The Dreadful Hunt

by J. E. Thompson

  “I am Princess Chasmira. Who are you?”

  “Vexx White. Dungeoneer for hire.”

  “There’s something strange about you two,” she commented. “You should be dead. Can you breathe underwater?”

  “I’m talking to you, aren’t I?” Vexx snapped back, growing increasingly annoyed. “What do you want from us?”

  “A dungeoneer…does that mean you do quests? Like a knight errant?”

  “Yeah, something like that. A fighter from the lands above…or a sorcerer, in this instance,” he said, regretting leaving his wolf-head staff in the fishing boat. He wondered for a moment where Shyola was now, then realized he had more immediate concerns.

  “Perhaps you can help me, Vexx White. I can release you back to the surface world if you can solve my little problem. You see, I suspect my uncle murdered my parents to secure the water naga throne, which is mine by right.”

  “Ah, dynastic struggles. So very similar both above and below. But yes, I’m interested, as is my elf friend,” he said, jerking his head at Kaylin, who nodded silently. “So, what happened?”

  “When I was a child and hidden away, my uncle ruled for eight years. But when I reached the age of adulthood, I announced myself, along with my intentions to claim the throne, which would belong to me according to our laws and traditions. Yet this upset him, murderer that he is, and he refused to relinquish his staff.”

  “His staff?” Vexx broke in, raising an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, but does that matter? You just want the throne, right?”

  “We water nagas are not inclined to sit,” she said, drifting around him and eyeing Vexx as he turned around to face her. “Our seahorses carry us just fine. The staff is important not only because of the powerful magical enchantments imbued within it, but because it designates the true heir,” she said, touching an amulet on her chest, “along with this as well.” At the touch of her webbed hand, the amulet glowed a dull yellow, and Princess Chasmira continued. “While this has been enough to garner the support of half the water nagas, I need the staff for full control.”

  “Are you in a civil war right now?” Vexx asked.

  “Not yet,” she said with a heavy sigh. “I’m hoping to avoid that. You surface dwellers might be enough to turn the tide before this happens. I don’t want to lose more lives than necessary.”

  Vexx nodded slowly. “I understand. We will help get your staff for you.”

  “Perhaps you really can change our race’s destiny,” the water naga said as she released them from their cages. Princess Chasmira rode in close, staring into Vexx’s eyes. “Please.”

  She turned and pointed down the coral road, where a peculiar civilization could be seen. Seahorses carted drifting wooden boxes around while other water nagas moved by using their undulating tails to propel them along. A squad of martial-looking water nagas moved past, following one mounted on a seahorse, all of them outfitted with coral armor and bearing long spears tipped with white bone.

  The dungeoneers swam through the city, attracting quite a few stares as they looked around and checked their bearings. Finally, the leader of a squad of marching water nagas addressed them.

  “Hail, visitors from above,” she said, clearly perplexed at their presence. “State the nature of your business.”

  “We’ve been invited by Princess Chasmira to act as…diplomats, of sorts, in order to resolve any potential problems in your kingdom.” Vexx attempted a winning smile, which produced no reaction in the stern water naga soldier.

  “I see. If we can avoid open warfare, then so much the better. My name is Sergeant Titanica Vizmerian, and if you have any problems with the citizenry, just let me know. We are a…prickly people, but we mean you no harm. Good luck to you, surface dweller,” she said, swimming onward, still flanked by the squad of armored water nagas.

  Vexx nodded and continued making his way through the water naga settlement and getting a sense of things. He saw now that some of the water nagas clustered together, as if forming two separate factions, and they seemed to almost glare at each other whenever they passed by. Their glares turned into questioning stares as they took in the elf and human swimming among them, but no one bothered the dungeoneers as they made their way through.

  “I don’t really like working for people who trap me,” Kaylin huffed as they made their way through town. “It makes me feel really annoyed to have to—”

  Master. Are you down there?

  Vexx yelped and slapped a hand over his mouth, gaping in surprise at the sensation of having Shyola’s voice in his head.

  “Shy?” he asked aloud. “Is that you speaking in my head? How’d you do that?”

  I’m smoking a lot of seaweed and communing in the spirit world, Shy replied in his mind. Could think of worse situations to be in. The boat is leaking, though…so that’s one problem. Where are you guys?

  “What’s going on, Vexx?” Kaylin asked, tugging lightly on his arm. “Why are you saying Shy’s name? She isn’t here.”

  “Can you speak to Kaylin as well?” Vexx asked, looking over at the elf. “Shy is in my head. Trying to communicate with me.”

  No.

  “Is it because of our magical connection?”

  No, I just hate talking to her. Can you make your way back up to the boat?

  “Not just yet. We need to solve a water naga dynastic dispute. You were right, Shy, they’re still around. And they’re still the assholes you said they were.”

  “Assholes, are we?” Vexx turned around to see an approaching group of water nagas wearing green-tinted coral armor. Two long nets wrapped around the dungeoneers, entangling them both at once. “We’ll see about that, surface dweller.”

