by Galen Wolf
Harald clapped her on the shoulder. He perhaps thought his rough blow was a form of courtship. "I'll fly you there Birog." He tapped his runesword to make sure it was there and disappeared upstairs briefly to fetch his runefist. As he strapped it onto his hand, he kissed it and said, "Hello baby I've missed you."
Then, as if in explanation to us, he said, "I only wear it when I'm going to kill someone."
24
Barcud Rescues Astral Bob
When I arrived on the back of Aquila at the eastern banks of the Midnight Lake, it was nearly dark. The stars began to show in the sky in their familiar Greenwood Constellations - the Sword, the Swan and Maiden, and the Dancer, all of them I'd gotten to know so well. The night air was chill. I saw Birog and Harald standing shyly close together; Harald held Birog's hand, and she was letting him. In the dusk, I hoped neither of them could see the startled look on my face.
When I landed on Aquila by the moorings Achilles emerged abruptly from the shadows. I'd met up with him in Vinab and agreed the rendezvous time. He smiled and flashed the diamond set on his front tooth.
Harald looked scornfully at him. "A diamond in your teeth? You're a real classy guy."
Achilles pulled back his black hood to reveal his shock of ginger hair. "Harald Runesmith, as I live and breathe. And you standing there with no shirt showing off your muscles – classy."
Harald growled bad-temperedly. "Have we got to have this punk along with us?"
I said, "I'm guessing that the Warlocks’ Guild will be trapped as well as runed. So, the answer, Harald, is yes—we do need Achilles with us."
Achilles turned to me, rolled his eyes with his back to Harald so the Runesmith could not see and made a 'wanker' gesture with his hand.
"So," Achilles said, "how we gonna do this—the stealthy way?" The diamond on his tooth shone in the last light of the day.
I peered over the inky waters of the Midnight Lake to see the huge stone walls of Horrabia silhouetted against the declining sun. I said, "Most of their armies are away from the city but they'll still have lookouts on the walls. Perhaps we should do this stealthily."
Harald snarled. "Stealthy? Like fuck."
Birog tugged at his hand.
He looked sheepish. "Sorry, Birog"
He shrugged. "I just thought we could fly over. I got my boots." He pointed to Aquila. "The ranger guy has his eagle and I'm guessing the little thief punk can swim."
"Thanks," Achilles muttered.
"What about me?" Birog said.
I said, "I didn't think you were coming. It's too risky."
Harald nodded sagely. "He's right, babe."
"You'll need some healing, won't you?" Birog said.
I nodded. "Of course, but I thought you were a pacifist, anyway."
Birog rolled her eyes. "I can still heal. I can also summon some NPCs. You might find me useful. Many have."
"Hey now," Harald said.
She put her hand on his thick bicep. "Not like that."
"Okay, if you're willing to take the risk," I said.
"Dang, I love a feisty gal," Harald said. Birog grinned back at him.
Their bizarre relationship made me feel slightly nauseous. I summoned my owl companion. She'd proved helpful as a reconnaissance tool in the battle. The owl fluttered in from nearby trees. With a whisper, I sent her flying low over the waters of the lake and through her video feed, I could see the mighty of Horrabia grow closer.
Guards patrolled the red stone walls and a flight of raptors flew overhead. Giant bats that the Horrabians used as an outer perimeter defense flew around the lake. None of these creatures took any notice of the owl and she flew and alighted on the top of the crenellated battlements. I recalled from my earlier raid on Horrabia that once they sighted enemies, the alarm bell would go up. The only thing in our favor was that almost all Horrabia's troops and probably all the player characters who were online were with their armies out in the field.
"Okay," Harald said impatiently. "Time to go. I'll give you a hug, Birog and carry you over."
Achilles sighed. "I guess this ruins any idea of a stealthy approach."
"I guess it does." I winked. "But there's no need to swim. You might as well climb on the back of the eagle with me."
We walked over to Aquila and when we mounted on her back, Harald was hovering twenty feet up in the air holding onto a terrified looking Birog.
"What are you waiting for?" He boomed down.
Achilles rolled his eyes again. "That guy Harald really is a piece of work. Do you think we can rely on him?"
