The Wastes

by Alexey Osadchuk

  “...It will follow your tracks,” the troll finished my sentence, understanding.

  “Exactly,” I nodded and raised a pointer finger: “I’m sure this tower still has some surprises for us.”

  Then, taking a glimmering scroll out of my backpack, I added:

  “And this will help me figure out what they are.”

  * * *

  — Attention! Would you like to use item: Map of Fort Stout fortifications?

  “Hm... So that’s what you’re called,” I muttered, agreeing.

  — Tab created: Map of Fort Stout fortifications.

  I’ll be honest, I was secretly holding out hope as I opened the tab. First and foremost, I was hoping greatly for the hunters’ defensive systems — the upcoming battle promised to be a hot one. And second, who knew? What if the fort’s arsenal wasn’t the only place I could find useful doodads?

  A map of the tower and its surroundings unfolded before my eyes.

  “My predecessors dug this place up pretty good back in their day,” I muttered, looking over the map.

  “What does the map show?” Mee asked, not straying a step away from me.

  We were standing on the watchtower’s overlook platform, the very highest point, and waiting for a reinforcement of sixteen troops, which Farhas went out to get an hour before.

  In that time, the portal made itself known one more time, but was still in no hurry to open. Every minute, my connection to it became more and more palpable. Remembering the nasty bout of nausea from earlier, I winced involuntarily. It would be hard to explain what exactly was happening at that portal. The closest comparison would be a very old pustule just about to pop...

  “Another attack?” Mee asked with sympathy.

  “No, little buddy,” I hurried to reassure him. “I just remembered something...”

  I lowered my eyes and met his inquisitive gaze. Oh yeah! He was asking about the map!

  “My predecessors worked very hard to provide for this fort’s defense,” I started describing what I’d seen on the diagram. “The marked pillar the trolls call the Black Fang is part of an alarm circle. There are, by the way, a few more of them and they are interconnected by an invisible line.”

  “Magic?”

  “Exactly,” I answered. “Something akin to my Lair. Warns you when someone crosses it. And by all appearances, the circle used to activate a trap if an outsider crossed the line.”

  “Now I see what Farhas was talking about,” Mee nodded and immediately asked: “But you said, ‘used to?’“

  “Yes,” I answered with a sad sigh. “Almost all the traps are deactivated.”

  “Almost?” Mee asked with hope in his voice.

  “The tower’s supply still has a bit of mana left in it. I’m trying to figure out a way we can make this otherworldly monster’s life just a little bit harder.”

  I didn’t tell the gremlin the mana situation was catastrophic. I didn’t want to scare him before the battle. It’s easier to fight with hope in your heart. Especially given a few “green” spots were actually still around. When the trolls got here, I’d have to send Gorgie out. Have him leave some tracks around the traps. Maybe the beast would buy it.

  Beyond that, there was still a final surviving spot of magic inside the tower. The map showed it as a dimly flickering light blue dot. Based on its pale shade, its supply was almost devoid of mana, but still it was active. I figured Mee should know about it. Maybe it’d stop him shivering. And I understood where he was coming from. Any minute now the portal would be opening and some ghastly otherworldly beast would be running this way. And for the record, the trolls still hadn’t arrived.

  “By the way,” I said, distracting the gremlin from his clearly unhappy thoughts. “The big armored fellow down at the bottom is not just a statue.”

  “What do you mean?” Mee asked in surprise.

  “Let me tell you,” I said and triumphantly declared:

  “It’s a combat golem!”

  That only seemed to make the gremlin shiver even harder.

  “Don’t you be afraid!” I patted the little guy on the shoulder. “That thing still has a little mana left in it. I still don’t know how exactly, but I think I can make it fight on our side.”

  * * *

  While the elder was away, I figured out how to use the statue of the order’s founder. As it turned out, the map was not simply an indicator of location. I could also use it to partially control the tower’s defensive systems. For example, I could transfer mana from the fort’s supply to any magic trap and back.

  When I realized the usefulness of the tool in my hands, I actually forgot how to breathe! Just the perspectives it unveiled!

  My ardor was cooled by the supply’s figures. It had just over three percent of its total mana. And half a percent of that was going to maintaining the alarm line and markers.

  Thanks to the simplicity of the control mechanism, I quickly got the hang of moving mana from one spot to another. Unfortunately, only those with over two thousand reputation with the Order and at least twelve Mind could actually use it though, so it was all on me. And the first thing I did was deactivate the markers and alarm system. In light of upcoming events, they wouldn’t be much use to us now. I would be able to sense the portal opening without any alarm. Meanwhile, our tracks would point the way for the beasts better than any markers.

