“Maybe...” she replied, raising a single eyebrow. “I'll have to think about it.”
“Good enough!” he smiled. “That'll give me time to find the spell anyway.”
“Well, we don't have time to look for it now,” Paul replied. “Let's move on.”
Move on, they did. The next chamber to merit a fair amount of attention was a larger dining room than they had yet encountered. The massive table that ran almost the entire length of the room could seat fifty and on it, just as the prophecy had suggested, were baskets filled with fresh bread and goblets full of wine.
“Do you think it’s safe?” Darek asked, gazing over the repast.
“I would imagine so,” Sarrac nodded.
“We’d better make sure,” Nyssa pointed out, before chanting softly to herself and inspecting the fare. “It’s not poisoned.”
“I’m sure it’s fine,” Joey asserted, lifting a glass from the table and sipping its contents. “In fact, it’s better than fine, it’s delicious.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Darek replied with a wide smile before taking a drink himself.
“I wonder how long it’s been here,” Myra said.
“Who knows,” Alena replied, before cautiously tasting the bread. “But, it’s still good.”
“We can finish eating later,” Paul observed. “However long it’s been here, it’ll keep for a few more hours.”
The companions agreed and immediately continued their search. At last, they found themselves in what might be considered the Throne Room. It was at the very top of the keep and contained a number of large windows which flooded the hall with light. Near the far wall from the stairs, sat an ornate stone seat; at the side of which stood a small column, on top of which was affixed a circular metal plate covered with glowing rune stones.
“It's just a guess,” Myra said, taking a seat on the throne and glancing down at the rune-covered disk, “but, I'm pretty sure we can move the fortress just like we can move the vault. At least, these coordinate systems look exactly the same.”
“Then, let's move it,” Paul said with a smile.
“Where to?” Darek asked.
“Kal Tammon,” the paladin replied.
“What if we can't move it again? Just because the vault seems to recharge every five days or so, that doesn't mean this place will.”
“Even if it doesn't,” Sarrac said, rubbing his chin, “I think Kal Tammon would be a good place to put it. Out of all the undead fortresses within a few hundred miles. it's probably the easiest to defend. Not to mention that we already have control of it.”
“Or did,” Alena pointed out. “We don't know that we still do. I think we’d better try to make certain before we do anything.”
“I can certainly see that,” the ogre agreed. “If the Warriors are still holding it, however, I don't think we'll find a better place. We'll have a fortress within a fortress and we'll be able to grow enough food here to feed an army indefinitely.”
“On top of which,” Darek added, “we'll be able to send the vault out to pick up new recruits.”
“I think the undead are about to have some real problems,” Paul speculated with a wide smile.
“They already do,” Myra replied, glancing over at him. “They have the it to deal with.”
“And all his hearty companions,” the paladin asserted.
“And Joey,” Alena added with a grin.
“Thank you, Madam Cow,” he replied with a bow.
“I'm just teasing you,” she said. “I have to say that The Administrator was right; you have been very useful.”
“I certainly try,” he replied.
Minutes later, Nyssa was successfully scrying on the Warriors in Kal Tammon. Everything seemed much as they had left it, with the exception of the fact that the garrison appeared to be even more organized than it had been. Having made this discovery, Myra punched in the correct coordinates. The moment she pressed the last stone, the runes went dark.
“Well,” she sighed, “that's it for now. Hopefully, we'll be able to move it again later. For the moment, we should go let the General know that there's a fortress in his fortress.”
The companions made their way back across the field and into the entrance chamber of the stronghold. Paul and Sarrac stepped forward and slowly pushed the doors open. Before them was the courtyard of Kal Tammon filled with soldiers; many of whom had bows or crossbows pointed at the paladin and his allies.
“Weapons down,” General Halfar cried, rushing toward the gateway, Gregory at his side. “You found it!”
“We found it!” Paul replied, taking the General firmly by the wrist. “And, we even killed the deadly beast.”
“I expected no less,” Gregory replied, stepping into the entrance. “I knew the it could handle himself.”
“It wasn't just me,” the paladin replied.
“Oh, I know. I'm sure you all had a hand in it,” Gregory nodded while slowly glancing around the chamber. “This is incredible. How 'bout giving me the tour Darek?”
“Gladly,” his friend replied.
Gregory and Darek, along with the General and the rest of the party, began slowly strolling through the entrance.
“So,” Paul said, turning his gaze to General Halfar, “what's been going on since we've been gone.”
“A few things,” the General replied. “First off, I got a message to Thaelen. He and the Warriors at the catacombs, along with the women and children that they're watching over, are perfectly safe. He did request a little more food, but they were actually able to forage a little from the surrounding countryside. Just days after that, a small army of Grathis's forces besieged us. However, that didn't last forty-eight hours before they broke camp. They didn't even attempt an assault.”
“Why not?” the ogress asked.
“My guess is that they felt it would have been suicide,” he replied. “Which it would have been. On top of which, we've gotten reports that Lord Renald and Lord Darril have essentially declared war on one another. So, that part of our plan certainly seems to have worked. I suspect Grathis had to recall the troops that were here to help put a stop to the infighting.”
