by Eden Redd
“I want to thank you on behalf of Lady Slytha for coming to her grand soiree. My name is Lucius and I am the lady’s Hand. I must speak of some rules before the night continues.”
The Hand cleared his throat and continued, “Please enjoy yourself but be respectful of others. The main hall is for mingling. If you must partake in more carnal desires, we have special rooms set up to the left and right of the main hall and of course you may go back to your rooms for privacy if you wish.”
The Hand gave a hard stare at the crowd for a long moment before it melted into a cheerful smile, “Remember above all to enjoy your stay. If anything is lacking, please inform the servants to help or satisfy anything you desire.
“The Lady will be making appearances over the next few nights so do not fret. Let the grand event, commence!”
The hall erupted into cheers, shouts and applause. Lucius turned from the stage and the music came on immediately. Dalya took Luk’s hand and pulled him to the dance floor. Jayson, Sonja and Lance turned to each other, cheerful smiles on their lips as they eyed each other with deep warmth.
Jayson was about to ask if they wanted to join him to check out one of the “Special rooms” when the Hand emerged from the crowd and walked to them.
“Hello Jayson, Sonja and Lance. The Lady would like you all to join her for a private moment,” Lucius smiled.
Twelve
A pair of large double doors closed behind the three knights, the music from the party stopping abruptly. Following Lucius, the group walked along a wide, warmly lit corridor. Fine art hung on the walls next to silky smooth tapestries. Jayson shot glances to Lance and Sonja, each one returning a questions gaze or shrug of shoulders. Lucius kept his eyes facing forward to another pair of large doors at the end of the hall.
Reaching the large double doors, Lucius put his hand on each one and pushed. The doors swung open. Beauty and awe glowed as the three knights stepped past the threshold into a place made of dreams.
A massive greenhouse lay before them, filled with plants of various nature. A stone path led down the middle and Lucius continued to walk undeterred. Jayson could barely believe his eyes as he stared at pools of flowing water, comfortable lounge chairs, and dozens and dozens of naked bodies. Nude Elves, lamias, kitras, orcs and other strange creatures lounged and bathed in the steamy pools. Both sexes were present. Some simply washed each other while others read and yet others lay, bodies pressed together. Eyes turned to the three knights, waved with smiles and some blew kisses. The air was warm but not uncomfortable as they walked on, following the path of what can only be described as an Eden. Groups of females giggled and pointed at Jayson and Lance while some of the males eyed Sonja, their members growing half hard.
A lone female troll with pink hair sat by a swirling pool; blue legs in the water and sadness on her brow. Jayson instantly recognized her and stared with concern. He couldn’t believe how beautiful she was as she lazily kicked in the water. Most of the concubines were naked but the troll was still clothed in her white dress with plunging neckline.
“Before you ask, this is Lady Slytha’s private harem room. She asks only special guests to ever see it so feel privileged,” Lucius said with his nose in the air.
“I wonder what the other rooms connected to the party offer?” Jayson said before realizing he said it out loud. The pink haired troll glanced at the knight and then back at the water.
The Hand let out a sneer, “They hold the lesser harems. Only the most beautiful may be in this room. Lady Slytha has particular tastes.”
The group walked on and soon the pink haired troll was hidden from view by the many lush plants. The room was vast, taking a full ten minutes to reach the other end. The Hand opened the double doors. Cool night air greeted the group as they stepped out into a large balcony, the twin moons casting their celestial light. A lone round table stood in the middle of the impossibly large balcony. Jayson guessed you could fit a hundred people here and there would still be plenty of room for everyone to dance comfortably.
Lady Slytha sat with her back to the stars, moons and primal forest stretching out to the horizon, her glowing eyes on the three knights. Lucius bowed and left, closing the door behind him. Wine and fine glasses sat at each seat while the Lady sat with her hands on her lap.
“Welcome to my private balcony,” Lady Slytha smiled.
All three knights fell to one knee and bowed their heads.
“Please rise and have a seat,” The Lady said while keeping her smile.
All three knights stood and took a seat facing the alabaster skinned woman with dragon wings. Jayson was first to pour himself a glass, his nerves firing like random fireworks. Lance and Sonja watched him but made no move.
