Veronica, Huk, Leonie, Talbot, and Blueballs were among the group down by the gates. Veronica’s blades were dripping enemy blood, and her level had increased by three since the battle had begun.
In the heat of the battle, in those moments when her blade sang and the enemies went down, she found herself enjoying herself and enjoying the power that came from leading the group around her.
She hadn’t seen herself taking a lead role. She had come to terms with the fact that she was a part of Chloe’s team now, but she had to admit that she enjoyed the authority and responsibility that came with her current position and used them wisely.
“Blueballs! On your left!” she cried.
An orc had been coming up fast, breaking through the ranks and springing off a dwarf’s shield toward the toffet.
Blueballs spun, caught the orc in mid-air, continued his spin, and launched it at the wall, where it flopped and lay still on the ground.
“Remember that battle we had back in Sandguard?” Huk shouted to Veronica between strikes against an infected who had taken a shine to the goblin.
“The place where the Harem came and attacked the city?”
“That’s the one.” Huk dodged an arrow and ran between the infected’s legs, slicing the thighs as he went. “Three hundred Harem versus the city?”
“What’s your point?”
“Remember when we thought that was a challenge?”
Veronica grinned, admiring the goblin as he brought down the infected and finished it off with a thrust through the back. “Yeah, I remember. What’s your point?”
He shrugged. “No point, really. I just really like fighting with you guys.”
Leonie laughed somewhere nearby.
Talbot planted his feet firmly on the ground. “Woah, did you guys just feel that?”
The ground rumbled around them. At first, they looked for the elephantine creatures, wondering if it was their heavy steps causing the earth to move. What Veronica hadn’t realized was that there was now only one left standing, and that one had its feet on the ground and was swinging its trunk angrily in all directions.
What the hell is it? Veronica thought.
There came a disturbance in the crowd of orcs a short distance from the gates. Orcs and infected were suddenly thrown into the air as the ground rose and then erupted in a shower of mud and dirt.
“What fresh hell is this?” Leonie murmured, heart sinking. Even the attackers around them had paused and gave their attention to the eruption.
Veronica saw heads pop out of the dirt like angry moles. In the distance, another pocket of dirt erupted. And another. And another. She caught a glimpse of smooth skin, sharp teeth, and something that looked like a fin sticking out of the creatures’ backs.
“What are they?” Huk gasped.
“Who cares?” Veronica said. “As long as they’re helping us.”
She took a step back as the ground beneath her feet began to shake. The dirt softened, and suddenly a creature that looked like a cross between a shark and a human stood in front of her.
The shark-man stretched out his arms, turned in all directions, and seemed to settle on Veronica, spotting her regal armor. “Do you have any idea how hard it is to tunnel through mud?”
Veronica’s eyebrow arched. “Ummm, no?”
King Abaxis came running up from behind them and smiled. “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen your kind.”
“I wish I could say the same.” The shark grinned as more dirt piles exploded around the battlefield. “Come on, let’s get you somewhere safe.”
Chapter Fifty-Seven
“We came as soon as we could,” the creature who had identified himself as Finley said. “The moment we got your message, we set forth. Only, our people are built for speed through sand. Mud and dirt are another thing entirely.”
Abe nodded. “I understand.”
“All was well until we got beyond the plains and neared the forests that border your jurisdiction. There we found a swarm of creatures, all filing as if entranced into the forest. It was there that we knew we must take to the dirt if we were to pass undetected and emerge beneath your city.”
“Tell us what you saw,” Veronica urged. “On the other side of the forest. What was there?”
“A quarry, by its looks. Enemies emptying from a vast hole in the ground. Two strange figures stood by its edge, issuing commands and sending the army forth.”
“But did it look like they were running out? Surely they can’t have more of their army heading our way?” Talbot asked. “It’s like a backed-up toilet spewing endless piles of crap at us.”
Finley considered this image, then said, “If it helps, the numbers remaining did not look too great. They moved in single file at a slow pace.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Therese said, hearing the last of Finley’s sentence. “That’s something, right?”
“I wouldn’t celebrate too quickly,” Finley replied. “Sure, we managed to tuck into the ground before any of the army got a peep at us from a distance, but what I saw just before I joined my men was enough to make my heart stop.”
Leonie and Talbot leaned forward. Outside, it sounded like the final elephant creature had broken down the wall again.
“Crap.” Abe sighed.
“What was it?” Huk encouraged, eyes large and unblinking.
“The beating of heavy wings. I can’t say for sure, since what I think I saw I once thought to be nothing more than a myth or legend. But at the last, I saw the shadow fall across the sky, and believe I saw the leathery wings of a…”
“A dragon,” Therese finished. “Makes sense. The final stand by Fukmos and his sisters should be fought atop a massive creature who can breathe fire and torch this place to the ground.”
“Hold on a minute,” Leonie said. “I thought you said you saw two leaders? Where was the third?”
Finley shrugged. “I know nothing of a third.”
Therese’s eyes suddenly grew wide. “Of course!” She slapped her forehead.
