Dark Path: Book Three of the Phantom Badgers

by RW Krpoun

  “Then what was she doing out in the Northern Wastes?”

  “That I believe I can answer, Curion: she went to consult the White Necromancer. The liche had a considerable intelligence apparatus, and more importantly, one that Kustar could access without fear of compromising her investigation to her peers.”

  “Why would the liche help her; it was an ally on occasion, but strictly on a cash basis.”

  “Kustar spent a good deal of time in the archives of classified material before leaving Alantarn, Curion; I believe she culled a number of secrets there to use as trade material with which to purchase the liche’s assistance.”

  “And ran afoul of Goblins or other corpse-hunters before she made contact.”

  “Before, or after, Curion; she may have already conducted her business and been on the way home when ambushed. The exact time of her death is imprecise, save that the liche had not been put down when she died.”

  “Can her staff offer any clues as to her line of inquiry?”

  “No, Curion, she was too careful for that. Worse, the clerk she worked with the most, a Human Thane named Coke, was with her in the Wastes, and died there as well.”

  “So whatever she knew is lost to us,” Peria observed glumly.

  “It would seem so, Curion. I have little faith in the two officers who persist in their investigations.”

  “I agree with you, Miara; I thought if anyone solved the puzzle, it would be Pravas. I would have elevated her to Ustar status had she succeeded, you know. She could have been very useful to us.”

  “Very useful, Curion. And just ambitious enough to be trustworthy.

  “True. Still, she’s gone and there’s an end to it. What are your thoughts about the investigation into the origins of the first raid?”

  “Curion, I feel that the Felher are the primary actors; whoever opened the Gates for them here in Alantarn were simply agents or mercenaries, and are likely to be either dead or off spending their rewards, unimportant in either case. I believe that was the tack Pravas took: the White Necromancer was known to have had extensive Felher contacts which could be used to confirm or deny this scenario. You have eliminated all Felher slaves from the fortress and vastly tightened slave and entry controls; in truth, I think we seek to solve a problem that no longer exists.”

  “Straightforward as ever, Miara; I like that about you. Very well, wait a few days and then quietly close out the remaining investigations and move all documents to the classified archives. Loose ends are an annoyance, but they are dangerous if they become an obsession.”

  “By your command, Curion.”

  Eladrin, called the Watcher, sat upon his throne in the Grand Chamber under Tiria, a fleshless liche clad in a robe of woven gold, a simple gold circlet riding its skull. The Grand Chamber rang with the sound of the workers as they finished the work on the doors, removing the skeletal hand of Eladrin’s late master, gone and unmourned these three months, and replacing them with the new lord’s crest, a skull with opal eyes.

  It was hardly the only change Eladrin had made; the floor no longer bore a heavy coat of wax, and now boasted a long carpet of green weave bearing his symbol every five feet that stretched from the main entrance to his dais, as well as new slabs to replace those destroyed in the White Necromancer’s last battle. Another legacy of that battle was the five Dayar stationed to the left and right of every door.

  The liche brooded over its situation. What was troublesome was the Pargaie involvement in the assassination of his late master. Surely the Direthrell knew that their operation had been compromised by the death of one of their Nepas agents in this very room, slain by one of the White Necromancer’s personal guards, yet they acted as if Eladrin should be completely ignorant of the situation. Knowing what they knew they should have offered the usual bland lies about a rogue officer, renegade, traitor; transparent deceptions that would have put things on a normal footing. Instead, their emissaries mouthed the usual polite assurances of friendship and did not even bring up the subject of their involvement in the assassination, an attitude that could only be interpreted as a direct insult.

  Thus the liche was forced to admit to itself that the Direthrell of Arbmante were its enemy, a people who considered Eladrin’s tenure in Tiria so transitory that there was no point in wasting diplomatic maneuverings. Unhappily, the necromancer had politely severed all ties with Arbmante, knowing full and well that the end result would be trouble, but seeing no other viable course.

