Grimoire Bound

by Jeff Sproul

  "If you want to get some sleep, I'll be awake if anything happens," said Chaxin to Deloris. "I promise to wake you."

  Deloris smiled back at him. "I can't help but feel as though I need to stay awake for at least another hour, but I may allow myself to drift off. Thanks for the consideration."

  Chaxin smiled and then turned his head to look out the back of the wagon. The nearest carts were about twenty feet behind them, which gave him plenty of space to watch the trees pass by. It was relaxing to just stare off, left to his own thoughts.

  Little was said as the caravan entered the plains. They continued on, heading past Kamber and into a thinner forest. Time passed and soon, they were in the mire. The mire stretched on for miles and was a bumpy ride, as the wheels of the cart kept finding mud and holes.

  At one point, the caravan had to stop because one of the wagons got caught in the mud, but before long, they were back on their way without further incident.

  Chaxin glanced over, seeing both Kaiz and Deloris with their eyes closed. He smiled at the thought that they trusted him enough to keep watch. Or maybe they were simply too tired and didn't care.

  Hours stretched on, and boredom set in. Chaxin shifted around, but kept quiet as his two companions continued to sleep.

  The rain hadn't yet abated. The light pattering of the drops constantly hit the canopy of the wagon, but didn't hinder the caravan drastically.

  Eventually, the caravan entered another plain, and without warning, their wagon passed through a tall stone gate.

  Chaxin became more alert as he realized that they'd reached Grittin. He hadn't even realized they were on their approach to it, since he could only see out the back of the cart.

  "I think we're here," he said.

  Deloris's eyes slowly opened and she glanced over, watching as the inside of the stone gate disappeared behind them. "It seems we are," she confirmed as she shifted and stretched her arms. She nudged Kaiz's side with her boot. "Wake up."

  Kaiz groaned and leaned off the crate, his eyes creeping open. "Hmm?" he murmured. His cheek was imprinted with a section of the crate he'd been resting against.

  "We're here," said Deloris.

  "Hmm, ‘bout time," Kaiz murmured as he slowly inhaled and looked out the back of the wagon. "Could use a proper meal after all we've been through. Some ale would really hit the spot too."

  "Well, let's see if we can get some answers from Lord Karnith," said Deloris. "Then we can head into town for some proper celebration, with well-earned coin. We can find an inn for the night, and then see what's going on with the rest of the residents from Kamber. And you can get Chaxin a worthwhile sword."

  "I bet after Daxar tells him how you went head to head with that spectre, he's going to want you in his guard," Kaiz chuckled.

  "Well, he can ask all he wants," Deloris mused, but said nothing more on the matter.

  Structures began to enter Chaxin's view as the cart went along the road. Most of the buildings were similar in architecture to the ones he'd seen in Kamber, but these were packed closer together and stood taller.

  The rain had mostly abated, but the clouds still hung heavy in the sky, keeping a gloomy overcast over the region.

  Several carts pulled away from the main group and headed down another street. Chaxin watched and saw what looked to be a market, a bit further away. The sudden smell of cooked meats and baked goods reached his nose and he took in a deep breath.

  "Mmm, doesn't that smell good?" asked Kaiz.

  "Sure does," said Chaxin with a smile. "Didn't realize how hungry I was getting."

  "It was a long ride," said Deloris. "My muscles are going to be pretty stiff once we get out."

  The carts continued along the road, passing by more structures. Eventually, they passed through another gate and into the courtyard of a castle made of gray and black stone, which stood higher than anything else in the entire city. The area the castle was built upon was higher elevated than the rest of the city as well, which let Chaxin see many of the roofs of the surrounding buildings. Grittin was larger than he expected. Kamber was nothing compared to Grittin, in size and scope.

  Now that the carts were safely in the castle grounds, they came to a stop. Chaxin, being the closest to the rear of the wagon, was the first to jump out to the stone-paved ground. He took several steps and saw the castle looming just behind him, and he found himself looking it over with wide eyes.

  Kaiz and Deloris made their way out, as the other wagons all came to a stop nearby. Guards and laborers all disembarked, and the four platemail guards each stood near the two wagons that held the sarcophagi.

