by Jon Sprunk
Byleth leaned closer until she was near enough to kiss him. She smiled, and he shuddered at the sight of her rotting gums framing bone-white teeth. “Try not to think too much, Pumash. Your role is to serve, but you are not irreplaceable.”
“As you command,” he managed to utter.
Suddenly he was free. He grabbed the balcony railing to keep from falling to his knees.
“There,” she said. “That’s better. We all play our parts in this grand scheme. I have my own mission.” Her eyes blazed brighter, like flaring embers within their dark sockets. “He was promised to me, and I shall have him before all is finished. Alive or . . . otherwise.”
Then the blaze died down, and her smile returned. “Now off with you, General. You have another city to conquer.”
As she sauntered back inside the palace, Pumash sagged against the railing. His heart was pounding, and his lungs heaved like a pair of bellows. Yet he was alive. He should have known better than to push her. She had a reputation for being dramatic when she lived, and apparently death has not cooled her temper.
But who was this person who filled her with such rage? A former rival? Some zoanii, perhaps. Pumash was just glad it wasn’t him. The undead queen would make a fearsome enemy.
Deemu shuffled over. “Are you all right, Master?”
Pumash stood up to his full height, ignoring the twinges in his chest. “Quite. Pack up my things, Deemu. It appears that we’ll be heading east.”
“Yes, Master. But may I ask, how will you convince them to follow?” The old man gave a significant gaze down at the dark city below.
Pumash had been considering that as well. He thought about going down to the creatures in the streets and making a grand pronouncement to rally them, but of course that was ludicrous. Byleth had said they were bonded to him. He would test that theory.
“Let me worry about that, Deemu. You worry about packing the wine.”
He allowed Deemu to support him as they walked. His legs were still a little wobbly after tangling with that damned witch queen. He didn’t relish the idea of being under her control. Having one diabolical master was enough. But everyone had a weakness. He just needed to unearth hers. “And find out where all the other living servants have gotten to. I hope the army hasn’t devoured them.”
“That would be a shame, Master.”
Something shook him from the sweet escape of oblivion. Three Moons opened his eyes. He was lying in a nest of ratty blankets, half-buried in sand. Jauna stood over him, nudging him with her foot.
“The captain says it’s time to get up, old man,” she said. She had a weird way of talking out of the side of her mouth. Three Moons usually found it sensual, but right now he wanted to punch her in the face.
“How long till dawn?”
The sky was black. A few stars twinkled through the canopy of clouds. He smelled a storm coming but no rain.
“An hour. No more. Get up or get left behind.”
As she turned away, Three Moons was tempted to send a noxious little spirit squirming into her breeches and leave her itching for a few days, but he didn’t feel like expending the energy. Groaning, he threw off the blankets.
They’d escaped Omikur four days ago and hadn’t stopped running since. West into the deep wastes, that was where Captain Paranas had led them. Three Moons hadn’t complained. Anyplace was better than the mausoleum that Omikur had become. Two days ago, thinking themselves safe, they had stopped for an extended rest and paid the price. Screams awoke them in the twilight hours to the horror of another attack. The wights from town had followed them, appearing from the wastes like the fiends of hell.
The rest of that night and the next day were a painful blur as the company ran. They froze at night and roasted during the day. But last night the captain had been forced to call for another rest. Even the Bronze Blades had limits.
He’d awoken half-expecting to be fighting for his life again. War was like that. It beat you down, made you feel all used up inside. And those were the good times.
Something nagged at him. A feeling of expectation. He tried listening to the spirits, but they remained silent. Maybe smelling the death surrounding the Blades. Maybe smelling worse to come. He had an inkling, and he didn’t like it one bit.
Three Moons walked over to where a cluster of brothers were passing around dried jerky and water bottles. Food and water were going to become a problem soon. They’d only brought enough for the journey to Omikur plus a few days’ extra, intending to resupply at the town. He took a couple bites and washed it down with tepid water, wanting to vomit the entire time. But the food revitalized him enough to seek out the captain.
