by Eden Redd
“Excellent!” Zellee grinned. “Those were my thoughts as well. I was going to mention it, but when I saw you, I had to come over.”
The arachnix crawled closer and placed her arms over Kavan’s shoulders. She looked at the dragonkin with adoring eyes and a happy smile.
“I dreamed of you the last few nights. They were decadent and inspiring. I can still remember how you tasted and I would be lying if I said I didn’t want more.”
Kavan reached up and touched her waist. “It will be nice to dine together. It feels like we haven’t had much time to ourselves.”
Zellee leaned her face a little closer while looking into Kavan’s eyes, “It’s understandable. We both have had busy lives. I understand what it means to fulfill your ambitions and duties.”
Zellee moved her lips to Kavan’s ear, “But we must make time for each other as well. Tell me, do you like surprises?” she asked with a sultry edge.
“It depends on the surprise,” Kavan said with a playful edge.
The arachnix drank in Kavan’s scent before she pulled back and looked into his eyes again. “You’ll like this one. Wear that nice shirt I made for you, the one with the thin straps that go over your chest. We can meet at the Dragon’s Table at sundown.”
Zellee lifted a hand and touched a finger to the end of Kavan’s snout. “Bring your appetite.”
Kavan stood entranced as the arachnix had an almost hypnotic gaze. Zellee blinked slowly before she kissed him. She then pulled away, her hands touching Kavan’s shoulders before pulling completely away.
“I look forward to tonight,” Zellee said as she turned her large, spider-like body and crawled back to East Street.
Heat pulsed under Kavan’s skin and scales as he watched her go.
I know her the least, but she sets my blood on fire.
“It is well documented that attraction can happen between two beings with little to no interaction. I would say she feels the same way about you.”
Kavan shook his head.
Dating in this realm is very strange, but I’m not about to pump the brakes. This is, after all, for science.
“I can’t help but notice you are becoming more and more relaxed in this realm.”
Kavan nodded.
What Drayke said last night helped. There was a piece of me knowing that if I could return to Earth, I would have to seriously consider it. Now that I know that it is no longer an option, I feel much better about staying here.
“Home is where your heart truly belongs,” Viz said with understanding flair.
Yes, it is.
Kavan turned onto Talon Street and began walking.
One more stop before going home.
Kavan walked along the cobblestone street until he reached Brom’s tower. He patted his belt pouch, feeling the edge of the khess piece from Lorta’s home inside. He lifted a scaled hand and knocked hard on the door.
The door opened instantly, a ball of light floating just on the other side. Kavan stepped in and closed the door behind him. The ball of light floated to the stairs and began to ascend upwards. The dragonkin followed, his sense sharp in case the lich decided to attack him again.
Kavan climbed to the top of the tower with the lich’s library room. The floating light winked out as Kavan stepped onto the floor. The chamber was exactly as before, except a small table took up the middle with two chairs. Brom sat in one chair. There was an empty chair across from him. Two glasses sat on the table and a tall glass bottle between them. An amber liquid filled the glass bottle to the neck.
“Please, have a seat,” Brom said as he pointed a wrinkled hand to the chair across from him.
Kavan moved with caution. He stepped to the chair and inspected it with a glance. His nerves were on pins and needles, expecting the lich to set a trap or spell to mess with him. When it seemed the chair was just a normal chair, Kavan slowly sat down.
“Do you have something for me?” Brom asked.
Kavan nodded. He reached into his belt pouch and pulled out a knight piece. He placed it on the table and slid it forward until it stood before the old lich.
Brom looked down at the knight piece with cold, gray eyes. He reached up and snatched it off the table, the piece disappearing into his robe instantly. The lich then picked up a wrinkled hand, grabbed the clear bottle and began pouring into each of the two glasses. When they were nearly filled to the top with an amber liquid, Brom put the bottle down and slid one of the glasses to the dragonkin.
“Today’s lesson is a story,” the lich said simply before taking his glass and holding it before him.
