Lewd Saga Omnibus: 7 Book Collection: An Epic Digital Fantasy Adventure of Lust, Love and War

by Eden Redd

  Thorrin grunted as he smashed in one skull after the other. The numbers of undead seemed to only grow. Emma whipped her fists and legs around in a dance of destruction. Her movements were fluid like a dancer as skeletons burst from her strikes. Arrows soared through the mist. Thorrin put his arm up as several arrows bounced off his armor. Emma whirled around dodging several arrows before one sunk into her thigh. The dragon didn’t make a sound as she continued to fight bare handed as if nothing had happened.

  “Pull back! They’re just going to wear us down!” Thorrin commanded.

  The paladin and dragon continued to fight off the horde of skeletons as they back peddled to an opening. When a wave was decimated, the two turned and darted for the opening. Armored skeletons pressed on, their moans filling the area with bone chilling pain. Decayed arrows appeared, stabbing into trees and the mist covered earth. Another arrow struck Emma in the back-shoulder blade. This time she grunted. Thorrin took hold of her waist and carried her along as they ran.

  Dark shadows followed as the two charged through the thick fog. Thorrin couldn’t see anything but Emma stared out, eyes drinking in every detail beyond the white veil.

  “Turn left!” Emma directed.

  Thorrin followed suit. On they ran until she shouted to turn right and then left again, each time they passed a large standing stone. The shadows fell further and further back as the two darted along. After several minutes, the mist parted and a large stone mound loomed into view.

  Thorrin skidded to a halt, still holding Emma by the waist. The two looked up at the mound, a stone door at the base. Archaic runes covered the gray mound as the stone door stood slightly ajar. The paladin tried to drink in the details but the stench of death was everywhere, clouding his thoughts. Hand slipping from Emma’s waist, the paladin stepped closer, inspecting the runes.

  “This has to be it,” Thorrin said in a light whisper.

  Emma turned and stared at the mist behind them, “They’re getting closer.”

  The paladin reached up and took hold of the stone door. Muscles bulging, he pulled with all his might. The door moved but only a few inches. Thorrin grunted as he tried again, this time Emma appeared next to him and took hold of the door. The stone door shifted open and dusty air greeted them. Emma stepped through the threshold with wide eyes. Thorrin turned to see shadows once again in the mist. Taking the dragon’s lead, he followed. Fingers curled around the edge and with some effort managed to close the heavy stone door behind him.

  Darkness filled the tunnel with only the faint light from the door’s outline behind them. Emma raised a hand and a ball of glowing light appeared. Putting down her hand, the ball of light remained over her shoulder, pushing back the inky darkness. The dragon took steady steps forward. Thorrin looked to the door and then to Emma’s back. Hammer still in hand, he followed the dragon, deeper into the heart of the runic mound.

  The corridor continued on for moments before it opened into a chamber. Inside, skeletal statues held up the ceiling with boney hands. The pillars lined the room as a stone sarcophagus stood in the middle. Runes lined the inside walls and along the stone floor. Emma took a step in, her booted foot causing the runes on the floor to glow with purple light.

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Thorrin said as he stayed at the entrance.

  Emma continued on, ignoring the paladin as she approached the sarcophagus and stood before it. Drinking in every rune, her heart fluttered with caged excitement. Thorrin eyed her and noticed the arrow shafts still buried in her thigh and shoulder. Having a bad feeling, he stepped in behind her. The runes across the chamber glowed brighter.

  “Let me pull the arrows out so I can heal you,” Thorrin said as his heart thumped in his chest.

  Emma kept her gaze steady on the stone crypt, “You have any idea what we found?”

  “The source of the undead,” the paladin said with half humor and half caution.

  Emma nodded, “Not just that. We found something lost for hundreds of years. I had no idea they buried one of them this far north of the road.”

  “Emma, pull out the arrows so I can heal you. Then we can talk about whatever dead thing is in there.”

