by Isaac Winter
Why they picked me of all people to do their dirty deeds was beyond me, but I told myself I needed to stay under the radar and keep my nose clean. Maybe if I did this thing, I could go on my way. A little richer, even.
I didn’t have much of a plan after that, but I did know enough about the world from what Winston had told me. And I knew I was going to have to get back to him, one way or another.
I tried to remember the name of the organization Winston had told me about, the ones who were seeking out The Author and the secrets of this world. They would be likely allies, if I could find them. But I had no idea where I was, and the map I’d been given wasn’t of much help either.
The tall spires of the sorcerer’s fortress came into view as I crested the next hill. Thank goodness. My gnomish legs ached and my stomach growled for something more than a traveler’s biscuit. Hopefully if I’d done my job well, there would be food.
My stomach growled again as I imagined what kind of food they must have here. Would it be different than what I was used to back on Earth, or would it be some strange new delicacy?
My mind swum with visions of pork and gravy until I came to the tall stone arch marking the entrance. Two guards, twice as tall as I was, blocked my path.
“Who goes there?” One said through his visor.
I cleared my throat. “Laurie, I’m here in the service of Alcazar. Can you tell him I’ve arrived?”
“You and everyone else, lady.” The other guard chuckled. “We don’t just let strange gnomes in our castle, you know. Especially noobs like you. Now bug off.” He waved me away.
I rubbed my forehead, sighing. Why did they have to be so difficult?
“I’m serious,” I said, reaching within my shirt to pull out Alcazar’s seal. I wore it on a chain around my neck, but it felt like a slaver’s shackles. It ensured everyone knew who I worked for. That I was his.
Their eyes widened at the sight of the shining seal, and they backed off. “So sorry about that, miss. Gotta keep the rabble out somehow. Right this way.”
They ushered me inside and I sat on a wooden stool as I waited for one of the servants to notify Alcazar.
Torches flickered on the walls, throwing a warm light onto the various tapestries and ornaments hung there. I got up to inspect one of them, feeling the coarse threads in my hands. It was a masterwork of colors and threads interlocking into a beautiful medley. I stood back, admiring it.
“Lovely work, yes?”
The voice startled me and I flinched, turning around.
It was him.
I bowed my head at him. “I was just admiring your tapestries, my lord.” I added the title at the end, hoping to appease him. I needed to finish the job and get out of here as soon as possible.
He strode over next to me and stuck his long bony hand out to stroke the fabric. He was still wearing that flowing cloak, making it hard to see his face. What I could see of his exposed skin was mottled and stretched across the bone, long past its prime. What had happened to him?
“I had this one commissioned.” He said, drawing his hand back into his wide sleeves. “It is one of the greatest works of art in the Veil, don’t you agree?”
“Yes, my lord,” I stammered.
He made a flourish with his hands and put one on my shoulder. His hand rested there only lightly but I could still feel the weight of the gesture.
I was no better than a slave.
“Now tell me, my dear. What did you find for me?”
I fished out the map from my many pockets and handed it over to him, trying to smooth out the wrinkles.
He read it for a few moments without any expression, simply stroking his chin and giving a few “hmms” and “ahhs”.
“Very good,” he said, folding the parchment and pocketing it. “I’ll send a party out at once. She’s close. Closer than I thought. Did you see anyone else with her?”
I thought for a moment, remembering the explosion and the sudden appearance of the elf.
“She left with another man. An elf, maybe. I saw them leaving the dungeon together.”
“No...” Alcazar started, his eyes wide. “The Veilwalker...”
Veilwalker.
Suddenly it all made sense.
Winston.
I felt a lump in my throat and looked up at Alcazar with wide eyes. That meant...
Oh no.
“My lord,” I said slowly, trying to keep my voice even. “What is a Veilwalker?”
Alcazar took a breath, as if trying to gather his patience. “You’re new, so I’ll oblige you. They say he walks between worlds. They say he faced the author and lived. He takes the form of a dark elf. I won’t let him slip through my fingers again.”
I deflated. So it was Winston.
And I’d just told the enemy their location.
Shit.
“You know, I did have a nasty knock on my head in the tunnel, perhaps I put the coordinates down wrong.” I stammered, grasping for an excuse. “You don’t need the both of them after all, right? Just the girl.”
Not that dispatching Winston’s friend made me feel any better, either.
“I won’t hear of it,” Alcazar waved his hand, shooing me away. “The Veilwalker is an even larger prize. If he’s returned, and they’re both together...” he rubbed his hands together. “I’m going to be very rich indeed.”
Guilt sank into my stomach like a stone. I wanted to throw up, and the bile at the back of my throat wasn’t helping. Winston was here. He’d come back for me.
And I’d betrayed him.
I swallowed the lump in my throat and tried to get a handle on my racing heart. I needed to get out of here. Now. I needed to warn them before it was too late.
“May I leave, my lord?” I asked, trying to sound casual.
“After you did such a good job for me? Perhaps you’d be of more use...”
My breath caught in my throat at the thought. “You said it was one job. Give me back my ‘deposit’ and let me leave.”
