by David Aries
“Pussies,” Titania said. “They call themselves soldiers? What sorta soldiers run from rats? It’s a fucking joke.” She kicked the wagon.
Her foot shattered through the thin wood, causing an almighty racket. Pulling her leg back did the same, as well as putting the wagon off-balance. The whole thing groaned, toppling into the sludge pool.
“What’d you do that for?” I complained.
“Shut it. I didn’t know it’d break.”
“Don’t start fighting,” Esther ordered. She tensed, ears twitching. “Something’s coming.” Her eyes darted around, trying to place exactly where from.
Seconds later, I heard it too. Sounded like it was coming from everywhere.
Because it was.
Demon rats poured from every outlet like a thick black sewage brimming with evil intent. There had to be a thousand of them and they were converging on us.
We backed together but had nowhere to go. The sewer pool was on our heels and rats blocked every tunnel.
“Why are there so many?!” Titania squealed.
“Too many,” Esther said, aiming her pistols.
I gritted my teeth. She wasn’t wrong. Having the numerical disadvantage wasn’t anything new but this was ridiculous. If we stood our ground we’d end up like that poor smuggler.
“Follow me,” I ordered, making my move. Our only hope was escaping. I had to secure us a path.
I jumped into the incoming swarm and got swinging. Accuracy didn’t matter. It was all about speed and range. I flailed my burning haymakers in the widest arc possible.
Every pest I struck was ripped apart, but I couldn’t get them all. Those out of my reach sunk their huge buck fangs into my exposed flesh. A dozen enamel daggers stabbed into my thighs.
I bit back a grunt and kept going. Slowing down wasn’t an option.
Esther picked off the rats clinging to my body. Titania did the same with her spear.
“We’ve got you covered,” Esther said.
That's what I wanted to hear. I roared and pushed ahead, pummeling every rat in my path.
Demon blood caked my hands and sharp fangs split my knuckles open. It was worth it. The sickening black curtain spread apart revealing an open tunnel; a way out.
“Move!” I yelled, shepherding the others past me.
The rats weren’t far behind. They weren’t willing to give up their prey without a fight.
I bolted after my team, glancing back to keep track of the demons. The black tidal wave was coming. It consumed the tunnel and would us if we didn’t escape.
Dessa summoned a sludge-infused ice wall between me and the swarm.
“Nice o&emdash;”
The rats broke through before I finished. Alone, they were weak. Together, there was no barrier which could hold them.
“This is ridiculous!” Titania squawked.
“We can’t escape like this,” Esther said, taking ineffectual potshots at the rats.
She wasn’t wrong. The rats were gaining. I’d be washed away within a minute if I didn’t think of something.
Hurry it up. I don’t want to die here. I will not die to a bunch of rats.
And I couldn’t let the girls die either. I had to try something.
“Dessa,” I said. “Can you freeze the walls?”
“To a degree,” she responded, short on breath.
“Do it. As much as you can.”
“Oh, he’s got an idea. I love it when he’s got an idea.” She raised her wand and summoned a dazzling blue shine.
The walls turned from an unwell gray into a chilled white, freezing slime leakage mid-trickle. The frost spread around the tunnel’s entire circumference.
Perfect.
I skidded to a stop at the end of the winter wonderland. The rats were almost upon me, so I made it quick. I smashed the frozen brickwork, shattering the foundations.
Cracks spread through Dessa’s handiwork. It collapsed moments later. The tunnel’s roof caved in, landing on the incoming swarm.
Rubble blocked the entire passage. The rats were trapped on the other side.
“My hero,” Dessa said, hugging my back.
I exhaled. Thank god that worked. So many things could have gone wrong but the demolition had been a success. The route was closed. There was no way through.
Bang.
The blockade shook, scattering the smaller rocks. Then another. The debris seemed to bounce, shaking dust from the ceiling.
My eyes bulged. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“Run,” Esther said, pulling Dessa and I along.
