by Anthology
“As I said before,”—Nakam bowed—“I called upon you to resolve a serious matter that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Our universe is at stake. All of us are in danger, mortals, undead and daemons alike.”
Sheda stared at Nakam, and so did Esh. Then she spoke softly. “Release the force field and I shall listen more.”
Nakam shook his head, “Only after you swear your allegiance and promise to investigate the origin of this elven maid.”
Sheda paused for a long moment before she nodded. “Three days,” she groaned. “Release me and I shall be in your service for three days. Then the deal is off.”
“I promise you,” she whispered to Esh, “a day shall come when Nakam shall pay for his insolence.”
“No doubt, Mistress.”
Nakam came closer, stopping in front of Sheda. He scanned her as if his diamond eyes could see whether she was telling the truth. “Deal.” He snapped his fingers and the glow radiating from the pentagram vanished.
The daemon slowly stepped outside the barrier. Her facial expression changed from anger to surprise and then to happiness. “Free! At last.”
Then it was anger once more. She spread her wings wide and hovered above Nakam, exposing her fangs. Lightning bolts discharged within her claws. “Now you shall witness the powers of Hell descending upon you. I shall smite you into oblivion.”
“Mistress,” screamed Esh in panic, “remember the last time you lost your temper?”
Sheda hesitated.
“Let us first hear what Nakam has to say,” said the fire imp. “If you don’t like it, you can always smite him into oblivion then.”
The Lich reached into his robe, pulling out an old-looking scroll.
“In recent months,” explained Nakam, “my domain has been invaded time and again by these adventurers.”
Esh nodded, examining the elven beauty who lay inside the cube. The maid had braided long blonde hair. She wore a green wool jacket, and a dagger was attached to her belt. He looked closely at the motionless body; his jaw froze in surprise. Her eyes were open wide, and her pupils moved back and forth.
“I spoke with other lords across the continent,” added Nakam. “Vampires, mummies, orc kings and even human warlords. All share the same tragedy.”
“Which is?”
“Adventurers!” Nakam muttered, lowering his voice to a bass. “We lived happily in our own realms, minding our own business. These invaders,” said Nakam, spitting on the floor as he spoke the words, “came out of nowhere with one purpose in mind: killing and pillaging. No one is safe from these evildoers. Not even I.”
“Fascinating,” hissed Sheda. “Satan had similar complaints. Tell me more.”
“They appear in the Temple of the Combined Elementals. From there, they set on a voyage of rampage against the inhabitants of this land.”
“Your Imperial Highness,” Esh coughed, “have you noticed her eyes?” He pointed at the elf, “They’re moving.”
The Lich fixed his diamond eyes on the tiny fire imp. “Of course they are.”
A few tiny sparks flashed. Esh said nothing.
“That’s the only way to hold those adventurers confined,” said the Lich. “I have tried several times to imprison them. After a brief moment, they all vanish. However, when showing them captivating illusions, they’ll remain confined, at least for a short while.”
“How?” Esh asked.
“Dream—one of my best illusions. Nevertheless, we only have a few hours before she shall find even the greatest of dreams boring; then, she too shall disappear.”
“These invaders of yours,” asked Sheda, “what kind of creatures are they?”
“Demi-humans,” replied the Lich. “Most are humans, some are elves, not to mention the occasional dwarves.”
“I meant what profession they hold, hmmm, besides being thieves and murderers?”
“Ah,” replied Nakam. “Paladins, warriors, rangers, wizards, clerics—you know, the usual trades.”
Sheda stared at the frozen elven lady. “She is an abomination. It’s as if she is a sort of…”
“Of what?” Esh and Nakam asked simultaneously.
“Unnatural.”
The she-daemon bent over the cube, gazing at the body inside. “I could shape-change myself into someone like her.”
“Splendid.” Nakam’s diamond eyes brightened. “I knew I made the right choice when I summoned you.”
“Don’t ever do it again,” snapped Sheda.
