Chaos At The Castle (Book Six)

by Craig Halloran

  “You mean it moves?” Melegal said, leaning against the wall, arms folded across his chest.

  “That’s how I understand it. But, I could be wrong. It might just stay here forever.”

  “And the big Key,” Melegal said, eyeing the Key on the center peg, “who gets that? Does it work all the doors? Or just one?”

  “I don’t think we have time for that now,” Boon said, twisting his beard. “The goal is to get the Keys out of the chamber and away from the underlings. Once we are free of this, you can do what you wish. Keep them or destroy them.”

  “Will you destroy yours?” Melegal said.

  “Well, er,” Boon added, “that’s my concern. I think it might come in handy if I get stuck back in the Under-Bish.” He looked at Venir. “It could increase our chance of freeing Mood from down there.”

  Melegal had already told them what his Key did. It would take him wherever he wanted to go, but it always led back to the chamber, where he would have to start all over again. Certainly the underlings would soon have a heavy guard on the chamber. He looked at Venir.

  “What do you think?”

  “Let’s take them to the furnace and destroy them.” Venir nodded over at the bodies of Tonio, Catten and Verbard. The underlings were eyeless now. “Or,” he said, eyeing the sack that hung over Creed’s shoulder, “we can drop them in there?”

  “Hmmm…” Boon rubbed his chin. “I have another idea. Creed, would you oblige me and open the sack?”

  Creed, cowl down, tossed the sack over to Boon. “Open it yourself.”

  Boon’s eyes widened.

  So did Venir’s.

  “Fogle, let me have the staff.”

  Taking it out of his backpack, Fogle tossed the staff to Boon, who dropped it into the sack.

  “What did you do that for?” Creed said.

  Boon stuck his arm inside, down to the elbow, and withdrew nothing.

  “Care to try?” Boon held the sack out to Venir.

  He took a breath and a step forward. He longed to have the armament back, but he longed for his own freedom too. “I’ll pass.”

  Boon handed the sack back to Creed. “Try not to get too used to it, whoever you are.”

  ***

  Creed couldn’t keep his gaze off Venir. The big man looked like he’d been chewed up by a dragon and spit out, but was used to it. Still, the dark circles under the man’s bright eyes concerned him. He had the look of a man who’d faced every horror and form of death hundreds of times. He was elemental. Forged in iron.

  “So, you used to have this?” Creed said as the others squabbled over the Keys.

  “Aye, but it was different, as different as you and me.”

  “You like women?” Creed said, his voice deep and rugged.

  Venir eyed him.

  “You like wine?”

  “Grog.”

  “You like fighting?”

  “You just described every soldier in Bish.”

  “We’re not so different, you and I.”

  Venir turned and faced him. Looked him up and down.

  “I don’t think so.”

  Creed, bigger than most men, felt small in that moment.

  “Maybe one day we’ll share our tales together,” Creed said, smiling at Lorda. “Chat with some ladies. Share some wine … er … grog.”

  “No doubt you’ll be hearing tales about me,” Venir looked down at him, patting his shoulder. “That much is certain.” Venir coughed a laugh. “And you’ll need more than a goblet of wine to deal with that mantle.”

  Creed nodded, extending his hand. Venir took it in his. Hard as a rock. Like a vice. Creed grimaced a little.

  “We’ve come to a decision,” Boon said, snagging the Keys from the pegs. Keeping the big one for himself, he handed Keys to Eethum, Melegal, Fogle, Venir, Creed and Lorda. “Just give us a few minutes.”

  Fogle sat down and started reading from the spellbook while Boon held the glowing Orb of Imbibing in his hand. It pulsated with mystic life.

  Minutes later, Boon said, “We’re ready.”

  Fogle said, “Melegal, lead the way.”

  “Where are we going, Me?” Venir said.

  “The furnace.”

  Venir walked over and pulled Tonio’s shriveled head up off the sucking floor. “Good idea. We better burn this.”

  Melegal opened the door with the Key he was accustomed to.

  “Everybody inside,” Boon said.

  One by one they entered, leaving the throbbing orb behind.

