“Sir, you were given the title of Overseer. This is your estate, and you deserve this room. Everyone feels the same as I do. Without your generosity, we would be out in the Flat Fields scrounging for food with no roof over our heads. We would have nowhere to go. Now, we have a home, and that is your doing,” replied William.
“I can’t help but feel responsible for the hardships that rained upon Gufaross. Atlas took his frustration over my actions out on the people of Gufaross. Ultimately, my revenge brought fire to the town, and I am having a tough time forgiving myself.”
“I can assure you that no one blames you for what happened. You shouldn’t feel responsible. Atlas was responsible as well as others who turned a blind eye to what was happening in Gufaross. You did not,” replied William, “Even I struggle with guilt. Why did I just stand by and not rebel? Why did I let my wife walk through town by herself on that day? All of the men in town played a role in what happened. We are ashamed.”
“You have nothing to be ashamed of. You would have been killed. You now have a chance to start a new life, put the wrong things right. I need you here as my right hand. I charge you with running Darthill when I am not here. We can build this estate up into something truly grand,” replied Varnoth.
William nodded and tears filled his eyes but no drops fell, “I am honored, sir. I would be very happy to have this responsibility.”
“Please William, none of this ‘sir’ business. Call me Varnoth.”
William nodded and said, “Thank, you Varnoth. I will return downstairs to help with our first supper at Darthill.”
“You know the townspeople well. Please come up with a list of the people and their professions and other strengths. I don’t want you to put too much on your shoulders. Henegarron appears to be a pretty loyal dwarf. Lean on him. I have an idea I would like to discuss with the group after supper,” replied Varnoth.
“We look forward to hearing whatever you say. I must run along. Thanks again!”
Varnoth nodded as William walked out of the bedroom and shut the door behind him. The shadow panther walked over to the large window and looked down to the grounds. The moonlight lit up the area brightly. He could see so much opportunity, and he smiled.
After a few minutes of reflection, Varnoth returned below and entered the banquet hall where everyone gathered to eat. The people motioned for the shadow panther to move toward the front of the line, but he would have nothing of it. Varnoth wanted the refugees to fill their bellies. They had been through a great deal. Eisler had put together quite the spread of meat and potatoes with crystal clear well water to drink. The food was delectable.
After Varnoth was done, he walked up in front of the crowd and stood on a small stage. Over the years, he was certain many bards and musicians played as the castle families feasted. Everyone became silent and gave their full attention to the large shadow panther that stood before them.
“Good evening, everyone. I would like to thank you for your hard work today in getting the castle in order. You have lost a great deal. I pray that you will find relief soon. We will all work to make Darthill a truly special place to live and grow as a community. I give William Marth the title of Castle Chancellor. He is the man in charge when I am not here.”
A quick blast of applause erupted from the tables. William’s face was as red as an apple from embarrassment.
“We are fortunate to have a great deal of food right now, but with a group our size, those supplies will diminish very soon. You are welcome to stay as long as you like. However, you will be expected to work hard and do your part. Everyone here has specific talents that will help us build a wonderful community. Please meet with William and let him know what you are good at. There is a vast amount of farmland on the large estate that we will have to put to good use. I am sure there are several here who are familiar with farming and agriculture. I also have another idea that I would like to explore once we get on our feet. As you all know, this property contains a massive gem mine in the mountain behind where we stand now. Eventually, we will find a way to reopen the mine and get things running again. That would bring in a lot of money to keep this estate able to support itself financially. Also, tomorrow, I plan to leave and head to Drangar. I hope to return your friends and family home.”
Cries of happiness erupted in the banquet hall, and several people began hugging each other. Varnoth stepped off the stage and walked toward his chambers. He was exhausted and wanted a good night's sleep before hitting the road once more. Cody quickly followed him out into the hallway.
“Mr. Varnoth, may I come with you, sir. I can handle a bow, and I won’t slow you down.”