  King Korak

  What’s going on now? Shyola asked in Vexx’s head, but it might as well have been him asking himself that, given how quickly everything had happened. Hello?

  Vexx shook his head in irritation. They’d been trussed and bound, then hauled through the streets of this peculiar underwater civilization to a palace, only to be stuffed into two more cells like they were for sale in some sort of exotic animal show.

  “Give me a minute.”

  A water naga emerged from the hallway, swimming over toward them. A gleaming golden circlet was wrapped around his head, and he clutched a coral staff. The very tip of it glowed a faint green, and his ornate coral armor was also tinged with green. The water naga stared at his two captives for a long moment.

  “I understand that the so-called Princess Chasmira has wrapped you two up in her scheme. I have no patience for her treason, but I am willing to overlook your involvement in it, surface dwellers, given your unfortunate circumstances here. But you will need to help me.”

  “Of course,” Vexx muttered, smoothing out his scowl into a smile. “Sir. Of course, sir. And who are you, exactly?”

  “King Korak, the one and true king of the water nagas.” He sniffed. “No matter what people say. Now, then, let me be frank. I want you to take the amulet from that pretender and give it to me. I’m not sure how she ever came across it, but it belongs to the true heir, and once I have it, our people will finally be united.”

  “Why us?” Vexx asked.

  “It’s the only alternative to open warfare,” he replied. “Because that is what will happen if I simply take it for myself. Not everyone truly understands the burdens of power, but it is because I want to avoid the needless loss of the life that I am talking to you now. Take the amulet from her, and we will have peace.”

  “Shy…” Vexx whispered as quietly as he could, “what do you know about the rightful heir to the water naga throne?”

  “Shy?” King Korak blinked. “Yes, well…I suppose you are, speaking that quietly, but I can tell you that I’m the rightful heir.”

  “Of course, of course,” Vexx agreed at once.

  Hmm, Shy’s voice echoed in his head. Let’s see, I did torture a few water naga raiders. Let me smoke a bit more and get back to you.

  “Wonderful,” Vexx
muttered just as King Korak unlocked the prison cell.

  “Freedom certainly is,” the water naga agreed, floating backward as both Vexx and Kaylin exited their cells.

  I remember there was a King…Vizmerian, and that the bloodline is considered sacred…

  “Vizmerian!” Vexx snapped. King Korak looked over in curiosity.

  “The…sergeant? Yes, she’s a famous warrior. A champion, really, though she refuses to join either side. Have legends of her fighting prowess really spread through the lands of the surface dwellers?”

  Vexx kicked forward, surprising King Korak as he ripped the staff out of the water naga’s hands.

  “Sorry,” he said, using the magical staff to send a blast of water forward, knocking the naga against the wall. “But you’re both fakes. Come on, Kaylin!”

  “What’s going on, Vexx?” Kaylin asked, swimming alongside Vexx as they hurried through the underwater city. “Are we delivering this to Princess Chasmira?”

  “Not quite!” Vexx spat, blasting a wave of water behind him. He choked on a breath as he and Kaylin rocketed through the wave of water, then after a moment, he was able to breathe smoothly once again. “Shit. How long has it been?”

  “Are you alright, Vexx?”

  “I think the potion’s fading,” he said grimly, forcing more magic through the staff as they streamed forward. They soon reached Princess Chasmira’s position, where a platoon of yellow-armored naga soldiers gathered all around her. It seemed like what she’d said about a civil war brewing had been an understatement.

  “My staff!” she exclaimed in joy as the dungeoneers approached. “I knew I could count on you.”

  “Hey, princess,” Vexx said, drifting closer. His fingers closed around her amulet as he looked into her eyes. “Don’t hire people you’ve trapped.”

  Vexx tugged the pendant free and sent out another intense blast of water, knocking back the water nagas and sending both him and Kaylin backward with the amulet clutched securely in his hand.

  “What’s going on here?” a booming voice demanded as Sergeant Titanica Vizmerian approached at the head of water nagas in plain armor. “There will be no fighting while I’m in charge.”

  “You are, actually,” Vexx said, thrusting the coral staff into her hands. The sergeant automatically accepted it, and as soon as it was in her hands, it glowed a vivid blue, yielding surprised shouts from the water naga nearby.

  “What?”

  “In charge.”

  Vexx draped the amulet around Titanica Vizmerian’s neck, and it glowed the same brilliant blue, and the combined effect of the energy sent a powerful pulse of radiant light all around them. King Korak gaped as he rounded the corner at the head of a squad of mounted royal bodyguards.

  “But…but this is absurd,” he sputtered.

  “All hail Queen Vizmerian!” Vexx called out, and despite the two pretenders’ best efforts, the true heir was clear to see. The crowd of water naga joined in a chorus of joyous shouts, and no one seemed to notice as Vexx started choking again.

  He clawed at his neck, thrashing and straining for breath as he felt his vision dim. The potion’s effects had completely faded.

  Vexx coughed out on the ferry, blinking upward as a mustached man kissed him deeply. A foggy cloud of pink and green danced all around them.

