by T. A. Uner
“What do you see?” Marella asked.
“One Xot Marauder standing in each of the rock skull’s eyes and nose cavities.”
“Anything else?” Fabian said.
“No, Ram, wish I could tell you more.”
Inside the cave they huddled around a campfire, it was cold and damp inside, the light reflecting off the walls, the occasional water drop reminded them that they were not alone, that water had helped create the interior of the cave, thousands of years ago.
“Tomorrow we should reach Bone Keep,” Lager said as he shared his field rations with Matilda under the cover of a blanket. Fabian and Marella ate their meals slowly, savoring every bite, as if it was the best cooked meal they had ever eaten.
“We’ll have to leave the horses here,” Marella said, “they’d only slow us down.”
“They’ll find their way back, somehow,” Fabian said. He removed his helm and he felt the chill of the cave greet his skin.
“I guess this is the part where everyone comes to terms with their past,” Lager began, “I for one would like to talk first.”
“Go ahead,” both Fabian and Marella said.
“I lied, to you Ram,” Lager began, “I never crashed on this planet, rather, I came here on purpose, hoping to escape.”
“From what?” Fabian said.
“In the last engagement before I arrived here I was given a full squadron of my own, fifteen pilots under my command and tasked with a long patrol. Well, we ran into some trouble, and people died—my people, my friends. So instead of returning to my carrier and facing a possible court-martial, I came here, to this world.”
“So let me get this straight,” Fabian said, “you didn’t crash land in Rek?”
“No,” Lager said. “My ship, Star Raven, is fully operational. I jettisoned some trash to make it look like I crashed and hid it in a safe place in the Gold Desert. Later I made up a story about how I crash landed.” He sighed. “I’m not the person either you or the King thought I was, some great adventurer from another world, I’m a coward who ran from his responsibility.”
It made sense to Fabian. “I don’t think so Lager, you came with me and Marella on this Gold Quest, you even stopped drinking, that takes courage.”
Lager remained silent; Matilda licked his hand.
“You risked your life to come after me when I was captured by the Slimorcs,” Marella interjected, “that says something of your character.”
Fabian did not pity Lager, for pity was reserved for those who could not help themselves. Despite his grave mistake, Fabian thought Lager had redeemed himself through his actions during the Gold Quest.
“I think I’ll go outside, take another look at Bone Keep,” Lager said. He stood up and disappeared into the darkness.
“I think you’d better go after him and talk to him a bit,” Marella insisted.
Fabian shook his head. “He should be alone.”
Marella put a hand on his wrist, his gauntlet removed, he felt the warmth of her hand course through his cold arm. “He should be with a friend.”
“Very well.” Fabian found Lager at the mouth of the cave, staring out into the starless night. Above them they could hear Xot Marauders patrolling the sky in intervals. Matilda brushed against his leg and looked up at Lager.
“I think you should know something, Ram.” Lager spoke with his back turned to him.
“What?”
“The way she looks at you, her body language reveals her feelings for you.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Wake up, Ram.” Lager turned around. “You may not get another chance after tonight.”
Fabian understood. “Truth is, Lager, I haven’t had much experience with girls.”
Lager chuckled and for a moment Fabian saw the comedic look in the Earthman’s eye, a humor he had lost somewhere up in the stars. “There’s really not much to it,” he said, “I’ve been married and divorced twice so that should make me an expert on the subject.”
Fabian’s face grew warm and his heart beat faster. “I wouldn’t know what to do.”
“Go to her, Ram,” Lager said. “I’ll stand watch out here with Matilda, take as much time as you need.”
Fabian nodded. He returned to the cave and saw Marella’s face highlighted by the gold fire. The soft lines of her face traced by the flames’ light. His heart twisted inside his chest, like a sponge being wrung.
“How is he?” she asked.
“Better.” He sat down next to her and took her hands in his. The heat of her body warming his cold body. He kissed her and a feeling overcame him: the sensation of floating came to mind, up above the clouds, where there was no war, no Xot, no Blood Reeper. Then they lay down and pulled the blanket over their bodies and let love take over.
