World in Chains- The Complete Series

by Ryan W. Mueller

  To his surprise, he took the monster to the ground. It struggled against him, and he wasn't sure he could hold it down much longer.

  Berig remained atop it, pinning it to the ground. It hissed and shrieked through its long mouth, and those teeth terrified Berig. He ignored his fear, though, darting out of the reach of the monster's teeth before thrusting his dagger into its right eye.

  The creature let out a shriek more horrible than ever as Berig twisted the dagger, hoping he could get deep enough to skewer its brain. He'd blocked out the rest of the battle. He couldn't have said how anyone else was faring.

  The creature fell still beneath him, and he finally turned to see how the others were doing. Chaos had taken over the large chamber. The creatures were flitting about, knocking down some goblins and using their teeth to tear at the flesh of others.

  Screams of pain and terror filled the air. Everything had become so chaotic that Berig could no longer tell where his friends were. Panic flared within him.

  What if they'd left him behind? Would they do that after everything he'd done for them?

  He had little time to dwell on it, for another monster lunged at him. Its large wing slammed against his chest, and he flew backward. When he hit the ground, the impact knocked the wind out of him. He tried to move, but he couldn't breathe, couldn't think about anything but his impending death.

  The monster approached, shrieking at him, and his breath returned at last. When the monster tried to pierce him with one of its giant claws, he rolled out of the way just in time. Then he shot to his feet, brandishing his dagger, trying not to think about what he had to do.

  The creature sent its wing at him again, and he hopped to the side, narrowly dodging the attack. Now that the monster was off-balance, he ducked beneath its outstretched wing, then launched himself at it, taking it to the ground.

  From there, he stabbed it through the eye, twisting the dagger until the creature fell still. As soon as he stood up, something sharp sliced across his back. Another monster's claws. The pain seared through his back, and he hit the ground, feeling suddenly woozy.

  He rolled over, watching as the monster advanced on him. It raised one of its claws, preparing to plunge it through his heart, but then Danica appeared in the corner of his vision. She tried to plunge her dagger through the monster's thick, leathery wing. The attack didn't work, but it did distract the monster.

  With a sudden surge of energy, Berig hopped to his feet. He staggered a bit, looking down at the blood coating his clothing.

  "Berig, you look horrible!" Danica said.

  Berig winced as he moved. "It ain't as bad as it looks."

  There was no more time for conversation. The monster had recovered from its momentary confusion, and it turned its attention to Danica. A thrust of its wing caught her across the chest and knocked her to the ground. Berig's first instinct was to help her, but he had to take advantage of the monster's distraction.

  While it focused on Danica, he leapt into the air and tackled the monster, getting onto its chest before it could deflect him with one of its wings. Again, he plunged his dagger through one of the monster's eyes, then twisted it until the monster stopped moving.

  He staggered away from the monster. The world seemed too bright.

  "Berig, are you okay?" Danica asked, wrapping her arms around him to steady him.

  "I'm fine. Where are the others?"

  "I-I don't know. Everything's so chaotic."

  The battlefield was swarming with these monsters. Goblins darted everywhere, hacking at the beasts with their axes, but even a forceful axe thrust couldn't sever these creature's necks.

  "Go for the eyes," Berig shouted, but they probably couldn't hear him over all the noise. Where were Aric, Klint, and Lara?

  A monster came across his path. He ducked a swipe of its wing, expecting it to engage him, but instead it moved on to a nearby goblin. This goblin must have heard Berig's shout because it took out a long dagger and plunged it through the monster's eye.

  A blast of fire caught Berig's attention. That had to be Klint.

  Berig grabbed Danica's arm, and they raced in that direction. Twice, monsters crossed their path, but then goblins engaged them.

  "Get out of here," shouted the chief. "We have this under control."

  "Tell everyone to go for their eyes," Berig said, and the chief nodded.

  Berig found Klint, Lara, and Aric all fighting together. Klint's fire made the monsters hesitate, but it didn't appear to hurt them much. Lara and Aric both kept slashing at the beasts with their swords. That wouldn't accomplish anything apart from enraging the beasts.

