“No shit. But what about my dead soldiers?” he asked angrily, trying to put up an act. I let him.
“The best I can offer you is an alliance for the future. You personally, not your kingdom. If you can come up with a solution, I’ll share anything worthwhile with you once we explore this place and even give you a set of Mithrill armor. You can show that to your king as a sign of appreciation.”
“What if the armor isn’t enough?” he asked, biting on his lower lip. He was beyond nervous, I could see as much. Well then, how about I upped the reward a bit then?
“I’ll make Hybrid out of you, or give you enough to last a month. What do you think?”
“What?” he hissed and stepped in closer. “Don’t let them hear what you’re offering or my family will be in jeopardy!”
“Watch it, I like my personal space.”
“I’m sorry, but what does that offer mean?”
I chuckled knowingly. Give a warrior the chance to become more powerful and he’ll gladly accept it, no matter the price.
“I feed you my blood and you become as strong as ten men for a month. Or I can make you equally strong forever, but you’d have to be unconscious for half a day at least.”
“And that first one?”
“I feed you and that’s it. There will be some pain and nausea involved, but it will only last a few minutes.”
Mervan’s brown eyes betrayed his thoughts. He looked at me hungrily as if I was a juicy steak and he couldn’t wait to dig in. I was sure the cavalry were a thing of the past now. And why wouldn’t they be? There was no way to bring them back or even give them a proper burial.
“I accept, Lord Raziel. But please, how do we do that—blood thing?”
“Here,” I replied, pushing a vial of my blood into his hand. “Drink that when you’re alone in your tent or something. As for the armor, I’ll send someone over when my troops get here. You should remain camped here for a while.”
“I will do so, Lord Raziel. I can’t say it’s a pleasure we met again, but truthfully, I don’t wish to lose more men, even if I got that tower or whatever it is.”
“Neither do I. My army isn’t big enough to wage war on multiple fronts, so I’m glad we could solve this the way we did.”
“I guess so. But shit, you’ve really cost me my reputation. I’ll return home without anything to show for it.”
“Except that you’ll be stronger than anyone and almost immortal. As long as you don’t sustain too great damage, your body will heal up in a day.”
“Oh? Is that another one of the boons?”
I nodded.
“It is. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a lot to do. You should rest and have your soldiers use the stream to the East, catch some game and tell them the good news. If you don’t go back on your word, the next time we see each other it will be as friends, not as enemies.”
“Now that’s something I can say I’ll look forward to. Maybe we could even help you out better in exchange for—a few more vials? I could provide food, cattle, and whatever you might need.”
I nodded appreciatively.
“That would be doable and I’ll gladly accept the proposal. The more you give, the more you’ll receive in turn.”
“But in smaller quantities of course. I’m not a big player after all.”
“Don’t worry, you’ll be paid. So, is there anything else I could do for you, Mervan?”
“No, Lord Raziel, but I have a much better idea.”
He turned to his officers and then the men.
“What the hell?” I murmured. “Is he going to order an attack?”
“Put up camp! Tonight we eat, drink, and rest! Tomorrow we help our new allies with whatever they need! Everyone will be rewarded from the war chest when we return!”
Now that was something I would have never expected from a shortly turned enemy to ally. He was really serious about this.
“Are you sure?” I asked just loud enough for him to hear me.
“I am,” he replied without turning to face me. “However!” he went on yelling, “Whoever wants to go home, prepare for the march! You have two hours to get some rest and get ready! I won’t force anyone to stay but know that you’ll have my gratitude if you do and many boons in the future!”
I turned to my horse and chuckled. The man really knew how to go overboard to gain my favor. I could use this to my advantage, especially if Lefrand’s army found us this fast. It got me thinking about how to use them, but that would have to wait for another day. Today we had too much work on our hands and too little time. I was lucky this time that greed won out over reason.
