Lion's Quest: Trinity: A LitRPG Saga

by Michael-Scott Earle

  “What did Sal say to you on the phone before he was killed?” As soon as I asked the question I felt my adrenaline pulse through my body like an angry flow of magma.

  “What?”

  “You spoke with him before he died. Then he came to get me. Then he was shot and killed by assholes that were trying to kill me so I wouldn’t work with you. Don’t lie to me. I don’t want any more lies from you. What did he say?”

  “You are jumping to some interesting hypothesis,” she growled at me, and her purple eyes seemed to glow with anger.

  “And I have the feeling that they are right. Did you, or did you not talk to Sal before he died?”

  She didn’t say anything for a few moments, and then those moments seemed to drag on for a minute.

  “Fine, yes. We talked. I didn’t tell you at first because it had nothing to do with what you and I are working on.” Zarra let out a long breath and then leaned back in her chair.

  “What did you speak about? Why didn’t you tell the FBI or the CIA that you spoke with him?” I asked.

  “Because it puts me in a strange position, and it will put this company and all my employees in a strange position.”

  “But what did you talk about?” I asked as I leaned forward over the table.

  “Leo, please believe me. It doesn’t have anything to do with you. It doesn’t even have anything to do with Sal. He found out about something that I don’t want to talk about. It isn--”

  “Fucking tell me!” I shouted at her as I slammed my fist on top of the table. “My best friend was fucking murdered, you talked to him last, and you fucking lied about it to me! Why in the hell should I trust you about anything? It doesn’t have anything to do with me? It has everything to do with me. I thought I was your partner? I signed on with you because I didn’t believe you had anything to do with Sal’s death. If you don’t tell me what you spoke to him about, I’m going to fucking leave. You can sue the shit out of me if you want to, but I’ll never work for you, or on Ohlavar Quest again. Do you fucking understand?” I was pointing at the beautiful woman, and my finger was shaking.

  Zarra actually looked scared.

  No, she looked terrified, and she hadn’t even looked that way when she charged the group of gunmen in the hallway.

  “I, ahh…” she started to say, but then she paused and began to blink her eyes.

  “I ahh. Fuck, Leo. Please,” she begged me, and a tear streaked down her cheek.

  “Fucking tell me,” I growled at her.

  “Damn you,” she said as she wiped the flow of tears coming from her eyes.

  “I’m Palestinian. I developed a military VR training system. I needed money to fund Arnacript, so I sold it to the Israeli army.”

  Her words hit me like a hammer to the chest.

  “Shit,” I said.

  “Yes. I sold out my people, my blood, for a fucking game. Was that the answer you wanted to hear from me?” Zarra was sobbing now. “My parents didn’t want me to, but we needed the money. They still hate me, but they think we can do good with what we end up with here. Sal called me up and said he was going to tell you. He said you should know that I’d do anything for money. I was angry and told him that I helped his people massacre mine. I said other things to him I’m not proud of, and he said some things to me.”

  “Shit,” I said again as my stomach knotted a dozen times.

  “Do you want to see the AI server? I’ll show you right now. I’ve lost my appetite,” the woman said as she stood from her chair.

  “No, that’s alright. I ahh, I’m sorry I brought this up--”

  “No, I want to show it to you. Let’s go,” Zarra said as she wiped the tears from her face.

  “Really, it is okay. Let’s just sit back down. I’m sorry I got ma--”

  “No,” she growled. “You think I am a liar. You wanted to see my dirty secret, and I showed it to you. Let’s go, Leo.”

  She walked out the door of my suite without looking at me, and I followed her.

  “Listen, I don’t want to judge you--”

  “Too late,” she said. “You are, I am, Sal did, my parents continue to. I did what I had to do. Ohlavar Quest is going to be the greatest game mankind has ever seen and it will heal most mental illnesses.” Zarra didn’t look at me as she talked.

  “I agree. Look, let’s go back to my room. I want to talk more about--”

  “No,” she growled. “We are done for the night. I am too angry, sad, and hurt. The worst part? I deserve it. I’ll show you the AI server since you don’t believe me, and then I am going to bed.”

