A Demon's Quest the Beginning of the End the Trilogy Box Set

by Charles Carfagno Jr.

  The second passageway went further than the last and eventually came to a junction that went to the left and the right. Torhan followed the corridor on the left until he reached a large circular room with a small opening at the far end.

  In addition to the remains of another campfire and a few scattered backpacks, there were dried bloodstains on the ground, a skeletal arm, and what appeared to be drag marks leading into the small opening, which was too small for him to fit.

  Quickly, he searched the backpacks, finding edible dried fruit, ten feet of rope, a flask of wine, and a belt full of knives. After collecting the wares, and securing the belt around his waist, he left the chamber. Before reaching the junction, the scabbard glowed. He retreated to the circular landing and waited with his sword drawn, facing the tunnels, until the scabbard’s glow diminished. The scabbard is remarkable, he thought and was sure that if he didn’t have it, then he might’ve fallen prey to whatever lurked down here. He also wondered if, like the ring, it would eventually lose its abilities.

  Throwing caution to the wind, Torhan went back down the second corridor, and when he reached the junction, the scabbard glowed again, even brighter than before. Fearful of what was down there with him, he decided to lay a trap for whatever was approaching. Quickly, he rummaged through his backpack, took out several flasks of oil, uncorked them and emptied their contents all along the hallway in a five-foot condensed area. Carefully, he placed the lit torch inches away from the oil and retreated into the corridor that led back toward the entrance. Using the shadows to mask his presence, he covered the scabbard and waited patiently with another flask in his hand.

  His wait didn’t take long as two large, iridescent-colored ants emerged from around the corner. They were at least the size of a full-grown man, walked upright on two legs, and employed two short swords and two wooden shields with their other limbs. The torchlight made their colorful bodies appear to shimmer. When the ants saw the torch on the ground, they snapped their mandibles several times, rubbed their antennas together as if communicating their find, and walked around the flame, coming in his direction.

  Torhan stepped out of seclusion and threw the flask at the ground several inches in front of the bugs. The impact shattered the glass, spraying the ants and the torch with oil and igniting the area in hot scorching flames. Frantically, the ants moved around, trying to extinguish the fire while making a strange sound with their antennas. Torhan began throwing daggers, one after the other, into the closest ant until it fell down.

  Meanwhile, the other ant cleared the flames, prompting Torhan to unsheathe his sword with his right hand and grip a dagger in his left while moving backward, hoping the bug would fall over and die. By the time the ant reached him, the oil burned away, and the flames had gone out.

  Seeing that it wasn’t going to die, Torhan moved in and attacked with a series of strikes that he didn’t remember learning at his school. The assault, although skillful, did little against the ant’s hard exterior and the shields it used.

  As soon as the ant countered, the scabbard sensed the bug’s intent and launched the dagger to protect its master, while Torhan repeatedly blocked and parried the ant’s attacks. The flying dagger was also ineffective against the creature’s defenses as it sliced and jabbed the bug, but couldn’t reach its mark.

  Torhan continued having a hard time breaching the ant’s defenses until he remembered to feint left, then stepped to the right while slicing his sword across the ant’s sword leg and severed the limb, spraying the area green with blood. The dagger and Torhan attacked again, but the ant blocked the flying weapon with one shield and Torhan’s thrust with the other, then it countered with a series of downward strikes that made Torhan backup defensively. To him, it felt like he was fighting four opponents.

  The ant stepped forward, parried another one of Torhan’s attacks, and was about to land a fatal blow when it was met by the dagger and forced to stop and block the weapon. With the bug temporary preoccupied, Torhan moved close enough to swing at the bug’s exposed left leg and severed the limb with a powerful blow, toppling the creature. The dagger continued to jab at the bug’s head until it found an opening and pierced the ant’s eye. Not wanting to risk injury from a flailing weapon, Torhan stepped away from the fight and waited as the dagger finished off the attacker and returned to the scabbard.

