《Lich Berserker》


 Chapter 1: Follow Into Death

    Maddin did not fear the void.


    When he finally died ¡ª died completely ¡ª he would embrace oblivion.


    But when the disembodied voice boomed across the infinite dark plane that served as the membrane between reality and nothingness, asking if he feared the void, Maddin replied, ¡°Yes.¡±


    Because this death would not be his final death. This death was planned.


    And his affirmative answer would deliver him to his objective.


    ¡°Which world would you like your new life to inhabit?¡± the voice asked next.


    A visual accompanied this question, a series of rotating globes lined up in the dark. Maddin hovered in their collective orbit like some tiny comet prepared to strike. Six in all, they featured a variety of terrain, one nearly covered in ocean, another all sand.


    But Maddin already knew his choice. The center-left world, with its black south pole blighting the otherwise idyllic planet, would be his destination. He indicated his selection with a raised finger and the voice replied, ¡°Aldersi.¡±


    The other options dissolved. Aldersi rotated until its south pole faced Maddin. A great volcano formed its own continent there. A miles-wide vent exposed the putrid, green magic stored within. The whole of it had the appearance of a terrible eye, its emerald pupil fixed on Maddin.


    ¡°You will be lich,¡± the voice informed.


    Maddin knew this, accepted it. For the rest of his life, he would be dead. But in lingering death, he would be granted certain powers that would help him achieve his goal.


    His revenge.


    The planet grew as it rushed up to meet him. While the distance shrank, the voice said, ¡°You will be granted Abilities, dictated by your Class. A soulscan will determine your path.¡±


    Before he could inquire, Maddin felt the passing of some invisible force through his body. It appraised him, he could feel it rummaging in his thoughts, through his scarred soul.


    When the process completed, the voice explained, ¡°You will be Berserker. Tempestuous, implacable, animated by fury.¡±


    ¡°And my Abilities?¡±


    Maddin felt swelling in his muscles. He lifted his arms to watch his biceps inflate. Pain fired through his body as its musculature enhanced with an infusion of magic. ¡°Your strength is thrice that of a normal man¡¯s. Your tolerance for pain likewise, though you will feel it as a background hum for your remaining days ¡ª which may be plentiful, as you may live as long as your wits permit. Be smart, improve your strength. Be foolish and be delivered unto the void.¡±


    Aldersi filled his vision now. Maddin descended through its atmosphere, felt the air streaming past his nude form. As he fell through the mephitic vapor that manteled the black volcano, he saw that his body turned green, its skin becoming translucent, the muscle beneath it luminescent.


    He dropped into the crater, straight into the center of the vent. Below him, a chamber filled with sickly green magic glowed, like his own body.


    In his final moments of freefall, he felt a curious power in his hands. As he balled them into fists, a message was delivered directly into his thoughts like an echo of the earlier voice.


    New Ability ¨C Fury Burst: perform six rapid-fire punches at double strength.


    Refractory period: 1 hour.


    Maddin plunged into the pool of magic. It felt like gelatin encased him. As he swam for the surface, he felt others writhing in the magic beside him, struggling for air they didn¡¯t yet realize would be worthless to them. A lich needs no oxygen, no food, no water, no sleep.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Working his limbs tirelessly, he made his way to the crater wall where he found a ledge to perch on. He rose onto his legs and peered across the vast, green pool undulating with other transmigrated souls. Pathetic, he thought. If not for Reegan, he would not have come.


    But that bastard would pay dearly before Maddin gave himself up to the void.


    He craned his neck to peer toward the heavens. The dark cloud overhead reflected the green glow of magic. Viridian flashes of lightning shone as brilliant, crooked lines like cracks in the sky. This world was broken indeed if it admitted a soul as vile as Reegan¡¯s.


    Or Maddin¡¯s own, for that matter, so filled with hate as to preclude any redemption.