Fifteen
The next day they started early. Leaving the horses behind to find their way home. Fabian felt different after the night spent with Marella in the cave, as if he had exposed the deepest part of himself, much to Lager’s credit he had respected their privacy and had slept outside the cave’s mouth. Inside the cave, after they had shared their bodies they had talked of the future, assuming they’d survive, Fabian decided that they would remain together, whether it was in Rek or Pazland was still to be determined.
Now Marella looked at him differently as he did her. Luckily he had his helm on and was spared from revealing his infatuated demeanor. “I wonder why there are no guards posted,” he asked.
“The Blood Reeper probably doesn’t think anyone would be foolish enough to come this close,” Lager answered. They made it to the foot of the keep and stood under its image, looking at it in awe from behind a rock. The Xot guarding it still did not take notice of them and Fabian hoped they’d be able to infiltrate the Keep before the day was over.
His hearing detected something, breathing, as if a dozen people were taking breath. He turned around. More than a dozen men and women stood there. Most of which wore leather armor and carried lightbows.
“Ho there!” Lager said. “We’ve got company!”
One of the men walked up to Lager and smiled. “Lager McVick, never thought I’d see you here, you’re usually dead drunk and drowning in your own vomit.”
“I’ve given booze the kick.”
The man ran his hand through his full mane of brown hair and laughed. “Sure you have,” he said sarcastically.
“You know this person?” Marella said.
Lager chuckled. “Not because I want to Marella, but this is Benedict Dirkwell, one of Rek’s nastiest bounty seekers.”
“Me and my people have come here to tame the Reeper, and take back the Mane.” Dirkwell drew his crossbow and pointed it in the direction of Bone Keep.
Fabian figured these people were the other adventurers Tildon had mentioned, the ones who’d hired the balloon to traverse the Caverns. “We can work together,” he said. “That would be the better option.”
Dirkwell laughed. “Who’s this?” he asked Lager. “One of your new drinking companions?”
“My new commander.”
Dirkwell’s band laughed. Fabian, Lager and Marella were not amused.
“We’re taking that Mane,” Dirkwell said. “You three are welcome to join us, just don’t get in the way.”
“Your arrogance is unimpressive,” Marella retorted. “But it can only end up getting everyone killed; subterfuge is the way to success.”
“She knows what she’s talking about,” Lager said, smiling.
Dirkwell scowled at her. “In case you haven’t noticed, Pazlander, Rek is under siege. The longer we take trying to recover the Mane, the closer the Reeper’s Wasps get to Rek City.”
Fabian stepped between Dirkwell and Marella. “Fine, but we’ll work together; our combined forces gives us a better chance of success.”
That they agreed on.
II
After Dirkwell’s people had shot the Xot sentries in both eyes and nose cavity of Bone Keep they ente
red the dark domain. Fabian lifted his faceplate and nearly retched. The place smelled of rotted flesh. No one dared light torches to remain undetected, in case more Xot flooded the corridor. Lager’s scanner locked in on an energy source, and the best bet was to follow it.
At the end of the corridor a circle of light appeared. “What’s beyond that opening, Earthman?” Dirkwell asked.
“Fluctuating energy readings,” Lager replied. “Proceed with caution.”
“Are all Earthers cowards?” asked one of Dirkwell’s people.
“We have a saying back on Earth,” Lager replied, “look before you leap.” He whispered into Fabian’s ear. “Ram, I don’t know if their plan is going to work.”
“Why?” Fabian replied. A line of sweat tickled down the bridge of his nose.
“Gut feeling.” He detached a device from his belt which had a red light on it, and showed it to Fabian. Marella leaned in closer to take a look. “In case this direct assault doesn’t work, the Star Raven, can get here in a matter of minutes and launch an aerial assault against Bone Keep. If I get taken out you’ll need to press this red light button.”