  The dragon woman continued to gaze like she was possessed. Hand reaching up, she pulled the arrow from her thigh. A drop of blood went with it, falling to the floor and splashing against a glowing rune. The arrow clattered next to it. Reaching up again, she pulled the arrow in her shoulder free. It too fell to the stone floor with a clatter. Thorrin moved closer, ready to heal the dragon’s wounds when his eyes fell to the arrows on the floor. Steaming blood seethed and slipped into rune grooves. The purple light gobbled up the dragon blood, turning from purple to red. Looking up, the paladin could see all the runes shift their color from purple to red until the whole chamber glowed with red light.

  “Shit,” Thorrin growled.

  Emma ran a finger across the crypt, “They were myths since my childhood. I never thought I would ever find one. They were the boogey men to keep young dragons good. They taught us about them in school, their power nearly unmatched in a time of war.”

  “I’m sure it’s fascinating but I think your blood activated something. I’ll heal you and then we should try to get out of here.”

  Emma pulled her finger away, “We can’t leave. I have to destroy it before it awakens.”

  Thorrin eyed the glowing red runes, mind gearing up for something to come next. “Emma, this feels real bad. Let’s get out of here and talk about it.”

  The dragon reached up and took hold of the stone lid. Muscles barely bulging, Emma lifted up the heavy lid and tossed it aside. The stone lid shattered into dozens of pieces across the floor. Thorrin stood beside Emma as they gazed down into the billowing century’s old dust. As it settled, black armor gleamed in the light. A white skull and neck bones appeared at the neck of the armor, jaw closed and empty eye sockets staring at nothing. A double-bladed axe lay on its chest, white bone fingers curled around the shaft. Lines of red rose up along the sides of the sarcophagus, bending up over the side and flowing into the crypt.

  Emma raised a hand, energy pouring forth, curling and straightening into a glowing blade of purple fire. Hand shaking, she raised the blade up, the point centered on the dead thing’s armored chest.

  “You will not rise to haunt us.” Emma said as her voice cracked.

  Thorrin could see the real fear in her eyes. Hammer in hand; he readied to help drive the point down. The air grew thick with death. Emma firmed up her shoulders as she steadied herself.

  “Now now little dragon, remember the stories, it will take more than that to stop me…..”

  Emma brought the blade point down hard, fear driving her to strike. A skeletal hand blinked over the dead thing’s chest, fingers curled around the glowing blade of fire, an inch from its armored chest. Emma cried out as Thorrin lifted his hammer and struck the hilt of her blade with all his might. The fire blade moved a half inch closer but not more than that.

  “Valiant attempt…..valiant indeed….” the sinister voice echoed through the chamber.

  The dragon woman and paladin stared down in horror as veins snaked up along the neck, along the jaw line and over the skull. Muscles bloomed into view as veins webbed over them. Gray skin filled in the gaps and eventually covered muscles and veins. Black hair sprouted along the head and down along the ears. Eyes rose up from dark sockets and lids appeared, closing down over them. Flesh rose up around the hand holding the blade as nails grew into place.

  Emma pulled back, her blade vanishing from sight. Thorrin stayed by her side as they took several steps back. The dragon’s eyes were the size of saucers as the dead thing in the crypt moved and then sat up. Thorrin stared as his hand clutched his hammer in a tight grip.

  The transformation finished as a gray skinned man smiled back at the dragon and paladin. Standing up, he lazily held his war axe to his side. With a small hop, he cleared the edge and landed on the dusty floor. The glowing runes p
ulsed all around. The man’s sideburns framed his gaunt face and wicked smirk. Dark eyes looked to Thorrin and Emma and back to Thorrin.

  “Mad Morgan….” Emma whispered with an edge of terror.

  “And here I thought the world had forgotten me,” Mad Morgan leered.

  “Emma?” Thorrin said as he slightly bent his knees.

  “He….he is one of the eight….He’s a monster….” Emma stared with wide eyes.

  Thorrin’s brow hardened, “If he is awake then this is his weakest moment. We have to attack now!”

  “Thorrin….I….” Emma trailed off.

  “Shit!” The paladin cursed as he launched himself at the black armored man.

