Lewd Kingdoms: Fallen Throne: A High Fantasy Digital Adventure

by Eden Redd

  “My masters sent me one last letter,” Ralis held the paper up for a moment before letting his hand hang at his side. “They have given me my final orders. I am to assassinate the lord and ladies of Elora. When I’m finished, I am to open the gates.”

  Edric’s body was calm as a summer pond. “Are you going to carry it out?”

  Ralis gave the summoner a small, listless smile. “That would be a death sentence for me…as I’m sure they had fully intended.”

  The troll’s hand slowly moved to the dagger handle. Fingers curled around it and the troll drew the dagger. Edric watched, a spell mentally prepared and his hand close to the whip at his belt.

  Ralis looked down at the dagger, shadows under his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, the dagger spun in the air. The blade side landed in the troll’s palm, handle facing the summoner.

  “It has been an honor. My only wish is for you to make it quick and send the last of my belongings to the Kunarr capital,” Ralis said with a tremble in his voice.

  Edric stepped closer, taking the dagger in his hand. Ralis stuck out his chest and lifted his chin. The troll closed his eyes and immediately opened them again as the dagger slid back into its sheath. Looking down and then back to Edric, the troll’s eyes were the size of saucers.

  Edric smiled. “Ralis, we don’t want you dead. Your own people betrayed you and you have every right to be angry with them.”

  The summoner moved to the balcony edge and stared out. “The troll citizens in the Discord district will need someone to help with integration to Elora. Every few days, a troll family arrives and it would be nice if they met someone who can aid them in settling in. I already talked to the others and they thought you would be the best person for the job.”

  Ralis continued to stare in disbelief, “You can’t be serious, not after everything that has been done?”

  Edric turned his eyes to the troll, “Like what? Come on Ralis, you know eventually our kingdom would have betrayed the accord. There was no way it could stay as it was with the history we all have. Faye, Claudia and Rayna have fought the trolls since the beginning and I have no love for kingdoms bent on conquest.”

  The summoner took in a deep, cleansing breath. “We wanted a kingdom where all could live in peace. Elora is turning into that kingdom for many. Sometimes we must protect that peace. Your people destroyed the dragon kingdoms and it’s only a matter of time before they start marching on what’s left. You understand we can’t let that happen.”

  Ralis leaned on the balcony edge, eyes to the eastern gate on the other side of the Pearl district. “If I accept, I could never go home.”

  Edric grinned. “I thought this was your home now.”

  The troll’s head tilted forward, a small smile blooming.

  The summoner continued, “Elora may not be perfect but we can help it to become better. We can use your help to usher in that new golden age.”

  “I’m flattered Lord Temple.”

  “As you should be,” Edric smiled.

  Ralis’s smile faded. “My people will march soon. They will come for Elora to occupy or destroy.”

  Edric nodded. “We know, that’s why we will need every able-bodied ally to help.”

  “We may not win.”

  “Let me and the ladies worry about that. Accept your role as advisor and we can start moving ahead with preparing the kingdom for what’s to come.”

  Lightness touched the troll’s heart. “I accept the position.”

  Edric looked to the troll, “Good.”

  Ralis reached into his robe sleeve and pulled out a rolled-up scroll. “As my first act as advisor, the information I promised. The scroll contains locations in the Discord and Temple districts where my people have spotted necromancer cultists. I hope it will aid you in any investigations you may have.”

  Edric stood up and took the scroll, “This will be useful. Thank you Ralis.”

  The troll bowed deeply.

  The sound of huffing and heavy breathing emerged from the balcony entrance. Edric and Ralis turned to see two guards, gasping for air. Moments passed as the guards regained their wits enough to talk.

  “Lord Temple, we are receiving refugees through the eastern gate,” One guard huffed.

  “Refugees, from where,” Edric asked.

  The other guard nodded, “From Varikk. The city fell last night. Many are filled with mad ravings of giant monsters in the dark.”