  “Zarra--”

  “Leo, just leave me be. I told you how I feel about you. I told you I didn’t want to--”

  “But you have to see where I was coming from. This just seems so weird,” I interrupted her.

  “That I made an amazing game? That you’ve been playing too many hours and you are mixing up the game with reality? That you accuse me of lying to you? Well, you are right. I did lie to you about Sal.” We had reached the airlock for the hospital wing, and we stopped talking when the guards activated the doors.

  Then we didn’t speak again until we reached the server vault and walked past the five armored guards at the lobby doorway.

  “Here,” Zarra said after she hammered the code in with an angry finger. “This is Ohlavar.”

  The massive metal door opened with a hiss of pressure and we stepped into the brightly lit room. It was larger than I expected, maybe forty by forty feet, with a glass floor that showed a spider’s web of wires, metal walls, and high ceilings. The walls were lined with six-foot tall server towers, and they all hummed with life. We were actually standing in a glass area removed from the main room, and I saw white lab coats and another airlock system on the side of our small observation area.

  “There are sixteen servers at the moment. Are you happy?” she asked.

  “Zarra, I was wrong to question you. I am genuinely sorry. Can we go--”

  “Do you want to check the towers closer? Maybe we should find a screwdriver so you can pry them open? You’ll have to get dust scrubbed,” she said as she pointed to the lab coats and the airlock.

  “No, that’s fine. I’ve seen enough. Let’s go back and finish dinner,” I said.

  “No thank you,” she said as she turned from me. “I wish to go to bed, or maybe I’ll work more. Can you find your way back? I need some time alone.”

  “Zarra, please. I’m sorry,” I set my hand on her shoulder, and I felt the tension in her muscles there.

  “I told you because I care about you,” she whispered. “You were right. I should have told you as soon as Sal died. It was a mistake, but I don’t want to talk anymore tonight. Let’s try again tomorrow. Okay?”

  “Yeah. That sounds good,” I said as I removed my hand from her shoulder.

  “Good night, Leo,” she said as she walked out of the vault.

  “Good night, Zarra,” I said.

  Then I was alone in the vault, with only the hum of Ohlavar’s servers speaking to me.

  Chapter 23

  I had problems sleeping that night. Perhaps I should have been nervous about the next day’s challenge, but I couldn’t stop playing the conversation with Zarra over in my head. I felt like an ass when my alarm went off at 6:00 am, and I dragged my feet into the shower as if I was heading toward my execution.

  The hot water did improve my mood, and I managed to fake a smile when I walked into the VRIU room.

  “Hey gang,” I greeted Ky and Jennifer.

  “Hi Leo,” Jennifer said over the speakers. “I’m ready to go when you are.”

  “Same here,” Ky said as he lifted his paddle out of the water.

  “Thanks,” I said as I disrobed in the alcove.

  Half a minute later I was swimming in the black VRIU juice and logging into the game.

  I opened my eyes where I had logged out on my bed. I turned to my side and confirmed that my equipment was on the table where I left them. It
took me five minutes to put on all my borrowed armor, boots, and weapons, and I opened the door of my room to walk into the hallway once I completed equipping myself. Everyone’s doors were closed still, and I could see a tiny sliver of the sun’s morning light crest the distant mountains. I kind of expected everyone to be up already, but we did have a late night of fighting yesterday, and I was sure that my friends probably had to stay up later talking to the guards about the attack.

  “It’s Leo,” I said after I knocked on Chrysa’s door.

  “Come in!” I heard Allurie yell from the other side, and I entered to find my friends all getting their equipment situated. The atmosphere did seem a bit down, and I wondered if something else had happened last night after I logged out.

  “Morning all,” I said. “Did anything else happen last night?”

  “Yes,” Chrysa said as she walked toward me. The beautiful noblewoman was wearing a thick pair of leather pants and a leather armored jacket over a teal silk shirt. “Most of the families were attacked last night, not just us.”