    He turned to the wall, scanning its many crags. He mounted it and began to climb, reaching a hole that emptied out the side of the volcano. He fit himself through its narrow opening and slipped down the slope of the mountain.


    All around him, other lich souls screamed as they glided down the smooth, obsidian formation. Below, the perimeter of the island appeared to be dotted with settlements. Ramshackle cities thrown up to address the influx of souls, Maddin figured.


    He directed himself to the smallest of these and after an hour¡¯s uncomfortable descent, arrived in a bed of crimson grass growing at the base of the volcano. As he stood, he glanced back to watch the ceaseless stream of Aldersi initiates tumbling down the glassy mountainside. An endless flood of undead cowards clinging desperately to existence. He wondered for how long they¡¯d been coming, how diluted the native population had become. A bountiful world spoiled by those whose own wasn¡¯t enough to sate their avarice.


    Then again, this scourge was brought down upon the Aldersians by the very gods they worshipped, who struck a deal with the greater voidgods to accept souls for power. To what end, Maddin didn¡¯t know, nor did he care. What he learned of Aldersi from the journals Reegan left behind was limited to actionable knowledge. Only what he needed to know to get by.


    To navigate Aldersi in his quest to track his foe.


    A whistling tune drifted through the air, pulled Maddin¡¯s attention to the left where a wizened, grizzled man sat on a boulder puffing from his wooden pipe. The man stopped, cleared his throat, returned Maddin¡¯s gaze. He smiled while sliding off his boulder. ¡°Greetings!¡± Jovial, bordering on sarcasm. ¡°Welcome to Aldersi, Second.¡±


    As the man approached, Maddin echoed, ¡°Second?¡±


    ¡°What we call you lot, green folk pouring out of Elusis with naught but the common tongue to assimilate you.¡±


    Maddin drew a foot back, squeezed his fists at his sides, prepared to inflict his Fury Burst on this overfamiliar gentleman should the need arise.


    ¡°Relax,¡± the man said, ¡°none here will want to be hurtin¡¯ you. Merely take advantage.¡±


    ¡°And how¡¯s that?¡±


    The man stopped some four feet from Maddin. From here, Maddin could see the hazel color of his beady eyes, as well as the impish glint shining within them. ¡°Deliching potions, mostly. Provided at the cost of servitude. A¡¯course, you naive lot aren¡¯t aware the true value of your lich magic, you¡¯re just desperate to be wrapped in normal, warm flesh again.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve some idea. Enough to hold onto mine.¡±


    The man¡¯s eyes narrowed in study of Maddin, who sensed the Aldersian¡¯s budding interest. ¡°Something funny about you.¡±


    ¡°Trust that there is nothing funny about me.¡±


    The man grinned. ¡°That¡¯s it right there! Nothing like a typical Second. Sniveling, feckless bunch. Some brand of wizard in their former lives, but I get the feeling you never dabbled in magic back where you come from, hm?¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m here, aren¡¯t I?¡±


    ¡°Ah, but you come with purpose! And purpose can lead a man to places he never expected to go. Such as the demimonde of magic, to reach another world entirely!¡± The man cackled. Maddin hated the sound.


    ¡°Look, whatever it is you need cheap labor to help you with, I¡¯m willing to work. I don¡¯t want deliching potion, I work for money.¡±


    The man flicked his gaze to Maddin¡¯s nude body. ¡°Maybe an outfit first, hm? Provided as an advance.¡± From his robe, he produced a set of clothes and tossed them at Maddin.


    As he dressed, Maddin asked, ¡°What is your trade?¡±


    ¡°Bard,¡± the man answered. ¡°Belladin the Bard.¡± He bowed while introducing himself.