  "Go for the eyes!" Berig shouted.

  Aric and Lara nodded, then performed an intricate dance with their adversaries. They weren't as quick as Berig, or maybe not as reckless. Berig had seen enough. Despite his injuries, he launched himself at the creature Lara had engaged.

  She backed away as he took the monster to the ground. A sudden wave of weakness washed over him. For a moment, his vision blurred, and then he almost blacked out.

  He rolled to the side, lacking the strength to continue fighting, but Lara took advantage of the moment, plunging her sword through the monster's eye. It shrieked for a few moments, then stopped moving. Berig struggled to his feet, wavering on his legs.

  To his left, Aric had finally managed to stab his sword through his opponent's eye. Now many of the creatures lay dead. The chamber had become less noisy, less chaotic. A few of the monsters still moved about, and goblins lay dead or injured on the rocky floor.

  The chief came over to them, sporting a nasty gash across his forehead. "This is your best chance. You need to get out of here now."

  Berig relayed the message. They all looked at one another, covered in sweat, their bodies crisscrossed with cuts.

  "Let's get going," Klint said, leaning on his staff as blood trickled down his face.

  "Maybe we can help them win this fight," Aric said.

  Klint gave him a sharp look. "How about we save ourselves instead? We don't owe them anything. They imprisoned us. Remember?"

  A chorus of shrieks rang out at the other side of the chamber. Dozens of the creatures were pouring in through the entry passage. They couldn't fight this many.

  Aric's face was pale. "You're right, Klint. Let's go."

  They took off and found the passage leading toward the back of the chamber. They followed the twisting passage for a few minutes, then emerged in a slightly larger chamber. At the other side of this chamber, moonlight filtered into the cave.

  They emerged in the moonlight, standing beneath a towering cliff. Aric consulted a glowing compass. "Good. We're heading east."

  Bruised and bloody, they took off into the darkness.

  Part IV

  The Potion and the Scroll

  Chapter 34: No Rest

  By the time they reached Varner City, Ander could barely put one foot in front of the other. He longed for a night of rest at Lord William's manor. It wasn't only the physical toll. It was also the mental burden of leadership, as well as the sting of everyone he'd lost.

  The only person he had left was someone he'd once left for dead. Aric and the others were outside the Empire, far away from him, and he'd surely never see them again.

  All he had to show for his efforts was the scroll containing the essence of the Silver Wisp. It felt insubstantial, easy to lose. How could it be the key to deposing Warrick? Ander trusted Cyrus, but this mission seemed doomed from the start.

  No. Ander had to stop thinking like that. As long as they were alive, they had a chance.

  When they reached the edge of the city, everything appeared much as Ander had last seen it, yet it didn't feel the same. Of course, nothing felt the same anymore. He'd seen too many horrors, beginning with the burning of Crayden.

  "You think Sarah's doing all right in the Shadowed Land?" asked Captain Davis.

  "I have no idea. I don't know what life is like there. She could be dead already. Sh
e could be thriving." He shook his head. "I don't know how she thinks she can find her friends. What are the chances they're still alive? And even if they are, what are the chances she'll find them?"

  "There's no point dwelling on all the negatives like that," said the captain. "The Ander I've always known is a practical man, not a pessimistic one."

  Ander avoided his gaze. "I guess I've changed.

  I'm broken, he realized. All that remained was this insane mission to kill Warrick. Was this how Nadia had felt for so long? The desire had nearly consumed him. He couldn’t even consider what might happen if he failed. He couldn't fail. It would be a waste of every life lost on the way.

  They walked the cobblestone streets on Varner City's east side, heading toward Lord William's manor. Whenever they spotted an Imperial Guard, they tried to look as if they belonged there. Still, Ander could have sworn he felt the guardsmen's eyes watching them.

  At last, they reached Lord William's manor, where they pushed through the gate and walked along the clean cobblestone path toward the entrance. The manor's reddish stone looked welcoming, though its color paled in comparison to the plateau overlooking the city.