I nodded. "I think we have him with two hooks: he hates Attila, and he loves Birog. He also likes killing people and I'm guessing there'll be a bit of that."
I whispered to Aquila, and she launched herself into the air. Soon we soared over the dark waters of the Midnight Lake. My natural inclination was to be stealthy—that's why I was a ranger and I wasn't wholly comfortable with the idea of bursting through their perimeter defenses with no attempt to conceal our approach. Harald didn't share my reticence. I saw him flying in front of us and the runes on his runefist glowed and a Scorching Ray shot out and incinerated a fluttering bat. The thing fell into the waters in a clump of shouldering embers and the lake enveloped it with a hiss.
The alarm went up because Harald killed the bat. We weren't even close to the walls of Horrabia when a flight of raptors sighted us and set an interception course.
Aquila was good for flying me swiftly around, and she could fight off the odd enemy, but she wasn't built for full-scale aerial combat against multiple opponents while carrying two passengers. I swooped down under the raptors. The tops of the waves were only inches below us and I felt the breeze that rose from the icy water chill my face. Aquila skimmed the water tops until we were in sight of the jetties that stuck out into the lake. I signaled Aquila to ascend so we would neatly drop over the parapets.
The owl video feed revealed that the guards were thundering up the stairs to the wall tops, spears in hands, their iron shod boots clattering as they ran.
Behind me I saw Harald, Birog under one arm, firing Scorching Rays at the oncoming raptors with his runefist.
Aquila landed on the top ridge of a pitched roof just inside the defensive walls of Horrabia. I glanced back and saw the rears of the Horrabian militia NPCs as they lined the battlements peering out at the fight was going on in the air. Harald clearly had the better of the raptors and they plopped like burning stones into the lake. With a yell, Harald landed on the battlements some yards to the right of the NPC militia. I couldn't hear what he was hollering at them, and that reminded me to send him a group request so we could talk via the HUD. He ignored it.
Birog joined the group with Achilles and myself.
Me: What's he doing?
Birog: Killing things. He told me to get behind him. Killing things?
I could see that Harald had drawn out his runesword to face the oncoming Horrabian soldiery. In the twilight, the runes inscribed on his blade glowed with golden fire. He was an imposing figure, naked to the waist, hugely muscled, white blonde hair. I saw a web spell shoot from his runefist and tangle the first of the Horrabian guards. Screaming, Harald ran at them, slashing with his runesword. I knew enchantment runes didn't work on NPCs but damage runes did. I didn't know which runes Harald had inscribed on his sword, but it was clearly doing elemental damage; I saw flashes of fire, crackles of electricity, splashes of green acid and the white breath of frost as he hacked his way through his enemies.
Me: I think we should go give him a hand.
I was ready to steer Aquila over to the battlements but standing next to me watching the show.
Achilles shook his head. "I think he's got this".
After he slaughtered all the NPC guards, Harald turned and scooped Birog and they rose in the air again on his Boots of Flying, swooping over to where we were on the roof. Below us, more Horrabian guards had gathered and were firing bows that landed short, arrows rattling on the tile
s of the roof.
"I really enjoyed that!" Harald said with a broad beam on his face. "It's ages since I've slaughtered that many people at once."
"Harald," I said. "Where is the Warlocks’ Guild from here?"
Harald indicated northwest over the myriad city roofs. Here and there a temple to one or other of the dark Horrabian gods stuck skyward. To the north was the Red Tower of Royal Palace of Horrabia where Praxis the King had his throne. We wouldn't be going there today.
"How far?"
Harald shook his head. "Stop asking dumb questions and follow me."
He launched himself into the air still holding Birog like she was a rag doll, albeit one he was very fond of. Aquila flapped after him with me and Achilles on her back. We sailed over the roofs almost to the other side of the city.
Achilles shifted behind me and I saw a dagger fly from his hand and strike a diving raptor. I hadn't heard the creature swoop down on us. The dagger returned to Achilles' hand via the Returning Dagger skill and he threw it again, this time disposing of the beast.