  "I'm sure you three will want to get a proper meal in you," came Daxar's voice from behind Chaxin.

  Chaxin turned and spotted the man walking towards them. "Lord Karnith will want to get underway with whatever he intends for the remaining sarcophagus, so I recommend coming with me now so you can speak with him, and then we can all continue with our day. If you still wish to speak with him, that is."

  "Yes, I'd like that," said Deloris. She turned her head to Kaiz and Chaxin.

  "Then come with me," said Daxar, who promptly headed up a series of stone steps that led to the castle doors.

  "Wouldn't mind getting some answers before dinner," said Kaiz. "It'd be nice to know if there's more of those things out there, and what Karnith knows about them."

  "I'm in agreement," said Deloris.

  "I'll go wherever you two are going," said Chaxin.

  "Let's not keep them waiting then," said Deloris, who turned and followed Daxar. "These well-off types tend to get impatient quickly," she said in a somewhat softer tone, to prevent Daxar from hearing.

  Kaiz chuckled, and followed her. Chaxin quickly fell into step beside him.

  Two guards, wearing the same ornate armor as Daxar's retinue, stood outside the wooden doors to the castle. They had the same shield on their left arm, and a sheathed sword on their belts. The only difference was that they held crossbows of a much higher quality than the one Chaxin had wielded in his fight with the cyclops. Perhaps instead of a sword, he would inquire later about a crossbow. He'd become familiar with the weapon, and perhaps a ranged fighting style would suit him with his lower stats. It seemed like a safe route to go. He just hoped that crossbows weren't outrageously expensive.

  Upon that notion, he remembered Bavol's lecturing when he'd been loaned his extra crossbow. He then remembered how Kalo and Jerem were Bavol's subordinates. Someone was going to have to tell him of what happened. He didn't particularly look forward to it.

  On Daxar's approach, the guards opened the two wooden doors. The hinges creaked with the effort, and Daxar entered.

  Deloris followed, with Chaxin and Kaiz on her heels.

  Within the main hall, six pairs of pillars stood, draped in black banners with the red circle embroidered upon them. At the base of each pillar stood a familiar full-plated guard. On the center of the floor, running from the doorway all the way to the other end of the hall, was a black carpet. At the opposite end of the room stood a elevated section with five steps. Upon it was an extravagant chair, and seated in the chair was a man in fine garments and armor.

  Daxar held his hands out low on either side of him. "We return," he said in a somewhat joyous voice. "But there were some complications, I'm afraid."

  Daxar passed by the last set of pillars and slowly made his way up the five steps.

  Deloris slowed her walk and stopped between the last two pillars. Kaiz stepped to her left, and Chaxin stepped up to her right. He was still looking at everything there was to see. With his closer proximity, he could make out more of the seated man's features.

  The man seated on the throne wore a black tabard with the red circle upon it, covering his dark obsidian armor. He had short reddish hair, and a fair complexion. His face seemed slightly weathered, and his features sharp. He rose from the throne and stepped forward to greet Daxar with an embrace.

  The two men hugged for the briefest of moments
before Daxar took a step back and turned partway.

  "This is Lord Karnith," said Daxar. "And sire, these are three of the individuals from Kamber, who aided us in procuring your special cargo, from the ship."

  Lord Karnith looked to each of them, his lips curled at the corners, and he nodded slowly. "Very good," he spoke in a deep voice. "Very good indeed. It has been a long road to get here." His attention diverted to Daxar. "And what of this complication?"

  Daxar tensed, and slowly took in a breath. He stepped in closer to Lord Karnith and spoke quietly in his ear.

  Chaxin watched, then looked over to Deloris, unsure of what they were supposed to do.

  Lord Karnith lifted his arm and gestured for Daxar to step back. "You three witnessed the creature that came from one of the sarcophagi?"

  Deloris took a step forward. "Yes, I engaged with it myself," she said. "We were hoping to learn more of these creatures, so that in the future, if we were to ever face one, we would be better prepared. It seemed quite formidable, and I've never seen its like before."

