The Savage Peak: A Morgalla prequel

by Jon David

  Giles bowed to his master and guided Morgalla away. As soon as she exited the chamber, she felt her heart slow back to normal. She had to take a moment, leaning against the stone wall, and she spun around to face Giles who returned an emotionless gaze.

  18

  The Master of No One

  Morgalla fought for breath. “He’s…good at that.”

  “He’s the master.”

  Morgalla was led up one of the many staircases to a lavish, yet small, bedroom. Giles escorted her inside, but she hesitated, sensing he had other intentions. He seemed meek enough, and she knew she could take him with ease especially since he was unarmed.

  “You will wait here,” he said.

  Morgalla checked around the quarters. It was certainly more opulent than any room she had ever been in but still rather humble in comparison to the rest of the castle.

  “Wait for what?”

  Giles smirked. “Demon or not, you will learn that you do as you’re told around here.”

  Morgalla cocked her head to one side, and a smirk came to her face.

  Giles had a smile on his. “You don’t like that, girl? I represent of the lord of this castle and this land. I can tell any demon what to do. You’ll soon learn that.

  Morgalla became a ball of caged fury at his words. It was more than just what he’d said, but his very gaze annoyed her. Behind his exterior, she saw the truth of his soul. He thought he was better than her. In his eyes, she was nothing.

  Giles walked out, and she heard the lock latch. She tried the handle, but the door was bolted. It was thick wood, and the handle appeared to be a thick metal. She might be able to break the door down, but she could hurt herself doing so. Any thoughts of escaping that way were crushed as she felt the presence of two soldiers on the other side. Break the door down, and they’d be on her in an instant in close quarters. She heard Delilah in her head.

  Always look for the best path through a problem.

  She looked out the window and saw that it was a long way down. No wonder it was unlocked. Morgalla realized there was no real way to climb down. She paced the room, her hands clutched together, and she bit her lip.

  Before she had time for another thought, the door opened, and two tall women entered. They were dressed in lace and gold. Morgalla smelled their perfume from across the room. Their hair was done up in elaborate hairdos, and both faces had been painted to accent their lovely features. Their lips shined red, and Morgalla squinted at the gold in their eyelashes.

  “Hello.”

  “Hello.”

  One woman set a bundle of clothes on the bed. The other had some bottles and towels with her.

  “I am Rey-chell, head mistress. Lord Makrus wishes that you be bathed and prepared for tonight.”

  “Prepared? For what?”

  “Listen, demon or no…”

  “…I still do what you say, yeah the other guy told me that. It’s just a question.”

  “Girl, one command and I can have the guards outside come in and teach you a lesson you will not soon forget. Might I add that we know you can heal quickly from any injury and not leave a scar or bruise? Shall a good beating teach you some manners?”

  “What are humans doing working for a demon?”

  “The master lavishes his loyal subjects. Better than living in the cold down in the filthy town.”

  Morgalla was bewildered. “You’re from the town?”

  The woman snapped back,” Yes, I was from that shithole. Now, girl, you will learn your role here, and you will learn mine.”

  “Oh, it’s pretty obvious what your role is here.”

  Morgalla saw the coming attack from a mile away, yet she did nothing to stop it. The woman wound her hand back and with all of her strength, brought it across Morgalla’s face. The demon hardly flinched, in fact, she barely felt the strike. Rey-chell held her hand in pain, caged fury burning in her soul. Morgalla smirked.

  Rey-chell’s eyes continued to glare. “I look forward to seeing you on your knees before our master.”

  “Something you do very often, I wager.”

  “You are lucky the master wants you tonight and soon.”

  “Is there a problem here?”

  Both women glanced at the door and saw Giles standing there.

  “We were just teaching this young woman some manners.”

  “Why is she not prepared? The master, as you know, does not want to be kept waiting.”

  Rey-chell had no explanation. The women were ordered out, and they slammed the door behind them. Morgalla rolled her eyes as Giles approached.

  “Your stay here can be pleasant or miserable, girl. Pick one.”

  Morgalla said nothing.

  Coming here was a huge mistake.

  Giles walked to the bed and took the clothing the women had brought. He held up the…the…

  What the hell is that?

  Morgalla saw an item made of metal, gold, and lace, barely enough to cover anything.

  “You are to wear this,” he said, and he dropped it at her feet. He crossed his arms and soon became annoyed when Morgalla refused to move. “I’m waiting…”

  “You expect me to put that on in front of you?”

  “I can have the guards come in here and do it for you.”

  Morgalla held up her hands. “No, no. That won’t be necessary.”

  The two human guards waited outside. One of them yawned. They both snapped out of their trances when they heard a knock at the door, loud and fast. They could have sworn that they heard the word help, but it was muffled.

  Not to leave anything to chance, the guards opened the door. Their jaws dropped when they were greeted by Giles hanging from the ceiling, tied and gagged, his shouts muffled. They also noticed the clothing that he had intended for Morgalla to wear was instead now being worn by him over his clothes. The guards tried to hold back their laughter.