Paranas stood on a long ridge east of the encampment with Niko. Three Moons joined them with a curse. “You should be ashamed, Cap. Making a man of my advanced age trudge all the way up here just to have a word.”
Niko nodded to him, but Captain Paranas continued his survey of the desert to the west. It all looked the same to Three Moons. “What do you want, Moons? You should be resting. It’ll be a long march today.”
“You trying to kill me?” Three Moons thought about spitting on the ground but decided to save the moisture. “Don’t answer that. But tell me this. What’s your plan?”
“We’re working on that, Moons.”
By the grim line of Niko’s smile, Three Moons guessed their plan was more of the same. “More running and hiding? Sure, that might work. But it seems these fiends following us don’t want to let us go.”
The captain turned his head, and Three Moons could see the exhaustion and worry etched into his hard-bitten features. He looked twice his actual age. “I would love some suggestions from our company wizard.”
“We find a place to make a stand.”
Captain Paranas glanced at Niko, who said nothing. “And where do you suggest we do that, Moons? You see any defensible positions around here? No, just sand and scrub for a hundred leagues in every direction. Except back in Omikur. You aren’t suggesting—”
Three Moons shook his head. “No use going back there. But I feel something coming, Cap. There’s a new scent on the wind.”
“Dammit, Moons. Sometimes I just want to toss you and your spirit buddies into—”
A high-pitched whistle turned every head. Three Moons squinted. The western sentries were sprinting back from their positions.
Captain Paranas swore in three languages. “Get out ahead of us,” he commanded Niko, who whistled to his scouts and darted off.
Three Moons followed after the captain back toward the camp. “We can’t run much farther, Cap.”
“Don’t I know it? But what other choice do we have?” Captain Paranas stopped and pulled Three Moons close by the arm. “You keep close to me, hear? We’re going to need you if we hope to see tomorrow.”
The Blades left at once, following the scouts east across the sands. Three Moons started cursing under his breath after the first hour, and it developed into a continual litany of complaints and epithets from then on. The sun came up, painting the desert sky in a riot of gorgeous colors. Three Moons cursed each and every one of them. Every few steps he turned to steal a glance over his shoulder. Dark specks dotted the dunes behind them, pursuing fast.
“How do we stop these things?” Ino asked, hobbling beside him.
Three Moons shook his head. “They won’t ever stop. They’re infected with sorcery of the darkest stripe. Wights don’t get tired. They don’t feel pain. They’ll run us down to the ends of the world.”
“Thanks, Moons,” Ino snapped. “You made me feel so much better.”
Three Moons looked ahead. They needed a safe place to hole up, but the captain was right. There was no safety to be found out here. Then he spotted a small red blotch against the sand, about three points southeast of their course. Willing to grasp at any shred of hope, he hurried up the next dune ridge. As he crested the hill, he found it again. A tired sigh spilled from his lips. A mound of stone stood a couple of miles away. It looke
d big enough to provide some defensibility. He ran ahead to find the captain.
Paranas saw him coming. “Yes, we saw it, too. I already sent Niko’s squad ahead to check it out.” He opened his canteen and took a sip. “So what do we do when we get there? Dig in like ticks and wait for the end?”
“What else can we do? We fight to the last man.”
“You know, Moons, you’re a fucking riot.”
They ran for their lives. The creatures were closer now. Close enough for Three Moons to make out their ravaged features whenever he looked back, which he tried to avoid doing, but he couldn’t stop himself. He breathed another sigh when they finally reached the stone mound. It was higher than he’d dare to hope, the peak about fifty yards above the desert floor. The scouts were already scaling the steep sides.
Please, hallowed spirits. Let us find a ledge we can defend. Give us that much of a chance to survive this day. We’ll worry about tomorrow when it comes.
Ignoring the burning in his lungs, Three Moons was attempting to climb the foot of the hill, and finding little purchase, when Niko shouted down from above.
“There’s a cave!”
