Vladimir ducked into his tent, and the rest of the travelling party went about setting up their own tents. Sala, once he had his tent up, pulled out a pot and began to cook. Renful and the three human Shamans all retired to their tents, leaving the others alone by the fire.
“Happy, cheerful group, aren’t they?” Karen muttered.
“He had a point,” Cody said. “My family has known a shame we haven’t spoken of for generations. I can’t fault him for his own secrecy.”
“Would you be willing to tell us what it is that you’re going to do?” Gerald asked.
Cody looked at the fire for a minute, his lips tight with tension, “My family stood guard over the repository of souls in the city. We were charged with helping the restless dead find peace in Peace.” Snorting, he looked at the others briefly before staring back into the fire. “Our last task was to destroy the Urn that held the more recalcitrant souls until they would move on. When the war reached the gates of Peace, the Patriarch who led the house ordered the entire house to flee the undead that had come. He was supposed to go into the vaults under the city and destroy the Urn of Souls, but instead, he fled with the others. If anyone with the proper knowledge should reach the Urn, they might harness it into a fearsome weapon. Lady Peace has charged me with doing what my ancestor should have done. I must go into the depths of the city to find and break the Urn.”
“That is going to be a difficult task, considering the activity that seems to be happening there,” Ioaniss finally said. “We have word that the followers of Stein are gathering in the city. Do you plan to go into the depths alone?”
“He won’t go alone,” Rolland said. “I will tell you why I’m here now, though it is a hard thing to believe. I was asleep last night, when a being of immense power appeared in the room with Kim and me. It was neither male nor female, but it radiated power—so much power, neither of us could move. It spoke into our minds, saying that a man of priestly cloth would need our aid to complete his task. We were directed to Gerald and told to offer our services in his quest to reach the city of Peace, so we did. The reward I was offered is information—knowledge of why my family is known as Magiblood, and why I have some unique Abilities.”
Ioaniss stared at Rolland. “Can you describe this figure?”
“Blue fire given human form, but it did not burn. Its voice was calm and soothing, and it spoke directly into our heads. If it had told me it was a god, or even the Overlord, I would have believed it.”
“There is a story from before the city of Peace fell that features a figure of the same description,” Ioaniss said, leaning forward. “The text is old and brittle now, and tells of a figure of blue fire that appeared before the First Emperor in the middle of the night and warned him that the Empire would be torn asunder by death. Years later, when the uprising started and Stein led his undead to sunder the Empire, the Emperor gave his journal to his son, and it has been preserved since then. It includes the warning that should that being appear again, to heed its words as though the Overlord had spoken.”
“You should stay with Sir Carter,” Gerald said. “Do what you need to, but be safe and make it home.”
“Once we have discovered what is transpiring, I’ll send a message to the King, then Sala and I will go with Sir Carter as well,” Ioaniss said. “Sala, as you have seen, is a Defender and will anchor our group. Sir Carter will be our healer and the three of us will be their blades. A group will have a much better chance of finding and dealing with the Urn than a single man would.”
Cody bowed his head to Ioaniss. “My deepest thanks, Sir Jones.”
“Didn’t your dad leave some time back to find the city of Peace?” Marysue asked suddenly, addressing Sir Jones.
Ioaniss’ lips went taut. “Yes, and I’ve heard nothing since. I am hoping to find some clue to his whereabouts while we’re there.”
“We’ll help,” Rolland said, “it’s what a party should do for each other.”
Ioaniss nodded to Rolland. “My thanks.”
“So now we know why we’re all going, but not why Sir Dracon is,” Alburet said.
“We don’t,” Sala said, offering stew to the group one bowl at a time. “You’ve not said why your group is involved.”
Alburet took his bowl slowly, considering his reply. “We were asked to accompany Sir Dracon right after we came back from conquering Gwain’s Keep.”
“Ah, I see,” Sala said, pushing his fez a touch further back on his head. “My apologies, I thought you might have a quest besides that one.”
Ioaniss chuckled, “Sala has always been good at picking up on things. You don’t have to tell us if you don’t wish to.”
Exchanging glances with the others in his group while the stew started to cool in his hands, Alburet sighed, “No, I can’t chide another for keeping secrets if I do the same. I’ll tell you part of it, but the rest I can’t. The...one who gave me this quest is not to be crossed.”
Ioaniss sat back, eating his stew. “As you say. Tell us the tale, Alburet Two-souled.”
“Don’t blame me if you disbelieve,” Alburet said, then told them of the Overlord giving him a quest. He stopped with the first part, about helping Vladimir. Somehow, he felt that telling them about the Forgotten Prison would be a bad idea. “I think there’ll be other steps after this, but that’s what I know for now.”
Everyone but his group had stopped eating as he told the story. Ioaniss shook his head. “Marvelous, you seem to be the crux of so many events. No one has spoken with the Overlord directly since the City of Justice was founded. My father would love to speak with you.”
“If we find him, I’m sure something can be arranged,” Alburet said, beginning to eat his cold stew.