  “Alert the keep and show me to the refugees,” Edric ordered.

  The summoner and troll followed the two guards as they made their way back into the keep and to the stairwell. The player’s mind worked as a sliver of panic touched his heart. Varikk was the city where his old guild was located. There was talk for months of it targeted for invasion but no armies marched to take down the small city.

  Edric descended the stairs with heaviness on his spirit. Varikk was only a few days away from Elora. If the trolls had already moved their armies then any escape route for Elora was now cut off. With the dread lords to the north and the eastern road blockaded, Elora was now truly on its own.

  The summoner pushed away the edge of panic when they reached the ground level and stepped out into the streets. The main road through the Pearl District was filled with groups of people marching toward him, eyes hollow. Edric shouted out orders to the guards as he approached the shell-shocked people, sorrow touching his brow.

  Seven

  Eyes widened as bodies moved to the side. Citizens smiled and bowed their heads as a blue skinned half-troll and a man in a black cloak walked down the bustling street. The half-troll woman returned kind smiles while the man at her side walked along, face hidden in the shadows of his hood.

  The morning sun blazed brightly on the new day as the pair walked along. When the crowd began to thin, Jinn turned his attention to the troll with the pink lock of hair, heart beating erratically in his chest.

  Juna turned her attention to the hooded Jinn, her own heart beating a little faster. The world around them seemed to spin into silence as their hearts spoke to one another. The assassin took a deep breath before he decided to break the uncomfortable quiet between them.

  “I didn’t think we’d talk this soon,” Jinn said softly.

  “You planned to see me?” Juna asked innocently.

  Jinn nodded. “I wanted to drop off Ralis in the Middle Kingdoms to buy some time…so I could work up the courage to talk to you.”

  Juna gave the large man a kind smile but remained silent.

  Jinn continued, “When I first heard you were alive and here, I came as soon as I could. When I arrived, I saw you patrolling the streets…and I hesitated. I couldn’t believe it, that you were actually here. The last time I saw you…”

  “A troll master ran me through…” Juna said with sad eyes.

  The half-troll looked to a small café. With a small gesture of her hand, the pair made their way to the outdoor café and sat down at an empty table. A waiter came out and took their orders before disappearing back to the kitchen.

  Juna’s mind swirled with so many questions but no words came. The thoughts bottlenecked, causing her to sit in awkward silence. Jinn kept his eyes on the half-troll, eyes drinking in her beauty as pain caressed his heart. A fatherly pulse ran down his spine and not of his own accord, the assassin reached across the table, palm up and fingers open.

  Juna looked down at the strong hand and like a little child, reached up and curled her hand into his. The moment they touched, warmth calmed the stormy tide of their hearts and a relaxed sigh touched their shoulders. The area around them seemed to grow brighter in the morning light, enough for the daughter and father to speak freely.

  “I have flashes, memories of your life and mother’s life,” Juna said simply. “I could see from your perspectives and I can feel what you both felt for each other. I have memories of your life outside of Lukken. I have memories of mom as she woke up in this world. I can see the faces of your friends. I know your battle techniques an
d I know mother’s seer abilities. There was no confusion and it all felt normal to me.”

  Jinn nodded. “I can’t explain it myself. I carried you until you reached 100%. You were born fully grown and fought like you have been training all your life. Seeing you appear was one of the greatest moments of my life…and the saddest.”

  Juna’s eyes darkened. “I can still sense Kurss Darkwhisper in his prison. Mother watches over him.”

  The assassin’s eyes lowered. “We should leave. We can go to the Cursed Coast. I know a portal a few miles from here. We can activate it and see her together.”

  The darkness faded from the half-troll’s eyes as he gazed on the glimmer of hope in the assassin’s eyes. “I can’t leave, not yet. Edric and the others need me here. Elora is in danger and I promised to help them.”

  Jinn’s brow furled slightly, “Elora is a lost cause and the longer you stay, the higher the danger. From the messages I intercepted, it implies the trolls are ready for invasion. Edric and the others seem like nice players and I’m grateful to them giving you a home but time is running out.”

