A New Beginning: A Fantasy Adventure (The White Chronicles Book 1)

by J. E. Thompson

  “Yes, I know what a big one is,” Kaylin snapped in response to one of Shyola’s sarcastic questions.

  “Do you?” she asked, laying on the sarcasm thick. “Because—”

  “Ladies!” Vexx snapped. “Let’s not do this, alright? Kaylin, would you mind scouting out the cave while Shy and I rest here.”

  “Really?” Kaylin blinked her big green eyes at him, and he felt something in his chest loosen. “Why’s that, Vexx?”

  “Because you’re a nimble elf,” he replied. “Good at spotting things and you’re…graceful.”

  “Really?” She beamed. “You really think so?”

  “I do,” Vexx lied and ignored Shy’s incredulous snort.

  “The other elves always said I was clumsy,” Kaylin said, looking up at the cave with a determined set to her jaw. “I’ll show them. I’ll show them all,” she said, and began marching upward.

  “Great. Have fun,” Vexx called out after her.

  “That was good thinking, Vexx,” Shy said after a moment. “Have her ‘scout’ the empty cave. It gives us some time to ourselves. So what position do you want me in?”

  “Cover our rear.”

  “Ooh, that sounds very nau…” Shy trailed off. “Oh, you’re serious.”

  “I’ll watch the cave entrance,” Vexx said. “To make sure Kaylin doesn’t get into any trouble.”

  Shyola sighed in frustration. “You spend too much time watching her. She’ll be fine! Or she’ll die. Does it really matter either way?”

  Vexx made no response.

  Nearing the entrance above, Kaylin slipped and stumbled down a few feet before recovering. After a moment, she got to her feet and looked back. She shot Vexx a thumbs up and a weak smile. Then she ducked into the narrow cave entrance.

  And the waiting began.

  57

  Nightfall in the Lifeless Hills

  Vexx blew into his cupped hands and tried to make himself as small as possible by the large boulder he was hiding behind. He vigorously rubbed his arms as he tried his best to stay warm. The sun had disappeared behind the ridges, casting this part of the Lifeless Hills in shadow, and the temperature had already plummeted.

  “I’m wearing so very little,” Shy said, though she didn’t seem bothered by the weather at all. “Vexx, could we curl up together for warmth?”

  “You’re fine.”

  The silence lingered.

  “It’s Kaylin, isn’t it?” Shy asked.

  “What?” Vexx asked, still staring at the cave entrance. It’s been too long now.

  Shyola sighed in exasperation. “You know, my last master died of old age. He was so boring! I was hoping a vivacious young man like yourself would make use of me. But…nothing! And after all those centuries.”

  Vexx grimaced. “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Admit it. You have a thing for her.”

  “No!” Vexx protested. “She’s an elf. And she’s stupid, naive, and clumsy, and…and…” he fell silent. “We have to save her.”

  Shy scoffed. “I know you feel that way, but the thing is…despite her idiocy, she’s surprisingly resilient. You don’t—”

  “No, I mean, look! Up there!”

  Vexx pointed up the slope to where two goblins with torches had emerged. They sniffed the area, spreading out to both sides, scanning and grunting to each other. That can only mean one thing. Kaylin found them! And she’s been…

  Vexx couldn’t even entertain the thought of her dying. She’s been…captured. We have to save her!

  Silently, Vexx crept forward, Shyola right behind him. Vexx gestured to one of the goblins with an outstretched hand, and Shy crept off in that direction, silent as she chose each step with care. Vexx swallowed as he made for the other one, a thin trail of dirt drifting down the hill with each step, though he kept quiet as he neared the goblin. They didn’t appear to be too observant. At the very least, their night vision was completely ruined by the torches they held.

  The goblin nearest Vexx grumbled something, likely a complaint about being on sentry duty or something of the sort, but it wasn’t like the goblin language that had been on the curriculum at the magical academy. Neither was knife work, Vexx thought, hesitating as his hand hovered above the sturdy handle. How can I kill silently?

