Omnibus Volume 1

by C. M. Carney

  Gryph turned and parried another blow. The wyrmynn lifted its blade to try again, but Gryph punched the shaft of the spear upwards and into the beast’s face. He heard a crack of bone and blood exploded from its nose.

  He ducked under another attack, his left hand holding his spear straight up. As the wyrmynn flew past, Gryph pushed some mana into his bracers and released the spear. It tore upwards like a rocket, lifting the lizard off its feet as it punctured its heart. Critical Hit.

  The beast's momentum tore the spear from Gryph’s grip, and he had to throw himself aside to avoid the final wyrmynn’s attack. Gryph tucked and rolled and pulled his ice dagger as he rolled up. He was breathing heavily. The constant movement and use of his perks had seriously drained his stamina, and it was barely holding at 10%. He backed away to gain breathing room, but the wyrmynn was smarter than it looked and with a grin it charged.

  Gryph attempted to block the burly lizard’s strike, but neither his stamina nor his dagger was up to the task. He felt the rusted metal dig into his shoulder blade and his health sunk by nearly 40% as the dagger fell from his hand. A gush of blood erupted from his mouth, and he collapsed.

  The wyrmynn took a second to gloat, growling the wyrmynn equivalent of ‘soft weakling’ down at Gryph. In pain, without a weapon and about to be killed, Gryph let instinct take over. He pushed with all his remaining strength and launched his head upwards. It impacted the wyrmynn in the crotch, and Gryph learned a truth he never thought he’d seek. Yes, wyrmynn do indeed have balls. Gryph felt the soft, egg like spheres turn to pulp against his skull and as the wyrmynn collapsed in agony Gryph hoped that would be the last time he experienced that sensation.

  Gryph got to his feet, collected his spear, and thrust the tip deep into the beast’s chest. Gryph thought he saw a look of relief in the saurian’s eyes as its life ended.

  Gryph spun in search of enemies, but there were no wyrmynn standing. Or so he thought, until a ragged strand of black energy whipped around him, pinning arms to body. Gryph screamed as the death tendril drained his life. Again, he fell to his knees as the agony ripped into him.

  Then it stopped. Gryph looked up to see Wick’s hand outstretched. He followed the gnome’s arm to see the death priest collapse, a hole charred into its chest. He looked back at the gnome and nodded thanks. Wick collapsed, supported by Ovyrm’s lean, powerful arms.

  Wick wept as the solemn adjudicator held him.

  35

  Wick was inconsolable. He wanted to rush after the wyrmynn to save his love, but Ovrym convinced him that none of them were in any shape to pursue them.

  “But she’ll die.”

  “We’ll all die if we go now. We need to heal, to recover. And she’ll be fine for a while, at least,” Gryph said.

  “How can you know that?” Wick demanded, his face red from rage and fear.

  “If they wanted her dead, they would have killed her here. So that suggests they want her for something else. Whatever that something else is, it buys us some time. Time we desperately need.”

  “I agree,” Ovrym said.

  Desperate fear waged a battle with logic on Wick’s face. After a few moments he found calm. “You’re right.” He pulled a chain from his neck on which hung a ring. A ring very like the one Gryph had stashed in his inventory. Wick concentrated on the ring for a moment and then choked back tears. “She’s alive. Scared, but alive.”

  Ovrym squeezed his shoulder, and Gryph kneeled down next to Wick with a grimace of pain. “We will save her.” Gryph said. Wick locked eyes with him and nodded.

  “Help me up?” Wick said and Ovyrm hefted the gnome to his feet. With a grimace Gryph also got to his feet. “What a sad trio we make,” Wick jested and a small smile crept across his face. “Let’s go back to the hideout. Tifala should have something there we can use.” The mere mention of her name brought worry back to his face, and Gryph added his hand to the gnome’s other shoulder.

  “We will save her.” Ovrym said. Wick nodded.

  The trio entered the hideout to find Xeg digging through a chest.

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Wick demanded.

  The imp tore its face up and glared. “Shiny. Want. For Xeg.”

  Ovyrm walked up and tried to grab the irritating imp, but he bounced aside and whipped Ovrym across the face with his tail. Xeg landed atop a high shelf and stuck his tongue out at them. He looked at the three warriors with worry in his eyes.

