by Jamie Davis
Looking over at the Warden's body on the floor next to him, Hal saw the twisted, melted hilts of his daggers protruding from her chest. He'd been through a lot with those old blades.
They were beyond repair now. The two daggers would have to be sent to a blade smith to be remade if he ever wanted to use them again.
Feeling naked without a weapon, Hal reached out and picked up one of his throwing knives from where it had fallen earlier after striking the Warden's shield.
He tried to get to his feet but his head started spinning, and he decided to sit back down.
A commotion by the entrance to the Sanctum seemed to be causing a stir among the people in the Temple. Hal tried to see over the pews but couldn't from where he was seated on the floor. Then he heard a familiar voice. It was the Duke.
"Round all this rabble up. They are all traitors to the City and the Emperor. We must make a public example of them."
Hal palmed the throwing knife, sliding it up his sleeve, hiding it from view. Palace guards came down the aisle, pulling the commoners who'd helped take the Temple from where they sat or stood into custody.
Korran pointed to the guards. "Let those people go. They have done the city a great service."
The guards hesitated at the order from their former captain. The captain still had some sway over the palace guard it seemed.
"Don't listen to him," the Duke ordered. "Take him into custody, too. He is a traitor and must be dealt with."
"Sir, it's Captain Korran. You told us he was dead," the guard lieutenant said.
"I know who it is," the Duke snapped. "You're relieved of command. Sergeant, take the lieutenant into custody, too. He can join the former captain in chains."
Some of the palace guardsmen started to follow the order, others milled around, uncertain what to do. This was turning into a dangerous standoff.
Hal pushed himself to his feet. He saw Kay nearby. She was held by the arms between two palace guardsmen. She struggled between them, but one of them clouted her over the head with the pommel of his sword. Her eyes rolled up in her head, and she went limp.
"That one, the one in black," the Duke said pointing at Hal. "Place him in chains, too. He is the ringleader of the rebellion."
Four guards approached him from different directions. One held a set of shackles in his hands. Hal had little time to make up his mind what to do.
He only knew their chance to stop the final Warden in the city was slipping away from them. If they were taken into custody, it was unlikely any of them would escape a traitor's fate.
Worse, for most of the people in the city, everything would go back to the way it was before Hal arrived in Tandon.
Hal shook his head. It had to stop.
The slot machine in his head started spinning again, and Hal knew he had to try to end this now.
His hands still ached from the burn wounds, only partially healed by the single potion Kay had given him. He hoped he could make his fingers work well enough to pull this off.
Hal raised his hands over his head in surrender. "It seems you have won, Your Grace." Hal nodded his head in a small bow.
"You and your hapless companion played right into my hands," the Duke said. He swaggered as he walked closer and pointed around him at the people captured around the room.
"You and your play at being a hero around the city helped me consolidate my power much faster than I could have hoped, Hal Dix. Now you will serve as an example of what happens to popular heroes. It will teach the people of the city what happens when you try to rise up against your betters."
"That's pretty bold talk for a dead man," Hal said.
The Duke laughed. "I think you are mistaken. You are the dead man."
The guards had almost reached him. Hal had to make his move even though it was a long distance for the throw.
Spinning in place to give himself some momentum, Hal whipped his hand around as the knife blade slid from his sleeve into his hand. He let the blade fly.
Time to see how his new master thief skill worked.
The slots in his head stopped spinning, but there was no chime.
The blade flew end over end in the air.
The four guards leapt on top of him, bearing Hal to the floor of the Temple.
Hal's final vision was of the knife blade sinking to the hilt in the center of the Duke's throat. The chime sounded in his head as he was taken to the floor by the guards.
HEALTH DAMAGE: Health -28
OVERALL QUEST complete - Defeat all five Wardens
30,000 experience awarded.
Level Up!
HAL SMILED AS THE GUARDS' fists began to descend on him, a last act of defiance before the blows made everything go black.