  “And what is that for?” Eethum asked, pulling the door closed.

  “It should destroy the chamber,” Fogle answered.

  “And possibly the castle,” Boon added.

  Lorda gasped as the door closed.

  ***

  The stone wall Fogle Bone had created finally evaporated, to the glee of a stairwell full of underlings. Each of them watched the orb spinning in the room, getting bigger and bigger and bigger. Spinning faster, it started to whine and crackle. The underlings’ gem-speckled eyes flittered back and forth at one another, gaping in confusion.

  Finally, one said in underling, “Flee!”

  ***

  Lord Almen was tattooed with long bolts sticking out of his legs and chest by the dozen. He kissed his mystic ring. The assault on him had stopped, and he crawled over to the door on top of the keep. Shaking and bleeding, he pulled it open.

  I’ll live! I’ll avenge!

  KA-BOOM!

  The entire keep shook and then collapsed. Lord Almen fell through the roof that opened up, landing at the bottom in time to watch the rest of the keep collapse on top of him.

  ***

  One by one, they tossed their Keys into the furnaces that fired beneath the busy streets of Bone. Hot and fiery flames reflected all over their shadow-cast and oily faces.

  Boon pitched two pair of underling eyes in as well. One pair silver, the other pair gold.

  Venir took one last look at Tonio’s face, his mind eating at him. Had one isolated incident been the start of it all? What would have happened if he never fought Tonio to begin with?

  “You aren’t thinking, are you?” Melegal said.

  Tonio’s grey eyes popped open.

  “Vee-Man!”

  Lorda jumped, but the others remained still. “Tonio,” she said, extending her hand and touching her son’s face. An odd silence fell.

  “Mother,” Tonio said, black eyes returning to normal.

  “Good-bye, Son,” she sobbed, turning to walk away.

  “But Mother,” he said. His eyes turned black. Brows buckled. Lips curled. “You can’t kill me, Vee-Man.”

  Venir held Tonio’s head out over the vat of fire. “Maybe you can’t be killed, but I bet you’ll burn, Brat.” He pitched him over the rim.

  “Nooooooooo!”

  ***

  “The city holds for now,” Corrin said, taking a good look at the present company. “The Royals finally got off their arses and stirred a fight. I think the collapse of Castle Almen lit a fire under them.”

  Lorda Almen was crying on the bench by the fountain.

  Melegal caressed her head. The woman had lost her home. Her entire family. He felt bad.

  “Where to now, Melegal?” Venir said, drinking from the fountain. “You want to stay and fight, or do you want to go? You should have left for the City of Three last time, you know.”

  “Just a moment,” Melegal said in Lorda’s ear, releasing her petal-soft hands.

  He limped his way over to Venir.

  “Itching to see your family are you, Vee?” he said, smiling.

  Venir stopped drinking and said, “What family?”

  Splash! Splash! Splash! “Help!” Lorda Almen sounded like she was drowning. “Detective!” Splash! “Help!”

  Turning, he saw Haze had Lorda’s head stuffed down in the water. He hobbled over. Pulled her away.

  Haze ripped a long blade across Melegal’s chest.

  “Are you mad?”
he exclaimed, twisting the dagger from her hand.

  She slapped his face. “I’m a one-man woman, and you’re a one-woman man. Got that?”

  He snickered. “Absolutely, my Lorda.”

  “Good,” Haze said, “and I want to go to the City of Three. You promised me.”

  “No, I did—”

  She glared at him.

  “I suppose I did.”

  Corrin then said, “You aren’t going anywhere. The city’s under siege out there.”

  “You ever been out of the city before, Corrin?”

  “No.”

  “You want to leave?”

  “No, I’m going to stay and fight.”

  Creed stepped alongside Corrin. “This is where I’ll be, as well.”

  “This is where you’re supposed to be,” Venir said.

  “And what about me?” Lorda said, slinging her dripping wet hair over her shoulder.

  Creed put his arm around her. “You’re coming with me. The Bloodhounds can always use another queen.”

  The wizards approached.