  “Ah, what luck! Treasure from the sea!”

  Vexx blinked. “Thorus…gord?” he croaked, recognizing the knight. Beside him was a blonde woman wearing flowing white robes.

  “Yes, yes! I was on my way to Oerchenbrach for the egg hunt, but I heard you got there first!” He leaned in close. “I also heard you killed my brother,” he whispered into Vexx’s ear, then he put his mouth against Vexx’s again before pressing hard on his ribcage…

  Vexx coughed, and he was on their familiar fishing boat, blinking as Kaylin kissed him deeply. She turned to the side and spat as Vexx began coughing.

  “Are you with me, Vexx? Are you with me?”

  “I can’t believe I let you do that,” Shy groaned from the other side of the boat.

  “You would have just sucked out his soul,” Kaylin protested, then she slapped Vexx across the face. “Hey, Vexx, are you with us?”

  “Ugh…yeah…yeah, what’s going on?”

  “Oh, thank the gods. I thought you were going to drown down there. Queen Vizmerian brought us up herself, but it was still a close call.”

  Vexx blinked, rubbing his throbbing forehead. “I thought that was all a dream,” he muttered. “And the sirens?”

  “Never mind that,” Shyola said, casually puffing away at another seaweed joint. She knelt down and placed it between his fingers. “Just take it easy. I fished out your magical compass while you were out of it, and I think I got the hang of steering this boat. We’re almost to Erik’s Outpost. I can take us in. Sweet dreams…”

  Epilogue: Erik’s Outpost

  The dungeoneers trudged ashore as the fishing boat scraped onto the beach just outside Erik’s Outpost.

  “Water,” Vexx muttered. “I need water.” He reached for a vial of health potion and took a long swig, smiling as he tasted Doctor Fansee’s signature blend. “Mmm, spearmint. That will do.”

  He blinked sleepily, managing to keep pace with the others. Their rucksacks were stuffed to bursting with their purple-tinted seaweed as they made their way into the settlement.

  “Hey…so what part of that was a dream?”

  “Not nearly enough,” Shyola muttered. “I forgot just how dangerous too much of that stuff can get.”

  “Heh, stupid old lady not knowing her limits,” Kaylin teased.

  Shyola slashed the air with her whip, and a loud crack sounded as she gouged a deep line into the ground. “I had to do that to commune with the spirit world!”

  Kaylin just chuckled, shaking her head. “Hah! Okay, sure.”

  Vexx grumbled and resolved to ignore their bickering as he took in the outer wall of Erik’s Outpost. A few guards in dusty leather armor watched as they approached, making no move to come closer. Finally, one of them got to his feet, casually lowering his gloved hand to the mace tucked in his belt.

  “Who are you, and what’s your business in Erik’s Outpost?”

  “Vexx White, dungeoneer for hire,” Vexx said, spreading his arms. “We’re here to solve people’s problems. Is Doctor Fansee in town? He’s a gnome merchant and quite a handy potion maker.”

  “I know him, and he’s not in.” The guard studied the crew for a long moment. “And if you’re thinking of coming in here with all that Kraken Weed, you’ve got another think coming. You know that’s a controlled substance, right?” He leaned in, studying them closely. “Yeah, you’ve been smoking it. I can tell right away.”

  He shook his head in disappointment.

  “Ah, come on!” Vexx protested. “We came all this way! Could you just let us in?”

  The guard grunted, then gave them a long, searching look. “Dungeoneers, you say? Well…” He scratched his chin. “I could let you in…but only if you help me with something first. You see, there is something in the area that has been preying on our local fishermen…”

  Thank You!

  I hope you enjoyed my novel! I have one favor to ask, could you please leave a review on either Amazon or Goodreads? Reviews help new authors such as myself more than you could ever imagine. When people are looking for a new read they check out the positive reviews. By leaving a positive review you’ll help more people get to enjoy my books.

  —J E Thompson

  About the Author

  You know those kids who live in the pale blue light of their computer monitors? Well, J. E. Thompson was one of those youngsters. His childhood was spent obsessing over warlocks and bonus points, tirelessly questing to defeat the threats in his crumbling virtual empires, and above all, creating worlds and adventures for himself and his friends to enjoy.

  But that scrawny swashbuckler has long since grown up, and these days, instead of planning out Dungeons an
d Dragons campaigns, J. E. Thompson is a software developer who has worked for some of the industry’s top players, like the legendary Rockstar Games.

  As a fiction author, he has written a fantasy adventure series titled The White Chronicles, which follows a cocky human warlock with a penchant for trouble. When he isn’t dreaming up new adventures, J. E. Thompson is enjoying a quiet life in South Carolina with his wife and poodle.

  For more information:

  jetwrites.com

  hello@jetwrites.com

  @jet_writes

  The Adventure Continues

  Book Five: Scorching Sands, Mid 2021

  Book Six: Return To Fallanden, Late 2021

  Book Seven: The Series Finishes Early-Mid 2022