  Mad Morgan shifted his stance as Thorrin came at him. Battle axe swinging up, the player barely dodged the axe blade. Knee’s bending further, the player lowered his body as low as he could while still on his feet. Hammer swinging, it struck the side of Mad Morgan’s armored knee. The force was enough to cause his opponent to shift his stance again to stay balanced. The axe blade stopped mid swing and changed direction. Thorrin slammed his hammer into the Mad Morgan’s side before the axe came down. Thorrin’s eyes went wide as his whole body was lifted up and thrown from the sheer force of the blow. Spiraling, the paladin crashed into a wall and slid to the stone floor.

  Thorrin rolled back onto his boots, hit points draining down to 40 percent. Channeling his wisdom into protection, the paladin’s armor rating went up as did a glowing aura. Emma snapped out of her trance as Thorrin charged. Legs moving, she was at the paladin’s side as they rushed the undead man. Mad Morgan continued to smirk as his body moved, dodging their strikes. Emma’s hand went out, purple fire blade reforming. Mad Morgan’s black axe sparked against the fire blade and the paladin’s hammer. Back peddling, he laughed as he kept their strikes at bay. Thorrin couldn’t believe how agile the dead man was as he swung around the heavy axe. Armor clanged and clanked as blade, hammer and axe sang out from each blocked blow.

  “You will not leave this crypt, Dread Lord!” Emma shouted with battle lust.

  “Little dragon, it’s already too late,” The Dread Lord said in a calm and relaxed tone.

  The double-bladed axe swung up and came down on a slant. Thorrin could see the dread lord was aiming for Emma’s neck. The point of the dragon’s blade was going for Mad Morgan’s chest. Time slowed down as Thorrin realized that even if she makes contact, the axe will cleave her down the middle. Arm reaching out, Thorrin tried to block the axe before it made contact. There was no fear or second guessing as he exposed himself. His only thought was to deflect the axe any way he could. Emma’s eyes shifted as she glanced up. The axe was coming down as Mad Morgan gave a razor smile. Thorrin’s armored arm went up before her face. A black blade bit down into virtual metal, flesh, muscle and bone. The fire blade punctured Mad Morgan’s chest, cracking armor and the point poking out of his back. Thorrin watched in horror as his arm was separated at the elbow. Still pushing, his stump knocked the axe blade from its intended target.

  Mad Morgan stumbled backwards, axe blade swinging down to the floor. Emma cried out as she let go of the fire blade, imbedded in the dread lord’s chest. Thorrin lost all feeling in his arm as it went spiraling through the air, hitting the wall and landing with a thud. There was no pain but the shock of the act caused instinct to take over. The player clutched at his elbow as he looked to his severed hand and arm lying feet away.

  The dread lord reached up with his free hand and pulled the fire blade from his chest. Smiling, he flicked the blade at Emma. Thorrin was still partially in front of her, raising his hammer, the blade struck it and exploded into a bright flash. The blow was enough the hurl the paladin into Emma. Both dragon and player spilled onto the floor.

  “Impressive. You are indeed a smart one, Paladin. Attacking me now was truly in your favor. But even now, you are not strong enough to defeat me.”

  Thorrin turned onto his stomach and began crawling toward his severed limb. There was little blood but the player told himself over and over again that it was just a game. Emma sat up; horror paralyzing her as she stared at Morgan’s heaving form.

  “Crawl to your limb. Crawl like the worm you are,” The dread lord taunted.

  Thorrin ignored him as he readied his healing ability.

  “I can destroy both of you but what fun is that. The thirst of combat is all I desire. You two shall be my appetizer before the main course.”

  Mad Morgan closed his eyes, lips curled into an evil grin, “The town has grown since my time here. They will be my first new soldiers, heralding my return to Lukken. Thank you, paladin, for making my reawakening so exciting.”

  Thorrin reached out and took hold of the limb. Pressing the meaty end to his elbow, he channeled his healing into it. Veins reached out and connected before pulling the arm onto the elbow. The skin reached out and connected. When Thorrin’s wisdom points reached zero, his arm was fully reconnected. Taking a quick inventory of his stats, he saw that he was at 15 percent of his hit points.

