by Paul Bellow
“Maybe,” he said. “Can I trust you?”
“You can trust us,” Monky said in a strange voice.
I turned to her, wondering if she was implanting something in the boy’s mind. He smiled and motioned for us to follow him.
“Lead the way,” I said.
The boy continued down the dirt path between two fields of grass. Monky and I followed a few dozen paces behind him.
“We need to be careful about trusting the boy,” she said. “Magi Inyontoo has spies everywhere. He might not seem like much, but you never know.”
“I haven’t trusted anyone since Magi Inyontoo killed me. The only reason I agreed to help him was to could find Sarah. I’m worried about her.”
“Magi Inyontoo plays stupid, but he’s not.” Monky said. “He’s evil and dangerous. One of my jobs down here is to watch him. I’ve been embedded in Rizzo’s group a while, but I think you’re important right now.”
“This is all so confusing,” I said.
“Luckily, Rizzo’s not a very good player.”
“No kidding.” I glanced over at her. “I like you.”
“And I like you,” she said. “You’ve got a bright future.”
“Oh, I’m not staying long,” I said. “We’re getting out soon.”
Her smile faded. She turned away.
“There’s no way out,” she said. “The sooner you accept it, the better. You don’t understand. Some of the players have been in here hundreds of virtual years. They’ve built an entire society for themselves on the upper levels. Most of them don’t want to go back to reality. That’s part of the reason they hate Magi Inyontoo so much.”
“I’m hating him more all the time,” I said. “These are just game characters, but still…”
“He’s twisted,” Monky said.
We kept walking, both of us becoming silent. I watched the young boy ahead of us. He strode down the path like he owned the whole world. I wished I had some of his energy.
Monky’s revelations about Magi Inyontoo didn’t surprise me too much, but I wondered about the upper levels of the game. They sounded fun, but I wanted to find Sarah.
Finding her was my new top priority.
8
Raising a Quick Army
Josh
After marching most of the day, the boy stopped and turned. I saw a few crude buildings off the side of the trail ahead.
“They’re not going to like me bringing you here,” the boy said.
“We’ll protect you.” I turned to Monky. “Right?”
She nodded then glanced around.
“Are they close?” she asked. “I’m so hungry.”
“Me too,” I said. “Hopefully, they’ll feed us.”
“They will,” the boy assured us. “You saved me.”
He walked off the dirt trail and headed toward a short stretch of woods. As we walked around, I noticed more thatched roof cottages behind the trees.
“They can’t stop all of us,” the boy said.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Peter,” he said. “Son of Griffin.”
I noted again how the game paid attention to the details.
While walking toward the settlement, a few men with pitchforks appeared.
“Stop!” one yelled. “Don’t come any closer.”
Had word of the other village’s destruction already traveled this far?
Peter ran forward. Would he turn on us? Could we trust him?
I kept walking toward them with Monky at my side.
“We don’t mean you any harm,” I said, raising both hands.
“They want to help us,” Peter said.
A few of the other men laughed.
“Sure,” their blond-haired leader said.
“I’m Yorg,” I said. “And this is Monky.”
The other men laughed again.
“I’m Hunter. We’d welcome any help you could give us.”
He turned his head and motioned for the other guys to leave. As they wandered away, Hunter turned his pitchfork so that the tines pointed downward.
“I’ll help you defeat the people who burned the other village,” I said.
He narrowed his eyes, saying, “We’ve been wary, but I haven’t heard about the destruction of a settlement.”
The boy ran to him and threw his arms around the grizzled man’s waist.
“It was horrible,” he cried. “They killed almost everyone and burned it all down.”
Hunter patted Peter’s back and stared into my eyes. I didn’t blink.
“We don’t have any warriors to exact revenge,” he said.
“I’ll train you,” I said. “Both of us. Right Monky?”
She nodded and said, “Whatever it takes.”
“Justice will be served,” I said then turned to her and grinned.
Did she really just roll her eyes at me?
“How many people are with you?” I asked.
“Three dozen men,” Hunter said.
“We can ask the other settlements,” Peter said.
He then removed his arms and wiped away his tears.
“We’ll need as many people as we can get,” I said. “This will take some time.”
“That’s great,” Hunter said. “We’ve got nothing but energy and time.”
Monky grabbed my arm and asked, “Can we talk a moment?”
“Give us a minute,” I told Hunter. “We’ll meet you in the village.”
He narrowed his eyes but nodded then left.
“This isn’t a good idea,” Monky said.
I grinned at her, saying, “But those are the best kind.”
“I’m being serious,” Monky said, exasperated.
“So am I—we can take Rizzo and the others. It’s not like they’re smart.”
“They aren’t, but we should avoid risks,” she said. “I don’t want to blow my cover.”
“Those four won’t take long to topple,” I said, “and it’ll make up for the village. Didn’t your alignment go down, too?”
She shook her head and said, “I can control such simple things.”
“Must be nice,” I snorted.
She nodded her head toward the village and said, “This is going to take time.”
