Into the Hells

by Christopher Johns

  “Light the flames and burn the stars, archers arrows fly so far, but the light in you will shine so true, little Paladin,” Bokaj’s voice, strained with suffering, rang out around us a slow melody on the guitar carried his words farther. I felt better and watched as my mana and health both began to restore by small amounts. “That light so true comes not just from you, but the friends in your life and your sweet little moon. She watches from afar, you know who you are, little Paladin.”

  The lich chuckled once, then began to laugh deeper as he slowly meandered over to the singing figure prone on the floor. “You think a song will save you, you inept bardling?”

  It didn’t matter that Coal was cutting the fuck out of his mouth trying to bite the mail and pull him away. It didn’t matter that Tmont had pounced out of nowhere and tried to pull the lich away. He smacked the cat away like a fly and kept walking forward unfazed.

  The lich lifted Bokaj by the front of his shirt, and the man smiled weakly. “No,” he spat in the lich’s face, “I think it’s all a friend needed to hear.”

  James had managed to sneak close enough to sunder the lich’s armor once more and stuck an arrow in the hole. Bokaj swung his ringed fist at the arrow, and a wave of concentrated force shoved the improvised shiv into his target.

  The lich shrieked once, then fell silent as Jaken’s face came back to the surface with a grimace of pure determination. We watched as he struggled to regain his body.

  “Come on, man,” I heard James mutter from right next to him. Jaken gnashed his teeth, and I saw the ghostly lich return. Then the inner struggle began in earnest.

  “Fight that bitch back, motherfucker!” Yohsuke shouted as he stumbled to his feet. “You ain’t no punk ass.”

  “Do it for Luna,” I growled. “Your daughter needs you. We need you. So get your ASS up!”

  Bokaj reached out and tapped his forehead, and Jaken fell to his knees. I walked over and cast Purify on Jaken once.

  “Luna,” Bokaj stated, then looked at us to get us to join him as he said it again.

  “Luna,” we implored together. Jaken’s head fell into his hand, and he shouted mutely.

  “Luna,” we repeated, watching as he slammed the ground with his fist, and the floor beneath him cracked.

  “Luna!” The mute from the arrow began to wear off. The ghostly moan from the lich and Jaken’s cries of anguish as they battled started as a whisper.

  “LUNA!” we shouted, and another wave of force shoved us away from our friend, but we had been ready this time.

  I downed three mana potions in preparation and was shocked when Jaken stood slowly to his feet, the lich looking out at us in triumph.

  “No child’s name can best me—Luca vel Couervith—you foolish mortals!”

  Bokaj and I hit him with Purify once more, and he fell to his knees again. Finally, Jaken’s face came to the fore.

  He took his fist, held it over the pommel of the great sword, and shouted, “LUNA!”

  A light so painfully bright that it blinded all of us flashed into his hand, and I had to look away. Through the radiant chords, the sound of glaring, unerring, holy power rang out, and I heard something I had been waiting to hear.

  “I, Jaken Warmecht, Paladin of Lady Radiance and father to the Moon, renounce you, evil spirit. I am the hammer forged in holy light so that I might smite you. Leave this vessel, and face Her judgement!”

  “Nooooo!” the lich, Luca, hissed.

  The light died a little, and when I could see again, my health was full and so was my mana. I felt rejuvenated, and I could see the others did too. When I looked at Jaken, the black armor was dust on the ground, and a set of pure platinum plate armor had replaced it. Wings of golden light flared from his back and wrapped protectively around him.

  “Zeke,” he held a hand out to me, “your holy sword, brother.”

  I tossed Falfyre and willed it to go to him, a dozen mana spent to get it to him.

  He gripped the weapon, and the radiant fire along the cutting edges began to pulse until flames of orange and gold radiated from it.

  “I call to the heavens that they may bless this hand, this unworthy tool, with their might. Let he who would see this world fall see the error of his ways and glimpse majesty in his final moments!”

  Thousands of voices sang through my mind as the shadows in the room faded, and the sound of wings flapping overlapped with what Jaken was saying.

