by P. G. Thomas
Zymse walked over to Ryan, whose rapid breathing sounded like a freight train in the small room, looked at the mute. “Expose the nerves.”
The large speechless bald man dug into the meat of the arm, pulling back the muscles that protected the sensitive thread like fibers, and knew he had found the desired spot when his canvas screamed so loud that it hurt his ears.
Zymse looked at Ryan, “In your culture, it is a common practice for parents to give their children a second name, yet yours gave you more. What are the two middle ones?”
Ryan remained quiet.
Zymse nodded to the bald mute, who squeezed one of the nerve clusters.
Ryan screamed so hard that he hurt his throat.
“This information is quite simple, and should be easy enough for you to speak. Your middle names, NOW!”
Ryan slowly shook his head.
Zymse handed the mute a dagger, “Sever one.”
Ryan screamed again. Kid, somebody help me!
Zymse shook his head, grabbed the dagger, “You do not know them do you?” Then he dragged the sharp edge along the large arm bone, “YOU DO NOT KNOW THEM, DO YOU!”
Between labored breaths, Ryan answered, “BITE ME!”
Stabbing the bloody blade into Ryan’s thigh, Zymse walked over to the elf hanging from the ceiling, “Oxron Icefeather, Earth Guard I presume. If you tell me what is happening, I will let you live.”
“I will not betray—”
Black smoke-like tendrils formed in the hands of Zymse, which then twisted around Oxron, causing him to scream in pain. “TELL ME WHAT I WANT TO KNOW TO END THIS!”
Agony screamed from Oxron’s eyes, and from his lips, a curse to Zymse.
“SUFFER NO MORE!”
Zymse looked at the lifeless elf in front of him, checked for a pulse, and then turned to John, “You did this? Or are you her? Now we are getting somewhere.” Clapping his hands, three female slaves each carrying a naked baby girl entered, placing them on the table that Lauren had been strapped to, and then left.
The black mists leaped from Zymse, swirling around the three innocent babies.
Ryan looked at the three, and then to Lauren, remembering Zymse cutting off the portal spell that the gods had gifted her. I never met for it to end this way, Kid.
“This ends now,” exclaimed Zymse. “You will tell me what I want to know, and each time somebody lies to me, I will kill one! Thus, you only have three chances!”
*******
Gayne looked at the empty armor pacing in the office, turned to Mirtza, “What is happening?”
“I—I have no idea. We both saw Lauren leave with Ryan. There has been no sign of them or Zymse in the mirrors…”
“What?” asked Gayne.
“It just reminds me of Alron when Ryan assumed her form to trick Hoyle, and we have not seen Steve at all.”
“I agree,” replied Gayne. “What is that strange thing you are playing with?”
Mirtza held up the two items he held in his hands, “I had the goldsmith make a portal bracelet, but had him place a piece of glass in it. Then I borrowed the picture of Earth Mother with her three children, having him inscribe that image on this amulet. On both, he inscribed ‘show me the triplets,’ but it does not seem to be working. I sort of understand their plan, but I was hoping this might be able to show us—something?” Then he held up both.
Dropping his wine glass, Gayne’s face went white, “Turn it around!”
Mirtza turned the amulet around, looking at the engraved image.
“NOT THAT, THE BRACELET!”
In doing so, Mirtza looked at the glass insert, seeing the ghost-like vision. Placing it on his dark sleeve, the image in the glass revealed so much more that he screamed and ran out to the front room. There he set it on a dark napkin so that Lauren, Panry, and Jasmine could see the disturbing scene.
Lauren looked at Panry, “Why hasn’t the portal opened?”
“The portal marking has been removed from Earth Mother’s—” then Jasmine turned to Lauren, “From Rage Heart’s shoulder?”
“What?” exclaimed Lauren, “How do we rescue them?”
“I do not know,” replied Panry.
Lauren turned to Mirtza, “Where are they?”
“I am sorry, Earth Mother, I only made it to watch you—I was not even aware it would work.”
“Panry, we need to ride, NOW!”
