Escape from Celestial

by Tony Johnson

  “Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to back away,” one of the young guards stepped forward to say, his hand moving to the sword hilt at his side.

  Really? Grizz wanted to say. You didn’t put your hand on your weapon for the man who just tried to pass you. I can’t help thinking you’re treating me different because my skin color is black, not white like yours. Either that or it’s because I’m a Dwarf.

  Another of the silver-armored men came up and elbowed his fellow warrior brother in the side. With his red hair and pale, freckled face, Grizz recognized this Elven warrior as Willis Whyte. The Whyte’s had been one of the first families to welcome Grizz when he first settled down in Serendale. During the past eight years, he had watched Willis grow from a fourteen-year-old boy into a fine young warrior.

  Since the other two warriors had transferred from other cities and didn’t grow up in Serendale, they didn’t know the city’s civilians. Willis quickly whispered something into the warrior’s ear who was trying to keep Grizz away. The young man’s eyes widened.

  “Forgive me, Mr. Grindstone. You may enter if you wish.”

  “Mr. Grindstone,” Grizz muttered under his breath in a way that let the offending warrior know he was being overly professional. People only call me that if they don’t know me or if they’re scared of me.

  “I can’t stand that guy,” the twenty-two-year-old Willis said of the confrontational warrior as he opened the gate for Grizz. “Any chance I get to mess with him, I take it.”

  “What’d you tell him?”

  “That you’re a hardened criminal who once attacked a warrior for standing in your way,” the red-head chuckled.

  Letting out a laugh and looking back at the gullible warrior, Grizz patted Willis’s shoulder, appreciative he was helped in so he could hear the news.

  Walking through the garrison’s courtyard, past the straw-stuffed practice dummies and racks of weapons and armor, Grizz headed for the mess hall. Ahead of him, the last of the veteran warriors from around the town were entering.

  No one seemed to notice the Dwarf come in. The only one who did pay attention to him was an orange direfox, a massively overgrown and vicious-looking fox named Copper. As a pup, the monster had followed a warrior name Callan back from the forest and straight into Serendale.

  Callan named it Copper and raised it. For four years now, the young direfox could be seen by the warrior’s side whenever he patrolled the streets. Although he was a monster, Copper always followed orders and never hurt anyone. All the townsfolk loved Copper and everyone treated him as if he were their own pet.

  “How ya doing, boy?” Grizz bent down to scratch the direfox behind his ears. Copper enjoyed the attention for a minute before he lied down on the ground, preoccupied with a bone he was chewing.

  In front of Grizz were many the veteran warriors of Serendale. Any warrior who had earned at least one color of the town was mandated to be at emergency meetings. The rest of the town’s less experienced, silver-armored warriors were ordered to patrol the streets and try to send people into the safety of their homes in situations like this.

  The sea of green armor in front of him had warriors either sitting at the room-length tables or standing alongside the walls, all facing the front of the mess hall. Out of the commander’s council chamber came the four men who had entered the town with alarming speed. They took seats at the nearest long table.

  Knowing the Warrior Commander was taking a minute to contemplate the news and planning how to respond to it, all the men were whispering.

  Grizz leaned against the back wall and crossed his arms. As he waited, he saw movement above him. Crawling through a window in the high-ceilinged mess hall was Dart. He had somehow made his way into the garrison and was now waiting in the rafters to hear the news.

  The Dwarf smiled, as he often did when Dart impressed him, but he never allowed the Human teenager to see his satisfaction. He knows this has something to do with Hunters’ Den, where his family is. He wants to find out what happened, and I can’t blame him. I’d find some way to sneak in here too if I were him.

  Five minutes later, Serendale’s top ranking warrior, Commander Krause, appeared at the front of the hall. Grizz saw Krause notice him standing in the back, but the commander didn’t attempt to have him sent away.

