by Dawn Chapman
Abel was right. “I know.”
Travelling to another realm and these cities would have to wait. At least until I had the other villages and towns in on helping the Tromoal. I couldn’t leave them as unprotected as they were right now. That would be death for them and for us all.
“Agreed, would you assist us in any way you can? A friend of ours is also researching these portals. Maybe you can confirm and work through this together.”
“We must prepare quite a lot if we’re to enter these other realms.” Foster said. “This quest to save these sisters, you will attempt it, right?”
I nodded. The story of the sisters popped up on his screen, and Foster read it out.
“Breaking into their mother’s laboratory, the sisters thought they were entering the hottest new game only to be thrown into the wilds of three different cities. Each of them now fighting for their lives. The power they contain will be a cast assist to Maicreol. Rescue them and return to Maicreol to defend the Tromoal.”
REWARD - UNKNOWN
“Would be nice to know the rewards for this,” I said aloud. “We’ll go in as soon as the Tromoal have been secured.”
“Then I’ll gather all the information I can to assist you.” Foster said. “Dresel must not be told about this just yet. Right?”
Abel nodded. “Whatever this is, it’s something I want to see through, but I will have to report to him later on. I don’t have the ability to stop him from watching my feed.”
Foster grinned. “You don’t think you got into this room with him watching, do you? That was well stopped. Don’t worry. None of this conversation or the quest alerts has been seen by him. I can also block him permanently if you’d like?”
I had to think about this. I really wasn’t sure it would help. The world of Puatera was already at risk because of the hints something else was going on. Maybe if all of this got out, it would stop the funding, and there would be no game. That meant maybe there would be no more safe haven for the Tromoal or for me.
“No, he needs to be watching me, he’ll not let this kind of thing out into the game world. But I do think he’ll want the war quest and the way things are going publicised. That’s something gamers would like to be involved in. To play and help save the world you’ve created, so I like that side of things and so will he.”
“I agree. Every gamer out there will be heading to your village right now, and to Port Troli, if there’s promise of loot, fun, and making a new world for themselves. That’s exactly what they’re signing up for.”
“Then we keep putting out those quest calls. Sarah, the gang. Together, we’ll have to organise many other things.”
“First things first, we need to go back to the Hog, visit Alstead and work from there. The others have their orders, so I’m good with that.”
Foster held his hand out for Abel and then turned to me. “I’ll come and see you in the morning, and we’ll do some research here and in our world.”
When we started to leave, Foster returned to the computer, and I asked, “Did she say anything else important?”
“Yes, but not for you to worry about just yet. We have enough on our plates.”
I couldn’t help but worry, though. Their world and mine clashed on so many levels. Abel and I moved to leave.
“There is something you do need, though.” Foster reached down and plucked a bag out from under his table. “Here, this should be everything you came here for to get the Hog up and running once more. We’re going to need everything you and that machine have to offer.”
I took it from him. “Thank you.”
Chapter 8
“I think the town there won’t be as scared of me now that Abel can and will escort you back and inform the others of the changes I’ve been through,” Foster said as we made our way through to the front of his home.
“I can and will do that.” Abel nodded, then he lowered his voice. “Maddie, I’m not going to be here for a while, I’ve got to log out soon.”
I tried not to feel bad for myself, to suddenly be thrust into being alone. I wasn’t sure how often they needed to log out, so when Foster bid us farewell, and we moved to the door, I just asked simply, “How long will you be gone?”
That was when I saw the guard behind me suddenly move. He levelled his blaster straight at Abel’s face and pulled the trigger.
I dove for cover, just managing to pull my daggers out of their sheaths before I rolled and slit the guard’s right ankle. I managed to get a look at Abel’s body as it sprawled in front of me, and I turned to vomit. Just managing to wipe my mouth and move out of the way as other blasts fired towards me,
I heard Doctor Foster shouting behind me. Rai and Declan came rushing forward, pulling me away and retaliating fire. Doctor Foster took a shoulder wound but managed to get behind his front door as Rai and Declan took on the last guard in hand-to-hand combat. There was something strange about the guards eyes. They glowed orange, not like they had before. This was eerie, so very strange.
I pushed myself forwards, and with a quick flick of the wrist, I flung one of my daggers at the guard’s throat, shouting ‘duck’ as I did. Rai ducked and the dagger embedded in the man’s neck, blood spurting out as he slumped over and then fell.
Rai came to my aid. I’d been wounded, but it was a shoulder wound, just like Fosters. I wasn’t worried. My health bar was still close to full, and I had potions back at the Hog. What did hurt was that Abel was dead. No doubt about it. I stared at his corpse. I knew it wouldn’t stay there for long; the world around us would very quickly clean up. But, damned did it hurt.
“No worries. He’ll respawn, won’t he?” Rai asked. “All the Visitors do. That’s why he protected you.”
“I think he will. I hope he will,” I managed to stutter back.
Declan was soon beside me, and between the two of them, they managed to get me up and to a more suitable place to assess my injuries. Rai was quick to start with some healing magic, and I started to feel better within a minute.