  Ander rang the bell at the door, feeling sick to his stomach. He had no idea why his body was reacting that way. There was nothing to fear her. For the first time since leaving Mountainside, they would be safe.

  The door opened, and it wasn't Lord William. It wasn't his wife. It wasn't a servant.

  It was Tylen, standing tall in his red Imperial Guard surcoat.

  "I can't believe you came here," he said. "Do you realize how foolish a choice you just made? This is the first place we'd look for you."

  Ander gripped his staff. "Tylen, I don't have time to play whatever game you have in mind. Are you going to arrest us or not?"

  Tylen smiled as if enjoying himself too much. "No, I am not."

  "Then why are you here?"

  "To help you."

  Ander barked a laugh. "Forgive me if I don't believe that."

  "It's the truth."

  "Are you alone here?" Ander asked, trying to look past Tylen and into the house. "What happened to Lord William and his wife?"

  Tylen grimaced and looked away. "They're dead."

  Ander advanced on him. "You killed him, you bastard. Didn't you?"

  "Not personally, but I did see it happen." A strange expression flashed across his face. It almost looked like regret. "Look. They supported the Order. It was bound to happen eventually."

  Tylen was holding something back. It was obvious in his unusual fidgeting, in the way he couldn't meet Ander's gaze.

  "And how did the Imperial Guards know they supported the Order?" Ander demanded, clenching his staff so tightly his hands hurt. "They were skilled at protecting that secret." He met Tylen's gaze. "You had something to do with it, didn't you?"

  "We're done with this discussion."

  "You bastard!" Ander launched himself at Tylen. Killing Tylen with his bare hands would be much more satisfying than using magic. Caught by surprise, Tylen didn't raise his weapon. Ander collided with him, and they both crashed to the ground.

  Ander tried to land a few punches on Tylen's face, but Tylen held him back with the kind of strength Ander didn't know he possessed.

  "I'm trying to help you," Tylen said through gritted teeth.

  Ander pushed back, knowing he couldn't win this confrontation. After all this time on the road, he was too exhausted. "I still don't believe you. It wouldn't be the first lie you've told."

  Tylen shoved Ander to the side, then placed his sword against Ander's throat. Ander's staff lay a few feet away, and the captain couldn't interfere without endangering him.

  "How about giving me a chance to explain myself?" Tylen said. "I would prefer not to do this with a sword to your throat, but if you won't be civilized, you leave me no choice."

  Ander felt like spitting in Tylen's face, but resisted the temptation. There were some things a gentleman didn't do. "All right, Tylen. Explain what you want."

  "Are you going to behave?" Tylen asked, his voice dripping with condescension.

  "I will."

  Tylen removed the sword from Ander's throat and, to Ander's surprise, helped him to his feet. The captain stood nearby, looking as if he had no idea what to do. Ander shared a quick glance with him and shook his head to say the captain shouldn't intervene here. Captain Davis nodded his understanding.

  Ander glared at Tylen. "All right. Tell me what you have to say."

  Tylen gestured for everyone to enter the house, then closed the intricately carved wooden door. "You need to get out of here as soon as possible. My comrades don't know what I'm doing here, but they'll find out soon enough, if you don't leave."

  "I don't understand," Ander said. "Why would you give me this information? I know you too well, Tylen. You don't do anything unless it benefits you in some way."

  "Maybe I've changed."

  Ander barked a laugh. "I find it hard to believe that becoming an Imperial Guard would make you into a better person."

  "I was there in Crayden. Or have you forgotten that?"

  "And then you became an Imperial Guard," Ander said.

  Tylen slammed his fist against a nearby table, rattling a couple of red vases. "I had no choice! Can't you see that I'm trying to be a better person? I've never liked you, Ander. Believe me, helping you goes against every instinct I have."

  "And that's why I don't think you're doing it for the right reasons," Ander said. "Maybe this is some twisted plan of Warrick's. You do work for him now, after all."

