by D. R. Rosier
She blushed, and then shut her eyes. It’d only been a week and the memories were already fading. The memories of her touch, and the way their bodies had moved against each other in passion, were just a pale fading echo of the reality.
Her eyes popped open, and she pushed down the urge to cry. Daniel had been right, it was time to rejoin the world, or at least appear to do so. Her whole body ached as she got out of bed, and went into her bathing room. She sighed in relief as she slipped into the soapy water, and felt a niggling of guilt at the wary look on the maid’s face. She’d always treated her maids well in the past, was taught to do so by her mother. Even as a teenager, when she’d started to rebel against her father, she’d never raised a voice or hand against her own servants.
She could never apologize out loud of course, she was the heir to the duchy. But she did share an apologetic look with the maid who helped her bath. She was gratified by the almost instant change in her. She was dried off, and the maid helped her dress.
“Thank you, that will be all Mia.”
The maid bowed and left her alone. She fought with herself a few minutes, she was stronger than this. She got up to go see her father and left her rooms. New determination or not, she was glad the family wing was not a public section of the keep, all she’d see were her family’s servants, and possibly an advisor. She was still annoyed that Daniel invaded her room, she’d been naked under the blankets. What if she’d kicked them off in the night?
She raised her head high and knocked on her father’s study door.
“Enter.”
She opened the door and slipped into the room. Her father smiled at her.
“It’s good to see you up and about Cat.”
She felt guiltier, but smiled, “Thank you father, it’s good to be home for a time.”
Her father said, “You’re welcome to just stay home Cat. I remember your mother used to take the loss of a party member very hard as well.”
She stiffened. While that was true on the surface of it, her mother had never lost him. Truth be told, she wasn’t sure she wanted to go back, but she was just contrary enough to do it out of spite anyway, if he kept nagging her about staying. She relaxed a little, at least he had given up on making it an order, a small admittance that she’d grown up enough to decide for herself.
She waved a hand and muttered some words, giving them privacy with an air spell. Just in case anyone was trying to listen.
“You have my official report, and I don’t really have much to add there, at least not to the battle itself, but I’ve been thinking a lot about the dungeon, and the battle. It doesn’t quite fit together right.”
He asked, “What do you mean?”
She frowned, “During the battle, and after I lost Sienna, things were too intense to really think about as we rushed through the final level. When Salvatore was stopped, right at the last moment, I took a moment to study the dungeon core. It seemed normal to me, not that I’m an expert, but I didn’t experience anything like what you described to me. There was no overwhelming feeling of dark power.
“I also didn’t have long to study it, since Donnell of the guild, and several others were with us. It wasn’t until much later that I realized the timing was all wrong, impossible really.”
She paused for a moment, and then said, “Salvatore left three men behind to ambush and delay us. We were ambushed, Sienna died and I was healed, then it took a bit of time to get through the collapse. Then we fought two more people. Salvatore had to be way ahead of us by that point, so how did we run right in behind him, in time to stop his swing?”
The duke stared at her a moment, “What are you suggesting? It’s possible Salvatore just took longer than expected to find the dungeon heart, or he was held up by the final boss or even a trap of some kind. I understand the ninth level is rated adept two, but it could have slowed him.”
She shrugged, “I have no proof, but I believe the crystal itself delayed him, and set it up so that we killed Salvatore to keep its true self hidden, and to keep up the dungeon deception. I think if we hadn’t been following Salvatore, the crystal would have ended the threat itself, with no witnesses.”
Her father raised an eyebrow.
She smiled, “I know it sounds far-fetched. But we fought off a raid, followed behind the enemy through nine levels of a dungeon, and just happened to stop him at the very last second. That kind of last moment timing happens in stories father, not real life. We know the crystal isn’t a real dungeon, and with that knowledge I believe my guess is far more likely than the perceived truth of the evidence.”
He grunted, and then nodded reluctantly, “You may be right, but what can we do about it? Lately, I’ve been wondering if our guardianship over that crystal is a fool’s errand. If what you say is true, it seems quite able to prevent itself from being misused by power hungry mortals, far more capable than we are at any rate.”
She smiled at her father’s words, and immediately felt guilty for doing so. How dare she be happy.
“I suggest we simply watch it. So far it hasn’t caused us harm, and perhaps this is petty of me, but if Jennesar wants it destroyed so badly, I’m more than happy to root it on.”
The duke smiled slightly, “Perhaps. Jennesar isn’t a nice place, but that doesn’t mean they’re always wrong, or that their gods are purposefully cruel. Nothing in life is that black and white. We don’t know why they want the crystal destroyed. However, since we can’t destroy it anyway, not without help, it’s a good as a course as anything else.”
She nodded, “We could though, destroy it. If we shared what we know the guild might do it for us.”
He frowned, “We can’t do that, they might decide to study it instead, or exploit it.”
She grinned sardonically, “Which means you agree it’s not all that likely to mean us harm. If it wants to harm Jennesar, well I’m okay with that.”
Her father laughed, “I suppose at the bottom of it, I’m far less worried about what the crystal would do on its own, than I am over what a power-hungry human would do with it. Very well, any other impressions?”
