Asmundr’s face was sweaty. Each blow reverberated through his armor. “Devil…magic…!” He scowled. “Be damned!” He stomped his boot down releasing another pulse of brilliant light. The wave forced Vegard back, skidding across the deck before slamming into a set of crates.
Wera took this as her moment. She pounced forward, whirling blades. Asmundr turned and from his finger shot a beam of light that struck the girl directly in the chest. The light carried her body backwards, slamming hard into the main mast.
The beam left burned and raised skin on Wera’s chest the size of a coin. She lurched forward, frenzy burning in her eyes, before collapsing to her hands and knees.
Her limbs shook violently from the impact as the paladin stalked forward.
“Your false gods have not yielded the kind of power Abaniel has bestowed upon his righteous followers.” His breathing was labored but the confidence of his words gave him renewed strength. “When you die…it will be at His feet that you will answer for your crimes.”
Vegard ushered himself to his feet. His right hand gripped over his left wrist. Dark energy forming within his palm.
The Red Paladin turned to see the grim magic the warlock wielded.
“You still deny the inevitability of your fate, war…?” The Red Paladin started.
The dark ball tore across the deck and struck Asmundr with the force of a titan. The energy ripped through the paladin sending him flying across the deck, bashing against the mast, and careening back, crashing into the port railing of the ship.
Asmundr’s body was imbedded within the thick oak of the railing. The wood exploded with force where he had struck, raining debris out into the deep ocean. It was only the man’s bulk, wedged within the railing, that had saved him from being cast to sea.
Vegard fell to his knees, the energy utterly dispersed with the soul missile. His body shook violently. Cold, once more, washed over him in uncomfortable spasms. Vegard inched his way back to his feet and shambled to the prone Wera. He cast his animal cloak over her shaking body and anchored her to her feet.
“He’s lucky ya did that.” Wera’s jaw trembled. “I was bout to peek his damn eyes out.”
“You alright?”
“Nothin’ some of that piss booze of yours won’t cure. And a long nap.” The pair inched their way towards the stern of the ship. Another thunderous boom stopped the duo in their tracks. They both looked back to see the paladin, Asmundr, slowly ripping himself from his shattered resting place.
The man fingered blindly at the ground till he gripped the pommel of his great-axe, once more. He lurched upward and stumbled a bit before centering himself.
“You two…” He coughed. Blood dripping from his mouth. “You two will pay for…” BOOM! The sound shook the ship.
All three of the combatants stared around the ship. As far as they could tell they were the only living beings left amongst the many corpses littering the vessel.
Their questions were answered when, through the fog, stepped an enormous gray foot that touched down on the main deck.
“Oh no…” Vegard and Wera whispered. The foot was immediately followed by a great hand that groped its way through the mist as if clearing branches from its path. The hulking silhouette came after. The creature stretched its long and chubby form. Its head almost cresting the height of the masts around.
“Through the mist…comes giants.” Vegard recalled.
It came into full view as it stepped fully from its world into the realm of Vlero. The giant’s diabolical grin paralyzed the three humans that stood below its knees.
“T’Lir A Fune Den.” Its deep voice bellowed before winding up and swiping the main mast in half. The thing was so large it looked to move in slow motion but its strength could not be denied. The mast, along with sails, came crashing down to the deck below.
Asmundr rolled his bulk to the side to save himself from being crushed by the thick falling pole. Ropes came tumbling down almost binding the paladin in place. For his worth, the paladin weaved his blade around, slicing the ropes to ribbons.
Wera shook in place. A frustrated growl escaping her lips. “I can’t change. Too weak.”
Vegard could feel the weariness in his bones. “I’m tapped, too. This isn’t our fight.”
With every step the giant took the ship shifted from one side to the next, tottering in the water like a child’s bath toy. Vegard had his sword readied, his companion hefted in the other. But the giant seemed to think little of the two drab warriors. Its greedy eyes caught by the golden soldier at its feet.
