Hissing like a serpent, Luke crouches and puts his hand against the cold ground. His legs stick together and slide back to become the snake fiend’s tail, which ends in an ebony spike that drips paralytic poison. Amber and black scales cover the champion’s body while poisonous spines rise from his back. His yellowing eyes gaze blankly into the distance while his forked tongue darts out to taste the air. Pressing his gangly arms against the ground, Luke lets Pike take over and track the faint vibrations of tools striking stone. Unfamiliar with the type of rock that it is sitting on, the snake fiend scratches at the surface to determine how difficult it would be to burrow. Finding the area too dense and thick for his claws and fangs, the creature quickly slithers down the hill.
“I guess we follow,” Sari says with a shrug.
Fluidly moving along the ground, Pike heads for another hill, which is dotted with large boulders that are on the verge of falling. Unconcerned with starting an avalanche, the snake fiend weaves among the stones while the other champions carefully pick their steps. Many times, they are forced to stop while Timoran steadies a boulder and Nyx melts the bottom enough to lock it in place. As they reach the top, the faint sound of metal striking stone and cracking whips drifts to their ears. Staying low, the champions take in the sight of a large valley that has been created by centuries of mining. The vast pit sits between six of the tallest hills on Shayd, the furthest one topped by a squat tower for the demonic taskmasters. Wooden walkways and pulley-operated elevators can be seen along the sides, most of the area still and abandoned due to there being so few workers left. The noises repeat themselves, echoing over the area, which is devoid of even the slightest breeze.
“Fizzle, can you-” Nyx starts to ask before remembering that the drite is no longer with them. Scanning the valley, she barely notices movement at the bottom, which is cloaked in shadows. “I think I see people working down there. They look so small. Not sure if they’re children or just far away. There are demons too. At least I think so since I can see some bright red figures. Should we go down there and fight?”
“We need a plan because we’ll be seen as soon as we step into the open,” Delvin answers, nodding his head at the distant tower. The others strain their eyes to see that there are more taskmasters standing guard on the far hill. “No telling what else is over there, so I don’t want to go in with a lot of noise. If you can dull their senses, Dariana, then that gives us an edge. I’ll take Luke and Dariana into the mine to take out the ones down there. Our powers are less likely to cause a collapse or hurt innocent bystanders in confined spaces. Timoran and Sari can go around the hills to come at the tower from the opposite side. They seem to be focused more on the inside of the circle, which goes in our favor. Nyx will remain here and only get involved if things go wrong because stealth and combat magic don’t go together. Any questions?”
Sari raises her hand and points at a large pile of dirt that is next to a gaping hole. “I think we lost our snake fiend. New plan?”
“For the love of every god and goddess, I’m starting to miss him being a morose jerk,” the warrior says as he stands up. Drawing his sword, he holds it up to reflect a faint beam of light at the tower. “Might as well be loud then. The tower is all yours, dear. Use as much restraint as you want. The rest of us will meet you in the mine.”
With a happy grin, Nyx launches herself high into the air and hurtles toward the distant building. Enormous fireballs with metallic barbs appear around her clenched fists, which she drives into the side of the guard tower. The spells explode and send flaming chunks of stone tumbling down the hill, the demons inside either crushed or torn apart. Having only their whips to defend themselves, the remaining taskmasters try to snare Nyx’s limbs. Every weapon that catches her is incinerated, so the horned creatures try to tackle the half-elf. Blasts of wind knock some of them into the valley while others are killed by a flurry of attack spells. Lightning blades and explosive orbs fly in every direction, the destructive force threatening to collapse part of the mine. Realizing that they are no match for the champion, the demons retreat down the hill and try to escape the fiery blasts that Nyx continues hurling at them.
