Dungeon Deposed

by William D. Arand

  “Uh, her name is Meino… she’s the Minotaur that’s always been there. I kinda took apart a few cores. Dropped things I didn’t like, reinforced things I did, and… made one core. Then instead of linking it to her blueprint, I kinda put her blueprint into the built core,” Ryker said.

  “And?”

  “And that’s it.”

  “If that were it, dear king of mine, she wouldn’t be generating a soul. Did you attach the core to yourself, me, or the dungeon?”

  “Oh.”

  “Oh? What ‘Oh?’ Or do I need to shake it out of you,” Wynne said, her palm giving his head an experimental shove.

  “I didn’t bind her to anything. I just… put the spell in, fed the core mana, and uh… let her go?”

  Wynne took in a slow breath, her body visibly shuddering with it.

  “You took what made a few people and converted it to one core, planted her blueprint into it, bound it all up, and let it loose in the dungeon without an attachment,” Wynne said, going over the salient points.

  “Er, yes.”

  “In essence, you created a lifeform, with a core held outside of its body, that hosts its entire… being… and didn’t bind it to anything. I begin to wonder if the stresses on our dungeon core are more than I imagined,” Wynne said, releasing his head.

  “This isn’t something a dungeon can normally do. There’s restrictions so that you have to bind it to something. So you can’t just create free roaming monster. It has to have some type of… higher calling, so to speak. To keep it bound and controlled.”

  “Oh, I did put undying loyalty to me in there.”

  “Yes,” Wynne said, her mouth flat. “So I found out when I tried to enter your office and she threw me out. When I tried to access her blueprint, I found I couldn’t. It’s as if the spell is locked to you and you alone.”

  “Ah… yeah. I should probably fix that.”

  “Yes. You should. But after you talk to Adele and Claire. Before that though, is there anything else I should know?” Wynne asked, folding her arms in front of her.

  “Uhm…” Ryker wracked his brain for anything he did that he didn’t tell her.

  Shit. Enchants. Still need to tell her about those.

  “I uh… kinda made an entire batch of enchanted items. I didn’t spawn them in but I made a number of blueprints. They’re all stored in a core in my workshop room right now.”

  Wynne’s chin dropped to her chest and he could hear her taking slow, deep breaths.

  With a tiny nod of her head, she lifted it back up and met his eyes. She gave him a small defeated smile.

  “I take it… that’s not good either.”

  “No. Not really, but it’s the least of our problems. No more fiddling with the dungeon without telling me. You’re making this incredibly difficult for me.”

  “Sorry.”

  “Yes, you say that often lately. I grow weary of hearing it, my king.”

  Chapter 26- Full Of It -

  Ryker plastered a dull smile across his face as Veronica’s carriage rolled up to the front of the manse.

  The day had already grown long, and evening was settling over them. Light was becoming dim and shadows were crawling across the streets.

  The carriage was a gaudy thing overwrought with paint and gilding that would draw every bandit’s eye for miles.

  “You said you’d behave, husband,” Diane hissed from his side.

  “And I will, wife,” Ryker said through a clenched smile.

  “You look like a doll with a painted smile,” Diane continued.

  “I’m afraid I have two settings: blunt and fake. Which would you prefer, hm?”

  “Fine, blunt then. Just be polite.”

  “I can do polite.”

  The carriage came to a full stop, guards on horses fanning out in every direction without orders.

  “They look like royal guards,” Ryker sent to Wynne.

  “Technically, they are, aren’t they? Veronica is the queen pretender, they are her guards. Therefore, royal guards,” she sent back. She still sounded cross with him.

  A solid minute passed, guards rushing into the manse, moving right by Diane and Ryker without a word. They spread out in every direction, securing the street, and herding people off the boulevard.

  Eventually the door to the carriage opened up and Veronica stepped out.

  She was immediately followed by an older man with graying temples and a demeanor that could only be described as “ex-military.” He was dressed in whites with a blue sash across his shoulder.