33
“LEAVE THE BASIN; I'll tend to him."
Hal knew that voice. He struggled to open his eyes, but he still couldn't see. His eyes were covered with something.
"Kay, I can't see."
"Rest easy, Hal," Kay said. "It's alright. The guards beat you pretty good before we could get to you, but you're going to be fine. Let me get that bandage removed."
Gentle hands lifted his head a little from the pillow and unwrapped the bandage around his head. Light began to show from under the wrappings and then the final layer was removed.
The familiar face leaning over him was Kay, but yet it wasn't. Her short-cropped hair was right, except for the silver circlet around her head. The face was right, except for the tasteful application of make-up. Everything else was wrong. The blue silk dress, the jewelry, everything.
"Kay," Hal managed after a moment. "You look, uh, different."
"A lot has happened in the days since we retook the city from the Wardens, Hal. You've been touch and go for a while. Even with magical healing, Sister Darla wasn't sure you would survive your wounds. We thought you were dead for sure before Korran managed to take control of the guards and stopped them from beating you."
"But the dress, the tiara or whatever that is you're wearing?" Hal said.
"The Duchess discovered who I was and revealed my identity to Duke Korran. He insisted, as a visiting princess, I looked the part."
"Wait," Hal said. "Duke Korran?"
"Yes, he took control after you killed the former duke. When the duchess and her daughters were returned to the palace, almost all the Duke's former retainers swore allegiance to her. She raised Korran to become Duke and rule by her side."
"So it seems everything worked out," Hal said.
He was a little disappointed. He'd hoped if he died, he'd return home to his wife and daughter.
Since he'd been saved, Hal supposed he was stuck here. Hal finally understood that Tadon and Fantasma must be real. He was never getting home.
"Don't be so gloomy, Hal. You’re a hero," Kay said. "I guess we both are. The Hood prevailed in the end despite the odds just like you said he would."
"What's next for you?" Hal asked.
"I went through all the books and ledgers left by the Temple Warden in her strongbox. I've been able to piece together where my brother and sister were taken after they were sold as slaves. They're far to the east in the custody of another of the Emperor's Wardens. I have to go and free them."
"Damn," Hal said. "You can't go alone. What would you do without my luck?"
"You're in no condition to travel, Hal. It will take four or five days until you're back to full strength."
"When do you leave?" Hal asked.
"I leave in two days," Kay said. "There is a caravan master who has traveled that far east before. He has agreed to take me on as a guard in his employ, in disguise of course."
"Of course," Hal said.
"That's not for two days, though," Kay said. "Now that you're awake, Duke Korran can have the celebratory feast he's been holding off, hoping you'd be able to attend."
"I'm not sure I'm in good enough condition to attend a feast," Hal said.
"Nonsense," Kay replied. "We'll get you some help, but you'll be well eno
ugh to sit at a table next to the Duke. People want to see you. More important, they want to see you and the Duke together. It's the final piece for the commoners to know the Hood and Duke Korran worked together to defeat the Wardens. Symbols are very important at times like this."
"Very well. If you think it’s important, how could I say no."
Hal’s sarcasm was not missed by Kay.
"I’ll take it from your attitude that you’re definitely feeling better,” Kay said. “Now, rest up. I'll have Sister Darla check in on you and see if her healing magic can do anything else."
Hal closed his eyes and thought about everything Kay had told him. So much had happened.
He remembered the final game message he'd received before the guards beat him into unconsciousness. Hal pulled up his stats and reviewed the additional points he had since leveling up.
He decided to drop his attribute points into his brawn score. Hal thought the additional strength and vigor might help him heal faster. After all, he had to attend the feast in his honor tomorrow.
Hal also added a skill level to sneak attack, bringing it to level five. When he was finished, his stats looked pretty good considering where he'd started at level one.