  Officially, I shouldn’t be at this meeting, but what do I care? Krause would never stand up against me. He’s more scared of me than that warrior guarding the entrance to the garrison. Perhaps he’s heard the rumors about me, like everyone in this town has. Krause is a commander though. He needs to show no sign of fear, but whenever I’m around he looks like he’s going to wet himself. What would he do if he faced a real monster?

  The commander turned and spoke to the sixty veteran warriors in the hall, who made up a quarter of the total warriors currently in Serendale.

  “As many of you know, in recent weeks there have been reports of a monster attacking at night in the Evergreen Forest. First, it was livestock, but then we received three different reports of missing persons. Last week, one of the larger groups heading to Celestial for the Tournaments was found dead. Today, we’ve received word that Hunters’ Den was attacked in the night. Apparently, a child went to use the outhouse, was attacked and killed.”

  There was an angry groan from many of the men in the room, imagining the death of a child. Immediately, Grizz, still with his arms crossed, looked up to the rafters. Dart had let out a quick gasp and had now bowed his head and was covering his face. Despite the gasp, no one besides the Dwarf and Copper had realized the boy was eavesdropping on the meeting.

  “This man,” Krause pointed to the shaggy-haired, middle-aged man, “Saven Briako, says he saw the monster.”

  “It was huge!” Saven stood up from the long table and interrupted the commander. He gestured with his arms extended as wide as he could to the crowd of warriors. “Granted, I only saw it in the shadows, but the beast was massive.”

  “Alright, Mr. Briako,” Krause spoke up, visibly annoyed, not appreciating having the attention of his men stolen away. The commander motioned for two of his warriors to lead the man outside.

  “As I was saying, Mr. Briako claims he saw a glimpse of the monster when he was awoken from his sleep by the child’s scream. He ran outside and found the boy, but all attempts to revive the child failed.”

  That explains why he was covered in blood, Grizz thought grimly.

  “All except two of the horses in the Hunters’ Den stable were killed. Three of the six dead were almost completely eaten. Saven took one of the remaining horses and rode for us at the break of dawn. Along the way, he met one of our warrior patrols in the forest and told them what had happened.

  “We’ve had patrols out searching the area. All we’ve found are large paw prints belonging to a four-legged beast, most likely a direwolf. Our problem is that its attacks are getting more vicious. It’s growing in confidence. Until we find and kill this monster, we’re keeping the city gates closed day and night. All travel in and out of Serendale is henceforth banned unless authorized by me.

  “I’ve already sent a phoenix, Moltar, to Celestial with a messenger to warn all travelers coming this way after the Tournaments are finished to stay in the capital until further notice. I’ll be sending out a large party to Hunters’ Den to collect everyone there and bring them back to the safety of Serendale. Some of those sent will search for this monster until it is tracked down and killed.”

  Krause pointed to three of his captains around the room. “Doyle, Westfield, and Griegan, select ten warriors total to take and complete this mission. You leave in one hour.”

  Of course, Krause is too afraid to go out and lead a group to take on this monster himself, Grizz thought. Looking at his face, Grizz wondered how the mustached commander achieved his role as leader of the warriors in Serendale. I doubt he even has a scar on his body from battle.

  “One last piece of information,” Commander Krause
announced. “Sentries in the north have noticed odd movements in goblin clans lately. Many clans that have been at odds for years are starting to form alliances together. Keep an ear out for any more information regarding this. If you hear anything at all, even the tiniest piece of intel, report it to your superior. With that, we are adjourned. Speed, strength, and safety to you all.”

  Grizz patted Copper goodbye, who was already more than halfway finished with his bone, and headed outside to the alley beside the mess hall. Coming down a stack of crates and barrels was Dart, who was sniffling and wiping his runny nose caused by his emotional response to the news that it was potentially his little brother who had been killed.

  Not noticing his master in the shadows, Dart suddenly felt a firm hand grab tightly around the back of his neck.

  “I thought I told you to stay put!” Grizz scolded.

