《Portal to Eveirea [Isekai / LitRPG]》
Chapter 1.01
Max Freeman looked at the rain-drenched city streets through the side window of the nondescript black van. The wet sheen on the asphalt glittered under the street lamps overhead. Light spilled from a late-night bar as a drunk flung the door open and then, taking one look at the rain outside, changed his mind and retreated back to the bar overflowing with beer rather than endure the streets overflowing with rain.
There would be no such retreat for Max.
In the raindrops on the window, Max could make out little rainbows caused by the aurora dancing in the dark sky. Strange and powerful solar activity meant the city¡¯s rainy night sky was alive with blue-and-purple swirling lights. It was the first time in Max¡¯s lifetime that the aurora had been seen in the sky over the city and was caused by unusually intense solar activity. Solar flares and mass coronal ejections were terms suddenly familiar to anyone who watched the evening news. Intermittent cell phone reception and disrupted electrical service were becoming all too frequent, but the scientists who appeared on the evening news assured the public that the solar activity would soon pass. For some, it was a source of frustration or fear while to others, it was a magical celestial light show. To Max, it was a distraction he could do without.
Tonight¡¯s climb would be tricky. Not that it was ever easy, but tonight he would have to make a conscious effort to block out the added distraction of the light show dancing across the sky. The dangerous act of scaling the side of a slippery, rain-soaked building would require all his attention.
The overly large mobster next to him laid a heavy hand on the back of his neck. Max could feel the heavy gold jewelry on the fat hairy hand. He could smell the cigar smoke as the big man growled in his ear.
He called this one Corpi¡ªat least in his head.
And once under his breath, just loud enough to almost cost Max his life.
¡°You are one talented climber,¡± the corpulent man cooed. ¡°The boss says you¡¯re his best little burglar, so go in, get the loot, and get out. I¡¯ll be waiting for you. Don¡¯t let us down, boy.¡±
Max felt the heavy pressure from the mobster¡¯s hand release, and he continued to stare out at the rain-flooded streets. He knew why the man would be waiting for him. Not to get him out of the rain, wrap a blanket around him, and offer him a hot drink after his climb, but to take possession of the loot Max was about to steal and make sure it got into the hands of the boss. If Max fell to his death, the only thing the organization would grieve for would be the loss of a burglar and a source of income. Neither the boss nor any of his minions would even remember his name in a week.
Outside the van, city lights shimmered in the rain, orange sodium lamps against the purple aurora. The lights reflecting in puddles on the side of the road were suddenly obliterated as the van¡¯s tires splashed through them. The vehicle took a sharp turn down a side street and then into a dark alley where the driver cut the headlights. Corpi grabbed Max by the neck again and growled in his ear, soft and gentle but with a deep, chilling menace that the diminutive thief had come to know so well.
¡°Don¡¯t mess this one up, Max. You grab those black diamonds and get back here quick. Don¡¯t even think about leaving your old friends out in the cold.¡±
Max¡¯s head was shoved hard up against the cold window, and the large mobster directed his view, pointing up with stumpy fingers bristling with thick black hairs that erupted from his knuckles. ¡°There. That¡¯s your way in.¡± He spun Max around and squeezed his face between his thick, calloused hands.
The smell of cigar smoke was strong on the man¡¯s thick mustache. The stench seemed to linger in the deep wrinkles on the mobster¡¯s face. Hairs burst out of his nostrils, and his beady eyes were filled with a permanent glint of malice. Corpi¡¯s smile was never reassuring, but it was even less so at that moment.
Max feared he would never be able to escape this lifestyle, being Freeman in name only.
He had tried to leave once but had been dragged back¡ªforcefully and painfully brought back into the fold. They had tempered punishment with praise, trying to make him feel good about himself and the organization after beating him senseless. They tried to make him feel like he belonged, like he was one of them, that his only life was with them. But he knew he wasn¡¯t one of them and that they didn¡¯t think of him as being one of them. He was always going to be an outsider. He was useful to the boss, quick and nimble and able to break into virtually anywhere short of Fort Knox. He could climb the sheer face of any building and could creep through the tightest of spaces and crawlways. No building was truly secure to him. There were always voids and cavities, crawlways and passageways, and Max could navigate them with ease. His boss knew this made him a perfect burglar. He was just another tool, though, no different than the polished, sawed-off shotgun his boss carried with him everywhere.
Only a few days before, Max had almost walked away. After all, he¡¯d learned from his mistake during the previous attempt at escaping. That time, he¡¯d contacted someone he¡¯d thought was a friend, someone who might help him get away. Unfortunately, that person had been more committed to the boss and the organization than to Max, and they¡¯d double-crossed him.
Max knew how to do it now: disappear into the night, out of the city, out of the state, clear across the country, north, south, east, or west. It didn¡¯t matter where, as long as he got as far away from the boss and the organization as he could. This job had landed in their laps just as Max was making his final preparations to flee, and with the money involved, it was an opportunity he couldn¡¯t pass up.
A laboratory in the city had just received a large shipment of diamonds. They weren¡¯t jewelry grade, but they were still worth a small fortune. It was an easy job, at least on paper. One that was just too good for Max to ignore. After tonight, he would be free from the mafia¡ªand rich.
The fat man shoved a bag into his hand.
¡°You fill this bag with every last diamond you can find, my boy.¡± Corpi grabbed his ear and pulled him close. He chuckled as he stuck his finger in Max¡¯s ear. ¡°And don¡¯t think about keeping any of them jewels from your old friends. I will check every last hiding place in your skinny little body if I get even a whiff of you trying to steal from us. You just bring me those diamonds, and the boss will give you whatever you want. I know you like that girl in the club. You can have her. Just get me those diamonds.¡±
Max had to admit that the new waitress in his boss¡¯s club was pretty, but he knew that she wasn¡¯t interested in him. Few girls were. He¡¯d had a few girlfriends after school, but they had been short-lived, casual relationships that never got serious. He hoped to find someone special one day, but he knew he had to get away from the mob first.
The driver got out, opened the side door of the van, and pulled the thief out. Max tucked the bag in the back of his tight climbing pants. His climbing shoes were stiff with rough toes for extra grip. He powdered his hands as he looked up at the wet side of the building. The lower stories were built from slabs of concrete, but further up, it was all chrome, steel, and glass. It was going to be a long climb. He needed to get to the twentieth floor to access the laboratory where the diamonds had been delivered that very morning.
Lightning stabbed down from the cloud-filled sky and struck the tower on a building a block away. It was quickly followed by a crack of thunder, growling like the roar of a huge beast.
¡°Get on with it.¡± Corpi shoved Max toward the building and then stepped back inside the van, sliding the door shut with a thud.
Max approached the building, mumbling obscenities to himself, and began to climb. He easily found gaps between slabs of concrete and panes of glass. To a casual observer, the side of the building was virtually smooth, but the skilled climber could find purchase on even the narrowest of cracks.
He made it up the concrete slabs with ease. The higher he climbed and the more the rain fell, the job grew increasingly treacherous. This was especially true when he encountered two floors where the exteriors were almost entirely made up of glass.
¡°Keep looking up, Max,¡± he said to himself as he paused to wipe the rain from his fingers. The thief knew looking down would surely lead to a fall, and because he was now twelve stories up, any slip would be fatal. Climbing down at this stage would be even more treacherous than continuing onward and upward.
The stinging cold rain bit his face and fingers, but Max ignored it¡ªand the pull of gravity. When he finally reached his targeted floor, he began to work his way sideways until he found the small ventilation duct where he would enter the building.
Max carefully took out the only tool he carried, a customized Swiss Army knife. He used his teeth to pull out the screwdriver bit and began unscrewing the cover of the duct. He let it fall away, fantasizing about it landing on Corpi¡¯s fat head and killing him dead. The wind took hold of the cover and whipped it away down the alley. He heard it clattering somewhere in the distance just as he started to squeeze into the narrow opening.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
The air duct was less than two feet across. The aluminum tube was warm and grew hotter as he inched forward into the building. Once he felt he was far enough in, Max pulled the blade out of his Swiss Army knife and stabbed through the thin aluminum in front of him. The blade punched through as easily as if he was stabbing a soda can. He switched over to a small set of metal sheers which had replaced the original scissors and started to clip away. The sheers were small and cutting a hole was a slow and tedious job, but he soon cut a hole big enough to slip through.
Once the hole in the duct was complete, the thief could see soft white ceiling tiles below. He carefully reached down and removed one.
Max poked his head through the opening and looked down into an empty office right next to his target. The room he was targeting was partitioned from the central laboratory with simple dividing walls that only rose up six or seven feet from the floor. The thief nimbly dropped down into the office and crept toward the door. He slowly and quietly pushed it open and peered inside for a moment to make sure it was empty. Then he stepped into the laboratory.
The lab looked more like a huge engineering workshop than a sterile house of science, and Max wondered whether he¡¯d broken into the wrong floor. The area was vast and dimly lit by the small lights on the banks of computers and equipment that stood at the outer edge. The center of the room was dominated by a large, dark structure. It looked like two six-foot donuts standing upright, both made of a dark metal. They stood about twelve feet apart, mounted on a wide, elevated platform. Cables ran chaotically between them and from each of the donuts to banks of equipment at the edge of the lab. In the dim light, Max could see the glint of diamonds scattered over the surfaces of both donuts.
The thief moved slowly and quietly, all the while alert to any sounds of movement. There were security guards somewhere in the building who would certainly be patrolling this room from time to time.
The facets of the diamonds on the machine glinted in the low light. All that mattered to the thief¡¯s boss was if Max stole them, he could sell them, and the small bag Max carried could potentially hold hundreds of thousands of dollars¡¯ worth of profit. Not bad for a single night¡¯s work.
Max knew what it meant to steal from the mafia, though. It meant he would have to get as far away from them as possible and never be found, or the rest of his life would prove to be very short and very painful. He pulled the bag out from the back of his pants and started prying diamonds off the large donut now in front of him, using his knife blade. He moved quickly around the entire machine, and soon the bag was heavy with diamonds.
Then he heard a noise.
Max ducked behind a tangle of cables connected to a large silver box covered in lights, buttons, and display panels. His eyes darted around the room, and adrenaline coursed through his veins as the sound of footsteps approached. In the low light, he could make out the form of a feminine figure walking toward the large donuts in the center of the lab. She was heading right toward him.
The lab abruptly lit up as a flash of lightning ripped through the dark sky outside. Max clearly saw the woman approaching in that moment of brilliance as she turned her head toward the window to look outside. He saw her thick red hair dancing in the electric blue light. She was wearing a white lab coat and carrying a tablet computer.
As the light faded, the woman returned her attention to the machine controls and began tapping on the tablet, walking from one screen to the next, working her way around the laboratory. Max crept silently up onto the platform and between the two donuts, trying to keep as much distance between them as possible.
The thief stopped at the sound of her voice, soft and sweet, confident and intelligent.
¡°It is currently two a.m. The machine is powered down. No sign that the unusual solar activity and the lightning storm are interacting with the experiment in any way.¡± She checked a display readout on a large power unit. ¡°All power is drained from the system. The transport portal will be ready for the next test run as soon as the storm and solar activity have passed.¡±
The young woman spoke into the tablet computer as she walked toward Max¡¯s hiding place. Even in the low light, the thief could see she was beautiful. Max had never believed in love at first sight, but as his cheeks flushed, he thought the red-haired beauty just might change his mind on that subject. He had to fight down the urge to step from his hiding place and introduce himself with a smile. It would make a great story to tell in the future about how they first met, after all.
Another flash of lightning lit up the sky, and Max¡¯s shadow flickered over the platform between the two dark donuts.
The young lady gasped as she saw the shadow and then looked right at his hiding place. The thief looked out at her from the shadows, frozen as he took in her pale lips, blue eyes, and wild red hair.
So beautiful! Max thought.
¡°Who are you? Are you with maintenance? Security?¡± He could see her eyes darting around nervously, instinctively knowing he was an intruder with no legitimate reason for being there. ¡°No one is allowed access to the lab. You can¡¯t be in here. Get away from the experiment! It¡¯s dangerous.¡±
Max stood up. He looked around the lab and identified his escape route. If he climbed one of the donuts, he could leap across to the partition wall of the nearest side office, and he could be back out the way he came in moments. Then all he needed to do was get back to the ground without slipping and falling, which would be no easy task. That had always been the riskiest part of his plan since he had no intention of returning to the van and the mobsters waiting for him. He was going to escape with this haul of black diamonds.
¡°Are you here to steal information about the experiment? I promise you, no one else has the equipment to achieve our results. You will just have to wait until we publish.¡± Then she saw the bag in Max¡¯s hand, and her eyes went wide. ¡°You¡¯re not here to steal our research! You¡¯re her to steal the diamonds!¡±
The young woman¡¯s expression turned haughty. ¡°You¡¯re just a thief,¡± she said with contempt, but then her expression changed again.
¡°Those diamonds are worthless to you,¡± she insisted. ¡°They were custom created to have a very specific molecular resonance, and we can¡¯t run this experiment without them.¡±
Max continued to back away, but the young woman was so beautiful and her voice so sweet. He couldn¡¯t keep a smile from his lips, knowing he was in no danger and could escape at any time. His eyes were drawn to her chest and he noticed the badge pinned to her coat. Her name was Janet.
¡°We are on the verge of a breakthrough,¡± the woman went on, pleading with Max. ¡°This portal will revolutionize transportation. No more burning fossil fuels. We will be able to shrink space between two points and step from one portal to the other as if stepping through a doorway. If you take even one of those diamonds, you will set us back months. Think about the greater good!¡±
¡°It¡¯s nothing personal,¡± Max said, attempting to put on a charming smile. ¡°I just do as my boss tells me. I¡¯m sure you know what that¡¯s like, telling people what to do.¡±
She scoffed. ¡°I am nobody¡¯s boss. Do you think I would be here at two in the morning running basic checks on the power for the experiment if I was in charge?¡± She shook her head and lowered her eyes. ¡°I¡¯m just a lab assistant. And if you run off with those diamonds, I will be lucky if I am still a lab assistant in the morning. If I let you get away with them, they will fire me for sure. Please, give me the diamonds back.¡±
The beautiful lab technician stepped up onto the platform with Max just as another flash of lightning lit up the dark laboratory, followed by a deep rumble of thunder that shook the windows. Max glanced at one of the dark donuts. The same purple swirling aurora he¡¯d seen in the sky now seemed to dance around the outer edge of the circular structure.
Lightning burst through a window and struck the bundle of cables he had once hidden behind. The two donuts instantly lit up with dark purple-and-blue light, strands of purple lightning crackling from one donut to the other.
The lab assistant reached out and grabbed the bag of diamonds in Max¡¯s hands, but he held onto the bag and pulled it toward himself. Her grip was firm, and she stumbled toward him. They locked eyes for a brief instant. The thief was impressed with how beautiful and fierce her eyes were, even though he could see she was afraid. She was brave and strong, and Max found it all a little bit exciting and very alluring. As the lights danced around the two huge donuts, her hair stood up like a wild red mane. He felt his skin tingle, not sure if it was the strange purple light or the thrill of being so close to the beautiful woman.
Max had a job to do, though. The thief was not an overly powerful man, but he was a match for the beautiful lab tech. He yanked on the bag of diamonds, but she refused to let go, and they tugged back and forth.
The lab technician suddenly looked up as the lights danced between the two dark donuts. Pulses of electricity raced back and forth, increasing in speed.
¡°We need to get away from here!¡± she said, eyes wide. ¡°The experiment. It¡¯s activating!¡±
Again, lightning flashed into the laboratory and hit one of the donuts. Max felt the hairs stand up on his neck. He really wanted to let the girl have the bag of diamonds, and if he could have afforded to part with them, he would have given it to her. But he couldn¡¯t. This was his only chance to escape, and he would need every diamond in that bag¡ªand probably a lot more.
Max felt the high-grip toes of his climbing shoes bite into the deck beneath his feet as the lab tech pulled with an almighty tug on the bag. Then she gave up and let go.
¡°Get away from the experiment. It¡¯s going to activate, and you¡¯re going to be caught in the portal!¡± A truly terrified look came over her face as she yelled. ¡°We¡¯ve only sent small inanimate objects through the transit field so far. It¡¯s too dangerous for living beings. We were going to experiment on a mouse for our first live test, but it¡¯s not calibrated for anything as large as a person.¡±
She turned to step away from Max, but then she looked down in frustration to see that her small gold bracelet had snagged on the diamond bag. Max tugged the bag hard to pull it from her but only succeeded in dragging her toward him. She reached out with her free hand and tried to detach her bracelet from the bag, panic starting to take hold of her.
The thief knew that the sooner she freed her bracelet, the sooner he could be away into the dark, his new future ahead of him. He stepped toward her and let her pick away at the clasp that was snagged on the bag of diamonds. She glanced up from the bracelet to the pulsing lights on the two donuts. Her red hair was standing up in fine singular strands all around her head, purple lights flickering from the tips of her hair.
Max felt all his hair standing up too.
Then the lights on the sides of both donuts started flashing on and off. Lightning shot from the face of each black diamond still in place on the apparatus. The girl gasped and let out a small whimper of panic. The lightning flickered in strands between the donuts like fine electric hairs. Then all the bright strands of light were drawn to the bag of diamonds in the center of the platform.
The beautiful lab technician looked at Max with terror on her face. He tried to let go of the bag, but he was stuck, frozen to the spot. A loud buzzing started somewhere in the lab, building to a crescendo, and then all was quiet. The girl looked at him, her lip quivering, and then the laboratory plunged into darkness, falling away on all sides, falling away into silent nothingness.
Chapter 1.02
Max didn¡¯t know how long he¡¯d been lost in darkness. It might have been a minute, it might have been a day. For all he knew, it had been centuries. He realized it must have been at least ten or twelve hours because the sun was shining brightly, and the last he could remember, it had been the dead of night. He propped himself up on his elbows and found that he was completely naked.
The thief was suddenly wide awake, up on his feet, and scrambling to hide his nakedness. He could feel a cold breeze chilling his skin from head to toe and realized he wasn¡¯t in the lab anymore. Max looked up into a deep blue sky with light wispy clouds high above then at the tall yellow stalks of wheat that surrounded him. Lastly, he peered down at the dark, rich earth beneath his bare feet.
He definitely wasn¡¯t in the city anymore.
Max looked all around him for his stuff. His clothes. His multi-tool. His climbing shoes. His bag of black diamonds. They were all gone.
¡°Not the diamonds,¡± the thief moaned. He looked around, scrabbling through the dirt and the tall stalks of wheat.
They have to be here somewhere!
Max stood up and looked out over the sea of golden wheat. The tall strands came up to his shoulders, but still he covered his privates with his hands, feeling more uncomfortable than he had in a long time. He was, after all, standing out in the open in a vast sea of wheat, completely naked. The thief turned this way and that, looking for anything that might help him, and then spotted a scarecrow a few hundred yards away.
A scarecrow?!
¡°Where the hell am I?¡± Max screamed at the sky then turned his attention back to his surroundings. He could have been anywhere on Earth.
¡°How did I get here?¡± the thief muttered, shaking his head. It had to be related to that transport experiment the lab technician had been talking about. It must have sent him clear across the country.
Or had he fallen? He couldn¡¯t remember leaving the lab, but maybe he had gotten out, then slipped and fallen, hitting his head. Maybe he was lying in a hospital bed, concussed and high on pain meds, just believing he was in some vast farm in the middle of nowhere.
Yeah, that makes more sense. Max chuckled at the thought.
With nothing else to do, he shrugged and started walking toward the scarecrow.
The straw man was a simple affair. One long pole stuck into the ground. Tied crossways at Max¡¯s head height was another stick forming a cross. There was a burlap sack hanging on the cross stick, while a strange purple, pumpkin-like fruit sat on top with a scary face carved into it like a jack-o¡¯-lantern. A tattered straw hat sat on top to complete the scruffy scarecrow.
Max kicked the scarecrow down and removed the burlap sack. He pulled his new shirt over his head, and it hung down to his knees, kinda like a scratchy, crotchless romper. As irritating and itchy as the burlap sack was, it was better than standing there totally naked.
Now, he needed to find something to put on his feet. The ground was soft but was littered with sharp stones, so he had to watch his step. Max reached down and grabbed the long stick that was the scarecrow¡¯s body and knocked off the jack-o¡¯-lantern head. He figured he could use it as a walking staff to take the pressure from the stones off his feet.
Standing in the middle of the field looking this way and that, wondering which way to go, Max scratched his head. He could see nothing from one horizon to the next other than a sea of yellow wheat. As he gazed at the endless golden stalks, the ones nearest to him started to twist and turn, then letters and numbers seemed to form among the wheat stalks.
Max closed his eyes and rubbed them hard. Was he starting to hallucinate? He opened his eyes again, but now he could clearly see words the stalks of wheat.
Name: Max Freeman
Class: None
Level: 0
Health: Full
Strength: 9
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
And underneath his stats he saw a list of his inventory.
Inventory:
? Burlap sack
? Staff
What the hell is this? he wondered, but then rationalized seeing his personal stats listed out like that wasn¡¯t any weirder than everything else going on.
Max looked at his health bar. It was completely full and colored green, apparently indicating he had full health. He thought about that and had to agree. He actually felt fine¡ªapart from the itchy burlap sack tickling his butt and shoulders. The thief looked away from the stats table as a sound caught his attention. His eyes straying, he glimpsed out of the corner of his eye that the strands of wheat untangled, and the stats table disappeared as the wheat reverted to its natural form.
The sound that drew his attention turned out to be a flock of birds circling overhead, six dark shapes in the clear and cold blue sky. As they beat their wings, the air seemed to twist and turn, and Max saw more words appear next to one of the birds.
Name: Death Crow
Status: Hostile
Attack: Beak and claws
Threat level: Moderate
At that moment, one of the Death Crows turned and swooped down toward Max. It went after him with its claws extended and attacked him on his shoulder then pecked him hard with its beak before it swooped back into the sky to circle above with the others.
Death Crow attacks Max causing minor damage.
¡°Why, you nasty little . . .¡± Max grabbed his shoulder which burned with an intense pain where the Death Crow had pecked him. He could feel warm, sticky blood leaking from the wound.
And then a second Death Crow came sweeping in and pecked him hard on the other shoulder.
Death Crow attacks Max causing minor damage.
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
All at once, Max was feeling very weak. The third crow came sweeping in, and Max crouched down on the ground amongst the wheat. The Death Crow swept in and scratched the top of his head with its claws.
Death Crow attacks Max causing minor damage.
Max stayed down as low as he could, staring at the dirt between the rows of wheat in the process. He thought he could see more words forming in the dirt. He blinked a few times, and another image came into focus. It was a health report, and it wasn¡¯t good.
His health bar was red and almost empty. Even though he¡¯d only taken three hits of minor damage, it had drained his health almost completely, and he had gone from full health to low health in seconds.
He knew he couldn¡¯t take many more attacks from these aptly named Death Crows. They were only dealing minor damage, but that was enough to cause him serious problems.
¡°What the hell is going on?!¡± Max yelled as he looked up at the Death Crows circling nearby.
That was a mistake.
More Death Crows dove into the wheat, the tall dry strands rustling as the crows ripped through the crop. They couldn¡¯t see him, but the thief knew they would eventually find him. Out of nowhere, one came flying straight toward him between two rows of wheat, sending him rolling out of the way as he tried to evade the attack.
Death Crow attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
¡°You¡¯re not going to peck me to death, you nasty little beasts,¡± Max roared, standing up with his wooden staff in hand. He gripped it as if it were a sword and waited for the next crow to attack. He didn¡¯t have to wait long as another Death Crow dove down at him almost immediately. The thief channeled all the martial arts skills he had learned playing VR video games and swung at the nasty creature.
Max attacks Death Crow.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
The crow easily evaded the staff, veering away sharply. A second crow swooped down behind Max where he couldn¡¯t see and pecked him hard on the back of his right shoulder.
Death Crow attacks Max causing minor damage.
Max felt dizzy and weak. He knew he couldn¡¯t take much more of this and looked to the ground again, trying to check his health, but there was nothing there. He looked around frantically, searching for both enemies and his stats. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a stats table forming in the strands of wheat.
He only had time to see that his health bar was almost gone¡ªonly a thin red line remained¡ªbefore another crow swooped down at him. Max grabbed the middle of the staff to get more precise control and let the crow move in. At the last moment, he turned the staff sharply and knocked the crow out of the air.
Max attacks Death Crow causing critical damage.
Max saw another crow sweeping in toward him. He swung the staff again and knocked the second crow out of the air.
Max attacks Death Crow causing critical damage.
Two crows were now flapping helplessly on the ground, struggling to get away, but Max didn¡¯t have time to worry about them as he ducked to avoid another crow flying toward his head.
Death Crow attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Given a brief respite, Max jabbed at the two Death Crows flopping around on the ground, putting an end to both of them.
Max attacks Death Crow causing mortal damage.
Death Crow has been defeated.
Max attacks Death Crow causing mortal damage.
Death Crow has been defeated.
Enraged at the death of their comrades¡ªor just generally enraged¡ªtwo more Death Crows came in for a double attack, one on either side, and Max jabbed at one and then the other. He missed the first as it broke off its attack but struck the second on the beak, causing a small amount of damage. More importantly, he avoided taking more damage himself.
Another set of crows swept in right after the others, but this time, Max was ready for them and wheeled the staff around, swiping first to his right then jabbing back to his left. He delivered hard blows to both Death Crows in a skillful one-two move like he¡¯d seen in old kung fu movies.
Max attacks Death Crow causing mortal damage.
Death Crow has been defeated.
Max attacks Death Crow causing mortal damage.
Death Crow has been defeated.
The two remaining Death Crows dove toward Max, and he could see their health bars in the swirling white curls of wind streaming off their wings. The lead crow had already taken minor damage, and its health bar was about two-thirds full. The thief once again took hold of the staff like a sword, two hands at the base of the stick. He wheeled it around above his head, struck as if swinging at a baseball, and caught the first Death Crow hard on its side.
Max attacks Death Crow causing mortal damage.
Death Crow has been defeated.
The first crow fell to the ground, but Max didn¡¯t lose his focus. He continued swinging around to his right, pivoting comfortably, his balance perfect. He swung the staff one-handed and struck the final Death Crow a hard blow with the end.
Max attacks Death Crow causing mortal damage.
Death Crow has been defeated.
Max turned around and looked for more Death Crows, but none remained. A moment later, a new message appeared among the stalks of wheat.
Max gains experience points.
An XP Meter appeared below the message, and the experience points flowed into it, causing the bar to fill slightly.
The thief shook his head. The strangeness of finding himself in a field fighting crows and receiving experience points already starting to feel normal somehow.
¡°So, what¡¯s my health?¡± Max wondered aloud, looking around for his health bar. There was nothing amongst the wheat, but then he noticed the clouds swirling and a window with his statistics appeared. It showed him exactly what his health was. His health meter was almost completely empty and flashing red. He knew that he had nearly been killed by the Death Crow attacks, and it had only taken a few hits of minor damage before his health was critically low. He felt sure that if he had taken one more hit, he would have been finished.
If he was going to have any chance of survival, he needed to get stronger. First, though, he needed to find out where exactly he was. This was like no farm he¡¯d ever heard of, with Death Crows attacking and stats appearing in the clouds and stalks of wheat.
Max thought back to the last moments he could remember before awakening in the field of wheat. The last thing he had been aware of was getting zapped by that strange machine then being lost in the dark. And then he was in a wheat field fighting Death Crows.
How? he wondered, feeling a profound sense of loneliness and despair threaten to overtake him. If he couldn¡¯t find help soon, he very well might die out here¡ªwherever ¡°here¡± was¡ªand that thought was more than a little concerning. A part of him did find it darkly humorous to imagine someone finding his body in the middle of a wheat field wearing nothing but a sack.
I¡¯m not dead yet though!
One direction was as good as any other, so Max picked one and started walking. He knew he had to move if he was going to survive, and he just hoped for a little good luck to get him out of this situation alive.
The thief walked for several minutes, using the staff to help him pick his way through the surprisingly large number of sharp stones in the soft earth. Something caught his attention far away to his right. He turned and thought he could see a red sheet fluttering over the surface of the wheat. It didn¡¯t look like a Death Crow, but that didn¡¯t mean it wasn¡¯t something worse. Something large and red.
I hope it¡¯s not a dragon!
He laughed to himself, thinking his imagination was getting away from him. Max didn¡¯t want to tempt fate though, so he walked in the opposite direction from the red thing. A moment later, something else in the distance caught his eye. Something coming through the wheat, heading straight toward him.
The approaching shape turned out to be a farmer with some sort of farming implement in his hand, one that he waved wildly as he ran toward the thief.
Max held his staff high in the air in a manner that he hoped didn¡¯t look threatening in any way. ¡°Hey, over here!¡± He moved toward the farmer but soon saw that the man was not as happy to see Max as Max was to see him.
¡°What¡¯s this guy¡¯s problem?¡± Max muttered to himself. ¡°Has he got any stats I can check?¡±
As soon as Max asked the question, he saw a window of stats form in the dust that rose up from the wheat field as the farmer ran toward him.
Name: Common farmer
Status: Angry
¡°What¡¯s he angry about?¡± Max wondered, starting to feel a bit uncertain about interacting with the man.
The farmer was wearing an old-fashioned shirt with a few holes at the neck and a lace string tying up the shirt. Puffy sleeves of white cotton flapped around as the farmer ran forward, carrying what Max could now see was a wooden rake.
Although it was made of wood, it looked like it could do at least moderate damage should the angry farmer decide to attack Max with it. His health was so low, there was no way he could withstand any damage from the angry farmer. However, Max was confident in his conflict resolution skills. After all, it wasn¡¯t the first time he had been caught somewhere he wasn¡¯t supposed to be.
The thief twirled the staff around in his hands and had to admit he was getting used to wielding his new weapon. It was thick enough and heavy enough to cause significant damage but still light and thin enough for him to wield it with ease. He swung it in front of himself like it was a longsword and then spun it like the staff it was. He didn¡¯t want to get into a fight with an angry farmer, but he was going to be ready if it came to blows.
The farmer drew closer, and Max could hear him shouting between deep gasping breaths. He could see the man was tired, and he felt relatively fresh himself, even though he knew his health was low. The thief felt a confidence the situation likely didn¡¯t warrant, but you couldn¡¯t survive in his line of work without being a little overconfident from time to time.
¡°Hey, you! I see you. What are you doing in my crops?¡± The farmer waved his rake menacingly but also well out of range of Max¡¯s staff. ¡°I¡¯m fed up with you young men from town coming out here and doing whatever it is that you do in my crops. Ruining my scarecrow.¡± He pointed the rake at Max, who was indeed wearing the remnants of the scarecrow.
¡°I¡¯m going to give you a beating you won¡¯t soon forget. You won¡¯t be in a hurry to come back to my field when I¡¯m finished with you!¡±
Max backed away slowly. As foolish as the farmer looked in his puffy white shirt and his straw farmer¡¯s hat, that wooden rake looked dangerous, and the farmer sounded extremely angry.
The situation was quickly getting out of hand, and Max had a choice to make. Was he going to stand his ground, or was he going to flee? If he chose to run, where would he go? If he decided to stay, would he have to fight? Could he talk to the farmer, apologize, and assure him that he wasn¡¯t here to steal his crops and explain that he had only broken down the scarecrow because he¡¯d arrived in the field completely naked.
Max only had a moment to ponder his decision as the farmer stormed toward him.
Chapter 1.03
Max felt the weight of his situation bearing down on him. He didn¡¯t know how much longer he could survive. A small flock of birds had nearly killed him, after all, and now he was facing an angry farmer holding a weapon that would likely do far more damage than a peck or a scratch. To make matters worse, he had no idea where he was or where he would even go if he tried to run.
The thief pushed down his instinct to run and chose to face the angry farmer. Maybe he could convince the farmer he was no danger to him. Maybe the farmer would even help him understand where he was.
Max put on a brave face, but inside he was quaking. He took a deep breath and stood up straighter, stiffening his resolve. He hoped that he could successfully deal with this angry farmer the same as he might if he was dealing with an angry dog. Show no fear, and hopefully the beast would back down or at least act more rationally.
He checked the farmer¡¯s stats again, and the table of information emerged from the dust swirling around the man who angrily brandished his wooden farming implement above his head.
Name: Common farmer
Status: Angry
Attack: Wooden rake
Threat level: Moderate
Seeing that the threat level from the farmer was only moderate should have given Max some comfort, but his health was so low already that even that would be enough to finish him off. In fact, Max was feeling so weak, he feared he may even succumb to a few harsh words.
¡°Sneaking into my crops. Knocking down my scarecrow,¡± The farmer muttered, his breath ragged from running across the field. ¡°I ought to take your ugly head off.¡±
Now Max was offended. Ugly? Him? He didn¡¯t think of himself as an Adonis by any means, but he had always considered himself relatively good-looking, especially compared to those mafia goons he was usually around. Not that any of the girls back home ever paid much attention to him. He just hadn¡¯t found the right girl yet, but he knew he would someday.
The farmer had certainly noticed him though! The awkwardness of the situation was at the front of Max¡¯s mind. He was acutely aware of the itchy burlap sack scratching his skinny behind, tickling the back of his neck, and making him feel extremely uncomfortable, but he¡¯d much rather stand there wearing an old sack than nothing at all.
¡°My apologies. I¡¯m so sorry. I don¡¯t know how I got here.¡± Max tried to charm the farmer with a polite apology, hoping to cool his anger a bit. ¡°In fact, I don¡¯t even know where here is.¡±
Max started to feel more anxious about not knowing where he was than about the angry farmer he was confronting. He was utterly lost and no idea how he¡¯d gotten there. He didn¡¯t know if the strange machine had transported him or if the gangsters had stripped him naked and dropped him in a field to die.
The farmer came to a halt within striking distance of Max. The man¡¯s red face was partly from anger but mostly from the exertion of running across the field.
He scowled at Max. ¡°Why did you break down my scarecrow?¡±
¡°I woke up in the middle of your field with nothing on. Completely naked.¡± Max tugged the burlap sack on his chest. ¡°I borrowed this from your scarecrow because I needed something to wear.¡±
¡°What kind of game are you playing, running around my field naked? I swear, I will never understand you townsfolk.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not from the town, and I don¡¯t know how I got here. Can you tell me where I am?¡±
The farmer was slowly regaining his breath, and he stepped forward menacingly, waving his heavy wooden rake at Max. ¡°You¡¯re in my field, and you have ruined my scarecrow.¡±
The farmer stepped forward again, and Max braced himself for battle. His fingers tightened on the staff, and he watched carefully as the farmer approached, waiting for the precise moment the farmer came within striking range of his staff. Max was going to land the first blow and hoped it would be enough to chase off the farmer.
The farmer abruptly stopped advancing and looked down on the ground. He poked the ground with his rake and then looked up at Max, his face a picture of surprise. The thief glanced down to where the farmer was poking, and he saw one of the dead crows.
¡°Did you kill this Death Crow?¡± the farmer asked, looking between the Death Crow on the ground and Max. He wore a look of surprise on his face.
¡°Yes, I did. But only because they attacked me.¡± Max pointed at the scratches on his shoulder and neck. ¡°I think they were trying to kill me.¡±
¡°You think they were trying to kill you?¡± The farmer said, looking even more puzzled. ¡°You mean there was more than one?¡± The farmer started looking around.
¡°Yeah,¡± Max replied hesitantly. ¡°Six in all. The others are back here.¡± He pointed over his shoulder with his thumb.
¡°These Death Crows have been plaguing me for months.¡± The farmer lowered the rake and came closer, leaning on it slightly. ¡°You¡¯ve saved my crop, young stranger. I thought I¡¯d be stuck with them until the end of my days.¡± A smile spread over the farmer¡¯s puffy red face. He reached out a hand to Max. ¡°Come with me, young man. Let¡¯s get you out of that dirty old sack. It¡¯s the least I can do to reward you for ridding me of these infernal birds.¡±
Max followed the farmer through the sea of wheat and then into a meadowland of rich green grass with small colorful flowers scattered throughout. They passed a solitary, fat milk cow chewing the lush meadow grass and continued on until they came to the farmer¡¯s house. It was a low, whitewashed cottage with a thatched roof, a thin wisp of smoke drifting from the stone chimney. The farmer pulled open the simple wooden door and stepped inside. He motioned for Max to follow him into the gloomy interior.
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¡°Come in,¡± he called out. ¡°Sit down at the table.¡± The farmer pointed at a simple table in the middle of the dark cottage. He disappeared through a curtain-covered doorway and reappeared with a small bundle of clothes a moment later. He set them down next to Max and indicated with a nod and a smile that Max should get changed. The farmer turned his back and stirred a black pot that was hanging over a fire in the stone hearth, giving the thief a little privacy.
Max took a pair of pants off the pile of clothes the farmer had given him. They were a dark color and made of soft and light material, fastening in the front with laces. He pulled them on with an audible sigh of relief and laced them up before pulling the burlap sack off over his head. The thief grabbed the whitish shirt the farmer had brought and found it was made of a light material similar to the pants, also fastening in the front with laces. The sleeves were puffy and made him look like a pirate, but it was so much more comfortable than the scratchy old sack that he didn¡¯t care one bit.
There was also a tight black vest that he put on over the shirt, making Max feel like he was cosplaying a medieval brigand or something. It would be a great outfit for the next costume party he got invited to. The last thing in the bundle was a pair of shoes that were little more than slippers made of leather. They were infinitely better than walking barefoot, though, and he happily pulled them on. The slipper shoes were soft and comfortable, and they made his feet feel like he could walk a hundred miles in them. Of course, they would probably be the first thing that got destroyed once he started walking because they were clearly made for comfort over utility.
He looked around the room for his stats and found them in the smoke above the fire. By now, Max had figured out that thinking about what he wanted to see would make it materialize somewhere. The challenge was figuring out where it would show up. He focused on his inventory and saw that it had updated.
Inventory:
? Light shirt
? Light pants
? Soft boots
? Burlap sack
? Staff
The farmer glanced over his shoulder to make sure the young man was dressed then took a ladle and filled a wooden bowl with steaming broth from the pot. ¡°I was just about to eat when I saw you attacking my scarecrow,¡± the man explained as he offered Max the bowl. ¡°Here, try my stew. It¡¯s not as good as my daughter makes, but I think you¡¯ll find it¡¯s tasty enough.¡±
Max took the bowl, suddenly realizing how hungry he was. His stomach gurgled at the promise of food, and he ate greedily. The stew was absolutely delicious, and he tipped the bowl up and finished every last drop. As he placed the bowl back on the table, he could feel his health recover.
¡°That¡¯s so much better than McDonald¡¯s,¡± Max said, looking at the farmer.
¡°Who is this MacDonald? Is he from around here?¡± The farmer refilled Max¡¯s bowl. ¡°I don¡¯t think I know them.¡±
Max gazed around the cottage, feeling like he was in one of those open-air history museums he¡¯d visited as a kid. ¡°So, where is this place?¡±
¡°You really don¡¯t know where you are?¡± The farmer looked at the young man questioningly as he placed a fresh bowl of soup on the table. ¡°This is the county of Bright Meadow.¡±
¡°What state is that in?¡± Max asked.
¡°Oh, we are in a very good state since the new king took over,¡± the man said happily. ¡°The Kingdom of Breamor has never been more prosperous.¡±
¡°King?¡± the thief exclaimed. ¡°You have a king?¡±
The farmer laughed. ¡°Did you take a knock on the head from those Death Crows? Every land in Eveirea has its own king.¡±
Eveirea?! Max had never heard of a place called Eveirea, but he had never been much for geography either, so that wasn¡¯t entirely surprising. He absently wondered about his health and saw the steam rising from his bowl of soup twist into a stats window.
His health had returned to full, the bar filled with a bright green color. He no longer had any injuries, and more importantly, felt fit and healthy once again.
¡°I need to find my way home,¡± Max said, turning his attention to the farmer. ¡°Thank you for the soup and the clothes. Is there any way I can get a ride into the city?¡± At this point, Max didn¡¯t care what city. He just needed to get out of the countryside and find somewhere familiar so he could get his bearings and find out where he was.
¡°Finish your soup, and then I¡¯ll point you toward town.¡±
Max greedily ate until his hunger was banished, the farmer sitting opposite him puffing on a long thin pipe. Once the thief had finished, the farmer led him outside.
¡°The town of Burke lies along that road.¡± The farmer pointed at a road passing near his cottage, a road that was little more than a dirt track.
The sun was still high in the sky, and there was a chill in the air. The fresh set of clothes seemed warm enough, and Max decided there was no reason to linger any longer. He gripped his staff tightly and made ready to head off to town, hopefully to find a bus or a train that would take him back to the city.
¡°Thank you again for taking care of the Death Crows,¡± the farmer said. ¡°You have saved my little farm. I have no right to ask any more of you, but if you are going to town, would you please deliver a letter to my daughter? She runs a laundry business in the middle of town.¡±
The man scribbled a quick note and sealed it with a blob of wax. ¡°I just want her to know the good news that the Death Crows have been vanquished. It¡¯s all in the letter. Look for the washer house on the main street in Burke.¡±
Max took the letter and pondered everything he had experienced since waking up naked in the field. The quaint farm, the funny clothes, and now this old-style letter.
¡°Of course, I¡¯ll take it to your daughter.¡± Max turned the letter over in his hand. There was no address, only a name. Meg.
Max furrowed his brow and shook his head slightly. Everything is so strange here!
He shrugged and dropped the letter into the burlap sack and tied it to the end of his staff then set off down the road in the direction the farmer had sent him.
The road passed through fields and meadows, and Max had a powerful urge to check his phone while he walked. Unfortunately, he no longer had his phone or literally anything else he had possessed before breaking into the secret laboratory. The thief supposed it didn¡¯t matter anyway because he was sure there¡¯d be no reception around here.
Max walked on, carrying his staff over one shoulder, the burlap sack hanging from the end. When the road climbed upward, he removed the sack and used the staff like a hiking pole to help him with the climb. As he crested one of the taller hills, he caught his first glimpse of a town in the distance. Tall chimneys peeped up over the horizon with gray wisps of smoke rising into the clean blue air.
The town was just across a field to his left, maybe a mile away, two at the very most. The road, however, wound around and over several hills before eventually turning left and down toward the far end of the town. It would take him through several extra miles of hilly terrain, resulting in hours of additional walking.
Surely, the thief thought, it would be much faster to simply take the direct route and walk across the field straight into town. The field didn¡¯t look that big, after all, so Max stepped off the road and onto the grass. It was soft underfoot, and although the grass came up almost to his knees, it was easy to walk through. He took several steps away from the road, heading directly for one of the chimneys of the town, then he paused.
Max looked back at the road, considering the wisdom of leaving the established pathway, and then he gazed across the field. With a shrug, he turned toward the obvious shortcut and strode off across the field. If the going got too rough, he could simply turn back and continue following the road. Worst case, he¡¯d have wasted a little time. The possibility of saving several hours of walking was worth the risk, he thought.
Chapter 1.04
Max walked through the meadow, tall, soft grass swishing against his knees. The walk was easy, and he moved comfortably over the landscape in huge strides. After an hour or more of comfortable walking, he glanced back to see how far he had come and realized he¡¯d been walking down a gentle slope for some time. The town in the distance had vanished behind a hill before him as he headed down into a narrow, wooded valley. The forest wasn¡¯t very broad, just a thin strip of trees from what the thief could see, and there was likely a little stream running through that forest following the twisting valley in the middle of the meadowland.
He shrugged. The thief liked the forest and knew he¡¯d soon be climbing the slope on the other side, then up to the edge of the town. He marched on, confident he was still heading directly toward the little town.
Max noted that the sun was dipping toward the horizon now. It had been a long day, but he figured there was enough time to get to the town before sunset.
The sun seemed particularly large as it approached the horizon, larger than Max had ever remembered seeing it. He wondered if the clear air of the countryside made the sun appear different than it did through the dirty city air he knew so well.
The slope of the meadow became steeper, and the thief found himself skidding down a grassy slope. He used the staff to steady himself and moved sideways, zigzagging down the steep slope, using the trunks of trees on the sides to climb down. He grabbed one and then another, slowing his descent, steadying his gait, until he finally reached the bottom of the valley.
Birds twittered in the dappled sunlight, and somewhere a brook was babbling¡ªjust as he had predicted. He walked straight ahead, remembering where the town lay in the distance.
Max had always had a good sense of direction. It was part of what made him a good thief. He always knew where he was heading, where he¡¯d come from, and he was able to navigate with confidence and ease. So, he marched on through the forest with supreme confidence, the thick carpet of leaves crunching and rustling beneath his feet.
Through the trees, he noticed a flash of light up ahead. His chosen path was taking him straight toward it, and he was growing more curious as he went. As he approached, Max saw something odd lying at the base of a broad tree trunk.
Forest floor plants had grown up in a tangled clump near the base of this trunk, and within the tangle of roots and branches, something glinted in the rays of sun that penetrated the forest canopy. Max stuck his staff into the twisted tangle of forest plants, and he heard the wood strike something metal.
Intrigued, the thief pushed the twisted knot of vegetation aside with the tip of his staff, pulling some this way and others that way until he cleared a small patch. He looked down into the clump of twisted leaves and branches, excited to see what he had found.
What he saw looked as if it were the breastplate of a suit of armor. No doubt it had once been highly polished, but now it was tarnished and dull. He poked at it again sharply with his staff, and it returned a dull, metallic sound. Max cleared more of the branches away and saw a sword lying there too. A rusty, tarnished sword with a black handle.
He got down on his knees, and grabbing hold of the handle of the sword, he pulled it out from the tangle of undergrowth. The weapon looked ancient, the bindings on the hilt crumbling in his hands. The blade was covered in rust. Max pulled it free of the vegetation and saw it was as broad as his arm and almost as long as he was tall. It was extremely difficult to maneuver, so he tossed it to the side and returned his attention to the armor.
Max dropped back to his knees next to the tangle and grabbed the piece of armor with both hands. He tugged on it hard, but it was stuck in the leaves and vines. He pulled on it with all his might, and the breastplate suddenly ripped free, sending him tumbling backward. The armor landed on top of him¡ªcomplete with the body of the previous owner. Max lay on his back, stunned, looking up into the empty eye sockets and grinning mouth of a skeleton.
The thief flung the breastplate and the skeleton aside and scurried away. He¡¯d never come face-to-face with a skeleton before, and it took him a minute to get over the fright. Once he¡¯d calmed down, he returned and could see he had not only found a breastplate but an entire suit of armor¡ªnot to mention the complete skeleton of the previous wearer.
Max stood and looked down at the skeleton in its armor next to its ancient sword. He glanced around the forest, wondering how this ancient Warrior could have lain here for so long without being discovered? Did no one ever come this way?
He studied the skeleton and spotted a small pouch on the hip of the ancient fallen Warrior. Max pulled the leather pouch free and tossed it up and down, relishing the metallic jangling within. He pulled open the drawstring and looked inside the brown leather pouch.
Gold!
Golden coins filled the pouch, and he emptied the contents into his hand. Ten coins spilled into his palm. Max looked around nervously, sure someone would come to claim this gold, but the forest remained empty save for himself. He regarded the Skeleton Warrior and figured it had no further need of coins. Max quickly put the ten gold coins back into the pouch and deposited it into his own burlap sack alongside the letter for the farmer¡¯s daughter.
In the weave of the burlap sack, he saw stats forming out of the strands of coarse brown material. It was his inventory, and it had been updated.
Inventory:
? Light shirt
? Light pants
? Soft boots
? Letter for farmer¡¯s daughter
? Burlap sack
? Staff
? 10 gold
He focused on the woven strands of coarse brown fibers that made up the burlap sack and willed his personal stats to appear. A moment later, the window shifted from his inventory to his personal stats. Max grinned because he was finally figuring out how to use his new skills, whatever the source of them happened to be.
Name: Max Freeman
Level: 0
Health: Full
Strength: 9
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
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Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Pick Pocket
? Sneak
He was happy that his health was full again, and now that he was getting used to the idea of his physical attributes having numerical scores, Max had to admit he liked what he saw. His Intelligence was really high, as were his Stamina and Agility. He had always considered himself fairly smart, though maybe not book smart like some. It wasn¡¯t that he had just simple street smarts either. He¡¯d always thought he could make anything of himself if he really tried.
Wisdom was another story. The thief had to admit¡ªto himself at least¡ªthat he wasn¡¯t surprised that his Wisdom was low. He had a track record of making poor choices, which was how he¡¯d ended up working for his old boss and tied up in the criminal underworld.
On a more positive note, with his high Stamina and Agility, he was able to climb with ease and had good balance. That was probably why he picked up using the staff so quickly and was able to wield it so expertly after only a few tries when the Death Crows had attacked.
Overall, Max was pretty pleased with his Attributes.
He closed the burlap sack, effectively dispelling the stats window, and tied it back onto the end of his staff. He searched the remains of the fallen warrior for more loot but found nothing else of interest. The armor was far too big and heavy for him to wear, as was the sword, so he left them on the ground. The clothes weren¡¯t worth taking either.
So, happy with the ten gold coins, Max decided to continue on his journey and looked around to get his bearings. He saw the path he¡¯d been following through the forest and put his back to it, directing his view deeper into the forest ahead. He spotted the slope on the other side of the narrow forest that would take him back out of the valley and set off walking. He heard the gold coins jangling inside the burlap sack and knew he¡¯d have to exchange those as soon as he got back to the city. He would go to the nearest pawnshop and swap them for a fat stack of cash.
He hadn¡¯t traveled very far when Max thought he saw a flash of red out of the corner of his eye. He searched and strained his eyes but could see nothing but the dappled sunlight streaming down through the deep green of the forest canopy. He shrugged¡ªmaybe it was a bird or something¡ªand continued walking.
He wasn¡¯t sure what made him stop dead in his tracks, but he had long ago learned to listen to his instincts. Max slowed his breathing so he could better hear. He could feel the sweat on his brow and the hairs tingling on the nape of his neck.
Somewhere in the forest, there was movement. He could hear something creeping through the undergrowth. Light footsteps on the leaf-strewn forest floor.
The thief quietly looked around but saw nothing, and everything seemed to go back to normal. He set off walking again, moving a bit faster but also staying observant. He reached the stream that ran through the center of the wooded valley without incident and crossed over in a few bounding steps. The water was so shallow, he hardly got his feet wet, and the soft leather shoes the farmer had given him kept his feet warm and dry.
When he stopped on the other side of the stream, he heard the noise again. Louder this time. All at once, something came crashing through the trees, and he got a glimpse of a large dark shape moving in the shadows. Max peered into the shadows, trying to get a better view of the dark shape, and then the shadow stepped forward into a shaft of sunlight that pierced the leaves and branches.
A window appeared above the dark shape, formed in the shards of light and shadow.
Name: Wolf
Status: Hostile
Attack: Crushing bite
Threat level: Dangerous
The wolf snarled and took a step forward, its huge paw touching down softly in front of it. Max was as captivated as he was terrified by the dark eyes in the black fur. The teeth bared in the beast¡¯s huge mouth looked large enough to bite off his head and were stained yellow. The wolf snarled and took another step forward.
Max held his staff in front of himself as he had done with the Death Crows, ready to fight. He knew that this wolf was a much more dangerous enemy than even six Death Crows, and standing to fight it with little more than a walking stick for a weapon was utter madness. Unfortunately, running didn¡¯t seem like a good idea either, as his mind suddenly filled with images of large predators chasing down their feeble prey. He couldn¡¯t run, and he couldn¡¯t fight, so the thief did the one thing he was good at. Max bolted toward the nearest tree.
As soon as Max moved, so did the wolf. It bounded forward in huge leaps, its front paws pounding into the ground as the back paws came forward and propelled it toward its prey. The wolf¡¯s dark eyes were fixed on Max, its long yellow teeth ready to rend and tear.
Max dropped his staff, abandoning it and all of his belongings in the sack as he reached up and gripped the bark of the tree. He pulled himself up, his fingertips gripping the ridges in the rough, thick bark. The thief pushed up with his toes, the soft shoes from the farmer perfect for the task since his toes could feel every ridge of bark through the soft leather. He quickly moved up the thick trunk, and after a few seconds, he reached a branch. He grabbed it with both hands, swinging his legs up and around the branch just as the wolf leapt at him. Max hung upside down from the branch, and he heard the wolf¡¯s jaws snap shut just underneath him. He saw the wolf land and skid through the leaves littering the forest floor then turn and prepare to leap at him again.
Max quickly pulled himself up onto the top of the branch and stood up, balancing while steadying himself with a hand on the bark of the main trunk. He took a calming breath, which wasn¡¯t easy to do with the slavering wolf looking up at him with deadly black eyes. He had faced certain death from a fall many times, knowing the cold hard asphalt would end his days in an instant should he plummet down the side of a building. The idea of falling down and being torn apart by the wolf was significantly more terrifying since he knew it would be a much slower and more painful death as the beast¡¯s teeth tore him apart.
¡°Focus, Max!¡± he admonished himself and took a deep breath and looked to the tree trunk as the wolf leapt at him again.
He decided to climb to a higher branch.
The wolf leapt again, snapping up at him, twisting in the air before landing gracefully, a snarl on its maw and a twinkle of murder in its black eyes. With a growl, it gave up leaping, knowing now that Max was out of reach of its snapping jaws. Then the wolf reached its front paws up the trunk, scratching at the bark.
It¡¯s trying to climb the tree!
For a panicked moment, Max wondered if wolves could climb trees, but it quickly became apparent that all it could do was scratch off some bark.
The wolf¡¯s black eyes looked up at Max, its red tongue lolling out of the side of its mouth, hanging between sharp yellow teeth.
Max felt his breathing ease knowing he was out of reach of the wolf, and he looked down as the creature paced back and forth at the base of the tree, occasionally staring up at him. The wolf stopped at one point and sniffed at his staff and burlap sack before resuming its frustrated pacing, watching Max with cold menace.
The thief sat on a thick branch and leaned back against the trunk, safe for the moment. Higher up, he saw that the branches of the tree mingled with the branches of others around it. Max knew which direction he was heading and wondered if it was possible for him to find a way through the canopy, going from branch to branch, tree to tree, all the way out of the forest.
He looked down at the staff with the bag of his belongings. And his gold. Maybe if the wolf fell asleep or lost focus and wandered off a few feet, he could jump down and quickly grab his staff and bag. Max knew that was a hopeless thought as soon as he thought it, though, and knew the wolf would be on him in a fraction of a second. It would tear his throat out the moment he came down from the tree.
As he thought about it, Max knew that the idea of making his way through the branches wasn¡¯t going to work, either. With all the attention the wolf was paying to him, it would simply follow, knowing that sooner or later, he would have to come down. All he could do for now was rest, catch his breath, and try to figure out a workable plan.
¡°Use your Intelligence and try not to do anything stupid,¡± Max muttered to himself as he looked down at the wolf, who let out a lazy yawn.
The thief was picking out a route through the treetops when he saw a shimmering white cloud in a shaft of sunlight. He saw that the swirling mist was framed by a deep black shadow. The mist swirled, fine strands of white twisting and turning, flickering one way and another, almost taking shape only to be lost again. But the shadow had no structure, just a deep black that was almost solid, almost like a tear in reality.
As Max watched, the white cloud within the dark outline danced like marsh mist caught in a breeze, but the cloud wasn¡¯t dispersed by the breeze, and the more it swirled, the more it seemed to take on the shape of a person. The cloud shape slowly drifted toward him, and the thief felt his full attention drawn to the strange little cloud, hypnotized by it.
He wondered if his mind was playing tricks on him. Maybe he was just wishing for someone to come and help him, and his stressed-out mind was creating a hallucination so he could feel better about this hopeless situation. The shape came closer and closer, looking more and more like a person until finally, the cloud swirled rapidly then wisped away, leaving the forest empty again.
His heart fell, and Max knew he was truly alone. And he was trapped.
Chapter 1.05
Trapped up a tree in the middle of a forest, lost in a strange world he hardly recognized, a wolf pacing back and forth on the ground beneath him with long yellow teeth and slavering lips waiting for him to fall. Max had been in a city laboratory stealing industrial diamonds only a few hours ago. How had he ended up here?
He remembered the lab assistant shouting at him. The huge dark donuts glittering with the industrial diamonds scattered across their surfaces. The aurora and the lightning in the rain-filled night sky. He remembered how the lightning had struck the experiment, and it had sent him falling into darkness. And then he¡¯d awoken. Naked and alone. Lost.
The more he thought about things, the more certain Max became that the mysterious apparatus had sent him to this place, and not his mob bosses. He couldn¡¯t help but smile at the thought of having escaped the mafia. If he didn¡¯t even know where he was, how could they?
He looked at the tangle of branches and let them twist and turn so they formed a window of his stats. It was all he had to work with, but that wasn¡¯t unusual.
He regarded the wolf pacing about below, looking up at him with hungry eyes.
¡°Picking pockets isn¡¯t going to help me today,¡± he muttered. The wolf turned and paced back the other way. ¡°Maybe Sneak. I could always move quietly when I wanted to. I¡¯ve had lots of practice sneaking around at night for the boss, avoiding security.¡±
The wolf turned.
¡°But all security would do if they caught me was hold me until the cops showed. And all the cops would do is read me my rights and throw me in a holding cell. I don¡¯t think this wolf is going to do any of that.¡±
The wolf turned again, kicking up leaf litter off the forest floor. It snarled and let out a low guttural growl.
Max was close to despair when he saw the shimmering white cloud once again appearing next to him. It was outlined by the deepest black that made the white even brighter. Was desperation creating this illusion? But Max could see something swirling and emerging out of the dark outline. The cloud was taking on a shape. A fine shape. Under a long white cloak, there was a shapely female form. The wild red hair seemed to swirl as if it was floating underwater. A voice came from the cloud. It sounded like thunder. It punched at Max¡¯s ears. Although it hurt, he knew the sound was inside his head.
¡°Where am I? Can you see me?¡±
Max looked at the cloud. The voice mellowed. Soft now.
¡°I can see you,¡± Max said, tilting his head this way and that, trying to focus on the figure before him. The figure, swirling like a mist and barely formed, spoke to him.
¡°Someone is coming.¡±
Max was sure the voice was coming from the misty form. The cloud swirled violently as if stirred by a strong gust of wind. The vaguely human shape twisted and turned like rising steam in a strong breeze, and then it was swallowed up by the black outline and was gone.
Max felt alone and bereft again. Not even the ghostly figure to keep him company. He knew he must be losing his mind if he was conjuring ghostly companions. The thief looked down at the wolf. The only wolf in he¡¯d ever seen was in a zoo. The only trees were in the park. The nearest farmer probably hundreds of miles away.
He stared at the wolf in disbelief.
Where was he? Was any of this even real?
A movement deep in the trees caught his eye. From his vantage point high in this tree, he could see only as far as the tangle of leaves and branches would let him, and nothing new was revealed to him. The wolf had detected something approaching, too, for it sniffed the air, its huge nostrils opening up and sucking in a lungful of air, searching for a hint of what approached.
Max heard movement in the trees again, as if someone moved at great speed. He saw the wolf cocking its huge head from side to side, trying to zero in on the sound. The wolf¡¯s sense of smell was keener than its hearing, and its nose pointed toward the approaching figure. Max followed the wolf¡¯s gaze and looked.
He could hear something, just a rustling of the leaf litter on the ground. When Max had tried to move quietly over the forest floor, even though he was skilled at moving stealthily, he hadn¡¯t been able to keep quiet. The dry leaves and twigs crackled under his feet no matter how lightly he moved. And the branches reaching this way and that had creaked and crackled as he had pushed them aside, but whatever approached seemed to move over the forest floor as lightly as a feather on the breeze. He detected the slightest movement of the branches as they were moved aside, and then he caught a glimpse of what was approaching.
It was difficult for him to make out the image clearly. The shape seemed to shift in and out of the trees, melding with the branches, the bark of the tree trunks, and the leaves. But as it came closer still, Max was sure he was seeing a human form.
The figure stepped into a small clearing twenty yards away - a dark-haired beauty with green, almond-shaped eyes and smooth skin. Tight leather armor clung to her shapely body. It covered her bosom but left her shoulders and neck exposed. Her thick dark hair was pulled back and cascaded over her shoulders. Her emerald eyes looked up at Max. They were strange and beautiful and unlike anything he¡¯d ever seen before. Her full lips pursed together, and she raised a finger to those lips to give Max the signal to be quiet.
The leather-clad woman twirled a six-foot-long staff in her right hand as easily as if she were a baton twirler in a marching band, but Max could see that the staff was heavy and sturdy. Leather straps wrapped tightly around each end creating a tough covering to protect the wood from any heavy blows it might land or take.
She took another step forward. Tight leather boots rose high to her knee, her bare thighs a deep tan. A short brown fighting skirt made of strips of leather gave her freedom of motion while exposing more of her shapely legs.
Max stared at this mysterious beauty. She stepped behind a low branch and almost vanished from view, melting into the branches and leaves, almost invisible. Her form melded with the natural twisting of the branches like a camouflaged predator hiding in natural cover.
The wolf let out a low growl that twisted Max¡¯s guts. The creature was sniffing again, a little to the left and then a little to the right, fine tuning the location of whatever was approaching. It stood on three paws with its front left one raised off the ground, then it stepped forward, gently but with menacing purpose, walking slowly toward the leather-clad beauty.
Max called out. ¡°Look out, lady! A wolf!¡±
The trees parted, and the piercing emerald eyes stared up at Max. A smile on her full lips, and again, she bid him to be quiet with a gentle shushing.
Max searched for her stats until the trees above her twisted and formed them.
Name: Anita Charmroot
Class: Druid
Level: 10
Health: Full
Strength: 14
Stamina: 12
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Agility: 14
Intelligence: 12
Wisdom: 17
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Charm animal
? Herbology
? Wilderness lore
A sexy druid! Max exhaled, a smile on his face.
Anita stepped into the clearing, her staff in one hand at her side. She crouched to the ground and placed one hand on the forest floor as if pulling power from the land itself.
Max looked down at the Druid¡¯s tight tunic, at her chest heaving gently as she breathed slowly and calmly.
The wolf stepped forward, a low growl building in its throat, growing into an intimidating snarl.
Anita extended her left arm toward the wolf, her right hand still holding the staff at her side. She whistled lightly with a sound that was beguiling and melodious.
Max could see the air shimmering around her fingers as she called gently to the wolf. It looked like heat haze, but there was also the faintest flickering of light as if glitter hung around her hand.
Anita uses Charm Animal ability.
The wolf slowed its step, and the snarl in its throat grew silent. Still, its lips were curled back over its huge yellow teeth, and it sniffed the air, standing poised and ready to attack but motionless for the moment, increasingly calm as it fell under Anita¡¯s charm ability.
Anita continued to whistle as the wolf shook its head violently, saliva flicking away from its huge maw. It growled and took a step forward.
Max shifted his position in the tree, and a small branch, dead and dry, that was hung up in the rich green foliage, came loose as Max shifted. The dead branch tumbled down from the tree. Light although it was, it fell like an arrow, straight down toward the wolf.
The dislodged branch struck the wolf on the nose. The beast whimpered for a second, shook its head, and then let out a bloodcurdling snarl. The thick dark hair on its back stood up, making it look even larger and more fearsome. The very sight and sound of the wolf poised to attack sent a shiver down Max¡¯s spine.
Anita stood up. The lilting tune faded as her attempt to charm the wolf had failed. Max could see that the wolf was focused on her, its dark eyes fixed on its target, its lips curled back over its teeth ready to bite down, to tear and crush.
Charm Animal fails.
Anita twirled the staff one-handed as the wolf stepped forward. She gripped the staff in its center and twirled it with both hands. It spun faster and faster until the leather-bound tips of the staff were little more than a blur. The wolf bounded forward in a mighty leap.
Anita brought the staff around from her left and struck the wolf with a hard crack on the side of the head. The wolf staggered to the right as Anita followed through with the right-hand end of her staff and struck the wolf a second heavy blow. The animal stumbled to the side and appeared stunned. With the wolf motionless, Anita jabbed her staff forward into its throat then flipped backward, away from the beast.
Anita attacks Wolf causing moderate damage.
She landed a dozen feet away and skidded to a halt. She twirled the staff with her right hand as the wolf shook its head to clear it.
The wolf growled again as it regained its focus. It stared at Anita, growling low then began to slowly circle, its side exposed to Anita but its eyes fixed firmly on her.
Max could do nothing but maintain his grip on the branch and hope the Druid could defeat the wolf without getting mauled.
The wolf lunged forward again.
Anita brought her staff around the right side and struck the wolf again, but before she could bring her weapon around the left side to complete the devastating double strike that had halted the wolf¡¯s previous attack, the wolf bit down on the staff. It snarled and growled and started tugging at the staff furiously, very nearly ripping the weapon from Anita¡¯s hands.
Anita attacks Wolf causing moderate damage.
Anita attacks Wolf.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
Anita took hold of the staff at one end with both of her hands and fought with the wolf. She pulled back and then thrust forward, shoving the staff deeper into the creature¡¯s huge mouth before again attempting to pull it away from its huge maw. The wolf held on, growling and snarling, pulling the staff so hard that Max was sure the Druid would be pulled off her feet. Anita lashed out with her left foot, forcing the creature back.
The wolf let go of the staff as Anita yanked it and kicked the beast away. She did another back flip and Max nearly fell from the tree, completely mesmerized by the Druid¡¯s lithe body. When she landed, the wolf was already coming after her, but she was ready for him and took the staff by one end and swung around in a wide arc.
The staff caught the wolf a glancing blow on the side of the head. The creature fell to the side, whimpering.
Anita attacks Wolf causing moderate damage.
The wolf was on its feet in an instant and leaped forward again.
Anita brought the staff up to protect herself, holding it between her and the wolf, but the wolf avoided the staff and snapped its jaws shut, narrowly missing Anita¡¯s left wrist.
Wolf attacks Anita.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Max watched the fight move further away as Anita gave ground with the wolf pushing forward, but her staff struck true time and again while she continually avoided the monster¡¯s attack. Max checked the wolf¡¯s stats that appeared in the leaf litter at the wolf¡¯s feet. Its health bar was going down, but even though the wolf had taken some heavy blows from Anita¡¯s staff, the beast¡¯s health was still fairly high.
Anita had defended against the wolf¡¯s attacks so far, and her health was still full, at least for now. As the fight moved off deeper into the trees, Max looked up the slope toward the town. Now that the wolf was occupied, he knew he could make his escape. He climbed down the tree quietly while the wolf was totally focused on Anita the Druid. He landed on the ground lightly and picked up his sack and staff.
He looked over at Anita fighting the wolf, her green eyes fixed on the beast. This was his opportunity. This was what he had always been good at, sneaking away. He had done it so many times when in a tight spot: hiding in shadows, moving quietly and stealthily until the cops or whoever was looking for him had their attention elsewhere, and then he could slip away into the darkness.
Max hated the choice. The Druid seemed to be a match for the wolf as she used her weapon skillfully with powerful, accurate strikes. The thief picked up his staff. He knew he couldn¡¯t fight at the same level. He¡¯d taken down a few Death Crows, and although they were fast and dangerous, they had been nowhere near as deadly as this wild wolf.
Anita suddenly yelled out in pain.
Wolf attacks Anita causing moderate damage.
Max saw that the wolf had bitten down on her left wrist, and the leather armor covering her wrist was being shredded as the wolf jerked its head side to side. Anita struggled to maintain her balance but was in danger of losing her footing, and then she would really be in trouble. Max knew what he had to do.
In an impressive display of courage, if he did say so himself, Max turned toward the battle, dropping the burlap sack containing his gold and the letter to the farmer¡¯s daughter. He picked up his staff and held it like a longsword then ran toward the wolf.
Anita looked up at him with wide eyes as he ran forward. She shook her head as if to warn Max off this brave course of action. But Max was committed, intent on saving the beautiful Druid. He leaped into the air, raised the staff high above his head, and as he landed, he brought the staff down heavily right across the wolf¡¯s back. The impact was jarring and sent vibrations up the staff and shot through his hands and wrists.
Max attacks Wolf causing moderate damage.
The thief nearly dropped the staff but was confident his attack had devastated the wolf. When he looked to where he expected the creature to be whimpering in pain, he saw a very different scene.
The wolf let go of Anita¡¯s wrist and turned on Max. It regarded him for a moment, curled its lip, and then leapt forward in attack.
Time seemed to slow down for Max and freeze for a brief moment that he felt might be his last. Anita¡¯s wide eyes stared at him, and the wolf¡¯s dark eyes fixed on him, saliva falling from its mouth as it opened its jaws. He took in every detail of the terrifying moment, and then time returned to normal as the wolf¡¯s front paws hit him in the chest, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling backward and to the ground.
Wolf attacks Max causing minor damage.
The damage dealt was thankfully low, but Max now lay on the forest floor, his head spinning. As he fought for breath, he felt the wolf¡¯s paws on his chest.
Max could feel the wolf¡¯s claws through the light cotton tunic the farmer had given him. He held his arm up to protect himself from the crushing bite that was sure to come. He could smell and feel the wolf¡¯s hot breath as it opened its mouth and bit down.
Wolf attacks Max.
Max quickly moved the staff in front of him, and the wolf bit down on the staff instead of his arm.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
Max pushed the staff right to the back of the wolf¡¯s mouth and stopped the wolf from fully closing its mouth. The long yellow canines at the front of the wolf¡¯s mouth dripped saliva onto Max¡¯s chest.
The wolf suddenly let go of the staff then lunged forward.
Max pulled away, trying to escape, but the creature¡¯s jaws clamped down on his shoulder.
The thief yelled out, the pain making his head swim.
Wolf attacks Max causing critical damage.
Max felt darkness close in and his vision began to fade.
At least the pain will go away, he thought groggily.
Chapter 1.06
Max lay on the ground with the wolf standing on top of him, the creature¡¯s crushing jaws biting down onto his shoulder. Looking into the branches high above him, he saw them form into the window of stats. He checked his health and saw there was only a small sliver of red.
The wolf sunk its teeth deeper into Max¡¯s flesh, tearing skin and muscle. With its grip firm, the creature started to shake Max about in a wild frenzy before it finally let go and dropped him. The thief looked up at the wolf, and it stared back down on him. The monster was glaring at him with deep black eyes, totally empty and devoid of any emotion or compassion yet mesmerizing all the same. Fear hammered in Max¡¯s chest, knowing he was only moments from death. Over the hairy shoulder of the wolf, Max saw the Druid approach.
Anita¡¯s hands were busy, moving in a complex pattern in front of her. She was chanting in an unfamiliar language, words Max couldn¡¯t understand. They were strange and beautiful just like the Druid herself, and as she spoke, soft lightning flickered between her fingers. She rolled her hands over one another as if moving an invisible ball.
Max could see a strange, shimmering effect around her hands. And as she spread her hands apart, a glowing golden cloud filled with flashes of blue lightning appeared. She moved her hands forward, and the glowing cloud flew forward and enveloped him.
Anita casts Basic Healing on Max.
Max immediately felt revived. He felt his wounds heal and saw the stats in the branches above him change, his health bar filling back up, at least a little bit.
He looked up at his savior and saw she had her staff in her hands again. The Druid swung it around in a wide arc and cracked the wolf on the side of the head.
Anita attacks Wolf causing moderate damage.
The wolf let out a howl of pain and turned its attention to the Druid. Max scurried backward through the leaves, trying to create separation from the beast. Once he was clear, he staggered to his feet and gripped his staff in both hands. He leaped forward and swung with all the might he could muster.
The swing was on target, and he caught the wolf hard on its rear hindquarters.
Max attacks Wolf causing moderate damage.
Max saw a red health bar appear on the ground under the wolf¡¯s feet just as Anita twirled her staff and delivered a double blow to the wolf¡¯s head.
Anita attacks Wolf causing heavy damage.
The wolf staggered from the powerful blow and Max could see the beast was almost done. The wolf looked at the Druid with a whimper then bolted away, into the trees. Max backed away, happy the fight was over.
Anita, on the other hand, had no intention of letting the wolf live to fight another day. She quickly moved her hands in an intricate pattern in front of her then threw them forward, toward the fleeing wolf. Lightning shot forward from her fingers
Anita casts Magic Bullet.
The Magic Bullet flew forward catching the fleeing wolf on the back of its head with a sickening crack. The wolf dropped, its legs gave way from underneath it, and it skidded forward in the leaf litter. Its tongue hanging out between its terrible yellow teeth.
Wolf has been defeated.
In the dust that swirled up around the fallen wolf, he saw his stats.
Max gains experience points.
He could see experience points from the defeated wolf pouring into his XP meter. It was filling up, but he had barely survived the encounter. Again.
Max let the stats displayed in the swirling dust fade away as he noticed Anita limping toward him. She was using her staff to help her walk.
¡°Well met, traveler,¡± the Druid said as she approached Max. She was still slightly breathless from the fight with the wolf, and Max did his best to ignore her chest heaving inside the snug leather tunic as she caught her breath.
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¡°Hi,¡± Max said and held out his hand. ¡°I¡¯m Max. I¡¯m very pleased to meet you.¡±
Anita took hold of Max¡¯s forearm in greeting. Max understood and took hold of her forearm, too, and they stood there for a moment, locked together. She was staring into his eyes. Her green, almond-shaped eyes were so strange and absolutely beautiful. He knew she was checking him out too.
Max had never met anyone like her before, and maybe he was as strange and appealing to her as she was to him. Finally, Anita pulled away. ¡°Hello, Max, I am Anita. Warrior Druid.¡±
¡°I thought that wolf was going to be the death of me,¡± Max said, looking toward the fallen animal.
¡°It was nearly the end of both of us,¡± Anita said. ¡°I have taken a lot of damage, and my Health is low, and I can see you, too, are quite low on Health. Unfortunately, I cannot cast the Basic Healing spell again. It is going to be dark soon, and I need to rest and prepare more spells. I think it best if we leave the forest. What way are you heading, Max?¡±
¡°I was heading to the town just on the other side of this forest valley.¡± Max pointed in the direction he had been heading before the wolf had trapped him up a tree. ¡°I think that¡¯s probably the closest safety we can find.¡±
¡°That¡¯s the town of Burke just up that slope. I will travel with you if you are happy to have my company.¡±
His heart began to beat faster. ¡°Of course, I would be happy to have your company.¡± Max could hardly take his eyes off her. ¡°We should definitely stick together, at least until we get to safety.¡±
Anita Charmroot, Level 10 Warrior Druid, joins Max¡¯s party.
Max picked up his burlap sack and used his staff to help him walk. The pair of them went as quickly as their wounds would allow them, and soon, they found themselves in the densest part of the narrow forest valley. The trees were so thick that Max could hardly see more than a few yards ahead. The dense tangle of branches made progress slow and difficult.
¡°So, why are you out here in the forest, Max?¡± Anita asked.
Max was breathless from picking his way through the thick branches, and he struggled to speak. Anita seemed to have no such difficulty.
¡°I thought I was taking a shortcut,¡± Max said.
¡°You tried to take a shortcut through the forest valley? You must be very brave . . . or very foolish. Everyone in the Breamor Kingdom knows to avoid this area.¡±
¡°Lucky for me you weren¡¯t avoiding it. I might have been stuck up a tree for days if you hadn¡¯t come along.¡±
¡°I am not here by accident, Max. The Druid Order of Eveirea has detected a shift in the natural order. We have observed a change in many wilderness creatures, driven by some dark magic new to the world. I have been sent forth by the Order to try and track the dark evil back to its source.¡±
Anita had quickened her pace while she talked and Max let her pull ahead so he could admire her from behind. He was barely paying attention to her words as she continued to tell her story.
¡°So far, all I have learned is that this dark magic is spreading, it¡¯s corrupting animals, and it¡¯s even starting to corrupt people. The taint is spreading through the earth and through the air. It moves from creature to creature and along the branches and the roots of the trees. It infects everything as it creeps slowly over the land, and I can¡¯t find where it is coming from.¡± The Druid turned toward him, her lips pursed¡ªfull luscious lips that Max desperately wanted to kiss.
¡°I came down into the forest valley here to find creatures affected by the darkness. I thought it would help me find the source of the taint. Unless we can find it, we will never be able to save Eveirea from this terrible corrupting evil.¡±
Anita stopped in her tracks and tilted her head as if listening carefully. She took hold of Max¡¯s hand and pulled him close. He didn¡¯t resist as she raised her hand¡ªand his¡ªand let her place his hand against her leather-clad chest. Anita pressed her finger to her full lips and bid him be quiet.
Anita was listening carefully, turning her head slowly as if to detect the direction a distant noise was coming from.
Max could feel Anita¡¯s strong heart beating in her soft bosom as they looked around the forest, searching for whatever the Druid had heard. A small white cloud swirled out of thin air and formed before him, but it appeared to be only visible to him as Anita¡¯s eyes passed right over the cloud without pausing.
It was the same cloud he had seen before, and as he looked closely, the cloud took the form of a person in a white robe. As the cloud¡¯s swirling slowed, the robe started to look more like a white laboratory coat. A person emerged from the cloud, still surrounded by the black outline, red hair dancing about her head like flames. Max spotted the name tag on the chest of the figure.
Janet.
The woman, who he now recognized as the technician from the laboratory, looked at Max and then pointed into the forest behind them.
¡°Something is coming, Max. Something dangerous.¡±
¡°It¡¯s coming from over there,¡± Max whispered to Anita, pointing with the tip of his staff in the direction that Janet had indicated.
The white cloud swirled away and vanished. Anita turned to him with surprise in her eyes, and he could tell she was impressed with him. He looked down at his hand which she still held tight to her chest, and had to admit that he was very impressed with her as well.
¡°You are a surprising man, Max. I have been trained in Wilderness Lore since I was a girl, and yet I only just detected the wolves closing in on our position.¡±
¡°Wolves?¡± Max spoke in a loud, panicked voice.
Anita hushed him again. He calmed down instantly, lost in her emerald eyes.
¡°I can move through the forest easily and remain almost entirely hidden. The wolves will not find me unless I want them to.¡± She looked Max in the eyes. ¡°Can you outrun them?¡±
Max felt weak in the knees. He was wounded enough that it was difficult for him to walk. Running for any distance wasn¡¯t a good option. His Sneak ability seemed like a better option.
The thief pointed up into the trees.
¡°I can climb and move silently through the trees. There are too many sticks and dry leaves that rustle underfoot down here. The wolves will find me for sure. We must climb.¡±
Anita shook her head as she laid a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You climb. I can hide down here, and the wolves will never find me. I am a Druid, and this is what I¡¯m trained for. Head for the town of Burke.¡±
Max climbed the nearest tree and picked out his route through the branches. He moved carefully and quietly. The thick branches under his feet felt firm and let him move with hardly a sound. He looked down toward Anita with concern, but she waved him on. Max realized that quite by accident, he could see right down her tunic. She was an impressive woman, but he was no Peeping Tom, and he was just about to avert his eyes when she moved and was gone. She had only turned slightly to the side, but she simply melted into the leaves of the trees around her. Max studied the branches below, trying to see where she had disappeared to. She suddenly re-appeared, emerging from the cover of the dense foliage and pointed in the direction they needed to go.
Max moved off, across the branches from one tree to the next. He felt the air grow colder as the sun set, and by the time he reached the edge of the forest where it met the sloping grasslands, the sky had turned from blue to black. Stars filled the deep black of the night sky, a mass of twinkling lights. Anita was waiting for him, and the pair walked up the slope, both tired, both using their staffs to help them climb. And then, at the top of the slope, Max saw the dark outline of the town of Burke, a distant shadow in this strange world.
Chapter 1.07
Max walked alongside Anita through the tall grass of the meadowlands. It was getting much colder now that night had fallen, and he could feel the cold air through his light shirt. Anita seemed quite comfortable, though, even with her leather outfit exposing so much of her skin. The thief stayed a step behind, mesmerized by the leather strips of her fighting skirt swishing back and forth as she strode purposefully through the tall, soft grass.
Now that they¡¯d left the forest valley, Max could see the edge of town, a dark shape in the distance. The town was surrounded by a wooden palisade that separated the cluster of buildings from the vast meadows. The palisade, made from tree trunks driven into the ground, was around ten feet tall, the tops of each log sharpened into a point.
Although the land was flat, the grass was long, and it was getting harder to make progress. The going was tough for Max, and he wondered why there were no roads. Looking down, he checked his stats by summoning a window in the swaying blades of grass. His Health, unsurprisingly, was still low.
Not far to go now, he thought, gazing longingly at the distant town wall. Soon he could rest and recover. He had the gold coins from the deceased warrior in his sack, and he was sure he¡¯d find somewhere in town where he could buy a bite to eat and a bed for the night. Surely a meal and some rest would bring his Health back up. He would even treat Anita to a meal and a bed. It was the least he could do given that she had saved his life.
¡°Is your hometown far from here, Max?¡± Anita said.
Max was lost in his own world, images of the Druid in bed filling his mind. He exhaled, a small smile on his lips.
Anita nudged him. ¡°Max? Did you hear me? I asked if your hometown was far from here.¡±
Max felt his face flush and looked around at the countryside to cover his embarrassment. Lush meadows stretched into the deep dark of night, and the night sky that was filled with stars. He had never seen so many stars. It must be because he was out in the countryside, not in a brightly lit city. Although he had never studied the constellations, he couldn¡¯t see anything in the sky that he recognized, none of the obvious patterns that every kid learns. He thought of the Death Crows that had attacked him. He thought about how his stats would appear to him when he chose to view them, how Anita had cast a magic spell on him to restore his Health. This was not a world he knew at all. He sensed that he was very far from home.
¡°Dunno.¡± Max replied, shaking his head. He really didn¡¯t know where he was, and he was beginning to feel cold and lost. He shivered, not sure if he was shivering from cold or fear.
¡°Dun Arrow?¡± Anita asked, her face screwed up in consternation. ¡°Dun Arrow? I have not heard of that town. It must be far from here because I know the Kingdom of Breamor very well, and all the neighboring kingdoms, too. I have traveled back and forth across the continent of Awen, and I even crossed the Kraken Sea to the continent of Scarfel once. I have seen more of the world of Eveirea than most people twice my age, but I¡¯ve never come across a town called Dun Arrow. You must really be lost.¡±
Max nodded ¡°I am, and I have no idea how I got here. I¡¯m not even sure where here is.¡±
They walked on toward Burke, silent in the darkness except for the swishing of their feet through the blades of lush grass. Anita produced a small bundle of moss from her pouch and blew on it, whispering softly. It lit up in her hand and showed the way ahead with a deep-green glow. Max could now see a cobbled surface of a road cutting through the tall grass, appearing slightly green in the glow from the Druid¡¯s moss. The road stretched off toward the town of Burke, so Max and Anita headed for the road.
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Somewhere in the distance, a wolf howled, drawing their attention.
¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Anita assured him as she laid a comforting hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That wolf is far from here, calling to its clan. If they were hunting us, we wouldn¡¯t hear them howling. They would be silent.¡±
¡°Lucky for us,¡± Max said, glancing nervously around, now more worried about the wolves that weren¡¯t howling. He gripped his staff more tightly, but he knew he couldn¡¯t take any damage from another wolf attack. The slightest bit of damage and he would certainly be done for.
¡°You¡¯re lucky,¡± Anita said. ¡°As lucky as you are handsome. Tell me, how did you get to be so far from home, out on your own in the wilderness¡ªin the forest valley, no less? You haven¡¯t even made your first level yet, but somehow you came to be so far from home all alone. I really don¡¯t know how you survived. I think you must be the luckiest person I¡¯ve ever met.¡±
Max gazed at Anita, at her bare shoulders and her bosom rising and falling in her tight leather tunic as she breathed. Her boots laced up tight against her legs, her leather fighting skirt swishing back and forth, showing off her thighs. Max thought he was never going to be lucky enough to get lucky with her.
¡°I sense your nervousness,¡± Anita said.
Max was nervous. Nervous that she had caught him ogling her because she could very clearly kick his ass.
¡°Don¡¯t fear, Max.¡± Anita put an arm around his shoulder. ¡°I am one with nature and can sense no danger for miles around. We escaped those wolves, and they have stayed back in the forest valley. Even if they come up into the meadows to hunt in the dark, we will reach Burke soon.¡±
Max stepped out of the long grass and felt the firm ground of the road underneath his feet. Stepping onto a road made from stone made him feel as if he was getting a little closer to home. He tapped the hard surface with his staff, and it knocked pleasingly. It was the first real sign of civilization since he woke in this strange world.
In the dim light, he could see that the road led to a wooden palisade that surrounded the city of Burke. A gatehouse with two tall towers, one on either side of the road, was the only visible entrance to the town. The towers were taller than the rest of the wall by several feet, and he could just make out the flickering lights of flaming torches burning inside. As he looked more closely, the shadowed silhouettes of guards appeared high in the towers. Further along the palisade, he saw a guard marching up and down behind the sharpened points of the timbers, a spear over his shoulder, his form silhouetted by the flickering flames of the torches.
Walking along the road was much easier than trudging through the long grass, and the pair completed the last leg of their journey in a few minutes. At last, Max and Anita stepped up to the gates. The thief leaned heavily on his staff, exhausted. Anita hammered on the small door set into the large main gate with her staff then waited, glancing at Max with a smile.
A small view hatch in the door opened up. It was just big enough for Max to see a gnarled old face lit by a flickering, flaming torch.
¡°No strangers after dark.¡±
¡°Hello there, good gatekeeper,¡± Anita said with a charming smile. ¡°I am Anita Charmroot, Warrior Druid, and this is my traveling companion, Max Freeman. Our Health is low, and we require a safe place to rest.¡±
¡°No strangers after dark,¡± the gatekeeper repeated. ¡°There is a darkness creeping over the land. There is danger in every shadow. The mayor has decreed that the gates remain closed at night.¡± The gatekeeper slammed the little hatch shut.
¡°I¡¯m an old friend of Tibult,¡± Anita shouted.
Max heard bolts sliding into place on the other side of the gate. He stared up at the tower above him to where two guards in the tower looked down, their spears resting against their shoulders. The flickering torchlight reflecting off their leather armor.
¡°What now?¡± the thief asked.
A spot of rain landed on Max¡¯s cheek. Clouds were gathering overhead, dark clouds filled with rain, blocking out the stars.
¡°Great,¡± Max said, pulling his light cotton shirt closer to him. A cold wet wind came blowing over the meadowlands in huge gusts. ¡°This is the last thing we need.¡±
Chapter 1.08
It had been one of the strangest and wildest days of his life, and the town had promised a chance to rest, recover, and possibly make sense of what was going on. With the gates closed to them until dawn, he stood there before the rough timbers, reluctant to walk away, to give up on the safety of the town.
Anita stepped away from the gate. She turned and looked back along the road, out to the wilderness. The rain started to fall heavily. A gust of wind brought a burst of rain that soaked Max¡¯s shirt. It clung to his skin, damp, bloody, and cold.
¡°We need a place to rest,¡± the Druid said. ¡°We can find shelter under the branches of a tree back in the forest valley.¡±
Max stared into the darkness and then back to the locked town gate. There was no way he was going back to that forest. The howl of a wolf in the distance reaffirmed that position.
¡°We can¡¯t go back,¡± Max said.
¡°I must rest so I can prepare my spells,¡± Anita said. ¡°I have cast everything I previously prepared, and we need shelter from the rain, a good fire to hold off the wolves.¡±
A gust of wind brought another blast of cold rain.
¡°Fire?!¡± Max said. ¡°In this rain?¡±
Anita stood and regarded the darkness, water rivulets running down her exposed skin in a manner that would have undoubtedly been alluring if Max hadn¡¯t been so cold¡ªand scared. Out across the vast meadows, up in the dark, rainy sky, the stars were flickering in and out of sight as black clouds rolled overhead. Rolling meadows vanished into the darkness, and he knew that the meadow eventually sloped down into the forest valley, their only hope for shelter, but there was danger there too.
¡°I fear we won¡¯t last the night in the wilderness,¡± Anita said. ¡°Dark creatures roam the night. We can rest and watch each other sleep, but should we be attacked by anything more dangerous than an angry hound, it would be our end.¡±
Max thoughtfully studied the palisade, the high timber beams. In the towers above the gate, the guards still eyed them suspiciously.
¡°Come with me, Anita,¡± Max said, leading Anita along the road and away from the gate. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled her close. ¡°I can get in,¡± he said quietly. ¡°We must let the guards think we are leaving, and then I will find us a way in. I¡¯m not giving up on the town of Burke yet.¡±
¡°How?¡± Anita wrapped an arm around Max, and they walked together, using each other for warmth against the cold rain. ¡°The palisade around the town of Burke is solid,¡± Anita said. ¡°It would take an army of Skarak to break down these heavy timber walls.¡±
Max wondered what a Skarak was, but as the wind and rain howled around him, he thought he had enough to deal with without worrying about Skarak, whatever they were. He hoped he would never encounter one, let alone an army of them.
¡°I can climb,¡± Max said quietly. ¡°I will get us in.¡±
They walked along the road, away from the gate and into the darkness until the flickering torches of the guard towers were distant specks. He squatted on the ground and studied the town.
¡°Climbing the palisade isn¡¯t the only problem,¡± Anita said. ¡°The guards patrol the walkway on the top. They will see you, and if they think you are a threat to the town, they will attack you.¡±
On the cobblestones of the road that glistened in the rain, Max called up his stats. He looked at his ability. He didn¡¯t have a lot, yet, but he had the ones he needed: Climb and Sneak.
¡°Climbing is the easy part,¡± Max said. ¡°If I can work out how to use these special abilities, I think I can get past the guards unseen. I can Sneak past the guards, past the gatekeeper, and open the gate to let you in. Once we¡¯re inside, we can find somewhere to hide; a barn or a stable or something. Anything will be better than sitting out here all night shivering to death.¡±
Anita¡¯s hair was dripping wet, the dark bunches hanging down to her bare shoulders. She shivered slightly. Max felt the cold in his bones. The rain had soaked his light shirt and if the wolves didn¡¯t get him tonight, surely the cold would.
¡°It is easy to activate an ability,¡± Anita said. ¡°You never need to rest before they are available again, just a little cool-down time. Activating it is as easy as making a simple choice. Look.¡±
Anita activates Wilderness Lore ability.
Anita practically vanished, hidden amongst the blades of wet grass.
Anita cancels Wilderness Lore.
She reappeared behind Max, her hand resting gently on his shoulder.
¡°Now, you try.¡±
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max looked around. Nothing had changed except Anita was smiling.
¡°That¡¯s it,¡± she said. ¡°You have completely vanished. The darkness and the rain all help you to move unseen. Seek out shadows and use natural cover to remain hidden. Try and move silently, and no one will find you. We should call you light foot. Max Lightfoot.¡±
Max cancels Sneak.
Anita¡¯s eyes widened as Max reappeared next to her. She wiped away the rain that was dripping from her lips. Max could just make out her features in the rain and darkness as she moved in close to him.
¡°We can¡¯t stay out here all night,¡± she said. ¡°You should hurry.¡±
A wolf howled in the darkness, emphasizing that point.
¡°Follow me.¡±
Anita nodded.
Max got to his feet but maintained a low, crouched stance. He moved away from the road, staying low and moving quickly through the tall grass. He led the Druid into the meadowlands along the side of the road. After half a mile, he turned and faced the walled town that was just a dark shadow, lit only by the flickering torches of the guards patrolling the wall.
The thief paused to make sure that Anita was still at his side. He was feeling brave and confident. This was the first familiar situation he¡¯d been in all day. This was something he was used to doing. He¡¯d been climbing and creeping into buildings as long as he could remember, even before he¡¯d started working for the mob as a thief. Confidence could be a danger, though, and Max was smart enough to know that because he was so low on Health, any mistake could be his last. He was easily strong enough to climb the palisade, but should he slip and fall, he might be done for, given his reduced Health.
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Death lurked out here in the dark wilderness too. Their only hope was to get into the town. Anita had activated her Wilderness Lore special ability and was already hidden in the long grass. The nearest flickering torch was several yards to Max¡¯s left, back toward the main gate. He checked the top of the palisade in front of him, watching closely for a minute to be sure it was clear of guards. Once he was sure, he spoke quietly.
¡°Make your way back to the gate. Stay hidden. I¡¯ll open it up and let you in as soon as I can.¡±
Max moved to the foot of the wall and immediately began to climb. He gripped the rough timbers where they met each other. He found a knot here and a nick there where he could get a grip or foothold. The soft leather boots the farmer had given him let him feel the rough timbers, and he was able to dig his toes into the slightest of gaps and propel himself upward.
It only took a moment, and Max had his hand at the top of the wall where the tree trunks had been sharpened into points. He carefully eased between two of the points and lowered himself to the high walk inside the palisade.
Crouching in a dark corner at the top of the palisade, Max could see both directions along the high walk. Before him, on the inside of the wall, an inner fence circled the town. It was made of planks of wood rather than thick tree trunks and created a second smaller barrier, but Max suspected this fence was designed to keep the people of the town away from the defensive palisade more than anything else. Back toward the gate, he saw the nearest tower, the flickering torches, and the guard walking back and forth, occasionally sitting, bored of his duty.
Max looked out across the town for a place to hide once he had let his new companion in. The large town had more than a hundred buildings. A large stone building stood in the center of town on a low mound surrounded by a ditch. The single largest building in the town, it was also defended by a palisade about four feet tall with guards standing in small guard cabins on either side of the main entrance. A path led over the ditch and up to the entrance of this building.
Numerous smaller buildings and narrow winding streets surrounded the large building. Thatch roofs glistened in the rain. Stone chimneys rose out of the roofs, and all across the town, wisps of gray smoke drifted up into the dark, rain-filled sky.
Even though it was raining and it was the darkest night Max had ever known, there were still spots of light here and there in the town. Lanterns hung from posts, lighting the cobbled street along the main thoroughfare from the main gate to the central building. Away from the main street and all across the town, there were lamps and torches lighting up the night. Scattered through the town, many buildings had light leaking out from gaps in doorways and from small, covered windows. Somewhere in the distance, he could hear the sound of music, strings and pipes together with raucous shouts and laughter.
Max kept low and moved along the high walk toward the tower. Before he¡¯d gone half the distance, he found a way down from the high walk. A square cut in the walkway had a ladder propped against it that led down. The thief poked his head through the hole and found himself looking down into a bare room with a torch flickering somewhere in the shadows. He heard voices, men talking low, and the chink and clatter of weapons on guards¡¯ belts. Max saw shadows moving at the foot of the ladder. Then he heard footsteps coming behind him. A soldier strode along the high walk, spear in his right hand, flaming torch in his left hand, held high to throw light as far as possible. The guard was looking out at the meadowland that surrounded the town and back and forth between the town and the high walk. Max gave the planks of the fence inside the town a stare until the wood grain and the knots and loose fibers twisted and turned to form his table of stats.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max shot a nervous glance back to the approaching guard, hoping his Sneak ability would keep him hidden from sight. It was a nerve-wracking experience because he didn¡¯t, in any way, feel like he was invisible. As quietly as possible, he crept down the ladder into the room below.
Sitting in the shadows at the foot of the ladder, Max saw he was in a guard house of sorts. It was narrow, barely wider than the high walk above. There were bunks, a hearth with a low fire, and a table with several guards sitting and playing a lively dice game. At the far end of the narrow guardhouse, an open doorway led to a dark corridor. Max held his ground until the guard on the high walk stepped on the ladder and started to climb down.
Crammed in the tight corner between the wall and the ground and keeping to the shadows, Max crept silently away from the foot of the ladder. At the table, the guards continued playing, focused entirely on their game.
The guard on the ladder stopped halfway down and called for his companions to take their turn on watch. Max held his ground as one of the guards pulled on a cloak before stomping over to the foot of the ladder, grumbling about bad dice and bad weather.
Max stayed perfectly still as the flickering torch light licked over the shadows near him. He managed to keep his Sneak ability active, and the guards moved close by without spotting him. The changing of the guard didn¡¯t distract the players at the table, and they remained focused on the tumbling dice and the coins changing hands.
Max crept along inside the guard house, keeping tight to the wall and avoiding the dice table as best he could. When he reached the line of bunks, he climbed into the lower bunk and crawled from one bunk to the next, the straw-filled mattresses soaking up any sound and the shadows of the bunks above keeping him hidden. A guard suddenly stood up and took a few steps over to the bunks. The thief froze, not daring to breath, as the soldier rummaged through a bag on the top bunk. As soon as the guard had turned, Max moved again and made his way along the line of bunks. At the end of the line, he was right next to the open door and the way into the dark corridor.
With a quick glance over his shoulder, Max hurried through the door, leaving the gambling guards behind.
Now that he had cleared the guard room, he could breathe a little more easily. The corridor was narrow and empty, but he could still hear the footsteps of a guard walking on the high walk above him. The thief moved along the dark corridor quickly, hoping it would take him closer to the gate. After a dozen yards or so, the hallway opened up into a small room very much like the bunkhouse but occupied by racks of spears and swords. A single lantern hung from the timber walls, and a single guard sat at a small table, apparently sleeping in the flickering light.
The room was very narrow, and Max had to pass the racks of spears and swords without disturbing the sleeping guard. This forced him close to the guard, who was mercifully sitting with his back to the weapons rack, his arms folded across his chest, and his head hanging forward.
As Max crept around the back of the guard, he saw a pouch hanging from the guard¡¯s belt. The man snored loudly, chortling enough to disturb his own sleep. He adjusted in his chair, Max holding his position and his breath inches away right behind him. As the guard moved, the pouch shifted on the guard¡¯s belt. It was an inch from Max¡¯s nose, and he could hear the telltale sounds of coins jangling within.
A moment later, the guard was sound asleep again. The pouch was too much temptation for the thief to resist, and he activated another special ability.
Max activates Pick Pocket ability.
Max took the pouch in his hands and lifted it, breathing gently, watching the sleeping guard as he pulled the leather drawstring. He released it from the guard¡¯s belt, and the purse dropped into his hand. He opened it and looked inside, revealing a pile of glistening gold.
Max gains 10 gold.
Tucking the coin pouch into his pocket, he continued on toward the gatehouse. The corridor under the high walk opened at the gatehouse into a large open area with a roof overhead that extended away from the high walk and between the towers. The roof also covered a small hut with a light inside. Max could see the gnarled old gatekeeper through the window next to the closed door. The footsteps of guards sounded overhead on the high walk and from the towers, but there were no guards on the ground near the gate. Max snuck to the small door in the gate and unbolted the observation hatch very carefully and quietly. He looked out and saw Anita standing in the rain, her staff in one hand and Max¡¯s staff and burlap sack in another. He closed the hatch and opened the gate.
Max cancels Sneak.
The gate creaked, and a small bell attached to it jingled lightly. Anita quickly stepped through the door and handed Max his staff. A guard came running along the corridor that Max had just left, torchlight sputtering as he ran. Then the gatekeeper came bolting out of his little hut, a small club in his hand. And from the tower, Max heard the guards hurrying down the ladder. There was a guard on either side of them and an angry gatekeeper in front, armed with a club. They were surrounded.
¡°Halt! Who goes there? Stand and make yourself known. Who enters the town of Burke creeping in the night?¡±
Max could feel the dark, wet wilderness behind him. The inviting lights of the town just beyond the gatekeeper were so close. Should he barge past the gatekeeper and dash into the town? The thief knew he¡¯d have to avoid a swinging blow from the gatekeeper¡¯s club, a blow that could potentially kill him. Should he retreat with Anita back out into the wilderness? There was little hope that they would survive the night sheltering from the cold and rain with nothing but the comfort of each other¡¯s arms.
Actually, Max thought, that wouldn¡¯t be such a bad option if he was going to die anyway. Nestling in the bosom of the voluptuous Warrior Druid wouldn¡¯t be such a bad way to go.
Or should he surrender and throw himself on the mercy of the old gatekeeper?
The guards at either side leveled their spears.
¡°They¡¯re going to turn us into shish kebabs,¡± Max said, trying to play it cool in front of Anita.
¡°A what?¡± Anita said, standing her ground. ¡°You say the strangest things, Max.¡±
The gatekeeper stepped in front of Max, tapping his club on his open palm.
¡°A pair of strangers creeping into our town. You picked the wrong town.¡±
Chapter 1.09
Max and Anita stood in the shelter of the walkway inches from the rain, moments from being thrown back into the wilderness or beaten over the head by the gatekeeper¡¯s club, then skewered by the guardsmen¡¯s spears. It had been a good plan to Sneak into the town. If only his Sneak ability had not failed just as he¡¯d opened the gate to let Anita in.
Max tried to use his Sneak ability to melt into the shadows once again.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Sneak failed.
He guessed that with the guards and the gatekeeper watching him, his Sneak ability couldn¡¯t be activated. Apparently, he needed to be out of sight first. Just as he considered stepping back into the meadowlands and making a run for it into the darkness, he spotted an old man striding along the main street toward the gatehouse, his staff clicking on the cobbles. He called out as he came.
¡°Hold there, gatekeeper.¡±
The man wore a huge gray cloak and a tall hat with a wide brim hat sat atop his head, tapering to a point and crumpling sideways. The rain appeared to clear around the man, raindrops diverted from their course and falling away to the side, creating a space of clear, dry air around him. His boots splashed in the puddles on the ground, but the falling rain didn¡¯t touch him.
He walked briskly for an old man, a tall staff in his hand, a sword on his belt. Max saw deep-set dark eyes hidden in shadow under that wide brim hat. They looked dangerous.
The gatekeeper turned around.
¡°Elderon Whitesilver,¡± the gatekeeper said, his voice faltering. ¡°These are intruders. You yourself told us darkness walks abroad in these perilous times.¡±
Anita stepped forward, ignoring the guardsman¡¯s spear hovering an inch from her bare flesh.
¡°Elderon, you cunning old Mage. What brings you into the wild kingdoms? I thought you¡¯d be resting in the Mage towers of Essillt by now.¡±
¡°Anita,¡± the Mage called out in good cheer, lifting the brim of his hat. ¡°I sensed an ally was nearby. Good to see you, my girl. And I see you¡¯ve brought someone with you.¡±
¡°We fortuitously met in the forest valley and faced danger together. I would not be here now if it were not for him.¡±
Elderon stopped a few feet away.
¡°And who are you, novice adventurer? What profession are you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m just a . . .¡± Max hesitated. With these spears hovering so close, it might be a bad idea to admit he was a professional thief, even if he had every intention of leaving that life behind. ¡°I¡¯m just a guy looking to get out of the rain.¡±
¡°He¡¯s lost,¡± Anita chimed in. ¡°I found him cornered up a tree by a wolf.¡±
¡°You are lucky Anita found you. Where do you come from, Max? I sense it is far from here.¡±
The gatekeeper interrupted the reunion. ¡°Master Mage, I have instructions from the mayor to throw out any strangers.¡±
¡°We are not strangers, Anita and I,¡± Elderon said. ¡°And Max and Anita are clearly good and honest adventurers. A small party but a powerful one, I suspect. If the mayor has any issues, I will speak to him and clear things. You may rest easy, gatekeeper, and let these two into the town.¡±
The gatekeeper nodded, then dismissed the other guards. He closed the town gate with a huff and trudged back to his hut.
Elderon stepped toward them and Max slid into the dry air around Elderon where the rain seemed to move aside.
¡°Let¡¯s get you two in front of a roaring fire, so you can dry off and warm up. Maybe a meat pie and some ale.¡±
Elderon turned toward the gatehouse. ¡°Good work,¡± he said with a wave to the gatekeeper, who was peering out of the hut¡¯s little window. ¡°I¡¯ll take care of them now.¡±
The road from the main gate into the town was built from tightly packed cobblestones. Max tried to stay out of the little rivers of water than ran between the cobbles. His thin leather boots were now thoroughly soaked, but there was no reason to get them any wetter. Most homes and businesses along the main street were closed up for the night, but one caught his attention.
The thief noticed a large timber-and-thatch building with iron-working equipment outside where a large forge was cooling down from its day¡¯s work. A sign made from twisted metal hung from a wooden beam under the thatched roof, declaring to all that this was Jack¡¯s Forge.
I bet he gets a lot of business, with all the wolves out there, he thought idly.
The cobble street went straight up the hill to the large building in the center of town that Max had previously seen from the high walk on the palisade. He felt sure Elderon was leading them toward that building and was surprised when Elderon took a sharp right and led them into a narrow, muddy path between thatched buildings. The buildings were now a mixture of businesses and family homes with a baker here, a cobbler there, all of them pressed tightly together in this side street.
As they walked on the muddy, slippery path covered in straw and gravel, not the firm cobbles of the main street, the distant sounds of music and raucous laughter grew louder. Again, Elderon took a turn off the short street and led them to a wide, thatched building. An open door in the center of the whitewashed wall opened up on the bright orange glow of the interior, lit and warmed by a huge fire. Smoke poured up a stone chimney in the middle of the roof, and the thatch steamed as the heat inside drove off the rain. A wooden board hung outside swinging from hooks, on it a picture of a pig wearing a jester¡¯s outfit complete with a multicolored, three-pointed hat. The pig held a stick with a jester¡¯s head on it as it danced about on its hind legs.
Elderon took off his tall, pointy hat and ducked through the low doorway. Anita and Max followed.
The Dancing Pig tavern was dominated inside by a large firepit about six feet long and two feet wide, surrounded by a low brick wall. Logs crackled in the fire, and the coals underneath gave off a welcome blast of warmth. Max could feel the heat driving away the rain that had soaked through his light cotton shirt.
Elderon led them to a small table at one side of the building, close enough to the fire to feel its warmth but not so close that they would cook like the large cauldron of broth that hung over the fire and bubbled away.
A serving girl quickly approached the table. Her light top hung loose over her round shoulders, and a short skirt with a pouch for coins hung from her belt.
Elderon ordered two bowls of broth, three tankards of Dwarven ale, and a large meat pie.
Max¡¯s stomach suddenly reminded him he hadn¡¯t eaten in a really long time.
The serving girl brought two wooden bowls filled with steaming broth and Elderon slid one in front of each of them. Max ate greedily, putting down the spoon after a few mouthfuls and drinking the broth straight from the bowl. He put the bowl down heavily with a satisfied sigh when he¡¯d finished and could feel his Health improving. A quick check showed his Health bar slowly refilling.
The meat pie arrived on a large oval dish soon after. Elderon picked up a knife and cut a large slice then waved his hand over the pie. The slice rose up from the dish, steam and gravy leaking out of the cut. The Mage¡¯s fingers twirled as he drew the slice upward, enticing it with his dancing fingers. He moved it across the table and dropped it into Max¡¯s bowl, then served Anita in the same way.
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Max ate the pie greedily, savoring the rich gravy, meat, carrots, and potatoes. It was delicious, and by the time he finished it, he was no longer hungry. Another stat check showed his Health bar was almost halfway restored to full Health.
The serving girl returned with three mugs of ale and placed them on the table in front of each of them. Max took a sip and found it was strong and bitter with a powerful aroma. The flavor sweetened after a moment, and he felt the strong ale warm him inside. He took a deep draft of the ale and sat back contentedly in his chair, watching the fire.
Wherever this strange world was, wherever he had ended up, at least for the moment, he was warm and no longer hungry. He looked across the table at Elderon, who was regarding him with dark, deep-set eyes.
¡°You look much recovered, Max,¡± the Mage said.
Max nodded and took another deep drink from the tankard of ale.
¡°What brings you so far south, Elderon?¡± Anita asked.
¡°I am searching for the source of the darkness that has entered our world.¡±
Anita nodded. ¡°The Druids, too, have detected the darkness. My Order has tasked me with discovering what I can of this mystery. It is affecting the wild animals. We fear it may soon affect people.¡±
¡°Indeed, it has already begun to affect people,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The Mage high council in Essillt has sent me out into the world to discover what I can of this dark phenomenon that has been growing these many months.¡±
The Mage looked at Max. ¡°But now, I have found you.¡± He smiled. ¡°I sense you are meant for something special, Max. I hope I can help you discover your inner strength. I see you are a novice, and you have not yet chosen a profession, an adventuring class. Maybe I can help you. Consider it a favor for helping out my young friend Anita.¡±
Max had always thought he had been wasting his time and talents stealing for his old boss. He knew there was something more important that he should be doing with his life¡ªsomething special he should be doing. It was as if there was a voice that he could hear only vaguely, one he often hoped to hear more clearly, a voice deep within that would tell him what it was he was meant to do. He sat back in his seat and looked at Elderon, whose features had softened, and his eyes seemed less dark and dangerous. The old Mage was smiling at him.
The thief took another deep draft of his ale and finished it off. He picked up his burlap sack that contained the few coins he had collected on his journey so far.
¡°Thank you, Elderon,¡± Max said with a smile. It was about time to put his old ways behind him.
He looked across the large room, past all the singing and dancing and the people at tables with tankards and smoking pipes. He looked at the simple bar at the far end of the tavern where barrels of ale were stacked and a pair of pretty serving girls chatted with customers. ¡°First, let me buy us another round of drinks.¡±
Max pushed himself to his feet and walked toward to the bar at the end of the building. The flickering flames made the shadows dance on the rough plaster walls. A feeling of anxiety washed over him, making it hard to breath.
What am I doing here? I work alone.
Maybe if he ditched these adventurers, he could find his own way back to the city. He had picked up a handful of gold coins, surely enough to head clear across the country and find a nice beachfront property out west. Somewhere that was always warm and sunny where he could drink fresh-squeezed orange juice every morning and fine aged rum every night, far from the troubles of this strange world of Eveirea.
He looked in the burlap sack for the coin pouch and then saw the letter the farmer had given him for his daughter. The farmer had told him to head for the washer house on the main street in Burke. He glanced over the table where the old Mage, Elderon, and Anita, the sexy Druid, were chatting like old friends or maybe like an old uncle and a favorite niece.
Activating his Sneak ability in the shadows at the side of the bar when no one was watching was easy. He successfully disappeared into the shadows, and he moved toward the open door, slipping back into the rain¡ªa small price to pay for freedom.
Max found his way back to the main street easily enough. He¡¯d always had a good sense of direction, and although this town was large, the high stone building in the center of town made it easy for him to get his bearings. He walked along the cobbles of the main street. The pair of guards marching past him as if he weren¡¯t even there.
He quickly found the washer house. A wooden sign hanging from the thatch showed a large tub of soapy water and clothes hanging on a line. Max knocked on the wooden door and waited out of the rain under the dripping thatch.
A soft voice called out, ¡°Who¡¯s there?¡±
¡°My name is Max. I am a friend of your father. He asked me to bring you a letter.¡±
The door opened on a steamy and warm single-room cottage. A large pot was boiling over a fire, and clothes hung on lines that crisscrossed the room, dripping onto draining boards. The heat and moisture made it feel like a sauna to Max as he stepped into the building. The air was fragrant with herb-scented soaps, and he felt his tired muscles relax.
The woman who answered the door had wavy brown hair and wore a thin white blouse that did little to hide her full figure.
¡°Oh, thank you so much, kind sir. It has been so long since I¡¯ve had word from my father. I miss him dearly.¡± She looked up Max. ¡°I get so lonely here by myself.¡±
Max used his newfound power of analysis to check out the farmer¡¯s daughter, though he could already see most of what he needed to know inside her loose blouse.
Name: Meg
Status: Inviting
He handed over the letter.
Max gains experience points.
He barely noticed his stats in the steam rising from the bubbling caldron, his attention firmly held by the farmer¡¯s beautiful and voluptuous daughter. He saw the experience points pouring into his XP meter but his other stats were shrouded in a fog. A message appeared in shining golden letters which was enough to draw his attention away from Meg.
Max has leveled up.
That¡¯s new, Max thought, but before he could ponder exactly what it meant Meg spoke again.
¡°I must reward you for bringing me this letter,¡± the young woman said. She turned and walked to a small box on the floor at one end of the steamy, sweltering room. Meg removed a small bundle from the box and turned to Max, smiling. She walked forward through the steam like a luscious goddess bearing gifts.
She extended the bundle toward him. ¡°I¡¯ve had these here for months. Someone passing through town paid me to wash his traveling gear, and then he vanished without a trace. I can¡¯t hold onto it forever, and since you have done me a great service bringing me my father¡¯s letter, I want to give them to you.¡±
Max took the bundle which appeared to be a well-made coat and boots. ¡°Thank you very much,¡± he said. ¡°I was coming to town anyway and was happy to pass on the letter. Your father gave me these clothes and soft boots for helping him, and I was happy to do him this favor.¡±
Max could tell the boots Meg had just given him were better than the ones he currently had on his feet. They had a sturdier sole, and the insides of the boots were bound with fur.
¡°Can I try them on?¡±
Meg nodded, smiled, took his hand, and led him through the steam to a chair near the fire. He sat down and peeled off the soft leather boots. They would be good for climbing, Max thought, so he put them into his burlap sack. He tried on the new boots. They were soft and comfortable and warm. He pulled on the coat and tried it on for size. It fit perfectly.
Meg smiled down at him. ¡°Would you like an ale?¡± she asked. ¡°The fire is warm, and my work is done. It has been a long time since I¡¯ve had a handsome young man as a guest.¡±
Max didn¡¯t trust himself to say anything so he simply nodded. Meg disappeared and returned a moment later carrying two small tankards of ale.
Was her blouse open that far before? Max thought as he fought to keep his mouth from falling open.
She bent over and set them down in front of the fire.
Max swallowed hard as he looked down her blouse which seemed ready to fall off completely.
Meg looked up at him with a smile. ¡°Dwarven ale tastes better warm,¡± she explained before standing back up. She moved to the thick sheepskin rug that was right in front of him and beckoned for him to join her on the rug as she gracefully sat down, her legs crossed.
Max was reluctant to go down with her, not because she wasn¡¯t beautiful but because from his vantage point on this stool, he could see almost every inch of her shapely figure.
He relented, though, and let her pull him down to the rug, and they sat together in front of the fire. The heat and the steam were intoxicating, or maybe it was just the dwarven ale that was clouding his mind.
¡°You look hot,¡± she said. ¡°This coat is for outdoors to keep you warm and dry.¡± She moved around behind him and peeled off the coat then tossed it aside.
A moment later, he felt her delicate hands on his shoulders. The gently moved down his arms.
¡°Your shirt is soiled,¡± she whispered in his ear. ¡°Let me wash it for you.¡±
Max¡¯s heart pounded and his head swam but he didn¡¯t do anything to stop her. Before he knew it she was pulling the shirt over his head. She walked to a wash basin in the corner and spent a few moments bent over the tub washing his shirt then hung it on one of the clothes lines.
Meg looked down at him when she was done. She playfully bit her lip, a twinkle in her eye, as she studied his bare chest.
He was no muscleman, but Max was fit. His many climbing adventures for his old boss had led to a toned physique. The farmer¡¯s daughter walked around him, running a finger across his shoulder, leaving a trail of tingling skin in its wake.
Max looked into the flames. The warmth . . . the soft farmer¡¯s daughter . . . Max wondered if this world, Eveirea, was in fact heaven, and he was the guest of honor.
In the flickering flames, he saw his stats again, still shrouded by the misty cloud, and over the top were the golden letters.
Level up
What did the message mean, and why was it stopping him from seeing his stats? He felt fit, but the last time he¡¯d seen his Health, it was barely half full. He needed to keep an eye on it so it didn¡¯t drop too low. He didn¡¯t want to be critical again. Maybe Elderon could help him or Anita.
The intrigue was almost enough to make him forget about the young woman at his side. Meg was undeniably a true beauty, and she was clearly interested in him, a mysterious stranger new in town. But Max was having a hard time ignoring those golden letters, and the mystery was driving him crazy¡ªmaybe even more crazy than the tantalizing caress of Meg, the farmer¡¯s daughter.
Level up
Max had a choice to make.
Chapter 1.10
Max felt Meg¡¯s hot breath on his neck, her hands caressing his skin. He let her fingers wander up and down his arm. The steamy washroom was only going to get steamier, and the boiling pot of washing clothes wasn¡¯t the only thing that was hot in here. Meg was, too, and she was driving Max crazy.
He had always found it easy to be friends with girls back home, but it wasn¡¯t so easy to get intimate with them. The sheepskin rug in front of the crackling fire was soft and inviting, though. Meg¡¯s hands were soft, too, from spending so much time up to her elbows in hot, soapy water.
The rain falling outside was cold, the steamy cottage was hot and almost too comfortable. Max couldn¡¯t stop his mind from wandering.
Who was that old guy anyway? he thought. The Mage was definitely powerful, but he knew nothing about him.
And then there was the Druid Anita¡ªsexy hot, too, with all her tight leather hugging her toned body. Max definitely wanted to spend more time with her. But it was too easy to fall into Meg¡¯s soft embrace, feeling her skin all around him.
A log on the fire crackled, sending a shower of sparks up the chimney on the rising smoke. Max felt Meg¡¯s lips on the back of his neck and her chest pressed against his back, nothing but the thin fabric of her blouse between them. He could still see his stats window in the smoke, still grayed out and covered with the words that demanded his attention.
Level up
Max had always been curious, and it had been that part of him that had first sent him climbing buildings and sneaking inside. No one ever locked upper story windows, never thinking someone would climb a sheer building, but Max had been driven by curiosity to sneak inside. It was how he had discovered his talent for climbing.
And now, curiosity was taking hold of him again, so much so that he couldn¡¯t enjoy the soft caresses of the grateful farmer¡¯s daughter. As much as it pained him, as much as he didn¡¯t want to miss out on a night of pleasure, as much as he tried to convince himself to stay, he could not.
He had to ask Elderon for help. He needed to level up.
Max reluctantly stood up, gently grabbing Megs hands as she placed them gently on his bare chest.
¡°I wish I could stay, Meg,¡± he said, ¡°but I cannot.¡±
Meg looked up at him, biting her lip.
¡°I need to find my companions. I have to head back to the Dancing Pig; they¡¯ll be wondering where I¡¯ve gotten to.¡±
Meg looked down at her feet, clearly disappointed. ¡°Thank you for delivering my letter.¡± She looked up at him suggestively. ¡°Stop by anytime, and we¡¯ll get to know each other better.¡±
Max swallowed hard and stepped away, moving to where the young woman had discarded his coat, grabbing his shirt on the way. He reluctantly pulled the damp material over his head and put on the coat.
Meg looked at him hopefully while he dressed, but his mind was made up. Some things were more important than a night of passion, though he wasn¡¯t one hundred percent sure this was one of them. With one last look at the gorgeous young lady, he walked to the door and stepped out and back into the rain.
A cold shower was just what he needed after the hot and steamy cottage and the soft touch of Meg.
Max walked between the tightly packed buildings on his way back to the Dancing Pig. The sky was dark, the rain falling heavily. His new boots were keeping his feet dry, and the new coat was keeping him warm, but he could not stay out in this rain for much longer, or he¡¯d be soaked through again. He pressed on, head down, powering through the rain. He followed his instinct for finding the right direction and soon came to the Dancing Pig tavern. Down a side street, he saw a flash of red, as if a red sheet was flapping in the wind before racing away out of sight.
Max shook his head. The steam of Meg¡¯s cottage with all the soap and herbs had gone to it. He took a deep breath of cold night air and stepped into the Dancing Pig.
Elderon and Anita were still at the table, chatting like old friends. Max wondered if either of them had noticed he¡¯d gone.
¡°You have returned,¡± Elderon said as Max approached the table.
¡°I told you he¡¯d be back, old friend,¡± Anita said. ¡°He has an adventurer¡¯s heart and a good spirit. An honest traveler will always aid his companions.¡±
¡°And he wants to know how to level up,¡± Elderon said.
¡°How?¡± Max stammered. ¡°What?¡±
¡°You¡¯ve got new boots,¡± Anita observed.
Max looked down. ¡°Yes, they are not quite a pair of Timberlands, but they are good.¡±
¡°A pair of Timberlands?¡± Anita asked in confusion. ¡°But there is only one Timberland. It is on the border of the Kingdom of Ragewind and the Kingdom of Deepwood. I know it well. That is the one and only Timberland anywhere in Eveirea.¡±
Max shook his head. Yeah, I¡¯m definitely a long way from home.
Elderon stood up. ¡°I have rented us a room upstairs. We can rest, and you can level up.¡±
The Mage walked toward the bar and then up the wooden stairs to an upper level.
The room Elderon had rented was dark with a low ceiling, but it was warm from the large fire downstairs. The thatch roof of the inn, just a few inches above Max¡¯s head, was dry. The roof sloped down, and at the sides of the room, it was only two feet up from the floorboards. Three small single beds were tucked into the corners. A small window on the low wall at knee height showed Max the rain falling hard outside.
Elderon moved to the far end of the room where a small fire burned in a stone hearth. He leaned his staff against the end wall and unbuckled his sword belt before throwing off his Mage robes. The old Mage wore simple pants and a tight shirt, and Max was surprised at how fit he looked.
Max checked Elderon¡¯s stats in the flickering flames of the small fire.
Name: Elderon Whitesilver
Class: Battle Mage
Level: 15
Health: Full
Strength: 12
Stamina: 14
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 18
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 14
Abilities: Unknown
¡°Come over here, Max,¡± Elderon said. He put two small chairs beside the fire and pointed Max to one.
¡°I am going to get some rest,¡± Anita said and sat on the edge of one of the little beds and took out a small book from the pouch hanging on her hip, then began flipping through the pages.
¡°I can see you are ready to level up, Max.¡± the old Mage said. ¡°Once you gain enough experience, you are able to level up and develop your class.¡±
Max glanced over to far side of the room where Anita had stood up next to her bed and was looking out of the low window, her body silhouetted in the gloomy darkness at the far end of the room. She yawned, stretched, and then she began to disrobe. The thief couldn¡¯t stop himself from staring as she unlaced her forearm defenders, slipped them off, and then she took off her upper body leathers and flung them over the small chair next to her bed. He could see her curves, outlined in the darkness. She unclipped her fighting skirt and dropped it to the floor, kicking it up and onto the seat of the chair. Her knee-high boots were the last to come off, leaving her standing in the dark completely naked, her back to Max, Elderon, and the crackling little fire.
She slipped under the covers in the small bed and appeared to fall instantly into a deep sleep.
¡°Max,¡± Elderon said.
Max shook his head then turned his attention back to the old Mage. He guessed Elderon knew he had been momentarily distracted, though the old man had clearly not been. The fact that Anita had not been concerned about stripping for bed in this small attic room indicated it was probably not the first time she had gotten naked in the old Mage¡¯s presence.