  “That’s a vicar of the church. I wasn’t expecting him with mother,” Diane murmured, her hand tightening in Ryker’s.

  “Ah,” he said intelligently.

  Veronica laughed at something the man said, hiding her mouth behind her wrist.

  Well, that’s not good. That seems far more friendly than it should be.

  “Ah, daughter,” Veronica said, walking up to Diane and Ryker. The guards that had been nearby stayed close to her sides.

  “Mother. It’s a pleasure to see you,” Diane said, curtsying low.

  Ryker wasn’t stupid enough to stay standing when Diane released his hand. He immediately bowed low, taking his cue from her directly.

  “Mother,” Ryker said, attempting to use a familial title instead of an honorific.

  “Ah, Ryker. I’m pleased to hear you say that. I’m also glad to see my daughter is in such good health. I will admit I was worried when I left, but I had no time to waste,” Veronica said, bowing her head slightly to both of them.

  “And with me is of course is the vicar Chadwick. Recently sent on as an emissary from the church of light and hailing from Trevail.”

  “And it begins already. I do believe Diane’s earlier fear is coming to pass,” Wynne said to him. “On top of that, I get the feeling a number of those guards are loyal to him, and not Veronica. They have a different feeling to them. Not magical but… blessed, perhaps.”

  “Vicar,” Ryker said at the same time Diane did, standing upright.

  Diane’s hand immediately sought out his own and clamped into it, her finger nails digging into his skin.

  “We’ve had dinner prepared if you’d care to join us. Or if you like we can postpone it to give you time to freshen up,” Diane said, her smile instantly returning.

  “Ah, there’s no need to wait. I assume it’s just family? No concubines?” Veronica asked, her tone carrying an edge with the last word.

  “No, mother. Family only, and of course, your guest. If the vicar would care to join us,” Diane explained.

  “Then let us sup. After that, I believe we’d do best to have an evening meeting before bed. I’ll unfortunately be needing to leave in the morning. The war continues for my throne, as you know,” Veronica said.

  How could we forget? Stupid.

  Diane only smiled wider for a moment and stepped to one side, pulling Ryker with her and gesturing towards the mansion.

  The vicar gave them a cold smile and walked by them, Veronica trailing behind him with eyes for him alone.

  Yeah, that’s a problem. This is all going to go to the hells pretty quickly.

  Diane gave his hand another squeeze and followed along behind her mother docilely.

  There was no conversation as they went into the dining room.

  Or as servants came and began loading up the first course onto everyone’s plate’s.

  Except for Veronica and the vicar. They seemed quite happy to continue whatever conversation they’d been having in the carriage.

  “Dear,” Diane said, catching his attention. “I do believe our prior conversation was an accurate one. I fear that we’ll have to make sure we update our own positions.”

  “Yes. I’m afraid you’re right. Whatever, we’ll deal with it and move on,” Ryker said, stuffing a handful of cheese into his mouth.

  Leaning towards her, he deliberately chewed with his mouth open, exaggerating the action.

  He had made sure th
at neither the vicar or Veronica would be able to see what he was doing at least.

  Diane choked on her water as she watched him. She dabbed at her mouth with her napkin, but he could tell she was smiling behind it.

  “Why are you such a child?” Diane hissed at him, her body weight shifting as he suddenly felt a dainty foot kick his shin.

  “Because you’re panicking. And we’ll get through this. It isn’t so much a question of if, but how. Better now?” Ryker asked, sitting back in his chair and picking up his manners again.

  “Yes. Better now. Thank you, husband. Though I’m afraid we may catch their attention if you keep that up,” Diane said, setting her napkin back to her lap.

  “That’s alright, we’re at the kiddy table anyways. They’ll go back to their grownup conversation soon enough. Besides, I can tell you everything that they’re talking about later,” Ryker said with a smile.

  “Because I have no doubt you’re listening in. Aren’t you?” Ryker said to Wynne.