“Where do you suggest?” Panry stared at the images in the glass, wanting to act, being uncertain of what to do. “We saw the four legends arrive at the fortress in the mirrors, but darkness hid what happened when the suns set. We expected a portal to open here.”
“Sons of a bitch, somebody—”
Gayne grabbed Mirtza by the shoulders, “You said the goldsmith crafted a portal bracelet?”
Mirtza nodded.
Gayne grabbed the bracelet and amulet, pushing the second through the first, shattering the glass, and they all watched the portal shimmer forward. Panry and Jasmine whistled at the same time. The Guardians called to their wolves, who burst through the patio door into the front room, being already dressed in their mithril armor. As Gayne and Mirtza tried to sidestep the crowd that rushed towards the portal, between the elves and dwarves, they also stumbled through it.
When Panry stepped across the threshold, he knew Zymse had laid a trap.
Chapter 25
Panry looked at the three babies, knowing that none where the Earth Mothers he searched for. However, it was too late, as both the Fool and Chaos cards had been played, and the game had changed again.
Seeing the portal open, Eric remembered the events from the First Forest.
Tranquil had held out her hand that contained four smooth, clear stones. “These are…,” she paused, examined his thoughts, “In your language, I think you call them health points?”
He shook his head, “What?”
“As a child, you played a game. I see the images of the strange characters that still linger in your mind, and one of the desired treasures they sought were health points, which would restore their vitality or energy. These will do the same.”
Lauren accepted them, “Like at the final battle where Gingaar—or you commanded Mother to heal me?”
She nodded, “Though, I need to warn you that in seven days, if not used, they will work their way through your systems, and the magic will be gone. When you wish your meter of life energy restored, just say TD.” With all four sharing the same puzzled look, Tranquil continued, “I chose a vocal command that, should you be in great pain, you would not speak by accident.”
While his voice was weak, under his gag, Eric spoke two words, “To me.”
As the Crimson Shields rushed forward, black mists swirled out of the floor and ceiling, attacking them. Parrying with the strange opponents, they gained a beachhead into the room.
From the back of the group, Panry saw Zymse watching from the door. Knowing that he was smiling under his black veil, Panry rushed forward, attacking the black tentacles with the Moonshadow Sword, which was gifted with both Mother’s Magic and knowledge stolen from Father. When the magic union bit into the black threats, they reacted with fear, pulling back. As more of the black magic fell to the floor, the Sword of Ironwood was by his side. Looking at Zymse, he saw the shock register in the whites of the eyes of the man that dressed in black. As both Crimson Shield captains pushed their way forward, Panry saw Zymse motioning: one hand to the ceiling, one to the floor, and more of the black snake mists entered the battle. Then Granite on fur burst past them, and mithril-forged metal tasted a new opponent.
Zymse rolled his hands together, causing the black tendrils to merge, forming thick black coils that lashed out at the elves and dwarves. The dwarves dismounted, slicing into the altered enemies, but their elongated swords seemed to have a diminished effect. When Panry felt a metal hand push him to the side, the armor gifted with movement entered the battle. The demi-mortal sword wielded by the empty shell, forged in the eastern dwa
rf mines, now waged its own war, as it had heard the words of the Champion and responded.
On the table at the back, still gagged, Eric saw the promise of Fury enter the room, “TD.” He felt his wounds heal, his fingers grew back, and even the hairs on his chest returned, as the disgusting brand began to vanish. With his gifted strength, breaking free of his bonds, he stood, feeling the warmth of the cold metal, and shrugged his shoulders. The spikes on his mantel extended, as once again, he was one with the gifts born in the dwarven mines. Slicing through the black tentacles, his visor-clad eyes focused on Zymse.
John was struggling to free himself from his chains. When Babartin with Careel saw the distress in his eyes, they rushed forward, slamming their Crimson swords into the chains, causing both metal and rock shrapnel to fly past them. When John dropped to the ground, Careel handed him the second cloak.
Lauren looked at the three babies on the table, knowing instantly that none were hers. With the battle raging on, she walked up to the two figures suspended from the ceiling, “Which one of you two am I madder at?”
Ryan looked down, “Her—Him?” Then Steve spoke the final word in the program that had cursed him, “TD,” which also caused the ropes that held him to break.