  The player rose to his feet. Continuing to ignore the dread lord, he walked over to Emma and lifted her to her feet. The dragon woman was silent, eyes looking down. Curling his healed arm around her, he pulled her to the tunnel they came in. Reaching down, he scooped up his hammer and hooked it to his belt.

  “It’s okay Emma, I have you,” Thorrin said in a soothing voice. He knew they couldn’t take on a dread lord. The player decided to put as much distance between them and Mad Morgan as they could.

  “You are right to flee,” Mad Morgan laughed. “Go and tell the town of Apple Shire that Mad Morgan is coming. I will rape their corpses and raise them again to do my bidding! They will know the joy of servitude in my army! Tell them for a Dread Lord walks again the lands of Lukken!”

  “Emma, I will protect you,” Thorrin reassured the stunned the dragon as they walked down the tunnel.

  Emma clutched at him, eyes lost to childhood horrors. Burying her face into his neck, the paladin held her close as they walked to the stone entrance. Gloomy light poured in as the door was open. Thorrin stepped out with Emma close, armored skeletons to each side of them, forming an empty path.

  “Let them go. They will bring my message to Lukken before they join your ranks,” said Morgan’s deep voice from behind.

  Thorrin ignored everything. His mission now was to get Emma out of there in one piece. Empty eye sockets stared silently as the paladin and dragon walked down the path. The sun lowered further in the cloudy sky, shadows growing longer as evening approached from the east.

  Eight

  Light faded from the sky. Thorrin kept his focus as he walked. Hit points and wisdom regenerated slowly but his mind was on Emma. The green haired dragon woman could not keep the terrible stare from her eyes. She clung to him for dear life as they walked through the forest. The mist had parted and the dark sky opened on. Orange light touched the tops of trees as the sun slowly sunk behind the horizon. The paladin’s mind spun as he tried to come up with solutions.

  “You can let go of me,” Emma said in small voice.

  The paladin released his grip but the pair continued to walk. Shame colored Emma’s eyes as they walked. A quiet defeat wrapped around the pair as they moved through the forest, evening’s touch caressing their wounded prides.

  “Thank you for….” Thorrin cut her off.

  “Don’t mention it. It would be wrong to get upset at someone when they’re having a hard time.”

  Emma looked away, “I thought I was stronger than I was. It’s a bitter seed to swallow.”

  “We all have those moments. If you dwell on it, it’s going to stop you from doing better things.”

  “If you didn’t get me out of there, he would have…..”

  “I don’t even want to think what he would do. I assume he’s called Mad Morgan for a reason.”

  Emma nodded, “His name is Morgan Blythe, one of the eight Dread Lords.”

  “I assume that’s not the name
of the band,” Thorrin smiled, trying to keep it light.

  Emma continued as she clearly didn’t get the reference, “Dread Lords are paladins that have fallen deep into darkness. They lost any shred of light in their spirits and only serve to extinguish all life. They were feared and hunted nearly to extinction. The last eight either went into hiding or were sealed away in crypts, their locations lost to time.”

  Thorrin kept his gaze forward as they walked, “We both know that is not true.”

  Emma turned her head to the paladin, an annoyed expression curling around her eyes. “I’m only telling you what I know from my childhood.”

  Thorrin stopped walking, his head hanging forward, “Emma, I understand you have secrets you wish to keep. I find it hard to believe that three dragons just showed up as a battalion of trolls was making their way through the forest. You’re not telling me something and normally that would be fine but now things just got a lot worse.

  “Mad Morgan is going to rise up and slaughter everyone in Apple Shire. I’m not strong enough to take him on. Please tell me anything you know so we can fight him on better terms.”

  Emma crossed her arms but kept her gaze steady on Thorrin, “I’m not the only one keeping secrets. You seem like you’re out for truth and justice but you never mentioned anything about the three trolls you were protecting.”

  Thorrin turned his head up and stared back at Emma, shoulders sagging. “I didn’t bring that up because dragons and trolls obviously don’t get along. They are Lust Slaves and looking for protection from their masters. They are leaving the south so they can find a better life in the north.”

  Emma turned her head sideways, sticking out her chin, “You should have put them to death when you had the chance. Their kind are abominations and should be burned to ash.”