  The scabbard’s glow suddenly intensified, indicating more ants were in the area, prompting Torhan to grab the torch and run back toward the circular room. He was worried for the monks’ safety and thought that if he didn’t find a way to deter the ants from reaching the entrance, they might wander up and catch the sleeping monks by surprise.

  After reaching the room, he poured oil at the base of the second passageway, set it on fire, and ran down the third tunnel on his left. The passageway was a steep decline and leveled off some thirty feet later. The scabbard’s glow continued to diminish the further he moved until it stopped radiating altogether.

  He continued walking straight ahead, through the narrowing corridor, until he came upon a square-shaped room on his left and peered inside. Holding the torch aloft, he saw several wooden crates and an eight-foot high ledge with something white on top that he couldn’t make out. Wanting whatever was up there, he quietly entered the room and placed a crate near the ledge, stacked another on top of that, and placed a third in front to use as a step.

  As soon as Torhan stepped onto the first crate, the scabbard glowed and the sound of feet pattering erupted just outside of the room. In a panic, he climbed onto the stacked crates and pulled himself up and onto the ledge with enough momentum to send him crashing into the remains of two humanoids. Their bones fell apart and scattered onto the floor. He remained motionless, hoping that the ants wouldn’t enter, but his hopes faded when he heard the familiar sound of mandibles snapping and antennas rubbing together. Frantically, he opened his pack, grabbed several flasks of oil, and peered over the edge just in time to see an ant at the entrance.

  This one was different from the other ones; it did not walk upright or carry weapons, and it was half the size of its predecessor, except for its appendages, which were clearly larger and more ridged. The ant scanned the room until it caught sight of something glowing on top of the ledge and rubbed its antennas together, creating a high-pitched noise. When it was through, it began advancing toward the overhang.

  Torhan lit the oily rag at the top of the flask, stood up, and threw it at the ant, but the bug was too quick and he missed his target. However, his attack wasn’t in vain, because the glass shattered in front of the entrance and sprayed hot oil all over the floor and onto the other ants as they entered the room. Flames immediately engulfed the area, which were followed by high-pitched squeals of death and the smell of burning bugs permeating the room.

  Meanwhile, the scout ant climbed the first crate. As it reached the stacked boxes, Torhan’s dagger defended its owner and struck the ant in the torso, sending it to the floor. Torhan lit another flask and dropped it directly below, setting the floor, crates, and the ant on fire. He scurried backward, holding another flask in one hand and the torch in the other, until he hit the back wall. The smell of charred bug and the intense flames made him cough several times, forcing him to place the cloth back over his mouth and nose.

  Torhan hoped the flames would discourage other ants from entering, but as the oil dissipated, and the flames died away, more scurried in. He lit another flask, cursed the situation, and threw it directly in front of them, setting an unknown number ablaze.

  Of the ones that managed to get through the fire, they began climbing the wall of the ledge, eager to tear the intruder to shreds. When the first set of mandibles appeared, Torhan swung his sword with lethal precision and severed the creature’s head, sending both the body and its cranium tumbling to the floor.

  Several more appeared, trying to get at him, but Torhan and the dagger fought them with determination until the last of them fell away. The dagger returned to the scabbard and i
t stopped glowing, indicating he was safe for the moment.

  Torhan glanced at the floor and saw at least two dozen ants helplessly twitching as they were dying. He cringed at the thought of being crushed and ripped apart by their appendages. With the room still on fire, he was safe for the moment and turned his attention to the two humanoids. The one on the left wore chainmail and gripped a rusty sword in his left hand, while the other wore tattered leather armor and silver bracers on his arms. Torhan surmised they must’ve been trapped on the ledge and died of starvation. He grabbed their packs and began searching through them. Inside, he found a written parchment, thirty pieces of gold, and three flasks labeled White Light; also, food that smelled putrid, even though the container remained closed. He unfolded the tattered letter and began reading it:

  If you’re reading this note, it basically means that I am dead and you found my body or what remains of it. The man next to me is my trusted friend Khron, who died only hours ago from his injuries.