  Lord Karnith slowly nodded several times. "I see." His gaze fell, then lifted. "But I'm afraid you already know far too much. Guards! Kill them!"

  Even as the sound of chainmail jostling against metal armor filled the room, Chaxin couldn't believe what he’d heard. Kill them? What had they done? Why?

  "Shit!" Kaiz muttered, as he turned with his spear.

  "No!" Deloris yelled as she swiveled around and brought her shield up.

  The twelve statuesque guards drew their crossbows and fired.

  Chaxin was only starting to turn his head when a thick metal bolt sunk into his back and poked out from just beneath his ribs.

  His breath caught in his chest as he seized up.

  Another bolt shot into his arm. Another caught him in the leg.

  The pain rushed through him, forcing him to gasp as he fell to his knees.

  A fourth bolt struck the right side of his back and forced him forward. The black carpet welcomed him as he slumped against it.

  Bang!

  "Chaxin's down!" came Kaiz's strained voice.

  Chaxin's eyes were wide as he stared off to the side. He'd seen the bright flash from Kaiz's spear-muzzle. He heard the familiar clanging of Deloris's armor, and the sharp schlick of her blade cutting through flesh and metal.

  Chaxin's vision was blurring, and there was a metallic taste in his mouth that he couldn't explain.

  Bootfalls filled the room, then another series of thunks as bolts were fired.

  Deloris was still moving; Chaxin could only make out her blurry form in his peripheral vision. But Kaiz he could see more fully. Even as half a dozen bolts riddled Kaiz's chest, one after the other.

  The large man stumbled back as his fingers dropped something into the barrel of his spear. He fell to his knees, but managed to turn the spear outward.

  Bang!

  Another bright flash.

  By now, two of the nearby guards had closed in on him. Their swords were covered in runic markings, and without pause, those blades sunk into Kaiz's chest and back, before he could bring his spear to bear.

  The two blades pulled out as one guard kicked Kaiz over.

  "Kaiz!" Deloris yelled.

  In the corner of his eye, Chaxin saw one of the guards fall motionless to the ground. Deloris entered his increasingly blurry view, but only for the briefest of moments as she jabbed her sword into the neck of the guard that had kicked Kaiz, and without losing step, she kept running, until Chaxin couldn't see her any more.

  Kaiz lay there, bleeding from numerous wounds. His eyes were open, and his lips began to move.

  Kaiz's voice strained to get every word out, as if each one pained him to even utter. "When… you wake—" His trembling lips continued to move, but no audible words came.

  A sudden flash of light came from the direction Deloris had ran.

  The death cry of an unfamiliar male voice echoed around the room. Then, another sound of a blade sinking into flesh. Then another cry.

  Chaxin's vision faded further and further until there was only blackness and the sound of Deloris's clanging armor.

  A moment later, even those senses faded, until nothing remained.

  Chapter 15: Purgatory

  Chaxin's eyes opened as he sucked in a breath of air. He could feel the familiar sensation of cold stone against his naked body as he stared up at a featureless ceiling. He was alive. But how?

  Something seized his leg near his ankle and tore him from the cold slab of stone he'd been lying upon. His skin scraped against the smooth stone as he was dragged from the small dimly lit room.

  With wide eyes, he tilted his head up and saw… something, dragging him.

  The entity was taller than a man, with a larger, but lankier body and deep gray skin. Small spikes protruded randomly out of its torso. It strode forward, dragging him with its long thick fingers wrapped tight around his leg.

  "Let me go!" Chaxin called. "Where am I?"

  The creature wasn't forthcoming with an explanation, and soon enough, Chaxin found himself being dragged through a long hallway.

  He grabbed uselessly at the floor, but there was nothing within reach.

  The monster passed by a yellow burning torch, and then after another twenty feet, there was another.

  Chaxin turned his head side to side, trying to get his bearings. The walls, ceiling, and floor were all made of a similar smooth stone, and torches seemed to be interspersed at various intervals.

  He finally came to an intersection, where the creature pulled him around the corner and down another hall. It was then that Chaxin heard murmurs and groans.

  Where was he? What was happening?

  As the sounds got closer, Chaxin noticed a long row of metal bars, separated by slabs of stone. Cells? Some type of jail?