  Tylen rolled his eyes. "Do you really think Warrick would want you alive? You're members of the Order. He wants to kill everyone like you."

  "Which is why I don't believe you," Ander said. "Helping us puts you in danger, and that's not something you would do."

  Tylen's face was a mask of anger. "Then don't take my advice. Hang around here and wait for other Imperial Guards to find you. You'll end up just like my cousins." Tylen looked away as if he were trying to hide his expression. "I'm done here. I've done my part. Now it's time for you to leave this place, Ander. We own this property now."

  Ander shot Tylen a venomous look. "Gladly."

  With the captain behind him, Ander marched out of the house and down the path leading back toward the city. As much as he didn't want to take Tylen's advice, he had to admit Tylen was right. Imperial Guards would be looking for Ander here.

  Still, Tylen's motives were a mystery. There was something here that Ander wasn't seeing. "It's probably better this way," he said. "We can't afford to rest too long."

  "I know, but I was looking forward to a night in a real bed."

  "As was I."

  "I guess we're heading for Marion now," said Captain Davis.

  "I don't see any other choice."

  They left the city behind and followed the road northwest toward Marion. Despite their exhaustion, they kept a quick pace. Ander expected Imperial Guards to ambush them, but there was no sign of pursuit. Apart from them, the roads were empty.

  The journey to Marion felt as if it would never end. They encountered bandits one time, but once Ander demonstrated his magic, the bandits decided they could find easier prey.

  Ander and Captain Davis reached Marion in the middle of the night. Marion was one of the Empire's larger cities and was known for its powerful street gangs. Ander kept an eye out for any threats, and they stuck to the main streets, where there were still people milling about, as well as a strong city guard presence.

  Of course, Ander had heard that the guards in this city were often affiliated with various street gangs. It was strange to think that the city's Imperial Guards were probably more trustworthy. Ander felt as if everyone were watching them as they marched through the city.

  They reached one of the city's more prosperous inns. Ander still had a little money, so they could afford a night in a place like this. Most of the patrons here were dressed in the robes of nobility or the clean clo
thing of well-to-do merchants.

  For the first time since entering the city, Ander relaxed, though he still had trouble sleeping that night. It didn't matter how exhausted he was. He expected thieves to break into the room. How could Warrick claim he'd made the Empire a good place to live when there were cities like Marion? That crime was nothing compared to burning Crayden, but it was another reason Warrick needed to die.

  Unable to sleep, Ander turned the scroll over in his hands. How could something so small and nondescript send Warrick to the Shadowed Land? It wasn't as good as killing the man, but no one had ever returned from the Shadowed Land.

  For the first time, Ander felt uncertain about exiling Warrick. It would make him someone else's problem. Was that the right thing to do?

  Ander wanted to talk to someone, but he didn't want to wake the faintly snoring captain. This was a tough dilemma, Ander realized now. Could he sentence the people of the Shadowed Land to life under Warrick?

  No. Ander had to stop thinking like that. Warrick wouldn't be the first evil sorcerer condemned to the Shadowed Land. There was no guarantee he'd ascend to power there. Perhaps he'd be just another exiled sorcerer, powerful but ultimately unimportant.

  Yes, it had to be that way. Ander couldn't afford to consider any other possibilities.

  Although his mind was racing, he did eventually drift off to sleep. He was woken abruptly, however, when the door began to rattle. They'd locked it with the deadbolt, but it wouldn't hold much longer.

  "By the authority of Emperor Warrick, open this door."

  Imperial Guards. Ander raced over to Captain Davis and shook him awake.

  "What is it?" the captain asked groggily, rubbing his eyes.

  "There are Imperial Guards at the door."

  "Open this door now!" shouted an Imperial Guard. "Or we'll use force."

  Force. That was code for: we're going to kill you.

  "How can we escape?" asked Captain Davis, glancing around the room, eyes wide.

  Could they sneak out through the window? They were on the second story, but maybe there was a way to climb down. Ander peered through the window as the Imperial Guards continued banging on the door.