  Giles struggled with the restraints and the gag as he dangled from the ceiling like a freshly caught fish from the river. As one guard tried to help him down. The other noticed the window was open. Sheets and curtains had been pulled down and turned into a makeshift rope that hung out of the opening. Shocked, he ran to the window and looked out. The rope Morgalla made only extended ten feet or so, but he saw nothing below.

  He should have looked up.

  Morgalla had been standing on the ledge above the window. With the guard distracted, she leapt in, kicking the him in the face. She ran at full speed to the other guard and struck him. He fell to the floor. With her three opponents dazed, she took the opportunity to run out the door and slammed it shut as she escaped. The guards were trapped.

  She didn’t have much time, so she rushed down the spiral staircase, ducking into shadows or behind a tapestry whenever she heard someone’s voice. She hoped it wouldn’t be a demon because they would be able to sense her even if she were physically hidden.

  Morgalla made it to an exit only to spot some guards were there. She overheard a conversation. They were talking about a girl who escaped. The entire manor was now on alert.

  Damn.

  19

  The Prism of Akubar

  Now that she was on the lower levels, maybe escape through a window was possible back to…

  Wait, back to Freedom Ridge? Or did she want to go back to Hell? See Delilah? She saw the path that led down into the mines and the portal back to Hell. She had seconds to decide.

  Morgalla ran down the staircase towards the mines. She turned a corner only to be met by four demons who were standing in front of the portal. Just the fact that she appeared like a criminal caught in the act was enough for them to draw weapons. The slave master himself entered from the mines and grinned at her.

  He shouted some orders to them, and they all approached her for the attack. Morgalla didn’t draw a weapon but used her smaller stature to avoid the coming onslaught. She ducked and weaved past the attacks and ran down the tunnel to the mines.

  Ignoring the burning in her legs a
nd lungs, Morgalla continued into the darkness. She bumped into walls and even tripped, falling hard onto the stone. She ignored the pain, realizing that demons were still hot on her trail. By the time she stopped at an intersection, her face was soaked with sweat and her body heaving, trying to calm herself. There were multiple paths to follow, and she contemplated which one to take.

  In her apprehension and building terror, she was too preoccupied with her pursuers to realize that Mylo had come around the corner from one of the other tunnels. He could barely see her but was startled nevertheless.

  “What are you doing here?” Morgalla asked.

  “I could ask you the same.”

  They both looked down the tunnel behind them and heard the voices. Morgalla looked back at the young man.

  “Is there another way out of here?”

  Mylo was terrified and conflicted. He knew he couldn’t lie to the demons, but if he just turned her over to them, it might mean her death. He took a hard swallow.

  “This way,” he said.

  Mylo escorted Morgalla down another tunnel. They reached a dead end.

  “What is this?”

  “Shh.”

  Mylo climbed the wall to a ledge and Morgalla followed. The two of them rested at the top of the passage out of sight. They still heard voices echoing through the tunnels, and Morgalla wondered just what species the guards might be. She and Mylo focused on the lights of lanterns approaching. The demon could sense their souls but couldn’t tell what species they were until they stepped into view.

  Humans.

  Thankfully the guards weren’t demons and could only rely on their eyes and ears. Morgalla and Mylo remained silent and still as the others shined their lanterns around the passage.

  When the pursuers noticed a curtain made from an old cloth, one of them pulled it back. Mylo’s sleeping space…a simple hammock. They wondered what it was but only for a moment. Since their quarry was not around, they turned back.

  Both Morgalla and Mylo let out a huge sigh. They hopped down, and Mylo fumbled around in the dark cubby hole for a lantern. When he was able to light it, his humble abode was only dimly illuminated. He had very few personal possessions besides a makeshift curtain and the hammock.

  “What is this?” Morgalla asked.

  “My home. Where else did you think I slept?”

  “Makrus didn’t give you a room? But the castle is huge…”

  “I’m not worthy, I suppose.”

  Morgalla frowned. “Sorry about that.”

  “Why are they after you, anyway?”

  “I refuse to be his sex slave.”

  “Oh.”

  A frown crossed Morgalla’s face as a horrible epiphany struck her. “Wait…they’ll know you helped me. Makrus will. He’s really…”

  “Yes, he’s really good at seeing into the souls of others, and manipulating them.”

  Morgalla felt the fear from his soul and saw it on his face. He was sweating.

  “Why did you help me?” Morgalla asked.

  “I…” Mylo started and then pondered. “I don’t know. I don’t have many friends. I suppose if people don’t need a reason to be cruel in this world, I don’t need a reason to be kind.”

  “I…I’m sorry. You shouldn’t have helped me.”

  “It will be okay if we can only find the prism.”

  “What?”

  “It’s why Makrus is here in the first place.”

  Morgalla was confused. “I thought it was because of all the metal his slaves are mining.”

  “That’s just a front so Hell won’t look closer into what he’s really doing. So long as he provides them with their precious metal for weapons, they leave him alone.”

  “It’s my understanding that it’s magic based and stronger than steel.”

  “And more valuable than gold,” Mylo added, “but the prism is worth everything. He thinks it’s his ticket away from the Dark One forever.”

  “Is it?”

  They both jumped to the sounds of soldiers nearby in one of the tunnels. They knelt down and lowered their voices. For the time being, it seemed as if they were safe.