  “Where pretty lady? Pretty lady promise Xeg shiny.”

  Wick grumbled under his breath in gnomish, and while Gryph had not heard enough of the diminutive man’s native language from his Master of Tongues ability to translate the language, he was pretty sure the tirade was laced with profanity.

  Wick walked to a leather case and opened it, revealing row after row of potions. He searched through and found three red health potions and tossed one each to Ovyrm and Gryph.

  “Potions of Major Health. Should get us all back up to snuff,” Wick said, upending his.

  Gryph and Ovyrm did the same and A rush of healing heat surged through Gryph’s body. If a minor health potion felt like a cup of coffee, this thing was like a triple espresso.

  “Damn,” Gryph said in appreciation.

  “Told you my girl is good.”

  Wick walked over to the chest Xeg had been rummaging through and dug out a small mirror. He tossed it up to Xeg, and the imp squealed in delight and looked at himself from all angles. He grinned like some kind of horrid fashion model doppelgänger and spun to see himself in different positions. When he checked out his own ass, Gryph checked out of the scene and looked back at Wick.

  “Tif always insisted we be nice to Xeg. Promised it a mirror just like hers if it helped us out.”

  “Then where was it during the fight?” Ovrym asked.

  “He no say fight. He say look. Xeg look, find things, tell short ugly man about things,” Xeg protested.

  Wick sighed and rubbed his forehead with his hand. “Technically, it is right. Damn imps are always so literal.”

  “Is it always here?” Ovrym asked.

  “Thankfully, no,” Wick said. “I can summon him for up to 24 hours before he returns to the chthonic realm. Then I need to wait another 24 hours before summoning him again. I’d estimate I have him for another half hour at most.”

  “Can he track the wyrmynn?” Gryph asked.

  “Given the time, yes. Since he can port pretty much anywhere he has seen. But it takes time, and that is something we don’t have.”

  “Lies. Always lies about Xeg. Lying, liar, short, ugly man’s pants on fire.” Xeg snapped his fingers and Wick’s pants smoked. Wick slapped the small flames away with practiced ease.

  “I thought you said he wasn’t allowed to attack you,” Gryph said.

  “No attack. Make joke. Ha, ha, ha, Xeg funny. Hilarious. The most funny,” Xeg said and then chortled lightly to himself as he posed in the mirror more. “Plus, Xeg find pretty lady. You say Xeg can no find. You lie. Pffftt.”

  All three of the men stared at Xeg.

  “What do you mean?” Gryph asked.

  They waited for Xeg to respond, but it just stared with a sleepy expression at them.

  “Oh, mean Xeg. Why you call Xeg You? You no know Xeg’s name tall, pokey eared goober?” Xeg asked quizzically.

  “Goober,” Gryph scowled, which earned a small grin from both Ovrym and Wick. He now understood Wick’s frustration and even felt sympathy for the gnome. His affinities had sent him down the path where frequent interactions with the obnoxious imp were common. Gryph imagined Lex would love the little devil.

  “You said you can find Tifala?” Wick said. But Xeg was once more admiring his reflection. “Xeg. Hello Xeg.”

  “Yes, find pretty lady can Xeg, but Xeg need one something.”

  “What is that?” Wick said.

  “Promise can have and Xeg tell.”

  Gryph was no expert on demons, but he suspected that agreeing to any
deal with one before knowing the terms was a bad idea. He looked from wick to Ovyrm and shrugged. “Not sure we have much choice.” Both men nodded.

  “Fine Xeg, you can have one something,” Wick said.

  “Whoooop,” the imp said and jumped and danced and spun. It then leapt from its perch atop the shelf, bounced off Gryph’s head and then onto Wick’s back.

  “Hey, get off,” Wick said, trying to slap the imp off his shoulder and failing. Xeg bounced and sang and then reached down the back of Wick’s shirt and tugged. A gold chain popped out and Xeg tugged harder, choking Wick. After a moment, the chain snapped and Xeg pulled it free. Dangling from the chain was Wick’s Bond Ring.

  Wick coughed and sputtered for a minute before regaining his breath. He then ran after the imp who bounced from shelf to bed and onto Ovrym’s back. “Give that back,” Wick finally said through coughs.