  “Elora will need my help if there is going to be an invasion,” Juna said sternly.

  Jinn shook his head, “You don’t understand. It won’t be just Elora that will be attacked. The trolls and dread lords are pushing for one final conquest of Lukken. They have access to portals across the entire continent. They don’t have to march on their enemies if they have direct routes to most of the kingdoms. It will be a slaughter from all sides.”

  Juna’s fingers tightened around Jinn’s, “Then even more reason to stay and help defend.”

  Jinn’s brow hardened, “Do not think this is about honor? It’s about survival. I followed my honor and it took the woman I love away and killed my daughter. I’m grateful that you returned and I don’t want to see you throw your life away again. I will not let us go through that again.”

  Juna pulled her hand away, “I cannot abandon my friends. They helped saved me when I came back. I am indebted to them. Honor demands…,” the half-troll was cut off.

  “FUCK HONOR!” Jinn shouted.

  Juna flinched as patrons at the other tables looked over. Jinn’s eyes went from steel hard to soft edges as Juna looked away, arms crossed. Patron eyes and conversation returned to normal as Jinn eyed the half-troll sitting across from him.

  “Juna,” the assassin said in a low tone, “I know it doesn’t seem like it but I’m trying to save you and your mother. Lukken is leading to the final war and I don’t want to lose you both again. I know you see what honor demands of you but it will only get you killed. Besides, you barely know those people.”

  A fire touched Juna’s eyes as she glared at the assassin, “How can you say that?”

  Jinn sat up in his seat, “I saw you on the balcony with Edric. I managed to sneak a little closer to hear you both. You both talked like high school sweethearts. Neither of you know what’s to come and it’s obvious Elora is not ready to fight off the troll kingdoms. Fucking dragons couldn’t stop them, what chance does a weak kingdom have against such odds? I can contact an old friend and get you and your mother to a safe place, away from all the war and pain, a place where the three of us can be happy together.”

  Juna’s lip trembled before she spoke, “You’re not the man from my memories. Jayson Reed held honor above all else. He held his friends and lovers at the highest regard. He protected many and fought to the bitter end. I have seen your deaths but I have seen you rise above all else because of your love and honor.”

  Jinn’s fingers curled into a fist on the table, “And where did that get me? I never would have come back to this forsaken world if thoughts of your mother didn’t haunt me. It was a hard lesson to learn but honor will only get you killed. When I heard of your return, I came back to bring you to a better place. Now you want to stay by people you barely know in a fight they can’t win?”

  The half-troll’s brow formed a sharp V. “You keep saying I barely know them. If you were really watching me and them, you would know we know a lot about each other. Faye is a leader and hero of the people. She trains those who can’t fight to fight for themselves. Rayna keeps the peace, watching over those who are vulnerable to hate and indifference. She watches over and protects troll citizens who have made Elora their new home. Claudia and I have trained together to hone our abilities and styles, ready to take on any threat but she also takes time to help citizens with a protective comfort.”

  Juna’s brow softened as she continued, “And Edric spends his time bringing them together, leading them like a true leader. He guides them to do more, helping those fleeing from the dread lords and trolls. He has everyone’s best interests at heart.”

  Jinn let an annoyed smirk slip, “You give Edric too much credit. He is a selfish man who wants to rule a kingdom. I can understand him pulling the wool over his fellow ruler’s eyes but I don’t understand why you choose not to see him for what he truly is, a lord stepping on the backs of his people.”

  Juna’s face became a blank mask. “He has a big heart, much like the heart of my father from what I remember. He protects those…”

  Jinn cut her off, “What, the dragon eggs that keep coming to the city? It didn’t take long for me to hear about that little bit of information so you can assume the enemy already knows. Edric is creating a one stop shop for the enemy to come in and take every last dragon egg. The dread lords want those eggs and they will crush anyone who gets in their way.”