Unsure of what is going on above, the other taskmasters herd the chaos elf children towards one of the caves. The kids scream when Pike bursts out of a wall and drags one of the demons into the earth. A hiss of disgust can be heard before the red-skinned corpse is shoved back into the open, the dead creature’s head barely connected to its body. Without warning, the snake fiend’s spiked tail lances through a floorboard to stab another enemy in the stomach and flip it off the scaffolding. One of the remaining taskmasters backs away until its back touches the wall, but it immediately collapses with a line of tiny puncture wounds along its spine. The demon’s fanged mouth foams for a few seconds before it shrugs off the poison and struggles back to its feet. Sniffing the air, it whirls around to drives its hand into the stone and catches Pike by the arm. Yanking the snake fiend into the open, the horned creature is caught off-guard when the serpentine body coils around it and gradually crushes it into pulp.
The remaining taskmasters are about to attack when Dariana lands on one of them and drives the demon through the wooden walkway. Keeping its head between her feet and hanging from the broken boards, the telepath snaps its neck with a quick twist of her legs. With only two demons left, she takes her time climbing back up and watches as Sari silently floats onto the cliff above their heads. The gypsy flips down and stabs one of the taskmasters in the neck, killing it instantly. Tossing the weapon away, she blows a kiss to their final enemy and calmly walks by it to check on the children. Feeling insulted, the demon rears back to whip the blue-haired woman before it realizes that it is standing in the middle of a widening shadow. The creature jumps back as Timoran smashes through the scaffolding, its victory short-lived as it impales itself on Delvin’s sword.
“I will never get used to being hurled like a shotput,” the warrior gasps, twisting his blade to finish off the demon. Rubbing his sore shoulder, he joins the others in time to watch Luke partially change back and try to get himself untangled from his crushed enemy. “It’s so strange seeing you look like you, but still be flexible like Pike. Honestly, I’ve never seen the snake fiend in action. That was really impressive.”
“He says thanks and he likes your shiny shield,” the half-elf replies while Dariana helps uncoil him. Once free of the demon, Luke completes his transformation and slumps against the wall. “Somebody should tell Nyx that we’re done here. So, are there any adults here that we can talk to?”
“Not on this shift,” a little girl says, staring in wonder at Timoran. Tiptoeing to the barbarian, she stretches to touch his fingers and marvels at their size. “Are you a giant? My daddy used to tell me stories about giants. Oh, you’re a sick giant too. I can see all the red in your old wounds. Somebody went playing in the slime pits. I can help you. Not a good idea to let the bad stuff stay in you for too long. My mommy says that it can eat your air and melt your brain.”
“He isn’t a giant, Lily,” one of the older boys states, taking a homemade axe out from under his shirt. The blade is colored to imitate Timoran’s weapon, the tiger-like stripes smeared at their edges. “These are the champions that Queen Trinity used to fight. Now they’re our friends. Did you bring her back? Are we going to be free? None of us have heard any news since Yola Biggs put her protection spell on us.”
Nyx lands on the scaffolding, which threatens to collapse from all of the damage it has received. “Queen Trinity is on a journey to help us defeat the Baron, so she couldn’t come with us. This means we need a guide, which Ambrosine said we could find here. As far as being free . . . we’re working on it. My guess is that it will happen when the Baron is dead and the rest of your people can return home. That probably doesn’t sound as promising as we think considering how long the chaos elves have been slaves.”
“Yay, we get to have a revolution!” Lily shouts before grabbing Timoran to start dancing in a ci
rcle. Remembering that the barbarian has been infected, she stops and tugs on his arm to lead him to a rickety ladder. “First, you will come home with us. The others will want to be a part of this. Come on and hurry. I want to start the revolution right away, but the adults say I have to be patient. Watch your step.”
“Chaos elves are so strange,” Sari whispers as she watches all of the cheering children follow Timoran and Lily. Receiving a worried look from a little boy, the gypsy leans forward to give him a kiss on the forehead. “I didn’t say that was a bad thing. Lead the way and we’ll get to work on your revolution. I promise it will be full of fireworks.”
