by Eden Redd
Lori glared at the orc. “You promised us safe passage.”
Lord Dubok crossed his arms. “And I have delivered as promised. We never discussed you returning.”
“I wish I was surprised.” Aznara said in a low voice.
Gwen stepped next to Lori, staring at the orc lord. “Lord Dubok, the colleges will not stand…..” The witch was cut off.
“Spare me your threats! The Emerald Goddess has powerful allies ready to defend my people from your kind.” The orc lord shouted.
Lady Ursa stepped forward along the four companions. “Please husband, let us all turn back now. We do not have to go down this dark path any longer.”
Lord Dubok eyed his wife with contempt. “Dark path? They should be honored. The Emerald goddess will take their sacrifice and reward us with untold knowledge. Why do you wish them to turn back? Do you want to resume your former position of sacrifice?”
“I want us to live our lives without bending knee to some horrific monster. What goddess would require sacrifices in her honor? Not a benevolent one!” Lady Ursa shouted back.
Lord Dubok drew his sword. “Know your place, wife! We will discuss your treason back at the keep.” Dubok looked passed the small group to his soldiers. “Archers!”
A row of orcs stepped forward with bows notched and strings pulled.
The orc lord pointed his sword at Gwen as he stepped a wide circle around the four companions. “It was a pleasure meeting and fucking. Now go to your end so I may enjoy the rest of the day.”
Gwen silently began walking toward the ruins. Trystan, Lori and Aznara followed. The succubus gave the lord a long hard stare and flipped him a middle finger. The orc chuckled as he stood by his wife.
Trystan walked by Gwen’s side. “Lady Ursa warned me that this would happen. I never had a chance to inform everyone.”
Gwen continued to look forward. “It wouldn’t have changed anything. I knew our host would betray us the moment we met him.”
“So you let him toy with us?” Trystan wasn’t sure if he should have been upset.
Gwen turned to the mage with soft eyes. “We needed to play the game to get this far. If we tried to sneak or power our way in, one or all of us may not have returned.”
“We may still yet not return if this slime is as powerful as everyone thinks she is.” Trystan said in a low voice.
“Trust me Trystan. The orcs haven’t outwitted us. We have them right where we want them.” Gwen turned her head to Lori and Aznara. “Be ready to defend yourselves.”
All three nodded their heads. The four stepped closer and noticed a large slab stone directly in front of the cave opening. The gray stone was stained with streaks of red. The top of it was concaved, stagnant blood and water puddled within. The cave opening was dark as sunlight bathed their bodies all around them. Trystan tried to pierce the darkness by squinting but the abyss would not give up its secrets.
“I will take point.” Trystan said.
“No need.” Gwen whispered.
In the dark gloom, something moved. Seconds ticked away as the four stared into the cave. Shadows slowly parted as hints of green appeared. The light straining to penetrate the darkness met with something transparent and fluid. Wet green legs appeared with a waist next and then full breasts bouncing. A smile bloomed in the darkness, glowing green.
The four companions stepped back further and further. The feminine slime stepped out of the dark cave and into the brilliant sunlight. Crazed eyes stared unblinking at the four and a jagged grin grew wider. Trystan could see that the slime was almost an exact copy of Bella except for the green color and madness in the eyes.
“Welcome brave mages and druid. I have been expecting you for some time.” The slime even sounded like Bella.
“Bella?” Gwen whispered as she stared at the green slime.
The slime shook her head slightly. “Not Bella. Master calls me Bellatrix. Our red sister is Belle.”
“The slime by the Faith college?” Trystan asked as he took another step back.
“You are a smart one Trystan Song. Tell me, do I light your desire like my dear sister?”
Trystan opened his senses. “You reek of madness.”
Bellatrix laughed long and hard. “You have an intuitive mind. Belle has our rage while Bella contains our shyness.”
Trystan could sense streams of mana connected to the green slime as it moved closer. The mage guessed everyone else could sense it as well. Gwen stopped walking back and held her ground.
“Bellatrix, we’ve come to take you home. We want to heal you and your sisters.”
