“As you can see, the blockage is undone if you concentrate,” Cessia points out as her throne clops over to the gypsy. Curling her legs beneath her body, the goddess takes the champion by the hand to lead her back to Luke. “This is good because it means you are not as far gone as your friend. He has very little chance of returning to his natural state in time for the battle. Unless he surprises us, which would not be unusual for him. Now, the first part is discovering what is in your way. Remove the obstacle and your powers will work off instinct and at full strength once again. This goes for all of the champions, except Timoran Wrath. That man’s loyal core is practically unbreakable, which is why he is getting stronger during this crisis. He is standing even firmer with all of you and it is making Ehre swoon.”
“All of us are weakened, except Timoran who is getting stronger,” Sari whispers as she sits Luke up. Feeling him shiver, she pulls a new shirt out of his bottomless pouch and does her best to get him dressed. “So, it is like a champion disease. Luke was hurt by the Baron and returned to do the same to us in some fashion. Does that mean he’s working for the other side now? No, Dariana or Nyx would have sensed that. It is possible that the Baron knows about this change and made Luke a carrier for whatever curse he created. Now that I think about it, my powers were fine until he woke up and . . . broke up with Kira. It got worse when he turned on me at Spellstream and that’s when Nyx seemed to weaken too.” Snapping her fingers, the gypsy accidentally lets the half-elf fall on his back with a thud. “That’s what went wrong in Rhundar! I was in love with Phelan, but it was fake on his part. It was entirely one-sided and part of me must have be aware of that fact. It still weakened my power by cutting me off from the ice half. This is different because it’s across the board. I think. Lost whatever I was going to say. Unless it’s that I feed off the love around me and get stronger if I’m even partly responsible for the union. It could be that even seeing people in love makes me more powerful because it’s my favorite emotion to see in action.”
“You got enough of it!” Cessia exclaims, diving off her throne. The furniture walks back into the tunnel as the goddess delivers another hug. “Why do you think you were drawn into his relationship? Not that it was destiny, but you have a powerful desire to create love and, to a lesser extent, happiness. These emotions do not have to be directed at you, Sari. You are a person who takes pride in helping others find where they belong and will do whatever it takes to make those around you smile. Such a pure emotion is easily shattered, but you have held strong against many tragedies. Your current problem is nothing more than a little hiccup, which you will recover from before you see your friends again. Perhaps you will ascend to take the open mantel of Love Goddess when this is all over.”
“This means you can tell me how to help the others, right?” the gypsy asks before Luke coughs. The instant she turns around to check on him, she hears Cessia walk away and disappear with the faint ringing of falling coins. “I really should have seen that coming. You continue resting, hero, and I’ll figure a way out of here. Unless a friendly goddess wants to help me with that.” Sari yelps when a playing card drifts out of a tunnel and pokes her in the eye. “Thanks and I’m sorry. Although, I don’t see a reason to be mean about it.”
*****
With a perfume-scented cloth pressed to his mouth and nose, Timoran makes a running leap over the wide river of stomach acid. He lands hard on a fleshy platform, the impact causing the Snare Dragon to roar and shudder. The barbarian’s vision swims and he starts to waver from the noxious fumes that manage to pierce his makeshift mask. A warm hand on his shoulder clears his head and he nods to Delvin, who is strapped to his back. Timoran moves away from the edge to avoid the splashing river, a few drops making his calf muscles ache and burn. The sensation disappears within seconds, but the holes in his pants are reminders to be more aware of his surroundings. Following his companion’s urgent pointing, the red-haired champion continues vaulting over the acid and searching for their missing friends. A drifting fog makes it difficult to see more than ten feet ahead, so they repeatedly stop to look backwards in case the monster’s breathing has revealed a secret that they missed.