  “That is why I must stay here until the threat has passed,” Juna growled.

  Jinn’s eyes saddened in the darkness of his hood, “I…I didn’t want our meeting to be like this. I wanted us to just talk and plan to see your mother.”

  Juna’s expression remained blank as her heart cracked in her chest. “I want the three of us to be together, more than anything but my honor demands I stay and help.”

  Jinn gave a slight nod. “I understand but I am staying by your side until you are ready to go. I can’t budge on that.”

  Juna’s lips formed a small smile. “Thank you.”

  Jinn managed to return a small smile.

  The waiter returned with a pot of tea and two tea cups. The cups were placed on the table and hot tea poured into each one. Shyness returned to Juna as she watched Jinn lift a tiny teacup in his big hand and take a sip. The large grizzled assassin looked ridiculous having tea but it caused Juna’s heart to swell in her chest. Lifting her own teacup to her lips, she savored the aroma and basked in the taste as it touched her tongue, her heart filled with butterflies in the beautiful morning.

  ***

  The council chamber filled with a foreboding gloom. Edric, Rayna, Faye and Claudia sat in their seats as Thalia and Dumadin stood by a wall. The summoner nodded to Leeta as she closed the door to the chambers, her back leaning against it and her arms crossed. The ogre’s golden eyes stayed on her master as the rulers leaned in.

  “Just so we are on the same page, Varikk was destroyed last night,” Edric began. “Refugees began the trek here but at last count, there were less than a hundred people. Varikk held thousands, so many more may be on their way or they all perished in the attack.

  “From what I could get from the survivors, a giant monster or monsters attacked the city during the night without warning or provocation. The city fell in about an hour.”

  “There goes our ally and our escape route,” Rayna sighed.

  “I set up shelters for the refugees but now that Varikk has fallen, our trade routes will grind to a halt. Supplies will be limited,” Claudia added.

  Edric nodded. “It’s obvious we are being cornered with no way to back out. The important thing right now is to shore up our defenses and prepare the city for invasion.”

  A solemn calm filled the chamber as the realization they all thought about had arrived.

  Faye spoke up, “We have to get the farmers and as many supplies behind the city walls as soon as we can. They are the most vulnerable, should an
army arrive.”

  All heads nodded in agreement.

  “I will tour the city defenses and alert the guards and my lancers,” Claudia added.

  “I can have scouts in the countryside so they can report back with any troop movements,” Rayna said with an uncharacteristically serious tone.

  Dumadin took a step forward, “My lord and ladies, I’ll have the mine workers collapse the mine entrances. Those bastards won’t get a single runic stone while I still breathe.”

  Thalia slithered forward to the dwarf’s side, “And I will regulate supplies to the masses, ensuring rations are kept in balance if we are trapped in a long siege.”

  Edric nodded and looked to his fellow rulers, “These are all good points but we have a bigger problem we must address. If we are going to survive this, we need allies, lots of them.”

  “We don’t have any allies, remember,” Rayna said in a sardonic tone. “We had a peace treaty with the trolls and now it’s worthless. No one is going to come to our aid.”

  “We have to work with what little allies we have,” Edric turned his attention to Faye, “We know you have travelled and known many players during your time in the game. Is there a chance any of them will come to Elora’s aid?”

  The wood elf gave the summoner a blank gaze, “I can send some letters but I’m not sure they will come. Even if they do, I don’t know how long it will take.”

  “We have to try,” Edric said as his voice seemed to grow smaller. “We do have another ally that we can call upon, Lyndra Spire.”

  “The crazy dungeon core,” Rayna laughed. “I think I’ll take my chances with the trolls.”

  “She doesn’t seem the most stable ally,” Claudia said in a low tone.

  “I know but we need all the allies we can get,” Edric sighed. “We don’t have a standing army. The only defense is our walls which may give us the only edge. If the monsters that destroyed Varikk were sent by the trolls, there goes our edge. Lyndra might be able to help with the monsters in her dungeon.”