After we made some distance, the rats burst through the makeshift bulwark and continued their chase. Even a fucking tunnel collapse couldn’t stop them.
We reached a ladder and bolted up as the rumble of incoming terror approached. I was the last one to ascend.
A stream of evil covered the ladder’s base a moment after I’d sprung off the rung. They yapped at me, eyes burning with menace, but this was one obstacle too far for them.
We got up and out of there as quick as we could, sealing the hatch shut behind us. We emerged in a street. Which one, I didn’t know. Nor did I care. Anywhere was better than being down there.
“Holy shit,” I said, collapsing. “Too close.”
“It’s worse than I thought,” Esther said, catching her breath.
“No shit,” Titania said. “How can they let that happen? If that ever got up here…”
It’d be a massacre; a straight-up slaughter. I shook my head and tried not to dwell. “We have to do something.”
“Agreed,” Esther said. “We barely scratched the problem.”
“Where are they coming from?” Titania said. “It’s never been this bad before.”
“Perhaps there’s a queen?” Dessa suggested.
“It’s possible. Would explain a lot,” Esther said.
“I’ll request assistance from the spirits. They aren’t fond of cities but anything to get rid of those rats. Yuck. So repulsive.” Dessa sniffed her clothes. “Ah! And they’re not the only ones. This won’t do at all. Come, come. Back to the bar. I’m in desperate need of a bath.”
“But the rats,” I said.
“They’re not going anywhere, darling. Neither is this scent if we lollygag.”
“She’s got a point,” Esther said. “We can’t do anything until they disperse. We’ll start again tomorrow.”
“Right,” I reluctantly agreed. So much for the demon-free city of Grabadon.
Chapter 5
Getting stained in the sewers’ abhorrent stink was unpleasant. Removing that clinging scent was anything but. Gall’s club had a luxury bath she insisted we use.
I was more of a shower guy, but that was, in part, because I’d never had a tub like Gall’s. Install some jets and you could pass it off as a Jacuzzi. The water was hot enough. Perfect temperature for washing away your troubles. And the rotten odor following you everywhere.
By the time my long soak was over, the smell was gone. I was back to my wonderful best.
My clothes were not.
Removing foulness from fabric was harder than scrubbing down a person. All our outfits were contaminated and needed a lot of work to be fit for wear. It wasn’t so bad for the girls. They had full wardrobes to choose from, even if there were a lot of repeats to be found.
Seriously, Titania owned a ton of white leotards.
I, on the other hand, had nothing. All I owned were a single pair of boots, one pair of pants, and a badass red cape. They all stunk like a festival portable toilet.
The rats concerned me but I couldn’t do much naked. I needed new clothes and I needed them quick.
We delayed our second round of pest control and went shopping.
“This is so embarrassing,” I complained.
“It’s okay. These things happen,” Esther said. “We’ll hunt tomorrow.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I groaned, doing my best to avoid eye contact with anyone.
> I couldn’t shop naked and I couldn’t wear an outfit that smelled like a skunk’s backside. That cut down my options. I didn’t have any guy friends in Grabadon. The only man I knew was half my height with a giant beard. Something told me we weren’t the same size.
There was one person around my height and they were happy to lend something. I had no choice but to accept. That was the cause of my current issue. Gall’s wardrobe wasn’t the manliest.
I blushed beet red as I shuffled through the city’s most populated area wearing a pair of bright pink animal print sweatpants. Up top, I was bare. It was that or a spaghetti strap black tank top that didn’t cover my abs. I took my chances remaining shirtless. Might have been a mistake. Didn’t feel the same when I wasn’t kitted like a wannabe barbarian. Without the cape, I looked like a pervert.
People glanced as I passed. Of course they did. Who wouldn’t?
At least it wasn’t a corset and fishnets.
“You look cute,” Dessa said, wiggling her bountiful bosom into her designated spot on my arm. “You should let me dress you.”
“Definitely not,” I said. The last thing I needed was clothing advice from someone dressed like a slutty genie. Not that she looked bad in her flimsy, light pink garments. It took considerable effort not to ogle her at every possible chance.