Captain Paranas didn’t waste any time. “Find perches for defensive fire! Niko, post a lookout on the summit.”
As the Blades climbed, Three Moons struggled. You spirits love to fuck with this old man, don’t you?
Then Pie-Eye was there, taking his arm and hauling him up the rock. It was his bad arm that the wight had half-pulled out of the socket back in Omikur, but Three Moons kept quiet as the younger mercenary hoisted him up the side of the hill. After several minutes of grunting and swearing, they reached the cave opening. The entrance was cramped between two large boulders, but Three Moons guessed it had once been much wider. A massive lintel stone over the entry had been pushed back as the outer stones shifted. Based on the sand and soil packed into the cracks between the rocks, it must have happened a long time ago.
Captain Paranas was standing by the opening. “Niko and Jauna went inside. We’ll wait for them before we set up a defense.”
“Cap, I think this place was built by people.” Three Moons pointed out the carved lintel. “But fuck me if I can tell you how long ago. Centuries, at least.”
“Maybe it was a refuge for nomads. Whatever it was, it’s lucky we found it. We can defend this narrow opening for one hell of a long time.”
A chill ran through Three Moons. He reached out for the spirits and found nothing at all. Not even echoes of their presence remained. Because of the creatures coming behind us? Or is it this place?
“Cap, better let me have a look first.”
He didn’t want to go inside, but this was his job.
Niko reappeared before the captain could reply. “It looks all clear. There’s a pretty big cave just inside the opening, and then a long tunnel down to another chamber below. It’s damned weird.”
“Weird how?” Captain Paranas and Three Moons both asked at the same time.
“The upper room is normal enough, but that lower one is full of jewels.”
That got several heads turning.
“Jewels?” the captain asked.
But Three Moons didn’t wait to hear any more. Bracing himself, he went inside. Behind him, he heard both the captain ask if there were any other entrances to the cave and Niko’s negative response, but his mind was focused ahead. Visually, the interior cave appeared normal enough, but Three Moons’s otherworldly senses were buzzing. He couldn’t say precisely why. The spirits he was familiar with—the imps of the earth and sky—were gone, but something else dwelled here. He was certain of it. Whatever it was, it was as alien to him as a fire sylph would be to any of his nonmystical brothers and sisters. Everything was so still and quiet in here it almost felt like a temple.
Soft footsteps announced Jauna before she arrived, coming through the tunnel on the far side. She held a closed fist in front of her.
“Is that the way down to the jewel cave?” he asked.
“They aren’t jewels,” Jauna replied. “They’re crystals. Biggest ones I ever saw, though.”
She held out her hand and opened her fingers. Nestled in her palm was a handful of white sand. It shimmered like diamonds in the dim light of the cave. “The floor is covered with this. I was going to show the captain.”
As Jauna left the cave, Three Moons approached the tunnel. His eyes had adjusted to the gloom, and now he detected a bluish glow from the passage mouth. It descended from the cave at a sharp but steady decline. At least, he thought it did. His vision had become watery since glimpsing the white sand Jauna had shown him. Reaching out to the walls of the tunnel for balance, he continued forward.
The footing was smooth but not slick. The same with the walls as he made his way down the tunnel, which opened after about fifteen paces into another cave much larger than the one above. As Jauna had said, it was filled with crystals. Massive crystals, some as big across as tree trunks, lined the walls and ceiling. The light came from across the chamber, where a section of the wall shimmered between two great crystal plinths. Walking across the white sand floor, he felt a strange buzzing all over his body, and a faint tone played in the air just at the edge of his hearing.
He stopped in front of the glowing wall. The section was wide enough for two men to walk abreast. He could see shapes moving within the glow. Was this some sort of window? And if so, where was he looking into? He had the feeling of powerful forces at play.
“No way out, Moons?”
Captain Paranas entered the cave, his boots crunching on the sand. The flame light of the candle in his hand danced in every faceted surface in the chamber. “It’s a shame. But I guess this is a lovely place to die.”