“Why mother? I like it here. The orcs supply me with sacrifices and the cave is very comforting. You should stay here. I have a place to store your skeleton. It will look great at the head of the table. You can judge me and tell me how awful I am. It will be truly like family.” Bellatrix let out a crazy giggle.
“Why…why did he do this to you?” Gwen asked, eyes watering.
Bellatrix tilted her head. “Father? We tried to kill his pet. He knew we would try again. That filthy bitch took up all of his time. If I had my way I would have sliced her open and made her dance for me. Father knew we would try again so he gave us new purpose and I couldn’t be happier!”
“What purpose? What does he want you to do?” Trystan asked.
Bellatrix’s eyes grew impossibly wide. “We are to feed. He will call onto us when the ritual is completed. He will direct us to our final duty. Then he will forgive us when the task is complete. Oh how I dreamed of his seed splashing down my throat in blissful redemption.”
Aznara bended at the knees and called up a spell. “She is completely mad.”
Bellatrix turned her head to the succubus. “Madness is a state of knowing. Let me show what madness can do.”
The green slime’s arms lifted up and split into several tentacles. The tentacles lengthened and the ends turned into sharp arrow headed points. Grinning with sharp green teeth, the slime’s face distorted into a mockery of her former beauty. The slime slithered forward, tentacles whipping about.
Aznara acted first. Mana surged into her hand, whirling and sparking into a fire ball. The mage whipped her hand forward and sent the fire ball streaming toward the twisted slime. A tentacle smacked it out of the air and it struck the ground in an explosion. Bellatrix laughed and all her tentacles whipped out.
Everyone dived out of the way with sharp blades just missing them by inches. Aznara was back on her feet and running, fireballs appearing in her hands and hurtling at the slime. Explosions ripped the area apart as green transparent tentacles stretched and sliced at the succubus. Lori whispered to the air spirits and they listened. A hurricane powered blast of air came rushing down, slamming into the slime. Bellatrix was blown back but quickly righted herself.
Trystan cast a spell to control the green slime’s watery body but the spell fizzled. Quickly he tried it again but it also fizzled. Something prevented the mage to harness and control her body. Trystan looked to the altar and whispered a spell. The blood water surged up and formed into three blunt cylinders. The mage flicked a wrist and all three struck the slime from behind, impaling themselves half way in her. Trystan flicked his wrist again and the cylinders burst in all directions, shards of hardened blood water ripping the slime apart.
The mage knew it was not enough to kill her as he readied another spell. Bellatrix quickly flowed together and her grinning face appeared. Lori spoke to the earth spirits and they listened. Rocks from the side of the mountain crashed and crunched together. An earth spirit took a basic humanoid form, stomping toward the emerald slime. Bellatrix turned and raised an arm while screaming. A rock fist came crashing down turning the slime into a splat across the grass. The earth spirit heaved up but the green slime snaked up its legs and burrowed into the spirits chest. The rock spirit made a strange sound as green slime surged and finally tightened. The boulders holding the spirit together exploded into dust and fist sized stones.
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��Oh my, an earth spirit that couldn’t stay hard.” Bellatrix laughed as she quickly reformed.
Gwen had kept her distance, standing and watching. Trystan glanced to her wondering if she was going to join in. Casting a spell, the blood water formed into a chain with a collar. The mage poured mana into the collar, making it denser. Whipping it at the slime, the collar clamped onto the slime’s neck. Bellatrix looked down and smiled until and collar squeezed hard and bonded with her goo neck. The other end of the chain anchored to the ground. The slime tried to pull from it but found it holding her in place.
Trystan concentrated. The mage tested the spell on Bella back in the room to ensure it would hold. From Bella’s details he had to keep pouring mana into the spell to hold her in place. For it to succeed, the mage had to keep his familiars on his skin to ensure a steady flow of mana. If he broke his concentration, then she would be able to slip out.
“I can’t keep this up forever!” Trystan shouted.
Aznara walked a little closer to the slime, a stream of fire pouring from her hand and burning organic goo. Bellatrix laughed and screamed as she struggled against Trystan’s spell and the burning sensations. Body bubbling, a blunt tentacle shot out, striking Trystan in the hand. Bone cracked and Trystan grunted as the spell was broken. Blood water fell away. A tentacle lashed out, striking Aznara at her side and sent the succubus flying into Trystan. The mage, clutching his broken hand, managed to just turn enough to miss Aznara’s horns. Her body slammed into his and they both went tumbling to the ground.