  “You said any something. This something Xeg need.”

  “Anything but that,” Wick said with deep anger. Gryph held him back, earning a glare or ire from the gnome.

  “Just watch,” Gryph said. Wick calmed somewhat, but he eyed Xeg like a father glaring at his daughter's prom date. Xeg closed its eyes and mumbled a chant.

  An oily glow pulsed from Xeg’s palm and into the ring. The ring drank in the energy like a dry sponge tossed into a full sink. Wick grumbled, and Gryph couldn’t blame him. This was much more than a symbol of his love for Tifala, it was an actual magical connection. Whatever the imp was doing was a violation. Then it got worse.

  Xeg tossed the ting into the air and caught it on its long, very slimy tongue. It then moved it around its mouth in a manner that would make a stripper blush. It even gargled the ring at one point, before finally jumping down. It grabbed Wick’s hand and spit the ring onto the gnome’s hand. The ring landed with a sickening slop and mucus, spittle and various other viscous and cloying semi liquids bubbled on his palm.

  “Well, I can go the rest of my life without seeing that again,” Ovrym said.

  “Trust me, you got off easy,” Wick said as the slime slithered and burned his skin. Wick wiped the ring as best he could on a spare rag and returned it to its place under his shirt.

  “Okay, Xeg and uglies go now,” Xeg said.

  “Aw too bad Xeg. Your twenty-four hours up. Looks like it is time for you to go,” Wick said with a small look of triumph.

  “No, Xeg stay.”

  “Wait, what? It’s been almost 24 hours. I thought you said you could only stay in the mortal realm for a day?”

  “You speaks. Xeg agreed. Don’t mean true.”

  “Wait, you don't have to stay here for twenty-four hours every time I call you?”

  Xeg shrugged and picked at his teeth with a wickedly hooked nail.

  “Xeg, answer me,” Wick demanded.

  “Xeg come you say. Xeg go you say or when Xeg bored. Xeg don’t even know what hour is.”

  Both Gryph and Ovrym had to laugh at Wick’s shocked expression.

  “You and I will have a long speaks if we get out of this,” Wick grumbled. “Now go and find Tifala. Then come right back. Do you understand?”

  Xeg grumbled and shook its tiny, crackless butt at Wick.

  “Say you understand,” Wick repeated.

  “Course understand. Xeg no dummy head. Xeg have more gooder idea. Xeg say give ugly pokey man to soul wizard. Xeg want pretty lady back.”

  “We all do you creepy red monkey,” Gryph said.

  “Xeg no monkey,” the imp blurted in anger before sticking his tongue out at Gryph. "Wait, what is monkey?”

  “Xeg. Go. Now,” Wick commanded in a tight voice.

  With one last grumble the imp disappeared in a flash of sulfur and flame.

  Wick inhaled deeply and pulled the ring from under his shirt once more and cradled it gently in his palm. Worry painted his face.

  “We will save her,” Gryph promised.

  “I’m gonna hold you to that,” Wick said, eyes red with tears and fear. He looked at Gryph, and Gryph knew that, in that moment, he would trade the world for Tifala. Would I do the same for Brynn?

  “That is not the way,” Ovrym said. I know you want it to be, but you know it isn’t the way.”

  Wick turned his eyes down and shame and fear gripped him. Gryph walked up to him and pulled him close. Wick resisted for a moment before giving in. He looked up with a strength that bellied his small size.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Wick asked.

  “We need help,” Gryph said.

  “Yeah, and where are we going to find that? This place isn’t exactly brimming with friendly faces,” Wick grumbled.

  “I know some people,” Ovyrm stated in a tone that suggested it was the last thing he wanted to consider.

  “Friends?” Gryph asked.

  “Not exactly. They’re called the Gray Company. I used to be a member.”

  “Used to be?”

  “Let’s just say, we didn't see eye to eye on a few things.”

  “And they’ll help us find Tifala?” Wick said in a voice near begging.

  “If we pay their price.”

  “And what is their price?” Gryph asked.

  “Me.”

