Realm Walker Omnibus

by Erik Weir

  The pair moved to the bar and sat down on stools. The bartender came over and spoke. Victor blinked as he didn’t understand a word the bartender said. It came off like garbled gibberish. It dawned on him that the magical cities may be a little better prepared for many different kinds of people and languages, but a town on the border of the Forsaken Lands might not be equipped to speak common languages.

  Lily said a few words in the same gibberish. The bartender picked up two glasses, placed them on the bar, pulled out a bottle next and began to pour. The dark amber liquid filled the glasses and when he was finished, he moved one glass to Lily and another to Victor.

  The Blade and Shield picked up their glasses and clinked them together. Victor took a deep gulp and nearly choked on it. Coughing, he put the glass down, eyes watering.

  “That’s…that’s like super whiskey,” Victor coughed again.

  Lily smiled. “I suppose so, but it just reminds me of home.”

  Victor took another sip and it burned as it went down. A moment later he coughed.

  Lily glanced at the room as several men and women filled the tavern, their eyes sliding to the coughing man in the ripped shirt.

  “Try not to talk too much. Most locals don’t like strange people with strange tongues,” Lily said in a low tone.

  Victor nodded and took another sip, fighting down the urge to cough.

  Lily eyed him with an amused grin. “Not much of a drinker, that’s okay. I can’t wait to show you Cassandra’s wine.”

  “I’ve had my moments, but I don’t drink too much wine.”

  Lily licked her lips, “You will after we open a bottle when we get back.”

  Victor smiled. “You seem…nicer today.”

  The purple eyed beauty gave a slight head nod. “Last night helped fulfill my needs…and maybe a little more.”

  “Glad I could help,” Victor said before he choked down another sip.

  Lily’s eyes grew a little brighter. “Thank you anyway. It has been so long; I had forgotten her sacred teachings.”

  “What teachings are we talking about?”

  Lily smiled. “Bonds heal, feed, and cure the mind, spirit and body. She not only encourages bonding but knows its healing power. Broken spirits can be mended and hearts repaired, sometimes with just a touch of another.”

  Victor returned her smile. “I will be sure to remember that.”

  Lily’s smile dimmed. “I saw you and Dawn talking for a while.”

  The statement hung in the air as Victor looked to Lily.

  Lily continued, “I’m sure she told you of the horrible acts of my people from many generations ago. How her people valiantly fought back hordes of demons in the early days. It is all true. My people used to be about conquest, slaves, and territory before they realized it was a moot point.

  “My people used to be barbaric…until they embraced status, culture, and wealth. It changed who they were and elevated them beyond the petty needs and wants to survive. The power and drive turned inward, to bring about a new society. Of course, my people don’t talk about it outside of the Night Sun Realm and they don’t need too. All the realms believe what they want to believe, and we certainly won’t waste our energy trying to change their minds.”

  Lily finished her drink and placed the empty glass on the bar, eyes filled with dark light. “I don’t look forward to going back, but I know one day, you and I will visit my home. When we go, please have an open mind. I will also need something from you.”

  “What’s that?”

  Lily’s mouth shifted from a smile to a light smirk. “Keep me calm, centered and above all, stop me from murdering anyone.”

  Victor returned her smirk, “My weak ass will try to keep you centered.”

  Lily let out a small laugh. “It still bothers you that I said that.”

  Victor finished his drink, using every bit of his power to not wince. “Not bother me so much as it motivates me to do better. I know I’m new to all of this, but that doesn’t mean I won’t get stronger…with your help of course.”

  Lily bowed her head, “Of course.”

  Shyryth and Dawn entered the tavern. Dawn wore a wide-brimmed black hat while carrying a few waterskins. The dragon woman carried some neatly folded clothes and a hat. When the two joined the Blade and Shield at the bar, Shyryth picked up a black hat and placed it on Victor’s head. Next, she presented three neatly folded garments.

  “I bought you three shirts so if you rip one, you have more,” the dragon woman smiled.

  Victor took the shirts and returned her smile. “Thank you; I don’t know how to repay you?”