“Thanks for the offer Cody, but I want to take this trip on my own. There is plenty to do here, and I would appreciate you staying back to help,” replied Varnoth.
“I understand, sir. I just thought I would offer my help. I want you to know that I am here to lend you a hand whenever you need it. Well, I will let you get your rest. I need to get some as well. I think myself, Henegarron, and a couple of other fellows may head off into the woods and do some hunting tomorrow. You are right about running out of food before we know it. I think you put the right man in charge. William is a man of integrity, and everyone respects him,” Cody said as he turned back toward the banquet room.
Varnoth made his way to his new chambers and plopped down on the soft bed.
This beats a knobby tree branch any day of the week.
After a few seconds, Varnoth was in a deep slumber.
CHAPTER 6
Varnoth awoke early the next morning. He hadn’t slept as well as he had hoped. Nightmares played with him throughout the night. Varnoth hoped as time went by the nightmares would cease. That was his hope at least. As Varnoth retrieved his pouch from the end table, his eyes were drawn to the painting over the bed. The artwork was a beautiful canvas showing the castle in all its majesty. However, this wasn’t what drew him to look at the painting. Varnoth saw discoloration in the wall behind the painting. Curiosity convinced Varnoth to take the painting off the wall. He placed it softly on the bed. It was some sort of metal storage box built into the wall. A safe was the correct term he was looking for. The dimensions were 3 feet x 2 feet. There was a small padlock on the door to the metal box. The shadow panther unsheathed his right dagger. He began to insert the blade tip into the archway of the padlock. The dagger quickly met resistance. He began to put stronger force on the dagger, but he was unsuccessful at breaking the lock. Varnoth began to beat the end of the hilt of the dagger like a vicious hammer. After several hard strikes, the lock broke free and fell to the stone floor. The loud clang pierced the panther’s large ears. Varnoth promptly grasped the steel handle, turned it counterclockwise, and the door unlatched. The hinges of the door protested and made a loud screeching noise as the door opened. An oil can was needed to get the hinges back into proper shape. As he looked into the box, the first thing that caught his eye was the large white bag. Varnoth picked it up very quickly. It was heavy, and it jingled. Just as he expected, the bag was filled with gold coins. He didn’t know the count exactly, but he knew it had to be thousands of gold coins. He retrieved several pieces of fine jewelry that were no doubt very valuable. After checking the jewelry to detect if there were any enchantments, he placed the jewelry in his pouch. When he arrived in Drangar, he would sell the jewelry for gold.
You have received:
5,000 Gold
2 x Fancy Necklaces (No Enchantments)
3 x Fancy Bracelets (No Enchantments)
2 x Fancy Rings (No Enchantments)
“What have you got there?”
Varnoth was so startled, that he almost released a scream into the chamber. William stood there at the door holding his hand up.
“I am sorry, Varnoth, scaring you was not my intention. Is that a safe there in the wall? I haven’t seen one of those in a long time,” said William Marth as he squinted at the safe.
“Yes, there is this bag of gold, rather heavy.
There is also a great deal of jewelry. I plan to sell that off in Drangar. We will use the proceeds to take care of things around here. This gold can be used as well,” Varnoth said as he handed William the gold sack.
“Gods, there must be thousands in this bag!”
“It is filthy blood money. However, we will use it to help every person here and build a community that we can all be proud of. Is there a safe place to store this gold? I have broken the lock here. It would have been a poor choice anyway. I broke into it with ease,” replied Varnoth.
“We can store it in the armory. It has a very heavy steel door. I will remove some stone and hide the gold within the walls. If I may suggest something for the future, the Albattara World Bank is located southwest of here in the city of Finnmork. That would be the safest place to keep any gold Darthill acquires. For a price, a hefty one, the bank will give you an enchanted vessel. You may return that vessel to the keep here and whoever has been named in the enchantment can access the gold without traveling to Finnmork. In most larger towns and cities in Albattara, you will find branches of the bank where that gold may be accessed as well.”