A low groan from the Snare Dragon gives Timoran enough of a warning to slam his axe into the moist ground. The landscape begins to tilt as the creature rolls onto its side while making a wide turn. Stomach acid flows along the wide paths and eats at the platform’s edges, the pink flesh turning a chalky white. With his legs braced against the ground, Timoran clings to his weapon and prays that the others are safe. He glances over his shoulder to spot barbed snares lancing out of the far wall, which oozes a crimson ichor that is too watery for blood. Feeling his axe giving way, the barbarian delivers a magic-enhanced punch that plunges his fist into the platform. He grips the bleeding wound while waiting for the Snare Dragon to right itself, its movements making him fear that it will keep flying vertically. With a snarl, the monster jerks back into a horizontal, but upside down, position and Timoran finds himself hanging from the ceiling. Freeing himself and jumping to the nearest platform, the champion gasps for air now that his handkerchief has lost its pleasant scent.
“Good thing I never told Nyx that I bought this for her,” Delvin says as he puts more perfume on the cloth. He is about to loosen the ropes and try to walk on his own, but Timoran gently smacks his hands away. “I know you can jump further than me, but I can’t let you do this alone. I feel like a useless backpack here. At least let me hold onto your axe, so both your hands are free.”
Timoran reaches back to pat the other warrior on the head since he cannot talk without inhaling some of the perfume. As nice as it smells, he has already learned that the pink liquid tastes bitter and numbs his tongue. Hearing a rumble, the barbarian sprints and jumps to another platform before the network of acid rivers turns into churning walls. Trapped on a circular chunk of flesh, he waits patiently for the path to clear. When several minutes have passed with no change, Timoran approaches the barrier and rears back with his great axe. As orange energy flows from his ring and up his arms, the barbarian swings and cleaves a wide gap in the wall. He makes an awkward leap through the hole before it closes and lands with his feet on the edge of the next platform. With Delvin on his back, the muscular champion finds that he cannot regain his balance and starts to tip backwards.
As the rivers settle, the ropes around Timoran’s waist snap and he feels a strong shove that knocks him to safety. He whirls around in time to see Delvin plunge into the stomach acid and disappear beneath the foul-smelling river. Before he can dive in after his friend, the armored warrior returns and drags himself onto solid ground. He is covered in a protective coating, but only the enchanted items and anything metal on his body have survived the brief dip. Crawling far enough away that he can safely collapse and sprawl, Delvin checks his engagement ring and smiles when he sees that there is no damage. He pulls out a dirty pair of boots and some pants that still have stains from when he dropped stew on them. Shedding the barrier like snake skin, the brown-haired warrior stands and gets dressed as quickly as he can.
“That stuff isn’t as bad as it smells,” Delvin says while he checks himself for injuries. He finds a burn mark on his palm and rubs at it until the wound fades away. “It hurts, but real stomach acid from a creature like this should do more damage. You would have holes in your legs and I’d have no hand left. I’m sure the others are having an easier time considering they have better defenses. Let’s stay here and wait for the others to arrive. I’m going to turn myself into a beacon for Nyx.”
“Fizzle find two!” the drite announces before landing on Timoran’s head. Refusing to touch the ground, he climbs down his friend’s arm and hops over to Delvin’s shoulder. “Nyx and Dariana safe. Both no feel good. Not sure can make jumps. Fizzle try magic, but Nyx eat all too fast. They there.”
“Okay, we’ll make our way-”
Delvin and Fizzle are picked up by Timoran, who charges ahead and bellows as he leaps over a very wi
de river. Running in the general direction of his friends, the barbarian’s jumps become higher and farther every time. When he vaults over a circular pond, he nearly touches the sticky ceiling, which sprouts tendrils that miss him by inches. Catching the hint of voices to his left, Timoran lands on a tiny piece of solid rock and pivots on one foot. Unable to stand comfortably, he does his best to crouch without letting his folded leg touch the acid. Aiming for the nearest platform, the warrior launches himself into the air and flips upside down. The magic from his stone ring runs to his legs as he kicks out to the ceiling. Leaving a dent in the fleshy surface, he rockets towards Nyx and Dariana, who he spots on a nearby platform. The women are startled by their friends’ sudden landing, which includes a tight swing of Timoran’s axe to deflect a small fireball.
“Sorry about that,” Nyx says, her voice hoarse and weak. Touching her mouth, she winces at the tender burn marks around her lips. “I got splashed in the face and swallowed some of the stomach acid. Managed to eject it, but not fast enough. Hurts to talk, so I’m just going to sit here in silence. Anybody know what’s going on here?”
