by Tom Liberman
Chapter 25
“Shall we continue south,” said Jon pouring the dregs of the coffee on the smoldering fire the next morning as the four pondered their next move.
“We’ll eventually run into patrols,” said Odellius as he looked at the First Rider and stowed some pans in his large saddlebag. “If they’ve kept up with the remaining reptile men then that will guide us.”
“Where are the patrols most likely to be?” said Jon with a look to Odellius and then the First Rider, while Sorus worked carefully to pack away the remnants of the camp but remained silent.
“South,” said Odellius. “That’s where we met them in battle. We know they’re trying to get to the Mountains of the Orc, so our patrols are working their way up and down the region.”
“That’s a lot of ground to cover,” said Jon as he again looked to the First Rider for an answer.
“There aren’t that many passes up into the mountains,” said Odellius, “and our men can cover those pretty well. I doubt they can slip past us completely. All of their warriors are dead and only their clerics and mages remain. Once we catch them it’ll be easy enough to destroy the few that are left.”
“We don’t want to destroy them,” the First Rider interjected himself into the conversation for the first time since his talk with Jon the previous evening. “We want to follow them. They are the only ones who know the location of the staff. We follow them to the staff and then take the thing by force.” He did not say what happened after that, leaving the question open for debate. Jon did not pursue the matter and they quietly continued to pack their gear until all stood ready. Then all four mounted their horses, the First Rider turned his steed south, and the rest followed.
They traveled for a good part of the morning without encountering anyone and the conversation was largely about the birds and small animals they saw, as Jon proved eager to learn as much as possible about the region. He and Sorus rode together in the middle while Vipsanius rode ahead and Odellius, on his massive draft horse, brought up the rear. The mountains to their left rose majestically high, with snow covered peaks visible early in the morning, but then clouds rushed in to hide their tops. Their slopes were green with trees and the sounds of a thousand birds sang through the morning. To their left the Frosty Run River occasionally meandered into view and at one point Odellius rode over to it and plunged his head into the cool waters.
When he caught up with the others his face bore a huge grin and his wet locks hung down alongside his ears, “Ahhh, the only thing better than a cold bath is a big-breasted woman with an itch that only a man such as myself can scratch.”
“How’s that,” said Jon and nudged his trotter over to Odellius.
“Ah, they used to call me Odellius Buffalodick when I was young and chased the fair sex, but I’m an old man now and shrunk down to a mere foot and half long in the pants,” said the mammoth rider as he grabbed his crotch and smiled broadly.
“It’d have to be about that long to get past that belly of yours,” said Jon, “and I fear for the poor girl trapped under your bulk.”
“Ahh my boy,” said Odellius, “Come over here, Sorus and you might learn something. I’m going to tell our little Jonny boy that there are many ways to make love to a woman, even for a big fat fellow like myself. You might learn something useful,” he finished with a wave of his great arm to the young knight.
“Sorus,” said the First Rider over his shoulder, “Odellius might exaggerate a bit but you can learn a few things from him, if you try not to take it too seriously.”
Sorus rode over to Odellius his eyes shone brightly, “Favor me with your advice, Sir Odellius of the giant prick.”
Odellius and Jon laughed aloud but then the rotund knight let his face relax into a shallow grin, “You like that Shia girl as I recall,” he said to Sorus; the boy immediately blushed, and put his head down. “There’s no shame in that,” he went on, “she’s a lovely girl, full-bodied and spirited as well. If you want to take her maidenhood you’ll have to be more aggressive in your wooing. Standing about stammering and drooling is no way to win a girl, particularly one your age. The lasses tend to like older men, something I lamented back in my youth, but which served me quite well enough over the years!” he said with a boisterous laugh. “Tell her what you want, and if she says she isn’t interested then go off and do something foolish, they like that.”
Jon nodded his head, “My sister says I’m about the most foolish boy in all of Tanelorn and the girls seem to like me alright. So, maybe this big oaf has it right.”
“I’m not like you or Odellius,” said Sorus as he sheepishly looked down at his feet in their stirrups. “I know that guys like you get all the girls, but I never thought I’d be a knight. Shia only wanted to be with one, so I guess I never really told her how I felt.”
“It’s never too late, boy,” said Odellius, “until she gets married at least, but even then the bravest of us knights have a tendency to die young; hazard of the job you know, so you can always get another crack.”
“First you tell me to do something foolish, which in our profession is likely to get me killed, and then you tell me to wait until all her other suitors do something crazy and die,” said Sorus.
“Achh, you think too much,” said Odellius, “I’ve known lads like you all my life.”
“My brother’s like that,” said Jon. “Always thinking and never doing.”
“Listen,” said Vipsanius and suddenly held up his hand, which caused the four to pull up their horses and turn their heads to the side. A moment later the sound of hoof beats became apparent to them all and, seconds after that, half a dozen fully armored knights pounded up from just over a rise and bore down upon them. As they approached and identified the group they immediately pulled aside and saluted the First Rider with clenched fists.
“First Rider Vipsanius,” said the apparent leader of the group, a tall human with pointed ears indicating some elf blood in his veins. “We’ve spotted the reptile men survivors. We allowed them to head into the hills as you commanded.”