“Yes, that sounds like the best course of action. I knew you were the right man to serve as Chancellor. Thank you for all of your help,” replied Varnoth.
“That is no problem. I am happy to be of service to you and the Darthill community.”
“Are there any more items we need to talk about before I leave for Drangar?”
“We have a group of men who are going into the woods to search for meat. We also located some suncorn seeds in the main cupboard deep within the castle. A group of men and women with experience with agriculture are going to get started planting in the closest field on the estate. Everyone is very eager to pitch in wherever they can. A few other men and I are going to begin making repairs on the outside walls surrounding the castle. Age has deteriorated them in spots. Even though the Derelicts are no more, there is always going to be evil somewhere. We are going to keep Darthill safe. The armory has quite a large inventory of weaponry. Henegarron plans to begin training anyone who wishes to learn basic combat,” William stated.
“It sure sounds like you all will be quite busy while I am gone. While exploring the property, I noticed a mountain road that traveled north. I plan to head in that direction on my way to Drangar. It would be valuable to know what resides in the mountains close by here.”
“Varnoth, I implore that you take someone with you if you have plans to travel the mountains.”
“I will be fine. I need everyone here to get things up and running. Please don’t be concerned about my safety,” replied the shadow panther with a serious gaze.
William nodded his head, but he did so with many reservations.
“Are there any health potions in the castle?” asked Varnoth.
“Yes, there is an infirmary located down below. Please help yourself.”
Varnoth patted William on the shoulder as he headed downstairs to resupply for his journey.
"May the gods be with you and godspeed," said William.
CHAPTER 7
Varnoth headed toward the north gate of Darthill. The wind whirled through his fur and leaves flew about all around him. He saw Henegarron Raytak working on the hinges on the northern gate to the estate. Henegarron was a dwarf but he was 100% muscle and covered with red hair. Varnoth was pleased that he was an ally.
“So long, Henegarron. I will return in a few days. Thank you for all you are doing for Darthill. I am happy you are on our side,” Varnoth said as he held his paw up to wave goodbye.
“No thanks needed, lad. Are you headed toward the mountains? I have never been that way to Drangar. I don’t like heights. Heights make my wee wee hide in my gut. Watch out for cliffs and falling rocks. However, always keep an eye open for other dangers as well. There’s no telling what lives up there in the mountains. I have heard tall tales before, but that is all they are...tales. I ain’t talking about yer fuzzy tail if you are confused. Tales…”
“Tales are stories, I know what they are,” Varnoth replied with a smirk.
“Are you sure ye don’t want me to go with ya? I don’t like heights, but I don’t like you going alone,” said Henegarron.
“I will be fine, but thanks for the offer. You have work to do, and I will let you get back to it.”
“Aye, that I do. You take care of yourself, Varnoth.”
Henegarron turned to walk back to the gate, then he suddenly turned back to Varnoth, “You want me to tell you one of the tales I know about the mountains here?”
“Maybe later,” replied Varnoth.
“Alright, suit yourself. May the gods be with you,” Henegarron replied while shaking his head.
Varnoth took a left out of the estate. This road would take him to Finnmork if he didn’t take a right onto the old mountain road. Varnoth could see why this particular road wasn’t well-traveled. It was very steep and rocky. It was too treacherous for a wagon. Walking is the only way to travel safely. The green trees were dense and healthy, but that beauty didn’t last the higher he traveled. Birds of prey flew over the top of him as if they knew something was going to happen to deliver them a meal of fresh panther meat. Even though Varnoth was an agile creature, he found himself pausing for respite often. The vultures flew lower during these breaks in his journey.