“Yer’In! Yer’In! Mine Rufil, Yer’In!” It clapped excitedly, reaching out for the paladin. Asmundr the Havan, matched the zeal of the monster above him. He hefted his axe and charged.
Vegard and Wera watched, dumbfounded, as the paladin faced off crazily against the impossible foe. His axe swiping at the giant’s ankles. He dodged under the legs and cut at the knees. The glowing enchantment long gone but the razor’s edge still maintaining its deadly attributes.
The giant howled in pain and slammed its palms on the deck. Each strike destabilizing the structure of the upper deck. The boards were already bending in where the giant was planted. Each blow further fracturing the little bit of hold the deck still had.
“Yer’In Mine, Gre’Hgrn Ter!” Another blow sent the giant’s fist through the deck. Asmundr leapt at the bent monster and slashed it across the face. The weapon so small compared to the giant that it appeared like nothing more than a bad shave. Still, there were no signs of determent from the paladins furious assault.
Vegard felt a smack against his face.
“Thought you said this wasn’t our fight. Did you have an escape plan or did you want to help our mortal enemy with this fantastic distraction?” Wera sneered.
“Oh, well…” Vegard sheathed his blade and hefted his injured companion further onto his back. “I almost forgot how charming you were.”
The two made their way to the back of the ship where Vegard had snuck up. Wera exchanged a wearisome look with the warlock as she realized how they were going to get down. Vegard shrugged.
The sounds of battle could still be heard. The ship continued to rock violently back and forth. Each successive hit coming with more and more frequency. Vegard hoped it was a sign of the crazed paladin being mashed into jelly between the giant’s boulder-like fists. But the continued battle cries of the warrior drove that fantasy off.
“Let’s have at it, then.” Vegard said. Wera pried herself from Vegard’s hold, gave one last look over at the epic destruction of this horrible ship before casting herself off to the dark waters below.
Vegard followed, feeling he should possibly have some words with the druid below and her apparent ideas of a so-called “plan”.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Off to Temuria
The knarr continued on east across the Mior Ocean. It had been two days since they had taken flight from the Righteous Spear, Asmundr the Havan, and the gargantuan beast from Hrimmtum—the giant’s realm. Vegard had attempted to explain to the Fulvia that summoning a giant was not what he would describe as a viable plan.
“But ye all got away, did ye not?” She tilted her head.
“Yes. But the giant could just have easily turned on Wera and I. We were lucky the big bastard got distracted by shiny things.”
“Well den, it all worked out, aye?” She beamed and went back to her fishing rod in the sparkling blue waters.
Chenway and bear-Wera were at the bow of the tiny boat. Wera swiped at the waters as curious fish came to nip at bits of jerky they tied down. Chenway attempted his best but his short arms could not reach the ocean from the boat. He instead twirled in frustrated circles and barked, scaring the fish away.
The enchanted winds the druid conjured carried the small craft swiftly across the ocean. They were but a short ways away from the continent of Temuria. And, from there, a stones throw away from the lord merchant, Da
rold Shaw. Vegard shivered with anticipation.
“Soon, little one.” He sighed to his wafting soul above his shoulder. The pearl bobbed and twinkled. Soon he would be reunited with his eternal soul and could forsake this unearthly cold and undeath. Vegard caught Fulvia staring at him, an odd smile on her face before she turned back to her fishing rod.
Vegard spent the rest of the sunny day napping, his arms covering his face since Wera had commandeered his animal cloak till she could find clothes of her own.
He took large restive breaths, enjoying the security of the open sea, and the salt of the air. Occasionally Chenway would pounce upon his chest and fall asleep, curled in a ball, before becoming distracted and leaping off. The warlock had never been able to rest around others. So vulnerable. Yet—here he was. Aboard a ship with two others and a little foreign creature and napping like a newborn.
His thoughts only lingered on it momentarily. A thought that brushed at his consciousness before drifting elsewhere, replaced by images of shifting sands, and grand rolling hills of tall grass.
