The Dark Monolith

by F. P. Spirit

  Everyone turned to starboard just in time to see a familiar figure in black leather execute a perfectly arced dive from the crow’s nest into the waters below. It was Ruka. Donnie’s fear for the teen’s safety once again reared itself. He ran to railing with a shout. “Is she crazy?”

  When Donnie reached the rail, he scanned the waters with his keen eyes, immediately spotting a dark shape under the water maybe ten yards away. Whatever it was, it was huge. Donnie yelled back over his shoulder, “Ten yards off to starboard!”

  “Got it!” he heard Morled cry back.

  The small vessel eased into a wide arc in that direction, all aboard now intently searching the waters below for some sign of their small comrade. Abruptly, the silence was shattered by a loud noise like cannon fire. A tall plume of water rose into the air over the spot where Donnie had seen the dark shape. A large wake swiftly expanded out from the center of the explosion, rushing toward the ship.

  “Hang on tight!” Donnie shouted in warning.

  When the upturned waters reached the Rusty Nail, the ship was lifted upwards, rocking the deck wildly. Donnie held on tight to the railing, quickly glancing around to make sure everyone was okay. Luckily, his warning had given the others time to find something to hold onto. Donnie peered back down into the churning waters, looking for any signs of Ruka or the monster. The lake waters had just begun to settle when a second plume erupted in the same spot.

  “One more time!” Donnie yelled.

  Once again they all held on as the vessel was rocked from the wake of the explosion. When it finally settled, they heard a cry from above.

  “She got it!”

  Donnie searched the waters once more—sure enough, a giant shape broke the surface. The creature was huge, easily forty feet long if he had to guess. Donnie had heard rumors of such creatures during his time at sea, but had never seen an octopus that large before. As they drew closer, he noted two large blackened circles along its torso. They looked like burn marks. Donnie shook his head in amazement. Ruka had dispatched the huge creature just as she claimed she would. It suddenly dawned on him that she was still out there. Donnie scanned the waters frantically, but she was nowhere to be seen!

  “Can anyone see Ruka?” he cried.

  “I’m right here!” came Ruka’s voice from down on the main deck.

  Donnie spun around and saw her just climbing on board near the bow of the ship. He stood there, staring at her dumbfounded.

  “Well, that’s one,” she said, nonchalantly shaking the water out of her hair.

  Donnie dashed over to the railing above the main deck and cried down to her, “That was amazing! I am sorry I ever doubted you.”

  Ruka peered back up at him and smirked. “Told you I could handle myself.” Her eyes lingered on him a moment or two longer, then she spun back toward the foremast. “No time for pleasantries just yet, though.”

  “There are more of them out there,” Elistra concurred. “I can feel it.”

  Ruka nodded to the seeress then scurried up the foremast back to the crow’s nest, taking up her original position.

  Donnie shook his head and muttered under his breath, “That is one strange girl. Impressive, but strange.”

  Captain Morled brought the Rusty Nail about and put them back on course toward the mouth of the East Stromen. Another quarter hour went by when abruptly Seth’s voice rang out from above.

  “I see another one! Off the port bow! Headed this way!”

  Donnie shifted his gaze toward the port side of the ship and spied a large shape moving toward the ship. It was about twenty yards out and was still underwater, but as it got closer the creature finally surfaced. Large tentacles reached out ahead of it, easily twenty feet long and a good two to three feet thick. Up at the bow, Glo began the motions of a spell, but before he could unleash it, a bolt of lightning flashed down from the top of the foremast. It arced its way to the creature below, striking with a loud clap of thunder. The sea monster halted its advance, sparks playing across its body. Wisps of dark smoke rose from the spot where the bolt had connected with the monster.

  The attack must have given the creature second thoughts—it abruptly turned away from the vessel, slowly submerging back underwater. Glo, apparently caught by surprise, had stopped mid-spell. He swiftly began the motions again, but before he could unleash it, a second bolt of lightning shot out from the foremast. It caught the giant octopus from behind, this time halting its retreat. Arcs of electricity played across the monster’s frame for a few moments, then the creature’s huge bulk went limp. It rose back to the surface and floated there, unmoving.