Lauren looked down at Lauren, “You can scold me later.” Ryan had no reason to speak the word to restore his health because he was filled with energy, having a different name for it. [Engage repairs. Permit auto select.] As the large crude wound in his abdomen healed, he momentarily changed back to his own form, his clothes melding to his skin, which then became rock hard. His body grew in size, increasing its bulk, snapping the thick ropes, and then he dropped to the ground. “They’re not our daughters,” and he advanced to the door where Zymse once stood.
The elves she once called Earth Guards were fighting their way out of the narrow corridor, and at the front, championing the fight, Eric. With the battle blocking their exit, Lauren tried to contain her anger and frustration, just like the room of horrors now contained her. Around her, the Granite Guardians sat on their blood wolves, and in the farthest corner, Gayne with Mirtza cowered, wondering how they had both ended up here. Lauren, seeing the bloody elf hanging from the chains, ran over to him, screaming in horror, “OXRON!”
Ryan was just about to transform into something smaller so that he could navigate through the congestion, but hearing Lauren, he briefly returned to her.
Anger flared in Lauren’s eyes, “What happened?”
He pointed to John, standing in front of the three babies. “He killed him.” Reaching his hand inside his abdomen, he pulled out a clear, smooth stone. “Here, I didn’t need mine. I’ll go get Zymse.” Transforming into a rat made of rock, he scurried under the feet of those who blocked the passage.
Steve was standing beside John, who was trying to prevent any harm that might come to the three babies, “Why doesn’t she—” He saw the answer in Steve’s eyes. “It’s a trap?”
Even though Lauren wanted to cry, the berry she had taken to supress her grief now fuelled her anger. “John Ironhouse, what the hell did you do?”
Realizing that Oxron wasn’t breathing, John was in shock. “When Zymse captured him, I was afraid he would talk. I think I issued an Earth Bond to silence him.” He was fighting to hold back his tears, “Zymse started to torture him with a strange magic. I wasn’t thinking, and I told him not to suffer.”
Lauren looked like a volcano ready to erupt, “You killed him with an Earth Bond, you bastard!”
“Cut him down,” pleaded John, “maybe we can resuscitate him.”
“HIS HEART DIDN’T STOP, YOU STOPPED IT!”
John’s anger flared back, “THEN USE THE DAMN STONE TO HEAL HIM!”
Lauren fell to her knees, “I tried, but he can’t swallow it, and when I told it to engage in his mouth, nothing happened. Not again, not today—”
Steve walked over, “The little program they installed in me said the gem had to be in the body, but that it was only good for seven days, so the fight isn’t over yet.” Unbuckling Oxron’s pants, he pulled them down, grabbed the gem from the dead elf’s mouth, and shoved it up the rear exit, “That’s where it was destined to come out so call to it now.”
Lauren, having turned away from the partially naked elf, heard Steve’s words, grasped the staff and spoke. “LIVE!” Unseen, several inches turned to dust, and even though Oxron’s body twitched, he failed to breathe.
Steve called out, “TD,” but nothing happened. “Lauren, try again,”
With her emotions twisted, she spoke the two letters, “TD.”
Oxron’s body loudly inhaled a dry breath, his eyelids fluttered, and gasping air, his wounds began to heal. Wiping her tears of joy away, Lauren stood, hugging the semi-clothed, suspended, and bound elf.
Scanning the room, Oxron tried to get his bearings and then looked down. “Earth Mother, your actions do not become you.”
Lauren turned her back, “Steve, John, release him.”
When he was down, and his pants were up, he walked over to the mantle where he saw the sword and picked it up. “Sword of Icefeather, Champion First,” and he felt the knowledge of Father flood his senses, “We need to rescue your daughters!”
*******
Ryan crawled over the lifeless black-clad bodies in the stairway, scurried past the feet of Panry and Jasmine, dodged the metal clad boots of Eric, and crested the top of the stairs first. In the crowded room, his rage exploded, as he instantly transformed into a rock monster, tearing into the black-clad horde that momentarily stood in front of him.
In the less crowded basement, the Granite Guardians did a quick search of the only other room, forcing a young Calicon branded slave girl into the room of horrors.