Alcazar laughed in my face. “And let such a valuable resource slip through my fingers? No, I think I’ll keep you. Besides, what are you going to do out there in the wide world? There’s no one to care for you out there. Don’t forget our little deal.”
He dangled the Crystal in front of me again. The light shimmering off each facet was mesmerizing.
> Memory Crystal
> A rare and powerful artifact, Memory Crystals allow the user to gain skills and experience at an accelerated rate.
> Slots filled: 10/10
> Quality: Exquisite
Sure, it would be a huge leg up. An item like that was totally OP. But now I had a mission. A real mission. I had to save Winston. I had to warn him before it was too late.
“Think again,” I growled, turning on my heel.
I ran.
The stone floors clattered underfoot and I brought up the map in my HUD. Left, a right, then straight on. There was a servants entrance around the back that I could sneak through. I just had to get there first.
I heard Alcazar screaming behind me, and his words definitely weren’t English.
Why’d you have to pick a fight with a mage, I cursed myself. I nearly lost my footing when a fireball exploded right next to me, searing my skin and sending the smell of roasted hair through the air.
Close one.
Luckily, I had something he didn’t. Agility.
Gnomes were small and fast for a reason, and I found myself grateful for the Glitch. I bobbed and weaved, ducked, and sped away as Alcazar rained fire from the heavens. I won’t say I got away completely unscathed, though—a wayward fireball had sizzled past my head and took a chunk of hair with it. The side of my scalp burned like hell, but I kept running.
A small opening appeared in the stone walls, and I leapt toward it. Perhaps it was just a weak point. Perhaps it was a tunnel. Perhaps it led nowhere. But all I could think in that moment was that I was small and Alcazar wasn’t, and maybe this would be my way out.
It wasn’t.
Seriously, never get on the wrong side of a mage.
Just as I wriggled myself through the opening, a cold, bony hand grabbed my ankle.
“Got you, you little brat!”
It was him. I was too late.
Alcazar dragged me, kicking and screaming, from the small opening and held me close while his large, muscled crony advanced on me.
This is it then. This is how I’m going to die. I expected the crony to club me to death or something, but it never came.
“I tried to be a good master to you. I tried to make you a deal. And I hate people that renege on my deals.”
I heard more foreign words, a chill settled into my bones like the depths of winter, and I fell into a dreamless sleep.
8
Laurie
I came to in a cell with my hands shackled to the wall. Real shackles this time. I closed my eyes and took a shaky breath through my nose.
Bad idea.
It stunk in here. It was wet, there was mold everywhere, and I heard the slither of something alive only a few feet away.
But hey, I was still alive, right?
A flurry of notifications had appeared while I was out:
> Fire Damage from [Critical Strike]. -25 HP.
> You have been: Stunned.
> Debuff expired: Eye of Alcazar.
> New Status Effect: Sleepwoven.
> HP and Stamina levels critical! Heal or eat food to regain your energy.
My scalp throbbed where the fireball had singed it and my arms screamed for release, pulled as they were against the wall. I guess I had failed. I guess I wouldn’t get to warn Winston after all.
I heard the skittering sound again and craned my neck to the side.
> Common Rat.
Standard vermin found in dungeons and sewers. They may be small, but have a mighty bite!
HP: 10/10
A large brown rat looked up at me through beady eyes. He had another in tow, too, peeking out from the shadows.
Normally, this is the part where I’d be scared. Most women hated rats. But I wasn’t most women. In fact, I’d developed an affinity for all kinds of animals during my time at the Academy. My colleagues always joked that if life as an academic didn’t work out, I should go work in a zoo.
And I had two pet rats at home that I loved very much.
Home.
I swallowed hard. This wasn’t Kansas anymore, and if I was ever going to get home I had to get out of here.
“Come here, little guys,” I cooed, trying to draw them nearer. “You wanna help me out?”
They stared at me for a few long seconds, then came closer.
“That’s it, come on.” I wriggled my wrists against the bonds.
I don’t know if it was the dehydration or the desperation that had me talking to rats, but something was happening. Good thing no one else was around to see it. I probably looked crazy. I felt crazy.
Until I saw a notification pop up in my vision.
> New Skill Unlocked: Animal Kinship.
> You have a way with animals and can communicate broad ideas to small creatures. Leveling up this ability allows you to communicate with more types of animals and send more complex requests.
I blinked the message away. Guess all that animal loving back on Earth had been put to good use! I focused on the larger of the two rats and tried to send an image of them chewing through my bonds. It was a risk, but it was better than staying tied up here.
I just had to hope they didn’t chew my wrists off as well.
As if they had understood my request, both the rats clambered up my legs and around my torso to where the rope tied my wrists. Their small feet on my bare skin were ticklish and I struggled not to laugh.
I couldn’t see what they were doing back there, but I heard a faint scratching sound and the rope on my wrists being pulled away. Their sharp teeth scraped my skin only a few times, but nothing dangerous.
I couldn’t believe it was actually working. This was like something you’d see on TV! Rats chewing through my bonds…I almost wanted to laugh with relief and disbelief. Pride was there, too. Pride for the new skill I’d gained. Who knew what else I could do in the future?