  “Of course. Charlotte is as well, as is most of her team. They’re deployed throughout the manse. Just in case,” Wynne admitted.

  “Oh? I had no idea you could do that,” Diane said, her eyebrows coming together a fraction.

  “Not generally,” Ryker said, trying not to give away too much. “But it’s certainly easier to do with a mage in the same room as you. Wouldn’t you think?”

  “Ah… ah, yes. I could see that,” Diane said.

  The servants descended on them at some unspoken gesture Ryker didn’t see. They took away his first course before he could really settle into it.

  Hate these things.

  “Stinks of priest magic,” Tar said to him, catching Ryker’s attention. Looking up he caught the familiar staring down at the vicar from the chandelier.

  Ryker didn’t even notice when they put the second course down in front of him.

  “If I could have your attention,” Veronica said as soon as the servants cleared the room. “As you probably have heard, the dark queen has indeed aligned herself with the forces of darkness.”

  Ryker assumed that they meant Lauren by “dark queen” but he wasn’t sure.

  “To counter that, we’ve enlisted the church of light to help us fight them back. Vicar Chadwick is here to remain in Dungeon and manage the church forces from here. He’ll be establishing a temple and headquarters here in Dungeon. This would be over a few months but there’s no time to wait for the construction.”

  Ryker blinked at that, his fingers curling into fists under the table.

  And so I’ve been removed from any choice in the matter outright. Without even a how do you do.

  A small hand slipped into his under the table. Fingers interlaced with his own, and held tight.

  “I’m sure you’ll be able to manage things between the three of you well enough without me interfering. I expect that we’ll see a number of fresh faces and soldiers coming to help us with our war for the redemption of our nation,” Veronica said. She lifted a glass up towards the vicar with a wide smile.

  “I thank the beautiful queen for her words,” Vicar Chadwick said, lifting his own glass towards her. “I have no doubt we’ll be able to rapidly push them back and retake the capital.”

  At which point, if your army is the one to do it, the Queendom of Dale will be at your mercy.

  Ryker wasn’t a good study for politics, but he wasn’t a fool.

  He had to wonder how Veronica was missing this.

  Looking at the duchess, he suddenly realized she wasn’t missing it. She hadn’t missed anything. She’d already reasoned out what would happen and had plans to counter it, or limit it.

  There was no doubt in his mind that it would probably cost an innumerable number of lives.

  And that she didn’t care at all.

  To be fair Ryker didn’t care much either. This was only his problem by choice.

  It was really Lauren’s problem.

  This was beginning to feel more and more like the very nation itself wasn’t going to survive the conflict, no matter who won.

  “—rse. And after that we’ll be dedicating a church of light to every city in the Queendom. All will understand the glory that is the glorious pantheon,” Veronica said.

  Ryker had missed part of the conversation as he imagined a world of darkness and ruin sweeping over the land.

  “Hear, hear,” Chadwick said, that cold smile spreading across his face again.

  So fucked.

  “Though I do understand that the dungeon could be a problem?” asked the churchman. “I understand it has a bit of a mind of its own, and that it ruled that there was to be no religion here?”

  The vicar looked from Veronica, to Diane, to Ryker. Unsure of who would be able to answer his question.

  Diane managed to not look his way, and Veronica seemed at a loss.

  “Ah, from my understanding,” Ryker said, clearing his throat, “that’s correct. That there is no religion to be had in the dungeon, and that it also expects that to be carried out above ground in Dungeon itself. I did act as the intermediary when temples were being allowed grounds to build on.”

  “Hmph. Can’t have a dark dungeon ruling over us, now can we. We’ll build that temple right up quick and consecrate it. I’m sure we can deal with anything the dungeon thinks it might be able to do,” the vicar claimed.

  “Dark dungeon? The nerve,” Wynne said lightly. “I’ll have his dreams filled with nothing but aggressive trolls that are in heat for days.”

  “You can do that?” Ryker asked.