    ¡°Bard? Of what use would I be to a bard? Surely you can manage your own cooking and cleaning, caring for your steed. More importantly, what bard can afford help on his meager earnings?¡±


    ¡°A partner¡¯s more what I¡¯m searching for.¡±


    Maddin scoffed as he fed his arm into the shirtsleeve. The clothes were plain, shabby, used, but sufficient. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡±


    Belladin strode forth with urgency, causing Maddin to resume his defensive posture. Raising his hands in a gesture of innocence, Belladin pitched, ¡°You underestimate the value of a good story. A gripping yarn can change the world, Second. And if you allow me to share yours, I¡¯ll show you everything you need to know about our world.¡± He lowered his head and grinned. ¡°Everything you need to know to carry out your purpose.¡±


    It was Maddin¡¯s turn to study the bard. He was shorter, slighter, on the far side of middle-aged, with an air of mischief and desperation. Scrappy. Probably reckless. But for the moment, potentially useful.


    Maddin turned his gaze to the village a short distance out. It was a cluster of cheaply assembled buildings with a crowd of people passing between them. ¡°There a place to grab a drink over there?¡±


    ¡°Of course,¡± said Belladin, ¡°follow me.¡±

 Chapter 2: Recruitment

    The ale offered no respite from the unyielding discomfort of Maddin¡¯s lich form. He could feel the liquid wash over his tongue, descend his gullet, but there was no taste, no resulting buzz to dull the pain.


    Still, there was something about the familiar motion, lifting a tankard to his lips and letting its contents slosh into his mouth, that brought a small measure of relief. It recalled better days spent in the company of friends, celebrations of victory and the founding of his court.


    Belladin¡¯s hand slapped against his back. ¡°How¡¯s it taste, Second?¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t tell you.¡±


    The bard¡¯s face reddened with laughter. He knew. Of course he knew. Bastard. ¡°Bet that deliching potion sounds enticing right about now.¡±


    ¡°Not in the least. It¡¯s Maddin, by the way. Not Second.¡±


    Belladin hunched over the bar, grinning at Maddin. ¡°Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Maddin. And I¡¯m glad to hear that.¡±


    Maddin¡¯s gaze roamed the establishment. It looked like an oversize shack converted into a pub. The bar was little more than two planks propped up by four additional. Empty barrels served as seating while an ancient cast iron stove heated the place.


    Its bartender, a man who introduced himself as Ruzzy, was a tall fellow with a heavy paunch, ruddy features, and a head of shaggy, dirty blond hair. His friendly disposition was no doubt fuelled by a steady intake of his own product. As Ruzzy tended to his bar duties, he made conversation with his patrons, invariably fitting in some bawdy anecdote which he finished with a booming guffaw.


    This place did not help Maddin¡¯s nausea. He felt queasy like his first time at sea, unused to the persistent motion of the water. In time, as before, I will gain my sea legs. Before long, he¡¯d be accustomed to the feeling of death.


    ¡°Tell us about this purpose of yours,¡± said Belladin.


    ¡°You said I had a purpose, not me.¡±


    ¡°But I weren¡¯t wrong, was I?¡±


    Maddin met the bard¡¯s hazel gaze with a sidelong glance. Slivers of green and gold fit together around the pinprick dots of his pupils. Schemes. Maddin saw layers of plots in Belladin¡¯s eyes, the complex machinery behind them working ceaselessly. He¡¯d known other men like that. Reegan was a man like that.


    This comparison gave him pause.


    ¡°Where I come from, bards are men of little ambition.¡±


    ¡°Oh, I find that hard to believe,¡± Belladin said. ¡°Stories are not frivolous things. And you don¡¯t dedicate your life to their telling if you consider them as such. Stories capture meaning, they infuse life with purpose. Consider your own, Second¡ª¡± He threw up his hands, then corrected, ¡°Maddin. The events that led you here, to Aldersi, form a chain that trails back through time, to whatever impetus animates you. Now, without story weaving these moments together, that impetus would have no bearing on your present circumstances. And yet, here you are, inhabiting a world totally foreign to you, a place you would never otherwise have come to had it not been for the magic that ties one turn of a tale to the next.¡±


    Maddin swigged again from his tankard, tried to imagine what the beer might¡¯ve tasted like. He borrowed from memory, recalled the frothy, amber ale so popular throughout his home 3country. Bright, with sour, pear notes and a citrusy tail. While dousing his dry tongue, he substituted this recollection for the bland taste he sampled now.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    As the drink settled in his belly, he lifted a silent prayer to whichever god would grant it that his task would be through before such memories decayed. He did not wish to live long enough to see them rot. It would be like living through the deaths of his family all over again.