Vegard awoke as the smell of smoke wafted across his face. The cabin door of the knarr was open and a small fire pit set up in the cramped room. Vegard could see part of the day’s catch hanging inside on hooks, salt rubbed deeply into the skin, shining like tiny crystals. He crawled lazily over to the hut. “Whatcha guys making?” He flopped on his belly.
“Oh, look at this one.” Wera scoffed. “I told you he’d wake when the food was ready.” Her face still sported heavy bruising from the fight with Asmundr. Her thick bear hide not enough to keep the blows from the paladin at bay. Her skin was raised and purple but otherwise unbroken. The druid kept trying to apply a healing ointment to the hver but Wera kept changing and brushing it away.
“You hungry, Mr. Vegard?” Fulvia offered, pushing the face of Chenway out of the steaming rock pile. “Got some little fishies we caught today. They’re steamin’ in the weeds.”
Vegard saw the fish wrapped heavily in blackened seaweed over the heated rocks. Fulvia poured some water to the rocks. The water sizzled and steamed as smoke bloomed from the pit. Vegard was starving. Fulvia snapped up one of the wrapped fish and handed it to him. Everyone had at the meal as more were wrapped and set atop the heated rocks.
“Lookie ‘ere, everyone!” Fulvia beckoned the crew to the outside deck. “Eidolon Isle and the Maw of Tyrum.” Several yards out was a series of small islands. It all once appeared to be one large island with pockets that had become submerged beneath the ocean. Stone steps and rounded towers jutted from the land and sea. Atop the largest of isles was a great castle that soared into the sky. Its stone exterior covered in moss and foliage. Birds nested on the ornate golems that stood tall and still at each tier.
“Used’ta be the home of the M’Yallo family. Sorcerer lords and assassins, they were.” The druid’s musical voice could sow a sorrowful tale. “Till their power and greed challenged the great dragon, Tyruq. Both felled each other here. The final restin’ place for those that attempted to capture da skies and name it as their own. Now it’s just’ta grave.” She paused. “Vlero has so many graves.”
Vegard brought the oars to bear and weaved their small craft through the scattered ivory rocks that protruded from the waters. Each supposedly the teeth or ribs of the ancient dragon, Tyruq.
Vegard wasn’t sure if he believed the tale or if he didn’t care enough to ponder it. He concentrated on steering the knarr safely through another of the many graveyards, as Fulvia had put it. He wasn’t about to be stranded on an abandoned isle when he was so close to shedding blood for his freedom. Especially an isle that was supposedly haunted with powerful, dead, sorcerer assassins.
I need not add ghosts to my problems, that’s for sure.
The following days were as peaceful and routine a time as Vegard could remember ever having. The sun warmed his skin as much as his undead state would allow. The meals were light but constant. The sea was soon sparkling like blue and green gems and almost as clear as a glass of water.
Fulvia stared deep into the translucent waters as if flipping through a menu at a high-class restaurant.
“How does spotted eel be sounding for dinner? Or crunchy seahorses wrapped in seaweed.” The pale girl licked her lips. Her strawberry blonde hair bursting with color under the hot sun.
Wera’s nose scrunched up. “I cannot wait for land. I’ve had my fill of these ocean critters.” Her wounds had all but healed at this point and only light discoloration around her cheeks alluded to the fight they had been in.
It was on the following day, as the sun began its descent and its mood shifted from its blinding white to a sedated deep red, that the party saw the appearance of land cresting the horizon.
“There she is.” Fulvia pointed. “Temuria.” Her plains accent belied the gravity of the situation. This quest was coming to its end. For better or for worse, someone was going to die. And, if this Darold Shaw was to succeed and his god was to rule all the realm of Storrhale—then not even death would be an escape. An eternity of servitude. Of slavery.
“Where are we? What city is that I see?” Vegard asked anxiously. A sudden duty shaking the serene fantasy away.
“The winds took us further south. Seems they were lookin’ for a place not dominated by the gold en crimson. I tend to agree.” Fulvia said. “This’ll be KaHari, by da looks.”
“Is it safe?”