“No fun, darling,” Dessa complained, pouting.
“Don’t threat. I’ll find you something,” the reliable Esther said.
It was just the three of us. Titania hadn’t reacted positively to the prospect of finding me a new wardrobe. It was for the best. My outfit was painful enough without her input. The eyes of the Grabadon residents were plenty.
“Let’s make this quick,” I said, jumping into the closest clothing shop.
The store was filled with a variety of fabrics and colors. It wasn’t too dissimilar to a shop from Earth. Most of the clothing seemed familiar. It was something I’d realized during my stay. People didn’t dress in the fantasy style I’d envisioned. It was shirts and pants rather than witch hats and flashy robes. Dessa was an exception. Titania too. Technically me, for the last fortnight. Not that I looked better wearing tacky joggers.
At least Esther dressed like a real person.
“How about this?” Esther said, holding up a basic black t-shirt.
“That doesn’t look too bad,” I remarked.
“Darling, darling,” Dessa said. “How about this?” She held up a pair of tiny white shorts.
“No. No, no, no. There’s no way they’re for men.”
“But you’d look so good in them. Imagine that bulge.”
I did not imagine. I went with Esther’s suggestions and presented my stack of clothing to the goblin shopkeeper.
There weren’t any goblins in New Hoffen, but they were common in Grabadon. They had a similar skin color to orcs but were much shorter; even smaller than dwarves. Rather than tusks they had big ears and pointy noses. They weren’t hideous like games made them out to be. Nor did they live in huts and eat children. The imps covered that niche.
“That’ll be thirty rupets,” the goblin said.
“Thirty?! That’s a total rip-off,” I said.
My knowledge of the Terix economy wasn’t great but I’d been taught the basics. One hundred rupas made a rupon. One hundred rupons made a rupet. It wasn’t a million miles away from the currency system seen in some games. A single rupet was a considerable amount of money. At least, it was supposed to be.
“It’s the going rate. Won’t find them cheaper anywhere else.”
“It’s three grand. For some clothes.”
“Top-quality clothing. Look at this stitching. This’ll last you. Won’t need to borrow your mom’s pants ever again.”
The joggers were shameful but not enough to override my cheapness. Years on minimum wage had conditioned me to hunt for bargains, not splash a fortune on basic essentials. I returned the clothing and hunted elsewhere.
We scoured all over the four high streets, checking every clothing store we located. It was no good. The shopkeep hadn’t lied. They all touted the same astronomical prices.
In the end, I purchased thanks to Esther’s insistence. I was ready to return empty-handed but she forced a wardrobe upon me. Probably for the best. Not that my heart agreed.
“Three grand. Three grand for this,” I complained, grasping my plain black t-shirt.
Technically, it was for all the clothing I’d bought. That didn’t quell my outrage.
“We can afford it,” Esther said. Crystals were big sellers and we’d harvested plenty.
“What about everyone else? No wonder they’re wearing rags.”
Nobody in view was, but that was no surprise. Only those with money came to the main road. Everything was overpriced. Even the food. A loaf of bread would set you back a rupet.
Those without any wealth were hidden out of sight, starving and freezing.
“It’s how cities are.”
“Why? New Hoffen wasn’t like this.” A handful of rupons and the inn would treat you right. How did we get from there to rupets for clothing?
“Greed, mainly,” Dessa said. “Having a monopoly is wonderful… for the monopoly. For everyone else, not so much.”
“They know people will pay,” Esther said. “Few are willing to risk leaving. It’s better to starve in safety than struggle outside.”
“That’s fucked up,” I growled. “Don’t they care?”
“If they cared it wouldn’t be like this. They own all the food.” Esther pointed at the inner wall, which the district’s prosperity surrounded. “The Farming District’s behind there. I’ve never seen it myself but they say there’s enough to go around.”
“But sharing and caring doesn’t make them money,” Dessa said.
“The nobles, right?” I asked.