*****
The chaos elves gather outside of the caverns they call home, all of them staring in wonder at the champions. Whispers of the demons retreating to the castle in response to a great attack have crossed the entire continent. The workers returning to the mountain are evidence that something has happened, but it is the appearance of the outsiders that has stirred the chaos elves’ deepest curiosity. Hearing the children sing about revolution, the adults rush out to shush them and look around for the Baron’s agents. Nobody sees any of the winged creatures that would typically attack for such talk and even the undead are staying far away. The shadowy figures lurk on the distant cliffs and moan from the bogs, their hungry voices calling out in the hopes of prey coming near.
With the children taking the champions’ hands, the chaos elves lead their guests deep into the mountain. The only light comes from violet enhancer gems fused to the walls and sticky mushrooms that act like torches. Nobody dares to talk, but it is clear that all attention is on the outsiders, who are more nervous than the locals. Scampering ahead without fear, Lily returns to Timoran with a handful of moss that she urges him to eat. Having trouble moving in the narrow tunnel, the barbarian can only open his mouth for her to put the medicine on his tongue. The harsh taste makes him cough and sputter, but the infectious slime is swiftly purged from his body through his nose and ears. Patting the back of his hand, Lily helps him along the tunnel like he is a lost puppy who has found a new home.
The procession enters the hollowed belly of the mountain, which has a yellow crystal in the ceiling to create some semblance of sunlight. Pieces of ancient ruins are in every direction, but they have been covered by the chaos elves’ flimsy huts and stolen tents to create a vast shanty town. Broken columns are being used as benches in a garden that is nothing more than weeds, two leafless trees, and a variety of cultivated mushrooms. Crates full of roots and moldy food are scattered about, many of them having attracted vermin that end up being used as a welcomed source of meat. An algae-filled pond sits in the corner and bubbles whenever the underground spring sends more polluted water into the basin. With so many of the chaos elves having left Shayd, the area looks abandoned and dismal. Yet, the champions can see vibrant life within the tired eyes of every cobalt-skinned face.
“I thought only children, the elderly, and the sick were left behind,” Luke says as they watch their hosts gather in front of them. He counts at least twenty adults who look healthy enough to have been part of the army that attacked Stonehelm. “Did some of you hide here when Trinity left? I’m surprised the Baron didn’t do anything about that. Unless there’s a simpler answer that I’m missing.”
“The sick and injured recovered,” Dariana whispers into the half-elf’s ear. Stepping into the crowd, she notices that everyone is showing signs of malnourishment and dehydration. “I see that many of you are still weak. Please don’t use up too much energy greeting us. All we need to know is where the Baron’s castle can be found. Once you tell us, we will be on our way and you can rest.”
“All in good time,” an old woman in violet robes declares. The priestess uses a gnarled staff to move along and swats at anyone who tries to help her. “The demons have gathered there to stop you. They no longer follow the Baron’s orders since he is not on the continent. Instead of allowing you through, they wish to kill you and keep the world as they see it. Being away from the Chaos Void for so long, the demons are scared that they will be sent back. They are no longer sure if they can survive anywhere other than Shayd. Please share our food to recover your strength and we will march in the morning.”
Hearing the old woman’s words, Delvin stops letting two young casters lead him further into the city. “What do you mean by marching? I know the children talked about a revolution, but we’re not here for that. Once the Baron is dead, all of you will be free. There’s no reason to join in the fight. Besides, there’s only a handful of healthy warriors here and, no offense, that’s stretching the term. Most of you are elders and children. I refuse to lead an army composed of innocents.”
“Then you can walk in the back, young pup,” the priestess bluntly retorts.
“And I thought my people were stubborn,” Timoran whispers with a chuckle. Bowing to the elder, the barbarian waits for her to touch his head before he stands at his full height. “As a member of the Snow Tiger Tribe, I know firsthand how tenacious and brave your people are. I would be honored to fight by your side. Yet, I do agree with my friend that this is neither the time nor the place for you to march. These are demons and you lack both the experience and equipment to handle them. Not to mention, you are visibly weak. Please let us fight on your behalf and earn you your freedom.”