  “Whoa,” I gasped. “Was anyone hurt?”

  “A few palace guards were killed,” she said.

  “Everyone was attacked?” I asked.

  “Well, everyone but Queen Yrisi and her daughter.” Chrysa shook her head, and her beautiful brown hair waved.

  “That seems obvious,” I said as I looked to Cornalic.

  “Agreed, friend Leo. Combine this with the attack on you and Bolverk yesterday, and I would think that either the Sanduports were being quite brazen with their attempts to remove the other families, or they are being targeted. Or, they are so crafty that they think we wouldn’t believe it was them because they are so obvious about it.” Cornalic let out a chuckle and shrugged his muscular shoulders.

  “When does the challenge start?” I asked Chrysa.

  “In a few hours. The guards will let us know.”

  “I’m going to go for a bit of a walk to clear my head,” I said to them all. “You all stay here, please. If I’m not back in time, just meet me at the arena.”

  “Awww. Can I come with you?” Allurie asked as she pointed at the crossbow on the table. “I did a great job last night, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, you did. I’m really proud of you, Allurie, but I need you to say here. All of you guys did great,” I said as I looked at my friends. “I’ll be back soon.”

  I left Chrysa’s room and walked to the double doors leading out of our wing. There were twice the guards there as usual, and I asked one of them if they could give me directions to where Lady Cesnie Kayleic’s room. He told me it was in the northern wing, and I’d have to ask a guard once I got there. I thanked the man and then began my walk.

  The interior of the palace was mostly lit with emberbrands, and I half expected most everyone to still be in bed. It wasn’t the case, either because of the battle last night, or the challenge taking place today, and the hallways were half full with servants running about their tasks.

  “Leo Lennox,” I heard a woman’s voice call to me from one of the side rooms, and I turned to see Moryana leaning in the archway. She was wearing her usual red shirt, black leather corset, black arm guards, and strange belt looking skirt.

  “Good morning, Moryana,” I said to her as I stepped out of the flow of traffic.

  “It is.” The woman’s intense green eyes bore into mine. “Where were you last night?” she asked.

  “What do you mean?”

  “We had an appointment.” She lifted an eyebrow and half of her mouth turned into a smile.

  “Oh, yeah. We had kind of spoken about that. Sorry. I’ve had a lot on my mind.”

  “I understand, but you weren’t in your room last night. Where did you go?” she asked.

  “Uhhh. How did you know I wasn’t in my room?” I asked, and I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

  “I came to see if I could steal you away, and you were not there,” she said with a shrug. “Did you eat breakfast yet?”

  “Oh, the guard told you I wasn’t available?” I asked. “No one said you came by to see me, but there was the battle last night. Were you attacked also?”

  “No, the guards didn’t see me. Your half-orc friend was too busy watching Lady Aitcha, I snuck in through your window and went into your room. Yes, we were attacked, but I dealt with them easily.”

  “You snuck into my room?”

  “Where are you heading to this morning?” she asked.

  “Does it matter? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for the challenge?”

  “Perhaps it does not matter. Perhaps I do not need to get ready,” the dark-haired beauty shrugged. “I am more interested in knowing how you suddenly appeared in your bed last night once the assassins attacked.” Her perfect lips formed a full smile now, and her green eyes glittered.

  “I don’t know what you are talking about,” I said.

  “Oh? Too bad, I was hoping you could educate me. Then again, I do like discovering things on my own. Would you like to break your fast with me? Or did you already eat?” she asked.

  “I ahh, maybe another time.”

  “I see,” she said with a nod. “Perhaps dinner tonight. I’ll be celebrating, and I believe you’ll need a shoulder to cry on.” Her lips formed a smirk.

  “Ha. That might be doable. I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “Good,” she said, and I turned to walk away.

  “Oh, Leo Lennox,” the sword dancer called after I took a few steps.

  “Yeah?”

  “She is in the north field training,” Moryana said.

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Lady Cesnie Kayleic. That is who you are going to go see, correct?” the sword dancer chuckled a bit.