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What a world this is!
¡°Sorry, Elderon,¡± Max finally said. ¡°I think I drifted off. You were saying something about leveling up.¡±
The Mage fixed the young man with a knowing stare for a moment. Max looked back into Elderon¡¯s deep, dark eyes, but he knew if he stared too long, he would become terrified by them. There was something about this Mage that was very dark. Max sensed he had known trouble and danger.
¡°The first thing you need to know is how to analyze yourself and the world around you,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You can view your personal stats whenever you choose, and they will appear in the world around you.¡±
Max nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯ve seen them in the branches of trees, the smoke rising from a fire. Whenever I think about them, they appear to me.¡±
¡°View them now,¡± Elderon said.
It wasn¡¯t a friendly suggestion; it was an order, and there was something in that voice that told Max he should immediately comply. It wasn¡¯t a threatening tone, simply a commanding one, and Max looked into the fire. The flames danced and flickered, and then the flames marked out the edge of his stats window. But the writing he had seen there before was hidden behind a gray fog and the gold shimmering words he¡¯d seen before.
¡°The words ¡®Level up¡¯ block my stats window.¡±
¡°Good,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You are ready to make your first level. Before you do, though, you have a decision to make. I checked your stats when we first met. You have some very strong stats in Agility, Charisma, and Intelligence. Use these natural talents to select a class that you will excel in.¡±
¡°I have seen Anita¡¯s class,¡± Max said. ¡°She¡¯s a Druid, right? And you are a Battle Mage, but my stats said my class is currently none.¡±
¡°You choose a class when you level up for the first time.¡±
¡°What classes can I choose from?¡±
¡°There are so many, but it¡¯s not worth looking at them all. Some classes just won¡¯t work for you. It¡¯s no use for someone with low Strength to choose a Warrior class because they will not be able to wield the most powerful Warrior class weaponry.¡±
¡°I¡¯m a good climber,¡± Max said, ¡°I have great Agility, and I also have the Sneak ability. It has proven quite valuable already.¡± He was about to tell the old Mage about his Pick Pocket ability, and that there was ten gold in his burlap sack that was evidence of that, but Max decided not to admit that to Elderon just yet.
¡°Sneak?¡± Elderon nodded. ¡°That is truly a powerful natural ability, gained no doubt thanks to your high Agility, and it is exceptional that you can use it already before leveling up.¡± The Mage nodded, clearly impressed.
¡°Your chosen class must match your attributes and abilities if you want to get the most from them. See Anita there.¡± Elderon pointed at the sleeping Druid. He summoned her stats, and they appeared in the dark, shadowy folds of her bedcovers. ¡°Anita has very high Wisdom. That is the most important attribute for a Druid. It lets her understand the natural world in an intuitive manner. She has other high attributes, too, and it makes her a very powerful Druid. She is already highly respected, and she will one day lead the Druid order once she has reached the highest levels of her class.¡±
Max studied her stats but couldn¡¯t help looking beyond them to the sleeping Druid beauty. She stirred under her bedcovers, rolling onto her back and stretching her arms above her head. The covers clinging to her body but threatening to fall aside and reveal her nakedness at the slightest movement.
Elderon dismissed the stats table with a slight wave of his hand. A second wave of his hand moved the blanket upward over Anita¡¯s body, tucking her in under the covers.
Max spotted the telltale shimmering heat haze around Elderon¡¯s hands that told him the old Mage was using magic to move Anita¡¯s blanket.
¡°And Anita is strong,¡± Elderon went on with hardly a pause. ¡°Strong enough that she can use any weapon that her class will allow, though I know she favors the staff and sling. Her Wisdom and Charisma attributes are her greatest strengths, though, as a Druid. She can understand the world thanks to her high Wisdom, but she can also charm it and bend it to her will with her Charisma.¡±
Max certainly understood how charismatic Anita was. He knew he couldn¡¯t stop thinking about her.
¡°You must choose wisely, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You have high Charisma.¡±
¡°Like Anita,¡± Max said. ¡°Does that mean I should be a Druid?¡±
Elderon shook his head. ¡°Your Wisdom is too low, my young friend.¡±
Max felt embarrassed and foolish having this old Mage tell him his Wisdom was low.
¡°A Druid and the other divine classes like Cleric and Monk¡ªand Paladin to an extent¡ªneed high Wisdom for their divine spells to work. Anita draws her power from nature. Her Charisma and Wisdom mean she can draw much power from the world, and the world is happy to give to her as she has the interests of nature and the natural order in mind.¡±
¡°Divine spells?¡± Max said.
¡°There are two sources of magic in Eveirea,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Divine, where Clerics and Druids draw their magic abilities. And then there is the arcane magic. Your high Intelligence means you could learn arcane spells. It takes a strong mind to hold the spells. And with your high Agility, you would be able to perform the intricate hand gestures required to bring forth the arcane spells, to bring them into the world and cast them with accuracy and speed.¡±
¡°Spells?¡± Max nodded thoughtfully. ¡°Like when you move things?¡±
¡°That¡¯s not very powerful magic.¡± Elderon smiled. ¡°That¡¯s a little party trick. I don¡¯t need to memorize any spells or channel any magic to perform those little tricks. It¡¯s an ability I¡¯ve gained as I advanced in levels, like your ability to Sneak, but mine only came when I reached a high enough level. I can use it at will with only a short cooldown between uses.¡±
¡°Could you move yourself?¡± Max said. ¡°Make yourself fly or make someone else fly?¡±
Elderon smiled. He took a small pipe out of his leather bag and packed it with a dark and pungent weed. He summoned a small flame between his finger and thumb and lit the pipe, puffing to get it burning brightly before letting the flame vanish.
¡°Another party trick,¡± the Mage said, continuing to smile. He smoked the pipe for a few moments before answering Max¡¯s question. ¡°No, I can¡¯t fly. I can only move small things like a small rock or a blanket. I can use it to cause a distraction or to make life a little easier by bringing an object just out of reach a little closer. It¡¯s handy, but it¡¯s hardly going to win any battles.¡±
¡°Could you teach me how to do it?¡±
¡°Maybe, if you choose to be a Mage. Then I could help you discover a natural ability to move small inanimate objects.¡±
Max thought about how good it would be to levitate a stack of cash from behind a bank counter, stealing without anyone knowing, as the cash floated right to his open bag.
¡°You would make a good Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You would have access to some early spells like Disguise and Hide which would work well with your current abilities, as well as a simple magical shield to keep you safe from missile weapons, deflecting arrows or bullets.¡±
Max didn¡¯t like the thought of anyone shooting arrows at him, shield or not.
¡°You can also learn to cast the Shimmer spell which creates flickering copies of yourself to confuse enemies. You can cast Know Item, letting you instantly analyze a new, mysterious item when you find treasure in a dark dungeon somewhere. I still use the Know Item spell a lot as there are many mysterious items hidden across Eveirea.¡±
Max thought it all sounded pretty boring.
¡°And Magic Missile, a powerful pulse of magic. It¡¯s a basic Mage spell, one of the first available to Level One Mages.¡±
Max perked up, suddenly more interested in magic. ¡°Magic Missile, you say. That sounds interesting.¡±
¡°But choosing a class must be done with care,¡± Elderon cautioned. ¡°As I said before, your Strength is too low to wield heavy melee weapons, so a Warrior class would be a bad choice. You could become a Ranger and specialize as a Beast Master because your high Charisma would allow you to summon animals to come to your aid or even charm wild beasts. At very high levels, some Beast Masters can transform into beasts like a Bear or a wolf. I heard of a Beast Master from the continent of Scarfel, the continent west of Eveirea, who could transform into a Dragon, but that was in the last age of the world when magic was still young.¡±
Max had no idea what the last age of the world was, but being able to turn into a Dragon and fly would be amazing.
¡°If you chose the Ranger class, you would be limited in your choice of weapons. You could use a bow, but you¡¯d be restricted to short bows because of your low Strength.¡±
¡°But I could turn into a Dragon?¡±
¡°Only at the highest level. You¡¯d struggle to turn into a Badger at Level One, and you might never gain the ability to turn into anything fierce. But you would be able to track animals and people, and you would probably gain the special ability Know Herbs that would let you make potions of healing or other useful potions.¡±
Max didn¡¯t think that sounded very exciting. He wasn¡¯t much of a cook and didn¡¯t like the idea of spending all day picking flowers. It might be fun in a video game, but this was real life. He dismissed the idea of becoming a Ranger.
¡°Or how about a Bard? You have high Charisma, essential for a Bard. You have good Agility, so you could easily learn to play musical instruments. A party of adventurers can gain a temporary skill boost from a Bard playing a good tune.¡±
Max thought about it for a moment. Being a Bard might be fun. He could get a gig in the Dancing Pig and then set off on a tour of this world after he saved up some money. He¡¯d be able to claim all the best songs he¡¯d ever heard and bring them to this world. He could be a rock star. All the girls would want him. He would have Meg the farmer¡¯s daughter and her friends following him from one tavern to the next. He¡¯d entertain them and then they would keep him company for the rest of the night. Yeah, Bard definitely sounded cool!
¡°But in a world where you can be anything, why not be the best you can be?¡± Elderon said, sensing the young man¡¯s thoughts.
Max thought about his options as Elderon had explained them. He could become a Beast Master. Even if he couldn¡¯t transform into a dragon, he could probably manage an eagle, and he¡¯d be able to fly and see things from high above. Maybe he¡¯d be a Bard if all he wanted was the attention of the girls. But Elderon was impressive with his special ability to move things and create fire at his fingertips. And Magic Missiles sounded cool.
At the end of the day, Max figured he could still get girls if he became a Mage, but he wouldn¡¯t get magic if he became a Bard.
¡°Alright, I know what I¡¯m going to choose. How do I do this?¡±
Elderon tapped out his pipe on the stone hearth and tucked it away. He looked at the younger man and spoke with a quiet yet powerful voice that held Max¡¯s absolute attention. ¡°You must focus on the words ¡®level up¡¯ and let it move toward you,¡± Elderon said. ¡°As you have not chosen a class, you will be offered a choice. Remember what you have already decided. Do not let your mind wander to other choices at the last moment. Go ahead, now. Level up.¡±
Max looked at his stats. He let the gold letters move toward him. They moved slowly, at first, before speeding up, and then they were suddenly on him, surrounding him. Hundreds of words erupted from the golden letters of ¡°level up.¡± The names of dozens of classes swirled around him, each with a different style of writing. Some were larger than others and shone in gold light. Some were smaller and silver or dull brown. The class names Barbarian and Berserker were the smallest, and their letters were written in dull rust colors. Although he could see them clearly, they were somehow out of reach. Others were closer, shining gold in huge letters. He found Mage and reached out to it with both hands.
Max has leveled up.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 1
Health: Full
Strength: 9
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
The gold letters melted away, and Max stared at the stats screen flickering in the flames. He had chosen. He was now a Mage.
He noticed that his name had changed, too, and he was no longer Max Freeman. Instead, he was Max Lightfoot, the name Anita had given him. He nodded approvingly.
A feeling of fatigue suddenly washed over him, and he slumped back in the chair, his energy drained from the leveling up process. Or maybe it was just that a very long day was finally taking its toll. Either way, the act of leveling up was as exhilarating as it was exhausting. He felt Elderon guide him toward the bed but didn¡¯t feel himself consciously moving.
¡°Rest now, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°I will wake you soon. We have more to do before morning.¡±
Max collapsed onto the small bed, finding it surprisingly soft. He instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Chapter 1.11
Max dreamed of falling. Falling through darkness into a deep, dark, endless pit. He fell for the longest time, a wet city swirling around him. In the center of the darkness, he saw a glimmer of light, a beautiful apparition in white. Her hair was flame red and swirling around her, her eyes wide and staring straight at him while her mouth was open in horror. He reached out to her, and she reached back.
He continued to fall for what seemed like hours . . . or maybe months. The beautiful white apparition fell away, and he plummeted through the darkness, flailing his arms and legs in a hopeless attempt to stop himself from falling. He tumbled head over heels, spinning faster and faster, dizziness and nausea taking him.
Max jerked awake, drenched in sweat and gasping for breath. He was in the low attic room of the Dancing Pig, the sloping thatch roof an inch from the top of his head. He felt a calming hand on his shoulder.
¡°You were dreaming, young Mage.¡± Elderon smiled down at him through his deeply wrinkled face with his short gray beard. Although his eyes were dark, and had likely seen much violence and terror, he gave Max a comforting smile.
Max sat up on the small bed. He could hear the rain beating against the thatch roof, and he could see through the low window by Anita¡¯s bed that it was still dark.
¡°I dreamed I was falling. How long was I asleep?¡±
¡°A few hours. Leveling up can take its toll on your body and mind, especially when you gain your first level. It will get easier as you make more levels. But you haven¡¯t finished yet.¡± Elderon produced a small, leather-bound book and handed it over to Max. ¡°Are you rested enough, young Mage, for your next step?¡±
Max pushed himself up, sitting on the side of the bed facing Elderon. ¡°There¡¯s more?¡±
The Battle Mage smiled and handed Max the small book. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s more. You have made your level, but Mages need to learn. Things don¡¯t come automatically to us, like they do the Druids. Anita will automatically learn her Druid spells whenever she makes a level, but a Mage must learn the spells.¡±
Max looked down at the small book then tentatively opened it.
The stiff pages inside were blank and slightly yellow, charred around the edges as if the book had been rescued from a fire. Although stiff, the pages were soft to the touch, like the skin of a peach. In the flickering firelight, Max thought he could see hints of writing buried in the pages, like a watermark that chose to hide or reveal its existence. The nearly invisible writing swirled, constantly changing, falling deeper into the page before rising to the surface where it was almost close enough to allow him to make out some detail before it fell away again.
¡°But this is just a bunch of blank pages.¡± Max frowned at Elderon. ¡°What am I supposed to learn from this?¡±
The old Mage pulled a scroll from his bag and handed it over to Max.
¡°Study this.¡±
Max took the scroll. It felt like the same material as the pages in the little book, stiff yet soft. He hesitantly unrolled it, revealing writing that appeared to be alive, the glowing letters constantly writing themselves. The words were foreign to him, and he could make very little sense of them. He read the words the best he could, faltering like a kindergarten student. The new Mage hardly understood what he was reading, but the words sounded powerful and impressive. Deep inside, subconsciously, he felt like he understood them, maybe not in meaning but in purpose. It was like the strangest foreign language he¡¯d ever heard, yet as with a song, the meaning was clear, revealed in the tune if not the words.
He stopped in the middle of a word, sweat on his brow, gasping for breath. Reading had never exhausted him like this before, but these words drained him of strength and energy.
Elderon nodded. ¡°It is strange at first. Difficult, even. I learned my first scroll an age ago. High-level Mages often forget what it¡¯s like to see a scroll for the first time. If you speak the words from the scroll, things will start to make sense to you. Finish reading¡ªyou will recover your Strength quickly once you¡¯ve finished the scroll.¡±
Max returned his attention to the scroll, faltering and stuttering, slowing down as he got to the end, like a marathon runner stumbling to the finish line. He read the strange words as they appeared on the scroll, and then, at the moment he uttered the final syllable, the scroll crumbled to dust in his hands. He looked up at Elderon with a mixture of shock and guilt at having destroyed the ancient document.
The Battle Mage laughed in a low, quiet chuckle. ¡°I should have warned you that would happen, but it¡¯s always fun to see a new Mage learning the ways of the arcane. Check your Mage Book.¡±
Max opened the Mage Book, and on the first page, he could see the words he had just read from the scroll now written in the book. They appeared deep in the page in a brown, rusty-colored ink, and they were not entirely legible. But Max could see enough to recognize the words he had just spoken. Along the bottom of the page was a series of symbols that looked like a pair of hands moving as if throwing hand shadow puppets. Max found he could easily copy these hand gesture, and he felt a sense of empowerment as his hands moved through the gestures.
¡°What spell is this?¡± Max asked his new teacher.
Elderon tapped the symbol at the top of the page. It was a dark, rust-colored image of a circle with lines trailing behind it like a tail. It gave the distinct impression that the ball was flying at great speed. The symbol was framed in intricate, curving lines twisting about each other in a complex pattern.
¡°This is the symbol for Magic Missile. It is one of the most basic Mage spells and will help you if you are in danger. It will defeat a low-level enemy or scare them off. At Level One, you can cast one Magic Missile when you utter these words and perform the gestures.¡±
Max laid his Mage Book on his knees and started twirling his hands. ¡°Move my hands like this,¡± he said, ¡°like in the pictures? Speak these words, and that is how I cast the spell?¡± Max tilted his head at Elderon.
¡°Yes,¡± The Battle Mage responded, nodding sagely.
¡°Can I test it?¡± The new Mage asked, looking around the small room for a target for his first Magic Missile.
¡°You can¡¯t cast it yet. You have learned the spell, and it is now in your book, but you have not yet prepared the spell. You need to select the spell, then you need to rest, and only then will the spell be available for you to cast. You can learn a fixed number of spells every time you rest. While you are only first level, you will have to use your spells wisely.¡± Elderon laid a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder.
¡°Do not go looking for a fight just yet, young Mage.¡± Elderon patted Max gently. ¡°A Mage can be powerful, but at low levels, you will quickly run out of spells and have to rely on your other weapons. You have a good staff at your side. Maybe you will able be to wield a blade, a sling, or perhaps a crossbow, but remember, your real power will always be in your Mage Book.¡±
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Max looked at the spell on the page. He could not wait to try it!
¡°How do I prepare it?¡±
Elderon pointed at the Magic Missile symbol. ¡°Select the symbol.¡±
Max put his finger on the symbol. He felt the hairs on his neck stand up and heard a distant, tinkling trill. The Magic Missile symbol, the writing, and the pictured hand gesture all changed color from dull rust to sparkling silver. Max admired the page, and a notification appeared.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
Active Spells:
? Magic Missile
¡°You need to collect other spells,¡± the Battle Mage advised. ¡°Scrolls can be bought in magic stores, and some can be found in dungeons or out in the wilderness. In time you will learn many spells, but these I can give to you now.¡±
Elderon gave Max a second scroll. The new Mage took the scroll, unrolled it, and began reading the strange words on the page. When he finished reading, the scroll crumbled to dust. Max gasped for air as if he had swam a mile under water, sweating, gasping, smiling. He checked his Mage Book and saw that a new spell had appeared with the symbol of a crude horned monster, a wavy line bisecting it. The lower half of the symbol was smudged so you couldn¡¯t make out exactly what it was supposed to be.
¡°This is the Detect Enemies spell. It will help you find enemies hidden from you. They may be magically invisible or hiding in shadows¡ªmuch like your Sneak ability. Or they could only be out of line of your sight, hiding behind things. Detect Enemies is a powerful spell that will help you avoid danger. As a Level One Mage, you will be able to prepare two spells at a time. I recommend you prepare one Magic Missile and one Detect Enemies to start, but you can also select Magic Missile a second time.¡±
Max studied the front page of his Mage Book. A Magic Missile symbol sat in a spell slot, an empty spell slot next to it. He considered the Detect Enemy spell, but then flipped back to the Magic Missile, and chose a second Magic Missile because it sounded cooler. He checked the spell slots page and found two Magic Missile spells were prepared, shimmering in silver. Max felt giddy with excitement as he practiced the hand gestures and looked at the spells in his book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Active Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
¡°Guess I¡¯d better keep this book safe!¡± Max said.
Elderon smiled. ¡°It is part of you now. A Mage and his book cannot be separated.¡± Elderon took out his own book. It was small and fit in his palm neatly, but when he opened it, the book grew and expanded to a huge, heavy book with hundreds of pages. Elderon riffled through the pages, and Max saw glimpses of powerful spells that he would one day learn.
¡°You will learn many powerful spells in the world of Eveirea if you are true to yourself.¡± The old Mage closed his book, and it shrank back down to pocketbook size. He tucked the book away in the bag on his hip.
Max could hardly contain his excitement. ¡°We should go get a drink to celebrate!¡± Although it was late, Max could still hear the music downstairs, and the Dancing Pig was still lively.
¡°No, we shall stay here,¡± Elderon said. He spoke with the heavy voice that seemed to command Max to do his bidding. The young Mage knew he could get ale from downstairs if he wanted. He could sneak out of the room, get a drink downstairs, and then maybe visit the farmer¡¯s daughter again. Meg might be asleep now, but he was sure her she would let him in.
I can do whatever I want to! Max asserted to himself.
Even as he mentally raged against the idea of sleep, Elderon was helping him lie down, pulling the covers over him. ¡°Will my spells be ready to cast when I wake up?¡± Max asked sleepily, pulling the covers tight around himself.
Elderon nodded. ¡°Indeed, they will. Now sleep and then we can learn more about casting spells in the morning.¡±
The new Mage accepted the old man¡¯s words and was soon asleep.
Max was falling again. Falling into darkness, a black hole of emptiness. The sensation was terrifying, although with darkness all around, it was impossible to see whether he was moving or not. At times, he felt as if he was suspended in space and simply hanging in darkness. At other times, he felt the sensation of plummeting into the depths of the darkness. And in the darkness, he saw one point of shimmering, white light. He tried to swim, to kick and pull with his arms and legs, to move toward that light. Slowly at first and then with a sudden burst of speed, the light came to him. It was a figure in a white coat with flame-red hair. He recognized her right away¡ªthe mysterious woman named Janet who had helped save them in the forest.
¡°I know you,¡± Max said.
¡°I know you too,¡± the white apparition with flame-red hair said. ¡°You broke into my laboratory. The thunderstorm and the strange aurora from the solar activity apparently activated the experiment when you were trying to steal the black diamonds.¡± Janet looked all around, staring into the depths of darkness. ¡°It appears we are trapped in a void out of space and time. We should have transported from one side of the laboratory to the other, but we must be trapped in the transport portal.¡±
He scratched his head. Was he dreaming?
¡°I¡¯m not trapped in a transport portal. I¡¯m in Eveirea,¡± Max said.
¡°No.¡± Janet said. ¡°You¡¯re right here with me. Look around! We are trapped in the middle of the laboratory.¡±
Max looked around, but all he could see was darkness. ¡°This is just a dream,¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯m asleep in the Dancing Pig. I just leveled up, and I¡¯m a Level One Mage now.¡±
¡°I knew you must have been stupid to try to steal industrial diamonds, but you have to be mad if you think you¡¯re in a land called Eveirea and you¡¯re a Wizard.¡±
¡°Not a Wizard, a Mage. I just learned my first spell. When I wake up in the morning, I¡¯m going to learn how to cast Magic Missile.¡±
¡°But you¡¯re here in the portal with me, although . . .¡± She trailed off before starting again. ¡°You are coming and going, fading away and then coming back into view. I can see strange things swirling around you. Patterns in the darkness. But then you disappear.¡±
¡°I can see you sometimes from this world,¡± Max said. ¡°I saw you when I was hiding from the wolf. You also come and go, but I am asleep now, so you must be in my dream.¡±
Janet looked at Max with sudden realization. ¡°I know what¡¯s happened. You have become separated from the portal terminus. The portal will remain open until you rejoin the terminus point. Only then can you and I complete the transport.¡±
Max felt himself falling again. Moving away from the shimmering, flame-haired beauty. ¡°I¡¯m falling again!¡±
¡°We need to close the experiment,¡± Janet called out. ¡°I¡¯m frozen here. I can¡¯t move, but you can. You need to find your way to the terminus point of the transport portal.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve never seen a transport portal before. How do I find it?¡±
¡°It would look like a dark portal. But be careful! If it is still open, it will be creating strange physical effects. Our experiments showed it having a terrible effect on our live test subjects, driving them violently insane. But if you can get there, maybe the experiment will shut down, and then you and I will be released.¡±
Max moved away, racing more rapidly now.
¡°I will find this dark portal. I¡¯ll save you!¡±
¡°I just want to go home,¡± the flame-haired ghost said. ¡°Just find it. Closing it should be as easy as stepping inside.¡±
Max fell further and further away.
¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± Janet called out.
¡°I¡¯m Max.¡±
¡°Find the dark portal, Max. Save me.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll talk to Elderon,¡± Max shouted as Janet fell further, getting smaller and smaller. ¡°He¡¯s very wise and will know what we need to do. Don¡¯t worry, Janet. I¡¯ll save you.¡±
As Max fell, the flame-haired woman disappeared into the darkness until she was nothing more than a distant spec that glowed in the darkness. Max tumbled as he fell until he suddenly hit the bunk in the Dancing Pig. He woke with a start.
Sunlight streamed in through the small window, and he could see Anita standing in the morning sunshine, her back to him. Her naked back. He watched, mesmerized as she stepped into her fighting skirt then bent down and slowly pulled it up over her hips. She stretched her arms up over her head, gathering her hair in her hands and pulling it back before letting it tumble down over her exposed shoulders. She turned and glanced at Max, sunlight shining on her fully exposed torso. She smiled at him then picked up her leather body armor and slipped it over her naked, tanned body.
¡°Good morning,¡± Anita said, adjusting her body armor. ¡°Now that you are awake, let¡¯s join Elderon.¡±
Max groaned as he flopped back down on his bed. What are you trying to do to me?!
He forced the image of Anita¡¯s body from his mind as he pondered the words of the lab technician in his dream¡ªa woman who was also very beautiful, he had to admit.
Max looked around the room as he sat back up ¡°I¡¯m definitely here at the Dancing Pig,¡± he muttered to himself then turned his attention to the alluring Druid who was also definitely there. ¡°Good morning, Anita. Where¡¯s Elderon?¡±
¡°Eating breakfast, I assume,¡± she replied.
Max pushed himself out of the soft, warm bed, remembering what he¡¯d promised Janet. Whether it had been a dream or not, he needed to speak to the old Mage.
Chapter 1.12
Max pulled on his pants and loose shirt. They were comfortable enough but not his usual style. Anita saw him tugging at his pants to get them to sit right.
¡°Maybe you should get yourself a Mage robe now that you¡¯ve made your first level,¡± Anita said. ¡°You can find magically enhanced robes that offer protection against any threat like cold, fire, lightning, missile weapons, and even swords.¡± Anita walked over to Max, her staff clicking lightly on the floorboards.
¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯ll wear a robe,¡± Max said. ¡°These pants are ok. I think I¡¯d rather wear a pair of jeans.¡±
¡°Who¡¯s Gene?¡± Anita asked, ¡°And why do you want his pants?¡±
Max didn¡¯t quite understand what Anita was talking about. As he grabbed his burlap sack, he looked at the outer weave and let it twist and turn until his stats formed so he could check his new level.
Max
Level 1
Class: Mage
He opened his Mage Book to the first page and looked at the spells he¡¯d prepared the night before. He saw two Magic Missile symbols, gold and sparkling, that almost looked as if they were floating above the page. He turned to the page where his Magic Missile spell was written. The strange words for the spell seemed more familiar to him now and were gold, shimmering on the page where they had been a dull brown the night before. The hand symbols also sparkled gold, and they moved as if an animated hologram hovered over the page. Max turned one of his hands to follow the pattern.
¡°Stop,¡± Anita said, laying a hand over Max¡¯s.
Max glanced up at her deep-green almond eyes. She was a strange beauty indeed.
¡°Why?¡±
¡°You don¡¯t want to cast a Magic Missile spell in here. Not until you know what you are doing. You¡¯ll just waste it, and you might do some damage. You don¡¯t want the landlord chasing you with a bill for damages to his property, right?¡±
¡°Oh, yeah.¡± Max closed the book. He dearly wanted to cast the spell but knew Anita was right. He would definitely cause damage. It was exciting to think he had such power at his fingertips.
Max dropped his Mage Book into his sack, his small collection of gold coins jingling as the book landed on top of them. He looked at the weave of his sack and let it form his inventory.
Inventory:
? Light clothes
? Soft boots
? Good boots
? Coat
? Staff
? Mage Book
? 20 gold
? Burlap sack - upgrade available
Max considered his burlap sack, the one he¡¯d taken from the scarecrow and his first outfit in the world of Eveirea. He had used it to carry his few belongings, but now it had a logo over it: upgrade available.
Max wondered if it was as simple as when he¡¯d leveled up. Was this a new level for his sack? He let the words flow around the list of his inventory.
The burlap sack lit up and spun around in his hands, caught up in a sparkling whirlwind. When it stopped spinning, it had been upgraded, and now Max held a satchel. It was made of the same rough burlap, but it had a sturdy shoulder strap, and the inside was lined and rugged.
¡°Cool! Upgrade,¡± Max said and slung the strap over his arm, grabbed his staff, and walked downstairs with Anita.
In the tavern, Max spotted Elderon sitting at the same small table they¡¯d occupied the night before. The fire in the central pit had burned low. Only dark red-and-black embers remained, but it still gave off a good heat. The minstrels had long gone, the bar was clear, and a drunk was sleeping off his flagon of dwarven ale under a table in a dark corner of the tavern.
On the table in front of Elderon, a board held a loaf of dark bread, a chunk of hard cheese, some fruit, and some slices of ham.
¡°Sit,¡± Elderon said as he chewed the dark bread. ¡°The mistress of the Dancing Pig has put together a breakfast for us.¡±
Max and Anita sat. Anita tore a chunk off the loaf and handed it to Max. A tankard in front of him contained a foaming brew.
¡°Breakfast ale,¡± Elderon said as he picked up his tankard. He drank deeply.
Max took a sip. No one wanted to see ID here in the Dancing Pig, they even served beer for breakfast.
¡°When in Rome,¡± Max said.
¡°Where?¡± Anita said.
¡°You know, Romans? The Colosseum? Gladiators?¡±
Anita looked at him, puzzled. ¡°Is that where you are from?¡±
Max opened his mouth to answer, but he couldn¡¯t find the words.
¡°Come on, eat up,¡± Elderon said, grabbing another chunk of dark bread. ¡°We have a long day ahead.¡±
Max didn¡¯t want to think about a long day ahead just yet. He took a sip of the ale, which tasted good, light, and refreshing. It gave him a kick like a strong coffee, but it was a fizzing brew. He drank again and felt awake, strong, and fit. He checked his Health.
The Health bar was green and full, but it looked bigger than yesterday. Elderon must have noticed Max staring at it and said, ¡°Your Health will improve with every level. You will be able to take more damage but do try and avoid taking any damage if you can. I will stay here with you in Burke for a day or two and teach you what I can, but I cannot stay long. I am on a mission from the Mage Council to discover the source of the darkness that is infecting Eveirea, so I will have to continue my travels.¡±
Max took a chunk of the rich-tasting bread that satisfied his hunger in a few bites. He was remembering his dream about Janet, the beautiful laboratory assistant. If it had been a dream?
¡°I will go with you,¡± he said, looking up at Elderon.
Elderon shook his head. ¡°No, young Mage. My quest is too perilous for a Level One Mage. I will teach you what I can in the next few days, and you can make yourself useful here in Burke. They will be glad to have a Mage in the town. Use your Magic Missiles to slay a few Rats, help keep the wolves from the gate. You will gain your levels, and one day we may meet again.¡±
¡°Yes, Max,¡± Anita said. ¡°I, too, will have to move on. You will be safe here.¡±
Max didn¡¯t like the idea of staying in Burke. He was sure Meg would keep him company in the steamy cottage, but he would rather travel with Anita.
¡°I know the source of the darkness.¡±
Anita looked puzzled, but Elderon fixed him with eyes dark like a heavy metal.
¡°There is a dark portal entering the world from dimensions beyond my understanding. But I know I have to find the dark portal and close it.¡± Max spoke with a confidence that almost scared him. ¡°I think I might be the only one who can close it.¡±
Anita and Elderon stared while Max avoided Elderon¡¯s piercing gaze. Those dark eyes too often had a look of danger about them.
¡°A dark portal?¡± Elderon said.
Max nodded. ¡°Help me find it so I can close it.¡± He took a deep drink of his breakfast ale.
Anita was scrutinizing him with concern. Elderon was thinking, but then he nodded and made a low growling noise. ¡°It is true that a novice leveling up for the first time can be gifted with some insight. How did you come to learn of this dark portal, Max?¡± Elderon leaned in.
¡°I dreamed last night that I was falling. A white spirit told me a dark portal has opened. It will be creating strange and dangerous effects as long as it remains open, and she said I need to close it.¡±
¡°A white dream guide. That is a powerful vision, Max.¡± Anita leaned closer, her hand on Max¡¯s arm. ¡°Maybe it was not by chance that I found you.¡± She turned to Elderon. ¡°I have been seeking the darkness that has corrupted animals in the Kingdom of Breamor for the last several weeks. Maybe Max is right.¡±
Elderon grumbled, ¡°I must inform my Mage Council brothers of this. The nearest Mage Stone is on the border of the Breamor Kingdom and the Kingdom of Faregent. We will travel there, you and I, young Mage, and we will confer with the Mage Council through the stone.¡±
¡°And I will accompany you,¡± Anita said. ¡°My Druid order must discover what is driving the animals to darkness. I am committed to this quest.¡±
Elderon laid one gold coin on the table. ¡°This will pay for the room and the meal. We should get going before it is too late. The Mage Stone is many leagues from here. Let us make good progress while we can.¡± Then Elderon put a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I will have to instruct you as we travel. I hope I can teach you enough.¡± The old Mage leaned in, his eyes growing darker. ¡°For we travel in dangerous lands in most dangerous times.¡±
Max grabbed the rest of the loaf and dropped it in his satchel. He finished off the rest of his breakfast ale and felt strong and healthy.
Outside the Dancing Pig, the town was fresh and cool. The rain had passed, and the sky was a deep blue, with a bright sun that warmed Max¡¯s skin although the air was cold. The narrow streets were still muddy but would soon be firm. At the main street, Max headed toward the town gate.
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¡°Hold on,¡± Anita said. ¡°There¡¯s a good general store here in town. I think we should stock up on supplies before we head into the wilderness.¡±
Max looked over at Elderon, ¡°What do you think? Do they have anything useful to us there?¡±
A smile crept over Elderon¡¯s wrinkled features as he answered.
¡°They have everything we could possibly need.¡±
¡°Then let¡¯s go!¡± Max said with excitement in is voice.
Anita nodded and then walked ahead. ¡°This way,¡± she said and headed back into the maze of side streets.
After a few twists and turns, Anita stopped at a wooden door that was as low as it was wide. The small store looked much the same as the many cottages, low-thatched with smoke rising from a stone chimney. Max followed Anita inside.
Blinking to adjust to the gloom inside, Max waited while his eyes adjusted, and then he saw lines of rough, wooden shelves stacked with strange items. Max wandered between the shelves with a feeling he was being watched, as if a cat was stalking him. There was a scurrying, scratching sound from the shelves at Max¡¯s shoulder height. It moved along the shelves, keeping pace with Max. He whipped around abruptly and caught a glimpse of a small green man on the shelf next to him. He was only a few inches in height, no bigger than the colorful bottles he hid behind.
Max was startled by the little figure. He tried to get a better look, but the little man stayed just out of sight.
Anita came to his side, and Max leaned close to her.
¡°Is that the storekeeper?¡± he whispered.
¡°No.¡± Anita sounded surprised and amused. ¡°It¡¯s just a store imp. Do they not have them in your town?¡±
¡°No, they don¡¯t,¡± Max said as he tried to get a closer look. ¡°What is he doing?¡±
¡°They check that no one steals anything,¡± Anita said. ¡°The storekeeper must be busy in the back, maybe still having his breakfast. It is quite early.¡±
Max leaned forward and studied the store imp. His features were that of an old man with deep wrinkles, a short, pointy beard, and thin moustache that was dark black. The imp had a long green nose and clothes that were well made and fitted perfectly, but he had no shoes. Max saw the claw-like feet like that of a bird of prey. Those must be so much better, Max reasoned, for the imp to clamber over the shelves.
¡°But what would he be able to do if I did steal anything? He¡¯s tiny. I must be a hundred times bigger than that imp.¡±
Anita grinned at Max. ¡°Try it. Put something in your satchel.¡±
Max shrugged. ¡°Ok.¡± He saw a small box on a nearby shelf filled with tiny glass bottles, all standing upright and padded with straw.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Max asked, picking up the bottle.
¡°Looks like a Potion of Basic Healing,¡± Anita said.
Max wrapped his hand around it. The store imp watched him. Max made a few wild movements to distract the imp and then snuck the bottle into his bag.
The imp shrieked a piercing, warbling cry like an anti-theft alarm in a regular store back home, and Max had to cover his ears. It was painfully deafening.
¡°Make it stop,¡± Max said.
At one end of the line of shelves, Elderon appeared, his staff tapping heavily as he came. Max could see he was not happy.
At the far end of the line of shelves, a short man appeared. He was stocky with a huge beard and shoulders built like blocks of concrete. He moved fast for a man only four feet tall and built like a stack of house bricks.
¡°What in the name of the Kraken is going on? Who is stealing from Tibult?¡±
The dwarf named Tibult grabbed the imp and slipped the tiny creature into his pocket, whereupon the shrieking stopped.
¡°My apologies, Tibult. I made him do it,¡± Anita said.
¡°Anita,¡± Tibult said, frowning. He folded his arms over his big beard. ¡°I might have known you¡¯d bring trouble.¡±
Anita bent over and hugged the hairy dwarf around his big shoulders.
¡°Good to see you, old friend,¡± Anita said.
Tibult grumbled, but Max was sure he saw a smile in that thick beard. He took the bottle out of his bag and showed Tibult. ¡°I didn¡¯t know what a store imp was. Anita dared me to do it.¡± He turned to Anita. ¡°You could have just explained it to me.¡±
Anita shrugged and smiled. ¡°But that was more fun.¡±
¡°She¡¯s nothing but trouble,¡± Tibult said.
¡°Max¡¯s new around here,¡± Anita said. ¡°I just wanted him to know how effective a store imp is at protecting a storekeeper¡¯s wares.¡±
Max put the bottle back where he¡¯d found it while Elderon picked out a handful of the small bottles. He dropped them into his bag one at a time, counting them as he did so, then he went to another tray of similar-sized green bottles.
¡°Take a look around,¡± Elderon said to Max. ¡°Find something you think you might need. I¡¯ll take care of our potions for now until you know what potions to look for.¡±
Max left Anita, who was catching up with her old friend, Tibult. Elderon kept picking out small colorful bottles of strange potions. Max went to the front of the store where he saw a rack of swords.
All sharp and heavy, the swords had different hilts, decorative or basic pommels, various bindings on the grips, all kinds of cross guards, but the blades were all made from the same dull-gray metal.
Max picked one up. It was very heavy, and he was barely able to drag it from the rack. He held it with both hands and found he could hardly pick it up, so he balanced it back on the rack. There were other swords at the end of the rack that were even longer. Max didn¡¯t even try to pick up one of these. A small box next to the rack contained a range of long knives, some curved, others straight, some double-sided blades, and some with decoration. He picked one of these up. It felt light and comfortable.
Next to the sword rack, he found a basket containing a number of shortswords. He picked one out with a shining blade and a grip covered in soft animal skin. He swept it back and forth. It was only about two feet long, but Max felt it to be a very powerful weapon.
Max slipped the shortsword into the basket. Next to it was a sword that was much longer but still very light.
¡°That is a katana,¡± Tibult said. The dwarf had moved silently and was suddenly at Max¡¯s side. ¡°It is a good weapon. Sharp. Strong. Perfect for one with a Warrior¡¯s heart if not a Warrior¡¯s arm. It comes with my special guarantee of quality.¡± He plucked the imp out of his pocket and tossed the creature onto a shelf, and the imp scurried off to keep an eye on the wares.
Max held the sword out in front of him and admired the light reflecting off its long blade.
¡°You will lose all your active Mage spells if you equip that weapon,¡± Elderon said, dropping a selection of potion bottles on the counter. ¡°Short blades are the only swords acceptable to the Mage class.¡± Then he drew his long silver sword. ¡°That is, until you can find a longsword like this, forged in the ancient fires of Essillt.¡± The blade was of the whitest silver, almost like a shaft of sunlight. Elderon sheathed the longsword.
Tibult took the katana away. ¡°A young Mage,¡± Tibult said with a hint of admiration. ¡°A powerful class indeed. Let me show you my collection of daggers and shortswords.¡±
Max looked again at the shortswords. He picked up a shining blade with a red hide-covered grip, a single-bar crosspiece, and a plain ball pommel.
¡°That sword will cost only twelve gold coins to a young Mage such as yourself.¡± Tibult leaned in. ¡°That is a friend¡¯s price since you know my good friend Anita.¡±
¡°Come on, Tibult. You can give him a better deal than that!¡± Anita said, goading the storekeeper. She had a collection of herbs and potions in her arms. She dropped them to the counter for Tibult to add up the cost.
Tibult wagged a finger at Max. ¡°Only because Anita is teasing you so much,¡± he said. He went behind the counter and produced a belt with a scabbard. ¡°You can have these at no extra cost.¡±
Max smiled. ¡°That sounds great. Thanks.¡±
Elderon placed two small bottles on the counter in front of Max. ¡°Buy these too,¡± Elderon said. ¡°They are Potions of Basic Healing. Keep them with you just in case you get separated from me and Anita.¡±
Anita packed away her herbs and potions¡ªand a pouch filled with stone bullets for her sling.
Max looked at the crossbows and then to Elderon. Elderon shook his head.
¡°Light crossbows only for a Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Tibult doesn¡¯t have any light crossbows. We might find you one on our travels.¡±
¡°What about a sling like Anita?¡± Max asked Elderon.
Tibult was at his side in a shot, a leather sling in one hand, and a pouch of stone bullets in the other.
¡°Only the finest items in my store, young Mage. Perfect slingshot for a young Mage. Only two gold.¡±
Max checked his inventory. He had six gold coins left.
Max dipped his hand into his satchel and then spotted a catapult hanging behind Tibult¡¯s counter.
¡°What about that?¡±
Tibult ambled around to the back of the counter. ¡°Ahh, the young Mage is clearly using spells of Find Item to spot that particular item. That is a catapult. A very powerful missile weapon and perfect for a Mage. It will allow a simple sling bullet to cause extra damage.¡± He unhooked the catapult and laid it on the counter in a ceremonial fashion. ¡°Alas and alack, it is my last remaining catapult, and I promised a Ranger who passed this way only a few days ago that I would hold onto it for him. I couldn¡¯t possibly let you have it for less than eight gold.¡±
Max felt crestfallen. He was only short a few gold coins. He didn¡¯t want to ask Elderon or Anita for funds to help him buy it. He briefly considered creeping back in and stealing the catapult after they had left, but out of the corner of his eye, he saw the imp glaring at him as if it had read his mind.
Max studied the hook the catapult had been hanging from. It was slightly hidden from sight but still viewable for anyone who looked for more than a few seconds. It was both hidden and on display. Max wished he did have a spell of Find Item, for he was sure Tibult had a box of these catapults somewhere behind that counter.
Max knew this dwarf¡¯s game.
¡°Ahh, Tibult, you old crook,¡± Max said with a laugh and a smile. He leaned one elbow on the counter and stared steadily down at Tibult. ¡°You are too good a storekeeper to run so low on such fine stock. I wager a tankard of good dwarven ale you have a box of these tucked away in the back. Last catapult in stock, indeed?¡± Max patted Tibult on the shoulder. ¡°Good one, Tibult, you clever dwarf. I can see why you are such a successful merchant. Now come on, how much in truth?¡±
Max was as charming as could be, and Tibult fixed him with a stony gaze for some moments before a smile burst over his face, making his whiskers bristle.
¡°The young Mage is a clever one indeed. Six gold for a quick sale and happy days for all.¡±
¡°Two gold,¡± Max said before Tibult had finished speaking.
¡°Four,¡± Tibult shot back.
Max slammed the coins down on the counter. ¡°Throw in a pack of stone bullets, and you have a deal, my friend.¡±
¡°Deal.¡± Tibult scooped up the gold.
Max took hold of the catapult. The handle was dressed in fine leather and was soft in his grip. A brace hooked over his wrist to hold the powerful catapult in place when the launcher was fully drawn back.
Max inspected the stretchy brown material as he pulled the catapult back.
¡°Is this rubber?¡± Max asked, testing the catapult, pulling it gently back and forth and listening as it creaked.
¡°That, my young friend,¡± Tibult said, ¡°is sinew taken from a Golden Roc. Only found in the Mountains of Drow on the Scarfel continent. Fine material. Very powerful. Very rare. Best in all Eveirea.¡±
Elderon took a look at the catapult. He cast a spell of Know Item and nodded in agreement.
¡°Yes, Golden Roc sinews, very durable. You be careful with that catapult, young Mage. It is very powerful.¡±
As they left the store, Max glanced back through the door as it swung shut. Tibult had a box on the counter and was hanging a replacement catapult on the partially hidden hook behind the counter.
¡°You must be charismatic indeed,¡± Anita said, hooking an arm over Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°To haggle with a dwarven merchant so expertly. It must be why I like you so much.¡±
Max felt a flush of desire come over him. Anita liked him. He liked her too. She was so fit and looked amazing in all that tight leather. He¡¯d never been one for cosplay before, but Anita was more than just a hot outfit and hypnotic eyes. She was irresistible.
She heaved a sigh, her chest rising and falling inside the tight leather top. She unhooked her arm from Max¡¯s shoulder, and they walked in step down the main street to the town gates with Elderon a few paces in front.
The gates were closed, and a group of guards took turns peering out of the hatch in the little door in the main gate. Max wondered what they were looking at when he heard the sound of guards running along the main street.
Max stepped aside to let the guards pass. They slowed as they approached and stopped. One stepped toward Elderon.
¡°Master Mage Elderon, the mayor of Burke humbly requests you attend him at the mayoral hall.¡±
Elderon turned to the guards, a sweep of his cloak showing a glint of the long silver sword on his belt. He stood with his staff at his side.
¡°My party is about to leave Burke. We have a long day¡¯s travel ahead. Inform the good mayor I will attend him when I am next in the county, but I fear I will not be back this way for some time. He should send dispatches to Essillt and request a Mage attend him when the Mage Council can accommodate him.¡±
Max listened with interest. Was Elderon telling the mayor to get lost? Max realized Elderon was not some random traveler. Mages were respected and had an authority of their own, enough to tell a mayor to get bent.
The guard stepped forward a pace, his companions following, all looking nervous with hands on their spears and gripping them tightly.
¡°Apologies, Master Mage. The gates have been closed. No one may leave or enter. The mayor has a matter he would like to discuss with you.¡±
Max considered the gate. He could get out if he wanted. Anita and Elderon were both powerful, and the nervous guards at the gate could not hold them. But he was also curious as to why the Mayor wanted to see Elderon.
Max spoke quietly to the old man. ¡°Perhaps we should meet him.¡± Max looked up the main street to the big house on the hill. ¡°It¡¯s always good to have someone like him on our side. If anything, we should go just to keep us in his good graces.¡±
¡°Max is brave and noble, Elderon,¡± Anita said. ¡°Natural good tells me we should see the mayor.¡±
Elderon grumbled low for a moment, before he swept his cloak across his body, again concealing the silver sword.
¡°We will meet the mayor,¡± Elderon said and walked forward.
The guards fell into marching formation in front of Elderon. ¡°We will escort you,¡± said the lead guard.
Elderon elbowed his way through the group. ¡°I know the way. Watch the palisades. See to your duty, and we will attend the mayor.¡±
Max was enjoying this. He advanced with his party up the hill to the big stone building, where he looked forward to being greeted by the mayor of the town.
Chapter 1.13
The guards at the gate of the mayor¡¯s hall opened the gate as Elderon led them forward. Inside, the main gate led to the courtyard. Stone walls surrounded them, and in the middle stood a large, powerful, yet elegant-looking house. White stone walls with painted wooden window frames held high glass windows. Paved footpaths crisscrossed the courtyard between small beds of shrubs and flowering plants. Pairs of guards armed with spears were situated around the courtyard. The large oak doors at the front of the house opened as Elderon walked toward them.
Max wondered if Elderon had cast a spell to open the doors, or maybe he used his special ability to cause items to move rather than wasting an active spell. Either way, the doors opened into the entrance hall.
Inside, the hall was pleasantly warm thanks to a large central firepit. Dry flagstones on the floor were crossed by a narrow carpet leading to an inner chamber.
The inner chamber was warmed by fires burning in stone hearths on either side and decorated with wall hangings and carpet on the floor. At the far end of the door there was a stage with a table and chairs. Sitting on the large central chair was a portly mayor, gold chains over his fur-lined cloak. He was flanked by a pair of advisors in dark robes.
¡°Master Mage Elderon.¡± The mayor stood up, walked around the table, and came down the few steps toward them. ¡°Thank you for coming. We are in danger here in Burke. We are trapped. The guards on the high walk of the palisade reported dark shadows moving near the edge of town in the darkness. We have counted a pack of six wolves coming closer and closer, and this morning, they have been seen in the distance. You must know, Master Mage, that darkness stalks the land. It would appear it has come right to the gates of our fair town of Burke. We have given you sanctuary these last many days, Master Mage. Would you not think it your duty to help us now? Or else we will be trapped behind our palisade. Our people need to go out to their fields, and the milk cows here in town overnight need to return to the meadows. We will surely perish if we are trapped by these dark beasts.¡±
¡°You have a host of arms here, Mayor,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Can you not send your guards to take these wolves down so that we may be on our way? We have a long journey ahead of us, and I do not want to be making promises to you, Mayor, promises I cannot keep.¡±
¡°We sent half a dozen guards this morning. One returned barely alive. My guards are simple men, not soldiers, and I do not have an army. But we are blessed by the light that we have a Master Mage within our walls. You have a party of adventurers with you, a Druid and another young Mage, it seems. You will stand a much better chance than my town guards, and I don¡¯t want to send another half a dozen guards to their doom. Please, Master Mage, will you not save the town?¡±
Max glanced at Elderon and said, ¡°It might be useful for me to practice my new level before we stray too far from the safety of this good town.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Anita said. ¡°Again, Max is correct. He is clearly an intelligent young Mage. He must practice. And I can¡¯t leave these good people at the mercy of these dark wolves. It¡¯s my duty to the natural wilderness order that these dark wolves be challenged and driven from the gates of this good town.¡±
Elderon let out a low growl at Max and Anita. Then he glared up at the mayor, who was wringing his hands in front of him, a look of terror and hopelessness on his fat face.
¡°We will tackle your little wolf problem, Mayor,¡± Elderon said, turning with a swish of his robe. He walked away from the mayor, his staff tapping the floor as he went. ¡°We will need rest and healing when we return, and we will require a reward for our time and trouble. I know we can trust you to keep your end of the bargain, Mayor.¡±
Elderon marched off before the mayor could answer. Max hurried along beside Elderon, Anita at his side. The guards running ahead of Max¡¯s party called to open the gate so they could leave.
Max felt proud and famous as he walked out through the main gate. The guards were all looking at him and his party in admiration, giving respect for the adventurers heading out to save the town from the dark danger.
When Max had been out there last night, all was dark, but now, he could see the rich, green meadowland of rolling hills to the left and right. Away in the distance, the tops of the trees stood up out of the narrow forest valley. Memories of that lone wolf came back to haunt him and sent a shiver down his spine. He had been trapped up a tree, and he might have been trapped there still if Anita hadn¡¯t come along. But now he was marching out with a powerful Master Mage¡ªa Warrior Mage¡ªand the gorgeous Druid Anita.
Once out of sight of the town, Anita cast her Druid spells Find Animal and Detect Evil. Elderon also cast a spell to reveal hidden danger. Max could tell by their expressions that they had found nothing. The wolves were not nearby.
But maybe Max could help. He knew that Janet had appeared to him in the forest and told him that the wolf was nearby. He wondered if he could get her to show up again. Even as he thought it, she appeared before him, shimmering white, her hair floating around her in a wild red dance.
Max stopped and spoke. ¡°Janet, there is danger nearby. Can you find it?¡±
Janet floated a few inches off the ground. ¡°Yes, Max. I can see a large, evil wolf nearby at the edge of the wood up ahead.¡±
¡°Just one wolf?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. I can only see a dark one. It is under the influence of the dark portal, I am sure of it.¡± Janet pointed the way to Max¡¯s right. ¡°He is over there. Both of him.¡±
¡°Both of him?¡± Max said.
But before Janet could answer, she evaporated like a wisp of smoke caught in a breeze.
Once Janet had vanished, Max noticed Elderon and Anita staring at him.
¡°Where were you?¡± Elderon said. ¡°You appeared frozen in time for a moment.¡±
¡°I was trying to find the wolves,¡± Max said. He pointed in the direction Janet had indicated. ¡°We need to head this way.¡±
Max began to walk toward the danger.
¡°Hold, young Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We can approach with stealth. It is wise to study our foe before we engage.¡±
Max nodded. ¡°Agreed. I will try and Sneak ahead.¡±
Max activates Sneak ability.
Sneak ability failed.
Max tried again but couldn¡¯t hide. The sun was bright overhead, and not even a Master could hide in open ground bathed in bright sunlight. Max couldn¡¯t even walk silently. As much as he tried to advance with stealth, the tall grass swayed around him as he moved.
¡°Hold here,¡± Elderon said. He cast Invisibility Cloak. He wrapped the cloak around himself and vanished. Max heard the old Mage walking away, but he had only gone a few steps when he abruptly yelled to the group.
¡°They¡¯re coming! Look out!¡±
Wolf attacks Max.
Wolf attacks Anita.
Wolf attacks Elderon.
Anita took a knee and reached out with one hand casting Charm Animal. Max saw the flickering light over her hand as she summoned the magic, green and moving like vines twirling around her fingers. The spell leapt forward toward the lead wolf. The moment the spell touched the wolf, the magic decayed, turning brown and then black, like dripping tar.
¡°These aren¡¯t simple, natural wolves. These are dark, corrupted wolves.¡± Anita stood up and unhooked her sling from her belt. ¡°The poor creatures are driven to madness by evil.¡± Her voice cracked a little which surprised Max. ¡°There¡¯s no way we can save them. They must be killed.¡± She loaded a bullet to her sling and began to twirl it.
Elderon began to cast a spell. Max studied the gestures, but they were too difficult and fast for him to copy, and Elderon spoke low so the words were barely audible. He cast the spell forward, and it twirled, white mist cascading out of his hands. The strands of mist wrapped around a wolf, and the beast stopped running.
Max looked at Elderon for an explanation.
¡°It¡¯s a Hold Animal spell,¡± Elderon said. ¡°It reduces the odds against us for a time.¡±
Max felt the catapult on his belt, the sword in its scabbard. But he wanted to cast his first spell. The wolves were drawing closer. Anita launched her first bullet.
Anita attacks Wolf causing minimal damage.
Max twirled his hands in front of him as he remembered seeing in the Mage Book. The gestures appeared in his mind, guiding him. It was clumsy and slow, but he spoke the strange words he had learned as he summoned the arcane magic with words and gesture.
The wolves were closing in fast. Anita launched a second bullet dealing minimal damage again to the lead wolf. Max began to worry because his missile was not working. He heard Elderon¡¯s voice in his head, clear and heavy.
¡°Calm, young Mage. You can do this. Concentrate.¡±
Max moved his hands slowly, spoke clearly. He felt the magic coming, forming a missile, and then¡ªhe did it.
Max casts Magic Missile.
The missile leapt from his hands, a shimmering orange orb. The sensation was powerful and intoxicating. He watched the orb race away toward the target.
Wolf takes moderate damage.
¡°Good work, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Now, arm yourself.¡±
But Max had another missile spell saved. He began to cast it.
Anita brought up her staff to meet the lead wolf. She leapt forward and brought her staff down hard on the wolf.
Anita attacks Wolf causing heavy damage.
Wolf has been defeated.
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The first wolf fell, but the others were just behind. Elderon was casting a spell and it only took him a moment.
Elderon casts Magic Missile.
Max saw at least six glowing Magic Missiles leap away from Elderon and slam into the next wolf.
Wolf takes critical damage.
Anita twirled her staff and finished the wolf.
Wolf has been defeated.
Four wolves now turned on Anita at once. She defended herself with her staff, fending off the biting attacks with quick, calculated movements.
Finally, Max was finished with his spell.
Max casts Magic Missile
Wolf takes minor damage.
¡°I only dealt minor damage that time. What did I do wrong?¡± Max complained.
Elderon cast a second Magic Missile spell and finished the wolf off. ¡°You won¡¯t always deliver the same amount of damage. Each missile can deal minor or moderate damage. You did well with your first missile.¡± Elderon cast another Magic Missile. Six missiles slammed into a wolf and dropped it.
Wolf has been defeated.
Max drew his sword and was about to charge in and help Anita defend against the remaining three wolves.
¡°Hold, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You will not survive. Anita has much higher Health than you. She can take some damage, you cannot, and if you fall, we will never know about this dark portal.¡±
Elderon casts Lightning Bolt.
A lightning bolt came streaking down from high overhead and slammed into the back of a wolf.
Wolf takes critical damage.
Wolf has been defeated.
¡°Use your catapult,¡± said Elderon.
Max drew his catapult and loaded a stone bullet. It was gray and heavy, formed into a neat ball. He drew back the catapult, the brace pressing against his forearm, before he took careful aim and shot the bullet at the nearest wolf.
Max attacks Wolf.
Attack misses; no damage done.
Max loaded another bullet and shot again.
Attack misses; no damage done.
Anita delivered a blow to a wolf with her staff and delivered heavy damage before returning to a defensive posture, fending off biting attacks from the wolves. As she pivoted to fend off an attack, one of the wolves got through her defense and bit her on the arm.
Anita takes heavy damage.
Max loaded another bullet. He took careful aim. His hands were shaking with the power of the catapult and with his determination to defend the beautiful Anita.
Max attacks Wolf causing minor damage.
¡°Yes.¡± Max punched the air.
¡°Focus, Max. We are not out of this yet.¡± Elderon drew his silver blade and advanced.
Max loaded another bullet and drew back the Roc sinew. The brace pressed against his arm as he drew back with all his Strength.
Max attacks Wolf causing minor damage.
Two hits in a row! Max felt frustration at not defeating the wolves more easily even with successive hits. He loaded another bullet taking care to aim away from Elderon, who moved in and attacked with his sword. Elderon swept the white blade upward, both hands on the sword¡¯s grip, and delivered heavy damage to the wolf. Anita continued to defend herself against multiple wolf attacks.
Max attacks Wolf causing minor damage.
Max was getting his hits in, but the catapult was only delivering minor damage. He checked the stats of the wolf he¡¯d been attacking.
Wolf heavily damaged.
He had delivered a few minor damage hits, and they had added up! Of course, Anita had delivered damage with her staff too.
Elderon cut down the wolf he¡¯d been attacking. Now, with only one wolf still attacking Anita, she quickly turned from defense to attack and delivered a blow with her staff that killed the wolf.
Max turned to the final wolf, still entrapped in the white steam strands that Elderon had cast. Elderon and Anita advanced. Max put his catapult away and advanced with them. He drew his shortsword.
Elderon attacks Wolf causing heavy damage.
Anita attacks Wolf causing heavy damage.
Max raised his sword and brought it down hard.
Max attacks Wolf causing minor damage.
Wolf has been defeated.
With the wolf defeated, the Hold Animal spell evaporated, and Max was grinning. He¡¯d cast his first spell. He¡¯d taken on his first encounter with his party, and they had won.
Anita kneeled next to the dead wolf and spoke a silent wilderness incantation to ease the beast¡¯s passing to the spirit realm.
Then Max saw a large wolf stalking them, moving sideways toward them through the long grass. It really was huge, twice the size of the dark wolves they¡¯d just fought.
¡°Umm, you guys,¡± Max said. He sheathed his sword, drew his catapult, and loaded a stone bullet. ¡°Look there.¡±
The wolf turned and faced Max and the party. Then Max saw both sets of slavering jaws and the two sets of dark eyes of the two-headed wolf. Its teeth were long and sharp, its eyes dark and menacing. It started to walk forward. Max quickly checked the creature¡¯s stats. This must have been the creature Janet had warned him about.
Name: Death Wolf
Status: Hostile
Attack: Crushing and piercing bite; Double attack
Threat level: Deadly
Max pulled the catapult back to its fullest extent, straining with the effort. He shot the bullet.
Max attacks Death Wolf causing minor damage.
The wolf blinked as the bullet struck it on the top of its left head, bouncing off with a crack, but it didn¡¯t stop the wolf from taking another slow and forbidding step forward. Max loaded another bullet. It was going to take all day to defeat this beast with bullets alone. Then the wolf leapt forward and burst into a bounding run, roaring with one gaping mouth and growling with the other. It was a dreadful noise that sent a shiver down Max¡¯s spine.
Max attacks Death Wolf causing minor damage.
Elderon cast another Magic Missile, his hands turning quickly as he mumbled the incantation. Six glowing missiles conjured into existence and flew toward the beast. They struck the Death Wolf in rapid succession, some on the flanks, some on the heads, but even though the Magic Missile delivered moderate damage, the Death Wolf¡¯s Health was hardly affected.
Then Elderon cast a spell that caused blue, glowing strands of lightning to coil around his body and his sword arm. Another spell wrapped him in a faint blue glow.
Elderon casts Weapon Skill.
Elderon casts Magic Shield.
Elderon strode forward to meet the wolf, his sword held out to his right, his staff upright in his left hand.
Max shot another bullet.
Wolf takes minor damage.
Anita was casting a Druid spell. The green fibers of light crept forward. Max didn¡¯t think it was possible to charm this beast, but then he saw that the spell had been cast on the ground in front of the Death Wolf. The long grass began to grow thicker and longer, rapidly turning from fine blades of lush meadow grass to thick fibrous strands. They wrapped around the Death Wolf¡¯s feet and coiled up its legs, some taking hold of its huge body. The wolf slowed as the grass grew and wrapped around it. The beast yanked one of its legs free, but as soon as it placed it on the ground, it was caught up by more of the thick blades of grass that writhed like tentacles.
The wolf yanked another leg free, but the grass was growing rapidly, and eventually the grass had wrapped around the Death Wolf¡¯s entire body, holding it firmly in place.
¡°What is that spell?¡± Max asked, shooting another bullet.
Death Wolf takes minor damage.
¡°It¡¯s a Druid spell. Summon Roots. It will hold the beast.¡± Anita walked forward, her staff in hand.
The wolf looked out from its green cocoon, its dark eyes fixed on Max. It was held firm, but it could still snarl. It was twisting its body, pulling at the strands that held it. Max saw some slip away while others were growing up to take their place. The wolf bit at some strands, tearing them to shreds, and regained a fraction of movement. Max could see the wolf would not be held indefinitely.
Elderon reached the Death Wolf and delivered a heavy blow with his sword. His aim was good, and he struck the wolf on the neck at one of its heads that was still biting and snapping forward. The body was held, but those crushing and piercing bites were still very deadly.
Elderon attacks Death Wolf causing heavy damage.
The wolf was struggling, and Max saw one leg pull free of the tangle of grass. No new grass was growing up, and now the wolf was starting to break free of its entanglement. It struggled, pulled, and tugged. It snarled.
He hooked the catapult onto his belt and wrapped his fingers around the grip of his shortsword. It came out of the scabbard easily and gave a metallic ring as Max drew it. He found it difficult to hold onto both the staff and the sword, so he abandoned the staff as he walked forward, fear and determination growing with every step he took toward the beast.
Max quickened his pace, afraid that if he took too long, fear would overwhelm him. He ran forward and stood alongside Anita. He delivered a heavy blow with his shortsword.
Max attacks Death Wolf causing moderate damage.
The wolf looking at Max was almost as tall as he was, its eyes dark and deep. Max felt as if he was falling again. The wolf lunged, the green strands that held it shredding and breaking, giving the beast enough movement to reach Max with its left head. The sharp canine teeth scraped down Max¡¯s chest, tearing the loose shirt and cutting his flesh. The pain was intense enough that he collapsed backward.
Death Wolf attacks Max causing critical damage.
Anita and Elderon were attacking the wolf and delivering blows, dealing heavy damage with each attack. But still the wolf was fighting, and almost a quarter of its Health stayed intact.
Max took a Potion of Basic Healing from his satchel and drank the contents. It was the sweetest thing he¡¯d ever tasted, and he instantly felt healthy again.
Max uses Potion of Basic Healing.
He was now returned to half his full Health. He knew he was lucky to have not been killed by the single bite from the Death Wolf.
Elderon landed another powerful attack with his white-silver sword, but the spell aiding his sword arm was close to expiring. Max could see the light of the spell fading.
Anita cast a spell on the entire party, a Bonus to attack. Max felt his sword arm strengthen. He stepped up again and delivered a blow to the Death Wolf. The strike was well aimed and heavier than he could have achieved on his own without Anita¡¯s boosting spell.
Death Wolf takes heavy damage.
Max knew it had been a lucky hit, boosted further by Anita¡¯s Druid spell. One head of the Death Wolf fell to the ground. Max felt jubilation grow for a fraction of a second, and then the wolf pulled free of the grass that had held it and bit Anita. Max¡¯s short-lived elation turned to horror.
Anita takes heavy damage.
Max could see Anita had taken too much damage. She fell backward to the ground.
¡°I am close to death,¡± she called out, yet she fought on bravely, swinging her staff and striking the wolf with a heavy upswing.
Max took a potion from his satchel and poured it into her mouth as she delivered another blow.
Anita takes Potion of Basic Healing.
She gulped it down and immediately struck at the wolf again.
Death Wolf takes moderate damage.
Elderon stepped up and cast a spell. The magic gathered in his hand, and he placed it on the wolf¡¯s head. Lightning flickered from his hand and over the Death Wolf from its nose to the tip of its tail.
Elderon casts Lightning Grip at Death Wolf causing heavy damage.
Max could see the wolf was nearly finished, but Elderon was exhausted, and Anita was struggling back to her feet. Max leaped forward and brought his shortsword down hard on the Death Wolf, slicing through the neck. The second head fell to the ground, and the Death Wolf was slain.
Death Wolf has been defeated.
Max stabbed at the wolf¡¯s body that was still partially tangled in thick grass. He pulled a collar off the wolf¡¯s neck. It was leather and big enough to fit around Max¡¯s waist . . . it glowed faintly.
¡°Be careful with that, Max,¡± Elderon said. He returned Max¡¯s staff to him with a look that suggested the old Mage was not pleased that Max had abandoned it. ¡°That is a magical item.¡± He paused to drink a Potion of Basic Healing. ¡°Who knows what it does, but it was part of this evil creature. You will need to have it identified first. I will memorize Know Item and tell you what it is. We will find a Scroll of Know Item for you, too, as soon as possible. It is a very handy spell, one you will find very useful. Let us head back to the town of Burke and rest.¡±
He dropped the collar into his satchel.
Max gains item: unknown magical collar.
Max gains experience points.
Max felt battered as he walked back to the town of Burke. He looked at the tear in his shirt, and the bloody wound on his chest. Anita stopped him. She smiled and looked into Max¡¯s eyes as she cast the healing spell, her hand lingering for a moment on his chest. He gazed into her eyes, gentle, powerful, mysterious. He felt the soreness in his chest disappear.
¡°You were very brave to bring me the healing potion,¡± Anita said. She let her fingers run down Max¡¯s chest, and then she took her hand away. ¡°Very quick and clever thinking.¡±
¡°He was foolish to join us in melee combat,¡± Elderon said, stepping in between them. ¡°You have little Strength and very little Health. That single bite from the Death Wolf could have killed you, then how would we learn of this dark portal from your leveling-up dream? It was intelligent to give Anita the potion, but not very wise to put yourself in striking range of the beast.¡±
¡°Like you played it safe when you were Level One,¡± Anita said with a chuckle.
Elderon grumbled and marched ahead. Anita stepped next to Max and slipped her arm through his. The air was cold, but Anita¡¯s body was warm. She gave off a fierce heat, and Max let her come as close as she wanted. He could walk with her all day, but he was relieved to see the welcome sight of the town¡¯s palisade in the distance. It was a little past noon, but Max was ready to rest.
Chapter 1.14
The battle with the wolves had been tough on Max, and he had taken critical damage from the Death Wolf. Even though he had taken the potion of Basic Healing, he was still heavily wounded. He checked his stats and saw his health bar was only half full.
He hadn¡¯t even picked up any loot. Unless he could count the mysterious collar he¡¯d taken from the two-headed Death Wolf.
But any encounter now would be dangerous. Max only needed to take a few hits of minor damage for his Health to be reduced to a critical condition. Even though he would gain Health points every time he leveled up, the amount of extra Health he¡¯d gained from making his first level was barely enough to absorb an extra hit of minor damage. He was still vulnerable.
Walking through the open gates of the town of Burke to a hero¡¯s welcome went a long way to improving his spirits, and thoughts of his vulnerability soon melted away. He might not be at full Health, but his ego had certainly been boosted. He waved at the happy, smiling townsfolk and town guards as he walked up the main street to the mayor¡¯s house. He saw Meg, the farmer¡¯s daughter, cheering them on from the doorway of her washer cottage. Steam billowing out around her from the steamy interior. Max blew her a kiss, and she smoldered invitingly, mouthing the reply.
¡°Come and see me.¡±
He might just do that, he thought.
The mayor was delighted to see the party return with a wolf¡¯s head. He was standing at the main entrance to the mayoral hall, accepting the cheers from the gathered crowd, taking as much credit for the defeat of the dark wolves as he could. He walked forward to greet the returning heroes, hand outstretched, guards on either side, a group of wizened advisors scurrying behind.
Elderon spoke before the mayor could launch into a speech.
¡°Mayor, we have come for our reward. We require rest and a meal. Send word to the Dancing Pig to prepare a room.¡±
Max liked the idea of a tankard of Dwarven ale and one of those huge meat pies, which would certainly go a long way toward restoring his Health. And when they had rested, Anita may well cast a Basic Healing spell on him and bring him back to full Health. He might even have time in the night to Sneak away and visit the buxom farmer¡¯s daughter. He wondered if a late-night tumble in the steamy wash room would restore or degrade his Health. How much damage could it do? He liked it here in the town of Burke. He was determined to make the most of it before moving on.
The mayor handed a small pouch to one of his advisers. The adviser, dressed in a loose black robe with the little black skullcap, walked over to Elderon and handed him the pouch. Elderon weighed it in his hand for a moment and then passed it to Max.
¡°Put this in your satchel, Max,¡± Elderon said.
Max did as he was told. His little satchel was filling up, his soft boots taking up much of the space. A few gold coins were adding some weight.
Max gains 40 gold
¡°We will host a parade for you through the town,¡± the mayor said, beaming and looking at the wolf¡¯s head as the guards carried it away. ¡°I will have a wagon decorated, and I will take you on a journey around our town so all can celebrate your victory and our deliverance from these dark beasts.¡±
¡°You ride in the wagon, Mayor,¡± Elderon said. He turned and walked toward the exit. ¡°We have no time. We will rest and be on our way.¡±
Max smiled and nodded at the mayor, who was looking a little crestfallen at Elderon¡¯s sudden exit. He followed Elderon.
¡°I guess you don¡¯t like the idea of a victory parade around town,¡± Max said as he caught up with Elderon.
¡°The mayor wants the parade so the townsfolk can see he has saved them. I have no interest in such displays. My deeds and actions will be recorded at Essillt. That is all the reward I need.¡± To Max, he said, ¡°Do not be enamored by the adoration of the crowds. They will love you one day and curse you the next. Be true to yourself, and the thoughts of the crowd will not matter to you. Crowds can be wrong as often as right. Only you can know if you are being true to yourself.¡±
* * *
Max sat on the edge of the bed back in the bunk room above the Dancing Pig. Pie and ale had restored him to full Health, so all he needed now was rest. He took out his Mage Book and studied the two spells he had learned so far, Magic Missile and Detect Enemies, flicking back and forth between them, memorizing the strange incantation and the hand gestures. The better he knew them, the faster he could cast the spells. He¡¯d seen Elderon cast a Magic Missile in a fraction of the time it took him to do it.
Max considered the Detect Enemies spell. Maybe one day he might need to use it, but he knew how dangerous it was beyond the town gates. He needed all the offensive force he could muster so he chose to prepare the two Magic Missile spells. On the first page of his book, the spell slots were empty, so Max turned to the Magic Missile spell page and selected Magic Missile once again, and then went quickly to the first page of the book to see newly loaded spells appear in the spell slots.
The symbols for Magic Missile appeared in the two available spell slots on the first page as if they were being scorched by a hot brand from the inside of the paper.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
Max studied the symbols a moment longer before he closed the book. He dropped it into his satchel and then lay down to sleep. He had hardly noticed Anita getting undressed and standing there, silhouetted in the moonlight before climbing under the covers. Elderon sat on a stool in front of the small fire at the end of the room. His Mage Book was in his lap, expanded out to its full size, a huge tome. He was busy preparing spells. Max drifted off to sleep thinking about how one day, his Mage Book would be as big as that, and he would have just as many spells.
Before Max had settled into the pillow, it seemed Elderon was shaking him awake. It was still dark outside. Anita was already dressed in her tight leather armor and smiling down at Max. He climbed out of bed wearily and grabbed his clothes.
¡°The mistress of the Dancing Pig saw your shirt was ripped,¡± Elderon said.
Anita tossed a shirt at Max.
¡°She had it mended for you,¡± Anita said. ¡°You really are a hit with the ladies.¡±
Max pulled the shirt on. It was not as baggy and loose as it had been before it got shredded by the Death Wolf. Now, it fit perfectly. Lastly, he pulled on his good boots, slipped on his coat, and slung his satchel over his shoulder.
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¡°Take this,¡± Elderon said and handed Max a rough blanket, thick and heavy. ¡°You¡¯ll need it when we are out in the wilderness.
Max gains rough blanket
As he followed Elderon and Anita, he checked that he had his catapult on his belt and his shortsword in its scabbard. He grabbed his staff and followed Elderon into the dark morning.
They walked along the main street, out of the town gate, and onto the road through the meadowlands. Before long, the sky brightened from black to dark blue and finally, with the town of Burke out of sight behind them, the sky was a bright pale blue.
Max followed close behind Elderon, not fully knowing where they were going, his eyes on the cobble road beneath his feet. By the time the bright silver sun was high in the sky, it was shining down on a changed landscape. There were still vast meadows and rolling hills, but Max began to notice small outcrops of thorny bushes and short stubby trees. These small thickets were increasing in frequency and size with every mile.
It must have been the middle of the day when Max began to tire of the ceaseless march. He called to his companions for a rest. Max collapsed to the side of the road without waiting for a reply. He lay back in the long, soft grass, resting his aching feet. He ate the dark bread he had taken from the Dancing Pig and felt the fatigue from a long morning¡¯s march fading fast.
Elderon sat next to Max as Anita disappeared into a nearby thicket. She soon returned with an armful of twigs and sticks that she dropped near Elderon.
Elderon picked up a twig and found a dried nut hanging there. He held it at arm¡¯s length and called for Max¡¯s attention.
¡°Magic is more than just memorizing spells. You have to be able to tune into the arcane, tune into the magic that is flowing through the world, and with practice comes control.¡±
¡°Like a Druid?¡± Max said, looking over at Anita. She was preparing a fresh bundle of glowing moss, readying it for when darkness fell.
¡°No, not like a Druid. The Druid magic comes from their bond with the natural world, granted to them by the earth, the oceans, and the sky. Their magic is wild and granted to them as long as they obey the will of nature. The magic of the arcane is harnessed, channeled. Focused. A Druid¡¯s magic can change the direction of a bolt of lightning, but a Mage can summon it with the correct spell. And with greater control comes greater power. A novice Mage can summon a spark with a Call Lightning spell. A trained, practiced Mage can summon the mightiest of thunderbolts. For ages, we have studied and tamed the wild magic. We have shaped it to serve us. It will become clearer as you tune in to the arcane. See this nut?¡± Elderon twirled the twig in his fingers. ¡°Reach out with your mind and see the nut inside its shell.¡±
Max reached out with his mind and thought that maybe he could detect something: a dry, shriveled nut inside the shell. He knew what a nut looked like, and maybe he was just imagining that he could see it. Suddenly he was shaken roughly by Elderon.
¡°Max!¡± Elderon shouted.
Max realized he was sweating profusely. Anita was crouched at his side, staring at him with intense curiosity and concern, but Elderon was smiling at him. Anita stood up, leaned on her staff, and smiled down at him.
¡°Excellent, Max, excellent,¡± Elderon said, patting him on the shoulder. ¡°That was brilliant.¡±
¡°What did I do? I was just imagining the nut inside the shell.¡± Max wiped the sweat from his brow. He was thirsty and took a drink of water.
¡°You channeled the arcane! You really did see the nut, and you were not imagining it. I was watching you. My goodness, Max, you are a natural! But the danger with being naturally gifted is that you will neglect the hard work that is required to become practiced and the very best in your class.¡±
Max looked up at the white sun and saw it had moved across the sky and was dipping toward the far horizon. The day seemed to have passed very quickly. ¡°What time is it?¡± he asked.
Anita smiled down at him. ¡°You were studying that nut for hours. I thought we should stop in case you became forever lost in there, but Elderon said you were doing really well.¡±
Max felt both tired and invigorated. The effort of channeling the natural magic and seeing inside the nut¡¯s shell had been exhausting, but knowing that he had achieved so much gave him a huge boost of energy.
¡°Let me try again,¡± Max said. ¡°Now that I know what I¡¯m doing, I might be able to do it better.¡±
Elderon stood up. ¡°No,¡± he said and dragged Max to his feet. ¡°We have far to go. We will try again tonight before we rest. But for now, we march.¡±
Elderon led them off the road and into the long grass. They walked on and on for the rest of the afternoon among rolling green meadowlands as far as the eye could see. Anita walked ahead and selected a route using her wilderness path finding skills. She picked their way through the rolling hills without them ever having to climb too steeply, leading them in a meandering line that kept them on a flat, easy path that minimized the effort of walking. However, by the time evening fell, Max was exhausted. He sat down heavily while Anita went off to gather wood from a thicket and prepared a small fire. Elderon found another small nut on the dried branches and held it up for Max to see.
¡°Now that you are able to find the nut inside the shell and bring it into your mind, you can learn to manipulate it.¡± He gave the twig and the shriveled nut hanging off it to Max. ¡°You will turn the nut inside the shell.¡±
Max wondered what possible good this exercise could do. He should be working on gaining more spell slots for his Mage Book, not playing with dried twigs. But then he thought that a nut in its shell was not unlike the wheels and gears inside a lock. He wondered how much he could earn as a safecracker, turning the gears inside the mechanism or unlocking doors without drills or explosives. He could do it silently, secretly, safely. He could be rich.
The crack across his knuckles stunned him and brought him back to the present. Above him, Elderon glared, deep, dark eyes filled with displeasure.
¡°I don¡¯t know what this safe box you are imagining is, Max, but it is not magic. I suspect you are considering thievery. That is very bad. You must not use your power incorrectly, or it will lead to corruption. Your own skills will work against you if you employ them in the incorrect way.¡±
¡°I wasn¡¯t . . .¡±
Crack!
Again, Elderon whacked him with the hard dried stick across the knuckles. ¡°And I can detect a lie as easily as you can see the sun in the sky,¡± Elderon said.
Max nursed his bruised knuckles. He checked his stats.
Anita casts Basic Healing on Max.
Max glanced over at Anita, his health bar now full, and she smiled at him and gave him a wink. Her Basic Healing spell was just the thing to take the sting out of his knuckles.
¡°One more lesson tonight, young Mage,¡± Elderon said. He gathered a pile of dried sticks. ¡°It is possible to bring the fire out of the wood. There is energy in the tiniest particles within the wood. It is possible to break the particles apart and release energy that will turn the wood to fire.¡±
Elderon set a pile of sticks in front of him. He sat staring at them for a moment, and a small spark appeared. Soon, the sticks were crackling and aflame.
¡°Like the nut in the shell, find the energy in the stick and let it become a flame.¡±
Max looked at the sticks and tried to see inside them to the energy trapped within. ¡°Isn¡¯t this Druid magic?¡± he said.
¡°Concentrate,¡± Elderon said.
Max burrowed his mind into the stick. He concentrated on the fire until he saw the tiniest ember glowing. Then he concentrated on that to make it spread and grow. By the time a tiny glowing fleck had grown to a spark, he collapsed, exhausted. He looked at the stick and saw a small wisp of gray smoke rising up from the point he¡¯d been trying to ignite. Max shook his head in disappointment.
¡°Max, that¡¯s fantastic!¡± Elderon said.
¡°But I didn¡¯t start the fire. It was too hard.¡±
¡°No one starts a fire on the first attempt,¡± Anita said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen many young Mages try.¡±
Max looked from Anita to Elderon. Elderon nodded in agreement.
¡°To even get smoke at this stage is exceptional.¡±
Max gains experience points.
The sun had vanished, and Elderon built a large roaring fire. They all settled down on their bedrolls. Anita produced a small quantity of moss¡ªwhen she whispered to it, it started to glow, giving a low green light to the camp.
Somewhere in the distance, Max could hear a noise of something rattling and rumbling. It grew louder, and he thought he heard voices, laughter, and singing. Then he saw lights in the distance as the rumbling grew closer and closer. Elderon was sitting up on his bedroll, gazing into the distance. Anita disappeared into the dark and soon came back. Her smiling face was an instant comfort to Max, and he looked forward to hearing some good news.
¡°Travelers,¡± Anita said. ¡°A whole band of travelers have come by. They have caravans, and they are about to make camp. Let¡¯s make ourselves known to them.¡±
Elderon stood up, gathering his belongings. ¡°Come along, Max. Travelers are legendary for offering a hearty welcoming to fellow travelers. And there is safety in numbers. Let¡¯s go and introduce ourselves. Better we let them know we are here than they stumble across us in the night and think we are stalking them.¡±
The light from the traveler camp was welcome, and Max approached eager and excited. At the edge of the circle of wagons, a traveler guard patrolling with a huge, curved sword on his hip called out,
¡°Hold. Who goes there in the darkness?¡±
Elderon summoned a ball of fire that hovered in his palm, and he let it float up five feet in the air to illuminate the area. Anita blew on her moss and let it glow bright green.
¡°I am Master Mage, Elderon from the Mage Towers of Essillt. Here is Anita from the Druid groves, and the young Mage with us here is Max. Is there room at your fire for fellow travelers?¡±
The big traveler twirled his moustache with the finger and thumb of one hand, his sword arm resting on the sword in his belt, then he smiled and held his arms out wide. ¡°Welcome, fellow travelers. Come within our circle of wagons.¡±
Max smiled up at the big guard as he passed him, receiving a heavy yet friendly slap on the back. Within the circle, there was a large fire and ladies dancing in big skirts and covered in heavy gold jewelry. There was meat roasting on the fire. Max approached the fire with a little trepidation, suddenly nervous about crashing the party, but a young maiden traveler came and took his hand. She was wearing a big skirt and a loose baggy top.
¡°You look tired, traveler,¡± the maid said. ¡°Come sit with me, and I will soothe you.¡±
Max let himself be led to the fire, and he sat down.
¡°My name is Jenna,¡± the maid whispered huskily.
Max smiled at her. ¡°Hello, Jenna, very nice to meet you.¡±
Chapter 1.15
Max couldn¡¯t believe his luck. Girls were never this friendly with him back home, and Jenna was not just friendly but beautiful too. Her tanned skin was soft, her round eyes deep and dark, and her lips were full and coming closer by the minute. She moved a little closer and leaned in, studying Max. It was very flattering to be getting so much attention from one so attractive.
He glanced around the camp to check on his companions. Elderon was talking with a big man who had huge arms, a bushy moustache, and a bald head. He wore loose pants, soft boots, and a huge leather belt around his waist that held a curved sword. His upper body rippled under a tight vest. Copper-covered leather forearm guards sparkled, reflecting the flames of the central fire.
¡°He¡¯s the boss,¡± Jenna said, her lips almost touching Max¡¯s ear.
Max tried to hear what they were talking about. It appeared to be a good-natured conversation. Elderon always looked stern, and next to the large, jolly traveler leader, he appeared even more so.
Anita was standing at a makeshift store flanked by a pair of young men who could not take their eyes off her. One twirled his thin moustaches, the other had his hands on his hips, puffing up his chest. Max felt a little jealous and protective. Anita was his friend. Who were these guys? He was happy to see that Anita was clearly more interested in the collection of items, trinkets, and some small potion bottles on display at the back of an open wagon than these handsome young men.
Jenna took hold of Max¡¯s hand and stood up. She drew him to his feet and away from the fire and led him by the hand, glancing back over her shoulder. She stopped and turned to Max with a coy, smoldering expression. Her eyes sparkled there at the dark edge of the circle of wagons. Max opened his mouth to speak, but she pressed her finger to her full lips. She took his staff in her hand and set it down on the grass and then led him into the back of a covered wagon.
The interior of the wagon was lit by the large fire outside, glowing and flickering over the thick canvas covering. It was too dark to see anything except the outline of his beautiful temptress. All was shadow. The floor of the wagon was covered in soft furs and large pillows. Somewhere, incense was burning, releasing vapor and perfumed smoke into the covered wagon. Jenna laid Max down on the pillows, kneeled in front of him, and took her loose baggy top up over her head, a silhouette in the flickering orange glow on the canvas-covered wagon. Max let her unclip his belt. Jenna tossed it aside together with his sword, his scabbard, and his satchel. She dragged her long fingernails down his chest.
Max saw a dark spot in the corner of the wagon, a deeper black than Jenna¡¯s curvaceous shadowy outline. It grew deeper and darker. And then, in the center of the dark spot, he saw the white, glowing image of Janet.
¡°Max, you are in danger,¡± Janet warned urgently.
Max ignored the warning, knowing the only danger was being taken to the lands of ecstasy by this beautiful traveler maid! He ignored Janet hovering there, glowing brightly now with red hair floating around her. He willed her to go away and used the trick Elderon had been teaching him, to reach out with his mind like he had done with the nut in the shell. He tried to dismiss Janet, to send her back into the darkness, at least for now while he was getting to know this traveler maid.
Jenna smiled down at him and kissed him lightly on the side of the neck. Max reached out with his arms and touched her soft skin. Janet was closer now, right in his face.
¡°Don¡¯t you ignore me, Max. I¡¯m telling you she¡¯s not what she appears to be. You are in danger. This is not what it seems. If you could see this for real, you wouldn¡¯t be so excited. She is using some kind of illusion to trick you.¡±
Max had seen Elderon casting spells, and he¡¯d seen Anita use some wilderness magic. There was an energy to it, and Max could see it when he looked, so he looked for it now, checking out the space around Jenna even as her subtle movements invited Max to succumb to her touch. Then he saw it, the light blue glow around her. He studied her closely and saw it was emanating from the large ring she was wearing on the little finger of her left hand.
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¡°Yes, that¡¯s it,¡± Janet said. ¡°There is some kind of camouflage field being generated by that item. I¡¯m telling you, she¡¯s not what she seems.¡±
Max reached up with his hands, palms open. Jenna lifted her arms high above her head, playing with her hair and letting it tumble down over her naked shoulders. Max took hold of her arms and drew her hands down to him. He laid her hands on his chest, smiled at her, and he took hold of her left hand and tried to grab the ring on her finger.
Jenna pulled her hands away and leaned over him, seducing him with all her allure. She held her hands behind her back and dangled her long hair over his chest.
Max was feeling lightheaded, giddy, and excited. He closed his eyes and enjoyed the sensation of her skin on his. When he opened his eyes, Janet was staring right at him. ¡°For goodness¡¯ sake, Max. Snap out of it. You are in danger. Find those people you are with and get out of here.¡±
Max was enjoying himself far too much, but there was something about that ring, something hidden, something not quite right. Max reached up with his hands and grabbed Jenna by the shoulders. He laid her down on the soft furs. She smiled up at him, her hands above her head, toying with her hair, keeping that ring out of Max¡¯s reach.
Max started crawling backward toward the open back of the wagon. Jenna was up in a flash, her arms around his neck, showering him with kisses and hot breath.
¡°Don¡¯t go, Max! You¡¯re so exciting and so interesting. I have traveled all over the continent of Awen, from the far west of the Kingdom of Ragewind through the Hinge and the Kingdom of Breamor. Do you believe in love at first sight?¡± Max could feel her shapely body pressed against his naked back.
¡°Sure. I believe in love at first sight,¡± Max said, ¡°but I also think I should let my friends know where I am. I¡¯ll only be a minute.¡± Max shrugged off Jenna. He grabbed his shirt, fumbled around in the dark, and found his belt, scabbard, and satchel. He leapt out of the back of the covered wagon.
The air outside was cold, and he could feel the excitement in his blood slowly coming down. He pulled on his shirt, slung his satchel and belt over his shoulder, and grabbed his staff from where Jenna had dropped it. He crossed back to the fire and went over to Elderon, who was still talking to the boss.
The boss looked at Max as he approached, a stern expression that suddenly changed to friendly and welcoming.
¡°Elderon,¡± Max said.
¡°Young Mage, I will be with you shortly. Enjoy the camp. We will rest here tonight.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± the boss said with a smile, his gold jewelry jangling. As he smiled, Max saw a gold tooth glittering in the corner of his mouth. ¡°Rest, young Mage. Look, here comes Jenna. She will take you somewhere to rest.¡±
Max smiled and nodded but took hold of Elderon¡¯s robe. ¡°We have a long journey ahead of us. Let¡¯s not take advantage of these good people, and let¡¯s be on our way.¡±
Elderon frowned at Max and then at the boss. Something appeared to occur to Elderon, and he cast a spell.
Elderon casts Detect Magic.
Max could see the fine strands of white lightning flickering over the camp. It seemed to light up jewelry on lots of the travelers. Creeping out from under the wagons, Max saw a number of hideous little beasts scurrying to the edge of the shadows, small scaly creatures with sharp teeth and red eyes. Elderon turned away from the boss and walked toward Anita, who was still looking at the wares for sale.
Max was aware that the music had stopped, the laughter had stopped, and all eyes were on them now. Anita came away from the table of wares, but she was glazed over as if hypnotized by these simple trinkets. The Detect Magic spell still flickered, and there was something holding her attention beyond these cheap ornaments and trinkets.
¡°Anita, we must be on our way.¡± Max spoke with as much calm authority as he could muster. He looked down to fasten his belt. When he looked up a fraction of a second later, they were already surrounded, and the travelers¡¯ disguises fell away. They were in the middle of a party of Bandits, a dozen of them, and with a pack of vicious little reptiles at their heels.
¡°Stay together,¡± Max shouted.
¡°We have you now, Max.¡± The Bandit Leader said, standing there, arms folded, laughing. He drew his curved sword. ¡°We have been searching for you. We have found you, and we will deliver you. Your friends we can take dead or alive. The decision is yours.¡±
Max saw Jenna stepping down from the back of the wagon, not nearly as pretty as she had been just moments before, the magic having worn off. And she was twirling a sling.
Jenna attacks Max.
She shot the bullet at Max. His reflexes took over, and he ducked out of the way of the bullet. It fizzed through the air as it sailed overhead.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
¡°I guess that means we¡¯ve broken up,¡± he said to Jenna as she loaded another bullet.
And then the Bandits closed in on all sides.
Chapter 1.16
¡°Don¡¯t harm the young Mage,¡± the Bandit Leader called out as he drew his sword, a huge, curved blade flickering in the firelight. ¡°Take him alive. Kill the others.¡±
The Bandits around the camp drew crossbows and leveled them at Max and his party. Max held his staff before him. It would offer little protection, a shield it was not, but it was all he could place before him, his party, and the crossbows leveled at them.
As he calculated his odds of defeating this group of Bandits and came up with an answer that did little to comfort him, a thought occurred: why did they want to keep him alive?
The crossbow strings twanged all at once, crossbow bolts launching from their bows. In that moment, Elderon raised his hands in the air.
Elderon casts Protective Dome.
A blue dome formed over the small group just as the crossbow bolts came toward them. The bolts ricocheted off except for one that came through the magic field, but its flight was slowed so much that it fell harmlessly to the ground.
Anita casts Bonus on the party.
Max felt the Bonus wash over him. He knew any strike with his staff would find its mark and undoubtedly deliver moderate damage, an improvement for his attack.
The Bandits moved in, driven forward by shouts from their leader. They approached the blue sphere and attacked it with their heavy longswords. The blows deflected off the blue sphere with a shower of orange sparks.
¡°It won¡¯t hold for long,¡± Elderon said as he cast a Shield spell over Max.
Elderon casts Magic Shield on Max.
¡°We need to get away!¡± Elderon said.
¡°How can we outrun these guys?¡± Max said. ¡°They have horses. We need to fight if we hope to survive.¡± His fingers gripped his staff. The Bonus from Anita and Elderon¡¯s magic Shield gave him confidence, but it was only because there was truly no other option that he found courage.
¡°They have us surrounded,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We can¡¯t fight them like this! Walk with me, and we¡¯ll back up to that wagon.¡± Elderon pointed to a large canvas-covered wagon at the edge of the circle.
¡°Yes,¡± Anita said. ¡°That one is clear. No hidden dangers in there.¡±
Max walked with Anita and Elderon. The dome was shrinking, and every sword blow shrank it a little further. They finally got their backs to the large wagon and stood together. A line of Bandits advanced with their swords, beating the shrinking protective magical dome. Behind the line of Bandits, in the flickering firelight, the Bandit Leader stood and urged them forward. At his side was Jenna, and Max shuddered at how closely he had come to being seduced by her. But even now, with murder in her eyes, Max could feel himself being drawn to her with magical lust.
The dome shrank down so the edge was almost touching Max¡¯s shoulder, drawing his attention away from the bandit and back to the problem at hand. He held up his staff to fend off a sword blow that came so perilously close the blade cut in through the dome. It was not only shrinking in size but also in strength and intensity. The dome¡¯s deep-blue color had now become pale, and it was flickering like a flame about to be extinguished.
Anita began to cast Summon Roots. It leapt from her fingers the moment the sphere collapsed.
Instantly, they were on the defensive. The Bandits moved in, and swords clashed with sword and staff.
Bandit attacks Max.
Max held up his staff sideways to defend a blow coming down hard, a two-handed strike from a big Bandit. It cut Max¡¯s staff in two. He held the shattered pieces, one in each hand, stunned for a moment but mercifully still unharmed.
Elderon casts Fierce Wind.
The wind blew away from Elderon, forcing the Bandits backward. The fire roared as the wind hit, and it sent the flames leaping over to the canvas covers of the wagons on the far side of the circle.
With the Bandits pushed back, Max could shoot with his catapult. Max dropped the two split ends of his staff and drew his catapult.
Max attacks Bandit causing minor damage.
The Bandits on Max¡¯s left were tangled up in the mass of roots that had sprung up from the ground. In front of them, the Bandits were being pushed into the fire by Elderon¡¯s fierce wind spell. Many of them were now fleeing and beating out the flames that had caught fire on their baggy clothes.
On the right came the little reptiles. Max shot a bullet and took down one reptile in a single shot. They looked terrifying but had very limited Health.
Anita casts Charm Animal.
The Charm spell enveloped the whole pack of reptiles and they stopped in their tracks. With a flick of her wrist, Anita sent them to attack the Bandits.
Max casts Magic Missile.
The missile leapt from his fingers. He cast it more confidently this time, his hand gestures and the strange incantation all much more certain. The missile glowed more fiercely, and it struck a Bandit in the chest.
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Bandit takes moderate damage.
Bandit loses courage and flees.
Anita¡¯s sling was shooting one bullet after another. Elderon cast a Magic Missiles and six missiles slammed into a Bandit, causing critical damage. The Bandit lost courage and fled.
¡°They are running,¡± Max yelled as he cast his second Magic Missile at the fleeing Bandits.
On their left was the group who¡¯d been caught by Anita¡¯s Summon Roots spell. They were hacking away at the roots with their swords, but Max could see panic in their eyes. He shot a bullet from his sling and delivered minor damage with repeated strikes on the same Bandit. The Bandit broke free of the roots and ran away.
The Bandit Leader was yelling furiously at the fleeing Bandits but to no avail. He stared at Max, drank a potion, and advanced.
Bandit Leader takes Potion of Orc Strength.
The remaining Bandits were running, some aflame, others with various degrees of damage. Maybe they had figured such a small group of adventurers would be an easy target. They had been wrong.
Elderon cast a shield on himself and stepped forward. He let his staff fall and drew his silver sword that glowed in the darkness, a white light in the night. He brought the sword around in a wide arc aimed at the head of the Bandit Leader.
But the Bandit Leader was a true fighter. He held his massive, curved sword with two hands and deflected Elderon¡¯s swinging sword.
Max took aim with his catapult.
Max attacks Bandit Leader.
Attack absorbed; no damage done.
¡°My bullet didn¡¯t damage him,¡± Max called, loading a second and firing again on the Bandit Leader.
Attack absorbed; no damage done.
¡°He is protected by some magical item,¡± Anita answered.
Bandit Leader attacks Elderon causing major damage.
The sword struck Elderon hard, the magic Shield protecting him from critical damage, but he was instantly heavily injured and his Health reduced to medium in one hit.
Anita casts Extra Healing.
Max drew his sword and rushed the Bandit Leader. The Bandit Leader watched him coming and made ready to defend. But Max didn¡¯t stop to face him. He ran past and slashed with his sword as he went by.
Max attacks Bandit Leader causing minor damage.
The Bandit swung his curved blade at Max, but Max had run out of range of the swinging sword. The Bandit Leader growled in frustration as the blade swished through the cold night air.
Elderon attacks Bandit Leader causing major damage.
Max ran back at him again as the Bandit Leader turned his attention back to Elderon.
Bandit Leader attacks Elderon causing minor damage.
Max attacks Bandit Leader causing minor damage.
The Bandit Leader stopped attacking Elderon and turned again to swing at Max.
Bandit Leader attacks Max causing major damage.
Elderon attacks Bandit Leader causing major damage.
Anita summons Magic Stone.
Anita attacks Bandit Leader causing minor damage.
The Bandit Leader yelled in fury as his health plummeted and swung his sword at Elderon. The Wizard defended the blow but was forced backward by the power behind it.
Max rushed in again and struck the Bandit Leader.
Max attacks Bandit Leader major damage.
Bandit Leader has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The Bandit Leader fell to his knees, his sword dropped at his side. Elderon reached out with his sword toward the Bandit¡¯s throat and cut away a pendant that was hanging around his neck. The Bandit Leader shrank to a small man, no bigger than Max.
¡°They said you would be weak,¡± the Bandit Leader said before collapsing to the ground.
Anita brought Elderon his staff, and Elderon sheathed his sword and took the staff. He sent up a brilliant white light that illuminated the scene.
¡°We must leave. The Bandits have been scared off by a few simple spells, but they will start to come back.¡±
Max knelt over the Bandit Leader with the fallen pendant at his side.
¡°Don¡¯t take that, Max,¡± Elderon said, stabbing the chain of the pendant with his staff and holding it to the ground. ¡°It is a cursed item. Who knows what this poor fellow was before he was convinced to wear it.¡±
Max searched the Bandit Leader.
Max finds cursed pendant.
Max finds wooden dagger.
Max finds Hood of Sneaking.
Max finds 100 gold.
He ignored the cursed pendant and dropped the gold into his satchel then inspected the hood.
¡°A Hood of Sneaking?¡± Elderon said. ¡°If you thought your natural Sneak ability was good, you wait until you try that.¡±
Max put on the hood and instantly vanished in the shadows cast by Elderon¡¯s white illumination. He slipped the hood back over his head and wore it around his neck like a scarf, ready to pull it up when he needed it.
Next, he turned his attention to the wooden dagger. It was smooth, highly polished, and looked more like a decorative or ceremonial item than anything that would be any good in a fight. The wood was hard and had a viciously sharp point, but the sides were not sharp like a steel blade. Max dropped it in his satchel, because if he was ever in Tibult¡¯s shop again, he could offer it for sale. It had to be worth a few gold coins, but Max couldn¡¯t see what other use it could possibly have.
¡°We should leave,¡± Anita said.
Max stood up, feeling lost without his staff.
¡°Will you help me find a staff?¡± Max asked. ¡°Mine was broken, and having one makes the walk easier. There must be a staff around here somewhere.¡±
Anita looked at Elderon. She seemed to expect that he would insist they move on.
¡°A Mage needs a staff,¡± Elderon said.
Max hunted all over the camp, moving quickly. He looked around at the discarded items dropped by the fleeing Bandits. Then he spotted someone cowering under a wagon. He recognized her instantly. It was Jenna.
¡°Get out here,¡± Max said, speaking firmly but hopefully not too harshly.
Out she came, frightened eyes staring at Max.
¡°What did you have planned for me, you witch?¡± Max felt his fingers wrap around the grip of his sword.
Jenna cowered before at Max, a pitiful expression in her eyes that were red with tears.
¡°Show mercy, Max,¡± Anita said gently. ¡°She is no longer any danger to us.¡±
¡°Find me a staff, and I will forgive you for trying to take my items from me,¡± Max said.
Jenna pointed to a wagon.
Max searched the wagon, which was filled with simple weapons. He found a staff, a highly polished length of wood. It was heavier than the staff he¡¯d just lost in battle, but it was much smoother to the touch. There were also more bullets and a couple of pouches of superior bullets. He picked up a coiled rope that looked too thin to be useful.
Max gains polished staff.
Max gains two pouches of superior bullets.
¡°These look good,¡± Max said to Anita as he tossed her a pouch of superior bullets. Anita studied them.
¡°These are a good find. They will deal more damage than basic bullets.¡± Anita attached the pouch to the belt of the fighting skirt. She looked over just as Max was about to discard the rope. ¡°Hold on to that,¡± she said. ¡°That is fine rope, it can be charmed to climb walls. Fine rope is a useful item for an adventurer.¡±
Max stood over Jenna while she looked up at him, biting her lip. Maybe he¡¯d tie her up with the fine rope. Maybe she¡¯d like it.
¡°I was told to seduce you,¡± Jenna said sincerely, ¡°but you are really cute.¡± She wrapped a blanket over her shoulders. ¡°I would have wanted to get to know you anyway. If you ever want to give up your adventures, I¡¯d be happy to see you again. Just ask any traveler camp where Jenna is, and they¡¯ll help you find me.¡±
Max shook his head. The gall of this woman.
Anita led the way as they left the camp, her glowing moss lighting the darkness in a pale glow. After an hour of walking over meadowlands, Elderon called a halt, and they lay down on their bedrolls and blankets. The night was cold. Elderon sat and read his massive book while Max prepared his two Magic Missiles.
Max heard movement behind him and turned to see Anita, pulling her bedroll up next to his. ¡°Do you mind if I lay next to you?¡± she asked. ¡°We need to make sure we stay warm. It¡¯s a clear night, and it will get even colder. This way we can keep each other warm.¡±
How could he say no? Max tried to nonchalantly give his approval while forcing back the excitement that now coursed through his veins. He wasn¡¯t quite ready to go to sleep but when she lay down on the thick blanket he did the same. They locked eyes and he could feel her warm breath on his face, which sent a chill down his spine. He wanted to kiss her. To close the few inches between them and feel the warmth of her mouth on his. He took his eyes off of hers and looked at her mouth. At once he saw the corner of her lips turn up in a sly smile. ¡°Goodnight Max,¡± she said before turning over and pressing her back up against him.
Was she messing with him? He couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. There was no hiding his desire but, knowing Anita, it just made her feel even more powerful. He knew he would always be a few steps behind her. But, he admitted, it was a great view.
Chapter 1.17
Max didn¡¯t know if he was awake or in a deep sleep when Janet appeared to him in the darkness. Shimmering and soft white light was bordered by a darkness so deeply black that is was almost impossible, and she floated like a cloud. Max felt wide awake as soon as he spoke to her.
¡°Do you know what time it is?¡± Max said.
¡°Time does not pass here,¡± Janet told him. ¡°It is the same time as when the experiment activated. How close are you to finding the portal?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know. Elderon is going to ask the Mage Council about it.¡±
¡°Who? Mages? Where are you?¡±
Max wondered this himself. It was all so strange. ¡°I am in a world called Eveirea. It is strange here, strange creatures. The sun is different, the stars are different, and I haven¡¯t even seen the moon.¡±
¡°There is no moon tonight,¡± Janet said. ¡°That¡¯s probably why you chose tonight to break into my laboratory. It was good and dark to hide your criminal activity.¡±
Max felt something he¡¯d not felt for a long time. He recognized it eventually. It was guilt. ¡°Umm, sorry about that. My boss told me to do it.¡±
¡°Then you need to get a new boss,¡± Janet said decisively. Her hair flamed a brighter red and then cooled.
¡°You¡¯re right,¡± Max said. ¡°I was going to make it my last job.¡±
¡°Job?¡± Janet said, her hair flaming again. ¡°It is not a job, it is criminality. You are a thief.¡±
¡°No, I¡¯m not,¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯m a Mage. A Level One Mage.¡±
¡°Just hurry and find the end of the portal. I need to get out of here.¡± She stared around herself and then back to Max. Then her assuredness left her for a moment, and she appeared lost and afraid. ¡°I need to get out.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll free you. You can count on me.¡± Max spoke with certainty and confidence.
¡°If it wasn¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be trapped here,¡± Janet said.
There was that feeling again. Guilt. And maybe a sprinkling of shame. His boss and the whole organization had always made his crimes seem so normal, so acceptable. Guilt had been buried long ago. But now, it was coming to the surface. Max did not like it one bit. He either had to bury it again or make a solemn promise never to do anything to make him feel this way again.
¡°I will make amends,¡± Max said. ¡°I want to help you, Janet. And I should say thank you for saving me from that Bandit.¡±
¡°You didn¡¯t look like you wanted to be saved,¡± Janet said wryly.
Max nodded. ¡°Thank you for looking out for me. I know the portal has to be somewhere in this world, and I¡¯ll find it, and I will save you!¡±
Janet started to drift away, getting further from him, shrinking until she was a tiny white dot in the distant, deep black.
¡°Max, wake up.¡±
Max opened his eyes to a blue-gray morning. The sun was low in the sky and pouring its rays over a frosty air. The day promised to be clear and bright. Max shivered under his thin blanket and became aware of the wrinkled face of Elderon, the old Mage wrapped in his heavy robes.
Max felt behind him. Anita was gone.
¡°Where¡¯s Anita?¡± Max said.
¡°She has gone to scout the way ahead. She left at dawn. A Druid is in tune with nature and can use local creatures to help map the way for us.¡±
Max curled up under the blanket and felt for the warm spot Anita¡¯s body would have left. All he found was a light dig in the ribs from Elderon¡¯s boot.
¡°Come, Max. Get up.¡± Elderon pulled Max out from under his blanket.
Max stood up. A small fire was already burning, dry sticks crackling and gray smoke mixing with the white misty air. He wrapped his blanket over his shoulders, sat next to the fire and warmed himself up.
¡°You were talking in your sleep all night,¡± Elderon said.
¡°A dream,¡± Max said.
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¡°A good one?¡± Elderon asked, and his expression fixed on Max was more than simple curiosity, as if Max¡¯s answer would hold deep importance for the quest.
¡°I think so. I dreamed of . . .¡± he hesitated, ¡°a friend.¡±
¡°That is a good dream indeed,¡± Elderon said. The old Mage smiled and kneeled before the small fire.
A blackened metal pot, tall with a thin handle and long spout, was sitting in the embers of the fire. Elderon felt the handle. The way he pulled his hand away told Max the pot was too hot to hold. Elderon waggled his finger near the pot and levitated it up and out of the embers, then took a small wooden cup that was more like a small bowl with smooth sides and no handle. He tipped the pot over slightly, and out of the spout poured a thick black liquid. He handed the steaming cup over to Max as the pot settled back into the embers.
¡°Here. Drink this.¡± Elderon handed the cup over.
¡°Is it a magic potion?¡± Max said.
Elderon smiled. ¡°Oh yes, but not like you think. It is black root brew. Perfect kick to get you going in the morning.¡±
Max took the cup and sipped the piping hot brew. It tasted like very strong coffee flavored with a hint of chocolate and a touch of mint.
Elderon laughed. ¡°Now I know you chose your class well. There is not a Mage in all of Eveirea, from the far west of Ragewind to the eastern edge of the eastern continent in the Tharin Empire, who doesn¡¯t insist on a splash of black root brew in the morning.¡±
Max drained the cup and held it out to Elderon, who filled it up again.
¡°Come,¡± Elderon said, holding his hand out. ¡°I prepared a Know Item spell last night. Let me see that collar you took from the Death Wolf.¡±
Max handed the collar to the Wizard.
Elderon casts Know Item.
Max watched the sparkling glow emanating from the magical item vanish. Elderon looked at it in his hands and nodded while growling low.
¡°Just as I suspected,¡± Elderon said. ¡°It¡¯s a Collar of Control, an item imbued with magical power that enables the owner to influence control over the wearer. Whoever put this on the Death Wolf meant to control it.¡±
¡°But it got away from whoever was controlling it?¡± Max suggested.
¡°Or it was sent,¡± Elderon said. He handed the item back to Max. ¡°You are the owner now. You defeated the creature that was wearing it, and so now, you can control whoever wears it. You can use that power for good or ill. The power of control will remain with you unless the item is taken from you or you sell it.¡±
Max took the collar back. It now appeared to be much reduced in size. Previously, it had been like a huge belt of a champion boxer, but now it was about the size of a small dog collar. He hoped if he ever used it, he would use it for good, and he dropped the collar of control into his satchel.
Max peered into the small fire and the flickering flames coalesced into a window showing his items.
Inventory:
? Light clothes
? Light boots
? Good boots
? Satchel
? Mage Book
? Shortsword
? Golden Roc catapult
? Rough blanket
? Wooden dagger
? Hood of Sneaking
? Polished staff
? Superior bullets
? Fine rope
? Collar of Control
? 142 gold
He had gathered quite a lot of loot since arriving, and the satchel was holding quite a few items now. It wouldn¡¯t be long before it was full. Considering he¡¯d woken up completely naked and empty-handed only a few days ago, he was now reasonably well equipped. A sudden sound of footsteps nearby drew his attention, and the view of his inventory returned to the flickering flames of the fire.
Elderon was on his feet in an instant. He held his hand out and summoned his staff, which flew to his grip. Max tossed off the blanket and made sure his sword and catapult were on his belt and ready to bring to action. He grabbed his staff and stepped up next to Elderon.
Through a nearby thicket came Anita. She was running, the strips of her fighting skirt flapping around wildly as she went. She saw Elderon as she leaped over a low bush. She stopped before him and calmed her breathing for a moment, leaning heavily on her staff.
¡°Something is coming,¡± she said. She pointed with her staff the way she had come.
¡°What is it?¡± Max asked.
Anita shook her head at Max and then Elderon. ¡°I don¡¯t know. It is a dark force. A Dark Whirlwind.¡±
¡°How far?¡± Elderon said.
¡°A league and a half, but it is moving fast. I saw it from high above. I had summoned a local songbird. I was surveying the land through its eyes. I saw the Dark Whirlwind sweeping over the land. It is heading straight for our little camp.¡±
A wind blew cold, sweeping across the meadowlands between the thickets. Elderon poured the black root brew over the small fire and slipped the tall metal pot into his hip pouch. Max was astonished to see the large pot slip into the small pouch on Elderon¡¯s hip that was surely too small to hold it. He was snapped out of his wonder by Elderon¡¯s firm voice.
¡°Pack up. We are leaving,¡± Elderon said.
Within a moment, Max had his satchel over his shoulder. Anita was ready. Elderon scanned the camp one last time as he began to walk away.
¡°Anita, can you summon creatures to the camp to cover our tracks?¡±
Anita nodded. She made the gestures for her Summon Small Wilderness Creature and whistled a melodious tune. Emerging from burrows and nearby thickets came small furry wilderness creatures, and they all looked like badgers, squirrels, or short-eared rabbits. Then came a fat green snake, slithering and swerving over the embers of the fire. Max felt his skin crawl when he saw a mass of large hairy insects scuttling out of hidden places. The creatures scurried over the campsite and soon covered the tracks Max and his party had made before they all disappeared back into the burrows and branches.
¡°We move fast and keep one step ahead of it,¡± Elderon said as he continued to walk away.
At that moment, Max felt a tugging sensation deep in his gut as if his stomach was being pulled by a force of gravity or a strong ocean current. He knew instinctively what was causing the feeling. Then a thicket a few yards away began to twist and turn as if perturbed by a mighty wind.
¡°Too late,¡± Max said. ¡°It¡¯s here.¡±
Chapter 1.18
Whatever this dark force was, it was upon them, and Max knew he was being drawn to it, and it toward him. Max stared into the dark swirling cloud. It was eight feet tall, two feet across, and filled with a million dark nightmares. It stopped moving a few yards away from Max and then began to move slowly from side to side in a swaying motion. Mixed with its swirling whirlwind motion, this had a dizzying effect. Max felt as if something was calling to him lightly and gently, a sound felt, not heard, and a sound at odds with the dark chaotic mass that faced him.
Hidden in the dark swirling mass, Max thought he could detect specters writhing within. Deep in the chaotic depths, mouths reached out, teeth and gaping maws, silent voices screaming in terror and anguish, offering pain and destruction or domination. Strangely, and against every sinew of his being, this nightmare was tempting to Max. He was drawn toward it, mesmerized, and it was like staring into the deep dark eyes of a deadly predator, hypnotized and beguiled even though they promised only death.
Max checked the stats on this dark entity before him.
Name: Dark Whirlwind
Status: Hostile
Attack: Suffocating
Threat level: Dangerous
All around, time seemed to stand still, Elderon and Anita moving far too slowly. Then the Whirlwind started moving in a quick jerking motion, darting from side to side, closing in ever closer with every sudden jerking move like a predator dancing in front of its prey.
Then Anita¡¯s spell was cast, a Bonus to the party. Max felt his abilities rise, as if every sweep of his shortsword was sure to strike and deal damage, as if every bullet from his catapult would be on target.
Time returned to normal. Max¡¯s ears filled with a dread screeching from the Dark Whirlwind and Elderon¡¯s stern and calm call to action.
Max loaded a bullet, his catapult brace pressed hard against his forearm before the bullet leapt away.
Max attacks Dark Whirlwind.
The bullet just passed through the black cloud and out the other side.
Dark Whirlwind immune to attack.
Anita launched a bullet from her sling. Again, the bullet passed harmlessly through the cloud. Elderon cast Magic Missile. Six glowing missiles slammed into the Dark Whirlwind.
Dark Whirlwind takes minor damage.
Max was shocked to see Elderon¡¯s Magic Missile do so little damage but at least it did some damage. Max started to cast a freshly prepared Magic Missile of his own. But before Max could cast it, the Whirlwind lunged at him. It moved so fast, it was terrifying.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Magic Missile failed.
The black cloud smothered him. The casting gestures were spoiled as he raised his hands to shield his face, the incantation lost as he gasped in fear. The screaming voices and twisting, writhing bodies assailed him on all sides, mouths yelling into his face, long sharp nails on bony fingers clawing at his skin. He closed his eyes to block out the horror, but the dark images wrapped in the cloud were still visible.
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Dark Whirlwind attacks Max.
Max has been silenced.
The Dark Whirlwind moved off, moving away a few yards before twisting on the spot and flying back in. Max tried to cast, but his voice had been stolen from him, the world plunged into silence.
Anita was casting a Magic Stone for her sling. She shot it at the cloud as it came back in. The bullet passed through the cloud, but its magic power burned a hole through the Whirlwind and caused minor damage.
Max took aim with his sling. He loaded a superior bullet he¡¯d taken from the Bandit wagon and shot it at the dark mass.
The bullet passed through, but thankfully caused some damage.
Dark Whirlwind takes minor damage.
And then the black mass was on him again. He was trapped inside. He could see Elderon cast another Magic Missile, the six missiles slamming into the cloud. Max could see the tortured souls twist in agony as the missiles hit.
The fingers clawed at him again, making him feel so cold and lost. The cloud moved off, leaving Max staggering in its wake.
Max has been overcome with terror.
Max was petrified. His fingers fumbled at his bullet pouch, and he dropped it to the ground. His staff was lost. He could not take hold of his sword, his fingers were so weak.
Anita attacked the Whirlwind with another Magic Stone.
Dark Whirlwind takes minor damage.
The cloud turned on Anita. Max saw the Whirlwind envelop her, her body twisting inside the cloud. She thrashed about with her staff, but it only churned the cloud, the twisting shapes, fingers, and screaming mouths sweeping around her before moving off.
The cloud left Anita bedraggled and confused. She stumbled this way and that, lost, unable to see.
¡°Tempt the Dark Whirlwind to you, Max,¡± Elderon said.
Max could hear Elderon, and although the old Mage was only a few feet away, it was as if he were speaking from a vast distance. Max struggled to understand the instruction. He could see that Elderon was casting a spell, but otherwise, Max felt totally confused.
¡°Only elemental power can defeat the cloud,¡± Elderon shouted. ¡°It is not of this world but a dimensional enemy.¡±
The Dark Whirlwind twisted and appeared to focus on Elderon. Max regained some of his composure. He had scaled fifty-story buildings and not been afraid of a little bit of wind; he could face up to this little Whirlwind. He dived in the way of the Dark Whirlwind, his sword in his hand. It felt feeble in his grip, and he still could not speak, trapped in a world of silence, but he held the sword in defiance of this dark enemy.
The Whirlwind rushed toward Max, and again, he was enveloped.
Max takes suffocating damage.
The Whirlwind released him, but his health was plummeting. Max thrashed on the ground, unable to breath, as Anita rushed to his side and cast a spell.
Anita casts Extra Healing on Max.
Fine white tendrils of light spread over Max, and he felt his Health recover. He took a breath, gasping and spluttering.
The cloud came back at him.
Max knew he was too heavily wounded to survive another suffocating attack.
At that moment, Elderon cast his spell.
Overhead, a bright light appeared and lanced down directly to the ground.
Elderon casts Summon Light.
The light punched into the heart of the Dark Whirlwind and burst out from the darkness in curved sheets. The souls inside the Whirlwind screamed, and Max could hear again. The Whirlwind twisted and appeared to be blowing itself out as the light striking down from high above vanished. The winds inside the Dark Whirlwind slowed until it was nothing but a gently twirling mist. Then the dark remnants of the whirlwind settled on the ground and sank deep into the soil.
Max stepped forward and stared at the point where the Dark Whirlwind had sunk into the ground. He saw the ground was writhing, the grass moving, the soil twisting.
¡°Back away, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Prepare yourselves.¡±
Max stepped back, his eyes still fixed on the writhing ground. He loaded his catapult and moved toward Elderon. The ground started heaving as if it were boiling. Anita came forward on Max¡¯s side, her sling twirling, a bullet loaded and ready to shoot.
A few feet away from Max, the ground erupted, soil spewing upward. And then away to the right, then further ahead. In all, Max could see six places where the ground had begun to heave and churn.
Max saw the first white bones appear on the surface of the ground, a heap of bones being spewed out from the earth. And there . . . another heap of bones. Then the bones merged and fused together to form Skeletons. They rose up to their feet, each armed with a club formed from a tangle of roots.
Max still felt the residual tingling fear that the Dark Whirlwind had inflicted on him, and now he was staring into the empty eye sockets of a skull. He felt a cold sweat on his back. He could not shake the fear, and then he felt the effects of Anita¡¯s Bonus spell wear off. Only the firm, confident voice of Elderon gave him courage.
¡°Stay together. Here they come.¡±
Chapter 1.19
Max stared into the black eye sockets of the Skeletons as they advanced on him. Bone grating on bone as dry joints moved, driven by some dark magic.
He checked their stats.
Name: Skeleton
Status: Hostile
Attack: Melee weapons
Threat level: Aggressive
He loaded a superior bullet into his catapult, pulled the Golden Roc sinews tight, the brace straining against his forearm. He took careful aim at the nearest Skeleton¡¯s white skull.
Max attacks Skeleton causing moderate damage.
The superior bullet punched through the white skull, cracking the bone. The bullet rattled inside the hollow skull and dropped out, bouncing down the ribs like against a xylophone. The skull wobbled on its backbone but the Skeleton continued to come forward.
Anita launched a bullet from her sling and caught the first Skeleton in the chest. The skeleton took moderate damage again. Max checked the stats on the Skeleton and saw its Health was critical. Only two slingshot bullets, and it was nearly defeated.
Elderon cast a Shield spell on himself. A magical glow flowed around the old Mage as he drew his silver sword. He stood his ground while Max and Anita launched another volley of bullets.
Max attacks Skeleton causing moderate damage.
Skeleton has been defeated.
The Skeleton collapsed to the floor, nothing more than a heap of white bleached bones. Max loaded another bullet, but the remaining Skeletons had closed the ground quickly and were within melee range. The lead Skeleton swung its club down toward Max.
Skeleton attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Max moved out of the way instinctively. He tumbled aside, rolling over his shoulder and up onto his knee, and launched his catapult bullet. He caught one of the Skeletons in the chest, cracking a rib and causing its left arm to fall to the ground.
Max attacks Skeleton causing critical damage.
Anita charged forward at the Skeleton and hit it with her staff. She knocked its skull, leaving it hanging sideways. The Skeleton attacked with its skull barely attached. It swung its club in a wide arc at Anita and caught her with a stinging blow on the left arm.
Skeleton attacks Anita causing minor damage.
Elderon moved forward and parried the blow the Skeleton was about to deliver to Max. The Skeleton then turned on Elderon.
Skeleton attacks Elderon.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
The Skeleton¡¯s club was deflected by Elderon¡¯s Shield spell. Max rushed to Anita¡¯s defense. He ran forward with his shortsword high above his head and jumped into combat, and bringing the shortsword down hard on the Skeleton¡¯s shoulder.
Max attacks Skeleton causing moderate damage.
Skeleton has been defeated.
Anita moved to help Elderon as a second Skeleton came into range of the old Mage. Anita attacked the Skeleton with her staff, knocking it sideways and preventing it from hitting Elderon.
Max saw the last Skeleton moving toward Elderon, who was already dealing with one Skeleton. He landed another blow with his silver sword, but it glanced off the Skeleton¡¯s skull. The Skeleton landed a blow with its club, but Elderon¡¯s Magic Shield absorbed the damage.