She said, “Jennesar will try again.”
He grunted, “Agreed,” he picked up a letter from the desk and handed it to her with obvious reluctance, “From Jerrold, it arrived early this morning. There’s also one more thing. I trusted Carlton, but not this Ennis person that just arrived from crown city. My contacts indicate he’s a bootlicker and firmly in the pocket of the highest. Verin is up to something, I can feel it. Don’t trust Ennis, and keep your eyes open will you, especially if you decide to go back? Jennesar and the crystal aren’t the only dangers.”
“I’ll keep my eyes and ears open. Thank you, father,” she cancelled the spell, and went back to her room to read the letter. She thought she had a good handle on her temper again, but didn’t want to risk it.
Twenty minutes later, Catalina still held the letter in her hand as she stared at the wall, deep in thought. A week, just one more week. Jerrold had found another fourth adventurer. Lady Mina was a water mage, and an old friend of his from court back in crown city. Which meant… she was probably an old friend of Sienna’s as well.
She knew it was petty, but she really didn’t want to meet this Mina, or even like her. It would feel like a betrayal of Sienna somehow, like the smile earlier. She found herself hoping the woman was a real bitch, it would make things easier, but she knew Jerrold better than that. He wouldn’t put up with a shrew. It was very unlikely that she was anything but a lady, and nice.
She was torn, she really didn’t want to go back, but she did still want to grow as a mage. Life seemed muted lately, but she still wanted that at least. She also had responsibilities. She needed to keep an eye on the dungeon, and if it grew to be dangerous to Nysten, they’d have to tell someone and have it dealt with despite the risks. She also needed to be there if Jennesar came back to try again, and she was almost positive they would at some point.
Lastly, she needed to go b
ack for political reasons. She was the heir, and she couldn’t afford to show weakness. She’d led men in battle, and went into a dungeon on a daily basis. If she withdrew for too long, all that display of strength would become meaningless. No matter what her father wished, she very much needed to go back, even if for that reason alone.
She sighed. She would grieve for one more week at home, if less obviously, and then go back to meet Mina and the others. She wished she could be excited by the idea of dungeon diving again, and gaining more power for herself and her future, but she just couldn’t. All she had right now was cold duty, it would have to be enough, for now…
Carlton groaned in annoyance when the rock dug into his back, he was getting too old for this shit. He could have sworn he’d cleared all the rocks before setting up his tent, but there was always a missed one, wasn’t there? At least he was warm enough.
He, Selwyn, Cory, and Diana had slipped away from the city this morning, and had ridden east a few miles before turning north. No one would believe he’d be stupid enough to head for the crown city, least of all Ennis and the inquisitor. Hell, even he didn’t believe it, he wasn’t reckless and stupid, not normally.
He knew the inquisitor would have found him guilty, ironically for the crime of not identifying the traitors before it was too late, the traitors that had been working for Verin. So, there was really no point in sticking around for it, he was angry enough at the disgusting setup as it was.
He sighed as he heard Diana scream out, Cory must be doing something right over there in the other tent. Honestly, it made him a little jealous and envious, and was giving him ideas. Not about Diana specifically, she was like a daughter to him in many ways. Just, he got ideas in general as he listened to the vocal evidence of their passion. He needed to find himself a good woman if he could.
He swallowed a laugh, yeah, a good woman. And he’d woo her by telling her he was on the run, and she’d get to sleep in a tent, most likely on a rock. He sighed as there were no indications they’d be stopping anytime soon, Diana seemed very capable of multiples, so sleep would have to wait.
He wasn’t a voyeur by nature, but it would just be foolish to put up a privacy spell, not when they could already have someone hunting them. He needed to be able to hear what was going on around him.
He wondered if he was crazy. This whole idea of going to crown city and taking down Verin seemed extremely desperate, and perhaps more than a little naïve. He thought it was his sense of justice that pushed him toward it, and his fear that the fool was going to betray them all to the enemy. But how much of his outrage at Verin’s actions were simply his own desperation to hold on to his own power, and perhaps his life?
He’d always found others that took desperate gambles for power to be contemptible, yet here he was on the biggest longshot of a quest he’d ever heard of. Ironically, he was worried most for his most loyal and dependable people, Diana, Cory, and Selwyn. Was he dooming not only their careers, but their lives in getting them to follow him on this foolish crusade of justice?
He thought back many years ago, in history class at the temple. It had been over four hundred years since someone had tried to usurp the position of highest. Wasn’t that what he was doing, even if it was in the name of justice? He had no doubts Verin was a traitor, but he needed to prove it.
Regardless, over four hundred years ago, when it was tried, the usurper killed the highest and took his place, for almost four days. Then he was accused of murder, arrested and killed, and all the high clerics got together and elected a new highest. Was that his future? He told himself it wasn’t the same, the last time it happened the highest hadn’t been corrupt, it was the usurper who was power hungry.
Of course, history is written by the victor, it could be exactly the same for all he really knew, just rewritten to make the usurper the villain of the story. Either way, he was having doubts. Doubts about his motives, and of his chances of succeeding. The only thing he didn’t doubt was that Verin was a traitorous snake, guilty of treason at the very least, and possibly insurrection at worst.