  “Ow! Let go!” Dart cried out from the pain.

  “Does this hurt?” the Dwarf questioned. “Because this is nothing compared to how it would feel if you would’ve fallen from those rafters. You could’ve broken your neck.” He released his firm grasp by tossing the boy away from him.

  “I’m sorry, sir, but I needed to know what was happening. I think,” he stuttered, “I think my little brother may be the one who was killed.” Dart began crying again, making Grizz feel guilty that his anger at being disobeyed was stronger than his compassion for Dart and the loss he may have suffered.

  After taking a second to compose himself, the teenager blurted out, “I want to go with them. I need to see if he’s still alive. W-would,” he stuttered nervously, “you allow it, sir?”

  Grizz knew what Dart was asking for. If an apprentice wanted a leave of absence, he or she had to get permission from his or her master. Grizz had already refused Dart from traveling to Almiria with his family.

  “Okay.”

  “Okay?” Dart asked, shocked.

  “Yes, you can go if the warriors allow it.”

  “I think they will. My cousin is second in command under Captain Westfield. I’m sure he can get clearance for me.”

  Grizz wanted to say, take as much time as you need and come back to work when you’re ready, but he knew that would be implying that Dart’s little brother had been the one who died. He didn’t want to crush his apprentice’s hopes so instead he said, “You’re going to have a lot of catching up to do when you get back.”

  “I understand. I’ll work hard,” Dart said, determined.

  Before his apprentice ran off, Grizz stopped him to say one more thing. “There’s been a lot of monster activity in the Evergreen Forest lately. If you’re going to be traveling with the warriors, I’d feel more comfortable if you had a weapon. Head back to the forge and wait for me there.”

  “Yes, sir. Thank you.” Despite being emotional, for a brief second, Dart smiled. Grizz’s weaponry was vast and many of his items were expensive. Warriors who carried his blacksmithing mark knew they had an expertly crafted item. It was always an honor for Dart to hold one. He never imagined being allowed to wield one.

  After the last of the warriors had filed out, Grizz headed back into the mess hall, walked the length of it, and entered Commander Krause’s council room without taking the time to knock at the door.

  “Mr. Grindstone, what business do you have here?” the commander asked without looking up from a map he was surveying. “Be quick, because I do not have time for-”

  “Thirteen?” Grizz interrupted, speaking gruffly to the commander. “You’re not sending out nearly enough warriors to combat the monster.”

  Krause looked up and stared at the Dwarf. “You shouldn’t have even been in the hall. It was a classified meeting for warriors only. Now you come into my chamber and question my judgment?”

  “Yes,” Grizz answered flatly, watching a flicker of fire in the eyes of the angry commander. “Two years ago, a monster, with a description like this one, killed three Celestial warrior trainees in the Evergreen Forest. Fifteen warriors were sent out to fight it, but only two survived. They ended up killing the beast, but there were rumors circulating that there might have been a second one. Supposedly, the monster was a-”

  “I know. I’ve heard the story,” Krause interrupted Grizz showing he would give as much respect as he had gotten from the Dwarf. “The monster the Celestial warriors defeated was rare. Almost extinct. Like I said in my address, what we have now is more than likely a larger than average direwolf or direboar. Thirteen men is more than enough.”

  “What kind of direboar has been known to kill six horses? I’m telling you this is something bigger. You heard what Saven said; he saw the shape of it and he says it’s huge.”

  “You know what people are like after something traumatic. They exaggerate what they see. Their minds play tricks. Part of our nature likes to believe in rare, out of the ordinary encounters. Don’t worry, Mr. Grindstone, whatever it is, my men can handle it. I know what they’re capable of. In case you didn’t realize, I’m sending my best warriors. Whatever killed that kid is as good as dead.”

  He said, ‘killed that kid’ with such ease, it’s as if the death of a child means nothing to him, Grizz thought angrily.