Doctor Foster came to my side, watching carefully as Rai treated me. “I had no idea they were going to try that. I don’t understand. They were so loyal.”
“Do you think someone else has gotten to them?” Declan asked.
“I don’t know; I mean I don’t think so. I don’t know why they’d want Maddie dead.”
“Only reason I know would be something to do with the war. Do they have any family or friends in the Port?”
Foster thought about it for a moment. “I think maybe they did. You’re thinking they’re against the Runners and that’s all it was?”
“Maybe,” I stretched my shoulder out. “I need a drink,” I said, and of course, I meant something stronger than water. Within a few minutes, Foster returned with more ale, something nice and strong. I took it from him and downed it. I didn’t care if I’d be driving soon. The Hog would be able to take me home on autopilot.
That’s when I got a message from Dresel.
Maddie, what the hell happened? Abel just vanished from my screen.
I replied with a quick message back. Someone just killed him, but he’ll respawn with you, right?
There was no reply and then came the biggest shock.
Get back here ASAP, Maddie. There have been some site-wide glitches. Steve and I are trying to look them over, but I can’t make anything out. Abel is not showing on the computers at all.
I pushed myself up and forced myself forward. “I’ve to go back to Dresel. You can come with me to get the Hog started, then I’ll need to leave.”
“We can’t let you go just like that,” Rai said.
“Then you’re coming with me back home.” I wasn’t arguing, and I wasn’t going to hang around. I started back down the dark pathway and was almost at a sprint by the time the others managed to catch up to me.
Rai was pretty winded by the time we found the Hog. I quickly popped the bonnet and located where I needed to put the new parts. Ian was behind us asking what the
hell had happened, but Rai and Declan didn’t know the half of it, just that we’d been attacked on our way out.
The Hog’s engine purred to life a moment later, and when I checked the dash, everything was lit green. “You coming with me or staying, it’s totally up to you guys. If you have family here, I’d suggest you stay. This might be a much bigger fight than we know.”
Declan glanced at Rai. “We’re pretty strong. I think you could do with some backup, Maddie, now that Abel’s gone.”
I stared at the back of the Hog. “There are two empty seats. Get in,” I said.
Ian nodded at them. “I’ll let the safe house know you’re not coming home tonight, maybe for a while. Good luck.”
Ian held out a hand to me, and we shook. “I’ll see you again,” I said. “There are no hard feelings here. Just get the town to go see Foster. There’s a lot of stuff he can show you and inform you of that you don’t need to be afraid of. In fact, you need to see and learn about. Take a few of your other trusted people. Tell him that I sent you, and he can be honest with you as you’ve had my back all these years.”
Ian nodded. “I’ll take the wife. She’s good at getting in all the right places. I am sure she’ll slot right in there to see what he’s been up too. Nosey woman.” He laughed.
With a quick hop, I jumped into the Hog’s seat, revving the engine and setting off.
I wasn’t going to be telling Rai and Declan anything new, and they wouldn’t get into Dresel’s lair, but it was nice to have some real company for the drive.
It took far too long to get home, and I had to detour for fuel, too. This amount of running about in the Hog burned through a lot of my resources, and the twin tanks were on the dregs. My spares empty. We made it back across town and fuelled up with Ian. Then we were soon back on the road heading for Alstead.
I pulled up beside Dresel’s office as it was going dark, and told the guys, “Go over to the bar and look for Sarah. She’ll most likely be the one organising the front lines now.” So they followed my orders, and I let them walk away. Thankfully, no more explanations needed—at least not yet. I wondered if all the locals, in the end, would start to realise and become as aware or as confused as I had been at first.
Dresel was waiting for me in the back of his office. I followed him as we quickly went out back to the barn, then down to the basement.
There was something about him and this entire situation that felt weird.
“Dres,” I asked, “what is it?”
“I logged out to see what was going on with Abel and finally managed to get a hold of him. Abel said the whole system’s frozen him out. At present, he’s working on getting it back up and running on his end, but he’s not looking good. He might not be back for a while.”
I noticed Steve at the far side of the computer station. “It was a direct attack from Dail,” Steve said. “I followed some magic back from your area, and it linked up with the guards family in Port Troli. The guys were used as tools to take you out. Nothing more. Shame. They weren’t bad people either.”
“So Dail’s resorting to magic to try and win this war? Really dumb if you ask me. There’s not much more power than what you get from the Tromoal caves. Any luck in the cataloguing of everything down there?”
“There’s been some amazing weapons and artefacts uncovered, but a lot of it we won’t know what it’s for some time the Tromoal are probably the only ones who can tell us where it came from and what it was used for.” Steve said. “No one up to now has been able to use anything. Their magic levels aren’t anywhere near as high as they need to be.”
“Easy fix,” I said with a wink. “They must train harder. In fact, we all must train harder.”
There was a ping from a computer station, and Dresel walked over to it. On the screen came the image of a lovely looking shorter guy with blond hair, glasses, and a stubbly beard. I stared at the image for a moment and then smiled—that was Abel. Abel in the real world.
“Dres, I think I’ve got it running again,” his soft voice came across. There’s one thing I can’t fix, though. It’s telling me I have to respawn in Shiroth.”
