Grubble roared back at the screaming monsters, whipping his axe hard enough to split the nearest one nearly in half from the waist. Logan turned around just in time to block the nearest creature’s swinging dagger with his metal hand, while Bipp took the opportunity to jump out from his side and cave in the little humanoid’s skull with a heavy blow from his hammer.
From all sides the ferocious onslaught was rushing in. Corbin no sooner parried a swinging club than he was working to block another stinging dagger. Coming back to block the blunt weapon he reversed course taking the dagger wielder’s arms clean off, while a crossbow bolt embedded deeply into the other monster’s forehead. Looking back, he saw Logan reloading his weapon as three more of the little monsters rushed through the bushes behind them.
Bipp flung some shimmering dust in their faces, blinding them long enough for Corbin to flip over his brother’s head and land behind the humanoids. Bipp bludgeoned the nearest one, while the other two did not have time to comprehend having their heads taken cleanly off by Corbin’s swinging voulge. Logan let a double shot of bolts fly, taking out a cobold who was just about to slam a club into Grubble’s skull from behind. A pile of the vanquished monsters, littered around him like bloody torn ragdolls, surrounded the veteran warrior.
Just like that, the battle was over as fast as it had begun, leaving only the dim echo of clashing weapons. The silence was almost unnerving in the face of the sheer violence they had just been thrust into. The group looked around at each other in wonder, taking in the dead humanoids littering the riverbank, there had to be ten cobolds at least. Someone walking onto the scene would have thought them a band of madmen, as they all suddenly began laughing hysterically at their fortune.
With a very real look of concern that only a sibling could share, Corbin grabbed his big brother to inspect he had no serious injuries. Logan stopped him firmly holding Corbin at bay, silencing the group as the tension worked its way back into the air. He stared firmly into Corbin’s eyes, grasping his shoulders with both hands. “Corbin, you have to believe me, I did not kill anyone.”
What Logan could not know, was that at that moment something deep inside him flared Corbin’s psionic talent, driving deep into his brother’s mind and flooding him, not only with images of all Logan had been through since they arrived in Fal, but also with his emotions. He felt the anguish as if he were there holding the young peddler’s dead body, and the overwhelming feeling of guilt for not being able to stop the ruffians who did this. He felt the rage at the city guard’s callous words, and the heart gripping fear watching the ebony skinned assassin’s toothy grin slinking into the shadows, with the ultimate despair of holding Mr. Beauford’s murdered body. The surge of emotions rained on Corbin’s mind, bringing tiny tears to his eyes, as he understood all his brother had experienced and the fear he felt fleeing over the wall, thinking how he would never see his brother and Elise again.
Overcome by the emotions Corbin pulled his brother in for a hug. He did not need to express that he believed, that is the funny thing about brothers, they can always understand without words being necessary.
Grubble clapped the back of Bipp’s neck. “What, are ye gonna cry now? Been spendin’ too much time with the human lad.” He mocked the little teary-eyed gnome, although Bipp noted there was a small squeak to the warrior’s voice as well.
The men broke to gather themselves and Logan walked around the area, retrieving any bolts still in good enough condition to use while Bipp approached Corbin, thumbs tucked into his pants pockets.
“So uh… yeah... sorry about that frying pan business, seemed like a good idea at the time. I mean, you did have him hogtied like the next barbeque.” Bipp kicked the dirt as he apologized.
“No worries, good gnome, I understand.” Corbin forgave him and the men respectfully introduced themselves to one another.
Logan finished surveying the area and walked back over to the group. “Corbin, I will go back with you, there is no way I can let Elise live in danger.” A flood of relief washed over Corbin that was so intense he thought he might actually pass out.
“That is so great, I promise you that Arch Councilor Zacharia and the Elders will see the truth in you, as do I. We can settle this misunderstanding and everyone will be safe.”
“I believe in you, I really do, despite something deep in my gut telling me not to trust the Elders. However, I will only return with you once we see this journey through to the end. I can’t just abandon this, there is too much I need to know, you see Mr. Beauford warned me...” he walked Corbin through the story of how he came to be here.
