“Well, now you have proof,” Karen chuckled. “Fucker can swallow two groups easy, might have gotten all of us if we hadn’t been shifted the little extra bit away.”
“Too true,” Ioaniss conceded.
Touching the corpse, Karen frowned. “Huh, what is this?” Standing up, she held out a badly corroded leather satchel. “A Royal Messenger Bag?”
Ioaniss’ hand shot forward, but stopped short of the bag. “I would very much like to see that, if you don’t mind.”
“There was no other loot?” Rolland asked from where he sat, leaning against Kim.
“Anyone get any loot from this thing?” Karen asked, still holding the bag. No one else had, so she turned to look at Gerald. “Should we?”
“Give it to him,” Gerald sighed.
Ioaniss gratefully accepted the satchel and opened it reverently. Inside, a medallion bearing the crest of the First Empire, gleaming on its polished Heavenly Steel face. Ioaniss pulled a badly corroded scroll out of the bag next, letting the satchel drop to his feet. Placing the medallion into his bag, he gently eased the scroll open.
Eyes widening as he read, Ioaniss went pale. “Oh… Peace.”
“What does it say?” Gerald asked.
“It’s a plea from Prince Igon, the Prince who stayed to defend the city of Peace while the citizens fled, buying them time to escape. It asks whoever finds the medallion to take it to his father. Prince Igon knew he wasn’t going to make it out of the city, so he gave the bag to his closest friend. The medallion opens the vaults below the city.”
“That’s where I need to go,” Cody said quickly.
“Yes,” Ioaniss nodded. “It’s one of the places my father had been searching for. The armory and treasury of the city reside inside the vaults, in addition to the Soul Urn.”
“None of which concerns my quest,” Vladimir said from a few feet away. “If you’re done examining the relic, we should start moving again.”
Gerald’s lips compressed, but he nodded. “As you say, Sir Dracon.”
Gently closing the scroll, Ioaniss put it into his bag with reverence and turned his gaze to Vladimir. “Vladimir, tonight you will tell us what your goal is.”
“Always poking your nose where it doesn’t belong, Ioaniss. That trait has always caused your family issues. Like your father—he’s been missing for over a year now, hasn’t he?” Vladimir sneered.
Face carefully blank, Ioaniss nodded. “For the good of humanity, we do what we do. Why do you do what you do, Vlad?”
Eyes going hard, Vladimir spun on his heel. “We move.”
Chapter Forty
Everyone was tense for the rest of the day, expecting another Elder Sandworm to show up. The only other fight they had was against more of the same Forgotten Undead, which was at least enough to level the Alpha Company group. As the sun set, they made camp, and everyone’s eyes were on Vladimir as he set up his tent.
“I’m perfectly aware that you are all staring at me,” Vladimir said with his back to them. “I’ll be back for dinner,” with that, he entered his tent.
“You should all be ashamed of yourselves,” Renful sniffed as he went to Vladimir’s tent and knocked on the post. “Master, do you need anything?”
Everyone broke away to their own tents, getting their gear put away before dinner. Alburet dismissed Kitten, Bob, and Tiny, thanking them all again for their hard work. The last to enter the tent, Alburet walked in to see all three women stripping down to put on more comfortable clothes for dinner. Pausing to admire the view, his lips stretched in a lecherous grin.
Stacia was the first to glance up and she cocked her hip to the side, widening her stance a bit. “So ya like what ya be seein’, do ya master?”
“Gods yes,” Alburet chuckled as the other two looked up to see him obviously enjoying the sight of them.
“Maybe we need to have us a match tonight,” Karen said, raising an eyebrow at him. “What do you think, Al?”
“That you’ll hurt me, but then you’ll kiss it better,” Alburet laughed.
Fluff didn’t cover up like she might have before, but she hadn’t struck a pose like Stacia, either. “Al, aren’t you going to change?”
“Oh, yeah,” chuckling, he dropped his bag and maul to the ground before starting to strip off his leathers, tucking the gloves into his belt pouch so he could have them at hand later. When he stripped off his chest piece, three wolf whistles made him pause. A quick glance around showed him all three women, now wearing black and red dresses, eyeing him like a chunk of meat. “I deserved that,” he laughed as he began to take off the pants. “Enjoy the show, ladies.”
More catcalls and wolf whistles came as he finished stripping and finally dressed in pants and a shirt, his boots the only armor piece he put back on. His wives were standing by the tent flap when he finished. “Ready for dinner?”
“Aye.”
“Not as much as I am for the fight afterwards,” Karen grinned.