Mervan’s army had provisions, they had the manpower, and horses. We could easily construct a palisade over a day or two using thousands of able men and women. Then again, maybe it would be smarter to put up traps and the like. I growled low as I got on my horse. So much to do and think about, yet so little time.
Standing this high up on the hill I was surprised by what was happening. A crack had appeared just to the north of the tower and water was steadily rising, filling it up and turning it into a river. Just as suddenly, the water started moving as if someone just activated using a switch.
“What the fuck?” I cursed as my horse started moving down the hill. “What’s going on down there?”
Along the river grass started growing at an alarming pace, spreading in all directions. Saplings started appearing randomly and growing what looked like up to three feet in height just as the tower started humming and giving off a faint blueish glow.
“Did you do something?” Sylvana’s voice boomed in my head. “Oops, sorry. We used too much power to transfer my thoughts.”
Before I could even respond, the pain disappeared and her voice went from a deafening scream to almost a whisper.
“What the hell is going on out there? First, it’s a desert, the next moment a paradise.”
“I don’t know, but I think it’s related to the tower. We can feel a massive power coming from deep below. It’s shielded by a great amount of rock and dirt, but I can feel it clearly. There’s a gigantic crystal located right beneath our feet.”
“Anything else I can’t see from this far out?”
She looked my way and waved. I could see it with decent clarity as my sight was amplified many times over, but I couldn’t see what was going on behind the tower anymore.
“Nothing special. How far off are our—troops?” She stopped for a moment, but I could clearly feel her presence. “What the hell? The gate is opening.”
“Don’t go inside without me under no circumstances. We have no idea what’s in there.”
“Yeah, I know. There could be monsters inside or even Dragons! Imagine a real-life dragon! Now wouldn’t that be—great?”
“What is it? What the hell is that thing that just came out?” Helena’s voice joined Sylvana’s.
An eerie feeling washed over me as my horse galloped along. I closed my eyes and focused on taking over Grestal’s eyesight, another thing possible if I tried really hard and expended a lot of energy. I rarely used it as I quite wasn’t myself anymore for a few minutes.
A fifteen-foot tall monstrosity slowly walked up the platform and stopped at the head of the stairs. It stood on two tree-trunk like legs that rose up to a chest double in size compared to Dimas who already looked like a giant. Thick, muscled arms held two battle-axes with long, sharp edges that glistened in the sunshine. Its head looked like that of a bull with horns that twisted straight upwards to either side of its temple. Two large orbs, very much Human-like stared down at the group as steam spewed from its nostrils.
“Shit, this isn’t good,” I cursed as my own sight returned and I slumped into my horse.
Chapter Forty-One
“How long until you’re here?” Dimas’ voice filled my mind.
“A minute. Can you hold out until I’m there?”
“I sure hope so. This thing is big and it looks mean and all kinds of nasty. I think I�
�ve heard about the creatures, but I’m not sure.”
“Does it fucking matter what it is right now? Have the rest back off a hundred feet! No one is to engage it but for you and me!”
“Yeah, I figured you’d use me. Whatever. You better hurry up, though.”
Anya and another Vampire darted in and grabbed the two corpses from the flight of stairs and dispersed along with the rest of the coven in all directions. Grestal and the sisters stepped back quickly and retreated. It almost looked comical, but it was the smartest thing they could do.
With every inch gained on the tower, the feeling became stronger. The feeling of weakness after using the power on Grestal started disappearing equally quickly, however. Anya took her place next to Dimas, who in turn embraced her and sunk his teeth in her neck, drinking what should be quite a strong booster in its own. After all, Anya was beyond powerful.
“Half a minute, Dimas,” I said just as the beast moved. Anya jumped backward and was caught by two of her Coven. She looked too weak to even stand on her feet. Just how much blood did he drain from her?
Dimas finally let out a bloodcurdling scream as he charged the beast with both his claws at the ready. The horned creature answered his call and jumped down the stairs, slamming both axes right at him. The Vampire sidestepped and pushed the closest ax in a glancing arc as his free claw struck home. The tips pierced the tough skin three times in quick succession.
