"No," replied Tehra, her face even more pale than usual. Just like she'd seen a ghost, or something worse.
Mertho wanted to stop the elf from coming into the dungeon. He could hardly believe that she would want to, especially if her group already knew about the ogre that had taken up residence there.
Jillis walked forward and took something out of her belt pouch. It was a brilliant gem, rounded and half the width of her hand, but much thinner, that glowed with bright orange. "I'm going to check out this cave's entrance and see how far it might go. Our lost numbers have not died in vain yet. That monster was hurt badly as it fled, you could tell from the way its movement changed."
Mertho wondered how much of what this woman knew about ogres came from storybooks and tavern tales. Even he was not entirely familiar with their fundamental habits and traits, and he was far more learned. Plus, there was the fact that he had been living with an ogre in his dungeon for some time now. Watching her move, he decided it was likely she did have some experience with ogres, but that was all the rogue woman was expecting to find within what she assumed was just a cave.
"Wait," said Tehra. "I have to tell you something before you go in there. Also, I don't think I can go in there with you."
"Are you serious?" asked Jillis. The men laughed at the elf. The rogue continued, "You're shadowing me, and that means I'm going to check this out, then we're all going to cut that thing's head off and go home." Jillis walked down the cave, then reached the first trap. Only, she didn't set it up, but stopped before reaching it.
The anticipation was getting to Mertho, and he almost reached out to say something to the woman, just to get out his frustration and egg her on.
"Will you look at that," Jillis mumbled to herself, looked up at the waiting deadfall trap. She inspected the walls and the floor carefully, but did not find anything that would set the trap's mechanism off. "It can't be..." She walked back and told her group at the entrance of the cave, "This cave is trapped, which means the cave is probably just the start of something more serious. It's not uncommon for ogres to be kept as very dangerous servants, or even pets, by more intelligent and powerful monsters, dark magic users, or powerful rulers. This is no palace, and I could not find any trace of a trigger for the rock fall trap waiting to greet us."
Yuri spoke up, "You're saying it's magic?"
"Yes, I am. That means this place must be just an entrance to some dark wizard's underground lair."
"A dungeon," said Tehra. She was so relieved at not having to tell them what she knew about the place, that she forgot herself and spoke.
Jillis eyed her for a time, then walked slowly closer. "Do you know something you're not telling us, elf? Why did you say you didn't want to go down into this cave? Have you been here before?"
One of the men interjected, "Kind of strange she shows up right when all this happens.
"Yeah, the ogre, the ambush. Elves know a lot about magic too, don't they?" added the other of the two surviving warriors, standing by Yuri like he was their guardian. The dwarf eyed Tehra with suspicion now, as did the human rogue.
The wizard wanted to say something just to break the tension. These petty squabbles were so far behind and beneath him that it was near torture to hold back from creating some grand display of his power just to show them where they stood.
He reached out and spoke to the still slumbering ogre. Thark. Ogre, awaken, I have healed you, what is the matter with you? It didn't move, and the vital signs were weak and fading. Perhaps Mertho's magic was not as all-encompassing as he had thought. His ego started to shrink back down to a more manageable size, in turn allowing him to think more clearly, like a wizard rather than a magical entity with no grasp of the mortal world.
Would he save them from a gruesome death by scaring them away? Did that plan have any chance of working, and if so, would they simply return with some veteran magic users who were sure to destroy or capture Mertho's dungeon core? That would not do. It was decided then! These men and the woman would not leave here alive.
As for the elf, he would see if her own skills could spare her. After all, she had an unfair advantage in knowing what lay beneath the surface of these hills.
25
"I'll tell you what," said Jillis, "you go first, elf. I have a feeling these traps aren't going to be nearly as difficult to disarm for you. If you would rather not, feel free to leave now and don't ever bother us again."
"You're insane," said Tehra. The fear around her was not as strong as the aura of mounting anger. This little elf did not like to be bossed around it would seem.
If he possessed a mouth, he would have been grinning contently. Mertho remembered her plucky attitude, the way she'd devoured all that magically conjured food he'd offered, then sat right before him and exchanged tales of their fates without hesitation or fear. Something had happened to her in the past year that had made her timid. He wondered if she'd been broken, or simply forgotten what it was like to be in charge of her own destiny.
Accept her challenge, he said to her, knowing the others would not hear, nor would the ogre. I will not let my dungeon harm you, my little elf friend.
Tehra walked into the cave entrance, though not far enough to be upon the rock trap. "Huh? You are real. I knew I wasn't truly going insane," she whispered.
"Talking to yourself? A dark cave, one trap, and you're losing the plot already, girl?" Jillis called to her. The dwarf and other men didn't seem as amused about this, but looked ashamed instead. That didn't lead any of them to try to stop her or to offer to go first in her place.
"I'm going to show you how a real rogue does things, boys!" Tehra shouted over her shoulder. "You want a human who can't even tell when the wind's changing, or do you want someone who will keep watch over you and your necks?"