  Cheers erupted from around the vessel, but faded as loud laughter drifted down from the crow’s nest above. The sound was punctuated by a familiar sardonic voice.

  “Ruka two, Glo zero.”

  Another hour went by, cruising around the south side of the lake, but there were no more sightings of the lake monsters. At that point, Donnie turned to Captain Morled. “Do you think we got them all?”

  “There are more,” Elistra voice rang out from the deck below. “I am sensing something up by the north side of the lake.”

  Morled’s eyebrows raised, his mouth opening slightly. He motioned for Donnie to take the wheel, then stepped over to the railing, his eyes falling on the seeress. “The north side? Are ya sure, miss? The beasties have never been spotted up there before.”

  Elistra gazed up at the Captain with that all-knowing smile that Donnie found so infuriating. She had caught him by surprise, back in Ravenford, with her proclamation that he should “stay the course and you may very well find what you seek.” He had never told anyone, not even Elladan, that he was in search of something. Donnie had known too many charlatans to believe that Elistra was the real deal. Yet somehow she had known.

  His musings were interrupted by Glo’s response to the Captain. “Well, there don’t seem to be any more monsters down here. Would it hurt to take a look up north?”

  Morled let out a heavy sigh and shrugged. “I guess not.” He strode back to the wheel, taking it from Donnie and proclaimed, “Oh, well, here goes nothing.”

  Captain Morled slowly spun the ship around in a wide arc and set course for the north side of the lake. Another hour passed before they reached the northern end of Lake Strikken. Donnie could tell they were getting close when a foul, musky smell assaulted his nostrils. The odor had to be from the swamp they passed on their way to Vermoorden. It was close to midday, and the sun was directly overhead, its reflection making it difficult to see anything underwater. They were traveling along smoothly when a shriek rang out from the seeress.

  “Look out!”

  The boat suddenly rocked as if it had been struck. Elistra’s warning had saved them from falling overboard, giving everyone barely enough time to grab onto something.

  “I think we found another one!” Elladan shouted. “More like it found us!” Donnie yelled back.

  The Rusty Nail swayed back and forth as the small vessel tried to right itself, but the deck was still rocking when Elistra called out again.

  “Get ready!”

  Everyone steadied themselves as the ship pitched starboard. Donnie caught a brief glimpse of a white-tailed hawk flying from the foremast before four enormous tentacles reached over the railing amidships. Lloyd and Alana rushed forward, blades swinging as they engaged the flailing limbs. The warrior’s twin blades were alight with flame, and the lady knight’s sword gleamed as if filled with the light of the heavens. The old timbers of the small craft gave out a moan of protest as the boat pitched over even further.

  “I’m not sure how much more of this she can take!” came Captain Morled’s cry.

  “Never fear, me hearties!” a voice called out from below in a perfect imitation of the Captain’s voice. The hum of strained rigging lines was suddenly drowned out by the
twang of an inspiring tune, its stirring beat immediately calming the nerves and energizing the body.

  Donnie caught sight of Glo skidding crazily across the heaving decks—the wizard was trying to get a clear shot at the creature, but its flailing tentacles were in the way. Multiple arrows suddenly whizzed past Donnie, embedding themselves into the monster’s head. A quick glance over his shoulder showed Martan lashed to the starboard railing, bow in hand, while deftly drawing another arrow from his quiver.

  Back on the mid-deck, Lloyd spun wildly, fighting off two tentacles at once. His flaming blades made each cut sizzle, the giant limbs flinching away from him with every swipe. Alana expertly fended off another huge tentacle, but Donnie spied a second one snaking toward her from behind. He immediately sprang into action, drawing his sword and vaulting over the railing. He hit the deck below and rolled forward, shooting up directly behind Alana. Donnie spun around just in time to fend off the limb that had been reaching for the lady knight.

  “Got your back!” he cried over his shoulder.