Max moved in to help. He saw thick white clouds moving high across the sky and covering the sun. Dark shadows came racing over the ground. Max thought he would try something. He pulled the Hood of Sneaking up onto his head and activated his Sneak ability.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max was instantly hidden from sight, his Sneak ability with the bonus gained from his Hood of Sneaking let him hide in the cloud shadows. He moved around to the left and came up behind a Skeleton slowly and stealthily as it advanced on Elderon. Max swung his shortsword at the base of the Skeleton¡¯s empty skull.
Max attacks Skeleton with sneak attack causing critical damage.
Skeleton has been defeated.
The skull spun in the air and then landed on the bony shoulders of the Skeleton, where it bounced before toppling to the ground. And at that moment, the bones that had been somehow magically bound fell apart and collapsed to a heap of white bones on the ground.
Max moved back toward Anita and Elderon, who were still facing off against a pair of Skeletons. He realized his Sneak ability had deactivated. Now that he¡¯d made an attack, the ability was no longer active, so he tried to activate it again, but it failed.
Elderon and Anita were facing one Skeleton each. The Skeletons were staying just out of range of the swinging staff and sword. Anita swung her staff in a wide arc but missed. The Skeleton took advantage of the opening in Anita¡¯s defense, moved in fast, and swung its club.
Skeleton attacks Anita causing minor damage.
Anita swung her staff back, and it slammed into the arm of the Skeleton, knocking it sideways but failing to defeat it. Anita gripped her arm where the Skeleton¡¯s club had struck her, and she rubbed away the pain, cursing in some language that Max could barely understand, but he was sure it wasn¡¯t the sort of language Anita would use in polite company. Elderon swung his sword and caught the Skeleton on the upper arm. The sword sliced clean through arm bones, ribs, and out the other side, smashing the Skeleton to bits. As Elderon turned on the final Skeleton, Max was there and brought his shortsword down hard on the Skeleton¡¯s skull.
Max attacks Skeleton causing heavy damage.
Elderon swung his sword and took the legs out from under the Skeleton, and it crumpled to the floor, swinging its club as it went. Anita jabbed forward with the end of her staff and smashed the breastbone of the Skeleton, sending ribs scattering across the ground.
The final Skeleton lay defeated.
As the Skeleton collapsed in a heap, Max gained XP. He saw his stats in the grass on the ground, the blades of grass forming them. His stats were grayed out and golden letters appeared above them.
Max has leveled up.
¡°Hey,¡± Max said as he sheathed his shortsword. ¡°I made a level.¡±
¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Anita said, jabbing the bones on the floor with the end of her staff, making sure they were truly dead. Well, dead again.
¡°Well done, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You will gain your levels quickly at first. Anita and I are quite a high level, so it takes us longer to make a new level. I don¡¯t expect I¡¯ll make my next level for a very long time, but I¡¯m sure Anita will make her level soon enough. So, young Mage, do you need help to gain your level or can you do it on your own?¡±
Max looked up at Elderon. It was true he often needed guidance from the old Mage, but Max was always the independent sort, so he chose to do it himself.
¡°If we can rest here a while, I will make my level right away.¡±
¡°Very well,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We will rest. But only for a short time. We still have a long way to go across these meadowlands before we make it to the Mage Stone on the border of Breamor and Faregent. But we can stop for some healing and for you to gain your level.¡±
Anita cast Basic Healing and restored herself to full Health before attending to Elderon.
Max sat down on the ground and watched as the strands of trampled grass formed into his list of stats. There were the golden letters telling him he had made his level.
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Max let the gold letters drift toward him, growing as they came closer. Then they flowed over him, and Max felt his power and ability rise. His tables of stats glowed for a moment as the figures changed. He saw he had gained bonus points for his Sneak ability. His Health bar had grown slightly, and he thought he was now probably able to take a few more hits of minor damage before his Health ran out. Maybe he could even take heavy damage and would still be left with a good amount of Health points to keep him from being close to death.
¡°I have gained bonus points to my Sneak ability,¡± Max said.
¡°That is a very good skill to have,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Your high Agility must have granted you the bonus ability. It is really not very common for a Mage to have the Sneak ability.¡± Elderon rubbed his chin and gazed into the distance, considering something before he continued. ¡°High Agility gives you excellent balance. That is a very good ability attribute for a Mage. We are sometimes rather vulnerable to normal weapons. We can¡¯t wear any heavy Warrior armor, or it just drains the active spells from our Mage Book, and we have to prepare them all over again. Besides, you probably don¡¯t have the Strength to wear heavy armor. But you can cast an Armor spell or a Shield spell or even a Strength spell. But a good Agility stat makes you a very difficult target to hit.¡±
Next, Max wanted to check his spells. He opened his Mage Book, and on the first page, he saw a new box that had appeared next to his Level One spells. An ornate frame outlined an empty square. Now he could prepare three Level One spells. And underneath his Level One spell slots, he saw an empty Level Two spell slot. Excitedly, he turned to the Level Two spell page.
The heading on the top of the page for Level Two spells glowed in gold, but the page was otherwise blank.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? N/A
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
¡°I can prepare a Level Two spell,¡± Max said, flicking back to the spell slots page. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any.¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°Yes, you will be able to cast more spells and more powerful spells too. You will be able to learn them as your level allows and to cast spells such as Paralyze and Hold to Fix or Enemy. You could also learn ¡°Spiderweb¡± which can affect a wide area and trap many enemies, like Anita¡¯s Summon Roots spell.¡± Elderon leaned closer to Max and whispered, ¡°Only a little more powerful than a simple Summon Roots. Spiderweb can be a very powerful attacking or defensive spell, giving you the chance to defeat enemies with your ranged weapon before they can even attack you. Or you can hold a group of enemies so that you may make your escape. There are Teleportation spells, spells of Strength, spells of Shield. And elemental spells like Fireball.¡±
Max really liked the sound of Fireball, and his eyes lit up. ¡°Where can I get a Fireball spell for my Mage Book?¡± Max said.
Elderon laughed. ¡°It¡¯s a very dangerous spell. We¡¯ll probably have to do some work together on control before you use anything like that. But here. This is a Level Two spell you can use right away.¡±
Max unrolled the scroll and looked at the incantation and the hand gestures.
¡°What does this do?¡± Max held it up to Elderon.
¡°It will give you a Warrior''s strength, and you will be able to wield a Warrior¡¯s weapon for a short time, but I don¡¯t recommend it. But if you ever are given a magical longsword like this,¡± Elderon revealed the hilt of his silver sword on his belt, ¡°you will be able to use it in conjunction with a spell of Strength and deliver heavy or critical damage in a single blow. My sword is a magical silver longsword from the forges of Essillt. It is an extremely light magical longsword that does not drain away my prepared spells from the Mage Book, but because my Strength is not that of a Warrior, I need the aid of magical Strength to wield it effectively.¡±
Elderon stood up and drew the sword. He held it out for Max to see. The blade was steel but glowed white like silver. There was a deep light buried in the material.
¡°These are very rare items. Only a Master Mage is ever given these and only when they choose the ability of Warrior Mage. I like studying Mage craft as much as any Mage, but I also enjoy adventuring around the world of Eveirea. I knew I had to be a Warrior Mage when I had the chance to specialize in my class.¡± Elderon sheathed his silver sword and sat back down next to Max. ¡°Now, learn that spell.¡± Elderon tapped the scroll in Max¡¯s hand.
Max had never much liked being told what to do, but he knew the old Mage was only trying to help him. He scanned the scroll again. His old boss had never given him anything as valuable as this old scroll.
Strength spell added to Mage Book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
Max committed the incantation and hand gestures to memory, repeating them over and over, clumsily at first, but then with more confidence and fluidity. Eventually, the scroll disintegrated and fell to dust. It drifted away on the light breeze that was sweeping across the meadowlands.
Max looked in his Mage Book and saw the new Strength spell on the Level Two spell page. He selected it and then flipped to the spell slots page to see it appear there. Then he selected three Magic Missiles, first checking this with Elderon.
Mage Book
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
¡°I¡¯ve selected three Magic Missiles. I won¡¯t need the Detect Enemies spell as long as Anita can scout ahead with her wilderness abilities. And I¡¯ve selected Strength.¡±
Max suddenly had a feeling as if he was a schoolboy showing his teacher his book. But Elderon was nothing like any of Max¡¯s old schoolteachers. Elderon was a super buff Mage with a silver sword and awesome spell-casting ability. Max was glad when his mentor was impressed.
¡°Yes, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The Magic Missiles are a good choice for now, but if you are ever adventuring alone, you will need to activate a range of spells. Mages become more and more powerful with more spells at our fingertips, but we must remember to take care of our fitness so we always have spells available. Once you use up your spells, you have to rest.¡±
Max turned to his Level Two page of his Mage Book. There was only one spell at Level Two, the Strength spell. Max would really like to have had another Magic Missile. There was something really exciting about the glowing orange missile leaping away from his fingers as he cast the spell. And unlike his catapult shots, a Magic Missile never missed. It might only do minor to moderate damage, but it always did damage.
Max grabbed his satchel to put his Mage Book away. He thought that his satchel was different somehow than before. Max checked his stats in the weave of the satchel itself. In his inventory, he saw that the satchel had been upgraded.
Satchel upgraded, extra storage added.
Max checked the rest of his inventory. He still had basic bullets and superior bullets for his catapult. He had his sword and his staff. There was also some gold that he¡¯d be happy to spend on a night in a tavern as soon as they were next in a town.
¡°Okay,¡± Elderon said. ¡°If you are done leveling up, we have a long road ahead of us. We need to get to the Mage Stone on the border of Breamor and Faregent. I must confer with the Mage Council and see what they have to say about this dark portal.¡±
They traveled all day over the meadowlands, heading ever eastward. The huge white sun overhead was bright, but the air was cold. The wind was blowing at their backs and so aided their progress, but it came with a chill. Max pulled his coat tight and held off the cold. He walked alongside Elderon, who set a fair but determined pace while Anita scouted ahead, disappearing for an hour at a time before appearing to them out of a nearby thicket or on the far horizon waving her staff and sending Elderon semaphore messages to tell him information about the way ahead.
Meanwhile, Elderon¡¯s robe billowed around him as he walked with his staff tapping down on the ground. The old Mage did not appear to tire. Max had great Stamina and was able to walk alongside him and keep up without complaint. Anita must have been using all her Stamina and Strength to cover almost twice as much ground as Elderon and Max as she scouted ahead, disappearing and reappearing from time to time to check that they were all safe and heading in the right direction.
As night came, Anita selected a small thicket for a campsite. Elderon cast a Magic Shield that deflected the wind, saving them from the worst of the cold night. Anita lit a small fire and brewed up a hot, late-night drink that made Max feel sleepy. He checked his Mage Book one last time before turning in for the night to make sure he would have his new spell available to him in the morning. Then he lay down on his blanket. Anita curled up next to him to share warmth, and Max didn¡¯t mind feeling her warm, soft body against him. When they woke in the morning, Max checked his Mage Book. The symbols in the spell slots glowed gold, the spells prepared and ready for use. He had three Magic Missiles and one Strength spell.
Elderon poured everyone a mug of morning black root brew. Max was really starting to get a taste for this drink. The morning was easy underfoot, and the landscape still looked the same to Max. He could see no difference to the meadowlands they passed through the day before, although he saw more of the same rolling hills and the same clumps of trees and thickets of low bushes here and there. But as they walked, Anita told him of the change.
¡°We are now in the borderlands between Breamor and Faregent,¡± Anita said.
¡°The Mage Stone is close,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Can you feel it, Max?¡±
Max wondered what Elderon meant, but then, yes, he could feel something nearby. He was unsure exactly what it was he felt because it was like nothing he¡¯d ever experienced before. He looked to Elderon, puzzled.
The old Mage nodded. ¡°Yes, you feel it. The Mage Stones will always guide you.¡±
Max and Anita followed Elderon, and soon, on a low hill much like all the others in the area, Max saw the Mage Stone. It was a jet-black stone with silver threads running through it, a gold symbol at the top. It was over six feet tall and very broad. Even if he¡¯d held hands with Anita and Elderon, they still couldn¡¯t have wrapped their arms around it. And it looked heavy. Max guessed it must have weighed several tons.
Elderon stepped up in front of the Mage Stone and laid the tip of his staff against it. The gold symbol at the top glowed and then lit up.
Elderon spoke. ¡°In my investigations into the darkness, I have found a young Mage. He has had a vision and speaks of a dark portal somewhere in Eveirea. The darkness spilling over the land could be emanating from this point. The Mage Council must advise me where I might travel to find this dark portal so that it may be closed for good and stop the darkness from infecting our world.¡±
A face of an old Mage appeared, glowing like an animated hologram in front of the Mage Stone.
¡°Elderon, bring the young Mage to Essillt.¡±
Elderon stepped forward slightly. ¡°The young Mage has had a powerful vision upon choosing the Mage class. This must be investigated. I am abroad in the land, so I am best placed to find the dark portal. I will seek the dark portal with Max, the young Mage.¡±
¡°The council will consider your words, Master Mage Elderon. Stay by the Mage Stone and await our ruling.¡±
The face disappeared. The silver lines shot through the stone and flickered like lightning through a cloud for a few moments and then were still. Elderon sat down on the soft grass and took out a long white pipe from the pouch on his hip.
Anita sat down cross-legged and started going through her pack, arranging bundles of herbs, a small bundle of sticks, and the wad of moss that she used as a light in the dark. Max stood there, waiting for the two of them.
¡°So?¡± Max said, holding his arms out. ¡°When do we go?¡±
¡°The Mage Council will make the ruling in due course, young Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You will learn to mark time by the decisions of the council.¡±
But Max didn¡¯t have time for that. He wanted to save Janet who was stuck in the portal. He didn¡¯t know her very well, but he knew for sure that she was smart, easily as smart as a whole council of Mages.
¡°We have to go now.¡± Max paced back and forth in front of the dark stone.
Anita looked up at him, calm green almond eyes, so beguiling and beautiful. ¡°Where, Max?¡± she said gently. ¡°Where should we go?¡±
The question was also an answer to Max¡¯s demand. He didn¡¯t know where to go. And neither did Elderon or Anita. They had to await the decision of the council. Max dropped down and sat on the ground.
This was one thing that Max couldn¡¯t do. He never could wait. He always needed to act. Sitting around here was too boring.
Max sat there with a degree of frustration. For want of something to do, he emptied his satchel. He counted the gold coins. He repacked the satchel. He tested the upgraded extra storage capability by placing his shortsword in the satchel. Even though the satchel was quite small, he found he could fit his sword in there with ease. The mystery kept him busy for a while, but after an hour or more of sitting on the hilltop buffeted by the chill wind, he again ran out of patience and started pacing around the Mage Stone, willing the Mage Council to speak.
As he wandered the hilltop, he heard something in the distance. He listened intently and again, there was a distant clattering sound, rising when the wind dropped only to be swept away when the wind came back in sustained gusts.
Max looked toward where he thought the noise was coming from¡ªdown the hill and in a large thicket of a few dozen trees. Anita stood up and came next to Max while Elderon gathered his robes around him and spoke as he got to his feet.
¡°Yes, I hear it too,¡± Elderon said.
¡°Is it a battle?¡± Max asked.
Anita sat down, cross-legged. ¡°I will charm a wilderness creature and survey the area.¡±
Max watched Anita as she appeared to drift into a trance. Elderon spoke softly to Max. ¡°She can see through the eyes of nearby woodland creatures.¡± Elderon pointed up at a hawk circling high overhead. ¡°There. I think she is seeing through the eyes of the hawk. She will be able to tell us in a moment.¡±
Anita opened her eyes and stood up as the hawk called overhead.
¡°A Warrior dwarf is fighting alone. He is fighting Skeletons, and more Skeletons are moving in on his position.¡±
¡°The Dark Whirlwind?¡± Elderon asked.
¡°I can¡¯t see it. Just the Skeletons.¡±
¡°We should go and aid this dwarf,¡± Max said. Anything, he thought, to get off this hilltop.
¡°A Warrior dwarf is more than capable of fending off a few Skeletons,¡± Elderon said.
Max glanced at Anita, and she nodded.
¡°These Skeletons are caused by the darkness effecting Eveirea, right?¡± Max said.
Anita and Elderon nodded.
¡°And you are both committed to investigating this darkness?¡± Max said.
Elderon rubbed his chin.
¡°You have a duty to investigate,¡± Max insisted.
Elderon looked at Anita. Anita shrugged and then nodded. She faced Max.
¡°It¡¯s your call, Max.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Max said and set off in the direction of battle. A pile of Magic Missiles and a spell of Strength ready for action.
Chapter 1.20
Running down the hill toward the sounds of battle, Max saw a half dozen Skeletons advancing into the thicket. Max chased them, loaded a bullet to his catapult, and shot an enhanced bullet into the back of one of the Skeletons charging.
Max attacks Skeleton causing minor damage.
The Skeleton turned on Max, Anita and Elderon on either side of him. Anita launched the bullet from her sling and struck the Skeleton right in the center of his forehead. The skull fell from the body, and the bones collapsed in a heap. Max kept moving, loading another bullet into his catapult. He paused briefly to take aim and then shot the bullet into the back of the next Skeleton.
Max attacks Skeleton causing major damage.
The Skeleton turned to face its attacker. Anita launched a sling bullet and struck the Skeleton in the chest, failing to stop it and only delivering minor damage. Max walked forward, loading a bullet and catching his breath. The Skeleton came on quickly, its club raised above its skull. Max shot his bullet.
Max attacks Skeleton causing minor damage.
Skeleton has been defeated.
The last of the Skeletons disappeared into the thicket before Max could attack another. He hooked his catapult onto his belt and drew his sword. Anita called for Max and Elderon to hold their advance, and she cast an attack and defensive Bonus on the party. Max felt his sword arm imbued with Bonus power. He knew he could not miss. He pulled his Mage Book out of his satchel and checked out the new spell. It was still unfamiliar to him, but after a quick look at the incantation, he was confident he could cast it. The words were still unfamiliar, and he stumbled through them, turning his hands as he did so. He felt the spell growing, and then with the final syllable and the final gesture, he cast Strength.
Max casts Strength.
Max felt his physical power improve. The sword felt lighter in his hand, and he swung it with a Strength that was not his alone, boosted by the Second Level Strength spell that Elderon had given him just the night before. He had to check his stats to be sure.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 2
Health: Full
Strength: 18
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Yes, his Strength really was improved. He was almost as strong as anyone could be, at least temporarily. Max advanced with the party, filled with confidence. Elderon cast a Shield spell on Max as they walked into the thicket, and Max saw the shimmering blue Shield spell descend over him and hover over his skin.
Elderon casts shield on Max.
Max and his party moved into the trees. The group of four Skeletons were advancing on the lone Warrior dwarf. He was standing surrounded by broken Skeletons, his axe hanging at his side, and he was pausing for breath. The Skeletons neared him, and he rushed through the trees toward them, yelling a deep growling battle cry. He swung his axe above his head and smashed the nearest Skeleton to smithereens. The three remaining Skeletons surrounded him and attacked him with their clubs. The clubs bounced off the dwarf¡¯s armored shoulders with a dull clang. His heavy metal helmet protected his head from a blow aimed there. He fended one blow off with his axe. He swung the axe and took the legs out from under a Skeleton and then brought the axe down, crushing it utterly. It fell apart into a formless pile of bones.
As the dwarf made ready to receive attacks from the last two Skeletons, Max and his party fell on them from behind. Max attacked first.
Max attacks Skeleton causing extreme damage.
Skeleton has been defeated.
Elderon swung his sword and cut a Skeleton in two, delivering critical damage with a single swipe of his sword. The final Skeleton raised its club and moved toward the dwarf. Anita jabbed it in the back with her staff and sent it tumbling forward where it met with the dwarf¡¯s swinging axe. The heavy axe smashed the ribs. The Skeleton collapsed, a bunch of bones falling to the ground.
¡°Looks like you needed a bit of help with these Skeletons,¡± Max said with a smile.
¡°I don¡¯t need any help,¡± the dwarf said. He held out a thick hairy hand and cast it about, showing off the scattered bones on the ground all around him. ¡°I¡¯ve taken down twenty of these cursed things. Another six would have been no problem.¡±
¡°I can see you are a powerful Warrior,¡± Max said. ¡°But if you don¡¯t need our help, then we will be on our way.¡±
¡°Why don¡¯t you do that then, youngster,¡± the dwarf growled. ¡°Be on your way and take your friends with you.¡±
Elderon stepped forward and sheathed his sword. ¡°Master Dwarf, I am Elderon, Master Mage of the Mage Council of Essillt. Your people have always been friends to the Mage Council. Let us honor that tradition and be friends now.¡± Elderon held out a hand. The dwarf grumbled and ran his fat hairy fingers through his big beard.
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¡°Very well then, Master Mage,¡± the dwarf said. He held out his hand. It was huge given that he was only about four and a half feet tall. ¡°I am Jahrod. Warrior dwarf.¡±
Max quickly checked the stats on Jahrod.
Name: Jahrod Irongut
Class: Fighter
Level: 12
Health: Full
Strength: 16
Stamina: 16
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 9
Abilities:
? Immunity to poison
Jahrod did indeed have high Strength but not as high as Max¡¯s magically enhanced Strength. But his Health was much higher than Max¡¯s thanks to his many levels, and he was extremely well armored. Max knew this dwarf would be tough to take down in a fight. The dwarf¡¯s Charisma was very low, which was probably why Max had instantly found him to be rather grumpy.
¡°We came to aid you, but we can see you are very capable, so we leave you in peace. Well met, Master Dwarf, and farewell.¡± Elderon stepped back.
¡°We are in the area waiting on the Mage Stone,¡± Anita said. ¡°If you need assistance, signal to the sky. I will be watching.¡±
¡°Listen, Druid,¡± Jahrod said, ¡°I don¡¯t need you spying on me. I won¡¯t be calling for assistance, so you can save your Druid tricks and keep your distance. I am on a mission to save a family member.¡± He looked at Max and sucked his teeth. ¡°So I don¡¯t need a novice low-level Mage getting under my feet.¡±
Max was offended. ¡°I just made Level Two,¡± he said proudly.
¡°Yeah,¡± Jahrod said so dismissively, it cut like his axe. ¡°You look it.¡±
Max was about to attempt a clever comeback and crushing putdown when he heard something in the trees. The sound of clattering bones and a rattle of metal.
¡°Did you hear that?¡± Max said.
A group of Skeletons appeared, and these were taller than the group they had just defeated by a foot and a half. They were wearing partial armor, some with breastplates, others with helmets, and they were armed with either sword or spear.
Max checked their stats.
Name: Skeleton Warrior
Status: Hostile
Attack: Melee weapons
Threat level: Aggressive
Max heard them closing in on all sides. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not done helping you out, dwarf,¡± Max said.
¡°Looks like you are lucky to have me around to help you out,¡± Jahrod countered. ¡°We will defeat these Skeleton Warriors more easily if we work together, and then you can return to the Mage Stone all the quicker and let me go my own way.¡±
¡°Are you offering to join our party?¡± Max said.
Jahrod let out a low grumble and stepped up, ready to meet the incoming Skeleton Warriors.
Max shot a bullet at the nearest Skeleton Warrior.
Max attacks Skeleton Warrior.
The bullet bounced off the helmet the Skeleton wore.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
¡°Ha!¡± Jahrod laughed with a single contemptuous burst. ¡°Ineffectual youngster. And you want me to join your party?¡±
Anita stood ready with her staff, and she cast Summon Roots. The roots grew rapidly out of the ground and from the branches, entangling all around the Skeletons advancing on one side. The roots held them fast, slipping through the gaps in the bones and through the armor.
Three Skeleton Warriors advancing on Max¡¯s left came slowly, but their swords looked brutal, rusty, and cut with notches along the blade. They were not sharp but would deliver a devastating, crushing blow.
Elderon cast a Magic Missile. The nearest advancing Skeleton took major damage but still came forward.
Max tucked his catapult away and drew his sword, ready to meet the Skeletons, but at that moment, the Strength spell faded. Max felt his Strength return to its normal levels. The sword suddenly felt heavy, so he slipped it back into his scabbard. He might need it soon, but not yet.
Max casts Magic Missile on Skeleton Warrior causing minor damage.
Max didn¡¯t need Strength to be effective and seeing his Magic Missile deliver damage boosted his confidence. He immediately cast a second Magic Missile into the same Skeleton.
Max casts Magic Missile on Skeleton Warrior causing minor damage.
Max felt his heart sink as the second Magic Missile only did minor damage. The Skeleton was critically wounded but not yet defeated. Max cast his final missile.
Max casts Magic Missile on Skeleton Warrior causing heavy damage.
Skeleton Warrior has been defeated.
Max rolled his eyes in frustration. If he¡¯d done heavy damage with his first missile, he¡¯d have finished the Skeleton off with the second. He was all out of spells now. They got used up so quickly! Maybe he should have chosen to be a Bard after all. He drew his catapult and shot one of the advancing Skeletons with an enhanced bullet, but again, the bullet bounced off the Warrior¡¯s armor. The two Skeleton Warriors closed in with a final rush of speed to deliver their attacks.
Skeleton Warrior attacks Max causing major damage.
Max felt the heavy blade slam into him. The shield Elderon had cast on him took some of the blow, but it still delivered damage to his Health. He managed to swiftly step aside so the blow glanced off his jacket, cutting the cloth, and he saw blood.
Max drew and struck with his sword. At least he still had the benefit of Anita¡¯s attack Bonus.
Max attacks Skeleton Warrior causing heavy damage.
Anita and Elderon were holding back the other Skeleton. Anita took a blow. Elderon attacked with his sword. Together, they held the Skeleton back.
Max jumped out of the way of the second sword blow aimed at him. Jahrod stepped in and swung his axe into the Skeleton Warrior¡¯s breastplate, delivering heavy damage and sending the Skeleton staggering backward. But the Warrior recovered and came back, swinging its sword at Jahrod. The blow landed on the dwarf¡¯s plate armor. Jahrod was unbalanced by the heavy blow, and he staggered. While the Skeleton was focused on delivering a follow-up attack on the staggering dwarf, Max ran in.
He skidded over the ground and swept his shortsword at the knees of the Skeleton.
Max attacks Skeleton Warrior causing minor damage.
Skeleton Warrior has been defeated.
The damage was minor, but enough to defeat the Skeleton. It crumpled to the ground.
Jahrod swung his axe down on the defeated Warrior and crushed the skull.
Max rushed to aid his friends and saw a Skeleton was focused on Anita as she defended herself with her staff against the swinging sword.
He moved behind a tree, slipped into the shadows, pulled up his hood, and activated his Sneak ability. He crept around the back of the Skeleton battling Anita and attacked it on its rear.
Max attacks Skeleton Warrior with Sneak Attack causing critical damage.
The Skeleton turned on Max, a horrible grin and dark empty eyes. Anita and Elderon both struck and delivered heavy damage. The Skeleton collapsed.
Max kicked the bones apart and walked over to the root tangle created by Anita¡¯s Summon Roots spell.
¡°Don¡¯t get too close, Max,¡± Anita said.
Max observed the Skeletons. They were moving slightly, inching forward, but the roots kept growing and shrinking away, holding them in place. He sheathed his sword and drew his catapult. He loaded an enhanced bullet, took careful aim, and shot.
Max attacks Skeleton Warrior causing minor damage.
Anita shot bullet after bullet. Max shot one after another. The nearest Skeleton Warrior struggled to advance but took a number of hits, eventually succumbing to the attacks. Its limbs fell away and collapsed to the ground with the skull and ribcage held up in the tangle of roots.
Two more remained, and Elderon dispatched one with powerful magic attacks: a Magic Missile dealt critical damage to the Skeleton, and the second Magic Missile defeated it.
Then the Summon Roots spell expired, and the roots shrank away, leaving the remaining Warrior free to advance.
Max prepared his Sneak ability, not sure it would work again, but the shadows of the trees and the tangle of branches gave him plenty of cover, and the bonus from the Hood of Sneaking let him vanish from sight.
Anita attacked with her staff, Elderon with his sword before moving swiftly out of range of the retaliatory attack. Jahrod swung his mighty axe and delivered critical damage.
Max came behind the Skeleton and emerged from the shadows to deliver a Sneak attack.
Max attacks Skeleton Warrior with Sneak Attack causing major damage.
Skeleton has been defeated.
The skeleton fell into a crumpled heap at Max¡¯s feet.
Max gains experience points.
Max looked over the pile of bones at Jahrod and grinned at him. Jahrod grumbled and leaned on his axe.
Chapter 1.21
Max looked down at Jahrod proudly, a pile of bones from the defeated Skeleton Warrior between them. Did he really expect this grumpy dwarf to congratulate him on their victory? Jahrod jabbed his toe into the pile of bones, an armor shoulder guard falling off the pile, and then he walked to another pile of bones.
Max wondered what the dwarf was doing, because the Skeletons were clearly defeated, then he got it. Jahrod was looking for loot.
Max checked the inventory of a nearby defeated Skeleton Warrior.
Skeleton Warrior inventory:
? Rusty armor
? Dull sword
? Worn spear
? Burning torch
All the Skeletons had the same equipment. It was all useless junk, except for maybe the torch. He snuffed out the flames and dropped the torch into his satchel. He still needed a way to light it. Maybe he could find a box of matches. But then one Skeleton caught his eye . . . something glinting on its bony finger.
Max finds gold ring.
Max took the ring and dropped it into his satchel.
¡°Hey, Mage,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I worked to defeat these Skeletons, too, you know. Loot should be shared.¡± Jahrod pointed his axe at Max. ¡°Put the ring down on a rock, and I¡¯ll cleave it in twain, and we¡¯ll have half each.¡±
Max took the ring out of the satchel. He tossed it up and down, considering whether to toss it over to the dwarf and let him have it.
¡°Half a ring sounds about as useful as a chocolate coffee pot.¡±
¡°You talk in riddles,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Put the ring down, and I¡¯ll take my half.¡±
¡°But what good is half a ring?¡± Max said. ¡°The value of the gold is one thing, but the ring has value as an item of jewelry that is greater than the metal alone.¡±
Jahrod lowered his axe and studied Max. ¡°I s¡¯pose,¡± he said with a suspicious growl.
¡°Why don¡¯t we take it to a store and sell it and split the coins?¡±
Max looked Jahrod up and down. He was short and broad, heavyset, big beard, clad in heavy armor, and wielding a two-headed axe. He looked passingly similar to Tibult, the storekeeper from the town of Burke.
Jahrod nodded but continued to regard Max with suspicion. ¡°That makes sense. Hand over the ring and follow me.¡±
Max gripped the ring. It was not a huge amount of value, but Max wasn¡¯t going to be told what to do by this dwarf.
¡°Follow you?¡± Max said. ¡°Where?¡±
¡°I am heading to the city in the heart of the Kingdom of Faregent. The city of Ralynn. I am going to save my nephew. He started working in the castle of King Glynn. But the word from the castle is that the king has been corrupted by a dark force. Some say it is spreading all over the lands.¡± Jahrod poked a pile of bones. ¡°The same darkness that is bringing forth these undead abominations all over the lands, I¡¯ll wager. My nephew sent word that he wants to leave the king¡¯s service because too many strange creatures come and go, agents of darkness. The king is isolated with only one advisor.¡±
¡°I know King Glynn,¡± Elderon said, stepping up to Jahrod. ¡°King Glynn of Faregent. A big and strong man. A just and righteous man. Youngest son of old King Heth. I am distressed to hear he is succumbing to the darkness.¡±
¡°He is isolated,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°His only daughter locked up by advisors. His advisor is fully corrupted. The daughter, held in the dungeons, is being turned to the dark. My nephew says in a letter that the castle was once happy and bright, but now, it is filled with tormented cries of anguish.¡±
Elderon turned to Max. ¡°This is all the result of the dark portal. I advise that we go to the king and try to save him from the darkness before he is lost to it forever. If he can be saved, maybe it can help us find a way to combat the darkness, maybe find the dark portal itself.¡±
Max tossed the ring up and down. ¡°We¡¯ll come with you and aid you, Jahrod, if you will join our party.¡± He tossed the ring to Jahrod who snatched it out of the air.
Jahrod Irongut, Level 12 Fighter, joins Max¡¯s party.
¡°Very well. And if you help me save my nephew, I will let you keep my half of the gold ring.¡± Jahrod threw it back to Max.
Max felt this was his ring in any case, but he didn¡¯t want to introduce Jahrod to the ancient rites of finders are keepers and losers are weepers for fear that the grumpy dwarf would chop him off at his knees.
After checking the rest of the Skeletons for loot and finding none, the party set off over the meadowlands into the heart of the Kingdom of Faregent.
¡°What about hearing back from the Mage Council?¡± Anita said to Elderon.
Max pricked up his ears. He was curious, too, but moving on was better than sitting around.
¡°The Mage Council will make their ruling known to me. I can get their message from the next Mage Stone, or if it¡¯s important, they will send a Mage to find me to deliver their ruling. Either way, I feel it¡¯s important that if I am to counter the darkness that is spreading over the world, I need to discover more about it. That is reason enough we go to see King Glynn, and if we can save him from the darkness, so much the better. We will learn what we can from him about this dark phenomenon.¡±
Max watched his feet as they walked. He couldn¡¯t help thinking that he was part of the problem, part of the reason for this dark phenomenon. If he hadn¡¯t tried to steal from that laboratory and that experiment had not activated, then he wouldn¡¯t have been transported here. Janet the lab assistant wouldn¡¯t be trapped in the void. Somehow, he¡¯d opened a portal that had transported him here. He watched Anita as she ran off ahead to scout the way, her fighting skirt flying about her hips as she ran. Max was glad he¡¯d been transported here, but maybe he had a duty. Now he was here to make sure the corruption that was spreading through the world was stopped. He certainly had to save Janet. He didn¡¯t want to go back though. He liked it here and felt at home already. He had friends here.
He checked his stats in the clouds overhead. They formed in the wispy white clouds and showed him.
Name: Max Lightfoot
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Class: Mage
Level: 2
Back home, he was nothing special. Here he had exciting abilities. Yes, Max liked it here. He liked Elderon, and he liked Anita. He even liked this grumpy dwarf. As they marched together, Max noticed Elderon casting a spell on himself. The old Mage was tiring but not showing it and forcing himself through the fatigue with magic. Max and Jahrod were striding ahead and matching each other step for step. Max still felt fresh and could go on for another couple of miles without rest, and he realized that he and Jahrod were competing with each other, finding out who would tire first. They marched on all the day until a town appeared in the distance.
Anita came back to the party at a jog.
¡°It¡¯s the town of White Raven,¡± she said, pointing with her staff. ¡°We must hurry before they close the gates at sundown.¡±
The gates of White Raven reminded Max of the town of Burke. Her heavy palisade with its high walk and the guards patrolling looked identical. A boxy gate with guards standing there was slightly different and had a large white bird painted over it. Elderon addressed the guards, and the party was allowed to enter. Max felt tired the second he walked through the gates and onto the paved main street. While they stopped to get their bearings, a horn sounded, and the guards closed the heavy timber gates.
Looking out across the town, Max could see clouds drifting up into the darkening sky. It didn¡¯t look like smoke. Then he caught the smell of the vapor.
¡°Can you smell the hot springs?¡± Anita said. ¡°White Raven is built on hot springs.¡± She smiled at Max. ¡°I can get a bath here.¡±
¡°First stop is the store,¡± Jahrod said.
They walked through the narrow side streets following Jahrod, who seemed to know his way. He led them to a well-stocked store. The walls of the store were made out of huge boulders of stone topped with a thatch-covered timber roof. Smoke rising from a cooling forge sat outside. There were large melee weapons in various states of design that were being put away by a store hand before the store closed for the night.
Elderon led the way, ducking in through the low doorway.
The storekeeper was a thin, pale man. His black hair sat on top of his head like molasses. He wore a long black robe and had a monocle in one eye. He was studying a small item when he looked up to see Max and his party enter. His eyes widened, and the monocle dropped.
¡°Welcome to my boutique. I am Samuel. Everything is quality. How can I help you adventurers?¡±
Max held out the gold ring.
¡°It¡¯s a nice item,¡± Samuel said. ¡°I¡¯ll give you one gold for it.¡±
Jahrod bustled forward, looking mean.
Max spoke before Jahrod could swing his axe.
¡°There¡¯s more gold in this ring than in one gold coin, good merchant.¡± Max said. Although the old saying was that flattery would get you nowhere, he also knew it was the key to success in a haggle. ¡°You have a fine store, and I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll be able to sell this quality piece of jewelry for six gold.¡±
¡°Eight,¡± Jahrod said threateningly.
Samuel looked down at Jahrod. ¡°You are no doubt a powerful Warrior, Master Dwarf,¡± Samuel said. ¡°But this is my business, and threats don¡¯t work.¡± He looked back at Max. ¡°I give you two gold.¡±
¡°Four.¡±
¡°Deal,¡± Samuel said, dropping four gold onto the counter. Jahrod swooped them up in his fat hairy hand and gave the coins a serious bit of scrutiny. He selected two for himself and dropped them into the little pouch on his belt, and he handed two others over to Max.
Max gains 2 gold.
Max strolled around the store. He saw movement in the shadows in and amongst the shelves. Clearly, store imps were in every store. The shrieking little creatures kept a beady eye on any strange customers. And there were few stranger than Max, a visitor from another dimension, Elderon the old Mage, Anita the sexy Druid, and Jahrod the grumpy dwarf.
¡°Here, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Come and check these items.¡±
Elderon was standing with a rack of leather clothing items. He was pointing at one leather tunic that was padded and looked firm but flexible.
¡°This is good armor leather.¡± Elderon said. ¡°You can wear it, retain all your active spells, and it won¡¯t interfere with casting.¡± Elderon picked the leather tunic off the rack and flexed it this way and that, then he laid it over his arm. ¡°It would be a good purchase for you today,¡± Elderon said.
Max took hold of the leather tunic. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw a store imp looking at him, a squeak in its voice threatening to rise to full-on shriek. Max ignored the little imp and pulled the tunic over his body. It fit perfectly.
¡°How much for this leather tunic, Samuel?¡± Max asked, heading to the counter.
¡°Excellent choice, good quality, excellent for your purposes, young Mage. A leather tunic will deflect missile weapons, blades, and can protect against crushing from clubs or other weapons of that type. An excellent choice! You clearly have a really great eye for this sort of thing.¡± Samuel walked around Max and adjusted the leather tunic over his shoulders and his sides, brushing imaginary dust off Max¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Yes, yes. It suits you perfectly.¡±
¡°How much?¡± Max said again, tired of the sales pitch.
¡°It¡¯s a well-made item from a master craftsman. You should be able to imbue it with magical abilities as well when you develop the skills, which I am sure you will do. You will be happy to pay twenty-two gold.¡±
Max checked his inventory. He had easily enough gold, and if Elderon told him this tunic was the right choice, then he decided it was for him.
¡°I¡¯ll give you ten,¡± Max said.
Samuel laughed and patted Max on the shoulder. ¡°Nice try, young Mage. Twenty-two it is, and that¡¯s my final word.¡±
Max looked Samuel in the eye, and he was sure he would not get a better price from him on this day. He handed over the coin.
Max fastened up the leather tunic and walked up and down the store. He checked his stats in the smoke from the fire at the far end of the sales counter.
Max gains Padded Leather Armor.
Max gains armor bonus against slashing attacks, crushing attacks, and piercing attacks.
¡°Come, let¡¯s find us a tavern and guest rooms,¡± Max said. ¡°We won¡¯t sleep in the wilderness tonight. Let me pay for a basic room for us, even you, Jahrod.¡±
Jahrod¡¯s grin rustled his beard. ¡°I know just the place.¡±
Outside, the sky was black and cold. They followed Jahrod, and every step took them closer to the sounds of a tavern.
The busy tavern was off the main street, a two-story town house with stables on one end. It had thatch roof on top of white walls with the timbers of the heavy frame showing. A picture of a crown on an old oak tree hung above the door.
Inside was warm with a large firepit. The smells of ale and food made Max¡¯s stomach rumble. He went to the tavern keeper and arranged to rent a room for the night before ordering food and ale to be brought to a table.
Anita stepped up to the bar next to Max and spoke to the tavern keeper.
¡°And do you have a hot bath?¡± Anita ran her hand through her hair. ¡°I have been running up and down hills for days, and I could do with a good soak.¡±
The tavern keeper nodded and called a tavern maid. The young girl led Anita off for her bath. She looked back over her shoulder at Max.
¡°Don¡¯t wait for me,¡± Anita said as she was led up a narrow stairway.
Max sat down at a table with Jahrod and Elderon. A meat pie arrived along with tankards of ale.
¡°Do you have any scromble?¡± Jahrod asked the waitress.
The waitress wrinkled her nose and shook her head. ¡°We don¡¯t serve scromble.¡± She walked away and gagged as if she was trying to get a bad taste out of her mouth.
¡°What¡¯s scromble?¡± Max said.
¡°Food of the dwarfs and the gods,¡± Jahrod said.
Max glanced over to Elderon, who wrinkled his nose at Max.
¡°Let¡¯s call it an acquired taste,¡± Elderon said.
As Max carved out a slice of the huge meat pie, a troop of bards struck up a tune. The townsfolk danced on the timber floorboards, and Max was sure the Oak and Crown tavern would collapse any moment. He ate his fill and felt tiredness overtake him. He decided to go find his room and left the table, bidding Elderon and Jahrod a good night.
¡°Don¡¯t forget to prepare your spells, young Mage,¡± Elderon said.
Max nodded. He walked through the tavern and into the rear corridors. It was dark here. He wanted to test his abilities, so he prepared his Sneak ability. He found he was able to move without being seen. A serving boy came from the kitchen with a large platter of fried crispy vegetables. They looked and smelled like fries, and Max picked one off the top of the platter without the serving boy noticing. He ate the fried vegetable, which was crispy and delicious.
Max found his room along the dark corridor. He stopped outside, hearing sounds behind the door. He grew excited, thinking maybe Anita had finished her bath and was preparing for bed. He would dearly like to spend time alone with Anita. She was fascinating and beautiful and definitely more exciting to be around than the beady-eyed old dwarf and the old Mage.
Max was about to enter when the door was pulled open. Standing in the doorway was a man in a tight black outfit. Max checked his stats.
Name: Assassin
Status: Hostile
Attack: Poison dagger
Threat level: Lethal
Max held still and pressed himself to the side of the wall. The assassin looked left and right. Max held his breath and stayed perfectly still, hiding in the shadows using his Sneak ability. The assassin moved off and checked the next room.
Just as the assassin left the next room, another door opened on the opposite side of the hall. Out of that door came a second assassin. They conferred silently with each other using sign language. One took a piece of parchment out of his jacket, and the pair checked a charcoal portrait drawn on it.
Max saw it was a drawing of him.
Max backed along the corridor and around the corner. He opened the first door he came to and stepped into a room filled with steam and the smell of soap and perfume. He crept through the mist, still in Sneak ability, still hiding from the assassins.
He needed to tell Anita and Elderon it was not safe here. There were assassins. And they were after him.
Chapter 1.22
The steam surrounded Max, together with a pleasant aroma of herbs and soap. The steam was hot like a sauna, and after days of living outside in cold, dry air, the hot steam was welcome, but he couldn¡¯t enjoy it. Death on the tip of a poison dagger in the hands of an assassin was only feet away.
Max could hardly see his hand in front of his face. He was still hiding using his Sneak ability. The assassins had been in the room he had just rented for the night here in the Oak and Crown tavern in the town of White Raven, and they had his picture. Why were they looking for him? Who had sent them?
Max listened to the door for the sound of the assassins. He heard a gentle splashing noise from the room he was in. Somewhere hidden in the steam, someone was taking a bath.
Max crept silently, hidden in steam and shadows of the flickering lamplight. He saw the large wooden tub with steam rising from hot water. A system of pipes made from something akin to bamboo was steaming, the hot water being channeled through them.
He approached the tub and looked down at Anita, her hair tied up out of the water, her shoulders bare, her breasts covered in thick soapy foam. The creamy bubbles covered the surface of the tub. She washed her arms with a cloth, reaching up and letting hot soapy water run down her body. The cascade of water threatened to wash the soap foam from her breasts.
¡°Are you spying on her?¡±
Max spotted Janet standing next to him. She was glowing ghostly white, and her hair was floating up and around her. Her shimmering white appearance merging with the steam meant only the deep black outline surrounding her made her visible. She appeared to be standing right next to him.
Max jumped, partly startled, partly ashamed that he was indeed watching Anita taking her bath. He hadn¡¯t done it deliberately. Max held his finger to his lips, not to remain hidden from Anita but from the assassins that may be just outside the door.
Max pointed to the door and walked a few steps away from the tub, lost again in the steam.
¡°She¡¯s pretty,¡± Janet said, watching Anita. Max could just see through the steam that Anita had stood up and was washing from head to toe, but the steam made her a faint ghostly silhouette. ¡°I can see why you like her.¡± Janet walked back over toward Max.
Janet¡¯s outline stood out from the steam, making it impossible to disguise her presence, at least not from Max. No one else could see her. She stepped up next to Max and listened at the door.
¡°I had to warn you,¡± Janet said. ¡°There is danger nearby. You have to get away.¡±
¡°I appreciate the help.¡± Max said.
¡°I am usually happy to help, but I confess to being a little selfish. If you die, I don¡¯t know what is going to happen to me. You, my little thief, are my only hope.¡±
¡°Not a thief. Mage,¡± Max corrected under his breath, a little aggrieved that his past still haunted him. He was ready to move on. Would Janet ever let him?
Either way, Max wasn¡¯t going to run, not without his party, and they were scattered around the Oak and Crown tavern. Elderon was in the tavern downstairs with the newest member of the party, the dwarf Jahrod, who was probably still trying to find a bowl of scromble. But he was here with Anita.
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Janet stepped through the door¡ªthat is, she literally stepped through the door, dissolving through the timber panels, vanishing like a ghost. She came back through a moment later.
¡°The corridor is clear. Go now.¡±
¡°I¡¯m not going anywhere,¡± Max said.
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Anita said, causing a sudden splashing of the water as she stood up.
¡°Don¡¯t be so selfish,¡± Janet said. ¡°If you get killed, I could be trapped here for eternity.¡± Janet started to fade away. ¡°Forever and ever. I¡¯ll go mad, and I¡¯ll haunt you wherever you are.¡±
Janet vanished.
¡°I said who¡¯s there?¡± Anita was walking across the room toward Max.
Max saw her emerge from the steam. She was completely naked, only the thick creamy soap clinging to her body hiding her fulsome yet athletic form.
¡°It¡¯s me, Max,¡± he said, and in speaking up, his Sneak ability deactivated.
¡°Oh, hello, Max,¡± Anita said, standing there smiling, soap slowly sliding down her hot wet skin. ¡°Do you want a bath too?¡± She stepped forward. ¡°Come in! The water is so hot. The White Raven springs are really something. Hot mineral water. They say it is as soothing as it is invigorating. I made the soap myself from my own collection of herbs.¡± She scooped handfuls of the lather from her breasts. ¡°Look.¡± She held out her hands full of soap lather to Max.
Max turned away just as Anita exposed herself from beneath the soap. He reached for a towel, blindly grasping at a shelf at the side of the steamy room. ¡°Maybe you should cover yourself,¡± Max said.
Anita stood there, defiant, hand on hip, soap sliding down her body. ¡°Maybe you shouldn¡¯t be such a big baby. Come on, get in the bath with me. I know you could use a soak.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t. I mean, I¡¯d like to, but where I come from, we usually go on a few dates, more than a few dates, before . . .¡± He risked a glance.
Yup, she was naked.
He looked away and offered the towel, arm outstretched.
¡°Before what?¡±
¡°Before,¡± Max stammered.
¡°Oh,¡± Anita said. She took the towel from him and wrapped it around herself, barely covering her front. ¡°You are very lovely, Max, and a girl could do a lot worse than you. You are funny and brave and clever, but I can¡¯t be intimate with anyone. I am going to be leader of my Druid order one day, and that requires that I remain chaste and pure. So, you can stop worrying about anything like that and get in the bath with me. The water is beautifully hot.¡±
Max could not help thinking that Anita was beautifully hot too.
¡°We don¡¯t have time for a bath now, Anita,¡± Max said.
At that moment, the door burst open. The steam billowed around and cleared, revealing Anita, naked except for the towel she had wrapped around her hair. Elderon stepped in and closed the door.
Max averted his eyes. Elderon walked over to Anita.
¡°Get dressed. We have company.¡±
Anita threw the towel aside. She stepped into the tub and pulled a bamboo pipe toward her. A rush of hot water showered her, rinsing the soap fully away. She jumped out and started to pull on her fighting skirt and tunic. From soapy to rinsed and dressed in a matter of seconds. From relaxed to ready for action¡ªMax was impressed.
¡°What¡¯s the trouble?¡± Anita asked, adjusting her tunic. ¡°Max was just about to tell me.¡±
Max listened at the door and then stepped over to join Elderon and Anita in the middle of the room. He whispered,
¡°Assassins.¡±
¡°What shall we do, Elderon?¡± Anita tied on her boots.
¡°We leave town.¡±
¡°What about Jahrod?¡± Max said. He thought he was starting to like the grumpy dwarf, plus it would be good to have a fighter in the party.
¡°What about me?¡± Jahrod said as he opened the door and stepped into the bathroom.
¡°Good thing I¡¯d finished my bath,¡± Anita said.
Jahrod wrinkled his nose. ¡°Baths are for fish. All I need I is a rubdown with a few handfuls of sand every few days.¡±
¡°We were going to tell you,¡± Max said, trying to shake the thought of washing with a handful of sand. ¡°We need to leave.¡±
¡°Why?¡± Jahrod demanded.
Max listened to the door again before whispering, ¡°Assassins.¡±
¡°Oh, them,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°You know about them?¡±
Max felt Jahrod was speaking too loudly.
¡°Yes, so let¡¯s leave.¡±
Too late. The door burst open, and in stepped an assassin, a pair of long curved daggers in his hands, holding one point up, the other point down. Clad all in black, a hood and mask revealing only a pair of cruel, fierce blue eyes.
Behind stepped a second. They took position next to each other.
They were dangerous alright, even for a powerful party like Max¡¯s.
Then the assassins attacked.
Chapter 1.23
Max moved back into the steam of the washroom as the assassins moved forward. Jahrod stood in their path. The first assassin moved in on Jahrod with a flurry of attacks, wielding his two long-bladed daggers with lightning-fast speed. The blades pinged off Jahrod¡¯s armor until one blade caught him with a slashing attack. He took minor damage from the blade. The poison-tipped blade fed a dark-green, sticky potion to his blood, a fast-acting poison. But Jahrod was immune to poison, so he took no damage.
Elderon cast Lightning on the second assassin that was advancing on him. The lightning bolt leapt from his fingers and slammed into the assassin, delivering major damage. The lightning then leapt to the second assassin and delivered another jolt of major damage.
Max could see the assassins still had very high Health.
Anita cast Bonus on the party. Max felt his accuracy rise. He loaded a bullet.
Max attacks Assassin causing minor damage.
Jahrod was fighting the first assassin, trading blows. His axe was swinging wildly, but the nimble assassin was able to evade the attacks. The assassin came back with repeated flurries of attacks with his light daggers, landing slashing damage on the stout dwarf, but no poison damage was taken.
Anita stood alongside Elderon, and they attacked the second assassin. Anita parried a flurry of attacks with her staff, her bonus to defense from her Bonus spell helping her fend off the deadly attacks.
Elderon cast Magic Missile and struck the assassin he and Anita were fighting, causing major damage, but still the assassin pressed in and maintained his attack.
Jahrod took more slashing damage. Then the assassin¡¯s blade penetrated Anita¡¯s defense and landed major slashing damage, the coated tip of the blade delivering the poison. She instantly took poison damage and fell back with a groan of pain.
Max was about to shoot another bullet but could tell that a hit of only minor damage would do little to tip the scales in their favor. He stepped back into the steam, pulled up his Hood of Sneaking, and activated his Sneak ability. He vanished from sight, hidden by the steam and the shadows. He crept around to the rear of the assassin attacking Jahrod, and once in position, he drew his shortsword.
The instant he drew his sword, the assassin turned to face him. He realized his Sneak ability had deactivated, and the assassin was alerted to a Sneak attack.
Assassin attacks Max causing major damage.
Max has been poisoned.
Max fell back. The shock of being discovered and attacked was terrible enough, the damage felt bad, but then the poison hit. His stomach churned, his skin bursting with a cold, violent sweat. He felt his Health drop dramatically, and he went from full Health to badly wounded in a single attack.
Max stepped back and found himself with his back to the wall next to the door. He felt an urge to run. What was he doing here? He should be back home in his city, not fighting assassins in a tavern washroom. The assassin moved in, his blades whirling, tapping together threateningly as he came closer to attack. Max raised his sword to defend.
Jahrod attacks Assassin causing heavy damage.
Max heaved a sigh of relief as the dwarf stepped in, axes swinging.
The assassin turned back to Jahrod and defended against a second swing of his huge axe. Max stayed out of range of the assassin¡¯s blades and loaded a bullet. He shot it at the assassin attacking Jahrod.
Max attacks Assassin causing minor damage.
Anita had fallen back. She was casting a healing spell, but the poison in her veins hit her with poison damage, and her spell was lost. She tried again, incanting and gesturing to call the spell.
Max loaded a bullet and was about to shoot it when the poison hit in a second wave.
Max takes poison damage.
As the poison hit, it caused Max to double over in pain as his health bar plummeted. He dropped the bullet he was loading into the sling. One more wave of poison damage, and he would be close to death. Max grabbed a Potion of Basic Healing from his satchel as Jahrod and Elderon engaged the assassins.
Max drinks Potion of Basic Healing
His health bar filled some, but he was still low. At least he wasn¡¯t critically low any more, but if the poison hit again, he would be, and he was fresh out of potions. He saw Anita was standing behind Elderon and casting what he hoped was a healing spell. This time, she managed to cast the spell before the poison hit her again.
Anita casts Cure Poison on Max.
Max felt instantly better, although his Health was still very low, and he didn¡¯t want to take any slashing damage. But that poison was the worst, causing damage again and again.
Jahrod took another hit, but again, the poison failed to affect him. He hit back with a mighty blow of his axe and delivered critical damage. The assassin staggered backward from Jahrod toward Max. Max loaded a bullet and shot it at the assassin, striking him square in the chest.
Max attacks Assassin causing minor damage.
Assassin has been defeated.
The assassin crumpled to the ground. Jahrod turned on the remaining assassin, who was engaging Elderon. The old Mage was not able to cast any enhancement spells on himself, so he was fighting with his staff, and in pure melee terms, he was outclassed by the dual-wielding assassin, who was extremely proficient with the long poison-tipped daggers.
Max checked Elderon¡¯s stats. He was heavily wounded and had taken poison damage, so his Health was low. Anita was casting again and managed to cure herself, she then immediately started casting a cure spell on Elderon.
Jahrod landed a heavy blow that stunned the assassin. He staggered backward, his arms dropping, his long daggers barely retained in his grip.
Anita¡¯s cure spell landed on Elderon. Now with his hands free, he cast Magic Missile. The missiles shot through the steam and slammed into the stunned assassin, delivering major damage. Jahrod rushed at the assassin with a huge swing of his axe, but the assassin recovered from being stunned just in time to dodge the attack. He leapt backward, sprang off the wall behind him, and cartwheeled in midair before landing on the floor. He shoulder rolled and came to his feet right in front of Max.
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Max was fumbling with his catapult. He knew he should draw his sword and make ready to parry the assassin¡¯s blades, but the assassin took one look at the open door and bolted through it. Anita¡¯s staff cut through the steam on a wide swinging arc, narrowly missing the assassin as he ran.
¡°Stop him!¡± Elderon said, staggering forward, leaning on his staff for support.
Max stepped into the corridor and saw the assassin dashing for a window at the far end of the hall. He took aim with his catapult.
Max attacks Assassin causing critical damage.
Assassin has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Elderon stepped into the corridor next to Max, and he looked at the fallen assassin.
¡°Bring the defeated assassins to our room,¡± Elderon said to Max. ¡°We can¡¯t simply leave them in the washroom and corridor for the tavern owner to find, or for them to scare other guests.¡±
Max nodded. He went to the defeated assassin at the end of the corridor and hurriedly checked the assassin¡¯s inventory for the charcoal portrait. He did not know how Elderon and Anita would react if they knew these assassins had been looking specifically for him. He found the parchment scroll on the assassin, and he took a quick look at it. It was a very good sketch. But who had drawn it? How did they know his likeness? Max tucked the portrait away, hoping none of the others had seen it, and then started to drag the fallen assassin along the corridor and into the room he¡¯d rented.
The assassins had ransacked the room. The four beds had been turned over, and the closet door was open. Bed linen was strewn about the place. Max laid the assassin¡¯s body down on the floor.
Jahrod walked in with the second assassin over his shoulder and dropped the defeated assassin next to the first.
¡°Check them,¡± Elderon said as he closed the door.
Max searches Assassins and finds:
? 20 gold
? Dagger of Poison Blade
? Potion of Intelligence
? Potion of Healing
Max dropped the items into his satchel.
Anita came in and closed the door quietly. She whispered something to Elderon. Elderon checked the window, looked outside, and then drew the threadbare curtain.
¡°No lights. You rest, Max,¡± Elderon said.
Anita cast Basic Healing on Jahrod. The dwarf grumbled, but Max figured this was his grumpy way of saying thanks.
Max turned one of the small beds right side up and sat down heavily. ¡°Is it safe to rest?¡± he said, looking up at Elderon.
¡°Anita and I will watch and keep us safe,¡± Elderon said.
At that moment, Anita crumpled to the floor. Max rushed to her. He wrapped an arm around her. ¡°Anita, what¡¯s the matter?¡± He swept the hair from her face and gazed into those dazzling green eyes.
¡°I am weak. The poison has left me with critical damage. And I am all out of Healing spells.¡±
Elderon handed over a small bottle of Basic Healing. Anita held up her hand to refuse it. ¡°It won¡¯t help enough. I need to rest and prepare my spells. You are damaged, too, Elderon. And Jahrod is not fully healed either.¡±
¡°I can stand up to another encounter with those dancing devils,¡± Jahrod said.
And Max was sure that the powerful dwarf could. Although he¡¯d taken lots of slashing damage, he was still able to take many more hits before his Health was dangerously low.
¡°I¡¯ll watch the window,¡± Elderon said, ¡°Jahrod, you watch the door. Max and Anita can rest and prepare their spells. We will heal as soon as Anita has regained all her spells, and then we¡¯ll move on.¡±
Max lay down, not entirely happy about letting others watch over him while he slept. It felt lazy to let others face the danger. But then Anita lay down next to him and pulled a blanket over them both. She wrapped her arms around Max and ran her fingers through his short hair.
¡°Let me lie with you, Max. I¡¯ll rest better with you at my side.¡±
¡°Yes, for the good of the party,¡± Max said and nestled into her arms and was soon asleep.
Max was instantly lost in a dream of darkness, of falling, and then of wide-open spaces, a feeling of freedom and adventures. He dreamed of a beautiful Druid maiden surrounded by green leaves and billowing clouds of steam, her arms open wide, welcoming him into her naked embrace. Then a white ghost drifted in and out of focus, warning him of danger nearby and far away. The ghost spoke, her voice distant and muted, but her warnings were clear, and she spoke of the many threats against him. The white ghost pointed to one danger here, one danger there, and then to a single threat that was the source of all danger. Max tried to run from the threat, only to find danger in his path. He turned this way and that, trying to find a route to safety. His breathing became difficult, and he gasped for air. Eyes darting this way and that in panic. Then he fell into the arms of the Druid, who soothed him with a gentle touch and a gentle word. But darkness raged all around them and threatened to drag the beautiful Druid down into the ground. Her arms were slipping away. She was sinking. A gray old teacher with a beard and toned muscles was glaring at Max with dark, fierce eyes, calling for him to help her, to help her get up. Get up. Get up.
¡°Get up, Max,¡± Elderon said, shaking Max awake. He sat up and looked around for Anita. He saw her casting a Healing spell on Jahrod.
¡°What time is it?¡± Max said, feeling tired and looking forward to another couple of hours¡¯ sleep.
¡°Time to go,¡± Elderon said. ¡°More assassins have arrived in town. My Boundary Ward has alerted me to their presence, and they are searching for their fallen fellows and for whoever defeated them. We must go.¡±
Every shadow seemed to contain a new dangerous threat as Max left the Oak and Crown tavern. Anita led the way, dropping down the side of the building from the room¡¯s small window. The air was cold, and Max wished he¡¯d been able to spend a few days in the steam with Anita. He followed her out the window and dropped down into a narrow alley behind the tavern.
The foul-smelling trash outside the back of the tavern was mixed with mud. Anita told him to wait there while Jahrod came next, falling as much as climbing and landing heavily in the mud, but it didn¡¯t seem to bother him in the slightest, and he joined Max and Anita in the shadows of the alley. Elderon came last, landing lightly and then moving swiftly into the lead. They moved in line to the end of the alley silently. Elderon stopped at the end where the alley met a side street and cautiously scanned the scene left and right, searching along the side street and up to the roof tops.
Max stood in the dark trying to slow his breathing, pulling his padded leather tunic close to fend off the cold and avoid shivering. Jahrod looked into a trash heap and pulled out a rotting carcass of a long-since discarded roasted bird. Even in the darkness, Max could tell it was gross, and the smell alone was repulsive. He heard Jahrod¡¯s fingers squelching on the discarded, half-eaten creature.
Jahrod offered it to Max. What was Max supposed to do with that stinking carcass? Replenish the deadly poison on his newly acquired dagger of poison?
¡°Hungry?¡± Jahrod asked in a low quiet growl.
Max shook his head and wrinkled his nose.
Jahrod shoved the rotting carcass in his beard and into his huge mouth, his monstrous teeth crunching the rotting bird, bones and all.
Max watched in horror as Jahrod licked his fingers and then sought out something else from the trash.
¡°We move,¡± Elderon whispered. ¡°Quickly and quietly.¡±
Anita followed Elderon, and Max came close behind. Jahrod burping quietly told Max that he was behind him.
The town was quiet and dark. The stars were thick overhead, millions upon millions of points of light, a dazzling display. He picked out the brightest stars and could not see one constellation that he could recognize. He¡¯d never seen so many stars. The cloudless sky meant they were in for a very cold night. Max closed his new leather tunic over the top of his shirt and vest. The shirt was still warm from having been indoors, but the leather tunic was turning cold and hard in the frigid night air.
Elderon led them to the palisade that surrounded the town. He pointed up. Max had no difficulty climbing up to the top. Elderon and Anita boosted Jahrod. Max reached down and hauled him up. Anita came next and Elderon last. They sat crouched on the high walk, torches burning at intervals along the top. Guards patrolling.
Anita produced a length of cord that was made from braided plant roots. She lowered it down on the outside of the palisade. Jahrod went first, clumsily clambering over the spiked tops of the palisade timbers and then down the braided cord. For a big stumpy dwarf, he managed himself admirably on the climb, his Strength overcoming any difficulties of balance or Agility in climbing down the rope.
Max went next, leaping over the spiked timbers. He went down the rope easily, walking down the side of the palisade while holding the rope. He made the ground in a few simple moves, jumping the last couple of feet.
Once they were all on the ground and crouched close to the foot of the palisade, Jahrod pointed the way.
¡°The quickest way to Ralynn City is this way,¡± Jahrod said.
Elderon nodded. ¡°We go with Jahrod.¡±
They moved off into the darkness, and after only a few steps, Anita threw Max to the ground. He landed with her on top of him. If she had finally succumbed to his handsome charm, she was picking a strange time to show it.
A crossbow bolt slammed into the ground just inches from Max, right at the spot where he had been standing a few seconds ago.
¡°Assassins,¡± Anita said and dragged Max with her, crawling along the ground. ¡°Don¡¯t get hit! I¡¯ve used all my spells of Cure Poison and healing spells.¡± She lay back and looked at the town palisade. She cast a Summon Roots spell behind them. Max herd the roots flicking about in the darkness behind them. ¡°That should hold them if they come after us,¡± Anita said, her lips close to his ear as she whispered. Her warm breath soothing and enticing.
Elderon and Jahrod were already running across the meadowlands, heading toward a line of trees.
¡°The forest will help hide us from the assassins,¡± Anita said, and she dragged Max to his feet. ¡°Run.¡±
Max ran with Anita, and they soon made the edge of the thicket of trees. Max kept running wildly onward until he finally slowed, gasping for breath. He must have run more than two miles because he knew how far he could run before he was breathless. He looked to his side, smiling, hoping to share the fun with Anita.
She wasn¡¯t there. He looked all around. Elderon, Jahrod. Gone. Had he outrun them all? Jahrod was able to keep up with Max on a march when endurance was the only factor, but Max didn¡¯t think he was built to be a good sprint runner. Although Elderon was old, he always moved well and was fast, but he couldn¡¯t run as far as Max. Anita was probably the only one who could match Max for speed and distance, but in his haste and excitement, he¡¯d left her behind. He crept through the tangle of branches and whispered their names. Then he thought he heard them. He stood up and smiled. Only to see the dark shapes of a pair of assassins moving through the trees.
Max turned his back to them and ran deeper into the trees with darkness all around, but hopefully leaving danger behind.
Chapter 1.24
Max wandered alone, lost. The forest that had at first appeared to be another small thicket now seemed to go on and on. Was he walking in circles? Could he find his way back the way he had come and hide out in White Raven? Maybe he could head back to the town of Burke.
He staggered through the forest almost entirely blind. What he could see of the stars through the branches overhead gave him very little light. He searched his satchel and found the torch he¡¯d taken from a defeated Skeleton Warrior. It was, however, just a useless lump of wood until he could light it. He thought about casting Magic Missile on the torch, thinking surely that would set it alight, but the Magic Missile only dealt physical damage, not fire damage. Now if only Elderon had given him a Fireball Scroll, he could have lit up the forest, and he¡¯d be able to see his way.
As he stood there in almost total darkness, he saw a glinting light deep in the wood, far from him. He stumbled his way toward it, tripping on a tangle of roots, branches snapping at his skin.
He hoped Anita and Elderon were searching for him. They¡¯d all been separated. Elderon had the spells that could summon light, but if he cast those now, it might let the assassins know where they were, so Max was sure Elderon would hold off. Maybe Anita had some way of using her glowing moss to light the way for him to find his way back to them.
Max stumbled toward the light. He came closer and saw three figures on the edge of the light. They were facing into the darkness, peering into the distance, looking toward Max.
One spoke with a soft, lilting voice that was as pure as mountain water, sweet as honey, smooth as butter.
¡°Who is there? Come forward, gentle traveler and be seen.¡±
Max stepped forward. The three figures were not those of his companions. He had a sudden feeling of dread; the figures were twisted and bent, naked and pale. Then they stepped out of a tangle of soft branches into the light, and he saw they were three young ladies, each wearing long flowing white robes. The material was so thin that Max could see their nubile forms beneath through the flickering light of their small fire.
Max staggered forward, trying to avoid looking at their fine bodies as they reached out to him, calling him to them with voices that merged together in harmony.
¡°Step out of the darkness, traveler,¡± another said in a deep, husky voice that sent a shiver of pleasure down Max¡¯s spine. He tripped again, and the three ladies giggled.
¡°Come into the light,¡± the last said in a melodious tone, sounding like the most beautiful music.
Max stumbled toward the three young ladies. They each had long, thick hair: one red, one blond, and one a deep chestnut. Their bodies were slender but with voluptuous curves. One reached out and grabbed Max by the arm. The sensation was bitterly cold.
Max takes minor damage.
¡°Oh, forgive me,¡± the blond beauty said. ¡°My hands are cold from the night air. Come and warm yourself by our fire.¡±
Max looked into those astounding blue eyes and let her take him to the fire. The red-haired beauty poured a cup of something hot from a pot at the fire and handed it to Max.
¡°Drink,¡± she said. She slipped to the ground and pulled Max by the hand to sit next to her.
Max sat down and felt the warmth of the fire and the gentle touch of the red-haired one. He drank the brew, which was sweet and rich. He felt light-headed as a smile crept over his face. The three ladies giggled, and Max joined them.
The brown-haired girl sat behind him and pulled him to her, letting him rest against her body, her hands on his chest and stomach, soothing him with caresses. He took another sip of the brew.
¡°Who are you girls?¡± he said. ¡°Why are you out here?¡±
¡°Our father is too strict,¡± Blondie said. ¡°We have to come out to the woods to drink and play.¡± She looked shy, a little mischievous. She took the cup from Max¡¯s hand and sipped the brew.
¡°Your father? Are you sisters?¡± Max looked at them all. They were all quite beautiful, but other than that, there was no similarity.
¡°No,¡± Red said, and she stroked his hair. ¡°We are all adopted.¡±
¡°Do you live far from here?¡±
¡°No, not far,¡± Chestnut said.
¡°Have you maybe seen my friends?¡± Max said.
Blondie handed the cup back to Max. He took it gratefully. The brew was delicious and gave him a pleasant, warm feeling.
¡°We can help you look for your friends in the morning. Now, let us rest.¡±
Max let the three girls draw him down to the ground, their hands all over his body. The ground was soft, but their touch was softer as they teased his skin, their fingers drawing circles on his body. They undid his padded leather tunic and his vest. Their hands found their way inside his clothes. Their hands all over him. His eyelids grew heavy, and he let himself succumb to their charms.
Max takes minor damage.
When he woke after what seemed like an age, he still felt tired. He could not have been asleep for long ,a few minutes or an hour at most, for the sky was still dark. The fire was still warm, and its light reflected off a canopy of leaves and branches that covered the small campsite like a dome tent of living green leaves. It felt comforting and safe.
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Max was worried about the assassins, but he didn¡¯t want to scare these beautiful young girls.
¡°Are we quite safe from the animals of the forest?¡± Max said. He looked at the dark canopy just beyond the range of the firelight.
The three giggled, and two lay down with Max while the third stood up, the firelight shining though her light robes. She lifted her red hair up and let it fall.
¡°We are safe from predators,¡± Red told him, tempting, taunting, and tantalizing him as she swayed to a silent rhythm. ¡°We know this forest. We¡¯ve lived here all our lives. See our canopy? It keeps us safe. You can rest here with us.¡±
Max felt so tired. ¡°But we have to find my friends in the morning.¡±
Chestnut ran her fingers through his hair. ¡°First thing in the morning.¡± She drew him to her and laid his head on her chest, her soft curves caressing his cheek. The fabric of her robes felt so soft and so thin and fine that it might almost not be there at all.
Max reached for the brew. Blondie wagged a finger as if to say he should have no more.
¡°Please, just a sip, one more. I know my limits.¡±
Red came forward with the cup. She kneeled down, sitting on Max. ¡°For a kiss, a single gentle kiss.¡±
Max could hardly resist those full lips and that beautiful face. He let her kiss him while Chestnut and Blondie caressed his body. He shivered in delight as they touched him. Red took her kiss, light yet filled with passion.
Max takes minor damage.
He took the cup from her hands, then she stood and continued her swaying dance. He watched her, drank a sip, and then lay back.
Max takes minor damage.
He woke hours later with sleepy, droopy eyes, but his body firm. He kissed Blondie and rested on her chest before taking another short sleep.
Max takes minor damage.
He woke a moment later, more tired than ever. Only the brew could wake him up. He reached out for the cup. Blondie had it and was drinking deeply. She refilled it and let Max drink before pushing him back down onto the soft ground. She sat on top of him and ran her fingers down his chest. His tunic was completely removed, his jacket too. Only his thin shirt covered him. And the night was frigid, his skin feeling the cold, but his cheeks were flushed with warmth and pleasure.
Max rested on the soft ground as Blondie tickled his chest, Chestnut and Red on either side of him, soothing him with caresses.
Max takes minor damage.
He slept for hours. Only when he was rousing from sleep did he see a white shimmering figure high above. Glowing white with red hair floating around.
He felt a firm grip on his chin and a hand pulling his head to the side. He opened his eyes, startled, but he was looking into the soft kind eyes of Red.
¡°How long was I asleep?¡± he said, hoping it was morning, and they could find Elderon and Anita and the crazy dwarf. Max had made a promise to Jahrod, and he wanted to keep it.
¡°Not long,¡± Red said in a soft voice. She offered him a sip from the cup. Max reached out for it with both hands. He realized he was shaking.
¡°Not too much,¡± Blondie said. ¡°You feed him too quickly.¡±
Max felt a shiver at the sound of her voice. Red spoke back harshly.
¡°He wants it. Give it to him.¡± Her voice was dark and cold like deep water.
Max tried to stand up. ¡°I need to find . . .¡± He felt his head swimming. ¡°Elderon.¡± He spoke weakly. So . . . tired.
¡°You are startling our guest,¡± Chestnut said in a soft, soothing voice. Red and Blondie lay down on either side of Max and soothed him with kisses and caresses, their voices sweet and gentle once again. ¡°Be patient, sisters,¡± Chestnut said. ¡°Let him have another sip.¡±
Blondie crawled away and came crawling back to Max. Her robes had fallen open as she crawled on the ground, and he could see her curves appearing, tantalizing under the light robe. She held out the cup. Max took it and sipped. It was so invigorating, and at the same time, induced such calm. He lay down and let them touch him, soothing him to sleep.
Max takes minor damage.
He woke from sleep but found himself in a dream. The white floating figure closer now. He rubbed his eyes.
¡°Janet?¡± he said.
She was shouting something, but her voice was lost in the crackle of a fire.
He woke up and saw the girls dancing around the flames. As soon as he propped himself up, they rushed to him. His hair stood on end, and his skin tingled with dread as they rushed at him. But then he felt calm as he looked upon their soft and beautiful bodies, their lips smiling at him as they came. Their robes translucent. His eyes alighted on the cup in the hands of Red as she sat next to him.
¡°You must have dozed off again. We will turn in for the night soon. Then we will rest until morning.¡±
Max felt cold, and his head was pounding. He knew the brew would sooth him. He reached out for it, but something deep inside told him he needed to lay off the cup for a while if he wanted to be fit in the morning. Sweet and heady as the brew was, maybe he¡¯d had enough.
Red took his hands while Blondie sat behind him and curled her soft legs around his waist. Chestnut sat at his side and gently kissed his ear. Red placed the cup in his hand.
¡°Your hospitality is so generous, girls,¡± Max said. ¡°But maybe I¡¯ve drunk enough.¡± He felt his head swim, his body growing cold.
¡°Just one more sip,¡± Red said. She kissed his lips. Max felt more aroused than ever. ¡°Maybe one sip wouldn¡¯t hurt. But then we have to sleep. I am so tired.¡±
¡°One more sip, and then we will all lie down for the night, but we can¡¯t think of sleep with such a handsome Mage with us.¡± Red held the cup up to Max¡¯s lips and tipped it up so the delicious brew hit his lips.
Max took a sip, then a deeper sip. He felt cold and warm at once.
¡°Not too much,¡± Red said.
Max took hold of the cup, tipping it up, drinking deeply, and stopping Red from taking the cup away.
¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Blondie said, her voice threatening, and it filled Max with fear. He looked at her, but her face was gentle. She kissed his neck. ¡°You will not be fit to find your friends in the morning.¡±
Max lay back, filled again with the sweet brew, and he let the three ravish him. It was ecstasy. The pain was hardly noticeable at all.
Max takes minor damage.
Max opened his eyes. He was alone and felt fit and fine. It was dark, and he was floating in darkness.
¡°Can you see me?¡±
It was Janet floating before him, a white ghost fringed with heavy darkness.
¡°Janet?¡± Max said. ¡°Hi. Are you ok?¡±
¡°For pity¡¯s sake, Max. Wake up.¡±
¡°I am awake.¡± He stared around. ¡°Where have the three ladies gone?¡±
¡°They are right with you. I¡¯ve managed to hold you in a dream for a moment. You are in danger.¡±
¡°In danger of having a good time! Have you seen how fit these girls are, and they are so thirsty for me!¡±
¡°They are not girls,¡± Janet said.
¡°Ok, young ladies.¡±
¡°Max, listen to me. You need to wake up, and you need to get out of there.¡±
Janet started to fall away.
¡°Ok, I will in the morning, first thing. I¡¯ll just sleep here for a while longer.¡±
¡°You are asleep. You¡¯ve been sleeping too long. They are doing something to you.¡±
Max smiled. ¡°Oh, yeah!¡±
¡°No, not that,¡± Janet said, falling away further. ¡°You are in danger. You¡¯ve been there too long.¡±
¡°Not that long, a couple of hours.¡±
¡°A couple of hours?¡± Janet faded. ¡°Is that what you think? Max, you¡¯ve been there for three days.¡±
Janet fell away into the darkness.
Max takes minor damage.
Max woke up and he felt very cold. The ladies¡¯ warm bodies on his skin failing to warm him. The cup was brought to his lips. Red¡¯s hand holding up his head. Chestnut¡¯s hands holding the cup to his lips. Blondie¡¯s lips on his neck.
Chapter 1.25
Max felt a chill run through his body. His head rang like a bell. His mouth was dry and sticky and his throat burning.
¡°I¡¯ve got to get up,¡± Max said, willing himself to move.
¡°We¡¯ll get you up,¡± Blondie said with smiles and gentle kisses.
¡°I always hated the alarm clock, but I really need one now.¡± Max moved one of the beauties off him and got to his knees.
¡°What¡¯s an alarm clock?¡± Chestnut said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders, her hands on his chest, kissing him on the back of the neck. ¡°You are funny. I like a man who can make me laugh.¡±
Max gasped for breath as he crawled away from the fire. His arms and legs felt weak, barely able to take his weight. They quivered under him as he moved.
¡°He¡¯s thirsty,¡± Chestnut said and brought the cup to his lips. ¡°Drink, handsome adventurer.¡±
¡°Janet?¡± Max called out, his voice scarcely a whisper rasping in his dry throat.
¡°Who¡¯s Janet?¡± Blondie said. ¡°Is she special to you?¡±
Max wasn¡¯t sure if she was or not, but she needed his help, and he needed hers too. She had warned him that he was in danger, impossible to believe as he looked at the faces of the three beauties, but he was starting to trust her.
¡°Yes, I think she is special to him.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t tell her if you don¡¯t,¡± Red said, her voice soft, her fingers caressing him gently. She raised the cup. ¡°Stay with me a while.¡±
Max crawled on all fours away from the fire and the three beauties. One crawled in front of him up on her knees. He was looking directly at her smooth skin through her sheer translucent robes that billowed gently as she twisted about her hips, dancing to a silent tune, her robes caressing and showing her curves.
Max groaned in tormented agony and excitement. They were so beautiful, so gentle. He wanted to collapse, roll over onto his back, and let them smother him with their bodies. He remembered Janet calling to him. With a groan of disappointment, he pushed the beauty aside. She moved without resistance, only her gentle fingers caressing his skin to tempt him to stay.
He couldn¡¯t believe he was giving up these temptations of the flesh. He grabbed his satchel and pulled it over his head and let it hang on his shoulder. It felt like it weighed a ton. He tucked his leather tunic under his arm. His belt with his scabbard was just within reach. He dragged it to him. With a huge effort, he knelt and clipped it on around his waist.
Gathering his belongings took so much effort that he collapsed exhausted, gasping for air, sweat soaking his shirt. The beauties were on him, rolling him onto his back so they could shower him with kisses, their long hair tickling his skin. They held up his head, and the cup was offered again. Max thought that one last sip, just to get him on his feet, would be a good idea.
Janet appeared as a distant, tiny white figure at the end of a long dark tunnel. She was calling him away from the beauties and their fire. Max pushed the cup away, rolled onto his front, and crawled. Moving across the soft ground was harder than any climb he¡¯d ever taken on.
He reached the edge of the clearing and the tangle of vines and branches forming the canopy. He drew his sword and cut away at the tangle of vines.
¡°Don¡¯t look back, Max,¡± Janet said as he burrowed through the vines. He felt the branches on his skin. His skin felt cold and sore, the wet leaves stinging it. He could see behind him, in the reflection of his sword¡¯s blade, that the three figures at the edge of the canopy were not the voluptuous beauties who had been teasing him and exciting him all this time. They were pale, thin figures, faces drawn, jaws hanging slack, eyes sunken and dark with a tiny glowing point of light deep in those dark eye sockets. Their pale, translucent skin was shot through with dark red-and-blue lines. They had patches of dense gray fur over their bodies. Their limbs were long and with many joints, long fingers tipped with hooked, heavy claws. One opened its mouth to call to him, a wide mouth with no teeth, only thin, chapped, sucking lips.
Max looked at the view reflected in his sword and turned in disgust. He was greeted by the sight of three beautiful, young, attractive, curvaceous beauties, each with thick, long hair, full lips, smooth skin, and sparkling eyes.
¡°We can make you happy,¡± Red said, a slender finger beckoning him. Chestnut and Blondie knelt on either side of her and ran their hands over their bodies.
Max turned to the canopy, his sword hacking through the dense foliage, and again he caught a reflected glimpse of the ugly horrors behind him. He pressed on, feeling claws on his ankles, cold and sharp, slowing him down. Finally, he tumbled out of the canopy.
He fell onto his back and stared up at a bright blue sky through the branches overhead. He had been sure it was still the dead of night. He looked at the canopy he had just come through. A dense clump of weeds. Inside the tangle of branches, he saw beady eyes staring out at him.
Max scurried backward. He collapsed again. His skin was covered in fine cuts, hundreds of them. Blood droplets on his skin everywhere. His lips were dry and chapped, his head banging with the worst headache ever.
But he had escaped.
Max gains experience points.
¡°Janet,¡± Max called, his voice weak, his throat not letting the words out. He rasped. He collapsed and stared up at the sun overhead. Finally, he reached into his satchel and found a Potion of Minor Healing. He drank it and felt instant relief, then he closed his eyes and fell immediately to sleep.
¡°You made it out,¡± Janet said.
Max felt fitter in his dream than in the world.
¡°Only with your help.¡±
¡°Rest,¡± Janet said. ¡°Your friends are coming.¡±
He didn¡¯t know how long he had lain there, but when he opened his eyes, it was getting dark. He heard a voice that filled him with hope.
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
¡°Over here.¡± The voice was clear and strong.
Max turned to the sound.
¡°Anita,¡± Max said. He tried to lift his arm.
Anita came running through the trees, her staff in one hand as she leaped over a fallen branch. She came to a halt and dropped to her knees.
¡°Where have you been?¡± Anita demanded. She held his face in her hands. ¡°We¡¯ve been looking for you for days! What happened to you?¡±
Max pointed at the knotted branches he¡¯d crawled through.
Anita went to the knot of weeds and investigated, then she returned to Max and dragged him further away into a wider clearing between the trees.
¡°What were those things?¡± Max said, resting in Anita¡¯s arms.
¡°Nymphs,¡± Anita said.
Max looked back at the clump of foliage he¡¯d escaped from. He could still see their tiny white eyes in the dark tangle.
¡°They still call to me,¡± he said. ¡°I need their brew.¡±
Anita laid her hands on Max and cast Basic Healing.
¡°You were lucky,¡± Anita said. ¡°Few can escape their temptations. They would have made you feel exquisite ecstasy for a few days, and then you would have become dust. You are heavily wounded, and your Health is still very low.¡±
Elderon and Jahrod came to the clearing. Jahrod stepped over to the bush, his axe in hand. ¡°Evil Nymphs,¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Don¡¯t get too close,¡± Max said. ¡°They drew me in, and I was trapped.¡±
Jahrod made ready to swing his axe. ¡°Their songs have no effect on dwarfs.¡±
Max saw the beady little eyes fall back deeper into the knotted cluster.
Jahrod swung his axe and cut through some outer branches.
¡°You¡¯ll never get them,¡± Elderon said. ¡°I will set up a Ward of Warning so travelers know not to come this way.¡±
Anita lifted Max to his feet. Jahrod helped, and the dwarf¡¯s hair was so stinking and sour up close that it was like a dose of strong-smelling salts, and it jolted Max to life. With the support of Anita and Jahrod, Max was able to walk, slowly at first, but gaining strength the further he got from his deadly girlfriends.
Once a good distance away, Elderon called a halt. ¡°We rest here.¡±
Max looked at his skin, covered with thousands of cuts. Anita cast a spell, and the cuts healed. Max felt his mouth and throat ease, and now he could swallow more easily.
Anita brewed up a pot of something hot and sweet. She handed Max a cup, but he looked at it nervously, overcome with suspicion. Was this another trick by the Nymphs?
¡°You are safe,¡± Anita said. ¡°Look at me closely. You will then see it is truly me.¡±
¡°And Nymphs can¡¯t take the form of a dwarf,¡± Jahrod said.
Max was sure if they could, they would emit a sweeter smell.
Elderon took the cup from Anita and sat next to Max. ¡°Think, Max. When you were in there with them, did you ever notice something was not right? Think, and you will have seen them for what they truly were. Nymphs cannot hide their true form, only invite you to see something you desire.¡±
Max thought about it. Then he remembered catching them at a certain angle and thinking they were repulsive, and then suddenly, they were not.
¡°I don¡¯t believe it,¡± Max said. He felt like he was about to puke. ¡°I let them touch me?¡±
¡°It is dark magic and very difficult to resist. But you chose to see their trickery and broke out. You are very strong, Max. Here, drink.¡±
His thirst overcame his suspicion. He drank the brew and felt it burn its way down his parched throat.
¡°You were gone for three days, Max,¡± Elderon said. ¡°It will take time to recover, but we can only rest for one night.¡± He pressed the Mage Book into Max¡¯s hands. ¡°Check your spells. We will rest. In the morning, we will continue to Ralynn City.¡±
Max checked his spells. Three Magic Missiles and one of Strength.
Anita wrapped her arm around Max and lay down with him on the bedroll. She pulled a blanket over them. He felt at ease in Anita¡¯s arms, and he was soon asleep.
Max dreamed of fingers clawing at him. He woke with a start to see the fire was lit and crackling, a pot on the embers. Jahrod was looking at him as he stuffed a roasted creature into his huge mouth.
Anita laid her hand on Max¡¯s sweating brow. ¡°You are healed, but still weak from your ordeal.¡± She handed him a piece of yellow bread.
Max sniffed it, and it smelled sweet, so he ate it and felt a little stronger. Anita pressed him back to the ground.
¡°Sleep.¡±
It felt like a mere moment later when Max opened his eyes. The sun was overhead, the forest fresh and alive.
Elderon came striding forward. ¡°You are awake, I see. Today we march. We will do our best to avoid encounters. You still need to recover, but a good long walk will help you do just that.¡±
Jahrod stood up.
¡°To Ralynn City.¡±
Max followed Jahrod and stayed close to Elderon¡¯s side. They traveled through areas of forest scattered with meadows. Again, Anita scouted ahead, checking the way was clear, and she appeared a few times in the day. As dusk came on, she returned from where she had been scouting in front of the party.
¡°Trouble ahead,¡± she said. ¡°A lone traveler, a common farmer. He is surrounded by Skarak.¡±
¡°Skarak?¡± Max said, looking at Elderon.
¡°Skarak,¡± Jahrod growled and gripped his axe.
¡°Skarak,¡± Elderon said with a sigh. He seemed to consider Max, and then said back to Anita. ¡°Can we avoid them?¡±
Anita nodded grimly. ¡°But the common farmer will not survive much longer.¡±
¡°What is a common farmer doing so far from his fields?¡± Elderon shook his head. ¡°What do you think, Max? Are you strong enough for an encounter?¡±
Max had heard the name Skarak before, and he was intrigued. And if a common farmer could hold them off, then they couldn¡¯t be too dangerous. His party would be more than a match for them, he had a fresh batch of active spells . . . maybe he should help.
¡°We have to help,¡± Max said.
Anita led the way as Jahrod ran and caught up with her while Elderon and Max came behind.
They exited the forest and came out into a wide meadow. A common farmer was swinging a long staff. Max saw the small creatures pestering him, so he checked their stats.
Name: Skarak
Status: Aggressive
Attack: Spear
Threat level: Dangerous in groups
The Skarak leaping at the common farmer were only around two feet tall. They were covered in short dark fur. They stood upright on hind legs and wore tattered breeches, long thick tails flicking behind them. Each carried a short spear, about as long as the Skarak were tall. They leapt forward at the common farmer, jabbing at him, but the farmer¡¯s swinging staff was enough to cause them to leap backward and out of the way. However, the farmer was clearly tiring.
Max casts Magic Missile on Skarak causing major damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
The rest of the Skarak turned with a shriek and saw the party of adventurers that had arrived. They turned their bald thick tails to the farmer and ran off across the meadow to a rocky outcrop near the tree line.
Max walked up to the dead creature and looked down at its strange little body before bending over to pick up the loot.
Max gains experience points.
Skarak inventory:
? Skarak spear
? 1 gold
Max dropped the coin into his satchel, then he picked up the spear. It had a vicious spiked tip, but the weapon didn¡¯t appear as powerful as his shortsword. He dropped it.
¡°Hey there, farmer,¡± Elderon said, striding forward. ¡°What brings you out so far from your fields?¡±
¡°Oh, Master Mage,¡± the farmer said, falling to his knees. ¡°The Skarak came in the night. Dozens of them. They snuck into my simple cottage, and they captured my daughter. Oh, please help! She is only a child, little more than an infant.¡± The farmer pointed to the outcrop. ¡°That¡¯s their lair. I have tracked the Skarak to this point, and that is when they attacked me.¡± He looked to the outcrop. ¡°They must have made their Skarak hole in that outcrop because they like dark places.¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°I know Skarak very well.¡± He turned to Jahrod. ¡°Master Dwarf, it seems we are waylaid yet again.¡±
¡°I must get to Ralynn City,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Skarak are a nuisance but not a threat.¡±
¡°Maybe not a threat to you, Jahrod, for you are strong and fearless.¡± Max hoped he could charm the gruff dwarf, but he wasn¡¯t too hopeful. ¡°But this farmer is no match for a group of Skarak. We must save this good farmer¡¯s child.¡±
Anita stood at Max¡¯s side and nodded. ¡°Max is right. We cannot leave this child to the mercy of these vile Skarak.¡±
Elderon laid a hand on Jahrod¡¯s shoulder.
¡°If you need to go on to Ralynn without us, we quite understand.¡±
Jahrod considered, his beady eyes flicking over Max.
¡°If I stay with you now, do you promise to help me, Max?¡±
¡°I do, Jahrod. You have my word.¡±
Jahrod swung up his axe. ¡°Then we save this child.¡±
Max studied the outcrop in the distance and then nodded to the farmer. ¡°Stay here, good farmer. We will find your daughter.¡±
Chapter 1.26
The outcrop lay at the far end of a long peaceful meadow littered with bright flowers. The trees at the meadow¡¯s edge threw long shadows as the sun sank lower in the sky. It would be dark soon. Max was sure it would be even darker in those caves. He still had a torch in his satchel but no way to light it. As they approached the outcrop, a dark gap at the base was visible, a way into the rock.
Jahrod produced a torch from his bag and lit it with a spark from a flint struck against his axe.
¡°Ah!¡± said Max and took out his torch so Jahrod could light it by tapping his flaming torch to Max¡¯s.
¡°You need a flint,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°They are abundant in dwarf lands at the north of both continents, Awen and Scarfel.¡±
¡°Do dwarfs live on both the western and the eastern continent of Eveirea?¡± Max asked, his eyes fixed on the dark cave entrance.
¡°The lands were once joined by vast underground caverns that ran under the Kraken Sea. The routes were closed up ages ago in a great quake. Some dwarfs still search the deep undergrounds for a lost link between Awen and Scarfel. Those who set off never return. Some say the deep fires of Eveirea consume them, but some say they find a fabled lost continent.¡±
¡°What do you say?¡± Max asked.
¡°I say they are not sufficiently motivated to succeed.¡± Jahrod dug a flint out from his bag and handed it to Max.
Max gains flint tool.
¡°Look after it, Max,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Dwarfs seldom give gifts. You will have to earn the next one I give you.¡±
Max approached the cave entrance. Anita was lying on her stomach, peering into the cave.
¡°It is a way in,¡± she said, leaning in. ¡°It¡¯s a tight fit. Follow me.¡±
She slid inside, but Elderon held Max back. ¡°I¡¯ll go next,¡± he said and slipped inside.
Max compared Jahrod¡¯s size to the width of the cave entrance. The dwarf looked far too bulky to fit through the narrow crack.
¡°Don¡¯t worry about me,¡± Jahrod said, shoving Max forward. ¡°Dwarfs can crawl through the tightest gaps in the rock. We are born to it.¡±
Max crawled in, and once his shoulders were inside, Anita and Elderon grabbed him and lowered him down to a rocky surface four feet below the narrow entrance.
Max took a step away from the crack, his torch overhead.
¡°Hold there,¡± Elderon said, grabbing Max by the shoulder.
Max stopped and looked down. The ground disappeared a few inches from his feet, and there was a deep dark drop in front of him. They were standing on a narrow ledge that ran along the edge of the cavern.
Max stepped forward, avoiding the sheer drop to his right. He heard Jahrod grunt and snort as he pushed his way inside, his armor scraping against the rock.
Max walked ahead¡ªand got a sudden shock as a Skarak leapt out of the dark in front of him and jabbed his spear up into Max¡¯s gut.
Skarak attacks Max with Surprise Attack causing minor damage.
Max swung his sword from left to right and knocked the Skarak into the darkness. He listened for the creature to hit bottom but heard nothing.
¡°Move along,¡± Elderon said, ¡°and watch for Skarak. They will attack us from the shadows.¡±
Max thought that two could play at that game. He pulled up his hood and tried to activate his Sneak ability. It wouldn¡¯t work, and he was puzzled. It was so dark that it should be easy to Sneak. Then he realized he was holding a flaming torch.
Elderon must have guessed what Max was thinking, and he took the torch from him.
Max activates Sneak ability.
He hid in the shadows and worked ahead of the party, and he saw a Skarak leap out, making ready to jab with his spear.
Max attacks Skarak with Sneak Attack causing heavy damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
He looted a gold coin before continuing to walk ahead. The path sloped downward, seemed to curve, and soon Max was at the base, a wide stone floor surrounded by high rock faces. A defeated Skarak lay there, and he claimed another gold coin.
Jahrod walked around the edge of the cave floor and found a tunnel entrance leading off deeper into the cave system.
A scurrying noise was followed by the sounds of chittering. A group of Skarak appeared at the entrance, spears leveled. With a collective shriek, they attacked.
Max drew his sword. He dodged the two jabbing Skarak spears of the Skarak attacking him and parried their thrusts.
This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.
Skarak attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Even though the Skarak were close to him, because they were such short creatures, they were just out of reach of Max¡¯s shortsword. He swung it, but the Skarak stayed out of reach, taking turns to dash in one step closer to jab with their spears then run back again.
But Max could handle them. He took on the pair, parrying their spear thrusts with ease.
He saw that Anita was fending off three Skarak with her staff. She swung it in a wide arc and struck one of her attackers, sending it crashing in to the rock face, defeating the creature in a single hit.
Elderon was also fighting three of the creatures with his staff as they surrounded him and jabbed at him from all sides.
And Jahrod was surrounded by four of the creatures. Jahrod grabbed at a spear that came too close and pulled it out of the attacker¡¯s claws. The creature leapt at Jahrod¡¯s face, only to be struck down by a thumping fist.
Max took a breath as he felt a little fatigue come on. It was easy to fend off this pair of Skarak, but he realized if he didn¡¯t defeat them soon, he would be too tired, and they would overwhelm him.
So, Max stepped closer.
Skarak attacks Max causing minor damage.
The spear thrust to his leg felt like a pinprick, sharp and painful, but it didn¡¯t slow him down at all.
Max attacks Skarak causing heavy damage.
Skarak had been defeated.
The remaining Skarak dashed in to make an attack, but Max was too quick.
Max attacks Skarak causing minor damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
Max grabbed the loot from the pair of defeated Skarak.
Max gains 2 gold.
So, it only took minor damage to defeat a Skarak and they were so very weak that it seemed too easy. But then Max saw another group of Skarak scurry out of the cave. Three made straight for Jahrod, who had five of the beasts already attacking him. He defeated one instantly and turned on the next.
Anita had two defeated Skarak at her feet, but still, she faced three as yet more arrived.
Max now faced three. He stepped forward and swung his sword.
Max attacks Skarak causing minor damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
Skarak attacks Max causing minor damage.
Max turned on another, sweat breaking on his brow. This was ridiculous. No sooner had he defeated a Skarak than another arrived. He stepped up to his target and swung his sword in a rage, roaring as he did so.
Max attacks Skarak causing critical damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
Max realized the little spears were not the most dangerous thing about these Skarak, it was the numbers of them. Yet more arrived. Max held off five of the little beasts, and Jahrod had them crawling all over him, so many that he was picking them off one by one and throwing them against the cave wall.
¡°Stick together,¡± Max said. He edged toward Anita. ¡°Force them back into the cave,¡± Max said.
Jahrod threw a pair of Skarak deep into the cave entrance. He stepped closer to Elderon. The group came together in a line facing a dozen Skarak, all jabbing forward with their little spears.
¡°Push them back to the cave entrance so they can¡¯t surround us,¡± Max said.
¡°Hold them off me for a moment,¡± Elderon said. He started casting a spell, his hands twirling, and he uttered the incantation under his breath.
Elderon casts Fierce Wind.
The wind leapt forward from Elderon¡¯s hands and blew the Skarak deep into the cave.
With the Skarak gone, Max took stock of his wounds. He¡¯d only taken a few hits of minor damage, but his Health was reduced.
Anita laid her hands on Max and cast Basic Healing, and he was back to full Health.
¡°They will be back,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°And if we want to find the farmer¡¯s daughter, we will have to head into the tunnel.¡±
¡°Are you sure?¡± Max said.
Jahrod cast his eyes upward as if exasperated. ¡°Yes. I can smell her. Humans all smell so bad that a dwarf can smell one a mile off.¡± He pointed into the tunnel. ¡°She¡¯s in there, about half a mile away.¡±
Anita cast Bonus on the party. Max felt his sword arm grow accurate and strong, and then Elderon cast Summon Light and lit up the cavern.
¡°If we stick together, the tunnel will keep the Skarak in front of us, and we can reduce the impact of their numbers,¡± Max said.
¡°You speak like a great general,¡± Anita said. ¡°Such wise tactics.¡±
They walked together. In the darkness on the edge of the light cast by Elderon¡¯s spell, they could hear the Skarak scratching about.
And then they came, shrieking as they rushed.
Max grabbed his catapult.
Max attacks Skarak causing minor damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
But they came on too fast, and Max had to switch back to his shortsword.
As the Skarak leapt at them, Anita struck them down with a swipe of the staff. Jahrod moved into them so fast, he defeated several of them with huge swings of his axe, taking little pinpricks of minor damage as they surrounded him.
¡°Stick together,¡± Max said.
Elderon cast a Magic Missile. The six missiles raced into the first Skarak. Two of the missiles defeated the creature while the other four raced on and defeated another, and the final two continued to defeat a third and final Skarak.
Max parried a thrust by a Skarak. He heard a heavy scratching.
Farther down the cave tunnel, Max saw a huge shape, six feet tall at least. He looked up into the face of a giant rat.
Max checked its stats quickly.
Name: Giant Cave Rat
Status: Aggressive
Attack: Piercing teeth, Slashing claws, Tail whip.
Threat level: Dangerous
Max cast Magic Missile at the Giant Cave Rat. The glowing missile slammed into the monster.
Max casts Magic Missile on Giant Cave Rat causing minor damage.
Max could smell the stench of burning hair on the giant rat.
Giant Cave Rat attacks Max causing major damage.
Max felt the tail strike him in the ankle and knock him off his feet, the dark cave whirling about him as he spun in the air. He landed heavily and looked up into the blackness. He felt calm, at ease. A distant point of light appeared.
¡°Janet, what are you doing down here?¡± Max said.
¡°You¡¯re out cold, Max,¡± Janet said, coming closer. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on the problem we have.¡±
¡°What, how to save the farmer¡¯s daughter?¡±
¡°No, how to shut down the experiment. When the experiment activated, you focused all the energy on the dense carbon you were holding.¡±
¡°Carbon?¡±
¡°The industrial diamonds. We use a fragment of a diamond to create a transport portal of just a few yards. One diamond loses a few atoms to the transport portal. You had thousands of times more diamonds than we¡¯ve ever used. I¡¯ve been doing some math, and . . . now, I can¡¯t be sure I¡¯m that accurate, because I have to do it all in my head.¡±
¡°You are wasting your time doing mental math?¡± Max said.
¡°Well, I¡¯ve got nothing else to do. I¡¯m trapped in the transport portal, locked out of time and space. And you could be on the other side of the galaxy or even in a distant galaxy. I keep losing track. The point is, if the transport portal shuts down with you on one end, I¡¯ll be lost forever, and you¡¯ll be stuck wherever you are.¡±
¡°It¡¯s not too bad here,¡± Max said.
¡°Last time I saw you, you were being sucked to death by some nasty-looking creatures, and that¡¯s not too bad? What was it like for you back here?¡± Janet said.
¡°At least I¡¯ve got friends here,¡± Max said.
¡°And enemies.¡± Then she spoke with sudden urgency. ¡°Max, you¡¯ve got to wake up. Quickly, you are in danger!¡±
¡°I know. From the first moment I arrived here.¡±
¡°Wake up,¡± Janet said.
¡°Wake up,¡± Max heard Elderon calling to him.
Max¡¯s eyes slid open, and he froze. A Skarak was standing on his chest, a spear raised over its head and the point aimed for Max¡¯s throat, ready to be brought down with deadly force.
Chapter 1.27
Max raised his hands to fend off the Skarak attack and started to move them in front of him without realizing that he was already performing the gestures for the Magic Missile spell. He spoke the incantation more quickly and accurately than he had ever done before. The Magic Missile fizzed away from his fingers and slammed into the chest of the Skarak that was standing on his chest.
Max casts Magic Missile on Skarak causing moderate damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
Max climbed to his feet and lined up alongside his party. More Skarak were coming to the battle, appearing from crevices and small passageways off the main tunnel. They massed on either side of the Giant Cave Rat and attacked in a huge shrieking horde. Max loaded bullets into his catapult and shot into the mass without bothering to take aim.
Skarak takes minor damage.
He loaded again and again, not knowing which monster he hit and not really caring.
And then the horde was on them, leaping forward with their short, sharp spears.
Max hooked his catapult onto his belt and drew his shortsword. Jahrod was growling his deep dwarven battle cry as the horde charged at them. Elderon was casting magic.
¡°I hope it¡¯s a big one,¡± Max said to Elderon.
The spell formed in front of Elderon, a dark cloud filled with wailing voices and tortured Skarak faces twisted in fear. The dark cloud moved away from Elderon¡¯s fingers slowly, creeping toward the Skarak horde.
Elderon casts Bring Fear.
The spell washed over the Skarak horde, causing many of the Skarak to stop in their tracks. Max could see the little rat-like eyes wide in fear. Some turned tail and ran while others drop their spears and sat quivering and quaking in fright on the floor. Many others were not affected by the spell, and still half of the horde came on.
Anita cast Summon Roots. The roots reached out of the walls of the cavern, but with very little vegetation to summon and bend to her druidic will, the effect was limited. The Skarak at the side of the tunnel were trapped in the tangle of roots, but the Giant Cave Rat dominating the middle of the tunnel continued forward.
Max swung his sword as the snout of the giant rat came close. A paw lashed out, and a claw stabbed into Max¡¯s padded leather tunic. The claw pierced the thick leather, and Max felt the point on his side just scratching his skin. If it hadn¡¯t been for his leather tunic, he had no doubt the claw would have pierced deep into his flesh. Max looked up into the red eye of the giant rat, long yellow teeth dripping saliva an inch away from his face. He increased his attack on the Giant Cave Rat and stabbed forward with his shortsword.
Max attacks Giant Cave Rat causing heavy damage.
The rat pulled away with a piercing, ear-shattering squeak. It pulled its paw away, but Max was snagged by his tunic on its claw. He cut the claw with his sword as he was pulled off his feet and found himself lying face up under the giant rat.
Jahrod was running forward, swinging his axe wildly, and delivered heavy damage to the beast. Elderon, his silver sword shining in the dark, delivered a heavy attack, driving the length of the sword deep into the giant rat.
The rat reared back, Elderon¡¯s sword freed from its flesh. It held its front paws before it, sitting up on its hind legs, head reaching the top of the cave tunnel. Its tail whipping wildly, it knocked dust and dirt from the tunnel walls.
Max scurried backward and watched the beast drop back to the ground, certain it would crush him. He lay on his back and held his sword before him. The Giant Cave Rat landed on Max¡¯s upturned sword, and the short blade pierced the beast¡¯s heart.
Giant Cave Rat has been defeated.
Anita pulled Max clear as more of the Skarak horde attacked. After a few frenzied minutes, the Skarak were falling back, fear having overcome some at seeing their fellows and the Giant Cave Rat so easily defeated, robbing them of any enthusiasm for the fight. They disappeared into the dark tunnels, their scratching and squeaking fading to silence.
Anita checked the health of everyone in the party. She stepped over to Max and laid a comforting hand on the side of his face.
¡°Are you hurt? Did you take any damage?¡± Anita checked Max.
Max had taken minor damage. He checked his health, the glistening minerals in the rock face forming the window that showed his stats. Max was pleased to find that his health was still very high, only missing a tiny amount.
¡°A rat claw went through my tunic,¡± Max said, showing Anita.
The rat claw had been almost two feet long, and half of it was still sticking out of his leather tunic. Max gently eased it out and tossed it into the darkness.
Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
In the dark tunnels, Max could hear the chittering and scratching of the Skarak rising up again as they regained confidence and hunger for a fight. The little spears were no more than sharpened sticks, but in great numbers, they were deadly all the same.
¡°How could that farmer have possibly come down into these tunnels on his own and rescued his daughter?¡± Max said, shaking his head.
¡°I guess he was desperate, and he would have done anything to save his child,¡± Elderon said.
¡°I say we rush in there and batter every last Skarak skull we find.¡± Jahrod twirled the axe in his hand.
¡°What do you think, Max?¡± Anita said.
Max looked at the Skarak fallen all around them. Dozens of them, and he knew dozens more were in the tunnel. They¡¯d only defeated them in this attack thanks to the powerful spells from Elderon and Anita, but as they went deeper, they would be sure to run out of spells, and Max was certain they would only encounter even more Skarak deep in the tunnels. There was only one thing they could do.
¡°It¡¯s better I go alone.¡± Max stood with his hands on his hips and stared into the dark tunnel.
¡°Are you crazy?¡± Anita said. ¡°There must be hundreds of Skarak around in these tunnels.¡±
¡°Yes, but the farmer¡¯s daughter is at the end of only one of them. I think the Skarak are all spread out through these tunnels. If I sneak my way along the tunnels, I can find the farmer¡¯s daughter and a safe route for us to get to her. That way, we won¡¯t have to take on every last Skarak in these tunnels. What do you think?¡± Max asked Elderon.
Elderon rubbed his chin and nodded. ¡°Max is right, of course. He can find out where she is, and then we can help him get her out. Better indeed than battling our way down every last tunnel until we find her. Good thinking, Max.¡±
Max checked the fallen Skarak and found they each had a little loot. In all, he collected ten gold from the defeated Skarak. With the gold in his satchel, he stepped over to the walls of the tunnel.
¡°I¡¯m going to prepare my Sneak ability, and I should disappear in these dark shadows with ease.¡±
¡°First, I will cast a Bonus to your attack and defense,¡± Anita said.
¡°And I will cast Magic Shield on you,¡± Elderon said.
¡°And I will wish you good luck,¡± Jahrod said. He pulled some foul-smelling meat from his bag and shoved it into his mouth.
Anita casts Bonus.
Elderon casts Magic Shield.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max felt the Shield and the Bonus spells fall on him moments before his Sneak ability activated, and he vanished into the shadows.
He walked along the tunnel cautiously, listening for Skarak. The main tunnel had dozens of smaller tunnels leading off, all quite short and ending in little Skarak nests. Dozens of the creatures sat around glowing rock lights, the minerals shimmering in the darkness and bringing light but no heat. The dull light shone in the nasty little Skarak eyes, and the sharp, pointy front teeth of the Skarak, yellow saliva dripping from them, glistened in the low light. One Skarak turned its head this way and that, listening for the sound of something approaching. Max realized that although he was hidden, he could still be heard. He had to move very carefully.
Max thought that he should have put on the soft boots instead of the good boots if he was going to Sneak. He knew he had to move more quietly in order to avoid the Skarak. He tried not to think about what would happen if his Sneak ability deactivated. He¡¯d be surrounded. He would fight them off until he grew too weak and tired to continue. He had high Stamina, and he could keep them off for a long time. But would it be long enough for his party to come to his aid? The thought of the Skarak crawling all over him sent a shiver down his spine.
He walked along the main corridor in almost perfect darkness. He imagined Janet lost in her eternal darkness, trapped in the dark portal between space and time, cut off from everyone and everything except for him. She appeared next to him.
¡°What are you doing down here? You¡¯re going to get yourself killed, and that¡¯s going to get me killed.¡±
Max turned to Janet and put a finger to his lips, begging for quiet, but then he realized only he could hear her. He dared not speak back. Janet was glowing so brightly in the tunnel, she lit the way forward, and then Max saw Janet¡¯s light fall on a pair of Skarak huddled to the side of the main tunnel. He stopped dead, hand on his sword, then he noticed that they couldn¡¯t see Janet¡¯s light, and only he could. Max crept forward, as quiet as he could be. At the end of one side tunnel, Janet stopped and pointed.
¡°Something is going on down there,¡± Janet said. ¡°I can feel a force pulling me. It¡¯s as if . . .¡± Janet hesitated. Her glance at Max was full of fear and surprise. ¡°It¡¯s a dark portal! I can feel the start of a new portal. Oh my God, Max. I¡¯ll be torn apart!¡±
Max slipped forward along the side tunnel and came to a large cavern. It was lit by glowing minerals heaped on tall metal stands. All around the center of the cavern, the ground was covered by carpet, and there were tattered blankets hanging from the cave walls. A large circle of stone stood on one side of the cavern with a young woman tied to it with thick ropes. Her clothes had been torn and tattered, and they barely covered her voluptuous form. She had a fearful expression on her face, and she was looking back and forth between two tall Skarak. Max wanted to rush forward and attack the two Skarak, but then he heard them talking in their chittering tones, and he discovered he could just about understand.
¡°We are ready, Chieftain,¡± one said. ¡°I will sacrifice the human, and her blood and my dark spells will open our very own dark portal.¡±
¡°If you open this dark portal, I will be able to summon the dark powers, and I will bring all the Skarak under my banner. We will rise up from every lair across Eveirea, and we will take all the towns of men. I will make you Head Warlock of all the Skarak.¡±
Max checked the stats on his two enemies.
Name: Skarak Chieftain
Status: Hostile
Attack: Twin spear double-attack damage
Threat level: Dangerous
Name: Skarak Warlock
Status: Hostile
Attack: Magic Attacks, Dagger
Threat level: Dangerous
The Skarak Warlock was taller than the average Skarak, standing at about four feet tall. The Chieftain was also about four feet tall and was much more well-fed than the others, his robes parting over his fat little belly.
The Skarak Warlock began his incantation, and he drew a ceremonial dagger. The woman chained to the stone screamed, her chest heaving under her tattered dress. The Skarak Chieftain took his seat on a stone throne and chittered to himself in a cruel little laugh.
¡°Open the dark portal, Warlock! The time of men is at an end. The Skarak will rise up from every dark tunnel and defeat them.¡± The Warlock and the Chieftain laughed maniacally.
Max backed away from the tunnel. He needed to bring his friends to him quickly.
But Janet was there, blocking his way. ¡°Where are you going? Can¡¯t you see what they are doing? This Skarak Warlock is going to open a dark portal using his spells and this young woman¡¯s blood. If you don¡¯t stop them, the dark portal will branch off and open up here.¡±
Max was torn. Of course, Janet would be torn, too, but in a different way.
He felt like he didn¡¯t have a choice. He crept behind the Skarak Warlock as he was chanting his spells.
Max drew his shortsword.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock.
Magic Shield deflects attack; no damage done.
Max¡¯s Sneak ability deactivated.
The element of surprise was lost, and he had failed to cause any damage to his apparently shielded enemy. The Warlock turned on Max, vicious grin on its face, and raised its dagger.
Skarak Warlock attacks Max.
Magic Shield deflects attack; no damage done.
Max¡¯s shield likewise blocked the attack, but the Skarak Chieftain was up off his stone throne, now, and wielding a pair of Skarak spears.
The two Skarak moved in to attack Max on both sides.
Max backed into the center of the cavern.
¡°This is not good!¡±
Chapter 1.28
Max defended against the Skarak Chieftain¡¯s double-spear attack. He parried one spear strike with a downward sweep of his shortsword, and he narrowly dodged the other stabbing spear, his excellent Agility allowing him to move quickly and evade the attack.
As the Chieftain reset for another attack, and Max made ready to press home an attack of his own, he saw that the Skarak Warlock was casting a spell. Magic Missile leapt from the spell caster¡¯s fingers.
Skarak Warlock casts Magic Missile on Max causing moderate damage.
Max¡¯s shield is dispelled.
Max checked his spells and realized he¡¯d used up two of his Magic Missile spells and his Magic Shield. He cast his final Magic Missile, his hands performing the gestures, and his lips reciting the incantation under his breath. The Magic Missiles streaked across the cavern and slammed into the Warlock. A blue shimmering Magic Shield flickered over the Warlock and then it vanished.
Max casts Magic Missile on Skarak Warlock.
Magic Shield deflects attack; no damage done.
Skarak Warlock¡¯s shield dispelled.
The Magic Missiles had at least robbed the Skarak of his Magic Shield, but Max knew he had to attack fast, or the Warlock might just cast a replacement shield. The Warlock was a higher-level magic user than Max, who was now without magic. All he could count on was his prowess with a shortsword.
The Chieftain stepped in close, and Max could see that the Chieftain had only one eye. It was bright red and stared unblinkingly at Max. The missing eye was not covered in any way, so there was a black cavity in place of where the second eye had once been. Black pointy teeth in a furry snout, a fat belly, and a tattered cloak; the Chieftain was as scruffy as he was ugly. He lunged with his twin spears.
Skarak Chieftain attacks Max causing minor damage.
One of the Chieftain¡¯s spears stuck into the leather tunic in Max¡¯s chest. Max pulled away with the spear still stuck in his tunic. He stepped back again and pulled it out of his opponent¡¯s grasp, then Max pulled the short, spiky spear free. He tried to take an aggressive stance with two melee weapons, the Chieftain¡¯s spear and his own shortsword, but he couldn¡¯t control them. He discarded the spear, tossing it behind him to the side of the cavern, and faced his enemy with shortsword alone.
Out of the corner of his eye, Max noticed that the Skarak Warlock standing up on the plinth by the young woman in chains was casting another spell. Max rolled out of the way of the Chieftain¡¯s next attack. He grabbed his catapult off his belt, loaded a bullet, and shot it at the Warlock just as he was about to cast his latest spell.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock causing minor damage.
Spell casting interrupted; spell lost.
It was a little victory, but immediately the Skarak Warlock began casting again. Max had taken quite a bit of damage, and a Magic Missile strike might well send his Health into the critical range if it didn¡¯t kill him outright.
Max avoided another stabbing spear attack from the Chieftain, and again shot at the Warlock with his catapult. He caught the Warlock with a stinging blow on his snout.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock causing minor damage.
Spell casting interrupted; spell lost.
The Chieftain closed with Max and jabbed the spear toward Max¡¯s head. Max moved to parry the blow with his sword and succeeded in deflecting the thrust aimed at his head. The spear glanced off Max¡¯s shoulder.
Chieftain attacks Max causing minor damage.
Max¡¯s health bar was dangerously low now, and there was no end to this battle in sight. It was all he could do to avoid attacks from the Chieftain while simultaneously launching catapult bullets at the Warlock to stop him from casting spells. There was no way to make an attack of his own.
He knew couldn¡¯t win this fight with defense alone. Max started to feel a creeping fear that he had taken on too much. It was one thing to battle a group of Skarak alongside his party or even to take on a Giant Cave Rat with his friends nearby to assist him should he need help, but the Chieftain and the Warlock were too powerful. Max dodged another attack, shoulder rolling up onto his feet. The Chieftain¡¯s spear glanced off the rocky ground with a glassy sound, and a smell of flint striking a spark filled Max¡¯s nostrils. Max found himself nearing the cavern entrance. He would have to flee into the tunnels. The young lady tied with thick ropes to the stone circle was screaming and sobbing.
Max loaded another bullet into his catapult as he backed toward the tunnel entrance. He launched the bullet.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock causing minor damage.
Even though the bullet only delivered minor damage, it sent the Warlock¡¯s Health plummeting. The Warlock was weak, Max thought. If he could get past the Chieftain, he could defeat this Warlock and tip the odds in his favor.
Skarak Chieftain attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Max planned his attack, a lunge at the Chieftain to get the beast to retreat a step, and then Max would run past toward the Warlock and attack. One good strike and the Warlock would be defeated. He looked into the red eye of the Chieftain and got ready to press his attack.
Then he heard footsteps in the tunnel behind him. He braced himself, knowing he would soon be surrounded on all sides. His only hope was to get in close to the Warlock Chieftain and try to fight it out with the Chieftain before he was overwhelmed by the nasty little Skarak creatures.
Max maintained eye contact with the Chieftain and saw his face drop, his eyes widen. This made Max glance over his shoulder, and there in the tunnel, he saw his party approaching at a jog. Elderon launched a Magic Missile at the Warlock. Jahrod rushed at the Chieftain and brought his axe down with a mighty rush attack.
Jahrod attacks Skarak Chieftain causing heavy damage.
The enemy had finally taken some real damage and Max pounced. He swung his sword when the Chieftain staggered from the heavy attack from Jahrod.
Max attacks Chieftain causing moderate damage.
Chieftain has been defeated.
Max watched the Chieftain crumple at his feet. Then he ran over to the Warlock and leapt at the spell caster with his sword.
He delivered a heavy blow.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock causing moderate damage.
Skarak Warlock has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
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Max stood there, gasping for breath. He looked at the young woman who was simultaneously sobbing and smiling. Jahrod was checking the fallen Skarak.
¡°More Skarak are on their way,¡± Anita called from the entrance to the small cavern.
Max hurried over to the young woman tied to the stone circle and cut through the thick rope wrapped around her arms and legs, tight around her body. She collapsed in his arms as the rope slackened. He could feel her chest heaving as she took in huge, relieved breaths. Max pulled a shabby old blanket off the wall and wrapped it around the young woman¡¯s shoulders.
¡°You are safe now,¡± Max said softly to her.
¡°Oh, thank you!¡± She wrapped her arms around Max¡¯s neck. ¡°I owe you my life.¡±
Max patted her gently. ¡°I¡¯m glad we could help. Maybe now you can help us? We are looking for a little girl, the farmer¡¯s daughter. He said his child was captured by the Skarak.¡±
¡°That¡¯s me,¡± the young woman said, wiping her tears and smiling at Max. ¡°Daddy never realized I am all grown up now. He still thinks of me as his little girl, just a child.¡±
The young woman¡¯s smile vanished, and she turned white as the sounds of approaching Skarak filled the cavern. She clung on to Max even tighter. Max pushed her behind him and loaded a bullet to his catapult.
Elderon and Jahrod stood in the entrance to the cavern and braced themselves for the onrush of Skarak. The sound grew, and Max could see their dark shapes in the tunnel. They came on like a dark, chattering wave.
Elderon lifted his hands up and cast a Fire spell. A shimmering ball of fire the size of a basketball raced away from Elderon and down the dark tunnel, lighting up the mass of Skarak as it went. And then the ball of fire exploded, expanding outwards in all directions with a wall of fire racing back along the tunnel toward the cavern. Max took a step back, but saw Elderon and Jahrod standing their ground.
When the wall of fire reached the cavern entrance, it evaporated. The tunnel was free of Skarak as they fled in fear of the powerful spell.
Anita came over to where Max stood and checked the young woman¡¯s wounds. She cast Basic Healing on her and soothed the raw skin where the ropes had been. The rope had burned her wrists and ankles, and there were little scratches all over her skin where the Skarak had clawed at her when they had captured her.
¡°They were talking about a dark portal, about bringing it here and becoming more powerful.¡± The young woman rubbed her healed wrists. ¡°Is this what is causing the dark evil that is creeping all over the land? Our little farming county was so peaceful and so prosperous, but we¡¯ve had murder crows and dark wolves appearing more and more regularly. They were going to use me as a sacrifice to summon even more dark creatures.¡±
¡°We need to find a way out of here as quickly as possible,¡± Max said, but then remembered he needed to loot on the slain Warlock and Chieftain.
Skarak Chieftain¡¯s inventory:
? Spear of Fire
? Shortsword of True Striking
? 20 gold
He dropped the coin into his satchel, tucked the spear into his belt, and then checked the Warlock.
Skarak Warlock¡¯s inventory:
? Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
? Scroll of Fireball
? Scroll of Magic Shield
? Ring of Shadows
¡°What scroll do you have there?¡± Elderon said, noticing Max¡¯s looting. ¡°That Warlock is a high-level spell caster, so he might have high-level spell scrolls on him.¡±
Max slipped the Scroll of Fireball into his satchel and held out the Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental for Elderon to see.
¡°I can¡¯t understand any of this,¡± Max said. ¡°What is it?¡±
¡°Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental,¡± Elderon said, nodding and looking impressed. ¡°But that spell is far too high level for you to learn right now. Store it carefully, and when you gain enough levels, you will be able to write it into your Mage Book. Attempt it now, and it will be lost. Have patience.¡±
Max slipped the scrolls into his satchel. He stood up, holding the Shortsword of True Striking. He held it lightly in his grip, testing its weight and balance. Max sensed he could more easily hit a target with this sword. It was almost as if he was permanently imbued with a Boost spell from Anita. He drew his shortsword from its scabbard and held the new sword in one hand and his old shortsword in the other, but he found it very awkward to wield them both at the same time. One hand just didn¡¯t know what the other was doing. It was frustrating. Max was pretty good with both hands¡ªhe needed to be for climbing¡ªbut holding two shortswords just felt awkward.
