The Arcane Staff Trilogy Box Set

by Hans Bezdek

  “Resistance fighters!” boomed Delvin’s voice. The gnome must’ve known a spell that would project his voice. Sloane figured that was an especially important spell to learn as a gnome if you wanted to get people’s attention.

  It certainly worked here. A hush fell over the people, everyone now looking up at the tiny gnome.

  “The battle for Burston has been won, yet another victory for the Resistance!” declared Delvin.

  Cheers sprang out among the crowd, but not as many as Sloane had expected. The people that showed up too late to participate must not have been thrilled about missing the fight. She could respect that.

  “While battles are being won, the war continues to wage on,” said Delvin when the cheers died down. “For too long now, the Resistance has been on the defensive. If we really want this war with the evil Kutarm and his demonic accomplices to end, we will have to take the battle to him! We can’t afford to remain reactionary anymore!”

  More cheers than before broke forth. Sloane had to admit she was impressed. The normally timid Delvin seemed to really be in his element.

  “What do you have in mind?” shouted someone down below.

  “I say, we march straight into Kutarm’s territory, taking the town of Westdale!” declared Delvin, holding his fist out emphasize his words.

  “What about Burston?” asked another voice before the cheers could continue.

  “I’m sorry?” asked Delvin, dropping his fist.

  “What happens if the demons come back for the city?” asked another voice.

  “And what about all the repairs?” asked another. “It’ll cost a fortune to get our city back to the state it was before the siege!”

  The people below began murmuring amongst themselves. It was clear that Delvin was losing the crowd.

  “We, uh…” said Delvin, glancing back at Kriket and Sloane for advice. The two of them shrugged. The gnome frowned at that, then snapped his fingers and turned back to the crowd. “Oh, I know! We can pay for the repairs! Even if the demons come back while we are taking it to Kutarm, we’ll pay to rebuild the entire city!”

  “What is he doing?!” asked Sloane in a panic, taking a step forward.

  Kriket put an arm on her shoulder and pulled her back. “Hold on… he’s starting to win them over.”

  “Yeah, with my coin!” she hissed.

  “You expect us to believe you have the kind of gold to rebuild a whole city?” scoffed someone in the crowd, much to Sloane’s relief.

  “Just a moment,” smiled Delvin, taking out Anthony’s bag.

  “Oh no,” groaned Sloane.

  “Anthony, I need you to send a few thousand gold pieces out of the bag,” said Delvin as he opened up the top of it.

  “Oh, so now you want to talk to me again,” said a distant Anthony.

  “Huh?” asked Delvin.

  “You just cut me off while I was talking last time,” replied Anthony. “I don’t appreciate being taken for granted.”

  The crowd exchanged confused looks.

  “Turn off the voice amplifying spell if you’re going to bicker with a bag!” hissed Sloane to Delvin, but the gnome wasn’t paying attention.

  “Look, I’m sorry about that, but I really could use that gold right now,” said Delvin. “Could we please just talk about this later?”

  The bag sighed. “Fine…”

  Gold coins suddenly streamed out of the bag like water from a fountain. Delvin turned the bag towards the crowd, letting the gold pour out over them. Gasps and excited shouts filled the air as the people below scrambled to get a piece of the free money.

  “Believe me now?” smiled Delvin.

  A roar of approval came back at him, not a single dissenting voice this time. Delvin looked over his shoulder and smiled at Kriket and Sloane.

  “I think we’ve got our army now,” grinned the gnome.

  Chapter 4

  “You want Kutarm dead?!” exclaimed Zeke.

  “I do,” she nodded. “And you’re gonna help me do it.”

  “But.. why would someone like you want him dead?”

  “Do you mean a fae or a woman or…?”

  “I, uh, I mean…” stammered Zeke, unsure if it was more socially acceptable to be prejudice against fae or be sexist.

  “I’m kidding,” she giggled. “I know you’re surprised fae would be against him, but that’s what I’m banking on. Kutarm might not suspect it either. I’m Xylona, by the way.”