Kavan picked up his glass and clinked it to Brom’s glass. The two men nodded to each other and took a deep sip.
Kavan enjoyed the small burning sensation on his tongue and down his throat. Brom seemed unfazed by the taste.
The old lich began, “Moonvale used to be part of a larger kingdom. The Truewind family line was vast. Their lineage had barons, dukes, lords, and even a king. Their territory covered most of the southern edge of the continent, a small empire that could have withstood the test of time for countless generations.”
Brom looked down at his glass, a small smile appearing across his lips. “The people were happy under Truewind rule. Kingdoms helped each other through difficult times and celebrated good times. Relations with many kingdoms prospered under them. They had skilled diplomats and peacekeepers. For several hundreds of years, the Truewind kingdoms were an example of how to rule for the people. It was a grand time for most, but it also had a sliver of darkness for some.”
Brom picked up his glass and took a long sip. He put the glass down, his gaze firmly on it as he continued.
“Despite appearances, there were some that were never satisfied. Many in the Truewind family who aspired for more, were met with ridicule and disdain. If a family member didn’t carry themselves a certain way and appearance, they were shunned and given duties no one wished to take.
“It was enough to drive some mad. Mad enough for it to coil like a serpent in one’s belly. Enough for venom to leak from their eyes when they saw the happy smiles of other family members.”
Brom turned his glass, but didn’t drink from it. “Enough for them to seek power and fortune for themselves.”
Kavan listened patiently as Brom continued.
“A terrible lich had set up residence in the Misty Forest. Foul, unspeakable creatures lichs are. They put their bodies and minds through potions, spells, and rituals. Not everyone can become a lich. You have to have a dark soul to complete the process or you simply perish.”
Brom blinked. “The lich in the Misty Forest should have perished.”
The lich continued with a faraway gaze. “The lich of the Misty Forest hated the Truewind kingdoms. He despised them so much, he set his dread gaze on the town of Moonvale to teach them a lesson they would never forget. It would color their history and show them that life is more than acting or being a certain way.”
“They would understand true power and bend their knee to their better,” Brom seethed.
Kavan took a long sip from his glass, his heart thudding in his chest.
Brom sighed and looked to the side. “The lich created a mighty army of the dead. He worked endlessly, animating and creating undead soldiers and foul abominations. His dungeon was filled with freakish monsters, created for a single purpose of destroying the will of the Truewind bloodline and showing them that their lives were always a lie.”
Brom looked up and into Kavan’s eyes. “On that fateful evening, an army of the dead and horrific abominations rose up from the lich’s dungeon and marched on the town of Moonvale. It was the first place to fall before the lich’s army would move across the south, destroying everything in its path and reshaping the southern kingdoms into the lich’s vision.”
Brom’s eyes took on a dark gleam. “The town of Moonvale was prepared. Fire arrows streaked at the lich’s army. The dead were engulfed in flames, but they moved on with purpose and power. The g
ates were bashed to kindling by abominations. The very town was about to fall. Soldiers drew their swords, ready to fight to the last man, woman, and child.”
Brom slowly blinked. “The lich bellowed to the populace. He demanded that the Truewind family be brought out and put on their knees to receive judgement from the powerful lich. If not, the entire town would be razed to the ground. The streets would be bathed in the blood of every living thing, forever staining it with their decision, if they did not comply.
“The populace defied the lich. They shouted that they would fight to the bitter end. It was in that moment, the lich decided to end their lives and continue his campaign until they understood the errors of their ways.”
Brom’s eyes widened a little, reliving a long-lost memory. “The lich raised his hand, ready to give the command for slaughter and mayhem. The sky darkened and lightning flashed. It was truly a moment in time. A moment that would last forever in those who remembered.”
The old man tilted his head forward, eyes staring at nothing. “Laughter filled the air just as the lich readied to give the command to kill the populace of Moonvale. Mad giggles and chuckles rose up. The lich felt a power blast his dead nerves. It was so powerful, the lich hesitated. He stood like a statue as the people of Moonvale laughed louder and louder.