“We should turn in,” Marysue said softly as she rinsed her bowl in the water basin next to the fire. “Sir Dracon will not wait for us in the morning.”
“She has a good point. We will see you in the morning,” Ioaniss said, quickly finishing his stew.
They all went to their separate tents. In their large tent, Alburet and his wives quickly got ready for the night, and cuddled up.
“Do ya think they will blame ya for the Forgotten Prison, master?” Stacia asked.
“It’s likely,” Alburet sighed. “They might believe that I woke Stein, or had a hand in whatever is to come.”
“Oh, that is shit,” Karen said, her hand stroking his leg where it lay over Fluff’s hip.
“People want someone to blame,” Fluff said softly. “But, you’re viewed kindly by the King, Ioaniss, and maybe even Vladimir. Maybe it won’t be that bad?”
Alburet snorted, “Maybe.” He turned his head and gave both Stacia and Fluff kisses before Karen leaned over Fluff to claim one herself. “Goodnight to the most precious women in the world.”
Wishing each other a goodnight, they lay there in the darkness for a few minutes before Stacia sang them to sleep again. She joined them after a quick prayer to the Dark Lord.
Chapter Thirty-five
The sun was still below the horizon when Stacia woke them. Gathering their gear, the quartet quickly dressed and exited the tent. Alburet hung back long enough to Copy Stacia, then followed Kitten out of the tent.
“Ah, excellent. It is good to know that my words have been heeded,” Vladimir said as he put his tent token into his bag. “A quick bite to eat, then we shall leave.”
“Okay,” Alburet said, moving over to tap on the other tents to wake the rest of the expedition. He took their tent token from Stacia, “Thank you, dear heart.”
“It be me pleasure, Asthore,” Stacia gave him a wink before moving over to the fire where Fluff was preparing something.
“We’ll be right out,” Rolland said, briefly poking his head out.
Sala stepped out of the tent he shared with Ioaniss. “Sir Jones will be out in a moment.”
“Breakfast is almost ready,” Fluff told everyone as she stirred at the pot over the fire.
Summoning Bob and Tiny, Albure
t smiled at them. “Ready for another day of travel through the Dead Lands?”
“Of course, master,” Tiny rumbled, nodding to his Copy when TJ appeared.
“Will there be more fighting today?” Bob asked as BJ appeared beside him.
“Depends on if the Infernals have cleared the way for us again,” Alburet said.
Bob and Tiny exchanged a glance. “About that,” Bob coughed. “There’s a wide spread rumor that the Dark Lord has some kind of interest in what’s going on in Peace.”
“Besides us getting there?” Alburet asked.
“Yeah,” Bob shifted from foot to foot. “Mother stopped by my house last night to talk with me…”
“Did she have somethin’ she wanted to pass along?” Stacia asked.
“Not exactly, she just wanted us to let her know when we reached the city. I think she’s planning to show up,” Bob said slowly, as if worried he might be saying too much.
“If she’s there to help, it won’t be an issue,” Alburet said.
“Breakfast is ready,” Fluff called out, and a moment later, the others left their tents. Fluff was busy for a few minutes handing out bowls of frumenty, keeping the last for herself.
No one commented beyond thanking Fluff for the food, which they ate quickly. Everyone cleaned their bowls and set them aside for Sala, who had provided them last night. Once everyone had finished eating and checked their gear, Ioaniss stood next to the Campstone. Seeing everyone was ready, he pulled the stone and the group waited for the attack to come.
The sands shifted ten seconds later, revealing the undead. Just like yesterday, three groups of Forgotten Dark Knights, Forgotten Necromancers, and Forgotten Archers appeared. Sala, Tiny, TJ, and Gerald wasted no time grabbing the six Dark Knights.
Renful had his captured Necromancers focus on their brethren while Rolland, Bob, and BJ also focused on killing the quasi-healers. While that fight started, Marysue, Cody, and the three Shamans worked to keep everyone healed, drawing aggro from the Archers. They kept their focus on healing, waiting for those dealing with the Necromancers to turn on the Archers.
Alburet waited a moment to be sure the Forgotten Archers were focused on their healers, then broke out Imp Storm, hoping to give the Imps time to fully unload on the Archers. Forty-two Imps appeared in a swarm around him. “The Archers first, then the Necromancers, if they still live, then the Dark Knights.”
In unison, all forty-two Imps unleashed a massive barrage of Fire Bursts onto the Forgotten Archers. After three volleys, the Archers began targeting the Imps to attack, but by then, the damage was enough for the next set of Fire Bursts to drop the undead mobs. They shifted their attention to the Necromancers, dropping them with two barrages of Fire Burst before the spell ended.
While the Imp Storm raged, Alburet started Fire Blasting the Necromancers, helping whittle them down and keeping them focused on themselves rather than the Dark Knights. The melee was a chaotic maelstrom as Fluff unleashed Whirlwind, doing as much damage to the group as she could.