“Hmmm… what was so important that Fafnir had to kill Mr. Beauford? I will admit there does seem to be something fishy going on here.” Corbin replied, after mulling over the tale. “To discover the truth, it is all lies. Curious last words… why would the Elders be keeping secrets from us, why not tell us of the gnome settlements, why lie about the wild lands?” He repeated, the words playing like a movie in his brother’s memories.
“Yes, it’s all puzzling, and after reading the seer script in Mayor Fimbas library you can see why I need to do this?” Logan asked, cocking his head as a thought came to him, “how the heck did you track us all this way anyhow, I mean you are a good scout, but no one is that good.”
“It’s a long story, I’ll tell it to you on the way to Ul’kor.” He cryptically replied, confirming he would help. “I know how much this means to you, and we are almost there as it is. We should be able to get in and out with enough time left to make it back to New Fal before the remaining twelve days are over. I promise you this brother; I will not sway you from this path.”
Baetylus urged Corbin to reconsider, quietly protesting the dangers of going any further into the wilds, but he silently disagreed, trusting in his brother’s destiny.
“If you two are done kissin’ and makin’ up, best we be gettin’ out of here before another raidin’ party discovers our presence. Have no doubt some of the little rats heard all the commotion and went to get reinforcements.” Grubble pointed out.
The group agreed it would be better to vacate the area right away. They made short work of tossing the dead cobolds into the river, hoping it would at least throw any reinforcements off. Deciding the path was too exposed, they slipped into the dense overgrowth, heading north toward the ruins of Ul’kor.
“Now tell me this long story of yours.” Logan whispered to his brother.
“The air stinks of cobold.” Grubble complained low enough to only be heard by the group, plugging his nose in disgust.
“Kinda mentioned that already… only about a thousand times since we got here.” Bipp replied, starting to lose patience with the old warriors' constant grumbling. He was an amazing fighter who was infamous all throughout Dudje for his exploits, but Bipp was starting to wonder if he could get away with another frying pan trick shot to the grouchy gnome’s head. Logan hushed both of them while Corbin was trying to focus on falling back into his trance.
They had been making their way, carefully and quietly, through the outer ruins for a couple hours now. The place was virtually overgrown with all manner of plants, as if the land of Vanidriell had long ago reclaimed the very rock used to build the outskirts of Ul’kor. Here, the cavern ceiling sharply rose to a staggering height, even taller than the kingdom of New Fal. The ruins deserted buildings were not as tightly packed as Dudje and the landscape was much flatter, but they were of a similar design, being stacked on top of each other. Thick vines ran up the crumbling walls and dark green lichen blanketed the area along with overgrown trees and tall reedy weeds dotting the landscape. The whole area smelled of a rotting garbage pile.
They were unsure if it was from some great battle, or if it was simply the work of time, that had left the outer city in such ruins. Walls were toppled, with stones shattered where they lay, and buildings were crumbling all around them. The entire place looked like one giant cemetery, except the monoliths and mausoleums
used to be shops and homes.
Corbin had been using his power to guide them safely through the ruined landscape, which was littered with filthy cobold dens and campfires. Baetylus hovered next to him, unseen by his companions, instructing in the use of his psionic abilities. He was much more vivid now that Corbin took the Svalin earpiece off un-shielding his mind, which he feared greatly at first having no control over the massive amount of latent psychic energy that flowed from the multitude of sentient beings in the immediate area.
The All-Father was easily able to calm him, talking Corbin through dampening out the sounds with layers of energy laced around his mind acting as a psychic shield. Narrowing his focus down to the immediate area, he adapted well to his god’s wisdom, probing into the dark recesses of the surrounding structures, and around the multitude of blind corners. The dirty seething little minds of cobolds stood out like glowing beacons against the lifeless expanse surrounding them. In this way, he was able to pick a path through the outer city of Ul’kor, each time avoiding a run in with the city’s savage inhabitants.
