Elven Accord

by Daniel Schinhofen

  “Lucky for you. Our world is rife with the dead coming back,” Alvin said. “If a person dies there, they stand up. I’ve noticed that your dead seem to take a bit longer to animate.”

  “That is troubling news,” Wintersbreath said. “If one of the necromancers makes it to the Gate, who knows what kind of havoc they could cause on the other side?”

  “Especially with that enrage thing. I wasn’t expecting the bears to double in size.”

  “Your efforts did help the gate survive,” Wintersbreath said. “I don’t think they would have withstood the onslaught otherwise.”

  “It did a number on my Humvee, but that’s being fixed. Slowly,” Alvin said.

  As they were led through the house, Alvin saw the same sparse utilitarian aesthetic inside. The only real decorations were weapons on the walls with brackets holding them in place, but each blade they passed was honed and oiled.

  “This place is a small fortress,” Alvin noted.

  “It is the last line of defense,” Wintersbreath explained. “In the years since the necromancers retreated into the woods, this manor has twice been the last standing structure in this town.”

  Alvin blinked. “This town has fallen twice?”

  “Yes, and the others have both fallen at least once, as well. Every time, the army comes and throws the undead back. We’ve killed some of the necromancers who fled during the long years, but there are still some left, obviously.” Stopping just short of a set of double doors, Wintersbreath put a smile on her face before knocking and opening them. “Matriarch Deatheyes, I present you Matriarch Gothy and her two retainers.”

  Following Wintersbreath into the dining room, Alvin saw the Matriarch as she rose from her seat. Gaunt, dark as night, and unsmiling, the Matriarch bowed her head in greeting. “Welcome to my home, Matriarch Gothy. I’m Matriarch Meira Deatheyes.”

  Becky gave the Matriarch a polite smile, “Thank you for having us.”

  “It is the least I could do. You were instrumental in fending off today’s attack, so I’m told.”

  “We did what we could,” Becky replied. “This is Mousie and Hero.”

  “Welcome to my home, Kuro Lightskin,” Deatheyes said, staring at her. “I was not expecting to learn of your leaving Matriarch Lightkiller’s service.”

  “I had not expected it to happen when I stepped through the Gate,” Kuro replied stiffly.

  Eyes going to Alvin, Deatheyes studied him closely. “A light skinned male that resembles the demons of old, and yet helps keep my town safe… I’m at a loss as to what to even say to you.”

  “You’re welcome?” Alvin said.

  “That is a place to start,” Deatheyes nodded, her lips twitching upwards briefly. “Thank you, all three of you, for your efforts today. Champion Wintersbreath is charged with defense of the barrier towns, and you are her sword, if she has told me correctly.”

  “Not quite,” Becky said, her eyes flickering to Wintersbreath. “The Queen tasked us with helping to defend the towns. Champion Wintersbreath is in charge of the army and is supposed to assist us.”

  “Is that so?” Deatheyes looked at the Champion.

  “That is true,” Wintersbreath said. “I’m to use the army as a shield for the towns, aiding them as I can.”

  “If the necromancers in the woods are causing the trouble, we might need to go in after them,” Becky said.

  “Death claims all who enter the woods,” Deatheyes said seriously. “I would leave that for a final resort.”

  “Matriarch, dinner is ready,” a maid said from the doorway to the kitchen.

  “Let us dine,” Deatheyes said, taking her seat again.

  Dinner was a simple three course affair, served with the dark red wine that seemed to be the standard on Svargax. The salad was fairly plain, fresh mixed greens dressed with vinegar and oil. The main course was grezle steak, which Deatheyes assured them was not from the undead that had attacked the town. Dessert was something special: it looked like chocolate pudding, but that was far from the truth. Deatheyes called it puddle cake, and it did have a cake-like center under the pudding topping. Alvin was surprised when there wasn’t any chocolate flavor; the closest comparison he could come up with was orange creamsicle for the pudding along with angel food cake for the center and was served alongside a sweet vanilla liqueur.

  Pushing away his empty dessert bowl, Alvin downed the last of the liqueur with a sigh. “That dessert was amazing, Matriarch Deatheyes.”

  “It is a specialty of my cook,” Deatheyes said with a hint of a smile. “She is quite gifted when it comes to sweets.”

  “I would say so,” Becky agreed as she finished her dessert.

  Kuro was the last one to finish. “I’m honored to have been served your acclaimed dessert, Matriarch Deatheyes.”

  “It is the least I can do for the saviors of my town,” Deatheyes said, then turned her gaze back to Becky. “I’m curious, Matriarch Gothy... what are your plans to deal with the outbreak we are facing?”

  “I’m—” Becky began, but was cut off as the door to the dining room was pulled open roughly.

  “Champion Wintersbreath, we’ve received a message from Helinaholt! It’s under attack!”

  “Saddle the sevras!” Wintersbreath shouted, getting to her feet hurriedly.

  Becky was on her feet almost as quickly, her fancy dress replaced with her standard gear in an eye blink. “Which way is Helinaholt and how far?”

  “North by fifty miles,” Wintersbreath said.

  “Hero,” Becky said, “we need the cars.”