I saw that Harald had landed in a courtyard in front of an ornately decorated building constructed from black glass bricks. Mounted on the ends of the roof ridge lines were the twisted shape of emerald dragons. Hideous gargoyles jutted out from the walls, sticking sable tongues from twisted faces. A tall gate stood in front of us, blocking our passage to the Warlocks’ Guild proper. The gate was of silver. Achilles went forward and examined it for traps.
Harald was about to stride forward and smash down the gate when Birog held him back. "Let the man do his work, Harald."
Despite being told what to do, Harald didn't seem upset. He gave Birog a smile and said, "Whatever you say, babe."
The gate was not trapped, but it was locked. Achilles pulled out a lock picking kit from his inventory and within seconds he had undone it. "Simple."
We made our way quietly across the courtyard to the Warlocks Guild building itself. The front door here was also silver and on it were carved the twisted faces of souls in torment. The handles on the door appeared to be made of rubies. They were clearly a prosperous Guild; murder and theft must really pay off. Once again, the door wasn't trapped but once again it was locked. Achilles made short work of the lock. I heard the clattering of the door mechanism as it came open. The doors swung on their hinges in well-oiled silence to reveal four NPC warlock guards.
"This is where I come in." Harald grinned. He drew his runesword from its scabbard. Before attacking he turned the flat of the blade and kissed it. "Come on Dazzler: let's cut throats."
The warlock NPCs fired black bolts of negative energy at us while Harald ran into their attacks swinging his runesword Dazzler. He sliced the first one from the neck downwards across its chest and turned to take on the second. He was close to the warlock, and it blasted him with both hands. I smelled the stink of seared flesh and the strange gasoline smell that accompanies negative energy damage. Harald grunted and reeled back but Birog healed him with a glow of silvery energy. He looked over and blew her a kiss. She blushed, but then a tiny smile appeared on her lips.
"Time to get busy," Achilles said.
Achilles lapsed into stealth. My Spot skill was high but even then, I could only just make out strange ripple in the light as he went left and wide around the warlock guards.
I summoned my Wolf companion and reached into my inventory to pull out the figurine of the Forlorn Tiger. I dropped the gold and ebony statuette to the ground and the huge Tiger emerged. I also summoned the Brown owl from where she was on the battlements to come in. She might be useful to find our way by scouting ahead.
I hit my defense macro and applied all my herbs and defenses within seconds. Then I pulled my Bow of Stone from my inventory and nocked an arrow to the string.
Harald slaughtered three warlock guards before I even raised the bow to fire. He needed another dose of healing from Birog, but when I checked her mana, she was still at 95%.
Achilles finished off the last warlock guard with a back stab and it fell in a heap at his feet. Achilles' stealthy form slipped from dark to dark like a premonition.
The entrance corridor extended into the heart of the building from the foyer. It was lit with glowing wisps of blue and yellow magic. Diamond-shaped tiles of black glass floored the passage. I smelled the pervading stink of gasoline. Bad Juju soaked the place. The walls were also gleaming black glass with red Horrabian script running along the walls. I couldn't read it but I knew it would say something stupid, boastful, and wicked.
Achilles was still in stealth. He messaged me via the HUD that he was going ahead to scout for traps.
"Let's go! Harald roared. His golden runefist glowed in the gloom brighter than all the magic lights provided by the warlocks. I could hear the whispering of the runes on his blade as they hungered for blood and souls. I said, "Harald, Achilles is going ahead so let's just give him a minute to find any traps."
I thought he would protest, but he glanced at Birog. She looked back at him and he muttered, "Okay, let the freak do his job. If that's what you think's necessary."
Achilles found and disarmed a pit trap ahead of us. Once he signaled that the way was clear, we advanced without encountering any further guards. We got to a set of pillars in black and red marble that flanked another silver door with ruby handles. Achilles came out of stealth and put up his hand to signal a trap.
He disarmed the electricity trap on the door and unlocked it. He pulled the heavy silver door open and was about to step through when he put his hand up again.
Achilles: Gas trap.
We waited again. Harald was smiling unconvincingly at Birog as if to show he didn't mind the delay.
Wolf and Tiger stood patiently on either side of me. I noticed that Birog had summoned a sprite and a dryad.