  Vexx had always been attracted to the Black Arts, but was an amateur at best, since that sort of magic had been banned from the curriculum. Following that, he’d been decent at fire magic, but he knew a smattering of all sorts. Besides healing. I never had the knack for that…not that I’ll need it for this.

  He glanced over to the left, wincing at the brightness of the second goblin’s torch, and could just barely make out the sinuous outline of Shyola as she hunted from the shadows. That poor goblin bastard. He’s about to lose his soul.

  Vexx’s eyes snapped back forward to his own target. There was no hesitating now. The fingertips of his right hand chilled as icicles came into existence, a microclimate of frost blossoming around his hand. Vexx stalked forward and held his breath as he inched closer and closer. I’m no expert with ice magic, but it should do the trick. After all…

  Vexx sprang forward, the cold wind extinguishing the torch in an instant, ice freezing and hardening all around the goblin’s face. You can’t scream for help if your head is frozen!

  The goblin collapsed to the ground in the sudden darkness, and Vexx turned just as he heard some small gasp. Shyola was right behind the goblin, her flickering orange whip around him, but she retracted it in an instant. That same flickering orange energy encircled the goblin before mysteriously dissipating. For a moment, Vexx was left wondering in confusion why the goblin was still standing there; alive but silent.

  Then Shyola grinned and her soft voice drifted over to him. “I have this one under my spell.”

  Vexx stood fully upright, staring at the cave entrance. He thought he half-heard something from within, but it could just as easily have been the wind. It doesn’t seem like the other goblins noticed, he thought, the seed of an idea sprouting in his mind as Shyola and her possessed goblin approached.

  Vexx bent down, dispelling the ice from the dead goblin, and concentrated as he raised a hand above its frozen face and fed magic downward. The corpse of the goblin twitched—and then two glowing green eyes opened.

  58

  Lergu and Choc-Khra

  Shy and Vexx stood at the entrance of the cave, doing their best to see what was within. It seemed to go on for quite a long distance, though at some points, small, crudely shaped candles flickered in hollow alcoves on the sides.

  “I suppose Kaylin was right,” Shy said after a moment in a hushed voice. “This really is a big cave.”

  Vexx raised a finger to his lips. “Our voices could echo,” he whispered. Shy nodded. “Let’s send our goblins in first,” he said, lighting their two torches with a gentle flame and setting them into both of the creatures’ hands. “We’ll sneak in behind them.”

  “A decent plan. I’ll have mine do the talking,” Shy said.

  “Really? You can do that?”

  Shy simply smirked and crept into the cave. Vexx glanced at his goblin, the undead creature staring back blankly. For a corpse, he looked fresh as ever, which didn’t mean much by goblin standards. Still, I doubt they’ll notice he’s undead…at first.

  At Vexx’s mental urging, the undead goblin fell into a march alongside the possessed goblin, the torches of the two silent creatures lighting the way. Shy and Vexx walked a few paces behind, ready to hide or fight, should it come to that, ducking their heads down low when the passage narrowed and spreading out when it widened. They stepped past a giant stalactite and then shuffled closer together. When Shy’s hand brushed Vexx’s, she gave him a knowing wink.

  The sound of a cheerful call broke the silence, followed by a few quick grunts. Vexx ducked down beside a stalactite, Shy cramming herself right next to him. Vexx peered over as their goblins approached another two, sheltering beside a stack of boxes, l
anterns illuminating them. Although it ruins their night vision, Vexx thought with an accompanying mental eyeroll, breathing a bit easier. Though with the absence of imminent danger, it was growing increasingly difficult to not be distracted by the warm flesh pressed against his side.

  The guards seemed to be asking their two goblins some questions in their own language. The goblin that Shy had possessed chattered back to them for a while.

  “What’s he saying?” Vexx asked, not expecting an answer, but surprisingly, Shyola seemed to be following along. Perhaps all that time spent in various hells gives you the chance to learn different languages. Or perhaps she can just understand what her captured goblin can.

  “They’re making a big fuss about Choc-Khra’s glowing green eyes. They’re wondering why he’s not saying anything.”

  “Choc-Khra?” Vexx asked in confusion.

  “Yes, that one is yours,” Shyola replied. “Mine is Lergu,” she added, just as one of the guards snarled something.