    ¡°What is it you¡¯re looking for?¡± he demanded from the bard.


    ¡°As I said, a¡ª¡±


    ¡°Partner, yes, but what actually?¡±


    Belladin¡¯s lips curled into a grin reflecting schemes stacked on top of schemes. ¡°A spark.¡±


    Maddin scoffed. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t have expected a direct answer from a man who trades in metaphor.¡±


    ¡°Allegory, mostly, but metaphor where brevity¡¯s needed.¡±


    ¡°A spark,¡± Maddin repeated. ¡°And what conflagration are you hoping to kick off?¡±


    Belladin opened his mouth to answer, but before the words formed on his silver tongue, a commotion distracted them. At the entrance to the bar, a trio of men in matching uniforms stood in a row, blocking the patrons¡¯ exit.


    They wore red tunics cinched with yellow belts from which empty scabbards dangled. The swords they ordinarily housed had been drawn, held at the side of each swordsman. The man in the middle cleared his throat, rolled his eyes before speaking. ¡°Listen up! Emperor Fraygus commands Seconds to join his mage division. All new arrivals are to submit to an immediate inspection. Form an orderly line here.¡±


    ¡°Bastards,¡± Belladin snarled into his beer.


    His antipathy provided a key piece of the puzzle. ¡°You want to burn down the empire.¡±


    Belladin turned his head, both impressed and unnerved with the speed of Maddin¡¯s deduction. ¡°Fraygus bleeds the nation with his conquests, labels dissenters enemies of the people. Slaughters them.¡±


    As a line formed at the door, lich immigrants nervously awaiting the recruiters¡¯ determination, Maddin quickly weighed his options. By his count, there were three. The first, to accept his conscription, the inevitable outcome if he submitted to the inspection. He¡¯d led armies in his past life, was gifted preternatural violence upon his arrival in this world. There was no doubt as to his army worthiness.


    Fighting the emperor¡¯s wars would leave little room to pursue his own.


    The second option perched on the barstool beside him. He could accept Belladin¡¯s offer of partnership, thus earning a guide who would help him gain his feet in Aldersi. Rebellious idealism undercut Balladin¡¯s scheming nature. Enough that Maddin could trust him?


    If not, his third and final option would be to go it alone. Venture alone into this world in search of his nemesis, who proved wily in the last one. No doubt Reegan would avail himself of Aldersian resources. He was quick and cunning, might¡¯ve already begun his ascent of the existing hierarchy, well on his way to gaining the emperor¡¯s trust.


    So he could knife him in his sleep.


    Maddin offered his hand to the bard, who shook it. ¡°Partners.¡±


    ¡°Very wise choice, Maddin.¡±


    A heavy hand landed on Maddin¡¯s shoulder. He turned to view a soldier standing over him, glaring contemptuously back. ¡°You,¡± he said, ¡°what¡¯s your Class?¡±


    ¡°I believe that¡¯s between me and the god who assigned it to me.¡±


    Annoyance showed in the soldier¡¯s hooded eyes. ¡°You can reveal it willingly or we¡¯ll pin you to the floor while my commanding officer performs a reading.¡±


    ¡°There¡¯s a third option.¡±


    The quizzical expression on the soldier¡¯s face was shortly erased by a series of six rapid-fire punches. Maddin employed his Fury Burst, which pulverized the soldier until his features flattened into a disorderly mess of flesh and blood.


    By the final strike, the light in his eyes dimmed into the eternal darkness which Maddin dodged by way of his transmigration.