Jahrod examined the weapons.
¡°You¡¯ll need to develop your skills for dual wielding if you want to use both swords at once,¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Or you can learn a spell of dual wielding that will allow you to use two weapons together,¡± Elderon said. ¡°It¡¯s not a particularly high-level spell. The effects don¡¯t last long at low levels, but they can last as long as a whole day at higher levels.¡±
Max dropped the shortsword into his satchel and slid the Shortsword of True Striking into his scabbard.
Then he stepped over to Anita and slid the Spear of Fire out of his belt. ¡°What do you think of this spear?¡± he asked.
Anita took hold of the Spear of Fire. ¡°It¡¯s a good weapon. Added fire damage. It¡¯s a good find.¡±
¡°Take it, it¡¯s yours,¡± Max said.
¡°It¡¯s a powerful weapon,¡± Anita said. ¡°You should keep it.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m no good with a spear. I want you to have it.¡±
Anita dropped her staff and admired her new spear.
¡°What do you think I should do with this, Elderon?¡± Max slipped the Scroll of Shield out of his satchel.
¡°That¡¯s a very powerful spell,¡± Elderon said glancing at the scroll. ¡°You already have a Strength spell, so now you should copy this Magic Shield into your Mage Book.¡±
Max read the spell, and the scroll disintegrated. He checked his Mage Book and found the Shield spell had appeared there on a page of Level Three spells. There were no slots for him to memorize a Level Three spell. He guessed he¡¯d have to make a level first. He checked his stats, saw his XP bar was nearly filled, and realized it wouldn¡¯t be long before he¡¯d achieve his next level.
Next, Max held up the Ring of Shadows he¡¯d taken from the defeated Skarak Warlock. He wanted to check the ring with Elderon, who took the ring to inspect it.
¡°Do you need a spell of Know Item to tell me what this is?¡± Max said.
Elderon took the ring from Max and studied it. ¡°It is a magical ring,¡± Elderon said. ¡°I can see it is not cursed. Yes, I¡¯ve seen these before. It is a Ring of Shadows.¡± He handed it back to Max. ¡°It is safe for you to use, young Mage. If you wear this, it will make it even easier for you to use your Sneak ability. With both that and your cloak, you¡¯ll be practically invisible at a whim.¡±
Max slipped on the ring, and immediately he became more difficult to see in the dim light of the cavern. He activated his Sneak ability and was invisible to the rest of the party. He walked around slowly, gazing down at the farmer¡¯s daughter, who was shivering and still recovering from her ordeal.
¡°Hey, stop creeping around me,¡± Jahrod said in an annoyed and hostile growl as he turned this way and that, looking for Max. ¡°Come out where I can see you.¡±
Max took off the ring and slipped it into a little pocket on the side of his leather tunic.
¡°Enough of this,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We need to leave, now.¡±
¡°I need to rest soon,¡± Max said. ¡°I have used all my spells.¡±
¡°No time,¡± said Jahrod. ¡°More Skarak are coming. I can smell them.¡±
¡°We are going to have to battle through the caves.¡± Max gripped his new shortsword. ¡°Maybe we should barricade the cavern entrance and rest here so we can take them on at full Strength.¡±
¡°I know a way,¡± the farmer¡¯s daughter said. ¡°The Skarak moved in here only recently, but I used to explore these caves when I was a little girl.¡±
She stood up and went to the circle of stone she had been tied to. She pushed it, and it rolled aside. Behind was a narrow passage.
¡°We can go this way. There is a shaft up to the surface that is easy to climb.¡±
Max nodded. ¡°We take the back route.¡±
Elderon sent another burst of flame along the tunnel as Max stepped into the narrow passage to lead the way. The farmer¡¯s daughter followed, then Anita. Jahrod came next with Elderon coming last.
Max crawled through the sharp rocks of the passage until he reached the end. Above him, he saw a dark shaft going upward.
¡°Are you sure this is the way?¡± Max asked the farmer¡¯s daughter.
She nodded.
Max started to climb. The shaft was twisted with jagged rocks sticking out here and there. It was easy to climb upward with lots of easy handholds and footholds. He climbed for a long time, feeling weaker by the moment as tiredness began to overcome him. At the top, Max felt soft, damp earth overhead. He dug upward through a mass of roots until he burst out into daylight and onto the soft grass of a meadow on the edge of a thicket of trees.
Max pulled the farmer¡¯s daughter up through the ground. Then came the rest of the party. The day was getting dark, so Max looked around to find his bearings.
¡°This way,¡± the farmer¡¯s daughter said. ¡°I live less than five miles from here. If we move fast, we can be at my father¡¯s cottage before nightfall.¡±
The grass was soft underfoot, and the late afternoon air fresh and cool after the damp, dusty caves of the Skarak.
As the sun set, Max saw the farmer¡¯s cottage on the side of a gentle slope. The young woman ran toward the cottage, calling out as she went. Her father and mother rushed out to embrace their daughter.
¡°Thank you for returning my little daughter,¡± the farmer said as his wife embraced the girl. ¡°You are heroes.¡±
Max gains experience points.
Max has leveled up.
¡°You will all stay with us tonight,¡± the farmer announced. ¡°We have broth, beef pie, and ale.¡±
Max looked at Elderon, hoping the Mage would agree to accept the farmer¡¯s hospitality. Elderon nodded and followed Max inside.
The little cottage was warm and dry, the table loaded with good food.
¡°Do you have any scromble?¡± Jahrod said.
The farmer¡¯s wife froze with a fixed grin, one of fear. ¡°I could try and make some,¡± she said.
Jahrod waved a dismissive hand. ¡°Fear not. This beef pie will do the trick. It¡¯s just a bit fresh. Needs a few weeks to really get ripe.¡±
Max didn¡¯t think weeks-old beef pie sounded very healthy. After a meal and a tankard of ale, Max could not hold off tiredness any longer. He stood up from the table.
¡°I need to level up,¡± Max said. ¡°And then rest.¡±
¡°You can sleep in our barn,¡± the farmer said. ¡°It is filled with soft hay and is warm and dry.¡±
Max went to the stable. A loft with hay was perfect for rest. He unrolled his bedroll and sat on it. He looked at his stats in the yellow hay, the strands forming the window with the golden letters. Level up hovered there.
¡°Are you ok?¡± Elderon called up to Max from the ground below the loft. ¡°Do you need help?¡±
Max looked down. The rest of the party were making beds on the hay-covered floor.
¡°No. I¡¯m good.¡± Max returned to his bedroll. He let the words wash over him.
Max has leveled up.
Level 3 Mage.
Reaching into his satchel, Max realized it had been upgraded with his level. The satchel was deeper now and lighter too. He lifted it up. It was much lighter. He checked his stats.
Satchel Upgrade
? Magically enhanced Mage satchel
? Capacity increased
? Carrying weight of all items reduced
¡°Nice,¡± Max said to himself as he admired his newly improved satchel.
Max checked his Mage Book. He had a new slot for a Level Three spell. Max dug out the scroll of Fireball he¡¯d found on the Skarak Warlock. He remembered what Elderon had said about the Fireball spell, but Max wasn¡¯t going to give this scroll up now. He scrutinized the scroll, and then he carefully learned the spell. The scroll disintegrated, and the icon for Fireball appeared on the page for Level Three spells.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
Max turned to the page with his spell slots and immediately prepared three Magic Missile spells and a Strength spell. Then he looked at his Level Three spells. Shield or Fireball. Elderon had warned him about Fireball, but he had to see it in action. He prepared the Fireball spell. As soon as he woke, he would cast it and see it in action. Elderon would never need to know he¡¯d used it.
Max tucked his Mage Book away, lay back on the hay, and was soon drifting off to sleep. He was disturbed before sleep took him when he felt someone slip under his blanket beside him.
¡°Anita?¡± Max whispered.
The farmer¡¯s daughter whispered in his ear, her warm breath on his skin.
¡°Shhh,¡± she said and kissed him gently, her hands all over him. Max knew he needed rest to activate his spells, so he lay still and let the farmer¡¯s daughter caress him gently all night.
Chapter 1.29
Max rested peacefully all night. The farmer¡¯s daughter¡¯s hands and lips hardly leaving him alone, yet he slept soundly in her arms. The straw of the hayloft was soft, but not as soft as the farmer¡¯s daughter.
The cock crowed, and Max rose up. The sun was low on the horizon. At some point in the night, the farmer¡¯s daughter had gone back to her room in the farm cottage. Max looked out of the opening in the hayloft and over the meadows. He remembered where he was. This was the Kingdom of Faregent on the continent of Awen in the world of Eveirea. He was starting to like it here because he was someone here, a Mage, now Level Three. He was learning new things about himself. He was learning magic.
Max checked his Mage Book. The newly prepared spells appeared there, shining on the page in their spell slots. They looked alive, hovering over the page like holograms, living spells ready to be cast by his incantation and gestures.
Mage Book
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Fireball
Max heard footsteps on the ladder up to the hayloft, and Anita¡¯s head appeared there. She was always in a good mood With her eyes smiling long before her lips.
¡°You¡¯re awake. Are you ready to eat? The farmer has arranged a light breakfast for us, and then we move. Ok?¡±
Max felt he would do anything if it meant being with Anita. He rammed his Mage Book into his satchel and followed her down the ladder.
The farmer¡¯s daughter was spreading out a cloth in the hay, and on it, she laid a roasted bird, bread, and a tankard of cold morning brew.
Jahrod ripped a leg off the roasted bird. He sniffed it and wrinkled his nose.
¡°Too fresh,¡± he said. ¡°Smells like it just came out of the oven this morning.¡±
The farmer¡¯s daughter poured a cup of morning brew and handed it to Max. She winked at him and gave him a cheeky smile as she handed it over. Max glanced over at her, remembering the night before in the hay. He blushed when she grinned back over her shoulder at him as she left.
Anita eyed at Max. She was studying him.
¡°What?¡± Max said, chewing a hunk of bread.
¡°You have a look about you,¡± Anita said. ¡°You look calm. Like you had a good night¡¯s rest.¡±
¡°I feel great,¡± Max said and tore off another chunk of bread.
¡°This roasted bird is tasteless.¡± Jahrod finished his mouthful.
Max couldn¡¯t eat any of the roasted bird, not for breakfast. The bread was good, and the morning brew gave him just the kick he needed.
But Anita was looking Max up and down, her stare making Max feel a bit uncomfortable.
¡°What?¡± he said again.
Anita fluttered her eyelashes and smiled coquettishly. ¡°You are handsome, Max.¡±
Max blushed.
¡°Is anyone going to eat this?¡± Jahrod said, jabbing the roasted bird hard with his dirty fat finger.
¡°No,¡± Anita said, her eyes not once leaving Max.
Max glanced away, but he was falling into Anita¡¯s deep-green almond eyes. ¡°No, me neither,¡± he said, looking back to those wild eyes. Strange, fearsome, beautiful eyes.
Jahrod wrapped the whole bird in handfuls of straw and shoved it into his pack just as Elderon stepped into the barn.
¡°Max, I feel we have some time this morning for a magic lesson. I will check your Mage Book. You will have prepared your new Level Three spell last night. Shield is no more difficult than Strength to cast, but Level Three spells do take a little longer to speak into life on the first occasion. We will practice casting Shield. It is a powerful spell and will last all day unless dispelled by another spell caster or removed by absorbing damage. Together with Strength, it is a powerful combination that will serve you well at low levels. Bring out your Mage Book for me to check.¡±
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Max¡¯s mouth and throat went dry. He swallowed a hunk of bread. He had not learned Shield. His new magic spell at Level Three was Fireball. Elderon had warned him against its use, but he had found the scroll on the defeated Skarak Warlock, and he had wanted to learn it, prepare it, and use it. He had planned to get up early and cast it, but he¡¯d slept in, and now, he didn¡¯t know how he was going to use it without Elderon finding out. He really hadn¡¯t thought that far ahead. He kicked himself. This was always his problem back in his old life. He was smart enough to learn new things, but he lacked the Wisdom to do the right thing sometimes. It had gotten him into so much trouble in his old life, a life he thought he¡¯d left far behind.
¡°Ummm,¡± Max said, stalling. He reached for his satchel and started digging around inside. The satchel was much bigger on the inside since it had leveled up into the enhanced Mage Satchel, but his Mage Book was not hard to find, any item he wanted came instantly into his hand. ¡°Umm,¡± he said again.
¡°Your Mage Book, Max,¡± Elderon said, his hand outstretched.
¡°My satchel gained an improvement when I leveled up,¡± Max said. ¡°I am searching for my Mage Book now.¡± He pulled out a shortsword and set it down on the straw, making a show of rummaging through his satchel.
Jahrod stood up and grabbed his axe. ¡°We don¡¯t have time for this. We agreed to travel to Ralynn City. We have been delayed and sidetracked enough. If you Mages want to practice your spells, then I will go on alone.¡±
Elderon nodded.
Max shook his head. ¡°The good dwarf is correct,¡± Max said. ¡°We made a promise to him. He has aided us, saved me from those hideous wood Nymphs, stuck with us when we ventured into the Skarak caves.¡± Max nodded firmly, showing he had made up his mind. ¡°We must honor our agreement with Jahrod and travel with him now, without hesitation, and make our way to Laidhim City.¡±
¡°Ralynn City,¡± Jahrod corrected.
¡°Yes,¡± Max said. ¡°Ralynn City. We should go. Now. Without delay.¡± He shoved the shortsword back into his satchel and stood up.
Anita nodded and got to her feet. ¡°Max is right, Elderon,¡± Anita said. ¡°We must go to Ralynn City and discover what this darkness is doing to the king of Faregent.¡±
Elderon considered this.
¡°Very well.¡± He fixed Max with a stare. ¡°But we will continue our lessons tonight when we rest.¡±
Max smiled and nodded. ¡°Agreed.¡±
The party headed out. The farmer and his family waved from their cottage as the party left, the daughter blowing a kiss to Max.
¡°She is grateful you saved her,¡± Anita said.
Max couldn¡¯t admit to her just how grateful she had been. Resting in her arms and her soft touch had ensured a good night¡¯s sleep, and he felt much refreshed. They continued over the rolling hills of the meadowlands and cut their way through small patches of forests until they encountered a cobbled road.
¡°This is the road to Ralynn,¡± Jahrod said.
Max had enjoyed the soft meadowlands under his feet but walking the cobble road was much faster and took less effort. The good boots were still comfortable.
The road passed through a hamlet of a few cottages. Max could see scarecrows on the surrounding hills where the people of the hamlet were growing their crops, and he remembered his first day here in Eveirea, how the first thing he¡¯d seen had been a scarecrow. That day seemed so far behind him now.
After the hamlet, they were again in open countryside, the road the only unnatural thing in the landscape. Max wandered onward happily until Elderon spoke out in a low and quiet voice.
¡°Hold, adventurers.¡±
Max stopped and looked over at Elderon who had his gray eyes fixed on the horizon.
Anita stepped up next to Elderon. ¡°What is it?¡± She took a step forward. ¡°Yes, I sense it too.¡±
¡°What?¡± Max said, peering into the hazy distance where he could see the cobble road rising up a slight hill a few hundred feet ahead.
Jahrod spun his axe in his grip. ¡°What do you think, young Max? A Master Mage and a Druid sense something ahead. I wager there is evil nearby.¡±
Elderon cast a spell of Detect Enemies, and a moment later, he nodded. ¡°Yes. There is trouble on the road ahead.¡±
¡°I will scout ahead and see what it is.¡± Anita started off at a jog.
¡°I¡¯ll go with her,¡± Max said.
¡°Not so fast,¡± Elderon said and grabbed Max by the shoulder. For an old gray feller, he sure was strong. ¡°Let¡¯s check your Mage Book while we have a moment.¡±
¡°Yes, Elderon is right,¡± Jahrod said, and he started off after Anita at a brisk walk. ¡°Spell casters to the rear. Warriors to the front.¡±
Max watched Anita run into the distance, her fighting skirt flapping as she ran.
¡°The Mage Book, Max.¡± Elderon said.
Max smiled and nodded. ¡°Of course. My Mage Book. I value your help, Elderon.¡± Max delayed as much as he could. Elderon had fixed his deep gray eyes on him, and Max knew he couldn¡¯t stall any longer. He had to either come clean or show Elderon the book and feign surprise at the appearance of the Fireball spell in his spell slots.
Max took the Mage Book out of the satchel. It was small, but he knew once he opened it, it would grow to a much larger tome, and although he only had a few spells in there, one would stand out. The Fireball, prepared and ready to cast.
Elderon held out his hand. Max was about to place it in his hand when Elderon glanced away, along the road in the direction Anita and Jahrod had gone.
Max looked too. Anita and Jahrod were now sprinting back toward them.
Anita ran like an athlete, taking huge strides, her legs moving gracefully under her fighting skirt. Jahrod pounded the ground with stumpy little steps, but the dwarf could run fast, and easily kept up with Anita.
Elderon walked toward them. ¡°Come, Max.¡±
Anita stopped. ¡°More Skarak. A merchant¡¯s caravan is under attack.¡±
¡°And not the basic little Skarak beasts with their little spears,¡± Jahrod said, spinning his axe. ¡°These are Skarak Warriors with steel swords and leather armor.¡±
¡°And they have a Skarak Warlock with them,¡± Anita added. ¡°We cannot leave the merchant to his fate.¡±
¡°But maybe we can achieve a greater good by discovering the dark evil in the court of King Glynn. We can avoid these Skarak to head to one of the side gates of Ralynn City. What do you think, Max?¡± Elderon asked.
¡°We have to save the merchant,¡± Max said. He knew it would give him a chance to discharge the Fireball and replace it with a Shield spell. It would not be active, but it would be easier to explain away than a glowing, fully active Fireball spell in his Level Three slot. Besides, if they went the quiet route, Elderon could ask to see the Mage Book on the way. It was funny, Max thought, that he really didn¡¯t want to let this old Mage down. Max sensed there was something good about him and that he only wanted the best for Max.
¡°Yes, Max is right,¡± Anita said.
¡°Warriors to the front,¡± Jahrod said and turned to run off down the road.
Max was about to follow when Elderon stopped him.
¡°Don¡¯t use any magic you are not familiar with. Cast your spell of Strength. Use your Magic Missiles and then switch to your catapult. Anita and Jahrod will be going toe to toe with these enemies. We must stay back. Jahrod is right: spell casters to the rear, warriors to the front.¡±
Max nodded and ran toward the battle.
Chapter 1.30
Once over the brow of the hill, Max saw that the cobble road was blocked by a merchant¡¯s caravan. The large ox harnessed to the front of the cart was held down under a large heavy net. The Skarak Warriors surrounding the wagon were trying to force their way in through the timber panels. Max heard a voice calling to them from inside, warning the attackers to leave.
¡°I¡¯ve got powerful weapons. Powerful magic. Leave or I will destroy you.¡±
Anita ran ahead, her spear of fire in her hands. The spear tip glowed white hot, the air around it burning with a flickering red flame.
Max counted the forces attacking the wagon. A half dozen Skarak Warriors and a single Skarak Warlock. He checked the stats on the Skarak they were about to engage.
Name: Skarak Warlock
Status: Hostile
Attack: Spell caster
Threat level: Dangerous
Name: Skarak Warrior
Status: Hostile
Attack: Melee Attacks
Threat level: Dangerous
Anita stopped a few yards from the wagon and cast a Magic Stone. She launched it from her sling, twirling the sling over her head, and then releasing the bullet. She struck a Skarak Warrior on his helmet. The bullet bounced off the helmet with a heavy clang and knocked the helmet away. Max saw the Skarak Warrior take minor damage, the helmet saving it from worse.
The Skarak Warlock standing on top of the wagon turned to look at the attackers new on the scene. It waved its staff, small rat skulls hanging from the tip. It screeched and pointed at Jahrod and Anita. The Skarak Warriors stopped attacking the wagon and turned to face the attackers.
Max wasted no time in casting his first spell.
Max casts Magic Missile at Skarak Warrior causing moderate damage.
The Warlock cast a spell that spread over his Warriors. The Skarak Warriors shuddered as the spell fell on them, then their eyes burned red, and they screeched as they charged forward.
Skarak Warlock casts Frenzy.
Skarak Warrior¡¯s threat level increased.
Max checked stats and saw that the Skarak Warriors were now considered very dangerous, and their attack now had a chance for a secondary strike due to the Frenzy spell.
Max targeted the same Skarak Warrior again.
Max casts Magic Missile at Skarak Warrior causing moderate damage.
¡°It still hasn¡¯t gone down,¡± Max said, grabbing his catapult. He checked the Skarak Warrior¡¯s Health as he loaded a bullet. Its health was critical. One more hit, even minor damage, and the Warrior would fall. The creature showed no signs of breaking off its headlong charge into combat, despite its low Health.
Max attacks Skarak Warrior causing critical damage.
Skarak Warrior has been defeated.
Max saw the loot spill as the Warrior fell, a few gold coins, not to mention the armor and the steel sword.
The remaining Skarak slammed into Jahrod and Anita, who braced themselves for the assault. Swords clashed with spear and axe as Max¡¯s friends held back the frenzied assault.
Skarak attacks Anita causing minor damage.
Frenzy spell results in extra attack on Anita causing minor damage.
Max drew his sword and made ready to charge in and slam into the Skarak attacking his friend. Only Elderon¡¯s firm hand on his shoulder stopped him.
¡°Use your catapult, and before you charge in, cast Strength and Shield on yourself.¡±
Skarak attacks Jahrod causing minor damage.
Frenzy spell results in extra attack on Jahrod causing minor damage.
Max loaded an enhanced bullet. He took careful aim. He saw in the background the Skarak Warlock twirling his little claws around the end of its staff, the tiny rat skulls glowing. Max knew he was casting., so Max shifted his aim onto the Skarak Warlock.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock causing moderate damage.
Spell casting interrupted; spell lost.
¡°Yes,¡± Max shouted in triumph, and then immediately regretted his enthusiasm as Anita and Jahrod took damage from the second pair of Warriors to join the fight. The remaining Skarak Warrior was moving around to attack Anita on her rear.
Max shot an enhanced bullet and dealt minor damage, hardly stopping the Skarak Warrior. It drew its sword back at hip height, ready to thrust it forward into Anita¡¯s back. She was too busy fending off the pair of Skarak Warriors to her front to notice, holding off most attacks but still taking minor damage from the bonus Frenzy attacks. The sword in the back was undefended, only her tight leather armor to protect her, yet still she yelled out in pain.
Max cast his final Magic Missile in a second. He¡¯d really planned to hold one back, but this was the best way to hit the Skarak attacking Anita¡¯s flank. He hoped it would hit hard.
Max casts Magic Missile at Skarak Warrior causing minor damage.
Max cursed silently and loaded another enhanced bullet to his catapult.
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Elderon casts Magic Missile at Skarak Warrior causing critical damage.
Skarak Warrior has been defeated.
The Skarak Warrior dropped its sword and fell to the ground. Anita stepped backward, almost tripping over the fallen Skarak behind her.
¡°They¡¯re being forced back,¡± Max said, shooting his bullet, striking a Skarak Warrior on the helmet, and dealing critical damage, the Warrior avoiding utter defeat by the protection of its helmet that had now fallen away.
Elderon cast another Magic Missile, and it defeated a Skarak Warrior in one hit.
Max took aim at the Skarak Warlock on the wagon. He shot the bullet but missed. The Skarak Warlock snarled at Max and began casting a spell.
Anita and Jahrod fought back now that the odds had been evened up. Jahrod delivered heavy damage with one swing of his axe. Anita hit for moderate damage as she thrust the spear of fire forward, the flaming tip adding fire damage to the Skarak that was snarling under the influence of the Frenzy spell.
Elderon was casting again while Max shot a bullet and defeated one of the remaining Warriors. Then the Frenzy spell wore off, and the final Skarak suddenly had a look of terror. It dropped its sword and turned to run.
¡°Let it go,¡± Elderon said.
Anita cast a Basic Healing spell on herself and then one on Jahrod.
Then the Warlock cast his spell.
Warlock casts Confusion on Jahrod.
¡°Look out, Anita!¡± Max said just as Jahrod swung his axe.
Anita blocked the swing with her spear, but the blow was heavy, and it sent her flying back off her feet. Jahrod stepped forward and raised his axe.
Jahrod attacks Anita.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
Max called out, unsure what to do; he felt as if he¡¯d been hit by a spell of fear.
Elderon casts Hold on Jahrod.
Jahrod stood there like a statue, except his eyes were darting back and forth. A wild look in his eyes.
¡°Attack the Warlock!¡± Elderon shouted.
Max ran to Anita and picked her up off the ground. Elderon cast a spell of Magic Protection on the pair of them. At that moment, the Warlock cast Confusion on Anita. The spell fizzled over the Magic Protection spell and failed to affect her.
¡°Are you ok?¡± Max said.
Anita¡¯s hair was wild, her chest heaving rapidly under her tight tunic, a sheen of sweat on her dusky skin.
¡°Attack,¡± she said and ran toward the wagon.
Max cast Strength on himself and then followed. Anita was already climbing up onto the top of the wagon to get to the Warlock. The Warlock had the advantage of height and attacked Anita with his staff as she climbed, jabbing downward, the little rat skulls rattling.
Skarak Warlock attacks Anita causing minor damage.
Max ran to the wagon. He jumped up onto the ox¡¯s back, and his next leaping step landed on the wagon¡¯s front wheel. Another leaping step to the top of the wagon. He jumped up, sword raised above his head, ready to bring it down on the Warlock.
Anita attacks Warlock causing minor damage.
Max landed on top of the wagon and swung the sword down hard.
Max attacks Warlock causing heavy damage.
The Shortsword of True Striking landed a clean blow, and the effects of his Strength spell added extra damage. Max brought the sword back for a stabbing attack.
Warlock attacks Max causing heavy damage.
The Warlock struck Max in the chest with its staff and knocked him from the wagon. He landed on the ground, and the wind was knocked out of him. The Warlock turned and glowered down at him. Max could see that although they had both taken heavy damage, the Warlock had much greater Health than he did. The Warlock was still very dangerous, but Max was almost done for. One more hit for moderate damage, and he¡¯d be close to death, if not totally defeated.
The Warlock was about to leap downward onto Max, his staff raised, when Anita attacked him from behind. She held her spear across the Warlock¡¯s chest, holding him back. The Warlock twisted and writhed, struggling to break free.
Max knew he had this one chance. He was on his feet. He climbed the side of the wagon in easy steps and thrust his Shortsword of True Striking into the Warlock.
Max attacks Skarak Warlock causing heavy damage.
Skarak Warlock has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
¡°I have deadly weapons and powerful magics. You will be defeated,¡± the voice from inside the wagon called out.
Max jumped down to the road and scooped up the few gold coins that the Warlock had dropped. Among the coins was a ring. It glowed with a strange misty light that told Max it was imbued with magic power. He tucked it into his tunic pocket. The rest of the loot was of no use to Max or any of the party, but the gold would come in handy at some point.
Max gains 24 gold.
Elderon strode over. ¡°Calm yourself, good merchant. The Skarak attackers have been defeated. You can come out.¡±
¡°How do I know you are not bandits?¡±
¡°Would bandits have fought off these Skarak Warriors and this Warlock for a stranger?¡± Max said.
After a moment of quiet, there were sounds of bolts being withdrawn and locks being opened. The side of the wagon fell open.
¡°Thank you, good adventurers. You saved me.¡±
Max found he was staring into the face of a small man. Smaller than Jahrod, with round happy features. A devious twinkle in his eye.
¡°A merchant gnome,¡± Anita said with a smile. ¡°It is our good fortune to have come across you. What wares do you have?¡±
Elderon stepped up next to Max. ¡°Gnomes are famed for having the best, the rarest goods in the whole of Eveirea.¡±
The gnome jumped down to the ground. Max checked his stats.
Name: Merchant Gnome
Status: Friendly
Attack: Small dagger
Threat level: Minimal
¡°Alas, I have no wares for you, good Druid,¡± the gnome said to Anita.
¡°A merchant gnome with no wares?¡± Anita said, scoffing. ¡°I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing.¡±
The gnome went to the ox at the front of the wagon and started cutting the heavy net holding it down.
¡°I am empty handed,¡± the gnome said. ¡°I have nothing left in the world, only Ermentrude here.¡± The gnome stroked the ox as he freed her from the heavy net. ¡°But I do have this very fine heavy netting for sale. One gold only.¡±
¡°I thought the Skarak had put that net over the ox,¡± Max said. ¡°Is that your net?¡±
The gnome looked up at Max with a smile. ¡°It is now, and it can be yours for only one gold.¡± He held it up for Max to get a closer look. ¡°Look at the quality: strong enough to hold down an ox.¡±
Ermentrude let out a worried mooing and stood up.
¡°But I don¡¯t need a heavy net like that,¡± Max said.
The gnome bundled the net into the wagon. ¡°Oh, well, someone will want it.¡±
¡°Is that really all you have for sale?¡± Anita said. ¡°The net the Skarak used to attack you?¡±
¡°Alas, it is so,¡± the gnome said. ¡°All my wares have been taken from me.¡±
¡°You sold them all?¡± Anita asked.
The gnome climbed up onto the top of his wagon. ¡°No. Stolen. I was in the city of Ralynn. Good King Glynn has always welcomed honest merchant gnomes such as myself. But there is something wrong in the king¡¯s castle. The good king was not himself. A darkness has spread through the castle. It was always friendly and welcoming, but now it is filled with darkness, and his guards stole all my wares. I appealed to the king, but I was thrown out of the city. I was lucky they didn¡¯t throw Ermentrude on the grill.¡±
Ermentrude let out a long, worried mooing.
¡°I must be on my way.¡± The gnome picked up the reigns. ¡°Would someone be so good as to move that dwarf from the road?¡±
Max looked back along the road. Jahrod was still frozen in place. He ran back to Jahrod, whose eyes were still wild. Max was worried that removing the Hold spell would mean he would continue to attack them.
¡°Maybe we should stay out of his way,¡± Max said.
¡°He¡¯s ok,¡± Elderon said, ¡°the Warlock spell has worn off. I will cast a Remove Magic spell, and he¡¯ll be back to normal. Better stand back though, I don¡¯t think he¡¯s going to be too happy.¡±
Elderon casts Remove Magic.
¡°What in the name of the dark deeps happened?¡± Jahrod said. He stepped aside to let the merchant gnome trundle past on his wagon. Ermentrude mooed a farewell.
¡°There is something truly wrong with good King Glynn if this news is true,¡± Elderon said, ¡°and I have no reason to doubt a merchant gnome¡¯s report. The darkness is spreading its influence. I am shocked it has come this far so fast. We must make haste to Ralynn City and free good King Glynn, or all the Kingdom of Faregent will fall to the dark.¡±
Jahrod nodded in agreement. ¡°If we move fast, we can be there before nightfall.¡±
Anita scouted ahead. Max walked beside Elderon.
¡°Why did you not cast Shield on yourself when you attacked the Skarak Warlock?¡± Elderon asked immediately.
Max walked along, hardly breaking his stride. ¡°There just wasn¡¯t time. Anita was in danger, and I had to move fast.¡±
¡°And you did move fast. It was impressive how you climbed the side of the wagon so easily. Your high Agility is a bonus skill indeed.¡±
Max nodded.
¡°What about this ring?¡± Max showed Elderon the glowing ring that the Skarak Warlock had dropped.
Elderon took it and turned it over in his hand. ¡°It is a ring of extra spells. If you wear this ring, you will increase the number of Level One spell slots in your Mage Book. You will have two more spell slots available.¡± He handed it back to Max.
Max slipped on the ring excitedly, and he was about to pull out his Mage Book to prepare extra spells, but he feared it might prompt Elderon to check his Mage Book.
¡°Are you not going to prepare your spells now?¡± Elderon said.
¡°I¡¯ll do it when we get to the city. I won¡¯t be able to do much with them until we rest anyway, and I have used all my active spells.¡±
¡°Except for Shield,¡± Elderon said.
¡°Uh huh,¡± Max said. He pointed along the road. ¡°I¡¯ll go and scout ahead a bit, see if Anita is ok.¡±
¡°Anita is ok,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You stay close by me, young Mage.¡±
Max nodded, hoping that if he was as quiet as possible, Elderon would not ask to see the Mage Book again. But he knew he could only avoid the inevitable for so long. For some reason, Max hated to disappoint this old Mage.
Then Anita appeared from a dense clump of spiny bushes at the edge of a thicket to their left. She moved through the tight tangle of thorns easily without getting scratched or snagged up, but she was breathless.
¡°We are being watched. Stalked.¡±
¡°Make ready to cast that Shield, young Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Who knows what we will encounter next?¡±
Chapter 1.31
Max couldn¡¯t cast shield, he didn¡¯t have one active. He had prepared a Fireball instead, and Elderon didn¡¯t know he¡¯d learned it and added it to his Mage Book. Elderon had told Max that the Fireball spell was dangerous. That had appealed to Max, and when the chance came to learn it, to add it to his collection of spells, he had taken it.
¡°Maybe we should try and see what we¡¯re up against,¡± Max said.
¡°Whoever or whatever they are, they are very elusive,¡± Anita said. ¡°My Wilderness Lore senses something nearby disturbing nature. I know that something is stalking us, following us, watching us, but they are staying out of sight and just on the edge of my perception. Identifying them will be difficult.¡±
¡°We should split up,¡± Max said.
¡°That¡¯s a bad idea,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We are much safer sticking together.¡±
¡°But until we can identify the threat, we don¡¯t know how at risk we are. We should spread out and try and close in on this stalker. Surround them and discover who or what they are.¡±
Max impressed himself with this plan. Although he really just wanted to avoid having to show Elderon his Mage Book, this did actually sound like a pretty good plan.
¡°The young Mage has a point.¡± Jahrod leaned on his axe. ¡°We can stay within shouting distance of each other and keep the party together. I, for one, would like to know if whatever stalks us wants to meet us or eat us.¡±
Elderon considered this and rubbed his stubbly chin.
¡°I can use Familiar Sight to extend our search range,¡± Anita said. ¡°I will take one flank. Elderon, you take the other. Spread out as far as possible. Max and Jahrod can move up the center. We will surround this stalker using the pincer formation.¡±
Anita drew a picture in the dirt at their feet with the tip of her spear. She drew two curved lines like the horns of a bull. Then she drew two straight lines in the middle of the curved lines. ¡°Max and Jahrod will be here, moving forward, while Elderon and I curve around the flanks. We¡¯ll trap this stalker.¡± She jabbed the ground with her staff, and a little flash of fire flared off the spear tip with the impact.
Elderon looked at the plan, looked at each member of the party. His eyes rested on Max.
¡°You are the most vulnerable, Max. It¡¯s your choice.¡±
Max looked at the plan drawn out on the ground, looked to the small thicket they were heading into, and finally looked up at Elderon. He nodded.
¡°The plan is good. We split up and surround the stalker.¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°Ok, but first . . .¡±
Elderon casts Protection from Evil.
Max felt the Protection spell surround him.
¡°Ok, we go,¡± Elderon said.
Anita ran off to one side as Jahrod headed forward toward the thicket. He moved quickly and quietly for such a heavy-set fellow.
Elderon frowned at Max. ¡°Don¡¯t get lost.¡±
Max smiled. He drew his catapult and took an enhanced bullet from his bullet pouch. He tossed it up in the air and caught it, snatching it out of the air as it fell back down. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Elderon. I¡¯ll be careful.¡±
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Max ran off toward the tangle of bushes and trees. He could no longer see Anita to his right. He turned left, and Elderon had vanished from sight as well. Up ahead, he knew Jahrod was heading straight forward through the thicket. Max veered off slightly to his right. He felt sure his friends would be listening for anyone calling for help. It gave Max a feeling he wasn¡¯t used to, knowing that there were people nearby who had his back, friends he could rely on.
As Max came to the tree line he slowed down. The thicket was a small area, and somewhere in here was the stalker that Anita was sure had been following them. Max scanned left and right, hoping Anita and Elderon were in position.
Max caught sight of the heavy foliage above him. He knew he could move about high above the ground in the branches of the trees. If this stalker was in fact a predator looking for its next meal, then Max was sure he¡¯d be safe off the ground. He climbed up a tree easily. He was not used to climbing trees because most of his climbing experience had been high commercial buildings or residential buildings, climbing to high windows where no one would expect a thief to gain entry. That job had never made him feel good about himself. Stealing always left a hollow feeling inside, but climbing was an adventure, and he always enjoyed that.
But climbing trees, this was not only fun, it was easy. The rough bark, knots of wood, branches¡ªit all made for an excellent climb. He practically flew up the side of the tree.
Moving slowly from branch to branch, trying not to make too much noise, Max scanned the ground. He had a pretty good view from up here even though the branches and leaves were thick all around.
And then Max spotted something like movement on the ground in the distance. He wondered if it was Jahrod, but the dwarf should be moving along the line away to Max¡¯s left. He looked more closely. The bushes that covered the forest floor gave good cover to any stalker. Again, Max saw movement. A bush rustling.
And then a sudden movement as something dashed out of the bush and ran. It moved like a wolf, appeared low and dark gray. Max was reminded of his first day here in Eveirea when a wolf had chased him up a tree. Now he was up a tree chasing a wolf.
And then, as the dark gray wolf moved further off, bushes shaking, the figure dashed off so fast that it was impossible to get a clear sight of it. As Max followed it, he saw a sudden flash of red. And then, all was still and quiet.
Max sat and watched the spot where he¡¯d seen that flash of red. This was not the first time he¡¯d seen something like that. That first day in Eveirea, that first encounter with the Death Crows, he was sure he¡¯d seen a flash of red in the tall yellow stalks, and he had seen it a few times since.
¡°Janet,¡± Max said. He said her name gently, softly, with hope that she would appear.
The small point of white light appeared next to him, a dazzling pinprick of light surrounded by a black outline that looked solid and heavy. The white point of light grew steadily until Janet was floating next to him.
¡°Max. I think I was asleep. I didn¡¯t know I could sleep. Although there is no time here, I was so tired. I dreamed we were together . . . in a barn . . . sleeping in the hay.¡±
Puzzled, Max said, ¡°I was asleep in a barn in the hay.¡± And then he remembered what had happened in that barn, how he¡¯d been joined by the farmer¡¯s daughter. He blushed. Could Janet have seen him lying there in her arms?
Then Max thought he detected a hint of embarrassment on Janet¡¯s face.
¡°What were we doing in the hay?¡± Max said.
¡°Just sleeping,¡± Janet shot back quickly, almost too quickly.
Max thought she was beautiful. He had never met a scientist before. He thought they were all dusty old men, a bit like Elderon but not as exciting.
¡°Can you try and do something for me?¡± Max said.
¡°What?¡±
¡°Can you look ahead, see anything out there in the trees, see if something is stalking me?¡±
Janet appeared to peer into some distant space.
¡°Yes. There.¡± Janet pointed. ¡°A dark figure, but they seem able to hide themselves so I can¡¯t get a clear view. But they are watching you.¡±
Max looked at the spot where Janet was pointing. At that exact moment, he saw spells fly in on that location from either side. One was the Summon Roots spell he¡¯d seen Anita cast on a couple of occasions. The other was like a glitter bomb that sparkled in the air and drifted down like glittering silver snow.
In the midst of these spells, the figure appeared. A tall dark robe with a red fringe. A dark, pointy beard. The glittering snow stuck to his robes and showed his position while the root tangle held him.
Jahrod jumped out of a bush before the figure, just on the edge of the glitter rain and the Summon Roots spells. His axe ready.
But the figure looked up at Max and smiled. Max saw the figure speak, his lips moving, but he heard the voice like a whisper right next to his ear.
¡°Hello, Max. At last, I¡¯ve found you. You are safe now.¡±
Then the figure lifted his arms high. A white sphere spread out from him, and the Summon Roots spell and the Glitter Rain spells were swept away.
Elderon and Anita stepped in on either side. Both were smiling, and Elderon walked forward, his hand outstretched in friendship. ¡°Gorgoron, you old snake. What are you doing here?¡±
Gorgoron took Elderon¡¯s hand and shook it warmly, smiling. Then he pointed up into the trees directly at Max.
¡°I¡¯ve been looking for him.¡±
Chapter 1.32
Max studied this new Mage. He must be about as old as Elderon and easily as tough, but Max didn¡¯t like the way Gorgoron looked at him. He smiled at Max, but his eyes didn¡¯t smile. His eyes were mean and looked at Max the same way a cat looks at a mouse.
Name: Gorgoron Redfist
Class: Battle Mage
Level: 15
Health: Full
Strength: 14
Stamina: 14
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 14
Charisma: 12
Abilities: Unknown
Max could see this Mage had very similar stats to Elderon with a few points extra for Strength but lacking a few on Intelligence and Charisma. But most worryingly of all was that Elderon appeared to trust Gorgoron. And just like Elderon, his natural abilities were a mystery. Maybe when Max was a higher level, he would be able to read these hidden stats.
¡°Have you come from Essillt?¡± Elderon said. ¡°I contacted the council on the Mage Stone on the Breamor and Faregent border. I could not wait for the council¡¯s ruling though. Do you come with their response?¡±
¡°No, brother,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°I, like you, have been traveling the lands of Eveirea for the last many years. I traveled across the Kraken Sea to Scarfel, and then I attempted the eastern crossing from the Scarfel continent to the western shore of Ragewind on the continent of Awen.¡±
Max thought Elderon looked impressed, possibly a little stunned. ¡°The eastern crossing is impossible!¡± Elderon said.
¡°Yes, so it would seem, but I wanted to at least try it for myself.¡± Gorgoron squinted shrewdly at Max. ¡°Many people will say a thing cannot be done, but only if you try it for yourself can you know for sure if it is, or is not, possible.¡±
Max felt uncomfortable the way Gorgoron kept staring at him. It made his stomach churn, but this Mage was right at least about one thing. Many people had told Max it was impossible for him to leave his old life, but here he was, further from that old life than he could have believed.
Gorgoron turned back to Elderon. ¡°The northern currents east of the Kranic Empire are very slack every thirteenth winter, and I hoped to beat my way across, but after weeks of battling headwinds at sea, and with the loss of half our little expeditionary flotilla to a Kraken, we abandoned the attempt and returned to the eastern shores of Scarfel. I landed in Bight Bay on Scarfel before returning to Awen.¡±
¡°And you say you are looking for my young Mage apprentice,¡± Elderon said.
¡°Yes,¡± Gorgoron replied. ¡°The young Mage is a traveler like you and I, brother, but I sense he has come much further than either you or I will ever travel.¡±
Gorgoron laid a friendly arm over Elderon¡¯s shoulder and turned him away. ¡°Can we talk, brother? Alone.¡± Gorgoron led Elderon away a step before a dark, shimmering sphere grew rapidly around them.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Max said as the sphere surrounded the pair of Mages. ¡°He has trapped Elderon!¡±
Anita sat down on the soft grass. ¡°It¡¯s a Mage Sphere of Secrecy. They use them to discuss council business.¡±
Jahrod sat down too. He pulled out the roasted bird from his pack and picked away the straw he had wrapped it in.
Max wrinkled his nose. The meat was days old, and the bird was starting to stink. Max could smell it from here. Jahrod took a sniff and looked disappointed.
¡°It¡¯s not good, is it?¡± Max said.
¡°No,¡± Jahrod said sadly. ¡°It needs at least another few days, maybe a week, to get it really ripe.¡± Jahrod shrugged. ¡°But when you¡¯re hungry, you¡¯ll eat anything.¡± He rammed the whole bird into his mouth and started crunching it down with his powerful crushing teeth.
Max gulped, nauseated. Jahrod looked up at him.
¡°Sorry, little buddy, did you want some?¡±
Max shook his head, swallowing hard to keep from vomiting.
¡°Here, take this.¡± Anita offered Max a hunk of dry heavy bread.
Max took it with grateful thanks, knowing it would help to settle his stomach He chewed some and watched Elderon and Gorgoron in the shimmering sphere.
¡°You¡¯ll be discussing Mage business with them in one of those spheres once you¡¯ve gained your levels,¡± Anita said.
Max wandered off, chewing on the bread. He studied the sphere that looked kind of like an oil slick on water but round, standing eight feet tall at its center. The shimmering walls touched the ground, and Max was sure it went through the earth to complete the sphere underground. The images of Elderon and Gorgoron flickered and shimmered inside. He tried to read their lips, but the shimmering sphere distorted their images and prevented that. And no sound came out. It was a very secure sphere, keeping whatever they said secret.
Max couldn¡¯t see Elderon any better than if he had been looking at a reflection in the surface of a rippling pond. But he did see quite clearly when Elderon pulled a sheet of parchment out of his robes and showed it to Elderon. Max spotted the image on the parchment, a charcoal drawing. The image was too unclear for him to see who exactly was in the portrait, but the parchment size and color was just like the one the assassin in the White Raven tavern had held.
Then Gorgoron pulled out an identical sheet, and each of two Mages looked at the portrait the other had. Max really needed to know what they were talking about. He tried to whisper to Janet.
¡°Janet, can you hear me?¡±
She appeared next to him right away, a tiny white glowing image in a dense darkness.
¡°Yes. I can hear you. I feel, somehow, we are bound by the dark portal. I can hear and see everything you do, but all at once. The portal is very strange.¡±
Max pointed at the sphere. ¡°Can you hear what they are saying?¡±
Janet nodded. ¡°Do you want to hear?¡±
Max nodded that he did.
Then Max could hear every word clearly. How Janet was doing this, he was not sure, but he listened intently to their conversation. They mentioned the Mage Council, travels, the darkness creeping across Eveirea. And then his ears pricked up when he heard his name.
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¡°Max is more important than you realize,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°He is the one who can harness the power. There has not been a new power in Eveirea in ages. And we can help him channel it so the Mages will be powerful again. Think about it: the elves don¡¯t respect us any longer, and the empires of Scarfel have all but eliminated the Mage Council from their lands, turning Mages into servants of the emperors. It¡¯s a shame and a disgrace, but your young apprentice can help us restore the Mage Council to the primacy.¡±
¡°How do you know all this?¡± Elderon said. ¡°The Mage Council didn¡¯t say anything to me when I left Essillt to investigate the darkness.¡±
¡°It is truth, Elderon. Search the facts, and you will know it is true.¡±
¡°I know the darkness is bringing fear and disorder. Soon chaos will reign, and I am sure he is the key to ending it.¡± Elderon looked down at the portrait in his hands. ¡°He knows this as well. He is an intelligent young Mage who will be difficult to control.¡±
¡°And you are an intelligent Master Mage, brother,¡± Gorgoron said, ¡°but you are not seeing the truth of the matter. You must let me take charge of Max. You know you are too good for what must be done. You will never let any harm come to him, and you know that Max faces grave dangers, and no one can guarantee his safety.¡±
¡°No one¡¯s safety is guaranteed, brother,¡± Elderon said.
¡°But you know that Max will be consumed by the darkness if you make him close the portal.¡±
Elderon shook his head. ¡°That is not clear.¡±
¡°You know that if he enters the dark portal, he will be destroyed.¡±
Elderon shook his head. ¡°Not clear,¡± he mumbled, staring at the portrait and then back at Gorgoron. ¡°It may appear to be so, but I have not given up hope that it is not so. He is developing fast. He will be a great Mage, and he might yet help me solve the problem of the darkness without sacrificing himself.¡±
¡°But why close it at all,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°Chaos is powerful and a great ally if you use it wisely. Eveirea was once in chaos, and the Mages ruled. We are the only ones who can control the chaos. We can harness the power.¡±
¡°A dark power, brother,¡± Elderon said.
¡°All power is dark if used incorrectly,¡± Gorgoron pointed out. ¡°You are always so hopeful, brother, but you know what needs to be done. The council will not let you destroy the boy. Let me take charge of him. I can show him how to control the power and channel the dark portal to Essillt where the Mages can use it with all Wisdom and Intelligence for the good of Eveirea.¡±
Max whispered to Janet. ¡°If I find the dark portal, will I be destroyed by it?¡± He faced Janet. ¡°And what would that mean for you?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± she said. ¡°I am working on it. I have nothing to do here but puzzle out this problem. Maybe if you find your end of the portal, I will be able to complete my transit and arrive at your location. The portal may then close. Maybe if you enter the portal, you will travel back to the lab, and we will both emerge at that location. I will have to work on this some more. If only I had my tablet computer . . . a pencil and paper would be something.¡±
¡°Where is this dark portal?¡± Max asked. ¡°Can you see it?¡±
¡°The exit points of the transport portal experiments were always erratic and unstable. Any object we sent through the portal would appear in a slightly different location in relation to the terminus point. We thought maybe the emergence point shifted slightly as the mass and energy levels shifted when the transported item was delivered back to normal space.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°Janet, I was never any good at science class; you are losing me. Can you put it in more basic terms?¡±
¡°Who are you talking to?¡±
Max jolted to see Jahrod at his side, wiping his mouth with a handful of straw that had until a few moments ago been wrapped around the festering roasted bird.
Max looked all around, but Janet had vanished.
¡°It¡¯s . . . a friend,¡±
¡°Hmm. An invisible, tiny friend,¡± Jahrod said, rolling the idea around.
Max was sure Jahrod was mocking him.
¡°It must be nice,¡± Jahrod said, nodding at Max.. ¡°To have a guardian to watch over you, to aid you¡ªyou¡¯re lucky. Many Mages, Druids and Clerics, too, have familiars or spirit guides. I always thought it would be a great help. You chose your profession well.¡±
¡°Did you ever think you¡¯d like to be a Mage?¡± Max said, but he was still watching Elderon and Gorgoron talking. He couldn¡¯t hear them now that Janet had vanished back into the dark portal, lost all alone, trapped between worlds.
¡°Me, a Mage? Oh gods, no. I am a born Warrior. But maybe I would have been a chef if my father hadn¡¯t put me off the idea. He told me there is more gold in dungeon crawling and adventuring. He convinced me to leave the mines and the kitchen and explore. Good thing I did too. I¡¯m a high-level fighter now, so I am confident I can save my little cousin from the evil that infests King Glynn¡¯s halls.¡±
At that moment, the sphere surrounding Elderon and Gorgoron flickered away.
¡°We have made a decision,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Gorgoron will travel with us.¡±
¡°Yes, we will travel to Essillt where the Mage Council is eager to meet our newest Mage,¡± Gorgoron said with a smile that made Max shiver.
Max hesitated. He felt sure this was a bad idea. ¡°But . . .¡± he said.
¡°But what?¡± Anita said as she walked over. ¡°It will be good to have another Master Mage in the party.¡± ¡°I will join you on the road to Essillt, and maybe the Mage Council can help us Druids understand this darkness too.¡±
¡°But,¡± Max said, ¡°what about Jahrod?¡± He patted Jahrod heavily on the back. ¡°Did we not make a commitment to aid this adventurer? And Jahrod has been distracted from his cause many times to aid us. And now we would abandon him and let him complete his quest all alone? I am not so selfish as to take all that Jahrod has offered us in aid and not return the favor and complete the task we promised we would aid him with. Are we not better than this?¡±
Max looked at Elderon and then Anita. They were clearly swayed by his argument. Then he caught Gorgoron¡¯s eyes, his evil dark eyes¡ªbefore a smile burst over Gorgoron¡¯s face.
¡°Max is a good and just Mage. The council will be pleased to hear of his diligence to his duty to all people of Eveirea. But a Warrior dwarf, no matter how deserving, cannot interfere with Mage business. Sorry, Master Dwarf, but we must take our leave of you.¡±
Anita stepped up and stood between Max and Jahrod. ¡°Max is correct, and how selfish of us to even think of altering course after all Jahrod has done. Of course, we must accompany Jahrod to the city of Ralynn and free his cousin. Then we can travel north to Essillt.¡±
Anita wrapped an arm around Max¡¯s shoulder, and Max felt comfort from knowing Anita was at his side. She was good and true, but Max did not have the same feelings for this Gorgoron. He was not sure what Gorgoron wanted from, him but he had a feeling the Mage would use him like he would a scroll, get what he wanted, and leave Max turned to dust and blown away on the wind.
Elderon looked between Gorgoron and Max. He relented and nodded.
¡°Max is right, brother. We must complete our commitments to Jahrod here. The darkness that pervades the world of Eveirea will only be strengthened and widened if good adventurers turn our backs on our allies. We will go directly to Ralynn City and help you free your cousin.¡±
Jahrod bowed his head to Max. ¡°Thank you, young Mage. You are showing great Wisdom with this decision.¡±
But Max felt terrible because he knew he was being selfish, only insisting on helping Jahrod to buy time to understand what these Mages really wanted from him. Elderon had been good to him so far, but did his mentor simply want to throw him into the dark portal to save the world? And was Gorgoron any better, seeking to use him as a means to gather power? Max hoped the slight delay would give him a chance to understand what he wanted, maybe escape Gorgoron, and possibly escape Elderon too. He would find the dark portal himself. And whatever was to be done about it affecting the world of Eveirea, he would take Janet¡¯s advice on how to proceed, not this Gorgoron, a Mage that Max did not trust and did not like.
¡°Very well,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°You aid your fellow adventurer, and I will travel to the nearest Mage Stone and inform the council we will be traveling there next, as soon as you have fulfilled your commitments to your dwarven friend.¡± Gorgoron smiled.
Max disliked that smile.
Elderon was bidding his Mage brother farewell when Max saw that Anita was suddenly alert. She moved off a few paces and summoned a bird from the sky, a small songbird that landed on her finger. It sat there for a moment before she sent it back up into the sky. As it flew away, Anita stood there, eyes closed, swaying slightly. Then she opened her green almond eyes, looking at Max. How he loved those wonderful eyes.
¡°Danger, Max,¡± Anita said.
Elderon turned to Anita. ¡°What is it?¡±
Jahrod swung up his axe. ¡°Same as always.¡± He grinned.
Gorgoron was already casting a spell. Max was suddenly fearful that the Mage was about to attack them. But the spell emerging was a high-level Protection spell that surrounded the party.
Gorgoron casts Enhance Party.
Party gains attack bonus and defense bonus.
Elderon was also casting a spell.
Party gains Protection from Ranged Weapons.
¡°Here they come,¡± Jahrod said, walking forward a few paces. ¡°Warriors to the front.¡±
And racing toward them came a group of Skarak Warriors, together with a group of human fighters.
Max checked their stats.
Name: Skarak Warriors
Status: Hostile
Attack: Sword, Crossbow
Threat level: Aggressive
Name: Ralynn Guard
Status: Hostile
Attack: Spear, Longbow
Threat level: Aggressive
¡°The city guards are teaming up with the Skarak. Is that normal?¡± Max said with some alarm.
¡°No, it is not,¡± Elderon said. ¡°There is an evil at work here for sure.¡± He frowned at Max. ¡°It is the darkness.¡±
The Skarak Warriors with swords came rushing over the meadow, the blades of long grass swishing against their furry legs. The Ralynn Guards with spears were amongst the Skarak. The crossbow Skarak and the longbow Ralynn Guards stopped, and they all aimed their bows.
Chapter 1.33
The volley of crossbow and longbow shots streaked across the sky. Max could hear their flight feathers fizzing in the cold clear air. Max flinched as the arrows and bolts fell down on them. They struck the Protection from Ranged Weapons defensive barrier that Elderon had cast over the party. A few arrows made it through, but they were slowed so much by the spell that they were far less dangerous. One dropped on Max, but the defensive bonus that Gorgoron had cast on the party deflected the arrow, so it fell harmlessly aside.
The archers and launched another volley just as the Skarak Warriors and Ralynn Guards reached the defensive spell. They moved through the spell boundary without any difficulty and charged at the party.
More arrows and bolts struck the magical barrier.
Jahrod charged the attackers, swinging his axe about his head in wide circles. The Skarak and Ralynn guards slowed and surrounded him.
Anita lined up alongside Jahrod. She jabbed and parried with her spear, the flaming tip fizzling. The pair of them held the line of Skarak and Ralynn Guards.
¡°Max, cast your Shield spell,¡± Elderon said.
Elderon casts Magic Missile at Skarak Warrior causing critical damage.
Skarak Warrior has been defeated.
Jahrod attacks Ralynn Guard causing heavy damage.
Anita attacks Skarak Warrior causing heavy damage.
Attack causes bonus fire damage.
Max shot a bullet from his catapult at the Skarak Warrior Anita had just struck with her staff.
Max attacks Skarak Warrior causing minor damage.
Skarak has been defeated.
Max watched as the combined might of the Skarak Warriors and the Ralynn Guards attacked Anita and Jahrod. They defended, but some sword and spear strikes were getting through their defense.
Anita takes minor damage.
Jahrod takes minor damage.
¡°Max, cast Shield!¡± Elderon said. ¡°We will have to engage the enemies with our swords. Anita and Jahrod can¡¯t handle them all by themselves.¡±
At that moment, a volley of arrows struck the Protection spell. More made it through this time. They dropped harmlessly, but Max could see the spell was wearing off. Another volley of bolts and arrows were already on their way. Max loaded his catapult.
Max attacks Skarak Warrior causing minor damage.
¡°Max! What are you waiting for? You need time to cast it. It¡¯s a new level of spell craft for you. If the Skarak and guards break through Anita and Jahrod¡¯s defensive line, you will be caught in the middle of casting it.¡±
Max couldn¡¯t delay any longer, but he didn¡¯t have a Shield spell. He¡¯d learned Fireball instead, against Elderon¡¯s express instructions. Max looked at the line of Skarak Archers and Ralynn Guards and wondered if the Fireball might deal with that problem. But he had no idea how big a Fireball he was about to cast. If it spread out, it might reach Anita and Jahrod. He didn¡¯t want to be the sort of Mage that dropped Fireballs on his own party.
¡°I can¡¯t help Anita and Jahrod,¡± Max said. ¡°We need to close in with the crossbows and longbows. The Protective shield is weakening. And I don¡¯t think those attackers will have any concerns about shooting at their own party if they think they can hit us.¡±
¡°And exactly how are you going to attack those bows?¡± Elderon said.
Max pulled up his hood.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max ran to the side to get on the flanks of the attackers.
¡°Max, don¡¯t do it,¡± Elderon said, searching all around but unable to see Max.
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¡°He already has,¡± Gorgoron said. The Mage drew his sword. It lit up with flame, bright red. ¡°I¡¯ll go with him. You assist the Druid and the dwarf.¡±
Elderon cast another Magic Missile, defeating a Ralynn Guard that was about to strike Anita. Then Elderon walked forward to join the fight with the swords and spears of the enemy. He drew his white longsword, and he advanced.
Max skirted the side of the line of Skarak Warriors and Ralynn Guards. He saw Gorgoron was with him but then Gorgoron charged directly at the Skarak and Ralynn archers.
The Skarak lowered their aim and pointed the bows directly at Gorgoron. Max moved further to the side out of danger. The moment the Skarak shot their crossbows, Gorgoron swiped his flaming sword in front of him and created a wall of flame that incinerated the bolts.
Max reached the rear of the line of Ralynn longbows. He drew his Shortsword of True Striking.
Max attacks Ralynn Guard with Sneak Attack causing critical damage.
Shortsword of True Striking delivers bonus damage.
Ralynn Guard has been defeated.
Max knew he was visible now. The Ralynn bowmen turned on him, slinging their longbows and drawing long daggers. The Skarak Archers loaded another round of crossbow bolts and aimed at the melee.
Ralynn Guard attacks Max causing minor damage.
The other guards stabbed at Max with their long knives. Max deflected some attacks with his sword, and others struck him in the chest and belly, but his leather tunic and the defensive Enhance spell Gorgoron had cast saved him from anything other than minor damage. However, the hits were stacking up. He quickly checked his Health bar and saw it was half full.
He couldn¡¯t keep taking these hits. It had been a good plan to attack the bows, but now he realized he was outnumbered. At least they had stopped shooting at Anita and the others.
Gorgoron cast a dark spell, and it drifted forward from his fingers and surrounded the bowmen.
Gorgoron casts Dark Fear.
Ralynn Guards are consumed by fear.
Max watched the guards¡¯ faces turn to terror, overwhelmed by Gorgoron¡¯s dark spell. They dropped their daggers, their screams silent inside the dark cloud of the spell. They turned tail and ran, and once they had left the sphere of the spell, their screams could be clearly heard.
The sudden eruption of fear infected some of the Skarak Warriors, and they hesitated. Max attacked.
Max attacks Skarak Archer causing heavy damage.
Shortsword of True Striking delivers bonus damage.
Skarak Archer is overcome with fear and flees.
Max moved in on the next, and now, all Skarak were switching to their secondary melee weapon, the short clubs with barbs on the ends.
Skarak Archer attacks Max.
Max takes minor damage.
Max takes minor damage.
Gorgoron was casting as Max fell back, avoiding the clubs swinging at him. His health was dangerously low.
Gorgoron casts Flame.
All Skarak take moderate damage.
As the Skarak stopped their attack on Max to beat out the red flames that spread over them, Max saw the Ralynn Guards that had fled had rediscovered their courage. They were turning back to face Max. Although they were a hundred yards away, they lifted their longbows and took aim at Max.
¡°They are too far out for us to charge them,¡± Gorgoron said, grabbing Max by the arm. ¡°We must fall back.¡± He continued to tug Max. ¡°You can prepare your Sneak ability once we¡¯re out of sight.¡±
Max looked to Anita. She, Elderon, and Jahrod were getting the upper hand over the Skarak and guards. The Ralynn Longbows were about to shoot. Max gave in and ran with Gorgoron.
Once out of sight, hidden behind a bunch of thorny bushes, Max was about to prepare his Sneak ability when Gorgoron stopped him.
¡°You are a skillful fellow,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°I don¡¯t think Elderon gives you the credit you deserve.¡±
¡°I think he¡¯s guided me pretty well,¡± Max said. ¡°We need to get back to the fight.¡±
¡°Elderon has got it under control. Anita is a powerful Druid, and that dwarf could take on twice as many Skarak all on his own. You don¡¯t need to worry about them.¡±
Max peered through the bushes to where he could see the longbows aiming at Elderon, but the Mage was already casting a fresh Protection from Ranged Weapons spell.
¡°Max, you should come with me. We will move more quickly if you let me guide you.¡±
¡°But I promised Jahrod . . .¡± Max said, looking again as Jahrod swung his mighty axe.
¡°Dwarfs will always try to drag you into their battles. It¡¯s what they are known for. That and some truly awful eating habits.¡±
¡°But he helped me, so I must return the favor.¡±
¡°Elderon will fulfill your duty to the dwarf, he told me. It¡¯s just a question of getting into the city and bringing out the young dwarf nephew. No one is going to miss a young dwarf. He¡¯s probably a lowly servant. There¡¯ll be dozens of them in the city. I think we should focus on what is good for you.¡±
Max watched the battle. The Skarak were all but defeated. The Ralynn Guards were still putting up a strong fight, but it looked inevitable that they would soon lose their will to fight and flee.
¡°Elderon wasn¡¯t honest with you, Max,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°He told you to become a Mage, didn¡¯t he? Elderon always wants people to become Mages so he can guide them and eventually control them. But I can see your true strengths. You could have chosen to be a great Thief.¡±
Max glanced from the battle to Gorgoron. It was as if he¡¯d seen into his life before his life in Eveirea.
¡°A Thief? Why would I want to be a Thief?¡±
¡°It is more than just stealing gold, you know,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°Thieves can become some of the most versatile and powerful classes in Eveirea. The Thieves¡¯ Guild is respected on both continents of Eveirea, Awen, and Scarfel¡ªnot always admired but respected. I bet Elderon didn¡¯t tell you that. If you had specialized as a Thief, you would have gained extra abilities. With Agility like yours, you¡¯d be exceptional at Pick Pocket, and your Sneak attack bonuses would be huge. You¡¯d be able to activate your Sneak ability in bright daylight, and it¡¯s not just that. You could still use wands and scrolls to be a powerful spell caster without the need for the clumsy Mage Book and resting to prepare spells. I can see you are a natural; you could be the best in Eveirea.¡±
Max looked again to the battle. The remaining Ralynn Bowmen were taking aim at his friends.
¡°I can help you,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°I can help you develop your Thief skills. And more.¡±
¡°But I am a Mage now, Level Three,¡± Max spoke almost to himself. What did Gorgoron mean when he¡¯d told Elderon that he could control the dark portal? Could he save Janet? Send her home . . . or bring her here? Was Elderon trying to control him?
Gorgoron laid a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder as he watched his friends fighting. ¡°Fear not. Even though you¡¯ve already chosen the Mage class, with my help, you will be able to develop your Thief abilities. You will get all the girls, gold, and fame, too, if you want. Everyone loves a good Thief.¡±
Max stared hard at Gorgoron. This red Mage sounded just like his old boss.
¡°I¡¯m no Thief,¡± Max said. ¡°I am a Mage, and my friends are in danger.¡± He prepared his Sneak Ability and crept up on the Ralynn Bowmen.
Chapter 1.34
Max came up to the first of the Ralynn Guard Bowmen, their bows drawn, aimed high, ready to loose and rain arrows down on his party and the remaining Skarak Warriors.
Max attacks Ralynn Bowman with Sneak Attack causing heavy damage.
The surprise attack spoiled the Bowman¡¯s own attack, and his arrow fell from the bow. The reeling Bowman, surprised by Max¡¯s sudden appearance, lost focus, and he shot his arrows wildly, none even coming close to Elderon and the others.
Max attacked again as the Bowman was switching from the bow to his long dagger.
Max attacks Ralynn Guard causing moderate damage.
Ralynn Guard has been defeated.
Max readied himself to fend off the attack from the remaining Bowmen, all now armed with long daggers. They moved in on him, spreading out in a wide arc, sharp blade points threatening to stab and damage Max.
Gorgoron casts Magic Missile at Ralynn Bowman causing critical damage.
The Bowman who was moving toward Max¡¯s right was stopped in his attack as the Magic Missile damaged him. Max took advantage and attacked.
Max attacks Ralynn Bowman causing moderate damage.
Bowman has been defeated.
Max saw the few gold coins spill from the Bowman¡¯s coin pouch. He couldn¡¯t let himself be distracted with loot now. The remaining Bowmen closed in and lunged as one, their blades aimed at Max.
Bowmen attack Max.
Max takes minor damage.
Max takes minor damage.
Max takes minor damage.
Max¡¯s Health bar was almost empty, and he knew he was in trouble. One more hit, and he would be finished. He wondered if he would return to the portal, join with Janet, and be transported back to the lab where it all started. He wasn¡¯t going to find out, because it was just as likely that he would in fact die here on Eveirea, and that Janet would afterward be trapped in the portal forever as madness took her.
Max parried another strike by a Bowman. All he could do was defend because if he attacked, he would leave himself open to attack, and it might be the last mistake he would ever make. He knew he had made mistakes in his life, but he was trying to make better choices. Staying alive here meant he would have the chance to make better choices, live a better life.
Max parried again and again. He could feel fatigue taking over. Every defensive stroke sapped his energy, and he didn¡¯t know when he had last rested. It must have been some time ago because he had no spells. Except one.
The Bowmen closed in. Max could feel himself weakening.
Bowman attacks Max.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
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Bowman attacks Max.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
Max was exhausted and could barely move his limbs.
Bowman attacks Max.
Max held his shortsword out and deflected the stabbing dagger. The Bowman beat Max¡¯s defense back, and the tip of the blade dug into the leather tunic, saving Max from any damage. The Bowman withdrew the dagger and made ready to thrust again.
Max was out of options, out of luck. He didn¡¯t want to be defeated without trying his Fireball. He wondered if the Fireball would only damage the Bowmen attacking him, as long as he cast it right on this spot. Or would he be consumed in the fire too? He realized he had no options left. He was going to cast the Fireball. How ironic, he thought, that after all Elderon had told him about the dangers of the Fireball, it would be his only chance to survive¡ªor might indeed be the spell that destroyed him.
At that moment, a shout set up on Max¡¯s left. He dared not turn to look; he needed to fend off these dagger attacks, but he recognized the sound of those voices raised in triumph, and they were getting closer. Anita and Jahrod were shouting a battle cry as they rushed toward Max.
The remaining Bowmen stepped back from their attacks on Max and then turned tail and ran, sprinting for their lives through the long meadow grass.
Jahrod arrived at Max¡¯s side, face red and puffing for air. Anita was flushed, her chest heaving under her tight leather armor. She smiled at him.
¡°What a great plan to attack the Bowmen and the Crossbow Skarak.¡± Anita wrapped an arm around Max¡¯s shoulder. Max leaned his weary head on her heaving chest. ¡°You are brave indeed, Max.¡± She pulled him closer to her.
Max couldn¡¯t resist her heaving chest, and he rested his head there gratefully.
Jahrod then pulled Max to him for an embrace. The dwarf was strong, and Max was exhausted so he again could not resist. He felt Jahrod¡¯s wiry beard stabbing him. And the smell was intense.
¡°Well done, Max. You might be a Mage, but you have the heart of a Warrior.¡±
Max was happy to take the praise from Jahrod, but he¡¯d rather be resting his weary head on Anita¡¯s chest than being buried in Jahrod¡¯s huge beard.
Elderon strode over. ¡°That was not brave,¡± Elderon said. ¡°That was foolhardy and reckless. Max, we need to work on your tactical thinking.¡±
¡°It was a bold tactic, one that ultimately saved us all,¡± Gorgoron said as he joined the group. ¡°Max knew he needed to close down the ranged weapons.¡± Gorgoron stepped up next to Max. ¡°But why you didn¡¯t just hit them with your Fireball, I¡¯ll never know. Sneak attacks are very powerful, but you could have sent them all running scared with just one Fireball.¡±
¡°Fireball?¡± Elderon said. ¡°He hasn¡¯t learned Fireball yet.¡±
Max avoided Elderon¡¯s gaze.
¡°Sure, he has,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°I am a Mage of the elemental. I can see when a Mage has fire spells prepared.¡±
Max looked up at Elderon, ashamed and apologetic, but he couldn¡¯t help a cheeky grin spreading over his face. ¡°It just sounded like such a cool spell.¡±
¡°Cool?¡± Elderon said. ¡°It is not cool. The clue is in the name: it is hot, fiercely red hot, like a lava pit from the Empire of Tolith. Not cool at all.¡±
¡°No, I mean cool as in . . . you know . . .¡± Max looked from Elderon¡¯s disapproving expression to Anita and Jahrod, but the Druid and the dwarf were also looking perplexed.
¡°It is, in fact, quite, quite hot,¡± Anita said, nodding to emphasize the point.
¡°Yes, young Mage,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°The coastal path along the salt river can be quite cool when the autumn winds come, but I''ve never heard a Fireball be called cool. Not even a fire elemental would think a magic Fireball is cool.¡±
Max shook his head. They just didn¡¯t get him sometimes. Then he noticed Elderon. The old Mage was looking down his long nose at him, a hand held out.
¡°Show me your Mage Book, Max.¡±
Max dug out his Mage Book. Elderon opened it, and it grew in size. It still wasn¡¯t as big as Elderon¡¯s, but Max was impressed that his Mage Book was getting bigger. Elderon turned to the Level Three spells page, and then, seeing the Fireball prepared and ready to cast, slammed the Mage Book shut and handed it back to Max.
¡°Well, there is nothing else we can do. You will have to cast it now,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You need to see the power it holds. If you cast it too close to yourself, you will be consumed in its fire. You must project the spell as far from you as possible. If you cast it too far, the spell will be lost, and the Fireball will not appear. Cast it too close to you, and you will take fire damage.¡± Elderon shook his head. ¡°It is a dangerous spell, and you are not ready for it.¡±
¡°Max is very capable,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°He is capable of so much more than you give him credit for.¡±
Elderon looked at Gorgoron with a cold hard stare. Gorgoron smiled and held his hands up in defeat.
¡°No, you win,¡± Gorgoron said, ¡°but if I might give one piece of advice, the city of Ralynn is not far from here. A magic Fireball going off in this failing daylight will be spotted by the guards on the walls. They will more than likely send a detachment of Ralynn Guards to investigate. And from what I¡¯ve seen, the party is not at its strongest right now.¡±
Anita nodded. ¡°He¡¯s right, Elderon,¡± she said. ¡°I am close to fatigue. Max is exhausted. I have some Healing spells, but Max needs a good long rest.¡±
¡°And I need to prepare some Magic Missiles,¡± Max said. ¡°I can prepare five now with my Ring of Extra Spells.¡±
Anita suddenly became alert. Then Elderon looked to the distance too. Max knew they¡¯d detected something.
¡°More guards are coming,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Reinforcements from Ralynn City.¡±
Gorgoron faced the group. ¡°Hold still and stay quiet. Give me some time, and I will lead them away.¡±
Before Elderon or anyone could argue Gorgoron was gone. As he disappeared into the dark, Max thought he saw a flash of red, as of a flag or banner fluttering in the wind.
¡°Hold tight,¡± Elderon said. ¡°No casting. No sound. Hopefully Gorgoron can lead them away.¡±
Max wasn¡¯t sure if Gorgoron could do it. The red Mage had already attempted to lead Max away. Max sat low in the tall grass, resting next to Anita, happy in her embrace.
Chapter 1.35
Max looked to the direction Gorgoron had run. Trying to lead the Ralynn Guards away would give them a chance to rest. But Max didn¡¯t trust Gorgoron. In fact, he didn¡¯t know how much he trusted Elderon at the moment. Did Elderon want to sacrifice him to the dark portal? Had Elderon been hunting him all along? He had a charcoal portrait of him, just like the assassins had.
But the Bandits had been hunting him too. He remembered how the leader had said to take him alive and kill the others. Had Elderon acted to save only himself, or was Max a prize these hunters were all fighting over?
Anita had been searching for an answer to the darkness. Had she tracked him down as well? Why?
Anita summoned a meadowland creature, a dormouse, to check on Gorgoron¡¯s progress. She sat cross-legged in the soft grass. Her eyes closed, but Max could see the eyes darting this way and that under her closed eyelids.
Anita had found Max, but she had never asked anything of him. He stared at her, captivated by her. He watched her as she used her ability to see through the eyes of another creature and realized that he was admiring her features. She was possibly the prettiest girl he¡¯d ever met. Thick dark hair, full lips, and her choice of attire, tight leather, was clearly a practical choice offering movement and protection against damage, but it was also very alluring. Max watched her eyes darting about, and her chest rising and falling. She opened her eyes suddenly, staring right at Max. Max was startled, a little embarrassed to be found staring at her. She smiled widely at him.
¡°Gorgoron has led the guards away. The red Mage can move fast. We are clear to approach the city.¡±
¡°We wait for dusk,¡± Elderon said, ¡°and approach far from any gates. When darkness falls, we will sneak into the city.¡±
¡°My nephew will be in the castle kitchens. We should make our way to the castle immediately.¡±
¡°Do we walk up to the main gates?¡± Max said, his eyes still lingering on Anita.
¡°I know a way in,¡± Jahrod said, but his nose wrinkled in disgust.
Max didn¡¯t like the sound of displeasure in Jahrod¡¯s voice. If the dwarf was not looking forward to it, whatever it was must be awful.
¡°We can rest a while here,¡± Elderon said. ¡°No fire. No noise.¡±
Max squinted at Elderon and could not shake his feelings of suspicion. Elderon sensed it.
¡°What is it young Mage?¡±
¡°Where did you get the charcoal portrait of me?¡±
Elderon¡¯s countenance turned hard. ¡°Are you spying on me, Max?¡±
¡°Answer the question.¡± Max spoke plainly and firmly. He was in no mood for the student-and-mentor stuff right now.
Anita and Jahrod fell silent. Elderon pulled out the parchment and dropped it for all to see. ¡°Do you mean this?¡±
Anita scooped it up. ¡°It¡¯s Max.¡± She turned to Elderon. ¡°Where did you get this?¡±
¡°I took it from a defeated assassin. When Max was letting vile wood Nymphs run their claws over his skin, we were fleeing from the assassins outside White Raven. I took this from one I defeated. But maybe this is a good time to ask Max a question. Why are assassins hunting for you?¡±
Anita and Jahrod looked at Max.
Max bowed his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± He pulled out the portrait he¡¯d taken from the assassin. ¡°Someone is hunting me.¡±
¡°Who?¡± Elderon said.
Max shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know. I don¡¯t know anyone in this world. How could they even have my picture?¡±
Elderon laid a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Maybe your visions of the dark portal have alerted dark enemies to find you.¡±
Max nodded, his head downcast.
Elderon tore up the parchment into small pieces and covered them with his hands. His hands glowed brightly for a moment, and when he opened them, the parchment had turned to dust.
¡°Maybe we keep fewer secrets from each other from now on,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Prepare your spells, young Mage.¡±
Max took no time in checking his Mage Book. He hated to have accused Elderon. The old Mage had only ever looked out for him.
¡°Elderon,¡± Max said as diplomatically as possible, ¡°is there a way to clear the Fireball spell from my active spells?¡±
Elderon sighed. ¡°Only by casting it, young Mage. You will have to carry it until I can help you safely discharge it. Until then, please do as I ask and stick to Magic Missiles. You seem to have a very good grasp of them.¡±
Max looked at his Mage Book. He had five open slots for Level One spells. He had only learned two Level One spells, Magic Missile and Detect Enemies. He was heading into Ralynn City where the guards had already proven they would attack him, and they were in league with the Skarak. He was pretty sure there would be enemies on all sides at all times. He didn¡¯t need to detect them. He needed to defeat them.
He added five Magic Missiles to his Active Spells.
Then Level Two. He only had one slot and only one spell learned. Strength would come in handy, so he selected it for his single Level Two slot. It would prepare as he rested, and he was sure he would need it soon.
There was an active Fireball in his Level Three spell slot. He regretted preparing this one. It would be much better to have a Shield spell if he was heading into danger.
Mage Book
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Fireball
Elderon stood over him as he put his Mage Book away. Elderon handed him a scroll.
¡°What¡¯s this?¡± Max said, taking the scroll and unrolling it.
¡°It¡¯s a Scroll of Shield.¡± Elderon said.
¡°I already learned it,¡± Max said. ¡°It¡¯s in my Mage Book already.¡± Max handed it back.
¡°But you can¡¯t prepare it for casting because you prepared that Fireball. You can cast the spell from the scroll too. It will be destroyed, of course. Take it just in case you need it. We will be heading into danger. It¡¯s good to be prepared.¡±
Max dropped the Scroll of Shield into his satchel. ¡°Thank you, Elderon.¡±
The old Mage nodded and turned away.
¡°Elderon?¡± Max said.
Elderon stopped and turned.
¡°I¡¯m sorry if I disappointed you.¡±
Elderon smiled. ¡°If I am honest, I was impressed you made your own choice. I would have liked you to do as I instructed, but I can¡¯t honestly say I did everything my mentor wanted me to do.¡± He smiled again.
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¡°I don¡¯t trust Gorgoron,¡± Max said.
Elderon took a step toward Max and crouched down next to him. ¡°I have known Gorgoron for an age. He is powerful, and although chaotic in his ways, he always helps the realm of Eveirea to survive. He is a powerful ally.¡±
Max nodded. He was not convinced, but he did trust Elderon, and the old Mage had not handed Max over to Gorgoron. So, Max rested easily knowing his friend, his mentor, was on his side and had his back.
When Anita shook Max awake, the sun had dipped below the horizon, dusky light falling across the land. The long shadows were cold. Max pulled his tunic close to him. As soon as he started walking, he felt warmer.
He checked his Mage Book, but with only limited rest, his spells had not become available. He showed Elderon.
¡°Alas, our rest was only long enough to stave off fatigue. If we waited any longer, we risk being discovered by the guards. Once inside the city, we will be able to hide amongst the populace.¡±
That made sense to Max. Most of his life, he¡¯d lived in the city, alone among millions, hidden within the throng.
Jahrod led the way. Max walked with Anita a few feet off to his left and Elderon a few feet off to his right. After an hour, a gray stone wall appeared in the distance. Hazy at first, but then Max spotted flaming torches being lit high on the walls as the twilight turned to night.
Approaching closer through a small, wooded area, Max could see the city walls were high and disappeared into the distance on either side of him. The city was bigger than any of the towns he¡¯d seen on his travels so far.
Elderon and Anita were studying the wall, conferring quietly, pointing this way and that as they considered their next move. Jahrod was getting impatient and was twirling his axe. Max was sure that any moment, he would simply rush the guards at the nearest gate.
Max waited patiently for his friends to decide the best approach. He started looking through his inventory. Then he spotted the fine rope and pulled it from his satchel.
¡°Is this going to be long enough?¡± Max said.
¡°Long enough for what?¡± Elderon said.
Max dashed to the wall. The huge gray stones were held in place with mortar, and there were narrow grooves between every stone. Max climbed the side of the city wall as easily as if it had been a ladder. He reached the top in moments and climbed over to the high walk on the other side of the wall. He secured the rope and dropped it down the outside face of the wall. It just about reached the ground.
Max looked down into the darkness below. He could see the dark shadows of his friends moving around down there. Then the rope went taut, and he knew they were climbing.
Max prepared his Sneak ability and moved along the high walk checking for guards. A flickering torch nearby had a guard standing by it facing out to the wilderness beyond the city walls. He was leaning on a tall spear. As Max drew closer, he heard the guard snoring quietly. Only a city guard could perfect the art of sleeping while standing and leaning on a spear.
Max went back to the rope and found Anita and Jahrod pulling Elderon up the last few feet. With the party on the high walk, Max regathered the rope and stuffed it back into his satchel and then pointed to the guard on the wall to their left. He made a sign to tell the party that the guard was sleeping. He signed for them to be quiet and then led the way.
Just across from the guard¡¯s position on the high walk was a stone stairway on the inner face of the city wall leading down to ground level. A palisade just inside the city wall prevented anyone from the city from wandering up the steps to the high walk. A gate in the palisade was secured with a chain and a heavy iron lock.
Elderon moved Max aside and began to cast a spell.
Elderon casts Open Locks.
The iron lock opened up with a heavy click, and Elderon let the party through, closing the gate and the lock behind them.
¡°No one will know we are here,¡± Elderon said and then turned to Jahrod. ¡°Over to you, Master Dwarf.¡±
Jahrod nodded and led the way.
The city streets were well lit with flaming lanterns on tall posts every hundred yards, pools of flickering orange light on the ground. Light spilled out of doorways from small homes and some businesses working late. The sounds of a tavern drifted over the cold air. Jahrod stopped and sniffed the air.
¡°Scromble,¡± he said.
Max sniffed the air and detected something extremely unpleasant. It was sour at first then rotten, like a pile of dead rats decaying in a sewer on a hot day.
¡°Do we really have time for a tankard of ale and a bowl of scromble?¡± Max said, hoping not to get any closer to that horrid smell than this. He¡¯d rather face a Ralynn Guard and a hundred Skarak than get any closer to that stink.
Jahrod took one last, longing sniff and then continued.
The castle at the center of the city stood on a small hill, and Jahrod led them toward it through a maze of narrow side streets. Once Jahrod had stopped, Max detected a new smell. It was almost as unpleasant as the scromble but more familiar. At his feet was a small drain leading underground into the city sewer.
Jahrod pulled up the heavy iron grate with one hand. Max was impressed with the dwarf¡¯s Strength. He was also impressed at how easily Jahrod fitted into the small opening. Max wrinkled his nose against the stench and followed.
At the bottom of a set of iron rungs, Max landed in a shallow river of filth. His good boots weren¡¯t quite so good anymore. The first chance he got, he was going to buy himself all new attire.
¡°No one comes down here,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°My nephew said it¡¯s been abandoned for decades.¡±
Max was grateful it had recently rained. At the time, he hadn¡¯t been so happy to be out in the rain, but now he was really glad for it. He could only guess at how bad this sewer would have been if it hadn¡¯t been for the recent rains.
At a junction in the sewer, Jahrod called a halt. He sniffed the air, sticking his head down one tunnel and then another.
¡°Wait here,¡± he said and set off, splashing through the muck.
Anita and Elderon waited patiently. Max wandered about, trying to stay to the edge of the channel and out of the filth. He saw a flickering light along one tunnel, a white-blue glow.
¡°Did you see that?¡± Max asked.
¡°Probably just some sewer gas burning off,¡± Elderon said. ¡°There are sometimes small flares in these places.¡±
Max saw it again. He wandered along the tunnel, and there was the blue flash once more. He checked back and saw Elderon and Anita looking along the tunnel where Jahrod had disappeared.
Max moved toward the flash. He tripped and just managed to keep his footing without touching the damp stinking walls of the sewer. Then he looked down and saw a dead body looking up at him, partially submerged, sitting slumped against the curved sewer wall.
Max staggered back at the sight of the decomposing face, half eaten away by rats. The body was tied to a ring set in the wall by a chain around its neck.
¡°That¡¯s me,¡± a voice behind Max said.
Max spun around and he was gaping into a glowing blue-white face of a ghostly apparition of a young man, not dissimilar to Max himself.
¡°What are you?¡± Max said, staggering backward, splashing into the sewer river.
The blue ghost pointed at the body on the ground. ¡°I¡¯m Eddie. I was a talented Thief, part Bard. I could charm the birds from the trees and the blouses off the ladies. Now look at me.¡±
Max staggered backward, splashing through the filth.
¡°Help me, Max,¡± the ghost said.
¡°How do you know my name?¡± Max said, panicked.
¡°I heard your friends call you. Please help. No one can see me, but you can see ghosts, I know it.¡±
It was true that Max could see Janet, but she wasn¡¯t really a ghost, just trapped between worlds. Maybe all ghosts were simply trapped between worlds.
¡°How do you think I can help you?¡±
The ghost looked down at his rotting body. ¡°My sword. It was the only thing in the whole of Eveirea that truly belonged to me. Everything else in my life was stolen, but the sword was my family sword. My ancestors were good honest Bards, performers, and entertainers. The sword was passed on to me by my father. He hated that I became a Thief. A Rogue. But he cursed me if I should ever have my family sword taken from me. It lies here in the sewer somewhere. Taken from me by the guards who left me here to rot.¡± The ghost of Eddie looked upward. ¡°Forgive me, Father.¡± He begged Max, ¡°Help me, Max.¡±
Max staggered backward.
Max felt sorry for this young man, like him in so many ways, but how could he help? ¡°I¡¯ll help you look for it, but how do you even know it¡¯s still here?¡±
The apparition closed its eyes. ¡°I can sense it. I know it¡¯s close. But even if I were to find it I wouldn¡¯t be able to pick it up. I need your help.¡±
Max started to wander down the tunnel, kicking the mirky water as he went, hoping he would feel something with his boot. He hadn¡¯t gone far when his boot landed on something hard. He kicked it to the side. A shortsword, glowing blue. He took it to the body, and the ghost looked at it, his eyes wide.
¡°My sword.¡± He looked upward. ¡°It is returned to me.¡± He turned to Max. ¡°It is the shortsword of cold,¡± Eddie said. ¡°Forged in the glacier forges of Essillt and given to my ancestor by the Mage Council. Please place it in my hand that I may be free.¡±
Max looked down at the rotting hand, flesh hanging off, bone sticking out.
¡°Please,¡± Eddie said. ¡°If it is returned to me, I can leave this world in peace.¡±
Max pressed the handle into the hand.
The ghostly form of Eddie looked up. A shaft of brilliant white light struck down from on high, and the blue shimmering form of Eddie rose up in a sudden rush.
Max regarded the remaining sword.
Max took the sword by the tip and pulled it free. He stood there for a moment, looking around for Eddie to return. He did not. He slipped the sword into his scabbard, swapping out the Shortsword of True Striking, which he dropped into his satchel.
¡°Thank you, Eddie,¡± Max said, looking down at the rotting body of the Thief.
Max checked his inventory.
Inventory:
? Light Clothes
? Light boots
? Good boots
? Satchel
? Mage Book
? Shortsword
? Golden Roc catapult
? Rough blanket
? Wooden dagger
? Hood of Sneaking
? Polished staff
? Superior bullets
? Fine rope
? Collar of Control
? Padded leather tunic
? Dagger of Poison Blade
? Potion of Intelligence
? Flint tool
? Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
? Scroll of Magic Shield
? Ring of Shadows
? Shortsword of True Striking
? Ring of Extra Spells
? Shortsword of Cold
? 181 gold
He hadn¡¯t realized how much gold he¡¯d come across. A coin here and a coin there, it all added up. About time he bought some new gear! He really didn¡¯t need three swords, and he would probably try to sell the basic shortsword if he could. It was nowhere near as good as either the Shortsword of True Striking or the Shortsword of Cold.
¡°Max,¡± the harsh whisper of Elderon echoed along the tunnel. ¡°Max, where are you?¡±
Max glanced down at the body of Eddie, and he looked around for the ghost. He looked up and spoke. ¡°If you ever want it back, Eddie, I will return it to you. I never wanted to be a Thief, and I won¡¯t steal your sword. If you want it back, let me know.¡±
Max ran toward Elderon. Anita and Jahrod waited with him.
¡°What were you doing back there?¡± Anita said.
¡°Ghostbusting,¡± Max said.
Anita gave him a quizzical look.
¡°This way,¡± Jahrod said and moved off.
Max followed and headed deeper into the sewer under Castle Ralynn.
Chapter 1.36
Jahrod led them to a small ladder up through a tight vertical tunnel that was little more than a pipe.
¡°Up there,¡± Jahrod said, pointing.
Max pressed in close with Anita, Elderon, and Jahrod, and they looked up the dark pipe. It would be a tight squeeze for Jahrod, but Max would have no problem. Iron rungs set in the side of the tunnel would let them climb. The only problem seemed to be the iron grill over the top of the channel. Max could see shadows and lights flickering above.
At that moment, the top of the pipe darkened. A sudden rush of water, warm and soapy, came down the chute. Max was drenched. He could smell the soap in the water. He let it wash all over him, flushing away the filth. Though thoroughly soaked through, at least he did not stink.
¡°It¡¯s the laundry,¡± Max said, smiling as the last of the water trickled away. ¡°But how to get the grill open?¡±
¡°Leave it to me,¡± Elderon said. He started up the iron rungs, as spry as a man half his age. In fact, Max realized he didn¡¯t know how old Elderon was. He¡¯d said he¡¯d known Gorgoron for an age, but was that a figure of speech, or was it as long as it sounded?
Elderon reached the top. There was a brief pause, and then he was up and through the top of the pipe. Max went next, swiftly up the rungs that were slippery with soap and water. He came out in the laundry room of the castle.
Huge wooden tubs filled with hot water sat in line in the large stone-clad room. Mechanical devices for pounding and washing the clothes and linen for the entire castle were at work. Steam drove the wooden shafts. A pair of rollers squeezed water out of a stack of linen. The water running along channels in the floor drained it away down the main chute. Then a large wooden tub made from slatted timbers tipped over and the used water, still warm and soapy, cascaded along the laundry floor toward the open drainage chute Max had just emerged from. The wall of waste water hit Jahrod as he came up, the last of the party to emerge.
Max could hear laundry workers in the shadows beyond the wooden washtubs.
¡°I¡¯ll find us a way out,¡± Max said. He activated his Sneak ability and vanished from sight, hidden in the steam and the shadows.
Max moved silently. He passed a laundry worker entering the laundry and slipped out of the steam-filled room. Outside the laundry was a corridor, long and dark, stone walls with an arch overhead and only six feet high. Elderon would have to duck, but Max could just about move along without fear of hitting his head.
He moved along the corridor, looking for the way out, a stairway up into the palace. He passed a door on his right. There . . . a heavy timber door with an opening at eye level, an opening with three vertical metal bars. He looked inside and saw a bare room with flagstone floor, stone walls, and a heap of straw in one corner. There was no window, but in the dark, he saw a figure of a young woman. She was huddled in the straw, drawing a thin shawl over her bare shoulders.
Max tried the door. The handle turned, but the door stayed locked. The young woman inside looked up at the door.
Max checked her stats.
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Name: Princess Shree Ralynn
Status: Captive
Attack: None
Threat level: Low
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Princess Shree said. ¡°Someone come to help a poor princess?¡±
A princess of Ralynn city! Max guessed she was the daughter of the king. What was she doing here in a dungeon? She was no threat to anyone.
¡°Maybe I can help,¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯ll get this door open.¡± Max tried to force his sword into the gap between door and frame. Shree came gingerly to the door, nervous, excited, and afraid. Max looked at her wide eyes. It was clear she was pretty even under the layer of grime on her face. A gentle word of concern would calm her. ¡°How did you end up in there?¡±
¡°I would not let my father slip into the darkness.¡± She came close to the bars in the door. ¡°I held his hand, I told him I was with him, and I saved him from the dark even as it began to take him. Then the advisor had me taken away. He could see that not only did I resist the darkness, but I saved my father from it. They put me here, and it has been weeks. The laundry workers drop bread through the grill when they can, but the advisor means to starve me to death. How did you get here? The guards don¡¯t let anyone down here.¡±
¡°I came through the sewers,¡± Max said.
Shree wrinkled her nose. ¡°That doesn¡¯t sound very nice.¡±
He shook his head. ¡°It wasn¡¯t.¡± Max tried to lever the door open with his sword. ¡°I am here to save a young dwarf from the dark king. I can free you too.¡±
¡°My father is changed,¡± Shree said. Her head dropped. ¡°Changed by the darkness, but he is not evil. It is not I or the young dwarf you need to free, it is the king that needs help. If we free him, bring him back from the darkness, the whole castle will be free again. He needs your help, not me.¡±
¡°Sit tight,¡± Max said and slipped away. He found the stairway up and saw a guard sitting on a stool at the top of the stairs. He was slumped forward and leaning on a spear, a ring of keys hanging from his belt.
Now Max wished he was a better Pick Pocket. He had taken a coin purse from a sleeping guard, but these keys looked heavy and would no doubt rattle. He touched the pommel of his sword, but even though the thought crossed his mind he knew he could not murder this guard while asleep. Max knelt and lifted the keys carefully.
The guard stirred as the keys jingled slightly, then he grunted, shifted position, and was snoring again. Max slipped back down the stairs and back to the princess. He slid a key into the door. Then he saw Elderon in the shadows.
¡°What are you doing, Max? You are supposed to be finding the way out of here.¡±
¡°The princess is being held prisoner here.¡± Max turned the key. ¡°She says the king has been taken by the darkness. If we can save him from the dark evil, we will free the castle.¡±
The princess stepped out, and Elderon gasped and gave a light bow.
¡°Princess! I had no idea you had survived. We will help you save your father.¡±
Max took the princess by the arm and let her lead him.
¡°This way,¡± she said and took them to the stairs up.
Max halted at the bottom of the stairs and pointed up. ¡°There is a guard asleep on a stool.¡±
Elderon nodded.
Elderon casts Sleep.
The spell drifted up the stairs, followed by the sound of the guard falling off his stool.
Max stepped over the guard and followed the princess to a narrow, hidden set of stairs.
¡°You learn all the hidden passages when you¡¯re trying to avoid the governess,¡± Shree said with a cheeky smile and then led the way.
The stairs ended at a wooden panel. Shree pressed a corner and then slid the panel aside. Max looked out onto a wider corridor, tall with a narrow carpet running its length and wall hangings decorating the walls.
Max stepped out into the wide corridor. He could hear the sound of approaching footsteps, a rhythmic pounding of marching feet. Around the far corner came a group of four soldiers, all dressed in black armor.
Max checked their stats, but he knew this was trouble.
Name: Blackguards
Status: Hostile
Attack: Longswords
Threat level: Deadly
Dark, lifeless eyes stared out from under black helmets. Fine dark lines flickered across their faces, pooling in deep dark shadows at the eye sockets. The lips were black and the cheeks pale. They advanced toward the party.
Chapter 1.37
Max felt a shiver of fear. The dark guards looked terrifying. They walked along the corridor slowly, two abreast and two deep, filling the corridor with the rhythmic clank of their armor. As one, with a rasping metallic ring, their swords were pulled clear of their scabbards.
They walked slowly, filling the corridor with their bulk and dark presence. Jahrod pushed himself in front of Max. Anita stepped up next to Jahrod, her spear twirling in her hands as she made ready to meet the attack.
Max drew his catapult. He didn¡¯t know how effective these catapult bullets would be against these heavily armored blackguards. He selected the pouch of enhanced bullets from his bag. He only had a few left. No point in saving them for the future! If he didn¡¯t take down these blackguards, there would be no future.
Elderon pulled a scroll from his bag and started reading it. The scroll crumbled away as the spell was cast.
Elderon casts Party Shield.
Party gains defensive bonus.
¡°The princess,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Move her to safety, Max.¡± Elderon began casting another spell.
Max looked from side to side. The princess stood defiantly.
¡°Give me a sword.¡± She held out her hand. ¡°This is my home, and I have every right to defend it.¡±
Max was impressed. She was brave indeed.
Max shook his head. He knew his party worked well together, and Shree, brave though she was, might get in the way, or she might get hurt. He spotted a side door, heavy timber with ironwork hinges and flat iron beams horizontally across. Max turned the large iron hoop that served as a handle and pushed the door open. Inside was a chamber with soft furnishings and wall hangings, and a small window looked out over the dark city.
Max grabbed the princess by the arm.
¡°No one manhandles the princess,¡± Shree said in exasperated tones, and she looked at Max with furious eyes that melted with his smile.
¡°Please, your highness, do as I say.¡±
The princess looked up at Max. She bit her lip and stepped backward through the door. Her eyes fixed on Max as he closed the door.
Elderon casts Call Lightning.
The lightning bolt leapt from Elderon and slammed into the Blackguard on the right. The lightning leapt from one to the next and on until all Blackguards had been hit.
Blackguard takes moderate damage.
Blackguard takes minor damage.
Blackguard takes minor damage.
Blackguard takes minor damage.
Max checked their stats, and their Health bars had hardly shifted.
¡°They are not susceptible to electrical damage,¡± Elderon said.
¡°What about fire?¡± Max said.
¡°Shoot your catapult, Max,¡± Elderon said as he started to cast another spell. ¡°And leave that Fireball alone.¡±
Anita was casting a Bonus spell to give the party a defensive and attacking bonus. Max felt the spell lift him, and he felt powerful, ready for action.
Max attacks Blackguard causing minor damage.
The bullet ricocheted off the Blackguard¡¯s helmet. A black rivulet of sticky black blood ran down the Blackguard¡¯s face and over his eye. The Blackguard didn¡¯t even blink.
Jahrod and Anita stood their ground as the Blackguard came closer. The front two raised their swords, ready to bring them down.
Blackguard attacks Anita.
Blackguard attacks Jahrod.
The swords came down hard. Although both Anita and Jahrod defended and parried the blow, they both took damage.
Anita takes moderate damage.
Jahrod takes moderate damage.
Anita jabbed the Blackguard in front of her in the chest with her spear before bringing it down with a crack on his helmet.
Anita attacks Blackguard causing minor damage.
Attack causes bonus fire damage.
Jahrod swung his axe in a wide swipe and struck the Blackguard in front of him with a heavy blow that sent the guard staggering into the side of the corridor, dust and grit chipping off the heavy stone walls.
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Jahrod attacks Blackguard causing heavy damage.
Elderon cast a spell, his hands twirling. By the number of gestures, Max could tell this was a high-level spell. Just as the spell was cast, Elderon called in a strong low voice, ¡°Fall back a pace.¡±
Instantly, Anita and Jahrod stepped back. A dark sphere floated forward and stopped in the center of the four Blackguards. It burst silently like a soap bubble.
Elderon casts Slow.
The guards now seemed to be moving in slow motion. The front two were raising their swords, but everything was slow. Anita and Jahrod moved in and attacked. Both landed heavy blows and then second ones that dealt heavy damage. Max had time to get a couple of catapult shots off but even these enhanced bullets still only dealt minor damage.
Max checked the Blackguard¡¯s Health. The front row had taken lots of damage, and they were close to defeat, but the pair behind were practically undamaged, and only a minor hit from the Lightning spell had damaged them.
Blackguard attacks Anita.
Blackguard attacks Jahrod.
Although the Blackguards¡¯ movements were slowed, the swords came down at a regular speed. The heavy steel swords were dealing heavy damage to both opponents.
Anita takes heavy damage.
Jahrod takes heavy damage.
Anita and Jahrod fell back a step, giving them time to recover. Both took a Potion of Basic Healing. The Blackguards continued their slowed advance. Anita and Jahrod stepped back again, just out of range of the Blackguards¡¯ swords.
Elderon casts Call Lightning.
Blackguard takes moderate damage.
Blackguard has been defeated.
Max felt a wave of relief as the Blackguard facing Anita crumpled to the floor. Max loaded his catapult and took aim.
Max attacks Blackguard causing minor damage.
Blackguard has been defeated.
As the lead guards crumpled to the floor, the pair behind stepped over them. They still moved slowly, but with the princess¡¯s room directly on Max¡¯s left he knew he couldn¡¯t fall back any further, or they would lose her to the Blackguards.
Elderon casts Freeze on Blackguard causing heavy damage.
¡°They are susceptible to the cold,¡± Elderon said.
Max checked the Health of the last two Blackguards. The one facing Jahrod was still virtually undamaged while the one facing Anita had taken the cold damage and was halfway to being defeated.
At that moment, the slow spell wore off as the two blackguards surged forward and attacked Anita and Jahrod. Their swords slamming down on them.
Blackguard attacks Anita causing heavy damage.
Blackguard attacks Jahrod causing moderate damage.
Anita fell back, clearly in pain. Elderon drew his sword and stepped up in her place. Anita started casting a healing spell on herself.
Max was doing no real damage with his catapult against these Blackguards. He cast Strength, and the spell filled him with power. He drew his Shortsword of Cold.
Max stepped in between Elderon and Jahrod. Although the space was tight, they were able to attack with their chosen weapons.
¡°Concentrate on the right,¡± Max said.
Elderon brought his longsword down, Jahrod swept up with his heavy axe, and Max stabbed forward at the guard, his arm feeling strong.
Elderon attacks Blackguard causing moderate damage.
Jahrod attacks Blackguard causing moderate damage.
Max attacks Blackguard causing minor damage.
Attack causes bonus cold damage.
Blackguard has been defeated.
The Blackguard crumpled at Max¡¯s feet. The remaining Blackguard brought his sword down on Jahrod.
Blackguard attacks Jahrod causing critical damage.
With Jahrod focused on the other Blackguard, now defeated, the remaining Blackguard was able to get his attack past Jahrod¡¯s defense.
Jahrod stood his ground and defended another blow from the lone Blackguard. Max stabbed again. Elderon moved along the corridor and attacked the remaining Blackguard on its rear.
Anita casts Basic Healing on Jahrod.
Max delivered another blow with his shortsword. He was so close, he could see the Blackguard¡¯s armor was like a black hole, heavy and almost impossible to see. It was as if it was surrounded by darkness. The blackguard took a series of blows from Elderon and Max.
Blackguard attacks Max.
The blackguard punched forward with the handle of his sword. Max was in too close for the guard to swing the sword, but he delivered a crushing blow with the sword¡¯s hilt and his gauntleted fist.
Max takes critical damage.
The Blackguard stepped forward toward Max. The guard took more damage from Elderon and Jahrod, but even now, critically wounded, he still had the ability to raise his sword. The Blackguard stood over Max, sword held high overhead.
The guard was out of reach of Max¡¯s shortsword. He fumbled for his catapult, loaded an enhanced bullet and shot, the bullet striking up and into the exposed throat of the Blackguard.
Max attacks Blackguard causing minor damage.
Blackguard has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The Blackguard crumpled to the floor. Max rolled away before the Blackguard could collapse on top of him, then stood up and poked the armor with his sword. It was slowly evaporating. Inside the armor was a mummified corpse, long dead. Max picked through the remains of the fallen Blackguards. He found a Potion of Basic Healing, which he drank immediately and felt his Health return. He had been one blow from death.
And there, in the remains of one of the Blackguards, he found a pendant. It was glowing white. He picked it up.
¡°What is it?¡± he said looking at Elderon. ¡°It looks magical. Is it cursed?¡±
Elderon stepped over and took the pendant from Max. He cast Know Item on the pendant.
¡°It¡¯s a pendant of defense,¡± Elderon said, handing the pendant back to Max. ¡°It will give you a defensive bonus if you wear it.¡±
Max inspected the silver chain with a black stone set in it. It was not his style at all.
¡°You should wear it always,¡± Elderon said.
Max slipped it over his neck, and the pendant shrank until it was a tighter fit, not so tight as to be uncomfortable but not so loose that it would flap about in battle. Max felt the defensive bonus come over him.
The Blackguards¡¯ armor had entirely evaporated. Max spotted the gauntlet that had delivered the punch that had nearly killed him and picked it up. It was heavy, and he could hardly handle it.
¡°A gauntlet of large weapons control,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I¡¯ve seen these before. Rare items from the Kranic Empire on the Scarfel continent. How did it get here?¡±
Max handed it to the dwarf. ¡°Take it, Jahrod.¡±
Jahrod beamed. ¡°Are you sure? It¡¯s a powerful item.¡±
¡°I can¡¯t use any large weapons. It would be wasted on me. I¡¯d only sell it. You can use it, so you might as well have it. Take it.¡±
Jahrod took it with an astounded look, mouth open, showing all his heavy crushing teeth. He slipped on the gauntlet. ¡°Thank you, Max.¡±
Anita casts Basic Healing on Max.
He wasn¡¯t fully healed, but his Health bar was in the green, and that at least made him feel better. ¡°Thank you, Anita,¡± Max said. But he saw that her beautiful almond eyes were staring along the corridor. They grew wide in alarm.
Max looked along the corridor. At the far end, a large, armored figure was approaching. A heavy hammer in one hand and a longsword in the other, both black. A dark cloud surrounded the figure that swirled like the dark whirlwind Max had encountered out in the meadowlands. In the swirling darkness, Max could see the screaming faces of tortured souls.
Max checked the stats on this new dark enemy.
Name: Death Knight
Status: Hostile
Attack: War Hammer, Longsword, Dark Terror
Threat level: Insidious
¡°I need time to cast some more healing spells,¡± Anita said. ¡°Jahrod needs aid.¡±
The Death Knight increased its walking speed, its feet pounding the stones of the corridor floor.
Max backed toward the room he¡¯d pushed the princess into. The heavy door would save them from this terror. He opened the door.
¡°In here.¡± Max ushered Jahrod and Anita inside. Elderon pushed Max inside as the Death Knight burst into a run.
Elderon came in behind Max and pushed the door shut. The footsteps stopped outside.
¡°Is everything alright?¡± Princess Shree asked.
Then the door shook with a mighty bang. Dust fell from the frame, then another heavy thump that made Max¡¯s heart beat hard in his chest.
Chapter 1.38
Max watched the door thunder with the heavy blows from outside. The door shook on its hinges as dust filled the room. The rock in the wall where the iron hinges were attached began to crumble. The sound of splitting wood accompanied every blow. The rhythm was not rapid but steady. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Anita cast all her healing spells in a calm and methodical manner. Elderon cast the last of his Bonus and Protection spells, giving the party every possible benefit, Magical Shields, Protection from Evil, and he dropped a Strength spell on Jahrod although it only improved the mighty dwarf marginally. He gave Max a bonus to Agility which made Max slightly harder to hit. Elderon lastly cast a barrier on the door that held it firm as the hammering continued.
With the party prepared the best they could be, all they could do now was wait, wait for the door to collapse or for the Death Knight to lose interest and move off.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
It did not look as if the Death Knight was going anywhere soon.
¡°It¡¯s me, isn¡¯t it?¡± Max said.
Anita and Jahrod remained focused on the door, their weapons ready to meet the might that would soon come crashing through.
Elderon looked at Max and laid a hand on his shoulder and gave Max a gentle look, but he didn¡¯t hold back the truth. ¡°The darkness is drawn to you, Max. I think it is clear now. The death knight, the dark creatures, the Dark Whirlwind, they are all drawn to you. They want to take control of you to increase the power of the darkness. It is my belief that together, we can find a way to seal the dark portal once we know its location. I intend to accompany you there and help you seal the portal and save Eveirea.¡±
¡°Will you destroy me too?¡± Max asked.
Elderon watched at the door. ¡°By the time we find the dark portal, I don¡¯t believe I would be able to destroy you. The power will be within you to do good or ill. I hope you will choose to do good.¡±
Bang.
¡°But be in no doubt,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The dark forces that are drawn to you only want to destroy you to increase the darkness.¡±
Bang!
¡°What of my father?¡± Princess Shree said. ¡°He is good, there is still good in him. It is the dark advisor that came to the city recently that has corrupted him. I know if my father can be saved, we can all be saved.¡±
Janet appeared next to Max.
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¡°The darkness here is centered on the king,¡± Janet said.
Max looked at the door, his fingers toying with the grip on his shortsword still in its scabbard. It would be in his hand soon enough, he feared.
¡°The king is alone now,¡± Janet said.
¡°Where is he?¡± Max said.
¡°Who?¡± Princess Shree asked.
¡°The king? Where is he?¡±
Shree pointed up. ¡°The throne room is directly above us, but it¡¯s several floors up.¡± The door shook again, a hinge pin coming loose. Her voice quivered as she said to Max, ¡°But there are no more secret stairways I can show you. The only way up is through that door.¡±
¡°Maybe not,¡± Max said. He looked at the small window. He opened it. He was only a few feet off the ground, the castle perched on a high mound in the middle of the city. If he fell, he would not fall far. He looked up. The stones were big and well locked together, a patchwork of stones of different sizes. The closer he got to the king, the more deadly the fall would be. He swapped his boots for the soft leather boots, hoping they would give him a better grip on the castle walls. Max climbed out onto the window ledge.
¡°I am going up, and if I can get to the king, I might be able to stop the Death Knight.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t hurt him,¡± Shree said, pleading with Max, her big eyes damp with tears.
Max knew he could not make a promise. He had lied enough these last days, lied to Elderon about the Fireball. If he was to face a king corrupted by the darkness, it would not be good to start with deceit.
¡°I will not hurt him if I can help it,¡± Max said, and he climbed out of the window.
The stone walls were rough with only the slightest cavities here and there for him to grip. At least with the Agility bonus Elderon had cast on him, he was able to pick his way up the wall safely and quickly.
Max reached a wide window. The wind at this height was tugging at his loose trousers. He peered over the wide stone windowsill. At the end of a large empty chamber stood a pair of guards on either side of an ornately framed double door colored in silver and gold. Max was sure that was the entrance to the king¡¯s chamber. He could Sneak there, but once he attempted to open that door, the guards would see him.
Max pushed the window and opened it just enough for him to slip through. He scurried to the side and hid behind a heavy tapestry hanging down the wall. He prepared his Sneak ability and began to Sneak toward the king¡¯s private chamber.
Moving along the wall toward the king¡¯s chamber, Max saw an open doorway on the side across from him. A corridor led away, and there were more guards standing along its length, their backs to the wall. Max recognized them, but he checked their stats. They were more Blackguards, tough enemies.
The guards at the king¡¯s chamber door were simple Ralynn Guards armed with spears and simply clothed with only basic leather armor.
Max crept on, closer to the king¡¯s door. Max got into position and drew his catapult. He loaded a basic bullet and took aim along the corridor.
The bullet flew out of the open doorway and down the corridor before hitting a wall and falling harmlessly to the floor. The guards at the door rushed to see what the sudden noise was.
With the guards away, Max slipped to the door and tried the handle. If this door was locked, he¡¯d be done for. He couldn¡¯t fight off half a dozen Ralynn Guards and four Blackguards on his own.
The door opened, and he stepped inside. He found himself in the king¡¯s throne room and directly behind a single Ralynn Guard at the door.
Sneak ability deactivates.
The guard spotted Max instantly. He turned and leveled his spear, the tip glinting in the light from the candles around the throne room.
Chapter 1.39
At the far end of the throne room, the king sat on his throne on top of a low, wide stage. A gray stone wall behind the throne was decorated with heavy tapestries. A small colored-glass window behind the throne showed the darkness of night, but nothing as dark as the cloud that swirled around the king and his advisor, an agent of the darkness. The king remained slumped in his throne, leaning to the side toward the dark agent whispering in his ear. Although the king¡¯s eyes fell on Max, he made no other movement.He simply sat there. The dark agent glanced sideways at Max and continued to whisper to the king.
Max drew his sword as the Ralynn Guard thrust with his spear.
Ralynn Guard attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Instinctively, Max dodged the spear thrust toward him, dancing around the tip. He was on the edge of balance, and when he righted himself, he found his sword was ready to strike.
Max attacks Ralynn Guard causing moderate damage.
Attack causes bonus cold damage.
Max had nowhere to run. He had to stand and fight.
Ralynn Guard attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Again, Max dodged to the side as the spear came forward. The spear stuck in the door, and the guard tugged it to pull it free.
Max attacks Ralynn Guard causing moderate damage.
Attack causes bonus cold damage.
The guard let go of the spear and left it sticking out of the door. He fell back a step and drew a short dagger from his belt.
Max stepped in to attack, and the guard turned and ran toward the king. Max dropped his sword, pulled out his catapult, and loaded a bullet just as the guard reached the stage of the king¡¯s throne.
Max attacks Ralynn Guard causing minor damage.
Ralynn Guard has been defeated.
The bullet bounced off the back of the guard¡¯s head, and he slumped to the floor. The king¡¯s eyes went down to the guard and then up to Max.
Max gains experience points.
Max has leveled up.
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Max looked at his stats in the flickering of the candlelight on the stone floor. All the information was grayed out and covered with the now familiar gold letters.
Max didn¡¯t have Elderon here to advise him. He was only a few paces away from confronting and hopefully saving the king and all his friends, but maybe there would be some new bonus in the new level. It would only take a moment. He walked toward the king and let the level up wash over him.
Max gains Extra Health.
Max gains new spell slots.
Sneak ability improved.
Max felt fitter and more powerful. Extra spells wouldn¡¯t help him now. He would have to rest first, but the extra spell slots would make him a very potent spell caster. He noticed his satchel had also been upgraded again.
But it would all be for nothing if he couldn¡¯t defeat the king. He stepped up to the foot of the stage the throne sat upon.
The king¡¯s eyes were staring and unseeing, his face shot through with fine dark lines that pooled in his eye sockets.
The dark agent eyed Max. He opened his mouth as if screaming, but only made a sound like dry sand flowing over paper. As the dark agent rasped his dry scream, Max could see the dark cloud swirling around him, and the king was suddenly shot through with flashes of red.
Max felt the dark power. It drew him like the deepest temptation. Addiction to the worst drug could be nothing compared to the power this dark agent suddenly offered.
Janet appeared at Max¡¯s right shoulder. She was in panic.
¡°What¡¯s happening? The portal, it¡¯s growing. I can feel myself getting lost in this already deep void. I am losing myself.¡±
Max stared at the dark agent. He could feel an urge to let the darkness fill him with that promised power like nothing he¡¯d felt before.
¡°Max, you can slow the portal expansion,¡± Janet was pleading.
Max walked forward, reminding himself of all that was good, all he wanted to save. He thought of Janet, trapped and alone, reliant on Max to do the right thing. He thought of Anita, brave and wise. He thought of Elderon, intelligent and kind. He even thought of Jahrod the grumpy dwarf and his unique smell.
The agent fell back, the darkness swirling around him and gathering closer to him. Max stepped up to the throne and could feel the darkness shrink, but it was a huge effort to force it back. It was the greatest effort he¡¯d ever felt to refuse its temptations.
The agent moved away, breathing out a rasping cry. He backed toward the entrance. The moment he got to the door, it burst open, and in stepped a pair of Blackguards.
Max grabbed the king and dragged him off his throne. He pulled him behind the throne and took cover. The small colorful glass window behind the throne offered Max an escape, but he was so high up, there would be no escape for the king. If Max threw him to his death, perhaps it would bring an end to the darkness infecting the castle.
Then Max felt the darkness tempt him more strongly than before. Yes, murder the king! He knew he would become powerful, and he would control the darkness.
Max had only one move left. He started to cast a spell.
Max had looked at the gestures and incantations for the Fireball so many times that he knew them well. He thought he was going to cast it out in the wilderness to test it out, but here he was, in a confined space. It might be the end of his adventures in Eveirea if this went wrong. He summoned the Fireball and threw it down the throne room toward the dark agent and the Blackguards.
The throne room filled with heat, then wind, then the blast front hit. It threw the throne off its stage and on top of Max and the king. The blast front knocked the dark agent and the Blackguards off their feet. Then came the flame, rippling outwards from the casting center.
Blackguards take critical damage.
Dark Advisor takes critical damage.
The throne took the brunt of the blast, but Max felt his skin burn. His leather tunic began to smolder. The king began to yell in pain.
Max takes moderate damage.
King Glynn takes heavy damage.
Max stood up. The dark agent was collapsed to the floor. The blackguards were lying still, their armor evaporating. A group of Ralynn Guards were in the far chamber, completely bewildered.
Max checked on the king. The darkness that enveloped him was receding. The king looked up with tired, bemused eyes.
¡°Who are you?¡±
Max reached down with his hand.
¡°I¡¯m Max, Level Four Mage.¡±
The dark agent was on his feet and backed out of the throne room to the outer chamber.
Max shouted to the confused Ralynn Guards,
¡°Seize that dark advisor.¡±
The guards leveled their spears and blocked the advisor¡¯s way. He backed away from the guards, turned, and ran directly at Max. Max drew his sword, but the advisor avoided Max, leapt, and jumped through the window.
Max ran to the window to try and grab the advisor, stop him from falling. Who was he, and who had sent him? Why was the darkness drawn to Max, and Max drawn to it? But the dark agent was gone, and when Max looked down the side of the castle wall, a flash of red caught his eye, dashing off through the city streets below.
Chapter 1.40
Max stepped away from the window. He heard footsteps approaching, a group running to the king¡¯s chamber. Max felt himself tense and make ready for a fight. But he relaxed as he saw Anita, Elderon, and Jahrod in the far chamber beyond the throne room. His shoulders relaxed, and he sheathed his sword.
Princess Shree came running to her father. ¡°Oh, you are back, my father! You have been lost for so long!¡± She embraced him and wept tears of relief and joy.
¡°I was in a dark place,¡± the king said in a voice of one roused from a deep dream. He regained his composure rapidly. ¡°I was tempted there with the promise of things I barely understood, things I can hardly remember and then lost. A whispering in my ear, faint and irresistible.¡± He held his daughter tightly and looked at Max. ¡°I know the darkness is spreading. Dark agents are gaining the trust of kings across the continent of Awen. The emperors of the Scarfel continent have all succumbed to it except for a very few. All of Eveirea will fall to the darkness soon. How can we combat something so hidden?¡±
Elderon put his hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°When my apprentice Mage made his first level, he had a vision of a dark portal that brings the darkness to Eveirea. We will stop this evil.¡±
¡°You will be afforded the freedom of Ralynn City,¡± the king said. ¡°Avail yourself of any service it can afford you, and I will see the cost is covered. Take an apartment here in the castle and rest as long as you and your party need to, Master Mage. The Kingdom of Faregent will ever be your ally and your humble servant.¡±
Max stepped back and left the king and his daughter as tears turned to laughter. Elderon, Anita, and Jahrod followed Max close behind.
¡°Do you really think we can find the dark portal?¡± Max said.
Elderon inspected the charred wall hangings. ¡°I think you are turning into a powerful young Mage. Let me guide you, and together we will do all that is in our power to save Eveirea.¡±
With the darkness banished from Ralynn City, Max took time to rest. After sleeping for what felt like a week, Max was woken by a trio of serving staff. A pair of old ladies took his clothes with a promise to wash and dry them and left him naked in his bedchamber. A tall man who looked about a hundred years old entered and held out a robe for Max to put on before leading him to a steamy bath chamber.
Max reclined in the large wooden hot tub, scooping up the thick bubbles. When the staff returned with his clothes, he politely requested more hot water, and in short order, several more gallons of hot water were added to the tub. Max lay back. He could get used to living in the castle. He opened his eyes when the chamber door opened, expecting one of the castle serving staff bringing him fresh towels. Was he surprised to see Princess Shree step in! She wore her hair up and her long white dress low. She walked over to the tub, sat at the side, and dropped her arm into the warm, soapy water.
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¡°If I¡¯d known you were going to be in here, I would have waited and had my bath with you,¡± she said with a cheeky smile.
¡°Pity,¡± Max said, returning the smile.
Shree was pretty and classy too. She had a twinkle in her eye as she looked down at Max reclined in the tub, and she started to untie the strings on the front of her dress.
¡°I could always use another bath,¡± she said.
Just as Max felt his interest in Princess Shree rising, the door burst open, steam swirling. Elderon strode in, staff clacking on the flagstone floor.
¡°Greetings, Princess Shree,¡± Elderon said with a bow to the young lady, and then to Max. ¡°Enough resting and soaking. You¡¯ve been in that tub for an hour.¡±
Max reclined. ¡°I could do another half an hour. The king¡¯s own staff have just topped off the hot water, and I have a feeling it was about to get even hotter.¡± He winked at Shree.
¡°No, enough,¡± Elderon said. ¡°You need to practice before we head out from the city. Your magic is chaotic, and you need to study control.¡±
Shree smiled at Max and kissed him on the head. ¡°My father always told me of the importance of study. When you are finished with your lessons, maybe I can teach you something of our city.¡±
Max smiled and leaned back in the tub.
¡°I¡¯d like that,¡± he said. He waved as Princess Shree left.
¡°Enough,¡± Elderon said.
Elderon casts Cold.
The water in the tub suddenly dropped in temperature. Ice crystals started to form, and Max jumped out of the water before it froze solid around him.
¡°That was a mean trick,¡± Max said, wrapping his arms around his frozen naked body.
¡°Would you like to learn it?¡± Elderon said with a wry smile.
Max nodded. ¡°Heck, yeah!¡±
Elderon lifted a towel with his levitation ability and threw it at Max. ¡°I will teach it to you. And much more too. We will have to learn as we go. We must be away from this place soon. One more day and night to rest and resupply, then we begin our journey to the nearest Mage Stone. The Mage Council will help us locate this dark portal. You must be in good shape if you are going to travel with me.¡±
Max knew the portal should never have come here. The transport portal that created the dark portal was also creating chaos where it met the magic of Eveirea. Max knew that to save himself and those he cared for, he would have to close the dark portal.
But he had to find it first, and somehow, he knew that the closer he got, the more danger he would face. But he wouldn¡¯t face it alone. He had only seen a small part of Eveirea so far, and the hunt for the dark portal would show him more . . . more beauty, more danger.