  That brought the overall supply up to almost three and a half percent mana, then I tried to feed one of the magical traps outside the wall. The names like Fire Wave or Acid Mud inspired confidence. But alas, I was not fated to see them in action. Too little mana. All the gray dots on the map required at least fifteen percent. In the end, I dumped all available mana from the tower into the golem. His supply turned out not to be quite so demanding.

  As much as I was trying to conserve energy, I had to run a little test. I needed to know what I was dealing with.

  The golem control tab contained a list of simple commands. For example, “Attack” or “Stop.” When I selected “Move,” I was told to choose a point on the map, while for “Attack” I had to set an opponent.

  Mentally wishing myself luck, I ordered the golem to move a few steps to the right. And an instant later, my heart aflutter, I watched the bronze titan fairly easily jump down from his pedestal and move to the point I’d selected.

  When Mee saw the statue start walking, he gave a muted squeak and grabbed me by the arm.

  “Ah, I wish we had one of these in Stonetown!” I admired.

  “Hrn!” Gorgie agreed right away.

  “So, what else can he do?” Mee asked, emboldened.

  “We’re about to find out...” I answered, excited by my new toy. Then I gave it an order to “Defend” the tower entrance.

  Quite hastily, the Bronze Gunnar went up to the door and blocked it with his wide triangular shield. He was squeezing a hefty club in his right hand, the top of which was reminiscent of a half-open flower with a sharp spike in the middle. If memory serves, it was called a flanged mace.

  All the golem’s movements were accompanied by a metallic clang, adding even more ghastliness to the overall picture.

  “Does that take a lot of mana?” Mee pulled me out of contemplation.

  I quickly checked the supply.

  “A tiny amount, but it is still noticeable,” I answered. “But he only made a couple moves.”

  “That means he won’t last long in battle,” the gremlin contested.

  “Then we’ll save him for when the going gets really tough.”

  * * *

  About an hour later, Farhas’ figure appeared on the edge of the forest. Behind him loomed the silhouettes of the other trolls.

  The gremlins and I welcomed our allies with a simultaneous sigh of relief. To be honest, I was already feeling little pangs of doubt in my heart of hearts. What if the warriors ignored the voice of reason and refused to follow their elder? Who could say what these huge creatures might have had in mind? Based on Mee’s reacti
on, I was not alone in my fears.

  When Farhas saw the statue in front of the tower door, the look on his face was a sight to behold.

  “Don’t be surprised!” I shouted from above and waved my hand in greeting.

  The old troll just slightly shrugged his shoulders and commanded his warriors to go into the courtyard. The trolls turned their heads in incomprehension and, their mouths agape, looked all around apprehensively. I understood them. For ages, this place was thought to be cursed. Most likely, when they were kids, they heard quite a few scary stories from their grandparents about the Black Fang and the dark charms that killed all those who dared enter these lands.

  As soon as the last troll came inside, Gorgie went out to leave tracks around the “green” traps.

  “More wizardry?” Farhas asked, nodding at the golem standing in the doorway when I came downstairs.

  “Yes,” I answered. “But he won’t be able to fight long. We’ll only use him when things really get rough.”

  “I see,” the old man nodded and said:

  “On the way here, we were picking up rocks to drop on the enemy’s head from the walls. I hope the walkways will be able to support all my warriors.”

  I glanced at the bulging bags each troll was carrying. Based on the outlines, the stones they contained were as big as my head. If a bunch of big rocks like that suddenly rained down on the beast’s head, it probably would not be too happy.

  I turned my gaze to the massive stone stairs leading to the wall and, smiling, said:

  “I’m sure these fortifications have seen worse.”

  “Well, we’re about to test that,” the elder chuckled and barked:

  “Erg! Position your warriors!”

  The level-seventeen giant gave a somber nod and started issuing commands.

  We spent a bit of time watching Farhas’ men climb up onto the walls. To be frank, I wasn’t worried for the ancient structure — it was built for the express purpose of defending against monsters.

  After we made sure the wall wouldn’t collapse under the weight of his soldiers, the elder turned to me:

  “We’ll wait for your cat and close the gates. Then we’ll go up onto the tower’s overlook platform. That’s the best position for the mages.”

  “We might as well close the gates right now,” I waved it off. “That wall is no obstacle to a harn.”

  The gray-haired troll gave a respectful chuckle and looked back at the wall out of the corner of his eye. He was clearly impressed by Gorgie’s abilities again.

  The old man said something else, but I wasn’t listening. A rotten and bitter flavor appeared in my mouth and made me wince hard. Beyond that, my eyes went dark for a second and a wave of nasty shivering ran over my body.

  “Has it begun?” Mee and Farhas asked at almost the exact same time.

  Continuing to wince, I spat bitter saliva a few times, then answered:

  “Get ready. The portal has opened.”