    His body toppled over, the impact of its collapse rattling the pub up to its rafters.


    Before the remaining soldiers knew what happened, Belladin scrambled atop the bar and shouted, ¡°None need enslave themselves to these fascists! Strike them down and scatter! Freedom over tyranny!¡±


    Chaos enfolded the bar. Maddin smirked, impressed with the bard¡¯s talents.


    Perhaps he¡¯d made the right call.


    ¡°Come,¡± said Belladin, hopping down from the bar. ¡°I have transport, but we must move quickly before the army catches up to us.¡±

 Chapter 3: Escape

    Ocean waves reflecting a black, starless sky recalled for Maddin the texture of tribal weaponry, blades made of rough-hewn obsidian. Belladin led him away from town, down a muddy path to the shoreline. There, a dinghy awaited them. It¡¯d been dragged out of the water, resting in the black sands of the beach.


    The fleet footed bard hurried toward their conveyance while Maddin paused, turning back for a last look at the island. A menacing volcano with glassy, black slopes rose above the world, extruding innumerable streams of green, naked bodies through vents that from here looked like viridian lava flows. So many souls. What would they do to this world?


    ¡°Do you want to be captured?¡± Belladin snapped.


    Maddin turned back, watched the bard struggling to push the boat toward the sea. He joined him at the transom, making short work of the task. The dinghy drifted into the water and the two men leapt inside. Belladin fell against the bulkhead while Maddin took hold of the oars and began to row.


    ¡°Where to, bard?¡±


    Belladin waved his hand about while catching his breath. ¡°Just¡­give us a minute, will you?¡±


    Maddin scoffed, lifting the paddles from the water. Droplets tinkled as they tumbled from the oar back to the sea, a delicate, pretty sound. As he listened to it, he realized how quiet it was out here, away from land. It had been so loud since his arrival. The noise of a thousand desperate souls swimming within the volcano¡¯s pool, then their screams while he descended, and the clamor of town with its crowd of opportunists.


    He was relieved to have this quiet moment.


    Belladin coughed and slapped a hand on the gunwale. ¡°I¡¯ve not run like that in years!¡±


    ¡°What would¡¯ve happened had they caught us?¡±


    ¡°Death. A permanent one this time.¡±


    ¡°You ever die?¡±


    Belladin laughed as he pulled himself up from the bilge. ¡°No, I came into this world through a womb, not that godforsaken anus called Elusis. And if I had, I¡¯d still be green as you. Greener! If I had any say.¡±


    ¡°That so? No deliching for Belladin?¡±


    ¡°Sickness of a lich belies his power.¡±


    Maddin glanced down at his fists, recalled their speed as they executed his Fury Burst. He reveled in the satisfaction of cartilage flattening under his knuckles, the crunch of bone as the soldier¡¯s skull shattered. Had his Berserker class seeded this bloodlust? Or had he carried it with him to Aldersi?


    It was certainly greater strength than he¡¯d possessed in his former life, but hardly enough to merit the bard¡¯s envy. ¡°All I have is one neat fighting trick.¡±


    ¡°Presently,¡± the bard appended. ¡°You must foster your magic, Maddin.¡±


    The lich shook his head. ¡°How?¡±


    ¡°As one hones any ability. Through its regular use.¡± Belladin fished in his robe, came away with a pre-packed pipe and match. He flicked the match against the hull, held its flame to the pipe, and puffed until its contents glowed red-orange. ¡°Close your eyes.¡±Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    ¡°What for?¡±


    ¡°Gonna plant a wet one on ya. Just close your fuckin eyes.¡±


    Maddin obliged, trusting in his other senses to detect Belladin¡¯s movements should the bard attempt a spell of some kind. ¡°Alright, now what?¡±


    ¡°Man of little patience.¡±


    ¡°What should I be patiently waiting for?¡±


    But then he saw it. In the darkness behind his eyelids, a green light appeared. ¡°Ah, there it is,¡± said Belladin, having observed Maddin¡¯s subtle reaction to its appearance. ¡°Don¡¯t open your eyes.¡±


    Maddin kept them pinched shut. He focused on the light as it cut back and forth through the dark, trailing green vapor that hung in the air. Before him, a message in emerald mist appeared.