Gwen held out her hand and whispered a word. A large jar appeared in her hand. Mist rolled up her jacket collar and streamed into the air. Bellatrix turned to the witch, mist rising up and a jar gleaming in the sunlight.
“You will not take me Mother! I have purpose now and you will not interfere with father’s designs. You will bend your knee and know your place just as all humans will!” The slime frothed and surged toward the witch.
The mist over Gwen took solid shape. Blue scales gleamed in the perfect sunlight as a long serpentine body grew solid. Trystan managed to look up as pain crawled passed his wrist and up his arm. Eyes frozen, he stared as a serpent appeared over Gwen. White feathered wings extended and beat, keeping the serpent in the air. Its body was thick as a man’s waist. Slitted eyes peered down at the slime as it hovered over its mistress.
Bellatrix glared at the blue serpent. “I’m not afraid of you Quintin! You hold no power over me……”
The blue serpent opened its maw, blue light glowing from inside. A second later, a stream of lightning burst from his mouth. Bellatrix surged forward only to have the lighting streak toward her and slam into her transparent body. The slime exploded and landed in large glops all around the ruins. Trystan watched as the globs rolled toward a central point to reform. The winged serpent familiar unleashed volley after volley of lightning bolts, blasting craters into the earth and sending slime everywhere. The mage was in awe of the serpent’s power and stared as lightning blasted several more craters. Smoke billowed and everyone watched and waited silently.
Slime rolled together and slowly formed into Bellatrix. The slime laughed and laughed as she pulled herself together. The process was slow but her face showed she was not finished yet.
“Fools. You cannot stop me…….I am the chosen…I am….” Bellatrix stopped.
A jar flew at her with blinding speed. The open end struck her chest and the mouth sank into her goo. Bellatrix looked down with a questioning stare. A moment later she screamed profanities. Green slime was sucked into the jar. Tentacles and Bellatrix’s face writhed and held onto the edge, trying to fight the suction. She gave one last look to Gwen and growled before being completely sucked in. The cover slammed shut and the metal clip snapped into place around the neck of the jar. It fell to the ground and rolled into a smoking crater.
Gwen stepped forward. Mist flowed up from Trystan’s arms. Sylk and Bella sank to their knees by their master as he cradled his hand. Aznara was on her feet and dusting herself off. Lori stepped to the crater and peered down. Quintin hovered in the air, watching his mistress step to the edge of the crater and fish out the jar. Gwen held up the jar with green liquid fully encased. She whispered a word and the jar disappeared in a puff of smoke.
The ink witch turned and walked toward the fallen Trystan. The mage smirked as she calmly walked to him, bended her knee and took his hand into hers. Sylk and Bella watched as a warm glow appeared around their clasped hands. Bones pulled together and cracks were sealed. The light died but Gwen continued to hold Trystan’s hand.
“You were very brave dear mage.” Gwen smiled.
“We helped.” Aznara sneered.
Gwen looked to the succubus. “You did indeed. You kept Bellatrix distracted long enough for me to mentally search for the jar. Had I known where exactly it was, it would have been easier to call it to me. Since the orcs stored our items, I had to search for it.”
“You could have told us you needed time.” Trystan said gazing into Gwen’s blue eyes.
“Trials are never easy. You all had to rise to the occasion. If I did it for you, you wouldn’t learn.” Gwen winked.
“Release the Emerald Goddess.” A voice command from behind.
All four turned to see Lord Dubok holding Lady Ursa by her hair in one hand and his sword at her throat with another. The orc soldiers had moved closer, bow strings pulled back and metal arrow heads gleaming in the sunlight. Lady Ursa was calm but her black eyes were wide as the blade pressed against her green skin. Batul and Sord stood with their heads down and eyes on them from behind with the orc soldiers behind them.
“I said release her!” The orc lord spat.
Gwen slowly stood up. Silently she started walking toward him. Arrows pulled back another inch. Captain Sord lifted his hand up ready to give the command, eyes helplessly looking to Lady Ursa.