“The lich watched as people turned their blades, daggers, and bows on each other. They laughed and screamed as they attacked each other. Blades sliced off limbs and heads. Metal points stabbed into stomachs. Arrows stabbed into eyes and laughing mouths. Women laughed hysterically as they lifted their children and threw them to the street. Small children bit and clawed like mongrel monsters, to each other and the adults. The savagery and madness touched all. Blood spilled onto the streets as madness touched every soul.”
Brom’s hand trembled as he held his glass. “The lich was stunned. He watched silently as the roaring laughter, screams, and shouts filled the night air. Bloody people feasted on the freshly dead. Others giggled as their entrails lay before them. Others growled like monsters from the forest.
“The lich regained his wits as the sickening horrors unfolded. He ordered his dead to attack, not to smite them, but to end their suffering. Undead moved to dying people, ending their lives quickly so as not to endure the suffering mental maladies any longer.
“When it was over, the town was truly dead, the streets bathed in blood of its people.”
Brom nodded to himself. “The dragon gods had stormed the heavens and the underworld. They had taken the power of one of the dark gods and used it to destroy every hudenn who worshipped the pantheon. With the hudenns dead, the old gods lost most of their power. A deity weakens when they lose those who worship them. It was enough for the dragon gods to slay many of the pantheon and take their places.”
The old lich looked at Kavan again with a sorrow filling his gaze. “The lich spent a long time travelling in disguise after that night. The story was the same everywhere he journeyed. Every hudenn was overcome by the celestial madness and every one died by others or their own hand.”
Brom’s mouth turned into a foul grin. “The dead were not affected by that night. They carried on while the rest of the world tried to pick up the pieces.”
Kavan lifted his glass, his own hand trembling a touch as he took a shaky drink.
Brom lifted a wrinkled hand. A book flew from a shelf and into his waiting hand. The old lich put the book down on the table and slid it to the dragonkin.
“Thank you for listening. Open it for your reward,” Brom said simply.
Kavan put down his glass and touched the cover of the leatherbound book. Runes were scribed into the leather with symbols Kavan didn’t understand. He opened the book and stared down at a page filled with arcane symbols. He touched the page, ready to turn it to another when the runes began to glow. They shifted along the page and soon an energy filled his mind.
Kavan gasped as knowledge poured into his head. He couldn’t move as the runes opened up his mind and filled it with greater clarity. It slipped deeper and deeper until the glow died.
Kavan blinked and looked down on the book. It was closed, his spindly hand laying on the cover.
Gained 2 degrees in Intelligence! Intelligence is now 4th degree.
The dragonkin looked to Brom with wide eyes. “I… I didn’t think you could increase skills this way?”
Brom kept his grin. “Normally, you can’t. But after thousands of years, you pick up a trick or two.”
The lich lifted his glass and drained it into his mouth. He set it down and looked at Kavan with an almost fatherly gaze.
“Bring me another piece and we will continue your lessons. You know the way out.”
Kavan gave a slow nod as he stood up.
Brom looked up to the dragonkin with an endearing gaze, “And Kavan, enjoy your night with the other hudenn. I heard his food is splendid.”
Kavan watched as Brom cackled to himself.
Eighteen
Street lanterns blazed to life, casting a gentle glow across the streets of Moonvale. Shadows lengthened as the last rays of daylight faded from the horizon. Cool air slipped through the streets as the sky turned a velvet purple, stars beginning to shine in the vast distances.
Bodies emerged from homes and shops. An electricity filled the air as an excited chatter echoed off the ancient buildings. A chilly spring evening touched the town, but it didn’t dampen the fiery energy of the town’s residents as they made their way to the west side of town.
Kavan entered through the southern gate. Thoughts dripped along his mind as he walked, his head tilted forward and his gaze on the stony street. For a fleeting moment, Zellee entered his mind. The arachnix smiled at him and his heart lifted for barely a moment. The image sank down and was replaced with imagined moments of insanity, death, and monsters.