  Shyryth shook her head, “No need for payment. It was the least I could do since you joined me on this small journey. Think of it as an advance.”

  Dawn spoke up, “The shopkeeper confirmed we are only about two hours from Black Stone Tower. We should leave now so we can get there before sunset. The Forsaken Lands are dangerous after dark.

  “Let me change my shirt and off we go,” Victor smiled.

  ***

  The sun hung low, the bottom touching the horizon. Shadows grew longer as the four travelers made their way along a dusty road, a small town in the distance. Victor spied a tall black tower, but it was only about fifty feet tall. Even at this distance, it was easy to see that it was the tallest structure, the rest of the town simply one floor dwellings.

  The hat shaded the Blade’s eyes as they marched. Glancing down for the hundredth time, the young man couldn’t keep himself from admiring the white shirt. It had buttons along the left side, a flap of fabric covering his chest. It breathed, keeping the heat from broiling Victor alive. It did indeed remind him of the old westerns his grandmother loved to watch. A small smile bloomed from the memory of watching the look of joy in his grandmother’s eyes as she watched her westerns. The summers she used to watch him were often filled with westerns and monster movies. Victor recalled how special they were, even watching those movies long after she passed away, as tribute to a wonderful and kind woman.

  “We are almost there,” Shyryth said, her eyes wide with excitement.

  “Now that we are here, can you tell us why,” Lily asked as they walked.

  The dragon woman picked up her pace as she talked, “Do you know Astor Korr?”

  Lily and Victor looked on with blank gazes. Dawn on the other hand looked to the dragon woman with wide eyes.

  “Astor Korr? She was part of the Dunkirth Massacre. She is a wanted criminal,” Dawn said with a hard edge.

  Shyryth continued on, not meeting the elf’s gaze. “The authority would call her a criminal, but just like many others, her actions are left to interpretation. The town was already dying by the time she arrived.”

  “I feel pretty lost right now,” Victor spoke up.

  Dawn’s shocked expression melted away, doubt filling her eyes. “Dunkirth was a small trading town not far from Loress. It was a prosperous town until one night, every townsfolk were gunned down by Astor. The rumor was something evil had taken hold of the people, but there was never any proof. Astor walked into town and shot every person before emptying out the bank vaults and returning to the Forsaken Lands.”

  Shyryth flexed her wings as he glanced back to the elf. “I’m disappointed Dawn. The authority allows only the truths they want to hear. Considering your background, I would have thought you knew better.”

  “I may have made my travels here to the Forsaken Lands from time to time, but she inspires fear on this side of the border as well. What keeps her from shooting us as soon as she sees us?”

  Victor raised an eyebrow, “Are we walking into a situation?”

  Shyryth stopped walking, turned and looked to her three companions. “No, we are not. Vala has come to my dreams for many, many years and now I know my purpose. I also have it on good authority that Astor is not the criminal the Mage Authority says she is.

  “If you feel it is too dangerous to continue into town, then we shall part ways here. Otherwise,
I do believe it is in our best interest to meet with her,” Shyryth said firmly.

  Victor looked to the sun as it was halfway past the horizon. Stars appeared in the clear evening sky as two moons began their ascent once again.

  “I wouldn’t feel right leaving when we have come this far. I will see you to your destination,” Victor said with an even tone.

  “I have no issues seeing you to town,” Lily added.

  Dawn looked to everyone in turn before settling her gaze on the red dragon woman. “You promised a reward when we last spoke. It would be rude to not see it to the end, but I must warn everyone, if the Slinger pulls out a gun, it will be everyone for themselves.”

  “An agreement I can live with,” Shyryth said before turning and resuming her pace.

  The small group entered the outskirts of town. The sun slid lower as street lanterns began lighting on their own. A warm glow filled the main dirt road, causing shadows to move and waver.