One of the axes dropped to the ground as the creature raised its hand and slammed a meaty fist right into his face, sending Dimas flying for a good twenty feet. Dimas caught himself in mid-air and landed on his feet, then lunged in again, scraping both claws along its stone-like skin. The blows glanced off and sent him staggering in a strange angle, just escaping the horned beast’s ax as it came crashing down.
Dimas turned in mid-flight and pushed off against the stairs, propelling himself right back again. Both claws struck its back and went in. I could see him clearly struggle, trying to pull them out, but they were stuck in too deep.
“Fucking beast!” he cursed, letting go of the claws as the horned creature swung its ax around. “Anya! My broadsword!”
A round, shimmering dome appeared above her. One of the children jumped up and pulled a larger than life sword out of the magical portal. I’d need to ask them what that was dome was. I could use something like that to store the Basilisk and unleash it from up close on my enemies.
The young Vampire swung the sword and hurled it in Dimas’ direction who caught it with practiced ease. The piece of Mithrill, or whatever it was, let off a blood-red hew as he slammed the tip into the ground. It was easily nine-feet long and Dimas barely managed to hold onto it, or at least it looked that way.
Grabbing the hilt with both hands, he pulled it up and lunged at the monster, bringing the edge down against its free arm. Count us both surprised when it deflected the blade at the last moment with the ax’s handle and brought its leg up, kicking Dimas in the chest. He flew right into a boulder, slamming with his back against the hard surfaces with tremendous force. The piece of rock cracked, and then exploded in fragments as Dimas passed right through it.
Overcome with rage, he got up again and shook his head clear from the debris just as the ax came crashing down against his head.
My blade flashed, deflecting the beasts’ weapon and sent it spinning around. I ducked and pushed Dimas out of the way to evade the attack.
“Shit, that was too close for comfort,” I cursed as my arm shook from the blow. The monster really had some power in those thick arms of his.
“Yeah, I think you could say shit for real this time!” Dimas laughed. “I didn’t have so much fun in ages!”
“What fun? You almost died!” I hissed as we strayed off to its sides.
“Hey, I remember what that thing is,” he laughed. “It’s a Minotaur! I’ve read about them in an ancient tome!”
“What are its weaknesses?” I asked curiously, never having heard about such a beast.
“There are none!” he laughed again. I let out a sigh and shook my head as it studied us, glancing from one to the other.
“Then why bother even mentioning it?”
“Hah! At least you’ll know what killed you if we don’t make it!”
“Fucks sake! Can you two stop fooling around?” Anya yelled. “Kill it already!”
“Yeah, yeah,” Dimas murmured as he charged in and slashed across its side. The Minotaur reacted in time, deflecting the massive sword as I came in from the other side. My much smaller blade didn’t have the necessary power to do much damage, but it was more than capable of doing enough while using Crozan’s Bloodline. No, it wasn’t his Bloodline, it was mine now. My muscles expanded as new strength coursed through me.
“Watch out!” Dimas yelled just as the Minotaur struck out, hitting me right in the face with the butt end of its ax, but not before I hit its free arm. The blade got stuck at least four inches deep and wouldn’t let me fly off as I held on against the sword.
The Minotaur let out a deafening cry and spun to hit me with its second fist, but Dimas’ renewed attack send it staggering and a double kick against its knee dropped it right on its side. I pulled out my blade and hacked again as Dimas swung his own blade, bringing it down against its side. Bone crashed from the attack, or at least I thought it was bone.
A sudden burst of magic sent us both flying, but I recovered within seconds and flew right at it again, bringing my sword down against the same spot, finally cleaving right through to the bone. Blood spurted from the wound, hissing as it hit my armor.
“Fuck! Its blood is like acid!” I cursed. “Don’t let any of it hit you!”
“Yeah, no shit!” Dimas cursed as his arm started burning. He grabbed some sand and doused the flame.