  “Much appreciated!” Alana yelled back before launching a fearsome assault on the tentacle in front of her. The lady knight’s glowing blade sliced deep into the slimy flesh of the huge lake monster, inky-colored blood spurting out from the wound.

  Abruptly the deck reared up around them, throwing nearly everyone off their feet. Donnie rolled with the fall and came up in a half-crouch, blade ready. The tentacles had pulled back, exposing the monster’s maw, those limbs writhing as if the creature were in agony. Through the flailing tentacles, Donnie caught a glimpse of the creature’s arrow-riddled head. Planted directly in a huge eye was a small black dagger, the comparatively tiny weapon buried up to the hilt in the creature’s iris. A foul-looking liquid oozed from the wound. Donnie nearly let out a cheer when he caught a gleam of silver out of the corner of his eye. He turned his head to a chilling sight—Alana charged forward, blade first, at the monster’s maw. The weight of her armor must have kept her on her feet, and now she was rushing in for a killing blow. Donnie watched in awe as the lady knight thrust out with her gleaming blade, burying it deep into the exposed underside of the giant octopus. The creature recoiled once again, this time completely letting go of the vessel.

  The Rusty Nail responded by rocking away from the creature. Unfortunately, Alana’s blade was still buried deep into it, and the lady knight would not let go. Without thinking, Donnie sprinted forward and leapt for the rigging. He grabbed hold of one of the mast lines, slashing it free with his sword in one quick motion.

  The slight elf swung clear across the deck, reaching Alana just as she was about to fly over the rail. Donnie instinctively let go of the line and grasped for her waist, hoping his momentum would be enough to save the armor-laden knight from a deadly fall into the waters below. By the grace of the gods, his plan worked. The lady knight was bowled over, her sword coming free with her. It clattered to the deck as she and Donnie tumbled over each other.

  The duo continued to roll, finally coming to a stop near the foremast. Alana lay on top of Donnie, her breath coming in ragged gasps as her armor-clad form weighed on top him. Yet despite his aches and pains, Donnie gazed fondly into her emerald green eyes and managed a sparkling smile. “Shouldn’t you have bought me dinner first?”

  A broad grin spread across the lady knight’s lips. “And here I thought you were a cheap date.”

  The sound of an explosion brought them back to the battle. Donnie and Alana picked themselves up in time to see the monster go limp in the water. The ship rocked slightly from the resulting wake, then finally righted itself. The Rusty Nail had managed to hold together after all.

  Donnie let out a deep sigh and turned to gaze fondly at Alana. “Now where were we...”

  His statement was caught off by a shout from above.

  “Look out! To the stern!”

  Donnie spun around in time to see another giant octopus rear out of the water behind the ship. Its tentacles reached forward, attempting to grasp the stern of the vessel. Donnie and Alana rushed forward once again, the lady knight retrieving her sword on the way to the sterncastle. Martan, still lashed to the railing above, was launching volley after volley into the approaching creature, but he was nearly out of arrows, and his assault had not slowed the monster’s progress.

  Abruptly, a bolt of lightning flashed over their heads, catching the giant octopus square in the maw. Donnie glanced over his shoulder and spied Lloyd hovering in midair above the main deck, holding onto Glo with one arm. The wizard pointed ahead. “Let’s get closer!”

  Lloyd nodded and launched forward, toward the stern of the vessel, as Glo began the motion of a spell. Donnie rushed up the steps of the sterncastle, with Alana right behind him. The giant octopus had stopped in its tracks after the first bolt struck, but now moved forward again, its giant arms flailing as it grasped for the back of the vessel. The creature had nearly caught hold when a second bolt flashed overhead. This one went right over the tentacles and caught the creature in the head. The lake monster halted, arcs of electricity playing across its body and smoke rising from its sizzling torso. With one giant heave, the creature collapsed into the water and lay unmoving.

  Donnie breathed a sigh of relief. He peered at Alana and received a quick smile in return before the two of them headed over to where Lloyd and Glo were landing. Elladan strode up to the duo as and clasped both on the shoulders. “That was some quick thinking, you two!”