“Lead us to the spot,” said the First Rider with a nod of his head. “But, not too close, they might set a rear guard.”
“Yes, sir,” said the man with another salute and expertly wheeled his horse. The other five men looked at Jon, Sorus and Odellius, but then turned their horses and followed the first.
“We’ll dismount and go on foot when we get close to the mountains,” ordered the First Rider looking back at the other three. “We need to follow them for as long as possible without being spotted if we hope to let them lead us to the staff. Sir Sorus, Sir Odellius, this isn’t your fight and the safety of Elekargul is not directly at stake, if you wish to leave Jon and I to pursue the mission I grant you that right.”
Sorus looked to Odellius and the young man and the older knight smiled and shook their heads in unison, “I think we’ll stay for a just a bit longer,” said the rotund knight. “I don’t know if I speak for Sir Sorus here but I’d like to see how this thing turns out in the end, if you don’t mind.”
“I’m staying with Jon,” said Sorus suddenly. “Sir Germanius ordered me to stay with him no matter what, and I’ll not let anyone tell me different, not even you First Rider Vipsanius.”
Jon turned to the young boy a puzzled expression on his face, “Sir Germanius said that?”
Sorus nodded his head, “He told me to stick with you no matter what, so you’re stuck with me whether you like it or not.”
“I like it just fine, Sorus,” said Jon with a nod of his head and he rode over to the boy and clapped him on the back. “I can’t imagine a better man to share my quests than you. No offense, Odellius but I’m not sure I can take enough food along to keep your appetites quelled.”
“None taken, boy,” said Odellius. “Sir Germanius was a good man, a bit out of touch in his later years but a fine knight and a true champion. If he thinks you and Sorus should stay together then I support that decision. Besides, I hav
e a feeling you’ll be doing quite a lot of traveling in your lifetime, Jon, and I’m not a young man anymore despite my youthful appearance!”
“If you ladies are finished nattering,” said the First Rider as he looked over his shoulder and shook his head. “There’s a relic of the Old Empire to be found.” With that he cantered off after the other knights.
It took them almost an hour to find the spot where the reptile men broke through the ranks of the knights of Elekargul and into the mountains. The soldiers provided the four men with food, water, and supplies for their journey into the hills and took their horses.
Jon was particularly saddened to see his trotter go, “Take good care of him,” he told the powerful knight who held the reins. “She’s Tarlton bred and as fine a mount as I’ve ever had.”
The man nodded his head and, with the First Rider in the lead, the four set out into the mountains.
Chapter 26
“We will follow the debased dragon children,” said Thantos to the twenty or so gathered darklings of various shapes and sizes. The largest of them stood well over eight feet tall with pale skin and long tusks that came from a low slung jaw, while half a dozen more stood only four feet tall with nasty little blades at their sides. “They know where the Staff of Sakatha is hidden. When we retrieve the staff the Lady of the Abyss, She who has Ruled for All Eternity, will reward you well for you services.”
“Exactly how much will she reward us?” said almost the smallest of the strange creatures with the sharp knives, who wore a leer on his pale white face that exposed a double row of pointed little teeth. “I do not expect to be rewarded upon my death,” he continued, “I want a more tangible reward, ghoul.”
Thantos looked sharply at the creature, “The Mistress of the Abyss controls your soul after death so if you don’t want to spend an eternity in the deathlands than you should shut your fat little mouth.”
The creature laughed as did the two dozen others gathered around Thantos, the biggest made a sort of grunt sound and moved a step closer to the ghoul who licked his lips nervously and put up his hands in a defensive position. “Now, now, my darkling friends,” he said and backed up a step or two, “there is no need for violence. We can work this out. The Lady of the Aybss, She of the All Power, wants the Staff of Sakatha, the degenerate dragon children know where it is, and you can help me get it. This can work to our mutual benefit.”
“We await your offer, oh mighty subordinate of She Who Rules for Now,” said the little darkling creature with a wicked smile.
“You dare insult the Mistress of the Aybss,” said Thantos with a snarl at the goblin and he seemed to forget the huge creature nearby who sidled ever closer, “she will have your eternal soul for such mockery.”
“Your threats do not bother me, ghoul,” said the creature and smiled once again. “You need our help and we are willing to give it … for the right price. The Lady of the Abyss is a woman with great power and wealth but also one of capricious whims. It is well known she does not always honor her bargains and I merely wish to assure myself that our pay will be commiserate with the danger our work.”
Thantos looked at the little darkling for a long moment, then to the larger creatures, and finally to the others that surrounded him, “She promises you each five slaves and one thousand black coins,” he spat out, “is that acceptable?”
“Living slaves or mindless skeletons?” said the darkling, a wicked grin on his face.
“My Lady of the Abyss has little power over fleshy creatures such as yourself,” said Thantos. “The slaves will be deathly creatures but capable of taking simple direction. Now, is this enough or not? I grow weary of this dank place.”