“Finally,” Nakam said, his shiny sparks glittering, “the riddle of the invaders shall be unveiled.” He paused for a moment. “Start to polymorph; we don’t have much time…”
***
“How do I look?”
Esh looked at the elven body which was his daemon mistress. He looked at her pointy ears, her bright complexion, the braided blonde hair and the simple clothing. “Beautiful. A fair Lady.” Realizing he might have offended her, he immediately corrected himself. “For an elf.”
“Perfect!” Nakam clenched his teeth within his lipless skull. “With your new look, you might be able to penetrate the Combined Elementals Temple.”
“Come, Esh,” said Sheda. “Let’s waste no time. We have a mission to complete.”
The small fire imp landed on Sheda’s shoulder. Traces of smoke appeared on her wool jacket as it began to burn.
A blow hit Esh. He smashed on the floor.
“Idiot!” Nakam snapped. “An elven lady can’t wander around town with a fire imp as her companion, especially while wearing a flammable outfit.”
Esh looked upon himself. There was something to Nakam’s logic. “But I must accompany my mistress,” he cried.
“Not as a fire imp!” Nakam said.
“So how would I go?”
“I can transform you into a small animal.” There was a hint of contempt in Nakam’s voice. “Something suitable for elven females, possibly an owl or a frog.”
“But what if the mistress wishes to speak to me? I must be able to talk.”
“Hmmm,” mumbled Nakam as he scratched an exposed piece of his skull. “Perhaps you’re right.”
***
Disguised as a parrot, Esh stood on Sheda’s right shoulder while she walked the streets in her new elven body. As they advanced toward the temple, merchants, beggars and a large number of nobles greeted them with the same dumb smiles.
“Mind your own business, mortals.” Sheda smirked.
“It feels strange walking upon human streets.” Esh struggled to speak in his new birdlike shape.
“Ha-ha,” agreed Sheda. “Last time I tried that, people ran away screaming, except for a few stupid ones who actually tried to attack me.”
“Aye,” agreed Esh. “Daemons are always hated and feared. I wonder why.” Using his beak, he scratched an itch below his feathery wing.
“You’re pathetically naive.”
“Why?” Esh asked. “All we want to do is to be left alone in Gehenom. If humans want to be upset about something, why don’t they pick on the wizards who summoned the daemons in the first place?”
His voice sounded so awkward with the high-pitched twittering—damn his parrot’s beak.
The houses on both sides of the road were two stories high. In most, the second floor was bigger than the ground level; supporting beams prevented the upper deck from collapsing into the open sewage. The open sewers scent was not as good as the sulfuric acid and brimstone Esh was used to, yet he couldn’t complain.
It wasn’t long before they reached the Combined Elementals Temple. It was a remarkable building made of marble, perhaps twenty stories high. Nobody knew how many levels extended below ground. The gate was open and Esh saw no guards.
Sheda walked toward the entrance. She climbed the stairs and—bang! An invisible barrier blocked their path. Sheda tried once more. She tried to throw stones. Nothing could enter the temple.
“Perhaps we should ask someone,” suggested Esh. “Maybe this beggar knows the secret.”
Sheda nodded, and climbed down the staircase to meet the tramp. He was an old man in ragged clothing.
The beggar extended his hand. “Can you spare a couple of coppers for a poor old man who lost his daughter?”
“Silence, old fool,” snapped Sheda. “Tell me how to enter the Temple.”
“How can I tell you anything, if you want me to be silent?”
Sheda grabbed the beggar and lifted him with one hand. “Tell me what I want to know, or I shall smash your spine and banish your miserable soul to Hell.”
“I seek no confrontation,” begged the beggar. “I shall answer thy questions, free.”
“How do I get in?”
The beggar looked at her with his eyes wide open. “All you have to do is to climb the stairs and enter the black gate.”
“Are you as blind as you are a fool?” Sheda said, her voice like ice. “My way was blocked.”
“Anyone who stepped out of the temple may enter.”
“What if one never stepped out of the temple?”