“Do not let the gnomes prattle disturb your concentration, my son.” Baetylus cautioned, bright white robes flowing even though there was no breeze. “Focus your mind; we must get you out of the open and into shelter.”
Corbin was pleased when the All-Father offered to help. He had thought his god would be angry for going against his wishes to assist Logan. Instead, he proved how magnanimous he truly was by forgiving the disobedience, understanding that the love of family was important. He had vowed to his Lord that they would return as soon as Logan finished fulfilling his murdered friends' dying request, well within the timeline set by the elders.
A pack of cobolds was sleeping in the bowels of a nearby tipped structure. “We need to go down this alley and come out around that building to the east.” Corbin whispered to his companions.
“Aye, aye Captain,” Grumbled the warrior, mocking him with an overzealous salute before striding down the alleyway, and muttering to himself about the ridiculousness of taking orders from humans.
“Don’t let it bother you. He seems to be in a perpetual state of grumpiness.” Logan slapped his brother’s back to console him.
Bipp hopped straight up and skittered to catch up to the men. Sneaking quietly past the abandoned buildings, the party gripped their weapons, ready for a skirmish at a moment’s notice. The battle by Green Serpent River had taught them these cobolds, diminutive though they may be, were not to be taken lightly. The buildings began to become sparser, until there were none left. Instead, the landscape turned into a long flattened out stretch of grass leading to a wide chasm. The ground turned to massive stone tiles, a sign that the gnomes had carved out the area to suit their needs.
“This must be Ul’kor, fellas.” Logan proclaimed, as they all stared up in awe at the massive spire towering beyond the chasm. The aerie was easily twice the size of the city of Fal, rising high up into the air above, almost reaching as far as the ceiling itself. All manner of buildings and turrets were carved majestically around the spire’s rocky unpolished face.
Silhouettes of domed roofs could be dimly seen on top of the mighty column, signaling where the true city of Ul’kor rested. A wide stone bridge, overgrown with weeds and tangled vines, led the way to the Hall of Ul’kor, seat of the builders, the base of the spire. At its end, the entrance loomed high, coming to an arched point. Sets of statues depicting gnome mages stood on the either side of the bridge every twenty feet or so, staring down at travelers entering the city.
A gruff slap in the arse snapped Logan out of his reverie. “C’mon fancy pants let’s get yer show on the road already.” Grubble led the group across the area, with the brothers having to duck low in the tall grass to stay hidden out of sight.
Baetylus’ visage drifted over the grass without disturbing any of the tall reeds. Closer to the bridge now, they could see the moss had grown over the dead remains of gnome and human bodies, nothing left but the skeletal remains covered in rusty armor and overgrown with plants.
“These have to be centuries old.” Corbin reasoned based on what Bipp had told him of Ul’kor lore.
“Leave it to the filthy cobold mongrels to not bury our kin.” Grubble spat on the ground to show his disgust, every honorable soldier deserved a proper burial.
As they made their way across the bridge, Bipp craned his neck to the side, peering ahead with a squint. His mam’s voice kept playing in his head; scolding him to be a good boy otherwise, he would have to go live in the ruins with the demons. Even then he knew it would never happen, it was just something you said to make youngens behave, but it sure felt like a possibility now. As they passed the last set of statues, dull gray marble eyes seemed to follow the party and he could not help but gulp anxiously.
The main corridor was supported by thick carved brownstone totem poles, with all manner of animals stacked on top of each other supporting the heavy weight of the city above. Some of the faces had worn away ages ago, some lay on the ground staring up at them. Bipp could feel their eyes watching him as they crept through the hall. When Logan grabbed his shoulder, signaling to halt, he almost squealed like a lass. Biting his fist, he was just ready to scold the man, but his friend held a finger to his lips and nodded toward his brother.