  “Get all the gear you can handle, men,” Boon said. And then he noticed Haze’s glare, “and woman. The underlings aren’t going to let us congregate here forever. I can teleport you miles from the city, but you’re on your own after that.”

  “I said I would never leave Bone again,” Melegal said, shaking his head. “And I’m still certain you’re the root cause of all this, Venir.”

  Limping towards the black dimension doors, Venir said, “Well, at least you have someone to blame. And what family are you talking about?”

  ***

  Somewhere far away, the Elga bugs came. Slim’s body went.

  ***

  Master Sinway waited on his throne. Catten, Verbard and Kierway never arrived. He petted one of the Cave Dogs at his side and said, “This isn’t over. It’s just begun.”

  EPILOGUE

  Brak’s oversized body held tight on the reins of Quickster as they rode into the City of Three. The poison had passed. He lived, but was far from back to himself again yet.

  “Don’t worry, Brak. We’re almost there. We can get you a bed, healing and a comfortable room. And the stew you’ll eat! As soon as you smell it, your mouth will water,” Georgio said.

  Georgio had been nicer to him since he almost died. But that probably had more to do with the City of Three than actual concern.

  He wiped from his face the mist that blew in from the massive waterfalls he could see in the distance.

  “Isn’t that beautiful, Brak!” Jubilee said. “I’ve never even imagined anything like it. Billip, can we go there?”

  “Yes,” Nikkel said, “can we go there?”

  “Soon enough. But I’m getting a gullet full at the Magi Roost first!” Billip said, smiling underneath the grit and sand that covered his face.

  “I’m filling both my gullets!” Georgio said.

  “You don’t even know what a gullet is,” Nikkel said, laughing.

  “I do too.”

  “What is it, then?” Jubilee said.

  “Uh… it’s your belly.”

  Jubilee and Nikkel looked at each other and laughed.

  “Isn’t it?”

  Everyone’s mood lightened when they saw the city. Even Brak, who still felt as feeble as a kitten, felt better for it. He looked once up and down at the tall towers whose spires seemed to reach the clouds, but he wasn’t impressed. He just wanted to rest. He was wondering about his father, Venir. He hadn’t had any dreams about him lately. Maybe he’s dead.

  “This is it,” Billip said, stopping in front of a building where a sign hung that read in bright letters, THE MAGI ROOST. Billip started dusting himself off. “Joline will kill me for going in there like this.”

  Georgio took off his boots, poured the rocks out and banged them together. He took a deep draw through his nose. “I can taste the stew already.” He sniffed again and made a funny face. “And something else.”

  One at a time, Billip leading the way, they entered.

  “Welcome, Travelers,” a tall husky woman said. “Have a seat, and I’ll get you some help.”

  Brak saw Billip and Georgio’s hands fall to their sword belts.

  ***

  “Just who in Bish are you?” Billip said, “And what have you done to this tavern?”

  The Magi Roost was darker and filled with a seedier sort of characters. All the long robes and noses were gone. The smell of cheap wine and ale was in the air.

  “And how did such an unattractive woman get in here? Where’s Kam?” Billip demanded.

  “Oh,” the woman leaned over Billip with her hands on her hips. “You’re one of her friends, are you?”

  “Billip!”

  It was Joline. She ran up and threw her arms around him, tears streaming down her face. “You’re alive. I’m so glad you’re alive.” She kissed his cheek, then whispered in his ear. “But you need to get out of here.”

  “Joline!” a man sitting the bar said in a warning tone.

  Billip gawped at him. He’d never seen such presence in a man before. Handsome, refined, distinguished, with eyes as blue as water.

  “Don’t dally with Darlene’s patrons. She’s likes to welcome them.”

  ***

  “I’m hungry, Joline,” Georgio said, patting Joline on the back.

  She shook her head. “You’ve changed so much, Georgio. You’re a full grown man.”

  “Ah, I haven’t been gone that long. Where’s Kam?”

  “Just grab a table,” Joline said, “I’ll get her.”

  “Mercy!” Darlene bellowed, “Get these folks a table!”

  Mercy scampered over, chin down, and led them to their table.