“Let me take care of that,” Delvin softly offers, reaching out to take the half-elf’s face in his hands. Focusing his power, he creates a slow transfer to avoid weakening himself, but he is still plagued by a mild headache. “I was telling Timoran that the acid isn’t lethal, but I’m not sure anymore considering your injuries. Guess drinking it is bad no matter how potent it is. Have you found any sign of Luke or Sari?”
“I don’t think they were captured,” Dariana replies, accepting a sweating waterskin from Timoran. The leathery drink helps her parched mouth, but she can feel her guts threatening to twist into knots. “I sensed that they were outside and vanished before I lost track of their psyches. Since I haven’t felt them in here, I assume they escaped. Before anyone celebrates, I should point out that means they may have been left behind with the bandits.”
“Fizzle not like,” the drite says while flying around his friends. Releasing a circle of rainbow mist, he clears the air of the foul stench and helps to calm everyone down. “Luke and Sari weak now. Not fight well. They need help. Fizzle make fake dragon go poof?”
“This thing absorbs spells like I do,” Nyx answers with a cough. Holding her fiancée’s wrists, the channeler moves his hands to his own lap. “There are patches of cobalt on the walls and ceiling. I believe whoever made this thing added pieces of Trinity to create a rather impressive magic defense. My guess is magically created skin copied off some pieces of her that her old friends had. The gods only know how often she’s been cut or injured. Some of those times had to have happened on Shayd where the inventor behind this creature could collect a sample.”
Having recovered his senses, Timoran removes his handkerchief and takes a deep breath of the clean air. “This creature is flying in circles. I can feel the movements in my legs, but I do not understand the random flips it keeps doing. Regardless of those motions, I am assuming it is hunting for Luke and Sari. If this is a monster from Shayd then I believe it has been ordered to capture us. Our friends will not be caught by surprise again even in their weakened state. I have faith in them rescuing us. Yet, I do wish we knew more about this odd creature.”
Moving away from her friends, Dariana crouches near a dry circle on the ground and taps at it with her finger. She hardens her nail and urges it to grow until the end begins to curve and twist. The acid rivers gurgle and the Snare Dragon shivers as she slowly digs into the suspicious patch, which is covering a tight network of nerves. Licking her lips, Dariana reaches out to deaden the creature’s pain receptors before cutting out a neat square. The monster roars and threatens to roll until she increases her influence on its mind, the effort causing her nose and ears to bleed. When she is done, the telepath casually snaps off the nail and tosses it aside. She nibbles at the tip of her tongue while reaching into the hole and hooks her fingers around several of the exposed nerves.
“Nyder Fortune created this Weapon Dragon, but it is not very advanced,” Dariana reports as she reads the creature’s simple thoughts. Wiping the blood from her face, she lies down on the ground while keeping her hand in place. “Timoran was right. This is called a Snare Dragon and its only purpose is to capture the champions. It is unsure what to do since Luke and Sari fell into the chasm where it can’t follow. The bandits are still below, but the construct is barely aware of them. The sudden movements are to avoid the shamans who think it is trying to protect us. I’m sorry, but that’s all I can find without going deeper and risking an implosion. This was obviously a rushed experiment and that could kill us.”
“What we do?” Fizzle asks while he settles onto Timoran’s shoulder. Stretching his tail toward the barbarian’s belt pouch, he snags an apple and quietly crunches on it. “No escape. Need find friends. Other friends waiting at Gaia. This not good.”
“All we can do is wait,” Delvin answers with a sigh. Pulling out a bedroll, he slams a dagger into the top to make sure it stays in place. “If Nyx can’t blast our way out and Dariana can’t hurt its mind without killing us then we’re stuck. This Snare Dragon won’t take us to the Baron without Luke and Sari, which means everything is in their hands. I’m going to trust them to save us. Not like we have any other choice.”
“All well and good, but why are you removing your armor and getting into bed?” Nyx asks while massaging her throat.
Delvin shrugs and shifts within his bedroll to make sure his head is not against the keen dagger. “Because I haven’t slept in the last two days and we aren’t going anywhere. Please wake me when we’re rescued or if I’m about to die.”