  I’ll start at the beginning, and hopefully you’ll heed my advice. Our journey began several months ago in the town of Mimlor, where Tung purchased a map from a man named Trill. The map promised us riches beyond our imagination, and it seemed like a relativity easy task given the fact that we were thirty men strong, well equipped, and some of the most talented people in our specific arts.

  We left town the very next day and followed the map until we ended up at the mouth of this cave and descended shortly after sunrise. Our fate was sealed the moment we entered this place. Tung, our chosen leader, insisted that we split up into several parties to search the labyrinth more quickly. That was our first mistake. Our second, and last one, was when some of the men found the queen’s lair and tried to take her treasure. Once the colony discovered our presence, they hunted us relentlessly until all the men, except for Khron and myself, were carried away.

  Even now, several hours later, we can hear their screams echoing somewhere down below. Too scared to leave, we hid on this ledge, hoping the ants would eventually forget about us, but we were wrong. A dozen or more soon discovered our whereabouts, leaving us no alternative but to battle for our lives.

  While fighting, we were both badly wounded, and, in a last-ditch effort, I used several flasks of the White Light, causing a blinding white flash so great that everyone in the area, including Khron and myself, were blinded and stunned. After we regained our senses, the ants were gone. Unfortunately, our wounds were far too great for us to leave, thus we were trapped here waiting for death’s hand.

  In closing, I, or shall I say we, leave behind all of our worldly possessions for whoever finds this note, hopefully they will serve you better. The bracers that Khron wears will aid you if you’re weak or grant you greater strength if you’re not. The flasks named White Light are very effective against those little bastards, just remember not to use more than one at a time and close your eyes tight. If you’re lucky to find Quem’s backpack somewhere down here, you will inherit a book called “Flame Arrow”. I heard the book can ably teach you how to enhance your bow so that it will allow you to shoot arrows of flame. Lastly, look for Wakel’s silver hammer. You won’t be disappointed, it can crumble walls with a single strike.

  I need to stop writing, because I am very tired and in need of rest. I hope there is an afterlife.

  P.S. If you can, please gather our bones and bury them in my hometown of Shilt.

  Good luck and may the gods be with you, Danter

  After folding up the letter, Torhan removed the bracers from Khron’s arms and placed them securely on his. At once, they glowed and sent a painful, crushing sensation coursing throughout his body. Every muscle violently twitched, and all Torhan could think of doing was removing them, but every time he tried, a fresh wave of pain rippled through his limbs, leaving him writhing and clutching his body. Eventually, the twitching subsided, the glow ceased, and Torhan was left feeling stronger. He quickly packed up their items, feeling somewhat sorry for Danter and the men who journeyed with him. They were bitten by fool’s gold, and Torhan hoped he would never fall prey to it. He jumped down from the ledge and tested his newfound strength. Since the crates were destroyed, he walked over to the wall and punched the hard clay several times. Each strike was met with little resistance and left behind a fist-sized indentation. After he finished with his experiment, he left the room and headed back toward the exit. When he arrived, both monks were gone, but their gear and bedding were still there. He cursed and went back down below, hoping he could save them.

  ****

  After reaching the circular room, Torhan went down the passageway on the far right, which eventually came to the junction, then he took the corridor on the left. The narrowing hallway went on for some time, and after he rounded a series of turns and bends, the scabbard started glowing and grew brighter the further he went. When at last it couldn’t get any brighter, he turned around and ran the other way, hoping he wasn’t trapped.

