“Smells like...roadkill,” Barnaby piped up.
The mage had moved to stand next to Simon and the wizard stared at him, puzzled.
“How would you know that?” he asked.
Barnaby laughed shortly.
“I spent a lot of time on the road, back in the day. Long story, but I know the smell of rotting flesh.”
“Ew, is that what that is?” Anna exclaimed. “Gross!”
“Be quiet, everyone!” Tamara hissed. “This isn't a bloody Sunday stroll in the park. Now settle down and wait for our scouts to report in.”
The veteran of several battles, Simon had learned that the hardest part was the waiting. So to pass the time, he went through his list of quick spells, trying to decide which ones would work against different opponents. It was, at least, distracting.
“Well, doesn't this look cozy?”
Several people yelped as Hallic appeared as if by magic out of the night. He pulled out his little glowing stone and they could see him grinning at them.
“Jumpy, are we?” he asked in his rough, oddly British accent.
“Hallic, we're about to go into battle,” Tamara barked at him, trying to keep her voice down. “Of course we're jumpy.”
“Not all of us.”
Aiden loomed up behind Hallic and glared coldly at him.
“I almost took your head off, dwarf,” he growled.
It was hard to tell in the uncertain light, but Simon thought that the rogue's face went a little pale.
“Ah yes, sorry about that. Just a little joke,” he stammered.
Hallic moved closer to Simon and avoided looking back at Aiden.
“Right. Well now, it's time to coordinate our attack. Everyone, gather around, please.”
Chapter 27
The dwarf knelt in the dirt and used a small stick to begin sketching a rough map. The base of the tower, which was almost perfectly square, was laid out, showing an entrance on each side.
Inside, there was a series of hallways laid out like a maze that led to a central hall.
“Here,” Hallic said, tapping on the middle of the map. “There is a staircase that leads upward. We have to reach it. There are two patrols constantly circling the tower.”
He pointed at the perimeter.
“They are made up of two groups of undead and they are moving very predictably. Typical mindless zombies. Each group is led by a goblin magic-user. The air elemental says that they were not members of the patrols the last time he was here, so that's new. I assume they are casters; both runty creatures are wearing robes anyway.”
“So the goblins are definitely allies of the necromancers. Great,” Simon muttered angrily.
Tamara stared at the map.
“Are the goblins necromancers?”
“I have no idea, lady,” the rogue told her. “Perhaps. They are wearing the obligatory black robes, so I suppose it's possible. But both creatures appear very young, so if they are necromancers, they are very new at their jobs.”
“Probably why they're leading those patrols of low-level undead,” Liliana mused.
“Possibly. What is your recommendation, Hallic? Can we avoid the patrols or should we attack?”
The rogue stood up with a grunt, holding his light over the sketch, and looked at her.
“If you want my opinion, lady mage, I would suggest avoiding them altogether. Unless the patrols are taken out quickly, it is quite possible that the casters will be able to signal those inside the tower. And that would be bad. If it was just the undead, we could dispose of them quickly and fairly quietly. Unfortunately, it isn't.”
“I agree,” Malcolm said as he stepped closer to the map and peered down at it. “There are probably hundreds of undead monsters inside that building and we are only a handful of people. We have to be cautious.”
There was a general murmur of agreement and Tamara nodded.
“That's what we'll do then. Hallic, can you lead us past the patrols?”
“With the help of the wizard's friend, yes,” the rogue said confidently, throwing a quick glance at Simon. “I left little Aeris near the tower to fine tune the timing of the patrols' pattern. When you're all ready, I'll take you to him.”
He slipped his glowing stone into a pouch on his belt and the darkness descended once more.
“Go ahead, Hallic. Everyone, same order in line as before. Move as quietly as you can.”
The rogue led the way, barely visible. Behind him, Tamara followed, with Liliana directly at her back. Then the line stretched out from there, snaking its way through the night.
Simon was behind Malcolm again and, as he watched his footing and tried to avoid slipping on loose rock and sand, he thought about how bizarre the entire venture was.
I'm literally part of a conga line, fifteen people long, creeping through the night and trying to avoid animated corpses. This has got to be the weirdest thing I've ever done.
Well, there was that time in college where... No, better to let that memory go. Besides, I was a lot more innocent and a hell of a lot younger back then. And the world didn't have dragons, magic and monsters in it.
Simon grunted softly as he ran into the very solid form of Malcolm. He bounced off of the warrior's armor and was saved from falling over by Aiden behind him.
“Mind on the job, my friend,” the man whispered as he steadied him.
Glad that the darkness hid his red face, Simon thanked him.
“Sorry,” he added softly. “Random thoughts.”
“Not to worry. That big oaf didn't even realize that you'd bumped into him.”
Aiden nodded at his partner and Simon grinned as he watched Malcolm continue to walk ahead slowly.
“Thick as a brick sometimes,” Aiden whispered affectionately. “Let's keep moving.”
A minute later, they all stopped and waited. Simon saw the vague shape of Hallic move ahead of the party and gesture skyward. Everyone looked up at the same time and there was a chorus of muffled gasps.