  36

  Ovyrm led them down a tunnel that hadn’t seen use in years. Dust and cobwebs clung to every surface. The tunnel twisted and twined and turned back on itself. Several times they had to squeeze through thin cracks, but Ovrym pushed them on. Once they had to jump across a crevasse and the floor dipped at an odd angle. While they walked, Gryph checked his prompts.

  You have received 15,637 XP for slaying Wyrmynn X 10.

  You have received 11,666 XP for slaying Hell Hound.

  Impressive, Gryph thought.

  "Did you know that the Barrow was once on the surface," Ovyrm stated in a tone that made Gryph think of the bored tour guide the time when the colonel took him and Brynn to see the Washington Monument.

  “It was a tower that stood taller than the tallest trees. Then, some cataclysm occurred, and the earth swallowed the tower. Eventually a hill of grass grew over the entrance. Local told tales of ghouls and revenants, saying the Barrow was haunted.”

  “Looks like the locals were right,” Wick said. Gryph could tell the gnome was attempting to jest away his fear over Tifala.

  They rounded a corner and Ovyrm stopped. "Do either of you have any affinity for Thought Magic?”

  “I don’t,” Wick said.

  “I have 100% affinity in every sphere,” Gryph said in a low voice. Wick and Ovyrm stared at him in shock. “The Godhead.”

  “You may want to keep that information on a need to know basis,” Ovyrm said intently. “People fear power and you could someday grow to be very powerful.”

  Gryph’s mind immediately went to Aluran, and he knew the Adjudicator spoke true.

  Ovyrm stepped up to Gryph. “I will teach you something.” He held up his hands. “May I?”

  Gryph hesitated before nodding. Ovrym placed his hands on Gryph's head, feeling the power of the man’s grip.

  “Close your eyes and try to ease your thoughts.”

  Gryph closed his eyes and breathed in deeply several times, inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth. Then he felt, or perhaps heard, a low hum as unseen energy built around Ovrym’s hands. The humming increased and then waves of warmth pumped from Ovrym into Gryph. Tendrils of thought whorled their way through the fog that clouded Gryph’s mind and then suddenly he knew.

  You have learned the spell Mind Shield

  Sphere: Thought Magic - Tier: Base.

  Allows the caster to shield his mind (or the mind of another with the proper leveling).

  Mana Cost: 50 - Casting Time: 2 seconds - Effectiveness: For purposes of resisting metal attacks, Mind Shield temporarily allows the user’s Wisdom to mimic their highest Attribute. Duration: 10 minutes per level. Each tier of mastery allows the caster to shield another mind. At Grand Master level, all allies of the caster are shielded. - Cooldown: Ten
minutes.

  You have learned the skill THOUGHT MAGIC

  Level: 1 - Tier: Base - Skill Type: Active.

  You can now wield the power of Thought Magic. Thought Magic allows the user to tap into the power of the sentient mind. Advanced users can tap into The Source itself, the organizing intelligence behind the formation of The Realms and perhaps the only true God. Thought Magic makes use of spells that enable one to see other’s thoughts, manipulate the minds of others and affect the world with their thoughts. Users of Thought Magic are rare and most do not advertise their abilities. For obvious reasons, they are mistrusted.

  Gryph eyes popped open, and he nodded wryly to himself at the last comment of the prompt. Having just had his mind nearly shredded by Thought Magic he understood the mistrust all too well. He would endeavor to learn all he could about this magic. If nothing else, it would help protect him from creatures like the arboleth.

  They rounded another corner and a break in the masonry of the wall revealed a deep shaft. Gryph stuck his head through the broken wall and looked down. An immediate sense of vertigo gripped at him and his knees buckled. The shaft disappeared deep into the ground much further than Gryph’s night vision could pierce. The shaft was uneven and had the bulbous texture that reminded Gryph of cooled magma. Had this shaft melted? Is this where the earth swallowed the tower?

  “You want us to go down there?” Wick said with trepidation.

  “It’s how I got up here,” Ovyrm responded as if that helped.

  He ignored Gryph and Wick’s exchanged glances and tugged on a metal piton set into the masonry.

  “You hammered these in?” Gryph said. He could see the faint metal glint of several more descending into the darkness.

  “Yes.”

  “There has to be another way,” Wick complained again, his face blanching as he looked down the shaft of endless black.