“Not another step witch or her blood is on your hands.” The orc lord said through gritted teeth.
Gwen whispered a word. Lord Dubok looked to his blade as it turned into a cobra. The hood flattened out and the snake hissed. The orc yelped and dropped the snake. It turned into his sword the moment it touched the ground. Quintin beat feathered wings and opened his maw. Lightning arced, blasting the ground before the row of orc archers. The resulting explosions sent orcs flying backwards, crashing into each other and collapsing to the ground. Orcs stirred dazed and confused but alive.
Lady Ursa’s hand moved like a blur, taking hold of the lord’s dagger from his belt. A moment later the point was under the orc’s chin. Lord Dubok put his hands up, eyes wide.
“My lady, it was a bluff for them to release the Emerald Goddess. You know I would never harm you.”
Lady Ursa stared with a cold gaze. “Was it a bluff when you told Captain Sord that I would be the next sacrifice? Was it a bluff when you marched me to the altar and I begged for you to stop? You would have done it if the Emerald Goddess didn’t inform you of the mages coming.”
Lord Dubok’s expression softened. “It was all part of my design. I could never part with my wife and lover.”
“The mage satisfied me more then you ever could.” Lady Ursa smiled.
Lord Dubok’s gaze hardened. The orc brought up his knee into Lady Ursa’s gut. Lady Ursa grunted from the blow. Dubok reached for the dagger. Lady Ursa used her free hand to mash her husband’s face. The dagger point stabbed under the orc lord’s chin. Sharp metal punctured an artery and the end sliced into the brain. Lord Dubok gurgled as blood filled his mouth and poured down his chin. Trystan looked away as strength left the lord’s muscles and he slumped to the ground, life fading from his black eyes.
The Lady Ursa’s shoulders trembled as she heaved. Gwen walked up to the orc and put her arms around her. The orc hugged the witch back. Captain Sord stepped over and kneeled to Lady Ursa as did the Court Sorceress Batul. The dazed orcs also bended knee to their Lady.
Aznara’s eyes watered and she hugged Trystan. The mage held h
er close. Lori looked at the dead orc and spoke with kind spirits. Several spirits guided Dubok’s spirit back to the source so he may redeem himself in another life.
Thirteen
Trystan and his companions waved at the town entrance. Lady Ursa and Captain Sord waved back. Behind them, nearly a hundred orcs smiled and waved as the four companions continued walking South. Some shouted thanks while others yelled good fortune. Trystan couldn’t hold back the smile. The experience in Rudal was one he would never forget. By unanimous vote, Lady Ursa had become the leader of Rudal an hour after Lord Dubok’s death. The main hall was filled with orcs ready to speak their displeasure with their former lord and embrace the Lady as their new leader. Secrets came to light how the town did not trust the Emerald Goddess. How they wished to pray to their old gods to bring fulfillment in their lives. With the Emerald Goddess removed, a sigh of relief fell over the town as orcs felt they could be themselves without fear of persecution.
Trystan wished them well. Aznara had to jump on Captain Sord one last time before they left. Arms and legs curled around the orc, she shoved her tongue down his throat. When they finally broke their embrace, the succubus told the orc to call her. Lori had a long discussion with Lady Ursa to open trade paths and agreements so the town could be connected to Karath city. The lady agreed and would welcome an envoy to discuss how they can help each other.
Trystan noticed Gwen was quiet during the celebrations. Since the ordeal, the mage figured the trial must have been hard on her. Seeing one of her familiars she created to be turned to such violence and evil must have hurt more than she let on.
The town of Rudal faded into the distance as the four walked on into the beautiful day. Trystan walked side by side with Lori, asking more questions about druids. Lori seemed to take it in stride, telling him more and more about their teachings. Aznara was in good spirits as they marched on, skipping and holding her tail. Gwen smiled as the group continued but the edge of her eyes held a touch of sorrow.
Spring blossomed around them as the chill melted away. The days back to Karath were relaxed. The nights held a coolness. Sylk was more than happy to sleep alongside her master, their bodies warming each other in their tent. Trystan enjoyed the company but his mind often wandered to Gwen, her tent feet away.
