by Atlas Kane
When they entered the city, the locals ran alongside their vehicles, cheering. It was an amazing experience, one that served to punctuate the humanity of the Iraqis. Sure, Sunni, Shia, and Kurd people were not always the best of friends. But to Cade, he was shown a glimpse of what it might have looked like in Mosul if there hadn’t been a long and drawn-out war there.
Slowly, as the light began to fade in the sky, the grasslands sloped upwards, turning into rolling hills. Checking his map, Cade saw they were well over halfway through with their trip, and the jungle had been the slowest part. If the following day went as smoothly as this one, they would find the spiders’ homes shortly after midday.
So as Bellows crossed a small stream, and Cade saw a ravine had been formed where once the stream had cut through a hillside, he called for them to break camp.
The boar drank his fill, and before eating, fell on his side and slept.
Ketzal helped Cade set up their tent against the side of a steep embankment. It would give them enough cover to reduce the buffeting winds that seemed to define the landscape.
When it was done, they had a cold meal and made sure to wake the boar so he ate as well. Before the moon rose to its zenith, Ketzal and Gemma were asleep inside their tent. Cade waited three hours before waking Ketzal, and happily passed out near the ever-warm tigress.
After they woke, Ketzal kept Bellows at a more consistent pace. This trip was a necessity, not a chance to experiment with how fast they could get the pig to run. Yet despite the reduced speed, Cade saw the silver gleam of the lake in the distance well before noon. It was a strange experience, like when you’re driving in a car to “the mountains,” as a child, and you can see them rising above the horizon plain as day, yet it seems to take hours to actually get there.
So too, the lake seemed to take forever to arrive. It grew more and more vast as they sped along until at last, when they crested yet another hill, the shore was finally in sight.
It was so large that a steady tide beat against the rock-strewn shore, and they took their lunch there. The rocks were flat and broken to small pieces. A haven for rock skipping, Cade thought, and he allowed himself the luxury of trying it out. After a few dozen tries, he gave up though. The wind made the water so choppy that the light stones wouldn’t carry for more than a few skips.
They skirted the shore at a cautious pace after that. Only occasionally was the soil firm enough to allow them a full gallop, and reviewing the map, Cade saw it would be best to stick with the lakeshore for most of the rest of their journey. They rode around the northern shore as it curved east and south. Eventually, they would simply ride due east until they came to the skull-shaped mountain. Until then, maybe another hour or two of this, the lake would be a constant.
They rested once more, wanting to ensure that Bellows was fresh when they made it to their destination. This time, Cade spotted a grove of trees, a few with limbs dipping down over the water. Shade was a welcoming idea after having ridden in the full sun for a day and a half. Ketzal called Bellows to a stop, and the three of them dismounted. Then she led the boar into the trees where they found a place to lie down in a patch of fine grass.
Cade gave himself the luxury of a short nap, crossing his legs at the ankle and his hands over his belly. In a minute he was out, and in ten more, he was awake and fresh as a spring day.
Nothing like a soldier nap to perk up your tits, he thought, noticing that Ketzal, too, had found sleep. Gemma was searching the shoreline, hunting perhaps. He walked over and joined her, his noisy footsteps alerting her of his presence well before he came close.
She put her finger to her lips, then pointed into the water. Making a wiggling gesture with her hand, he knew she must have spotted a fish.
He crept closer, careful to move as quietly as possible this time. They had plenty of food, but a bit of fresh fish wouldn’t hurt anyone. After she pointed once more, Cade saw it. A flashing silver fish maybe a foot and a half long. It swam upwards toward the surface of the lake and then turned back and dove again. Over and over it made this cycle.
Cade figured it was feeding on some tiny fish they couldn’t see. Summoning her bow, Gemma pulled back her string, an arrow made of pure mana forming on its string. She held her breath a moment then released it. The arrow leapt from her bow and tucked itself neatly into the fish’s side as it crested once more.