  “Xylana?”

  “Xylona.”

  Zeke was confident he wasn’t going to be able to remember that.

  “You can call me Zeke, I guess,” said Zeke. He didn’t want to get too friendly with the fae but needed to play the part until the time came for him to escape from her.

  “Pleasure,” nodded Xylona. “I’m one of a secret minority that are working to get rid of Kutarm. When Kutarm came to my people and asked for our help, most of us were against it at first. It’s clear that he only cares about expanding his territory. There’s nothing he can really offer the fae.”

  “What changed?” asked Zeke.

  “He had a secret meeting with our elders, and suddenly they were singing a different tune,” she sighed, shaking her head. “I’m confident he’s using mind control on them.”

  “Mind control?” laughed Zeke. Surely she was kidding again…

  Except, she didn’t smile.

  “It’s the only thing that makes sense,” she shrugged. “He’s already doing it with the undead and demons.”

  “He’s controlling them?! I thought he just had a deal with them!”

  “Nope. There’s not much you can really offer abominations like those, besides your flesh. I don’t think Kutarm wanted to depart with his.”

  Zeke was quiet for a moment. For some reason, knowing that Kutarm had the power to control such strong and wicked creatures scared him more than when he thought they were in a partnership.

  “Why haven’t you or the other fae tried to kill Kutarm already?” asked Zeke, still trying to process everything he was learning.

  “He doesn’t just have an Arcane Staff, he has the First Staff,” she said, crossing her arms and taking a few steps away. “There was no point to show our hand too early. Obviously, we couldn’t compete with that kind of power.”

  “Obviously,” repeated Zeke, but he had no idea what she was talking about. From what he understood, the Arcane Staves weren’t ranked based on power. Sure, he felt powerful with the Fourth Staff, but it’s not like someone wouldn’t be able to stab him in the back when he had his guard down.

  He didn’t want to sound like an idiot, though, and kept his questions to himself.

  “Only a few others know of my real intentions, which means we should be able to move freely in Kutarm’s territory,” said Xylona, walking back towards him. “Well, perhaps I should say I will be able to move freely. You’ll have to pretend to be my prisoner.”

  “Pretend… right…”

  “You want Kutarm dead, too, don’t you?” asked Xylona, leaning in towards him.

  “O-Of course,” said Zeke, uncomfortable with her getting so close.

  “Then you’re not my prisoner, you’re my fellow conspirator,” she laughed, leaning back.

  “Meaning I can leave?”

  “Let’s not get too crazy, shall we?” she smiled. “I can’t have you running off on me, now can I?”

  Zeke didn’t bother putting on a fake smile.

  “I’ve got to show you some trust, though,” she admitted, walking towards the door. “I’ll give you some privacy so you can change and get ready to leave. I’ll go pay for our rooms and wait for you outside. I know you elves take forever to get ready, but try to be speedy this time, hmm?”

  The fae left before he could give a smart reply. He supposed he deserved the little quip after stereotyping her.

  Zeke checked on his thing, making sure everything was still there. Satisfied that they were, he quickly changed, placing Lucky back on his hip
. He picked the Arcane Staff up and examined it closely.

  He didn’t know how to describe it, but it felt like all the power he once felt when he held the staff was just… gone.

  Maybe it’d still work if he needed it to, or the magic would come back one day. It wasn’t like he could just get rid of it right now, anyway. He needed to keep the appearance up that he could still use it, if just for self-preservation. The fae wouldn’t have much use for him otherwise.

  After placing the Fourth Staff on his back and doing a quick final scan of the room, he left it and made for the stairs. He dragged his feet as he descended them, not wanting to rush. He felt like he should try and slow Xylona down as much as possible, but wasn’t totally sure why.

  The elf hoped that someone was out there looking for him, but knew there was little chance of that. There wasn’t any reason to believe anyone knew he was still alive. He had been pretty clear with Kriket that their goodbye was probably final. If Sloane and Delvin ever went looking for them, they’d not find any trace of him.