He was ready for it all.
Chapter 2.01
The thick stone walls of Ralynn Castle kept out the cold and held in the heat. The roaring open fire at one end of Max¡¯s chamber was piled high with logs of sweet-smelling timber and plenty of shimmering black coal. The castle staff kept the fire fueled and burning brightly. Max had dragged his little bunk so close to the fire that his face glowed. He had spent too many days and long nights out in the cold, wandering about the wilderness, battling bizarre creatures and dark enemies. For the first time since waking up here in Eveirea, he felt at ease. At last, he could take some time to rest, relax, and really start to feel warm.
The rain slashed against the small glass window, huge drops of near-freezing water coming in waves on a chill wind. His chamber in this high corner tower was warm and dry, but through the small window he could see the cold and wet city below. Even though it was late afternoon, the city was dark under the heavy rain clouds. Flaming torches were already lit across the city, small flickering orange lights along the main street and in the doorways of homes and businesses. The sight of the cold, wet city sent a shiver down his spine.
It was not so long ago that he was high above another cold and rainswept city. Then he had been a thief, climbing tower blocks and stealing valuables from hard-to-reach places for his gangster boss. The last job in that city had placed him in the middle of a transport experiment: an experiment that had activated under a storm cloud, an experiment that had thrown him across the universe and left him here on this strange world, Eveirea.
That had been a new city, skyscraping tower blocks of steel frames clad in shining glass and chrome. This city was old, built from timber and stone. He knew which he preferred.
Max pulled the rough blanket over his shoulders and looked down at the sodden Ralynn City below. Thatch rooftops far below the castle spread across the city. Steam and smoke rising from the thatch roofs, light spilling out of doorways and uncovered windows glistened on the damp streets. Somewhere down there was the little back street tavern he¡¯d recently found. The Roasted Lamb. It was hardly big enough to get a whole lamb over the fire in that cramped little tavern, but the music was good, and that barmaid had given him the eye. As soon as he was fully rested, he¡¯d head back there, try that dark dwarven ale and a bowl of thick-cut lamb chops in sauce.
Only in the last day or so had he been able to come to terms with what had actually happened to him and where he was, but he still couldn¡¯t understand how he had come to be here. If it wasn¡¯t all so real, he would swear it was a dream. He pinched himself several times a day to make sure. Sometimes he thought he must have slipped off that glass-sided tower block and was now lying in a hospital somewhere, deep in a coma. That made more sense than living in this strange world.
There was only one other person here in Eveirea who knew the world that Max had left behind, and he wasn¡¯t even sure she was real. At the moment, she appeared in his thoughts at his shoulder. The ghostly image of the laboratory technician who¡¯d been swept up with him in the transport experiment appeared in shimmering white surrounded by a deep-black outline that was blacker than the empty void of space. Her white lab coat billowed out around her like a cape, her red hair floating behind her as if she was adrift in zero gravity. She first showed up about the size of a kitten and slowly grew to fully adult human size as she spoke.
¡°You are here because you tried to steal industrial diamonds from the transport portal experiment.¡± Janet said.
¡°Are you listening to my thoughts?¡± Max said, rather nervous. He didn¡¯t want her to know what he really thought about her, that even though she was clearly some sort of science geek, she was a stone-cold babe.
¡°Don¡¯t flatter yourself, Max,¡± Janet said. ¡°You only have one thought.¡±
Max shrugged and pulled the rough blanket tightly around his shoulders. So what if she knew he thought she was hot?
¡°The only thing you ever think about is how you ended up here.¡±
Max relaxed.
The chamber door opened slightly, heavy timber on well-greased iron hinges moving with hardly a sound. Princess Shree slipped in through the few open inches. Once inside, she closed the door behind her and leaned back against it.
¡°Well,¡± Janet said. ¡°Maybe not the only thing you think about.¡±
Janet faded away, returning to the dark portal where she was trapped, caught in the transport portal somewhere between Earth and Eveirea. Max hunted around his chambers to check that she wasn¡¯t lingering somewhere.
¡°Who are you looking for?¡± Shree said, her voice purring.
¡°No one,¡± Max said with a smile. ¡°Just checking we¡¯re alone.¡±
Shree nodded. ¡°Alone at last,¡± she said as she walked towards Max. She practically floated as she slipped a bag off her shoulder and moved to the roaring fire. She laid a blanket on the stone hearth in front of the fire and sat down. Patting the blanket, she invited Max to sit next to her.
¡°Isn¡¯t the stone floor a bit uncomfortable?¡± Max asked.
Shree took a large bottle of deep-red wine out of her bag and set it on the stone hearth. She looked up at him, bit her lip, and shook her head. She wiped her hand over the blanket. ¡°This is a Blanket of Comfort. Always soft and warm and comfortable.¡± She pulled Max down to her.
The blanket was soft. Max could not feel the gray flagstones that lay on the floor before the fireplace.
Shree slid closer to him. Max had never been lucky with the ladies, but ever since arriving here in Eveirea, they couldn¡¯t leave him alone¡ªall except Anita the Druid. Maybe that was why he was attracted to her so much.
Shree poured a goblet of wine and sipped it. She wrinkled her nose at the strong taste.
Max sat up. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be at your lessons?¡±
¡°I drugged the tutor,¡± Shree said, smiling, biting her lip. ¡°She¡¯s snoring like a cart hog.¡± Shree slid closer to Max. She loosened the bow on the laces holding her top closed and let the laces hang. She pulled a long pin from her hair and shook her hair loose.
A knock at the door came just as Max slid forward over the Blanket of Comfort to find more comfort in the arms of the beautiful princess. Before Max could answer the knock, the door was flung wide open. The flames flickered and crackled in the sudden gust of wind.
Anita walked in, flinging the heavy door shut behind her as easily as if it had been a tent flap. Her toned muscles on her bare arms rippled. Her dark hair tumbling over her tanned shoulders. She smiled as she paced towards the fire, her cropped leather tunic straining to keep her ample chest and her enthusiasm contained. The straps of her leather fighting skirt swishing as she came and sat down on the bed, arms on her knees.
¡°Hello, Max,¡± she said brightly. ¡°Princess,¡± she added with a nod.
¡°Anita,¡± Max said. He could never turn the Druid away. Her hypnotic green almond-shaped eyes had entranced him from the first moment he¡¯d seen her. ¡°Can I help you?¡±
Anita smiled at Max. ¡°Maybe I can help you. I¡¯ve been studying with the Ralynn City Druid circle. They are only a small group, but I have just gained a permanent increase in my Wisdom stat. It¡¯s always good to be open to new ideas. I just came to see if you wanted to come to a session this afternoon. We¡¯re studying healing herbs. Maybe you¡¯ll learn something and get a Wisdom stat boost too.¡±
Max didn¡¯t have the heart to tell Anita that he wasn¡¯t a bit excited about herb lore or the local Druid circle, that even though he could undoubtedly benefit from an increase to his Wisdom stat, he was quite happy to forego that little bit of character development and see what Princess Shree had to teach him instead.
¡°You are not busy with anything right now, are you?¡± Anita said. Then she spotted Princess Shree surreptitiously fastening her top. Anita looked at Max and her eyes widened. She appeared a little surprised, even crestfallen. ¡°Oh, I see,¡± she said. ¡°You¡¯re busy.¡± She stood up to leave.
¡°We¡¯re just hanging out, you know,¡± Max said.
¡°Hanging out?¡± Anita sounded confused. ¡°Like,¡± she pointed to the small window, ¡°hanging out the window?¡±
Shree looked up at Max, also confused. ¡°We didn¡¯t even open the window, and we¡¯re too far up to hang out of it.¡±
¡°No, hanging out,¡± Max said. ¡°You know, chilling.¡±
Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Anita shook her head. ¡°The fire is bright and warm, Max. If you have a chill, maybe you are unwell.¡± She turned on her heel and marched to the door. ¡°I will prepare a medicinal tea for you.¡±
Max was about to try and explain. He kept forgetting how the people he met in Eveirea often could not understand a word he said. But as Anita reached the door, it burst open. In walked Jahrod.
The Warrior dwarf was not wearing his heavy plate armor that Max was accustomed to seeing him in, but some casual clothes that he¡¯d found in the castle. They were extraordinarily brightly colored, something Max still couldn¡¯t get used to. In the wilderness, Jahrod was a drab and gruff figure, but since he¡¯d been resting in the castle, he had shown a surprising inclination towards bright garish, colorful items of clothing and footwear. His shoes had curled toes and were a vivid green. The deep-blue short pants were a little too tight, it seemed. A bright-red tunic with gold-and-purple embroidery completed the outfit, one that reminded Max of an explosion in a fancy dress hire store. Jahrod¡¯s beard was still a huge mass of dark wiry hair. When he grinned, he showed the two rows of heavy, crushing yellow teeth.
¡°Max, Anita,¡± Jahrod said brightly. Then he bowed to Shree. ¡°Princess.¡±
¡°Is there something you need, Jahrod?¡± Max said.
Jahrod jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. ¡°I have just had the first bowl of scromble in an age. My nephew works in the kitchen, and he made something that tasted almost like it. He couldn¡¯t get all the right ingredients, but he did his best.¡± Jahrod patted his stomach. ¡°It is not as strong as the proper scromble back home. I don¡¯t think they can get the really ripe guano this far south, but it is pretty good. You want to come and try some?¡±
Max wrinkled his nose. He¡¯d seen the sort of things Jahrod liked to eat, and he¡¯d been warned about scromble. Max was about to make an excuse when a look of sudden realization swept over Jahrod¡¯s face, as much of it as Max could see through the heavy dwarven beard.
¡°Oh, that¡¯s right, you are busy. What did you call it, dangling out?¡±
¡°Hanging out,¡± Max corrected him.
Jahrod backed towards the door. Anita went with him.
¡°We¡¯ll leave you to your dangling then,¡± Anita said.
Max nodded and smiled as Anita closed the door.
Shree pulled Max back to the Blanket of Comfort before the fire. ¡°Your friends are funny,¡± she said.
Max had spent so much time with them recently. They¡¯d all been through so much. Now that he was rested, he realized how little time he¡¯d spent with them in the last couple of days.
¡°Maybe I should go and try some of Jahrod¡¯s scromble,¡± Max said.
Shree wrinkled her nose. ¡°I don¡¯t think you should. If it doesn¡¯t kill you, you¡¯ll never get the taste out of your mouth. And even if you could free your taste buds, you¡¯ll never be able to forget it, and it¡¯ll spoil every meal you ever have afterwards. Only dwarfs can eat that stuff. And if you ever did try it, I don¡¯t think I could ever kiss you.¡±
¡°Kiss me?¡± Max said.
¡°If you insist,¡± Shree said with a smile and crawled towards him, the untied strings of her loose top hanging down. Just as she came close to Max, the door again burst open.
¡°Up, up, Max.¡± Elderon the Master Mage swept into the chamber, leaving the door open behind him. ¡°Princess, leave us.¡±
Max was a little taken aback by his mentor¡¯s sudden arrival and by the way he spoke to the princess. Everyone else in the castle spoke to her with such deference, but Elderon spoke plainly.
Shree got to her feet and gave Max a shy and apologetic smile. ¡°We¡¯ll hang out soon,¡± she said and walked to the door.
Max stood up and pulled the blanket off the floor.
¡°Your blanket,¡± Max said, holding it out to her.
She smiled. ¡°Keep it. You can give it to me one day.¡± She winked and closed the heavy timber door.
Max gains Blanket of Comfort.
Max reached into his Satchel and removed his rough blanket. He tossed it onto his bed and stuffed the Blanket of Comfort into his Satchel in its place. He was able to fit it in with ease even though his inventory had grown massively. He focused to take a quick look at his inventory. The little rivers of rain running down the window pane formed a table of his inventory.
Inventory:
? Satchel
? Good Boots
? Mage Book
? Golden Roc Catapult
? Blanket of Comfort
? Torch
? Polished Wooden Dagger
? Hood of Sneaking
? Polished Staff
? Superior Bullets
? Fine Rope
? Collar of Control
? Padded Leather Tunic
? Dagger of Poison Blade
? Potion of Intelligence
? Flint Tool
? Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
? Ring of Shadows
? Shortsword of True Striking
? Ring of Extra Spells
? Shortsword of Cold
? Pendant of Defense
¡°Elderon,¡± Max said, pleading, ¡°I am not ready for a magic lesson just now.¡± He looked away from the table of inventory on the window, and the table melted away, the rivulets of rain flowing naturally down the glass once again.
¡°Grave news, Max¡± Elderon said. ¡°An army comes. Common folk from the lands east of here are reporting an army moving towards the Kingdom of Faregent. Pack your things, young Mage. We will travel east from Faregent towards the Hinge and observe this army.¡±
¡°The Hinge?¡± Max looked out at the cold, wet afternoon that had suddenly turned darker. The wind howled and rain lashed the window.
¡°Pay attention, Max.¡± Elderon waved his hands over the fire, and a map appeared in the flames. Max could see the two continents of Eveirea and knew he was on the western continent, Awen. Across the Kraken Sea was the eastern continent, Scarfel. The continent of Awen was split into north and south by a long and narrow body of water running from the western ocean and almost to the Kraken Sea on the east coast. Elderon pointed at the narrow sea on the map, and it briefly glowed.
¡°This is the Salt River. It almost cuts Awen in two except for where north and south Awen meet at the Hinge on the east coast.¡±
Max could see the kingdoms of southern Awen on the map. He was in the city of Ralynn in the Kingdom of Faregent, which lay between the Breamor Kingdom in the west and the Hinge. North of the Salt River lay two huge kingdoms, the Kingdom of Deepwood, and to the far west, dominating most of the Awen continent, was the Kingdom of Ragewind. At the northern edge of the continent was a long range of mountains of the land known as Essillt. Max knew this was where the Mage council had their seat of power.
At the eastern edge of Essillt, on the banks of the Kraken Sea, was the Kingdom of Eastwind with its bays and river inlets. On the continent of Scarfel, Max saw the long range of high mountains, as high as those of Essillt. The mountains ran north to south, sheer cliffs facing the Kraken Sea, jagged peaks reaching the clouds. The Scarfel Range ran unbroken save for a narrow gap in the north across the Kraken Sea directly opposite a small bay and a port town of Eastcrossing in the Kingdom of Eastwind. Max read the strange names on the Scarfel continent for a moment before Elderon directed Max¡¯s attention back to the Hinge.
¡°King Aris Deadtide currently holds the Hinge. He is based at his stronghold, Castle Deadtide, on the eastern end of the Salt River. If he is attacking Faregent, it may be that he has fallen to the darkness. I want to observe this army and discover if this is human politics and war or if King Aris Deadtide, who has long been an ally of King Glynn and the kingdom of Faregent, is in fact driven by darkness.¡± Elderon looked at Max. ¡°We have not stopped the darkness, only slowed its advance.¡±
Max looked out of the small window. The rain had eased in the last few minutes. It was not heavy but persistent. And the sky was growing darker as the sun slowly slipped to the horizon. It would be dark before he could get out of the city, meaning they would be walking in the wilderness beyond the city in the dark of night. And Max was sure rain would come, hard and heavy, before dawn. He shivered at the thought.
¡°Do you really need me?¡± Max said.
¡°I will not leave you here, Max. You are my responsibility. You are still a very low-level Mage, and you may be in danger. Some in Eveirea may know of your origins and your connection to the darkness, that you came here through the dark portal. They would do you great harm if they found you. You would be little more than a key to them gaining power by controlling the dark portal for themselves. No, Max, you cannot stay. You must come with me.¡±
Max had previously had encounters with Assassins sent to find and kill him. He knew Elderon was right. Although Max could cast some impressive spells, he was only a Level 3 Mage and had a limited number of spells available to him. He knew Elderon was not the most fun person to be around, but he did keep Max safe, as safe as anyone could be in this wild world.
¡°Should we first rest and resupply, be sure we are fully prepared for the journey?¡± Max nodded as if he had settled on the best way to proceed. ¡°Yes, Elderon, we will set off at first light.¡±
The door burst open, and in stepped Jahrod in full plate armor. Anita behind him in her fighting leathers. Her spear of flame at her side, the stone spearhead glowing a dull red, hinting at the powerful fire magic that lay within.
¡°Max,¡± Anita said, ¡°have you not heard?¡±
¡°The approaching army?¡± Max asked.
Jahrod stepped forward and grabbed Max¡¯s Padded Leather Tunic from the dressing stand. He threw it at Max hard. ¡°You will have to try my nephew¡¯s scromble another time, young Mage.¡±
Max peeled the tunic off his face and slipped it on. He wished he could be as enthusiastic as the rest of his party. He selected the Soft Boots. They were perhaps not as sturdy as the Good Boots, but he liked them, and they were better for climbing.
Anita handed Max his Satchel. He took out his sword belt and scabbard and then selected one of his shortswords. A plain shortsword he had bought in a town far from here. It had no special ability, just a sharp edge. But then there was his Shortsword of True Striking and the Shortsword of Cold. He looked out of the window. It was cold enough out there. He slipped the Shortsword of True Striking into his scabbard. He left the plain shortsword propped up against the bed.
Elderon handed Max his Polished Staff.
¡°Ready?¡± Elderon asked.
Max laid his staff on the bed. He took out his Golden Roc Catapult and hooked it to his belt. He stood with his hand resting on the pommel of the sword in its scabbard.
¡°Ready,¡± he agreed.
¡°Are you going to leave your staff behind, young Mage?¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Yes,¡± he said and walked to the door. ¡°I¡¯d rather take an umbrella.¡±
¡°What¡¯s an umbrella?¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Can you eat it?¡±
¡°I expect you could,¡± Max said.
Anita wrapped an arm over Max shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s good to be heading out again with the party, don¡¯t you think, Max?¡± she smiled at him and held him tight.
A flash of lightning lit up the room. It sent a shiver down Max¡¯s spine. It was thanks to a thunderstorm that he¡¯d ended up here in Eveirea, that and a giant science experiment gone wrong.
¡°Yes,¡± Max said as brightly as he could manage. ¡°Nothing like heading out to adventure with the party back together again.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s move fast,¡± said Anita. ¡°The weather will be getting bad in a few hours. We should go.¡±
The thunder shook the small window as Max closed the door behind him. ¡°Getting worse?¡± he said to himself. ¡°How could it get any worse?¡±
Chapter 2.02
It was as if the rain clouds knew that Max and his party had passed beyond the city walls, for it was at that very moment that the rain fell. It came down in ferocious torrents, swept forward on a chill wind. It was little comfort that the wind was at their backs, but as the night wore on the wind changed, swirling to hit the party from the sides. Eventually, Max found he was battling into the wind and rain as he trudged on over the paved road.
On more than one occasion, Max considered casting a Fireball spell in their path, setting aflame one of the thickets that sprang up alongside the road to warm himself on this cold, wet night. As he considered it, now he wondered if he did have an active Fireball spell. He hadn¡¯t looked at his Mage Book for a few days, not while he resided at Castle Ralynn. He was well rested, so any spells he had selected when he¡¯d last checked would now be active and ready for him to cast. He searched his Satchel. The Mage Book was here somewhere amongst his assorted gear and came instantly to hand. It fitted easily in the palm of his hand but grew when he opened it.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Fireball
Max remembered now that he had prepared his favored collection of spells a few days before. He¡¯d had no need to cast a single spell while he¡¯d taken his ease in Castle Ralynn. His selected spells were all available to him. It was satisfying to see the active spells shimmering on the page, but it did little to warm him against the wind and rain on this dark night.
Elderon had cast a spell of Bring Light, causing his staff to glow with a brilliant white light, showing them the road ahead. Max thought that he would like to learn that spell for himself. He¡¯d first need to find a Scroll of Bring Light somewhere, maybe in a store, and learn it so it appeared in his Mage Book. But what Max really needed on a night like this was a protective sphere to hold the rain off and something to keep him warm too. He plodded on behind Elderon and imagined all the spells that could make this cold and wet night march more comfortable.
The clouds parted briefly and gave Max a fleeting view of the deep, dark sky flecked with starlight. Max could not believe that the void of space could be any colder than the landscape before him. The way ahead was darker even than the star-studded sky. The landscape all around would have been pure blackness if it wasn¡¯t for Elderon spell of Bring Light. Even so, Elderon purposely kept the light level low, illuminating only a small area around the party. Max chose to walk next to Anita, who held her bundle of glowing moss in her hand. The low-green light from the moss gave much less light than Elderon¡¯s spell, lighting up only a few steps ahead. It gave him a perfect excuse to walk close to the dusky Druid. He could feel the heat radiating off her body. She wore only a few strips of leather. A cropped padded leather tunic, her short fighting skirt, and high leather boots, but she showed no signs of discomfort, and the cold hardly touched her. In fact, she was like a walking furnace. She wrapped an arm around Max and held him close. He relished her soft skin and the heat she gave out.
Somewhere close behind, hidden in the dark, was Jahrod. He was totally lost in the darkness, but Max could hear the rattle and clatter of his heavy armor and the occasional sounds of him eating, crunching rotten flesh and bone under those heavy crushing teeth hidden away behind his thick wiry beard.
¡°How come he doesn¡¯t trip or anything?¡± Max said to Anita, his voice raised only just enough to cut through the howling wind.
¡°Dwarfs are accustomed to darkness. It¡¯s their nature as miners and cave dwellers. It lets them see when there is little or no light.¡±
Max could barely make out the shape of trees and hills in the distance. Only when he felt the struggle to climb did he realize they were now heading up a slope that was getting steeper by the minute. The wind became weaker, and Max could hear the rustle of mighty tree branches. He realized he was in the shelter of a stand of trees.
¡°We will rest here for a few hours,¡± Elderon said. ¡°It is close to dawn. We will warm and dry ourselves and be ready to move into the Hinge before sunrise.¡±
Max wiped water from his face. How could they warm and dry themselves in this rain? The trees gave some shelter from the wind, but the rain fell steadily. He could sit next to Anita and be warm, but he was soaked through, and the rain showed no signs of stopping.
¡°Gather close,¡± Elderon said.
Max squeezed close to Anita. She smiled at him and pressed him to her bosoms. There were worse places he could be. Then Jahrod pressed in close too. His cold armor was uncomfortable, and the rain had made his pungent personal aroma even more powerful. Max didn¡¯t know there could be a smell worse than Jahrod, but it turned out rain-soaked Jahrod was about all Max could stand without passing out.
Then the rain stopped. Max looked around in surprise and a smattering of hope but a pessimistic sense that the rain would return any moment. Then he noticed that the rain was still falling only a few feet away. He looked up and saw the rain parting overhead.
¡°A Mage Sphere,¡± Max said, looking around, the rain running down the sides of the invisible barrier. He held out his hand. It passed through the barrier, and he felt the rain.
¡°Yes, it will keep the rain off us,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Now for some heat.¡±
Elderon held his hands out, palms down. The ground grew warm, steam rising. Then a wind swirled around in the sphere. Max felt his clothes dry out. He sat down on the ground that was warm and dry, pulled out his Blanket of Comfort, and laid it on the ground.
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¡°Great work, Elderon,¡± Max said, lying down. ¡°You¡¯ll have to teach me that one day.¡± Max smiled up at Anita and nodded to his side, offering her space on his blanket. She sat next to him and settled down to sleep.
Max wrapped an arm around Anita. He could lie with her all night. Then he felt a cold hard surface pressed to his back and the rattle of heavy armor.
¡°Move up, Mage,¡± Jahrod said and pushed Max closer to Anita. ¡°There is plenty of room on your blanket for a dwarf.¡±
Max looked up at Elderon, hoping to find support from his mentor, but the old Mage appeared fast asleep, standing in the center of the sphere, staff at his side. Eyes closed and breathing easy. He looked as comfortable as if he were lying on a soft feather bed.
Anita turned over, her nose touching Max¡¯s. She looked at him with her beautiful green eyes.
¡°Sleep, Mage,¡± she said and closed her eyes.
Max listened to the wind roaring through the branches nearby, the rain splattering on thick bunches of leaves. He closed his eyes and was soon asleep.
When he awoke, the sky was still dark. Jahrod was sitting up and looking into the darkness. Elderon was awake and looking the same way. Max felt so rested, he wondered if he had slept through the entire day and into the next night.
Anita yawned as she opened her eyes. The first thing she saw was Max. She smiled.
¡°The Blanket of Comfort is very effective,¡± she said as she stretched, her cropped tunic bulging as she did so. ¡°I have reactivated all my prepared spells.¡±
¡°How long were we asleep?¡± Max said.
Elderon turned. ¡°Four hours. It is one hour until sunrise. We move. Now.¡±
The dark path ahead rose steeply. After a short walk, they were out of the cover of the trees, and the wind came strong and chill, but mercifully, the rain had stopped.
As the sun came up, Max could see they were walking on the top of a range of low hills. A path cut across the very top of the hills. Down in the valleys on either side were thick forests. Away to Max¡¯s left, in the far distance and hazy as the sun came up, Max could see a body of water glinting in the sun.
¡°That is the Salt River,¡± Anita said, following Max¡¯s gaze. ¡°As deep as the Kraken Sea but only two miles wide at its widest point. They say the ancient kraken tried to split Awen in two to keep men and elves apart but left the land at the Hinge when he saw them meeting as friends.¡±
¡°Is that right?¡± Max looked up to Elderon.
¡°No,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Rocks can move. Men and elves think the world is the way it is now and as it always has been, but dwarfs know the rock that makes the world can move. When you mine deep in the rock, you learn its moods. It will be silent for an age, and then it will move all of a sudden. It creates passageways deep underground, closes others. The Salt River was formed by the rock of the world taking a breath.¡±
¡°Caution now,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Tollgate ahead.¡±
Max looked along the ridge path. He could just about make out the tollgate in the distance. Max thought Elderon¡¯s eyes must be very good, or maybe it was his extra few inches of height that let him see the gate. As he pondered it, he guessed that Elderon was using some sort of spell to scout the way ahead.
After a few more minutes walking, the tollgate became clearer. It covered the width of the ridge path. A timber palisade ran to the steepest edge of the hill on either side. In the center of the palisade, across the beaten earth-path on the ridge, was a gatehouse of two timber towers, one on either side of the open gate.
¡°What¡¯s to stop us going around?¡± Max said, looking down the grassy slope to the side of the path.
¡°The grass is slippery wet even in the driest of summers. The palisade only goes as far as it needs to. Anyone trying to get around will slip down into the forested valleys on either side.¡±
¡°And what¡¯s to stop anyone going through the forest?¡± Max said.
¡°The trees,¡± Elderon said.
¡°Why, do they kill people?¡±
Anita and Jahrod laughed.
¡°Only if you fall out of one,¡± Jahrod said.
¡°No,¡± Anita said, wrapping an arm over his shoulder,¡± they don¡¯t kill.¡± She pointed down to the forest below on her left. ¡°That is the West Ridge Forest. The trees are thick here.¡± She pointed away to her right. ¡°And over there is the East Ridge Forest. Dense undergrowth makes it almost impossible to pass. Any who cut their way through the undergrowth find it growing back behind them. It is a huge effort to pass that way. It would take an army . . .¡± She stopped talking.
Max saw how she became serious for a moment. Of course, an army was coming this way.
At the open gate, a pair of Ralynn guards waited. Not raw recruits or some old soldiers put out to pasture. These guys looked capable. The guardhouse at one side looked large enough to comfortably house a dozen guards, but Max could only see the two on the ridge path. They appeared relaxed enough beneath their rough exterior, but there was a sense of readiness, alertness. He checked their stats.
Name: Ralynn Guards
Status: Alert
Attack: Slashing Longsword
Threat level: Serious
¡°Hail, Ralynn guards,¡± Elderon said. He produced a small leather disk on a leather thread and showed it to the guard. ¡°I come with the seal of King Glynn. My party may pass these gates.¡±
The guard glanced at the seal, nodded, and waved them through the open gate. The party passed between the towers. Max spotted a guard on the top of each tower. The ridge stretched on into the distance, and Elderon led the way. They walked on until midmorning. After an hour or more, the ridge became wider, the slope on either side was less steep, the forest on either side was less dense. Max could see a dust cloud in the far north where the forest gave way to low, flat grasslands.
¡°That is the open plain of the Hinge,¡± Anita said.
¡°And that dust cloud is being thrown up by thousands of marching feet,¡± Jahrod said.
Max peered into the distance. The dust rose up off the grassy plain. The cloud started at the end of the Salt River to the west and stretched for a mile or two. Max found it difficult to judge the distances. Still, he couldn¡¯t see an army, no individuals, just the cloud of dust sitting over them.
As a strong breeze came off the Salt River, the dust was blown away and thinned. Max saw a glinting light through the dust. He knew somehow that it was the glint of weapons and armor shining under the late morning sun.
¡°I wish I had a telescope,¡± Max said.
¡°A what?¡± Anita asked.
¡°A device that can let you see things that are far away.¡± Max shielded his eyes from the sun and tried to make out detail under the dust cloud.
¡°Does it work something like this?¡± Elderon said.
Elderon casts Far Sight.
Elderon waved his arm in front of him. The effect was to create a huge lens in the air that was at least five feet across. Max looked through the area of the spell and could see the distant army. Ranks of men in armor marching steadily. A large wagon, as big as a house on wheels and six feet tall, rolled along in the middle of the army. At the rear, he saw two large black shapes, too distant to make out even using Elderon¡¯s Far Sight spell.
¡°That is the banner of Castle Deadtide, the banner of King Aris Deadtide,¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Indeed so.¡± Elderon held his hands together and then moved them apart. The magical lens zoomed in more closely.
Max looked at the faces of the soldiers on the march. Dark lines spread over their faces, gathering in dark pools about the eyes. Pale skin with black veins and black eyes.
¡°They have been taken by the darkness,¡± Max said. ¡°How can we hope to stop them? There must be thousands of them.¡±
Max checked the stats on one of the Deadtide soldiers.
Name: Deadtide Soldier
Status: Taken by Darkness
Attack: Stabbing Spear
Threat level: Dangerous
¡°We are not here to fight them,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We are here to observe and confirm the reports from King Glynn¡¯s scouts. Tell me, Max. How do you rate the army? What is its size and disposition?¡±
Max stepped back from the lens of Far Sight and took in the wider picture.
¡°I¡¯d say the army is massive and aggressive.¡±
¡°And I¡¯d say they are only two days march from Ralynn City,¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Then we must move quickly,¡± Anita said.
Elderon collapsed the lens of Far Sight and led the party back along the ridge towards the tollgate.
It was late afternoon by the time Max spotted the palisade crossing the ridge path and the gate towers. His throat was dry, and he wondered if the guards there had a supply of water, even ale, something to slake his thirst. The closer he got, the thirstier he got. He looked out for the guards.
By the time they were only a half mile away, Max wondered why he had not yet spotted a guard and why they had not yet spotted them. These guards were the first Ralynn city soldiers the approaching army would meet. Had they abandoned their posts?
At a thousand yards out, Max noticed Jahrod and Anita checking their weapons. Max sensed it too.
¡°Something¡¯s not right,¡± Max said.
Elderon nodded in agreement.
The party reached the gate. Open and unguarded. Max went to the window in the small gatehouse. He peered in.
He saw the bodies of six Ralynn guards.
¡°They are dead,¡± Max said.
Then Max saw movement. Four figures clad entirely in black came out of the guardhouse and confronted the party. Longswords dripping with blood in their hands.
Chapter 2.03
Max stepped back from the gatehouse window as the killers emerged. They moved smoothly, swiftly, taking up an aggressive formation on the ridge path. Their skin was pale, dark lines over their faces gathering at the eyes. Their eyeballs black and staring at Max. He checked their stats to see what he was up against.
Name: Deadtide Scouts
Status: Hostile
Attack: Slashing Longsword
Threat level: Dangerous
Max stepped back towards his party as the Deadtide scouts fanned out, giving them each room to swing their swords. Max knew he was facing danger, as he had done on virtually every single day since he arrived here in Eveirea, but he felt confident with his friends on either side of him.
¡°You men of Castle Deadtide are far from home,¡± Elderon said.
Max looked into the eyes of these killers to see how they would respond to Elderon, a Mage respected everywhere he went. The Deadtide scouts snarled as one and launched their attack.
Deadtide Scouts attack Max.
Max stepped back as the sword slashed through the air, the point missing his throat by an inch.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
The scouts closed in on Max and his party fast. Jahrod brought up his axe and parried a blow from one of the scouts. Anita jabbed her spear at her attacker, holding him at bay, the stone tip glowing with the magical flame deep inside. Elderon hung back, his hands twirling in the air and quietly speaking his incantation.
A second attack came in on Max, a swinging sword cutting the air.
Deadtide Scout attacks Max.
Attack blocked; no damage done.
Max stepped back again and drew his Shortsword of True Striking. He was facing two of the Deadtide scouts, and their sword blows were coming thick and fast.
Deadtide Scout attacks Max.
Max raised his shortsword and deflected the swinging longsword.
Attack parried; no damage done.
Max staggered backwards from the strength of the blow. He raised his shortsword as a blow came in from the second attacker, a heavy downward stroke aimed at his head.
Deadtide Scout attacks Max.
The sword glanced off Max¡¯s shortsword and landed on his shoulder.
Max takes heavy damage.
Max badly injured.
Max lost his footing and fell to the ground. The pair of Deadtide scouts moved in. Max scurried backwards over the beaten earth track. Then Elderon finished casting his spell.
Elderon casts Seize.
Deadtide Scout seized and held.
Max looked up at the scout stopped in his tracks. His sword high above his head ready to bring it down with force. The air seemed to shimmer around him. His eyes darted this way and that, and frustration wracked his features. Then came the second scout, stepping past his frozen fellow, his sword held high. He brought his sword down as he moved in on Max.
Deadtide Scout attacks Max.
Max rolled to the side as the sword came down on him. He got to his feet in one swift move and lunged at the scout with a stabbing motion.
Max attacks Deadtide Scout.
Deadtide Scout takes heavy damage.
Deadtide Scout badly injured.
Max¡¯s Shortsword of True Striking almost guaranteed a hit with every attack; only the highest armor rating could defend against the magically enhanced weapon. And in this case, it landed a heavy blow on the Deadtide scout. The scout gritted his teeth. Black bile bubbling out between his teeth. His eyes were dark and lifeless but staring at Max as he advanced. The scout held the sword in two hands before him, ready to defend against Max¡¯s stabbing shortsword.
Max lunged forward.
Max attacks Deadtide Scout.
Attack parried; no damage done.
Max felt sure one good hit would defeat the scout. He made ready to lunge again, driven by frustration. But just as he drew his sword back to attack, the scout jabbed forward with the pommel of his sword.
Deadtide Scout attacks Max.
The pommel caught Max square on the chin. The sound of metal on bone, the taste of blood in his mouth. Max staggered back.
Max takes minor damage.
Max critically injured.
The punch only took a small amount of Max¡¯s Health, but it was enough to see him teetering on the edge of defeat. He held his shortsword up in defense, but he needed to attack. He couldn¡¯t defeat his opponent with defense alone. He parried another heavy blow. The scout¡¯s longsword carried through in a wide arc. At the end of its swing, he brought it back around again in another wide swing. Again, Max parried the heavy blow as the scout tried to beat Max¡¯s defense with sheer weight of attack rather than any finesse.
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As the Deadtide scout¡¯s blade swung past in another wild attack, Max stepped inside the arc and delivered a jabbing attack.
Max attacks Deadtide Scout.
Deadtide Scout takes moderate damage.
Deadtide Scout has been defeated.
The scout dropped his sword and crumpled to the ground. Max looked to Jahrod and Anita. They were each locked in single combat with their opponents. Max could see Anita had taken minor damage, but Jahrod was unharmed. Max gasped as the scout delivered a heavy blow to Jahrod, but the sword bounced harmlessly off his thick armor.
¡°Here, take this,¡± Elderon said as he tossed Max a small bottle. Max recognized it as a Potion of Minor Healing. He drank it straight away and checked his Health stats.
A Potion of Minor Healing had restored some of his Health, but he had taken so much damage that his Health bar was not even half full. Max hoped he had a potion in his Satchel, but before he could check his inventory, Elderon¡¯s Seize spell that was holding the Deadtide scout wore off.
The scout was instantly moving, resuming from the moment he¡¯d been held. Max had only moments before the scout was on him. He had been forced back and away from the scout who¡¯d been held, and Max had a crucial bit of space in which to act. Elderon was already casting when Max began to cast a spell.
Elderon cast a Magic Missile. The glowing orbs of magic power slammed into the scout. Then Max cast his own.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Deadtide Scout takes moderate damage.
It was a hit but not enough to even slow the scout. Max began to cast a second magic missile. The scout moved in and raised his sword. Elderon¡¯s second magic missile slammed into the scout and delivered heavy damage. Then Max¡¯s magic missile was cast too.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Deadtide Scout takes minor damage.
Deadtide Scout has been defeated.
With both of Max¡¯s attackers defeated, he could turn his attention to aiding his friends. Anita had taken another hit of moderate damage, but her Health was still high. Jahrod had taken only minor damage from a lucky blow. Both attackers were critically injured. Anita jabbed forward with her spear. She failed to deliver any physical damage to the scout, but the bonus fire damage from her spear of flame was enough to defeat the scout.
The final scout backed away from Jahrod as Anita threatened him on his right flank. The Deadtide scout knew the fight was over. He backed further away.
Deadtide Scout overcome with fear.
Deadtide Scout flees.
Max didn¡¯t want this scout to report back to his army about the battle at the ridge path tollgate and possibly send reinforcements. He knew he had to stop him.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Deadtide Scout takes moderate damage.
Deadtide Scout has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Max has leveled up.
¡°Hey, I gained a level,¡± Max said.
¡°How many Magic Missiles do you have left?¡± Elderon said.
¡°Two. I haven¡¯t used them all yet.¡±
¡°Do you have any other attacking spells?¡± Elderon said.
¡°Fireball,¡± Max said quietly.
¡°Good job you didn¡¯t cast that here, or we would have all have taken fire damage,¡± Elderon said.
Max nodded. He knew how his old mentor felt about him having access to the mighty Fireball spell. ¡°I¡¯ll be careful not to cause my party any damage,¡± he said.
¡°Do you want to level up now?¡± Elderon said.
Max went over to the nearest defeated Deadtide guard.
¡°I¡¯ll just check their inventories first,¡± Max said.
The first Deadtide scout had nothing of interest. Their armor was not suitable for a Mage to wear, and it was far inferior to Jahrod¡¯s armor, so the dwarf would have no interest in it either. The Deadtide scout¡¯s sword was plain steel and not magically enhanced in any way. But the scout did have two gold. Max scooped up the coins.
The next scout had nine gold. Max added it to the rest. The final two scouts also had nine gold each, and one had a scroll of Know Item.
Max gains Scroll of Know Item.
Max gains 29 gold.
Max checked his inventory. He now had a total of 210 gold. That would buy a lot of meat pie and dwarven ale.
Anita stepped out of the guardhouse.
¡°I have blessed the fallen,¡± she said. ¡°The ground will take them in time, and they will rejoin nature.¡±
¡°And one of them had a Potion of Minor Healing,¡± Jahrod said and tossed the small bottle to Max.
Max thanked the mighty dwarf and drank the potion. His Health was now restored to half. Anita walked over to him and laid her hands on him. She whispered softly, almost singing, and cast a healing spell. Max felt fully invigorated and fully healed.
Max thanked her for restoring his Health, but it was her touch, her hands on his body, that was as reviving as any of her spells.
¡°Make your level now, young Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°And then we will make our way with all speed back to Ralynn City to report on the approaching army.¡±
Max sat down and looked at the grass just off the side of the ridge path. He let the long blades of grass form a table of his stats. The grass twisted and turned on the wind and quickly formed Max¡¯s stats table. The information on the table was blurred and indistinct, the words ¡°level up¡± floated over the top. Max focused on the words and they moved towards him and washed over him.
As the words ¡°level up¡± dissipated, the table was now obscured by many floating words. The largest of these was Mage. Max knew he should select this to gain another Mage level. Behind the word Mage, not quite so big but big enough for him to select, were the words Thief and Bard. If he chose these, he knew he would gain new skills and abilities, but it would limit his Mage abilities. He had already earned several levels, and he was learning that progress as a Mage was slow, but he¡¯d seen what higher-level spells would one day become available to him if he kept his focus and developed as a Mage.
Some words were only just about readable. He felt he could with some effort reach out to these and select them. He saw the word ¡°Warrior¡± just about in reach. Could he select that and become a Warrior Mage? That sounded cool but somehow he knew the restrictions would slow down his ability to learn new spells.
He was not tempted at all by the Thief class. Back home, he had been a thief, forced to climb buildings, to gain entry and steal valuables, all for the benefit of his gangster boss. He was happy to leave that life far away.
Max reached out to the glowing word Mage. The word grew and wrapped around him, and he leveled up.
Max gains Level 4.
Health increased.
New Level 2 spell slot available.
As he gained the new level, so his stats became available for him to view once again.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
Health: Full
Strength: 9
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
It no longer looked strange for him to see his name given as Max Lightfoot, a name Anita had given him. He had been Max Freeman back on Earth, and it had been a name that mocked him for so long because he¡¯d been essentially a captive of the gang. Max Lightfoot was his Mage name. He liked it.
¡°I¡¯ve got a new spell slot,¡± Max said, looking up at Elderon. ¡°But I don¡¯t have any slots for Level 4 spells.¡±
¡°Nor will you until you can control that level of magic. You will need to be at least a Level 7 Mage before you have the ability to cast a Level 4 spell.¡±
¡°But I¡¯m Level 4 now. I should be able to have a Level 4 spell.¡±
¡°You have much to learn, young Mage. The level of the spell is distinct from the level of the Mage. Be content you now have the power to prepare an extra Level 2 spell. Use your spell slots wisely. You are still limited on the number of spells you can cast.¡±
Max pulled out his Mage Book and opened it to the selected spell page.
Selected spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Fireball
Three of the Magic Missiles were faded on the page, showing that they had been cast. He would need to rest before they would be active again. Strength and Fireball were still glowing brightly, showing they could be cast. And now there was a new slot for him to prepare and an extra Level 2 spell. He checked his collection of spells.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
So far, he had only learned one Level 2 spell. He really needed to find more scrolls so he could copy them to his Mage Book, but spell scrolls were not easy to come by. He had a scroll of Know Item, but that was a Level 1 spell. There was no point wishing for spells he did not have. He selected a second Strength spell.
¡°All done?¡± Elderon said.
Max nodded, but he could not help feeling like he wanted to see more development for his new level. If Elderon was to be believed, it would come. In time, it would come.
¡°We rest briefly,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We have walked far. Make no fire. Cold rations only.¡±
Max ate a tough dark bread and unrolled his Blanket of Comfort. He looked to invite Anita to join him, but she appeared to be in a trance, her Wilderness Lore ability active, allowing her to see through the eyes of a distant circling bird. She kept watch over the resting party.
Jahrod was nowhere to be seen, but he could most certainly be heard. He was curled in the long grass at the side of the path, snoring. Elderon sat and studied his Mage Book. Soon, they were on their way again. The party headed back along the ridge path, back towards Ralynn City in the Kingdom of Faregent.
As the night began to fall, Max spotted a white shimmering light out of the corner of his eye. He turned and saw Janet had appeared at his shoulder, her white glow even more intense thanks to the deep black outline around her.
¡°Max,¡± she said. She pointed a quivering finger back towards the Hinge, back the way they had come.
¡°Janet, what is it?¡±
¡°You have to go back. You have to go back to that army.¡±
¡°What?¡± Max laughed. ¡°I¡¯m not putting myself in the way of that army. We¡¯re heading back to Ralynn City, back were we¡¯ll be safe.¡±
Janet grew to full size in an instant. She stood before him and fixed him with a hard stare. Her words shook his bones.
¡°Nowhere is safe, Max. You must go back. Now.¡±
Chapter 2.04
¡°Go back?¡± Max almost shouted it. ¡°What do you mean, go back? Have you seen what¡¯s back there?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Janet said, ¡°an army. But there is something even more dangerous even than that.¡±
¡°More dangerous than thousands of soldiers all infected by the darkness, armed to the teeth with swords, spears, bows, and arrows?¡±
Janet nodded. ¡°Much more dangerous, but I could only see once you were close enough. The army is holding a fragment of the dark portal, a dark shard.¡±
¡°A shard? From the dark portal?¡± Max was struggling to keep up. ¡°How is that even possible?¡±
Janet hesitated. She scratched her head, her wild red hair floating around her hand. She gesticulated as if she were about to explain and then paused again.
¡°Just keep it simple,¡± Max said.
¡°How simple?¡±
¡°Simple enough for me to understand.¡±
Janet started, hesitantly, uncertainly. ¡°When the portal was opened up to Eveirea, the black diamonds that powered the experiment were taken with you. When you exited the portal, the diamonds were scattered across the world like dark shards of the portal itself. I think it might be why the portal did not close once you¡¯d arrived. The dark shards are keeping the portal open. And it¡¯s why I am still trapped here, in the portal, somewhere between Earth and Eveirea, or possibly in both places at the same time. And it¡¯s time that is the most interesting factor in the equation. Space seems to be preserved in all locations, but time is not absolute, and there is no place that can truly be said to be now. So what I think has happened . . .¡±
Max raised his hands in frustration. ¡°I said keep it simple. I think you forget, we¡¯re not all science geeks.¡±
Janet stopped talking and was visibly taken aback.
¡°I mean that in a good way, Janet,¡± he said apologetically. ¡°You are probably the smartest person I¡¯ve ever met.¡±
Janet folded her arms and turned a shoulder to Max. ¡°Haven¡¯t met many people, have you?¡± she muttered under her breath.
¡°I¡¯ve met enough,¡± Max said. It was true most of them had been the gangsters he¡¯d been forced to work for. None of them had been particularly smart. Some had been more devious than others, but none of them were what Max would have called intelligent.
¡°Well, I¡¯m not smart enough to get out of this empty blackness,¡± Janet said, ¡°so I¡¯m going to have to rely on you. And job one is to get the dark shard out of the hands of that army.¡±
When Max last saw the black diamonds, they were part of the transport experiment, a collection of industrial diamonds being used to power an experiment. A storm and heightened solar activity had activated the experiment while he and Janet were fighting over a bag of industrial diamonds that Max was attempting to steal for his gangster boss.
¡°So if I get that dark shard, you¡¯ll be free, and the portal will close?¡±
Janet let out a sigh of frustration. ¡°You will need to gather all of the dark shards. Only then can you close the portal. Only then can I be freed.¡±
Max looked back along the ridge path. Somewhere back there, hidden in darkness, on the edge of the forests below the ridge, was a huge army. Max was happy to be walking away.
¡°What should I do, march in there and ask for them to give me their dark shard?¡±
¡°I wouldn¡¯t do that,¡± Janet said. ¡°The holder is drawing power and strength from the darkness. The dark shards are bringing a dark influence to the world of Eveirea. Any who find them are corrupted by darkness.¡±
Max stood up and stared back into the dark distance. Anita was standing on the path and turned to look at him. Elderon got up and leaned on his staff and watched Max lost in his thoughts, in a trance.
Janet began to shrink and fade away. ¡°Get the dark shard, Max. I¡¯ll direct you to it when you get close, but you won¡¯t be going too far wrong if you head directly into the middle of that army.¡±
¡°What are you looking at?¡± Anita said following Max¡¯s gaze into the dark.
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Jahrod stood up and looked too. ¡°There¡¯s nothing there, nothing following us, young Mage. We can go on our way in safety.¡±
¡°There is something else,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Tell us, Max. What have you seen?¡±
Max sighed and bowed his head. He was no hero. He didn¡¯t want to take on an army. But he enjoyed Eveirea, and maybe if he wanted to stay, he would have to take on some difficult tasks. But taking on an army? That was too much. He shook his head.
¡°What?¡± Anita said softy and placed an arm over his shoulder.
¡°I have to go back.¡±
¡°We picked up all the loot of those Deadtide scouts.¡± Jahrod leaned on his axe.
¡°To the army.¡± Max raised his chin. He knew what he had to do; he just didn¡¯t know if he was going to make it out alive. ¡°The army is being corrupted by darkness. They carry a dark shard, a fragment of the dark portal. I need to take back the shard.¡±
¡°You are developing quickly, Max,¡± Anita said, ¡°but you are not powerful enough to take on an army on your own. Not even Elderon could defeat them all on his own.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t need to defeat them. I just need to take back the shard. Maybe with the dark shard gone, the darkness that corrupts them will dissipate.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a bold plan,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I like it. If we move fast, we can find this shard.¡±
¡°Even if we do move fast and find this shard, we¡¯ll be surrounded by an entire army,¡± Anita said pondering the problem. ¡°We¡¯ll never get the shard out of there.¡±
¡°No,¡± Max said. ¡°We can¡¯t do it together.¡±
¡°Yes, Max is right,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°We call for reinforcements. Ralynn City will have to help.¡±
¡°No reinforcements,¡± Elderon said patting Max on the back. ¡°Max will go alone.¡±
Max looked up at Elderon with a smile. He knew the old Mage hadn¡¯t read his thoughts; it was simply the only plan that could work.
Anita and Jahrod began to protest, but Max smiled at them and calmed them, and they soon fell silent.
¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Max said with a sad smile. ¡°The only way we can get the shard is if I go alone. I have a natural ability to sneak unseen. My Hood of Sneaking and Ring of Shadows enhances my natural ability. I will use the cover of darkness. I will be able to move amongst them unseen and find the shard.¡±
¡°And we will go with Max and get him as close as possible.¡± Elderon said.
¡°Thank you, friends.¡± Max said. He took a fortifying breath and struck off into the dark, back along the ridge path toward the approaching army.
At day break, the army was again in sight, still far in the distance but closer to the dense forests between the high ridge and the eastern banks of the Salt River. Max could make out squares of infantry marching forward, banners fluttering in the wind blowing off the Salt River. In the center of the infantry formations was a line of covered wagons and one huge wagon pulled by a team of animals. Max guessed the shard would be with those wagons in the center of the army.
¡°They will reach the edge of the West Ridge Forest by night fall,¡± Elderon said.
Max sat down on the side of the ridge path. ¡°I will rest through the day and prepare my spells.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll go on ahead,¡± Anita said, ¡°and make sure we are not surprised by any Deadtide scouts.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll join you,¡± Jahrod said.
Max watched the pair jog off along the ridge path before taking out his Mage Book to check his spells.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
His choices were still very limited. He double-checked his selection and then settled down on his Blanket of Comfort. The sky was a patchwork of blue sky with dark clouds rolling along. The wind was fresh, but at least it was dry. After a few hours, he was fully fit and ready for action. He checked his spells. All his selected spells were active now.
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Strength
? Fireball
Not that he would need any spells if his plan worked. As night began to fall, Max made ready. The party gathered on the ridge, ready to see Max off. Anita and Elderon were standing off the path and studying the army. Jahrod slapped Max on the back.
¡°Let me brew you up a drink before you head off. Something to keep you alert through the night.¡± He cut a fire pit with a few swift swings of his axe.
Max looked over the barren ridge. There was nothing to make fire with. He checked Anita¡¯s Satchel and saw the bundle of sticks. Jahrod snatched it up.
¡°She won¡¯t mind if I use this kindling to make you a drink.¡± Jahrod laid the bundle of sticks down and dug out his Flint Tool.
The moment Jahrod struck a spark, Anita came running. She scooped up the bundle of sticks off the ground. ¡°No,¡± she hissed, ¡°don¡¯t touch this!¡±
¡°Sorry, Anita,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I was just going to make a small fire. The army won¡¯t see it from here in this firepit.¡±
Anita put the bundle back in her bag. ¡°It¡¯s not kindling, Master Dwarf. This is so much more than that. I¡¯ve had this since I first left my Druid circle to seek out the darkness that was affecting Eveirea. I will use it as a last resort, only when danger threatens to overwhelm me.¡±
The lights of the army campfires began to spring up as the army camped on the edge of the forest. The army moved slowly but edged ever closer to the Kingdom of Faregent. With the daylight failing, Max headed off down the slope to the trees at the lower end of the ridge.
He marched off with a confident stride, hoping his positive manner would instill courage in himself and the party he was leaving behind. He was sure his determined gait would convince the party that he could achieve his difficult task. The confident stride persisted long after the feelings of confidence vanished. Max soon felt alone.
Chapter 2.05
The slope down from the ridge was steep and damp from days of rain. Max skidded and slipped down towards the tree line, all the while digging the cross guard of his shortsword into the rich earth to slow his descent. Once at the tree line, he used the trees to slow his descent, moving in short bursts down the slope from one tree to the next, never building enough speed to slide out of control. Once the slope leveled off, Max turned to the north and headed towards the Deadtide army encampment.
By Max¡¯s reckoning, the army encampment was at least two miles away. The thick trees of the West Ridge Forest obscured any sight of the camp. He hoped to see the flickering lights soon. It was near total darkness in the dark forest. He could make out the dark shapes of thick trees. The ground was dark, and Max stumbled over a knot of roots.
Max landed on his hands after a trip. He steadied himself. A rustling in the trees behind made the hairs on his scalp tingle and stand on end. He listened carefully. Somewhere nearby, hidden by the darkness, there was something. Something large.
Max heard a sudden breath, a huge beast snorting. Now Max wished he had prepared his Detect Enemy spell. He couldn¡¯t see a thing but suspected something was stalking him. Could it be Anita or Jahrod, following him to keep him safe? But they had promised to hold their positions on the ridge. Max knew he was alone. His only company some huge forest beast.
The sounds of branches snapping told Max for sure and certain that something was nearby and closing in ever closer. Something big. If he could see it, he could target it with a magic missile or two. He could even get a few good shots off from his catapult. Maybe a few hits of minor damage would be enough to scare off the beast.
But Max was essentially blind. He wouldn¡¯t know what was stalking him until it was on top of him. His hand went to his shortsword. Max was no great melee fighter like Jahrod or Anita, but the feel of the handle gave him courage. Still, he needed to improve his chances. Only one spell could help him now.
Max casts Strength.
Max intoned the incantation and moved his hands through the casting gestures. He worked slowly and steadily and felt the spell take effect. He checked his stats, a table forming in the dark shadows of the surrounding trees.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
Health: Full
Strength: 18
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Max saw that his Strength had been hugely improved by the spell. He was now as strong as Jahrod, as strong as any fighter, but his Mage class meant he could still only wield weapons allowed to his class. If he armed himself with longswords, hammers, axes, pole arms like Anita¡¯s spear, all his active spells would be wiped from his Mage Book. He was limited to the staff and shortsword. His staff was sitting on his bunk back at Ralynn Castle. Although Mages were almost expected to carry a staff as if it were a badge of office, the shortsword had become his weapon of choice. He drew the blade. The metal edge singing as he drew it.
Out of the darkness, Max saw the dark shape lunge at him. Red burning eyes and yellow teeth snapping at him.
Wolf attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Max rolled out of the way, pure instinct kicking in. He turned and looked at the stats of the beast attacking him.
Name: Wolf
Status: Hostile
Attack: Crushing Bite
Threat level: Dangerous
Max held his sword before him. He¡¯d faced a wolf before, and it had nearly killed him. But he had been new to the world at that time and had not even made his first level. Max was not confident he could defeat this beast without taking damage. He stared into the shadows, seeing the dark shape of the wolf turn, the red eyes burning in the dark giving away the beast¡¯s location.
Then the wolf came running.
The sound of the huge paws crashing through the forest was terrifying enough, but the sight of those burning red eyes fixed on him was even more terrifying. Max felt his breathing stuttering with fright. He was no Warrior; he was no Beast Slayer. He tried to calm his breathing and focus on the beast that was little more than a dark blur in a dark background.
Wolf attacks Max.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Max moved to the side and slashed with his sword.
Max attacks Wolf.
True Striking bonus.
Strength bonus.
Wolf takes heavy damage.
The wolf whimpered as Max¡¯s sword cut deep into its thick shoulder. It had been a lucky strike in the darkness aided by his magically enhanced blade and the magical boost to his Strength. Max could see the beast more clearly now as it stopped nearby. It was turning with a snarl, fixing eyes on its prey, making ready to attack again.
Max kneeled, stabbed his sword into the ground before him, and began to cast an old favorite.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Two glowing orange orbs raced away from Max¡¯s fingers, one arcing left, the other to the right. They moved as fast as lightning and slammed into the wolf.
Wolf takes moderate damage.
Wolf flees in panic.
Max watched the wolf run and briefly considered it the end of the encounter but then thought that the last thing he wanted was the wolf regaining its composure and coming back at him. He needed to finish the beast now. He wasn¡¯t going to be able to catch it and defeat it with his shortsword. He could get a good enough sighting on the beast to attack with his catapult, but he might miss, and even his Superior Bullets might not deal enough damage to defeat the wolf. He began to cast a second Magic Missile.
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Max casts Magic Missile.
Wolf takes moderate damage.
Wolf has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Max paused for a second. He knew that Anita would say something over the defeated wolf. Although he was not a Druid, he wanted to speak to the defeated wolf on behalf of Anita.
¡°Safe onward travels, brave wolf,¡± Max said. He picked his sword up from the ground, wiped the blade clean before sliding it back into the scabbard.
Max didn¡¯t want any more surprises, so he slipped up his Hood of Sneaking. He activated his Sneak ability, now boosted by the hood. Here in the darkness of the forest, with the hood up and his Ring of Shadows adding to his ability, he vanished from sight.
Max moved forward carefully so as not to stumble or create any sound that would give away his position. Soon, he came to the edge of the forest. The trees thinned out. He saw campfires and rough canvas tents on the edge of the forest. Deadtide guards patrolled the edge of the camp in pairs. Max moved carefully between the tents and headed towards the main army camp on the grassy plain beyond the forest.
Max was taken aback at the size of this army. He had walked for twenty minutes or more, moving in the shadows between canvas tents, and still he was far from the center. Deadtide soldiers sat around small campfires, eating and drinking, dark eyes staring. There was no talking, no singing, and no laughing. Max knew little of life in the army but he felt sure soldiers across a thousand worlds throughout time would enjoy the peace before battle. They would joke with their friends, sing, drink, and gamble. Soldiers knew how important it was to live in the moment, for tomorrow might bring death.
Max moved through the silent soldiers. He checked his stats from time to time to be sure his Sneak ability was still active. But even though he was hidden from sight, he made sure he kept away from the patrolling guards and the soldiers¡¯s campfires.
Max paused to get his bearings and check the best way to progress through the camp. He saw a soldier sitting in front of a fire. The soldier was staring into the flames with dark eyes. His face was covered in fine black lines that appeared to move and flow towards the dark pools around his eyes. Black eyeballs staring.
¡°The darkness has affected them all.¡±
Max was startled by the sudden voice at his shoulder. He turned to see Janet floating there, brilliant white surrounded by deep dark.
Max whispered to her, glancing nervously about for signs he¡¯d been discovered. ¡°Are you sure they can¡¯t see you?¡±
Janet shook her head. ¡°No one can see me. Only you. I am all alone. You are my only friend, Max.¡±
Max felt his heart skip a beat as Janet called him friend. She was beautiful, intelligent too. He¡¯d never had a friend like Janet before. It made it even more heartbreaking that she was trapped in the dark portal.
¡°I can see the laboratory back on Earth,¡± Janet said. ¡°Nothing has changed. It has been weeks since you landed in Eveirea, but the lab is exactly as it was when the transport portal experiment activated.¡±
Max struggled to find words of comfort, but anything he considered just reminded him that it was in some part his fault that Janet was trapped between worlds.
¡°I¡¯ll get you out of there, Janet. I promise you.¡± Max spoke as quietly as he could.
Janet bowed her head, defeated, silent.
¡°Am I close yet?¡± Max whispered.
Janet nodded and pointed the way.
Max moved on. The tents went on for miles on either side. He came across a large tent with banners at either side of an awning. A pair of soldiers stood guard.
¡°An officer¡¯s tent, I expect,¡± Janet said. ¡°Someone high up in the army. A nobleman perhaps. But they are all affected by the darkness.¡±
Max nodded.
¡°Talk to me Max,¡± Janet said, her voice filled with forced confidence, forced positivity. ¡°Keep me company.¡±
Max looked at her apologetically and then pointed to the soldiers all around him.
¡°Do you mind if I talk?¡±
Max shook his head and gave her a warm smile. He liked the sound of her voice. It was light and sweet. He ducked around a corner as a pair of soldiers came marching along between the tents, spears over their shoulders, dark eyes staring.
¡°I don¡¯t know what¡¯s happened to them,¡± Janet said. ¡°It must be the influence of the dark portal.¡±
Max moved on. He spotted the huge wagon he¡¯d seen through Elderon¡¯s Far Sight spell. The wheels were taller than Max. The canvas covering was higher than a three-story building. Max could not resist the chance to look. He ducked under the cover. Once inside, he saw the huge log suspended from tall uprights on heavy chains. Loose chains hung down the sides along the length of the log. One end was capped with an iron point.
¡°A battering ram,¡± Janet said.
Max nodded. He touched one of the hanging chains and let it rest against his palm, feeling its weight. He looked at the line of them and realized their purpose: a handle to swing the log back and forth. It would take a team of a dozen soldiers to man every swinging chain, and once they had the mighty ram swinging, he could not imagine any castle of any city gate, however sturdy, standing up to that heavy iron point.
Deeper into the camp, the fires were larger. Torches burning on tall stakes marked out paths. He saw a pair of smartly dressed soldiers with swords on their belts rather than spears over their shoulders.
¡°Officers?¡± Janet said.
Max nodded and kept to the shadows of a tent as they passed by.
¡°We¡¯re very close,¡± Janet said. She pointed to a large tent. ¡°In there.¡±
Max stopped and looked at the tent. Heavy canvas, colored and decorated with gold trim. A pair of posts stood up from the center line holding the tent up, flags hung from the top of each one. A pair of guards stood in front of the opening. Inside, all was dark.
Max checked his stats. He was still hidden. If he was going to get inside that tent, he would have to walk between the two guards who were standing less than five feet apart. Max wasn¡¯t sure if he could walk right between them unseen, even though his Sneak ability was active. He spotted a pair of officers marching towards him. A chance to test his Sneak ability. They were staring straight ahead. No talking, just walking. Max stepped out from behind the tent and stood in full view of the pair. They marched past him at less than three feet without a glance.
¡°I guess my Sneak ability is holding,¡± Max whispered to Janet.
¡°Or they are not interested in you,¡± Janet said.
¡°That¡¯s comforting,¡± Max said. He started towards the large tent.
The sweat dripped down his back as he came closer and closer. Not sweating from effort or heat, but from fear and excitement. He slowed his pace as he got within a few yards. His heart beat so hard, he felt sure the sound of it in his chest would give him away. The guards appeared not to see him or hear him. They stared into the distance.
Max walked between the two and into the tent.
The tent was lit by two braziers at its center. The wide steel bowls on top of tripods held the fire off the ground. Polished copper panels on easels around the sides of the tent reflected the light from the fires. At one end of the tent was a table with a map laid out on it. A second table was laid with food and jugs of ale. Max felt hungry at the sight of the food.
At the other end of the tent was a tall wooden cabinet. It was taller than Max, as wide as Jahrod the dwarf. The timber looked solid, heavy dark wood, highly polished. The front was secured by a heavy iron lock.
¡°It¡¯s in there,¡± Janet said. ¡°The dark shard.¡±
Max held the lock in his hand. It was heavy. Solid.
¡°Can you break it?¡± Janet said.
Max shook his head. ¡°But I think I can pick it if I had the right tools.¡±
Max looked at the map table. The map was held down with rocks at each corner. A set of calipers lay on the map, an instrument for measuring distance. It consisted of two long, thin curved pieces of metal jointed at one end.
¡°Perfect,¡± Max said. He bent the calipers at the joint, flexing it back and fore to separate the two parts. As he bent the calipers, he looked down at the map. He saw the names he had heard spoken of written on the map. Essillt in the north was a range of mountain running from one end of the Awen continent to the other. At the east of Essillt was the Kingdom of Eastwind. There were many bays and inlets onto the Kraken Sea. Across the sea, he saw the continent of Scarfel. The map showed it was bound on the western shore by a range of mountains running north to south with only a narrow break directly opposite a small bay in the Kingdom of Eastwind.
The map also showed the position of the Deadtide army on the edge of the West Ridge Forest, on the border between the Hinge and the Kingdom of Faregent. Max saw the city of Deadtide sitting at the end of the Salt River in the Hinge.
The calipers snapped after much bending. Max went to the lock on the cabinet.
¡°I was starting to forget you were a Thief,¡± Janet said as Max inserted the two calipers into the lock.
Max shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m not a Thief. I¡¯m a Mage.¡± He jiggled the makeshift lock pick, feeling for the mechanism inside the heavy lock.
¡°It¡¯s funny,¡± Janet said. ¡°We wouldn¡¯t be here if you hadn¡¯t tried to steal these diamonds from the laboratory. Now you¡¯re trying to steal them all again.¡±
The lock clicked, and Max let out a sigh of relief. He opened the double doors. Sitting inside was a small box covered with a heavy purple velvet cloth. Max lifted the cloth and dropped it to the ground. He opened the box.
Inside was a dark shard, as if the shadows themselves had been cut, revealing a deeper darkness within.
¡°Is it safe?¡± Max said staring at the shard.
Janet remained silent.
Max took a breath, maybe his last. He reached out and picked up the dark shard.
It was cold and hot, heavy but without substance at all. It was as if he held a shadow that was as heavy as lead. Max saw that the flickering of the firelight had stopped. Janet looked at the dark shard.
Max realized time had stopped. He looked around. The tent flapping in the breeze was still. The firelight had halted midflicker.
¡°What should I do with it now?¡± Max said.
At that moment, the dark shard began to evaporate. It drifted away like black leaves of soot, fading to smoke and drifting away to nothing. Max stood and watched in awe as the shard vanished before his eyes.
¡°Will the army be released once it¡¯s been destroyed?¡± Max said.
¡°I don¡¯t know, but I suspect the effect will linger. The dark shard was a direct connection to the portal, but the influence of the portal is still being felt across Eveirea. It might take some time for them to come to their senses.¡±
Max watched the last of the shard evaporate, hypnotized by it. As the shard grew smaller and smaller, the tent began to flap in the breeze again. The flickering of the firelight started moving again, slowly at first and then more rapidly.
¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Janet said and pointed into the cabinet.
Max looked up just as the final fragment of the shard evaporated. He looked directly into the small beady eyes of a tiny little man. Green hair, pointy ears. A smart green suit and feet like a birds, gripping a bar above the box that had once contained the dark shard.
¡°It¡¯s an imp, a store imp,¡± Max said. A fresh wave of panic swept over him.
¡°A what?¡± Janet said.
The shard evaporated. Max¡¯s Sneak ability deactivated. And then the imp let out an ear-shattering squeal.
Chapter 2.06
The guards stepped into the tent, spears leveled. The store imp continued to shriek and pointed a hooked, clawlike finger at Max. The store imps were effective anti-theft devices. Max had encountered them before, and he cursed himself for not expecting one to be here.
¡°What is it?¡± Janet said, her voice clearly audible to Max even though the store imp was shrieking at ear-splitting levels. Then Janet saw the guards. ¡°Look out, Max! Danger close.¡±
Max stepped back, putting some space between him and the two guards who were closing in on him. He checked the stats on the guards. A stats table appeared on the tent canvas, formed from flickering shadows of the firelight.
Name: Deadtide Guards
Status: Hostile
Attack: Stabbing Spear
Threat level: Dangerous
Max started the casting gestures for a Magic Missile, a familiar spell to him now, one he could cast quickly. He suspected the more accurately he intoned the incantation and performed the casting gestures, the more powerful the simple Level 1 spell would be. He spoke quickly and quietly at first, his voice rising towards the end of the incantation.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Deadtide Guard takes moderate damage.
The magic missile orbs slammed into the first guard, dealing damage and momentarily halting his advance. The second guard came on undeterred. His dark eyes fixed on Max, the spear leveled. He drew the spear back, stepped forward, and lunged.
Deadtide Guard attacks Max.
Max shimmied aside and dodged the stabbing spear. The tip glinted in the firelight. The Deadtide Guard brought the spear tip swinging sideways towards Max.
Deadtide Guard attacks Max.
Max¡¯s leather tunic deflected the slashing spear tip.
Armor deflects attack; no damage done.
Max moved around the cabinet with the one guard following Max and the other closing in on the other side.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Deadtide Guard takes moderate damage.
Max backed into a corner. The first Deadtide guard was close to defeat, but the second had full Health. Max drew his sword as both spears lunged at him.
Deadtide Guard attacks Max.
Pendant of Defense reduces damage.
Max takes minor damage.
Max thanked his pendant for saving him from heavier damage. The second stabbing spear came jabbing forward. Max twisted away from the spear and tried to beat it aside with his sword, but the guard was too fast for him this time.
Deadtide Guard attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
Max didn¡¯t have time to check his stats, but he knew he was probably badly injured with about half Health remaining. He had just gained extra Health when he¡¯d made his new level but probably only enough to absorb one hit of minor damage.
The store imp was still shrieking, looking down at Max, his little mouth wide open, emitting the loudest sound it had ever been Max¡¯s misfortune to hear. It was so loud, Max could barely hear himself grunt with effort as he parried another spear thrust from one of the guards. Max could just about hear a bell tolling over the sound of the store imp. It came from just outside the tent. An alarm bell. Soon he¡¯d be surrounded. Max went on the offensive.
Max attacks Deadtide Guard.
Sword of True Striking bonus.
Strength attack bonus.
Deadtide Guard takes heavy damage.
Deadtide Guard has been defeated.
The first Deadtide guard slumped against the heavy canvas and slid to the ground, his spear tearing the canvas slightly as he went down. Max turned on the second guard, who had still not taken any damage.
Deadtide Guard attacks Max.
Pendant of Defense absorbs damage.
Leather Tunic absorbs damage.
Max takes heavy damage.
Max staggered back, stunned by the effectiveness of the attack. If he hadn¡¯t been wearing the Pendant of Defense and his Leather Tunic, he would have in all probability taken critical damage from that attack.
Max attacks Deadtide Guard.
True Striking bonus.
Strength bonus.
Deadtide Guard takes heavy damage.
The guard staggered away from Max, beaten back by the force of Max¡¯s attack. It was all the space Max needed.
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Max casts Magic Missile.
The Deadtide guard¡¯s eyes grew wider as he spotted Max casting. Too late to launch a fresh attack, the guard turned for the tent opening and attempted to flee. Two orange orbs of the magic missile flew from Max¡¯s fingers.
Deadtide Guard takes moderate damage.
Deadtide Guard has been defeated.
The Deadtide guard fell forward through the tent flap, landing half in and half out of the tent. The store imp was still shrieking and standing on the little box that had once contained the dark shard. Max closed the cabinet¡¯s double doors and trapped the imp inside. Still the shrieking was loud and ear-shattering. But a new sound struck more fear into Max. The sounds of soldiers running to his location, the rattle of weapons and armor and the thump of boots on the ground.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max hidden from view.
No sooner had the Sneak ability activated when a Deadtide soldier stepped into the tent. He was wearing plate armor and carried a longsword. A helmet covered most of the soldier¡¯s face, but Max could see the dark eyes inside.
Name: Deadtide Heavy Infantry
Status: Hostile
Attack: Slashing and Stabbing Longsword
Threat level: Very Dangerous
A second heavy infantry soldier stepped in. The pair stepped over the fallen guards. They started moving around the tent, searching for whoever had set off the imp, whoever had defeated the guards.
Max moved as quietly as he could. He was confident the heavy infantry soldiers couldn¡¯t see him, as confident as he could be with two very dangerous, heavily armed, and armored soldiers consumed by darkness hunting him in a tent that suddenly felt very small indeed.
One of the soldiers swung his sword under the map table. Another swung it downward alongside the cabinet. They were searching for anyone hiding. There was not a lot of room to avoid their swinging blades. Sooner or later, they would hit him. He was sure his Sneak ability would be deactivated then.. Even so, the weight of those swords would probably finish him off.
Max moved carefully around one of the Deadtide soldiers as he swung his sword into the space where Max had been standing only a moment ago. He moved quietly towards the tent opening.
Just as Max was about to step out of the tent, a Deadtide soldier stepped in. He was tall and wore light leather armor. A pair of daggers on his belt and a longsword across his back. He had short blond hair and a long thin nose. A scar across his face ran from his forehead down over his left eye that was entirely white save for a tiny black pupil. The scar went on down his cheek. The dark rings around his eyes and dark lines across his face marked him as a soldier consumed by the darkness that was invading Eveirea . . . the darkness brought on by the dark portal.
Max stepped into the middle of the tent between the two braziers as the two heavy infantry soldiers crashed about the edge searching for him. He quickly checked the stats of the scar-faced soldier to see who he was dealing with. The stats appeared in the flickering light of the tent.
Name: Gaius Deadtide
Status: Malevolent
Attack: Daggers and Longsword. Double attack bonus
Threat level: Extremely Dangerous
The sounds coming from outside the tent told Max that more soldiers were arriving. Another Deadtide heavy infantry soldier stepped into the tent and stood next to Gaius Deadtide. Max stepped back as the new heavy infantry soldier stepped forward. Max was standing with his back almost against the canvas. If he touched the tent then ripples in the canvas would give away his position. He noticed Gaius Deadtide scanning the canvas walls, searching for just such telltale movement. Max heard a soldier behind him, on the outside of the tent. The two heavy infantry circling the tent were closing in on him. Then a sword cut in through the canvas from outside, stabbing through the heavy material right next to Max¡¯s ear. The sword slashed down the side of the tent, tearing and cutting, and then in stepped another Deadtide heavy infantry soldier.
¡°Stop right there.¡± The voice was high and rasping, like a strangled snake. ¡°Who told you to create a new opening in the tent? My orders were to surround the tent and find the intruder.¡±
Max could hear the malevolence in that voice. He looked at Gaius Deadtide, holding still as the heavy infantry soldier who had just cut their way into the tent stepped over to the leader of the Deadtide army. Max slowly and carefully backed away through the newly created opening. Gaius Deadtide looked up to the heavy Deadtide soldier. In a lightning fast move, he drew his daggers and attacked with a series of rapid slashing motions, both long daggers held in a reverse grip.
Gaius Deadtide attacks Deadtide Heavy Infantry.
Double attack bonus.
Rapid attack damage bonus.
Heavy infantry takes critical damage.
Heavy infantry soldier has been defeated.
Max stepped out of the sword-slashed opening, almost free, being careful not to touch the cut sides of the tent. Gaius Deadtide looked towards him. That white eye appeared to be looking straight at him, but Max knew, or hoped, he was still hidden. Gaius walked forward, stepping over the defeated heavy infantry soldier. Max¡¯s heart beat hard as Gaius advanced on him but then realized it was just that the Deadtide leader knew the intruder was in all likelihood escaping through that cut opening. Having the experience of a dozen burglaries, Max knew better than to linger.
Max turned. Flaming torches in the hands of soldiers closing in on all sides. Deadtide guards with spears, heavy infantry with swords. Archers, crossbows. The army was on full alert and searching the camp. Searching for him. He didn¡¯t dare imagine what would happen if they caught him, but he feared his end would not be quick.
Max picked his steps carefully. After a few yards, the soldiers thinned out, but behind him still, Max could hear the alarm bell and the shrieking store imp. Then the imp fell silent. Max looked back to the tent. Gaius Deadtide stepped out, holding something small in his hand. He dropped it to the ground and crushed it underfoot.
A crack of thunder overhead stopped Max¡¯s staring. Lightning flickered over the sky and the rain fell, sudden and heavy. Max turned his back to Gaius and slipped away into the darkness.
Through the rain, Max could see the dark shadow of the ridge to his left. He knew the West Ridge Forest was dead ahead. He took the most direct route possible through the camp and headed towards the relative safety of the tree line. Once he¡¯d reached the edge of the Deadtide encampment and the trees grew dense and dark, he started to feel safe. But the image of Gaius Deadtide and his white, staring eye made him nervous still.
Max lost count of the time and the steps he had taken to get away from the army camp. He heard a creature stalking him in the shadows and armed himself. He was all out of Magic Missiles. His catapult was useless in this darkness, but the feeling of his shortsword in his grip gave him confidence, confidence that was suddenly robbed of him when his Strength spell wore off. He paused for breath, a quick rest, and called up his stats out of the twisting dark shadows of the trees.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
Health: Badly injured
Strength: 9
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Sure enough, his Strength had now returned to its standard rating. It was pretty low. Max wondered how high the Strength of Gaius Deadtide was. He really hadn¡¯t had time to check the detailed stats of the Deadtide army leader. It was all he could do to get away.
And Max noticed his Health was low. He¡¯d only taken a couple of blows from the guards. Those Deadtide heavy infantry would have finished him off for sure. They were big imposing soldiers, heavily armored, and looked like they¡¯d be powerful foes. Yet Gaius Deadtide had defeated one in a matter of a few moments with only a few swift attacks with his long daggers. Gaius was clearly a dangerous fighter. Max hoped he¡¯d never encounter him again.
In the dark trees, Max saw a fire burning. He knew he was too far from the army for it to be any of their soldiers. Maybe it was his friends waiting for his return. He came close to the fire.
The two figures sitting at the fire were clearly not his friends. A pair of ladies wearing short fighting skirts, tight crop tops, and thick fur scarves that twisted about their bodies. The pair sat with their backs to a temporary structure built from fallen sticks, a bivouac that sheltered them from the worst of the wind and rain that made it to the forest floor through the thick trees.
Max checked their stats.
Name: Debhora
Class: Assassin
Status: Stalking
Attack: Blowpipe and Daggers
Threat level: Dangerous
Name: Shazera
Class: Assassin
Status: Stalking
Attack: Light Crossbow and Daggers
Threat level: Dangerous
¡°Did you hear something?¡± Debhora said, her voice soft and rich. She stood up and drew a long curved dagger.
Shazera drank from a large drinking pouch. ¡°He was last seen in Ralynn City,¡± she said in a husky voice that Max would have ordinarily found alluring. ¡°I can¡¯t imagine he¡¯ll be heading this way from the army camp. Now sit down and rest. We¡¯ve got a long day ahead of us. We have to keep ahead of that army. I don¡¯t want him getting splattered by those Deadtide soldiers before we can grab him.¡±
Debhora sat down and took the drinking pouch from her Assassin companion. ¡°I¡¯ll grab him alright. You¡¯ve seen his portrait. He¡¯s cute. Maybe I¡¯ll seduce him before we hand him over for our reward.¡±
Shazera snatched the drinking pouch back. ¡°We are supposed to bring him in alive,¡± she said. ¡°If you have a night with him, he¡¯ll be finished off for sure.¡±
¡°But what a night he¡¯d have.¡± Debhora chuckled.
Max started to back away. He pitied whoever this sexy and deadly pair were hunting. He¡¯d be sure to inform King Glynn that the city guards should be on the lookout for a pair of sexy Assassins in the area. Then Shazera unrolled a scroll and looked at a portrait.
¡°I have to agree. He is cute,¡± she said.
Max couldn¡¯t resist sneaking closer to take a look so he could warn the poor fool. He looked down at a charcoal portrait . . . of himself. He gasped and stepped back.
¡°There, you heard that, didn¡¯t you?¡± Debhora drew her dagger and sprang to her feet.
¡°A wolf, most likely. Now rest.¡± Shazera pulled Debhora down to the ground. They curled up together under the bivouac, a rough blanket each.
Max backed away. Deeper into the dark and the trees. Once at a safe distance, he ran.
Chapter 2.07
Max climbed the grassy slope back up to the ridge, digging his toes into the soft earth, grabbing clumps of grass with his hands. It was harder than climbing a fifty-story tower. Once on top of the ridge, he saw the palisade and the Ralynn tollgate. The tall timbers glowed orange in the rays of early morning sun. Rain clouds whisked away in the stiff morning breeze. Exhaustedly, he walked towards the tollgate, looking out for his friends. He felt the shiver down his spine, possibly the wind drying his damp clothes or maybe the feeling of someone or something watching him. Adrenalin kicked in and exhaustion left him. He spun around to face whatever it was creeping up behind him.
Dark clouds racing overhead threw shadows on the ridge path. And there, one distant shadow surged closer. This was no shadow. A dark whirlwind moved back and fore across the barren ridge, swinging from side to side and closing in. Max gasped. He knew this dark whirlwind. He¡¯d seen one just like it before. Black clouds filled with dark images of screaming souls tormented by the darkness. Max was drawn to it as it was drawn to him. He was both afraid of it and in awe of it. It was like staring over the edge of a high cliff, filled with fear at the terrible height and wonder at the same time.
Name: Dark Whirlwind
Status: Hostile
Attack: Suffocating
Threat level: Dangerous
Max staggered backwards a step, eyes fixed on the dark whirlwind swinging back and fore but steadily moving closer. Max drew his catapult.
Max attacks Dark Whirlwind.
The bullet leapt away from the catapult. Max¡¯s targeting was dead-on, but the bullet passed straight through the dark whirlwind.
Dark Whirlwind immune to physical attacks; no damage done.
Max loaded an enhanced bullet and shot again.
Max attacks Dark Whirlwind.
Dark Whirlwind immune to physical attacks; no damage done.
The dark whirlwind lunged towards him. Max had few spells left. He was out of Magic Missiles. He cast Strength on himself. Even though he knew his sword would have little effect on this powerful and ominous dark cloud, he hoped his increased strength would help him endure whatever damage the dark whirlwind would deal him. Max didn¡¯t know how this swirling malevolent cloud could damage him, but he suspected he would be stripped of whatever Health he still retained.
Max casts Strength.
Max¡¯s Strength increased to 18.
Max wrapped his fingers around the handle of his Sword of True Striking. It didn¡¯t matter how accurate his sword blows were; the blade would not harm the dark whirlwind. Then he remembered his other shortsword, his Shortsword of Cold. Maybe the magical cold damage would affect the dark whirlwind.
¡°Or I could cast a Fireball.¡±
Max moved backwards as fast as he could, but it was like swimming against a strong current. No matter how much effort he applied, his retreat was painfully slow. The dark whirlwind closed the distance to Max in a slow and ominous manner.
Max had only cast Fireball once before, and he knew it was a powerful spell. He intoned the incantation and moved his hand through the casting gestures, taking care to get the words and gestures as accurate as he possibly could. The fireball grew between the palms of his quivering hands. He rotated his hands around the growing fireball. With the incantation complete, he thrust his arms forward.
Max casts Fireball.
The fireball leapt away, the size of a basketball but growing steadily as it flew towards the dark whirlwind. The fireball was swallowed by the dark whirlwind, and then it erupted a moment later, expanding outwards rapidly, bursting out from the dark whirlwind. The darkness replaced by a bright orange fireball.
Dark Whirlwind takes heavy damage.
He punched the air as the fireball engulfed the dark whirlwind. The fire burned out before reaching him. And then when the fireball subsided, he saw the dark whirlwind was still there, still swirling, still advancing.
Max stood open-mouthed. The dark whirlwind was only badly injured and still had half its Health. Max swapped his Shortsword of True Striking for his Shortsword of Cold, retreating a step as he did so. He held the sword up, ready to strike. He was fairly sure that the Shortsword of Cold could only inflict minor to moderate damage on the dark whirlwind. Max would have one shot before the dark whirlwind engulfed him in its tormented chaotic darkness.
At that moment, the dawn sky above the dark whirlwind erupted with a brilliant white light beam that came striking down towards the ground, slamming into the heart of the dark whirlwind.
Elderon casts Bring Light.
Dark Whirlwind takes major damage.
Max looked over his shoulder. Anita and Jahrod were running towards him at full tilt along the ridge path. Elderon was far behind, just close enough for him to cast his powerful elemental spell on the dark whirlwind. Max felt a sudden sense of elation: his friends were here, rushing to his aid. He turned to face the dark whirlwind with renewed confidence. When he turned, he saw the black cloud of the dark whirlwind only inches away. It surged forward towards him.
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Dark Whirlwind attacks Max.
Max was engulfed by the whirlwind. He was falling, suffocating, trapped in darkness, tormented souls screaming, racing in close, and then falling away. He gasped for breath, tumbling.
Max takes major damage.
Max near death.
The darkness brought feelings of dread and hopelessness. He knew any moment now the last of his Health would be drained from him, and he would be defeated. He stared into the dark heart of the dark whirlwind. A distant spot of light appeared there and spoke to him.
¡°Fight, Max. Fight.¡±
Janet¡¯s words gave him courage. Although trapped within the dark whirlwind, he had his sword in his hand. He would fight.
Max attacks Dark Whirlwind.
Max slashed side to side as he tumbled in the darkness.
Dark Whirlwind immune to physical attacks.
Bonus Cold damage.
Dark Whirlwind has been defeated.
Max gain experience points.
Max collapsed to the ground, the dark whirlwind dispersing around him. He turned to see his party running across the ridge towards him, Anita with her spear of fire, the tip glowing, Jahrod with his axe held in two hands in front of him. Elderon, having just cast a powerful elemental spell, was walking swiftly, trying to catch up.
¡°You are injured,¡± Anita said to Max. She laid her hands on him.
Anita casts Heal Major Wounds.
Max felt some Health return, but he was far from fully restored. ¡°It wasn¡¯t just the dark whirlwind,¡± Max said, ¡°I had an encounter with some Deadtide soldiers too.¡±
¡°And did you get the dark shard, young Mage?¡± Elderon said as he arrived. ¡°Can you show it to me?¡±
Max shook his head. He looked up at Elderon. ¡°I found it, but it evaporated in my hands. It¡¯s something to do with me being connected to the dark portal. The dark shards can¡¯t continue to exist once they connect with me.¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°I fear the dark whirlwind is some part of the dark portal too. It seems drawn to you. After we defeated the last dark whirlwind, I believe this one was released, and it has traveled from the dark portal, wherever it is in Eveirea, and it has been drawn to you. The closer we get to the dark portal, the faster these things will appear. We must focus your training on elemental magic. Only elemental spells can defeat them. You may have to specialize as an Elemental Mage.¡±
¡°The fireball did a pretty good job,¡± Max said. ¡°If I¡¯d had another one, I might¡¯ve been able to destroy it.¡±
¡°You¡¯re turning into a powerful Mage, Max.¡± Jahrod slapped Max hard on the back.
¡°The fireball was well cast, Max,¡± Elderon said with a nod. ¡°You got the maximum effect from it, but it will have been spotted by the Deadtide army. We must move out, now.¡±
Jahrod started back along the ridge, back towards Ralynn City.
¡°Hold, Master Dwarf,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We go down into the forest. We can move through the trees faster than the army. If we stay up here, they will send scouts to catch up with us.¡± Elderon cast the Far Sight spell. He expanded the lens to show the distant end of the ridge. There was nothing there, but Elderon was not content.
¡°They may not be on our heels just yet, but they will be here soon. We go down into the forest. We can move north to the Salt River Coast and move west deeper into Faregent until we are closer to Ralynn City.¡±
¡°I am not going anywhere near saltwater,¡± Jahrod said. He set his jaw defiantly, his beard rustling.
¡°It is the safest way, Master Dwarf,¡± Elderon said. ¡°I assure you we will not touch the saltwater of the Salt River. You can trust me.¡±
Jahrod grumbled and then nodded once stiffly. Anita set off down the slope. She activated her woodland lore and chose the safest route, weaving down the dewy, damp grass to the trees.
¡°Follow me,¡± she said as she ran ahead.
Max was less nervous of any wolves now he was with his party. A pack of wolves would be foolish indeed to attack this powerful party of adventurers. He was a little more nervous about the pair of sexy Assassins he¡¯d seen camped in the forest. He felt sure he should voice his concerns to Elderon, but just as he was about to speak on it, the party came out of the trees, and Max got his first sight of the Salt River.
There was a wide path running between the forest and the banks of the Salt River. Max could barely see the bank on the far side. The Salt River was no true river; he could see now it was a narrow inland sea. The banks on either side were low cliffs. Here and there, rocks tumbled down to the edge of the Salt River. Max noticed how Jahrod stayed way to the left of the party as they walked along the Salt River path, close to the tree line and as far away from the saltwater as possible.
¡°Why do you fear the saltwater so, Jahrod?¡± Max said, walking alongside the powerful Warrior dwarf. Jahrod shot him a look with his fierce tiny beady eyes.
¡°I¡¯m not afraid of saltwater, Mage. You watch your tongue. You accuse me of fear again, and I will show you what it is to fear.¡±
Max was taken aback. Jahrod could be grumpy at times. ¡°Sorry, Jahrod, I meant no offence. Why do you not like the saltwater?¡±
Jahrod grunted. ¡°Why do you ask so many questions?¡±
Max felt it was dangerous to press the Warrior dwarf on the question any further. He made it his goal to ask Elderon or Anita when the time was right.
The party moved quickly. Anita scouted ahead. She never went too far away and often returned to tell them any information about the way ahead, a fallen tree tumble or a rockslide down to the Salt River that Jahrod might wish to avoid. She spoke excitedly about her encounter with a forest bear and how she had charmed it with her Wilderness Lore before rushing ahead again on another scouting run. Max was just thinking about her when the party caught up with her. She was standing still, rooted to the spot.
As Max came nearer, he saw that on the banks of the Salt River was a small, abandoned camp, signs that people had camped here as recently as the night before. A fire smoldered, embers still glowing. And then Max saw the dead bodies.
¡°Is this the Deadtide army? How did they get in front of us?¡± Max said.
¡°These are not Deadtide soldiers,¡± she said.
Elderon walked into the camp and looked down at one of the bodies. He looked over at Anita, his face and mixture of horror and sympathy. ¡°Oh Anita, I¡¯m so sorry.¡±
¡°What is it?¡± Max said.
¡°They are Druids,¡± Anita said. ¡°A small Druid circle studying the Salt River. They¡¯ve been slaughtered.¡±
¡°Who would slaughter a Druid circle?¡± Jahrod said, checking one of the bodies.
Elderon was casting a spell of Detect Enemies. He walked around the site listening for something in the magic. Then he stopped in his tracks and turned to Anita. His face was a picture of shock.
¡°What?¡± Anita said, clearly worried to see Elderon so concerned.
¡°I don¡¯t believe it. It can¡¯t be true! But I must trust my magic. This is the work of the Dark Mages.¡±
Jahrod gave out a single laugh. ¡°The Dark Mages are gone, Master Mage. The Mage council of Essillt saw the end of them an age ago. The dwarfs of the Kingdom of Eastwind and dwarfs from the Kingdom of Drow on the Scarfel continent helped the Mage council defeat the Dark Mages. They were utterly destroyed. They could never return.¡±
¡°As impossible as it is to believe, it is true. I must consult with the Mage council as quickly as possible.¡±
¡°What were they doing here?¡± Max said. ¡°Who are the Dark Mages anyway?¡±
¡°The Dark Mages are an ancient dark cult of magic,¡± Anita said. ¡°They used blood sacrifice to harness life energy to channel into their magic. They were powerful, but they were a danger to all life in Eveirea, and somehow, they are back.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Elderon said. ¡°And I think they sacrificed these Druids in an attempt to access the dark portal.¡±
¡°We saw a Skarak Warlock trying to sacrifice a young farm girl to open a dark portal,¡± Max said.
Elderon nodded. ¡°Yes, but the Skarak would have been unsuccessful. And so will the Dark Mages be, at least for now. It seems they were experimenting with the blood sacrifice. They must have thought that the Druids¡¯s connection to the deep roots of Eveirea would somehow give them access to the dark portal.¡±
Anita spoke over each of the fallen Druids. Max counted seven in all, each unspeakably brutalized and murdered for dark ends. Once Anita had finished, she dragged the bodies to the edge of the Salt River.
¡°These Druids were Salt River Druids. We can return them to the Salt River and all the salt seas of Eveirea.¡± She rolled the first body into the water, her salt tears landing on the banks of the Salt River.
¡°Danger close, Max,¡± Janet appeared next to Max.
¡°Everyone, be alert.¡± Max said. ¡°There¡¯s danger nearby.¡±
Then Max saw the magic missile. It was glowing with a fierce deep red and came racing out of the trees towards Elderon. Then another and another. Elderon quickly cast a magic shield. The magical barrier appeared just as the magic missiles arrived, slamming into the barrier with a crackle of magical energies annihilating.
¡°Ambush.¡± Jahrod shouted. He quickly drank a potion and then tossed one to Max.
Max gains Potion of Magic Protection.
Max drank the potion.
Max gains protection against magic.
It wasn¡¯t a moment too soon.
Dark Mage attacks Max.
Max drew his catapult and loaded a bullet.
Chapter 2.08
The Dark Mage emerging from the shadows of the trees wore a dark robe with a large hood that totally covered his head. The face was hidden in the dark shadows of the hood, but Max could make out the nasty yellow eyes staring out at him. The cuffs of the sleeves hung down from the wrists, hooked fingers twitching and summoning forth a dark spell. The nails were long, yellow, cracked, and thick. They looked more like old claws than fingernails. The fingers moved in strange jerky motions, bending against the finger joint¡¯s natural movement.
Max could almost hear the knuckles and finger joints snapping in and out of place. The magic missile leapt from the fingers of the Dark Mage. Max flinched as the glowing red missiles arced towards him, two on each side, the orbs streaking right at him. At a few feet away, they slammed into Elderon¡¯s magical shield.
Max still had the benefit of the Strength spell as he drew his catapult, the golden roc sinew stretching to near-breaking point. He took careful aim.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Max shot the bullet. It passed through Elderon¡¯s magical shield and struck the Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes moderate damage.
The robes billowed as the bullet struck. Max loaded another bullet. He spotted a second Dark Mage emerging from the trees. He was turning his hands over, summoning a huge spell. Max took aim at the Dark Mage.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
The bullet flew straight and true until at the final moment, it changed trajectory and arced around the Mage.
Dark Mage protected from Missile Weapons; no damage done.
Then the Mage finished casting his big spell. A blue ball drifted towards Elderon. It drifted into the magical shield and spread over it. The spell crackled and absorbed all the energy from Elderon¡¯s magical shield.
¡°They¡¯ve cancelled my shield,¡± Elderon said. He quickly cast a new spell.
Max¡¯s ears were filled not so much with a sound but a sensation, like a thick heavy blanket hitting the ground.
Elderon casts Silence.
Max saw the Dark Mages fail in their spell casting, an area of utter silence surrounding them, preventing them from uttering their incantations.
¡°Attack them,¡± Jahrod said, and he ran toward the nearest of the two Dark Mages.
Anita sprinted towards the other. As she arrived at her target, the Dark Mage drew a long dark blade and swung it at her, the blade sweeping a wide arc at neck height.
Anita dropped to her knees and skidded under the swinging blade. She came back to her feet the instant the blade had passed over her head, and she struck with her Spear of Fire.
Anita¡¯s strike caused the Mage to cry out in pain, but the area of silence prevented any noise. The fire from Anita¡¯s flaming tip spread over the Dark Mage¡¯s robes, a wave of flame that did its damage and then burned out.
Jahrod swung his axe but was parried by the dark blade of his Dark Mage opponent. The pair circled each other. The Mage jabbed forward with lightning speed, but the blade glanced harmlessly off Jahrod¡¯s heavy armor. He swung his axe, aiming to take the knees out from under the Dark Mage, but the swinging axe struck only the heavy robes of the Dark Mage.
Max drew his Shortsword of Cold. The blade glowed with a low white light. He rushed in to fight alongside Anita.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
With the Dark Mage focused on defending against Anita¡¯s spear of fire, Max had a free attack.
Dark Mage takes moderate damage.
Bonus Strength.
Bonus Cold damage.
The Mage turned on Max and swung his dark blade. Max brought up his Shortsword of Cold to defend against the dark blade. The blades struck. There was no sound, and the silence played strange tricks with Max¡¯s ears.
Max used the power of the Dark Mage¡¯s swinging sword to help him leap backwards and out of range of the Mage¡¯s blade.
Anita jabbed forwards with her spear and again delivered damage to the unguarded left flank of the Mage. Again the flame rippled over the Mage¡¯s robes, dealing extra fire damage. The Mage took a step back, sword vertical before him, ready to counter an attack from either side.
But the Dark Mage didn¡¯t count on Max being so fast and agile.
Max attacks Dark Mage
Dark Mage takes moderate damage
Bonus Strength damage
Bonus Cold damage
Dark Mage defeated
Anita turned her back on the Mage the instant he crumpled to the ground, buried under a heap of heavy dark robes. Max spotted the loot left behind, a few gold coins and a magic scroll.
At that moment, the field of silence ended as the spell wore off. The sound came rushing at Max. He heard Jahrod grunting as he swung his axe and the clatter and chime of blades striking each other. Then he heard Elderon call out.
¡°Look out, more Dark Mages!¡±
Max saw three more Dark Mages appear deeper in the trees. Elderon cast a Web spell at the Mages. The spell raced towards them, in between Max and Anita, who was running to aid Jahrod. The spell looked like a loose ball of twine, white and glistening. When the spell landed, it burst outward and trapped the Dark Mages in sticky threads. The threads splattered the trees around the Mages. It held their arms in the sticky strands and prevented any casting.
Max saw Anita strike a final blow and defeat the Dark Mage Jahrod had been battling. Elderon cast a fireball and threw it at the three Dark Mages trapped in the web.
Max watched the fireball move towards the trapped Dark Mages, and that¡¯s when he spotted two more Dark Mages on the party¡¯s right flank, moving along the tree line at the edge of the forest and the Salt River.
Max stepped back. ¡°More of them, there.¡± He pointed with his sword.
¡°Behind you,¡± Anita called out.
Max turned and saw a group of Dark Mages closing on the party¡¯s left.
Elderon cast a lightning bolt at the trapped Dark Mages. The lightning moved from one to the other, flickering, crackling, dealing high levels of damage, defeating all three Dark Mages and breaking the web so only loose strands still hung from the trees.
¡°There are too many of them,¡± Max said as he saw yet another Dark Mage join the pair on the right flank. ¡°We need to get out of here.¡±
The only way Max could see to get away was through the remnants of the web, deeper into the forest.
¡°Dwarfs don¡¯t run,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°We stand and fight.¡±
¡°It is not running; it¡¯s a tactical withdrawal,¡± Max said. He moved deeper into the trees. Anita led the way.
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Elderon cast another Web at the large group on their right, stopping them in their tracks. Jahrod growled in anger as he ran to join the party as they moved into the trees. Anita cast a Root Tangle spell to cover their retreat.
Then a fireball struck. It fell far behind them and exploded with a soft sound like a flag flapping in the wind. It billowed outwards so Max was caught by the edge of the exploding fireball.
Max takes heavy damage.
The burning was painful but mercifully short-lived. He had long ago burned his hand on an open fire, and it had hurt for over an hour. He could even feel it well into the next day, but the magical fire of the fireball hurt only for an instant. But it did its damage. Max knew he could not take another hit from a fireball.
Anita cast another Root Tangle to cover their retreat, preventing the Dark Mages from getting close enough to hit them with spells.
¡°That¡¯s my last Root Tangle,¡± Anita said.
¡°I¡¯m all out of Web spells,¡± Elderon said. He a cast spell that created a shimmering duplicate image of the party between them and the Dark Mages. ¡°That¡¯ll confuse them for a short while and maybe they¡¯ll waste some of their spells with attacks on my Shimmer Image spell.¡±
Max continued his tactical withdrawal, but he couldn¡¯t help looking at the Shimmer Image spell behind them. It was strange to see images of his friends standing in the trees. They moved slightly, taking a step forward, turning¡ªsmall movements that made sure they didn¡¯t look like static images, just enough to confuse an enemy for a moment.
¡°Keep moving,¡± Elderon said.
A fireball slammed into the Shimmer Images. and the strangely moving duplicates vanished in the fireball.
Max was running now. The party ran for an hour until safely away from the Dark Mages.
¡°That¡¯s far enough,¡± Max leaned on his knees, gasping for breath. ¡°I can¡¯t go any further.¡± He looked at Anita and Jahrod, both red from running but content to keep going. Elderon made no complaints, but Max was sure he too welcomed the rest.
¡°No fires,¡± Elderon said as he sat down. He took out his Mage Book. The small book grew to the huge heavy tome the moment Elderon opened it.
Max wondered how long before his Mage Book was so big. Would he survive long enough?
¡°I need rest,¡± Elderon said, closing the book. It shrank back down, and he slipped it into the pouch on his hip. Then, sitting on the ground, he cast a spell and summoned forth a small army of mice. The creatures came up from the ground like lava from a volcano, bubbling up before running off into the surrounding trees. ¡°A warning spell,¡± Elderon said, looking to Max. ¡°They will squeak if danger is close.¡±
¡°I do not need rest,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I will stand guard.¡±
Max called Anita to rest with him on his Blanket of Comfort. ¡°It will help us activate our spells more quickly,¡± he said as an excuse, but really, he just wanted to feel Anita¡¯s body next to his. She smiled and lay down next to him. He felt her warm body next to his. Even in the cold forest, she was like a furnace. Sleep came easily with Anita next to him.
Max woke suddenly to find Anita was gone. He sat up and looked around anxiously.
Jahrod and Elderon were eating heavy dark bread. Jahrod tossed Max a crust.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Max,¡± Jahrod growled. ¡°She¡¯s walking the perimeter. She¡¯ll be back in a moment.¡±
Max chewed the bread and looked to the surrounding trees. After a moment and a drink of a dark morning brew, he grew impatient.
¡°Where is she?¡± Max said.
Jahrod got to his feet. ¡°Time we moved on. I¡¯ll help you find her. I¡¯ll search this way.¡±
Elderon stood up and gathered his staff. ¡°I¡¯ll check this direction. Don¡¯t call out if you find her. We¡¯ll meet up back here.¡±
Elderon walked off, Jahrod too. Max picked a direction and walked.
Max had a great sense of direction and was not troubled that he¡¯d become lost. He knew how to get back to their temporary camp. He wandered deeper into the trees, moving slowly, silently, looking all about for Anita. Then he spotted a disturbed patch of ground: the leaf litter that lay across the forest floor was churned up, fresh dirt visible. Max looked about. He saw a set of footprints through the trees. The leaves disturbed slightly. He followed them. After a short while, he saw Anita, her back to him. She was hunched over something on the ground. A small fire burning next to her.
Anita spun around as Max approached.
Janet appeared on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Danger close, Max. Be careful. If you get hurt . . .¡± She didn¡¯t finish the sentence. Max knew if anything happened to him, she¡¯d be trapped in the dark portal, stuck between Earth and Eveirea forever.
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± Anita said.
¡°It¡¯s me, Max. It¡¯s probably not a good idea to light fires right now. Come on, it¡¯s time to move on.¡± Max walked closer. ¡°What have you got there?¡±
Max looked over Anita¡¯s shoulder. It was her Satchel. She had spilled the contents over the ground and was picking through them. There were little bottles of potions, a small wooden mixing bowl with a golden lining that Max had seen her use to prepare herbs. There was her bundle of glowing moss and assorted Druid tools, including a curved knife suitable only for peeling fruits.
Anita held up the bundle of sticks. ¡°I was just about to make a brew.¡±
¡°Danger close, Max,¡± Janet said.
¡°Come on, Anita,¡± Max said. ¡°We need to move.¡±
Anita turned her back to Max. ¡°Go on without me. I¡¯ll soon catch up with you.¡±
Max looked back the way he had come. It was true Anita could catch up with them. She could move through the forest as easy as a breeze. Then Max saw the disturbed ground leading to Anita. Max realized that she never left footprints. As a Druid, she was able to move without leaving a trace. She moved lightly over the forest floor, leaving as much trace as a song bird.
Anita reached out to her fire, the bundle of sticks in her hand. She was about to drop them into the fire. Max wondered what she was doing. She had had that small bundle since he¡¯d first met her, and she told him it was not for the fire.
¡°Anita?¡± Max said.
Anita ignored him.
¡°Danger close, Max,¡± Janet said. ¡°You need to move now.¡±
Max looked down at Anita. Her back to him. He touched her shoulder.
Cold.
Max stepped back.
Anita stood up and turned on him. Her eyes glowed yellow, her lips curled back in a snarl. Then her flesh melted away, and Max found himself confronted by a Dark Mage in his heavy robes.
The Mage cast a Magic Missile, and six burning yellow orbs slammed into Max. Each delivered minor damage. The Potion of Protection against Magic saved Max from taking some damage, but even so, the cumulative effect left Max badly injured, and his Health bar looked down to about half.
Max drew his sword and swung it in one swift move.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
The Mage began casting another spell.
Dark Mage attacks Max.
Max watched as the Dark Mage moved his gnarled fingers, twisting and cracking as he turned them through the casting gestures, strange combinations that looked uncomfortable, not the smooth casting gestures he performed when casting.
Max swung his sword at the Dark Mage.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
The bonus Cold damage spread over the Dark Mage¡¯s robes like fast-forming frost. The dark robes were momentarily turned white until the frost evaporated in an instant.
Dark Mage casting interrupted; spell failed.
The spell growing in the Mage¡¯s hands dissipated as the spell failed. The Mage snarled in rage and drew a long dark blade. It rasped as it was drawn from its scabbard that was buried somewhere within the Mage¡¯s heavy robes.
Max jabbed forwards with his shortsword, but the Dark Mage parried it away with his dark blade.
Dark Mage attacks Max.
Max saw the dark blade high above his head at the apex of its upwards swing. He knew that if he ran at this point, it would be a disaster. He¡¯d be cut down before he¡¯d even turned his back. He felt the fear building inside him. There was nothing to do but step forward inside the falling arc of the dark blade.
The Mage stepped backwards as Max advanced and stumbled into the small fire he had been hunched over. The flames and embers jumped and crackled, momentarily distracting him.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Max punched forward with the grip of his shortsword deep into the Dark Mage¡¯s hood.
Dark Mage takes minor damage.
Dark Mage has been defeated.
The robes crumpled to the ground. The dark blade fell onto the pile of robes. Max saw the loot left behind, and stooped to pick it up.
¡°Not the blade, Max,¡± the voice of Elderon boomed out.
Max turned. Elderon and Jahrod were running towards him.
¡°The blade is cursed. Don¡¯t touch it.¡±
Max looked at the blade sitting alongside a magic scroll and a few gold coins. He was grateful his friends had alerted him to this unknown danger. Then suspicion took him. He turned to Elderon and Jahrod and raised his sword.
¡°Hold there. How do I know you are who you say you are?¡±
Elderon and Jahrod slowed. They walked forward slowly, cautiously.
¡°You are Max Lightfoot,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We first met in the town of Burke in the Breamor Kingdom.¡± Elderon spoke softly, his hand held out in friendship.
Max was not convinced. Anyone could have come by this information. He tightened the grip on his sword. Then he caught a whiff of the aroma emanating from the dwarf.
Max wrinkled his nose at the sour, pungent stench from the dwarf. No shape-shifter could have created that stench. He lowered his sword.
¡°Elderon? Jahrod? Is that really you?¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°The Dark Mages. They have Anita.¡±
Max looked down at the robes on the ground. ¡°This one was disguised as Anita.¡± He scooped up the gold and the scrolls.
Max gains 5 gold.
Max gains Scroll of Disguise.
Max gains Scroll of Permanent Strength.
Max checked his inventory. He added the five gold coins, giving him 215 in total. He read the Scroll of Disguise, and it crumbled in his hands. He quickly checked his Mage Book to see if it had been copied into his book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
? Disguise
He was pleased to see it there along with his Level 3 spells. But he could only have one Level 3 spell active at any one time.
¡°Is this a spell?¡± Max said, showing Elderon the Scroll of Permanent Strength. The scroll had a slightly different appearance to ones he¡¯d seen before with no gesture diagrams, just an incantation.
¡°It is powerful magic,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Read it and you will see.¡±
Max read the scroll. Once he¡¯d read the incantation, the scroll crumbled and drifted away like crushed dried leaves. Then Max felt the Strength. He could feel the new strength in his arms and his whole body.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
Health: Badly injured
Strength: 10
Stamina: 16
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
His Strength was increased. It wasn¡¯t as much as the temporary boost, but this was permanent. He drew his sword and practiced a few swings to feel the additional power he could put in each swing.
¡°We can waste no more time, Max,¡± Elderon said kindly.
¡°You must show me how I can best use this Disguise spell,¡± Max said.
¡°Indeed I will,¡± Elderon said.
¡°But what I really need now is a tracking spell. We have to find Anita. The Dark Mages must be planning to continue their dark portal experiments with her. We must act fast.¡±
Then Janet appeared on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Danger close, Max.¡±
Max stood ready with his sword, alert to danger.
¡°I heard it too,¡± Jahrod said.
Max saw movement in the trees, a billowing red cloud moving fast and heading right towards them.
Chapter 2.09
Max fell back a pace, but the red cloud came on too fast. It engulfed Max. He felt a wave of panic¡ªwas he about to suffer a suffocating attack like he¡¯d received from the dark whirlwind? But the moment the billowing red cloud surrounded the party, it evaporated, dissipating in an instant and revealing the Red Mage Gorgoron Redfist. He walked towards the party smiling broadly.
Gorgoron made Max shiver, but Elderon walked towards him, arms outstretched.
¡°Welcome, brother,¡± Elderon said.
As they clasped hands in friendship, Gorgoron looked over to Max. ¡°And how is our young Mage brother shaping up? Learning fast under your expert tutelage, I¡¯ll wager.¡±
Elderon looked back at Max and smiled at him. ¡°Max is brave and smart. He is turning out to be a very capable young apprentice. I foresee him becoming a great Mage one day.¡±
Max didn¡¯t like the way Gorgoron Redfist looked at him. It was a mixture of admiration and disdain.
¡°We need to confer, brother,¡± Gorgoron said.
Elderon walked a few paces with Gorgoron, away from Max and Jahrod, deeper into the trees. Gorgoron cast a Mage Sphere that surrounded the two old Mages, making sure any conversation was kept strictly between the two of them.
¡°Janet, can you hear me?¡± Max said. He looked around this way and that for Janet, willing her to appear.
¡°Where did you find such an interesting, mysterious, and powerful spirit ally?¡± Jahrod said.
¡°I was trying to steal something from her,¡± Max said, and he felt a twinge of guilt admitting that he had once been a thief. The fact that it had all been against his will, that it had been forced on him, did little to assuage his guilt. He would make amends somehow, and freeing Janet from the dark portal was a great place to start.
¡°If you were trying to steal something,¡± Jahrod said, ¡°I¡¯m sure it was with good intentions. I know you to be an honorable Mage.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°Alas, it may not have always been the case, my stout friend. I was forced into bad behavior by dangerous men. I always wished I could have defied them, but they had power over me. I was compelled to work for them.¡±
Jahrod smiled up at Max with his huge crushing teeth. ¡°Then you will know better than to use your Mage powers to manipulate those less powerful than yourself. All things have a meaning in Eveirea.¡±
Janet appeared out of thin air between Max and Jahrod. A dark spot grew with a white, glowing center. It grew until Janet stood before Max, her white coat billowing around her, looking more and more like a set of robes and less like a lab coat. Her red hair floating around her like flame.
¡°I heard you admitting your thievery,¡± Janet said. ¡°Admitting you were wrong is the first step towards making up for your offense.¡±
¡°I never wanted to steal from you,¡± Max said. ¡°I knew I had feelings for you the first moment I saw you. I have seen all kinds of magic here in Eveirea, things I would never have believed. Do you believe in love at first sight?¡±
Jahrod looked up at Max in surprise. ¡°I like you, too, Max, but I wouldn¡¯t call it love. You are maybe like a brother to me, but that¡¯s all.¡± Jahrod looked at Max with a stern and slightly puzzled expression.
¡°I¡¯m sorry, Jahrod,¡± Max said. ¡°I was talking to Janet. She is here with us now.¡± Max pointed.
Jahrod looked around but clearly could not see Janet. She was invisible to all except Max, trapped in the dark portal between Earth and Eveirea.
¡°Can you let me hear inside the Mage Sphere, Janet?¡± Max said.
Janet nodded, and instantly Max could hear the conversation between Elderon and Gorgoron.
¡°I have been sent by the Mage council of Essillt to observe the army of Castle Deadtide.¡±
¡°You move fast, brother,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We have seen the army. They are indeed driven by darkness. We were returning to Castle Ralynn to warn King Glyn about their advance into the Kingdom of Faregent. Ralynn City is in the Deadtide army¡¯s path. The city is in danger. And if Ralynn City falls, then all of Faregent is lost, and the Deadtide army will have a clear run into the Breamor Kingdom.¡±
¡°This is true,¡± Gorgoron said, nodding. ¡°We cannot let southern Awen fall to the Deadtide army. I will travel with you to Ralynn City.¡± Gorgoron glanced out of the Mage Sphere towards Max. ¡°The roads are treacherous these days, brother.¡±
Elderon hesitated. ¡°One of our party has been kidnapped. I don¡¯t believe I can persuade Max to return with me to Castle Ralynn without first finding our missing party member.¡±
¡°He is a novice,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°We can compel him. He will come with us. We will assure him scouts will be sent to find his missing friend.¡±
Somehow, Max didn¡¯t believe that Gorgoron would send any scouts. Max would find Anita himself. And time was running short. He needed to move now.
Elderon looked over to Max and then back to Gorgoron. ¡°There is more, brother. The Dark Mages are back.¡±
Gorgoron grumbled and rubbed his pointy black beard. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°the Mage Council has seen signs of the reappearance of the Dark Mage coven. Darkness is indeed abroad in Eveirea. The dark portal is active and spreading darkness.¡± He looked over at Max. ¡°We must not let the power of the Mage council diminish any further. This dark portal must be contained.¡±
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¡°It must be closed, brother,¡± Elderon said firmly.
Gorgoron nodded in earnest agreement.
¡°And it is not just the dark portal,¡± Elderon went on. ¡°There are dark shards scattered over Eveirea, spreading the dark influence.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Gorgoron said, ¡°the elves of Deepwood have conferred with the Mage council on this. They have a natural immunity to the ravages of these dark shards. The elves have been gathering them from northern kingdoms of Awen. They have almost completely cleared them from Ragewind, Deepwood, Essillt, and Eastwind. It only remains for the darkness to be cleared from the Hinge. It is clear it has taken root here. The men of southern Awen cannot withstand the dark shards or the influence of darkness. I am sure we can learn more from Max.¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure Max has more to teach us,¡± Elderon agreed.
¡°I must report back to the Mage council, inform them that the Dark Mages are indeed active once again. I will use the Mage Stone on the borderlands between Faregent and Breamor. I fear the Mage Stone here between the Hinge and Faregent will soon be overrun by the Deadtide army.¡±
Gorgoron dispelled the Mage Sphere, and the two Mages were standing in the open again.
¡°Take care, Elderon,¡± Gorgoron said and shook Elderon¡¯s hand. ¡°Take care Max,¡± Gorgoron said, looking over to him before turning and moving off into the trees.
¡°Danger close, Max,¡± Janet said as she faded away.
¡°Danger,¡± Max said.
¡°Where?¡± Jahrod said, spinning his axe and looking all about.
¡°There,¡± Elderon said pointing into the trees.
Death Knight attacks Elderon.
Death Knight attacks Jahrod.
Crossbow bolts whizzed away from the two Death Knights. Elderon threw up a Mage Shield just in time. The bolts struck the shield and then fell harmlessly to the forest floor.
Max checked the stats on the Death Knights.
Name: Death Knight
Status: Hostile
Attack: Heavy Crossbow. Longsword. Dark Terror
Threat level: Insidious
The two Death Knights dropped their crossbows, and they ran, one towards Elderon, the other towards Jahrod. They each grabbed a large shield that they carried on their backs. Max was stunned at how fast these heavily armored Death Knights could move. Their armor clanking, their feet tearing up the forest floor.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Jahrod ran towards the Death Knight that was advancing on him. Their weapons met with an almighty clang of steel on steel. Jahrod barreled into the Death Knight with a shoulder charge as he followed through his attack, but he bounced off the Death Knight¡¯s shield without moving it an inch backwards.
Elderon cast Strength and drew his silver-white longsword. With his longsword in his right hand and his staff held halfway down its length in his left, he walked forward, his staff and sword crossed in front of him. He brought them down quickly to the side and cast his Shout spell. A powerful sound wave blasted out from Elderon and slammed into the Death Knight, stunning him momentarily.
Jahrod ducked under a swinging sword of the Death Knight and performed an over-the-shoulder roll. He came up to his feet and swung his axe hard into the back of the Death Knight. The dark armor clanged. The Death Knight lost his grip on his shield and staggered forwards. He recovered after a couple of steps, turned swiftly, and moved in on Jahrod.
Max cast another magic missile, and two glowing orange orbs slammed into the Death Knight attacking Elderon. The dark armor glowed briefly where the orbs struck.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
The Death Knight attacking Jahrod moved in fast and swung his longsword. He caught Jahrod with a heavy blow on his right shoulder. The sword bounced off Jahrod¡¯s heavy plate armor, but the Death Knight had still managed to deliver heavy damage to the mighty dwarf. Jahrod looked stunned. He brought his axe up to defend against the secondary swing but took another heavy blow knocking him sideways.
Elderon cast a spell of dual wielding on himself. He twirled his staff and sword in superfast spinning arcs and advanced on his foe. The white-silver sword deflected the swing of the Death Knight¡¯s dark sword. Then Elderon¡¯s staff struck a blow, followed by a blow from the white-silver sword. The staff and sword twirled and delivered one blow after the next, driving the Death Knight backwards. Every strike Elderon landed delivered minor damage, but the rapid succession of blows built. Max checked the Death Knight¡¯s stats and was encouraged to see he was heavily injured, his Health bar dipping to only a quarter full.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Elderon¡¯s whirling, dual-wielding spell ended, and the Death Knight swung his sword around and over his head before bringing it down on Elderon. Elderon defended with his sword and staff crossed before him, but the Death Knight caused Elderon heavy damage.
Max cast another Magic Missile. In the heat of battle, he¡¯d lost count of how many he¡¯d used.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
The Death Knight swung his sword at Elderon and got through his defense, dealing the old Mage another blow of heavy damage.
Elderon¡¯s Health was reduced to half. Max had never seen his Mage mentor take so much damage. But Elderon was not out of the fight yet. He swung his sword and delivered moderate damage with bonus damage from his Strength spell. The Death Knight was close to defeat.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Death Knight defeated.
Max saw the loot spill out of the dark armor as the Death Knight collapsed. He cursed himself for staring when he realized Jahrod was still in trouble.
The Death Knight and Jahrod had moved deeper into the trees. Jahrod had delivered heavy damage to the Death Knight, but they were a well-matched pair. The Death Knight landed a blow that knocked Jahrod backwards and further from the support of Max and Elderon. Then the Death Knight attacked with a flurry of heavy blows. Few beat Jahrod¡¯s determined defense, and Jahrod struck a solid blow right into the breastplate of the Death Knight. The axe bounced off the armor. Jahrod stepped back but could not avoid the incoming slashing attack. He raised his axe to deflect the blow. The axe was knocked from Jahrod¡¯s hand, and he staggered backwards a few steps before tripping over a fallen branch. He scurried backwards through the leaf litter, drawing a small dagger from his boot as he went. The Death Knight was close to defeat, but so was Jahrod. The Death Knight had the advantage, on his feet, weapon in hand.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
The Death Knight raised the dark sword high above his head. Jahrod looked up, dagger held defiantly forward, but his eyes told Max that he knew he had been defeated, and he was prepared to meet his end.
Chapter 2.10
Seeing Jahrod at the mercy of the Death Knight and knowing there would be no mercy for the mighty dwarf struck Max in the heart like a hammer blow. He shouted out in anger and grief, his vision blurring as he yelled out, and the edges of his vision turned dark and then black. He started running towards Jahrod, not knowing how he could help the dwarf, how he could prevent the Death Knight from delivering the killing blow, or if he could even cover the distance to the Death Knight before the sword fell on Jahrod. With no plan, only a determination to act, he ran.
His shortsword was in his hand almost without thinking. The forest all around was lost in utter blackness as he ran. Time seemed to stand still. The Death Knight¡¯s Health was low, but only a very lucky strike from Max with his shortsword could defeat him. As he ran towards the pair, he spotted the Death Knight¡¯s fallen shield. He lifted it off the ground as he ran. He held it over his head. He reached the pair, the Death Knight frozen with his sword raised, Jahrod frozen and staring up. Max glanced back at Elderon, a spell forming in his fingers, but Elderon too appeared frozen in time, the strands of his magic forming out of the air like strands of white fire.
Max crouched next to Jahrod and held the shield over the pair of them. He braced for the impact.
The Death Knight¡¯s sword fell. The shield shattered, absorbing most of the damage, but Max felt the residual damage in his shield arm.
Max takes major damage.
The Death Knight hesitated, staring down at Max and Jahrod with dark eyes barely visible through the dark helm. Jahrod, his dagger held forward, his head turned to Max, stared in disbelief.
Then Elderon¡¯s spell struck. An icicle, three feet long and tapering to a glistening point, slammed into the Death Knight. The Death Knight took heavy damage and stumbled. Falteringly, it raised its sword. Its Health reduced to virtually zero but still staggering on. Max lunged forward, driving the tip of his shortsword at a weak point of the Death Knight¡¯s armor.
Max attacks Death Knight.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Death Knight has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The Death Knight crumpled, loot spilling out of its armor. Max stood up and helped a bemused and confused Jahrod to his feet. The dwarf stared up at Max.
¡°How did you do that?¡± Jahrod slipped the dagger back into his boot and recovered his axe, all the while his eyes fixed on Max in total disbelief.
¡°I didn¡¯t cast that spell,¡± Max said. ¡°It was Elderon.¡± Max looked back to Elderon, who was over a hundred yards away and running towards Max and Jahrod.
¡°Not the Ice spell,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°You moved so fast. I¡¯ve never seen anything like it. You were over there one moment and then right next to me.¡±
Max looked back at the distance he had covered. It was a long way. He wasn¡¯t sure he could cover so much distance so quickly even if he fell while climbing. And the ground, the leaf litter had been plowed into a furrow as if someone had passed by with a leaf blower.
¡°I guess I did move fast.¡± Max couldn¡¯t quite believe it himself, but he had been motivated by seeing his friend in terrible danger. He had heard stories of people being able to perform miraculous feats of skill and power when danger threatened. He guessed something like that must have happened.