Tiny and TJ had each taunted an extra Dark Knight, momentarily pulling the undead away from Gerald and Sala and giving the healers a chance to get the two tanks nearly healed. The Dark Knights only had a single stun Ability each, which didn’t interfere with Gerald, Sala, Tiny, and TJ keeping control of them. The taunts and minor self-healing ability caused the fight to drag on a little, but the undead Paladins went down quickly once the Archers and Necromancers had been dealt with.
Another minute, and the last of the Dark Knights lay dead on the sands. Taking a moment to loot while health and mana began regenerating, the group exchanged smiles. Renful looked to Alburet. “Imp Storm?”
“Long cooldown, but it has its uses,” Alburet grinned.
“Yes, it does,” Renful said, bowing his head a fraction of an inch. “Thank you for helping with the Necromancers, not just switching to the Dark Knights.”
“Healers have to die first,” Alburet chuckled.
Eyes dark and foreboding, Renful nodded. “Yes. Yes, they do.” Renful turned to check on Vladimir, who had been in the middle of the scrum with the others.
For a moment, something about Renful’s words bothered Alburet, but he was distracted from the thought by Karen, who grabbed him for a kiss. “Huh?” Alburet blinked once the kiss broke.
“I said that we’re thinking of redoing the whole bet thing,” Karen snickered. “Whoever gets the most damage today gets to make any one request from each of the others in the group, remember?”
“Fluff has to be in the lead with her Whirlwind Ability,” Alburet said with a smile at Fluff.
“Actually, you are currently,” Fluff shook her head. “Imp Storm attributes the Imps’ damage to you.”
“Oh,” Alburet said, “I probably have a sizeable lead, then.”
“Aye, tha’ ya do,” Stacia said, giving him a quick kiss before following the others. “Now to think about what ya will be askin’ us for later.”
“I think I’m going to abstain from the contest,” Alburet chuckled. “Imp Storm is a little OP, so it wouldn’t be exactly fair. I will do whatever the winner of you three asks, though.”
“I will nay be the winner, me damage be too small without bein’ able to control others,” Stacia murmured, “but like ya, I will do whatever the winner asks.”
“That leaves it down to you and me, Fluff,” Karen grinned. “You have a lead, but it’s not insurmountable, like Al’s was.”
“I won’t lose,” Fluff said, her voice holding a hint of a growl.
“Oh, feisty kitty wants to play with the big girls, does she?” Karen grinned. “Alright, bring it on. I already know what I’m going to make you do for me when I win.”
Fluff snorted, “I will pick something special for you, after I win.”
Alburet and Stacia exchanged a glance, happy to see Fluff starting to assert herself. “I have a feeling I’ll be a toy if Karen wins,” Alburet murmured, getting a broad grin and a wink from Karen. “I have no idea what Fluff might request of me, but I will gladly fulfill whatever it is.”
Fluff’s assertive stance faltered. “Thank you, Al.”
“And the lap cat is back,” Karen snickered. Slipping over to her lover, Karen put an arm around Fluff’s waist, “though I was thrilled to see that fire in your eyes a moment ago. Give me a run for it, Fluff. I want to see you striving, pushing, and always moving forward.”
Leaning her head against Karen, Fluff nodded. “It’s like there’s a part of me trying to free itself from a cage. It breaks out at times, then goes right back into its den. I think it might be part of my night terrors, too.”
“We can look at helpin’ ya with tha’,” Stacia said softly. “Ya mayhap have long suppressed part of ya tha’ now be yearnin’ to be free, now tha’ ya feel like ya can be.”
Fluff’s eyes darted from one of them to the next. “You think I might have split personality?”
Alburet took two quick steps to reach her side and put his arm around her. “Nowhere near as bad as I had, but you went through hell as a child. It wouldn’t be unusual, Fluff. We love you, regardless of what we might find. The soft squishy side of you is amazing, as is the sharp fighting side that springs into the fray.”
Fluff nodded, resting her head on Alburet’s shoulder. “Okay. If I win, I’ll have Stacia start with that tonight.”
“If I win, I will too,” Karen said softly. “I want you to be all you can, Fluff. If we find something you don’t like, I’m sure we can do something about it. But if we find a part of you that you want to embrace, we’ll help you with that too.”
Sniffling a little at the wave of love that flooded her, Fluff stopped and pulled the two of them into a hug. “I love you, all of you.”
“Aye, we be lovin’ ya too,” Stacia said as she wrapped Fluff up from behind. “Master,” she said very softly, “I be givin’ the name of kitty to Fluff. Karen be our mynx, Fluff will be our cuddle kitty.”
“You all coming?” Gerald called
out from a hundred feet away, noticing that Alburet and his wives had stopped.
“Coming,” Alburet said as he got them all moving again.
“Not yet, but after I win, you will be,” Karen snickered.
“She might be our mynx, but she’ll give you a run on most sex-crazed,” Alburet chuckled at Stacia.
“Aye, and I would nay have it any other way,” Stacia smiled as she slipped an arm around Karen’s waist. “Wait until ya see what I can do now with me tail.”
Karen’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, now that sounds like fun.”
Fluff giggled softly, “They always tease each other. It makes me smile when I feel the love and lust that they have for each other.”
The Path to Peace Page 31