  “This isn’t a settlement of mine. We’ll have to go back to the base to grab them.” Alvin toggled his UI, opening a portal to their base in the room.

  Deatheyes blinked when a softly glowing doorway appeared against one of the walls. “What is that?”

  “I’ll explain later,” Alvin said, running through it, followed by Becky and Kuro.

  Jarvis had all the doors open for them, allowing them a quick exit through the garage. The Mustang and Humvee were also ready to go and they piled into the vehicles. “Good luck, sir,” Jarvis called after them.

  “Thanks, Jarvis,” Alvin said as he got the Humvee warming to start.

  Becky slapped Ruffian into reverse and shot out of the garage. Alvin grumbled as he finally got the Humvee started and followed her out.

  Should have had Mousie come with me, Alvin chided himself. As he cleared the garage, he saw Becky’s tail lights headed for the north end of town. “Damn, Gothy, don’t leave me completely behind.”

  “I’ll get there in half the time and can interfere until you and the others show up,” Becky said over the radio. “I’ll play it safe, don’t worry. I’m not giving up one of my lives for the town.”

  “Okay,” Alvin grumbled. “If you don’t play it safe, I’ll withhold all sex for a month.”

  “Now I really have to play it safe,” Becky laughed.

  The two vehicles sped north, Ruffian going all out. The Humvee did its best, but was never going to keep up with the Mustang. Alvin grimaced when a large group of sevras went past him, Wintersbreath at the fore of the charge.

  “Fucking things are as fast as Ruffian,” Alvin blinked. “I’m going to be the last one to the party, fuck.”

  ~*~*~

  Alvin gripped the steering wheel tight as he got closer to Helinaholt. Fires were burning inside the town, the flames lighting up the evening sky. Squinting as he got closer, he didn’t see Ruffian anywhere.

  “Gothy? Where are you?”

  “North side of the town,” Becky replied back. “Dealing with the cat-things. The bears had broken down a gate by the time I got here, and the town was already burning.”

  “Where are Wintersbreath and the others?”

  “Haven’t seen them,” Becky replied.

  “They probably went inside the walls,” Alvin growled. “It’s going to be a death trap in there.” Shaking his head, Alvin ordered the car to the north side of town, and gave ins
tructions to follow the Mustang when they got within sight of it. Climbing into the back, Alvin popped the hatch and got ready to use the M240B.

  Alvin inhaled sharply when the Humvee finally made it to the north side of the town. Becky was weaving back and forth at speed while a single gun from the passenger side window fired in bursts.

  The Humvee fell in behind the Mustang and Alvin aimed to the driver’s side to help even out the damage. He targeted the undead that had been clipped by the Mustang, as the falunes were fast and agile beasts otherwise.

  Alvin cursed when the gun ran empty, and switched over to his Type 56. It worked out for him, when one of the falunes leapt at the Humvee and snagged the shield next to the gun. Flicking the selector to full auto, Alvin emptied the magazine of his rifle into the beast’s snarling face, which pulped under the onslaught. Quickly reloading the magazine, Alvin targeted a new falune that was leaping at him.

  “Hero, to our right,” Becky called to him.

  The falune slammed into the roof of the Humvee and slid off. It had died in mid-air from damage taken from Alvin’s shots. Reloading the rifle again, Alvin looked toward the town and cursed, “Fucking come on.”

  The rifle vanished into his glove, and Alvin pulled the M240B around to target the grezles bearing down on them. The ammo belt appeared in the gun, and Alvin opened fire into the oncoming horde. “Don’t let them hit you! It’ll flip the Mustang!”

  “I’m going to come around behind them,” Becky said as Ruffian began to open the distance between them.

  “Got it. Humvee, angle away from the coming mobs,” Alvin said. The Humvee banked hard to the left at his order. Turning to reacquire the mobs, Alvin continued to fire at them. “I don’t think I can keep them away for long.”

  “We’ll be there,” Becky replied. “Mousie, take this one, too. Rotate between them while they reload.”

  “Understood, Matriarch,” Kuro replied, her voice coming over the radio clearly.

  Alvin ran out of ammo on the M240B and resummoned his rifle. “Humvee, turn further away. I want them to chase us, but stay out of the woods.” Alvin was just able to brace for the harder turn the Humvee cut as he finished speaking.

  “We’re coming up behind them now,” Becky said.

  “Thank you,” Alvin replied as he began to fire bursts into the grezles chasing him. The muzzle flashes from the Mustang were distracting, and kept making him want to duck even though she wasn’t aiming near him.

  “It’s really hard to see those flashes and keep driving toward them,” Becky said, mirroring his own thoughts.

  “I’m doing my best to angle the shots to the sides or down enough that you should be okay,” Alvin said as he reloaded the Type. “I’ll need to see about adding a flood light to the shielding so I can see better at night,” Alvin muttered.

  “It’s a good idea,” Becky replied. “This is our first night combat, though.”

  “Point,” Alvin said, letting the glove take his rifle when the M240B had reloaded. “Bravo going hot again.”

  “Got it,” Becky said, angling a bit more to one side of the group chasing the Humvee. “Aim down that side first.”