“Safe as any place with people.” Fulvia shrugged. “Although, gold rules in KaHari more than politics. I don’t wager no god be havin’ a hold on these people.”
“Well, gold we got.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
KaHari
The knarr coasted its way into the busy port side of KaHari. The eastern city looked to not take up much geographical space. All the structures angled upward rather than out.
Towering structures scraped at the very sky, challenging the clouds for dominance. The architecture was smooth stonework of chestnut, beige, and be-speckled gold. The peaks topped with colorful domed hats—blues, violets, pinks. Elaborate mosaics decorated the walls depicting gray faced men atop large traveling beasts, over rolling hills.
Florid blankets canopied the sidewalks between buildings, a reprieve from the normal blistering and bright sun.
The group navigated their little sea vessel past the docks and into KaHari via the river roads that branched throughout the city.
Vegard looked up to see the many sky bridges linking the buildings to one another. Each large enough to service the constant stream of carts and goods traversing the streets. He wondered if this city was tiered for class like Dawns Fero or if the entire eastern city was one chaotic mass.
Fulvia, for all her earthly wisdom, hadn’t the faintest idea. She could tell you what the desert outside the city lines tasted like. Or the shrubs and their medicinal purposes. But she cared little for the workings of humans and their culture.
When it came to the humans Fulvia was only interested in their many mistakes. The scars they left upon her Vlero.
“Doesn’ matter.” She said flatly. “Leave it to society to make a simple ting all complicated.”
The river traffic throughout the city was about as impressive as that on foot. Boxy merchant boats pressed through the watery streets selling wares out their sides.
Nobles, of a sort, were guided by servants in ornate and tiny vessels that skirted the crowds rudely.
Vegard reeled at the complex system shifting before his eyes. The designs, the colors, the smells—what he wouldn’t give for a dirty room, a thing of ale, and a little quiet.
But there would be no quiet in the likes of KaHari, where shouting seemed to be their language.
The group steered their boat to an underpass in one of the smooth buildings, docking their boat in a man-made lagoon. Inside were rows and rows of small vessels like their own. They paid for a spot and unloaded their goods.
“Might as well get a room.” Vegar
d said to the girls. Wera had cut two holes in Vegard’s cloak and wore it like a vest. The front she had to hold together else wise expose herself.
“Right. Then I’m headed to the shops.” She said.
The group rounded the spiral stairs of the docking lagoon and made their way up the many floors of the Dyn Building—all the buildings were named like they were districts of a more spread out city. Guess it made sense to Vegard as far as navigation was concerned. Dyn, Asfuba, Far’mah, etc.
They found a three room suite in the shopping district of the Dyn tower. The establishment was tucked deep into the wall—fortified, secure, private. The place hadn’t even a name, as far as Vegard could tell. Apparently, those with the coin to stay there didn’t fuss with such trivialities.
After some confusion at the front desk in which Fulvia had attempted to barter her sea’s catch for a room, Vegard clunked a fist full of wealth on the table and played the girl off as his drunk mistress.
The gold served, allowing the man to wave off the odd behavior and usher them to their suite.
The room they had rented was the most lavish place Vegard had ever been, possibly outside of the embassy he had fought Hannah Bloodfist in. And it was nice to enjoy the surroundings of wealth without the intent of having to murder someone there.
Fulvia decided to rest her sea-weary bones out on the grand terrace that looked out over the compact city. Chenway set about sniffing the ornate carpets and deciding which of the three beds he was going to shit under.
Wera dropped the warlock’s tattered animal cloak to the floor. She snagged a complimentary bathrobe, grabbed a fist full of gold, and left for the market place.
It was too bad that the godly realm, and therefore all the realms, was so at stake, Vegard thought. With the money they had made as bandits they could’ve really set themselves up as lords in a city such as this. Such as it were, there was still a deed that needed doing.
Vegard left the druid and the chenway to there irregular practices and decided to search the city for more signs leading to Darold Shaw.
A Forgotten Soul: The Vegard Orlo Saga Page 19