  By the time he reached the other corridor, the scabbard glowed again, and he heard ants coming from the direction of the circular room. He moved down the unexplored passageway until his path unexpectedly ended at a wall. Realizing he was trapped, he turned around and prepared himself for the fight. First, he unsheathed his sword and plunged the weapon into the earth within reach. Next, he used another bottle of oil and poured its contents in a straight line, ten feet away, then set the oil on fire and held a flask of White Light. He looked at the label hoping it did exactly what Danter said it would or he was a dead man.

  Long agonizing seconds passed before he heard the ants echoing death march. Despite his ever-growing fear, he remained poised with his arm cocked and ready to throw the bottle, while his other arm held the torch like a sword.

  When the scout ants appeared, they stopped in front of the hot flames. From the back of the group antennas began rubbing together, creating a high-pitched screech that sent the scouts into a frenzy and forced them to burst through the flames after Torhan.

  The dagger protected its owner, while Torhan swung the torch back and forth, keeping them at bay. At the last second, he tightly closed his eyes and slammed the flask into the ground. After it shattered, blinding white light filled the entire corridor and, despite having his eyes closed, Torhan saw the flash as if he gazed upon the sun. Immediately, all went quiet.

  Opening his eyes, he saw the ants lying prone on the ground, appearing to be stunned. Torhan picked up his sword, raced past them, and jumped through the flames. He didn’t stop running until he reached the last of the ants, then he took out two flasks of oil and doused them with it. Before setting them ablaze, he decapitated the warrior ants just in case the fire didn’t kill them.

  He ran back to where the corridor split and followed it to the left until he came upon a softly illuminated area. After placing the torch down, he took out a flask of White Light and crept silently along the wall until he could peer fully inside the chamber.

  The room was magnificent in both size and shape. Stalactites hung throughout the cavern, and ten-foot wide stalagmites jutted up from the floor. Large glowing gems, sticking out of the walls, brightened the area. Hundreds of ants carrying eggs, food, weapons, dirt, and other items he couldn’t identify were using tunnels throughout the chamber. To the far back of the room was the largest ant of them all and it was, without a doubt, the queen. She was darker than the rest, with mandibles sized to match her massive girth, and an enlarged abdomen that produced white larva eggs into the waiting mouths of the worker ants. They, in turn, would carry them away down a nearby tunnel. Left of the queen, strewn about, were enormous amounts of treasure. At least a dozen armed warrior ants kept a close visual next to her, along with many others observing and standing guard throughout the colony.

  Torhan hunkered down behind a large boulder to think through his options. The monks were his priority, but how was he going to find them? The chamber was too large and there were so many ants. His first thought was to use the remaining flasks of White Light a
nd blind the ants, but there were too many variables. Could he blind them all? If so, how long would they be incapacitated? If he was discovered close to the queen, and they came through, he would be killed. Maybe he could blind the ants and set them on fire, but after checking his backpack and finding only three flasks of oil left, he ruled that out. Then it came to him. He knew that a colony would die if the queen was dead. Perhaps he could do humanity a service by killing just the queen, so that, in time, they would all die off.

  Still in mid-thought, the scabbard began glowing, and he heard ants coming from where he entered. He scampered further around the boulder and hid out of sight of the entrance. In the next instant, worker ants poured into the room carrying various types of animals, boarmen, goatmen, and humans, including the monks. Some were already dead, while others struggled frantically trying to free themselves.

  Torhan watched as they were brought down the walkway and dropped in front of the queen like some sort of gift. Some of the ones that were alive struggled to their feet, but were quickly maimed or brought down by the warrior ants. The queen grabbed the first of her tasty morsels with her giant mandibles and began squeezing the human. The man’s dying screams were so loud it frightened Torhan. After he was dead, she swallowed him whole and grabbed the next item on her menu, a Chatar.

  Torhan realized that he couldn’t stand by and watch the monks die this way. He grabbed a flask of White Light, and, as he was about to throw it, a gray light spilled forth from one of the holes on the queen’s left and began flooding the area. Growing in size, it encompassed the front of the chamber, including the queen and her closest subjects, freezing them in time.