Then something strange happened. A mass of bubbles erupted from the water in a wide ring around the fish. And below the surface of the water, Cade spied something larger. “Get back!” he shouted to Gemma. The tigress needed no warning though, and had pounced backward a few paces before he could withdraw his axe.
Several slimy green heads surfaced at once as creatures with bulging eyes emerged from the lake. As they rose, long spears stuck out ahead of them.
Gemma drew another arrow and Cade was prepared to fire his blast axe when one spoke. “Who are you? Why ruin the ambush?”
The humanoid’s voice was garbled, as if its throat were filled with mucus. Cade couldn’t believe what he was hearing, and shook his head. Gemma answered for him. “I saw the fish and thought I could hunt it. What were you ambushing?”
The group of hunters looked at each other, their eyes blinking like frogs. “Birds come for the fishes, and sometimes Crengali. Food for the lockmen.”
So far, a few non-threatening words had passed between both groups, and nobody had been shot or stabbed. It was as good a sign as any. Cade lowered his axe and held up his offhand. “We have food. I will share with you if you tell me what the Crengali is.”
One of the lockmen lowered his spear as well. Bobbing his head, the hunter burbled out a response. “Food is kind gift. We accept.”
Trust wasn’t something that grew on trees. Unsurprisingly, the two groups, Ketzal joining moments later with wide, sleep-addled eyes, took a while to get acquainted with each other. Weapons were held at the ready for the entire exchange, but after a few fish were provided from the lockmen, and Cade handed out some of the spider meat, their long spears were finally set down.
Their new potential allies were strange to look at. The lockmen’s heads bulged out above diminutive torsos and squat, powerful legs. Their eyes reminded him of a fish, though every once in a while, a thin membrane would close and open again over each. Not true eyelids, but organs specifically designed to keep the unblinking eyes moist. The creatures were only five feet tall, but it was easy enough to see how they could be deadly foes. Especially when considering how they might behave in an aquatic environment, Cade would gladly accept friendship over enmity.
He examined them with his UVS, curious to see what Antinium had labeled them.
Lockmen Hunter
Level 6
Aquatic Humanoid
Too basic of information to be helpful, but knowing their level reinforced his suspicion that they wouldn’t be pushovers in a fight.
The conversation that followed was not only amusing but enlightening as well.
After everyone had finished their meal, Cade asked them if there was anything they needed.
“More hunting is best. Game scarce since spiders move to lakeshore. Many creatures fall, and lockmen hunted too. No beast have hunger like spiders,” the leader said, shaking its fishy head from side to side.
Seeing an opportunity, Cade arced an eyebrow at Ketzal and responded with another question. “You don’t mean the horde spiders, do you? We are heading to meet them now.”
The lockmen all hissed in unison. “Yes, the horde spiderkin are fierce warriors. Why go to meet?”
“I am on a quest. We are going to help the spiders.”
As he’d predicted, more hissing followed. “Why help? Spiders will eat you and your pig friend.”
“If we help the spiders get their home back, then they will go back into their caves. That will allow me and my people to be safe. It might even help you,” Cade pointed out, hoping they would bite.
The group huddled together a moment, their own to
ngue coming out in burbles and clicks. It sounded like a perfect language to carry under water. Then at last, the leader faced Cade again. “Yes. If spiders go away, much good for the lockmen. We send guide. Know where spiders’ home is. Know of the creature who stole it away. We help you. You help lockmen.”
Cade feigned surprise, lifting up his hands and gasping. Turns out there is a lot more to this Charisma Attribute than getting the girls’ attention, he thought to himself. I might specialize in it almost exclusively. “Wow! That is an amazing idea. It would be great if you sent a guide with us. I do not know this area. Tell me, friend, when can this guide leave?”
One of the smaller lockmen stood, its clear lids spreading another layer of mucus over its eyes. Retrieving its spear, it said in a nasally voice, “I am for being the guide. Ready now.”