The tower blotted out the stars like an immense horn, but at the pinnacle, the distant points of light were winking and being blotted out by something circling the fortress.
“What is that?” Tamara asked Hallic.
“Dracoliches, I believe. Two of them. I've never observed the monsters myself, but I've read books and seen drawings of them. Remarkably accurate, now that I can seen the beasties for myself.”
“Damn it,” Simon said under his breath. “They're still there. Can you tell how big they are?”
“Impossible to say, sir wizard. Considering the size of the tower, I'd say they are gigantic; much larger than your average dragon.”
“The primals, master?” Kronk asked from somewhere near his feet.
“Without question. Crap, this makes things a bit more complicated.”
“Why?” Liliana spoke for the first time. “They are just undead creatures, nothing more. We will deal with them as we will deal with all such abominations; by destroying them.”
“Works for me,” Malcolm said softly.
Simon wanted to say more but what could he add? Everyone knew what the undead dragons were and the team was here to get the job done, no matter what. Retreating was not an option.
“Okay then, you guys know what's at stake. So now I assume we're just waiting for Aeris?”
“Where is he?” Tamara asked impatiently.
“Here, lady,” a voice said a few inches from Simon's head.
He jumped back and stumbled, managing to stay on his feet this time without anyone's help.
“Damn it, Aeris!” he hissed. “Don't do that!”
“Sorry, oh great one,” the elemental replied in low voice with just a hint of his usual sarcasm. “I wasn't attempting to startle you; one of the patrols is close, so please everyone, remain silent for a moment.”
The entire group became still and waited. Simon could feel the tension spike sharply and he listened to the night, waiting for any sound of the guards.
It didn't take more than a few seconds to hear the shuffling and creaking of the undead patrol. Hallic motioned for everyone to crouch down and he knelt down himself at the same time.
Simon quickly dropped to one knee and saw Kronk standing a few feet away, watching him with his ruby eyes. The little guy nodded once and the wizard smiled faintly. He knew that the earthen could see in the dark as well as a dwarf, or better.
The patrol shuffled and dragged their reanimated legs through the dirt, moving from left to right at a painfully slow pace. Aeris floated over to hover next to Simon's ear.
“We will have two minutes to cross the open space from here to the entrance on this side. We will be within sight of the next patrol before we can enter the tower, but they should not detect us as long as we remain invisible and make very little sound. Could you pass that along to Virginia and her friends? We must be ready to move as soon as the patrol is out of earshot.”
“Right.”
Simon crept forward, looking for Virginia among the shadowy figures around him. Once he'd spotted her, he got as close as he could and motioned at her.
“Aeris says that we move as soon as the patrol can't be heard,” he whispered.
It was so quiet that, even with the shuffling and dragging sounds of the passing patrol, several others heard him and began passing the word along.
“Okay, Simon,” the young woman replied. “Anna? You ready?”
The small figure swallowed loudly.
“I'm ready. Take my hand. Eric, Gerard? Link up, please.”
The sounds from the patrol were fading and Hallic motioned for them to stand up again.
“Everyone stay close to us,” Virginia told them all, just loud enough for the party to hear her. “The invisibility field only works if you are all in contact with each other and someone is touching one of us. Okay? Good. Hallic, say when.”
The rogue extended his hand to her and Virginia took it firmly. Everyone else joined hands with Malcolm taking one of Simon's in his massive grip and Aiden taking the other.
They could use me as a wishbone right now, he thought irreverently.
“Master? What about me?”
Simon looked down at Kronk.
“Oh damn. Well, if you don't mind hitching a ride, just hop up on my boot and grab an ankle. That should work.”
Aeris snickered and the earthen glared at him.
“It isn't funny,” he rumbled as he stepped gingerly on top of Simon's right foot and hugged his leg.
“Whoa, not quite so tight, Kronk,” the wizard muttered. “You're cutting off my circulation.”
“Oh! Sorry master, I will be more careful.”
“We're going on the count of three,” Hallic told them. “As fast as we can go without running. Keep the noise to a minimum. Aeris, turn invisible and bring up the rear, please.”
“I will.”
“And one...two...three!”
“Invisibility cloak on...now,” Anna said in a trembling voice.
The group moved off with Hallic in the lead. Simon noticed absolutely no difference in the world around them, but then it was still very dark; he wondered if it would be a different experience in daylight.
The rogue led them over several piles of debris and around a few scrub trees and then the tower was right there in front of them, like a hulking giant. It's mouth-like entrance looked eager for them to slide inside so that it could consume them.
The shuffling, dragging sound of the next patrol could clearly be heard as they reached the building. Without hesitation, Hallic entered the tower and the group, still linked hand to hand, followed him reluctantly.
Simon took one final look up at the sky and caught a quick blur of movement. Yep, the dracoliches were still there. Damn it.
Inside, the air immediately became cold and dry, biting the lungs and causing several of the party to choke back coughs. The rough stone walls were spotted with clumps of lichen that glowed with a sickly purple hue and Simon could finally see a bit. It was a relief to be able to pick out details around him and tell one member of the party from the next. It also worried him.
We won't be sneaking around in total darkness in this horrible place, he thought. I'm not sure if that's good or bad. Both probably.