  “Lergu is explaining that Choc-Khra ate some strange mushroom and he’s feeling unwell. But…”

  “The game’s up,” Vexx snapped. “Let’s attack.”

  Kill him, Vexx thought, sending the telepathic message to Choc-Khra. The undead goblin lurched forward, stabbing the guard, and an instant later, Lergu struck as well. Vexx and Shy stormed forward, but the only two goblins in the room were bleeding out on the ground, one of them groaning piteously in confusion. Shy stepped forward and smashed her heel into the goblin’s skull.

  Shy grinned over at Vexx, who was openly staring at her well-toned leg. “What next, Master?”

  A scream sounded in the distance and wrenched Vexx away from his daydreams. Though it echoed from below, he had the sense that it wasn’t far off. He scanned the room and took stock of what he had to work with. A few scattered boxes worth looting, several unfamiliar bones, and a canister of some liquid was hidden nearby in an alcove of glowing candles. Vexx stepped over, grabbed the canister and uncorked it before giving it a quick sniff.

  Oil.

  “I’ve got an idea,” he said, turning to see where Shy was, who nodded down at the bodies.

  “Do you want to raise them up? That might even the odds.”

  “No time,” Vexx said, wiping the sweat off his brow. “Besides, I’m not sure I have the energy for it, and I’m all out of potions. Send your guy in first.”

  “And…do what?”

  “I don’t know, have him talk? Stall! They could be torturing Kaylin for all we know,” Vexx said. “But first…”

  The goblin had a leather bandolier that circled behind him, a strap that held his two-handed battle axe, and Vexx wedged the canister of oil between the leather and the tattered clothing of the possessed goblin.

  “Perfect,” Vexx muttered, clapping the goblin on the shoulder. “Send him in.”

  Lergu began shambling forward and Vexx crept through the shadows behind him, Shy pressed in close enough that he could feel her warm breath on his neck. The slope veered sharply to the left and sloped dangerously, the possessed goblin slid every few steps, and the two dungeoneers stepped carefully as they stuck close by. Vexx took a few steps forward, then froze as he heard Kaylin scream once again.

  “Ah, such sweet agony,” Shy whispered into Vexx’s ear. Before he could respond, they heard the barking of goblin voices up ahead. Vexx leaned over to see their possessed goblin making his way into an open cavern ahead, which glowed brightly with light. There must have been a number of goblins inside—and Kaylin as well, likely tied up somewhere—but Vexx could only risk scattered glimpses.

  “Have your goblin gather the others,” Vexx hissed. “Then we can sneak up, protect Kaylin, and—”

  “Just fireball the room!” Shy snapped, pointing forward. “Look! They’re all clustered together! Lergu is rambling about this purple sheep he saw, and they seem sort of interested, but they’re going to drift off in a moment.”

  Vexx took in a deep breath. Aside from the fact that he felt dangerously close to exhaustion, an uncontrolled explosion could put Kaylin in danger too. In the distance, he saw shapes closing in on Lergu and heard the distinct sounds of goblin chatter. There’s just no other choice. Even if I collapse, I have to strike now. We can only hope that Shy can pick off the rest. He nodded and concentrated, spinning a molten ball of fire in his palm. He concentrated and ignored the sweat beading on his forehead and watched as his flame was joined by another and another as he gathered as much power as he could fit in the weaving circle of flames.

  The Scorching Missile. I’d better not miss this one.

  Vexx stormed down the passageway, sprinting closer and closer. Shy was right behind him. The first goblin to notice let out a short bark, then another glanced over, and Vexx readied himself. The metal of the canister of oil gleamed in the light as Vexx set his sights directly on Lergu, who was still standing in the middle.

  Sorry, buddy, he thought as he dropped to one knee and fired his Scorching Missile directly into the fray.

  The cavern exploded in a massive boom as the Scorching Missile burst into the canister of oil and blasted the entire gathering of goblins with flames. Vexx felt a wave of heat emanate from the chamber within as he panted for breath. Finally, it faded away, only to be replaced by the chuckling of Shyola as she strode past him. Vexx wiped his brow and lurched up to his feet.