16
Holler at Your Tasty Maw
Their slimy new friend, Gamlum as it turned out, happily jumped up on the empty saddle opposite Gemma. It pointed with its long spear, not directly along the lakeshore, but inland.
After Cade asked it why, its only response was, “Spiders have shore ahead. Must go around.”
So around they went. They were still close to their skull mountain, and yet it was hard to watch the map as, rather than head directly toward it, they had to veer around. It was tempting to argue that they stay on their course, to point out he’d struck a bargain with the spider queen. What if not all the spiders got the memo was the question that gave him pause.
It was early afternoon when they came to a forest that grew below a line of ragged mountains. Their quest marker was just ahead, less than a mile, but still Cade couldn’t make out the skull-shaped formation. Maybe it’s just a symbol, he wondered. It could be a way to scare off any of the travelers from going there. Surely, storming a cave full of massive spiders is the fastest way to die.
Trusting Gamlum, the faithful hunter-guide, Cade rode behind Ketzal and kept watch while they entered the trees. These reminded him of maples, but their leaves grew all the way to the ground. The foliage was so dense, they couldn’t see more than twenty feet into the forest even though they were spread out. A gentle wind blew, making the forest whisper. And though he could see nothing, his instincts kicked in.
“Ketzal, be prepared. I think something is wrong.” Then he turned in his saddle and gestured to Gemma. The tigress just nodded. She could feel it too.
Less than a minute passed until several confusing things happened at once. The first was a snapping sound, like a massive rubber band exploding under pressure. The trunk of a young tree swung sideways, smacking into Bellows just above his hooves. This caused the boar to tumble over sideways, the lockman guide just barely escaping by leaping free of the saddle.
Ketzal shouted out in fear as her friend squealed beneath her. Cade rolled to his feet, axe in hand, and saw six huge spiders closing in from all sides. In a few ways, they resembled the scout he’d slain. The same spiny hairs and bulky body was there, but these had fifteen-foot legs, all nimble and fast. At the head of each was a pair of curved and gleaming great swords, pincers, Cade realized with a sense of crippling dread.
Cade lifted his blast axe and selected Exploding Shot. But before he could fire, Ketzal shouted in a commanding voice. “Stop! Everyone stop!” Even the spiders hesitated, the one in the lead poised to strike down at Cade with its long, spear-like leg.
Moving forward to stand between Cade and the lead spider, Ketzal hissed gently, and began tapping the ground with the heel of her foot rhythmically.
Rather than tear her head off, the spider hissed back and began tapping the ground with two of its hind legs. It was promising to see how intelligent the beast was, but Cade also noted how it hadn’t lowered its front leg. Hard to trust a dude who’s holding a spear over his shoulder, ready to throw it at the drop of a hat.
Bellows found his footing. Rather than bolt away or charge into the spiders, the boar stood humble and terrified. Cade had never seen the boar act in such a fashion before. The poor guy’s legs were shaking, and Cade doubted it was from the laceration that still bled from where the tree trunk had slapped him.
Ketzal kept talking with the spider, and Cade studied the trap they’d sprung. There was nothing in the road that triggered it, so he figured one of the spiders must have done so manually. One of the strange maples had been stripped of its branches and leaves, then tied to the trunk of a much larger one. A series of spun and twisted spider silk ropes wrapped around its base. The spiders had pulled it back, building an incredible amount of tension as they did so. Normally, it would have simply cracked the log, but the spider silk would be stretchy. So it was a massive rubber band after all, he thought darkly. If those things are smart enough to build traps, what would they be like to fight in full force?
The discourse went on for a few minutes. The spiders spoke a tedious and repetitive language, knocking out similar rhythms endlessly. To her credit, Ketzal remained focused and intent.
Cade spied their guide, the little fish man bouncing on his feet anxiously, staring at the looming spiders. He wondered if the little hunter might try and make a break for it, but Gamlum endured. Bellows seemed to be taking the exchange the hardest, and not once did his huge legs stop trembling. Poor bastard. Gonna have to give him a proper feast when this is done. If this gets done, Cade corrected. The mission they were on might very well be the most dangerous he’d been on since coming to Antinium. Yet if Pablo had faith, and assured them he could lend some aid directly, Cade knew this was their best chance.