“Sir Reed has the right of it. Please pour yourself a glass and relax. I do not let any of the servants here for fear of gossip.”
Sonja and Lance poured themselves some wine. Everyone took a sip except for Lady Slytha as she flexed her wings.
“I’m sure you are wondering why you’re here,” The dragon woman’s voice came out melodic and crystal clear.
The three knights were silent.
Lady Slytha folded back her wings and relaxed into her chair. Her eyes focused on Jayson, “I first want to tell you how pleased I am for pledging your sword. In these times, you don’t see such knightly actions any more. It pleases me you hold it true to yourself and the company you keep.”
“Thank you, my Lady,” Jayson said with kind eyes.
“It is that reason alone I have called you to discuss an important matter,” Lady Slytha said with sorrow in her eyes.
“Times are changing and we are all falling victim to it. My kind has grown soft to the many threats at our doorstep. Thankfully we have you wonderful humans and knights along the border of Lukken. Your towns and kingdoms safeguard against the troll threat from the south.”
Lady Slytha looked away, “My kind have lost their foresight to what may be brewing in the kingdoms to the south.”
The dragon woman turned to the three knights with glowing kind eyes, “Tell me, are you journeying to the West?”
Jayson couldn’t help himself as he leaned forward, “Is there a quest you wish for us to undertake?”
The lady nodded, “I feel a growing threat from the west. My eyes in the middle kingdoms have spoken of large gatherings of trolls and monsters. I fear without proper action; the threat may grow. I need more eyes that I can trust in the west and middle kingdoms. Will you journey there and by my eyes so I can inform the dragon and human kingdoms if action is necessary in these times?”
Jayson looked to Lance and then to Sonja. The two knights nodded in agreement.
Turning back to Lady Slytha, the knight bowed his head, “We would be honored to investigate the west for you.”
Lady Slytha nodded, “You are doing a great service for all our races. Please finish your wine and we shall return to the party, the three of you shall be my special guests. I will make sure your time here is a beautiful and pleasant one.”
Jayson’s heart soared with pride. A “Quest to the West” appeared in his quest log. The knight accepted it. Looking over, he could see Lance and Sonja accepting the quest as well. Picking up a wine glass, the knight’s mind raced with possibilities as he took a sip. Turning his head back to the beautiful dragon woman, something metal flew up and hooked on the balcony over Lady Slytha’s shoulder.
Jayson focused as more metal hooks silently flew up and clamped onto the balcony with a clatter. The dragon woman turned her head to the muted noise, eyes narrowing.
“Trolls,” The pale lady said with a hard edge.
Jayson was first to his feet, glass falling from his hand and shattering on the stone balcony. Pressing a palm to his chest, party clothes changed to armor and swords at his back. Sonja and Lance were to their feet, clothes changing to armor and weapons. Jayson stepped forward, taking Slytha’s arm just as she stood up.
“Please take cover while we guard your esca
pe,” Jayson whispered.
“I will not run from trolls,” The dragon woman spat as she flexed her wings.
“My Lady, we must protect you. Please call your guards and get to safety. We can stop them,” Jayson pleaded.
Lady Slytha stared into the knight’s eyes and nodded. White dress whisked around her legs as she moved calmly to the main doors. Looking back, she gazed at the three knights as they formed up, weapons drawn.
Large, meaty hands crawled silently over the edge of the balcony. Heads appeared, some with wicked daggers clenched in sharp teeth. Muscled brutish bodies clamored over the balcony edge. Dark blue skin shined in the moon light as some drew hammers and swords from their belts, or over their shoulders. Jayson counted ten but soon another set of hands took hold of the stone edge.
“If this is any kind of normal raid, we may have to take turns. I will use my attacks to keep them at bay; you guys cover me if I run out of stamina.” Jayson ordered.
Lance held out his rapier, “We've never fought in formation before.”
Jayson twirled his two short swords, one in each hand, “We’ll be fine. Don’t die or you will appear back at the main gate. It will take too long to get back to the fight. We don’t know how many there are so pace yourself.”
“Here they come,” Sonja said with both hands gripping her sword and gritting her teeth.