“I’m looking forward to both,” Fluff smiled. “Karen… would you mind if I sparred against him first?”
Karen blinked, caught by surprise, as were the other two. “Of course not, Fluff. You can soften him up for me.”
“Good,” Fluff smiled broadly. “Are you going to get the door for us, Al?”
Shaking his head, Alburet brushed the tent flap aside. “Dinner awaits, my lovely wives.”
He was kissed by each as they left the tent. Following after them, he had a great view of the pert backsides of each in their dresses and once again had to wonder if he deserved what he had.
Kim was kneeling next to the pot, stirring the contents. “Another minute before it’s ready,” she told them.
“Surprised we’re early,” Alburet said. “I thought we took longer than we should have, just to change.”
“You certainly took your time,” Karen said as she took a seat next to Fluff. “We all had to wait for you again.”
Ioaniss chuckled as he took a seat, “Making them wait on you? I’m surprised at you, Alburet.”
Sighing, Alburet sat next to Stacia. “They were a little distracting.”
“Aye, we were tryin’ to change and the lech just drooled,” Stacia sighed.
Kim raised a brow at Alburet. “Really?”
Alburet’s cheeks burned. “I said they were distracting.”
“No kidding. I would have been lost, too,” one of the Shamans said, taking a seat.
“Right?” another one laughed as he took a seat. “I’m surprised he can still remember his own name.”
Alburet held back a snicker as his wives glared at the Shamans. “What did you make for dinner, Kim?” Alburet asked to deflect the conversation, and to help out the guys who had inadvertently helped him.
“We’re running out of the perishable stock, so tonight is a simple chicken soup,” Kim said, looking up as Rolland who came shuffling over. “How are you doing, hun?”
“A little better,” Rolland groaned as he sat. “I should be ready to go again in the morning.”
“That would be good,” Vladimir said stiffly as he took a seat. “You slowed our pace today.”
“He stopped the Elder Sandworm from burrowing with your assistant,” Sala pointed out. “Maybe you should thank him, instead.”
Vladimir’s eyes went flat as he stared at Sala. “You have made your point.”
Bowing from his seated position, Sala replied, “Very well. My apologies, Sir Dracon, for my abrupt manner.”
Vladimir turned his attention to Rolland. “Thank you for stopping the Sandworm from getting away. Renful has been a faithful servant for many years, and it would be difficult to replace him.”
“I will always do my best to help a party member,” Rolland said with a small wince.
“You’re not better at all,” Kim fussed at him, “are you?”
“I’ll be fine,” Rolland said. “The pot is bubbling,” he said, distracting her.
The hiss of liquid hitting flame made Kim spin
back to the pot. Quickly swinging the arm holding the pot away from the fire, she let out a deep sigh. “Dinner is served, it seems.”
The soup was good, if a touch bland, and conversation was nonexistent during the meal. As people finished eating, they kept their seats, trying not to stare outright at Vladimir. The last to finish his meal, Vladimir handed his empty bowl to Renful.
“You are asking for knowledge you do not wish to have,” Vladimir said evenly. “What I go to do is much akin to Sir Carter’s task. It revolves around my family, and something left undone that I hope to rectify.”
“What is the task?” Ioaniss asked intently.
“To kill my brother,” Vladimir said simply. “Truthfully, he is the eldest and should be the head of the family.”
A deep frown etched Ioaniss’ face. “Your brother?”
“Dimitry Dracon, better known as the Dragon Eater,” Vladimir said, locking eyes with Ioaniss.
“Justice…” Ioaniss whispered, his eyes wide. “He was a loyal supporter of Stein.”
“Yes, he was. He was kicked from the House, but not removed from the line. If he is freed from the cage he was imprisoned in, he will aid my sister in her quest to find her husband.”
“Ophelia… Ophelia Dracon… that’s why Renful took the book from the Keep,” Ioaniss said.
“Indeed. My family has been loyal to Stein since the first Empire,” Vladimir said evenly. “Now that you know my darkest secret, what will you do, Ioaniss?” Raising his chin, Vladimir looked every bit the regal noble.
Taking a moment to compose himself, Ioaniss finally met Vladimir’s eyes again. “Do you swear on your soul before Justice’s divine providence that you mean the King and Crown no harm?”
“I do so swear,” Vladimir said formally.
Ioaniss nodded. “Then I will aid you as best I can. Your siblings rallying supporters of Stein is a terrible thought.”
“Indeed, but have you considered the worse thought?” Vladimir asked.
“That Stein Jr. survived all this time and your sister is raising him an army?” Ioaniss asked.