    Berserker, Level 1


    Present abilities:


    Fury Burst


    Lich aether: 6


    Maddin¡¯s curiosity attached to the last figure and in response an explanation scrawled across his vision.


    Liches accrete aether via the expression of their Abilities. Aether may be exchanged for new abilities. Levels unlock abilities. Lich aether required to achieve Level 2: 10. Lich aether required to achieve Level 3: 50. Further Level insights at next Level. Further Ability insights at next Level.


    The green point of light that drew these words suddenly whizzed off into the distance, carving a faint line through the dark. It faded the further out it traveled, where Maddin sensed greater Levels and Abilities awaiting.


    He opened his eyes and they fell on the grinning bard. ¡°Did you see it?¡±


    Maddin scrubbed one eye, still adjusting between modes. While reviewing the status of his lich magic, he felt transported. Opening his eyes was a jarring return. ¡°Yes,¡± he replied.


    ¡°What I would give for a taste of that,¡± said Belladin.


    ¡°How about your life and bodily comfort?¡±


    Belladin shrugged. ¡°If I knew I¡¯d arrive in an entirely new world full of possibility, sure!¡±


    Maddin picked up the oar handles, continued to row. ¡°I don¡¯t care about possibility.¡±


    A smirk slanted across Belladin¡¯s face. ¡°No, only your purpose, which you¡¯ve yet to share.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve yet to confirm its existence.¡±


    The bard shot Maddin an incredulous look. ¡°Come now, I¡¯ve just saved you from a life of army enslavement. Surely that fosters a bit of trust between the two of us.¡±


    ¡°Think I did most of the saving.¡±


    ¡°You killed a soldier. Had I not been there to sow chaos then lead you through it, what might you have done, hm?¡± Before Maddin could hazard an answer, Belladin provided his own. ¡°Died is what you would¡¯ve done. Again.¡±


    Maddin rowed in silence for a moment, the bard watching him expectantly. ¡°I¡¯m here to kill someone.¡±


    Belladin clapped his hands together and smiled. ¡°Ah! There it is. So it¡¯s revenge, eh? Good motive, could think of worse for a story. Vengeance. I can work with that. Tell me more, who¡¯s the man you came to kill?¡±


    ¡°Reegan.¡± Even without his sense of taste, the name left an acrid flavor every time he spoke it.


    ¡°Reegan,¡± the bard echoed, rolling the name around his mouth, appreciating its texture, the possibilities lurking in its two syllables. ¡°What¡¯s Reegan done to earn him your undying ire?¡±


    Memories stirred by the bard¡¯s question cast a red veil over Maddin¡¯s eyes. Rage colored his vision, amplified by the Class assigned him. ¡°He burned my world to the ground.¡±


    Belladin nodded. ¡°Vivid, and yet at the same time terribly vague. Care to specify?¡±


    Maddin watched the awful memories project themselves across his sight, erasing the bard¡¯s lined visage, the boat, the sea, Elusis striving for the heavens. In their place, a woman¡¯s slack features, dead eyes peering into oblivion.


    His fists wrung the oar handles, driving slivers of their wood into his palms. Anger and his new lich body dulled the pain.


    ¡°Maddin?¡±


    He blinked, peered through the blood-red fog of his fury at the bard.


    Before he could speak, something passed beneath the dinghy, causing it to rock back and forth. Maddin watched a large, dark shape move rapidly through the water.


    Belladin stole an oar from Maddin and began padding with anxious haste. ¡°You¡¯ll be wanting to match my speed, or your quest for vengeance will shortly come to an unsatisfying end.¡±


    As Maddin went back to rowing, his eyes tracked the sea creature¡¯s path as it curved back toward their boat.