Lauren looked at the scared figure that cowered before her, “You’re safe, and I free you from Zymse.” The Earth Bond had a dramatic effect on the young lass, who stood tall, and looked Lauren in the eyes, which caused her to smile, “Zymse has three special babies. Do you know where he keeps them?” However, the simple answer of ‘No’ was not the one that she had been hoping to hear. “Please, stay with these babies and keep them safe. Barricade yourself in this room, and when I’ve dealt with your cruel master, I’ll send somebody.” With the stairs cleared, she headed up them, followed by the six wolf-riding dwarves, Steve, John, and Oxron.
In the far corner, Gayne was searching his pockets, “I have no amulets for the house. Do you?” Mirtza patted down his pockets, shook his head, and then headed towards the door. Gayne pulled him back, “Are you crazy?”
He shrugged his shoulders, “Maybe, but I would rather try to escape from up there, instead of being trapped down here.”
Gayne reluctantly followed his best student up the stairs, and when they arrived at the top, the room was quiet. With body parts and blood covering the floor, the ceiling was freshly painted red, and the trail of bloody boot prints was easy to follow. Once outside, they saw the large rock figure called Rage Heart standing in front. At his side, the Champion in the dwarven forged armor. A perimeter of the Crimson Shields stood ready, observing the current situation, and in the middle, Lauren with her six Granite Guardians mounted on their wolves. Behind them, Steve and John, who they quickly joined. Gayne, looking over the heads of the rest, saw that they were surrounded in the courtyard on all four sides, as thousands of black-clad soldiers were lined several deep, and on the walls of the massive complex, black-clad soldiers stood with bows in hand.
Even though Panry had seen Oxron hanging lifeless in the room, his Crimson oath had compelled him to advance. Seeing the once dead elf standing beside him, he began to wonder about the remaining events of the day. He nodded to Oxron, “I am glad to see you have decided to fight as your sword we shall need this day.” Then he turned to Jasmine, “When I broke the Crimson Seal, I did not expect the game to change like this.”
Steve looked at John, “Whisky Tango Foxtrot. This is fubar to infinity!”
“It can’t be that bad?”
Shaking her head, Lauren looked at what remained of the short staff in her hand, “Grow me a Core Wood tree.” The power of Mother answered, and watching, one end of it began to crumble away. When the tree had sufficient height, she commanded the growth to stop, and trying to pull it from the ground, it would not yield. “Jaykil, remove the crown from this tree and uproot it.”
With one quick swing of his elongated sword, the top fell to the ground, and with his great dwarven strength, he pulled it from the dark soil. Lauren smiled, accepted her new staff, and tucked the small nub of the once heavy staff into her pocket.
At the north end of the courtyard, a line of black-clad guards separated, and Zymse Darpac stepped forward, “Now that, that was impressive,” and then he laughed. To the west, a second Zymse stepped forward, “But not impressive like this.” Then to the east, another appeared, and from the south, they heard a fourth join in the chorus of laughter.
Hearing the foul sounds, a cold shiver ran down Panry’s back.
Then the Zymse from the north pushed a semi-naked, unkemptCalicon man into the courtyard, whose abdomen had a large bulbous protrusion, which he was scratchingfeverishly. The man stumbled onto the stones, his voice whimpering in pain, “Master, it hurts, please, help me.” When the obscene wound burst open, a red mist filled the air, ejecting a large blood pus-covered gold amulet, and he fell motionless onto his back. The gold object began to shake and then transformed. Before them stood an eight-foot tall, armor clad warrior, wielding a spiked ball with a chain in one hand, holding a giant sword in the second, and it began to approach the small group.
When the west line of black-clad soldiers created an opening, three large metallic men-shaped creations stepped forward, measuring ten feet tall, that most recalled from the final battle. From breaks in the other lines, strange trollmare beasts, six to eight feet long, entered the arena. When Gayne heard wolves howling, he turned and from the south saw a pack of large, mangy beasts beginning to advance on them.
After a bald eagle landed in the middle of the group, a naked Zack instantly transformed, “Was this part of the plan?”