“Yeah.” I grinned. “But it’ll be worth it. I love helping underdogs.”
“I wish we’d met under different circumstances,” Monky said wistfully.
“Yeah…” My voice trailed off as we followed the villagers.
The ‘village’ was just a small group of buildings arranged around a circular clearing with a well and several makeshift market booths. Hunter saw us approaching and waved. Seeing the hopeful look on his face, I began to doubt whether it was possible for a high school football jock to train simple villagers to win a battle against a group of experienced gamers.
* * * * *
A month passed quickly as I naturally fell into my role as a leader of the resistance forces. My three dozen recruits had spent whatever free time they had left after survival to train. We didn’t have a lot of normal weapons, but I improvised. The battle wouldn’t be easy, but after a month, I thought we had a fighting chance. Monky’s knowledge of the game’s mechanics and our opponents proved useful. We came up with a plan to defeat the others with as little damage as possible.
One afternoon, I stood in the village’s only barn on the outer edge of town near the fields. The corn growing there could have been real except for the color. Red husks protected the bright red corn kernels from the elements and predators like birds. While leaning against the doorway, I saw Peter, the boy who’d led us to the settlement of simple farmers wanting to survive. He ran up, excited as ever, then stopped, breathing heavily.
“I need to talk to you,” he said between labored breaths.
“Calm down,” I said. “Did you run all the way here?”
He nodded. “All the way. I’m fast, and I can help.”
“You’ll be a big help here at the villa
ge while we go fight,” I said.
“No,” he whined. “I’m coming with you. You’re letting a girl go.”
I tilted my head to the left. “Huh?”
“Thomas,” the boy began, “is a girl named Tara pretending to be a boy.”
“I don’t remember a Thomas,” I said.
“She wants to avenge her parents,” Peter said. “Why can she go, and I can’t?”
“I want you both to be safe,” I said. “This isn’t a battle for children.”
He balled his fists and exclaimed, “I’m no sissy!”
“You’re not, but this isn’t for you. I’ll talk to Thomas and get to the bottom of it. Women and children shouldn’t be at this fight. They’re too important.”
“Are they?” Monky asked as she walked up to us.
“They’re important to me,” I clarified.
“But they could help us win,” she said.
I tilted my head back while still watching her.
“Am I hearing you right?” I finally said.
“You’re not sexist, are you?” she countered.
“What do you think?”
The boy ran off in a huff. I turned my head and saw Marjorie walking toward us. She looked so much like Sarah in the real world. Was the Tower of Gates messing with me somehow? I smiled as she approached.
Monky groaned next to me, but I ignored her completely.
“Thank you,” Marjorie said as she stopped in front of me. “I told him he can’t go with you guys.”
I stood up straight and smiled. “Don’t worry about it.”
“You’re the first half-orc I’ve ever met,” she said. “You’re so huge...and friendly.”
I nodded. At the corner of my eye, I saw Monky roll her eyes.
Marjorie put her hands on my chest and stood on the tips of her toes to plant a kiss on my cheek. I would’ve turned red if I had the right pigmentation.
“Thank you,” she said. “We’ll talk more once you return.”
“I’d like that,” I said, waving as she walked away.
Monky sighed then mimicked me, “I’d like that…”
“Cut it out,” I said. “Don’t be a hater. I’m not into guys…”
She frowned and snapped, “First off, I’m not a guy. Second, we’ve had a great personal connection. You’re throwing it away on the first pretty NPC that comes your way.”
I played with the ring on my finger that allowed me to talk without an OOC penalty. She was right in a way, but I couldn’t wrap my mind around her outward appearance.
“Don’t be that way,” I said. “We need to work together.”
“I shouldn’t even be helping you with this half-cocked plan.”
She crossed her arms over her chest and shook her head.
“We should go over the plan one more time,” I said. “These villagers deserve it.”
She shook her head and said, “The game’s sucking you in. Be careful.”
“Maybe, but doing the right thing matters…”
“Of course it does,” she said. “We got this. I’ll lead half of us to the northern edge of Esterhollow. You’ll bring the rest of the men up to the south entrance of the city. Once Rizzo and the others come out to deal with you, we’ll sneak in and come up behind them. They’ll go down quickly.”
“We hope,” I said, unsure of the plan after hearing it out loud.
“Don’t be so negative,” she said. “Besides, you have a damsel in distress waiting here for you.”
“She reminds me of Sarah…”
Monky nodded, her lips pursed together. We walked toward the center of the village where most of the men had gathered. I took a deep breath, wondering if we were doing the right thing.
9
The Battle of the Brute
Josh
Six dozen men, haphazardly armed, marched behind Monky and me. After an entire day of marching, we stopped and split up as we approached Esterhollow. I took my four dozen men to the southern side of the city while Monky led the others around the area.
While setting up camp half a mile away from the southern city gates, I saw two armored warriors wearing black plate mail on horseback ride toward us. I met them halfway, my sword resting on my right shoulder.
“Captain Riggardo demands to know why you’re here,” the man on the right grunted.