NAME: Hal Dix
Class: Rogue
Level: 11
ATTRIBUTES:
Brawn: 16 -- +4
Wisdom: 8
Luck: 24 -- +8
Speed: 14 -- +3
Looks: 8
Health: 8/88
SKILLS: Taunt - 2, Dark Vision, Acrobatic Dodge - 6, Hide in Shadows - 2, Sneak Attack - 5, Open Locks - 2, Find/Remove Traps.
Master Thief skills - Instant kill (land an attack while engaging this skill and instantly kill the target). Detect Lies (detect if someone is lying for a period of five minutes once per day).
Experience: 142,600/250,000
THE FOLLOWING EVENING, Hal did indeed feel better, with another day of recuperation under his belt plus the additional stat boosts he'd gotten leveling up.
Hal was not steady on his feet yet and had been offered a cane to assist him in getting around. He felt stupid using it, but it did make it easier to walk without falling over.
Seated at the head table, on a dais at the front of the Palace's grand dining hall, Hal sat next to Duke Korran on one side. On the other side sat Kay, the princess.
There was a succession of speeches in his honor from the Duke and several prominent citizens from around the city. The Hall had been opened to some commoners, too and Hal saw Griff seated with several of the people he'd come to know from the Harbor district in his time there.
He was glad they were invited to participate in the whole grand affair. They'd earned it, too.
Hal smiled at all he'd accomplished. He was a master thief and a hero of the people of Tandon. He was a personal friend, not only of the Duke and Duchess, but also of a princess from a distant land. All in all, it had been a fun ride.
There was only one thing that remained undone for Hal. He had yet to find a way to get home. Fantasma was the sort of place he might like to visit from time to time, but only if he knew he could return home to Mona and Cari at the end of it all.
"More wine, sir?" a voice said from behind him.
"Uh, sure," Hal said lifting his cup.
A hand took the cup and filled it from a pitcher before handing it back. Hal turned to say thank you to the servant and froze. It was Tildi, the woman who'd sold him the Fantasma game back home. She was dressed as a servant, but it had to be the same woman.
She smiled, winked, and turned away, hurrying down off the dais and toward a passage back to the kitchens.
Hal stood up, pushing his chair back. He nearly fell in his haste and had to grab for his cane.
"Hal, are you alright?" Kay asked. "You're pale as a ghost."
"I'm fine. I just have to relieve myself. Too much wine, you know."
Korran has stood as well. "Let me have a guard attend to you. You are still unsteady on your feet, Hal."
"Nonsense," Hal said. "I can take myself to the privy without help. I'll be right back." Hal waived off their help and hobbled down off the dais with his cane, hurrying as fast as he could towards the passage he'd seen Tildi use.
He turned the corner and started down the hallway. It was very dark. There were no lamps or candles lighting the passage as in the rest of the castle.
Hal wasn't to be deterred, though. His dark vision skill would do to help him see in the dark.
Except his dark vision skill wasn't working.
The farther he went down the passage, the darker it got until he couldn't see his hand in front of his face. He turned to go back and realized he couldn't see the opposite end of the corridor leading back to the dining hall either.
There was just darkness.
This shouldn't be that hard, Hal thought. Just retrace his steps until he saw the light from the hall again.
He'd taken only a few tentative steps when Tildi's voice made him stop.
"You may go back if you wish. You have accomplished what you were sent to do, Hal Dix. Know, though, if you return to Tandon and the banquet, you will miss this opportunity to return to your own world."
Hal turned around and saw Tildi standing there in a small pool of light. She was now dressed like the crazy old lady he'd first seen in the flea market so long ago.
"Why did you send me here? Why do this to me?" Hal asked.
"This place needed a hero, you fit the profile, you accepted the quests," Tildi said.
"But I didn't have a choice. From the time I was framed for the murder of the Harbor Warden, I was set on a path I couldn't control."
"That was a necessary part of the plan. I had to nudge you in the right direction, Hal."