 Chapter 4: Pirates

    Maddin rowed with both hands on a single oar, matching Belladin¡¯s frantic pace. The dark patch in the water swam closer, gaining speed. Bony protrusions breached the surface of the ocean like a series of black knives. Those alone would tear their boat asunder, thought Maddin.


    And there was no outrunning them.


    ¡°Belladin,¡± he growled, as if the bard could mollify the sea beast with a well-told parable.


    ¡°This is as fast as I row, Second, if you can do better without my help, by all means!¡±


    Maddin swept his arm to the side, striking Belladin in the chest and knocking him onto his back. He took hold of the second oar and spun the dinghy parallel with the creature¡¯s spine.


    The protrusions grazed the starboard side of the boat as the beast made another pass.


    Belladin scrambled to the bow to watch them sink back into the depths. ¡°Very close, Maddin. Very, very close.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t expect it¡¯s over, he¡¯s just made it harder to anticipate his next move.¡±


    ¡°Her,¡± Belladin corrected. ¡°If it was a male, we¡¯d have been dead already.¡±


    ¡°Females, ever the more forgiving sex.¡±


    Belladin turned back, his face ghostly pale. He shook his head. ¡°The females are known to play with their prey before they eat it.¡±


    Maddin¡¯s shoulders stooped. ¡°What do you call this animal?¡±


    ¡°The word for them is filandin, but most sailors call them the belly of the sea.¡±


    ¡°The belly of the sea?¡±


    ¡°So named for their ravenous appetite.¡±


    ¡°Marvelous.¡±


    The boat yawed suddenly to the right and rolled to the left like a horse attempting to buck its rider. The men lurched to starboard to keep balance, slid back to port to even out the action.


    It was swimming circles beneath them, churning the water into a gyre.


    ¡°We have to paddle out of this,¡± said Belladin, as if Maddin were unaware.


    Working the oars with tireless speed, Maddin tried to escape the vortex threatening to swallow them. But no matter how hard or fast he paddled, he could not manage to get free of it. The sea would suck them down into the filandin¡¯s domain, where she could snatch them up like two slow anchovies.


    Maddin had crossed the impermeable barrier between worlds just to become a morsel of fish food.


    As the water underneath them sank into a concavity, a rippling sound pulled Maddin¡¯s attention to the sky. A dark shape soared overhead, a human body held aloft by two broad sets of wings. They folded inward and the man they belonged to descended into their boat.


    The wood cracked beneath his bare feet when he landed, boards buckling under the weight of his brawn. He stood seven feet tall with a frame loaded with muscle, bared for them to see. He had short-cropped dirty-blond hair, scars all over his body, and pale gray eyes that presently came to rest on Maddin. ¡°Pay to be saved?¡± he asked, the four words bleeding into one another with rote delivery.


    ¡°What?¡± Maddin asked.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    ¡°Yes! We¡¯ll pay, just lift us out of here,¡± Belladin pleaded.


    The man extended his bottom set of wings and Belladin took hold of the left. ¡°Grab on,¡± the bewinged man instructed, his voice flat, devoid of emotion.


    Maddin followed Belladin¡¯s lead and latched himself to the other wing. The white feathers felt soft under his palms.


    The boat plunged into the eye of the vortex as their rescuer lifted them skyward, sweeping his unladen wings against the sea and climbing to safety. Maddin looked down and saw a mouth snap the boat in two before diving out of sight.


    ¡°What man has wings?¡± Maddin wondered aloud, watching the ocean drop out beneath him.


    ¡°Celestial,¡± answered the man in question. ¡°Epthim.¡±


    Maddin wondered whether the celestial had just attempted to spit a hair until Belladin replied, ¡°Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Epthim. And pleased to employ your services.¡±


    ¡°Fifteen each,¡± Epthim said. Whether disinterested in the bard¡¯s cordiality or incapable of parsing it, Maddin couldn¡¯t be sure. It seemed that beyond the wings and the muscle, this celestial possessed few other talents. Yet these appeared to be enough, battle-tested, going on the menagerie of scars marring his pale flesh.