¡°Check these Death Knights for any useful items,¡± Elderon said.
Max looked down at the Death Knight at his feet. The dark armor was white with cold as the Icicle spell faded. The armor was empty, as if the Death Knights were simply animated suits of armor. The armor was also too heavy for Max to wear, and he knew it would take away his ability to cast spells. He nudged it with his toe.
¡°Is this dark armor any good for you, Jahrod?¡± Max said.
The dwarf shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s too big for me, but my armor is very high level, and it fits just right.¡±
Max scooped up a handful of gold coins and tossed half over to Jahrod. The dark sword and shield were also no good to any of the party.
The Death Knight lying closer to Elderon, the one that Max had defeated together with his Mage mentor, was also just an empty suit of armor. Whatever animated spirit had once occupied it had been defeated and had now fled. Max wondered if, like the dark whirlwind, the animated spirit had returned to the dark portal and was even now stepping out once again to track Max down. Max shook dark thoughts from his head. He scooped up the gold coins again, tossed half of them to Jahrod, and pocketed the rest.
Max gains ten gold.
Something else amongst the armor stood out, a dark set of bracers. They were dark leather coverings for the forearm that had cord fastenings. But there was a dark-blue glow about them that Max recognized marking them as some kind of magic item. He looked at them with suspicion. Then he looked at Elderon.
¡°What are they?¡± Max said. ¡°Should I use my scroll of Know Item on them?¡±
Elderon picked up the bracers and held them at arm¡¯s length. He studied them in the sun and the shade. He rubbed his beard and scratched his head.
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¡°I¡¯m not sure what these are.¡± Elderon started casting a spell.
Max watched Elderon¡¯s gesture. He recognized the subtle movements from the symbols on his Know Item scroll, although he¡¯d only glanced at the scroll as he tucked it into his Satchel. He planned to learn the spell and add it to his Mage Book so he could prepare it and have it standing by. He realized he would be sacrificing a Magic Missile spell, and so far, he had needed all the Magic Missiles he could possibly hold. Max realized Elderon must have an awful lot of Level 1 spells available. He always seemed to have spells of Known Item handy. He also had several Magic Missiles. Max had not known Elderon to run out of low-level spells. And what¡¯s more, when Elderon did cast a Magic Missile, he conjured up six glowing orbs of magical energy, whereas Max could now only summon two. The Magic Missile was a basic spell, but it was more powerful if a higher-level Mage was casting it.
¡°That¡¯s interesting,¡± Elderon said. ¡°They are Bracers of Stamina.¡± Elderon handed them to Max.
¡°So if I wear these, I will have extra Stamina?¡± Max said.
¡°Yes,¡± Elderon said. ¡°And the effects will be permanent. It may take a magic spell of some kind to remove the effect once you put them on.¡±
¡°Why would I want to remove a permanent boost to my Stamina?¡± Max turned the bracers over in his hands.
¡°It is extremely unlikely,¡± Elderon conceded. ¡°A permanent boost to Stamina can only ever be beneficial. But there may be other items in the world that will confer some sort of permanent change that you may not be too content with. For example, I read of an ancient item named the Ring of the Wolf that permanently transformed an adventurer into a wolf whenever the sun set. The adventurer gave firsthand accounts of the experience to the Mage council of Essillt, saying at first it was exciting, and he was able to roam the wilderness by night, unafraid of any beast or man. Powerful enough to fight, fast enough to flee. But after several days of no sleep, he became fatigued. He slept all day so he could run as a wolf by night. But when he needed to take care of his human daytime activities, he would have to sleep as a wolf by night, and he found that wolves do not sleep easy. Powerful creatures though they may be, they are always alert to the danger from hunters or the possibility of prey.¡±
Max turned the bracers over in his hands. They were darker than dark, almost too light to feel in his hands. They looked like they would fit him perfectly.
¡°The Wolf Man of the Kranic Empire had to travel across Scarfel, across the Kraken Sea, and to the mountains of Essillt to beg the Mage council to reverse the permanent change the ring had inflicted upon him. He begged at the door of the great tower to be let in for many days.¡±
¡°Did he huff and puff and blow the door in?¡± Max said with a grin.
¡°No,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The great tower is protected by powerful magic, and no one could blow it in.¡± He regarded Max with a suspicious stare, as if he were concerned that Max had suddenly been turned into a simpleton.
Max let out a little cough of embarrassment. Sometimes he forgot how different these people were from him. ¡°Did they save him?¡± Max said, looking up at Elderon.
¡°They removed the Ring of the Wolf and stored it in the great tower¡¯s artifact chamber. But they say he was never quite the same again. Once you run with the wolves, normal life can seem rather dull, and he could never forget what it was like to be a wolf. Although he no longer transformed during the night, some part of him was forever wolf.¡±
¡°From a werewolf to an aware wolf.¡± Max grinned and looked at his friends. They looked back at him blankly. Max felt his grin slipping.
Elderon wore a confused expression.
¡°Aware of what?¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Aware of being a wolf. Aware wolf.¡± Max knew they didn¡¯t understand him. Maybe Janet was the only person in the whole of Eveirea who could ever truly understand him.
Max looked back to the bracers, aware that Elderon and Jahrod were exchanging confused and worried looks, thinking perhaps that the battle with the Death Knight had caused Max some kind of head injury. The bracers were simple enough to slip on. He turned his arm over to fasten the cords on the inside of his arm when the treads pulled tight, and the bracers gripped his arm. The movement was so sudden that Max felt his heart skip a beat. The bracers pulled so tight on both arms that he was afraid they would crush his arms. But just as the tightness threatened to become painful, the bracers evaporated like a magic scroll he had just copied to his Mage Book. The dark bracers crumbled to dust and floated away on the cool breeze.
Max rubbed his arms. The bracers were completely gone. He turned his arms over, looking down at both of them. Nothing had happened. He looked at Elderon, bemused.
¡°Check your stats,¡± Elderon said with a smile.
Max looked at the leaf litter on the ground. The brown leaves twisted and turned and formed a table of stats for him to check.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
Health: Badly injured
Strength: 10
Stamina: 17
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
It was true. His Stamina had been increased by one point. He guessed he could go that extra mile now before running out of Stamina. Maybe more than a mile.
¡°Stamina is a crucial ability for Warriors so they can stay the course in battle.¡± Jahrod said.
¡°But every class can benefit from a high Stamina rating. You will not fatigue so easily. You will be able to concentrate on spell casting and spell learning even after a long night¡¯s march.¡± Elderon said.
Max was pleased to see an improvement in both his Strength and his Stamina stats. He really was developing, and not just his spell casting.
¡°I just need to find a way to improve my Wisdom,¡± Max said. ¡°I have made some stupid choices in my past. The real problem is I¡¯ve always been smart enough to know it.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Wisdom and Intelligence are closely related but are different abilities. I think you will learn Wisdom as you progress and develop as a Mage.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t know if it is wise or intelligent to continue without rest,¡± Max said, ¡°Because I am injured and low on spells. I could certainly use a rest, but we must find Anita. She is in danger, and we must help her as she helped me.¡±
Jahrod and Elderon suddenly looked into the forest, weapons in hand.
¡°Yes,¡± Max said, ¡°I hear it too.¡±
The approaching sound was one of branches snapping, trees groaning, and the forest floor scraping and squelching as if a giant sponge was being pressed repeatedly into the dry leaves. The sound came closer very slowly. Max walked towards the sound a pace or two to get sight of whatever it was that approached with such an odd noise.
A large dark figure appeared in the trees, as big as a city bus but moving dead slow. It came forward a few feet in a single surge and then stopped before advancing with another squelching surge. Max walked towards it, intrigued by it.
The dark shape surged forwards again into a shaft of light striking down through the trees. Max was looking up into the face of a huge slug. He stepped back and gazed up at the beast.
Name: Dark Slug
Status: Hunting
Attack: Rasping Maw
Threat level: Relentless
Max looked in awe and disgust as the sticky, slimy creature surged forward again. Its slime-covered head had two dark eyes on either side. They stood up on short fat stalks that flickered around lazily. Then they shot forward and pointed at Max. The slug reared up and exposed a round mouth, little more than a hole in the slimy skin. Then a set of rasping teeth like two sets of cheese graters. They were dark and dripped with black slime. The grating surfaces rubbed against each other and made a heavy crunching sound.
The slug surged forward again and let out a low harsh breath. Slime flickered over the mouth. The stench that hit Max made his stomach churn. Like rotten fish and wolf dung.
Max stepped back a few paces. He moved to the side to let the beast slide past. But the slug turned on the spot, the leaves behind it coated in a thick slime. The slug rasped another harsh outward breath and surged forward another few feet, heading directly for Max.
Chapter 2.11
The dark slug towered over Max. Its slime-covered head stood eight feet off the ground at least. It was long, too, at least fifteen yards, and the slime trail behind it could have stretched a mile for all Max knew. He could see the translucent, sticky slime glistening on the ground and up the sides of the trees where the beast had pushed past.
¡°Is it after me?¡± Max said, stepping back away from the slow oncoming beast. He drew his sword.
¡°Not for long,¡± Jahrod said and lifted his axe.
¡°No,¡± Elderon said. ¡°This beast will take all day to cut down. We can easily outrun it.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Max said, stepping back. ¡°We can easily outwalk it. And we have to find Anita. She is our priority. Let¡¯s go.¡±
As Max set off on Anita¡¯s trail, he wondered how he had moved so fast to save Jahrod.
¡°You channeled the dark portal,¡± Janet said, appearing on his shoulder. The light was failing, but she burned bright white with a dazzling light that no one else could see.
¡°How did I do that?¡±
Janet shrugged. ¡°How did you do any of this stuff? But my guess would be that you are still bound to the dark portal in much the same way as I am. When you needed to, you were able to move very quickly. Like an offshoot of the dark portal.¡±
¡°That¡¯s what these Dark Mages are trying to do. Sacrificing Druids to create an offshoot of the dark portal. But do they want it to move around?¡±
¡°Or maybe something else. The dark portal seems to be creating a terrible dark energy, creating dark beasts, and corrupting otherwise good people.¡±
¡°But I thought the dark portal was fixed. You said time had stopped, and the dark portal was static until we close it.¡±
¡°Yes, well, I might have been wrong about that,¡± Janet said. ¡°I have observed both ends of the dark portal. Back in the lab, I have observed a light on one of the command consoles. It usually looks as if it is on permanently, but I know that in fact, it blinks on and off very rapidly, as much as a million times a second. I have now been able to see it turn on and off. I don¡¯t think time has stopped, only slowed. And neither do I believe the portal is fixed in space. In fact, I think space is being contracted, and Earth and Eveirea are being drawn together.¡±
¡°The Earth is moving through space? Being dragged from the solar system?¡±
¡°Not moving as such,¡± Janet said. ¡°But at some point, the two worlds will occupy the same space. If we don¡¯t close the dark portal before that happens, then the two worlds will annihilate each other and close the portal. I have been counting the flashing on this console light to get an estimate of how long we have until that happens.¡±
¡°Can you do that?¡±
¡°It¡¯s just math,¡± Janet said. ¡°And not even hard math; it¡¯s just big numbers. So I think we have about thirty-one million, five hundred and thirty-six thousand . . .¡±
¡°Thirty-one million years?¡± Max interrupted. ¡°I don¡¯t think we need to worry about that too much.¡±
¡°Not years,¡± Janet said. ¡°I mean seconds.¡±
Max¡¯s mouth fell open with the shock. He looked up swiftly into the darkening sky, expecting to see planet Earth falling onto his head. ¡°We need to hurry,¡± Max said frantically. ¡°How long do we have?¡±
¡°It¡¯s about a year,¡± Janet said.
¡°Oh,¡± Max said. He relaxed. A year sounded like a long time. But it also seemed like a very short time. How long would it take him to walk to the dark portal? It could be anywhere on Eveirea. Maybe time was exceedingly short.
¡°Can you find the end of the dark portal?¡± Max said. ¡°I can use the Dark Movement to get to the dark portal quickly.¡±
¡°I can see the end of the dark portal. It is in blackness with flashes of red. There are creatures there, but I can¡¯t get a good look. All I can make out is a deep-red glow and shadows. But even if I could tell you where it is, you can only use the Dark Movement for short trips, and it seems you create a dark energy where you use it and summon forth a creature of darkness.¡±
¡°The slug,¡± Max said.
¡°Whatever you summon will be drawn to you.¡±
¡°So we have one year,¡± Max said.
¡°Unless my calculations are wrong.¡±
¡°Are you ever wrong?¡±
¡°I might have been wrong about you. I¡¯ve seen you with your friends. You are very brave.¡±
¡°I¡¯m too afraid to tell them that I am afraid most of the time. I don¡¯t know anything about this place. I¡¯d be lost if it wasn¡¯t for Elderon, Jahrod . . .¡±
¡°And Anita,¡± Janet interrupted.
Max nodded. He hesitated for a moment. He could tell Janet knew he had feelings for Anita, but did she know he had feelings for her too? ¡°I didn¡¯t thank you yet for helping me when the dark whirlwind had me.¡±
Janet shook her head. ¡°Dark whirlwind? What was that?¡±
¡°When I was surrounded by the dark whirlwind, you appeared and told me not to give up. You inspired me. Thanks.¡±
Janet shook her head. ¡°I didn¡¯t tell you that. I think it¡¯s good advice, but I didn¡¯t give it.¡±
Max was confused. Had he imagined her at his moment of peril? Could he admit to himself that she was starting to mean so much to him?
¡°Hold,¡± Elderon said. He stood with his staff on the ground.
Max stopped. He looked down to Jahrod and then back to Janet, but she had gone.
¡°What is it, Master Mage?¡± Jahrod said.
¡°We have been led astray. The Dark Mages have laid a false trail. And now I have lost it. I am not as skilled at tracking as Anita. I don¡¯t think she would have fallen for this trick. But I think I know where they went.¡±
Max looked back the way they had come. The dark slug was back there. And the Deadtide army.
¡°Wait here. I will try and relocate the trail.¡± Elderon moved off into the dark forest.
Max sat. Jahrod offered Max a bite of something that looked rotten. Max smiled and gratefully declined and chewed a hunk of heavy bread instead.
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Jahrod crunched the rotten pile of bones and wiped his mouth on the back of his hand. Then he stood up. He adjusted his clothing and his armor. Stood with his axe and addressed Max formally.
¡°Max Lightfoot, my friend.¡±
Max nodded. ¡°Yes,¡± he said uncertainly.
¡°I owe you my life.¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I have been in battle with my dwarven brothers fighting cave demons and carrion crawlers, but I have never come so close to defeat as I did today against the Death Knight. They are dangerous and powerful foes. If you had not rushed to my aid, I would be drinking dwarven ale in the bright Underlands with all the dwarven gods.¡±
Jahrod dropped to one knee, his axe handle on the ground and the wide double axe-head before him. He could barely see over the top of the axe. ¡°I pledge my axe to you, to repay you the life debt I owe.¡±
Max stood up. ¡°Jahrod, it¡¯s fine. I only did what any friend would do. I know you have my back. We¡¯re friends. Yes?¡±
¡°Friends, in truth. But you risked all to save me. I promise you loyalty, bravery, determination, and all that is in my power to provide. If you want my axe, call; if you want my counsel, I am there. When one day the debt is paid, you may release me.¡± He bowed his head.
¡°Consider the debt paid,¡± Max said. ¡°You are released.¡±
Jahrod stood up. ¡°The debt is not repaid,¡± he said angrily. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when it¡¯s repaid.¡± He snarled at Max, his crushing teeth grating behind his thick beard. ¡°You don¡¯t get to dismiss my life debt to you. You disrespect me and my people.¡±
¡°Umm, ok,¡± Max said. ¡°I am grateful to you for your support.¡±
Jahrod growled then he stepped forward, hand held out in friendship.
Max took his hand. Jahrod pulled him forwards with a sudden jerk and hugged him close. Max almost passed out, either from the strength of the embrace or the smell. He could feel himself blacking out when Jahrod released him.
¡°I have found the trail,¡± Elderon said, reappearing. ¡°As I suspected, they have doubled back towards the Deadtide army.¡±
¡°And there is a dark slug between us and that army too,¡± Max said. ¡°Maybe we should defeat the dark beast.¡±
¡°There is a solution,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We can avoid the army and catch up to the Dark Mages who have taken Anita.¡±
¡°Great. Let¡¯s get started.¡± Jahrod said.
¡°It will also put us out of reach of the dark slug.¡±
¡°Great. Sounds perfect.¡± Max was eager to get on Anita¡¯s trail. He couldn¡¯t bear to think what would become of her if he couldn¡¯t save her.
Elderon nodded, but Max could tell the old Mage had not such good news. ¡°We must cross the Salt River.¡±
¡°Ok,¡± Max said. ¡°It¡¯s only a mile wide, right? There must be a ferry, or we can build a raft easily, I expect.¡±
¡°Crossing will not be an issue for you or I, young Mage,¡± Elderon said.
Max looked down at Jahrod. He was red around his eyes and had a snarl on his mouth. ¡°I am a dwarf. I will not cross saltwater.¡±
Max looked back and forth between the pair.
¡°I will accompany you to the nearest ferry,¡± Jahrod said, ¡°and then I will pass through the Hinge and meet you in the Kingdom of Deepwood.¡±
¡°But the Deadtide army,¡± Max said.
¡°They will have to take their chances.¡±
The night was growing dark, and already, Max could hardly see his hand in front of his face, but Jahrod led the way, calling out fallen trees and potholes as they went, seeing as easily as if it were broad daylight. They reached the ferry station by first light.
A low palisade surrounded the ferry station. A gate was open, and a sign over the gate declared this was Darkwater Crossing.
A small collection of huts stood within the ferry station palisade. The ferry hut itself was half on the water and half on land. A thin wisp of smoke rose up from the stone chimney and mixed with the mist that hung over the dark waters of the Salt River. Elderon walked up to the low timber door and knocked with his staff.
After a few moments and another knock from Elderon, a gruff voice called out.
¡°No crossings until after breakfast.¡±
¡°Then take your breakfast this instant and stand by your oars, ferryman,¡± Elderon replied in a voice that sounded like the rumble of thunder, soft and heavy, distant yet nearby.
The door opened in a flash, and a half-dressed young man no older than Max stepped out, a chunk of heavy bread in his hand.
¡°Apologies, Master Mage,¡± the ferryman said. ¡°I will prepare the ferry this very instant.¡±
Max turned to Jahrod and extended a hand in friendship. ¡°Safe travels, Jahrod.¡± Max felt a little emotional. He¡¯d never before said goodbye to someone he didn¡¯t want to say it to.
¡°We will meet again,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°I owe you a debt, and a dwarf will not let a debt go unpaid. The Underlands will hate me for eternity. My children will bear the mark of indignity and their grandchildren too, on and on through the ages of the world, shame and pain on my future.¡±
Max felt a bit of pressure. It was not easy being owed such a debt.
The ferryman returned and announced the ferry was ready.
¡°This is goodbye,¡± Jahrod said.
Elderon rested his staff in the crook of his arm and began an ornate series of gestures and intoned a spell. Max felt sure he was laying a Protection spell on the dwarf. Jahrod was smiling at Max when his eyes rolled back in his head. His head tipped back and then he fell backwards. Although he only had a short ways to fall, he hit the ground hard and started to snore softly.
¡°Help me bring the dwarf aboard,¡± Elderon said to the ferryman.
Max looked aghast. ¡°But . . .¡± Max began.
¡°Dwarfs and their fear of water.¡± Elderon grabbed Jahrod by the ankles. ¡°They are a superstitious lot. We¡¯ll be across in a short while. He¡¯ll be none the worse for it.¡±
¡°But . . .¡± Max said.
A crashing sound in the trees far off drew Max¡¯s attention.
¡°Is that . . . ?¡± Max started.
¡°The dark slug? Most likely.¡±
Max didn¡¯t want to betray Jahrod¡¯s wish to not cross saltwater, but he couldn¡¯t leave him for the dark slug. He helped Elderon and the ferryman load Jahrod into the ferry.
Right away, Max could tell that the Salt River was not a river at all. There was no current. Max stared at the still water.
¡°Not from around here, are you, young Master Mage?¡± the ferryman asked.
If only the ferryman knew just how far from here Max truly was from. Max shook his head.
¡°The tides are slack here at this end of the Salt River,¡± The ferryman explained. ¡°By the time you reach Castle Deadtide, there is hardly any tidal movement at all. My father started ferrying at the Western Sea end of the Salt River, from the banks of far west Breamor across to Ragewind. He told me how baby krakens would enter the Salt River and harass the ferries, but we¡¯re quite safe here. Only a few razor fins to worry about.¡±
As if on command, a dark fin broke the water, a long dorsal fin that looked like a carving knife.
¡°How long until we are across?¡± Max said.
The far bank emerged from the mist. The ferry knocked up against the landing jetty and soon they were back on dry land.
¡°Stand back, Max,¡± Elderon said. He waved his hands over the dwarf and dispelled the sleep spell.
Jahrod woke up. He looked around in a confused state and then confusion left him. He glowered at Elderon and then fixed Max with a nasty stare that made him more afraid than he had been of any dark slug or Death Knight.
¡°I did not plan this, Jahrod,¡± Max said, holding is hands up.
¡°I did,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We could not leave you in the path of that army. You are brave, but you would not have survived another day.¡±
¡°You might not survive another day,¡± Jahrod roared and raised his axe.
The ferryman cast off from his jetty and paddled away as fast as he could.
¡°Friends, friends,¡± Max said, stepping between the two and instantly wondering if that was a wise move. To stand between a powerful Mage and an angry dwarf, his Wisdom really was low. ¡°We must not fight,¡± Max urged. ¡°Anita needs us.¡±
Jahrod glowered at Max.
Max sighed. He felt awful that Elderon had betrayed Jahrod. His beliefs might sound foolish to some, but Max had to respect them. He bowed his head and held up his hands.
¡°Jahrod, I am sorry to have betrayed you. Consider your debt to me repaid. You are safe from the army. If you want to travel home to the Kingdom of Eastwind, then go with my eternal friendship.¡±
Jahrod took slow, deliberate steps towards Max. ¡°I told you I would say when the debt is repaid, but fool me again, and I will have your head.¡±
Max winced and swallowed. Jahrod was sweating with anger, and it added a new dimension to his unusual and pungent aroma.
¡°Then I will be honored if you would help me find Anita.¡±
Jahrod growled.
¡°Very well,¡± Elderon said brightly. ¡°We go.¡±
Max tried to talk to Jahrod throughout the day as they followed Elderon to intercept the Dark Mages. But Jahrod was in no mood for Max. They made camp in the night, and Max fell asleep with Jahrod staring at him and grumbling darkly to himself.
Max drifted into a dream where he saw Janet drifting in darkness. He floated to her.
¡°That dwarf will kill you,¡± Janet said.
¡°Am I dreaming?¡± Max said.
¡°Maybe try and kiss me.¡±
Max looked at those sparkling lips, her wild red hair floating around her. She came close to Max.
¡°I¡¯ve never had friends,¡± Janet said. ¡°Boyfriends,¡± she confirmed. She came closer. She held her hands to Max¡¯s face.
Max woke with a start. A pair of hands holding his face. Was this Jahrod attempting to murder him in his sleep? But the aroma of his assailant was alluring. The hand over his mouth soft but firm. The stench then came as a cloth was pressed to his nose and mouth. No sooner had he realized what was happening than he was drifting off again into a drug-induced coma. Before all sense left him, he felt himself lifted and carried away into the dark.
Chapter 2.12
Max woke, and his head felt like it had been filled with rocks. He opened his eyes, but all was darkness. Was it still the dead of night? Then he felt the material next to his face, coarse fibers scratching his cheek. A sack. He was lying in the back of a small cart bumping over rough ground. He heard the sounds of two runners pulling the cart.
¡°He¡¯s waking up,¡± one voice said. It was a voice soft and sweet like honey.
¡°You just want to have another look at him,¡± the second voice said in deep husky tones.
¡°No look, he¡¯s moving.¡±
Max struggled to get up. His head was pounding; his wrists were bound. The bag was pulled off of his head, and he looked up. Two figures looking down at him. It was a blur. Dark hair tumbling down over bare shoulders. Fur scarves wrapped around a pair of scantily clad beauties. Tight-cropped tops straining to contain ample breasts. The skin shimmering with a fine film of perspiration.
A cloth was pressed to his face before he could focus. A familiar stench overwhelmed him, and he slipped back to unconsciousness.
When he next woke, he was sitting up. The sun was rising, and cold morning light was streaming through the trees. A fire crackled nearby. Max opened his eyes, his head pounding like he¡¯d been on the liquor all night. His vision was still blurry, but he could just make out two figures sitting by the fire, eating and drinking.
Max felt a pang of hunger. He¡¯d only had heavy bread for the last few days. His mouth and throat were dry. He tried to move towards the fire but found he was bound to a tree, a fine cord around his chest tying him to the trunk. His hands were bound in front of him. His feet bound too.
He tried to cast a Magic Missile to fight off these attackers. His hands were bound in such a way that he couldn¡¯t perform the casting gestures. He opened his mouth to speak the incantation, but his dry throat made it painful to talk. He wasn¡¯t actually sure if he had any active spells. He had rested on his Blanket of Comfort, so maybe he had rested long enough for them to become active before this pair had captured him.
¡°He¡¯s awake,¡± the honey voice said.
¡°Give him the knockout juice again,¡± the husky voice said while chewing a mouthful of food.
¡°He needs a drink. He needs food. We have to deliver him alive, remember?¡±
Max blinked and his vision cleared. He saw the two women. He knew he had seen them before. One stood up and brought a drinking pouch to him. She bent over in front of him, and Max¡¯s first clear view was of a heaving chest.
¡°Here, drink this.¡± She spoke so sweetly, but Max felt he could detect a hard flint edge, like glass hidden in an ice cream.
Max took the drinking pouch with his bound hands and drank. The liquid was cold, but it burned. He juddered as the fiery liquid went down. He gasped for breath.
¡°It is black mead,¡± the honey voice said with a smile. ¡°Drink. Drink.¡±
Max steadied himself for another hit and drank again. It didn¡¯t burn quite so fiercely the second time. It cleared his vision, and he looked up into a beautiful smiling face. Round face, full lips, thick brown hair in thick curls. Her eyes were dark and smiling.
¡°Are you Shazera or Debhora?¡± Max said.
The woman stepped back. The second woman came over and rasped in her husky voice, ¡°How do you know our names?¡±
Max wondered if it was unwise to let them know that he knew they were hunting him. He tried to distract them with a bit of flattery. ¡°I have been warned by the Mage council that Assassins are after me. You are regarded as two of the most accomplished in your deadly trade. I was warned to watch out for you two in particular.¡±
Max knew everyone wanted to be famous, or if not, infamous would do.
¡°The Mage council warned you about us?¡± the honey voice said, delighted and taken aback by the news. ¡°I am Debhora.¡± She sat down next to Max and ran a long black-painted fingernail up his leg. ¡°Tell me more about what they say about me.¡±
Max looked at her deep dark eyes. ¡°They said you are an expert in your field. But they didn¡¯t say how beautiful you were.¡±
Debhora smiled and grabbed him by his hair. She moved her lips close to his. ¡°You are sweet. Maybe I¡¯ll give you one last wish before they chop you up into delicious little pieces.¡±
¡°Stop flirting with him,¡± Shazera said. She sat down on the other side. ¡°He¡¯ll tell you anything to get out of his bonds.¡± She turned to Max, her warm breath on his ear. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Her voice was like a tiger purring, hot, thrilling, and deadly.
¡°I was told you always get your man.¡±
Shazera ran her finger around his ear. ¡°Not always, sweetie, but often.¡± She stood up and walked back to the fire where she grabbed a pouch. She tossed it into his lap. ¡°Feed him, Debhora,¡± she said.
Debhora picked out a pinch of bread and held it to Max¡¯s lips. She teased him for a moment and then let him eat. She sighed as he chewed. ¡°You are so handsome. We usually have to kill our targets, but I¡¯m glad they want you alive so we can spend some time together. Maybe I can grant you one last wish for a night of pleasure before, you know.¡± She made a sound of flesh being cut and drew her hand across her throat. She let out a sigh and ran her finger down Max¡¯s chest, down, down. ¡°Such a pity,¡± she said. ¡°Such a waste.¡±
Sitting at the fire, Shazera had Max¡¯s Satchel in her hands, and she emptied it next to the fire.
Inventory:
? Satchel
? Mage Book
? Good Boots
? Golden Roc catapult
? Blanket of Comfort
? Polished Wooden Dagger
? Superior Bullets
? Fine Rope
? Collar of Control
? Padded Leather Tunic
? Dagger of Poison Blade
? Potion of Intelligence
? Flint Tool
? Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
? Shortsword of True Strike
? Shortsword of Cold
The items spilled to the ground. Swords, Mage Book, his Blanket of Comfort. But he couldn¡¯t see his Ring of Extra Spells or his Pendant of Defense. He wasn¡¯t wearing them. Then he spotted the Hood of Sneaking around Shazera¡¯s neck.
This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
The girls had looted him when he had been unconscious.
¡°Look at all that stuff,¡± Debhora said. She moved closer to Max and wrapped her arm around him. She curled her knees up and into his lap.
¡°Typical Mage-class Satchel. They always have so much useless stuff. Look at this.¡± Shazera held up the Polished Wooden Dagger. ¡°This looks like a bandit item. Useless decorative trash.¡± She dropped the wooden dagger next to the fire. Max was sure it would be thrown on with the next bundle of firewood.
¡°I think it looks cute,¡± Debhora said. She kissed his ear and whispered, ¡°Just like the owner.¡±
¡°And what¡¯s this?¡± Shazera held up the Collar of Control.
¡°That¡¯s a Collar of Control. I took it from a two-headed wolf I defeated.¡±
Shazera held it to her neck. She fluttered her eyelashes. ¡°I bet you would like to control me for a few hours, wouldn¡¯t you, handsome?¡±
Debhora ran her fingers through Max¡¯s hair and then grabbed a handful. ¡°It¡¯s me he wants, Shazera. I don¡¯t know if he could handle us both. We¡¯d probably kill him.¡±
Max turned and smiled at Debhora. ¡°Worse ways to go.¡±
Debhora chuckled and kissed his neck. She ran her fingers around his neck, tickling him gently. She looked up at Shazera. ¡°Oh, can¡¯t we keep him?¡±
¡°And lose out on a bounty just because you find him cute?¡±
Debhora let out a disappointed moan. She kissed him once lightly on the lips, stood up, and walked over to her companion.
¡°Besides, they will strip the skin from our firm young bodies if we don¡¯t hand him over.¡± Shazera walked over to Max. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t want them to harm us, would you?¡±
¡°I¡¯m sure you can look after yourselves,¡± Max said.
Shazera smiled. ¡°Sure can.¡±
The two Assassins sat down and picked through his inventory. They took time for a play fight with the pair of shortswords. Debhora picked up the poison dagger.
¡°This is an Assassin¡¯s weapon,¡± she said. ¡°Have you defeated some Assassins already?¡± She wagged the dagger at him. ¡°If we are going to have our night of passion, I might have to keep you tied up. But you wouldn¡¯t mind that, would you?¡±
Max spotted the Fine Rope amongst his loot. He wondered if he could get free and tie them up before making his escape.
¡°You could always use your dark movement,¡± Janet said, appearing on his shoulder. ¡°That¡¯s if you wanted to get away. Or do you like having these scantily clad beauties teasing you?¡±
Max looked at Janet and shook his head.
¡°I could use dark movement to tie them up?¡± Max said.
Debhora and Shazera looked over at him.
¡°What¡¯s dark movement?¡± Shazera said.
Max looked at the rope. He needed to get there. The edge of his vision started to go dark; even the rays from the rising sun couldn¡¯t penetrate the darkness. His vision shrank down to a tunnel focused on the Fine Rope that lay amongst his loot.
Then he was moving. His hands slipped free of the bonds that tied them as easily as if he were waving them through a smoke ring. He looked at the pair of deadly beauties staring at him as he moved. They were frozen in time. Max moved slowly, walking to the rope. He picked up the Fine Rope and wrapped it around the pair of them. He pulled it tight and had them tied back to back in a moment. He secured their hands and ankles and stepped back to look at his work.
¡°Don¡¯t stay in the dark movement for too long, Max,¡± Anita said.
Then the darkness at the edge of Max¡¯s vision vanished, replaced by morning sunshine. Debhora and Shazera looked around, bewildered, and then up at Max standing over them.
Max gains experience points.
Dark Movement improved.
¡°Mages!¡± Debhora shouted.
¡°I hate Mages.¡± Shazera seethed.
Max took the Hood of Sneaking off her neck and slipped it onto his. He collected his rings and pendant from the two Assassins. He gathered his loot and put it all back into his Satchel. He quickly looked into his Mage Book to check his active spells.
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Strength
? Fireball
He was missing a couple of Magic Missiles because his Ring of Extra Spells had been taken off him. He slipped on the ring and hung the Pendant of Defense around his neck.
Max gains bonus first level spell slots.
Max gains defensive bonus.
He really wanted to add some new spells to his Mage Book. Elderon had some really impressive ones. He hoped he¡¯d find some soon. He looked down at the Assassins.
¡°Ladies, tell me. Who sent you?¡±
Shazera looked up at him, pouting and fluttering her eyelashes. ¡°I could tell you, sweetie, but then I¡¯d have to kill you.¡± She tested her wrists, trying to wriggle free.
Max spotted the small pouch on her short fighting skirt. He reached down cautiously and took it off. He opened it up and pulled out a pair of scrolls. The first he unrolled had a portrait of him. He held it out from them to see and then dropped it onto the fire were the dry scroll burned in seconds. Then he unrolled the second, and he looked down at the perfect charcoal portrait of Anita.
Max felt a surge of rage. He looked down at the Assassins.
¡°Where did you get these? Why do you want Anita? What have you done with her?¡±
¡°We didn¡¯t find the girl yet,¡± Debhora said. ¡°She¡¯s our next target.¡±
Shazera jabbed backwards with her elbow and struck Debhora hard in the back. Debhora wasn¡¯t about to take that, so she struck back. The pair began trading increasingly violent backwards elbow jabs until they were both thrashing about.
¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Max said. He spotted the cloth and the bottle filled with the knockout juice. He grabbed it. ¡°If you don¡¯t stop, I¡¯ll stop you.¡±
They both looked up at him, chastened and demure.
¡°Sorry, cutie,¡± Debhora said. ¡°Can you untie me now.? I can¡¯t treat you right if I¡¯m tied up.¡± She fluttered her eyelashes.
¡°Don¡¯t believe her, sweetie,¡± Shazera said. ¡°She does not mind being tied up, not one little bit.¡±
Debhora looked up at Max and bit her lip. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± she said.
¡°How can I make you talk?¡± Max said, more to himself than to the Assassins.
¡°You could make us squeal with pleasure, I¡¯ve no doubt.¡± Shazera said.
¡°Take me,¡± Debhora said, closing her eyes and tossing her head back. She held her bound hands up before her. ¡°Just be gentle.¡±
Max was losing patience. ¡°Enough of your games,¡± he said harshly. ¡°Why are you hunting my friend? Who sent you? Where can I find them?¡±
¡°She¡¯s lucky to have a friend like you,¡± Shazera said, her husky voice breaking slightly.
Max heard a crashing in the trees. The Assassins heard it too.
¡°Friend or foe?¡± Debhora said sweetly.
¡°Is that someone for me or for you?¡± Shazera said.
Max walked away towards the sound. He drew his catapult and loaded a bullet. After a few paces, he caught a stench, rotten fish and wolf dung.
The slug came sliding through the trees. Max stepped back. He¡¯d thought he could easily outpace this slug, but it had caught up with him.
¡°It is not the same one,¡± Janet said, appearing at his shoulder. ¡°You create one every time you use dark movement.¡±
Max looked up at the slug. It looked exactly the same, but it was perhaps a little bigger. He walked back to the campfire. He looked at the Assassins and jabbed a finger over his shoulder.
¡°Someone for me,¡± he said casually. He grabbed the Assassins and dragged them away from the fire.
The Assassins smiled nervously.
¡°Is it your party? That Mage or the stinky dwarf? They couldn¡¯t have tracked us.¡±
¡°No, not my friends. It¡¯s a slug.¡±
The pair chuckled. ¡°We are not afraid of creepy crawlies, sweetie,¡± Shazera said.
Then the slug came crashing into the clearing, eighteen feet high and dripping in slime. Max stood on the far side of the fire and let the slug slide towards him.
¡°Now tell me,¡± Max looked over to the Assassins, safely out of the way of the huge dark slug, ¡°who sent you after me and Anita?¡±
The Assassins remained tight-lipped.
Max stepped back as the slug headed directly for him.
¡°I am going to run out of time and patience,¡± he said with as much charm as he could muster. ¡°You are both lovely ladies, and I¡¯m sure we could have a lot of fun together, but not if you are crushed and covered in slug slime.¡±
Max stepped back. The slug took another surging slide forward, headed straight for him. It slid onto the fire. The slime turned to steam in the heat, and the fire was squashed out. The slug showed no sign of distress but surged onwards towards Max, who took another step back.
¡°You see, this slug is some kind of dark demon creature sent to destroy me.¡± Max moved away quickly and ran over to the Assassins. He stood behind them.
The slug turned.
¡°And this slug will pursue me over all Eveirea to crush me, do terrible things to me, no doubt. And I don¡¯t think it cares what, or who, is in its way.¡±
The slug surged forwards, and the Assassins screamed.
¡°The Dark Mages,¡± Shazera said. ¡°It was the Dark Mages.¡±
¡°Yes. And they have Anita already,¡± Debhora said. ¡°They are camped not far from here.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll take you,¡± Shazera said.
¡°Where?¡± Max said firmly.
The slug surged forward.
¡°There is a ridge about a league north of the Salt River past the pine trees of Deepwood and at the edge of the first broadleaf trees.¡± Shazera spoke fast, looking from the slug to Max and back again.
Max stepped out from behind the Assassins and into the clearing. The slug turned towards him, rasping jaws dripping slime, inches from the cowering Assassins.
Max looked down at the girls. They were trembling, covered in sweat, their chests heaving in their tight tops.
¡°Don¡¯t leave us, Max,¡± Shazera said.
Max walked away a few paces as the slug surged closer to him.
¡°You¡¯ll be just fine. I think you can take care of yourselves.¡±
Max led the slug further away, checking it was on his trail.
¡°No hard feelings,¡± Debhora called out as Max backed off. ¡°You really are a cutie. Look me up if you are ever in the town of Aston Gate in the Kingdom of Ragewind.¡±
¡°Don¡¯t tell him where you¡¯re from,¡± Shazera said. Then she shouted. ¡°But if you are ever in Milford City in the Kingdom of Eastwind, ask any merchant gnome for Shazera. They¡¯ll tell you where to find me.¡±
Max moved off at a rapid walk and then a steady jog, putting as much distance between him and the Assassins as quickly as possible. He had to admit, Debhora and Shazera were hot, dangerous, deadly, possibly insane, but very, very attractive. However alluring they were, they could never distract him from his goal to find Anita.
Chapter 2.13
Max moved as quickly as he could. The temptation to sprint through the forest rising, but he needed to pace himself. There was no point in sprinting for half a mile only to have to rest and catch his breath for half an hour. He settled on a steady jogging pace. The increase in Stamina was really paying off, and he was able to maintain his pace all morning. At times, he fought off the temptation to use the dark movement ability, to dash a thousand yards at a time, chewing up the distance, but he resisted the temptation. He already had two dark slugs tracking him down. He didn¡¯t want to summon another from whatever dark realm they came from. He would have to hold off using the powerful movement ability until he really needed it.
Every thirty minutes or so, Max stopped to check his Sneak ability was active. His Hood of Sneaking and Ring of Shadows helped him hide from sight, but he still needed to check that his Sneak ability was active. It wasn¡¯t something that lasted indefinitely. He stopped to check and leaned against a tall tree.
The trees here on the edge of the Kingdom of Deepwood were thick and the canopy dark. He was sure he was heading north towards the ridge the Assassins had told him about. He climbed a large tree to check the lay of the land. The bark was flaky and sticky in parts where resin bled through the thick bark. The tree trunk was rough and easy to climb. Once he reached the branches, some ten feet up the trunk, the climb was even easier, like climbing a ladder. He pushed through the needle leaves that were typical of the cold climate south of Awen, and they gave off a smell like rich pine only stronger, sweeter. At the top of the tree, easily two hundred feet high, Max could survey the landscape. He could see a change in the canopy from deep-green needles of the high pines to the softer broadleaf trees. The canopy of broadleaf trees marked a ridge a mile long and about a mile and a half away.
A few wisps of gray smoke drifted up from the broadleaf trees from that distant ridge. Max knew he had found the Dark Mages¡¯s camp and hopefully, Anita.
Max climbed down to the ground and hoped his information was correct. Somehow, he knew he could believe those crazy Assassins. They might have been wild, psychotic, but he got the feeling they really did like him. Not as much as the bounty they¡¯d been offered for his capture, perhaps, but they really were attracted to him.
Why did the Assassins like him so much? Girls everywhere for that matter, from young washerwomen to princesses, they all wanted Max. Those Assassins were deadly, and he knew it, but he thought they would fight to the death over him, or maybe they would try and share him. He had an improved Stamina stat, but he didn¡¯t know if he could survive a date with Debhora and Shazera. If they didn¡¯t kill him, they would at least wear him out to the point of exhaustion.
But why? He really wasn¡¯t that lucky with the ladies; at least, he never had been before arriving in Eveirea.
¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± Janet said, appearing next to him. ¡°I still think you¡¯re rather ordinary.¡±
Janet floated next to Max at about the size of a humming bird for a moment but soon grew to full size. As she walked along next to Max, he noticed her feet, bordered by a deep black outline, didn¡¯t quite touch the ground. She was right next to it but almost seemed to be in another dimension, which in a way, she was.
¡°Ordinary? That¡¯s a relief, I think.¡± Max opened his mouth to speak again and then stopped. ¡°Did I say all that out loud or . . .¡± the idea that Janet could be in his thoughts was a bit disconcerting. He really had nothing to hide, and he hoped that she would not damn him for his thoughts.
¡°I don¡¯t know if I can hear your thoughts, but I can read your mind. It¡¯s not that hard when it¡¯s someone as obvious as you.¡±
Max was worried. He¡¯d thought Janet was the most beautiful girl he¡¯d met when he¡¯d been hiding in the shadows watching her go about her work. Did she know he really liked her?
¡°What do you mean by obvious?¡±
¡°There¡¯s no trick to mind reading, no magic to it. It¡¯s just being able to read human nature. I¡¯ve read a lot of books about nonverbal communication. It¡¯s clear you really like Anita.¡±
She was right. Max did like Anita. He didn¡¯t pretend otherwise but they were never going to be a couple, at least he didn¡¯t think so. Besides, Anita was sworn to chastity so she could become the one leader of the Druids of Eveirea.
Max looked at Janet. She was beautiful. Pale skin, pink lips, fierce red hair. She was somehow both shy and confident. Max had never met a beautiful scientist before, and he thought they were all dusty old guys with sleeveless sweaters and bowties.
¡°Do you know what I¡¯m thinking now?¡± Max said.
¡°Maybe you are thinking, what is this old guy doing standing in the forest all alone?¡±
Max looked ahead. Just a few yards away was an old man wearing the tattered rags of what had once been a fine set of clothes. He had a twisted branch for a stick, and he was feeling his way, blind eyes searching the shadows.
¡°Danger close, Max,¡± Janet said as she shrank and faded away.
Danger? Max thought. He was using his Sneak ability so was hidden from sight, and besides, this old man was clearly blind. What danger could Max be in?
¡°Who¡¯s there?¡± The old man looked all about with sightless eyes and raised his twisted stick. ¡°Come close and I¡¯ll beat the feathers off your back.¡±
Max wondered if he should give this old fellow a wide berth. He moved as quietly as he could. A spell of silence would be a great thing right now, letting Max move unseen and unheard.
¡°I can hear you.¡± The old man spun to face Max, his stick held before him like a sword. Then a half breath later, the old man relaxed, the tip of the stick dropping. ¡°Hey, you¡¯re not a harpy,¡± he said.
Max checked the old man¡¯s stats.
Name: Kaled
Class: Sword Dancer
Status: Defensive
Threat level: Harmless
¡°It¡¯s no good trying to hide. I can hear you.¡±
Max looked down to his feet. The soft leaves underfoot rustled as he moved.
¡°I can hear your footsteps. You are walking like someone trying not to make any noise. I can hear your breathing too. You are wearing a pendant, and it scrapes over your shirt when you breathe. You are wearing soft boots, good for sneaking, so you might be a Thief come to rob an old man, but as you can see, I have nothing to steal . . . you are trying to sneak away.¡±
Max stood still and watched the man tap his stick on the ground and feel his way towards him.
¡°I can hear the creaking of your leather tunic, so you might be a young Warrior or perhaps a Bard. The sword on your hip is short. A Warrior would have a longer sword. You might be a young Mage, but you would have to be very high-level or very foolish to be out here alone. And as a Mage must have high Intelligence, perhaps I should discount Mage, unless you are a very stupid Mage.¡±
¡°I am a Mage,¡± Max said. His Sneak ability deactivated as he spoke, but he clearly couldn¡¯t hide from this blind man.
¡°A Mage,¡± Kaled said. ¡°I must assume you are not one of those Dark Mages up on the Oak Ridge, or you would have murdered me by now.¡±
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¡°I am no Dark Mage.¡±
¡°But are you good? Good enough to help a man in trouble?¡±
Max had a choice.
I don¡¯t have time for this, Max thought. Anita was in trouble, but how could he refuse this man and leave him to his fate.
¡°What help do you need? Do you need to find your way out of the forest?¡±
¡°No,¡± Kaled said. ¡°I need to go deeper.¡± His voice dropped low and menacing.
¡°Why do you want to go deeper?¡± Max said.
¡°I need help to find the harpy sisters. They live on the edge of the Oak Ridge. I was not always as you see me now. I was once a great swordsman, a Sword Dancer no less. Indeed, I believed I was the greatest. I attended every tournament across Eveirea, from the far east of the Tharin Empire to the far west of Ragewind. I was champion in a dozen kingdoms. But I could not fight off pride with my sword. Although I was the greatest, I grew arrogant. And when two beautiful creatures tried to seduce me, I thought it was my fame and prowess with a blade that had caused them to fall in love with me. It turned out they were not nubile young ladies as I thought but hideous harpies. Their words poured sugar and honey in my ears, telling me all that my pride wanted to hear. They lured me to their territory and robbed me of my sword. Without my sword, I cannot see. I have been wandering these forests for weeks trying to steal back my sword. I can hear them coming, and they attack from the air, tearing at my clothes. Will you help me, young Mage?¡±
Max stepped over to Kaled. ¡°I will help you. Maybe one day you will help me too. Deal.¡±
Kaled stuck out a wrinkled hand. ¡°Deal.¡±
Before the handshake was complete, Kaled turned his head, his ear to the wind.
¡°They are nearby.¡±
Max could hear something fluttering in the trees. He followed Kaled¡¯s blind gaze.
There in the dark green canopy, he spotted two large-winged creatures. They were roughly human size, albeit a little small. Their pale and skinny arms ended in crooked fingers and cracked nails. Their thin legs ended in the talons of a bird of prey, gray feathers covering the ankles. The pale brown-and-tan wings were huge, but they beat the air softly. The skinny female forms were covered in small tan feathers.
The faces were like those of old crones, hooked noses and gray wrinkled skin that flaked away with every flap of their wings.
Name: Harpy
Status: Aggressive
Attack: Heavy Talons
Threat level: Dangerous
The pair looked down at Max and Kaled with black eyes. Their heads remained still, eyes fixed on their target as the wings and body moved in midair. The talons gripped the air, slowly closing and opening. Then the talons opened wide.
Harpy attacks Max.
The harpy dropped like a stone, propelled forward with a mighty beat of her wings. She came like a missile and then brought her feet forward.
Max takes minor damage.
Max was thrown off his feet. The clasping, stabbing talons did not penetrate his Padded Leather Tunic, but the weight behind the blow took the wind out of his sails. Max rolled up onto his feet as the harpy climbed back up into the air. A huge beat of her wings sending her upwards and stirring up the leaf litter around Max.
The second harpy was diving at Kaled. Max watched as Kaled faced up to the diving harpy. He listened and at the last moment, dived aside. The harpy reached out with talons and caught Kaled. The talons ripped at his clothes and skin while the old man yelled in pain.
Max looked up and saw the harpy fix eyes on him and then dive in for the attack.
Harpy attacks Max.
Max worked fast. He knew he had only a moment before those talons were clawing at him again.
Max casts Magic Missile.
The magic missile was never going to miss. Two orange orbs leapt away from his hands and slammed into the harpy¡¯s chest when she was only a couple of feet away.
Harpy takes major damage.
The harpy veered away, screeching in pain and frustration. She turned midair and looked down at Max, talons pointing, fingers hooked, a long thin tongue sticking out like a snake¡¯s, rasping and cawing.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Harpy takes moderate damage.
The harpy beat her wings, one wing now weaker than the other. She lost height and finally landed on the ground. She screeched at Max, a hideous sight. She ran across the forest floor directly towards him, half leaping and flapping her one good wing, black fingers reaching out to claw at him.
Harpy attacks Max.
Max loaded his catapult and shot a bullet. At close range, he could not miss.
Max attacks Harpy.
Harpy takes minor damage.
Harpy has been defeated.
Max heard the second harpy a moment after he heard Kaled call out.
¡°Watch out, Master Mage,¡± Kaled said.
Max dived to the ground to avoid the second harpy¡¯s attack, but it was too late.
Harpy attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
Max felt the talon grab his shoulder, something between a hammer blow and a stabbing pain. He felt himself lifted off the ground and pulled up a few feet into the air before being dropped. The harpy flapped her wings, disturbing the leaf litter across the ground. She climbed higher and then turned. Max loaded his catapult.
Max attacks Harpy.
Harpy takes minor damage.
The harpy shrieked at him and dived, talons forward, aimed at his eyes.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Harpy takes moderate damage.
The harpy took the damage and came on, shrieking. Max drew his sword. He stood light on his feet, perfectly balanced. He waited until the last moment.
Max attacks Harpy.
He swung his sword with a strong forehand smash.
Harpy takes minor damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Harpy has been defeated.
The harpy twisted in the air, flew over Max¡¯s head, and fell, skidding over the ground.
¡°You did it,¡± Kaled said excitedly. He picked his way over to Max, checking the path before him with taps of his stick on the ground. ¡°Check them. Do they have my sword?¡±
Max looked all around. There was no loot at all. Not even a single gold coin.
¡°Nothing,¡± he said, sorry to disappoint the old man.
¡°Where did they come from?¡± Kaled said, looking up. ¡°Lead me there.¡±
Max went back into the forest towards where he had first spotted the harpies. Not far away, he saw a large nest high in the pines.
¡°There is a nest up there,¡± Max said.
¡°The harpy nest?¡± Kaled asked hopefully.
Max shrugged, then, realizing how pointless physical gestures were when speaking to a blind man, he described the nest.
¡°It¡¯s big, about thirty feet up. It¡¯s coated in mud but looks like it¡¯s made from sticks as thick as your arm.¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Kaled said. ¡°Check there, Master Mage, if you can climb.¡±
¡°Yes, I can climb,¡± Max said with a smile. He didn¡¯t smile because the old man asked him if he could climb but because he had called him a Master Mage. He liked the sound of that. And before Kaled could answer, Max was halfway up to the harpy nest.
The harpy¡¯s nest was filled with the bones of dead forest creatures. In one corner, Max spotted the sparkling pommel of a sword. He pulled it free from the tangle of sticks. The blade was dirty but didn¡¯t look blunt. It was heavy, far heavier than his shortsword. It looked about the same length as Elderon¡¯s white-silver sword. Max dragged the heavy weapon to the edge of the nest and dropped it. It crashed through the branched and buried itself in the ground with a thud. Max checked the nest for any other loot. He spotted something still buried among the sticks where he¡¯d freed the sword. It was a long strap of leather. Max pulled it from the tangle of sticks. The sword¡¯s leather scabbard slid free. It was lined with fur and decorated with a pale-blue eye. Max threw it down.
Max clambered back down and dropped the last few feet just as Kaled found the sword. It had landed point down and had stabbed its way into the ground to end up buried halfway along its length. Kaled took hold of the handle. His fingers rippled over the leather binding as he felt it in his grip. He drew the sword upwards in one clean, smooth movement and held it aloft.
Max looked at Kaled, who was smiling up at his sword. He looked over at Max. Max saw his eyes bright and wide open, piercing pale blue.
Kaled held the sword with two hands before him, then he cut the air, slashing left then right, then a horizontal cut before lifting the point upwards. He slid the blade into its scabbard in one swift move. He stepped forward, eyes on Max.
¡°Thank you Master Mage.¡± Kaled smiled at Max. ¡°But how young you are.¡±
¡°You can see?¡± Max said.
¡°Yes, but alas, it is the Sword Dancer¡¯s curse that I can only see when I am one with my sword. I will never need armor or shield. I may only ever have one weapon,¡± he patted the sword in his belt, ¡°but I surrendered my sight for this sword. As long as we are one, I gain far more than I lost.¡± Kaled bowed. ¡°And I owe you a great debt. You may call on my services, and they will be freely given one time if the cause is just.¡±
Max wondered if he needed help finding Anita. Maybe he didn¡¯t want to throw Kaled into battle against a group of Dark Mages, but the cause may be just. At least, Max thought so.
¡°Thank you, Sword Dancer,¡± Max said with a bow. ¡°I will call you when I need you.¡±
At that moment, a thick fog developed as if from nowhere, and a deep, rasping shriek filled Max¡¯s ears.
Kaled had his sword in hand in a flash. ¡°I knew it,¡± he said, ¡°those demon creatures could not have been acting alone. It¡¯s the one who made them, the harpy witch.¡±
The large harpy swept in through the trees, the fog swirling around her dark wings.
Chapter 2.14
The harpy witch came on so fast, Max didn¡¯t have time to cast a spell. He reached for his sword, but Kaled pushed him aside and faced the harpy alone. The Sword Dancer brought his sword up, the point of the dirty blade aimed at the harpy¡¯s chest. The harpy witch parried the strike with her talons and wheeled away. Kaled slashed sideways, and the sword did its cutting work. The harpy witch shrieked and swept off. She dropped a small bag, a pouch tied with twine, as she moved off. It landed on the ground and exploded, sending thick red smoke into the already thick fog.
¡°She is using smoke to hide,¡± Kaled said as he stepped over to Max. He held out a hand and helped Max to his feet. ¡°We must listen for her.¡±
Max listened. He saw a swirling pattern in the smoke and fog. He heard a gentle beating of huge wings that belied the rough nature of the beast. Max spotted a shadow in the fog. He let the wisps of smoke form a table of the harpy witch¡¯s stats.
Name: Harpy Witch
Status: Aggressive
Attack: Heavy Talons, Summon Fog
Threat level: Deadly
The shadow of the harpy witch moved away, a beat of the huge wings twisting the fog into spirals of red smoke hanging in the gray fog. Max drew his sword and stood ready to defend himself. Then came a shriek that pierced Max¡¯s ears.
Harpy Witch attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
The talons dug deep into Max¡¯s padded tunic. The powerful strike winding him. The harpy witch pulled him up and dropped him down. Max slashed at the beast as he fell, but he missed, cutting only the smoke. He landed on the ground heavily, face up, his sword still firm in his grip. The harpy beat her wings and hung above Max, staring down at him with cruel black eyes.
Kaled ran towards a tree and up the trunk before leaping off, throwing himself at the harpy. He twirled in midair. The heavy longsword slashed through the fog and struck the harpy, delivering heavy damage.
As the feathers fluttered to the ground, Max was stunned that the harpy had not been defeated by the single blow from the Sword Dancer. The harpy rose up higher, powerful wing beats swirling the red smoke so much that it was almost completely cleared. Max rolled across the ground and backed up against a tree, the sword held in front of him for protection. He listened and watched for the attack.
Again the harpy swept in and attacked Kaled. The Sword Dancer showed his class: he pirouetted with the heavy longsword as a counter balance. He leapt into the air, spinning in an upright stance. He drew his sword in so he spun even faster and then stuck the sword outwards. The sudden movement of the sword away from his body stopped his spin and left him face to hideous face with the harpy witch. The harpy flew straight into the point of the sword and took heavy damage.
The harpy witch screeched her pain and anger as she beat her wings and climbed. The smoke and fog had almost cleared, and Max could see her in the upper branches of the pine trees. Max sheathed his sword and grabbed his catapult. He loaded a bullet.
As Max took aim, the harpy witch dropped a pouch. The small bag dropped slowly.
Kaled landed from his sword-dancing acrobatics and dived away as the pouch landed.
The explosion was silent but powerful. The blast struck Max, and suddenly, all was swathed in thick red smoke. Max couldn¡¯t see the harpy through the thick smoke, but he could hear her soft wing beats. Then he saw a telltale swirling of the red mist.
Max attacks Harpy witch.
Harpy Witch takes minor damage.
The harpy screeched and came hard at Max. He holstered his catapult and unsheathed his sword as he moved quickly around the base of the tree to the far side of the thick trunk. The harpy witch came at him so fast, it hardly had time to avoid the tree. It beat its wings to slow its attacking move but could not avoid colliding with the tree before awkwardly landing on the trunk, talons first. Max reached around the tree with a swing of his sword.
Max attacks Harpy Witch.
Harpy Witch takes minor damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
The harpy kicked off the tree trunk and beat her wings. Max watched her move off through the smoke. He could just make out Kaled in his tattered rags moving silently and gracefully through the fog, countering the moves of the harpy climbing above him, looking for an opportunity to strike.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max hidden from sight.
Max pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and climbed. He went fast and silent, avoiding disturbing any branches he didn¡¯t need to. He went up at least fifty feet. At this height, the trunk was still thick, but the red smoke was thin. The fog and red smoke lay like a carpet beneath him.
Down below him, just on the edge of the smoke, was the harpy witch. She was circling in wide arcs, using just the occasional beat of the two massive wings.
Max edged out onto a thick branch, hands stretched out for balance. He moved out until he was over and above the harpy. He knew he could cast a Magic Missile, but the harpy still had plenty of Health despite taking damage. His catapult was only going to deliver minor damage and would just alert the beast to his presence. A fireball would take the harpy down¡ªhe knew it¡ªbut the blast would also damage Kaled, and Max had so few friends, he didn¡¯t want to turn a new one into an enemy. Besides, the trees could ignite and leave him trapped high up in a burning tree. Not to mention that the flame would alert the Dark Mages at the Oak Ridge camp that was less than a mile away.
His sword was his best hope for a single swing attack that could defeat the harpy.
Max casts Strength.
The Strength spell increased Max¡¯s Strength stat. He could feel it in his arm, but he checked to be sure.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
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Health: Moderately injured
Strength: 18
Stamina: 17
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
There it was, Strength of eighteen, as strong as Jahrod, as strong as Anita. As strong as any Warrior. Max held his Shortsword of Cold with a two-handed reverse grip, the point aimed downwards. He positioned himself on the edge of the branch. It was an intelligent use of the natural environment and his equipment and abilities, but it was probably quite unwise to attack the harpy from this position. He held his hands up, the sword raised. He waited until the harpy was in position, and then he dropped.
Max attacks Harpy Witch.
Bonus Sneak attack damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Harpy Witch takes critical damage.
Harpy Witch has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Max had only a brief moment for elation because now he was falling. He grabbed the harpy¡¯s feathers and clung on. He slammed into the ground, the huge harpy witch cushioning his fall, but still, it took the wind out of him.
Kaled ran over to Max, his sword held over his shoulder. He helped Max to his feet with his free hand.
¡°What an impressive piece of swordsmanship,¡± Kaled said as Max came up to his feet. ¡°You are a waste to the Mage class, Max. You should have chosen to be a Warrior. You would have been a great Sword Dancer.¡±
Max sheathed his sword and leaned forward with his hands on his knees, fighting to catch his breath.
Kaled patted Max on the back and then searched the harpy witch for loot. He found a set of light clothing, short pants, and a light shirt. He ripped off his rags and pulled on the set of clothes. Then he found six smoke bombs. He tossed three to Max.
¡°Only right we share the loot. Agreed?¡± Kaled said.
Max nodded.
Max gains 3 Red Smoke Bombs.
¡°All I need now is a pair of boots,¡± Kaled said. He started to clean his sword on his tattered rags. The blade wiped clean of the dirt and came up shining like new.
Max put the smoke bombs in his Satchel. He saw the Good Boots. He pulled them out and handed them to Kaled.
¡°A pair of Good Boots,¡± Max said.
Kaled took hold of them and admired them for a moment before handing them back. ¡°I cannot accept these. You have Soft Boots, but I can see these Good Boots are superior.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°My Soft Boots are better for climbing and sneaking. You take the Good Boots, with my kind insistence.¡±
Max loses Good Boots.
Kaled held them to his heart for a moment before pulling them on. Then Kaled pulled up a scroll from the defeated harpy. He opened up the scroll to read.
¡°What is it?¡± Max said.
¡°A spell scroll,¡± Kaled said. ¡°This is for you, Master Mage. It is of no use to me.¡±
Max took the scroll and read it. A symbol of a small cloud. A spell of Summon Fog.
Max gains Scroll of Summon Fog.
Max studied the scroll and found he could easily understand the new Level 2 spell. As he finished studying the spell, the scroll disintegrated and drifted away. He checked his Mage Book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
? Summon Fog
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
? Disguise
It was satisfying to see a new spell added to his book. Then he checked his active spells. He had used three Magic Missiles in his encounter with the harpies and one Strength spell in the encounter with the harpy witch. He deselected the used Strength spell and selected the newly learned Summon Fog. He would have to rest before he could use it, but it would be there ready for him next time.
Kaled buckled up his sword belt. ¡°I will be on my way. My Sword Dancer brothers will be interested to hear my latest adventures.¡± He held his hand out in friendship. ¡°Well met, Master Mage.¡±
¡°I must correct you, Sword Dancer,¡± Max said. ¡°I am not a Master Mage. I am but a novice.¡±
Kaled smiled. ¡°You are no novice, my young friend.¡± Kaled shook Max¡¯s hand, firmly for an old man, and he clapped him heartily on the shoulder. ¡°If ever you need a Sword Dancer, ask any Warrior in Eveirea for Kaled, and I will come to your aid.¡± And with that, Kaled was gone.
Max looked towards the Oak Ridge. He could feel Anita was in danger. He was almost completely out of spells. How could he take on the Dark Mages in their camp? He checked his inventory.
Inventory:
? Satchel
? Mage Book
? Golden Roc Catapult
? Blanket of Comfort
? Torch
? Polished Wooden Dagger
? Hood of Sneaking
? Superior Bullets
? Fine Rope
? Collar of Control
? Padded Leather Tunic
? Dagger of Poison Blade
? Potion of Intelligence
? Flint Tool
? Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
? Ring of Shadows
? Shortsword of True Striking
? Ring of Extra Spells
? Shortsword of Cold
? Pendant of Defense
? 3 Red Smoke Bombs
Those smoke bombs might come in handy for the rescue of Anita. He set off in the direction of Oak Ridge, knowing he had to succeed, or both he and Anita would perish.
Max reached the slope of the Oak Ridge as night fell. The pine trees were fewer and the broadleaf trees more plentiful.
Max activates Sneak ability.
He walked up the slope and crouched at the edge of the camp, taking a moment to catch his breath and study his enemy¡¯s camp.
A large fire was burning at the center of the camp. Smaller fires dotted around. Max saw dark hooded figures gathered at the main fire. They appeared to be meditating. Max wished he had a Far Sight spell available. He watched the group at the central fire and saw they were standing around a Skarak Warrior that was tied to a post. The red eyes of the Skarak darting this way and that. They fought against the bonds. The Dark Mages chanting grew louder. The Skarak squirmed and squealed and then turned to black ash that drifted on the gentle night breeze.
Max felt a force tugging him as the Skarak turned to ash. Janet appeared at his shoulder.
¡°It¡¯s the darkness. They are tapping into the dark portal, but because you are near, you can feel it.¡±
The Mages appeared very satisfied with their experiment, and they called for another victim. Max spotted a pair of Dark Mages bringing a fresh victim. A hood over their head. This was no Skarak. Whoever it was, they were much taller, taller even than Max by an inch or two. Then he saw the strips of a leather fighting skirt and a pair of boots laced up over smooth dusky skin.
¡°Anita,¡± Max said just as the Dark Mages pulled the hood off of her head.
Her hair was knotted and tangled where it was usually so soft and well kept. She was gagged, a strip of cloth pressed into her mouth. Her hands were tied behind her back. The Mages pushed her to the stake and fastened her there. She struggled but appeared to be drunk. Max guessed she must be drugged, subdued.
Max looked around for a way to take on these Dark Mages. There were dozens of them. Some were armed with staffs, others with sickles, the sharp curved blades glinting in the firelight. Others had longswords. Max knew that they were also all very powerful spell casters. Their melee weapons would be the least of his trouble.
The Dark Mages surrounding Anita at the stake started chanting.
¡°Danger close,¡± Janet said, and she faded away.
¡°You don¡¯t say,¡± Max said, but Janet was gone. He sat and watched, desperate to figure out how he was going to save Anita. Then he heard the crunching and snapping of branches behind him. He turned to see a giant dark slug a few feet behind him.
Max moved slowly away from the rasping mouth. Slime dripped and splattered on the ground a few inches from his foot as he moved backwards across the ground.
The Dark Mages¡¯s chanting had stopped. Max got to his feet and walked along the tree line, trying to put some distance between himself and the slug so he could concentrate on the rescue plan he had yet to formulate.
Max checked that he was still hidden from sight, his Sneak ability still active. He stepped into the clearing of the camp. He walked close to a Dark Mage, who was readying his longsword, but he did not see Max.
The slug came on, out of the trees and into the camp. A shout went up from the Dark Mages, their voices raised in unison. Max led the slug deeper into the camp. The Dark Mages attacked. Magic Missile spells slammed into the slug, searing the thick flesh, vaporizing the slime, dealing terrible damage but not enough to stop the slug. Max walked to the far side of the camp, dragging the slug behind him. Power spells rained in, and the dark slug was shrinking as spells knocked chunks out of it.
Max threw a red smoke bomb up and over his shoulder. It landed in front of the slug and burst, throwing out a cloud of thick red smoke. He ran to the stake. A pair of Dark Mages were standing guard over Anita but watching the battle against the dark slug. Max dropped a second red smoke bomb and enshrouded the area in thick smoke. He drew his sword and cut Anita free.
Sneak ability deactivated.
¡°Max,¡± Anita said, smiling. The gag muffled her voice. Max pulled it free. She looked heavily drugged and was limp. Max put her arm over his shoulder and led her away.
Anita casts Recovery.
A spell washed over both of them. Anita was instantly recovered from the effects of the drugs. Max recovered a large amount of Health. Anita was suddenly fully alert.
¡°My things,¡± she said, glancing around, then she saw what she was looking for. She started to run, pulling Max by the hand. Max struggled to keep up as they dashed through the camp. Anita grabbed her pack and her Spear of Fire. Then she ran to the edge of the camp and down the slope towards the Salt River. They ran down the slope at full speed while hardly touching a branch. Max started to trust Anita¡¯s route, and he ran faster, reaching a dangerous speed as he sprinted down the slope.
Chapter 2.15
The dark of night spread through the pine trees like the fingers of a black ghost. The pair ran with the oak-covered ridge to their left, further from the Dark Mage camp with every lung-busting step, closer to the Hinge. The Salt River on their right, a cold wind at their backs.
Max fell to his knees after an hour of hard running. He¡¯d never had to maintain such a pace for so long ever before. He knew he had good Stamina, but he was struggling to keep up with Anita, who had lower Stamina stats.
¡°I don¡¯t know how you can keep going,¡± Max said through heaving breaths.
Anita looked as fresh as if she¡¯d only been warming up. ¡°I am channeling the energy from the trees using my Wilderness Lore.¡± She sat down next to him and laid a gentle hand on his shoulder. ¡°You came back for me. How can I ever repay you?¡±
¡°We are a team,¡± Max said, still trying to catch his breath. He lay back on the ground as his breathing came under control.
Anita lay down next to him on her side, propped up on her elbow. ¡°You are brave and honorable. You would have made a great Druid.¡±
Max turned to her. ¡°I don¡¯t have high enough Wisdom,¡± he said.
Anita ran a finger down his chest. ¡°Sometimes it is not good to be so wise. A foolish choice can sometimes be the right one.¡±
Max sat up. Anita was absolutely beautiful, her green almond eyes were mesmerizing, her hair and skin so soft. Her chosen attire of cropped leather tunic and fighting skirt did little to hide her voluptuous form. But Max knew they needed to remain friends. To be anything more would be a huge mistake for Anita. But she was looking at him with amorous eyes. He had to be strong for both of them. He didn¡¯t know if he could resist her. Of all the ladies in Eveirea, Anita was the only one he really wanted.
¡°I couldn¡¯t leave you,¡± Max said.
¡°But the others, Elderon and Jahrod, they are not here. Only you came.¡±
¡°I was captured and taken while the others slept. A pair of dangerous Assassins grabbed me, but I managed to escape them. They were working for the Dark Mages. It is the Dark Mages that want me.¡±
¡°I think I know how they feel,¡± Anita said.
Max sat up. As much as he wanted to let Anita continue flirting, and as much as the idea of how far it would go was thrilling, she was a friend. She was not behaving as she normally did. He couldn¡¯t take advantage of her.
¡°Anita, are you alright?¡±
¡°A bit light-headed. The drugs they used on me must still be having an effect.¡± She looked at her fingers caressing Max¡¯s hair. She sat up sharply. ¡°Sorry, Max. What am I thinking? We must find the others.¡±
She stood up and pulled Max to his feet.
A crack of a branch somewhere in the depths of the trees caught their attention. Any manner of things could cause a branch to crack: an animal running through the canopy, an old branch breaking off and falling, but Max and Anita were on high alert.
Anita looked at Max.
¡°Yes,¡± Max said. ¡°I think so too. Someone stalking us.¡±
Max drew his catapult and loaded a bullet. Anita activated her Wilderness Lore and sought out a woodland creature to show her what stalked them. She found a small colorful bird flitting through the branches and sent it flying low in wide circles around their location.
¡°It is far off, whatever it is,¡± Anita said, releasing the bird and returning her attention to Max.
¡°We need to move fast. Jahrod and Elderon will be looking for us. We came across the Salt River at Darkwater Crossing.¡±
Anita looked to the sky and scanned the terrain. ¡°It is not far. Can you run?¡±
Max nodded. ¡°I can keep up.¡±
Anita laid a hand on his cheek. ¡°You are especially sweet when you lie.¡±
Max would follow Anita anywhere, and not even the deadliest beast could stop him from following her. Even though they could never be together, Max knew he didn¡¯t want them to be apart. Something had bound them when they first met. They had fought together, saved each other.
At that moment, the ground began to shake. Max grabbed hold of Anita, and the pair crouched on the ground to prevent themselves from falling.
A tree nearby started to shake. Then it sunk into the ground, falling straight down until the treetops was at ground level like a thick bush. Then another tree went down.
¡°A whurm,¡± Anita said, getting to her feet. She dragged Max up.
¡°A worm?¡± Max said in disbelief as another tree sunk into the ground.
¡°No, a whurm,¡± Anita said. She looked for an escape route.
Then the ground around them erupted, soil spilling upwards slowly, flowing over the forest floor. Max saw the fat white flesh of the whurm. It came up with the dirt, curled in a circle around them, trapping them. The body of the whurm sat on the forest floor ten feet high in a circle fifty yards on either side, a thick white body with dark-red veins that pulsated. Then the head reared up. A rounded tip to the long whurm. No discernible eyes but one round hole filled with rasping files for teeth.
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Name: Whurm
Status: Hungry
Attack: Rasping Mouth
Threat level: Lethal
Slime filled with dirt dripped from the round mouth. The ugly creature reared up before lunging at Max and Anita.
Whurm attacks Anita.
Max drew his shortsword as the whurm¡¯s head shot towards Anita. For such a huge creature, it moved fast. Its open mouth threatening to swallow Anita whole.
Max attacks Whurm.
Max brought his sword down on the body of the beast, the short blade cutting deep.
Whurm takes minor damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Max had cut a deep slashing wound on the beast, but it hardly made a difference to the whurm. His Strength spell had worn off and so didn¡¯t deliver any extra damage. His shortsword couldn¡¯t even penetrate a fraction of the whurm¡¯s body. He wasn¡¯t even sure he had done any more than simply broken the skin.
The whurm was distracted enough by the blow to twist sideways, and its attack line on Anita was spoiled just long enough for her to roll aside. She jumped up and onto her feet and thrust with her spear. She drove the tip of the spear deep into the beast, then pushed it deeper still, all her weight and both hands pressing the spear into the body of the whurm. The red fire from the spear tip glowed deep in the body, and then she pulled it free. The spear came away with an eruption of slime.
The whurm turned and lunged at Anita again. She thrust forward with her spear and caught the beast under its mouth. She pushed upwards, the spear driven deep into the whurm as its own weight worked against it.
Then the whurm reared up, the spear stuck in its flesh, pulling it from Anita¡¯s grip. With the spear ripped from her hands, she fell back a pace and loaded her slingshot. She twirled the leather sling and launched a bullet at the whurm. The bullet bounced harmlessly off the whurm''s thick, rubbery hide.
Max shot a superior bullet from his catapult from his position behind a tree, pulling the powerful golden roc sinew back as far as he could manage.
Max attacks Whurm; no damage done.
The whurm dropped its head to the ground and drove Anita¡¯s spear deeper into its flesh. The burning tip caused minor damage. The whurm hardly seemed affected by it, and it lunged forward. Max loaded his catapult again.
Max attacks Whurm.
Whurm takes minor damage.
Max retreated a few steps, having delivered a minor blow to the beast, feeling certain the whurm would now attack him. He shouted out at it as he reloaded. ¡°Come on, you slimy beast. Over here.¡±
Whurm attacks Anita.
The whurm¡¯s body slid over the ground, knocking down a tree as it went, its head focused on Anita. It lunged forward, round mouth open, rasping teeth ready to deliver terrible damage. Anita backed off and cast a spell. A swarm of tiny insects erupted from the ground and flew upwards in between Anita and the whurm. They filled its mouth and covered its head. The whurm shook its head as the tiny insects bit and stung, and it gave Anita just enough time to dodge the incoming attack. The whurm took minor damage from the Swarm spell. It shook its head to escape the swarm, and even though the insects continued to attack, the whurm appeared to ignore the swarm and lunged for Anita again.
Max attacks Whurm; no damage done.
Max was getting nowhere. It was like trying to attack an angry bull elephant with spitballs. He checked the whurm¡¯s stats and saw its Health was still very high, virtually unscathed.
Anita summoned a Magic Bullet and shot it at the whurm. The magic energy dealt minor damage, but the whurm was extremely resilient to physical damage. The bullet stuck to the thick slimy skin for a moment before sliding off and dropping to the ground.
Again the whurm attacked Anita, lunging at her. This time it caught her and delivered heavy damage with one crushing bite. It opened its mouth, ready to bite again, but Anita dived away. She took a vial of ointment and applied it to her arm as she ran. The whurm¡¯s head followed her and attacked her again.
¡°Why doesn¡¯t it attack me?¡± Max shouted. ¡°Come on, you great white slimy beast. Attack me!¡± Max shot a bullet from his catapult, more in an attempt to draw the beast on to him and away from Anita.
It ignored Max and attacked Anita again.
¡°Anita, run to me,¡± he shouted. ¡°This way. Trust me.¡±
¡°Just keep attacking it while it is focusing its attacks on me,¡± she shouted. But the whurm¡¯s head slammed into her and knocked her off her feet. She landed heavily and skidded across the ground. The whurm reared up, its head fifteen feet in the air, up in the trees.
Max ran over to Anita and skidded to a halt in between her and the beast. It turned its head downwards, ready to slam it down on the two of them. Max grabbed Anita and dragged her away. She kicked back with her heels and scurried back across the ground. The whurm slammed its head down heavily, shaking the ground and throwing up dead leaves and dirt. It started moving immediately, sliding over the ground, reaching forward, its round, rasping mouth on the end of its long uncoiled body just inches from Max. He could see the rasping teeth, more like heavy metal files, grating back and forth over each other and making a terrible scraping sound.
The whurm recoiled. Max knew it was about to lunge at them. Anita tried to pull Max away, but he stopped her.
¡°Just wait. Trust me.¡±
The whurm started forward, its mouth opening wide.
Max casts Fireball.
The fireball leapt away from Max¡¯s hands and straight down the whurm¡¯s throat. The slimy white flesh lit up from the inside, glowing orange as the fireball raced down its gullet. Max pulled Anita back and took cover behind a tree.
Whurm takes critical damage.
Whurm has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The fire burst out of the whurm¡¯s open mouth like out of a flamethrower. The body exploded and threw huge chunks of rubbery white flesh and torrents of slime up into the trees. The slime hung on the branches and slowly dripped down, and the chunks of flesh fell back to the ground, each with a sickening splat. The smoldering and stinking remains collapsing as the magical fire burned out.
Anita stepped up to the lifeless mouth and pulled her spear free. She wiped it down to clear it of slime and then turned to Max.
¡°You are a surprising Mage, Max.¡± She smiled.
Max stepped forward and picked a chunk of whurm flesh out of her hair. ¡°We could probably use a shower,¡± he said.
Anita nodded. ¡°Let¡¯s find Elderon and Jahrod first, shall we? Maybe we can convince the dwarf to shower, too, unless you planned to just shower with me.¡±
Max blushed. ¡°No, that¡¯s not what I meant.¡±
Then he felt the ground move. He wondered if it was just that he was so attracted to Anita that he was losing all balance, but then the ground gave way beneath his feet, and he was falling.
Chapter 2.16
The ground dropped away beneath Max and Anita. The dirt falling all around. It got in Max¡¯s hair, his eyes, his mouth. He could smell the rich earth in his nostrils. He began to tumble. Max flashed back to the moment when he fell down the dark portal. He wondered, maybe hoped for a brief moment, if he was falling back to Earth. Did he really want to go back to Earth? At least Anita was at his side. She would be lost and bewildered in his world, but he would care for her. Fear set his mind racing, a thousand thoughts occurring at once. Every memorable moment in his life, every hope for the future, all raced through his mind at light speed. His hair stood on end. He waved his arms to steady himself as he fell.
The ground hit hard, knocking the wind out of him. Dirt fell, clattering to the ground around him like heavy rain. Anita landed next to him. He looked into her almond eyes and laughed with relief. He was unharmed apart from a little bit of bruising. He got to his feet and helped Anita up.
Looking around, Max found he was in a large subterranean burrow. Slime hung in blobs from the walls. Roots stuck down from the top of the tunnel. The hole they had fallen through was thirty feet above. The tunnel was darker on either side than the star-covered night sky Max could see through the narrow shaft above. Anita pulled out her moss bundle, and she blew on it to activate its glow.
Max took the Torch from his Satchel. He held it under his arm and struck a spark onto it with his Flint Tool.
Anita looked at the spark. ¡°That¡¯s a dwarven kit,¡± she said.
¡°Jahrod gave it to me,¡± Max said as the spark hit the Torch. It lit up and was soon burning brightly, a low flame clinging to the Torch but giving lots of light.
¡°The whurm tunnel,¡± Anita said. She looked one way and then the other.
¡°Are there more?¡± Max said, a little anxious. He didn¡¯t know if they could defeat another.
Anita shook her head. ¡°They are solitary creatures. They rarely come to the surface, only if it floods in their tunnels or to move around rocky outcrops. It is very rare for them to attack.¡± Anita started walking. ¡°This way.¡±
Max looked back over his shoulder. ¡°Why not that way?¡± He held the Torch out to light the tunnel behind them.
¡°I can feel a breeze from this direction. It might be a way out.¡±
Max followed Anita. He could not feel a breeze, but he knew Anita¡¯s wilderness senses were more finely tuned than his, and if she could feel a breeze, Max knew he could believe her. What¡¯s more, he could trust her.
¡°Why would that whurm attack?¡± Max asked.
Anita shrugged. ¡°It is strange. I have heard of Druids summoning subterranean creatures.¡±
¡°Are there any Druids around here?¡± Max said. He held the Torch up to the tunnel walls. The dirt had been smoothed to make a perfectly round tunnel about ten feet across.
¡°There are no Druids here,¡± she said. ¡°I would have sensed them, either in the ground or in the trees.¡±
¡°And why did that whurm not attack me?¡± Max asked while studying the dirt walls and glancing back into the darkness behind.
¡°Here, feel that breeze,¡± Anita said. ¡°We¡¯re nearby.¡±
After a few more yards, Max saw the left side of the tunnel was a portion of an underground wall, a brickwork pattern of large stone blocks. The whurm had pushed alongside the underground wall. The wall was buckled, pushed aside by the huge whurm. A stone had been dislodged. It was out of position, and there was an open space behind.
Anita held her hand to the gap. She nodded at Max. ¡°There¡¯s our breeze,¡± she said.
Max felt at the gap. He could not feel a breeze. He held his Torch there. It scarcely flickered in the breeze.
Anita pushed the dislodged stone into the cavity on the other side of the wall. Max heard it drop a few feet to a stone floor.
Anita grinned at Max. ¡°A dungeon,¡± she said and started to pull at the next stone.
With a few stones removed from the buckled wall, there was a gap large enough to crawl through. Anita looked inside and then climbed in.
Max followed her.
The tunnel was clearly a built structure, not like the whurm burrow. Stone walls arched overhead. It had a smooth flagstone floor. The tunnel was clear in both directions apart from cobwebs in the dark. There was a sound of water dripping somewhere in the depths.
Max looked back at the hole in the wall. ¡°If that whurm hadn¡¯t pressed up against this wall,¡± he said, ¡°we might never have found it.¡±
¡°This looks ancient,¡± Anita said. She held her glowing moss to the stone wall. A series of pictographs were carved into the stone. Faded with time but shown by the shadows from Anita¡¯s glowing green moss.
¡°What does it say?¡± Max said. The lines looked like a collection of runes.
Anita shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t know this writing. It is old. This tunnel has been lost for ages of Eveirea. We need a scholar or a Mage of Letters to decipher this.¡±
¡°So which way is the way out?¡±
Anita shrugged. She looked both ways along the long stone-clad corridor. ¡°Pick one. I¡¯ll leave some moss to mark our route so we don¡¯t get lost.¡± She picked a tiny speck from her bundle of glowing moss and dropped it to the ground. It landed and glowed intensely even though it was only a small fragment.
Max looked left then right. He looked at the runes again. He thought that one looked like an arrow sign, maybe. Was it leading to the way out or deeper into the tunnels? He had no way of knowing, but they weren¡¯t going to get anywhere by just standing around.
¡°This way,¡± he said and started forward. After a few dark yards, Max found a pile of rubble filling the tunnel. Stone and dirt in a haphazard heap. ¡°Looks like the whurm did this.¡± Max said.
¡°Then our way is clear,¡± Anita said.
The tunnel was cool and damp. Although the forests on either bank of the Salt River were cold, underground, it was relatively warm. Max started to enjoy being out of the cold. Even so, this tunnel was long and straight, and Max wondered if it would ever end.
He heard the scuttling in the darkness ahead. Scratching, skittering, like stiff wire tapping against the flagstone floor.
Anita stuffed the moss in her belt on her hip and readied her spear. Max looked to the skittering sound and then to Anita. He threw his Torch deeper into the tunnel to light the darkness ahead and then grabbed his catapult and loaded a stone. The Torch on the floor lit a circle of the tunnel. On the far side of the pool of light, Max saw something scuttling into view.
The legs scratched and skittered on the stone floor. A set of red eyes looked up from a round gray body flecked with brown and black. Although the size of a guard dog, it was clearly a spider. Its hooked mandibles quivered in the flickering light.
Anita took a defensive stance, her spear leveled at about hip height.
¡°Are they dangerous?¡± Max said as a second spider scuttled into view.
Anita stayed perfectly still apart from a slight nod of her head. ¡°Yes,¡± she whispered.
Max checked the creature¡¯s stats in the table that formed on the brickwork pattern of the tunnel wall.
Name: Stone Spider
Status: Hostile
Attack: Heavy Mandible, Stone Poison
Threat level: Dangerous
The pair of stone spiders lurked on the edge of the pool of light. The flames from the flickering Torch seemed to disturb them. Max took the advantage. He pulled the catapult sinews back fully and took aim.
Max attacks Stone Spider.
Stone Spider takes minor damage.
The bullet bounced off the stone spider¡¯s carapace with a knocking sound as if it were made entirely of stone. Then it started moving. The legs scuttling over the smooth stone floor. It leapt forward. Anita jabbed up with her spear and knocked the spider back. It landed upside down, and its legs beat the air.
The second stone spider jumped.
Max attacks Stone Spider.
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Stone Spider takes minor damage.
The stone spider landed and jabbed at Max with its mandibles.
Stone Spider attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
The mandibles were heavy and slammed into Max¡¯s leg, catching him on the thigh. Max retreated and shot another bullet at the spider. Anita moved back with him and jabbed her flaming spear at the spider, holding it at bay.
Seeing that his catapult was having limited effect, Max swapped it for his Shortsword of Cold. He held it above his head, two-handed, and advanced.
Stone Spider attacks Max.
The stone spider jumped forward. Max brought his shortsword downwards as the spider came close.
Max attacks Stone Spider.
Stone Spider takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
White frost spread over the stone spider. The Cold damage slowed the spider too. It scuttled backwards and came alongside the other just as it was flipping itself right side up again. Both spiders attacked with a leap.
Max attacks Stone Spider.
Stone Spider takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Stone Spider defeated.
The stone spider dropped, and its legs curled up under it so tightly, it looked like a small boulder. Anita jabbed at the spider attacking her, delivering heavy damage and bonus Fire damage. It landed and made ready to attack again.
Stone Spider attacks Max.
Max takes heavy damage.
Bonus Poison damage.
Max¡¯s leg felt dead where the spider had attacked, not just from the heavy blow of the stone mandibles but from a jolt of toxin too. Max¡¯s leg started to go hard and heavy. He could barely move. The spider recoiled and then leapt at him again. He raised his sword for protection.
Anita stabbed sideways with her spear and caught the spider in the side between its legs. She drove it against the wall next to Max. Its legs thrashing the air and punching off from the wall. Its mandibles hacking downwards. Although rooted to the spot by his heavy stone leg, the spider was in striking distance of Max¡¯s shortsword.
Max attacks Stone Spider.
Stone Spider takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Stone Spider has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The stone spider dropped to the ground, its legs curled up tight, and it looked like another rounded chunk of stone. Max tapped it with his sword, and it rang like steel on rock. His leg was feeling stiff and sore. He tried to move, but his leg felt like it weighed a ton.
¡°Just hold still,¡± Anita said softly. She laid her hands on Max and cast a spell of healing.
Anita casts Cure Poison.
Stone poison neutralized.
Max felt his leg recover. He moved it and found it was as light and nimble as ever.
¡°Thanks, Anita,¡± Max said brightly.
Anita held her finger to her lips. Max fell silent and listened. Anita stepped forward, also silent. Max followed. He picked up his flaming Torch and held it out towards the deep dark corridor. He turned to Anita.
¡°I can¡¯t hear anything,¡± he said.
¡°No, me neither,¡± she said. ¡°But they were just the juveniles.¡±
Max looked again to the darkness. ¡°How big do they get?¡±
Anita looked at him. Her expression worried Max.
¡°Big?¡± he asked, afraid of the answer.
Anita nodded.
¡°How big?¡±
She marked out rough dimensions with her spear tip. She pointed up about ten feet and then to the sides, marking out a circle about ten feet across and filling the tunnel. She whispered to Max. ¡°They have small bodies but long legs and big jaws.¡±
Max felt a shiver run down his spine. He didn¡¯t like the sound of that.
¡°I¡¯ll scout ahead,¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯ll activate my Sneak ability and move just ahead of the pool of light.¡±
Anita nodded. Max handed his Torch to Anita. She shook her head and pulled the glowing moss from her belt. Max beat out the flames on his Torch and stowed it away in his Satchel. He pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and activated his Sneak ability.
From the look on Anita¡¯s face, he could tell he was completely hidden in the shadows of the dark tunnel. He walked ahead, just far enough to be surrounded by darkness, just on the edge of the pool of light thrown out by Anita¡¯s glowing moss.
The stone walls reflected a dark-green light from Anita¡¯s moss. Max watched the darkness ahead as he crept forward, his feet making little sound on the grit-covered flagstones. He stopped when he saw a large mass in the darkness. First he thought he saw movement, then he thought it was just the darkness. Only shadows. Then he saw a leg move, a long stone-spider leg that must have been six feet long at least, and jointed in several places. He took another step forward and then saw the outline of the creature.
Name: Giant Stone Spider
Status: Resting
Attack: Crushing Mandible. Web Spit
Threat level: Very Dangerous
He stopped, backed up, and deactivated his Sneak ability by pulling down his hood. He appeared right in front of Anita. She let out a little gasp of surprise to see Max appear before her.
¡°It¡¯s there.¡± Max pointed into the darkness. ¡°A couple of yards away.¡± He looked back the way they had come. They had been walking for what felt like miles. He knew they had to press on.
¡°Can you try and hold it back with your spear?¡± Max said. ¡°I¡¯ll get ready with my catapult.¡±
Anita nodded. She tossed her glowing moss down the tunnel. They saw the shadowy outline of many moving giant legs in the green glow.
Anita casts Root Tangle.
The spell rolled along the corridor, a ball of twine unraveling. Then it burst around the giant stone spider. Instantly, roots burst out of the gaps between the stones, reaching out from all sides. The dark-brown stiff roots wrapped around the spider. Instantly, the beast struggled to get free, snapping roots with its huge legs. The roots kept coming, replacing those that were snapped. They became thicker and trapped the beast.
Max attacks Giant Stone Spider.
Giant Stone Spider takes minor damage.
Max loaded again, another superior bullet. Anita was casting a Magic Stone spell. A stone appeared before her, and she loaded it to her sling. She twirled the sling and launched the bullet at the tangled spider, dealing minor damage and bonus Magic damage.
Now Max wished he had another Fireball. He was fresh out of spells, not even a Magic Missile left. He loaded another superior bullet to his catapult.
Max attacks Giant Stone Spider.
Giant Stone Spider takes minor damage.
Max loaded and launched again. This was going to take all day. The spider was struggling against the roots. They were still growing and twisting around the beast and holding its legs. But then the roots stopped growing. The spider was still trapped and struggling against the roots that remained, but Max could see they were weakening and wouldn¡¯t hold the creature much longer.
Max attacks Giant Stone Spider.
Giant Stone Spider takes minor damage.
The spider fought against the roots with all its might, its whole body quivering with the strain. One leg snapped the roots holding it. Now it could wriggle more freely, although still firmly held. Max and Anita launched volley after volley of bullets at the beast, dealing minor damage time and again, the bullets pinging off the stone carapace.
Max checked the spider¡¯s stats and saw it was only down to about half its Health. Another leg broke free, and the spider lunged forward.
Spider attacks Max.
The heavy mandible slammed into the ground an inch in front of Max. He shot another bullet and stepped back. The spider got another leg free. It wriggled forward, its legs stabbing against the floor and the walls, pushing away from the roots to free itself. Another leg came free.
¡°It¡¯s nearly free,¡± Anita said. She swapped her sling for her spear of fire and stood ready to meet the beast.
Max got off one more shot with his catapult before drawing his sword. He stood lightly on his feet, moving, ready to spring aside from any attack. He saw the white ball forming between the spider¡¯s mandibles.
The white ball came flying down the corridor, spat out by the spider. It took Max by surprise. He pressed himself to the side of the corridor to stay out of its way. The ball slammed into Anita, exploding and splattering her with sticky strands of web. She was pinned to the wall. She struggled but it was no good; she was stuck fast.
The spider broke free of the roots and immediately scuttled forwards, its legs scratching the flagstones and the walls. It filled the corridor. Max ran at it and skidded underneath the beast. He jabbed upward with his sword.
Max attacks Giant Stone Spider.
Giant Stone Spider takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Max half ran, half crawled past the spider. The beast turned to face him, but Max pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and pressed himself to the wall.
Max activates Sneak ability.
The spider jabbed at the flagstones with its front legs, like huge needles striking down. Max saw the soft underbelly of the beast. He stepped under and jabbed upwards again.
Max attacks Giant Stone Spider.
Giant Stone Spider takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Bonus Sneak Attack damage.
Stone Spider has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The soft underbelly burst open, and out poured hundreds of tiny stone spiders. They clattered to the ground like glass rain. Max wiped them off him, stamping on them, but it was as effective as stamping on gravel. He feared it was all about to come to an end, eaten alive by a hundred tiny stone spiders, but the spiders leapt off him, scuttled over the ground, and crawled all over the giant stone spider. They swarmed over the fallen beast and began to eat.
Max stepped back into shadow. The sounds of crunching filling his ear and making his stomach churn. And looked for Anita. She had managed to get a leg free, but she was still stuck fast. Max began cutting at the web with his sword. The strands were rubbery but tough. He feared he would dull the edge of his blade by sawing at them. He hacked with the blade. The bonus Cold damage made the web brittle and less sticky, and he was able to snap it away. Soon, Anita was free.
¡°They are eating the giant,¡± Max said, looking to the crunching sounds in the darkness.
¡°Nature can appear cruel,¡± Anita said. She peeled some sticky web off her spear and started forward. ¡°They won¡¯t harm us now, not until they¡¯ve finished their first meal. It¡¯ll take them a few weeks to finish the giant off.¡± She walked on.
Max followed, and they skirted around the feast on the giant and into the darkness. After only a few yards, Max found the way blocked by a web.
¡°It¡¯s the nest,¡± Anita said. ¡°Where they bring their prey.¡±
Max saw something glinting in the web, deep within the fine sticky strands. He cut his way in and pulled out a bag of gold.
Max gains 100 gold.
Next, Max pulled out some rusty old armor and an antiquated sword. It was heavy and very old, rust flaking off the metal as he dropped it to the flagstones. Then he found a scroll. He opened it. It was too dark to read, so Anita held her moss close.
¡°Web,¡± Max said excitedly. ¡°Elderon mentioned this spell.¡±
Max was about to read it, but in the dark, with the tiny stone spiders crunching on the giant a few paces away, he was worried he might misread the scroll and waste the spell. He would wait until he had a moment to concentrate and copy it to his Mage Book. He dropped the scroll in his Satchel with the rest of his inventory.
Once past the web, Max felt the breeze Anita had first detected. A few hundred yards further on, and the corridor led into a cavernous dungeon hall. The echo told Max of its size, and his Torch couldn¡¯t light up the entire space. The high ceilings were so high they were barely visible in the light from his Torch. Pillars stood around the edge of the room. At one end was a large throne. A skeleton of a giant sat on the throne. Rusted armor hanging on the bones. A helmet. A large broadsword in one bony hand.
¡°We should move on as quickly and quietly as possible,¡± Anita said.
Max nodded in agreement. As they stepped forward, the giant skeleton stood up.
Chapter 2.17
The dungeon hall echoed with the sounds of the skeleton lord standing up. His armor clattering against dry bones. Its sword scraping on the flagstone floor. A pendant around its neck glinting, a sun symbol giving its own light.
Name: Skeleton Lord
Status: Hostile
Attack: Broadsword Slash
Threat level: Dangerous
¡°Can you see a way out?¡± Max said, quietly taking a step back. He looked up at the skeleton lord, eight feet tall at least. A strange blue glow in the empty eye sockets. It looked down at Max.
Anita pointed behind the throne. A dark shadow there, or maybe a passageway. ¡°That could be a way out.¡±
Max looked around. The pillars around the edges of the hall did not look as if they hid any doorways or tunnels out of this hall.
The skeleton lord stepped into the middle of the hall. Max and Anita retreated further.
¡°Maybe we can go back to the whurm tunnel, dig past that pile of rubble blocking the way,¡± Max said.
Anita shook her head and pointed behind the throne. ¡°That is the way out,¡± she said. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Max, have you never fought a skeleton lord before?¡±
¡°Well, no, actually,¡± Max said. He loaded his catapult. ¡°Are they difficult to defeat?¡±
¡°Very,¡± Anita said. ¡°Stay away from its broadsword. They deal heavy damage almost every time.¡±
¡°Really,¡± Max said. ¡°It hardly looks dangerous at all.¡±
Skeleton Lord attacks Max.
The skeleton lord stepped forward, its bony feet clattering on the flagstones. It swung its broadsword in a wide arc towards Max. The swing was fast; Max stepped back but the tip caught him in the side.
Max takes heavy damage.
Max was knocked off his feet by the blow. The sword carried on through its arc. The skeleton lord lifted it over its head, the long broadsword almost touching the high ceiling of the hall. The skeleton lord brought the sword down. Max rolled away and to the side of the hall and hid behind a pillar as the sword clattered into the hall¡¯s flagstone floor.
Anita was moving towards the far side of the hall from Max, shooting sling bullets at the skeleton as she went. The bullets bouncing off its exposed bones, each one with a heavy crack that Max felt sure must shatter the bones.
From his cover behind the pillar, Max loaded a superior bullet and drew the golden roc sinew back as far as he could, straining with the effort, the forearm brace pressing into his arm. He pointed the catapult forward in front of him and then stepped out from behind the pillar, bringing the catapult around to aim at the skeleton lord.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
The bullet bounced off the skeleton¡¯s helmet. Max ducked back into the cover of the pillar and loaded another superior bullet. He stepped around the pillar with catapult ready once again.
The skeleton lord swung its sword at Max, but it clattered into the pillar with a shower of grit and sparks. Max lost his aim and shot the bullet wild.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes no damage.
The bullet bounced harmlessly off the skeleton¡¯s shoulder plate. Max stepped back into cover. He reached into his bullet pouch for another superior bullet. He could feel he was running low. He still had a few normal bullets, but they weren¡¯t going to do any damage to this skeleton.
He loaded a bullet. A huge bone hand came around the pillar. It scraped Max out of cover, dragging him to the space between two pillars. Then the huge skeleton hand grabbed Max by the arm and pulled him out completely, flinging him to the center of the hall.
Max used the force of the throw to move as far from the skeleton as possible. He rolled up onto his feet and into a run, heading for the far side of the hall. He heard the sword swish through the air behind him. Only the expression on Anita¡¯s face told him how close that swinging blade had come.
Max dived for cover on the other side of the hall and hid behind a pillar. He glanced out to see where the skeleton lord was. It was attacking Anita. She¡¯d shot it with a bullet from her sling, and it had caught the monster¡¯s attention. The skeleton swung its broadsword at her. The full blade caught her in her gut and sent her flying across the hall. She ended up against the wall between two pillars. She looked down for the count, sitting back against the wall and her head lolling to one side, a nasty bruise across her firm tummy. The skeleton lord took a step towards her, drawing back its sword, ready to stab it into her and skewer her against the wall.
Max ran to the skeleton and grabbed hold of its sword hand, pulling back and trying to prevent it from stabbing his friend.
¡°Get up, Anita,¡± Max shouted.
Anita shifted her head, moving slightly. She slumped to the ground, slipping sideways along the wall.
Max pulled at the blade in the huge skeleton hand. The skeleton lord turned its head and fixed Max with that strange blue glow hovering in the empty eye sockets. The skeleton grabbed hold of Max and pulled him away, tossing him towards Anita as easily as if he¡¯d been a small rag doll.
Max landed on top of his friend. He jumped to his feet and pulled her behind a pillar, sitting her up with her back to the pillar, hidden from the skeleton in the center of the hall. Max ran from that pillar to the next and fired off a wild catapult shot at the skeleton lord.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
Max reloaded and moved again. Another bullet pinged off the skeleton as he ran from one pillar to the next.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
Max shouted as he went, drawing the skeleton lord after him to give Anita a chance to regain her senses.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
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Max ran from one pillar to the next, shooting bullets from his catapult with every move. The skeleton was focused on him, and when Max moved into the next space between pillars, the skeleton struck.
The sword jabbed forward. Max skidded underneath the blade as it hammered into the wall. He jumped back up onto his feet behind the next pillar and reloaded.
Max knew he had the Stamina to keep this going all day, but one glance at the skeleton lord¡¯s stats showed him that even after a number of minor hits of damage, the skeleton still had an almost completely full Health bar.
Skeleton Lord lightly injured.
Max glanced out and saw the skeleton lord turning its attention back on Anita. She was staggering to her feet. She cast Root Tangle. The joints between the flagstones erupted with thrashing roots that wound up around the skeleton¡¯s ankles. It reached down and pulled some roots away, pulling them out of the ground and tossing them aside. Some roots caught its hand and held it there, half bent over. It cut at the roots with its sword, but the roots kept climbing its legs. It pulled a leg free, yanking it out of the tangle, but when it planted its foot back down, more roots caught hold of it.
The skeleton stamped on the spot, tugging one foot free before stepping back into a fresh tangle and trying to pull the other foot free. The Root Tangle spell was holding it in the spot in the center of the hall.
Max ran around the edge of the hall, keeping behind the pillars. He reached Anita and wrapped her arm over his shoulder. She hobbled along with Max, taking a small bag from her pouch. She smeared some brown herb paste on her sword wound and instantly moved more easily.
¡°That Root Tangle won¡¯t hold it for long. It¡¯s a powerful enemy,¡± Max said.
Anita and Max ran around the edge of the hall behind the pillars. The skeleton swung its sword at them, but they were out of range. They ran to the end of the hall and around the back of the throne. A short corridor ran a few yards to a high stone door.
Max and Anita charged into the door, shoulder barging it to fling it open. The door didn¡¯t move.
¡°Ever get that feeling like you¡¯ve hit the wall?¡± Max said.
Anita looked at him, a little bemused, then she looked back to the door. Her hands ran over the carvings in the stone. At the join between the two tall doors was a circular recess. Curved lines radiating outwards.
¡°It looks like a sun,¡± Max said.
Anita looked back the way they had come, back to the dungeon hall.
¡°It¡¯s a keyhole,¡± she said. ¡°And that skeleton lord must have the key.¡±
¡°The pendant,¡± Max said. ¡°We need it. Looks like we¡¯ll have to defeat that thing.¡±
They spoke fast as they walked back to the hall. The sounds of the skeleton tearing at the Root Tangle spell filling their ears.
¡°Any suggestions how to do that?¡± Anita said. She loaded her sling.
Max loaded his catapult. He reached the back of the throne. ¡°Keep hitting it with bullets. As long as it¡¯s fixed in place, we can bring it down.¡±
Anita nodded. Max nodded. They stepped out from around the throne and faced the skeleton.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
Max knew he couldn¡¯t get close enough to use his shortsword, and although Anita¡¯s spear was much longer, it was still much shorter than the long broadsword the skeleton lord wielded. Neither of them could risk getting too close to the creature.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
The skeleton lord pulled a foot free of the tangle, and when it came back down, the roots failed to grab hold of it again. They shrank away, the spell fading. It shredded the last of the roots and started towards Anita.
Max reached into his Satchel. He had one spell that might be of use. He knew if he used it now, the scroll would crumble, and he wouldn¡¯t be able to add it to his Mage Book. But what use was a Mage Book full of spells if his journey ended here at the hands of the giant skeleton lord?
Max unrolled the scroll and began to read.
Max casts Web.
Max held the scroll before him. He spoke the incantation. The symbols on the scroll glowed as he spoke. The scroll crumbled in his hands, and a white ball made of strands of light appeared there. He drew both his hands back to his chest and then thrust them towards the skeleton lord.
The skeleton lord towered over Anita. She was standing between two pillars, her sling twirling. She spotted the Web spell heading towards her and dashed out of the way. The skeleton turned and faced Max just as the Web spell struck. It hit the skeleton lord in the chest and erupted, like a ball of rubber bands suddenly cut, unraveling and untwisting, reaching out chaotically.
The white strands of light became thick, sticky strands of web. It spread out to the pillars on either side of the skeleton and held it there. The skeleton was held firm; the only movement was the fierce blue lights in the empty sockets darting this way and that.
¡°Shoot it,¡± Max said and loaded a bullet.
Max shot one bullet after another, dealing minor damage after minor damage. Anita cast magic bullet and managed a hit of moderate damage. The skeleton remained trapped, held fast in the web, suspended between pillars. The light in the eye sockets pulsated, dimming and then burning a bright blue as if frustrated at being held and helpless at the mercy of Max and Anita.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
Max checked the Health stats of the skeleton. The strands of the web formed the table of stats.
Skeleton Lord critically injured.
Max loaded the last of his Superior Bullets and shot.
Max attacks Skeleton Lord.
Skeleton Lord takes minor damage.
Skeleton Lord has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The light vanished from the empty eye sockets, the bones lost their connection to the others, and the skeleton fell apart, the skeleton lord now nothing more than a collection of loose bones caught up in a web.
Max walked towards the skeleton. The pendant was caught up in the web about eight feet off the ground.
¡°Don¡¯t get too close, Max,¡± Anita said. ¡°The web is still active. You¡¯ll get caught up in it too.¡±
Max looked at the web. It was constantly shifting, strands growing and shrinking, releasing here and attaching there. The constant movement pulled the bones apart. The pendant hanging in the sticky white strands.
¡°How long will it last?¡± Max said, stepping back as a sticky strand crept across the floor towards him.
¡°It all depends on the level of the Mage. Probably be here awhile. Might as well rest for a moment.¡± Anita took some heavy bread from her pouch and took a bite. She tossed a chunk to Max. He walked around the hall chewing, staying clear of the defeated skeleton lord in the web.
Max walked around the throne. It was carved from a solid piece of rock and must have weighed a hundred tons. He looked at the seat that the skeleton lord had been sitting on. There was a slab of stone set in the throne. It looked like a lid of some kind. He climbed up onto the throne and stuck the point of his sword into the join. He levered the slab upwards and got his sword in underneath. He slid the slab aside and revealed a recess. Inside, right in the middle, sat a single glittering pebble. It was smooth, oval, like a duck egg made of marble. There was a faint blue glow around the stone. Max picked it up.
¡°It¡¯s a magical item,¡± Max said, turning it over in his hands.
¡°Be careful,¡± Anita said, walking over.
Max couldn¡¯t tell what it was. He tried to access a table of its abilities, but it remained unknown. Then he remembered his scroll.
Max set the pebble down and reached into his Satchel. He pulled out a scroll of Know Item. He unrolled the scroll and spoke the incantation. A blue glow appeared over his hands. The scroll crumbled away. Max held the pebble. And its ability was revealed.
¡°It¡¯s a Stone Elemental,¡± Max said, turning the stone over. It felt warm to the touch, unlike the cold slabs of rock around the hall.
¡°That is a powerful item,¡± Anita said. ¡°But you must use it wisely. It will come to your aid when you call it forth, and once it has aided you, it will be free forever. It is a one-use-only item.¡±
Max gains Stone Elemental.
Max checked his inventory.
Inventory:
? Satchel
? Mage Book
? Golden Roc Catapult
? Blanket of Comfort
? Torch
? Polished Wooden Dagger
? Hood of Sneaking
? Superior Bullets
? Fine Rope
? Collar of Control
? Padded Leather Tunic
? Dagger of Poison Blade
? Potion of Intelligence
? Flint Tool
? Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
? Ring of Shadows
? Shortsword of True Striking
? Ring of Extra Spells
? Shortsword of Cold
? Pendant of Defense
? 1 Red Smoke Bomb
? Stone Elemental
¡°Come and rest awhile,¡± Anita said. She was sitting against a pillar.
Max went and joined her. He had no idea how long they had been in the tunnels. Hours had gone by. He yawned as he sat down. He pulled out his Blanket of Comfort and laid it over their knees. He closed his eyes . . .
Max woke suddenly as he heard a clattering and rattling. He was on his feet, sword ready for action.
¡°It¡¯s just the spell wearing off, finally.¡± Anita said. ¡°That was either a very powerful scroll or you¡¯ve become a very powerful Mage.¡± She smiled at him.
Anita stepped over to the bones scattered upon the floor. She picked up the pendant with the tip of her spear and tossed it over to Max.
¡°Ready to get out of here?¡±
Max walked behind the throne towards the high stone doors. He placed the pendant in the keyhole. The rays of the sun on the pendant fitted the recess lines perfectly. The pendant clicked into place. Max pushed at the doors. They were stiff with age. Anita pushed too. Dust fell as the doors creaked open. Once open a crack, they slipped through. A short dark tunnel led to a set of ancient stone stairs.
Max went up. He found himself in a cave of jagged rock. He saw the glinting sunlight at the end of the cave. The cave narrowed and ended in a tangle of roots and vines soaked with water running down. He pushed past vegetation and dripping water and out of a rock outcrop on the edge of Oak Ridge.
Max helped Anita out into the sun. She drank the water dripping down the outside of the outcrop. Max cupped his hands and drank too. He smiled at Anita. They splashed each other with water. Dust and grime of the underground mixing with the water.
Anita pulled the strands of vegetation aside. Water ran like a small stream off the top of the outcrop.
¡°Perfect,¡± Anita said. She pulled Max close to her. ¡°It¡¯s cold but we both need a shower. We¡¯re covered in dirt.¡±
Max cupped his hands and washed his face. ¡°Should we move on, try and find the others?¡±
Anita started to untie her tight tunic. She smiled. ¡°There¡¯s always time for a morning shower.¡±
¡°She¡¯s pretty,¡± said a voice like honey.
Max turned and saw the Assassins Debhora and Shazera standing just a few feet away.
Chapter 2.18
¡°Don¡¯t let us stop you,¡± Shazera said, grinning. ¡°We don¡¯t need a shower. We¡¯ve had one recently.¡±
¡°Yeah,¡± Debhora said, hooking an arm over Shazera¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll just watch.¡±
Max went for his sword. Anita leveled her spear.
¡°Easy,¡± Shazera said. She held her arms out, showing she was unarmed.
But Max could see the daggers in their belts. Each had a pair, one on each hip. Polished white handles of antler or bone. The long fur scarves wrapped around their bodies like furry snakes barely made up for the scanty leather tops and skirts they wore. Max checked them up and down, and he was sure he saw that they both had an extra dagger secreted in their high boots. Apart from the tight leather and fur scarves, they both wore a look of demure innocence. Max knew they were swift and deadly and those sheathed daggers could be in hand and ready for bloody work in a moment.
Their ranged weapons were safely stowed across their backs. Debhora¡¯s blowpipe with its colorful feather decorations stuck up over her right shoulder, within easy reach. Shazera¡¯s crossbow would take longer to bring to bear, but these weapons were not for sudden close encounters, they were for long-range stealth kills and preplanned attacks. The daggers were always close to hand and easily brought to action in a close encounter.
Debhora fluttered her thick eyelashes. Shazera leaned against a tree, arms folded.
Max realized these Assassins could have killed both him and Anita from a distance without a word or any danger to themselves if they had wanted to. What else did they have in mind? To capture them both alive, or could it be something even more sinister?
Max lowered his sword, slowly, unsure. He had no intention of sheathing it just yet. Anita relaxed but kept her spear up.
¡°Aren¡¯t you going to introduce us to your friend?¡± Shazera said.
¡°Do you know these Assassins?¡± Anita said.
Max nodded. He pointed with his sword. ¡°This is Debhora of Aston Gate and Shazera from Milford City. They captured me a few nights ago. They had a portrait of you too,¡± Max said. ¡°I think they are working for the Dark Mages.¡±
¡°We¡¯ll happily get into bed with anyone,¡± Debhora said. She smiled at Max. ¡°If you know what I mean.¡±
¡°And who are you working for now?¡± Anita said.
Shazera pointed at Max. ¡°Him, if he¡¯ll have us.¡±
¡°You will have us both, won¡¯t you, Max,¡± Debhora said, her eyelashes fluttering.
¡°Me?¡± Max said. His sword lowered, his grip loosened. ¡°I¡¯m not looking to hire any Assassins.¡±
Debhora stepped forward. ¡°We¡¯ve seen you in action,¡± she said. She placed her hands on her hips, a move that was probably too threateningly close to her daggers for Anita¡¯s liking, and Anita raised her spear and took a half step forward.
Debhora stopped and moved her hands away from her daggers.
¡°We know a good adventurer when we see one. We know you have a strong party if this Druid is anything to go by. We could be a great addition to your team. All we ask is for a cut of any loot you find along the way.¡±
Max didn¡¯t realize he had a team. He didn¡¯t think anyone would be interested in joining his team.
¡°Just tell us how you¡¯d like to use us, and we¡¯re yours,¡± Shazera said.
¡°And what¡¯s to stop you slitting my throat while I sleep and taking all the loot for yourself?¡±
Shazera suddenly wore an expression of disappointment and sadness. ¡°Do you really think I¡¯d do a thing like that?¡±
Max nodded. ¡°Yes, yes, I do.¡±
¡°What if I told you we were planning a change of class? Assassin can be very lucrative, but it is dangerous, and you don¡¯t make many friends, but our skill set can easily be flipped. We thought about transferring to Thief or maybe Spy.¡±
Max looked at Anita. His expression must have told Anita he didn¡¯t know there was such a class.
Anita nodded. ¡°Spy is a high level Rogue class. It is good for anyone looking to carry out lots of sneaking and stealth attacks, burglary, and other forms of thievery.¡±
Max looked at them with deep suspicion.
¡°I told you he¡¯d never accept us,¡± Debhora said. Then she turned to Max. ¡°We like you, Max. We¡¯d be happy to fight alongside you. We find you strangely attractive.¡± She nodded at Anita. ¡°I think the Druid knows what we mean.¡± Debhora winked at Anita and clicked her cheek.
¡°We don¡¯t blame you wanting to have him to yourself,¡± Shazera said.
Anita sneered and stepped forward, the flame tip of her spear glowing.
¡°Ladies, please,¡± Max held his hands up to call for calm. This was extremely unusual. Before traveling along the dark portal, girls hardly gave him a second glance. Now they all wanted to be on his team. He hoped he had the resolve to keep them all at bay.
¡°Frankly, ladies,¡± Max said to Shazera and Debhora, ¡°I just can¡¯t trust you.¡±
¡°We could offer you gold,¡± Shazera said, ¡°but that¡¯s why we wanted to partner up with you. We could offer you our services as professionals.¡±
¡°Assassins?¡± Anita said coldly.
¡°Professionals,¡± Shazera said again pointedly. ¡°But you are too honorable to hire an Assassin to do your work. But we can give you something else, something you would be interested in, something that might convince you to trust us.¡±
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Max was intrigued. What could they possibly give him?
¡°Information,¡± Debhora purred.
¡°What information?¡± Max and Anita spoke as one.
¡°First of all, do we have a deal?¡± Shazera said. ¡°Information for a place in your party and a share of any loot.¡±
Max took a step back and drew Anita with him. He turned to her and spoke quietly in her ear, his eyes still fixed on the Assassins, hand on his sword.
¡°What do you think?¡±
¡°I don¡¯t trust them, Max,¡± Anita said loudly, staring at the pair. ¡°As a Druid, I look for balance in nature. Assassins are chaotic at best. They bring instability. Our course will ever be distracted. Towns will be wary of our approach.¡±
¡°I don¡¯t trust them either,¡± Max said. ¡°And they know it. But they know I want what they¡¯re offering.¡± Max stepped forward again. ¡°So why not tell me what information you have, and I¡¯ll let you know if it¡¯s worth a place in my party.¡±
¡°Someone is hunting you, Max,¡± Debhora said. She spoke with genuine concern, compassion even. ¡°Someone is stalking your every move. They may have even found you.¡±
Shazera looked around her as if to check that no one was nearby, eavesdropping on her conversation. She stepped forward, wary of Anita¡¯s spear, lowered her voice. ¡°A Mage. He wants to control you. Use you.¡±
¡°What Mage?¡± Max said. ¡°A Dark Mage?¡±
¡°He is certainly dark,¡± Shazera said, ¡°but we¡¯ve never met. He sends creatures to talk to us, to deliver his words. Sometimes birds bring scrolls for us to read. We know he wants you alive.¡±
¡°What about Anita?¡±
¡°Her?¡± Debhora looked Anita up and down while running a hand down her body. ¡°He¡¯s not too bothered about the Druid, but I sense he¡¯d kill anyone with you if they got in his way.¡±
¡°So why do you want to join me?¡± Max said. ¡°Won¡¯t it paint a target on your back?¡±
¡°We can avoid that Mage easily enough if we don¡¯t want to be found. We are Assassins, after all. Hiding and sneaking is all part of the job, a job we are very good at.¡±
¡°They are evil,¡± Anita said with a sneering tone that Max hardly recognized, one he certainly didn¡¯t associate with his Druid friend.
¡°We are not evil, good Druid,¡± Shazera said. ¡°Chaotic certainly, but not evil. But we do know evil when we see it, and we think this Mage is too evil for us to be close to. And so far, Max has avoided coming to any harm at the hands of this Mage. We figure we¡¯d be safer fighting alongside you than against you.¡±
¡°Besides,¡± Debhora said, ¡°we think you¡¯re pretty hot.¡±
Max shook his head and let out a sigh. ¡°It wasn¡¯t that long ago you were about to hand me over to someone intent on doing me and my friends harm. I really don¡¯t think we¡¯d make a very good team.¡±
¡°Does that mean you are going to send us away?¡± Debhora said, her lip quivering slightly.
¡°Send you away?¡± Max sheathed his sword. ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s such a good idea either.¡±
¡°Max,¡± Anita said in astonished disbelief, her eyes darting between Max and the Assassins before ending up firmly fixed on the Assassins. ¡°They are deadly, duplicitous, cruel, and untrustworthy. You can¡¯t let them travel with us.¡±
¡°Cruel?¡± the Assassins said in unison.
Max stifled a smile, noticing that neither denied being deadly, duplicitous, or untrustworthy. ¡°But what¡¯s the alternative?¡± Max said to Anita. He turned to the Assassins. ¡°Send them away and have them watch us from the shadows, never knowing when they might strike. At least if they are with us, we can watch them. Better to have them at our sides than behind our backs.¡±
Debhora moved so fast, Max hardly had time to touch his sword. She flung her arms around him and kissed his cheeks, neck, and lips.
¡°You won¡¯t regret it, Max,¡± she said. ¡°We are going to be great together.¡±
Anita pushed Debhora away, but it only gave Shazera an opening to rush in. She wrapped an arm around Max¡¯s shoulders and ran her fingers through his hair, the other hand resting lightly on his chest.
¡°Just let that Mage try and take you now,¡± Shazera said. She pressed her forehead to Max¡¯s, her nose touching his. She pouted and breathed hot breath, gasping, quivering. ¡°You won¡¯t regret having me, Max,¡± she said.
¡°Alright, break it up here,¡± Anita shoved Shazera away. ¡°Enough of the hero worship. Just you make sure you stay where I can see you, and no funny business, or you¡¯ll be sorry you ever met Max and me.¡±
Max laid his hand on Anita¡¯s spear and made her lower it. She stopped leveling it at the Assassins and stood it up next to her, leaning on it like a staff.
¡°Ok, where to now, boss?¡± Shazera said.
¡°They look like they¡¯ve been through a dungeon already. Maybe we should rest.¡± Debhora stepped next to Max. ¡°You two take first watch, and we¡¯ll bed down together.¡±
¡°We don¡¯t need rest,¡± Anita said.
¡°Well, actually,¡± Max said. ¡°I am fresh out of spells. If I could rest for a few hours, I should be able to reactivate my spells.¡±
He checked his Mage Book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
? Summon Fog
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
? Disguise
He had a good number of spells to choose from. Three spell slots for Level 1 spells, plus the two bonus slots thanks to his Ring of Extra Spells. He had a new slot at Level 2, so he could activate both his Level 2 spells, Strength and Summon Fog. But he still only had one Level 3 spell slot. He had to choose between Fireball, Disguise, and Shield. He had no doubt Disguise would be useful, and Shield could be a real lifesaver if used at the right time, but Fireball was his most powerful offensive spell. He could not choose either of the others over Fireball.
He deselected a used Strength spell from his selected spells and added the Summon Fog spell in its place. He looked at his list of selected spells in his Mage Book.
Selected spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Fireball
It was a powerful selection, alright. But the letters on the page were grayed out. Once he had rested, they would glow on the page with magical energy, ready to be cast. Only then would they be activated.
¡°But I stood the last watch, Debhora,¡± Shazera said, the pair still arguing. ¡°I should rest with Max.¡±
Anita stepped close to the Assassins. She looked them in the eyes one at a time and held her finger on her lips. The Assassins fell silent. Anita stepped over to Max without a sound. She drew Max down to a crouching position.
Debhora and Shazera crouched and looked to the trees, scanning the dark shadows in the dappled morning light.
Max spotted movement. He pointed. All eyes fixed on the location. Shazera had her crossbow loaded and leveled in a flash, Max realized how quick and deadly she was. If she had wanted to kill him, she could have done so at any moment she chose.
Debhora had her blowpipe to her full lips. She held it lightly there, ready to blow.
Max heard a low chanting. It grew in intensity.
Dark Mage casts Soothing Cloud of Sleep.
The spell came rolling forward, a low gray cloud tumbling over the ground. Anita shot a bullet from her sling, Shazera¡¯s crossbow string twanged, Debhora shot a dart from her blowpipe. Max drew his Shortsword of Cold.
Then the cloud enveloped them.
Max felt drowsy in an instant. The gray cloud smelled sweet, tempting, delicious, impossible to ignore. It caressed his skin gently and made his eyelids heavy. He toppled over slowly and slumped to the forest floor. Anita lay next to him, the Assassins sleeping soundly.
Max fought off sleep as hard as he could. As he lay on the ground, he saw the Dark Mages standing on the edge of the cloud, waiting for Max to succumb to the spell. Eventually, he could fight no more, and he slipped into a deep and dreamless sleep.
Chapter 2.19
Max woke with a pounding head. The sweet scent of the Soothing Cloud of Sleep had turned violently bitter. His nose burned, and his throat was dry as if lined with sandpaper. Nearby was the sound of a crackling fire. There was something else, too, low and in the background, just on the edge of hearing. A sound more felt than heard. A deep, low continuous chanting.