Brom was here, thousands of years ago when the dragon gods stormed the higher planes. He witnessed it first hand, every human perishing in the worst way possible.
Kavan nodded to himself.
It also means, since he’s thousands of years old, he is incredibly powerful. I would say too powerful.
“Does it concern you? He seems to have taken a liking to you,” Viz said across Kavan’s thoughts.
But he doesn’t always have his mental facilities. He seems to slip through from lucid to confusion pretty easily.
Kavan lifted his gaze and looked to the town center in the short distance.
As far as I know, lichs need a phylactery to contain their soul and power. If this world follows some of the rules of a normal fantasy setting, Brom must have one. I’m starting to think, after all these centuries and madness, the khess pieces could be his phylactery.
“If that is true, and we don’t know for sure, he may become more powerful with each piece you return to him. I’ve observed his lucid moments as well with each piece you’ve given him. Perhaps he will become his true self when all the pieces are returned to him.”
I’m not sure that is something we should complete. Brom is a lich and a very powerful one. If the dragon gods killed his people as he said he witnessed, there might be a grudge there that no one can stop if he regains his sanity.
Kavan reached the town center and saw several of the townsfolk wave to him as they kept walking to West Street.
Brom mentioned in third person, the lich of the Misty Forest. It’s not a big leap to know that his dungeon is somewhere in the Misty Forest. The undead that come from the forest may very well belong to him. They might be trying to come back to their master.
“There hasn’t been any new undead coming from the forest since the day we found the corpses on the farm. Could it be because of the monster, or maybe Brom is regaining his power and keeping them at bay?”
Kavan began walking toward West Street.
I don’t know. It’s worth investigating. He did mention he created abominations. What if the monster is one of his creations? It could be lost, or angry. Maybe it’s trying to find Brom?
“We don’t have enough information,” Viz said flatly.
Kavan rubbed a temple.
It may have to wait for now. I have to get my head in the game for tonight. A date with Zellee and seeing Drayke again is going to be very weird.
“You’re concerned?” Viz asked with an edge of concern.
A little. Drayke had no problems telling me what happened to us. It was like it didn’t matter to him. The thing that mattered was asking if I heard some call and needing to fight me. He is skilled, but it all felt like some weird test. He knows more than he is letting on. I wish the date could just be that, a date, but Drayke may have other plans. We won’t know more until after the evening is over.
“Just remember to be yourself. Zellee seems to really like you. I have a good feeling about her.”
Kavan smiled.
Thank you, Viz. I’ll remember that. I’ve gone on virtual dates before, but they never last long. Players often just used it as a pretext to getting into bed. I have no idea how it works here, but considering how forward Zellee has been, I don’t expect it to be a long courtship.
“She seems to know what she wants.”
She does. It’s nice to know that. I don’t have to play some weird game to get to know each other. I assume she will be forward and curious, which is okay with me.
Kavan lifted his gaze and looked ahead to a small crowd gathering. Most of the town stood before the new restaurant. A sign hung from a metal rung. It had a symbolic dragon on a table, lightning pouring from its mouth. Above it was the words “The Dragon’s Table.” It would have been a normal sign, much like most signs in town, except for one glowing difference. The words, dragon, and table had glowing blue lines and flickered like a neon sign. As Kavan approached, he could see the glowing lines were some kind of magic, flickering on and off with a steady beat. The blinking lights were enough to entrance everyone gathered as they stared at it in wonderment.
Across the small street, Zellee stood alone. Kavan drank in her beauty, a deep red robe covering her humanoid half. Stylish symbols covered the fabric, giving it an arcane and mysterious appearance. The look didn’t end with the robe. Her spider legs had thick rings along each one. They were gold and held rubies, causing the entire look to blend together. Her abdomen was covered in stylish runes. From a small distance, it looked like they were painted on with strong lines and incredible detail.