  Aksel was right behind him. “Yes, nice teamwork,” the little cleric agreed.

  “Yeah, not bad,” came Ruka’s voice. They all turned to see the young teen standing by the rail, dripping wet. “But by my count, I still have you beat two to one.”

  A wide grin broke out across the wizard’s face. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  Donnie found himself strangely elated to see Ruka safe and sound. On impulse he strode over to the girl, scooped her up, and spun her around.

  “You... were... magnificent!”

  Ruka was caught off-guard, going stiff in his arms at first, but then proceeded to laugh and hug him back. After another spin or two, Donnie put her down. He stood there, still grinning at her, absolutely impressed with the girl’s bravery. Ruka uncharacteristically grinned back, her cheeks flushed. Abruptly, she spun around and gazed out over the waters, her voice cracking strangely. “Is that the last of them?”

  “I do not sense any others,” came Elistra’s immediate reply. “I believe the lake is clear.”

  Morled chuckled gleefully, slapping Donnie on the back. “Well then, we did it. I didn’t think we were going to make it there for a while, but we did it!”

  “I never had any doubt,” Elladan declared, fixing the Captain with his infamous half-smile.

  The Rusty Nail pulled back into port around mid-afternoon. Captain Morled had them tie one of the giant octopi’s bodies to the ship and haul it back for everyone to see. When they approached the docks with the beast in tow, a crowd swiftly gathered. Excited murmurs traveled through the throng, the onlookers staring at the huge creature with wonder. Shouts were intermixed with the loud buzz of the gathering.

  “You gotta see this!”

  “Look at the size of that thing!”

  “I can’t believe they caught one!”

  Captain Morled grinned from ear to ear as they drew up alongside the docks. He shouted over the noisy din, “Not just one! We killed them all!”

  His statement elicited more cries.

  “No way!”

  “I don’t believe it!”

  “Is it true?”

  The companions stood at the ship’s rail curiously watching the chaos unfold. Elladan gave Aksel a quick glance, the little cleric nodding back. The bard’s voice boomed out across the docks, magically soaring over the loud buzz. “People of Vermoorden, the lake has been cleared out of all monster
s like the one behind us—courtesy of our good Captain Morled and the Heroes of Ravenford...”

  Donnie, standing beside Elladan, nudged the bard and nodded toward Alana. “...and the Knights of the Rose,” Elladan swiftly added.

  The mob’s reaction was mixed. There were a few cheers here and there, but the crowd grew noisier as folks talked excitedly among themselves.

  “Heroes?”

  “Morled’s a hero?”

  “What’s Ravenford got to do with this?”

  “What are the Knights doing here?”

  Abruptly the throng parted, an older gentleman pushing his way through. Garbed in dark blue robes, he had a pocked-marked face, greying hair, and a long beard that hung down to his chest. The crowd quieted as he halted and peered up at the Captain. “Is all this true?”

  “’Tis indeed. I saw it with my own eyes.” Morled nodded toward the stern of the ship. “Four lake monsters, as dead as this one.”

  At that point, cheers broke out in earnest. Chants of Heroes of Ravenford and Knights of the Rose were repeated over and over.

  “What they really should be chanting is Ruka, Ruka,” Seth noted in a voice loud enough for all aboard to hear.

  Ruka gazed almost fondly at the halfling, but her expression swiftly turned into a smirk. “That’s alright. I know what I did. I don’t need cheers from some stupid crowd.”

  Battle of the Bards

  Our humble little town is honored by your presence

  It was only mid-afternoon when the companions arrived back in Vermoorden. Many of them wanted to quickly pack up and set out again for the monolith, but it did not look like that would be possible. First and foremost, the Rusty Nail had taken damage in their fight with the lake monsters. Second, they needed to wait for Sir Craven.

  The knight was due to arrive the next morning with the two squads of cavalry he had retrieved from the Wind Tower. Third, the man in blue robes, who turned out to be the town magistrate, insisted they throw a victory celebration. At Elladan’s prompting, the festivities were scheduled to coincide with “The Battle of the Bards” later that evening.