  The first thing Victor noticed was that there were no people. Lanterns glowed in the wooden buildings and homes but there was no sign of any townsfolk. Victor adjusted his hat, lifting it up slightly and looking around. Lily and Dawn also looked into empty homes and storefronts. At the end of the long street, a lone black tower stood. A large lantern could be seen through the windows at the top of the tower. Blue light shined down, blending with the lantern light.

  When the group reached the midpoint of the town with all eyes on the tower, a lone figure stepped out from the base of the tower. A dark brown hat covered the person’s head as they moved with caged power. Each step spoke of confidence and knowing. The slim, lithe woman continued to walk toward the four strangers. A brown leather jacket covered her upper body, the middle open and a tight black shirt underneath. A leather belt hung at her hips; a silver gun holstered on each side. Thigh high boots covered most of her legs, leaving bare flesh along the top of her thighs and to Victor, a black bikini bottom. A scarf surrounded her neck and the Blade wondered if she meant to dress like that or he and his friends came at a bad time between changing.

  The cowgirl poked up the rim of her hat and gave the four a chilly gaze with deep, almost icy blue eyes. Stopping about forty feet away, she spoke up, gibberish filling the air between them. Victor squinted as if that would help him understand the almost guttural language. Shyryth stepped forward, flexing her red wings. The cowgirl’s expression didn’t change as the dragon woman stepped closer. Shyryth continued to talk, strange words filling the air.

  “What are they saying,” Victor asked as he leaned closer to Lily.

  “Shyryth is saying she knew one of Astor’s previous lovers and has a proposition for her,” Lily answered in a low voice.

  The blonde cowgirl eyed the dragon woman, gaze nearly burning into the dragon. Shyryth continued to speak before her voice died down and she knelt to one knee before the cowgirl.

  Astor gazed down for a long moment. Her head barely nodded and she said a single word.

  “Shyryth just asked Astor if she could train her to be a Slinger. Astor just said yes,” Lily filled in the Blade.

  Astor turned her gaze back up, looking to Lily and then to Victor. A warm chill touched Victor’s senses and he nearly took a step back. The young Blade knew instantly the feeling, remembering when he felt it with Dawn and then Shyryth.

  “Did you feel that,” Victor asked Lily.

  The demon in human skin nodded. “Vala brought us here. She must have.”

  Shyryth stood up and turned with a bright smile. Victor, Dawn and Lily took a step forward before they froze in their tracks. Astor lifted a hand and grabbed the dragon woman by the side of her neck and pushed. Shyryth was thrown to the ground, eyes wild as Astor’s hand gripped a gun at each hip and drew them.

  A cold wind swept through the town as the Slinger pointed both six-shooters. Lily grabbed Victor by the arm, spinning him around as a staff appeared in her right hand. Victor looked around with wide eyes until he saw them.

  Three malformed shadows oozed out from behind an alley. Thin long arms with oversized hands dragged their dark bodies from the shadows. Eyes turned in all directions as they moaned. Mouths gaped and sharp teeth clicked as they slowly advanced on the group.

  Victor twisted his hand, sword sliding into his palm. Ready to call on his strength, he prepared for the shadows to move a little closer so he could get a good shot in. The one they encountered in the forest spoke of the shadow’s strength, but Victor felt they had a better chance this time. Lily spun her staff as Dawn drew her dagger. Victor and Lily stepped forward while Dawn stepped back.

  “Dawn, hide while we…,” Victor managed before small explosions drowned everything out.

  One shadow reared up as two blasts of light struck it in the main body. Light ate away at the shadow as its moans turned to horrific screams. Victor looked back to see Astor marching forward, one gun in her hand at her hip and the other one aiming. The two remaining shadows launched into the air, arms and mouths extending as they barreled down on the Blade and Shield. Victor and Lily braced themselves when light exploded again and again.

  Two bolts of energy blasted through one shadow, its body contorting in midair as it screamed. Light ate away at the darkness of its black body as the last one barreled down at Lily. The demoness looked up, eyes wide with fright when Victor spent a point in Strength and rammed into her side. The demoness went sprawling fifteen feet across the dirt road.