  Chapter 19

  AN HOUR LATER, Gorgie was back. The beast was noticeably shaken up. The scales on the back of his head were standing on end and constantly vibrating. He easily overcame the wall, slunk across the inner courtyard and, a few instants later, was sitting at my side.

  “Hrn!” he growled angrily, shaking his scaly head.

  “There’s something big and quite fast coming this way,” I said, putting the cat’s information into words. “The creature is near.”

  Farhas barked something sternly to his warriors and they answered him with a joint war cry. The sound launched a brigade of ants marching down my spine. A strong wall, sixteen giants armed with heavy cudgels, a combat golem and our spells — could it be that we did in fact stand a chance of emerging victorious?

  The sun was about to go beyond the horizon when the sound of cracking wood reached us from the dark looming forest in the distance. The otherworldly creature came barreling our way over hill and dale. It was not hard to tell which way it was moving from the shaking treetops. Having ignored all the green traps, it was strictly following the trolls’ tracks. Curious. I wonder why. Maybe it’s to do with their numbers? A lone target wasn’t as attractive? Either that or Gorgie hadn’t left enough tracks.

  A few seconds later, a section of the wall of young trees on the forest’s edge was blasted to smithereens and a coal black blob the size of a fully-grown bull spilled out into the clearing. It was hard to tell from a distance what exactly we were dealing with. It looked like a ghastly mixture of spider, crab and cockroach. Based on its abrupt and jerky movements, this monster must have had fairly high Speed and Agility.

  The monster stopped short. Its long whiskers, looking like shoots of cane, seemed to be doing their own thing. The creature determined our location fairly quickly and burst off with an unpleasant bony chirr.

  When the otherworldly cockroach was just a few yards from the wall, clacking its narrow pincers, I finally managed to get a good look.

  “Level twelve?” Farhas asked, perplexed.

  To be frank, I was also baffled. I took a glance at the harn. But he wasn’t reacting to us at all. He was still running his gaze over the clearing. And meanwhile, his scales were standing on end while his powerful sides quivered in tension.

  All the while, the monster was coming closer to the wall. The first stones rained down on its head. I couldn’t see what was happening at the base of the wall but based on the characteristic sound of chitin crunching and the joyful cries of the trolls it was not hard to guess — the otherworldly insect was not doing so hot. A few seconds later, the trolls shouted victoriously. It’s over — we won.

  Farhas looked at me, raising his chin proudly. His entire appearance seemed to say I had been sowing panic over nothing.

  In my turn, I didn’t give a damn about the trolls’ condescending gazes. I was sincerely delighted that my fears were unfounded. I still remembered the millipede on the steppe. Its dimensions, level and speed. If a big monster like that showed up here, I’d like to have seen Farhas’ ugly mug then. If they wanted to celebrate the victory, I would join them with a clear conscience. The only thing I had to regret at that time was the fact that I didn’t get any tokens. Ugh... And there were so many useful doodads left in the arsenal...

  Once down in the internal courtyard, we wanted to open the gates, but Gorgie gave a loud roar of warning down from the overlook platform. I froze in place. And an instant later we all heard a fearsome sound from the direction of the forest. The trolls on the walls also started growling, pointing their hefty fingers into the distance.

  Not wasting any time, I ran over to the stairs leading up the wall. Mee wanted to follow me, but I ordered him to go up the tower. He’d be safer there with Gorgie.

  Once on top, I froze like a statue. And I had every reason. It looked like the forest had come to life. The treetops were all in a flurry. The cracking and rasping were so loud I found myself wanting to cover my ears involuntarily.

  “I was wrong,” I whisper through dried out lips.

  Despite the increasing volume, the old man still heard me.

  “About what?” he asked with a loud gulp.

  Heh... Where’s that haughty tone now?

  “I was expecting a higher creature, but the portal surprised us. This is an outbreak!”

  “What does that mean?”

  “Nothing good. The beasts are just gonna keep coming.”

  I could see on the old man’s face that he had a good deal of questions, but he didn’t have the time to ask them. The first five beasts had entered the clearing. Unlike the frontrunner, they didn’t stop. They just came racing directly in our direction.

  The trolls got ready to throw stones.

  “Let them come closer!” I shouted, extending a hand.

  There was a high chance the giants would ignore me but, much to my surprise, they listened. Seeing my hand enshrouded in dark lilac smoke probably did the trick.

  The cockroaches were in wedge formation, their flat bodies pressed dow
n to the ground and nimbly scurrying their crooked appendages. A few were clacking their pincers impatiently.

  Thirty feet away from the wall. The middle one raced out in front, driving the others on.

  Ten feet. I finally was able to see the otherworldly monsters up close. Sharp claws, mandibles dripping with some vile liquid and tipped with sharp hooks. The feet — a chill ran down my spine. It took effort to maintain self-control.

  “Attack!” I shouted, casting a Fury-reinforced Ram at the insects.