  Luca looked horrified his spectral form, no longer handsome and debonair but molded and fetid. Bone was visible, and his legs dangled limply. When the spirits refused to come as he wordlessly beckoned to them, he tried to lunge forward, his clawed hand reaching for the Paladin, and only a single flash of Falfyre was needed to cut the foul spirit in two. The wings rushed forward, and the souls that left the lich from the cut seemed to be shepherded away.

  The light in the room grew dimmer and dimmer until finally, we were left in a derelict courtyard that seemed familiar. It was familiar. We were in the courtyard in the center of the old ruins. Under the night stars. So we hadn’t been gone all that long. I hoped.

  I had a notification stating that I had leveled up after that fight and so did Coal, putting him to level 14. About fucking time too; it had taken so long. Felt good to level up. I’d take care of that later though. Jaken was kneeling in the center of the courtyard, staring at the stars above us. His eyes were closed, and his mouth was moving.

  He was bathed in a batch of moonlight, and the platinum armor he wore returned to the polished, perfect mithral he had worn before. The light faded, and I approached slowly, but James got to him first.

  “Jaken, buddy—I’m sorry,” James started, but the Paladin held up a hand.

  “It’s cool, man,” he said, his normal voice and mannerisms back. “You had a chance to escape. And that’s great. You did the best thing you could have. I understand.”

  Jaken pulled James into a tight hug and gave his face a light slap. He came over to the others and gave each a word of thanks and a hug before getting to me.

  “Thank you, man,” he said sadly. “I was so mad that I stormed off after I couldn’t heal you. When I did, a messenger told me that a great evil was brewing in these ruins, and I thought I could take it. I was wrong. And not only could I not heal you, but you all had to come and save me from myself. I don’t deserve you guys.”

  “Hey, man, I know that wasn’t you in there,” I tried to comfort him, but he shook his head.

  “Yeah. It was.” He looked at me sadly. “Eventually, he broke me down. Took all memory of my life away from me and fed me lies. Based on those lies, I was angry. I had almost gone to the dark side and let him in willingly. That fight was me still struggling a little. I guess I knew if I didn’t fight, I’d never see my baby girl again, but you guys knew that, huh?”

  We all nodded, and he sighed. “Never again. My faith is stronger than ever—in my goddess and in my friends. Let’s get back to the village.”

  I agreed and cast Teleport as soon as all of us were touching.

  We landed in the center of the village with the scent of decay everywhere around us. The inner portion was fine, but there were wounded people laying on sheets everywhere in the center of the village.

  “The fuck happened here?!” Yohsuke spat as he grabbed the nearest person.

  The unfamiliar woman answered, “The dead crawled through the forest and attacked us. Lady Maebe and the guard held ‘em off for three days while anyone who volunteered to help did their best. They—the dead—began to fall earlier in the day, a few here and there, then finally, all of ‘em.” She looked about worried, the shock forcing her to repeat herself. “These is the ones what got hurt tryin’, tryin’ to help.”

  “I’m on it. You guys go see what’s going on.” Jaken waved us away and began to step through the place, casting healing spells as he went.

  I cast Mental Message to Maebe, “Where are you, dearest?”

  She responded tiredly, “I am with the child
ren. I will meet you at the tavern.”

  “Tavern,” I grunted. “If any of you want to help with this, I don’t blame you for staying.”

  “I’ll chill here and play some recovery music for the group.” Bokaj smiled and turned to go toward the wounded behind Jaken.

  “I’ll be going to the kitchen to whip up some grub. I’m hungry as fuck, and I have no doubt Chef and his lady are in there cooking up a shit storm.” Yohsuke jogged off.

  “I think it’s all done here, so I’ll go do some research. “ James wandered off on his own, and when I looked at Muu, he shrugged and motioned toward the inn.

  We jogged there and ran into several more injured guards outside the barracks, and Maebe stepped from the shadows as we walked closer.

  She walked over to me and threw her hands around my neck in a hug. “Where were you? You were gone for days.”

  “It was a time slip of some kind. Is everyone okay?” I couldn’t help the rising panic building in my chest. She nodded once, and I sighed in relief, suddenly exhausted. “Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain everything.”