“That’s right. Clever boy. You remembered.”
“I’m not a total idiot,” I complained. “They live on the other side of the Farming District.” I’d seen a basic doodle. The city was three circles.
“Yes,” Esther confirmed. “Common, outside. Farming, middle. Noble in the center. Isolated away.”
“Their own private paradise where we mere mortals aren’t permitted to tread,” Dessa said. “I wonder what it looks like? The spirits say it’s incredible. Our little green friend the same. The castle does leave a rather large impression.”
The castle loomed, watching over us all. If the Noble District looked half as impressive as that picturesque monstrosity it would put the rest of Grabadon to shame.
“I’ve heard there are shops selling items you would think exist only in dreams,” Dessa continued. “Homes with enough space to accommodate hundreds. A grand coliseum that showcases spectacles beyond all comprehension.”
“Bet they ain’t starving,” I commented.
“Perish the thought. Don’t you know how important they are? Born into wealth, superior by blood. We are but their humble servants. A buffer of flesh to work their fields and slow down the demons.”
“You make them sound so unpleasant.”
“But that wasn’t my intention at all,” Dessa insisted with a mock gasp. “I’m sure they’re wonderful people, looking down on us from their ivory tower.”
I sniggered. Titania had warned me. I’d judged the book by its cover. The sleeve was fancy, but the pages were rotten. Grabadon was only a sanctuary for a select few. Everyone else was an afterthought.
You know what they say. Speak about the devil and he will appear. As we were returning to the bar, we and all the other shoppers were ushered apart to allow a wagon to pass.
The wagon was a spectacle compared to our plain metal fortress and that was no insult to our mobile base. This particular vehicle was twice the size with a glossy white coating. A golden trim hugged the edges in an attempt to appear more grandiose. Four guards marched around the trundling beast, all dressed in the same attire as Titania. They were the first sentries I’d seen during my short time in Grabad
on.
“Is that one of them?” I asked.
“Correct again, darling,” Dessa said. “As you can see, they like to keep things subtle.”
“About as subtle as expected.”
“So true. It’s rare to see them mingling with we little people. I wonder where they’re going?”
“It’s none of our business,” Esther said.
The answer, as we discovered, was Diarmuid’s garage. A crowd gathered around the entrance, peeking inside. Curiosity about the nobles, I presumed.
“You again?!” It was Diarmuid. His voice was too loud to miss, even from a distance. “How many times?! The answer’s no!”
“Jake, don’t,” Esther said.
I was already in the crowd, muscling my way to a spectator’s spot.
Inside the garage, two sides faced off. Diarmuid was red-faced, shielding Blair with his body. “I don’t care who you are! Leave us alone!”
Opposite him was the noble and his posse. It wasn’t difficult to identify the moneybags. The leading candidate stood in the middle, shaped and dressed like a bright red bauble. A blond mop of hair balanced on his dome, reminiscent of a dead animal. Tasteful it was not.
The four escorts stood around him, because you needed that much security when meeting a man and his only daughter. It wasn’t the amount I’d bring for a simple chat.
Behind them, near the wagon, were two bikini-clad girls. Usually, I was a fan of the barely dressed woman. Gall’s bar was filled with them and then there was Dessa. This pair was different. They didn’t own their look. Their body language was all wrong; sheepish. Thick metal collars hung around their necks. I didn’t take them for fashion accessories.
Yep, no mistaking the noble.
“That isn’t going to happen,” the portly noble said, voice oozing out. “I won’t stop until I get what’s mine.”
“She isn’t yours! She’ll never be yours!” Diarmuid barked.
“That isn’t for you to decide.”
“Like she thinks any different. Get out of here!”
“Silence, old man. I’m sick of hearing your drivel. Blair can speak for herself.”
“It won’t change a bleeding thing!”
The noble blanked Diarmuid and addressed Blair. “You’ve made me wait long enough.” He offered his hand. His sausage fingers sparkled, covered in gold rings. “Stop playing hard to get. Accept your place as my mistress.”