“How will the ship know how to get here?” Marella asked.
“I have a chip implanted under my skin that can transmit my location; whether I’m alive, or dead.”
The corridor ended. Fabian looked inside. A large throne room greeted them. Circled by torchlight that gave the room an eerie look. In the center a large dais, carved into rock and upon it a throne shaped in the form of a skull. And, above it, a door with a Dragon’s head doorknocker. It was made of Gold!
A sick feeling stabbed at Fabian’s stomach. The last of the Hellion Doors, the Dragon Door! “Ohh no, by the Sun God’s name,” Fabian muttered.
“Dear God,” Lager said.
And Marella muttered something in her native tongue.
“The Reeper has to be in here,” Dirkwell said. He gathered his people and entered the throne Room, they all brushed past Fabian and his friends as if they did not exist.
“I don’t think that is wise,” Fabian told Dirkwell.
“Ram’s right, Benedict,” Lager said.
Marella shook her head. “Bunch of fools, just treading in like that,”
The Bounty Seeker ignored them. “Secure this room; look for the Mane!” They scattered about.
“Welcome brave travelers!” said a deathly voice.
“Who is that?” Dirkwell called out. “Show yourself!”
The Dragon’s eyes on the door began glowing white before it swung open. A being wearing a red robe stepped out and stood suspended in air, above Dirkwell’s people. Its face shrouded in darkness. This must be the Blood Reeper, Fabian thought. He wanted to rush the Warlord and strike him, but his senses told him to wait.
“Where’s the Mane?” Dirkwell asked the Blood Reeper.
A howling laughter rippled from the mouth of the hood before two bloody eyes opened within it. “Ohh, that foolish thing?” he said before it appeared in his fleshless hand. “Take it, I am through with it.” He let go of it and it fell, landing on the ground.
Dirkwell aimed his crossbow at Blood Reeper. “Get it!” he ordered his people. Two of his band advanced on the Mane and Fabian held his breath, his left hand tight on his staff, his right on the hilt of his sword. More of Dirkwell’s people advanced on the Mane, while a few held back and covered their comrades.
The Reeper’s eyes pulsed and red rays of light emanated from them. They connected with every one of Dirkwell’s seekers’ eyes and their bodies froze like trees.
“He’s channeling the power of the Dragon Door,” Fabian said.
Marella leaned in closer to him. “How do you know?”
“I just do.” Fabian watched as Dirkwell’s people became flaming embers before dissolving into dust. Dirkwell fired off shots that never reached the Reeper, before he fell too. The Reeper’s eyes faded before the mouth of his hood darkened.
Fabian felt something, as if the Spirit Stone where trying to tell him something. Yes, it all made sense now. Using the Dragon Door’s power weakened the Reeper for a brief moment. He told his friends in a hushed voice. Lager nodded and Fabian could sense a plan brewing within the methodical mind of the star pilot.
“Such a waste!” the Blood Reeper said before emitting a cackle that echoed throughout the throne room. “Come forward, Crusader trio,” he said in a pleasant voice. “Let me get a closer look at the one called ‘Stone Ram.’”
“What if we don’t want to?” Lager retorted. “You’re not turning us into dust piles.”
Fabian saw his friend press the red button on his belt. The Star Raven was on its way.
“But I insist, Commander.” Fabian spun around and Xot Defenders had appeared behind them, weapons pointed, when they turned around, the Death Knights appeared one by one inside the throne room. The Reeper lowered his hood, his pulsing red eyes had abated into two small rubies.
“How did you locate the Dragon Door?” Fabian said.
The Reeper laughed again. “I have sought its power for quite some time; to add to my own. The fool who hid it underestimated my abilities and now my enemies shall pay the price.” He pointed a finger at Fabian and his friends. “Bring them to me,” he ordered.
The Xot pushed them from behind and Matilda barked at them. Biting one of the smelly creatures in the ankle before two of them pried her off. “Do not harm them!” the Reeper ordered.