  He got to the ground floor and made for the door. He glanced through the little window on it before he went to open it, seeing that Xylona was outside waiting for him. Her back was turned, and she had her face buried in a book.

  Zeke paused.

  Maybe she wouldn’t notice time slipping by while she was reading. If he was looking for an opportunity to escape, there might not be a better time than this. He looked around the front, deciding what to do next. There was a woman working at the front desk and to the left was a dining room with a few patrons.

  The elf put on his best smile and approached the woman first. The place surely had a back door. Asking for it wouldn’t be too out of the ordinary, right?

  “Hey there,” smiled Zeke.

  The woman glanced up and smiled back. “Finally awake, huh? Your friend mentioned that you’d be coming down shortly.”

  She had her blonde hair up in a bun and wore plain clothes. It wasn’t until he walked up to her that he noticed a black and blue pendant she was wearing.

  That wasn’t ideal.

  “My friend… right,” Zeke said, tapping his fingers on the table as he thought through what his next move was. There was a good chance the woman would tell the fae he was trying to escape if he asked for another exit. Like Xylona said, most people would assume a fae was working with Kutarm.

  “Is there something you needed?” she asked, tilting her head to the side. “If you’re looking for your friend, she’s right outside.”

  “That’s what I was gonna ask! You read my mind,” laughed Zeke, taking a few steps back and towards the dining area. Looked like that was his best bet now.

  “Why are you going in there, then?” asked the woman.

  “Uh…” said Zeke, drawing a blank on a good lie.

  “Oh, right! Your friend closed out your room,” nodded the woman to herself. “You must be grabbing some food for the road.”

  “Haha, there you go again, reading my mind!” smiled Zeke.

  The woman smiled back uncomfortably, turning her attention back to her work. Not the elf’s best social interaction, but it bought him some time.

  Heading into the dining area, there were just five people sitting around. Two pairs were talking with one another quietly, while a fifth sat in a back corner, nursing a drink by himself. Deciding to work on the easiest target first, Zeke went to the back.

  “Hey man, can you help me out?” asked Zeke in a low voice.

  “I-I don’t have any money to spare,” said the man, waving the elf away. The man had two swords strapped across his back but otherwise didn’t seem very threatening. He was of a very slender build for a human, and there was something in his eyes that made him look perpetually afraid. He wore red armor that squeaked loudly as he moved, letting Zeke know he hadn’t had it for very long.

  “No, I’m not looking for a handout,” said Zeke, glancing behind him. No sign of Xylona yet. “I’m sure you normally wouldn’t resist helping someone out when you can, though.”

  The man shifted in his seat when Zeke said resist, squeaking up a storm. It looked like the elf might’ve lucked out after all.

  “Are you with the Linsuk Resistance?” whispered Zeke, not wanting to waste any more time.

  “W-What?” asked the man, eyes widening some. “O-Of course not! That’s illegal!”

  “Look, it’s okay,” said Zeke, holding his hands up. “I’m part of it, too. Listen, I really need-”

  “Prove it,” mumbled the man, glancing around. “Not that I’m, you know, admitting to being part of it.”

  Zeke sighed, running a hand over his brow. “I lost my red coin, okay? I can’t show it to you right now, but the fact I know about it means I must be part of the Resistance, right?”

  “If you can’t show me that you’re part of it, then walk away,” said the man, taking a sip of his drink with another squeak of his leather.

  “I’m The Elf Thief, okay?” said Zeke, running out of options.

  “The Elf Thief?” gasped the man, eyes wide. “R-Really?”

  “How many other elves do you see around?” shrugged Zeke. “What town are we in, by the way?”

  “Westdale, of course,” said the man, confused. “How would you not know where you are?”

  “I was knocked out by a f-”

  A firm hand appeared on Zeke’s right shoulder.

  “Is something the matter here?” asked Xylona, taking a step forward and next to Zeke.