"You little bitch!" said Jillis, but she didn't go after the elf, showing her fear for the strange cave was greater than her want to protect a frail ego.
"I have had nightmares about this place," Tehra whispered so that only the wizard would hear her.
There is nothing to fear for those who are righteous.
"And what makes you worthy of passing judgment, punishing people with such horrible deaths? The things you did to those mercenaries."
They would have captured you for some petty reward, most likely had their way with you first… until. Would you rather have wound up like that, and then to the gallows for murder?
The elf tensed her body, the passion flaring up through her aura. "That fat merchant was nothing but a thug, even worse than the common kind because he didn't think anyone could make him pay."
Mertho grinned, sending out a wave of magical energy that whirled around the elf's natural occurring magical aura. You and I seem to see eye to eye on many things. It looks like my ogre is going to die. Would you like to become my new helper?
Tehra laughed.
"What the hell are you doing down there? Are you stuck?" called the rogue woman.
"No!" replied Tehra. "I think I've found a way to disarm the rock fall trap. Just stay back until I give the word."
Giving orders suits you much better than taking them, I will admit.
"So you can see why I have no interest in being your new underling once your ogre dies."
What would your boss think if you were the one to bring back the head of the ogre, all by yourself?
Her eyes were a brilliant green and lit up when she spoke of something that excited her. "What makes you think I can't just go find it in this dungeon of yours and do that without your permission? You said it was dying already, and I saw much of the damage it took with my own two eyes."
You wouldn't even get by the first trap without an extensive understanding of magic.
"So, what do you want?"
However powerful I am here, which is great, my reach doesn't extend far beyond the cave's entrance. You want a career stopping bad men. I need souls to feed my magical core and keep expanding my dungeon and knowledge of this wonderful ty
pe of magic that has overtaken me.
"Dark magic."
I have not decided what alignment of magic it is yet. And we could use it for good, Tehra. What do you say?
"You make a good offer, and I don't have many other options."
You could leave in disgrace and make your living fucking dock workers and soldiers for copper coins.
"Very well. We will be allies. Now, where is that ogre?"
Are you willing to make a lasting agreement? A simple magical pact.
"What? Something like a blood oath? No, I will not."
That's not what I was thinking, but a blood oath would be even better. How about a weak link that allows us to communicate when you leave this dungeon? I must know that you are not building a party to come and destroy me. And yes, I do have ways to stop such things. He could tell the elf didn't believe him on that last point, so he didn't plan to push his terms much.
"Alright. Now, please let me through without being crushed."
26
He created a magical link with the elf, which required her allowing him to connect with her. It wouldn't be difficult to remove the link if she found out how to do so. The spell was just something that would allow for basic communication and a general awareness of where she was. It was not his intention to spy on her.
There, the link is complete. That wasn't so bad, right?
Tehra let out a shudder. "It's strange but no, not bad."
You don't need to talk to tell me things anymore, he answered, gleeful at being able to try out a new type of spell that he had never utilized before.
Like this? she asked.
Yes, replied the wizard. Keep moving now, or your friends are going to become suspicious and try to follow after you. I would rather not let them enter my dungeon. That would send a bad message to others, so I would naturally have to kill them.
When Tehra came into the lair of the ogre, she began to wheeze and wretch. This is beyond disgusting. I've worked with all manner of animal shit, and dead animals too on farms in the past year. I can still honestly say this is the foulest place I have ever been. I'm thankful I don't have to open my mouth to speak to you.
Yes, that is the calling card of an ogre, I suppose. I can't guarantee that my poor creature here will actually stay unconscious though. You had best take what you came for and leave.
Tehra went down into the ogre’s lair. It stank of old, rotting meat, and a type of body odor that was somewhat like death itself. There lay the ogre, unconscious and barely breathing. Its many wounds disfigured its gray skin all over. The thing’s flesh was thick and took a lot of pressure to puncture with the tip of her short sword, before she was able to start using a saw-like motion around its thick neck. Tehra gagged over and over, and the putrid blood oozed out of it. That was the vilest thing she’d ever done, which was quite a feat. Once the thing’s head finally fell away from the body, she hoisted it up in both hands and had to hug it against herself to carry it. Otherwise, it would have been too heavy for her to move.
Despite being completely disgusted, Tehra could not help but laugh at how much better the ogre had looked without its fat, ugly head.
27
The next day, much to the dismay of the remaining company members, Benevic held a meeting. He stood at the top of his private level in the adventuring company's large hall-like building, and the others gathered on foot below.
"Alright," he began, "I will start by offering my most sincere respects to the honored members of our party who fell in the service of justice—and the company. I am sure you all know by now exactly what happened, correct?" The tall man looked around from person to person, but did not seem to focus his eyes on any of them properly. He seemed older now, more mature and solemn, with just a few strings of white-gray through his dark hair that were evident in the morning light coming in through the window.
A low mumble went through each of the adventurers in the room. There were still a good twenty of them left, mostly those who were not on the monster hunt. Yuri looked like he was nursing a hangover fit for the most hedonistic of the gods. He was standing at the front of the small crowd; the warriors were all loosely gathered behind him with no sense of order to them. These were certainly not military types.
