Into the Dragon's Den (Axe Druid Book 2)

by Christopher Johns

  In our fights, he could move his weapon swiftly and to the point that he could hit you in a given area from different angles—while parrying different attacks. He still got hit but not as much.

  We had kept Rowland abreast of developments with his training and things Muu had in mind concerning his equipment. The Dwarf had been hard at work on his latest projects and seemed pleased with the results. He was putting the finishing touches on them on the final day of Muu’s training, so we let him work and went to the tavern for the evening.

  “Well, man,” Jaken handed Muu a mug of ale, “how do you feel? You want to go out and start hunting with us?”

  “Oh, uh, DUH?!” He spread his hands wide. “I’ve been getting my ass kicked nonstop. I wanna level up and help you guys get Balmur back. And kick some War ass!”

  “Woah, there, lil fella.” Yohsuke clapped the table. “You gotta walk before you fly. Okay?”

  We all laughed.

  “Hey, why don’t we go try to find a trainer for you and Bokaj?” Jaken suggested. “That way, we know you aren’t missing out on anything, and Bokaj gets the training he needs too.”

  “Yeah!” I took a swig of my water, then continued, “We can hunt on the way there if the area has monsters, and then we can branch out and try and get stronger too.”

  “And once he’s up near our level, we can go and fuck up something big and get to where we need to be for our trip to the Hells?” Bokaj finished for us, his tone brooding still but better now that we had a more tangible time to leave. “We can go and get Balmur back.”

  The rest of us nodded. Bokaj had come a long way from the angry person he had been initially when Balmur had first disappeared. Still, everything he had done had served the purpose of driving us all forward. At least, when we saw him. He went training every chance he got, and when he was with us, he was driving Muu to push himself harder.

  Bokaj looked at Muu. “If you slow us down, man…” He shook his head and seemed to think better of the statement or threat, as all of us turned our gazes on him. “Just be sure to keep up and do what we tell you.”

  “Hey, Willem?” I called to the bar-tending Paladin as I watched our Ranger. “Do you know where the Fighter trainer went and where we can find a Bard trainer?”

  Willem looked confused a moment, then thoughtful—his eyebrows twitched a bit—and finally, he looked back up and spoke, “I think he lived in a city as a quartermaster for an army up north on the opposite side of the Lightning Mountains. Bard trainer?” We eyed him steadily, pointed to Bokaj, and he nodded his understanding “The city, I forget the name, is a larger one, so I imagine you could find a Bard there somewhere.”

  “Thank you!” we shouted. The patrons around the room eyed us curiously but knew we could be raucous, so they let us be.

  The rest of our meal, we finalized our plans. Since we were the only two who had ever been there, Yohsuke and I would lead the way. Once we got to the mountain range, though, we were going to have to figure out what the hell to do. I could scout, sure, but that was risky outside of a forest as an owl.

  Willem had said opposite side, but that didn’t necessarily mean that we would be just going in a straight line.

  “Well, once we get to a high point, can’t we just look for the city?” Muu suggested.

  “We can, yeah.” I responded after some thought. “Push comes to shove, I can always teleport us back.”

  “You can TELEPORT?!” he hissed at me.

  “Sure can. Anywhere I’ve been within five hundred miles,” I smiled, “and before you suggest teleporting there, it’s a big drain on my mana, and I don’t want to have to deal with that cooldown. Also, this gives us a chance to get you some experience.”

  “That’s fair, but teleportation, Zeke.” He grabbed my arm and repeated the word in a creepy whisper, “Teleportation.”

  “Yup. That’s what it is, man.” I just shook my head. “Come on. Let’s catch some z’s. Big day ahead tomorrow. Also, let's go and grab you a mount tomorrow too.”

  “A mount?!” Muu shrieked. “I GET A MOUNT?!”

  “Yo, I need one of those too!” James said as the rest of us walked back to our rooms.

  * * *

  We grabbed some more basic supplies for Muu on our way to the forge, just to be safe. Yohsuke promised to meet us at the stable when we sent him word. He was procuring travel food for us while Bokaj went to see if there was anything to be found in the square we may need. I also had him go check in with Nora to see if she had anything for me.