I coughed, and Abel looked at me. “Hey there, Madz. Good to see you’re alive and well.”
I moved so he could see me better, and smiled at him. “Thank you. That was very brave of you.”
Abel grinned. “That’s what I was there for. To take that bullet in the face. Won’t say it didn’t hurt, though, but you’re worth it.”
“So you can’t return here?” Dresel asked.
Abel shook his head. “No, nothing I seem to be able to do here will change where I come back. I don’t know why.”
Dresel looked really worried for a moment and turned to me. “I’ll have to re-assign Abel’s duties to something he can help with over in Shiroth. That’s a pretty big blow, but I think we’ll be all right.”
“How long will it take to get back over here from there?” I asked, not knowing that much about the seas. Maybe he could have used the inner portals somehow, but we also knew even less about them.
I leaned on the counter, suddenly feeling very lightheaded. This whole ordeal, the shooting and everything, was catching up with me.
Dresel was right by my side. “Maddie, you need to sit, take a few moments to think about things.”
But I didn’t have any more time. “No,” I said. “I need to act now. This war isn’t going to be stopped, but I do know the one person I can stop.” I glanced back at the screen. “You saved my life for a reason, just like you let me do the one job I had to in London. Thank you, Abel. I’m going to do the one thing I can and know I can complete because I have all the backing of you guys. I’m going after Dail.”
“Maddie, you can’t do that.” Dresel said.
I looked at the door. “I can and I will. I’m not going to let him do this. If he wants to see this world fall apart, it’s not going to be with me in it. Steve, I know you can’t recall the Savage Angels, and I wouldn’t expect you to. But I am asking if you’ll come with me? There are two guys I brought with me from Hell’s Pass. They’re both extremely talented. I believe if I ask for two more to join us, we have a chance at getting through the lands back to Port Troli. We might be able to finish at least this side of the war. With Dail out of the way, I think there will be a much better chance for us. As there’s no one to spill our secrets and our tactics.”
Dresel smiled. “I couldn’t stop you from doing this even if I wanted to. I don’t know what’s worse, though—the fact you will go or the fact Abel can’t be with you.”
I placed a hand on his and squeezed. “We’re doing this for you and for the world you built.”
“Doesn’t seem like my world wants to play at the moment. I don’t have a clue what’s been going on, but I am going to try my best to find out.”
I nodded at him and moved to walk away. “I’m going to need more supplies from Josh’s house, and I’ll take a look at the list of artefacts from the caves. There might be something I can use there.”
“I think there’s some stored already over at Josh’s. They also have the place under lock and key with some lady named Lidia watching over it.”
I laughed. Lidia seemed nice enough. It was good to meet her. “I think she’ll have something to say about Abel not being with us this time, though.”
Steve moved to walk away from Dresel. “If you need me, just send me a message, and I’ll answer as soon as I can.” Dresel said.
Dresel looked back to Abel on the screen. “Good luck, Maddie,” Abel shouted to us, and we left.
Chapter 9
Josh’s house was a bustle of activity, and I was surprised to see Lidia was the one leading it all. Her face frowned at the guy that was now walking with me. Rai and Declan met us at the front, and we all moved to go inside.
“What happened?” she asked, concern showing on more than her face as she crossed her arms.
“Long story, we need to get armour and weapons sorted out.”
“Oh, I know where you’re going.” She grinned. “Count me in.”
I was surprised at this, but I didn’t disagree. “Do you know anyone else who might like to come with us?”
“That I do. How many do you want?”
“I’d just like to keep it to six, so just one more is fine.”
“We really need someone else who can handle close combat. I know you’re pretty good, but I have the perfect person. Let me message them, and I’ll get them here as soon as I possibly can.”
I moved to let her pass, and Rai and Declan perused some of the items in the room. I’d never thought about changing my daggers for something enhanced, but Rai moved to my side and handed me a beautifully carved box.
“These I think would be perfect for you.”
I took it from him and opened it. Staring for quite some time at the ornate and stunningly carved twin daggers. They were more than beautiful. When I picked one out of the box, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the intense feeling of their power.
TRITHAOL TWIN DAGGERS
QUALITY – EXCEPTIONAL
BONUSES TO SPEED AND STRENGTH
“They’re amazing. What other treasures are in here?” I asked knowing my eyes lit up as much as theirs had. I was sure there was a lot more than just these. This place was a victor’s paradise. “Match yourself up with the items you can use the most, but don’t be greedy. There are a lot of people here who will need things assigned to them.”
Declan picked up a sword and shield. “This is the biggest find I’ve ever thought possible. The thought of it all being out in the world scares me.”
I agreed with him there, but maybe once all this was over, it wouldn’t be needed.
Rai, with a nervous smile, picked out a black onyx necklace and bracelet set. He swallowed when he showed them to me. “Do you think anyone would mind if I had these?”
I moved to his side and looked them over. They were more than exquisite. There were several displays for their usage and their power. “If you can use them,” I said. “Then they’re yours, especially if you can use them to heal or help one of us on this mission.”