  “I do like my meat a little crispy,” Shy called out. “Still alive, elf?”

  59

  Burning Goblins

  Vexx staggered against a wall and looked around frantically. “Kaylin? Kaylin, are you alright?” He waved away smoke and grimaced at the distinct smells of goblin and burning flesh. It was quite the bracing aroma, enough to cause more than a bit of nausea.

  A burst of elven cursing brought Vexx’s attention to a dusty bundle beside a cracked stalactite. The bundle moved slightly, and Vexx rushed over.

  Kaylin, coated in dust and debris, shook her head and whirled on him. “Dammit, Vexx! You just about killed me!”

  “It was Shy’s idea,” Vexx said, noticing the straps that still tied her to the stalactite. He flipped his knife open and cut the first strap away. “Anyway, we saved you. Just hold still…” Vexx slashed the last of the straps, and Kaylin groaned as she clambered to her feet.

  “You just about burned my clothes off!” she complained, brushing off her tattered leather clothes. Small pebbles and bits of dirt fell to the ground, and more than a little ruined leather joined them. Vexx found himself staring dumbly as Kaylin brushed her chest off and he gulped as she turned around to shake rock fragments loose from her unbound hair. “How am I back there?” she called out, still shaking brushing herself off.

  “Fine,” Vexx choked out. “Very fine.”

  “Yeah, I guess it just caught me in the front,” she said, turning back. “You owe me a new set of clothes after this, Vexx! I mean, look at me. I might as well not be wearing anything, these are barely hanging on.” She glanced over at Shy, who had crossed her arms and was now glaring at the elf. “What?”

  “Don’t flirt with my Master.”

  “Well, you’re not burnt at all,” Vexx broke in. “The armor vendor was right, I guess. The less skin covered, the better the protection.”

  “Just with women, apparently,” Kaylin grumbled. “You try running all day long with a stiff piece of leather wedged up your ass.”

  “I think I’ll pass,” Vexx said, wiping the sweat from his brow. Now that the fighting had come to an end, he felt his energy slowly recovering, and breathed out nice and easy. He had gotten used to this feeling from years of intense magical studies at the Academy, and he stood tall as he looked over the cavern. A bit of the remaining lantern oil and goblin carcasses were enough to keep a steady fire going, and the flickering light casted long shadows over the walls.

  Something glinted and caught Vexx’s eye. Could that be? He strode over, ignoring Shyola and Kaylin as they bickered about something or other. His eyes roved over the colle
ction of charred leather satchels. He peered over, seeing some material poking out, blackened but with a hint of…gold!

  “They’re here!” he said, grabbing the first satchel and grinning as he looked within. The church’s artifacts, perhaps a little worse for wear, but here nonetheless. Vexx whistled as the other dungeoneers approached. “It can’t have been easy to drag these all the way up here.” His smile faded. “Getting them down won’t be too easy, either…”

  Shy scoffed. “You youngsters make too big a deal of the little things. We’re all done here, the goblins are dead, and all we have to do is take a nice walk back!” The succubus bent down, grabbed the straps of one satchel, and hefted it up on her shoulder. She grimaced. “It’s not light, exactly, but…let’s just turn this quest in and get our reward.”

  “The old lady is right,” Kaylin added, grabbing another satchel. “Let’s get this over with.”

  “Old lady?” Shy snarled as Vexx picked up the last one. “Why, I’ll show you—”

  “Let’s go!” Vexx put a hand on each of their shoulders and insistently ushered them out of the cave.

  60

  The Paladin

  “I can’t believe those goblins were tickling me,” Kaylin grumbled, trying to hold the remnants of her clothing together as the first rays of dawn lit the Lifeless Hills. “I’m very ticklish!”

  “Huh,” Vexx commented, too tired to do much thinking, every step made the heavy straps of the satchel cut painfully into his shoulders. Gods above and below, once we’re done with this, I could sleep for a day. With 100 gold coins, I could spring for a stay at an inn. A nice roast lamb, perhaps, with mashed potatoes. A mug of ale, or even a bucket of the stuff, and for dessert—