“What?” Abe asked.
“Dryana is in the city. She’s here somewhere. How else would she be able to control the ghosts and set them after our people?”
“What are you talking about?” Huk asked.
Therese explained the situation with the ghosts, calling on Veronica to confirm that what she was saying was true. Abe nodded solemnly behind them.
When she was finished, the color had drained from Finley’s face. Leonie, Huk, and Talbot looked incredulously at the other three.
“This has been going on, and you didn’t tell us?” Huk chided. “What else have you been keeping secret?”
Therese’s face grew dark. “There aren’t any secrets here. Not intentionally, anyway. In case you didn’t notice, we have an army on our doorstep.” Another explosion. “Inside our city. You think I need people unnecessarily worrying about the threat inside the city when they’re put to better use manning the borders and helping fight off the bulk of the bad guys?”
“But we could’ve—”
Veronica cut in before Huk could finish. “You can do nothing. We’re dealing with ghosts here. Creatures that can’t feel our blades. Right now, Heather is on the upper levels monitoring the situation and working with the Thieves’ Guild to keep an eye on them. The best they can do is wake those who sleepwalk and follow the dead.”
“Not necessarily true,” Leonie chimed in. “At least, not if what you were saying is accurate and she is here.”
“But where would she be?” Talbot asked. “Surely someone would have seen a little girl who looked like death personified floating around the city somewhere. It’s not like she’s inconspicuous.”
They fell into thought.
Blueballs started to grunt, trying to communicate something.
“What is it? What is he trying to say?” Abe asked.
Leonie shrugged, unable to take her eyes off his ever-wilder gestures. “I don’t know, but something’s clearly got him rat
tled.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if you could be a translator for creatures?” Talbot mused. “Or we had some device that could turn all grunts, squeaks, and roars into human talk.”
“I’m sure something like that must exist in this world,” Veronica replied. “It’s not like we don’t have other magic that does incredible things.”
Blueballs growled and stamped on the ground.
Veronica laughed nervously. “What? What is it?”
They heard shouts from outside, footsteps, and steel-on-steel.
“Damn,” Abe said suddenly. “We’ve lingered too long. Finley, can you keep your men out there, doing what they’re doing?”
“Sure.”
“How big a hole can you create?”
Finley scratched his chin. “Good question.”
“See if you can make the largest hole you’ve ever made. Get all your men involved. If we can make the center of the battlefield difficult to cross, we might slow down the arrival of more of their army.”
Therese’s eyes had gone blank as she checked her royal tactical map.
“They’re definitely inside the city…”
A cry came from outside. “Help! They’re in the city!”
“Wow, it’s like you can tell the future,” Abe said dryly. He winked and ran out the door.
Therese, Talbot, Huk, and Finley followed. As Leonie and Veronica were about to run, Blueballs dragged them back and pointed animatedly at the back door.
“No, it’s this way,” Veronica said.
Blueballs didn’t argue. This time he simply crashed through the door and sprinted out of the house. He dashed around the corner and disappeared up the slopes and into the city.
Without a word, Leonie and Veronica gave chase. It wasn’t hard to find the toffet. At every corner, they could see his legs dashing away as if he was deliberately slowing down to lead them onward and upward.
They went up stairs and through alleys, away from the heat of the battle. Veronica kept looking back begrudgingly, knowing she should be down there but unable to quell the curiosity in her gut over what had gotten into Blueballs.
When they made it to the east side, Veronica started to get a sinking feeling in her stomach. She had trodden these streets a few nights before. Had trailed the ghostly figures as they floated toward the gates of…
“The cemetery?” Leonie asked as Blueballs stopped at the gates and began to shake them. Despite his powerful arms, the lock and chain on the gate stayed firm.
“Why are we here, Blueballs?” Veronica asked. “There’s nothing but death in there. An endless pit to who-knows-what end?”
Blueballs wasn’t listening. He pawed and shoved his shoulder against the metal. It creaked and groaned under his weight, bending ever so slightly, but held fast.
“What are you doing?” They turned to see Heather approaching them. She looked like a ghost herself, clothed in her clerical whites. “What’s gotten into him?”
Leonie sighed. “We don’t know.”
“I thought perhaps that more had come back,” Heather said sadly. “It’s getting worse, Veronica. The Thieves’ Guild reports that even though the gates are locked, they’re trying to wedge themselves through. They don’t care if they kill themselves trying; they want nothing more than to make it to the mausoleum.”
The mausoleum? Veronica wasn’t sure why that tied her stomach in knots.
“When was the last occurrence?” she asked.
“Several hours ago. The biggest procession yet. Two dozen wandered out of their beds toward the cemetery.
Leonie shook her head sadly. “It’s like they’re being led here by a Pied Piper. Only, instead of rats, this one summons the dead.”
The Pied Piper…
A thought struck Veronica. She took Heather by the hands. “The key? Do you still have the key to the chains?”
“No, it’s with Ewan.”
“Who’s Ewan?”