  “I think he forgets this entire area is under our control. We can do mostly as we wish. We’re limited by the dungeon code, and not exposing you, but little else,” Wynne said.

  “Indeed,” Veronica said, leaning towards the vicar again. She began whispering to him, engaging him in a direct conversation, effectively cutting Diane and Ryker back out.

  ***

  Ryker brought the hoe down violently on the small, almost fragile-looking weed. The explosion of dirt from the blow was enough impressive. It scattered everywhere in all directions.

  Grimacing, Ryker lifted a booted foot up and nudged the dirt around to try and find the weed.

  It simply wasn’t even there anymore.

  “I think the poor thing was annihilated,” Marybelle said from one side. “Though I do wonder what it did to you to deserve such a valiant attack?”

  “It existed. That’s enough. Why?” Ryker grunted and slammed the hoe down to the ground and leaned against the handle.

  “Because I’m fairly certain this is all runoff from your dinner last night and that priest who’s been telling everyone what to do,” she answered.

  Grunting again, Ryker didn’t respond immediately.

  “Ah, I think that’s my cue,” Marybelle said, getting his attention. “I won’t be far.”

  Looking up, he watched as Marybelle scurried off to one side.

  “Oi, didn’t mean to scare your beastie away,” came an all too familiar voice.

  Ryker’s head whipped around, his hand tightening on the handle with a creak.

  Rob!

  Standing there in his infinite shittiness was Rob. The bane of his existence and the one man he’d willingly skull fuck while he lived.

  “Rob… oh Rob. Hello. Did you come up here to offer to become manure for my fields? You’d certainly fill the role of shit very well. There’s quite a bit of you, I’m sure I could spread you out pretty far on my farm,” Ryker said around a smile.

  Blinking, Rob seemed at a loss.

  “Ah… no,” he said. He reached into a fold of his clothes and drew out a sheet of paper. “I brought a letter for you, as well as greetings from Her Majesty Queen Lauren.”

  “Ryker, I’m sorry, we had no idea he had a message. This is simply getting embarrassing. I swear we’re working on a solution,” Wynne said before he could even question her.

  “The queen,” Ryker said, his anger and rage simmering, but no longer s
pilling over.

  “Yeah. The queen. Your queen, I think?” Rob asked, holding the sheet of paper between his fingers. He made no move to offer it to Ryker, seemingly waiting for something to be said.

  Running his tongue along the inside of his teeth as he considered his response, Ryker’s thoughts rattled around briefly.

  Clicking his tongue, he nodded his head once.

  “My queen indeed. Though I am a hostage in my own county,” Ryker said.

  He still wanted to bury the hoe into Rob’s head, but he wasn’t feeling the immediate boiling need he had originally.

  “That’s certainly what everyone in Queensrest is figuring. A few of the royal guard managed to escape somehow. They brought word of what went down here,” Rob said, nodding his head.

  After several silent seconds, he tilted his hand towards Ryker, the letter outstretched across the fence.

  “I believe this indeed is for you then,” Rob said.

  Ryker let go of the handle and clapped his hands together twice, sending dirt everywhere. Then rubbed them against his pants.

  He didn’t want to dirty a letter from Lauren.

  Moving towards Rob, he kept his distance. He got close enough to get the letter and not an inch more.

  After getting the letter he immediately went back to his original position. He couldn’t trust himself around Rob.

  Trust himself to not lash out out of an irrational burst of anger, that is.

  Glancing down at the letter he realized it was actually an envelope. A sealed one at that. Turning it to one side he couldn’t tell if it’d been broken previously but it didn’t seem that way.

  The wax indentation had the queen’s seal on it. The crown and scepter that represented her office. Cracking the seal with his thumb, he broke it in half and opened the envelope.

  Inside was a single sheet of paper with clean handwriting throughout. He didn’t know if it was written by the queen’s hand but he assumed so. He doubted she’d entrust something directly to him that wasn’t straight from her.

  Ryker started to read:

  Dear Ryker,