    ¡°Duly noted.¡± Belladin replied in a tone containing a note of mischief, which Maddin assumed their celestial transport lacked the faculties to detect. Maddin cut a warning, sidelong glance at the bard, who willfully ignored it.


    ¡°Where are you taking us?¡± asked Maddin.


    ¡°Elinda.¡±


    ¡°Where or who is that?¡±


    Epthim merely pointed to a dark shape in the distance. Maddin could only distinguish it from the sea because it failed to reflect the trace amounts of light threading the dark. A black shape was all it was for several minutes, until they flew close enough to make out the sails.


    It was a ship, painted black, with black sails and rigging, the perfect nighttime stealth vessel. As Epthim slowly descended, Maddin saw that even its crew donned all black uniforms. They gathered on the main deck, forming a semicircle. Epthim came to rest in the center of it. Maddin and Belladin released his wings and dropped to their feet on the black wooden boards.


    They looked up into the eyes of the ostensible captain, a man with a peg leg, a wiry beard, and black garb. One hand rested on his belt, the other stuffed into his jacket. He grinned back at them, baring rotten teeth. ¡°Pay up or swim,¡± he said, his voice aristocratic, a poor match for his appearance.


    Epthim gave them both a shove forward. Maddin scowled up at the celestial, then turned to Belladin, prompting him to settle their debt. But the bard returned his gaze with one of apology. Maddin grit his teeth. ¡°Would those be our only two options?¡± he asked the captain.


    ¡°A fighter, eh? Well, given your state and the slightness of your companion¡¯s figure, I very much doubt you¡¯d like your odds. I think they¡¯d be better if you tried your luck in the sea. You¡¯ve a better chance of slipping past the filandin than defeating my entire ship.¡± The captain raised his peg leg, wrapped his fist around it, then plucked the wood away from his stump to reveal a shiny silver blade underneath. With perfect balance, he leveled the point on his guests. ¡°Not that you¡¯d even make it past me.¡±


    ¡°We have something else to offer,¡± Belladin said with a bow.


    The captain turned to his crew. ¡°A barter!¡±


    They all laughed.


    ¡°What have you to trade with value equal to your lives?¡± He flicked his jaundiced eyes at Maddin. ¡°Or life, depending on the degree of loyalty you feel for your green friend.¡±


    With a twinkle in his gaze, the bard replied, ¡°A story.¡±


    The persistent nausea roiling Maddin¡¯s stomach suddenly doubled.


    The captain guffawed. ¡°Are we children in need of a bedtime fairy tale?¡±


    ¡°Some of the finest stories are those we share with the inchoate minds of children. Despite what some philosophers may tell you, intellect doesn¡¯t digest story, imagination does, and it¡¯s strongest in the young. A storyteller must fine-tune their craft to sate such a ravenous appetite.¡±


    The captain lowered his sword-leg to the deck and let the tip stick in the boards. ¡°Is it your intention to compare us unfavorably to children?¡±


    ¡°We were all children once, were we not?¡± Belladin cut his eyes at the towering celestial behind him. ¡°Well, nearly all of us. Thus, we all possess the same imagination. Age merely obfuscates the faculty.¡±


    Maddin saw in the captain¡¯s face a measure of respect for the venturesome bard, betrayed by the angle of his lips, the tightness around the eyes, a thoughtful rather than dismissive look. ¡°A story, then, hm? Well, bard, it may very well be your last, so let it be a good one, eh?¡±


    ¡°You are very gracious to hear it, captain, though it isn¡¯t mine to tell.¡±


    Belladin turned then to Maddin who might¡¯ve spewed the contents of his stomach had there been any.


    ¡°A Second¡¯s story,¡± the captain said. ¡°Well, this ought to be good.¡±