  Too much had been lost in the raid that had taken the White Necromancer: the master indexing system and the index for the Grand Archives had been destroyed, and a secondary archive’s index scattered, nearly half of the works in the Grand Archive destroyed or badly damaged by fire, and part of one of the levare warehouses ruined. Most of the lesser liches had left him, as had some of the older Dayar, not to mention the loss of over forty Dayar in the raid itself. Worst of all was that the massive network of agents, spies, and contacts built up by its late master had been dispersed with the death of the White Necromancer. Some were willing to work with Eladrin, but the overall network had collapsed, and it would take months to get just the willing sorted out into a usable structure, which had to be done before he could begin to use the tools of blackmail and bribery to recover some of the unwilling assets. Most would be lost, he knew, able to escape the leash the White Necromancer had had on them, or snapped up by other intelligence agencies.

  Between rebuilding the agent network, watching Arbmante, and overseeing the inventory and indexing of the written works within his domain, Eladrin would be overburdened for decades, this aside from all the usual problems that beset a ruler in dangerous lands. Thus, although it irked to no end, the liche had sent letters to four score groups and individuals who were targeted for the White Necromancer’s ire, informing each that the animosity borne by the White Necromancer had died with that individual.

  The last thing Eladrin needed at this point was more enemies.

  Durek Toolmaster made his way up the darkened stairs to Oramere’s Great Hall, which was lit by a single globe. Taking his seat, axe across his knees and mug balanced on the arm of the chair, the Dwarf stared across the room and into the distance, thoughtfully stroking his beard. He and the main body of the Badgers had been home for ten days now; the raiders had made it home a month earlier.

  A thousand and one details had awaited him when he returned, but little that warranted worrying about. The campaign on the Bloody Road had been unremarkable, with no more than a dozen skirmishes with Goblins or bandits, and no large fights; he hadn’t lost a single Badger. The news of a major battle fought with the Goblins, and a large skirmish fought with the Anlarc’s force had been a shock, but all had worked out well in the end. That the White Necromancer was dead without loss of life was better news than he had expected, and as a welcome bonus they had brought back proof positive that with the Anlarc’s death the Badgers were safe from Arbmante’s retaliation.

  They had had a small celebration today, just the Company and support staff; he had presented Bridget with the Opal Claw for outstanding leadership in the raid on the White Necromancer; Henri, Elonia, and Maxmillian had received Roll of Honor entries for that raid, as had Janna and Pug for acts of valor on the Bloody Road.

  With no losses and only two leaving the Company (recruits who had found soldiering not to their tastes), and a goodly crowd of new recruits awaiting the main body at Oramere, Durek had activated the rank of Corporal to control the growing force, promoting Kroh, Starr, Rolf, Henri, Elonia, and Maxmillian to that rank. Duna Kadal had been admitted as a Badger over Rosemary’s strident protests; to be honest, Durek did not like it either, but the girl wanted it badly, and she had proved herself worthy in action so he felt compelled to grant her request.

  They would need a bigger support staff: Rudlof had moved to Badgerhof as the town’s Mayor to replace Helmuth, and with the increased size of the Company Rosemary would need more help in the kitchen and laundry. And there was th
e business of business: with the decreased activity on the Bloody Road, the lords of Sagenhof would not be renewing the Badger’s contract next year, so a new job must be located for next season. And the Purple Spider would have to be taught a lesson, some sort of counter-raid to pay them back for the fight at Akermann’s field.

  Axel’s legs were fast regaining strength and use; it would not be long until he was able to retake the field, which meant Durek had to start training someone to replace him as castellan, and who would that be? The six new Corporals had to be instructed in the nuances of command, weakness in the Company’s training that had been exposed during the summer months must be rectified, and the new recruits had to be taught the ways of the unit, the code of mercenary work as practiced by the Phantom Badgers, and their fighting skills brought up to Company standards. And, of course, there still was the Ravenmist militia, a seething mass of training problems, and the Company’s myriad business interests in Badgerhof.

  Too much to do, and very little time to do it in; spring was scant months away, with plenty of bad weather in between that would hinder training and complicate every other activity. It was a challenge, a veritable blizzard of challenges, but he had had years of experience in facing challenges, and a fine Company to work with; Durek was far from daunted.

  Lighting his pipe, the tired Dwarf stared across the Hall. In a locked chest in his quarters were the scepter and seal of the White Necromancer, the atingo borne by Chora Kustar Pravas of Arbmante’s Pargaie, and the letter from the successor of the White Necromancer: proof positive that they had met, and mastered, the challenges before them.