Jillis didn't look much better, but her face was more pleasant to look at naturally anyway. Her vision cut at Tehra, as though she was waiting to accuse her of something. That might have been just paranoia though.
After a moment of silence, Benevic continued. "We know that death is a readily waiting part of our business, and I assume you have each made peace with that. Otherwise, you honestly have no place being here."
The group was more emphatic with their vocal agreement with that, than they had been about honoring the fallen. This was a hard crowd indeed. It made Tehra think about the wizard and how accepting he had become of death since she'd first discovered him just over a year ago. That kind of thing would never happen to her though.
"I am also left to deal with some unpleasant business. Jillis has accepted her mistakes in leading the part into an ambush by that bastard ogre. Yes, it's dead now, but so are members of the party that hunted it. That's an unacceptable loss from a simple tracking fumble. I have no choice but to ask you to leave the company, Jillis. You have done well here, but your time is up." He sounded flat, no emotions, if not actually callous.
Jillis looked around, possibly waiting for someone to defend her. When she realized no one was going to so much as move, let alone speak up for her, she slowly stood and left through the front door. It slammed hard behind her.
Benevic reached down and felt around in a large sack that was resting behind him. "We did get its head though!" he shouted, holding the ugly thing aloft. It was stained with dry blood and muck, but its face was almost serene. That's how Tehra had found it resting, and it was almost pathetic in how it had come to pass. Still, she did not feel sorry for that thing.
"And while we are celebrating good news—please welcome our newest member into the company, Tehra. She will take over from Jillis as our primary rogue until Phillips returns from his quest, which will be some months from now. After that, she will remain with us if she chooses. What do you say to that?"
Some of the company members cheered, but others remained quiet. There were clearly mixed feelings about bringing in a new recruit.
Benevic pursed his lips and tilted his head back in contemplation. “I see some of you are not enthused about my decision. I would perhaps remind everyone that I own this company, and I will not have any doubt in my ability to lead. Now, what do you say to our new rogue?”
This time, the whole group cheered without hesitation, and they did a damn good job of making it seem sincere.
Tehra stood and made an awkward little bow, smiling way too much for a fierce adventurer in her professional environment. "Thank you. I'm honored," she said loudly with her voice breaking up a bit at the end of the words. She didn’t care if some of them doubted her. This was her opportunity to prove them wrong.
After the meeting was over, Yuri waited until everyone had gone about their business. A lot of them had quests to go and take care of, while the others were busy maintaining weapons or practicing their fighting techniques and the use of specialized equipment. He looked a little sheepish, darting his head around like he was waiting for something to jump on him.
"Yuri, are you okay?" Tehra asked. She was over at a table with her own equipment laid out, cleaning and sharpening her short sword.
"Yeah, yeah, sure. Yes. I need to have a private word with you, young lady." His face became a rock of solemnity.
"It's about that horrid cave, you probably guessed." He looked a few shades paler than usual, his skin a lot closer to an elf's than a dwarf's.
"Don't tell me you want to go back there," she said, her heart rapidly beating in her chest.
Yuri made a face like he'd just eaten a bug by accident. "You fucking crazy?" he said loudly. "Why do you think I left my fellow dwarves and
their never-ending caves and mining, always dungeon diving, and the like? I fucking hate all that shit." He didn't look so much angry as outright afraid.
Tehra was about to ask him if that was why he didn't want to go back there, but figured he would only deny it and get offended in the process. "You're saying you have no intention of going back there?" she asked instead.
Yuri nodded with emphasis. "No way you could get me back there. That's what I want to talk to you about. Anyone finds out what Jillis said, about that trap being magic or whatever, and we'll find ourselves in the front lines of a fucking dungeon diving party. I'd sooner leave the company, and I like it here a lot. The men look up to me like I was their leader. I ain't never had that before."
Tehra waited to make sure he was finished, and to pretend like she wasn't excited by this revelation. "So, you want me to keep it a secret? It's a deal. But what about the others?"
"Don't worry about the men. They don't suspect anything, and they hate the idea of dungeon diving, plus they follow my lead. Chances are Jillis might tell some people. Actually, I'd eat my own boots if she doesn't tell others, but she's not gonna tell Benevic, now that she must hate his guts worse than plague."
28
Benevic gave Tehra her first week's pay in advance, as a show of good faith. It was also intended as a reward for taking down that ogre by herself, so there was some extra in there. He handed her a fistful of coins, mostly copper and silver. There was a gold coin in there too, however. It was more than a common laborer or farmhand could make in a month, and then some.
Tehra was also given the rest of the day off, to recover and rest, also as a reward for her excellent work. Mertho had not contacted her, which was fine as far as she was concerned. Having his creepy words in her head all the time would have only driven her crazy. It wasn't that his actual voice was off-putting, but more what he was, and what he had done.
The Wizard (Dungeon Core Book 1) Page 13