Corbin silently beckoned for them to follow him up a side stairwell, sensing a handful of cobolds further down on this level, and secretly having Baetylus guide him upward. Grubble led the way, carefully scouting around the rounded stairwell to make sure nothing lay in wait. At the next floor, the way was blocked by a large rockslide, which they had to help the gnomes climb over to continue their progress up the steps, until they came to another doorway.
Stopping for a moment Corbin reached out again, sweeping the area for sentient life, and then waved them on once more. He was becoming very skilled with the use of his power, to the point where it almost felt second nature now.
Everyone stopped as a stone clattered across the floor from the shadows. Grubble reacted swiftly, swinging his double-headed axe down as he jumped into the dark corner, while the rest of the group instinctively fell into a triangle formation, backs all facing each other, ready for the fight. When none came, they were confused.
“Grubble…” Bipp whispered insistently.
The old warrior chuckled, coming out of the shadows holding a foot long rat at arm length. “Mmmm… stews for dinner tonight, boys.” He teased.
Corbin wrinkled his nose; he had not made a habit of eating rodents. “Sounds like something those cobolds would eat.”
Grubble gave him a dark look at being compared to one of the wretched creatures. “That’s a stupid human thing to say. Not that I expect much more from ye, a cobold wouldn’t even be able to guess what to do proper with a nice meal like this.”
“It’s actually better than it looks.” Logan defended the gnome.
“Blech, when did you try rat?” Corbin stuck his tongue out.
“Jerk named Maxwell fed me some.” He replied, noticing his brother turned cold hearing the cannibal’s name.
“You sure it was rat and not human?” he asked gravely.
Logan was about to protest but at that moment he realized there really was no way to tell, maybe he did eat human or even gnome for that matter! Then he remembered watching the rat roasting over the fire, and laughed away the vile notion, shaking his head and striding confidently forward.
His body flung in the air upside down, dangling on a rope wrapped around the ankle of his left foot. To the side a large piece of metal clambered to the floor from the wall where it was leaning, letting off a loud crashing sound that reverberated down the hallway, an alarm to announce prey had been caught.
“Blasted idjit, ye set off a damned trap!” Grubble complained as Bipp jumped up and down looking every which way in panic.
Logan knew their lives were at risk if he did not act swiftly. Pulling his upper body toward the rope, he grabbed it wit
h one arm and pulled the weight of his torso toward the middle, unwinding his ankle and falling to the floor.
Grubble was slapping the head of his axe to his calloused palm, waiting for the oncoming assault while Corbin had different ideas and snatched the rat from the warrior’s belt, looping the rope around its dead neck. Before the gnome could protest, Logan was pushing him and Bipp into a doorway down the hall, safely out of sight. As Corbin shoved the old door closed, he could only hope the scraping rusty joints would be unheard by the rambunctious cobolds that were making their way down the corridor. The humanoids were hooting in excitement to see what their trap had caught today.
“Oh yums, what izz it, maybe a juicy little lizard?” one of the dirty beasts asked, salivating drool dripping from its fanged mouth.
“Looks like rat fer lunch, boys!” One of the monsters held up the catch proudly.
“Give it here, I wants a taste.” Another demanded, reaching for the morsel and receiving a backhand across the face from the trap master.
“Back off ya pissants, this will make a fine stew, maybe with some dried morels.” He instructed, the group eagerly nodding in approval.
Bipp and Logan had to bite their tongues at the look on Grubble’s face. They did not wait for the furry monsters to reset the trap, heading deeper into the dark room toward a rear entrance. The network of chambers on this side of the hall were all interconnected, running parallel to the corridor by open arched doorways, furniture long past rotted and the contents in complete disarray after some ancient pillaging. The rooms were covered with cobwebs and dust, smelling of some foul, sour odor the companions could not place.
They had to creep in the cover of rubble, as one of the rooms was missing a wall to the hallway. Of course, in this one exposed area two female cobolds sat around a small fire in the hall, waiting for their trappers to come back with a meal.
“Smells like they caught themselves a plump juicy gnome!” one of the monsters decided, sniffing the air.
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