Varnoth launched a jagged rock at one of the vultures to knock it out of the sky. The constant screeching of the bird had grated on his nerves. The bird hit the ground, and Varnoth walked over to it and activated Black Rain. The dark ominous cloud began to swirl over the top of the stunned bird. Black blades plummeted into the vulture and left just a mound of goo. Varnoth laughed at the amount of overkill that attack was on the bird. However, it did send a message to the others flying over. They scattered and stopped aggravating the black cat. Varnoth walked over to the carnage and looked for any loot.
You have received:
1 x Vulture feather
2 x Talons
What he would do with this loot, he did not know, but he placed it in his pouch quickly. Not long after the bird confrontation, Varnoth made it to a clearing. His breath was taken away by the view of Darthill below, It was hard to believe that only days ago it was full of evil men doing horrible things. He could see people moving around the estate. However, they looked like fleas due to his altitude.
Varnoth started going downhill which made his muscles scream for joy. It would be short-lived, but he welcomed the ease of travel however long it may be. The shadow panther began to smell a stench he had never smelled before. It was not the smell of decay, but the smell of an animal. The smell became stronger. Varnoth saw an opening in the rock wall of the mountain. Varnoth paused and crouched to get a better view of the surrounding area. There were no sounds or movement, only a smell.
Varnoth let his curiosity take control. He slowly moved toward the cave with both daggers unsheathed. As he entered the cave opening he received a notification.
You have found Cave of Despair!
You have received 100 experience points!
Well isn’t that a wonderful name for a cave. I am already here. It would be stupid to bypass this place.
As he entered the cave, he could faintly hear the sound of dripping moisture. It was probably from condensation. Suddenly, Varnoth felt something drop on his head. Sharp pain brought him to his right knee. Something sharp penetrated his scalp and injected something that made his entire body stiffen. Varnoth swiped it off quickly. It was plump and hairy. Varnoth looked at the cavern floor to see a spider creature.
Cavern Spider
Level 10
The creature was stunned momentarily. Green liquid dripped from two large fangs and an ungodly amount of red eyes stared at Varnoth. That green liquid was venom that was just injected in his head. Varnoth’s eyesight went black. He scrambled to retrieve a healing potion from his pouch. He felt legs on his chest and another bite on his pectoral muscle. Varnoth swiped blindly at the spider
and knocked him off again. Varnoth grabbed a vial out of his pouch and popped the cork and put it in his mouth. He had chosen a defensive boost potion.
Son of a bitch!
Suddenly, he felt the spider land on his face. The hairy legs scrambled all over his head, and it plunged its fangs in once more. That should have been a killing blow. The mistake of grabbing the wrong bottle helped to save his life. Varnoth’s health points were down to 10%. He grabbed one of the spider legs and began slamming the creature into the rock floor. Squeals of pain echoed down the cave tunnel. Varnoth kept slamming it until it was just mush.
You have killed Cavern Spider!
You have received 200 experience points!
Varnoth’s vision was still black. He could hear the wind at the cave entrance, and he began to crawl as fast as he could praying another spider would not attack. Adrenaline was pumping in overdrive. He made it out, and he downed another vial. He thanked the gods that it was a health potion. Slowly his vision began to clear little by little. The punctures from the spider fangs throbbed. Venom oozed out of the wounds from the healing effect of the potion. The stench was putrid and caused the shadow panther to gag. Varnoth grabbed for his daggers, and he only found one. He had dropped one in the cave during the commotion. Varnoth popped an additional defensive boost potion in preparation for re-entry. Varnoth’s HP reached 100, and his defense had been boosted by 25%.
Varnoth entered the cave looking at the ceiling as well as the walls and floor. He wrapped his right paw around his lone obsidian dagger and pushed forward. He saw motion to his right on the rock wall.
Cavern Spider
Level 11
As the spider positioned to pounce, Varnoth impaled the creature with his dagger. The impact made a sickening, squishing sound followed by a screech. The spider fell to the floor and scurried toward Varnoth’s foot. Varnoth stomped the crippled spider with his right foot.
Varnoth- the Black Blade 2 Page 3