Max wanted a drink, an aspirin, or a bacon sandwich. But more than any of that he wanted to roll over and drift back to sleep. He had no idea how long he¡¯d been unconscious, but he¡¯d woken totally unrested and still as tired as he had been when he¡¯d left the skeleton lord¡¯s dungeon. He tried to roll over but found he was sitting up and held in position by ropes. He opened his eyes to check his bonds, but it set his head thumping even harder as if his head was a washing machine filled with rocks.
Max closed his eyes and wished the headache would settle down. With eyes closed tight, he realized someone was behind him, and they were sitting back to back and tied together. He realized some part of the dry mouth was due to the gag that was in his mouth. He risked another glance, tentatively opening one eye a fraction. All was dark. Had he been asleep an entire day, held in unconsciousness by the powerful Dark Mage spell? Then he noticed the darkness was in fact due to a bag over his head. He closed his eyes as his head banged again.
Max tried to topple sideways but found that someone was tied next to him. And on the other side too. Slowly Max drew a picture of his situation. He was tied to three others, one at his back, one at either side. The others started moaning as they too woke from the spell induced sleep. Max heard footsteps approach, and then the bag was taken off his head.
Turning to his left Max saw the thick curls of Debhora erupt out from the bag that was pulled up and off her head. On his right was Shazera. Behind him, Anita, he hoped. Then he caught her scent and recognized it was her. Being so close to his friend and trusted ally, even in this terrible situation, gave him courage and hope.
He pulled and tugged, testing the strength of the rope and the knots. His ankles were tied together with Fine Rope. His elbows were tied to Anita¡¯s elbows behind him. The two Assassins were tied in the same fashion. All four of them bound into one great knot.
The low chanting grew louder and nearer. Max turned his head this way and that, trying to work out where it was coming from. He thought he could pinpoint the location until he arrived at a disconcerting understanding. It was coming from all around.
Max looked up into the dark hood of a Dark Mage standing over him, the face hidden in the shadows within. Dozens of Dark Mages surrounded them, the fire flickering off the dark robes throwing long shadows that danced in the darkness.
Debhora and Shazera were struggling to speak through their gags. They struggled against their bonds. Shazera turned to her right and gave Max a fierce stare that was as deadly as an Assassin blade. Max shrugged innocently.
¡°I didn¡¯t tie you up,¡± Max said to Shazera.
The Dark Mage pulled the gag from Shazera¡¯s mouth and went around the circle removing the others.
¡°I wouldn¡¯t mind if you had tied me up,¡± Shazera said, ¡°if it was just you and me, but did you have to bring all your friends?¡±
Max looked up at the circle of Dark Mages, the chanting swelling and rising, growing in intensity, growing in threat. Max didn¡¯t know what they were chanting, but he didn¡¯t think it was to wish him and his companions good fortune. In his limited experience, sitting at the center of a circle of hooded figures all closing in and chanting, while being tied up with three young ladies, was not a sign that things were going your way.
Shazera looked up into one of the dark hoods. ¡°Hey, I thought we were working together. You hired me to get you the young Mage, the Darkbringer. Well, I got him for you, so come on, untie me, and give me my gold.¡±
Debhora struggled against her bonds, her honey voice wracked by her sore and dry throat. ¡°The Assassins¡¯s guild will not be happy if you Dark Mages go back on our little deal. You wanted the Darkbringer. Well, now you have him. Untie me. Now.¡±
Max looked from Shazera to Debhora. Just before they¡¯d been knocked unconscious, the pair of Assassins had convinced him that they wanted to join his party, and now they were asking for the payment for delivering him into the hands of the Dark Mages.
Anita spoke with a groggy, husky voice. ¡°I knew you couldn¡¯t be trusted,¡± she said. ¡°You should have killed us when you had the chance.¡±
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¡°The Dark Mages wanted warm bodies,¡± Debhora said. She looked up at the Dark Mages all around. ¡°And we got him for you, didn¡¯t we? Ok, you can renegotiate the fee. I¡¯ll take fifty percent. He was easy to capture. Fifty percent of my arranged fee is acceptable even though I¡¯ll still have to give the Assassins¡¯s guild their percentage of the original fee.¡±
¡°I caught him,¡± Shazera said. ¡°I¡¯ll take twenty five percent of the arranged fee, and you can keep Debhora for your experiments. She¡¯s the darkest Assassin you¡¯ll ever meet. If you want to experiment on the darkness, she¡¯s your girl.¡±
¡°You snake, Shazera!¡± Debhora said. ¡°I swear on the poisoned chalice, I will never work with you again.¡± She struggled in a sudden violent effort to break free of the bonds, tugging with her elbows and kicking with her heels. She let out a shriek of frustrated anger.
Max looked back and forth between Shazera and Debhora on either side of him as they traded insults and threats to kill, dismember, disembowel, and drain the other of blood.
A Dark Mage bent forward and cut the bonds at the elbow holding Max to Shazera and Debhora. The two Assassins were pulled to their feet. Their ankles still bound, hands bound before them but free from the bonds with Max and Anita. Max was still tied by the elbows to Anita behind him, his hands tied in front of him, his feet bound at the ankles.
Shazera and Debhora smiled down at Max. Debhora gave Max a wink and clicked her cheek.
¡°No hard feelings, sweetheart. You really are a handsome young man, and I¡¯d love to wear you out, but it looks like you¡¯ve got an appointment with these Dark Mages.¡± She held her bound wrists up to the Mage with the dagger. She looked at the dark hood and nodded at her bound hands for him to cut the ropes.
The Dark Mage grabbed Debhora by the wrists, another Dark Mage grabbed Shazera, and they dragged them to a tall post standing before the burning fire.
¡°Hey, what are you doing?¡± Shazera shouted, her voice breaking with rage. ¡°We had a deal. We brought you the Darkbringer. What are you doing? Let me go.¡± Shazera punched and kicked as best she could with her hands and feet tied together. The Dark Mage half dragged her, half carried her to the tall post. The two Assassins were stood with their backs to the post and bound with a single rope wrapped around them from chest down to the knees.
The Dark Mages spoke as one, the voice booming in the dark.
¡°Assassin Shazera, Assassin Debhora, you have been with the Darkbringer for too long. Formed attachment to the Darkbringer. The Darkbringer spreads his influence to all those around him. You are now a link to the darkness too. We will draw the darkness out from you.¡±
¡°What do you mean, draw the darkness out? You will let us go when you have finished, won¡¯t you?¡±
¡°You will be consumed. You will be drained. You will bring us more understanding, more power.¡±
Max felt sorry for the Assassins. He wasn¡¯t sure if he thought they deserved whatever terrible fate these Dark Mages had planned for them. But then his concerns for Debhora and Shazera evaporated when a pair of Dark Mages lifted both he and Anita to their feet.
¡°Don¡¯t worry, Max,¡± Anita said. ¡°These Dark Mages disturb the balance. The Druids will restore the balance. The Mage council of Essillt will not let this abomination survive. We may lose today, but ultimately, Eveirea will win, and the Dark Mages will lose.¡±
Max wasn¡¯t too encouraged by thoughts of any future defeat for the Dark Mages. He was rather more concerned by the imminent defeat of Anita and himself. The bonds holding Max and Anita together were cut. Max was dragged away from the fire towards another stake on the edge of the clearing. He was bound to the stake and positioned facing towards Shazera and Debhora across the clearing. Anita was dragged to a point in between the two stakes. She did not go willingly, and she fought like a tiger, punching with bound hands, knocking a Dark Mage backwards and to the ground. She lashed out sideways and caught another on the chin. More Mages rushed in and seized her by the arms. Another stood before her, his hand out, palm up. He blew as if blowing her a kiss. He blew white dust off his hand and into her face. She went limp in an instant.
A Dark Mage brought a large wooden block and dropped it to the ground. Anita was forced to her knees and bent forwards over the block. A Dark Mage walked forward, a large, bladed axe with a long handle in their hands. The axe was longer than Max was tall. Anita¡¯s head was placed on the block by a Dark Mage, and then the axe was placed lightly on the back of her neck.
The Dark Mages started chanting, and Max felt a dark force deep in his chest being pulled across the clearing towards Anita and over to Shazera and Debhora. A dark energy spreading between them. It pulled at Max¡¯s heart. Debhora and Shazera screamed and writhed in agony. Dark Mages came and placed piles of chopped wood and bundles of straw doused in oil at the feet of the Assassins, and then a Dark Mage with a flaming torch marched over to stand there. The flaming torch held high, waiting for the moment to bring it down and set the wood alight.
The Dark Mage standing over Anita raised the axe.
Janet appeared directly before Max, tiny at first but growing to full size in an instant. She was surrounded by a deep, dark border that seemed to be stretched and torn. She looked extremely uncomfortable.
¡°Something is happening, Max,¡± Janet said. ¡°The Druid¡¯s blood will form a focal point for the dark portal as they draw the darkness from you and these two Assassins. You have to do something to stop them, or I¡¯m going to be pulled apart, half of me back to Earth and half of me to Eveirea.¡±
Max struggled at his bonds.
¡°I haven¡¯t got any spells,¡± Max said, struggling. ¡°All my spells are used. I still haven¡¯t rested yet. I was unable to activate any spells. I can¡¯t break these bonds without a blade. They¡¯ve got me tied up tight. Can you do something, Janet?¡±
¡°All I can do is to tell you to act now.¡±
The axe high above Anita¡¯s head started downwards with a sudden swift stroke.
Chapter 2.20
Time stopped and all was shrouded in black. The dark of night and the shadows dancing in the fire paled by comparison to the darkness that Max saw all around. He was calm, suddenly at ease. He stepped forward. The ropes slid off Max¡¯s ankles and wrists and stayed there, tied at the stake. He took a step forward, his eyes fixed on the axe blade hovering an inch above Anita¡¯s neck. He walked across the clearing with the circle of Dark Mages standing stock still all around. The chanting stuck on a single low resonant tone. He walked towards Anita, several yards away, and arrived there in a single step. His hands held her shoulders, and he slid her out from under the axe. Her eyes were wide open and staring, but she could not see Max. He lifted her up. She was as light as a feather. He threw her over his shoulder. He saw the dark tunnel ahead of him, the dark movement letting him move into the forest, but he couldn¡¯t leave yet, not without his belongings.
As he looked around for his Satchel, he saw the Assassins tied to a stake before the fire, the flaming torch touching a bundle of oil-soaked straw, the flame already spread from the torch to the straw. Had they really been attempting to capture him or had they simply been trying to save their own hides by pleading with the Dark Mages to release them? Somehow Max couldn¡¯t blame them for trying; they were Assassins, and they were only acting in line with their class.
Max spotted his Satchel and saw it on the edge of the Dark Mage circle. He moved towards his equipment, arriving there in an instant. He grabbed his Satchel and Anita¡¯s pouch and spear and looked to make his escape. He glanced over his shoulder at the Assassins. He knew he would hear their screams as the fire took hold. Was it all they deserved? He walked back into the circle of Mages and over to the stake. He untied Debhora. And then he untied Shazera. He kicked the bundle of wood and straw away, took the torch from the Dark Mage and tossed it into the fire. He was about to move away when he thought that he couldn¡¯t leave the Assassins unarmed in the middle of the Dark Mages.
The dark movement started to shudder and shake. Max felt dizzy. Janet appeared on the shoulder. ¡°You can¡¯t hesitate any longer, Max. I can feel the darkness shredding. You are not strong enough to keep it open any longer. You will be lost. You must leave and close the darkness.¡±
Max started to move away, sliding along the darkness towards the forest. He looked back at the Assassins tied to the stake. He reached into his Satchel and pulled out the Dagger of Poison Blade. He threw it towards the stake. The dagger thudded into the timber at eye level right between the two of them. He reached for another weapon. His hands felt the handle of the wooden dagger. He held it up: highly polished, possibly deadly as a stabbing weapon, but really no match for the Dark Mages with their swords.
Max loses Dagger of Poison Blade.
Max slid further along the darkness, further from the Dark Mage circle. He felt the world falling apart and being pulled in a hundred directions.
Janet¡¯s voice was distant, insistent.
¡°Leave, Max.¡±
Max carried Anita a moment longer, traveling a short way until the dark movement threatened to collapse and drag him into the darkness, lost forever. The dark portal he created collapsed, and he was a hundred yards away. Anita¡¯s eyes were suddenly alive, startled and surprised, as she put a hand to the back of her neck. She looked at Max, her lip quivering in fear.
¡°How did we get here?¡± she said, looking around, bewildered. ¡°I think I blacked out for a moment.¡±
Max dragged her by the hand and they ran. He glanced over his shoulder and saw Shazera grabbing the poison-tipped dagger from the post. She slashed at a Dark Mage, cutting his arm so he dropped his longsword. Debhora picked up the sword in a flash and was back to back with Shazera, facing down dozens of Dark Mages.
Max and Anita ran into the woods. ¡°I thought you were going to go back and defend those two snakes,¡± Anita said.
¡°I think they can look after themselves,¡± Max said as he ran.
With the sounds of battle fading behind them, every step taking them further from harm and closer to safety, Max started to smile. He looked at Anita, still holding her hand. She was smiling, too, her eyes streaming tears of joy, relief, and also from the cold wind blowing into them. They ran into the night, downhill, back towards the Salt River.
Anita dropped Max¡¯s hand and led the way, running through the darkness, avoiding every obstacle in their path. She called out for Max to leap when they came to a fallen tree that Max could barely see. Anita¡¯s night vision was superb. Once they were sure they were safe, Max stopped to catch his breath.
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¡°We really need to find Elderon and Jahrod.¡± Max said. ¡°Maybe Elderon can help us against these Dark Mages.¡±
Anita nodded. ¡°But I am all out of spells. I need to rest so I can activate my spells. And so do you. We should find somewhere to rest.¡±
¡°We should keep going,¡± Max said.
¡°I know we need to get away from the Dark Mages, but we need to rest. We can find somewhere defensible and settle for a few hours. It will be difficult for them to find us in the dark. Even their best tracker will struggle to pick up our trail through the forest in the night.¡±
Max nodded. Rest sure sounded good. He hadn¡¯t had any rest for a long time and had had too many encounters.
¡°Let¡¯s head back towards the Hinge, and as soon as we find somewhere to stop, we will rest.¡±
The wind blowing off the Salt River was chill. After so much running, Max had started to warm up, but out in the open in the night and with a stiff breeze coming down the Salt River from the west, Max started to feel cold again. He looked at Anita in her tight leather tunic and fighting skirt. She showed no signs of suffering from the cold. Max drew his tunic tight over his white shirt. He knew he had collected a stack of gold. The first thing he would do when he got to a town was buy a good chunky sweater.
A dark shape appeared on the horizon silhouetted against the Salt River that glittered under the starlight. Max looked up at an old tower. He grabbed Anita¡¯s hand and smiled.
Anita shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think we want to rest there.¡±
¡°Why not?¡± Max had gotten used to the idea of rest, and this looked perfect. ¡°It looks like a nice stone tower. There¡¯s a low wall around it. We can easily defend the entrance. Or do you think we will end up being trapped?¡±
¡°This is the Salt River fortress of a long-dead Lord,¡± Anita said. ¡°I feel the forest holding back from these dark walls. The vines and branches fear to grow too close. This place is cursed.¡±
The closer they got, the more Max could see of the broken walls and the jagged tower. There was some cover here, but if this had ever been a home or a castle, it was hardly more than a pile of crumbling rocks now.
¡°I think we can rest here without getting trapped,¡± Max said. ¡°We can see if any Dark Mages approach. Maybe with a bit of luck, we can find a raft and get on the Salt River in the morning.¡±
¡°I think it¡¯s a bad idea,¡± Anita said. ¡°This was a principle fortress in ages gone by. The Lord and Lady betrayed the elves whom they had promised sanctuary in foul weather. They left a party of elves out in the cold and rain when they came asking for sanctuary. The elven party perished. The holders of the fortress were later cursed by an elven Mage to be forever without rest when the wind and rain come down the Salt River.¡±
A howling wind came down the Salt River from the west bringing freezing rain. It came in a sudden wave and slammed into Max. It soaked his pants and the sleeves of his shirt. Rain dripped from his hair down his face. He wiped the cold rain away.
¡°I think I¡¯ll put up with any curse to get out of this rain. I¡¯m going to freeze to death if I stay out here. Let¡¯s find some shelter in the old fortress. We can make a small fire. Let¡¯s have a warm brew and something to eat. We can rest together on my Blanket of Comfort, and we will have all our spells back in just a few hours. We can be underway before dawn.¡± Max took Anita¡¯s hand and looked into her strangely beautiful almond eyes. ¡°Come on, Anita. Let¡¯s get out of this rain.¡±
Anita nodded reluctantly and let Max lead the way.
The boundary wall of the fortress was soaked by the freezing rain by the time Max got there. The walls were broken and tumbling down. Less a wall now and more a ring of stones piled up. There were gaps in the wall everywhere where gates might once have stood. Max clambered over the pile of stones that must have once been part of the high boundary wall. Once over the remains of the wall, Max saw remnants of a large stone house. Some walls still stood with the remains of a chimney and large fireplace against one. The roof was completely gone, timbers and thatch rotted away long ago. Beyond the ruined house, close to the banks of the Salt River, was the tall, dark tower.
The tower looked sturdy enough, with only one open doorway at ground level. Max headed for the tower and was happy to duck in and get out of the rain.
The ground inside the tower was soft and covered with dry leaves that had blown in from the forest. Anita found the remains of the broken timber door and set it in the doorway. She made a small fire with twigs and leaves and her fire kit from her pouch. As soon as the flames flickered in the small fire, Max felt warm. He took out his Blanket of Comfort and laid it on the ground near the fire. Anita handed him a brew and a hunk of bread. He felt his Health return. He checked his stats.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 4
Health: Full
Strength: 18
Stamina: 17
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Max might have been restored to full Health, but he was exhausted. Although they¡¯d been put to sleep by the Dark Mages¡¯s Soothing Cloud of Sleep, it wasn¡¯t rest, merely unconsciousness. There was nothing soothing about it. It had left him with the worst hangover ever. Anita sat next to him and she put an arm around him.
¡°You are very brave with the cold,¡± Anita said. ¡°I don¡¯t feel it at all. We Druids have hot blood. Here, sit next to me, and I will warm you.¡±
Max felt at ease in Anita¡¯s arms. She was beautiful. He was glad to have her back.
¡°I thought we¡¯d lost you,¡± Max said, holding her close.
¡°I¡¯m glad you came after me,¡± she said.
Max lay down on the Blanket of Comfort, Anita next to him on her side, her arm over his chest, and her hand on his cheek. She kissed him gently and then lay down.
¡°Rest now, Max,¡± Anita said.
Max looked up into the darkness of the tower above them. The stone stairway spiraling up the inner wall of the tower vanished into the dark heights. The wind howled outside, rain splattering in from the gaps in the old door propped up in the doorway. Max looked out through the gaps in the doorway into the darkness beyond. Then he saw movement in the shadows, darkness moving across darkness. A shiver ran down his spine, but not of cold, of fear.
Chapter 2.21
The dark shadow slid in through the doorway and over the old walls of the tower, circling Max and Anita. It shifted its shape from vaguely human form to a surging cloud. It moved slowly, then with a sudden rush forward. It clung to the walls. Max looked for what was casting this shadow, but nothing else moved in the tower. He wondered if he was asleep. His hand went to his sword, and he slowly climbed to his feet, moving cautiously so as not to startle or threaten this dark shadow. He checked to see if the shadow had any stats.
Name: Dark Shade
Status: Hostile
Attack: Shocking Shadows
Threat level: Relentless
The dark shade stopped. Max was sure it was looking at him. A dark shape on the wall, growing taller, writhing as if it were a shadow cast by a dancing flame. Then it darted forward, away from the wall, a dark flash of lightning. It leapt at Max and slammed into him, hitting him hard. In those fractions of a second, Max knew this was no shadow. The dark shade enveloped him.
Dark Shade attacks Max.
His body was wracked by jolting waves of pain. Dark lightning flickering over his skin, shooting through his bones. He could taste the dark power. Then the dark shade left him and darted off, pressing itself back to the stones.
Max takes minor Shocking damage.
Max crumpled to his knees. He let out a moan of pain and confusion. Anita woke, her spear in hand, up and on her feet in an instant.
¡°What is it?¡±
Max pointed with his sword at the dark shape on the wall. ¡°A dark shade.¡±
Anita kicked embers from the small fire into the dark corners of the tower. ¡°I knew it was a bad idea to rest here. Not that I¡¯ve had any rest.¡±
Max casts Strength.
Spell failed.
He shook his head. ¡°No, I still haven¡¯t rested enough to activate my spells either.¡± Max backed away to the door. Suddenly the wind and rain didn¡¯t seem so bad. Surely it wasn¡¯t that far to the nearest town. His stash of gold coins could buy a lot of ale and meat pies, a nice room for him and Anita, and a lot of rest in a soft bed.
¡°Look out,¡± Anita shouted.
The dark shade came racing towards Max.
Dark shade attacks Max.
Max takes minor Shocking damage.
The dark cloud enveloped him again. All around was darkness, but he saw flashes of white and silver across his eyes. He felt flashes of lightning over the saliva on his tongue. The dark shade moved off, and Max fell to his knees.
¡°It¡¯s coming too fast,¡± Max said.
¡°I can sense its intentions,¡± Anita said. ¡°It¡¯s disturbing the atmosphere as it moves. Look out, here it comes again!¡±
Max looked at the shadow on the wall. He couldn¡¯t see any movement. The darkness would be on him any moment. Max readied his Shortsword of Cold. He drew the blade back, ready to strike the moment he saw the dark shade move, ready to deliver a slashing blow on a hair trigger. The shadow on the wall grew deeper and darker. Max felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up.
Max attacks Dark Shade.
Max brought the blade around as the dark shade leapt off the wall. He saw the shadow take on a human form, a dark, open toothless mouth and lifeless eyes screaming rage. Max¡¯s sword and forearm passed through the shadow.
Dark Shade immune to physical damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Dark Shade takes minor damage.
Anita jabbed with her spear from the hip into the dark shadow as it swerved away from Max¡¯s Shortsword of Cold. Pain in the dark eyes, sadness in those eyes. Flames flickered over the edges of the dark shade as Anita¡¯s spear struck.
¡°It¡¯s immune to physical damage,¡± Anita said. ¡°Only elemental damage can defeat it.¡±
Max readied himself again. He felt the hairs on his neck stand up. He scanned the walls for the shadow and found a patch of darkness. Or was it just a patch of damp? The darkness on the wall before him remained still. The attack came from behind.
Dark Shade attacks Max.
Max was plunged into darkness yet again. His body wracked with tingling pulses that rippled and flowed over his body in narrow lines. He shut his eyes to the pain. With his eyes clenched tightly shut, he saw white-and-silver jagged lines flickering over his closed eyelids. His teeth tingled, and then the dark shade left him.
Max takes minor Shocking damage.
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Max gasped for air and collapsed to his hands and knees. ¡°It¡¯s no good, Anita. I can¡¯t attack what I can¡¯t see. How can we defeat this dark shade?¡± Max started to get up to his feet, about to call out to Anita that it was time to flee.
¡°Look out, Max,¡± Anita called.
Max swung his sword wildly, a lucky strike his only hope. He was unlucky.
Dark Shade attacks Max.
Max takes Shocking damage.
Max fell to his knees again. Although he was only taking minor damage, the Shocking Shadow attack was having a powerful effect on him. He checked his Health stats quickly.
Max moderately injured.
He had only lost 25 percent of his Health, but it felt like a lot more. The Shocking Shadow attack was not just robbing his Health but his will to fight too. The wind and the rain howled around outside the tower, sheets of rain lashing against the broken door. He wanted to flee, pull the door away, and run out into the night. He felt the dark movement growing as he felt the need to be away from this tower in an instant. As the dark movement energy grew, Max felt the darkness pulling him away from the door and up the tower.
Max stopped the growth of the dark movement. He strengthened his resolve to stand and face the dark shade, took a deep breath, and looked up. He followed the spiral stairs, but they were lost to the dark of night after one full turn around the tower wall.
¡°It¡¯s up there,¡± Max said to Anita. He pointed up.
¡°I don¡¯t think so,¡± Anita said. She stood lightly on her feet, turning slowly, spear leveled, waiting for a hint of the next attack. ¡°The dark shades are always bound to the ground. It¡¯s the tortured soul, one that is cursed.¡±
Dark Shade attacks Max.
Max takes minor Shocking damage.
Max gasped for air but felt like he was breathing in burned lightning. He writhed in the darkness that enveloped him. The dark shade vanished and left Max as a bolt of lightning struck the tower.
The lightning rippled through the joins between the stones. It lit up the shadows, and there in a corner stood a dark shape framed by the lightning, the form of a woman with her head tipped back in an anguished scream. She screamed into the darkness and the lightning and the rain.
¡°There¡¯s definitely something up there.¡± Max could see the lightning linger high on the tower. He felt the tug and recognized it. ¡°There¡¯s a dark shard up there.¡±
The dark shade melted back into the shadows as the lightning faded.
¡°The dark shard is holding the dark shade here. This is no elven curse.¡± Max ran to the spiral stairway running up the tower. He climbed as the lightning struck the thick forests beyond the tower. Rain dripping down from the broken roof high above. Max ran on, the lightning showing him the stairs running around the edge of the tower. He went leaping up from one step to the next. He heard Anita call out from below.
¡°Look out, Max.¡±
He stopped himself just in time and saw the missing steps. Several of the huge stones that formed the steps had fallen away long ago and left a huge gap in the stairway and a long drop to the bottom of the tower. Max carefully inched to the edge. He couldn¡¯t climb the stairs any further. He felt the dark shade moving over the walls on the far side of the tower.
¡°I¡¯m trying to help you,¡± Max shouted at the shade. The shadow floated over the far side of the tower, drifting back and forth. Max looked again at the missing steps. Where one stone had fallen away, it had pulled stones from the tower itself, leaving a hole in the wall. Just enough for Max to get a toehold. He stuck his toe on the hold and searched for a fingerhold between the heavy stones. He found a grip, even though the stones were polished and smooth and the rain dripping down the wall made them even more slippery. He moved out, clinging to the wall and moving around the curve, crossing the gap left by the missing steps.
¡°Look out, Max,¡± Anita shouted from below. Max turned to look and saw a Murder Crow racing towards him, its harsh cry making his hair stand on edge.
Murder Crows attack Max.
Max takes minor damage.
The murder crows scratched at his arms. The damage was so minor, but the greatest danger was that he would lose his grip and fall. He climbed on as the murder crows swept in again.
Murder Crow attacks Max.
Max released his grip with one hand and twisted out of the way of the attack, the murder crows swooping past.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
He then took hold again with both hands and made the last few climbing moves before he dropped to the wet stones of the stairway on the other side of the gap. The murder crow spiraled overhead, shrieking its frustration at failing to land its attack. Max ran up the spiral stairs. He drew his sword as a murder crow swept in.
Max attacks Murder Crow.
Murder Crow takes moderate damage.
Bonus Cold damage.
Murder Crow defeated.
Max ran on a full turn of the tower, and then he finally ran out of steps. These steps hadn¡¯t fallen; they had never been placed. Max looked at the tower walls. He could climb, but he couldn¡¯t wield his sword. He wished he kept that poison-tipped dagger now. He could have held that in his teeth and climbed. He sheathed his sword.
¡°Cover me, Anita,¡± Max shouted from the tower. ¡°Keep these murder crows off of me.¡±
Max started climbing the wet stones. He just found enough purchase with his fingertips in between the crumbling mortar. He went up as swiftly as he could. He knew better than to look down, but the tug of gravity promised nothing but a long drop and a sudden stop. He heard the murder crow shrieking behind him and then the sound of a bullet from Anita¡¯s slingshot expertly aimed and snatching a murder crow out of the air.
The top of the tower was simply a ring of loose stones where it had once been roofed with timber and tiles. There in the middle, perched on what was left of the last remaining roof beam, was the dark shard, glittering slightly in the rain. Max reached out, but it was out of reach. He balanced on the loose stones. If he slipped, he would no doubt take a loose stone with him. Not only would the fall be his end, but the falling stone could be fatal for Anita standing in the tower below.
Max judged the distance across the top of the tower. It was an easy distance for him to leap across. It was sticking the landing that would be the tricky bit. He needed to put the right amount of energy into the jump. Jump, catch the dark shard, and land on the other side. Easy.
Max swung his arms and jumped. The stone under his feet was pushed back as he leapt forward and fell down the outside of the tower. Max had lost forward momentum from pushing the loose stone back off the tower. He wasn¡¯t going to make it. He grabbed for the shard and snatched it out of the air.
Max grabbed for the far side of the tower. He landed with his arms hooked over the loose stones. They shifted with his weight. He scrabbled with his toes, searching for a hold. He found purchase and pushed himself up. He sat on the top of the crumbling tower and looked at the dark shard in his hand.
As Max held it in one hand, the dark shard evaporated, erupting softly like a pillow of black feathers stirred up by a strong wind. They drifted upwards, tiny flecks of utter blackness in the dark rain-filled sky, and finally, the dark shard was gone.
¡°Max, get down here,¡± Anita was calling up.
Max climbed down the inside of the tower, his fingers cold and slippery. He found the spiral of stone steps, and the feeling of them beneath his feet let him relax. He was a good climber, but steps were much safer. He ran down into the bottom of the tower and found Anita facing a young woman dressed in a white glow, lightning flickering off the hem of her short skirt and the tips of her hair.
¡°Adventurer, you have saved me from the darkness. Let me reward you for your effort and finally lift the curse from my family.¡±
The white figure faded and became a faint voice of distant echoes.
¡°Go to the south corner of the great hall. There you will find the vault hatch and a stairway leading you beneath the fortress. In the great cellar, you will find my family treasure. The most precious of all is the Shortsword of Lightning. This I give to you, adventurer.¡± And with that, her voice faded entirely.
A flash of lightning and a rumble of thunder brought fresh waves of rain.
¡°If there is a great cellar beneath this ancient fortress, then I¡¯d rather be down there and out of this rain,¡± Max said as he gathered his things and stepped out of the tower. The great hall was much more of a ruin than the tower, but he could just make out the southern corner from the tumble of stones that had once formed the walls. Max ran through the rain, and he searched the southern corner. There he found the hidden entrance, and down he went along a steep stairway. Once out of the rain, he lit his Torch. Anita stepped in behind him and held up her glowing moss. They went down into a vast empty cellar. At one end stood a large wooden chest. The lock long since rusted. It gave way with one blow from Max¡¯s sword.
Max attacks Rusty Lock.
Rusty Lock had been defeated.
Sitting inside the chest was a sword. Max picked it up.
Max gains Shortsword of Lightning.
¡°I don¡¯t like it in here, Max,¡± Anita said, ¡°There¡¯s something not right. I feel something nearby.¡± Max saw the flickering shadows on the stairway. The trio of Dark Mages entered into the great cellar, blocking their retreat. Burning torches in one hand, longswords in the other.
Chapter 2.22
As the Dark Mages moved forward, they began chanting as one. Max recognized this chant. He had heard it just before he had been hit by the Soothing Cloud of Sleep spell. He raised his sword. The lightning flickered over the blade. He saw the table of the sword¡¯s abilities marked out by the flickering strands of lightning.
Shortsword of Lightning
? Minor to moderate physical damage
? Bonus Lightning damage
? Cast Sword Lightning once per day
The lightning flickering over the blade spelled out the simple incantation that would cast the Lightning spell. Max held the sword up just as the Dark Mages¡¯s chant intensified. Max pointed the sword at the Dark Mages.
Max casts Sword Lightning.
The bolt of lightning streaked across the great cellar, lighting up the hidden recesses of the large underground space. The jagged lightning struck the middle Dark Mage and then spread to those standing on either side. The lightning flickered over the robes, connected to the tip of Max¡¯s shortsword. Then the lightning detached from the sword.
The crack of the lightning was sharp and crisp. The three Dark Mages crumpled as the bolts struck.
Dark Mages take minor Lightning damage.
Dark Mages fail to cast Soothing Cloud of Sleep
The three Mages fell about, groaning. Residual lines of electricity flickered over their robes. Max grabbed Anita by the hand and dragged her behind him. He ran to the stairs and up into the wind and rain.
A single Dark Mage stood in the ruins near the entrance to the great cellar. The Dark Mage raised his hands to cast a spell as he saw Max and Anita sprinting out.
Max charged at the Dark Mage, sword raised.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mages takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Anita followed Max and struck with her spear. Flames flickered over the Mage¡¯s robes, mixing with the fine lines of crackling lightning from Max¡¯s shortsword. With the way clear, they ran into the trees. Max glanced over his shoulder. He saw the three Dark Mages leaving the great cellar and joining with the fourth. They acted as one and came in pursuit.
Max was getting breathless. The wind was at his back, so he could run a little faster, a little further, but the Dark Mages on their tail had the same advantage. Max risked a glance. He saw they were closing in. One stopped and brought up a crossbow, took aim, and shot.
Dark Mage attacks Max; attack misses.
The bolt fizzed past Max¡¯s ear and thudded into a tree trunk. The short heavy bolt looked deadly, but Max knew they did not want to kill him. They wanted to capture him alive, to experiment on him and summon the dark energy entering Eveirea from the dark portal that he had inadvertently opened into this realm. The sooner he could close the dark portal for good, the safer this world would be.
Max and Anita ran hand in hand, both breathless, unable to urge the other to greater effort, all their energy spent on running. Another crossbow bolt struck a tree nearby. Max glanced back. The four Dark Mages were closing in. One stopped and took aim.
Dark Mage attacks Anita.
The bolt struck Anita in the back of the thigh. She went down with a muted cry of pain. Max lost his grip on her hand as she fell, the rain making it extra slippery. He stopped and turned back to her. She was struggling to her feet, one hand reaching out to Max, the other holding the wound on the back of her thigh.
Max pulled her to her feet. She limped on, half hopping. She gripped the bolt in her thigh and yanked it free. She let out a loud and fearsome growl of pain and anger and threw the bolt to the ground in fury. Max pulled her on, but she slowed, unable to maintain her speed. The blood oozed out of her leg, between her fingers, and mixed with the rain. Her head bowed. She pulled her hand free of Max¡¯s, looked him in the eyes, and shook her head. She stood up, using her spear for support, and turned to face the Dark Mages.
Max stood at her side, Shortsword of Lightning ready for action. The four Dark Mages slowed, their longswords in hand. They closed in, spreading out and forming a crescent. Max heard a twig snap on the ground behind him. He spun around. Surrounded. In the dark and the rain, he could make out two figures. They were closing in slowly. As much as Max¡¯s new shortsword was a powerful weapon, and Anita was a great fighter, Max feared they stood no chance against six Dark Mages.
The four Dark Mages fanned out. They began chanting, and one lifted his hands, holding them high above his head, fingers twisting and cracking as they cast a spell.
Max turned to face the two new figures in the dark, ready to rush at them. If he could tackle the two new Mages first he might have a chance of escape. But then, out of the dark, the two figures came rushing forward. Max readied himself for a clash of swords.
The battle cry that came from the darkness sent a shiver down Max¡¯s spine, then a stench hit him, sour and pungent. A dwarf wielding an axe in wide circles over his head came running forward, ran past Max, and towards the four Dark Mages.
Jahrod attacks Dark Mages.
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Elderon ran toward them and stopped between Max and Anita. He stabbed his staff into the ground. Light burst out from the staff and flooded the area, the dark of night banished, and even the rain seemed to be thrown aside.
¡°Elderon,¡± Max shouted in surprise, delight, and triumph.
Elderon smiled at Max and began casting.
Jahrod cut one Dark Mage down with a heavy charge attack, his swinging axe delivering heavy damage and the follow-up charge adding bonus damage.
A cone of fierce white cold leapt away from Elderon towards the Dark Mages on Jahrod¡¯s right. The Cone of Cold struck with a sound of breaking glass. The cold froze the Dark Mages to the spot. The ice coating the two Dark Mages shattered after a moment. Both Dark Mages crumpled as they took heavy Cold damage, then they straightened up and focused on Jahrod.
¡°Look after Anita,¡± Max said, and he ran to Jahrod¡¯s side.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Dark Mage has been defeated.
Jahrod parried the blade of the Dark Mage on his left. Max faced the challenge of the Dark Mage on his right. A magic missile slammed into the Dark Mage, the six orange orbs of magical energy arcing around Max before slamming into their target. Max attacked without mercy.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes minor damage.
Bonus Electrical damage.
Dark Mage has been defeated.
Jahrod was fighting the last Dark Mage and driving him backwards. The Dark Mage was controlling his retreat, giving ground, and fending off the fierce flurry of blows from Jahrod¡¯s axe. A bullet from Anita¡¯s sling struck the Dark Mage. Jahrod kept the Mage¡¯s sword busy with a steady stream of attacks. Finally, the Dark Mage gave up on a controlled withdrawal, and he turned and fled.
If this Mage escaped, he would report back on Max¡¯s last known whereabouts. Max dropped his sword and grabbed his catapult. He loaded a normal bullet and took aim.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes minor damage.
The Dark Mage was pushed off balance for half a step but ran on. Max reloaded and gave chase. He heard Elderon and Jahrod calling him back, not to go chasing the Mage into the dark. Max stopped and took aim.
Max attacks Dark Mage.
Dark Mage takes minor damage.
Dark Mage has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Max walked over to the defeated Dark Mage. All they carried was a steel longsword and a flaming torch. No gold, no items at all, not even a hunk of dark bread.
Max walked back to the pool of light. Jahrod was scowling as he looked up at Max, showing his heavy crushing teeth. His thick beard rustled as he spoke.
¡°At last, we found you. I don¡¯t mind the tracking and hunting, but I have had quite enough of listening to Elderon¡¯s grumbling.¡± He held out a hairy hand in friendship.
Max didn¡¯t know if he had forgotten just how bad Jahrod smelled or if the rain was making it worse. Even so, Max was delighted to see the grumpy dwarf and embraced him.
They walked back to Elderon together.
¡°You take too many risks, young Mage,¡± Elderon said in gruff tones.
Anita was on the ground dressing her wound with some healing herbs and some long plaited leaves. She grinned up at Max.
¡°He¡¯s brave, Elderon. He saved my life.¡±
Max crouched next to Anita. ¡°And you saved mine,¡± he said. ¡°I would not have made it so far in this world if it wasn¡¯t for you.¡± He stood up and looked at his friends, happy to see them all, easily ignoring the cold and the rain, warmed by the presence of his party. ¡°Or any of you, for that matter,¡± he added. ¡°My good friends. How good it is to see you.¡±
¡°You¡¯d be seeing the lords of the Underlands if we hadn¡¯t turned up,¡± Jahrod said gruffly. He handed Max his Shortsword of Lightning. ¡°You dropped this.¡±
Max sheathed his sword. He noticed the rain had stopped. He looked up and saw it falling aside, a dome shield over their heads, and Max realized they were in a Mage Sphere.
¡°How did you find us?¡± Max asked.
¡°With difficulty,¡± Jahrod said.
Elderon nodded. ¡°We lost your trail a few times. But now we have found you, and that is all that matters. You are exhausted. You and Anita must rest. We will rest here.¡± Elderon began casting a spell. A warm wind began to swirl inside the Mage Sphere. In a matter of moments, Max¡¯s clothes were dry. Jahrod even smelled a little sweeter from his rinse and blow dry.
¡°It¡¯s not safe here, Elderon,¡± Max said. ¡°The Dark Mages are trying to create a dark portal to draw power from it. They want to use Druid¡¯s blood and my connection to the dark portal to draw the power. We must get away from here.¡±
¡°We are safe for now, young Mage,¡± Elderon said, laying a hand on his shoulder. ¡°Jahrod will stand guard, and I have set warning wards about the forest. The Mage Sphere will hold off the rain until dawn. Rest, young Mage. You need to recover your spells.¡± Elderon smiled down at him. ¡°You can¡¯t show you are a Mage without a few active spells to call upon. Rest.¡±
Max unrolled his Blanket of Comfort on the ground next to Anita. He settled down to sleep next to her. He looked at her, eyes closed, breathing gently. She was asleep in moments. Max felt the warmth of her body. Her soft skin. She moaned gently and snuggled closer to Max, her forehead resting against his. He wrapped an arm around her. She opened her eyes and stared at him, a smile creeping over the corners of her mouth.
¡°It¡¯s nice to rest with you, Max,¡± Anita said. She closed her eyes and wriggled a little closer.
Max had never been so close to anyone so attractive before. Anita was strange, powerful, mysterious, magical. But he knew she could never be with him. She had to remain chaste to become the leader of her Druid circle. Max knew she would make a great leader one day, and it would be his honor to call her friend even if he sometimes thought that he wanted to be more than just a friend.
Max drifted off to sleep wrapped in Anita¡¯s arms. Resting safe, knowing Elderon and Jahrod were watching over them.
When Max woke, Anita was at the small fire. The sky glowed with the promise of a clear day, but it was still an hour from sunrise. The forest was damp around, dew clinging to leaves, rain dripping from high in the canopy. Birds chirped in the trees, something slithered through the leaves nearby. Elderon brought Max a mug of a strong morning brew.
¡°Do you have your spells, Max?¡±
Max checked his Mage Book.
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Fireball
All his selected spells were now active. He showed Elderon his Mage Book.
¡°I have a new spell,¡± Max said. ¡°Summon Fog. I found the scroll on a harpy.¡±
¡°A harpy?¡± Elderon said, eyes wide.
¡°Yes, it was tormenting a blind old man. He said he was a Sword Dancer.¡±
Elderon sat down. ¡°A Sword Dancer, you say? You have aided a Sword Dancer?¡± Elderon shook his head.
¡°Yes, I helped him retrieve his sword. Was that wrong?¡± Max said.
Elderon smiled at him. ¡°I shake my head in disbelief, Max. You will have a powerful ally if you aided a Sword Dancer. Did he tell you to call him should you need aid?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Max said, ¡°Yes, he did.¡±
Elderon clapped him on the back. ¡°You are making good friends in this world, Max. Soon, you will not need me.¡±
¡°I still need you, Elderon,¡± Max said. ¡°If you and Jahrod hadn¡¯t arrived when you did last night, those Dark Mages would have killed Anita and used me to increase their power. I owe you so much.¡± Max drank the hot strong brew. It filled him with strength and energy. He knew his Health was returned to full. ¡°I found another spell too. A scroll of web, but I had to use it to stop a skeleton lord. It almost got the better of me and Anita. It was the only option I had. I wish I could have kept it.¡±
¡°A Skeleton Lord?¡± Elderon said. ¡°Harpies and Sword Dancers. You have been on an adventure. Are you sure you haven¡¯t left anything out?¡±
¡°Just a couple of Assassins.¡± Max laughed. ¡°All I was trying to do was save Anita and find you guys again.¡±
A sound crashing through the forest towards them had Elderon on his feet suddenly. Anita, rested and healed, was at his side with her spear ready. They relaxed slightly when Jahrod came running up to the Mage Sphere. Elderon lowered the spell and let Jahrod approach.
¡°It is as you feared, Elderon,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Those giant spiders found our trail again. They are closing in.¡±
¡°Giant spiders on your trail,¡± Max said. ¡°It sounds like you had some adventures of your own.¡±
¡°Go easy with your new spells, young Mage,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Try not to use them all up in one encounter if you can help it.¡±
Anita casts Bonus to party.
¡°Warriors to the front,¡± Jahrod said, walking away from Max and Elderon. Anita walked with him, twirling her spear.
Max drew his catapult and looked into the forest. The shadows in the gray dawn light flickered as the huge green-and-red body of a giant spider came into view. Then Max saw a pair of smaller but equally fierce-looking spiders following behind. The three spiders paused for a moment, tapping the ground with spindly legs.
Chapter 2.23
The giant spiders were bigger than the stone spiders Max had faced back in the dungeon tunnels. They were more brightly colored with florescent slime dripping from their huge mandibles. The largest of the three was black with green stripes that looked like neon lights. The green was bright and glittery, almost hypnotic. The two smaller spiders were a dark brown with red flecks. All three had many eyes that shone black, and hairy mandibles dripped toxic slime as they moved. Legs twitched and stepped forward gingerly before scuttling forwards a few yards, stopping, front legs held up feeling the air, mandibles quivering.
Name: Giant Spider
Status: Hostile
Attack: Stabbing Legs, Paralyzing Poison
Threat level: Dangerous
Max took careful aim. ¡°Should I shoot them or will it just make them mad?¡± Max said to Elderon.
¡°Shoot them when they are in range, Max,¡± Elderon said.
Max gauged the distance and then let the bullet fly.
Max attacks Giant Spider.
The bullet flew with speed and accuracy, Anita¡¯s bonus spell aiding his range, power, and aim. He struck the lead spider on its huge eye-covered head.
Spider takes minor damage.
The bullet bounced off the spider¡¯s exoskeleton with a crack. It reared up on its rear four legs, front four stabbing the air. It let out a hiss and a chattering, thumping, and spitting that sent the two smaller spiders dashing forward.
Jahrod swung his axe and caused one of the spiders to rear up, avoiding the heavy blade. It stabbed forwards with its front legs. The thin legs hammered into Jahrod¡¯s armor and gave a metallic ringing sound. The spider¡¯s legs were thin but packed a punch, sending Jahrod back a pace before he recovered and returned to the fray, head down, determined. He advanced with his axe held behind him, but when he was in range, he swung it forwards and upwards, delivering a heavy blow to the spider.
Anita parried the stabbing legs from the spider she faced, beating the stabbing legs aside with sweeps of the spear of fire. She jabbed it forward, the flaming tip roaring as she thrust it through the air, causing the spider to back up. It scuttled away before finding courage and holding its ground.
¡°They don¡¯t like fire,¡± Max said, loading another bullet to his catapult.
¡°No fireballs, please,¡± Elderon said calmly.
The largest spider behind the two red-flecked beasts crouched low to the ground, its legs bent at sharp angles, the body touching the ground, mandibles raised, quivering. Then it leapt into the air, a sudden boost from its legs, and the giant beast launched itself over Jahrod and Anita towards Max and Elderon.
Max adjusted his aim and targeted the spider leaping towards him.
Max attacks Giant Spider.
Giant Spider takes minor damage.
Elderon cast Magic Missile, the six orange orbs tracing wide arcs before converging on the spider, hitting hard, and delivering heavy magical damage. A wisp of smoke and the smell of burning hair as the short stubble on the spider¡¯s body burned.
Max slipped the catapult into his belt and drew his sword. The spider landed and scuttled towards him. Too late to cast a Magic Missile, but his sword¡¯s bonus spell was ready to go. He held the sword forward, point up.
Max casts Sword Lightning.
The jagged shard of lightning crackled across to the spider. The bolt struck hard, and the flickering lines of lightning traveled over the beast¡¯s body, down its legs and mandibles. The lightning gathered at the slime dripping from the mandibles, causing the spider to quiver and shake.
Giant Spider takes moderate Lightning damage.
As the spider was quivering, Elderon hit it with a Cold spell. Frost spread over the spider, cracking as it spread. The frost held the spider for a moment. The monster flexed its legs, and the frost covering shattered and evaporated. The spider had taken heavy damage from the powerful spell cast by a powerful Master Mage. Max was impressed. But the feeling was quickly overtaken by a shiver of fear as the spider scuttled forwards, moving fast and closing in, mandibles raised to deliver a stab of paralyzing Poison. Max acted fast.
Max attacks Giant Spider.
Max stabbed forward in between the raised mandibles. The sword sank deep, and only the handle cross guard stopped Max from thrusting into the spider¡¯s mouth right up to his wrist.
Giant Spider takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
The spider juddered and then flung Max away with a flick of a long spindly leg. Max landed heavily and skidded through the leaf litter on the ground. The Sword of Lightning still stuck in the spider¡¯s mouth. It wiped across its face furiously with its long front legs to dislodge the sword.
A Magic Missile spell from Elderon slammed into the spider, delivering heavy damage. The spider started scuttling off, slowed as it tried to dislodge the sword in its mouth. Max didn¡¯t want to let the spider escape with his sword. He knew how to make sure he landed a hit.
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Max casts Magic Missile.
Two glowing orange orbs streaked towards the spider. They arced through the air, spreading out and then coming back together to strike the spider, one on each side.
Giant Spider takes moderate damage.
Giant Spider has been defeated.
Max ran to the spider and pulled the sword free. It came out with a coating of Paralysis Poison. He charged at the spider attacking Anita.
Max attacks Giant Spider.
Giant spider takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Spider immune to Paralysis Poison.
Max withdrew a step as Anita stabbed forward, delivering moderate damage and bonus Fire damage. Max thought it was interesting that the poison coating might have had an effect on another enemy, but the spiders were clearly immune to their own poison. It made sense, or else biting one¡¯s lip might become a fatal matter.
Jahrod was battering the giant spider he faced with repeated blows from his axe. The spider¡¯s legs hammered into Jahrod, knocking him backwards but failing to penetrate the heavy plate armor the dwarf wore. The beast had already lost a mandible in its battle with Jahrod, and it was leaking poison slime. Jahrod advanced with his axe swinging and delivering heavy damage.
The pair of spiders started to retreat, their leader fallen. They went scuttling backwards, closing ranks with their front legs raised and ready to stab. Anita stood her ground, spear held at her hip, spear tip pointing slightly upwards. Jahrod stood with his axe held across his waist, axe blade dripping fluorescent toxic slime.
The spiders stopped retreating and then rushed forward, having gained some courage from closing ranks.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Giant Spider takes moderate damage.
Giant Spider has been defeated.
As the giant spider turned over, legs wrapped up tightly to its body, the remaining spider turned and fled at top speed away into the trees.
Max gains experience points.
Max has Leveled up.
¡°I gained a level,¡± Max said, seeing the stats table in the dappled rays of sunlight from the rising sun filtering through the branches.
Anita scooped up globs of the Paralysis Poison off the defeated giant spiders with a large leaf. She sealed it in a neat little pouch.
Elderon stepped over to Max while Anita gathered poison and Jahrod checked that the fallen spiders were indeed defeated.
¡°Make your level now, young Mage.¡±
Max looked at his tables in the bark of a tree, the jagged lines in the bark twisting and turning to form his table. The sunlight created the words Level Up. They hung over the rest of the table, all other information hidden and out of focus.
Max let the words Level Up wash over him, and then he saw a range of choices appear as a swirling mass of glowing words. Mage was the largest single word from the swirling mass. Some others that had been within reach when he¡¯d made his first levels were now distant and faded. The option for Barbarian was so faded and distant, he was not sure he could reach it even if he wanted to. Worryingly, Thief and Bard were still within reach. He selected Mage with very little hesitation. Max reached out to the glowing word Mage and leveled up.
Max gains Level 5.
Max gains extra Health.
Gain one extra spell slot at Level 1.
? Four spells at Level 1
? Two spells at Level 2
? One spell at Level 3
Sneak ability improved.
Satchel upgraded.
Gain natural ability.
¡°I¡¯ve gained a natural ability,¡± Max said, and he checked his stats.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: Five
Health: Lightly injured
Strength: 10
Stamina: 17
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Dark Movement
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
His new special ability was Dark Movement.
Dark Movement:
The ability to move short distances using Dark Movement. Slows time, speeds movement. No penalty for using Dark Movement.
The only penalty Max thought Dark Movement had was that it summoned a giant slavering slug to follow him forever. By his reckoning, there still was one giant slug somewhere in the world slowly creeping towards him. Hopefully, by the time it caught up to him, he¡¯d be powerful enough to defeat it.
Max checked his Satchel upgrade. It was now tiny, shrunk to the size of a small pouch that he could tie to his belt. It was much lighter now, and yet its storage capacity was greatly increased.
¡°How can it be?¡± Max said. ¡°It¡¯s much bigger on the inside. It sounds like something off TV.¡±
¡°What¡¯s Tee Vee?¡± Anita said.
¡°A waste of time, mostly,¡± Max said with a grin. He looked into his pouch. He could see the list of his inventory just inside, and he knew if he reached in, he could instantly grab any item he wanted. ¡°It must be some sort of quantum physics in action. I¡¯ll never understand it.¡±
Jahrod scratched his coarse beard. ¡°Quantum what now?¡± he said. ¡°It sounds strange enough to me when you speak your spell incantations, but it makes more sense than some of the other nonsense you come up with.¡± He rolled his eyes. ¡°Quantum? Tee Vee? What a load of guano.¡±
Lastly, Max checked his Mage Book. He had one new slot in his Level 1 spells, so he added a Magic Missile to the slot.
Selected spells
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Fireball
Two of his Magic Missiles had been used. The rest of the spells glowed in bright golden letters, but the spent ones were a dull brown. Next time he rested, they would be bright gold again, ready to be cast.
¡°Are we all ready to move out?¡± Elderon said.
Jahrod and Anita looked to Max. He was grateful they let him take his time to level up. It was something they had done many times before. Anita was a tenth-level Druid, Jahrod a twelfth-level Fighter. But leveling up was still new to Max, not to mention exciting. He looked up to Elderon and nodded.
¡°Ready to move out when you are, Elderon,¡± Max said. ¡°Where are we heading?¡±
Elderon pointed. ¡°We should try and get back to Ralynn City. They probably have information on the Deadtide army already, but King Glynn will appreciate hearing it from us.¡±
¡°How are we supposed to get past the Deadtide army?¡± Jahrod said. He didn¡¯t wait for suggestions. ¡°We will have to travel east to the Kraken Sea, north of Castle Deadtide, south through the Hinge through the East Ridge Forest and then west into Faregent along the South Awen Way. It is a long journey, but it is the only way to go because I will not cross the Salt River again.¡± Jahrod looked at Elderon and then Max, all while letting out a low and fearsome growl.
¡°You crossed the Salt River?¡± Anita said in surprise and amazement.
¡°It was not his choice,¡± Max said. ¡°He was put into a magical sleep and taken across. I promise you,¡± Max turned to Jahrod, ¡°we will never do that to you again.¡±
Jahrod continued his low growling as he moved off a few paces. Max didn¡¯t want to see Jahrod angry, and even though he trusted the dwarf, he was glad to be out of range of his axe.
Elderon led the way eastwards towards the Kraken Sea. Anita marched alongside Max. She spoke quietly.
¡°Jahrod must really value your friendship. If you carried him over saltwater against his will, I am surprised you are still alive. No dwarf would choose to cross saltwater.¡±
Max bowed his head. ¡°I would not intentionally offend the dwarf. Elderon said it would be ok.¡±
Anita glanced up at Elderon, who was striding ahead. She put her arm over Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Many Mages think they can do whatever they like, as if the rules of society do not apply to them. I hope you will be a different kind of Mage.¡±
After an hour of marching steadily eastwards in almost total silence, Elderon raised his hand and called a halt.
¡°Dark Mages,¡± he said. ¡°The wards of warning I have moving ahead of us have detected a small party, a dozen of them, maybe more. They are lying in wait, an ambush.¡±
Jahrod walked forward, making very little noise. Max could see that Jahrod was more than capable of moving with stealth if the situation required it. ¡°Let¡¯s see if we can¡¯t ambush the ambushers,¡± he said.
Max stepped up next to Elderon and spoke quietly. ¡°I will go ahead and get a better look.¡±
¡°We will be close behind,¡± Anita said.
Elderon considered this and then nodded.
Max pulled up his Hood of Sneaking, activated his Sneak ability and headed towards the Dark Mage ambush.
Chapter 2.24
Max approached a group of Dark Mages that were hidden at the edge of the forest overlooking a wide beaten-earth road. There was dust rising in the distance, away to the north. The Dark Mages crouched in the trees, and all appeared to be watching the approaching dust cloud. Max was surprised they were not interested in him. He was hidden, but he felt sure they had been lying in wait for him and his party. He was sure they had not lost interest in capturing him, but for now, their attention lay elsewhere.
Max fell back quietly and quickly and met with his party.
¡°They may be preparing an ambush, but not for us. They are overlooking a wide road, and something or someone is approaching from the north. It looks like a large group judging by the dust it is throwing up.¡±
¡°It¡¯s the Kraken Sea Coast Road,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We made very good time to get here so fast.¡±
¡°Could it be reinforcements for the Deadtide army coming from Eastwind?¡± Anita said and then turned to Max. ¡°The Kraken Sea Coast Road connects The Hinge to Eastwind. It marks the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Deepwood.¡±
¡°Why would a group of Dark Mages be lying in wait for Deadtide soldiers?¡±
Anita charmed a nearby bird. She used her Wilderness Lore to see through its eyes as it flew high over the forest. Max watched her. She was in a trance, a daydream, her eyes darting this way and that under closed eyelids. After a few moments, her eyes burst open.
¡°Yes, a large group is approaching. It looks like a well-armed company of soldiers.¡±
¡°Are they Deadtide soldiers? Men of Eastwind? Did you see a banner?¡± Elderon said.
Anita closed her eyes again and was lost in a trance for a little longer this time. When she opened her eyes, she wore a look of surprise, possibly a little of fear. She looked at Elderon. ¡°No banner, but I was close enough to see who they are. It¡¯s a company of elves.¡±
Jahrod let out a low grumble. ¡°Not those bastards,¡± he said. He pulled a chunk of rotting meat from his bag and stuffed it into his mouth.
¡°What are elves doing so far from Deepwood?¡± Elderon said.
¡°Elves?¡± Max said. ¡°What, like pointy ears and all that jazz?¡±
¡°Not sure what the jazz is, but pointy ears for sure, not to mention a heavy dose of arrogance,¡± Jahrod said and then let out a long and smelly burp.
Elderon rubbed his beard. ¡°And why are the Dark Mages preparing to ambush them?¡±
¡°Gold,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Elves will have lots of gold and good steel.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get a closer look,¡± Elderon said. He turned to Max. ¡°Can you activate your Sneak ability and get us close enough to observe without alerting the Dark Mages or the elves?¡±
¡°I sure can,¡± Max said. He pulled up his hood and moved off.
Max found his way to the tree line. The Dark Mages had moved from their original position but then Max saw them, hiding behind rocky outcrops and scrubby bushes, hidden from the road below but visible to Max in his position above them. They had moved in closer to the road, ready to attack.
Looking down onto the wide road, Max could see the company of elves. He estimated their number to be about fifty soldiers. They marched in formation, a large covered supply wagon pulled by a horned beast in the center of the formation. The soldiers¡¯s robes were white with golden braid. Bright swords shone in the midday sun.
Max fell back and deactivated his Sneak ability to lead the others to a safe vantage point. He pointed out the Dark Mages and the company of elves to Elderon. Although the Dark Mages were outnumbered by the elves, they had the element of surprise and a devastating arsenal of spells. A few spells of Soothing Cloud of Sleep would put all the elves to sleep, and they would be at the mercy of the Dark Mages, to be either robbed or murdered. From what Max knew of the Dark Mages, either one seemed just as likely, maybe even both.
The elves were entering the zone of ambush. Max could sense Anita was feeling anxious.
¡°Should we try and warn the elves?¡± Max said.
Jahrod shot him a fierce look. Max didn¡¯t know if these elves were good or bad, but it seemed wrong that they would just sit and watch the Dark Mages spring a trap. One thing Max was sure of, he didn¡¯t owe the Dark Mages any favors.
At that moment, a low chant grew up from the Dark Mages. The elves on the road marched on into the kill zone.
The Dark Mages were chanting, and a brown cloud grew out of the ground and began rolling down the hill towards the road. The elves marched on.
¡°They must see it,¡± Max said.
The elves marched on, not missing a step. And then they all stopped as the cloud came within a few feet. The covers swiftly were pulled from the wagon. A tall elf in long dark robes stood and held up their hands. A black sheet that looked like heavy rain moved forward and blew the brown cloud back toward the Dark Mages. The droplets of black rain sparkled as they fell. When the sparkling black rain stopped falling, the brown cloud of Sleep had been eliminated. Then the elves charged.
A volley of magic missiles leapt forward from the line of Dark Mages. Many elves fell, but many more continued. They ran in silence, drawing their swords.
Then Max saw a flash of silver in the scrubby bushes behind the line of Dark Mages. A line of elves were drawing their swords.
The Dark Mages noticed the elves on their rear at almost the same time Max did. Some turned and cast defensive spells to cover the rear. Some cast offensive spells, Magic Missiles and Cones of Frost. A fireball erupted on the far flank. Some Mages drew their longswords, but others chose to flee. They ran to the sides to save themselves from being trapped between the lines of the elves.
And those Dark Mages ran into yet more elves, hiding in position to cut off just such a retreat.
The melee combat was swift and brutal. When all was done, not one Dark Mage was standing.
¡°Looks like their ambush didn¡¯t go according to plan,¡± Max said. He had an unpleasant feeling in his gut having seen so many Dark Mages defeated in such a short space of time, utterly destroyed, outfought and outthought by the elves.
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¡°They knew the Dark Mages were waiting for them,¡± Max said.
¡°Indeed,¡± Elderon said. ¡°And the Dark Mages knew they were coming. But why did they attack? This was not about gold or steel.¡±
¡°Should we go and ask?¡± Max said.
Jahrod and Elderon spoke together, firmly and urgently.
¡°No.¡±
Anita pulled Max down closer to the ground. She looked into his eyes and gently shook her head. ¡°Better we leave and remain undetected.¡± She turned to Elderon. ¡°There is a small mining town on the ridge a few leagues south. We head there, rest and resupply. And we can keep tabs on this elven company.¡±
Elderon nodded and let Anita lead the way. The party moved at a quick pace through the familiar pine tree forest and back up onto the ridge. On the northeast side of the ridge, they came to the town of Karbon.
The town was guarded by a deep ditch in front of a low stone wall that had a timber palisade set on top. Square timber towers stood on either side of the main gate.
¡°They used the rock they dug out from the mine to start the wall,¡± Elderon said to Max as they approached the main gate.
The town was grubby and loud. The people all seemed to be covered in dark grit. The roads were covered with black grit that crunched underfoot. The buildings were all made from a mixture of dark-gray stone and timbers from the forest. The forest nearest to the town had been reduced to stumps. Some of the forests had been cleared to create small plots of land for growing crops. Many of the trees had clearly been used to construct the huge winch house that dominated the center of the town.
Dark-gray smoke rose from chimneys. A faintly sulfurous smell hung on the air. Max tried to waft away the smell.
¡°It¡¯s the coal,¡± Jahrod said, wrinkling his nose. ¡°Not the good black coal that the dwarfs mine in Drow, Zolith, and the Kingdom of Eastwind. This is brown coal. Smelly stuff it is too. It burns with a greasy blue flame.¡±
¡°Guess burning it will still keep you warm at night,¡± Max said.
¡°I¡¯d rather be cold than put up with that stink,¡± Jahrod said.
Max was about to say something like what would Jahrod know about bad smells but Elderon saved him from saying something he would regret by pointing out a store.
The store looked like the other buildings, built partly from stone, partly timber, a thatch roof with greasy smoke rising from a stone chimney. Inside, the store was lit by lanterns burning with a faintly blue light. The shelves were rough-cut timber and were stained by the smoke from the brown coal. Max spotted a pair of store imps in the smoky corners of the store. A tall man in a dirty shirt that had once been white stepped up to the serving counter.
¡°Don¡¯t get many adventurers passing through here,¡± the storekeeper said and then spat on the floor.
¡°Probably why you don¡¯t learn any manners,¡± Jahrod said with a growl.
The man spat again. ¡°What do you want, dwarf?¡±
¡°What do you have besides soot and spit?¡±
The storekeeper looked Jahrod up and down. He reached under the counter and produced a crossbow. He placed it on the counter.
Jahrod looked the weapon over. He picked it up and tested its balance.
¡°It¡¯s good,¡± Jahrod said, placing it back on the counter. ¡°Bolts?¡±
The store keeper produced a small pouch with flight feathers sticking out of the open end. Jahrod took one. It was short and thick with an iron tip at one end, thick brown feathers on the other. The wood was dark but smooth, and from what Max could see, it looked straight.
¡°Basic,¡± Jahrod said.
The store keeper spat.
¡°But good,¡± Jahrod added after a moment. ¡°How much?¡±
¡°Twenty gold.¡± Spit.
Jahrod laughed, a huge booming laugh, and then he scowled at the storekeeper. ¡°You must be a jester, not a storekeep.¡±
¡°Made it myself,¡± the storekeeper said, picking it up. ¡°Good wood. Golden roc sinew in the launcher. A well-made weapon, faster to load than a large crossbow, excellent range. Probably too sophisticated for you, dwarf.¡±
¡°Sophisticated?¡± Jahrod laughed. ¡°That¡¯s a big word. I didn¡¯t think you miners had any schooling past finding a hole in the ground.¡±
Max stepped forward. ¡°It looks like a fine piece of work,¡± he said with a smile. His light friendly tone was met with another dribble of spit from the storekeeper. Max ignored the spitting, wondering briefly if there was a spittoon behind the counter or if the storekeeper was spitting on his own floor. ¡°I¡¯ll gladly pay you twenty gold coins for it.¡± He dropped the gold on the counter.
The storekeeper looked at Max with suspicion.
¡°A crossbow is not a suitable weapon for a Mage,¡± Elderon said, striding forward.
The store keeper took one look at Elderon and scooped up the gold, dropping it under the counter all in one swift move.
¡°Sold. It¡¯s all yours, Mage.¡±
Max picked up the crossbow from the rough timber countertop. ¡°No,¡± he said and handed it over to Jahrod. ¡°It¡¯s yours.¡±
Max loses 20 gold.
Jahrod looked at Max, then the storekeeper, and then he snatched the pouch of bolts off the counter. ¡°I¡¯m not paying extra for the bolts,¡± he said and stowed it all away.
¡°I¡¯m looking for some bullets for my catapult,¡± Max said brightly.
The storekeeper looked Max up and down. ¡°A young Mage needs something with a bit of magic.¡± The storekeeper walked into the rows of shelves and came back with a small pouch of bullets. He poured them over the counter.
¡°Five gold,¡± he said.
Jahrod laughed. ¡°Five gold for a few bullets? A few pieces of roughly worked stone? Robbery.¡±
The storekeeper picked one up and threw it against a wall. It exploded with a shower of silver sparks.
¡°Wow,¡± Max said, blinking to get his sight back. ¡°What was that?¡±
The store keeper shrugged. ¡°Some kind of sparkle glitter. It will disorient an enemy.¡±
¡°Sounds good,¡± Max said and picked up one of the bullets.
¡°They don¡¯t all do that,¡± the storekeeper said. He shot Jahrod a look. ¡°That¡¯s why they are only five gold.¡± Then he looked back to Max, his tone softening slightly. ¡°Some deliver Fire damage, others Cold, some are explosive. It¡¯s a bit of lucky dip.¡±
Max nodded. ¡°I like it. But what I really need is a spell scroll or two, if you have any.¡±
The storekeeper produced a pair of scrolls. ¡°This is all I have. Know Item and Web. Twenty each.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll give you forty for the lot, bullets and scrolls.¡± Max dropped the gold on the counter.
The storekeeper looked at him and then the gold. He hesitated for a moment.
¡°The young Mage has been fair,¡± Elderon said.
The storekeeper nodded and scooped up the gold.
Max loses 40 gold.
Max gains scroll of Web.
Max gains scroll of Know Item.
Max gains Bullets of Random Effect.
Max dropped the bullets and scrolls into his pouch and followed the others out the door and into the local tavern. Inside, the tavern was warm with a brown-coal firepit, low thatched roof, and dirty stone walls. Max and his party sat at a table and ordered ale, meat pies, and a roasting bird. The roasting bird was fresh and tasty, but Jahrod was not happy.
¡°Any scromble?¡± he asked the young serving boy.
¡°My dad says it smells like death,¡± the boy said as he walked away.
¡°So, do you have any or not?¡± Jahrod said, calling after the boy. And then, realizing the answer was probably no, he stuffed a whole roasting bird in his mouth.
Max took a sip of ale. It tasted good, rich yet refreshing. He unrolled his scrolls and read them. The scroll of Know Item crumbled in his hands, then he looked at the scroll of Web. It looked just like the one he had cast in the dungeon. But he was going to save this one to his Mage Book so he could prepare it over and over again. The scroll crumbled, and Max checked his Mage Book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
? Know Item
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Web
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
? Disguise
He was gathering quite a collection of spells. It was a pity he only had a few spell slots. He would activate them all if he could. But as soon as he had a free slot, he would prepare the Web spell. It was too good a spell not to have available and so powerful for a mere Level 2 spell.
Just as Max was putting away his Mage Book and wondering if the tavern had comfortable rooms for a night, the door burst open, and in walked a group of three elves.
Jahrod avoided their stare. Elderon did not. Max watched carefully.
The tavern fell silent but for some quiet muttering and the tapping of mugs on sticky tabletops.
¡°We require the best rooms. The officers will stay here tonight.¡±
Max hoped the rooms that were left would be good enough to sleep in. To be honest, all he needed was a roof out of the wind and rain. A brown-coal fire would be a bonus.
The two elves spotted Anita and walked over, barging dirty miners out of the way. Anita ignored them and drank her ale. One of the elves kicked her chair.
¡°Stand up, half breed.¡±
Chapter 2.25
Anita stood and faced up to the elf bully. Max was on his feet, too, at Anita¡¯s side. Jahrod slammed a second roasting bird down on the table, splattering grease and spilled ale over the elf¡¯s fine white-and-gold cape, and stood. Chairs scraped over the flagstone floor. The fire crackled. The regulars went silent. Max moved his hand towards the handle of his Shortsword of Lightning.
Elderon stood, slowly, patiently. ¡°When did the elves of Deepwood become so aggressive?¡± He spoke in a calm tone, yet had the attention of all in the tavern.
The elves relaxed their shoulders, muscles in their arms softened, but the hard stare remained.
Max saw these elves had green almond-shaped eyes just like Anita¡¯s. And now he saw she shared other features with these elves too. But there was one feature that Anita clearly did not share with these elves: she was not an aggressive bully.
Max spotted a dark line like black lightning in the elves¡¯s eyes. The skin at the corners of their eyes was dark too, possibly from lack of sleep, but Max knew instinctively this was the work of the darkness.
¡°Peace, Master Mage,¡± the third elf said as he stepped up and in between the bully pair. His long white coat hung over a pair of rapier swords in his belt. A polished white-wood longbow over his back. His shoulder-length blond hair was shorter than the others¡¯. He offered his hand in friendship to Anita.
¡°I am Captain Darius Fineblade. I have no problem with half-breeds,¡± he said, ¡°but our leader might. She¡¯s not as broadminded as the rest of the company.¡±
¡°Who commands your company?¡± Elderon asked. ¡°I know many elven generals of the Kingdom of Deepwood.¡±
Fineblade shook his head. ¡°We are a special detachment of the Deepwood Company. Our leader is an elven witch.¡±
Jahrod grumbled, sat down, and stuffed the splattered roasting bird in his mouth. He looked at the elven captain as he crunched the bones. Max slowly took his seat. He was glad that peace now reigned in the tavern; he sensed Fineblade was a capable Warrior.
¡°Why does a witch lead a military detachment?¡± Elderon said.
¡°We are seeking out the dark shards in the Hinge.¡±
Max was back on his feet in a shot, a move that drew a look from the elves. Fineblade studied him for a moment before continuing.
¡°These shards are spreading darkness throughout Eveirea. The Mage council of Essillt is no doubt aware of their presence,¡± Fineblade said, turning back to Elderon. ¡°Our informants on the continent of Scarfel tell us that all of Scarfel is under the influence of the darkness save for a small enclave on the edge of the Tharin Empire. The mountains of the southern Kranic Empire are providing a barrier to the many dark armies. We know that the elves can resist the darkness. So our witch is seeking the shards so we can dispose of them, rid Awen of their dark influence.¡±
Max saw the black lines flicker in the corners of the elven captain¡¯s eyes. He could see that the elves were not as immune to the power of the dark shards as they thought.
¡°How many have you found?¡± Elderon said.
¡°Many,¡± the captain said.
¡°And how many have you disposed of?¡± Max said.
The captain hesitated. The dark lines flickered.
¡°It is dangerous to keep them,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The Dark Mages have returned, and they are seeking them to conduct their dark experiments. You will no doubt attract attention from the Dark Mages if you hold on to them.¡±
Fineblade regarded Elderon with suspicion. ¡°We have indeed encountered the Dark Mages just a few hours ago on the Kraken Sea Coast Road, not far from this town.¡±
Jahrod looked up at the elves and burped.
¡°How are you storing these dark shards, Captain?¡± Max said. ¡°How do you prevent them from spreading their darkness?¡±
Captain Fineblade scowled and then softened. ¡°The witch is keeping them.¡± Fineblade sat. ¡°Only she has the Strength. I can feel their power. It is hard to resist.¡±
¡°It is impossible to resist,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Even for elves.¡±
Fineblade nodded. ¡°The sooner they are destroyed, the better for all.¡±
¡°Where is the elven witch now?¡± Max said.
¡°She has taken rooms in the mayor¡¯s house at the center of town. She and her personal guard.¡±
Max looked up to Elderon. The old Mage knew what Max was thinking.
¡°We must aid you in your endeavor, Captain,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We will make sure the shards are indeed destroyed.¡±
The look on Fineblade¡¯s face was one of concern and relief in equal measure.
Max and Elderon stepped outside. The dirty streets were busier now than when they had arrived. A shift of miners was leaving the winch house, spreading out through the town. But most notable was the large number of elven soldiers on the streets. All were armed, some with spears and bows, others with swords and bows. They were milling about the town, taking shelter wherever they cared. Forcing their way into family homes to sleep in comfort out of the late afternoon drizzle that was sure to turn to a cold and heavy rain come nightfall.
The flaming torches on the towers of the mayor¡¯s house flickered in the light rain.
¡°I never wanted to be a Thief,¡± Max said to Elderon.
¡°We are Mages. The safety of Eveirea is our responsibility. It is a hard class to take. Slow to advance. We face danger and hardship, but the rewards that eventually come are great, greater than for any other class. But the responsibility is great too. You are not stealing these shards; you are protecting Eveirea from the harm they will cause.¡±
¡°I can sneak in,¡± Max said. ¡°No one will see me.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll walk with you,¡± Elderon said.
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Max and Elderon walked through side streets towards the mayor¡¯s house.
¡°I have never seen elves so corrupted,¡± Elderon said. ¡°There are many evils in the world, but elves have a natural ability to resist evil. Did you see the darkness in their eyes?¡±
Max nodded. ¡°They think they can resist, but if they have gathered a large number of the shards and have been in close contact with them, they are going to suffer the effects.¡±
¡°I fear the witch is already fully taken by darkness. I fear also for the elven King Daynor in the Kingdom of Deepwood. It is most unusual for him to sanction this sort of action by his elven company.¡±
The mayor¡¯s house was more of a castle than a house. The entrance was by means of a drawbridge that was currently drawn up. The house stood on a pillar of rock surrounded by a deep and wide chasm. A pair of elven soldiers stood guard at the drawbridge on the town side of the chasm. Elderon led Max to the side of the house. Its walls were high.
Max looked down into the chasm as they walked around the house. It was deep and too wide for him to leap across. The walls of the house were built right to the edge of a pillar of rock that rose up from the depths. Deep down, there were fires burning. Max looked down. He wasn¡¯t worried about falling into the fires; the fall would be enough to kill him.
¡°If I can get in, I¡¯ll be able to find the shards and dispose of them,¡± Max said. ¡°But how do I get in?¡±
Elderon stopped Max with a hand on his shoulder. He glanced around for any prying eyes and then began to cast. The rain falling into the chasm was stopped at the top by the spell forming before Elderon. The drops froze and created an ice bridge to the walls of the house.
¡°Be quick, young Mage. The ice will not hold long. Nor will our privacy. Go, now.¡±
Max stepped out onto the ice bridge. It was almost completely transparent, quite narrow, and very slippery. Max skidded over to the wall. He pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and started to climb the stone wall.
After a few feet, and feeling comfortable on the wall, he glanced back over his shoulder, expecting to see Elderon watching him anxiously, but the old Mage was already gone and so was the ice bridge, melted with no sign of it having ever been there, although the lengthy drop to the fiery depths of the chasm remained.
He focused on the stones before him and climbed. High up and inside the house, he could feel a dark shard pulling him. The closer he got, the more he knew this was not just one shard, but several. He reached a high window that was open a crack. He slipped inside the house. Alone in the dark.
The light at the end of the corridor drew Max forward. This was no ordinary light; it was the strange brilliant white of Janet. She called Max forward, her voice heard only by Max.
¡°They are in here,¡± she said.
Max turned the corner. A group of six elves stood guard at a heavy wooden door.
¡°Behind the door,¡± Janet said.
Max couldn¡¯t speak, knowing any sound would give away his position. Currently hidden and sneaking, his Hood of Sneaking, Ring of Shadows, and his natural ability to hide all made him impossible to spot in this dark corridor, but the slightest sound, and his position would be given away. And any action he took, opening the door or even drawing his sword to attack a guard, would deactivate his Sneak ability. He backed off.
¡°No, in there,¡± Janet said.
Max turned a corner and went out of sight. He whispered. ¡°I can¡¯t fight my way past those elven guards. Look at them. They look fit and fierce. The dark jagged lines in their eyes show they are consumed by the darkness. I wouldn¡¯t stand a chance.¡±
¡°Well, you have to do something.¡±
Max looked into his pouch.
Mage Book
Golden Roc Catapult
Blanket of Comfort
Polished Wooden Dagger
Bullets of Random Effect
Fine Rope
Collar of Control
Potion of Intelligence
Flint Tool
Scroll of Summon Storm Elemental
Short Sword of True Striking
Shortsword of Cold
Red Smoke Bomb
Stone Elemental
Max touched the Bullets of Random Effect. He was tempted to use one. Shooting one would give away his position, but if he could dazzle and disorient the guards, he could get past them. But he might end up simply hitting for bonus Fire damage. Maybe these bullets weren¡¯t such a wise purchase, but then, he was low on Wisdom.
The Stone Elemental could save the day. If he summoned the elemental, it would no doubt defeat the guards or at least keep them busy while he entered the room. Maybe it was a bit of overkill.
He had one remaining red smoke bomb. He picked it out of his pouch. Max threw the bomb around the corner. It erupted with a soft thump and started spewing thick red smoke into the corridor. Max checked his Sneak ability and saw it was still active. He stepped around the corner and into the smoke-filled corridor.
The guards were flapping their arms, trying to clear the red smoke. One had drawn his sword, a long, white steel blade.
Max picked his way past them and opened the door. His Sneak ability deactivated as he opened the door, but the smoke swirled around him, keeping him hidden from sight. Once inside, he closed the door. He reactivated his Sneak ability and was hidden again.
Now he stood in a large room with a table and high chairs at one end. A large colored-glass window behind. An audience room. The red smoke was leaking under the door and spreading over the floor. The mayor sat in the tall-backed middle chair. He looked asleep. Max looked more closely and saw he was in fact dead, desiccated, sitting there like a shriveled prune. On the table in front of him lay three dark shards.
Max picked up one of the shards. As soon as he took hold, it began to fall apart, fine dust drifting on the slightest breeze and vanishing completely. Then the second.
Then the door to the audience room opened.
Max turned to see the elven witch.
Name: Elven Witch
Status: Consumed by darkness
Attack: Claws
Threat level: Cruel
She was tall, bald, her eyes black all around. Her mouth a gaping hole. She shrieked and flew at Max.
Elven Witch attacks Max.
Max fell backwards as the witch sat astride him. She slashed at him with long, thick yellow finger nails. She slashed at his chest and head. He held up his arms to protect his face.
Max takes moderate damage.
In through the door came the guards, swords ready. Max wriggled out from under the witch and crawled under the table. He bashed the table, and the shard rolled away just as the witch tried to grab it. The elven guards rushed at him and started stabbing at him under the table. He avoided the stabbing blades with a frantic twisting and turning.
The witch dropped to all fours and snarled at Max. She scurried forward towards the shard. Max lashed out with his boot and missed the witch but sent the shard spinning across the floor between the boots of the guards. One kicked it back across the floor, and another kicked it sideways as he rushed to stab Max. The shard skidded into the remaining red smoke.
The witch was struggling to find the shard, feeling in the red smoke that covered the floor. Max knew the smoke was thinning.
Max casts Summon Fog.
The spell was mercifully easy to cast. Fog formed out of thin air, filling the room with thick white haze. Max crawled to the shard. He grabbed it just before the witch¡¯s long fingers seized it.
In Max¡¯s hand, the dark shard evaporated, the black dust disappearing in the white fog.
The witch cast a spell that brought wind roaring through the chamber, clearing the fog. Max ran to the door, but the witch was there before him, blocking his path. She shrieked a harsh hissing sound and pointed a hooked finger at Max.
The guards all turned to face Max. The dark lines around their eyes were fading. One stood bemused and confused, his sword hanging at his side. His fellows soon recovered.
Witch attacks Max.
The witch flew at Max again. She knocked him to the ground. He shielded his face as the witch clawed at his eyes.
¡°Help,¡± Max called out to the elven guard, who looked lost and confused.
One came and grabbed the witch by the arm. She turned and slashed at him with her nails. He fell away, crying in pain. The others formed a line and brought their swords forward.
The witch shrieked in fury and then ran, jumping onto the table, knocking the dried remains of the mayor to the floor, and then she leapt out the window at the rear of the room.
Chapter 2.26
The six elven guards looked at each other and then to Max. Their expressions told Max they were lost, confused.
¡°Captain Fineblade will explain,¡± Max told them. ¡°Follow me,¡± and he led them out of the audience room, hoping that the elven captain could indeed explain. He led them down a wide stone stairway to the large entrance hall. The pair of elven guards at the main door were also looking lost, the destruction of the dark shards having freed them from the dark influence. Max instructed them to open the door and lower the drawbridge.
Walking over the drawbridge, over the deep chasm surrounding the mayor¡¯s house, Max saw more lost elven soldiers. He had gathered quite a party, and they all deferred to his status as a Mage. One even thanked him and called him ¡°Master Mage.¡± He didn¡¯t correct the elf.
Max was wondering how long he could keep order when he saw Elderon, Anita, and Jahrod walking up the main street through the town towards the mayor¡¯s house. Accompanying them was Captain Fineblade. The elven soldiers gathered around their captain, looking for instructions and explanations.
¡°Can we get back to the tavern now?¡± Max said to Elderon, the rain dripping down his hair. ¡°There¡¯s a meat pie and tankard of ale waiting for me.¡± He felt sure Jahrod and Anita would back him up.
¡°The mayor¡¯s house will serve us well,¡± Elderon said and led them back to the house as Fineblade took charge of the elven soldiers.
The mayor¡¯s reception chamber was warm and dry. A fire of brown coal and thick logs was burning in the large stone fireplace. Once the lanterns about the room were lit, it was quite comfortable. Carpets lay over the flagstone floor and tapestries hung on the walls between the tall windows that gave views over the grubby town.
¡°I resisted the darkness as best I could,¡± Fineblade said, joining the party in the reception chamber. He shook the rain from his long coat and stood by the fire. ¡°Many of the company were less able, particularly those closest to the witch.¡±
¡°You did very well,¡± Max said. ¡°Those closest to the witch were utterly consumed by it.¡±
¡°Where is the witch?¡± Fineblade said. ¡°She must be taken back to Deepwood where she might be freed from the darkness that consumed her.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°She jumped,¡± he said. ¡°She may be at the bottom of the chasm, or she may have gotten away.¡±
Fineblade nodded. ¡°I will send search parties to track her and find her.¡±
¡°What orders will you give your company now, Captain?¡± Elderon said. He levitated a large log towards the fire.
¡°I¡¯m not sure. We were supposed to be gathering all the dark shards, and I thought we were destroying them, but now I seem to recall how the witch was sending dark shards to city armies across the Awen continent. We passed one to the Deadtide army. Perhaps we should start there.¡±
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¡°We eliminated that shard a few days ago,¡± Max said.
Fineblade nodded. ¡°And it was immediately replaced.¡± Fineblade¡¯s head drooped. ¡°And many more have been sent to the Kingdom of Deepwood.¡±
An elven lieutenant reported to Fineblade that the company was recovering their senses. Fineblade passed the news to Max and his party.
¡°My soldiers report dark dreams and feelings of having been drunk on dwarven ale or having been kicked in the head by an ox.¡±
¡°You are strong-willed people indeed,¡± Elderon said. ¡°Many would not recover so quickly from being in the presence of so many dark shards.¡±
Fineblade nodded. ¡°It drove us to madness. We must make sure we rid Eveirea of their darkness.¡±
Elderon clapped Max on the shoulder. ¡°Only Max can withstand their power. Only Max can rid us of them.¡±
¡°How?¡± Fineblade looked at Max, intrigued, disbelieving, suspicious.
¡°I do not know,¡± Max lied. He did not want it generally known that he had arrived through the dark portal, that he was somehow bound to it, that it was in some way part of him. Elderon knew this, Anita too. It appeared that the Dark Mages knew it and would do anything to harness the power. Max hadn¡¯t even told Jahrod of his connection to the dark portal. The fewer people who knew about how Max had arrived here in Eveirea, the better.
¡°I had a vision when I made my first Mage level. There is a dark portal spreading darkness to Eveirea. I believe if I find the portal, I can close it. Only then can Eveirea be free of the darkness.¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°Some Mages have powerful visions when they make their first level.¡±
Fineblade looked at Max and Elderon. He appeared to be considering whether he could trust these Mages. ¡°And the dark shards?¡± he asked after a moment.
¡°They were created by the dark portal and have been scattered across the world,¡± Max said. ¡°There are really only very few, but we must find them all, and once I have them, I can eliminate them, and I believe they will lead me to the dark portal.¡±
¡°Then you have a very great power,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°And a very great duty. And you are in very great danger. Dark Mages have been attacking us for weeks, trying to steal the shards we have. We in the Kingdom of Deepwood believed the Dark Mages were an extinct sect.¡± He looked at Elderon.
¡°Indeed, the Mage council thought so too. Their return to Eveirea is no doubt another effect of the dark portal.¡±
Anita spoke up. ¡°The Dark Mages think Druid blood can help them summon dark portals of their own. Our connection to nature must somehow connect us to the dark portal. The Druids are in danger as long as the dark portal persists.¡±
¡°I wish you well in your quest, Max Lightfoot,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°I will tell the elven elders and our king that your party should receive any elven support we can offer.¡±
Max nodded. He took Fineblade''s hand in friendship.
At that moment, a bell rang out somewhere in the town. A shout went up across the town. Max looked out of the tall window. People were running towards the town palisade armed with swords, spears, mining tools, hammers, and picks. Flaming torches were lit across the town. The rain started to fall heavily in the darkness of evening, raindrops flickering in the torchlight.
The frail and very young started up the hill towards the mayor¡¯s house, seeking its protection. They came across the drawbridge and started filling the entrance hall. A Karbon town guard burst into the reception chamber. He looked to Elderon to Fineblade, then back to the old Mage.
¡°Master Mage. Inform the mayor. Everyone to arms,¡± he said. ¡°We are under attack. The Deadtide army is approaching, and they have allies.¡±
¡°Dark Mages?¡± Jahrod asked.
The town guard hesitated.
¡°Spit it out, man,¡± Captain Fineblade said.
The town guard stammered. He shook his head before speaking. ¡°Goblins. A pack of goblins is with them.¡±
Chapter 2.27
The torches and lanterns on the top of the palisade were all lit. It showed Max the full extent of the town¡¯s perimeter. It was not a large town, but the palisade would take many soldiers and guards to defend it, more than were available, he was sure. The gate that was little more than a few planks of timber had been locked and barred with a heavy beam. It was being hastily reinforced and barricaded with planks, boards, and tabletops. Finally, a wagon was rolled into position sideways to the gate. Max walked down the central main street from the mayor¡¯s house to the main gate. He could detect the tension in the townsfolk. The company of elves was ready, almost arrogant. Max felt confident walking with his party. And maybe it was a lack of Wisdom on his part, but he really wanted to get a look at these goblins.
¡°The palisade is too low,¡± Max said.
¡°This is just a mining town,¡± Anita said. ¡°They didn¡¯t expect to fight an army. The defenses are just to keep wild animals out.¡±
The sergeant of the Karbon town guard approached Captain Fineblade.
¡°Will you fight with us, Captain?¡±
Fineblade nodded. ¡°My company will hold the gate. You hold the palisade.¡±
¡°What about us?¡± Max said.
Fineblade looked at Max¡¯s party. ¡°You are adventurers. You can pick your own ground, but I hope you will help the defense.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s get to the palisade,¡± Max said, looking to Jahrod first, then Anita. ¡°I want to see these things.¡±
¡°I think we should hold here,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We can direct our Strength where best needed.¡±
Jahrod nodded. ¡°Elderon is right. We should hold here.¡±
Soon shouts went up from the palisade as the defenders called out contact with the attackers.
¡°Why are they attacking this small town?¡± Max said.
¡°It stands in their way. The Deadtide army is removing any potential stronghold between the Hinge and Ralynn City.¡±
Max could see action at the gate. The gaps between the timbers showed swords and spears thrusting through. The elves held the gate, shooting their bows, their arrows flying through the narrowest of gaps in the defense. But the palisade was weakening. Elderon cast a spell of Far Sight and showed Max the danger growing on the left of the gate. A pair of Deadtide soldiers were on top and fighting Karbon defenders. They were beaten back but soon replaced by another three Deadtide soldiers. The defenders fell back, and now the Deadtide attackers had a point of attack. More Deadtide soldiers climbed up. The defense wavered. Guards falling back, giving ground.
And then Max spotted his first goblin.
Name: Goblin
Status: Aggressive
Attack: Shortswords
Threat level: Nasty
And then, all of a sudden, the defense of the palisade collapsed. The Karbon guards, who were equipped only to fend off small raiding bands and the occasional Worg, were no match for the Deadtide soldiers driven by darkness and their goblin allies.
With their left flank exposed, the elven company fell back into the town. Moments later, the gate gave way. The beam gave a loud crack. The gate burst open, barging the wagon aside. Goblins came rushing in and were met by a volley of elven arrows.
The Karbon guards ran up the hill for the mayor¡¯s castle. The most defendable point in the town. The elves fell back in good order, fighting off the attackers that surged through the gate.
A group of Deadtide soldiers were gathered on the palisades to the left of the gate where they had first made their attack. They were shooting their crossbows down into the town, targeting any innocent civilian still fleeing for safety.
Max casts Fireball.
The fireball arched through the darkening sky and landed on the palisade.
Deadtide Soldiers take heavy damage.
Palisade takes heavy damage.
The timbers caught alight. The Deadtide soldiers who had not been defeated by the fireball fell back in fear.
A shriek went up to Max¡¯s right. He turned to see a group of eight goblins running through the town towards the main street. They slowed as they approached Max and his company.
Now Max could see them up close. They were short, green, and very ugly, huge nostrils spouting thick black hairs and huge eyes too big for their heads.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Goblin takes moderate damage.
Max saw one magic missile had taken half the goblin¡¯s Health. They were not hard to defeat one-on-one, but their numbers made them dangerous. Elderon cast a Magic Missile and the higher-level missile defeated a goblin in a single attack. Anita launched a bullet from her sling, and Jahrod shot a bolt from his small crossbow. They targeted the same goblin, and it fell, defeated. Max targeted the goblin he¡¯d first attacked.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Goblin takes moderate damage.
Goblin has been defeated.
The five remaining goblins rushed forward, shortswords raised. Anita and Jahrod ran to meet them. Elderon cast a shield over the party.
Max casts Strength.
Max¡¯s Strength increased to 18.
Max drew his Shortsword of Lightning and rushed to join Anita and Jahrod.
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Max attacks Goblin.
Goblin takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
The goblin hissed at Max and dashed at him, stabbing upwards with its brown steel blade.
Goblin attacks Max.
Max takes minor damage.
The blade struck his tunic. He felt the tip of the goblin¡¯s shortsword through the padded material. The Strength of the little beast was more than he had expected.
Max attacks Goblin.
Goblin takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Goblin has been defeated.
Max saw Jahrod defeat a goblin and Anita damage another. The remaining goblins knew they were outclassed and fell back.
The Karbon guards were scattered, engaging small groups of goblins throughout the town. The elves were in formation and fighting a formation of Deadtide soldiers on the main street, the clatter of steel on steel ringing out over the town.
¡°We should help the elves,¡± Max said. ¡°If they defeat the Deadtide soldiers, the attack will fail.¡±
Jahrod nodded. ¡°Sound tactics, Max.¡±
At the gate, Max could see the Deadtide soldiers were consumed by darkness. Black slime dribbled out of the corners of their gaping mouths. It bubbled in their throats. Their eyes were black, and their eye sockets sunken and shadowed. Fine black lines spread over their cheeks and down their necks. It was worse than when he had snuck through their lines to find the dark shard. The prolonged exposure to the dark shard had corrupted them further.
Max spoke to Captain Fineblade.
¡°Can you get your company to divide in two down the center of their formation?¡±
¡°We stand a better chance if we maintain cohesion,¡± Fineblade said.
¡°Give me room. Captain, and I will cast Web.¡±
Fineblade shot Max a look and then nodded. He called out an order in elvish. Instantly, the elven formation split, taking Max by surprise at how swiftly and accurately the elves acted. He acted just as quickly.
Max casts Web.
The Web spell formed in Max¡¯s hands, and he sent the ball of shimmering strands rolling through the gap in the elven formation. The spell struck the Deadtide soldiers and exploded in a mass of sticky strands. The web trapped the Deadtide soldiers in its sticky bonds.
The Karbon guards rushed in to attack the bound Deadtide soldiers. Max hated the sight of helpless soldiers at the mercy of the Karbon guards.
¡°These men are your prisoners,¡± Max said.
Fineblade looked at Max with respect. Anita wrapped an arm around him. ¡°You are noble, Max. And right. Stop them, Elderon.¡±
The Deadtide soldiers were taking a beating. Many were already defeated but were held in the web. Elderon cast a dark spell that spread over all in the melee. A shriek of fear burst out of a dark and fearsome cloud. Small smoke skulls drifted between the Deadtide soldiers and the Karbon guards, hissing and wailing.
Elderon casts Fear.
The Karbon guards were overcome by the terrible spell and ran in fright, scattering in all directions, some charging into the sticky web and getting trapped themselves.
¡°Now we wait,¡± Elderon said.
The Web spell eventually faded, and the Deadtide soldiers fled in fear, turning tail and charging back out of the shattered town gate.
¡°You use your spells too freely, Max,¡± Elderon said as the last of the Deadtide soldiers fled the town. ¡°This was only a small skirmishing party. You used your most powerful spell, Fireball, and you succeeded in weakening the town¡¯s defense. You used Strength and only engaged one weak enemy. Did you count how many Magic Missiles you used or not? You must learn control, Max, not just of the magic but of your active spells. If we were in the wilderness, you would now be running short of spells. It is our Mage Books that make us most powerful and keep us safe.¡±
Captain Fineblade approached. ¡°You are a worthy young Mage, Lightfoot,¡± he said to Max. ¡°The town of Karbon is lucky you were here.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°It is you we have to thank, Captain Fineblade.¡±
Fineblade offered his hand in friendship. ¡°Call me Darius.¡±
Then Fineblade turned to Elderon. ¡°My company will move out in the morning. We will head back to the Kingdom of Deepwood. We should not be so far from our lands, else we cause tension with our neighbors.¡±
¡°You can¡¯t go now, Darius. We will need you.¡± Max turned to Elderon. ¡°Tell him. The Deadtide army marches on Ralynn City.¡± He turned again to Fineblade. ¡°Your elven company can be the difference in the south of Awen to help us halt the spread of the darkness.¡±
Fineblade shook his head. ¡°We should not be here. Now that we are freed from the darkness, we must return home. The conflict between Deadtide and Ralynn is a human affair. We must not take sides.¡±
¡°But Darius,¡± Max implored, ¡°it is not a conflict between Deadtide and Ralynn City, between the Hinge and the Kingdom of Faregent, it is between the free people and the creeping darkness. Your elves can withstand it to an extent. You must help. If Ralynn City falls, then Awen will be on the brink of falling to darkness. The Hinge is already under its spell. Then Faregent, they will go on to the Kingdom of Breamor, and then the darkness will dominate the south of Awen. The Kingdom of Deepwood may hold out, but eventually, the darkness will target your lands. You must stop them now before they grow in strength.¡±
Darius studied Max. He looked to Elderon. He rubbed his fine moustache, twirling it between finger and thumb.
¡°You are very persuasive, Max,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°I will call you Max Truthsayer. Yes. My company will aid you. We march at first light. Although we are too few to take on a whole army, you will no doubt have a worthy plan come the morn.¡±
Max patted Fineblade firmly on the shoulder. ¡°A plan,¡± he said. ¡°Yes, we will need a plan.¡±
Max slept in the tavern easy knowing Elderon and Jahrod were sleeping nearby. He was woken briefly when Anita slipped into his bed. Her naked body pressed up to his.
¡°Anita,¡± Max said, nervous and excited. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be here. You must remember your commitment to the Druids. If you are to become their leader we cannot,¡± he hesitated, ¡°you know.¡±
¡°I just need to rest under your Blanket of Comfort so I can quickly activate all my spells. You don¡¯t mind sharing, do you?¡± She wrapped her arms around Max¡¯s chest.
¡°I would share anything with you, but you¡¯re naked,¡± he said.
¡°I know. It¡¯s nighttime. I¡¯m in bed. Of course, I am naked.¡± She propped herself up on her elbow and looked down at Max, the blanket falling off her shoulders and down to her waist. She looked down at him, her green almond eyes sparkling in the night. ¡°Oh, I forgot, you don¡¯t like nakedness. I will go elsewhere if you prefer.¡±
Max pulled her down under the blanket and took her hand. ¡°I can put up with it.¡± He settled into the pillow and felt her warm skin on his back.
She wrapped her arms around him and kissed the back of his neck. ¡°You will ever be a friend of the Druids. You will have a special place in our circle.¡±
Max slept soundly in Anita¡¯s arms. Just her presence soothed and fortified him. He knew he would be fully healed come morning simply thanks to her gentle presence.
Come morning, he checked his Mage Book. All his spells had been reactivated. He had forgotten to check them the night before. Maybe he should have considered a change of selection, but his current selection had served him well enough so far.
The morning was misty and damp, but mercifully, the rain had stopped. The road was heavy going. The ridge path was damp and slippery. Max walked to the side of the path, choosing to wade through long grass rather than trudge through the mud.
¡°Why did the Deadtide army not use the ridge?¡± Max said to Fineblade, who fell in step next to him.
¡°Think it through,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°You appear to be intelligent enough to deduce the answer.¡±
Max studied the terrain. It was much clearer than the tangled East Ridge Forest. But it was narrow. The relatively small company of elves filled the ridge path. ¡°They would be forced into a narrow formation,¡± Max suggested. Fineblade nodded and smiled, encouraging Max to continue. ¡°They would not be able to use their full strength here. They would be too narrow.¡±
¡°Precisely,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°They could be held by a much smaller force up here on the ridge. It is no good having a thousand soldiers in a column if only a dozen can stand shoulder to shoulder in a fight. And the army would be stretched out on the march. It would take days to get the army along the ridge and back into a powerful formation on the other side.¡±
¡°And that would make them vulnerable when they came close to Ralynn City. The Ralynn City army would be able to hit them in force while they were forming up.¡±
¡°Where do you come from?¡± Fineblade said with a sudden curiosity. ¡°Your voice is very different from most men of Awen.¡±
¡°I¡¯ve traveled a lot,¡± Max said. He was worried that the captain would press him for an answer. Jahrod came and fell in step with Max, and suddenly, he was flanked by two allies who knew nothing of his origins. Max was hastily constructing a story that would cover his true origins but fall short of being an actual lie. He suspected both Fineblade and Jahrod would sniff out a lie all too easily. The worst thing for Max to do would be to name some town and claim that as his hometown. Between Jahrod and Fineblade, they probably knew more about Eveirea than Max would ever know. If Max invented a town, they would surely press him to reveal what province, what kingdom that town lay in. If Max used the name of a real town, the chances were too great that either Jahrod or Fineblade would know the town well, know the smith or the sergeant of the guard. Max was spared his trouble when a forward scout came running back to the group.
The elven scout spoke to Fineblade, Elderon listening closely.
¡°The Deadtide army has been spotted, Captain. We¡¯re right behind them.¡±
Max went forward with Elderon, Fineblade, Anita, and Jahrod to observe the Deadtide army. From high up on the ridge, they looked down on the army and their goblin allies. A road stretched away to the southwest, and at the end of that road, only a day¡¯s march away, was Ralynn City.
¡°What now, Max?¡± Fineblade said.
Elderon fixed him with a stare too. Max was sure Elderon would have come up with a plan by now, but all eyes were on him: Lightfoot, Darkbringer, Truthsayer.
Chapter 2.28
The Deadtide army had forced its way through East Ridge Forest and was out onto the meadow lands of the Kingdom Faregent. Nothing in their way but a few farmsteads, a few hamlets until the linchpin in the kingdom, the city of Ralynn and its formidable defenses.
The Deadtide soldiers marched in squares, a hundred soldiers to a square. The goblins were less ordered and ran in scruffy bands between the squares. The huge battering ram was protected in the center of the army. Max could make out the huge covered wagon even from this distance.
¡°We are too few to attack the army on its rear,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°Their rearguard is formidable, and we will be little more than an irritation. But I can¡¯t see us getting around them and to the gates of Ralynn City before they get there.¡±
¡°So we wait until they attack Ralynn City and then make our move,¡± Elderon said.
Max nodded. ¡°But we need Ralynn City to know we are here. We must coordinate our attacks.¡±
¡°But how?¡± Fineblade said.
Jahrod looked up at Max and started shaking his head. ¡°No, Max, it¡¯s too dangerous.¡±
¡°No,¡± Anita said also. ¡°Jahrod is right. Max, you can¡¯t go alone.¡±
Fineblade was stunned that they thought Max would even suggest going up against the army alone. But then Max confirmed what the others feared.
¡°It¡¯ll be fine. I can go alone. In fact, I must go alone. I will be quicker, quieter, and more easily hidden. I can sneak through the army without fear.¡±
¡°But what if they have Detect Invisibility wards?¡± Anita said. ¡°They know you crept into their lines before to destroy their dark shard. They will be expecting you to try again.¡±
¡°I won¡¯t be going near their dark shard this time. That will have to wait until later. And I can use my Dark Movement to get through their lines quickly. I would leave behind any who goes with me.¡±
Max set off. Jahrod and Anita insisting on going with him to protect against any rearguard pickets. Once down on the meadowlands and within half a league of the army, Max bid farewell to his friends. He pulled up his Hood of Sneaking, activated his Sneak ability, and moved towards the rear of the Deadtide army.
Max activates Sneak ability.
Max moved swiftly alongside the army. The Deadtide soldiers marched in squares at a fearsome pace. Max didn¡¯t want to get too close to the Deadtide soldiers. Their dark eyes and slime-filled mouths were too fearsome and repulsive. But Max was forced closer than he would like by the small bands of goblins that dashed about on the army¡¯s flanks, sweeping the area and checking for enemies.
By the time Max reached the head of the army, it was already forming up into attack lines a half league out from Ralynn City. Groups of goblins with heavy ladders sat at the side of each square of soldiers. They waited while the rest of the army formed up at the rear.
The gleaming city walls looked bare. No banners fluttering there, no guards to be seen on the high walk. Max looked closely at the gaps between the battlements on the top of the wall. No hint of any defenders at all. The stillness betrayed the readiness of the city. The stillness suggested not unpreparedness but a city well prepared and with an organized defense, waiting for the enemy to tread too close. There was no way a large army could approach this close to Ralynn City without being seen. Max knew the city was on high alert.
As Max headed out across the meadowlands ahead of the army¡¯s front ranks, he saw the leader of the Deadtide army, Gaius Deadtide. He was marching along the front of a line of Deadtide troops accompanied by a group of officers. All looked bedraggled, darkness making them look tired. Max moved across the front of the Deadtide army only a couple of hundred feet from the front rank. He moved close enough to Gaius to hear him talking with his officers. Maybe he could learn something of the tactics Gaius would employ, but there was little option for the Deadtide army.
The gate was a clear weak point in the city walls, and the large battering ram covered with thick armored hide was lined up and ready to be moved in place to start beating down the heavy timber doors. While that was going on, the city walls would be attacked by the soldiers with the long sturdy ladders. The large groups of goblins with a ladder each were clearly the shock troops ready to scale the ladders and attack the defenders on top of the walls.
Max crept as close to Gaius Deadtide as he dared. He listened, but there was only silence. Gaius inspected the troops without a word.
Max moved away from the front line, and he was soon in the wide-open space between the attacking Deadtide army and the walls of the city. It would take him the best part of an hour to walk to the gates, half an hour at a steady run. He activated his Dark Movement ability and raced forward in a huge leap, cutting the distance in half.
Janet appeared when he moved.
¡°I can feel you use the ability, Max,¡± she said. ¡°Be careful.¡±
¡°I checked; I have no penalty for using it. I won¡¯t summon a dark creature.¡±
¡°If you overuse it you still might, and if you try and travel too far, too fast, too soon, you might find it difficult to return to normal movement. You might find yourself trapped like me, and then how do we get home?¡±
Max ran towards the city the last few yards, thinking of Janet¡¯s words. Home? It was an idea he hadn¡¯t ever really known. He had no home. It was strange, but as he approached Ralynn City, he felt as if this was in some ways a return home. Eveirea was starting to feel like home to him now, and the one place he¡¯d spent the most time was here in Ralynn City, in his rooms in the castle.
Max reached the city gate. He deactivated his Sneak ability and stood in full view of the defenders.
An arrow was aimed at him from a loophole in the side of the gatehouse. A harsh voice barked at him from behind the gate.
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¡°Who goes there?¡±
¡°I am Max Lightfoot. I bring news from Master Mage Elderon. Let me in. I must speak with the king.¡±
A thick knotted rope dropped down from the high walk above the gate. Max grabbed hold. He climbed up easily and was at the top in a flash. Once at the top, several rough hands pulled him over and pushed his back to the battlements. He found himself faced with a group of tough-looking city guards with swords in hand, all pointed at him. He saw the crossbows, bowstrings drawn, thick bolts on the launch table and pointing at his chest.
¡°Peace, Ralynn guards.¡± Max held up his hands. A sergeant barked orders for Max to be taken under guard to the castle in the center of the city.
The city was quiet. Houses and businesses were locked and boarded. Only guards and civilian militia walked the streets. The guards wore their uniforms, the militia with strips of blue cloth on their upper arms to identify them as Ralynn militia.
At the castle, Max saw Princess Shree in a high tower looking out at the city. When she spotted Max, she dashed away from the window.
Inside the castle, Max was escorted to a war room where King Glyn and his advisors were looking at a map table and scrolls containing the latest reports.
Princess Shree rushed in and threw her arms around Max.
¡°I knew you¡¯d be back to save us, Max,¡± she said.
The king was in no mood for frivolities. He scarcely looked up from his reports and map.
¡°Max Lightfoot. What brings you to the city?¡±
¡°Good news, sire,¡± Max said with a bow. ¡°We have met with a company of elves from Deepwood. They are positioned behind the Deadtide army. They are ready to coordinate their attacks with your defense.¡±
The king covered his maps and walked to Max. ¡°And how do they propose to do that?¡±
¡°Let the Deadtide army come. Hold the defense. Once the army is engaged on Ralynn City walls, the elven company and my party will attack the Deadtide army¡¯s rear. They will be trapped.¡±
¡°My scouts have observed the army,¡± King Glynn said in a somber mood. ¡°They are formidable. How can a company of elves and a small party of adventurers hope to defeat them?¡±
¡°They will not expect it, and they are driven by the power of a dark shard. I will eliminate the source of their power. They will fold.¡±
A roar in the distance went up. All knew what that meant, but only when a runner came bringing the news did they know for sure. The breathless boy bringing the news spoke through heaving breaths.
The Deadtide army was attacking the city gate.
Max went to the castle walls and looked over the city and down to the meadowlands. The battering ram was only a few hundred yards away from the city gate when Max finally spotted it, hidden partially by the dust thrown up by hundreds of marching soldiers. Ladder troops were rushing the walls, yipping and yakking goblins hurrying to be first up the ladders.
¡°I would give you my sword and fight alongside you, sire,¡± Max said to the king, ¡°but I must go and tell the elves and my party to engage.¡±
Princess Shree took Max¡¯s arm. ¡°It¡¯s too dangerous. Look at that army. You will never get past them. Stay here where it¡¯s safe.¡±
Max enjoyed her ardor, but he shook his head. ¡°Nowhere will be safe if I do not go. I will make it through, and I will make it back to your city.¡±
The king looked at Max, perhaps suspicious that he was more interested in his royal daughter than the city¡¯s defense.
¡°Go, Max Lightfoot. I hope your efforts bring success.¡±
Max ran through the city to the city walls. The battering ram was attacking the gate. Dust falling from the inside of the gate with each hammering attack. Beams as thick as tree trucks lay across the heavy double doors, and they were visibly flexing. Max ran up a stone stairway to the high walk, and he heard the trunk cracking.
At the high walk, a ladder landed against the stone, and a moment later, goblins were leaping over the battlements.
Max attacks Goblin.
Goblin takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
The goblin turned on Max. Snarling, spitting, it lashed out with its brown steel sword.
Goblin attacks Max.
Max leapt backwards, the wildly swinging sword grazing his padded tunic but didn¡¯t do any damage.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Max stepped towards the goblin, sword raised.
Max attacks Goblin.
Goblin takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Goblin has been defeated.
Max saw the Ralynn City guards along the high walk fend off another wave of goblins. While some guards attacked with swords, others used long poles to push the ladders away from the walls.
Max looked along the city walls. The Deadtide army and their goblin allies were attacking a wide front. Away to the left side was a clear section of wall. Max ran along the high walk, dodging attacking goblins and staying clear of the defenders. He got to the quiet section of wall. The defenders there watching their fellows defending the attack, eager to get involved but under orders not to leave their section of wall undefended.
Max pulled up his hood and climbed over the battlements. He climbed down the wall, fingers and toes finding purchase in the tiniest of cracks between the huge stones of the city walls.
He dropped to the ground and ran back to where his friends and elven allies were waiting. After a few minutes of breathless running, he chose to cut some time off his trip.
Max activates Dark Movement.
He dashed forward a few thousand yards before returning to normal movement, taking care not to spend too long using the Dark Movement ability. The sounds of battle faded. When Max reached the edge of the ridge, his friends were waiting impatiently.
¡°We were about to go,¡± Fineblade said.
Max leaned on his knees and caught his breath. ¡°The city is waiting for our aid.¡±
Anita cast a Revive spell on Max, and he found he could breathe easily, and fatigue had left him. Fineblade had already given his orders, and the elves were on the march. They moved fast over the meadowlands while staying low. The whole company suddenly became very difficult to spot as they moved through the meadows. Max could only catch glimpses of movement out of the corner of his eye, a flutter of a cloak here and a glint of steel there, but when he focused on a point, he could see nothing but swaying grass.
¡°They have activated their Wilderness Lore,¡± Anita said. ¡°It will let them remain hidden until they are close enough to the Deadtide army to attack.¡±
Max led his party behind the elves. The sounds of battle grew as they advanced. The elven company came to a halt, stood up, and raised their bows. A short line of elves against the mass of the Deadtide army.
Darius Fineblade drew his sword. He held it aloft and then pointed forward.
The elven longbows sang as they released volley after volley towards the Deadtide army. Before the first volley fell on the Deadtide army, the elves were notching their sixth arrows. They moved fast, with skill and precision, the line of elves shooting dozens of arrows at a time. The arrows arched through the sky. And fell on the army.
Elderon cast Far Sight and showed Fineblade and the party the effect the arrows were having on the army. The elven arrows were defeating dozens of attackers at a time, and it was starting to spread confusion and panic.
¡°They don¡¯t know who¡¯s attacking them,¡± Max said, pointing at the army in Elderon¡¯s Far Sight spell.
Then a shriek went up on the flanks of the Deadtide army. Max looked to the sound. A giant lizard came charging from the army¡¯s right flank, another peeled off the army¡¯s left flank. The beasts were tall, ten feet tall at least. They were black with long bony tails that whipped around behind. The huge heads were filled with long, heavy teeth. Small arms ended with long curved claws like scimitar swords. The beasts were carrying a number of goblins holding onto a cargo net secured across the lizard¡¯s back. They wielded crossbows and spears. The lizards advanced in a pincer move towards the small group of elves and Max¡¯s little party.
¡°I guess they know we¡¯re here,¡± Max said as he studied the incoming attack.
Name: Giant Lizard
Status: Attacking
Attack: Tooth and Claw
Threat level: Deadly
¡°Maintain your attack on the Deadtide army, Captain,¡± Max said. ¡°We¡¯ll handle this.¡±
Chapter 2.29
The lizard creatures were running in fast on hugely powerful back legs. They covered the open ground in great strides. The large heads thrusting forwards as the beasts closed in on their target, the line of elven archers. The half-dozen goblins riding each lizard screeched and shouted, waving their weapons. The lizards roared with open mouths showing the rows of jagged back teeth. The four daggerlike front teeth, two pointing up, two pointing down, were each almost as long as Max¡¯s arm. The long front arms with vicious talons were gripping at the air, eager to tear into their targets.
Max tried to remain calm, but he could feel a primitive fear growing inside him. The huge beast triggered a primeval instinct to run and hide, but Max was intelligent enough to know that the only way to survive the incoming attack was to stand against it and defeat it. It took bravery to stand.
Max casts Web.
The Web spell rolled across the battlefield to the right flank and erupted at the feet of the giant lizard. Anita saw the plan in action and cast Root Tangle on the same beast.
The giant lizard reared upward as the roots began to reach up out of the ground. The web erupted and trapped the beast. The goblins on its back were unaffected by the spell that trapped the beast and started shooting their crossbows, the bolts falling short of the elven line.
¡°We need to take this beast down fast,¡± Max said, walking towards the lizard on the left flank as it thundered in.
Max casts Fireball.
The fireball burst in the chest of the lizard, engulfing the beast and the riders, heating the damp meadow grass and sending a plume of steam into the air.
Giant Lizard takes heavy damage.
Goblin Riders take minor damage.
The lizard came running out of the fireball and the cloud of steam, shrieking its pain and frustration. Max let rip with his magic missile, the orange magic orb slamming into the lizard, each spell delivering minor damage to the huge beast. But the damage did not slow the beast, and it came on at the same pace. The ground started to shake as the giant lizard came closer, its huge feet hammering the ground, tearing up chunks of meadowland as it charged in.
Goblin Riders attack Max.
The goblin riders shot a volley of crossbow bolts. They thudded into the ground just in front of Max, the closest an inch from Max¡¯s feet.
Attack dodged; no damage done.
Anita and Jahrod shot bullets and bolts at the riders on top of the giant lizard, defeating four of the goblins at a distance before they could reload their crossbows.
¡°Concentrate on the lizard,¡± Max said.
Elderon cast a huge elemental spell, and a shaft of brilliant white light struck down from overhead into the beast. The last of the goblin riders fell defeated, but the lizard continued on.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Giant Lizard takes minor damage.
The lizard closed in, Anita and Jahrod peppering the beast¡¯s maw with ranged attacks. And then, when the beast was right on top of them, its huge head towering over them, Jahrod swapped crossbow for axe and stepped forward.
The beast reached out for Jahrod, its huge fingers and talons ready to crush the life from the dwarf. Jahrod swung his axe around above his head and struck a heavy blow on the lizard¡¯s talons. The axe bounced off with a ringing sound like steel on rock.
Max drew his Shortsword of Lightning and pointed it at the giant lizard.
Max casts Sword Lightning.
The bolt of lightning leapt away from the sword and wrapped around the lizard.
Giant Lizard takes minor Lightning damage.
The beast shuddered, saliva dripping, its eyes rolling back in its head. Anita and Jahrod ran in and attacked with a flurry of blows.
Max casts Strength.
Max¡¯s Strength increased to 18
Max ran in and attacked with his Shortsword, stabbing upwards.
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Max attacks Giant Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Magic missiles cast by Elderon raced overhead and slammed into the beast. The beast roared as the six orange magic orbs delivered their damage, and then it fixed Max with a stare from its black eyes.
Giant Lizard attacks Max.
A huge taloned hand swept across the ground, tearing up the grass. The talons caught Max as he was attempting to leap aside and avoid the attack.
Max takes heavy damage.
Max was batted aside by the huge hand, the talons scraping three wide gashes in his Padded Leather Tunic. A little higher and the talon would have struck his neck, and Max could have taken critical damage. As it was, he was already low on Health. He couldn¡¯t take another hit like that.
¡°Stay back, Max,¡± Jahrod said as the lizard swept its hand back and struck Jahrod, sending him tumbling sideways before coming to a halt some twenty feet away. He was on his feet and running back to the fray just as the lizard was about to bite down on Anita.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Giant Lizard takes minor damage.
The magic missile hardly scratched the beast, but it did distract it from its biting attack on Anita. It shook its head as the magic missile stung. Anita jabbed up with her spear, causing physical damage and bonus Fire damage, flames flickering briefly over the huge head.
Max used up the last of his Magic Missiles in quick succession. The beast attacked Anita with its talons. She was scooped up and flung several feet into the air. Anita took heavy damage as she landed hard and then struggled to get back to her feet.
Jahrod was back in the face of the beast and delivered a heavy upwards blow with his axe that dealt critical damage. The beast roared. It stamped down on Jahrod, but the Dwarf rolled aside. The lizard lashed out with a backhanded slap and struck the Dwarf as he got to his feet, flinging him aside. Then the dark eyes turned on Max.
Giant Lizard attacks Max.
It came forward, its heavy footfalls shaking the ground. Max made ready. He knew one more hit from the lizard would in all likelihood defeat him, and his adventures would end here on the meadowlands outside Ralynn Castle.
Max ran forward. He avoided the swinging talons, skidded over the ground, and slashed upwards.
Max attacks Giant Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Giant Lizard has been defeated.
The lizard fell forwards onto the ground. Max rolled aside to avoid becoming trapped. Jahrod helped him to his feet. Max looked over to the second lizard. It was tearing at the web and the roots with its jaws. The web reformed, the roots held its feet. Then it picked up one foot and stepped forward.
¡°It¡¯s breaking free,¡± Elderon shouted over to Max and the others.
Elderon cast a Fireball. It was no bigger than Max¡¯s and did no more damage. But then Elderon cast another. The fireballs reduced the beast¡¯s Health by half and defeated the goblin riders before they could get into crossbow range. And then the Web and Root Tangle spells failed, and the beast came running forward.
A dark spell formed in Elderon¡¯s hands. The spell drifted forward and struck the lizard. Instantly, the lizard slowed as if frozen, its eyes still moving quickly but its limbs slowed to a crawl. But even at a crawl, this beast was deadly.
Max activates Dark Movement.
Max rushed at the beast. He climbed up its hind legs and onto its back, clambering over the cargo netting the goblins had used to hold onto the beast. The scales were thick, but Max found a weak spot at the base of the huge skull. He held his sword like a dagger, two-handed with the blade pointing downwards.
Max attacks Giant Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes heavy damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Jahrod and Anita rushed in and attacked the legs. The beast roaring in frustration. It moved as if trapped in thick syrup. Its talons closed around Jahrod and raised him ever so slowly to its mouth, its gaping jaws open and ready to bite down on its prey.
Max attacks Giant Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes heavy damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Jahrod hacked at the beast¡¯s huge fingers with his axe as he was lifted slowly to the giant mouth.
Max called down to Anita. ¡°Your spear, throw it to me!¡±
Anita tossed the spear toward Max. The tip stuck in the shoulder of the beast, dealing minor damage and bonus Fire damage. Max reached down and plucked the spear free. He used the cargo net to climb down next to the open mouth with Jahrod only a couple of feet away from becoming a snack. Max jammed the spear in the beast¡¯s mouth. As it slowly closed its mouth, the spear tip stuck in the roof of the lizard¡¯s mouth. The stench in that mouth was terrible, rotten flesh hanging between huge pointed teeth.
The beast dropped Jahrod. Max jumped down to the ground. Anita was hurling a steady stream of bullets at the beast. The spear tip flaming as it drove deeper into the lizard¡¯s mouth. It hooked a talon around the spear and tried to tug it free.
Max, Anita, and Jahrod stepped back, each armed with their ranged weapons. Max loaded a bullet of random effect and took aim at the open mouth.
Max attacks Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes minor damage.
Random effect: Smoke
The head of the beast was suddenly obscured by a thick pall of gray smoke. The smoke didn¡¯t do any extra damage, and it just made it more difficult to target the beast. Jahrod shot bolt after bolt into the cloud, loading and shooting rapidly. The bolts found their target in the smoke.
Max attacks Giant Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes minor damage.
Random effect: Sparkle Disorientation
The gray smoke was filled with flashes of bright color, red-and-purple flashes along with glittering silver and gold. The beast was utterly disoriented and staggered sideways, still under the effects of Elderon¡¯s slow spell.
Max attacks Lizard.
Giant Lizard takes minor damage.
Random effect: Explosion
Bonus Explosion damage.
Giant Lizard has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Anita stepped into the smoke that still shrouded the lizard¡¯s head. She emerged with her spear. She was inspecting the weapon.
¡°Quick thinking, Max,¡± she said. ¡°And the spear looks no worse for wear.¡±
Darius Fineblade saluted Max from the elven lines. They were holding their ground and delivering terrible damage to the Deadtide army, who were trapped between the city wall and a skillful company of elves.
A detachment of goblins ran from the rear of the Deadtide army towards the elves in a rearguard action to disrupt the company of elves. The elven archers picked their targets and dropped the whole attacking force before they could engage.
The city walls were swarming with goblins. Deadtide soldiers were on the high walk too. The gates still held, although Max could hear the rhythmic thumping from a half league away.
Fineblade ran over to Max and Elderon.
¡°I will advance my company in closer. We are on the limit of our range.¡±
Max noticed the elven captain¡¯s gaze drift to the tree line behind him. Max turned to see a massive, dark shape emerging from the East Ridge Forest in the far distance.