“Indeed,” Vladimir nodded.
“Where could he hide that we would…” Ioaniss trailed off, his jaw dropping open.
“Yes,” Vladimir nodded. “I don’t know if Alburet realizes how lucky he was.”
All eyes went to Alburet, who stared back at the two noblemen. “You mean the dark robed mage I saw at the Forgotten Prison was Stein Jr.?”
Ioaniss’ breath hitched. “Peace’s brass bra.”
“Language, Ioaniss,” Vladimir said, his eyes piercing Alburet. “You met a mage at the prison?”
“Yes. He teleported me to the gates of Stormguard,” Alburet said slowly. “He didn’t give me a name or anything, though.”
“That would be why Ophelia smelled him on you, though,” Ioaniss said softly. “He was imprisoned there before the Prison was lost. How did he survive all this time?”
“That is a good question,” Vladimir said. “We’ll have to ask him when we find him.”
“I need to tell the King,” Ioaniss said, grabbing his Mindstone. “We must hurry to Peace, even more so now.”
“Now you know why I’ve been rushing so,” Vladimir said.
“Why didn’t you go earlier?” Gerald asked, breaking in on the conversation.
“Things of import seem to happen around you Two-souled. Alburet is a focal point even more than the others of your kind,” Vladimir said as he stood. “I am betting on his luck helping me find and kill my brother. I didn’t think my sister would know where to look for him. I wonder how she found out where he was…” Shaking his head, he looked around at them. “Now you know why we must hurry. If my brother and sister team up and join forces with Stein Jr., it will be disastrous for the Empire—maybe even the world.”
“We understand,” Alburet said, getting to his feet. “We’ll do everything we can, Sir Dracon.”
“My quest can wait. We will aid you first,” Cody said as he stood.
“He was caged and hidden away in the vaults, until the Prince could figure out what to do with him. I was unable to find a way into the vaults to kill him before the undead attacked the city. I was much weaker then, and fled, vowing to return one day and finish the job. During the long years, my hubris grew and I thought I could continue to wait… now, that hubris might well cost us everything.” Turning away, he headed for his tent. “Goodnight. We leave at first light.”
Everyone headed for their tents, minds whirling with what they had just learned. The idea of a sparring match was forgotten, as the seriousness of their mission now weighed more heavily on them. Eventually, Stacia sang them to sleep before saying another prayer to the Dark Lord, hoping for advice and help with what they needed to do.
Alburet
Half-blood Infernal Summoner
Level 78
Strength: 317 (312)
Agility: 317 (312)
Constitution: 246 (216)
Intelligence: 216 (186)
Wisdom: 962 (617)
Charisma: 347 (312)
Health: 6,340
Mana: 13,520
Spells:
Demon Skin- Rank 8
Demonic Retribution- Rank 8
Summon Improved Imp
Fire Blast- Rank 7
Sap Strength- Rank 7
Demonic Haze- Rank 7
Summon Greater Destroyer
Demonic Vitality- Rank 7
Fire Burst- Rank 7
Summon Greater Succubus
Abilities:
Personal Spells
Flame Weapon
Copy
Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Ally)
Infernal Upgrade: (Imp- Big Boom)
Infernal Upgrade: (Destroyer- Demonic Shell)
Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Comforting Touch)
Copy
Infernal Upgrade: (Succubus- Essence Drain)
Still Caster
Infernal Upgrade: (Imp- Burning Cleanse)
Infernal Upgrade: (Destroyer- Savage Roar)
Infernal Upgrade: (Destroyer- Bash)
Copy
Imp Storm
Racial Abilities:
Cast spells without verbal components
Physical damage reduction 25%
Magical damage reduction 10%
Influence emotions
Fire resistance 50%
Reputation gains at half value
Author’s Note
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A big thank you to my editors, Jennifer York, Samantha Bishop, and Daniel Stetson. Also props to Geno Ferrarini, and Sean Hickinbotham for being my Alpha Readers. I’d be remiss if I didn’t include my beta readers, in no particular order: Zee, Ian McAdams, Arthur Cuelho, Scott Brown, Buddy Brown, A. J. Bishop, Ta
rcha Saleeba, Alec Young, Jay Taylor, Justin Johanson, Josh Holmes, Rob Bunting, Isidore Fitch, Christina Norton, Luke Reynolds, Sawyer Aubrey, Nigel Hollingworth, Aoife Megami, Robert Peterson, Sullivan Grimm, Shane Bird, Steve Robles, William Reid, and Nick Kuhns.
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The Path to Peace Page 35