The beggar kept silence for a short while. “That’s impossible. I saw you come out of the gate a day before yesterday. You were kind enough to provide me a gold piece, don’t you remember?” The beggar paused for a moment. “I was the fellow who told you where the pub was; the one with your friends.”
Sheda shook the beggar once more. “Are you saying only those who came out may enter?”
“Aye.”
“Can you enter?” she asked, putting her index finger on his chest. Esh recognized the tone. It meant danger.
“Of course not. I’m a local.”
Sheda dropped the beggar angrily. “Didn’t I tell you to remain silent?”
“Can you spare a couple of coppers for a poor…”
Esh shut his eyes close as a sudden flash blinded his sight. A deafening explosion almost knocked him off Sheda’s shoulder. When he opened his eyes, all that was left of the beggar was a crumbling heap of ash.
“That shall teach him respect,” said Sheda.
Esh looked around, expecting the city guards to jump them. Nothing happened. The many nobles and few merchants just continued with their daily business wearing their silly smiles, as if frying people with lightning bolts was a normal occurrence.
Sheda shook her head. “This whole mission smells like a waste of my valuable time. Damnation bestowed upon Nakam.”
“What about the ‘friends’ mentioned by this, hmm, thing?” Esh stared at the heap of ash. “Perhaps we could find some clues if…”
“Let us seek that pub.”
***
Esh scanned the patrons in the pub. Most seemed ordinary folks like knights, priests, rich merchants, a street beggar and a couple of palace guards.
Sheda seated herself at one of the empty tables. “I’ve had enough of this mystery. I miss Hell.”
“I wish I could help, Mistress,” replied Esh, still standing on her shoulder.
She turned to the bartender. “Fetch me some sulfuric acid. Make it boiling!”
“I’m sorry, lady,” the bartender replied, staring at the elven maid. “We don’t carry that drink. Would you be satisfied with some warm tea instead?”
“Baah!” Sheda said. “Bring me the strongest stuff this miserable establishment has to offer.”
“Aye, my lady,” the bartender bowed.
The door slammed open. The inn was flooded with light so strong that for a moment, Esh had to shut his parrot eyes.
Most of the tavern’s occupants simply ignored the new arrivals. Esh and Sheda examined them closely.
There were three.
The first one covered himself, head to toe, with golden full plate armor. He held a huge rectangular shield. On his back, he carried at least three backpacks, an enormous two-handed sword, a large lance, a longbow and no fewer than ten quivers packed with arrows. He wore a polished golden crown, spotted with gems so bright that looking at them pained Esh’s eyes.
The second person also wore heavy full plate armor. This one was fat, and unlike the first, his armor was as black as coal. The large shield he carried was decorated with an image of snow-covered mountains. In his right hand he held a bulky staff. Atop his many backpacks Esh could identify a huge flail, and in his belt the fellow carried a sling. This individual wore a sizable necklace; many beads and prayer books peeked from his pockets.
The third character wore a blue robe and a purple pointy hat that could only be seen on wizards. His equipment was fundamentally different from his comrades’ gear—he had but a single backpack, and his only weapon was a tiny dagger stuck in his belt. Strangely, two shining gems orbited his head. They reminded Esh of moons orbiting a world up in the upper plains of existence. A black cat trailed behind the skinny human.
“Perhaps these are the ‘friends’ the beggar spoke of,” whispered Esh.
“Hi, Susan.” The human with the golden armor waved his hand at Sheda. “I was trying to call you last night. Why didn’t you answer? Did you forget about the barbecue?”
Esh froze. “Susan” definitely wasn’t a typical elven name. And what did barbecue stand for? Esh had never heard of such a word. He hoped barbecue had something to do with fire.
“Hmmm,” mumbled Sheda. “I was preoccupied at the Lich palace. He captured me.”
“And I thought you were playing hard to get,” he chuckled. “I’ll text you tonight.”
“I’ll be delighted.” Sheda glanced at Esh and shrugged.
Esh wanted to scratch his head hearing these funny words. Unfortunately, his parrot wings didn’t allow that luxury, and he dared not use his feet.
