡°The Patchwork Knight?¡± Carter nodded. ¡°Indeed. What seems to be the problem?¡± ¡°Miah here says we¡¯re having problems up in the old graveyard.¡± Ian jerked his thumb at the redhead. She looked uncomfortable as he continued. ¡°We need your help, and we need it now.¡± ¡°Ian, we can¡¯t go involving random outsiders with our problems.¡± Miah tugged at her hauberk. ¡°My guards can handle this.¡± Ian snorted. ¡°It¡¯s too much for the six of you that are left.¡± He turned back to Lavitz. ¡°A family went up to the graveyard to prepare for the interment of the father¡¯s brother three days ago. They didn¡¯t return. When their servants reported them missing, Miah dispatched a squad of her guards to learn what happened.¡± The dwarf took up the tale. ¡°That was two days ago. She¡¯s reluctant to send more because that might leave us undefended.¡± ¡°That makes sense,¡± Adora said. ¡°What is your involvement with this?¡± The dwarf started. He seemed to have forgotten she was present. ¡°I am financing this mission. Morgan Yurling is my partner in the weapon shop. I can also provide you two with better weapons than you have now, if you accept.¡± Adora nodded and turned back to her companion. ¡°What do you think, Sir Lavitz?¡± ¡°What of the guards who went to investigate?¡± he said. ¡°They are two of my best.¡± Miah straightened. ¡°They¡¯re excellent fighters.¡± Lavitz scratched his dark beard. ¡°Interesting.¡± He took a deep breath. ¡°One more thing. Has there been any troubles at the graveyard before?¡± All three shook their heads. ¡°Our legends of the graveyard speak only of protective spirits and eternal rest,¡± Ian said. ¡°The high fences and sentinel patrols keep the wolves and other animals that live in the forest beyond well away.¡± The dwarf spoke up again. ¡°If you bring back our friends and catch or destroy whoever, or whatever, has invaded, I¡¯ll pay you three hundred gold.¡± Lavitz nodded as he stood. ¡°We¡¯ll help.¡±