  “Now if you wouldn’t mind, please leave. I do not have time to listen to a blacksmith’s tactical advice based on inaccurate rumors from years ago.”

  Serendale’s commander looked back down at his map, a cue for Grizz to leave just in case he didn’t get the message from the abrupt end to the conversation, but Grizz instead walked forward and slammed his fists onto Krause’s desk to get his undivided attention.

  Roughly tapping on different parts of the map, the blacksmith spoke in a louder voice than he needed to. “In these sections of the Evergreen Forest, you’ve had a growing infestation of spiders for over six years. Here,” Grizz pointed to another spot, “is where there have been multiple attacks by packs of direwolves. In addition to these, you have the attack at Hunters’ Den by an unknown monster, and now, if I heard you correctly, goblins are assembling in the north.”

  The commander began to stand up in defense against Grizz’s verbal attack, but the Dwarf pushed him back down into his seat. Krause looked shocked, never having been disrespected in such fashion.

  “For years, I’ve watched you hide behind this desk of yours, as monsters grew in power all around Serendale. You were too scared to lead the attacks yourself, so you devised poorly-planned tactics for your warriors, most of which ended up failing and cost good men their lives. Now innocent people are dying, and still you sit here, doing nothing except selfishly protecting yourself. Their blood is on your hands, you coward. You don’t deserve the title of commander.”

  Turning on his heel, Grizz left, silently cursing Krause. He headed to the schoolhouse where his wife taught. The kids were on their recess break, playing in the schoolyard, so he went inside to where Juliana was making lesson preparations.

  “Hi, honey,” she said as he came through the door, walked down the center of the many columns of student desks, and stood in front of her desk at the head of the room.

  “Hi, Jules. I have to leave Serendale for a couple days,” he said, not wasting time. If the warriors were set to leave in an hour, I don’t have much time left.

  “Why?” Juliana asked somewhat alarmed. She had heard the horns and knew the city gates were closed, but knew she wouldn’t hear why until the townsfolk were addressed later that night.

  “The warriors are going to need help fighting a monster in the Evergreen Forest. Krause is being an idiot. He’s banning all travel to and from Serendale, yet he thinks it’s only a large direwolf. He wants to make people feel like they’re in danger so when his warriors defeat the monster, everyone will thank him for keeping them safe.”

  “What is it then? What’s wrong?” Juliana saw the frustration and worry in her husband’s face.

  “I don’t believe it’s just an oversized direwolf. I think some of the other warriors are as skept
ical as I am. Based on the reports we’ve heard, it sounds like it’s something bigger and stronger. They’re going to need my help, whatever it is they’re up against.”

  Juliana knew there was no use trying to get Grizz to stay. A look in his bright eyes told her how much he wanted in on the action the warriors were about to undertake.

  “Go,” she said, getting up from her desk to hug and kiss her husband. “But make sure you’re back in time for the kids’ stage play in four days. We’re practicing every night until then, so we’ll be busy rehearsing lines.”

  “I will be,” Grizz promised, reminded of how all the students were putting on a show where each one of them dressed up and acted out one of the heroes of legend. “The boys have been talking about it a lot lately. They’re excited. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  “Make sure to say goodbye to them before you leave. They’re outside.”

  Grizz smiled on the inside. He respected his wife enough that he wouldn’t have gone to fight if she didn’t want him to, but not going would’ve made him anxious until the warriors returned. Now that he had permission, he could be a part of the action instead of waiting to hear about it secondhand, if the warriors came back alive that is.

  “I love you,” he said, heading outside.

  “I love you too,” Juliana replied.

  They would be the last four words Grizz would ever hear his wife speak.

  Chapter 32

  The three heroes saw a horde of monsters coming down the sewer pipe behind them. Two of them were carrying torches. Two others were carrying flaming swords. Around them, at least nine other weapon-carrying monsters could be seen based on the metal gleaming in the firelight.

  The three turned to run, but the same manhole that the skeleton and orc came down opened again.