"Wait, it was you in the crowd who killed the Harbor Warden and handed me the bloody knife. You framed me for that murder. I could have been killed."
"But you weren't. You embarked on your quests from there on your own accord. You chose the direction of your time in Tandon. You decided to right the injustice of the Emperor's rule. I had nothing to do with that," Tildi explained.
Hal didn't like that he'd been manipulated, but he saw how his decisions had shaped his time in Fantasma and how it affected Tandon.
"What will I tell my wife? I've been gone for weeks, maybe months. She'll never believe me when I tell her where I've been all this time."
"Time passes differently between our two worlds, Hal Dix. Days here seem only as hours in your own world. Time is inconsistent between here and there. It changes all the rules for time and space. You will find that you have not been gone as long as you think."
"Then I wish to return to my family, Tildi. Send me back to them. The people of Tandon don't need me anymore."
"As you wish, Hal Dix," Tildi said. She held up a crystal of some sort in one hand. It began to flash in random staccato bursts of light making him blink against the glare. The flashing reminded him of the flashing computer monitor that sent him here.
"Close your eyes, Hal, and think of your home. When you open them next, you'll be where you wish to be."
Hal looked at the woman, trying to see past the increasingly bright flashing of the crystal. He closed his eyes against the blinding glare and felt a swirling sense of vertigo that made him stumble. He fell backward but was caught by something soft, comfortable, familiar.
34
“HONEY, WE'RE HOME!" Mona called out nearby.
Opening his eyes, Hal saw the flashing, multicolored lights on the big computer monitor in front of him. He reached up and switched off the monitor, stopping the irritating display.
"Honey, are you here?" Mona called from the kitchen.
"Uh, I'm in here. In the den," Hal replied. He looked around, confused. He'd been here the whole time?
"There you are," Mona said. She walked in carrying Cari in her arms. "See, there's Daddy." Mona handed the baby to him and leaned over to give him a kiss. "Hold her while I bring our stuff in."
"
I can come help you," Hal said, starting to get up. He felt a stabbing pain in his leg and reached to rub it with one hand.
"No, don't worry about that. I've got it. You spend some time with Cari. I think she missed you."
As if to punctuate her mother's words, Cari reached up with a tiny hand and touched Hal's face. He looked down at his daughter.
"I missed you, too," Hal whispered.
"Did you say something?" Mona asked, popping her head around the corner from the kitchen.
"I said I missed you guys," Hal said. "I'm sorry, I didn't get to the list of things you wanted me to do."
"That's alright," Mona said. "I had all sorts of work to do while I was at my parents. We ended up doing other things with Cari all weekend, and I didn't get any of it done either."
Mona walked in wheeling a suitcase. "Did you have fun? I'll bet you played one of your games all weekend. How was it?"
"Uh, it was okay. I had a good time playing, it wasn't what I expected, though."
Shifting Cari to hold her in one arm on his hip, Hal levered himself out of the chair. His leg was sore, like he'd been sitting too long and the circulation was returning. He took a few limping steps towards Mona.
"Let me get the suitcase and take it upstairs so you can unpack," Hal said.
Mona smiled and passed him the handle from the suitcase. "I'll go and get the rest from the car. There're just a few more things. I'll be right back."
Hal took the suit case upstairs with one hand while he held the baby in the other. He was still trying to get his bearings. To him, it had been like he was away for a few months. To Mona and the baby, it had only been a long weekend. He'd faced pain, death, and worse while he'd been gone. They'd gone sightseeing and visited with family. The juxtaposition between the two was hard to reconcile in the few minutes they'd all been home.
Hal looked at his reflection in the mirror.
"Was it real?" He asked himself.
His reflection didn't answer. He only saw himself holding the baby he'd missed so much while in Fantasma. Real or not, it had seemed like it was real at the time he experienced it. Whether it had been a trick of his mind or some sort of out of body, magical experience, Hal knew he wasn't the same man who'd been left at home at the beginning of the weekend.