  Muu left us a second later. “I’m going to go check on everyone I know, not many, but see if there’s anything I can do.”

  I nodded, and Maebe and I were off. We entered my room, and I told her about everything that happened. It took a little bit, and as time went on, I felt more and more tired.

  “Everyone is okay?” I asked again. Why the fuck was I so tired? My friends were possibly hurt. I looked about, found my water basin, and rushed to it, dunking my head fully. It helped a little bit.

  “Yes. The volunteers were injured, but the worst of the injuries weren’t truly life-threatening.” Maebe looked concerned, her lips in a small frown, but continued, “Vrawn, Zhavron and their guard recruits held the line amazingly. Rowland and Sam, with the help of some of Queen Kyra’s bears, kept the dead from flanking us. During the daylight hours, they were significantly weaker, so the villagers had a much easier time of defending us. They would stop so we could rest some, then resume in the evening as dusk fell.”

  A wry grin graced my lips. “Then night fell, and you let loose havoc, right?”

  “You know me well.” Her triumphant smile was endearing, but she frowned. “I dared not release my full strength though. I did not wish to further worry the children.”

  I understood where she was coming from.

  I cast Mental Message, “Hey, Rowland, you okay, buddy?”

  “Busy, lad. Glad yer back. Stay ‘way,” he replied as he grunted. Weird.

  I did the same for Sam, who answered tiredly, “Fine. Thank you for taking care of that issue and for bringing Queens Maebe and Kyra to help protect the village. We owe all of you a debt I fear we could never repay. Good night, Zeke.”

  We all okay? I asked the others.

  Yohsuke grunted, Soup’s on, man. Gonna fix this and knock out. Later.

  Doing good. Jaken and I have most of the folks here taken care of, and they’re healing nicely. We’ll be back in about ten to fifteen, Bokaj answered softly.

  Researching a bit more before bed. Sleep well, man. James yawned loudly.

  Muu yawned as well. Everyone seems taken care of, and the wall is still good. Going to bed in a minute.

  The relief I felt was immense, and now, with all the worries and doubts free from my mind, the toll of all the fighting began to wear on me. It was soul deep. I could’ve lost my friend. We could have died, had almost died. Fuck, man.

  Maebe brought me against her and began to rock back and forth soothingly as my emotions, turmoil, and anger at myself and that evil bastard’s accusations began to roll down my furred cheeks. There was no red in my vision, only cold, unending, and calculated anger at myself.

  I stayed there like that until sleep took me into oblivion, and I knew no more.

  * * *

  I woke up the following morning with my head in Maebe’s lap and her humming a soft tune as she stroked my fur.

  “Good morning, sleepy head,” she greeted warmly. “I have some good news. Enter!”

  Xiphyre entered with Thogan and an exhausted-looking Rowland dragging behind.

  I sat up slowly and waited for them to speak.

  “For the mist’s sake, just show it to him, you lumpy shit,” the faerie cursed and kicked Thogan in the shoulder.

  Thogan smiled at his friend, bowed his head respectfully to his queen, then looked at me before saying simply, “Here.”

  I caught the bundle he threw me and opened it cautiously.

  WARNING!

  Do you wish to sacrifice one (1) level’s worth of experience to this cursed object?

  Yes/No?

  I pulled my good hand back as if I had been bitten.

  “Told ye, wings—most lot wouldn’t give up precious experience at his level.” Thogan sighed. “Especially not to a cursed item like that.”

  “It isn’t actually a curse, though!” Xiphyre huffed. “The Gods categorize it as such because it demands an experience and mana sacrifice to work” he flitted over to pull the item from the satchel and pointed at it, “and the experience is a one-time thing. The mana draw is a daily thing, but that’s not too bad if he’s got mana as high as I think he does.”

  The item he held up was the same size as my original hand, but it was made of the green Faerie Iron. There were joints that were trimmed with some kind of purple metal I was unfamiliar with altogether.

  “You’ll find that once you pay the required fee, it is quite pleasing.” Xiphyre looked pointedly at Thogan, who shrugged. “This is not the first limb replacement I have done and surely won’t be the last. Though this is the first time I have been approached by royalty so directly. As always, Lady Cloaked in Shadow, ‘tis a pleasure.”