After what seemed like an eternity, the ropes came free with a snap and my arms sagged to my sides.
Ouch. Being bound for so long left me extremely stiff, but I massaged my wrists and took the time to stretch my shoulders. I’d have more time to get comfortable once I’d gotten out of here.
I made short work of the knots at my feet and stood unsteadily on my own two legs. Well, that part hadn’t been too difficult. The rats stayed perched on my shoulder, as if awaiting instruction. They weren’t as pretty as my babies back home, but there was definitely something powerful about them. I doubted they were just “common rats” as my Analyze skill claimed. Perhaps they’d come in handy.
I stepped around the room as quietly as I could, looking for an exit. A guard paced outside, up and down the long corridor. He moved slowly, looking into each cell as he went. I made sure to re-assume my position just as he passed, then his back was to me.
Time to make my move.
“What do you think?” I whispered to my rats, sending the image of a hole in the wall or some form of escape.
They leapt down from my shoulders and ran over to a darkened corner of the cell where a pile of stones and rubble lay.
To someone human height, it would have looked like any other pile of junk. But I could see the pile of stones concealing a weak point in the wall. The mortar had come loose in this part and instead of repairing it, someone had simply piled a bunch of debris in front of the hole, hoping they wouldn’t be noticed.
And if it hadn’t been for my newly small size, I wouldn’t have noticed either.
The rats skittered over to the hole, blinking up at me.
I dove toward the pile, brushing the dirt and gravel out of the way as quietly as I could. I heard footsteps approaching down the corridor; I wouldn’t have long.
Another small tunnel lay before me, just small enough to wriggle through. The rats ran through first and I got down on my stomach to squeeze through the opening. If I failed my escape this time, all would be lost.
But I wasn’t going to let that happen.
Distract, I sent to the rats and they crawled up and over me, back into the cell.
I felt bad for leaving them behind, for using them like this. I wasn’t sure how much control I actually had over these creatures, but I hoped that they would forgive me.
I couldn’t see what was happening, but I heard dozens of tiny feet. They’d brought friends.
There was a clink of metal as they squeezed through the door, then a yelp of panic. The guards.
I grit my teeth and pulled myself through the passageway. It was small, dusty, and I could barely breathe, but this was my one chance at freedom. I had to get out of here. I had to warn Winston.
The rush of cool night air hit my face and I gulped it in like a dying man needs water. After the dark, smelly hole I was finally out in the open. I tumbled over the precipice and fell a few feet, landing with a thud in the dirt.
I was out.
I didn’t take much time to assess the state of my clothing or body. Flashing red notifications flooded my HUD, but I didn’t have much time. I spotted some trees in the distance and ran.
9
Cael
“So, are you going to tell me what happened or not?” I asked Tris, who laid resting against a tree.
We’d only barely managed to escape, and Tris had taken a much bigger hit from the poison than I had. Luckily, we’d been able to take shelter in the forest and rest until our stats were recovered.
“Aren’t you? You’re the one with the disappearing act. You’ve become something of a celebrity around here, you know. They’re calling you the Veilwalker.”
I scoffed. “That’s....that’s preposterous.” Still, a chill ran down my spine. I’d neve
r been anything special, to anyone.
She raised an eyebrow. “Is it? Far as they know, you’re the first to have ever been on both sides of the Veil.”
“Sides?”
“Your world...and ours.”
“Oh.” I said, clamping my mouth shut. I remembered all too well my own world. I remembered the Academy. I remembered Tanner, and the difficult note we’d departed on. Maybe laying low over here wasn’t such a bad idea. He couldn’t find me here, after all.
But that was a coward’s move. And whatever I was now, I wasn’t a coward.
The Veil had taken Laurie, and I wasn’t going to stop until this was over.
Crane had taken enough people from me. And if those Tears I’d seen back in my world were any indication, things were about to get messy between our world and this one.
I was one of the only people that could stop it.
I unstoppered my water flask and took a long draw, grateful for the drink.
“Give me some of that,” Tris said. “My throat’s as dry as bark.”
I tossed the flask her way and leaned my head against the tree trunk, staring up into the foliage. We seemed to be safe for now, but who knew what kind of creatures lurked in the woods?
“Now tell me. What all have I missed since my miraculous journey?”
Tris laughed. “It’s not been too terribly long, but things are definitely changing around here. Stuff’s not acting the way it should be. Glitches are everywhere, and we keep having these little earthquakes too. Never felt anything like it. There’s been talk of The Author planning something big.”
Apprehension hit my stomach like a stone. “Something big, huh? So that bastard’s still at it?”
“Unfortunately so.” She shook her head and took another drink of water. “And Alcazar hasn’t let up in his search for me either. That’s where you found me. I was out running some errands, minding my own business, then I had a run-in with one of his cronies. Didn’t end too well...for him, that is. I was trying to lay low in a nearby cave when the air just...cracked open. And out tumbled you.” Tris rubbed her forehead. “It’s been a long day.”