The hulking trolls lumbered forward with weapons at the ready. A murderous rage filled their eyes as they smirked at the three knights. The balcony grew crowded on one side against the pristine night sky. Dark bodies tensed as they sized up the knights. One troll growled a command. The hulking monsters charged.
Jayson let a smile slip as he activated his Spin attack. Rushing the oncoming monsters, blades held out, the knight spun like a blurry top. The first wave of trolls grunted and shouted as bodies turned to shattered light. Jayson could see everything in slow motion as his blades spun with his body, cutting down any troll within reach. Out of the ten trolls rushing, only four stood. Jayson’s stamina stats turned red and he fell to one knee
“Three Point Stab!” Sonja shouted.
Sonja’s sword flashed, three oval holes appeared in a troll. Its eyes went wide as it turned into shattered light. The blue knight was at Jayson’s side, using her sword technique on each troll getting too close. When the four brutes fell from her sword attack, Sonja fell to one knee, stamina drained and recharging.
Lance stepped forward calmly, white armor glowing in the dim light. The second wave pounced, raising oversized hammers and swords. The knight moved with liquid grace, dodging attacks and driving the point of his rapier deep in their guts. Jayson’s stamina had recharged and he was back to his feet. Lance used his sword, elbows and boots to keep the walls of monsters at bay. The letter L appeared on several trolls as they flashed into broken light. Lance was cool; eyes narrow, moving like a dancer through the trolls, cutting them down.
More climbed over the edge and Jayson stood at the ready, “Back up Lance! I’ll cut them down but we have to think of something to stop them from coming up!” the knight shouted.
Sonja eyed the hooks, “They are climbing up ropes. We have to unhook them!”
Jayson nodded, “I see ten hooks. We have to get closer!”
Lance backed up. Jayson took a deep breath and unleashed his spin technique. Whirling forward, blades flashed again. Trolls cried out and burst into light. Jayson watched as his stamina drained until it turned red. Falling to one knee he looked up just as a sword stabbed, followed by a hammer blow. The knight was thrown to the floor, hit points draining to half.
Sonja flashed forward, six stab marks appearing on the two trolls, three each. They flashed away. Lance pushed forward, moving to one of the hooks and dodging trolls. He was about to take hold of one of the hooks when a meaty hand reach over and grabbed him by the wrist. Lance struggled but could not break the grip as the troll hauled himself up and drove a blade into the white knight’s gut. Lance grunted as his hit points drained. With one sword flash, the troll’s head went flying before bursting into light.
Lance stumbled back as more trolls climbed over. “We need help,” the knight said calmly.
Jayson remained on the floor when he remembered what Sil said when he first started the game, “A concubine is worth a hundred normal soldiers.”
The knight looked down at his belt, seeing the tiny round crystal, “Call your concubines, now!”
Jayson touched the crystal. Sonja and Lance glanced down at their belts and touched the crystals to their concubines. Light flashed. Dalya, Luk and Leaf stood next to their lords, legs bent and ready. The kitra growled as her claws unsheathed from finger tips. Vine like tentacles rose from Leaf’s back as his arms and fingers grew longer. Luk’s hands glowed as he took a step back.
Jayson’s stamina returned and he stood up, “Everyone, stay together! We are pushing forward as a team to take out those grappling hooks!”
Jayson took point, Sonja at his left and Lance to his right. Dalya stood to Lance’s right while Leaf stood to Sonja’s left. Luk stayed behind them, hands pointed and healing the party back some of their hit points. Another wave of trolls joined the remaining ones on the balcony. Outnumbered, the players readied themselves, eyes glancing to Jayson.
“Push these fuckers back!” Jayson shouted as his body spun, blades flashing.
The massive wave of trolls rushed the knight. Jayson felt swords slash at him as he cut them down. Hit points draining to less than half, he took down eight of them before he was on his knee. A troll raised a hammer when two blades penetrated its chest. Sonja and Lance moved with grim determination as they guarded their fellow knight. Swords flashing, they carved their way through the middle of the troll invasion.