The other two humans came closer. The blue-robed wizard stared at Sheda closely. “Were you at the Lich palace the whole night?”
“Aye.”
“Captured?”
Sheda nodded.
“Sweet Jesus,” the wizard said, while his black cat rubbed at his legs. “Why didn’t you just log out and start fresh at the temple?”
Esh wondered what by the name of Asmodeus that wizard was talking about.
“You tell me,” Sheda said.
“You didn’t want to lose your experience points?”
Sheda nodded.
“You didn’t have to be up all night, you know,” the wizard continued. “You could have called support. I was killed twice at the palace. I e-mailed the company, and they restored all my items. By the way, we’re thinking of going back there. Wanna join? We could use a good thief.”
“A thief?” Icicles formed in Sheda’s eyes. “You dare to call me a thief? I shall obliterate you for your insolence.”
“Mistress!” Esh whispered in panic. “Remember the mission.”
The one with the golden plate smiled. “You talk funny, Susan. A true role player! Anyway, about that Lich, are you in? We could use your help. Nakam is a first rate AI.”
“AI?” Sheda raised an eyebrow.
The wizard punched himself on his forehead. “What’s the matter with you, Susan? I thought you were a geek. AI—Artificial Intelligence.” His hands extended wide, as if he was talking about the most trivial thing in this plain.
“Ah, yes, that kind of AI. Sorry, I forgot,” Sheda replied. Her voice sounded awkward and unconvincing.
“So?” The golden-plate warrior stared at Sheda. “Are you in?”
Sheda ignored him as she addressed the wizard. “Some daemons are also incredibly smart. Are you implying they too have artificial, um, intelligence?”
The wizard nodded.
Esh was confused. These humans were talking about the creatures of this world as some sort of artificial…something. This was madness.
“Are you claiming that all the locals,” said Sheda, “all those who didn’t come out of the temple, are nothing but…” She fell silent. Then she whispered in Esh’s ear. “These humans must have drunk too much elixir of lunacy. Continuing this parley is a waste of my precious time. We should go home.”
“Susan,”—the wizard sounded
surprised—“didn’t you read the game manual? All the local creatures are an interactive part of the software.”
“Of course I read them.” Sheda played along with their psychosis. “I’m, as you said, a good, hmm…role player. This body is the avatar of an entity from the real world.” She pointed at her elven body, mocking the wizard. “The one where humans can invoke, barbecues and software, while the inhabitants of this place are nothing but a brainless artificial creation. Right?”
The wizard chuckled.
Sheda stood up and walked toward the exit. “I’m afraid I must bid you farewell, gentlemen. I have more important business.”
The human with the golden plate shouted after her, “What kind of business? The Lich? What did he promise you?”
Sheda turned her head. “Nakam promised me my freedom.”
The man looked at her, “Eh?”
“The freedom to go to Hell.”
***
The dazzle in Nakam’s diamond eyes dimmed. “I’ve suspected that for the longest time. And don’t fool yourself. It’s much worse than what I initially expected.”
“Have you lost your mind?” said Esh, hovering above Sheda in his original fire imp shape. “These humans are insane beyond redemption. Are you saying there is a shred of truth in their ill mind?”
Nakam just stood there, shaking his head. “I have other sources that confirmed this story. Our plains of existence are indeed nothing but a sophisticated creation. And we are mere creatures designed to entertain the players who enter our world.”
Sheda, back in her she-daemon form, glared in red. She shoved Esh aside with one hand, and with the other, she grabbed Nakam’s fragile neck and lifted him in the air. “Explain yourself!”
“In your absence,” Nakam said without flinching, “I linked to this maiden’s mind. I read her memories. I saw the world she came from.”
“Carry on!”
Nakam just gestured at the elven maid frozen inside the transparent cube.
“It can’t be true.” Sheda dropped the Lich to the ground, her eyes as dead as the abyss. “I’ve fulfilled my part of our agreement. If you choose to believe in the maiden lunacy, it’s your choice. I demand that you hold your part of the bargain, and send me back to Gehenom.”