  Shifting his aim, Alvin chuckled as he kept the gun firing with short bursts. When the grezles all suddenly pivoted and ran at the Mustang, his jaw dropped. He held the trigger down, hoping to make some of them stumble from the sheer volume of ammo hitting them.

  Becky was even more surprised, but she reacted to it. Twisting the wheel while her foot pushed the pedal all the way down, Becky shifted gears as the engine revved up. “What the fuck!?”

  “Humvee, chase the grezles,” Alvin shouted when the M240B ran out of ammo again. Holding onto the roof, Alvin wasn’t thrown too hard when the Humvee swung around as fast as it could. A figure in dark robes was briefly illuminated near the forest when the headlights flashed over it. “Run, Gothy! I think I found a necromancer.”

  “Take them! Maybe these things will fall over,” Becky replied as she sped away from the beasts. “Keep firing, Mousie.”

  Alvin shouted new orders to the Humvee and held on as it swung back the other way. Summoning his Type to his hand, Alvin brought the rifle up just as the headlights illuminated the person standing near the woods. Not wasting time, Alvin began to fire in controlled bursts. One of the first few rounds hit the figure and staggered them back a step before a grey glowing field sprang up around them.

  “I’ll chew through that barrier, asshole,” Alvin growled as he peppered the shield with his remaining rounds. Quickly slapping the magazine back into the rifle, he emptied it a second time before letting it vanish back into his glove again.

  The figure turned to run, the barrier visibly wavering already. Alvin snarled and grabbed the M240B, aiming at the fleeing person’s back. As soon as the ammo reappeared, he began firing quick bursts. The barrier shattered just as the figure got to the first tree and the next few rounds pitched them forward.

  “Run them over,” Alvin told the Humvee, “then back up.”

  “The grezles are coming back for you, Hero. I’m chasing them again,” Becky’s voice came over the radio.

  Alvin didn’t reply, but kept firing until they were too close to the figure, who was trying to get back to its feet. Summoning his submachine gun, Alvin triggered the flashlight on its foregrip. The thud of the Humvee hitting the robed figure was followed by the vehicle skidding to a halt. Alvin grinned at the second thump from under the Humvee as it reversed over them.

  Ducking down, Alvin jumped out the door as the Humvee came to a stop. Struggling to his feet, the bloody dark-skinned Elf stared at the bright light focused on him with horror. The necromancer opened his mouth to speak, but Alvin never gave him the chance. Thirty rounds from his gun ripped through the Elf’s head and neck, sending blood and brain flying.

  A burst of bright purple energy rushed out of the body as the Elf died. Alvin screamed as his nerves lit up with pain impulses. Muscles clenching, he pitched forward onto his face, the energy clinging to him.

  “Hero! Hero, what happened!?” Becky’s frantic voice screamed at him through the radio.

  Alvin only knew pain as the life drained from him. Images of Becky calling out to him, running to him, but never making it, filled his mind. Gothy… I’m sorry.

  ~*~*~

  The grezles collapsed after the flash of purple light and Alvin’s scream. Swerving around them, Becky was frantic to get to him, but had to go around the bodies. When she was as close as she could get, she stood on the brakes and yanked the parking brake up, then bailed out of the still moving car. Alvin’s screaming had gotten dimmer as his voice grew more hoarse. Becky ran to him, digging a trauma kit from her bag.

  Slapping the kit to him brought his voice back to full strength, but he just kept screaming. A residual purple mist clung to him still. Thrusting her hand back into her bag, she pulled a bottle out and upended it on Alvin. The purple mist vanished as the glowing golden liquid splashed on him, the scream cutting off abruptly.

  Panting hard, Alvin opened his eyes to find Becky kneeling over him, her eyes wet with the tears dripping from them. “Sorry, Gothy.”

  Relief flashed across her face and she crushed him to her. “Asshole, I thought you had gotten killed.”

  “Almost,” Alvin managed with difficulty, his face stuffed into her cleavage. “Whatever that was, it was sapping my life away. I couldn’t do anything but scream.”

  “What do we do now?” Kuro asked from a few feet away, scanning the darkness so nothing crept up on them.

  “Loot, then head to town and see if Wintersbreath is still alive in there. Maybe mount a rescue on the manor,” Alvin said. “Gothy, give me some more air please.”

  Letting go of him, Becky wiped at her eyes. “We should go into the woods and hunt the fuckers down.”

  “We probably will tomorrow,” Alvin said. “At a distance, though… How did you get the pain to go away?”

  “I purchased a panacea a few days ago,” Becky s
aid, getting to her feet. “I figured we might need it at some point. The trauma kit didn’t stop whatever that was, but did at least heal you.”

  “Remind me to buy a few of those and make sure we all carry a couple each,” Alvin said, getting to his feet with Becky’s help. “Have Ruffian follow us. I want you on the gun. Kuro will ride shotgun, and I’ll drive.”

  “Okay,” Becky said, grabbing him and kissing him hard.

  When the kiss ended, Alvin pulled her back in and kissed her again, just as hard. Panting when they stopped the second time, Alvin squeezed her to him. “That was a brutal reminder that even with all our shit, we can be killed. It was lucky for me that you were there for me.”