The Minotaur got up to its feet, and with a speed that shouldn’t be possible to such a large creature, hurled its ax right at me. I brought up my sword and barely deflected the thing from hitting me dead on. It flew off and struck the ground some fifty feet further as I was left shaking like a leaf. I looked back at the monster just as my pain-receptors flared up. I looked down at my chest and saw a deep gash run along my armor and blood flowing freely from it.
“Dimas!” I yelled. “Dying over here!”
His head spun to look at what I was yelling about.
“Fuck! This needs to end! Watch yourself for a second!”
I nodded as he launched himself at the monster and swung the blade from overhead, hitting the creature’s shoulder. The blade went in deep, at least fifteen inches, and elicited another cry of pain from the beast. I darted in from behind and stabbed in between its shoulder blades, embedding the blade all the way to the hilt.
“Shit! You almost hit me with that toothpick!” Dimas cursed as he stepped back. “The tip of your sword passed right next to my shoulder!”
“Whatever! You’re still—alive, aren’t you?”
The pain flared up even more as I stood there, breathing heavily. I let go of the blade and pulled off my breastplate. The same burning flame that ate into Dimas’ arm covered most of my chest and was burning me alive.
“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” I hissed throwing myself on the ground and used the sand to rub it out. To my luck, the Minotaur dropped to its knees in a puddle of its own blood as I pushed myself up and cursed some more. ”Damn bastard! You’re one nasty creature, you know that?”
Two glowing daggers appeared out of nowhere and entered the Minotaur’s neck from both sides. Sylvana appeared an instant later. She struggled, trying to decapitate the monster, but the blades wouldn’t move. It snapped its head around in an unnatural angle and let out a strange noise, both of its Human-like eyes growing wide. Its mouth opened wide as the creature tried to—let out another noise or something. I had no idea what it was doing.
The Minotaur was in horrendous pain, yet there it knelt, staring right at Sylvana and remained still as if infatuated with her.
“Get the fuck out of there!” I yelle
d as I got up and charged the beast with nothing but my claws to attack. Time seemed to grind to a halt as its lips moved and it spoke. I stopped in mid-stride and stood there dumbfounded, unable to finish the arc of my claw.
“Elves have—finally—come back.”
I could feel everyone’s eyes linger on the creature, there was no way not to after what just happened. It spoke, and what’s more, it stopped moving and attacking us. Sure, we had it in a bad position and it was almost dead, or at least so we thought, but still.
Sylvana jumped back and jumped toward me. I caught her and stepped in between them. She pressed herself against my back and put her arms around me, unable to speak as she tried to hide from the creature’s gaze. Helena ran up and stood beside us, staring the creature down.
“Do you understand what we’re saying?” I asked, trying to regain what power I used during the battle. My new Bloodline had taken its toll on me, especially since I wasn’t used to it yet. What’s more, I felt my power suddenly wane instead of recovering it.
It looked at Sylvana and then Helena, the eyes darting in between the two. To a bystander, it almost looked happy with the corners of its lips turned upwards and mouth wide open in a grin. Then it started crying suddenly as if weeping for someone. Sure, it was in pain, but this wasn’t the same thing as during the battle.
“Why are you crying?” Helena asked as she made a step forwards, then stopped as the creature lifted its head, tears rolling down its hairy cheeks. It sobbed like a child as it tried to speak but couldn’t. Suddenly it burst out into laughter as its wounds started healing. The flesh grew together and both weapons were pushed out of its body as the wounds healed up again.
“Elves have come back! Elves finally came to the tower!” it laughed. Its voice was low and sounded as if someone was speaking out of a barrel, but it was clear. Its face contorted suddenly as the process of healing stopped and the wounds reopened.
Helena cursed as she tried to cast a spell. A light green glow transferred from her hands to the creature's wounds. It stirred as the wounds tried to close again, but they seemed to be too severe.
Tower of Ancients Page 29