“We’re here for justice,” I said. “Rizzo and his gang must die.”
Both men on the black horses laughed, their shoulders shaking and their polished armors reflecting the setting sun. I tilted my head back, watching them closely.
“You’re ordered to leave,” the man said. “This is your first and only warning.”
I watched as they both turned their horses and headed back toward the city gates. They wouldn’t let us in, but Rizzo and the others would come out.
Knowing them, they wouldn’t let someone like me get away with calling them out. I wanted them to pay for burning down the settlement.
Hunter walked up to me, gazing at the city in the distance.
“Maybe this isn’t a good idea,” he said. “Captain Riggardo is a bit crazy.”
“I’ll kill him too if needed,” I said. “We’ve trained hard.”
“Only for a month,” Hunter said. “I’m worried.”
“Leave me alone!” a female voice shouted behind us.
I turned and saw Marjorie struggling to get away from two men.
“Let her go,” I shouted as I walked over to them. “What’s going on?”
“I had to come to protect Tara,” Marjorie said. “And look after you.”
“This is no place for a princess like you,” I said.
She blushed and lowered her head.
“We’ve got movement at the city gates,” Hunter said.
I frowned and put my hand on Marjorie’s shoulder.
“Go hide,” I said. “This won’t be pretty.”
“It’s the red wizard and his gang,” Hunter said.
“Go, now!” I shouted.
Marjorie, almost in tears, turned and bolted toward our two wagons. I turned around, sword held up, ready to take on the entire city. Harvey, Rizzo, Sylvar, and Thero needed to pay.
I saw them walk out of the city gates side by side, acting unconcerned at our group of men. As they approached, I wondered if Monky was okay on the north side of the city.
Our plan would fall apart if she didn’t come through. I concentrated on my breathing, intent on restraining my barbarian rage unless absolutely necessary.
The band of four stopped a few hundred yards away.
“We’re killing Sarah after we finish with you!” Sylvar shouted.
I noted the longbow in his hands with an arrow nocked. Thero and the spellcasters worried me more. I’d trained the villagers to go after the magic users first.
“What’s the matter, big guy?” Sylvar taunted. “Too afraid to speak?”
“Enough!” Rizzo shouted, trying too desperately to be dramatic.
Peter ran past me, sword raised high and screaming as he ran toward them, “Taste my wrath!”
I started to run after him, but Hunter held me back.
“Remember the plan,” he said coldly.
But I broke free from his grasp and ran after the boy anyway. Marjorie must have seen Peter running to certain death because she came out of hiding and gave chase.
When I heard her screaming behind me, I stopped and turned, wondering who to save first. Anger flared up inside me as I looked back and forth.
Thero ran forward to meet the boy. I was too far away to reach him in time.
Desperate, I shouted, “Fire the arrows!”
A dozen men stepped out from behind the wagons. They all shot arrows into the air at the same time. I watched in horror as they rained down…and hit Peter.
“No…”
I ran forward as Thero pierced the boy with his sword. Unable to resist any longer, I tapped into my dark side. Thero grunted as I plowed into him at full force. Mo
re arrows fell around me as Rizzo began casting offensive spells at Hunter and the villagers.
After pushing the other fighter to the ground, I hit him with my sword. The blow bounced off his insanely thick armor, but I didn’t give up the fight.
Where’s Monky? She needs to be here…
As if she had heard me, Monky and her group rushed toward Harvey, Rizzo, and Sylvar. The healer noticed them at the last minute.
I turned my attention back to Thero as he slashed his sword across my chest.
[PC] Thero’s slash WOUNDS you for 16 damage.
You have [87/103] health remaining.
Still in a rage, I didn’t slow down. Death filled my thoughts.
Your slash WOUNDS [PC] Thero for 17 damage.
Your pierce HITS [PC] Thero for 9 damage.
“Die, half-orc scum!” the fighter shouted, swinging his sword.
He missed.
I lost track of the others as I attacked again, still full of rage.
Your slash MAULS [PC] Thero for 22 damage.
Your pierce WOUNDS [PC] Thero for 18 damage.
He’s such a tank!
I heard Marjorie and others screaming around me, but I kept attacking the thick-headed warrior. He got in a few more good strikes, bringing me down to about half my health.
By that time, I had sliced him over a dozen times. When he fell to his knees, I ran my sword through his unprotected neck with both hands, nearly taking his head off.
With one thrust, I had killed Thero.
“No!” Harvey shouted in the distance.
I turned as my rage subsided, along with all my energy. I looked around the battlefield and saw all of the villagers dead, their gruesome bodies littering the ground.
Monky stood frozen near Harvey, Rizzo, and Sylvar. Captain Riggard had also appeared. He pointed a finger at me then motioned me over with his hand.
“Give it up!” Sylvar said as I cautiously approached.
I stopped halfway, sword still raised.
“Let Monky go, and we’ll leave,” I said.
Captain Riggardo laughed. “It’s far too late for that,” he said.