  Once we arrived at Rowland’s forge, Muu shoved through us and bolted through the door, shouting, “Where’s that big baby with the hammer. SHIT!” Clang. Clack.

  “Hold still, ye lit’le scaly shite. I’ll only be whackin’ ye the once today!” Rowland roared.

  This was a new game that Muu had begun playing with the smith. He would walk in, say something completely fucked, and do his best to dodge his angry pursuer until we walked in. Today, we let Rowland take a few minutes.

  “Ahhhh!” Muu screamed. “That was my tail, you fuzzy prick!”

  “Let’s get in there,” Jaken snorted and walked through the door, “before Rowland actually beats the shit out of him.”

  Inside, Rowland had a struggling Muu by the arm and was about to wallop him with his favorite hammer. “Morning, the lo’ o’ ye!” He let go of Muu and turned our way.

  “Took you guys long enough,” Muu grumbled as he stood and brushed himself off.

  “You know,” I stepped leaned back against the door, “we could always go back outside. What do you think, Rowland?”

  Taking the hint, Rowland grinned and snatched up his hammer. “Oh, aye, lad! I’ll take another moment or two with this lit’le scaled heathen. Show him the Way proper, I will.”

  Those of us who knew Rowland well laughed—Muu groaned.

  “Let’s see what you made, man.” I grinned after I finished catching my breath.

  Watching him show us his goodies was always nice. Don’t take that the wrong way. Too late? Okay. Moving on.

  “Aye, I could do tha’. Come.” Rowland patted Muu’s shoulder affectionately. “Let me show ye what I did for ye.”

  Rowland pulled three bundles from beneath his countertop and set them gently on the wood. He pulled the largest bundle forward and took the cloth away.

  Dark steel plate attached to chain links and a pair of plate leg pieces attached to leather leggings. The links were dyed green as close to his scale color as possible and linked together over a thin, leather, padded shirt.

  “Leather will keep it from hittin’ yer scales and making too much noise, though it’ll still make noise,” Rowland advised.

  Next, he bared the shield. An interesting piece, as it was significantly smaller than the large one Muu had been using. It was also dark steel, oval in shape, and angled a lot more than the bubble shield before. There was also a slit in the front about an inch thick and as wide as the rim of the shield. There was a lever on the handle with a gap large enough for his fingers and a strap for his forearm.

  “Put that on, lad,” Rowland told the new owner. “Aye, strap it there. Point it away from us all, and pull that lever with yer fingers.”

  With a schink, a wide blade thrust from the slit I had seen before. From the tip to the shield, it was a foot long. It had a wide base and came down to a squared, sharp-pointed tip.

  “Just as ye had requested, lad.” Rowland grinned. “Took all me smithin’ know-how. Even gave me a level to make it. The spear was fun, but I couldn’t think o’ how to make the same mechanism stick, so I went old-fashioned and wicked for ye. Hopin’ ye like it.”

  “I’m sure I will, bud.” Muu smiled and rubbed his hands together, the leather of the handle rubbing against the now-forming calluses there.

  Rowland pulled the final sheet away, and I heard Muu gasp. He picked the weapon up and began to thrust it and swing it in practiced motions.

  The spear tip—if it could be called that—wrapp
ed around the shaft of the weapon for a good eight inches. Three wicked-looking ridges twisted into a triangular tip—there would be no slashing with this weapon, but it was beautiful. The whole thing was made of the same dark steel as the plate mail and the shield. There was a small, thick piece at the end of the weapon opposite the tip that was eight inches and almost bell-shaped with a curve and flat surface. With the tip and that bell thing at the end, the weapon was roughly four and a half feet long.

  “This here be a good weapon. Solid made and hard fought, I tell ye.” Rowland touched the piercing end of the weapon appreciatively. “This’ll bleed a foe for quite some time, and with a twitch of the wrist, ye can have it out of ‘em before a pint is gone in a good Dwarf’s hands—I swear it.”

  “What’s the thing at the end there, Rowland?” The way it moved made me think it was a blunt portion to strike with, but I could be wrong. Wouldn’t be the first time.