  The Phantom Badgers had walked a very dark path this year, and at the end had emerged back into the light, scarred but unbroken, triumphant yet again.

  The Eight willing, it would always be so.

  About the Author

  RW Krpoun is a native of North Dakota and a longtime resident of Texas. He lives in the country with his wife Ann and a collection of ill-mannered yet photogenic animals whose antics are the stuff of legend. A veteran of the US Army and Texas Army National Guard, RW has been a Texas Peace Officer for over twenty-five years and counting, serving in a Sheriff’s Office and two Municipal Police Departments. His hobbies include shooting, reading, and learning to use medieval weapons. Dark Path is his sixth published novel.

  Aran Kir Rauko

  Imperial Calendar

  The Imperial calendar breaks the year into twelve months, each of four eight-day weeks.

  Achemteil: 1st month.

  Chiffteil: 2nd month.

  Marlt: 3rd month.

  Kammteil: 4th month.

  Natterteil: 5th month.

  Gleichteil: 6th month.

  Summteil: 7th month.

  Bannteil: 8th month.

  Zahmteil: 9th month.

  Hoffnungteil: 10th month.

  Frosteil: 11th month.

  Schnienteil: 12th month.

  Glossary

  Abedo Vardo: Gate magic.

  Albar: Direthrell unit made up of four troops, totaling about one hundred sixty infantry or eighty cavalry.

  Alhenland: The northern continent.

  Ampara Oseta: Clerical magic.

  Amplis Novo: The art and arts of Seers, those who delve into the future, the past, and the geographically-removed present.

  Amplus Viraes: Healing arts.

  Amplus Xystus: The Watchers, a sub-branch of Seers trained for very specific types of work.

  Andern: The pure stuff of the Void, drawn through special places known as anverax, or verax.

  Anlarc: Dark Threll Void Champions.

  Anoited of the Night King: Formal title for full vampires.

  Anverax: A place where the highest grade of andern can be drawn. Only two anverax are known to exist, with a third having been altered in the distant past. A fourth is in the process of being activated by the Direthrell.

  Arm of the Dark One: A unit of three to ten Fists, usually around one hundred Direbreed.

  Atingo: A Direthrell rank baton signifying temporary carte blanch power.

  Baia: Goblin senior captain.

  Baum flax: Light, silky material.

  Black Dwarves: Chaos Dwarves, as called by non-Dwarves. See also Darklings, Fortren.

  Blotar Gaughak: The Orcish term for the northern Wastes, the ‘Iron Land’.

  Breedstone: The jagged crystal shard which contains a Direbreed's life-force, and which can be used to re-spawn the creature, memories and skills intact.

  Burunmek: A dark substance used too much in smelting by Black Dwarves, hence their name.

  Careau: A game of hexagonal tiles that is a cross between poker and bridge.

  Ceth: Tribal clans of humans hanging on in the northern wastes; extremely anti-Void.

  Changelings: Dark Champions. See also Scarred Ones, Champions of the Dark One, or Minions of Chaos.

  Champions of the Dark One: Dark One Champion. See also Scarred Ones, Changlings, or Minions of Chaos.

  Children of the Anointed: Formal title for secondary vampires.

  Chora: Direthrell company-grade officer. Commands an Albar. Normally it is the maximum rank for a Thane.

  Chorapel: A Direthrell field-grade officer. Military Chorapels command Yalbars. Normally it is the maximum rank for a Nepas.

  Choralon: A Direthrell field-grade officer. Military Choralons are the second-in-command of a Yalbar.

  Clanguard: Dwarven professional troops.

  Comhla: Lanthrell language.

  Curion: Direthrell verbal salute (‘Sir’) to superiors of the highest level. See also Orbi, Curoria, Curor.

  Curor: Direthrell verbal salute (‘Sir’) to immediate or close superior. See also Orbi, Curoria, Curion.

  Curoria: Direthrell verbal salute (‘Sir’) to higher superiors. See also Orbi, Curor, Curion.

  Darkhost: A Direbreed army.