  Mylo continued explaining but with a lowered voice. “Makrus is looking for something besides the black metal in the mines. It’s a prism of some sort…”

  “Magic?”

  Mylo nodded. “And I think he’s close.”

  “Wait a minute, you’re hoping you can make some sort of deal with him if you find it.”

  “The master enjoys making deals.”

  “Mylo, don’t be a fool. He’ll kill you if you don’t hand it over right away.”

  The young man turned his back. He wanted to punch the wall but remembered it was made of stone and decided against the idea.

  “If you do find it, why not take it to the town? Can they use it? If you’re gonna make a deal with anyone, make it with them.”

  Mylo spoke under his breath. “It’s not fair…”

  Morgalla approached with her hand outstretched. She was about to place it on his shoulder when their attention was drawn to a sound farther away in the tunnel. Then there were voices.

  “Uh-oh,” Morgalla said. “I think they’re demons.” She looked to the young human and saw the fear written on his sweat-soaked face.

  “How can you tell?”

  Morgalla had forgotten she was wearing a human disguise and Mylo didn’t even know about her true form. “I…the language they’re speaking.” She hit it lucky. Indeed, they were speaking a demon dialect. “Is there another way out of here?”

  “Our only other option is to hide in the woods.”

  Mylo promptly led the way. They snuck around corners and hid in the dark, avoiding the undead slaves who were lumbering around. Just as Mylo was about to go down one passage, Morgalla took him by the shoulder.

  “No,” she whispered. “There’s someone down there.”

  “How do you know?”

  Morgalla didn’t answer because she sensed the presence of souls in one passage.

  She pointed down the tunnel. “We’re better off this way.”

  Even though she knew there were soldiers in the tunnel, she was positive they were human…or at least easier to deal with. Strange…she knew the difference from a distance between human and demon souls. Demons somehow had more jagged hearts where humans were, for the most part, softer.

  The pair hurried down the passage, but the voices were getting louder. Mylo froze in his tracks, and Morgalla pushed him up against the wall. She looked around and figured there was nowhere to hide.

  Oh, damn.

  As the soldiers rounded the corner with weapons drawn, Morgalla unsheathed Hero in an instant and clashed with them. She pushed Mylo onto the ground for his safety. From his perspective, he saw her professional skills in the low light of the cavern. Every attack the humans threw at her was parried and dodged. She could have easily killed one but gave him a sharp kick and knocked him out of the fight.

  With only one opponent left, Morgalla dealt with him easily. She was driven back to the wall and Hero came around to his neck…but stopped.

  She held the blade in place. Both combatants breathed the fire from their lungs, their hearts pounding in their ears. Their faces were soaked with sweat. Morgalla’s eyes, intense and committed, met with the human’s whose were filled with terror.

  Morgalla took a deep breath and with the hilt of her sword, struck the soldier unconscious. She fell back against the wall, a hand on her chest while she tried to slow her heart.

  “Wh…where did you learn to fight?” Mylo asked. “I’ve never seen anyone move like that before.”

  Morgalla heard soldiers coming as she spun to the passage they’d just left. These guards were demons.

  “We need to get out of here, now,” Morgalla said.

  “We’d have to double back.”

  They had to think fast what to do because the duo was heading their way down the cave and quickly.

  Mining equipment, inclu
ding chains, pullies, and swivel arms, were everywhere. Mylo and Morgalla looked out to the massive cavern but saw nothing. Falling hammers echoed throughout the stone walls.

  The fugitives froze for a moment while their minds raced for an idea, any kind of advantage they might have. One came too late as they turned around and spotted two demons approaching them. Mylo froze. The young man saw two beasts with weapons drawn.

  Morgalla, fighting the terror within her heart, drew Hero again and clashed with the aggressors. She was soon outmatched with strength and found herself on her knees and disarmed. The demons stood. One said something to the other in their native tongue, and they both snickered.

  Mylo, with all his strength, took hold of a swivel arm. The massive iron tool creaked as it came around. The demons didn’t see Mylo as any kind of threat and were caught off guard. As the iron connected with the demon’s face, he stumbled back. Morgalla took the opportunity to run and drop-kick the demon into the cavern. He roared as he came crashing down on one of the catwalks far below.

  Dodging the other demon’s attack, Morgalla took Hero again in her hand and slashed at the beast’s legs.

  “Run,” she shouted.

  Both she and Mylo hightailed it back down the route they had taken. They stopped a moment among the labyrinth of rock. Mylo had to think about where they were.

  “Down this way.”

  He pointed to another path, and they were about to run that way when another demon came around the corner, grabbing Mylo and tossing him. He went flying out of cave opening into the massive chasm. He screamed. Out of desperation, he grabbed a chain and swung down, landing hard on a catwalk.

  “Mylo,” Morgalla screamed.

  There was no time to see if he was okay because she was in the middle of a fight of her own. Her opponent swung a massive mace in a circle, smashing rock but missing his prey.

  The beast was powerful and full of rage, smashing through rock as if it were nothing. The walls and ground shook, and soon Morgalla and her attacker found it hard to stand. An entire section of the wall was coming undone.