¡°What is that?¡± Fineblade said.
Elderon cast a spell of Far Sight and zoomed in on the shape, but Max recognized it instantly.
¡°It¡¯s a dark slug. It has caught up with me fast.¡±
The sound of wood splintering was followed by a huge cheer from the Deadtide army. Fineblade looked to the city.
¡°The gates are failing. I must move in with my company.¡±
Max looked at the dark slug. ¡°I will have to defeat this beast once and for all.¡±
¡°Not alone, you won¡¯t,¡± Anita said. She cast a spell of Heal Major Wounds on Max.
Max felt recovered. But the giant dark slug was a hard beast to defeat. And he¡¯d used all his spells except for Summon Fog. He wasn¡¯t sure how that was going to be of use. He readied his catapult and walked towards the dark slug.
Chapter 2.30
Max was sure they¡¯d outrun the slug long ago. He had moved about so much, he half wondered if the beast had lost track of him. Clearly, this creature born of the dark portal would never leave him alone. No matter how far or how fast he traveled, the beast would always follow and eventually catch up to him. As he advanced on the slug, he wondered if it would be able to follow him back to Earth or would it be left here in Eveirea? Did Max really want to go back to Earth? His life had been far simpler back there. It was certainly more exciting here in Eveirea, even if half the things here were trying to destroy him for one reason or another. At the edge of catapult range, he shot a bullet of random effect.
Max attacks Dark Slug.
Dark Slug takes minor damage.
Random effect: Flame
The bullet burst with a flash of red fire. Jahrod walked at his side, shooting crossbow bolts at the slug as fast as he could load them. They thudded into the thick, slimy hide of the beast, each heavy bolt dealing minor damage.
Anita walked at the same pace as Max and Jahrod, twirling her sling, bullets slamming into the slug. Just behind Max was Elderon. The old Mage had yet to cast a spell on the dark slug, and Max hoped he had something powerful on standby.
Elderon called out to Max and then pointed to the ridge in the distance. He cast spell of Far Sight and showed Max a lone figure on a distant hill. Even with the Far Sight spell creating a lens for Max to view the distant ridge, Max could not make out any features on the figure other than that it was a Mage robed in red.
¡°Gorgoron?¡± Max said.
¡°Possibly,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We should not jump to conclusions. All we can be sure of is there is a Red Mage watching over the battle.¡±
The Red Mage was waving his hands. He gestured with them in a forward motion. At that moment, the slug lurched forward with a sudden burst of pace, racing over the damp grass towards Max.
Jahrod switched to his axe and Anita her spear, and they closed in on either side of the slug, moving fast, avoiding the huge rasping mouth parts, but the slug only had one focus: Max.
Max attacks Dark Slug.
Slug takes minor damage.
Random effect: Cold
The bullet burst, and a sheen of frost spread over the slug¡¯s slimy head. The slug paused and shuddered. The frosty sheen shattered and fell away. The slug surged forward and closed in on Max with Anita and Jahrod dealing heavy damage on its flanks. The slug lost chunks of slimy dark flesh to Jahrod¡¯s axe and Anita¡¯s slashing spear but kept on coming.
Max loaded another bullet. Elderon placed a hand on his shoulder. He directed Max¡¯s attention to the battle at the city walls. Yet more Deadtide soldiers had made the top of the wall, and then there came a huge crash as the gates finally gave way under the assault from the battering ram.
¡°We need to turn our attention to the city. Stand back.¡±
Elderon stepped in front of Max. He began casting a wild series of gestures and intoned a long chant. A spell raced away from his arms. A dark cloud shot through with fire tumbled towards the slug. It slammed into the beast and exploded. The beast was utterly destroyed, throwing chunks of thick dark flesh and torrents of slime from inside its body.
Anita rolled away at the last moment. Jahrod, in full swing with his axe, got absolutely splattered with slime. He stood there for a moment, dripping with gray slime. He shook his arms and splattered the slime off his hands.
¡°To the city gates,¡± Elderon said.
Jahrod ran to catch up. He wiped a finger across his eye and removed a glob of slime. He stuck it in his mouth and sucked.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Max said in horror.
Jahrod pulled his finger out with a smack of his lips. ¡°You must be open to new flavors, Max. It¡¯s good.¡± He gathered another blob of slime from his face and offered it for Max to taste.
¡°Not a chance, my stout friend,¡± Max said.
Jahrod shrugged and licked his fingers clean of slime. ¡°If you ever summon one of those again, make sure you bring it my way.¡±
¡°You got it,¡± Max said, hoping to never have to see a dark slug, or Jahrod suck its slime, ever again in his life.
As they came closer to the fight at the city walls, Max was not sure how long that life would be. The gate had collapsed, and Deadtide soldiers were scrambling over the debris. They met a hail of arrows and spears from the defenders just inside the walls.
Max and his party joined with the elven troops and shot ranged attacks into the Deadtide army rear. Elven arrows singing as they flew, almost perfectly horizontally into the rear of the attackers, who were rushing forward, pressing tight at the smashed gate. Max took aim and shot his catapult.
Max attacks Deadtide Soldier.
Deadtide Soldier takes minor damage.
Random effect: Smoke
A small cloud of smoke spread out and enshrouded a couple of Deadtide soldiers. They fell back in confusion.
Max attacks Deadtide Soldier.
Deadtide soldier takes minor damage.
Random effect: smoke
Again the smoke caused confusion and panic and several more Deadtide soldiers backed away. They saw the company of elves shooting into their ranks. They ran away to the sides, along the city wall, and away to the distance.
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¡°The smoke is breaking their spirit,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°It¡¯s confusing them. Look, they are running. Do it again, Max.¡±
Max attacks Deadtide Soldier.
Deadtide soldier takes minor damage.
Bonus Cold damage
Deadtide Soldier has been defeated.
The Deadtide soldier collapsed, but the soldiers and goblins on either side didn¡¯t flinch at the sight of it.
¡°No,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Use smoke.¡±
¡°It¡¯s a random effect,¡± Max said. ¡°I can¡¯t choose what I get. Maybe they weren¡¯t such a good purchase after all.¡±
Then Max remembered his one last spell.
¡°Captain Fineblade,¡± Max shouted. ¡°Can your elves pick a target in the smoke?¡±
¡°They are not hard to miss, they are so tightly packed.¡±
Max looked at Elderon, about to ask him if he should use his last spell. Elderon understood what Max was thinking and nodded.
Max casts Summon Fog.
The fog erupted from the ground in the midst of the attackers at the gate. It was the last straw. The army began to break and lose cohesion. The soldiers fell back, seeking clear air.
The fight on the top of the wall turned in Ralynn¡¯s favor as the attackers were pushed back. The ladders pushed away. Then, in a moment, panic spread through the ranks, and the army broke.
It did not take long for the army to disintegrate. They ran alongside the walls of the city, pressed between defenders and the company of elves.
With the army rapidly dispersing, Max walked towards the city gates. The fog still hung thick, but Max could see the dark shapes of goblins and Deadtide soldiers all around him fleeing the fight. Max felt a force pulling at him, right from the heart. He wandered deeper into the fog, closer to the force that drew him, called to him. Then, out of the fog, a hard face appeared, scowling and grinning.
¡°You,¡± Gaius Deadtide said. ¡°I felt the shard pulling me to you. You spoiled everything.¡± He drew his sword.
Max spotted the dark shard hung around Gaius¡¯s neck on a pendant. He was determined to keep hold of his replacement shard.
Gaius Deadtide attacks Max.
Gaius moved fast. The sword thrust struck Max square in the chest.
Max takes heavy damage.
Max had the wind knocked out of him. He staggered backwards. Gaius was lost from sight for a brief moment in the fog but then advanced on Max once again.
Gaius Deadtide attacks Max.
Max raised his Shortsword of Lightning in time to defend against the downward blow. The spell of Strength added weight to Max''s arm, and he held off the blow. A clang of steel on steel.
Max used Gaius¡¯s Strength to push himself away. He rolled backwards and out of sight of Gaius. He could feel the dark officer was nearby, and he heard him advancing. Max pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and activated his Sneak ability.
Gaius came close, out of the fog, drawn to Max by the dark power of the shard. He swung his sword blindly into the fog. Max narrowly avoided the blade and moved onto Gaius¡¯s rear.
Max attacks Gaius Deadtide.
Gaius Deadtide takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Bonus Sneak Attack damage.
Sneak ability deactivated.
Gaius yelled out in fury and pain. He spun around, his sword aimed at Max. Max jumped aside, but the blade caught him in the ribs. The padded tunic absorbing some damage, but the padded leather was in tatters after the encounter with the giant lizard and offered very little protection. Only Max¡¯s Pendant of Defense saving him against critical damage.
Gaius Deadtide attacks Max.
Max takes heavy damage.
Max knew he couldn¡¯t stand alone against this seasoned and powerful fighter. He ran back into the fog and hid again, activating his Sneak ability.
Max attacks Gaius Deadtide.
Gaius Deadtide takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Bonus Sneak Attack damage.
Sneak ability deactivated.
Gaius swung again, a wild attack. The tip of his blade grazed across Max¡¯s padded tunic, but the force behind the attack was enough that even the slightest touch from the tip did harm.
Gaius Deadtide attacks Max.
Max takes minimal damage.
Max backed away; Gaius advanced. Max held his sword up in defense. At that moment, a group of fleeing goblins barreled into Max and Gaius. Shrieking, they ran blindly through the fog. Max used the distraction and hid again.
Max knew he could attack again, and he was likely to do heavy damage with the bonuses from Lightning, the Strength bonus, and his Sneak Attack bonus, but Gaius would have his retaliation, and Max¡¯s Health was very low after only a few attacks from Gaius.
Max moved in close. He found Gaius searching through the fog, turning sharply this way and that, waiting for the next attack.
Max got onto Gaius¡¯s rear. He sheathed his sword and leapt onto Gaius¡¯s back. Gaius bucked like a mule. He reached back and grabbed Max by the collar and tugged him violently, trying to pull him over his shoulder. Max reached around Gaius¡¯s neck and grabbed the pendant.
The dark shard evaporated in Max¡¯s grip, dark flakes drifting into the fog.
Gaius collapsed to his knees. He looked up at Max, dark eyes staring, red with confusion and fear. The fog began to clear, and Max saw the line of elves at the gate, greeting the defenders from inside the city. Elderon came out of the thinning fog to Max.
¡°Finish him,¡± Jahrod said, stepping up.
¡°His darkness has brought so much harm to the balance of nature,¡± Anita said.
Max put his hand on his sword handle.
¡°Get up,¡± Max said.
Gaius stood up. ¡°Better to die on one¡¯s feet than one¡¯s knees.¡± He stuck out his chin. The dark lines around his eyes receded. Red eyes of remorse there now.
¡°Go,¡± Max said with a jerk of his head. ¡°Run home, Gaius Deadtide. Your army is no more.¡±
Gaius backed away, a nervous glance at Jahrod and Anita, then he turned and fled.
¡°We¡¯ll have to call you Max the Merciful from now on,¡± Jahrod said. He started to walk away.
¡°Where are you going?¡± Max said. ¡°Have I offended you for not defeating the enemy? He was beaten anyway.¡±
Jahrod shook his head. ¡°There were giant lizards in that army.¡±
¡°We defeated them both,¡± Max said. ¡°I don¡¯t think there are any more. We would have seen.¡±
Anita tutted and shook her head lightly. ¡°Guano,¡± she said, rolling her eyes.
¡°Exactly,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Where there are giant lizards, there is bound to be some guano.¡±
¡°What, like lizard droppings?¡± Max said.
Jahrod pressed his thumb and forefinger to his mouth and pulled them away with a kiss. ¡°Vital ingredient of scromble. I¡¯m going to find a guano patch. You wait until you try a bite of scromble, Max,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Like nothing else in Eveirea.¡±
¡°I¡¯ll try it if we ever find a double hot vindaloo,¡± Max said. ¡°Then we¡¯ll see whose taste buds surrender first.¡±
Captain Darius Fineblade joined Max and his party.
¡°We rest here tonight, but in the morning, we travel back to Deepwood. Our king is still under the influence of the darkness. We must do what we can to free him.¡±
¡°And I will go with you,¡± Max said. ¡°We will save your king. For the good of Eveirea, we will save him. Until morning.¡±
Max walked through the city on tired feet. He was welcomed at the gates of Ralynn Castle by the guards. He walked through the stone corridors of the castle freely, tired-looking guards greeting him with a nod and a smile. He returned to the rooms where he had recently spent a few quiet and restful days. His staff was still propped up in the corner of the room. Waiting for him on the small table in front of the little window was a jug of fresh ale and a board with bread, fruit, and a hard white cheese that crumbled at the slightest touch. Max tasted a crumb of the cheese. It had a sharp flavor. Tasty.
Jahrod burst in with a bag of guano. ¡°Found it,¡± he said. ¡°Huge pile of guano. It¡¯s got that special salty spice that is vital for a good scromble. Soon we will have scromble, my friend. Soon. And your taste buds will thank me.¡±
Max was sure it would kill him.
Max drifted to sleep on his soft bed, the first real sleep he¡¯d had in days. He was fully rested under the Blanket of Comfort in a few hours. It was still dark when he woke, fully rested, spells activated.
Max heard his door creak open. He sat up, hand reaching for his shortsword.
Princess Shree stepped in. She closed the door and slipped into the bed beside Max.
¡°Are you sure you need to go with the elves?¡± she whispered.
¡°Not until morning,¡± he said.
Princess Shree laid a hand on his head, and he closed his eyes.
Then the door burst open and in stepped Elderon. ¡°It is morning, Max. The elves are marching out. Get ready. We are leaving. Helping the elves was your plan. They will not look kindly on you if you are tardy.¡± Elderon left and pulled the door behind him.
¡°Morning already?¡± Max said with a stretch and a yawn.
¡°An hour before dawn,¡± Shree said.
Max let out a sigh. ¡°Sorry, Princess, I have to go.¡±
¡°Not without a kiss,¡± Shree said and pulled the blanket over their heads.
Chapter 2.31
¡°You look tired,¡± Fineblade said to Max as they marched down through the city. ¡°Life in the castle doesn¡¯t suit you, perhaps.¡±
Max yawned. He was tired. He¡¯d been in bed all night but had he rested? The late-night visit from the princess might not have helped. Had his spells reactivated? He checked his Mage Book.
Active spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Fireball
He closed his Mage Book, relieved to see that all his spells had been reactivated. He only wished he had more spells. Yes, he had a lot of Level 1 spells thanks to his current level and his Ring of Extra Spells, but Magic Missile was not the most powerful spell, not yet, at least. Elderon, at his high level, cast many more magic orbs when he cast Magic Missile, as many as six, but when Max cast Magic Missile, he could only generate two magic orbs. As he went up levels, his Magic Missile would become a lot more powerful.
Until then, he had Fireball. A hugely powerful spell, it delivered lots of damage, and it looked awesome.
Walking out of the city with the company of elves and his party, Max saw the work rebuilding the city gate was already well underway. The best city craftsmen and women had been busy the night long. Torches burning low telling the tale of a night spent at their labors. The battlefield on the meadows was littered with abandoned weapons. Townsfolk out in the early morning sun were roaming over the battlefield collecting discarded weapons to transform into more useful and practical items, some claiming trophies of the battle. The battering ram was missing, and Max wondered how the Deadtide army had managed to take it when they had fled in such disarray, but then he noticed it was being disassembled and the timbers used to rebuild and reinforce the city gate.
The sun rose on a crisp, dew-frosted morning. Max could see now that the elves had not come out of the encounter unscathed. Many wore wound dressings, some walking with the use of staffs. He thought there appeared to be fewer of them today.
The walk through the East Ridge Forest was made easier thanks to the paths that the Deadtide army had cut, particularly the wide one they cut to let them move the huge battering ram. Even though the path was only a few days old, it was already overgrown, the East Ridge Forest reclaiming the paths rapidly. Max could almost hear the vines growing and spreading over the path, snarling it up with thick foliage.
¡°It is vital we return to the city of the elves at full Health,¡± Fineblade said to Max as they moved through the East Ridge Forest. ¡°We will rest regularly so my company can regain their Health.¡±
¡°Anita can heal you,¡± Max said. He looked around for her. She was nowhere to be seen.
¡°We are too many for Anita to heal us all. We will use our own preparations, and some of our company has basic Druid spells. We will be fully fit when we get to the city.¡±
¡°You don¡¯t want her aid? Does it have something to do with her being a half elf?¡±
Fineblade remained silent for a moment. Max watched him carefully pick his words.
¡°My company was struggling to hold off the darkness of the dark shard. It made my Warriors less gracious than we are known for. I do not have any problem with elves marrying outside the Kingdom of Deepwood. Moreover, we have many dwarfs and men living in Deepwood. And as a soldier, I have crossed this continent and seen more of the world than most elves. Difference is a huge asset. Like you, for instance. You are no elf, but you are welcome in my company.¡±
¡°I am glad to be in your company,¡± Max said. ¡°I want to help you free your kingdom of these dark shards once and for all.¡±
Fineblade regarded Max with an inquisitive stare that lingered for a fraction of a moment longer than Max was comfortable with. He had a fleeting thought that perhaps this elf did not trust him as much as he professed to.
¡°Why do you want to help the elves?¡± Fineblade said
¡°It is all Eveirea I must help,¡± Max said without skipping a beat. It was easy to say because it was true. Max could not shake the feeling that the danger to Eveirea was his doing and his responsibility to fix. He could try and run from it, hide here in Eveirea, but he knew he could not hide from Janet. She was never going to leave him alone, and the dark portal was not going to go away, not until it destroyed Eveirea.
¡°Where are you from, Max?¡± Fineblade said. ¡°You speak strangely at times. I have never met someone like you before. Are you from the empires of the Scarfel continent or somewhere here on Awen? Where in Eveirea are you from?¡±
Now it was Max¡¯s turn to pick his words carefully. ¡°I don¡¯t know where I am from, Darius. My parents moved around a lot. Awen and Scarfel, too, I think. I don¡¯t know what happened to them, but I was very young, and I found I was alone in the world. When I met Elderon, he decided to mentor me and guide me in the ways of the Mage class.¡±
Fineblade seemed satisfied with this. ¡°I am sure you will make a great Mage. You will be on the Mage council one day, I have no doubt.¡±
Max wasn¡¯t so sure. If he was able to destroy the shards and find the dark portal, he would quite likely return home, leaving Eveirea forever. It was a thought that gave him no comfort. Despite the dark slugs, skeleton lords, goblins, Skarak, and all the many other deadly monstrosities he had encountered, he liked it here.
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Max could not but be in awe of Fineblade. Even though his outfit showed signs of wear from the battle the day before and from hacking his way through the rapidly growing forest, he still looked sharp. His light-colored clothes elegant and stylish. The rest of the elves looked handsome in their white-and-gold capes. Their soft hair, their wide almond eyes. Even though they looked glamorous, there was a steel edge behind their soft exterior. Max knew firsthand they were brave and hard fighters. Max guessed that Anita had inherited this from her elven side.
¡°Tell me about your king,¡± Max said to Fineblade.
Fineblade gave him a broad warm smile. ¡°I am honored to have known the king well. We were in the elven company together. He was a prince of the kingdom at the time, and we were both young officers in the company. He was a mentor to me, taught me much about the company, about our great history. He liked my fellowship; I think we were friends. And then, when the old king died and Prince Daynor became our king, he left the company. Since that day, I have only seen him on a few brief occasions, mostly at company ceremonies when he came to inspect the troops. He assured me once that he was kept busy by affairs of state. He assured me he was ever my servant.¡± Fineblade laughed. ¡°My servant, indeed. He is a king. Yes, we were friends. I hope we still can be.¡±
Max detected a change in tone, sadness creeping into Fineblade¡¯s usual sunny demeanor.
¡°I requested an audience when we were sent with the witch to gather the shards. The story was we were saving the continent of Awen from the dark influence. His advisors would not let me see him, but his daughter took me to him. She said she hoped he would listen to an old friend. She is wise for her age. The Princess Harari is probably about your age. Wise beyond her years. So she sent me in to the king¡¯s private chambers. He was not the man I once knew. He was dark, consumed by it, crippled by it. And he was surrounded by dark agents. I wish I had done something then, but I realize now that I was becoming affected by the darkness. How the Princess Harari managed to stay pure, I will never know. I hope we can save them all. And with your help, Max, we will.¡±
As they walked, Max felt Fineblade studying him. Max felt his wide all-seeing eyes on him, and finally, he turned to Fineblade.
¡°Speak your mind, Darius. Are we not friends, you and I?¡±
¡°How are you able to resist the shards, and how can you destroy them? Anyone I have seen hold them becomes obsessed with them.¡±
¡°Maybe it has to do with me being alone and without my parents for so long.¡±
Fineblade was not convinced, but he shrugged his concerns away. ¡°As long as you can help me save our king, I am at ease. He was so close to the end when I last saw him. He is older than me but not so old he should yet be in his final days. Maybe with the darkness lifted, he can still enjoy some sunny days in the Kingdom of Deepwood.¡±
The march was relentless. After a full day and a long evening marching, as the shadows lengthened, the company came to a halt. Max did not hear any order from Fineblade for the company to halt. It appeared that the elves simply knew it was time to rest.
Max collapsed to the ground. Jahrod and Anita joined him once they returned from their scouting trips. Both sat silently for some time, regathering their Strength.
¡°Damn elves never know when to stop marching or stop talking,¡± Jahrod said. ¡°They¡¯ll start singing before you know it. I¡¯d rather be a dwarf and not know when to stop eating.¡± He picked out his pouch of lizard guano and dipped his finger in. He sucked his finger and let out a moan of delight.
Max thought he was going to throw up. ¡°How can you put that in your mouth?¡±
Jahrod carefully and ceremoniously rewrapped the guano and stowed it in his pouch. ¡°I know, it is a waste to eat it on its own. It needs to be in a good scromble. But I just had to have a taste. It is rare to find it so fresh.¡±
Max felt his gut churn. Anita offered him some heavy bread and a mug of ale, but Max was unable to eat, having seen Jahrod sucking guano.
Elderon walked over to the little group. He looked as fresh as ever, as if he had done little more than taken a pleasant evening stroll.
¡°The elves will rest until just before dawn. It is a short rest. I hope you will be ready to march. The elves keep a punishing pace.¡±
¡°I will prepare spells of recovery to keep us in good Health,¡± Anita said. She snuggled up to Max. ¡°And we will get to sleep right away. Is there anything I can do for you that will help you fall to sleep?¡± Anita purred.
Max didn¡¯t know what she meant. A spell of some sort, or did she mean . . .something else? Anita was so attractive, and she sure sounded like she was hitting on him. Max knew nothing should happen between them, but he couldn¡¯t stay strong for both of them. If she kept hitting on him, he would eventually crumble.
Jahrod was already snoring, lying on his back, face up, mouth open, presumably hoping some hapless creature would wander in during the night so he could chomp it down.
Max pulled out his Blanket of Comfort. Anita checked her spells before joining Max on the blanket, and then she nestled into him. He wrapped an arm over her shoulder. She did not suffer from the cold at all, and the night in the forests of the Hinge was very cold. They were so close to the Salt River that Max could hear its waters lapping against the rocky shore. He felt the cold bite, but with Anita in his arms, he grew warmer and was soon asleep.
Morning came too soon. The day¡¯s march was brutal. The elves set a steady pace, but it was unremitting and relentless. Yet the elven company moved with ease. They ate on the march, not taking any rest during the day at all. Even though Max knew his Stamina was high and had recently received a permanent boost, he still felt fatigue creep over him by midafternoon. Anita must have seen it, for she cast a spell of Recovery, and Max felt instantly refreshed, like he¡¯d had a power nap followed by a strong coffee. He made it to sundown without difficulty, but when the elves came to a halt, he collapsed, relieved the day was over.
¡°We are now deep into the Hinge,¡± Elderon said as the party rested. He drew a map on the ground with his staff, showing the long, narrow sea known as the Salt River splitting the continent of Awen in two, the continent joined only at the Hinge in the southeast. Elderon stabbed a point on the southern bank of the Salt River near its easternmost point.
¡°We are here.¡± He moved his staff around the Salt River coast on the map and jabbed the ground northwest of their current position. ¡°The elven city of Deepwood is here. We will leave the East Ridge Forest tomorrow and move into the forests south of Oak Ridge. We will be passing very close to Castle Deadtide. Captain Fineblade tells me they intend to slip past on the banks of the Salt River. Another long march tomorrow, and we will be into the Kingdom of Deepwood. Rest well.¡±
Max lay awake, unable to find sleep. He was thinking about Castle Deadtide. Had it been a mistake to let Gaius Deadtide go? Max worried that the Deadtide army and their goblin allies could even now be regrouping at Castle Deadtide. He didn¡¯t remember when he fell into sleep, but when he woke, it was dark, and he was in the middle of chaos, surrounded by the sounds of steel on steel and the shouts of elves in the dark.
Max sat up and tucked his Blanket of Comfort away into his pouch. Jahrod was on his feet, axe in hand. Anita crouching and peering into the darkness.
Elderon came to Max. ¡°We find ourselves in the middle of an elven civil war,¡± he said, crouching next to Max and the others. ¡°A company of elves is attacking Fineblade¡¯s company. Violence between elves is a rare and terrible thing. It is a brutal sight Eveirea never wanted to see again.¡±
Max stood up and drew his sword. ¡°We must help Captain Fineblade. If what he tells me is true, the Kingdom of Deepwood is under the influence of the darkness. These elves must be victims of the darkness. We must aid him.¡±
Max¡¯s party conferred with a series of glances into each other¡¯s eyes, all they needed to gauge their party¡¯s wish for this fight. All agreed with Max.
¡°We are with you,¡± Anita said.
¡°Who needs sleep?¡± Jahrod said spinning his axe. ¡°We can sleep when we meet in the Underlands.¡±
A flash of movement in the trees drew Max¡¯s eye, something rushing forward, a hint of movement in the shadows, impossible to see clearly. Max turned his head this way and that to identify the source of this strange movement, but he could only see the outline of something moving. Something advancing at a quick pace. Then he saw a fleeting glimpse of an elf who came running out of the darkness towards Max as he drew his sword, the blade singing on the scabbard, the metal glinting in the dull light of dawn.
Chapter 2.32
The dark elf came running with very little sound, and his dark cloak made him extremely difficult to see in the low light. He blended in with the surrounding trees, well camouflaged and moving silently, no doubt using the elven Wilderness Lore ability to blend into the surroundings. Only by drawing his sword did he reveal his position, and that only fleetingly, but it was enough for Max to pick out his attacker. The flickering shadows formed a table of his attacker¡¯s stats.
Name: Dark Elf
Status: Taken by Darkness
Attack: Longsword
Threat level: Determined
Natural ability: Silent Attack
Max raised his shortsword and held it in a defensive posture, upright before him. He held the blade firmly with two hands but not so rigidly that he could not respond to the attack.
Dark Elf attacks Max.
The dark elf focused on Max with a predatory determination. He didn¡¯t see Anita bring her spear around in a wide arc, slamming it against his shins.
Anita had hidden herself using her Wilderness Lore, and so the elf had not seen her. He tumbled and skidded to a halt at Max¡¯s feet.
Somewhere in the darkness, Captain Fineblade was calling his company to order. The dark elves were everywhere, running through the camp. The dark elf at Max¡¯s feet stood up and scowled at Max, completely ignoring Anita and Jahrod on either side. Max saw the black lines around his eyes and fell back a step.
Anita and Jahrod attacked the dark elf. Anita¡¯s spear dealt heavy damage with a single stabbing thrust, the bonus Fire damage washing over the dark elf in a wave. Jahrod swung his axe and delivered critical damage with a single blow. The elf fell again and looked up at Max. The darkness surrounding his eyes intensifying. Max held up his hand to call for truce. What was the meaning of this attack?
Elderon cast a Magic Missile. The many orange orbs arced around Max and slammed into the dark elf. He collapsed face down, utterly defeated.
Dark Elf attacks Max.
Another dark elf in the trees shot an arrow. The arrow stuck Max in the chest. The force knocked him back and off his feet. The impact took the wind out of his chest. As he fell backwards, he was sure he would be dead in moments, but he looked down and saw the arrow lodged in his padded tunic. An inch lower and the arrow would have made a deep slash across the tunic, and the battered armor would not have saved him.
Max takes heavy damage.
He could not take another hit like that. An arrow fizzed through the dark towards Jahrod but bounced off the dwarf¡¯s heavy armor.
Max ran at the dark elf. The elven archery skills were too great a threat, and only by closing in could he hope to defeat the attacker. Anita and Jahrod ran with him, seeing clearly his plan.
Max attacks Dark Elf.
Dark Elf takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
The dark elf stepped back; Anita advanced and struck. The dark elf fended off her spear with his longbow. He discarded the longbow and drew his sword in time to meet the attack from Jahrod. The dwarf¡¯s axe bashing the defensive sword aside, beating through to land a heavy blow on the elf¡¯s armor.
The dark elf was falling back, overwhelmed by Max¡¯s party. Max drew his catapult and loaded a bullet of random effect.
Max attacks Dark Elf.
Dark Elf takes minor damage.
Random effect: Blinding Flash
The dark elf staggered, sword up in a hopeless attempt at defense, one hand over his blinded eyes. A magic missile from Elderon defeated the dark elf before he could regain his vision.
Fineblade¡¯s company organized into a powerful defensive formation quickly, but the dark elves had the advantage of a surprise attack and had the upper hand. Max led his party into the heart of Fineblade¡¯s company. They were standing toe to toe with the dark elves, swords clashing. A volley of arrows came from the trees.
¡°Their leader is over there,¡± Fineblade said. ¡°We are trying to get to him, but we are outnumbered. They are preventing us from taking their leader.¡±
Max pulled up his hood, activated his Sneak ability. He left the company, his party staying behind to aid Fineblade.
Max moved quietly through the trees. He heard arrows fizzing through the air, rustling the trees, all deadly arrows aimed at Fineblade¡¯s company. Max saw the dark shapes of a line of elven archers. There behind them was a tall solitary figure. He was surrounded by a dark shadow. Max felt the pull of the dark shard this figure had on his person. Max moved in. It only took a slight rustle of leaves for Max to give away his position, and the dark leader turned to face him. The dark eyes in a pale elven face searched the shadows but could not see Max. Max stood dead still, his breathing sounding like a hurricane as he tried to breathe silently. The dark leader stepped towards him.
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Name: Dark Elf Leader
Status: Consumed by Darkness
Attack: Dagger of Darkness
Threat level: Deadly
The dark leader stepped towards Max. He drew his blade, long and slightly curved. The blade was black like the dark portal itself. The dark leader stepped towards Max and sniffed the air.
Max knew a single move and the dark leader would hear him. His Sneak ability might not hide him much longer if another sound gave him away. Max felt for his catapult. If he drew it, the action would cause him to leave the shadows and appear.
Maybe the only plan at this stage was to run.
Max took a step back, preparing to turn on his heel. The movement caused the leaves to rustle, and the dark elf leader advanced, black slime in the corners of his mouth as his lips pulled apart. A snarl and a hiss. The elf was utterly consumed by the darkness.
At that moment, a flock of murder crows came swooping down out of the trees. They swarmed over the dark elf leader, scratching, pecking, and cawing madly. As the dark elf thrashed at the murder crows, defeating them with sword and fist, Max left the dark elf to his battle, turned, and ran.
After only a few steps, Max was seized by an unseen attacker. Arms wrapped around him, a cloak swishing in the dark. Max felt himself picked up and carried a hundred yards in a huge leaping arc before coming down to the ground. He fought for freedom and on landing, escaped the grip.
Max drew his sword and faced his attacker. He knew escape was not an option; he would have to fight.
¡°Is that how you thank a friend for saving you?¡± Gorgoron pulled down his red hood and showed his face.
Max hesitated; he kept his sword up. ¡°Gorgoron Redfist?¡± Max said. ¡°How? What?¡±
¡°Don¡¯t be so surprised,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°I have been watching over you. You don¡¯t realize how important you are, Max. It is all well and good you traveling around with Elderon, but the Mage council feels you need more protection than one old Mage long past adventuring age. Elderon should be tucked away in the Mage towers of Essillt, reviewing ancient texts and taking afternoon naps, not running around with a party of adventurers.¡±
¡°Elderon is guiding me and teaching me well,¡± Max said. His sword arm wavered.
¡°But he¡¯s not protecting you. I wonder if he is, in fact, intentionally endangering you. How much danger have you been in since you began traveling with Elderon?¡±
¡°There is danger everywhere,¡± Max said. He pointed back over his shoulder. ¡°Those dark elves attacking Captain Fineblade¡¯s company. That has got nothing to do with Elderon.¡±
¡°Whoever brought on that attack, Elderon failed to protect you. I had to step in again.¡±
¡°When have you ever saved me?¡± Max shot back.
¡°I saved you from that dark slug on the meadowlands outside Ralynn City. It has been tracking you since it first took up your trail. You have moved back and forth across the Hinge so much, it was never very far away from you. I was able to hold it back for a time.¡±
Max remembered seeing the Red Mage on a hill when the slug last attacked. Max did not believe Gorgoron. It was just as likely the Red Mage was sending the slug after him.
¡°I thank you for your aid, Gorgoron. But I don¡¯t need it. And now I will return to my party. We must defeat these dark elves.¡±
¡°The elves can fend for themselves,¡± Gorgoron said. ¡°You don¡¯t need to get involved with their concerns. You are not concerned about the fate of Castle Deadtide; why should you be concerned by the elven city?¡±
Max felt his sword arm weaken. He lowered his arm. He noticed the gleam in Gorgoron¡¯s eye as the sword went down. Max didn¡¯t think he could defeat Gorgoron with his shortsword in any case. Casually, he sheathed it.
¡°Castle Deadtide is not consumed by darkness. The dark shard was with the army, delivered to them by the elven witch. Now that she is defeated, they are not gathering any replacements. Deadtide will be restored in time. But the elves have collected many shards. We must free them from the dark influence.¡±
¡°You need to look after yourself, young Mage,¡± Gorgoron said.
¡°I think I will,¡± Max said.
Max casts Summon Fog.
The fog billowed up from the ground around Gorgoron, and soon both were hidden in the dense fog.
Max activates Dark Movement.
Max turned his back to Gorgoron and entered Dark Movement. Time slowed down, and the distance shrank before him. It felt like running in a dream where it is impossible to move, yet the distance was covered in tiny steps. Frustration filled Max as he tried to run, moving far and fast yet seeming unable to move. He had been so turned around by Gorgoron, he was not completely sure where he was, but he hoped he was heading back towards the Salt River, and then he could trace the coast back towards Fineblade¡¯s company and his own little party.
Janet appeared next to Max. She looked worried.
¡°Max, you must stop. You are traveling too far. You are falling deeper into the dark portal. If you don¡¯t get out now, you will be trapped here forever, like me.¡±
Max trusted Janet, and he tried to leave the Dark Movement. He pushed the darkness away from him, and the light of the world came in. But the darkness only receded so far and then hung there like dark mist a few feet away. And still he moved, falling, racing. He felt the darkness start to close in around him again. He still moved. He closed his eyes and forced the darkness away. The edge receded further and then finally dispersed.
Max collapsed to the ground, sweat-soaked and breathless. He looked back for Gorgoron, sure the Mage would be after him. But Gorgoron was not there. What did the Red Mage want with him? Why was he so keen to get him away from Elderon? He wanted Max¡¯s power. Did Elderon want Max¡¯s power too? Could he trust anyone? Dark thoughts clouded his mind. He felt rage building in him, anger at Gorgoron for snatching him away, anger at Elderon for manipulating him. Anita only wanted his body. Jahrod needed to bathe once every couple of months.
¡°Max, snap out of it,¡± Janet said, hovering next to him, the size of a firefly and glowing as brightly in brilliant white. The darkness fell away from his mind.
Max stood up, shaky legs barely holding him. He looked back in the direction he was sure the company of elves went. Then he noticed the silence. No sounds of battle. Only the sounds of the Salt River lapping the shores and the woodland animals scurrying about, early-morning birds chirping in the brightening light.
¡°Hey, Janet,¡± Max said, staggering through the trees towards the Salt River banks. ¡°How far did I travel?¡±
¡°Further than you should. I detect no danger, no darkness about here. Your friends are not too far away. You should not mistrust them, Max. It is just the darkness tormenting you. Tempting you.¡±
Max came out of the trees and onto a rocky shore. The Salt River stretched away on either side. He could just make out the far bank, but it was shrouded in morning mist. Max scooped up a handful of water and splashed it over his face to wake him. The water on his lips was very salty, clearly the water of a sea, not a river.
¡°Ok, let¡¯s head back to the party,¡± Max said. He looked around, but Janet was gone.
The coast path was well worn. He felt sure that if he followed it, he would meet his friends soon. The sun was low on the horizon and sparkled on the rippling waters. He spotted a figure stooping at the water¡¯s edge a few hundred yards away. Long blond hair tumbling over naked shoulders. Max approached, unsure whether to call out or sneak past. Should he let this naked beauty know he was there so she may cover herself or sneak past and leave her to her bathing undisturbed?
The maiden turned to Max as he considered what was the proper thing to do. Her wide green almond eyes stared out at him, her shy smile on full pink lips. She held her arms across her chest, long blond hair flowing down over her body, both disguising and outlining her smooth curves.
¡°Are you alone?¡± Max said as he came closer, cautious but trying to be as unthreatening as possible in case this young maiden would be afraid of him.
She stood up. Her light flowing skirts hung down to the ground. She pulled up her light blouse that was fastened at the waist. She slipped her arms in, the translucent material so fine, he could almost see every detail of her fit body.
¡°A handsome young man,¡± the girl said. ¡°It¡¯s my lucky day. I need help finding my way. Can you help me?¡±
Max came closer, cautious still. ¡°How can I help?¡±
¡°Feed me.¡±
A mass of tentacles shot forwards, erupting from the water like an explosion. They wrapped around Max¡¯s chest and squeezed the air out of his lungs. The girl¡¯s form unraveled and became a bunch of short and fine tentacles. Her appearance an illusion or a lure of some kind designed to trap unwary travelers.
The tentacles wrapped tightly around Max and began to drag him to the water¡¯s edge.
Chapter 2.33
Max dug his heels into the ground as he was dragged closer to the bank. Another tentacle grabbed his ankle. Max drew his sword as a third tentacle grabbed his sword arm, twisting around the elbow and up to the wrist, the tip of the tentacle grabbing for the sword itself. Max held on tight, refusing to let the tentacle rip it from his hand. The water shimmering over the thick rubbery tentacles formed a table of stats.
Name: Kamora
Status: Hungry
Attack: Tentacle Grip, Crushing Beak
Threat level: Deadly
Max was lifted off the ground and up into the air feetfirst. He saw down to the deep dark waters just beyond the rocky shore. A dark shape lay just beneath the surface, roughly oval in shape, like a football but the size of a city bus. Tentacles writhed under the water. Another rose up, uncoiling slowly, the tip reaching out towards Max. It coiled around his head, covering his mouth and one of his eyes.
With his hands bound up, he had no chance to strike with his sword. With his mouth covered, he could not cast a spell. His sword, however, had another ability.
Max casts Sword Lightning.
The lightning struck the base of the nearest tentacle. Fine lines of blue energy crackled over the surface of the tentacle and then rose up, spreading over the many tentacles. It spread and came ever closer to Max. He looked in fearful surprise as the beast covered his other eye. Then the lightning hit.
Kamora takes moderate damage.
Max takes moderate damage.
The Kamora¡¯s tentacles unraveled as the lightning bit. Max fell to the ground, lightning burning his scalp, fizzing at his fingertips. He hit the ground hard. He glanced at the water in hopes of seeing the tentacles receding as he rushed back from the water¡¯s edge but was left disappointed and afraid as yet more tentacles emerged along with the huge head of the beast.
The oval-shaped head was black with purple splotches. It was domed slightly at its center. A set of huge eyes looked at Max. The mouth surrounded by hundreds of short fine tentacles opened to reveal a bright-white beak. The two huge parts of the beak were wide and sharp, a vicious hooked tip in the center. The lightning flickered over the body still, and the beak chattered with a sound like two huge rocks being smashed together repeatedly.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Kamora takes moderate damage.
Max scuttled backwards and cast again. A second volley of magic missiles slammed into the beast, vaporizing the water on its black slimy skin.
Kamora attacks Max.
A tentacle shot towards Max. He rolled aside and avoided the tentacle, only to be ensnared by a second one. He felt the power of the beast as it lifted him, crushing him. His ribs close to breaking.
Max takes moderate damage.
Max turned his sword and held it two-handed with the point downward. He lifted and then stabbed down into the tentacle holding him.
Max attacks Kamora.
Kamora takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
The tentacle unraveled and Max fell. Before he could hit the ground, he was grabbed around the legs by another tentacle and yanked upwards.
Kamora attacks Max.
Max takes minor damage.
Max was lifted up and hung upside down. He hacked at the tentacle holding his ankles and struck a good blow.
Max attacks Kamora.
Kamora takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
The creature was not giving up its prize so easily this time. Maybe it had become accustomed to the sting of the lightning. Max was drawn out over the water. He looked down and saw the wide head roll over so the beak was pointed upwards. Max was brought over the top of the beak as it repeatedly and rapidly clacked together in anticipation.
Max casts Fireball.
Max aimed the fireball at the beast and struck it in the open beak.
Kamora takes heavy damage.
The fireball expanded upward as the kamora sunk beneath the surface. Max turned to avoid the fireball, shielding his face with his arms.
Max takes moderate damage.
Max heavily injured.
Max had to stop damaging himself, although it looked likely he would not have another chance. The kamora was still merely badly injured by all of Max¡¯s attacks and still had about half its Health left. Then the huge head resurfaced; the fireball damage had been done. The beak opened. Max was lowered to the beast¡¯s mouth.
Max held his sword out, ready to deliver a stinging blow, hopefully enough to delay the final crushing bite. Then the tentacle quivered, and Max felt the grip loosen. Max saw the crossbow bolt sticking out of the tentacle an inch from his ankle. Then a second bolt thudded home.
Max turned to see Jahrod loading another bolt to his crossbow. Anita was casting a spell. An insect swarm leapt away from her hands, a tight ball of tiny buzzing creatures that landed on the face of the kamora and began biting and stinging, repeatedly delivering minor damage. The beast again retreated beneath the surface of the water but tightened its grip on Max¡¯s ankle.
Max takes minor damage.
Health critical.
Max placed the sword blade on the tentacle and started sawing back and forth. Another crossbow bolt struck. Magic missiles from Elderon slammed into the beast. The tentacle released Max, and he fell to the water.
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Under the water, Max saw the white beak come towards him. He tried to swim backwards. He felt a hand grab his collar and pull him with a mighty jerk, flinging him to the bank. As he landed, he saw Jahrod, waist-deep in water. He was hurrying backward, his axe hacking at any tentacles that came close to him. He backed off rapidly and clambered up onto the bank.
Elderon cast a Cold spell and the surface of the water around the beast froze, tentacles trapped above the ice, the head trapped below, both thrashing about and trying to break the ice that had it bound.
Jahrod ran from the water¡¯s edge, backing off, furiously wiping the water from his beard and stripping off his wet clothes. He was yelping in pain as he tore his clothes off. He hopped as he tried to pull off a boot. He ran to the tree line, flinging his clothes away, and then, once totally naked, he started rolling in the dirt and leaf litter at the forest¡¯s edge.
The kamora smashed through the ice and rose up, standing on several tentacles, its wide head climbing, tentacles writhing above its head. It slammed two tentacles down on Max. Max held his sword up in a hopeless defense. It was only then he saw that a Mage Sphere had formed around him.
All went quiet. Max could hear nothing except for his own labored breathing. The tentacles slammed down and hit the sphere. The sphere shimmered and rippled. Max saw the suckers on the tentacles grip the sphere and attempt to pull it upwards but there was nothing physical for the suckers to grip, and they simply slid away.
Anita was launching bullets from her sling at the kamora. Elderon cast another Magic Missile.
Max drew his catapult. He loaded a normal bullet and tested if he could shoot out through the sphere. The bullet passed through the Mage Sphere and dropped short of its target.
He could attack out of the sphere, but he was safe from any attacks made on him for now. He loaded a Bullet of Random Effect. He drew hard and took aim. He closed his eyes in case the bullet bounced back off the inner wall of the sphere.
Max attacks Kamora.
Kamora takes minor damage.
Random effect: Flame
The kamora lashed out in rage at Max in his sphere. The tentacles struck hard, and the Mage Sphere shimmered and then failed. The tentacles slammed down around Max. He took aim before the tentacles could be smashed together and crush him.
Max attacks Kamora.
Kamora takes minor damage.
Random effect: Lightning
Kamora has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The lightning flickered over the huge beast as it slid back into the dark water, leaving a flicker of lightning on the surface for a brief moment before dissipating.
Max sat on the edge of the water panting, propped up on his elbows. He stood up and walked over to Elderon and Anita.
¡°What brings you to this neck of the woods?¡± Max spoke with a smile.
Anita and Elderon looked at him, confused. Elderon spoke. ¡°We came looking for you. Lucky we found you when we did. Why did you think we were here?¡±
¡°I¡¯m glad you found me,¡± Max said. The sounds of Jahrod in the leaf litter under the tree were strange and worrying. He was growling and whimpering. Max walked over. The dwarf was rubbing himself down furiously with dry leaves. His clothes lay strewn about the place.
¡°And I have you to thank especially,¡± Max said. ¡°If you hadn¡¯t stepped into the water . . .¡±
Jahrod growled. ¡°I have saved your life now, Mage. We are even. My debt to you is paid.¡±
¡°I am honored.¡± Max saw Jahrod was in real discomfort. Anita offered him a pot of ointment.
¡°Rub it over the salt burns, Master Dwarf,¡± Anita said.
Jahrod pulled the lid off, scooped up as much as he could get on his fingers and started smearing over his body. He moved his long beard to one side so he could get in between his legs. He stood there, one leg held up, and he rubbed the ointment all over, groaning in pleasure. Max turned away. There were some things in life he¡¯d rather not see. He couldn¡¯t count how many beards Jahrod had. He was happy he didn¡¯t have to see whatever lay behind Jahrod¡¯s many long beards and have that burned forever onto his mind.
Max gathered Jahrod¡¯s clothes, boots, armor, and discarded axe and carried them to him. He was bent over rubbing ointment in the hard-to-reach areas of his lower back, upper thighs, and liberally everywhere in between.
Max turned away again at the merest glimpse of a hairy dwarven behind. Jahrod closed the pot of ointment and carried it to Anita. He handed it over.
Anita wrinkled her nose and shook her head. ¡°No, you keep it, Jahrod. You never know when you might get a saltwater splash again.¡±
Jahrod nodded his thanks and then walked over to Max to gather his things.
¡°So saltwater is really painful for you guys,¡± Max said.
Jahrod nodded as he pulled on his pants. ¡°It¡¯s not just a cultural thing like some people seem to think, that we¡¯re superstitious or something. No, saltwater really is very painful for us.¡±
¡°Then I am even more grateful to you for saving me.¡±
Jahrod grumped. ¡°What did you think, I¡¯d just let you get eaten by that beast?¡±
Max clapped Jahrod on his hairy shoulder. ¡°Thank you, my friend.¡±
Anita cast Heal Major Wounds on Max. Max felt his Health returning. He checked it in a table formed on the surface of the water. His Health was showing that he was still moderately injured, a good way off from full Health, but healthy enough that if he tripped and fell, it wouldn¡¯t end his days.
¡°We should get back to Fineblade¡¯s elven company. We promised to help him free his king of the darkness.¡±
Elderon shook his head. ¡°The elves have gone.¡±
¡°They took a ferry,¡± Anita said. ¡°I wasn¡¯t getting on that death trap. Besides, we needed to come and save you.¡±
¡°We should try and catch them,¡± Max said. He didn¡¯t mind admitting it, but he found Fineblade interesting. He was older than Max, that much was for sure, although he looked about the same age. Max wondered if he wasn¡¯t older than all of them, older even than Elderon. But Max felt they were friends. In a sense, they were both strangers to this world.
¡°If we stay close to the Salt River and follow the coast, it will take us up into Deepwood.¡±
¡°Let¡¯s do that,¡± Max said, setting off a few steps.
¡°But we will have to pass castle Deadtide.¡± Elderon gave Max a questioning stare. ¡°And we no longer travel with a company of elven soldiers. Do you think that is a good idea? You have just defeated their entire army. You might not be welcome.¡±
Max hesitated. ¡°Is there another way around?¡±
Anita and Jahrod shook their heads.
¡°Did we not save Deadtide from the darkness?¡± Max said hopefully.
¡°This is true,¡± Elderon said.
¡°I don¡¯t expect to be treated as a hero but we should not be treated as enemies.¡±
Jahrod buckled up his heavy armor and then slapped Max hard. ¡°You are a born Warrior, Max. Only a frontline fighter would be so stupid as to walk into the defeated enemy¡¯s lands so boldly.¡± Jahrod laughed and slapped Max again.
The morning brought the towers of Castle Deadtide onto the horizon; round towers at regular lengths along the outer wall with Deadtide banners hanging limply from the flagpoles on each tower. The outer walls extended out into the Salt River. The castle marked the easternmost tip of the narrow sea.
More than a military structure, Castle Deadtide was like a small city. The huge outer walls surrounding a circular inner wall, which itself surrounded a keep. The coast path along the Salt River passed through the southern gate of the outer wall and ran through the outer ward of the castle to the gate at the northern wall.
Once inside the outer wall, Max could see the castle was in disarray. The outer ward was as large as some of the small towns Max had visited, but here, buildings were left with open doors, broken window shutters. People lay about in the streets, staring into space. Some were attempting to restore some order. They were gathering the trash that littered the narrow main street and heaping it into orderly piles, but their movements were lethargic, their expressions listless and blank.
¡°Last time I was here, it was a well-ordered place,¡± Anita said. ¡°The outer ward of the castle had some of the best adventurer¡¯s stores anywhere on Awen. A meeting place for northern and southern Awen, for men and elves and dwarfs and all the other races of Awen.
¡°I fear the darkness has taken its toll,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The people look like they are recovering from a sickness.¡±
Max saw a man wandering towards them. He recognized the attire but not the man. Then, when he came closer, Max saw it was Gaius Deadtide.
Gaius saw Max and stopped in his tracks. Max¡¯s hand went to his sword. Elderon held an arm across Max¡¯s chest.
¡°Don¡¯t draw your sword, Max.¡±
Gaius started walking again, head cocked to one side. Curious. He looked like he hadn¡¯t slept in a week.
¡°I know you,¡± he said. He looked around him at the disorder. ¡°What has become of our town? Deadtide was one of the great towns and a great castle.¡± He looked up to the keep high over the outer ward, commanding views over the Hinge and the end of the Salt River. ¡°King Deadtide is no more,¡± Gaius said. ¡°He left no heir. I am all that remains of the Deadtide name.¡±
¡°You are Lord of Deadtide now, Gaius Deadtide,¡± Elderon said and laid a hand on the man¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Help your people recover. Castle Deadtide will be great again.¡±
Gaius looked at Max again. ¡°I do know you. Like you came into a nightmare and pulled me free. What is your name, friend?¡±
¡°I am Max. Max Lightfoot.¡±
¡°You are Max Lightbringer, a friend of Castle Deadtide.¡± Gaius offered his hand in friendship.
Max shook hands. Gaius looked up to the castle walls, still holding Max¡¯s hand. Tears welling up in his eyes.
¡°We have much work to do. We do not have much to offer adventurers in the way of hospitality, but I can find you rooms in the keep if you need rest.¡±
Max needed to activate some spells, and a rest would bring his Health back to full, but he didn¡¯t want to stay here in Castle Deadtide. It was too sad, even though he was sure these people had a bright future now that they had been freed of the darkness.
¡°Alas and alack, we must away, Lord Deadtide,¡± Elderon said. ¡°We must travel to the elven city of Deepwood.¡±
Gaius nodded. ¡°Yes, the elves. They are in danger of suffering the same fate as ours. I will assist you. Wait here.¡±
Gaius wandered off, but his steps showed a little more purpose than a few moments ago.
¡°Is he going to get his sword?¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Do we need an extra sword arm in the party?¡±
Max shook his head. He didn¡¯t think he¡¯d know how to turn Gaius down if he offered to join the party.
¡°No,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The Lord of Deadtide is needed here.¡±
Then Gaius came, walking a pair of huge hogs harnessed to a covered wagon. He handed the reins to Max.
¡°These hogs know the road to Deepwood. Let them take you.¡±
Anita walked along the side of the hogs, as big as cows. She rubbed their flanks, and they grunted gleefully. ¡°These are fine beasts. Are they as fast as they look?¡±
Max looked at the hogs. They didn¡¯t look fast at all, maybe fast at eating.
¡°Yes, they are swift indeed.¡± Gaius patted one of the hogs. ¡°You will be at Deepwood by morning tomorrow. Then if you would turn them around and send them back when you are done, they will return to us.¡±
Gaius nodded farewell to Max and wandered off. He stopped to give encouragement to some aimless and listless townsfolk who after a brief word from Gaius found purpose and meaning in their endeavors. As Max and his party left through the northern gate, the sounds of activity were already returning to the castle.
¡°So, how is this supposed to speed things up?¡± Max said, looking at the hogs plodding along beside him.
Jahrod jumped up onto the back of the wagon and clambered past the thick canvas cover. He turned and reached out for Anita. She took his hand and leapt up.
¡°Get in,¡± Elderon said.
Max climbed in.
Inside, the wagon was furnished for comfort with large pillows and blankets. The front canvas was rolled up, and Max looked out over the backs of the two large hogs. Elderon stepped in behind Max and walked to the front. He grabbed a set of reins and slapped them gently on the backs of the hogs. Then they started off at a rapid gait and steadily accelerated until the wagon was moving with great speed, as fast as Max could run, he was sure.
Elderon, Anita, and Jahrod settled down on the soft cushions.
¡°Shouldn¡¯t someone drive?¡± Max said, glancing out at the road ahead. The trees on the side of the road flashing by.
¡°Rest, Max,¡± Anita said, her arm open for him. ¡°Let the hogs work. They know the way, and they will let us know if they need our help.¡±
Max sat next to Anita, her arm around him. He sunk into soft pillows and drifted to sleep.
Chapter 2.34
Max woke, yet he was in a dream. He was trapped in a dark tunnel, falling, ever falling. The voice of Janet was distant. She told him the dark portal was powerful. He might not be able to find it yet, but he could not escape it. Sooner or later, he would come to it, or it would come to him. If that happened, it would be disaster for all.
Max was falling high above Eveirea. He saw the two continents. Awen and Scarfel. The wide Kraken Sea separating the two. Several large islands in the northern Kraken Sea between the two continents. The Salt River dividing the western continent.
He fell. He saw dark flecks across the continent of Awen flicker and then vanish, leaving only a concentration in the forests of Deepwood. He searched the view as he fell, looking for the dark portal itself. He saw a fleet of ships leaving a harbor on the eastern continent, setting sail from the only harbor in an otherwise sheer wall of rock that ran the entire length of the western shore of Scarfel.
Max fell. He saw the ships loaded with darkness. Dark soldiers, goblins, beasts.
Max woke with a start as the wagon hit a bump in the road. Anita ran her fingers through his hair. She soothed him with soft Druid words.
¡°You slept the entire journey. I feared it was a magic sleep from which you would not wake.¡±
¡°I dreamed,¡± Max said. ¡°Wild and vivid. I saw all of Eveirea. The Kraken Sea. Awen, Scarfel. Everything.¡± Max looked around. The wagon was empty.
¡°Where are the others?¡±
Anita pointed. At the front of the wagon, the canvas was rolled down, but Max could see the two figures sitting at the front.
¡°We are near Deepwood. We will go on foot soon.¡±
At that moment, Elderon called out in a low tone for the hogs to halt. The wagon slowed and then stopped. Jahrod pulled the canvas aside and looked in.
¡°On your feet, sleepyheads.¡±
Max climbed out of the wagon. The trees overhead were tall, and all had broad leaves. They were softer and thicker than the needles of the southern pines. They reminded him of oaks, only much taller.
Elderon turned the wagon in the road and slapped the hogs. They squealed and grunted and set off. Max couldn¡¯t believe how fast they moved, their legs swinging underneath them at a smooth and steady rate, pulling the wagon behind.
¡°Is it ok to leave them?¡± Max said.
Elderon walked on towards Deepwood. ¡°They know the roads. Captain Fineblade is not far ahead. We go on foot.¡±
The morning was fresh and cool under the forest canopy, but after an hour¡¯s walk, Max felt the sun streaming through the trees. He felt something he¡¯d not felt out in the wilderness before. It was warm. It was getting hotter by the moment. Anita unbuttoned her cropped tunic. Max wasn¡¯t sure how much more she could take off. The top under her tunic was tiny, barely covering her. She shoved her tunic into her pouch and fanned herself with her hand.
¡°Wow, it is hot here.¡± She held up her hair and wafted her neck.
Jahrod was sweating too, beads of sweat on his forehead pouring into his bushy eyebrows and beard. Max hoped he didn¡¯t also start stripping.
¡°You call this heat?¡± Jahrod said. ¡°Try a league underground in the Kingdom of Eastwind mines in high summer. This is still cool.¡±
Max didn¡¯t mind the extra heat, but he did wonder if he would be able to sleep next to Anita now. She was so hot it had been a comfort on cold nights, but if it was to remain warm and even get hotter, could he handle it? He looked at her. She was so beautiful. He decided he would simply endure the extra heat.
She turned and caught his gaze. They shared a smile. Before they could turn their attention back to the road ahead, Elderon and Jahrod stopped in their tracks.
Max looked forward. The road was blocked by a pair of tall, dark figures, heavily armored. One held a sword, the other a two-handed war hammer. Max recognized the threat. He checked their stats in the dappled shade on the road.
Name: Death Knight
Status: Hostile
Attack: Longsword. Dark Terror
Threat level: Insidious
Name: Death Knight
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Status: Hostile
Attack: War Hammer. Dark Terror
Threat level: Insidious
Max loaded his catapult. He drew back the golden roc sinew and took aim. Elderon cast Shield on the party, and Anita cast her attack and defense bonus spell on the party. Jahrod stepped forward a pace and made ready with his axe.
Death Knight attacks Max.
The Death Knights burst into a run. One appeared to be focused on Jahrod, and the one with the war hammer was looking directly at Max. He shot his bullet.
Max attacks Death Knight; no damage done.
Random effect: Fairy Lights
The bullet bounced off the Death Knight¡¯s armor with no effect. The brightly colored lights twinkling around the Death Knight¡¯s helmet seemed to irritate it more than anything else. The Death Knight waved away the lights, but they remained, twinkling in pretty colors. It slowed its pace a fraction.
The first Death Knight ran on and struck Jahrod a heavy blow with its sword. Jahrod stumbled back half a pace but came back with a heavy blow from his axe in instant reply. Jahrod had taken heavy damage but delivered a heavy blow himself. If Jahrod went toe-to-toe with the Death Knight, it would be a toss of the coin which one of them walked away from the battle at the end.
Max had time for one more shot as the Death Knight continued towards him, its war hammer in one hand, held out to the side. The huge war hammer was clearly very heavy, but the Death Knight carried it with ease.
Max attacks Death Knight; no damage done.
Random effect: Explosion
The bullet bounced harmlessly off the Death Knight¡¯s helmet, but the explosion knocked its head sideways. Even though the blast was clearly strong, the Death Knight didn¡¯t slow its pace at all. He refocused on Max.
Anita cast Root Tangle, and brown tree roots burst upwards from the ground. The roots held both Death Knights and Jahrod in place. Jahrod traded blows with the Death Knight, both parrying the other¡¯s attack and fending off blows with their weapons.
Max put his catapult away. It was doing no good. He began casting as the Death Knight tore at the roots at its shins.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
The Death Knight took the damage, and it barely scratched its Health. At least Max had a full complement of active spells thanks to the rest in the wagon. He cast another Magic Missile. The Death Knight took minor damage. Then Elderon¡¯s magic missile struck. It was much more powerful than Max¡¯s but still only did moderate damage.
Max¡¯s most powerful spell, the Fireball, would damage both Death Knights, but it would also damage Jahrod, who was locked in a slugging match with one of the Death Knights, both bound in by the Root Tangle.
Max drew his sword.
Max casts Sword Lightning.
The bolt flew away from the sword and wrapped around one Death Knight and then leapt across to the second Death Knight. It held them both with the crackling blue energy for a moment.
Death Knight takes moderate damage.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Max sheathed his sword and cast another spell from his active group of spells.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Max knew he was burning through spells, but what was the point of keeping them if the Death Knights defeated his little party? Max poured the rest of his magic missiles into the Death Knight that was attacking Jahrod and reduced the Death Knight¡¯s Health to heavily injured. But the other, the one still trying to get through the Root Tangle to Max, was only moderately injured.
The Death Knight broke free of the Root Tangle, the root fibers ripping and snapping. It took a step towards Max, only to be caught up again by more roots bursting out of the ground. One leg pulled at the roots and snapped free, and the Death Knight placed it forward, where it was caught again. The roots held firm even as the Death Knight struggled. Max could hear the strain on the roots, stretching and snapping sounds. The Death Knight broke free again and stepped forward, nearly clear of the area of effect, but a fresh set of roots wrapped around, and the Death Knight had to once again halt its advance.
Max stepped back and drew his catapult. It might be weak, but at least he could do some damage before the Death Knight could get a swing at him with that hammer. His shortsword was not much of a weapon against such a heavily armored and heavily armed foe.
Max attacks Death Knight.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Random effect: Sleep
The Death Knight stopped in its tracks. Its arms fell to its sides, the war hammer still held in its fist but lowered to the floor and getting tangled up in roots.
Anita shot bullets at the Death Knight facing Jahrod and delivered a few hits of minor damage. Then the Root Tangle spell faded, the roots returning to the ground.
Jahrod fell back a step and deflected a blow from the Death Knight¡¯s sword.
¡°How long does the sleep last?¡± Max said to Elderon, taking a step back.
¡°It¡¯s not a full-blown Mage spell, just a simple random magic effect. I don¡¯t expect it will last very long at all.¡±
At that moment, the Death Knight woke from its brief sleep and raised its war hammer. Both Death Knights came forward in step with each other.
¡°If we focus our attacks on one at a time . . .¡± Max said as he took another step back.
Elderon drew his sword.
¡°Yes, target the more heavily damaged one,¡± Anita said.
Max casts Strength.
The pair of Death Knights raised their weapons and increased their pace, closing the distance to Max¡¯s party. Both Death Knights held their weapons before them, two-handed. A dark cloud grew on the weapons and then drifted slowly forward.
Death Knights cast Dark Terror.
The black cloud hit. Max fell to his knees, suddenly overwhelmed by abject misery. Elderon bent double, gripping the sides of his head, staff and sword forgotten. Jahrod backed away, his axe dragging across the ground at his side. Anita began casting a Revive spell but gave up halfway, the spell fizzling out in her hands.
Max looked up as the Death Knights closed in. Overwhelmed with fear, he knew it was the end.
Chapter 2.35
The fear came in waves. Max wanted to run, but he was scared rigid. He stared up at the Death Knight, mouth open, eyes wide. The Death Knight raised its war hammer. Max sat shivering in fear even though the air around him was warm. His eyes darted here and there for any release from the terror. Anita was standing, her shoulders slumped, spear dropped, forgotten. Jahrod backed away, head shaking, tiny eyes as wide as Max had ever seen them. Elderon stood, gripping his head, twisting it side to side, almost on the point of crushing his own skull. He threw his head back and shouted to the sky with a deep bone-shaking yell.
What was he even doing here? Max thought. This was not his world. He was just some backstreet kid from nowhere. He had nothing; he had no one. He was nothing, so what if he died here? Who would miss him? Who would even know he was gone?
¡°Snap out of it, Max,¡± Janet said. She appeared before Max, a shimmering white apparition in the center of a black hole. ¡°It¡¯s just the dark portal,¡± she said. ¡°They are channeling the energy of the portal, and it¡¯s driving you and your friends mad with fear. It¡¯s just like when you use the portal for Dark Movement. You must choose to step back out from it. Step out of the darkness now. Wake up.¡±
As Janet fell away, Max found the confidence to shake off the fear. The danger was real, the threat deadly, but fear of the Death Knights no longer had him in its grip. The fear burst like an over-inflated balloon. He stood up. The two Death Knights only a few yards away, closing in slowly, their weapons raised and ready to attack.
Anita and Jahrod were further away, leaving Elderon and Max as the Death Knights¡¯s immediate targets. Max knew he couldn¡¯t take them on alone, and his party was still overcome by terror-induced apathy. He needed to snap them out of it. He only had one option. He just hoped it wouldn¡¯t kill them all.
Max casts Fireball.
The fireball leapt away from his hands and exploded between the two Death Knights, instantly engulfing them in a magical inferno.
Death Knight takes moderate damage.
Death Knight takes moderate damage.
And the fireball kept expanding. Max felt the heat on his face. He turned away as the fire hit.
Max takes moderate damage.
Health critical.
Elderon takes moderate damage.
And the fireball expanded outwards further to Jahrod and Anita, cooling and slowing as it went.
Jahrod takes minor damage.
Anita takes minor damage.
The fireball faded, and Max looked up to see the two Death Knights still advancing. The flames flickered over Elderon¡¯s robes, smoke from his singed beard, but he had a steely look in his gray eyes, not the panic-induced terror of a moment ago. His gaze was fixed on the Death Knights, and he was casting. He cast a Magic Missile at close range before stepping back and casting another.
A huge yell of fury and anger went up behind Max. He flinched at the sudden sound and turned. Here came Jahrod, charging towards the Death Knight, his beard smoking, his axe raised. And Anita too, her eyes focused and determined, spear in her hand. She leapt at the Death Knight and struck. The Death Knight staggered backwards, knocked off balance by the blow.
Jahrod swung his axe and delivered heavy damage. The Death Knight retaliated and punched with the handle of his sword. The blow glanced off the top of Jahrod¡¯s helmet with a clang, but Jahrod took no damage.
Max could see the Death Knight and Jahrod were both close to defeat. He felt the handle of his Shortsword of Lightning in his hand and ran in.
Max attacks Death Knight.
The shortsword point found a chink in the black armor, and Max thrust it home.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Death Knight has been defeated.
Max laughed as the black armor fell into a heap at his feet, a single burst of laughter born of surprise and relief as the Death Knight fell. He saw the swinging war hammer of the remaining Death Knight just in time. He ducked, and the huge hammer swung overhead. The Death Knight brought the war hammer up and then down hard towards Max. Max rolled away, but Elderon was there, his white-silver sword crossed with his staff and held up in defense. The sword and staff let out a burst of light as the war hammer struck. The war hammer bounced off Elderon¡¯s defense, sending the Death Knight staggering backwards.
Anita and Jahrod closed in on the Death Knight from either side. Elderon faced the huge Warrior. Max pulled up his hood and activated his Sneak ability. The Death Knight attacked each of the party with heavy blows from his huge war hammer, swinging it in wide arcs, but every blow was parried away. Max came up on the Death Knight¡¯s rear and attacked.
Max attacks Death Knight.
Death Knight takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Bonus Sneak Attack damage.
Death Knight has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Max has leveled up.
The Death Knight fell. The war hammer dropped, the armor fell apart and landed in a heap on the ground. Max poked the heavy black armor with his sword. Empty.
¡°You saved us,¡± Jahrod said, clapping Max on the back. ¡°That Fireball trick really worked out.¡±
¡°It was foolish,¡± Elderon said. ¡°I had almost broken free of their dark spell. There was no need to hit us all with the Fireball spell to break the fear.¡±
¡°It worked though,¡± Anita said. She started casting minor healing spells on Max. ¡°Good thinking, Max.¡±
Max¡¯s Health was quickly restored with a few spells, but he was still heavily injured. He needed rest and a meal and a few potions of Cure Moderate Wounds.
¡°I gained a level,¡± Max said.
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Elderon stood over Max, and his scowl became a look of admiration and approval.
¡°Level up now, young Mage. We will watch over you until you are done.¡±
Max sat down on the ground as Anita cast another Healing spell on him. He looked up at the clouds overhead. The thin wisps of cloud in a warm sky formed the table of his stats, but as ever, the detail was hidden behind a glowing pair of words: Level Up.
Max let the words rush towards him. They washed over him like a warm breeze and vanished. With the words Level Up gone, he now saw a swirling mass of other words for him to select from. Most prominent of these was the word ¡°Mage.¡± It was very close, large, shining bright gold, hovering directly in front of him, almost impossible for him not to select. Behind it, smaller than before but still shining brightly, were the words ¡°Bard¡± and ¡°Assassin¡± and ¡°Thief.¡± Behind them, hardly even readable now that they were so small, were the words ¡°Warrior¡± and ¡°Barbarian.¡± They were a dull-rust color and seemed out of reach. It would take extra effort for Max to reach out to those options.
Max had decided that he would stick with the Mage class. Even though he was gaining levels at a frustratingly slow rate and maybe he could advance quicker if he selected Bard or Thief, he thought of it as being a little like climbing a tall building. It was important to pick a climbing route and stick to it, no matter how hard it became. Changing route in the middle of a climb could end in getting stuck, or worse still, falling.
Max reached out and selected Mage.
Max gains Level 6.
Max gains extra Health.
Gain one extra spell slot at Level 3.
Four spells at Level 1.
Two spells at Level 2.
Two spells at Level 3.
Sneak ability has been improved.
His table of stats was then revealed once again.
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: 6
Health: Badly Injured
Strength: 10
Stamina: 17
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 17
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Dark Movement
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
It was a little disheartening that he hadn¡¯t recovered all his Health. His Health bar was longer now, and he could take an extra hit of damage, but he needed to refill his Health bar. He needed a rest. But there was one thing that was very exciting: he had a new spell slot. He could have more active spells at his fingertips. He checked his Mage Book.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Web
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
? Disguise
He could select an extra Level 3 spell. He knew which spell was most powerful: the one that had just saved him, even if it had delivered damage to his party as well as their enemies. He checked his selected spells. Only the Summon Fog spell was still active of his selected spells. He¡¯d used the rest in the single encounter with the Death Knights. Maybe one Fireball was enough. He took a close look at the Disguise spell.
Disguise spell: Alter appearance of physical features and garb. Appear as friend or foe. Disguise spell cancelled if attacked or if any hostile action is performed. Sneak attack bonus applied if attacking while disguised.
Duration: One day unless dispelled or cancelled.
Disguise looked like a powerful spell if used correctly. He added it to his selected spells. Now he needed to rest, but there was little chance of that right now.
Selected Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Fireball
? Disguise
¡°All done?¡± Elderon asked as Max stood up.
Max dusted himself off and nodded. ¡°All done.¡± He beamed up at Elderon. ¡°I¡¯m a Level 6 Mage now.¡±
¡°You are so much more than that, young Mage,¡± Elderon said, laying a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You have come a long way in a short time.¡±
¡°Are we ready to go and find Captain Fineblade?¡± Anita said.
Max nodded and then caught a glimpse of something in the steadily evaporating armor of the defeated Death Knights. He probed the armor with his sword, and it crumbled away like burned paper. Max picked through the armor. It was slowly evaporating, the dark armor flaking away and drifting on the breeze before finally evaporating to nothing. Inside the armor, Max spotted a scroll.
He picked it up with the tip of his sword, blew off the black soot left by the evaporating armor, and then unrolled the scroll.
¡°What is it?¡± Anita said.
¡°It¡¯s a scroll of Dark Terror,¡± Max said. He felt a flutter of nerves as he read it.
Spell of Dark Terror: Disable enemies with crippling fear. Affects all within an area of effect, friend or foe.
Max didn¡¯t know what to make of this spell. He was tempted to discard it. He didn¡¯t want to hold on to it. Max studied the scroll. If he copied it to his Mage Book, it would be safely out of the way and if he never selected it or activated it, then it would do no harm to him or his friends ever again.
Max read the scroll. The dark icons shimmered on the scroll as he read the incantation. They appeared to scream in piteous fear as the scroll crumbled. He checked his Mage Book, and there, amongst his Level 3 spells, was Dark Terror.
Mage Book
Level 1 Spells:
? Magic Missile
? Detect Enemies
Level 2 Spells:
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Web
Level 3 Spells:
? Shield
? Fireball
? Disguise
? Dark Terror
It was a powerful spell, but he still felt a lingering fear from having been affected by it himself. He slammed his Mage Book shut. It shrank down in size and fitted in his palm. He tossed it up in the air before pulling his pouch off his belt. He opened his pouch, and the Mage Book was drawn to the opening. Once safely stored in his pouch, he closed it up, fastened it to his belt, and made ready to move on.
¡°Ready,¡± he said.
The expression on Elderon¡¯s craggy old face told Max that the old Mage was not impressed by Max throwing his Mage Book around, although Max knew he and the book were bound together, and he couldn¡¯t lose it. Mages could not lose their Mage Books. The Mage and his Mage Book were one.
Elderon led the party, and they headed westwards, ever deeper into the forests of Deepwood.
Walking into the forest, Max felt a sense of wonder. The air was warm, the trees were impressive, but he felt the lingering shudder of fear from the Death Knight¡¯s Dark Terror spell.
¡°How did those Death Knights find us, Elderon?¡± Max said, walking alongside the old Mage.
¡°They are not natural creatures,¡± Elderon said. ¡°They are summoned by the power of the darkness. Any who have access to the darkness that is infecting Eveirea can summon dark creatures, but one must have a concentration of power to summon two such fearsome creatures as the Death Knight. I fear that King Daynor has summoned them. We must be cautious.¡±
The forest seemed to grow darker although it was bright daylight. Darkness hid behind the tall broad trunks of the trees. The forest road was wide and clear, well kept by the elves of Deepwood, but there was darkness closing in from the shadows of the trees. Max remained alert. Anita scouted ahead of the party a few hundred yards but chose to stay on the road and not venture off into the forest.
¡°Are there any dangers in Deepwood?¡± Max asked, looking into the trees. They looked like they went on until the end of the world.
¡°There is danger everywhere,¡± Elderon said.
¡°That¡¯s reassuring,¡± Max said sarcastically.
¡°Should I reassure you with baby stories?¡± Elderon said, ¡°or do you want to know the truth of the world?¡±
Max felt Elderon¡¯s tone was unsympathetic, not kindly at all. Bitter and abrupt.
¡°No need to bite my head off,¡± Max said, his voice rising.
Jahrod stopped walking and turned to confront the two. ¡°Why don¡¯t you both stop your complaining? Why do Mages revel in argument? Chew on your Mage Books and stop up your mouths, or I¡¯ll stop you with steel.¡±
¡°Do you challenge me, dwarf?¡± Elderon said.
¡°You don¡¯t scare me, Mage,¡± Jahrod said.
¡°Why don¡¯t you shut your mouth?¡± Max felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise with the volume of his voice. ¡°Shove something disgusting in there and chew on that.¡± Max felt his fingers curl around the handle of his sword.
¡°Why don¡¯t you go back to where you came from?¡± Jahrod stepped towards Max. ¡°Where even is that, Max? You never say. What are you hiding from me? You are a bad spell; I can sense it in you.¡±
¡°Thought you said a bad smell,¡± Max said, squaring off against the dwarf, ¡°but you¡¯d know all about that. Why don¡¯t you just go? Go back to whatever dung heap of a town you call home.¡± Max snarled. ¡°You saved my life from the kamora. We are even. But maybe you owe me for forcing you to have a wash. Go, dwarf. Leave.¡±
Jahrod¡¯s hand gripped his axe until his knuckles turned white. Max drew his sword, the metal singing on the scabbard as it came forth.
¡°What are you doing?¡± Anita said, running over and stepping in between the two. ¡°Put your weapons away. What¡¯s the matter with you?¡±
Max looked at Anita, her wide green eyes sad and imploring. He looked down at Jahrod, who was clearly confused.
¡°I . . .¡± Max said, faltering, struggling to find a reason for his outburst.
¡°Something is not right in the Kingdom of Deepwood,¡± Elderon said.
¡°Jahrod, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Max said. ¡°I don¡¯t know why I said that.¡±
¡°Me neither, young Mage.¡±
¡°It is the darkness,¡± Elderon said. ¡°There is a concentration of dark power here. We must be extra cautious.¡±
¡°I have something that might help.¡± Anita started casting a spell.
The spell erupted around the party, and the darkness was dispelled with bright cheerful color. Max felt a wave of relief.
¡°What was that?¡±
¡°It is a spell of harmony. We will be resistant to fear spells, and we gain a bonus to defense as a party.¡±
Jahrod wrapped his arms around Max. ¡°I don¡¯t care where you are from. You will tell me when you are ready. Sorry, friend.¡±
Max returned the embrace, but boy, the smell.
¡°There,¡± Elderon said, ¡°along the road.¡±
Max looked to the distance. There were figures up ahead. Max saw the long white coat of Captain Fineblade. A small number of his company on either side of him. They raised their bows.
Even at this distance, Max could see the darkness around their eyes.
And then a group of elves appeared in the trees on either side of them, bows raised, dozens of elven arrows trained on the party, each one aiming for the heart.
Chapter 2.36
¡°Captain Fineblade,¡± Elderon called out. ¡°It is us, your friends, allies. Have we been away from your company so long that you have forgotten us?¡±
¡°Friend, you say? Ally? You encroach on the Kingdom of Deepwood. You should know that the elves prefer solitude, Master Mage.¡±
¡°We are here to aid you,¡± Elderon went on, imploring, ¡°to free King Daynor and the great Kingdom of Deepwood.¡±
Max heard the bow strings creak under tension. Fineblade walked forward.
¡°Darius,¡± Max said lightly, as friendly as he could manage with arrows pointed at him. ¡°There is darkness in these woods. I fear it has clouded your mind. Remember when we last spoke? We must aid your king.¡±
¡°And who are you to offer the elves aid, stranger? No one knows you here. No one knows you anywhere. Maybe this is why I have been charged with bringing you and your party into my custody.¡± Fineblade drew his sword.
Max whispered to Elderon. ¡°The darkness in this forest is powerful indeed. If the king is released and the dark shards destroyed, maybe there is hope that all can be restored.¡±
Elderon nodded. ¡°I think they mean to take us before the king.¡±
¡°I think they mean to destroy us,¡± Max said.
¡°Do you have a plan?¡± Elderon said as Fineblade walked closer still, his sword held forward, the tip aimed at Max¡¯s throat and only a few sword lengths away.
¡°I think I do have a plan. If I follow this road, will it take me to the elven city?¡±
¡°Yes,¡± Elderon said.
Anita backed away from the approaching elves, Jahrod too, the party getting pressed closer together. Max in the middle of them all.
Max casts Summon Fog
The fog billowed up from the ground, from the road under their feet, and from the branches of the trees at the roadside. In a moment, all was shrouded in a thick white fog.
¡°Be safe,¡± Max said. ¡°I will move as quickly as I can.¡±
Max pulled up his Hood of Sneaking and activated his Sneak ability. He moved through the fog, close to Fineblade, and then past him. He moved to the edge of the fog. The elves voices were raised in confusion and shouted threats to the party to remain where they were. Max emerged from the fog and saw the road stretching ahead of him, deeper into Deepwood.
Max activates Dark Movement
The road in the far distance came racing towards him, the edges of the road no longer lined by trees but shrouded in deep black. Max stepped forward and moved over the road with steps that carried him a hundred yards at a time. He moved on, the forest surging past him with every step. He saw the darkness closing in on all sides, the area around him in full sunlight shrinking, darkness closing in. The end of the dark tunnel was getting smaller and further away. He took one more step and traveled a league and a half and then stepped out of the portal.
Max collapsed to the ground. He was on the same road, the same broadleaf trees on either side of him, but he was leagues from where he had started. He looked behind him. The road was long and straight, a brown beaten-earth road bounded by tall thick trees. The road vanished into the distance. No sign there of fog or elves or his party.
He needed to act fast.
Max checked his Sneak ability but it had been deactivated as he stepped into or out of the Dark Movement. He checked that he still had his Ring of Shadows and his Hood of Sneaking. He activated his Sneak ability and again was hidden from sight. He started down the road at a jog.
He passed through a hamlet as the road traveled through a collection of huts with white timbers and red roof tiles. Elves both young and old sitting and staring, their eyes shrouded by darkness. He went on and came to the glittering towers of the elven city, deep in the forest. Trees grew up through elaborate buildings and along the sides of streets paved with pristine white stone. The city was as much a part of the forest as the forest was a part of the city.
The tallest towers stood out of a white stone wall. The palace at the center of the city. Max felt the darkness within. He moved carefully through the city, closer to the tall palace walls. He used dark movement to travel swiftly along wide streets and came to the barbican in front of the palace.
The barbican was set in the palace walls and was a small castle in its own right. Two towers stood on either side of a heavy gate. Just beyond the gate was a courtyard with loopholes for archers to aim into the courtyard from the outer ward of the palace. At the far end of the courtyard stood another gatehouse, tall round towers with loopholes and battlements on the top. Any invader would have to fight through the killing ground in the courtyard of the barbican. But for now, it was open, and Max walked through. Guards stood at the gates but were lost in dark thoughts. None challenged him.
Once past the barbican, he was in the outer ward of the palace. A path led to the main gate. Again, it was open, guards staring blankly into the distance. Max walked in.
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He was drawn upwards. Up stone stairways. As he climbed, he heard distant screams and cries, whimpering and then howls of agony.
Guards at points along Max¡¯s route were lost in dark thoughts, vacant eyes staring, some streaming with tears as dark thoughts brought pain and fear to the immobilized elven guards.
Max followed the draw of the darkness. It tugged at his chest. As he got closer, he felt the sadness growing until it verged on the point of despair. He dismissed the feeling, steeling himself to be bold and confident: it was only the dark shards creating the negative thoughts. He walked deserted corridors until he came to the vast white throne room.
Highly colored windows at the far end of the throne room towering twenty or thirty feet up to the high pointed roof let bright sunlight stream in and project colors on the white stone floor. Sitting on the throne before the colored windows was the elven king, old and frail but shrouded in a dark veil. The dark hung like a cloud around him, the light stripped from the air. He was pale and gray. Before him at his feet, a pile of black shards, glittering and sparkling with dark beauty.
Max walked forward along the center of the room, his Soft Boots hardly making a noise on the stone floor. At the sides of the throne room stood elven guards. Near the king, a pair of dark elven witches, black holes for eyes, a black hole where a mouth should be. They were sucking the darkness from the crystals. Their clawlike fingers were hooked on the king; they sunk into the king¡¯s flesh through his robes that were tattered and torn, crumbling slowly, and falling to dust.
Max reached out to the pile of dark shards. He felt the fear welling up inside him. The witches shrieked, dark eyes searching about for a presence they felt nearby but one they could not yet see. Their voices were like a dry wind filled with sand and dust.
Max touched a shard. It evaporated in his hand, turning to dust.
The witches¡¯s dark empty eyes fell on him.
Witches attack Max.
Max reached for another shard as the witches¡¯ claws scraped at his face.
Max takes minor damage.
The shard evaporated. The witches howled, the dry wind shot through with the sound of nails scraping over a chalkboard. Max twisted in pain at the sound. He felt the sound run down his spine and lodge in his ears, making his teeth shiver. He reached for another shard.
Witches attack Max.
Max takes minor damage.
The pain and fear were strong. He felt a presence at his back, someone kind and encouraging. Anita, Elderon, maybe it was Janet. The witches¡¯s shrieking made him shout out in pain. He grabbed another shard.
Witches attack Max.
Max takes minor damage.
And with every dark shard evaporated, the witches¡¯s attacks came faster and harder. He had to ignore them and take the pain. He let another shard evaporate in his hands, and the pile was reduced to one last shard.
Max took hold, his eyes clamped shut. The witches clawed at his face and delivered more stinging damage. He let the shard evaporate. The clawing pain and the dry screeching stopped abruptly. He opened his eyes.
His hands were black and cold. He turned them over and watched with relief as the darkness faded, and they returned to his normal skin tone. The lines retreated from his wrist and to his fingertips. He felt a stabbing pain like tiny pins stabbing under his nails and at his fingertips as the darkness finally left him. He collapsed to the floor before the throne, hands clenched in tight fists and pressed against his body.
Max looked up into the eyes of an old King Daynor. His hair was gray and fine and brittle. His face dusty and pale. He smiled at Max, blood on his lips.
The guards recovered from the darkness and came forward. Spears leveled at Max. One challenged him, but Max was too exhausted to respond. The king responded for him.
¡°We can thank this young Mage,¡± the king said. He smiled, then his body was wracked with a convulsing.
A shout echoed along the throne room, a young voice. A young lady. She came past the guards and up to the throne, pushing past Max. She wrapped her arms around the king and held him.
¡°Father. Oh, Father. A nightmare. I had a terrible nightmare.¡±
The king laid a withered hand on her rosy cheek, and he smiled.
¡°The nightmare is over, child. We can thank this Mage.¡± The king pointed down to Max. Then he shuddered and sank down into the throne.
The young princess grabbed her father¡¯s robes and pulled him up. The robes disintegrated in her hands. She yelled at the guards. ¡°Bring help, now.¡±
Max tried to stand up, but his legs were weak. ¡°There is no more we can do for him now, Princess.¡±
The princess looked down at Max.
¡°I don¡¯t know you, Mage. Who are you?¡±
¡°I am Max Lightfoot. A student of Master Mage Elderon. We are here to save the Kingdom of Deepwood from the darkness.¡±
¡°Where is Elderon?¡± the princess said, looking around the throne room.
¡°He is with Captain Fineblade of the elven company in the forests of Deepwood.¡±
The king rested in the princess¡¯s arms. He looked up at her. ¡°The Mage is good, Daughter. He saved me, saved us all. I feel the old kings calling me. You are monarch of the kingdom of Deepwood now, Daughter.¡± His hand slipped from her cheek and he fell into the eternal sleep that comes for king and commoner alike.
The princess held the king for a moment before standing up from the throne. She pointed down at Max.
¡°This Mage killed the king,¡± she said. ¡°Take him away and hold him prisoner and bring me this Captain Fineblade and Master Mage Elderon. I will have answers, then I will have his head.¡±
The guards seized Max, who was too weak to resist. They dragged him from the throne room. The palace corridors were white and bright, but as they went down the wide, white stone stairs, the way soon became dark and narrow. The guards dragged Max through a heavy timber doorway to a set of narrow stone stairs and into a dark and cold dungeon. A heavy cell door was opened, and Max was thrown inside. The door slammed shut.
¡°Guess you were always likely to end up in a cell at some point,¡± Janet said, appearing before Max.
Max lay down on the stone floor. A rat squeaked somewhere in the shadows. He caught his breath and checked his wounds before he looked at Janet floating before him.
¡°I think that technically this is a dungeon,¡± Max said.
Janet smiled at him. She sat on the floor next to Max, knees up, her arms wrapped around them. ¡°Are you always this funny? I didn¡¯t realize before. Or are you just incredibly brave?¡±
Max felt extremely tired and extremely vulnerable. Not brave or funny at all. He looked at Janet. She was beautiful, her red hair swirling around her. Her smooth skin glowed. But there was a sadness under it all, sadness beneath that cheery smile.
¡°I¡¯m not brave,¡± Max said. ¡°But just brave enough to tell you that I think you are beautiful.¡±
Janet looked away.
¡°And a little sad, I think. Why are you sad, Janet?¡±
Janet gave Max a harsh stare, defensive and attacking at the same time, then she softened. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s because my friend is in trouble, and I can¡¯t help him.¡±
¡°Friend?¡± Max said with a smile.
¡°Let¡¯s just say you are growing on me.¡±
¡°Like mold?¡± Max said.
¡°Something like that,¡± Janet replied. She leaned forward and kissed him on the forehead. She faded away into the darkness.
Max watched her go and then slipped into sleep. He drifted on a dark sea in a dream of dark boats on wild, heaving waters, all boats streaming westwards towards a small port town, the port of Eastcrossing. Dark beasts and dark goblins and a dark general utterly consumed by darkness. The general stared at Max from within the dream. The dream became a nightmare.
Chapter 2.37
Max woke to the sound of rattling keys. The heavy cell door opened, and light spilled into the dark cell. Max squinted. He looked up into the face of Anita. She stepped into the cell and helped Max to his feet.
¡°Am I glad to see you,¡± Max said.
Anita led Max out of the cell, and they passed a guard. ¡°The queen says you should be taken to the bathhouse right away,¡± Anita said.
¡°Does she want to drown me?¡± Max said.
¡°No, she wants to make sure you are comfortable before meeting you. Elderon and Captain Fineblade explained everything to her. The new queen seems very nice and very sorry to have thrown you into a cell.¡±
Anita led Max into a bath chamber. The air was steamy and hot. The sound of water trickling over polished tiles. Max grabbed a thick fluffy towel and stepped up to the large, tiled bath in the center of the washroom.
Anita started to untie the threads on Max¡¯s tunic.
¡°I can manage fine,¡± Max said.
Anita stepped back and let Max undress. She turned her back for him to undress fully and step into the warm soapy water.
Anita scooped up Max¡¯s clothes. She stuck her finger through a slash across the padded leather. ¡°I think you will need a new tunic before long. This one has seen better days.¡± Anita handed Max¡¯s clothes over to a pair of young elves, who carried them away. ¡°They are to be washed and dried. You will have them back soon.¡±
Anita closed the door after the young elves and was herself undressed in a moment. She stepped into the bath with Max. ¡°Move up, Max,¡± she said lowering herself into the water.
Max was too tired and too relaxed to fret about Anita sitting there naked. The bubbles covered most of her body, and Max tried his best not to see the rest. She washed her hair and then poured scented liquid soap onto Max¡¯s head and washed his hair before rinsing it clean.
¡°Did the new queen tell you to bathe too?¡±
¡°No, but I can¡¯t pass up a good bath.¡± She slipped fully under the water and came up to her feet with a splash. The water ran down her body and formed a table of her stats.
Name: Anita Charmroot
Status: Amorous
Max averted his eyes. Anita lowered herself back to the bubbles. She winked at Max and then leaned back against the tiles, head back, face up, eyes closed. Max looked at her as she relaxed. It was nice to see her at ease. They had been through so much together.
The bath chamber door burst open. Elderon walked in with Jahrod just behind. His staff clicking on the stone floor of the bath chamber. ¡°Up, up,¡± Elderon said. ¡°The queen will see you now.¡±
Anita climbed out of the bath and slipped a long elven robe over her head. She held a hand out to help Max up.
¡°I can get up,¡± Max said.
¡°Are you injured?¡± Jahrod said.
Max shook his head. ¡°I just don¡¯t want to stand up fully naked in a roomful of fully dressed friends.¡±
Elderon looked confused and turned to Anita. ¡°Does he think we don¡¯t know what he keeps under his clothes?¡±
¡°Things are strange indeed in your lands,¡± Jahrod said. He grabbed Max by the arm with a huge hairy hand and dragged him from the bath. Anita poured a large jug of fresh water over his head to rinse him clean, and Elderon levitated a long elven robe over his head and then down over his body in a swift move. Rinsed and dressed in a few seconds, far too quick for Max to complain.
At first, Max felt a little strange walking around the palace in what amounted to a long dress, but all around, elves were wearing the same style, and by the time he reached the throne room, he felt quite at ease. The elven cloth was extremely comfortable. It made him realize how dirty and battered his own clothes were. Even so, he¡¯d be happy to have them back as soon as possible. He had no intentions of heading out to the wilderness dressed like this.
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The queen stood up from her throne when Max and his party entered. She stepped down and came to greet Max with an elegant hand held out.
¡°Max, I am so sorry to have detained you. Elderon and Captain Fineblade assure me you are a true friend of Deepwood and of our departed king.¡± She glanced back at the throne and then back to Max, a smile on her full lips. She took Max by the hand. ¡°I was so consumed by grief. The passing of my father was unhappy, but in truth, I know he was lost a long time ago, the dark witches and the cursed shards keeping him alive long after his time to join our elven ancestors in the great forests of eternity.¡± She looked Max up and down. ¡°I can see now how handsome you are.¡± She fluttered her eyelashes over her wide almond eyes.
¡°And brave, Queen Harari,¡± Anita said, putting an arm over Max¡¯s shoulder.
Max slipped his hands free of the queen¡¯s. ¡°But our task is not yet complete, Majesty,¡± Max said. ¡°I fear there is a great dark force heading this way. An army comes from over the Kraken Sea, heading to the Kingdom of Eastwind. If we are not to lose all we have gained by eliminating the dark shards, we must face this army and stop it before it can spread more darkness over the continent of Awen.¡±
The queen looked from Max to Elderon. The old Mage nodded his head. ¡°I have come to trust this young Mage¡¯s visions, Majesty.¡±
The queen sighed and stepped back up to her throne. ¡°And here I was hoping all was well and that you could be my guests for some time.¡± She sat and smiled at Max. ¡°I¡¯d like to get to know the young Mage who saved us all a little better. Are you sure you cannot stay even one night?¡±
Max had already slept, albeit in a dungeon wracked by nightmares, but he was fully fit, his Health restored to its fullest, and as long as he had his spells activated, he was ready to continue his journey.
He checked his Mage Book quickly.
Active spells
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Magic Missile
? Strength
? Summon Fog
? Fireball
? Disguise
He was fully loaded with a full complement of active spells. He let out a sigh and stepped up to the throne and then dropped to one knee.
¡°It will be my pleasure to return here and visit Your Majesty as soon as we have time. But for now, we must be away.¡±
The queen sighed. ¡°Deepwood will aid you, Max Lightfoot.¡± She turned to Captain Fineblade. ¡°Captain, will you take your company and go with Max to the Kingdom of Eastwind to counter this threat from across the Kraken Sea, to carry Deepwood¡¯s banner and let all know we support Max?¡±
Captain Fineblade nodded and then stepped up to Max. ¡°If Max will let me travel with him. If he can trust me.¡± Fineblade sighed. ¡°The darkness was stronger than anyone could have known. I am in your debt. Will you let me join your party?¡±
Max took Fineblade¡¯s hand and smiled.
¡°It would be my pleasure.¡±
Captain Darius Fineblade joins the party
¡°And now we should go,¡± Elderon said.
Max dressed in his old clothes that had been washed and repaired by expert elven hands. He looked at the scars on the Padded Leather Tunic. He could hardly spot them at all. His tunic was as good as new. As he marched out of the palace, a company of elves marching with his party, he looked up to the towers of the palace behind him. The young queen looked down, smiling at him, waving and blowing a kiss.
¡°She is wishing us well,¡± Jahrod said as he stomped along next to Max.
Max was sure Jahrod was not as stinky as last he¡¯d seen him. ¡°Did the elves make you bathe too?¡±
Jahrod nodded and grinned, his wide mouth opened, showing his heavy crushing teeth. ¡°A good coarse sand rub.¡± A quiver of delight rushed over the mighty dwarf. ¡°The elves are not all that bad after all. They sure know how to treat a guest.¡±
At nightfall, the party made camp on the border of Deepwood and Eastwind on the edge of the Deepwood forests and on the side of the road to the port town of Eastcrossing. Anita joined Max on his Blanket of Comfort by the side of a mighty broadleaf tree.
¡°I could have bathed with you longer, Max,¡± she whispered in his ear. ¡°The queen would have liked to have bathed with you herself, I think.¡±
Max turned and lay face-to-face with Anita. He looked into her green eyes. He could see her elven features in the flickering campfire light. She had big eyes and narrow cheeks. Her ears were larger than most but not oddly large. They did not rise to a point like Fineblade¡¯s or Queen Harari¡¯s. Anita was strange yet beautiful.
¡°You are very attractive,¡± Max said. He lowered his voice to a whisper. ¡°In my world, I would never get to meet anyone as beautiful as you.¡±
Anita smiled, accepting the compliment with grace. ¡°Then perhaps you are glad to be here in Eveirea?¡± Anita came closer.
Max smiled. But the smile was quickly wiped from his face as a shout of alarm went up from the sentries posted around the camp. Max and Anita sat up, fully alert to danger. Max heard a distant rustling and scratching sound. It grew louder, closer. The sounds of branches snapping, feet tearing up the soft ground. Then Max could hear jabbering and howling. Many voices. Too many. The sounds of an attacking horde.
¡°Everyone up and to arms.¡± Elderon threw upward a shaft of light that brightly illuminated the camp. ¡°We are under attack.¡±
Chapter 2.38
The shrieking grew louder. Max peered into the darkness, into nothing but shadows, yet all around came the noise. And then, all of a sudden, the shadows of the forest came alive with movement. Small figures rushing out of the dark. Max caught a glint of campfire light on a dark blade, and then he saw up close the face of a dark goblin.
Dark-green skin with huge dark eyes. Long black pupils like dark slits across the eye. Thin lips curled back over jagged teeth like a row of pins. A small flat nose that was little more than nostril slits. The ears were long and pointed upwards. The goblins were bald. They all wore sleeveless tunics, tight pants to their knees and soft boots. Max saw the blade in its hand. No longer than a dagger, but the goblin was so short, it was the length of its arm. The weapon was black with a sharp point and a jagged blade.
Name: Dark Goblin
Status: Attacking
Attack: Rough Dagger
Threat level: Cruel
A goblin snarled and hissed, spitting out globs of thick green mucus from nostrils and mouth as it rushed at Max.
Dark Goblin attacks Max.
Max held up his sword and stood his ground. He made ready to receive the attacker. He stood balanced lightly on his feet, sword held ready. The dark goblin slashed with its nasty little blade, aiming for Max¡¯s gut.
Max takes minor damage.
The blade found its target on Max¡¯s waistband just below the padded leather tunic. His Pendent of Defense absorbed half the damage. The dark goblin rushed past and was out of range before Max could turn and make an attack of his own. A moment later, a second dark goblin came rushing at him from the side.
Dark Goblin attacks Max.
Max takes minor damage.
The beast slashed at Max as it rushed past, cutting the flesh on his sword arm. The blade was blunt but rough and jagged enough to tear his skin. Max lashed out at the goblin¡¯s back as it rushed past.
Max attacks Dark Goblin.
But the goblin was out of range, and Max¡¯s sword slashed only clean air.
Jahrod was swinging his axe wildly as goblins rushed in through the camp on all sides, all of them slashing with their jagged blades as they came. Jahrod scored a lucky hit and sent two of the goblins flying, defeating both attackers in a single stroke.
Anita and Elderon were standing back to back, staff and spear defending against the rush of the small beasts.
Captain Fineblade was calling out battle orders to his company. They formed a circular defensive formation to repel the sudden rushing onslaught of the dark goblin horde. Max stood with his party in the center as the elves formed a circle around them.
¡°I don¡¯t want to stand behind a wall of elves,¡± Jahrod said tersely. ¡°Let me at them.¡± He started towards the elven line.
¡°Wait, Jahrod,¡± Max said. Jahrod stopped in his tracks and turned a dark gaze onto Max. ¡°We need a plan. The elves are in formation. We don¡¯t want to disrupt their lines. Let them do their job, and we will do ours.¡±
¡°And what do you propose?¡± Jahrod said, eager to get into the fray.
The sounds of elven longswords and goblin daggers rang out. The elves were superior in all ways except for numbers. Max could not be sure, but there were easily close to a hundred goblins out there.
Max walked to Captain Fineblade, who was marching behind his elves, urging them to confidence and bravery. It seemed to Max that the elves needed no encouragement. Their swords twirling and flashing in the dark, beating back the dark goblins that came rushing at the lines undeterred.
¡°How bad is it, Darius?¡± Max said.
Fineblade paused, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ¡°We can hold them off for as long as we must. But our defensive formation will make it difficult to move with speed.¡±
Max saw the leaping goblin at the same time as Fineblade. The goblin was leaping high, attempting to jump clear over the line of elves and break into their defensive formation. Max drew back his sword, ready to strike, but an elf in the line beat the leaping goblin back with a swift stroke of his longsword.
¡°I have never seen so many goblins in Awen. Their numbers have encouraged them to become bold. They are usually such skulking creatures. I have never seen them attack in this manner. They more typically sneak and stab, then steal what they can before fleeing. This behavior is unusual. ¡±
¡°There must be a leader,¡± Max said. ¡°No doubt a leader with the power of a dark shard. If we can find the leader, we can defeat this goblin horde.¡±
¡°Where is the leader?¡± Fineblade said. ¡°Do you think he can be nearby?¡±
Max closed his eyes and relaxed. If there was a leader nearby, one with the power of a dark shard, then Max would feel the shard tugging at his chest. He felt with his heart for the power of the shard.
Nothing. No dark power nearby. He opened his eyes. Fineblade was looking at him expectantly. Max disappointed him with a brief shake of the head.
¡°He is not close, but I have seen him, and he has seen me. I felt him in my dream. The dark army will be camped in the harbor town of Eastcrossing.¡±
Jahrod pointed with his axe. ¡°Eastcrossing is not far, about a two-hour run. If we can make it through these goblins, we can get there swiftly.¡±
¡°We must get there,¡± Max said. ¡°More ships are coming with more dark goblins, more dark creatures. I suspect this horde is just an advanced party, shock troops to clear the lands around their place of disembarkation. Their beachhead. If we delay, we will lose the moment.¡±
¡°We can fight our way there,¡± Fineblade said, ¡°but we will not get there in two hours. Perhaps by morning . . .¡±
¡°Can you hold them, Captain?¡± Max said.
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¡°I can,¡± Fineblade said with a confident nod.
¡°Then let us go alone,¡± Max said. He looked to his party to gauge their support. It was clear from the determination etched on their faces that they were fully behind Max. ¡°We can move fast and silent as a smaller party,¡± Max said, firstly to his party and then turning his attention back to Fineblade. ¡°If and when you defeat this pack of goblins, you can come and lend us support at Eastcrossing Harbor.¡±
¡°It is a bold plan,¡± Fineblade said, ¡°and I will support it, but how will you get away?¡±
¡°Just make ready to open your lines when I give the signal,¡± Max said. He turned to his party. ¡°We need a passageway heading directly to Eastcrossing. Lay down your spells on either side of our path and stay close to me.¡±
Elderon and Anita nodded. Jahrod folded his arms and waited.
Max casts Web.
The Web spell erupted away to Max¡¯s left. At the same time, Anita cast Root Tangle on their right. The spells trapped the goblins on either side. Elderon called out in a voice, not loud but commanding.
¡°Open the circle.¡±
Fineblade sang an order, and the elves parted, showing the path between the Web and Root Tangle spells. Goblins rushed forward to the gap in the elven lines. Elderon began casting, and he shot a long lance of flame along the path between Web and Root Tangle. The flames scorched the ground and singed many goblins, defeating others.
¡°Go, now!¡± Elderon said.
Max ran forward, Jahrod at his side, Anita and Elderon close behind. The elves closed their lines behind them.
A goblin appeared in front of Max, but before Max could react to the threat, an elven arrow sailed close past his ear and thudded into the dark goblin, defeating it with a single blow.
The Web-and-Root Tangle on either side of the path held dozens of goblins. Those in the web were utterly immobile, but those in the Root Tangle were still active, although rooted to the spot. Many drew shortbows and took aim at Max and the party.
Max saw the danger. He grabbed hold of Jahrod and Anita. ¡°Hold on,¡± he said. Elderon gripped Max¡¯s shoulder.
Max activates Dark Movement.
The darkness flooded in on all sides at terrifying speed, Max saw his destination, a point two hundred yards ahead. It rushed towards him and fell away at the same time, creating a dizzying effect. He strained with the effort of pulling his friends with him. Max concentrated on dragging his friends to the exit point, but a nagging doubt at the back of his mind was that it had been a bad idea to bring his party into the Dark Movement with him. The extra weight, or mass, or something, was destabilizing the temporary portal he¡¯d created.
The darkness pressed in and left Max in total silence. His friends¡¯s faces frozen in time as he pulled them with him. At last and with a huge final effort, Max came to the end of the Dark Movement. He stepped out of the end point. The darkness fell away, giving a sensation of falling, but his feet were firmly on the forest road. And then he heard the cries of his companions, Anita shrieking, Jahrod wailing, Elderon shouting in torment.
¡°What was that?¡± Anita said, her voice quivering. ¡°A nightmare. What happened?¡±
Jahrod vomited.
Elderon laid a hand on Max¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t ever do that again,¡± he said, his voice quivering as much as his hand.
Max felt guilty for inflicting such a shock on his friends, but they were clear of the goblin horde that was still attacking the defensive circle of elves. He was exhausted after having moved his friends through the Dark Movement, even though it was only for a short distance. It was a terrible strain. His legs quivered as if he had physically carried them, which in a sense, he had.
¡°We must move,¡± Max said. ¡°We are clear. Let¡¯s go.¡±
The party started running along the forest road. Jahrod continued to vomit for another few hundred yards. Anita was red around her beautiful big eyes, and her skin had turned pale. Elderon appeared to recover the fastest, but he gave Max a cold stare when their eyes met.
They ran for almost an hour, the goblin horde left far behind. No sooner had Elderon told Max that they had crossed the border into the Kingdom of Eastwind than Max saw a group of four goblins on the road ahead.
These goblins shared many features of the smaller goblins of the horde, but they were bigger than any they had yet encountered. The same dark eyes, the same slit nostrils, the same sleeveless tunics. They wore some studded-leather armor on their shoulders and forearms. Their clubs were made of a dark wood, some with iron spikes on the end.
Name: Goblin Barbarian
Status: Guarding
Attack: Club
Threat level: Dangerous
Jahrod walked ahead of the party, axe ready.
¡°Wait, Jahrod,¡± Max said as he drew his catapult. ¡°Ranged weapons. Shoot.¡±
Max attacks Goblin Barbarian.
Goblin Barbarian takes minor damage.
Random effect: Fairy Lights
The Barbarians started gazing at the lights that appeared around them, the flashing bright colors hypnotizing them. They were in a state somewhere between wonder and annoyance. They swatted away at the lights sparkling around them. They soon snapped out of their daze as they were struck for damage.
Anita¡¯s magic bullet struck one Barbarian and dealt moderate damage. Jahrod¡¯s crossbow dealt heavy damage to one, and a powerful magic missile from Elderon defeated another.
The Barbarian looked to their attackers and then ran to battle.
Max let fly another Bullet of Random Effect.
Max attacks Goblin Barbarian.
Goblin Barbarian takes minor damage.
Random effect: Flame
The flame spread over the goblin as it ran forward, singeing the hair growing out of its big ears. Max put away his catapult and targeted the same Barbarian again, this time with magic.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Goblin Barbarian takes moderate damage.
Goblin Barbarian has been defeated.
The goblin dropped and skidded over the dirt road. Another fell to Elderon¡¯s magic until the remaining two came within clubbing range. Although short and heavily built, almost the proportions of Jahrod, they were fast.
Goblin Barbarian attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
The club hit Max hard in the gut and sent him staggering backwards. He gasped for breath. With the wind knocked out of him, he could not cast. He drew his sword to defend himself.
Max attacks Goblin Barbarian.
Goblin Barbarian takes moderate damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Goblin Barbarian has been defeated.
The remaining Barbarian backed off and then turned to run.
¡°If he gets away . . .¡± Max said.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Goblin Barbarian takes moderate damage.
Goblin Barbarian has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
Max caught his breath and looked out for more attackers. The party fell silent. The sounds of waves on a shoreline in the distance.
¡°That is the sound of the Kraken Sea breaking on the headland south of Eastcrossing Harbor,¡± Elderon said.
¡°It will give us a view over the town,¡± Jahrod said and led the way.
Max looked down at the defeated Barbarians. Rough clubs and studded-leather armor were the only loot remaining. No gold, no items of any use. Maybe the clubs would sell for a gold piece at a store, but Max had no time to lose.
At the headland, Max crawled forwards and looked down at the harbor town. Long timber jetties reached out into a wide bay with ships tied up. More ships were at anchor in the bay. The bay was a forest of ships masts, black sails gathered up in bundles on the crossbeams.
Timber buildings on the shoreline were bustling with activity. Elderon cast his Far Sight spell and showed the party a closer view of the town. The town was in disarray. The buildings were wrecked and doors hung on broken hinges. Windows had been smashed, leaving broken glass scattered across the narrow streets. Some buildings were aflame, others already burned out. A dark goblin army had cleared out the population and was setting up camp. Yet more ships were sailing into the bay, their decks bustling with hordes of dark goblins.
On the biggest jetty, Max saw the largest of the goblins, a huge beast with twin swords. Overdeveloped muscles rippled under his dark-green skin. He had a pendant around his neck that called to Max.
¡°There it is,¡± Max said. ¡°The pendant on that goblin. That¡¯s the power that controls all of the dark army on this side of the Kraken Sea. If I can get close enough to that dark shard, we can end this.¡±
¡°It¡¯s too dangerous,¡± Anita said, her hand on Max¡¯s arm.
¡°It¡¯s too dangerous not to try.¡± He smiled at her. ¡°And I know you will be watching out for me.¡±
Anita¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°You want to go alone? I won¡¯t let you.¡±
¡°You must,¡± Elderon said with a sigh. ¡°Max is right. This is the way.¡±
Max slid back from the edge of the headland before standing up. His party joined him in the cover of the trees.
¡°We will create a diversion for you from up here,¡± Elderon said.
Max nodded. ¡°Getting in will be the easy part, and if I don¡¯t succeed, getting out will be impossible.¡±
¡°How are you going to get in?¡± Anita said. ¡°Using that Dark Movement ability? Just the memory of it terrifies me.¡±
Max shook his head. He didn¡¯t think Dark Movement was the right approach this time; even so, he was exhausted from its latest use. He might have overdone it and was worried if he used it any more, it could overwhelm him. He could control it to an extent, but if he wasn¡¯t careful . . . He banished such negative thoughts. He knew that the consequences were too terrible to consider. ¡°I will need to move slowly and carefully. Trust me. This will all be over soon.¡±
Max left with a smile, hoping he was projecting a confidence he could just about feel deep inside. Confidence grew and shrank moment to moment as he headed down to the town.
Chapter 2.39
At the edge of town, Max activated his Sneak ability. The dark goblins were everywhere. Broken furniture littered the streets. Shells of buildings, once family homes or dockside businesses, were now filled with squabbling goblins. Max listened to their harsh language. He could not understand a word, but it was clear when one group was amused by their destruction of the town or another was in a quarrelsome mood.
Officers, dressed much like the rest of the army but with the addition of large black badges on their right shoulders, were walking in pairs trying to bring order to the chaos. Max stopped in horror as a pair of officers dragged one goblin from a burned-out building and murdered it for some offense. They drew a jagged blade across its throat, tearing the flesh. Green blood gushed out, and then, when the beast stopped thrashing about, the officers removed its head and stuck it on a spike before parading it through the streets. Some goblins fell in behind and chanted as the officers hoisted the head up and down. Max could not imagine what offence had warranted such a punishment, but he fell in step behind the mob with their grisly trophy and followed in their wake. He followed them into the center of town where a throng of goblins was waiting, lolling around, drinking, eating, and fistfighting their fellows.
A goblin thrown from an upper story window landed on Max, knocking him to the ground. A pair of goblins looked out of the upper window, laughing. They stopped when they spotted Max, his Sneak ability cancelled as the goblin landed on him. They pointed and shouted.
Max ran to the nearest side street, away from the throng. A screeching cry went up as a pair of goblins followed him. Max dived into a burned-out building, and once out of sight, he activated his Sneak ability. He watched for a good chance to sneak off between the few goblins in the street. They started to laugh in a nasty snickering as two goblins came into the street leading a huge centipede. The centipede was sniffing the ground, its huge head darting side to side, scuttling forward on its many legs, leading the goblins to Max. He checked the stats on the beast.
Name: Scolopendra
Status: Malevolent
Attack: Mouth Pincers
Threat level: Relentless
The beast led the pair of goblins right to the burned-out building Max was hiding in. They released it with a laugh.
The scolopendra scurried into the building with Max. It stood up on its hindquarters and looked down at Max, slime dripping from its pincers. Long antennae twitching. Max moved, and the lightest scrape of his boot on the charcoal remains of the building attracted the beast¡¯s attention.
Scolopendra attacks Max.
Max dived aside. His Sneak ability held, but the beast could detect him with ease. Max held up his sword.
Max casts Sword Lightning.
Scolopendra takes moderate damage.
The lightning rippled down the scolopendra¡¯s long body. Max retreated through the building. The scolopendra on his tail. Max had to abandon caution, and he used his Dark Movement to get away from the creature, and he found himself back on the edge of town. The beast still came after him, a group of goblins following behind.
At the edge of town, Max ran in to a burned-out building and looked to see how close the beast was. He heard a voice just behind, he turned, sword raised.
¡°I thought you¡¯d get closer than that,¡± Anita said.
Jahrod stepped up, and Elderon cast Shield. Anita cast Bonus to the party.
Max casts Strength.
¡°Take it down quick,¡± Max said.
The scolopendra came scuttling, swerving like a sidewinder along the street just ahead of its goblin handlers. It came close to the building, closing in on Max¡¯s scent trail. As soon as its head came into range, Max struck.
Max casts Fireball.
Scolopendra takes heavy damage.
Elderon hit it with a spear of frost, a long ice spear that skewered the beast as it reared up from the fireball. Jahrod struck it with crossbow bolts, Anita¡¯s sling twirling and sending bullet after bullet. The ranged weapons slowed the beast, and the cumulative damage was significant.
Max launched another couple of magic missiles. They seemed to be doing more damage. His new level had made the magic missiles more potent, although he still only cast two glowing orange orbs for every spell.
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He cast his last Magic Missile.
Max casts Magic Missile.
Scolopendra takes moderate damage.
Scolopendra has been defeated.
Max gains experience points.
The beast fell to the ground with the goblin handlers still many yards away. Max led the party to the back of the house and across a rear alleyway and into another vacant building. He looked out from an upstairs window. Goblins were closing in on all sides, drawn by the fireball.
¡°We can¡¯t take them all on.¡± Max said.
¡°We need a plan,¡± Anita said.
Max checked his inventory. He grabbed the Potion of Intelligence and popped the cork off the small bottle. The liquid was cold and bitter. When he finished the bottle, he felt a wave of ingenuity wash over him. Problems he¡¯d faced in the past occurred to him now as elementary problems with simplistic solutions. But what about his current predicament?
Name: Max Lightfoot
Class: Mage
Level: Six
Health: Moderately injured
Strength: 10
Stamina: 17
Agility: 18
Intelligence: 20
Wisdom: 12
Charisma: 16
Abilities:
? Climb
? Dark Movement
? Pick pocket
? Sneak
He saw his Intelligence had been temporarily raised. It was currently higher than even Elderon¡¯s. And he instantly knew what to do to get out of this spot.
¡°Hand me that pouch of guano, Jahrod,¡± Max said.
Jahrod handed it over as the party looked at Max with confusion. ¡°It¡¯s hardly time for supper,¡± Jahrod said.
Max opened the pouch and revealed the nasty white slime. He grabbed a burned piece of timber and scraped the blackened sides, dropping soot to the ground. He grabbed another charred piece of wood and worked fast.
¡°More soot,¡± Max said.
His party acted, brushing their confusion aside. They scraped a pile of soot before Max.
¡°Enough,¡± he said and added the soot to the guano.
Jahrod let out a little whimper as Max mixed the soot and the guano. Then he packed the dry, powdery mess into the empty bottle that had once contained the Potion of Intelligence.
¡°Your flaming torch,¡± Max said to Jahrod.
The dwarf handed it to Max. Max tore a strip of cloth soaked in flammable oil off the torch and stuffed it in the top of the bottle. He replaced the cork and then lit the strand of cloth from the torch.
¡°When this goes off,¡± Max said, ¡°it will create a distraction. I¡¯ll use it to get close to the general.¡±
¡°How will that cause a distraction?¡± Elderon said, interested and confused.
¡°Just keep your heads down,¡± Max said and ran to the upper floor of the burned-out house and climbed up onto the roof.
A dozen goblins were studying the defeated scolopendra and looking around for where their enemy might be. Max hurled the bottle filled with the black powder into the street.
The bottle bounced along the ground, and the burning taper made it to the cork and touched the black powder. The explosion burst like the mightiest crack of thunder, not a soft thump of fireballs exploding, but a huge heavy crack. The force of the explosion flung the goblins aside, and the partially burned-out building collapsed in the blast.
Max casts Disguise
Even though he was impressed by the strength of his explosion, Max was smart enough not to linger and admire his homemade grenade. It seemed elementary, charcoal and guano, the basis for gunpowder, tightly packed into a bottle. The explosion was just the distraction he needed.
As he ran, he checked his appearance, a basic dark goblin. He bumped into a goblin charging around a corner, and the disguise held, not like hiding using his Sneak ability.
Max hurried on towards the docks where the general was camped, holed up in a large dockside building. Many officer goblins and goblin Barbarians stood around the building. A sign over the door hung from one corner, the other having been destroyed. Max thought it looked like a harbormaster sign. This building had once overseen the smooth operation of the port of Eastcrossing. Now it was the forward operations base of the goblin army general.
Max moved ever closer. A fresh company of dark goblins disembarked from a newly arrived ship and marched into town. Max walked up to the harbormaster building and stepped inside. He moved with confidence. The Barbarian guards did not challenge him. He walked straight up to the goblin general, who was studying a map of the continent of Awen. He looked up at Max as he approached.
The general looked at Max, and his disguise fell away. Max recognized the general from his dream. The general recognized Max. The general moved fast and drew his sword.
Goblin General attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
One of the general¡¯s swords struck Max a ringing blow on the side of his head. He did not feel so intelligent now. He rolled aside and came up onto his feet and dived into attack.
Max attacks Goblin General.
Goblin General takes minor damage.
Bonus Lightning damage.
Bonus Strength damage.
Max leapt back as the general swung a sword at him, the tip narrowly missing his throat. A pair of Goblin Barbarians came in and attacked Max, their clubs thudding into the walls as they narrowly missed him.
Goblin General attacks Max.
Max takes moderate damage.
Max fell to the ground with the blow from the general¡¯s sword. He rolled aside as a Barbarian¡¯s club thudded into the floorboards next to his head. The floorboards splintered.
More goblins were coming into the office. Max ran away from the door, cornered by the general, snarling. The two Barbarians moved to cover the sides of the room, the arriving goblins standing in the doorway, sniggering.
Max casts Summon Fog.
The fog filled the room in a moment, billowing up between the floorboards. Max activated his Sneak ability and moved as silently as he could. The Barbarians were thundering about, smashing their clubs into the ground and the walls. One blow fell perilously close to Max, but he held his nerve and moved towards the general. Then, once within a few inches, Max saw the general¡¯s features through the fog. Max stuck out his hand and grabbed the dark shard around the general¡¯s neck.
As the shard evaporated, anger and hate in the eyes of the general turned to confusion and fear. The general seemed to shrink in size. The general grabbed Max¡¯s wrist, the grip strong for a small hand, so strong, Max feared his wrist would be crushed. But as the shard slowly evaporated, so the strength of the general¡¯s grip failed. Once the shard was gone, black dust on the air, the general stumbled back.
The sounds of a ship hitting the jetty came from outside. The general backed away from Max, not so terrifying now, looking more like an ugly, frightened dog. He turned and fled the building.
Outside, the goblin army had already collapsed. Some sat in the streets, lost and confused. Others ran out of town into the wilderness beyond. On the wide bay, ships were out of control, slamming into each other, the jetties, and the rocky shoreline around the edge of the bay.
Max saw his party walking through the street, untroubled by the goblins that were fleeing or sitting, confused and afraid. He stepped out to greet his party. For now, they had nothing to fear from the darkness. For now, they were safe.
Chapter 2.40
Days passed before the population was convinced it was safe to return to the port town of Eastcrossing. Max and his party rested in the harbormaster¡¯s building furnished with whatever undamaged items they were able to find in the town. Merchant gnomes arrived and traded with the townsfolk for materials to rebuild. The town was busy night and day, jetties rebuilt, homes remade.
As Max rested on the balcony of the harbormaster¡¯s building looking out over the bay, Janet appeared to him.
¡°So, when did you learn to make gunpowder?¡±
Max shrugged. ¡°I have never studied it. I just knew at that moment, from hearing bits and pieces over time. I just knew it would work. But that lizard guano must be very potent, because I didn¡¯t know I¡¯d get such a big bang.¡±
Janet reached out to Max¡¯s hand. He held her hand, but she was not truly in the same dimension as Max so he could not feel her. She smiled sadly.
¡°You are a chemist, Max, a proper scientist. I never knew you had such depths.¡±
Max laughed. ¡°Neither did I. I guess it¡¯s good for me to hang out with you.¡±
Janet leaned closer and kissed Max. He really wished he could feel her lips.
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Captain Fineblade called up to Max from the timber jetty below the balcony.
¡°Word is coming in from all over Awen. The goblins are being rounded up and held in prisoner camps before they can be returned to Scarfel. Awen is free of dark shards. It looks like the whole continent is safe.¡±
Max shook his head. ¡°There are more shards across the Kraken Sea. The continent of Scarfel is covered with them, and many are using them to enhance their own power, not knowing the harm they are doing to the world or themselves.¡± He stood up and leaned on the balcony rail and looked out through the entrance to the bay. ¡°I must go to Scarfel and seek out the shards and find the dark portal. Until we close the dark portal, we are all in great danger.¡±
Max looked out to the Kraken Sea. Across the dark waters was a new continent, one Max had no knowledge of, except it was overcome by the darkness. He feared the dangers waiting for him across the Kraken Sea would be greater than those he had faced here on Awen. But if Eveirea was to be saved, if Janet was to be saved, Max needed to go there, face those dangers, and succeed. If he could not, then all would end.
Meeting with his party in the harbormaster¡¯s office after a well-earned rest, Max explained his plans.
¡°We will find a ship,¡± Elderon said. ¡°And we will be at your side. You won¡¯t be alone, Max.¡±
Max knew he would not be alone. For the first time in his life, he was sure he had friends he could rely on. At last, he had friends to share the adventure, the danger, the victory too, for he was sure he would close the dark portal. To fail was too great a disaster for all.
But for now, Max could rest. He refreshed his spells and settled down. One more night¡¯s rest before his adventures continued across the Kraken Sea.