“The leader of the party from the Thieves’ Guild. It’s with them since they were the last to run the shift and keep an eye on the streets. I was due to meet them for a handover when I saw that blue furry thing of yours going berserk.”
“Heather, we need to get that key.”
Though Veronica didn’t say the words, Heather could see the urgency in her eyes. “Okay. Sure. Erm, follow me. They should be at the Stoneworker’s Hammer.”
The Stoneworker’s Hammer was an inn a few blocks away from the cemetery. Ordinarily seething with dwarves bashing tankards after a hard day’s labor, the inn was now empty of all customers.
Outside of the front doors was a group of humans and elves. Their hoods were drawn, their faces shadowed in darkness. At their sides were small sheaths where their knives were kept when not slitting throats.
A man stepped forward at their arrival.
“You’re late.”
“I’m sorry, Ewan. I was…waylaid.”
“Waylaid? But the streets are clean. We just finished scoping them out. There can’t be more of them, surely?”
“No, no, nothing like that,” Heather replied. “My friends, here…they need access to the cemetery. Do you still have the key?”
Ewan nodded. “We do. Dana, step forward.”
A slight girl with eyes that shone beneath her hood stepped obediently forward, dug her hands in her pockets, and withdrew a brass key. “Here.”
“Thanks.”
“Is everything okay?” Ewan asked.
Heather considered saying “Yes, everything is fine,” but realized that perhaps having a few additional bodies behind them would help their cause.
She explained their theory and the irrational behavior of Blueballs, and soon they were all on their way to the cemetery.
They unlocked the chains without a problem (Veronica had had visions that the chains may have been tampered with by Dryana), and entered the cemetery, immediately feeling the temperature drop several degrees as they walked past the tombstones toward the mausoleum.
“It really is dead quiet here…” Veronica muttered, trying to lighten the mood.
“Don’t even.” Heather grinned, the smile slipping as they stood before the mausoleum doors.
All was quiet and still around them. A thin fog had crept over the cemetery. The only sound was Blueballs’ erratic breathing as he held himself back from running to whatever awaited them at the bottom of the stairs.
“Are you sure about this?” Heather asked, placing a hand on Veronica’s as she moved to pull the stone door open.
Veronica shook her head. “No, but I don’t really think we have a choice at this point.”
As she dragged the stone door open, a freezing wind blasted their faces. They heard a bone-chilling screech, and then the darkness came.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
Tag’s nose wrinkled. “You’d think horses would smell better in video games than they do in real life.”
A nearby horse looked up, its ears raised and alert.
“Hush,” Chloe hissed, unable to hide the smile on her face at Tag’s discomfort.
She could see his point. Now that they were among the herd, the air smelled foul. Surely Praxis, in all its infinite wisdom, could have programmed the game so horse crap didn’t smell so much like…well, like shit.
Ben gave Tag a stern look and placed a finger on his lips. When they had first reached the herd of horses, they had spoken as casually as always, only to find that the horses spooked at the slightest sound.
The herd had galloped off and over the next hill in seconds. The party had been impressed by their speed. It had taken another hour to find their way back into the midst of the herd, hunting for Shikora.
What do you think, KF? Any sign of your beasty buddy?
She could feel KieraFreya searching. No, still nothing. Where the hell is she?
Chloe wished she had some idea of what she was looking for. All around her, horses loomed. They were almost twice the size of the horses she had seen growing up, with c
oats that sparkled and dazzled in the eternal sunset. Any one of these could be the fabled Shikora, in her opinion, but apparently, the goddess who had lost the majority of her memory had decided that none of them fit the criteria.
“Can’t you just pick one and we can go?” Tag whined.
Gideon sighed and rolled his eyes. “You know it doesn’t work like that. We need to find the one.”
“Ah, the one…” Ben mused. “I thought I’d found ‘the one’ once. Turned out she was a cheating, conniving little tramp who stole my…”
“Let it go,” Chloe urged, nodding toward a large palomino horse who was staring at them intently.
Ben nodded, adding quietly, “PlayStation.”
After wandering through the herd and coming up short, Gideon accidentally sneezed. The blast sent the horses scattering once more, and Chloe and the others let out exasperated cries.
They were so close, yet they just couldn’t seem to find the needle in the haystack. Surely one of these steeds was the mighty Shikora, the horse of legend who had carried the Goddess of Retribution into battle and helped deal justice across the land!
They reluctantly wandered over the hills once more and were advancing as quietly as they could toward the herd when Gideon suddenly paused.
“Hey, what’s that over there?”
A cave of sorts, several wide and long slabs of rock stacked to create a primitive lean-to. The back part of the rock was buried in the rise of a hill, and from its mouth, they could see two eyes staring out at them.
“Something’s in there,” Tag muttered.
“Nice one, genius. We can see that.” Ben smirked.
As if it could hear them, the creature took a few steps forward, allowing the rays of the sun to illuminate it.
It was a horse, or at least that was what Chloe thought. The shape of the head was horse-like, but the entirety of the animal was covered in some kind of armor. Spikes covered its cheeks, and two dark eyes stared out from beneath the helmet.
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