  “Perhaps,” I said as I matched her chuckle. “See you soon.”

  “Of course.” Moryana nodded, and I turned away from the beautiful woman.

  Then I walked quickly away from her.

  Had she been in my room last night? I hadn’t seen her, but I had also been quick to grab my weapons and run into the hallway. I had trouble believing that the woman scaled the tall tower, entered the balcony window, and then hid in my room without Cornalic, or a guard seeing her. Moryana was a warrior and not a cat burglar.

  Unless she had someone else that passed her the information.

  I made my way through the palace and angled toward the north field of the estate. It took me a good ten minutes to walk across the property, but I found Lady Cesnie, and two similarly uniformed men, sparring with swords. The woman saw me approach from across the gardens, and she gestured for her men to take a break before walking toward me.

  “Good morning, Leo. What brings you here?” she asked as she sheathed her sword. The dawn light had crested the distant mountains, and the orange glow from its rays bounced from her blonde hair.

  “I was attacked yesterday in the streets of Tylue by men claiming to work for your employer. They wanted their gold back,” I said. “Oh, and good morning.”

  “I see.” She crossed her arms, and her steel-blue eyes met mine.

  “The other families were attacked last night,” I said.

  “Yes,” Cesnie said with a nod, but her eyes continued to stare into mine.

  “You didn’t have anything to do with it, did you?” I asked.

  “No, but that doesn’t mean my employer didn’t.” The tactician shook her head. “We have a strategy though, and I have told her not to do anything without speaking to me.”

  “I’m not going to guess what your relationship is with the woman, but if she caused either of these two events, I’m not going to be happy. I thought that you and I had an understanding.” I crossed my arms.

  “Yes, we do. Leo, I am grateful for your help. I will ask my queen and the sources that I have. I’ve already begun to investigate what happened last night.”

  “And?” I asked.

  “My earlier suspicions seem to be true,” Cesnie said with a shrug.

  “Rodin
? You think he had something to do with this?” I asked.

  “I don’t know anything for sure. All I know is that I have to win this next challenge.” The blonde woman turned back to her two men and then faced me again. “And you need to watch your back. Don’t trust anyone but your own people.”

  “Alright,” I said. “I’ll see you in a few hours.”

  “Good luck, Leo.”

  “Same to you Cesnie,” I said, and then I walked away from the attractive woman.

  I returned to our wing as the guards were coming to take us to the arena. We all did a double check of our gear, and then we made the march across the palace and back to the arena where we had participated in the first match. Allurie was instructed to sit in the stands with Chrysa’s handmaidens, but the noblewoman, Cornalic, Bolverk, and I were told to wait in one of the large side rooms of the coliseum for the event to start. The servants brought us a small breakfast of eggs, fruit, and bread, but I wasn’t hungry. Cornalic and Bolverk didn’t seem to be nervous in the slightest, and the two men ate most of the food from the table in a few minutes.

  “We are going to do well,” I said to Chrysa after the young woman had started to pace the floor of the waiting room. Her picture appeared on my UI party area next to Bolverk’s and Cornalic’s face, and the sight actually made me relax a bit. Still, I would have liked the woman to be able to carry a shield, but she told me yesterday during our training that the contestants were not allowed to bring anything into the dungeon.

  “Oh, I hope so. I hope that no one gets hurt. You all are my friends, and I’ve brought a tremendous amount of danger into your life.”

  “Don’t worry about it. We are the kind of adventurers that tend to find danger wherever we go.” I laughed.

  “Leo, even if we don’t win this match, or I don’t win the queenship, I will still be grateful to you. I am sorry that I cannot guarantee your--”

  “That is okay,” I said as I waved my hand. “We’ll figure out something else if we lose.”

  “Yes, you are very cunning and strong, and handsome.” Her cheeks turned red again, and she somehow looked even more beautiful.

  “Thanks,” I replied.

  “Leo, this might not be the appropriate time to speak of such things, but will you let me make another request of you?”