  “Counterbalance.” He grunted as he watched Muu continue to flail it. “Weighs roughly as much as the tip of the weapon. If it be too top heavy, inaccurate to throw or thrust properly. Inefficient. I’ll nae have that. If it were a traditional spear, the shaft would be wooden and the tip light—there’s no need for a counterbalance when the shaft weighs as much as the actual weapon.”

  “Oh.” I frowned appreciatively at the information and looked at the weapon in a new light.

  “That, and ye can whack a noggin or two with it!” Rowland growled playfully and made a motion with his hammer like someone’s head was beneath him.

  “Atta boy, Rowland.” Muu offered his knuckles to the Dwarf, and they bumped fists. “Let’s get geared up and get going! I’m excited to use this stuff.”

  “Are ye headed out?” Rowland inquired. “If ye find any more ore or if ye meet a salesman in yer travels, get some ore or ingots, and I’ll whip up some better gear. Me stock is running low. Unless you want to make a trip to Djurn Forge for me?”

  I thought about that for a moment, but with how badly we needed to be moving on this—needed Muu stronger faster so that we could take off after Balmur, it wasn’t feasible at the moment.

  Sure. I could teleport there, theoretically speaking, but that would be something else to do other than go get our friend and kick some of War’s minions’ and generals’ collective asses.

  “If we get some time later, I just may.” I bumped his fist with my own. “We need to get this guy in fighting shape, then ourselves a little higher so we can go and rescue Balmur. But if we do find any, I’ll keep you in mind for certain.”

  A dark look passed over Rowland’s face, and his eyes pierced mine. “Ye work hard, lad, all of ye. Best not to leave a living soul in the Hells for long. You bring me good materials, I’ll hammer you what you need. Or you get it from the grandmasters in Djurn Forge. Ye mark me, I will help ye and yers how I can. On me Way, I swear tha’ oath.”

  Muu, Jaken, James, and I looked at Rowland, and the gravity of his statement hit us all heavily. “We swear that we will do all that we can to get him back. You have our oath, and so does he.”

  Rowland nodded and looked us all over. He offered us all a solemn hug and pat on the back before we left. I tried to pay for Muu’s weapons, but he wouldn’t let me. Muu already had, and he wouldn’t divulge how much it had been to make them.

  We left with our thanks and told him we would stop back on our return. After Muu was sporting his new gear, we headed for our next destination.

  On our way to the stable now, guys, I sent telepathically to Bokaj and Yohsuke.

  I’m there waiting. Nora had some vials for you and specific instructions, Bokaj returned. Yoh just got here too. He said to beat feet, puto.

  I laughed and explained it to the others. We moved as quickly as we could through the village without making people think there was trouble. When we arrived at the stable, a small stone home with an open barn on the left-hand side of it, Yohsuke and Bokaj greeted us. Yohsuke had already bought James his mount whistle, and I paid for Muu’s. We paid full price this time as he had only one left after this.

  As we had last time, the two of them blew into their whistles. A dense fog began to billow from James’s whistle, a breeze blew his pant legs around wildly, and a monster rose from the ether in front of him. It looked like a Chinese Dragon, long, snake-like, floating body with a Dragon-like head. James reached up toward it, and a loud, bass rumble crept out of the creature’s throat. James pulled his hand back slowly as he closed his eyes. With a few breaths, he began to glow with golden-white light that the creature seemed to find enticing. It wrapped itself around his feet, the large body coiling up to his chest, and it began to try and look into his closed eyes. The monk opened his eyes and smiled at the creature before offering his hand once more. It headbutted his hand and rubbed itself into his palm.

  “Oh my god, that’s what his does?” Muu whispered in shock.

  “Blow it, and let’s see what answers the call, man,” Yohsuke urged.

  Muu put the little whistle to his lips and blew for all he was worth. His shadow moved and rustled on the ground, then grew larger and larger. It grew until it was large enough to swallow almost all of us. I could see motion in it but couldn’t make anything out until a snout burst from the dark pit. A black dire wolf that would have given my Ursolon form a run for its money hopped out of the inky pool and began to scent the air. It turned its glowing red eyes at Muu and bared its teeth—fangs that looked so sharp they could rend flesh were just inches away. A little drool fell from its gums and hit the ground, and the grass turned brown and gray almost instantly.