“She’ll be here in eight minutes,” Lager said.
“Will that be enough time?” Fabian asked.
“Only one way to make sure,” Marella said. She drew her daggers and hurled them both at the Reeper. They both found their marks. One embedding itself into the Reeper’s shoulder blade. The other, gouging his bony face.
Fabian saw the Undead Warlord’s scowl stretch across his bony jaw before forming a malevolent smile.
What happened next would change Fabian forever.
Sixteen
“That was unwise girl,” the Reeper said. The Knights of the Dead Table stared at Marella as if she had gone mad.
“There’s more where that came from!” Marella said.
“Get away from him!” Fabian pleaded.
The Reeper’s eyes lit up again and the rays that spat out of them connected with hers. Much to her credit she did not scream like Dirkwell’s people, only her body became a shining light before disappearing.
Fabian felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest and trampled on. He screamed as loud as he could before charging the Reeper.
“Ram, don’t!” Lager warned, but Fabian’s Ram charge could not be stopped. The Reeper’s smile disappeared as quickly as it had formed but he raised his hands and with the combined might of the door’s power more energy rays exploded from both his eyes and bony finger tips.
Fabian felt the impact, it was as if a thousand incendiary charges had smashed into him but his armor, not surprisingly, held, the Reeper continued his barrage but Fabian took one step after another, bringing him closer to his target.
He leapt into the air and struck Blood Reeper in the face with his Ram staff, knocking the tyrant to the Floor. The Death knights stared in awe as their master was humbled by this newcomer wearing strange Tork Armor. The Reeper laughed, regrouped and stood again.
“My turn, Reklander!” Blood Reeper’s eyes pulsed again and the energy rays found themselves bombarding Fabian’s helm before a fist connected with it. Fabian lost his balance for a tick and looked down to see holes and charred battle marks splayed across his breastplate. Apparently it did have its limits.
More rays bombarded him and his body felt like it had stepped into a giant forge. His helm exploded and he felt himself being pummeled. His sight now gone, his senses were all that were left. The Reeper grabbed him and stared into his eyes. “Now, human, you will die.” The Reeper’s breath was frosty. “And when you awaken you shall be one of my minions.” His red eyes exploded with more energy rays which latched onto Fabian’s si
ghtless eyes.
He couldn’t see what was happening, but he had a feeling he was winning. The remaining armor that was still intact on his body fed him the Reeper’s thoughts and that, to Fabian, was comforting. My blindness is rendering his destructive energy useless.
“Why…why won’t you die?” the Reeper said. He released Fabian who landed adeptly before drawing his sword.
This time it was Fabian who laughed, not because he was happy, his heart bleed for the woman he loved, but because a great evil that stood before him was at an end. “Because my disability is my greatest strength!” Fabian brought the blade of his Spirit sword down on the warlord’s head, the blade split the Reeper in two. The explosion dissipated around Fabian and he could hear Lager calling out to him; Matilda was barking.
Above him rocks began falling and he saw Lager, Matilda beside him, grabbing the Mane from the floor. The Death Knights, with no leader, looked thoroughly defeated and faded like forgotten nightmares, never to threaten freedom again.
But that did not alleviate the fact that Marella, his love, was gone.
“Stand still!” Lager said.
“What do you mean?”
Three ticks later Fabian found out.
II
As Bone Keep collapsed around him a white light engulfed Fabian’s body. He felt himself dissolve into nothingness, like being in a dream, yet awake. He had no body, just consciousness. Then he reappeared in a lighted room on an illuminated platform. Next to him was Matilda and Lager. “You alright?” Lager said.
“I suppose I’m still intact.” Fabian stepped off the platform and stroked Matilda’s back. But the woman I love is gone, he thought morosely.
“Ram, I’m really sorry about Marella, but her sacrifice enabled us to succeed.” The Star Raven shook around them. “Let’s get to the command chamber.” Fabian followed Lager down a corridor until they passed through a set of sliding doors.