*****
“Found another card over here,” Sari announces from down the tunnel. She holds up the glowing three of hearts and adds it to the deck, which is acting like a torch. “I can see something with natural light a little ways ahead. With any luck, we’ll come out in the right direction and can catch up to the others. If we can drive the creature to the ocean then I can . . . Are you listening to me?”
“Sure. We can do that,” Luke mutters from the edge of the light. Keeping his hands in his pockets, the half-elf trudges along and tries desperately not to trip. “We’ve been down here for too long, so we shouldn’t get our hopes up. That thing was obviously a Weapon Dragon, which means our friends are on their way to Shayd.”
“Are you okay with that?” the gypsy asks as she tries to get closer to him. The warrior takes a step away, but she lunges forward to grab him by his pointy ear and drag him along. “You listen to me, Luke Callindor! Our friends are in danger and we’re the only ones who can save them. I do care about what’s going on with you, but I didn’t survive a lifetime of nightmares to be defeated a few steps away from the finish line. The two of us are going to save our friends and then we’re going to fight the Baron even if I have to carry all five of you on my back.”
“That isn’t-”
“Say that isn’t possible and I’ll make Nyxie proud by repeatedly smacking you in the head.”
“You don’t have to be so angry.”
“After everything you’ve done, I have every right to be angry.”
Coming to a well-lit alcove, Sari releases Luke and gazes at the distant hole, which lets in the afternoon sun. Finding the last card of the deck in a crevice, she figures Cessia is hinting that they climb the crumbling walls. The gypsy sits on a moss-covered boulder and rubs her legs, the idea of scaling such a height making her limbs ache. Hearing shuffling behind her, Sari bends backwards to find Luke scratching at the ground with his sabers. The half-elf moves in lazy circles, his eyes glazed while he is consumed by his thoughts. Putting the cards in one of her hidden pockets, the blue-haired champion checks her skirt for food only to find a single, hardened biscuit. Breaking it in half, she whistles to her companion before tossing him the larger section. The food bounces off his chest and he watches it rolls into a patch of slime-covered mushrooms. He makes no move to retrieve the morsel, which is swiftly s
natched by a quick-footed rat. For an instant, he stares at the ring on his finger, the roasted chicken and goblet symbols clear as day.
“I think this is our way out, so we either climb or fly,” Sari says, folding her legs beneath her. Crunching on the tasteless ration, she hungrily eyes the mushrooms that are probably poisonous. “What has gotten into you, Luke? Sorry to be casual, but I realize you were tortured and lost nearly everyone you loved. If anybody knows how that feels, it’s me. Maybe I’m stronger than I thought, but I never considered destroying the few relationships I had left. Then again, I didn’t have anyone until my reunion with Nyxie, but this isn’t about me. Please tell me what’s going on in your head. I really want to know and help you.”
“Give me a few minutes and I can transform,” Luke replies, sheathing his sabers. He nearly meets Sari’s gaze, but jerks his head away before he cries. “Don’t look at me like that. I . . . You . . . Just leave me alone. Everyone needs to stay away from me.”
“Did the Baron puta curse on you?” the worried gypsy asks, struggling to decipher the odd warning. Receiving an amused chuckle, she hops off the boulder and reaches out to touch the forest tracker’s dirt-covered cheek. “No, but he did something. Just talk to me. I mean really talk to me. That’s the one thing you haven’t done since you woke up.”
“Stop caring about me,” the half-elf whispers, stepping away to break contact. Body shivering, he feels nauseous and grabs the wall to avoid falling to his knees. “I remember their screams. My parents and grandparents died crying and screaming. The stone curse started at their stomachs and spread out in a way that they didn’t die quickly. Their throats and lungs where the last to solidify, but there was enough trapped air for them survive for a few minutes longer. You would think the stone heart and brain would be the end, but the curse kept them alive until they ran out of air. At least Selenia died fighting and smiling, but she’s still gone because I crossed her path. Queen Ionia and Haven are gone too. All of those deaths return whenever I close my eyes. My bard’s memory won’t let me miss a detail. Do you remember seeing every member of your clan die or do you simply know that they’re gone?”
Warlord of the Forgotten Age Page 10