  The monster stopped dragging him, and effortlessly lifted him into the air, as a person might lift a fallen branch. Chaxin heard clanging keys, and despite being upside down, he watched as the monster took a metal key and slotted it into a lock on one of the cells.

  Chaxin was tossed inside, and immediately, the heavy barred door was shut behind him and promptly locked. The tall gray creature lumbered back down the hall, returning in the direction it had dragged him from, having never said a single word.

  Chaxin's head ached from the sudden collision with the floor, and his back and arms were sore from being dragged. He leaned up slowly and looked around the prison cell. It was made of all stone walls, except for the front, which was metal bars and gate.

  He heard several footsteps and turned his head suddenly. In the shadows, a figure moved toward him.

  "Here, take this," said a male voice, before something fell onto Chaxin's lap.

  He looked down and saw a dirty gray pair of trousers.

  He glanced up, and as he stared at the figure, he found his vision growing accustomed to the dim light in the cell.

  "Who're you?" Chaxin asked. "Where am I? I… I was just attacked… and, and I was…"

  "Woah, calm down," the man said, as he stepped further around the side and leaned back against a wall. He was wearing the same sort of gray pants, but his feet and torso were bare. He crossed his arms against his chest and looked down at Chaxin. "You were killed. Now you're here. Just take a deep breath, and please, put those pants on."

  Chaxin took a moment and swallowed. He shifted around on the floor and slipped the pants on, then slowly scooted back to lean against the opposite wall. He took in the other man's features. He didn't look to be a whole lot older than Chaxin was. He had short black hair and tanned skin, with a slight slant at the corner of his eyes.

  "I'm Chaxin," he said. "Who are you? Please… tell me where I am? How'd I get here?"

  "The name's Randal Rip," he said.

  "Rip?" Chaxin murmured. It sounded strange, but something seemed to click in Chaxin's memory. "Why does that sound familiar?"

  "I dunno," said Randal. "Why does it sound familiar? Have
you heard of the Rip brothers? Randal and Panner?"

  "Rip brothers," Chaxin murmured. "I've heard of you."

  "Guess Panner and I were more popular than I thought!" he chuckled. "So you're from Wake then?"

  "I am, but how…" Chaxin trailed off, before his eyes widened. "You're dead," he whispered. "The Rip brothers were killed, in the merfolk attack."

  "Sadly, that was indeed our fate," said Randal. "Panner and I took a few of the bastards with us, that's for sure, but we both fell. Now we're here."

  "Here?" asked Chaxin.

  Randal shook his head. "You're really slow on the uptake, friend. How can you not realize where you are? Hmm, I guess you look a bit young. New arrival to Wake, or something? Even so, surely you've heard of Purgatory."

  Chaxin stared, motionless. He was frozen at that single word. "Purgatory. We're in Purgatory? We're dead then. I'm dead. I was… killed in the castle, and… how did I get here?"

  "When you die," said Randal, "your soul escapes and is ejected through the Graymos. Purgatory has a lot of powerful mausoleum-like rooms, which capture wayward souls that have died. I imagine your corpse is still dripping blood and slowly rotting somewhere. You may not want to think about that, actually. But now you're here. Congratulations. You're in the second worst place you could ever possibly be in the Graymos. Purgatory."

  "What do you mean, 'second worst?'" Chaxin asked in disbelief.

  Randal breathed in slowly, then parted his lips to speak.

  But before he could say anything, another voice came from across the hall, from one of the nearby cells. It was another male voice, not too dissimilar from Randal's.

  "He's talking about the place you go when you don't have the life force to keep resurrecting in Purgatory."

  Chaxin turned his head and watched as a figure approached the bars in the cell across from theirs. His skin was close to Randal's tone, and he was wearing the same sort of pants. He gripped the bars and looked over to Chaxin. He had longer black hair down to his shoulders, his frame a bit thinner than Randal’s.

  He spoke up again. "He's talking about hell."

  "Don't listen to my bro, Panner," said Randal. "Probably shouldn't dwell much on that either. In fact, it's best to just sit back and relax until they come and take you."