They walked along the deserted hallway for a few minutes, listening for any sound, until they reached another archway, this one leading into the central hall.
Hallic stopped and dropped Virginia's hand.
“You can cancel your spell now,” he told her and her friends. “This area is safe, at least for the moment.”
Both Malcolm and Aiden released their grip on Simon's hands and Kronk hopped off of his leg.
“Are you well, master?” he asked with some concern. “I did not injure you, did I?”
Simon smiled down at him.
“You could never do that, my friend. And I'm fine. You?”
“Good, master. Never better. So far, things are progressing smoothly.”
“It won't last,” Aeris told them as he reappeared and flew over to join them. “There are dozens of floors above us with who knows how many enemies. The battles haven't even started yet.”
“Ah yes, there he is,” Simon said, giving Kronk a knowing glance . “Our own ray of sunshine, always looking on the bright side.”
The earthen smiled widely.
“Just keeping it real, my dear wizard,” Aeris said with a shrug. “We must all stay vigilant.”
“Can't argue with that.”
Tamara was speaking quietly to Hallic and he was nodding occasionally. When she was finished, she turned to look at the group.
“Well, we're in. Safely, so far. And this is where we say goodbye to Virginia and her friends.”
She looked at the quartet and smiled warmly at them.
“Virginia, Anna, Eric and Gerard; we appreciate your efforts to get us in here. Please take care on the way out. Listen for any patrols and don't move until the way is clear.”
“Tamara, isn't there any way that...” Virginia began, but the mage cut her off abruptly.
“I know what you are going to ask and the answer is still no. The four of you are a danger to yourselves and others in a enclosed battle. And you know why. We all know that it isn't your choice, but it's the right thing to do, for both you four and us. So please, don't argue; this is neither the time nor the place for it.”
Anna looked relieved but the expressions on the faces of the others showed how much they wanted to stay and help.
“Head back to the pile of stone and debris where we were earlier and wait for us there,” the mage told them. “If we don't get back within a reasonable length of time, head back up the coast to the bay and keep watch. The king promised to send a drilling machine to the rendezvous point if he didn't hear anything after seventy-two hours.”
Everyone murmured a farewell and watched as the four of them waved and disappeared back the way they had come. Simon felt a mixture of relief and regret, but he agreed with Tamara; the foursome's offensive powers worked best at a distance, not in close combat.
“This is very strange,” Aeris muttered as he scanned the hall.
In the stillness, the entire group heard his comment and turned to look at him.
“What's strange?” Simon asked quietly.
“Remember what I said about this hall when I scouted it before? There were two troops of goblins patrolling the main floor back then. But now there's no sign of them. What's going on?”
“Goblins?” Hallic said sharply. “Are you sure?”
Aeris looked surprised at the question.
“Certainly I'm sure. I've seen my fair share of those creatures in the past, believe me. Two patrols of a dozen goblin warriors each were pacing around the place. But now, nothing. I don't like it.”
“I agree,” Tamara said darkly. “Why pull those patrols out?”
“The whys and wherefores will have to wait, I'm afraid,” Hallic told her. “We have a long way to go and standing here is jus
t asking for trouble. Shall we proceed?”
He pointed across the empty hall to the far wall. A ramp, faintly lit by scattered patches of glowing lichen, ascended gently to the left, rising up and out of sight to the floor above.
“That's weird,” Barnaby said as they walked toward it. “Why a ramp? Wouldn't it be easier to build stairs than carve a ramp out of rock?”
“Some of the more...clumsy undead have trouble with stairs,” Liliana told him. “An empty-headed skeleton doesn't quite grasp the mechanics of climbing up steps.”
“Really? Huh, that makes them sound a lot less scary to me.”
“Don't let your guard down,” the paladin warned him. “They aren't smart enough to know fear either. Undead just keep coming; they don't feel fear, joy, pain, or any other sensation. They are empty vessels controlled by the will of their creator. And in large numbers, that makes them damned dangerous.”
Barnaby paled and nodded quickly.
“Gotcha,” he said and nervously wiped his palms on his robe.
At the bottom of the ramp, Hallic stopped and looked over the entire group.
“From here, I think we should move in battle formation, as we agreed upon earlier. While you all get organized, I'll scout ahead.”
He turned and began walking up the incline, his form becoming indistinct and then vanishing in the gloom.
Tamara watched him leave and then moved to stand next to Simon, keeping her voice down.
“We decided that the warriors should advance first once we got inside the tower. Malcolm, Aiden, Kate and Fergus will take the lead, followed by Liliana. You and I next, with Sebastian and Barnaby behind us. Veronique was supposed to fit in there somewhere but she isn't here now so we'll have to make do. Miriam will stay at the back in a supporting role and I would like your friend Aeris to bring up the rear, to make sure nothing sneaks up behind us. You,” she looked down at Kronk with a smile, “are free to do whatever your wizard wants you to do, if that's acceptable?”
The little guy bowed.
“I am happy to help wherever I can, lady mage,” he told her.
The Dragons of Bone and Dust (Tales from the New Earth Book 7) Page 32