At last the lead spider lowered its sharp appendage, and Ketzal stamped out some form of farewell. The spiders tore away, worming through the trees and out of sight in seconds.
“Holy napalm, Ketzal! You managed to save our asses again. I can’t believe how helpful your Occupation is,” Cade noted.
The demoness blushed magenta and dipped her horns. “Thank you, Cade. I am but a humble servant here to serve.”
“Ha! Sarcasm now? I’ll take it. Let’s get moving again, shall we? I think Bellows would prefer to be anywhere else but here.”
Cade spent a few minutes applying the Staunching Poultice to Bellows’ wounds, and soon the bleeding stopped. Then he made a pile of summoned food and poured two of his Health Tinctures over the top of it. After the boar ate, they mounted up and continued.
In less than ten minutes, the trees thinned, and they saw ahead the jagged mountains. The peaks fell down in sheer and haphazard cliffs. He wasn’t sure if they could find a way up even if they had to. Hopefully, the entrance to the spider lair would be somewhere more accessible.
As they left the grove of trees behind, their little guide pointed the way, taking them further along the mountains. It wasn’t long though, until Cade knew they’d arrived. Suddenly, the gaps and crevices in the rocks took on a disturbingly familiar visage. Two huge holes for eyes, a third for a nose, and a wide and shattered maw rested below.
“Yay! We’ve made it to skeleton cove! Home of the Spider Queen and your worst nightmares,” Cade said in a mock happy tone.
Ketzal elbowed him, and he dutifully fell silent. Now was not the time for horsing around. Still, he always found the urge almost irresistible when he was nervous.
They slowed and then dismounted. Bellows refused to go any further, so Cade made another pile of harvest fruit and set it down for the boar to eat. If he could have a little feast while they all risked their behinds, then it might ensure the pig would be well-rested enough for a good sprint should the need arise. Ketzal gave Bellows the order to wait for their return, and then the group headed into the creepy-ass cave.
Cade paused a moment, regarding their little guide. The lockman was a little over four feet and must only have weighed ninety pounds at best. Yet the fish man seemed intent on joining them as they plunged into the mountain.
“Hey, are you sure you want to come? I thought you were only acting as guide,” Cade asked, giving the little man an out if he wanted one.
Shaking his huge head, Gamlum answered, “I go and fix with you. Order from leader. Let us go and finish.”
Nodding respectfully, Cade patted the man on his back and immediately regretted it. Thick strings of mucus clung to his palm and fingers. He tried shaking it off, and when the ooze refused, he scraped his hand on a rock nearby. Gamlum didn’t notice at all.
The group entered, and as the vaulted rock around them began to shut out the light of day, Cade made to bring out his torch. Then he noticed something odd about the lighting. All around them a vague glowing haze filled the air.
“No need for those I think, Cade,” Gemma said. “We have caves on my world like this. They glow from ether saturation.”
He wasn’t sure if it was ether or mana saturation, but as they continued their march, the lighting became more noticeable. It was like the cave Minda and he had explored, though instead of glowing plants, every surface looked covered in a shimmering slime. If he had to guess, he’d go with algae or fungus, but either way, it was helpful.
The cavern entrance broke off into dozens of tunnels, some climbing higher up into the mountain, and others diving below. Their path was easy to discern, however, as one vast tunnel burrowed straight ahead and fell down at a gentle slope. If something was strong enough to have defeated an entire colony of massive spiders, it must have been big.
As the group burrowed deeper into the spider lair, the sounds of their own travel became increasingly strange to hear. Cade figured out what gave off the impression. Other than the scuffle and scrape of their passage, no other sound filled the place. He swallowed, resisting the urge to say some other bit of nonsense that wouldn’t be helpful in the slightest.