The little darkling looked around to his companions and they chittered in the strange language of their species for a moment but, eventually, the leader nodded his head, “That is acceptable, oh ghoulish freak. The reptiles are currently under observation by my people as they climb the slopes of the mountain. Once they delve we will be able to find them quickly enough. In the meantime why don’t you make yourself comfortable,” he said and pointed to a wooden chair in the corner. “We’ll be in contact as soon as something happens.” With that the creature smiled, bowed ever so slightly, and walked out of the room leaving the monstrous beast behind with three of the other small darklings.
He walked a few yards down a narrow passageway to a large stone door, went through it, and closed it behind him. The door opened into a longer corridor, which he followed for twenty or so paces past two doors on his left, and one on his right, and eventually arrived in a large cathedral cavern where hundreds of the small darklings went about their business as they cooked, cleaned, and sharpened their weapons. A dozen passages led off to the side of the large chamber and the creature took one of them, walked for another hundred paces, passing open corridors on each side, and eventually arrived at a thick stone door that he opened without hesitation.
Inside the room a large wooden desk sat in one corner near a shelf that contained numerous skulls of strange creatures and other bones. Standing near the the desk was a tenuous black shape that seemed to undulate smoothly back and forth.
“Tenebrous,” said the darkling with a smile and a deeper bow than he gave to Thantos. “I apologize for the delay. I was on state business when I heard of your arrival but I came as quickly as possible. What can I do for you?”
The black form oozed and seemed to bow, if that was possible, and the deep but hollow voice spoke, “Chieftain Ramkalla, I appreciate you taking up your valuable time to see me. I am here to keep tabs on my friend Thantos. I know you harbor no love for him and hoped that you might keep me apprised of his doings?”
“What does the Lady of the Abyss offer me for such services?” replied the little darkling creature as it took a seat behind the large desk and ran sharp fingernails over the surface which caused an odd little squeal to permeate the air. “My people do not do the bidding of the Mistress of Death for free,” he said.
The black cloud ebbed for a long moment before the voice that came from its interior suddenly sounded again. “I am currently working for myself, having had a falling out with She Who Rules Eternally,” it said both deeply and slowly. “This is my task and I will supply any and all payments.”
“What does a shadow have to tender,” said Ramkalla with a shrug of his shoulders. “You do not have any power in the Abyss other than to do your ladies’ bidding, you certainly have no power here in the darkling lands, and you have little, if anything, that I desire. So, Tenebrous, although we have worked together successfully in the past I do not see common ground for us today.”
Tenebrous oozed slowly over to the desk as long blackish tendrils floated out to either side, “I do not ask you to do anything other than keep me informed of his location,” said the thick voice. “In return I offer you the death of an enemy of your choice. I do not have wealth nor power, as you state, but I can still bring death, it is the one thing the Lady of the Abyss allows me to do.”
“An intriguing offer, Tenebrous, but what if I were to demand the death of an important being in the world, someone wnose power exceeds your own?” said the darkling leaning back in his chair and smiling broadly, his many sharp teeth exposed.
“The choice is yours to make although the likelihood of my success under such circumstances is relatively slim. Yet I will endeavor to carry it out if that is your request,” said Tenebrous his dark form flowing out and around the desk.
“That is a reasonable offer, Tenebrous,” said the Ramkalla with a shrug of his shoulders. “It makes sense for me to name only something you are capable of slaying and the service is relatively small. As you know, I never cared much for Thantos and that disgusting tongue of his. I agree to your terms but the question of whom you shall slay is open-ended. I can ask at any time in the future when, perhaps, your power has grown from its current state.”
Tenebrous drew up for a moment, his form coalescing into a vaguely humanoid shape with a head and a
rms but then relaxing back into its wavy blob shape, and the creature spoke again, “That is acceptable Chieftain Ramkalla.”
The chieftain smiled happily, “Then, you should know that your friend Thantos is not more than two hundred steps from this location. He awaits word of news from the surface dwellers and, when given that, plans an excursion into our territory. When that happens I will inform you of his further movements and keep you abreast during his stay in my territory. In the meantime, can I offer you anything? Food, drink, women, boys?”
“I have little need for such things,” said Tenebrous, “a simple chamber in which to meditate and perhaps receive visitors is sufficient.”
The little darkling nodded his head and smiled again to display his many teeth, “Very well, Tenebrous. One of my assistants will make sure your needs are accommodated. Now, if you don’t mind I’ve important tribal business to which to attend.”
Tenebrous slid out of the chamber and under the door, his smoky form capable of movement through apparently even the smallest opening. Ramkalla watched for a moment, shook his head, and then snapped his finger; within a few seconds another little darkling of the same species entered the room from a small side door cleverly built into the chamber to look like nothing more than the cave wall.
“Yes, chieftain?” he said and bowed deeply.
“See that Tenebrous is given a room in which to mediate, it need not contain any amenities,” he said with barely a look up from his desk where some thick papers awaited his attention. “Inform me as soon as the reptiles head underground.”
He servant bowed deeply again, “Sire?”
“If you have important news then say it,” said the chieftain with a shake of his head. “You don’t have to ask for permission.”
“Yes, great chieftain,” said the underling with another deep bow. “It does not come under your direct orders but there are some freeriders who follow the lizards in the mountains.”