  “What does it do?” I asked with a feeling of trepidation.

  Thogan and Xiphyre looked at each other, then at me, and Thogan tried to speak over the guffawing faerie.

  “Tha’s a hand, lad.” Thogan coughed in his hand to keep from showing his mirth. “Ye wear it, an’ it works like yer ol’ one. ‘Cept maybe better. Could catch and hold a sword by the blade with this one, I’d imagine.”

  “The—oh Gods, that was Prime—enchantment makes the item work as though it were your natural hand,” Xiphyre slapped his knee, his hair brushing his toes as he bent in two laughing, “and it’s specially enchanted to work with spells and shapeshifting. That’s both parts of the reason for the mana and experience costs.”

  Maebe brushed her hand across my left hand and looked at me, her face coming into my vision out of the corner of my eye. “You did state that you felt weaker. Like the team had suffered for your lacking.”

  I sighed. I did. And to me—it had seemed true. Falfyre and Phoenix Burst were amazing spells, but I needed a hand to do a lot of things like use potions and grab things. It was crucial.

  “I will not make this choice for you, Zeke,” Maebe spoke softly. “It is your decision, and it will be there for you. Xiphyre owed me a great debt, and this has helped repay a portion of it.”

  I leaned over and butted her head with mine affectionately. She really was too good to me. My team needed me at full force for what was coming.

  Time to advance the plot, eh?

  “How do I attach it?”

  Xiphyre grinned and shot Thogan a look that screamed victory. He hovered over to me and simply pushed the prosthetic portion of forearm over my own, and it fit almost seamlessly.

  The same notification popped up, and Xiphyre nodded vigorously that I should accept it. “Does it take a level already acquired, or does it need to be a level that I haven’t used yet?”

  “It doesn’t specify. All that matters is that it is your experience.” That made sense, I suppose.

  I accepted the experience drain, and it asked if I was certain, that if I had any unspent attribute points, they would be sacrificed along with the experience and any that had been attached to the level sacrificed would be taken away. I accepted.
<
br />   A burning in my core tore a shout from my lips that I tried to stop. The notifications went fuzzy; then I noted that my level up alert was gone and I was level 30 once more. I felt dizzy and put my hand to my head, aching from the sudden drain of mana on top of the rest.

  It was the green hand, and I felt my head through my hand. In my excitement, I turned and gently touched Maebe’s face. Her look of worry changed to one of joy and wonder.

  “It’s warm, like you.” She closed her eyes and leaned against the hand on her cheek. She turned and looked the faerie in the face. “Consider the three favors you owed now two, Xiphyre.”

  He lowered his head in deference and then floated back to hover next to Thogan.

  “Lady Maebe,” Rowland started from outside the doorway. Then Thogan clapped him on the shoulder and sent the tired smith stumbling forward on to a knee before her.

  “We are fast becoming more than acquaintances, young Dwarf.” Maebe’s voice suddenly took on a more formal, regal tone. “We fought together while your new smithing trainer and his friend made this fine piece of equipment in your forge. You shed blood beside me—does that mean so little to you?”

  Rowland grinned despite his baggy eyes and haggard beard. “No. It meant the worl’ to mark meself a protector o’ me friend’s lady love and queen. I’d fight at yer side and yer back any time, yer Majesty. Best ye believe’n tha’. If ye would honor me—I’ll lift a mug with ye to celebrate our victories and the blood we shed.”

  “I would like that,” Maebe said simply.

  “Good,” Rowland clapped his hands, “but I have a request, m’lady.”

  Maebe waved for the Dwarf to stand, glanced at me then back at him. “You have caught me in an exceptionally generous mood, Rowland. I will hear this request.”

  Rowland smiled as he stood, his black beard rising and bowed his head before continuing, “I would like for Thogan ta stay and train me in me smithin’, if ye’d be willin’ to let him.”

  The queen’s smile was replaced by a look of concentration and introspection. Her face was, for once, open to be interpreted while she sorted her thoughts.