Harald narrowed his eyes. "I don't like dryads. I remember last time you summoned one she stabbed me in the chest with an ivy dagger."
"That's exactly what it was, Ivy Dagger." Birog said. "You were being wicked, as I recall."
Well it f–" Harald stopped himself. "Well it flipping hurt."
Ahead of us Achilles disarmed the gas trap and signaled it was safe for us to go on.
We got to a landing. Below us heavy metal steps descended into the gloom. Magical wisps still provided light up here but down there it was fuliginous. Birog's sprite buzzed down to give illumination. I had my Goggles of the Darkest Night so the darkness didn't pose a problem to me. Harald's runefist and the runes on his sword Dazzler also lit our way as we descended cautiously down the steps.
"Is this the right way?" I hissed.
Harald nodded. "To the torture chamber? Yes. I designed it when I was a warlock when I first played the game."
We shuffled along the corridor and Achilles found a further trap that he easily disarmed. Then we were down in the cellar level. A short stone corridor stretched ahead lit with only two magical wisps that hardly gave any light. Ahead, instead of the silver doors was one painted red and yellow with a man's face.
Harald pointed. "That is the face the portrait of the first Guildmaster of the Warlocks’ Guild, Johann the Cheeser. He was one evil son of a gun. He even put me to shame." He whistled to emphasize his point. "He was a real narcissist." Harald looked at us as if challenging us to respond, but no one said the obvious.
"You want me to check the door for traps?" Achilles asked.
"Fuck this," Harald said. "I've been patient too long. Sorry, babe," he said to Birog, "but a man's got to do..." He strode forward and booted the red door in. It juddered open with an enormous din.
Three figures standing there spun round. The look of amazement on their faces as they saw Harald Runestorm was priceless.
Attila said, "Harald? What are you doing here?"
Behind them shimmering in ghost form was Astral Bob. I saw the relief on his face as we entered.
Loki had a resurrection scroll in his hand and was about to raise Astral Bob from the dead again. Once they'd kil
led him down to Level 1, he couldn't go any further down, so any further deaths were pure sadism on their part. I guessed they intended to question and torture him again.
The third Horrabian was Elrick—whom Astral Bob had thought was his trustworthy source. None of them expected an attack here.
Harald extended his finger, pointing at Astral Bob. "I've come for that sack of shit."
As if noticing us for the first time, and figuring out our being with Harald wasn't a coincidence, Loki said, "He's with the rangers."
"What?" Elrick frowned. He was trying to figure out our unlikely alliance. "And a druid..."
"Hey, baldy," Harald snarled. "That's not just any druid. That's my druid."
Attila said, "Don't be a fool, Harald. Kill them like the true Horrabian you once were."
Harald cocked his head and looked at Attila. "You still don't get it, do you?"
Attila frowned, his black eyes hideous in his head. "Don't get what?"
"You don't get that you never get to tell me what to do, you fuck. I am Harald Runestorm. And that means fun!"
Harald rushed at Attila swinging his runesword.
Attila dodged and stepped back out of the way so the sword whistled by his head. I saw Loki lapse into stealth and disappear into the right-hand corner of the room. Birog's dryad stood guard near her and the light emitting sprite fluttered by her ear. The barn owl sat on top of what I took to be a furnace—though it wasn't lit. I discovered something about the Summon Owl Companion skill that up until then I hadn't known: The Brown Owl's eyes could pierce stealth so I saw Loki creeping round to stab Birog from behind.
To my left Achilles had rolled forward and stabbed the sorcerer Elrick. I saw from his spluttering that he had stabbed the sorcerer with Xarak, the poison that causes dumbness. The effect of this was to prevent him from summoning up his Demons. I saw Elrick lean over to smoke one of his curing pipes that shouldered in the bandolier around his neck that most of us used for keeping our curing pipes handy. However, the second poison on Achilles knife had been Riddlewort – the poison that gives asthma and thus prevents smoking cures. Panic spread over Elrick's face and he stumbled back. I saw him use his Black Hand skill where a ghostly hand chokes the life from an opponent. Achilles face twisted and went pale as the invisible hand constricted his windpipe.