“All things considered, it's been a quiet few weeks then?” Alena said with a smile.
“All things considered, yes,” General Halfar replied.
“Good,” she said. “To be honest, I was a little worried about you. You're getting too old for this.”
“Not at all,” he laughed. “I'm not going to be too old for this until after I'm dead.”
“I hope you're wrong,” she said. “I want you to live long enough to be way too old for this.”
“Well, my dear, I'll certainly do my best.”
By this time, the party had reached the top of the walls and were gazing down into the overgrown fields beyond them.
“Incredible,” Gregory said, his eyes filled with wonder, “doesn't even begin to describe this.”
“I don't think I could agree more,” Darek replied.
“So, Myra,” Paul said, taking her by the hand as he spoke. “I've been wondering...”
“Yes,” she interrupted. “I think this qualifies as safe enough. At least, it does temporarily.”
“Temporarily?” he asked.
“If we can move it,” she replied, “it is definitely safe enough. If we can't... We'll just have to discuss it if it comes up.”
“So then...”
“Yes,” she interrupted again. “If you still want to, I'll be very happy to allow you to press your suit again.”
“If I want to?” he laughed, pausing momentarily before continuing. “And do you think...”
“Yes,” she interrupted, rolling her eyes with a coy smile on her face. “It's been long enough. In fact, it's been way too long.”
As soon as she finished speaking, he took her in his arms, lowered his mouth to hers, and kissed her. His heart pounded within his chest as his lips touched hers. For almost a minute, he enjoyed the magic of her
touch before he woke up in bed with a start. For several seconds, he lay in silence before pulling the pillow from behind his head, putting it over his face, and pounding it again and again with his fist.
“Ahhh!” he screamed into the goose feather filled sack currently covering his countenance.
“Dude!” Joey almost yelled, running into the room in his boxers. “I just had the craziest dream!”
“It wasn't a dream, you idiot!” Paul replied, throwing the pillow to the floor. “And, put on some pants.”
“What do you mean it wasn't a dream?”
“I mean; we were just in Zanoth! I was just kissing Myra. Just now! After... I actually lost count of how many days!”
“So, Nyssa is real?”
“Of course, you moron! Pants!!”
“Got ya.”
“Hurry!” Paul exclaimed. “We need to check my e-mail.”
In less than a minute, the young man was sitting at his computer; his freshly pant-ed companion standing at his side.
“There it is,” he said, clicking on a new message in his in-box. “Subject: Well Done. And The Administrator says: Dear Paul, You and Joey did quite well. I'm very proud of both of you. I feel certain that you're a little upset at the moment... Understatement of the year!... but try to be patient. You'll see her again. You'll see them all again. Just do your best to make the most of the time you have here. Your Friend, -The Administrator. Oh, and answer the door, obviously.”
As soon as he finished reading the last line, someone knocked on the door. He opened it to find the same young man who had brought his last delivery standing on his porch.
“Is Joey Matthews here?” he asked.
“Right here,” Joey replied.
“Can I see some ID?”
“How did you know he would be here?” Paul asked the young man.
“What?”
“Joey doesn't live here,” he pointed out.
“Here's my license,” Joey said, holding it up for the young man's inspection.
“If you'll just sign on the bottom there.”
Joey signed.
“Thanks,” the young man replied, handing the box to Joey. “It's not like I know where everyone lives, Paul. I just take boxes to the people on the label at the address on the label.”
“So, how do you know my name?”
“You are Paul Stevens, right?”
“I am, but how do you know that?”
“I delivered a package to you just days ago,” he explained.
“And, you just happen to remember everybody's name who you deliver a package to?”
“Not everyone,” the young man replied, “but, you stand out.”
“What's your name?”
“Why do you ask?”
“Just curious.”
“Sorry man, I'm not here to satiate your curiosity. I'm just here to deliver a package - and I did.”
Having said this, he stepped off the porch and climbed into his vehicle.
“One sec, man,” Paul shouted. “Do you know The Administrator?”
In response, the young man merely waved and pulled out of the driveway.
“He knows something,” Paul speculated.
“He knows you're a lunatic,” Joey said, shaking his head.
“Whatever, man. Open the box.”
Joey immediately obeyed, opening the package and pulling a book from within.
“The Complete and Total Absolute Moron's Guide to Extremely Basic Wizardry – The Joseph V. Matthews Edition. Oh, that's funny.”
“You know; The Administrator seems to have a really good sense of humor sometimes.”
The End
(The third book in the series is currently available on Amazon.com for pre-order: The Shrine of Kallen)
Thanks!
Dear reader, I'm Aaron J. Ethridge, the author of The Fortress of Donmar. I want to thank you for taking the time to read the book. I sincerely hope you enjoyed it. I put a great deal of time and effort (as well as love and soul) into it. I also want you to know that this is the second volume in what I plan to be a lengthy series. If you're interested in reading the further adventures of Paul Stevens and his companions, you can do something to help me make that happen.
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The Fortress of Donmar (The Tales of Zanoth Book 2) Page 32