  With a slight gasp and no regard for his own safety, Muu just stood there staring, until the one word he had been mouthing seemed to find purchase in his throat, “PUPPY!”

  The dire wolf looked surprised and barked once when his summoner lunged forward with arms spread wide. The wolf tried to rear back, but Muu was surprisingly too fast. He had his hands clasped in a hug behind the wolf’s neck and was scratching, petting, patting, and making baby noises at the poor beast.

  “Who’s a furry baby? You are, yes you are. I’m gonna love you and kiss you and call you Snugglebutt,” Muu murmured into the beast’s fur.

  So, a note about Muu, as someone who is close to him. The dude is crazy about animals. He loves dogs, and he hates being told what to name things. He likes to play. So yeah, he’s crazy. And I apologize for the hell that you, this poor creature, and the rest of us have to endure.

  We hope he calms down—no promises though.

  I cast Nature’s Voice. “Hello, friend?” The dire wolf looked at me. “You seem a bit confused and uncomfortable. Can I help?”

  “This is a strange place. Why does the lizard grab me so?” it whined. “I know not what a ‘Snugglebutt’ is, but it is not me. I am Nolorn, the Plague Wolf. I am a hunter. I do not… snuggle.”

  Muu looked rapt as the animal and I conversed, and I smacked him. “Let him go.”

  “What did he say?” Muu still had his death grip on the poor creature.

  “He says his name is Nolorn,” I translated. “He’s a hunter, a Plague Wolf, and if he has to let the village idiot ride him with a stupid name, it’s going to insult his honor. Now, let go!”

  Hesitantly, the Fighter complied, and Nolorn shook his massive body. “Thank you. What kind of mind-addled lizard is this? Why am I here?”

  “Well, he’s my mount, and I say his name is Snugglebutt!” Muu reaffirmed. “And he will love me!”

  The wolf grew more concerned, eyes shifting between me and Muu.

  “You will treat him with dignity—and he can refuse to be your mount.” Nolorn seemed to gather the gist of what was exchanged, but I still translated it.

  “If I agree to let him call me this thing, will he stop trying to kill me?” Nolorn bared his teeth, and his tail dipped between his legs. “If I refuse to do this, that means another of my pack could be summoned, and I do not wish that.”

  “Look, Nolorn, he likes you,” I tri
ed to show him someone was willing to hear him out, “a lot more than perhaps he should. He’s a really good guy. If you get to know him, you may not even mind the weird name. Give it a shot, okay?”

  Nolorn seemed to puzzle over it for a moment, so I decided to sweeten the deal. “If you’ll try to be his friend, I promise to translate for you if you have something you wish to say to him.”

  The Plague Wolf’s large tail thumped against the air, and his teeth flashed again. “I find this agreeable. I will assist how I can.”

  “He’s agreed to let you ride him, and he will try to be your friend.” I paused a moment. “You can even continue with the funny name—but you have to show him respect. He is a proud hunter, and he could eat you.”

  Muu, deadpan and serious for the first time since he got here without a weapon in hand, looked at me, and I thought he was finally beginning to understand. Then softly, so as not to disturb the creature still in his arms, he said, “I deny your reality and substitute my own.”

  See? What did I tell you?!

  Then he went back to petting the huge beast muttering, “Puuuuuppyyyyyy,” as if it were a mantra. I couldn’t tell if Nolorn was going to tear his head off or run away.

  I cleared my throat and caught Muu’s eyes with my own.

  The near-homicidal look I fixed him with must have been enough for him to realize that the fun needed to end because he let go and patted the wolf on the head. “Come on, Frumpy-foot. Let’s get out of here.”

  The Plague Wolf looked askance of me, and I simply shrugged. Who knew what was on his mind. We saddled the new mounts, and they allowed their riders on to their backs with little to no issue. I summoned Thor and bowed to him in greeting. He let me know that he would be happy to have me ride, and we were on our way.

  We took our time on the way through the trees and foliage, letting Kayda fly and scout ahead from the sky. She didn’t see much of interest, and the animals were smart enough to stay away from so many creatures who could be predatory. It also didn’t help that I wouldn’t call any of them to their deaths just to try and get some experience. Just because I could talk to the animals here didn’t mean I wanted them to come to any harm.