  Zeke sighed. Looked like the jig was up.

  “N-No ma’am,” said the man, burying his face into his drink. Even the frantic squeaks of the man’s leather sounded worried.

  “I could’ve sworn I overheard talk about the Resistance,” she said, shaking her head. “That’d be a real shame to have to notify the proper authorities. Granted, it’s punishable by death, so I suppose I could just take care of the matter myself.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” mumbled Zeke as the man’s hand shook in fear.

  “You’re ready to leave for Stedforge, then?” she smiled. It wasn’t a particularly warm one.

  Zeke didn’t make a noise as he turned and walked for the front, the fae’s presence right behind him.

  Escaping her wouldn’t be as easy as he hoped it would be. Now that they were in Kutarm’s territory, there were going to be fewer and fewer people willing to help, let alone capable of it. The elf had blown what was probably his last opportunity.

  Zeke was trapped.

  Chapter 5

  After Delvin’s success with rallying the people in Burston, the three of them quickly made plans to head out before the army did. If everything went according to plan, the militia would finish their preparations within a few hours and immediately march for the town of Westdale. Sloane and the other two would reach there first and look for any trace of Zeke. They would then participate in the battle and move on once the town was won.

  The three rode for the town to their west as fast as they could. They weren’t just trying to outrun the Linsuk Resistance’s army but were trying to catch up to Zeke and that fae.

  If that was even possible.

  While Kriket and Delvin would occasionally make small talk, Sloane kept to herself. She hated the way things ended between her and Zeke the last time they were together. Was that going to be the last time she saw him alive? What if they were too late, and they couldn’t get to him in time? Would things have gone differently if they never split up?

  She also wondered if their plan to go after Kutarm with an army would work. The hope was that once word spread that some of the Resistance was pressing into Kutarm’s territory, other’s would join them in doing so. If Kutarm was getting pressed from multiple angles, he wouldn’t be able to just strike out in one direction at a time. His own forces would have to be split, which would increase their chance of victory.

  The road became narrower as the trees grew closer together. The three of them rode closer together now, Kriket in the front
and Delvin bringing up the rear. They were probably in Lord Kutarm’s territory now. They would need to be on their guard from here on out.

  “Is something the matter, Sloane?” asked Delvin. “You’re quieter than normal.”

  Sloane glanced back and gave him a small smile. He was probably feeling a lot of the same things she was.

  “I’m worried that no matter how hard we ride, we won’t catch up to them,” nodded Sloane. “They have a three day head start, and the fae knows where she’s going. We have nothing to go on but guesses.”

  Delvin nodded sadly. “You’re probably right. We’ve still got to try, though.”

  “I wouldn’t worry too much about all that, actually,” said Kriket. “We know the general direction they're going in, and if they stay in any towns there’s a good chance someone will notice them. We’ll get confirmation sooner or later if we’re on the right path.”

  “That’s a good point!” smiled Delvin.

  “Doesn’t do us much good if they’re so far ahead of us,” noted Sloane. “Three days is a lot of time.”

  “Also a good point,” frowned Delvin.

  “I’ve got a feeling their lead won’t last for long,” said Kriket.

  “Why’s that?” asked Sloane.

  “Moving a knocked out person isn’t easy,” said the lizardman. “You’ve got to worry about them falling off your horse if you go to fast, plus there’s the concern about them waking up and trying to flee. The fae wouldn’t have made it very far before having to stop with him. If I were her, I would’ve stopped in Westdale and waited for him to come to.”

  “You seem to know a lot about moving unconscious people,” said Sloane, raising an eyebrow.

  “A story for another time, perhaps,” he said, glancing back and grinning. “Anyway, once Zeke woke up, I’m sure she had her hands full. He slowed us down while we were heading to Burston with his… shenanigans. I can only imagine how much he’s slowing down someone he doesn’t want to travel with.”

  “You know, we have covered much more ground without him,” said Delvin, rubbing his chin. “He does have a way of attracting trouble, doesn’t he?”