  Lily looked up to see Victor roaring defiantly at the incoming shadow. Iron sword in hand, he stabbed into the creature’s mouth, the blade appearing out the other side of its malformed head. It writhed, grunted, and screamed as shadowy hands lashed out. Victor let go of his sword and jumped back out of range of the shadow’s hands. Calling back his sword, it launched from the shadow and back into his hand. Knees bent, he readied to launch himself again for another strike when Astor stepped past him with an amused smile.

  The Slinger aimed as the shadow charged. When it was within ten feet, Astor tipped her head forward, rim of her hat covering her eyes and pulled the trigger twice. Two bolts slammed into the shadow. Inhuman screams pierced the night as it thrashed. Light ate away at its body until the thing fell to the ground. Darkness broke away from its form and darted back to shadows, away from the lantern light.

  Astor turned to the group, her guns sliding into their holsters and a pleasant smile on her full lips. She spoke a word or two as Victor stood, sword in hand.

  If I didn’t know any better, I swear she said “You’re welcome.”

  Nine

  Brilliant light stabbed out from a patchy, cloudy morning. Luis pulled into his driveway, dark circles under his eyes as birds celebrated a new day. A low sigh fell from his lips as he sat, dazed from working all night. The smell of alcohol drifted from his own breath, sending a shiver of self-disgust and tired, worn-out emotions. Turning off the car, he went to unclip his seatbelt and noticed it was never clipped in. Grimacing, he opened the car door and hurled himself out into the driveway.

  The fresh air stung his blunted senses, the morning light penetrating the clouds didn’t help either. Slamming the car door shut, he looked around, thankful that his nearest neighbor was several miles away, just the way he liked it. Moving like a slow zombie, he made his way to the front door, inserted a key, unlocked it and stepped in.

  Closing the door behind him, Luis leaned against the wall, waiting for the kids to run up and greet him. Mind drifting, he waited as he gathered the mental strength to give them some love before collapsing in bed. The long hours at the bar were easy; it was the drinking and drugs on the job that wore out his body. Friends and patrons loved his stories and often paid in drugs for special treatment. Luis gladly accepted, knowing there wasn’t much else going on in town. A small thought glided into his addled mind, telling him he couldn’t keep this up anymore. The sleepless days started to grind on his spirit and he knew it. With another sigh, he pushed it away, not caring.

  “Kids,” Luis said wit
h a tired exhale.

  The small house was silent.

  Luis mustered his senses and body as he stood up from leaning against the wall. He could hear the gentle panting coming from the kitchen. Nearly stumbling forward, he made his way down the hall, walked into the kitchen and froze.

  A disheveled man sat at the small white table. Salt and pepper colored his short hair as he turned cold eyes to Luis. Max, Bella and Tywin panted happily at the stranger’s bare feet. The three dogs turned their attention to Luis but stayed where they were.

  Luis’s brow wrinkled into rage, “Get out of my house!”

  The man reached down and scratched behind Bella’s ear, “They are beautiful. You know how to treat your animals.”

  Luis tapped the side of his thigh, showing the command for the German Shepherds to come to him. The three dogs stayed, huffing and tails wagging.

  “They are excellent companions. They have a lot of love for you,” the man said with a small smile.

  Luis looked down at the dogs, anger in his voice “We are going to have a long talk about letting strangers in the house.” Luis changed his gaze to the intruder, “Leave or the police will be carting your body out of here. This is your last warning.”

  The man with heavy stubble on his chin and wide shoulders continued to scratch Bella behind her pointed ear. “Do you know Victor Hobbs?”

  Luis took a step closer. “You fucking better leave before I…,” Luis stopped as the intruder grabbed around Bella’s neck.

  “I asked you a very simple question. Please answer or she may not survive the next few moments.”

  Luis eyed the man in his home, rage, fear, and panic rising. “I know him. He’s my cousin. What does this have to do with you breaking into my home and threatening my kids?”

  The man nodded, hand massaging Bella’s neck. “Do you know what happened to Victor recently?”

  “Does he owe you money or something,” Luis asked while his mind worked on getting this guy out of his home.