He needed to be careful, and find the proof. Maybe if he gave the proof to the king, instead of acting on his own, it would turn out okay. Let the king handle the bastard, and then step in to pick up the pieces. Unless… he was one of the truly few uncorrupted high clerics. If Verin’s corruption ran through to most of the leadership, then no matter what he did, he’d truly be screwed.
Finally, it was quiet, maybe he could get some sleep now, it would be a long and arduous ride tomorrow, from sunup to sunset, if they wanted to outpace their enemies. Now, if only that rock would go away…
Chapter Three
A week passed.
“I heard elves and dwarves are coming despite how far away their forests and mountains are,” April said as they went down the stairs to level eight.
Selene shrugged, “I think it has to do with the elemental stones on four through six. It’s a rare thing for dungeons to make.”
Timothy scoffed, “Elves are already here.”
April shook her head, “Yeah, but only elves that left their home to delve into dungeons, and are already part of the human run adventurers’ guild. Right now, they’re just a handful. These new ones coming are official, like nobles, with adventurers from their own lands and dungeon guild. The dwarves are coming for similar reasons, I think. I heard some of their top craftsman are coming to see the quality of stones, if they’re good they might set up a smithy and shop here.”
Selene replied, “I have no idea. I haven’t heard anything more than that. I have heard in the past that they’re very picky about the quality of stones they put in their magical devices. I bet their shit is expensive though.”
Rare? Elemental stones? Whoops. It’s not like elemental stones are very hard to make. I was curious, but I’d have to wait to find out more, as the group entered the eighth level. I knew April was pretty high, adept level at least, and she didn’t have any trouble wiping out the swarms of imps that attacked them as soon as they entered, with both stone and air bolts.
She was a menace to my dungeon, and could cast multiple spells at once. For the easy spells, anyway.
April grunted, “That was weird,” as she looked out at the large cavernous room.
So, sue me, I was trying something new. Yes, I was talking to myself pretending to talk to April. I’d gotten into the habit, because Lila used to hear all my thoughts.
Selene pointed, “That looks like an excellent point for a trap and ambush.”
April grinned, “Good eye. Timothy, go spring that thing, and be ready to kick ass.”
The two ladies followed their paladin tank, the guy was a brick wall with a sword, and I shifted my attention. Ever since April started to run her own group they hadn’t overextended again, the woman was too strong, too aware of her surroundings, and too smart. Not that I minded, she kept me on my toes, and I’d already read her spell book, so I didn’t particularly care if she died or not. I just loved the challenge of it.
Plus, she loved to gossip about what was happening in the outpost. I couldn’t reach all that far beyond the keep, so it was a good thing in my opinion. Ooh, I switched focus.
The male fire mage cautiously entered the empty room on level five, with a complicated diagram against the wall, and several levers and tiles. The gnomes had finished with the first full room trap and puzzle. This one was a magical puzzle of sorts, and the reward I’d set up for it would benefit a mage. Of course, if they got it wrong they were pretty much dead.
The gnomes would have another ready next week for warriors, focusing more on agility, strength, and speed to beat the puzzle room, with a warrior type reward. Good rewards, ones commensurate with pitting themselves against a room that was live or die, no retreat.
If I’d had to breathe, I’d have been holding my breath as he walked across the room, and when he reached half way a large slab of stone dropped behind him sealing the room, and the walls, floor, and ceiling started to g
low white. A master mage might have been able to break out, but this guy either solved the puzzle or he died.
The puzzle changed for each mage, both randomly and based on their own elemental sphere affinities, which the room determined when they step inside. There were quite a number of complicated enchantments to make it work.
He muttered, “What the hell is this?” and walked over toward the back wall.
He studied the designs on the wall, and then the six tiles. If he could recognize the spell, which was adept level, there was only one way to organize the tiles. Once a decision was made, and he pulled the lever, he could no longer change the position of that tile. If he guessed wrong on any of them, the real trap would go off, and he’d either escape or die.
At least this first time, the reward was sweet. I’d made and enchanted a set of mage robes, that would adjust to fit the wearer, had protections to equal steel armor, and enchantments to resist magic.
I was betting on him dying though.
“Shit, this is a summoning spell,” he said to himself, and started to work out the gaps in the spell with the tiles. He changed their order a bunch of times, and was sweating. When he was sure he had it right, he started to pull all the levers to lock the tiles in.
Unfortunately for him, he confused two of the tiles that were similar, but not the same. The trap itself engaged, once again using the mage’s affinities, but this time instead of working with his affinity, the trap worked against it and summoned or created its opposite.
The room with the fire mage in it, started to fill up with water.
The mage panicked and ran for the entrance, attacking it with fire balls to no effect. I wasn’t cruel, it wasn’t a slow death. The water filled the chamber quickly, and then froze to ice so cold he died almost instantly.
I siphoned off his life energy, and sent it to the sex demon cavern. I checked out his equipment and supplies, and although he had a book of fire spells I learned nothing new from it. I did learn a new enchantment though, the robes would allow him to absorb the magic from magical fire. The room destroyed the body, and reset.