  Darklings: Chaos Dwarves, as called by non-Dwarves. See also Black Dwarves, Fortren.

  Dayar: Skeletal Undead champions.

  Direbreed: Beast-men housed in mutated flesh. See Breedstones

  Direthrell: Dark Threll. The term ‘dark’ refers to their allegiance to the Void, as they are very pale-skinned.

  Domhain: A tree whose sap acts as insect repellant.

  Dora: Direthrell junior officer. Leads a section.

  Dorapel: Direthrell junior officer. In the military, second-in-command of a Troop.

  Doralon: Direthrell company-grade officer, petty-captain. Troop commander. Maximum rank for Direbreed.

  Egrai: Primary or entrance Gate portal.

  Egran: Secondary or exit Gate portal.

  Era: A Direthrell administrative rank, similar to ‘Lord’.

  Ercagrad: The administrative bloc of Direthrell society.

  Ercahel: Dark Threll religious power bloc.

  Ercamana: The merchant House blocs of the Direthrell. Plural is -manen.

  Felher: Rat-men created by the Black Dwarves, whose uprising crippled the Void-worshipping Dwarven clans.

  Fortren: Chaos Dwarves, as called by Dwarves. Means The Fallen. See also Black Dwarves, Darklings.

  Fuar: Dwarf clan.

  Garnir: Orc message points or markers.

  Garnul: Orc victory totems or markers.

  Guta: Goblin camouflage smock.

  Harthrell: Sea-faring Threll.

  Hecla: Greek fire-type weapon used by Direthrell.

  Heller's Pox: A sexually transmitted disease found amongst Direthrell.

  Jongala: Mounted Goblin warrior.

  Jugata: Goblin foot warriors.

  Keiba: Goblin tribe-nation.

  Ketta Tain: Necromancy.

  Komad: Dwarven war-pig mounts.

  Kurvanak: Orc clan.

  Lana: Threll word for forest (homes).

  Lana Erhani: Forest Warders. The deadly Threll scouts.

  Lana Erin: Forest Guard. The regular warriors of a Lana.

  Lanthrell: Forest Threll.

  Lapla: Goblin sergeant.


  Lechtor: Lesser liches.

  Levare: An enchanted container of bone fragments used to summon Dayar.

  Minion of Chaos: Chaos Champion. See also Changelings, Champions of the Dark One, Scarred Ones.

  Nepas: Direthrell word for a half-breed with Direthrell blood.

  Nescia: Sextant-like device used to plot a course. Uses a Cordierite crystal and mirrors to indicate north.

  Nuadh: The Direthrell language.

  Orbi: Direthrell verbal salute (‘Sir’) from slave to any non-slave. See also Curor, Curoria, Curion.

  Pa: Goblin Corporal.

  Pac: Felher basic social unit. A military pac has 30-100 warriors.

  Pargaie: Direthrell spy / assassin corps.

  Peton Moss: Glowing moss found underground.

  Renac: Orc falchion, a long cleaver-like sword.

  Risarn: Dwarven meteoric steel.

  Ruwen: Dark-skinned Suflanders from the west-central coastal regions.

  Seko lizard: Carnivorous lizards used as watch dogs for the Cave Goblins.

  Serann: Goblin officer, Serao commander.

  Serao: A Goblin company of forty to one hundred warriors.

  Sufland: The southern continent.

  Tala: Basic Orc military unit, consisting of ten to fifteen Orcs. Led by a Talachek.

  Talachek: A junior Orc leader.

  Thane: Willing slave-servants of the Direthrell. Will be of any race except Direthrell or Nepas.

  Toma Inge: Gray, primitive magic.

  Umherr: Dwarves who leave their homes to aid other races in the war between Light and the Void.

  Urtala: Orc troop of two to six Tala.

  Ustor: Status where exceptional Nepas are promoted to full Direthrell status.

  Vectius Menana: The wizardly art of magic.

  Vectius Meum: The art of mystics.

  Verax: True Place, where rituals can be performed to draw andern from the Void.

  Vrapnos: Orc nation.

  Waghorctein: Orc horde leader, warlord.

  Weehoc: A Felher nation.

  Yalbar: A Direthrell unit of four Albar.