“That doesn’t sound like us earning anything.”
“I know, but we do not want any of you to get hurt.”
“We will be fine, young man.”
“I truly want to believe you, but-”
The priestess swings her staff at another chaos elf with the clear intention of caving in the man’s skull. A green cocoon surrounds his body and deflects the weapon, which falls from the old woman’s fingers. Holding up her hands, she reveals tiny burn marks that she erases with a whispered healing spell. Excited to reveal their own secrets, every child holds out their hands to show off their purple enhancer gems. Too young to have the jewel fused to their bodies, they are still able to use its power to cast whatever minor spell they have practiced the most. Even those who are more interested in being warriors have practiced in preparation for the day that they could have their revolution. Plumes of various elements sail toward the ceiling while illusions and shield spells appear within the crowd. The magic ends before it can damage anything, the children standing with large smiles on their faces. All of the adults brandish rusty weapons and mining tools to prove that they are ready to fight, but their bodies show signs of apprehension and unease.
“This wouldn’t be the first revolution we’ve been involved in,” Nyx points out while she takes a closer look at an enhancer gem. Reaching out to touch it, the channeler stops herself out of fear of absorbing its magic. “The protection spells make them practically invulnerable and the kids can do some damage as a group. Get me some functional weapons and I can cast simple enchantments to make them work against demons. Probably take a day or so, which we can afford to lose if it means a better chance of reaching the Baron in one piece. What do you think, Delvin?”
“I still don’t like this, but I get the sense that I don’t have a choice,” the warrior admits with a sigh. He laughs when the priestess pats him on the arm and waves for him to walk alongside her. “This won’t be easy. If you can tell us of any places to find decent weapons then we will get those while your people rest. The Baron was a military man, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he has armories scattered about the continent in case of an emergency. Some habits never die even after centuries. There was also General Vile, who I see as a man with a similar mindset. For the record, I refuse to march until I know we can protect all of you. Last thing I want is to have Trinity angry at me for letting any of her people die.”
“It is good that you respect your elders and hosts so quickly,” the robed priestess declares, leading Delvin to a stone table. The other champions are shown to their seats while most of the chaos elves hurry to get food and water. “We heard that the factory fell and know that you
attacked the taskmasters. There is very little food out there for those who don’t know where to look. Please accept this meal.”
Dented pitchers of water are placed on the table, the added herbs unable to entirely mask the sulfuric smell. Pouring herself a glass, Nyx sees flecks of brown metal in the drink and does her best to take a sip without letting any of them into her mouth. The others are slower to serve themselves as they watch platters of roots and moss-covered meat get brought out. A bowl of wilted lettuce and various weeds is placed in front of Dariana, who gets the sense that this is someone’s first attempt at making a salad. Dipping sauces are placed in front of each champion, half of them having the consistency of chunky paste. Timoran tries a slice of meat with a crimson gravy, the flavor reminding him of mildew and soured wine. Even the chaos elves shudder at every bite, a lifetime of eating whatever they can find having no destructive effect on their sensitive taste buds. Only the various roots are palatable, but there are so few of them to go around that the champions are the only ones allowed to take from the platters.
Sari pushes her plate away and hops onto her chair, which startles those around her. “I’m not letting this continue. Are you with me, hero?”
“I think you’re being rather rude,” Nyx says while Luke and Dariana go about clearing the table. The channeler sees the ashamed looks on the chaos elves’ faces, the children looking especially downtrodden. “Don’t make a scene, little sister. They’re probably sharing everything they have with us. Just eat and be a proper guest.”
“A proper guest comes with gifts.”
“True, but what are you going to do?”
Warlord of the Forgotten Age Page 18