Three Moons had to force his gaze away from the shimmering window. “Bad outside?”
“They’re gathering at the bottom of the hill. It’s like they’re waiting for something. Maybe nightfall.”
“They didn’t seem that smart before,” Three Moons replied. “More like wild animals. Maybe it’s this place. Maybe it wards them off somehow.”
“I came down to find out if you had any ideas. Can you make another way out of these caves? Make like a secret tunnel or something?”
“Not here, Cap. The spirits are quiet. Maybe they’re affected by whatever is keeping the wights at bay.”
“So we stay trapped in here until the water runs out?”
Three Moons indicated the shimmering window. “This might be something we can use.”
“A blank wall? I asked if you could dig us a way out, Moons.”
“Blank?” Three Moons studied the shimmering section of wall again. Yes, he saw it now. The glow was coming from the spirit realm. He was the only one here able to see it. “There’s a portal here, Cap. I might be able to get us through.”
Captain Paranas came over to stand beside him. “A portal to where?”
“I have no idea. And I don’t think there’s any way to find out except by going through it. So we have a decision to make. Stay here in the cauldron . . .”
“Or leap into the fire.” Captain Paranas pulled his sword an inch out of its scabbard and slammed it back home. “We’ll stay put to see what happens outside. If things look bad, we can always—”
“Captain!” Pollo came running down the tunnel, slipping in the sand as he reached the cave. “They’re coming!”
“Shit.” Captain Paranas headed toward the exit. “Moons, you get started on that escape plan. Double time.”
Three Moons turned back to the glow, patting his fetish bag for inspiration. He’d heard tales—legends, really—of enchanted doorways. According to the stories, they could lead to faraway places or even other worlds. That was the danger. You never knew where you would come out. What if this doorway led to the bottom of the sea? He might drown his brethren with one fateful step. Still better than getting torn up and eaten by those things outside.
When the first Blades came down the tunnel—Raste and Ivikson carrying Ino be
tween them—Three Moons reached out to the glowing doorway with his inner spirit. It was a strange sensation as he made contact, like dipping his hand into a bucket of slime. But he felt the link establish between this world and the realm beyond the portal.
“Go on,” he told the others. “Step through.”
Raste, Ivikson, and Ino just looked at him. Three Moons waved his hand and growled. “There’s a door here between the big stones. Trust me. Just walk through. And be ready.”
“For what?” Ino asked.
“I’ve got no fucking idea,” Three Moons replied. “Now get in there before I give up and leave you all here to die.”
With wary glances, the three approached the wall, poking the air in front of them. When the points of their weapons passed right through the wall, Three Moons breathed a little easier. It had worked. The Blades seemed encouraged, too. All together, they took the last step. And vanished.
Three Moons concentrated on maintaining the connection as more Blades rushed down into the cave. Most were bleeding from scratches and gouges. Three Moons ushered them through the portal just like the others. Finally, Niko and Jauna came down, their knives coated in dark blood.
“Where’s the captain?” Three Moons asked. The strain of keeping the portal open was starting to drag on him.
Niko went to the doorway and stopped, studying it. “He said to go through.”
“Fuck that,” Three Moons said. “No one gets left behind. Go get him.”
“I’m not disobeying—”
They all looked back as footsteps pounded down the tunnel. The captain emerged, his free hand wrapped in a bloody cloth. “Get your asses through that doorway!” he shouted as he crossed the cave.
Niko and Jauna dove in.
Captain Paranas stopped where they had stood. “Those things won’t be able to follow us, will they?”
Three Moons shook his head. “Not when I stop feeding the connection.”
With a nod, Captain Paranas grabbed him by the arm and took a long step into the wall. Three Moons gasped as an icy cold sensation enveloped him. He was ripped from the captain’s grasp and tossed back and forth like a child’s doll. Every nerve in his body burned. It wasn’t exactly agony, but it didn’t tickle either. Then a great black wall rushed toward him. He flailed, unable to stop his forward momentum as he plunged into a space of utter nothing.