Dalya hissed as she moved with blurry speed. Claws struck out, leaving glowing lines across dark skin before the trolls shattered. Leaf’s vines wrapped around troll limbs, lifting them up and throwing them over the side to their howling screams. The small band moved closer, cutting through troll after troll. Jayson was back on his feet, slashing with short swords and holding back on his technique. Sonja and Lance followed suit, keeping the enemy busy while Dalya and Leaf worked around the edge of the attacking trolls.
Dalya was first to reach a metal hook. A troll head appeared over the side and claws flashed. The troll grasped at his face as he fell away. The kitra took hold of a hook, lifting it with a grunt. The trolls on the hanging rope let out grunts and screams as they fell away. Leaf’s vines took hold of two hooks, lifted them up and letting go. More screams filled the night. Several more trolls were over the edge and cut down almost immediately. The three knights managed to push to the edge, slicing and cutting.
Jayson managed to look over the edge and gasped. About a hundred trolls were climbing the ropes, eyes eager to join the fight. Another hook was pulled up and off. A rope of trolls fell to the forest below.
“Six hooks left. Keep going!” Jayson said as he took hold of one and lifted it up. The weight was tremendous but the player knew his strength was above average.
Trolls continued to scream as they fell away. Dalya spun, flipped and moved with feral power. A blade sliced out across her bare thigh and she screamed. Falling to the ground, she hissed. A troll was nearly on top of her when a blade point appeared through its chest. The troll grunted and shattered with Jayson appearing from the light. Dalya smiled and was back on her feet, jumping and slicing at a troll climbing over the edge.
Leaf moved to a hook when several trolls rushed him, driving their blades deep into stomach and chest. The dryad let out a grunt as vines whipped out, decapitating with a single strike. Taking hold, the grappling hook was pulled and fell away.
Luk shot glowing beams of light at each player and concubine, healing some from the damage. Hands moved with expert skill as hit points rose to his healing light. From behind the balcony, a troll launched into the air, flipping and landing behind the players at the edge. Jayson turned back and his eyes widened. Th
e troll held a small sword and hammer, one in each hand. It looked over its shoulder at the knight and leered. Jayson recognized the troll from when he saved Dalya. It was the one that ran away.
The troll turned to Luk and lifted the hammer. The elf took a step back as the hammer went hurling. Luk cried out as the hammer struck his chest and sent him spiraling to the floor. Lance glanced back but kept fighting. Jayson turned and rushed the troll. Swords clashed as the knight and troll’s arms shook.
“You will not best me this time, human,” The troll glared.
“Why are you here!” Jayson yelled as blades slid away with power, sending them back a few feet.
“I’ve come to rescue what was taken!” The troll growled and launched into an attack.
Jayson parried blow after blow, mind working. An image of the female troll floated into his mind, “The pink haired troll?”
“She has a name! Oksuna belongs to us. She is our rightful property!” The troll growled as blades flashed and sparks flew.
Jayson stared for a moment as blades clashed. The word “Property” stabbed deep into his psyche. Enough to turn a lit match into a burning rage. The knight growled as he pushed his entire body into each swing, power fueling him. The troll took a step back as he tried to keep up. The growl growing louder, Jayson’s mouth opened into a roar as he took another step forward. The troll blocked a blade but grunted as the knight’s shoulder rammed into him.
“Property….PROPERTY!” Jayson unleashed as his swords came crashing down.
The troll grunted as he was sliced across a thigh and across his stomach. Jayson turned into a spin, blades circling around his blurry body. The troll dug in his feet, using his blade against the sudden storm of Jayson’s short swords. With metal screeching from the onslaught, the troll’s blade was knocked from his dark blue hands and clattered on the stone, feet away.
Jayson brought one of his blades under the troll’s chin and held it there, “Surrender!”
The troll stared at the intensity in Jayson’s eyes. It tilted its head but an inch. Jayson noticed and relaxed his stance just a hair. The troll smiled as one large hand grabbed the blade. Taking damage, the troll swung with its free hand, connecting with Jayson’s jaw. The damage was minimal but it did cause the knight to roll with the punch. Jayson tried to swing with his other blade but the troll was already moving. Missing, the troll let out a strange shout as he jumped over the edge.