  “How have you been, Mercy?” Georgio said, hitching his arm over his chair and smiling.

  “Georgio?” She seemed to wake up from a daze. “Georgio!” She sat down on his lap and hugged him. “I thought you’d never come back!” She whispered in his ear. “Just stay away from them.” Her eyes flittered towards the woman Darlene and the man at the bar.

  “Who is that?” he said. “I can handle him.”

  “No, no,” she said, grabbing him by the collar. “Just leave them be, and they’ll leave you be.” She hopped off his lap. “I’ll get you stew, to start.” She eyed all of them. “And a big bowl for you, Georgio.” She saw Brak. “And one for your friend, too.” She patted Billip on the head. “I’m so glad you’re back. So glad!”

  “There’s something spooky going on here,” Billip said. “I don’t recognize any of these people.”

  “Seems alright to me,” Jubilee said, looking around. “Say, who’s the beautiful lady with only one hand up there? That’s kinda sad.”

  “What? There’s no one in here with one hand,” Georgio said, looking around. “Kam!”

  She stood on the balcony in a long green dress, sunken eyed and waving her one-handed arm.

  “Do you know her?” Jubilee said.

  Billip said in disbelief, “What in Bish is going on here?”

  FROM THE AUTHOR

  Unfortunately, the ending is never as much fun as the journey.

  This book was a challenge. The hardest one I ever wrote. I hope the ending wasn’t a let-down. Most endings are tough and rushed. That’s why I ended the other books as I did, with cliffhangers. I think of this book as one big long ending. I hope it worked.

  As for the series, I decided to wrap up this Darkslayer with this 6th book. It was time. I think readers wanted some resolution. That’s what made it so difficult. I had a bunch of characters spread out all over Bish. That said, I didn’t want to end it. Originally, I wanted this to be an ongoing saga, but I spread myself too thin and my writing was suffering for it. This segment of Venir’s life ends. But it feels good for me, finishing a full-length fantasy series.

  Fear not, Darkslayer fans. I have a plan.

  The adventures of The Darkslayer, whoever it may be, will continue. Venir and Melegal will not retire. I
’m going to consider two new series written simultaneously. One taking place with Venir, Melegal, Georgio, Brak, and Kam all over BISH. The other taking place with the new Darkslayer, Creed, just in BONE. I might go back to the past of Venir and Melegal as well. The books will each be shorter, so I can get them out quicker, and I’m going to alternate between them.

  This way, I hope to crank out a new book every 2 months. But, as of Oct 2013, I have to finish my other fantasy series, The Chronicles of Dragon, first. So we’re looking at another year from now before the next Darkslayer book. Sorry.

  But at least I have a plan. Just pray I stick to it.

  Next. THANK YOU! It has been my pleasure writing for you! Your support is a dream come true to me. My goal is to improve and write even better stories for you, but don’t hold me to that. That way you won’t be disappointed. ; )

  Again, check in with me at The Darkslayer Report by Craig on Facebook. I want to hear what you thought of this series. And if you have time, I’d appreciate a sincere review.

  Fight or Die,

  Craig Halloran

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Craig Halloran is a veteran, husband and father. He enjoys sports (mostly football), working out, fishing, writing, watching TV and entertaining mankind. His books are filled with endless action, exciting characters and compelling stories. He resides with his family outside of his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. When he isn’t writing stories he is seeking adventure, working out or watching sports. To learn more about him go to: www.thedarkslayer.com

  Other works by Craig Halloran

  The Darkslayer: Wrath of the Royals (Book 1)

  The Darkslayer: Blades in the Night (Book 2)

  The Darkslayer: Underling Revenge (Book 3)

  The Darkslayer: Danger and the Druid (Book 4)

  The Darkslayer: Outrage in the Outlands (Book 5)

  The Darkslayer: Chaos at the Castle (Book 6)

  The Chronicles of Dragon: The Sword, The Hero and the Dragons (Book 1)

  The Chronicles of Dragon: Dragon Bones and Tombstones (Book 2)

  The Chronicles of Dragon: Terror at the Temple (Book 3)