The Path to Peace (Alpha World Book 6)

by Daniel Schinhofen

  Snorting, Alburet’s lips curled into a sardonic smile, “I agree.”

  “On that note, it is late and we seem to be getting up before dawn, so I should take my leave,” Ioaniss yawned as he got to his feet. “I wonder how long Vladimir will try to keep this pace.”

  “That’s a good point,” Rolland said as he stood up slowly. “We’re going to wear down if we keep going as we have been. The last trip through the Dead Lands was much more reasonably paced.”

  “Any idea how far away our objective is?” Alburet asked Ioaniss.

  “At least a week, though possibly up to a month,” Ioaniss sighed. “We only have a vague idea of where the city might be, though I rather think the Infernals in front of us will lead us right to it.”

  “Good point,” Karen said. “We’ll need to thank the Dark Lord next time we talk to him.”

  “About that,” Ioaniss said, looking back at Alburet. “Any comment about why, for the second time, we’ve been aided by his creatures?”

  “He likes me?” Alburet said.

  Laughing, Ioaniss left the tent, “Understated, but fair enough. Good night.”

  “We’ll see you in the morning,” Rolland said as Kim and he also left.

  Karen tied the tent flap closed once they were gone. “Time for bed.”

  “Yes, but I want to cuddle some before we sleep,” Fluff said, her voice holding a demanding tone which got everyone’s attention.

  “Oh, demanding kitty,” Karen giggled as she walked towards Fluff. “First we have to get naked, don’t we?”

  Fluff tossed her dress at Karen, stopping the Assassin in her tracks. “Yes,” Fluff giggled, quickly doffing her undergarments and diving into the bedding. “Well, come on.”

  Everyone blinked again in shock at how forward Fluff was being, but quickly joined her. Cuddling and getting Fluff to purr by rubbing her ears and stomach, the quartet found a moment of peace and happiness in their journey.

  “Goodnight, me loving family,” Stacia said softly.

  Once everyone echoed her words in their own way, she sang them to sleep. Laying awake for a few more minutes, Stacia sent a prayer to the Dark Lord and another to Bastet, thanking both gods for the happiness her family had found together.

  Chapter Thirty-nine

  The next five days settled into a routine. The first attack of the day was always an assortment of Forgotten Undead. They would still end up in one or two other fights with undead that got past the army of Infernals marching a few miles ahead of them. When the sun began to set, they would set camp, have a simple dinner, then retire for the night.

  Vladimir’s group didn’t talk much, though the Shamans did let enough hints drop for the others to realize that they were guildless mercenaries. Renful and Vladimir ate with the rest of them, but otherwise kept to themselves.

  Fluff’s personality shifted over several days as she became a bit more aggressive and bolder than she had been. She even went so far as to join some of the sexual banter that Stacia and Karen routinely flung around.

  Settling into the tent for the evening with a week of travel behind them and the Gods only knew how much more to come, everyone was tired of the pace they were setting. Stripping down, Alburet twisted his neck back and forth to work a kink out of it.

  “I know Vlad wants to get there as quick as he can, but man. He’s really pushing the pace,” Alburet sighed.

  “Maybe we just need a little rest and relaxation tonight,” Fluff said, her breath warming the back of his shoulders.

  “Fluff?” Alburet asked softly, “What did you have in mind?”

  “You know when I was talking with Karen and Stacia earlier?” Fluff asked as her hands went around his waist, her naked body pressing against his.

  “Yes,” Alburet’s voice caught on the word, his body responding to her actions.

  “They agreed to tie you down for me again,” Fluff murmured and began trailing kisses down his spine. “Do you want to take another step with me, husband?”

  “Gods yes,” Alburet breathed.

  “Then go to them,” Fluff said, placing one last kiss on his back.

  Swallowing hard, Alburet turned to find Stacia and Karen, also nude, were waiting for him with the silk ropes they’d used before. “I see that I’m the last to know.”

  “It be for Fluff. She was the one to suggest this tonight. Ya would nay wish to deny her now, would ya?” Stacia purred as she patted the bedding. “Come on.”

  Karen was grinning. “We’ll be playing with you both, but Fluff will be the maestro of this beautiful symphony.”

  Laying down, his eyes went to Fluff, who was still standing next to his gear, and their eyes met. “I’ve wanted this moment for so long, Al. I feel confident enough now, my doubts have retreated and tonight, I am bold enough to demand this.”

  As the others tied his wrists, Alburet felt the need to ask a question that bothered him. “What about the night terrors you’d been having?”

  Fluff’s smile grew wide. “I haven’t had one since I accepted all of me.”

  A small knot of worry in his chest vanished. “That’s good.”

  “You’ve been worried about that since we told you,” Karen said softly. “We’ve all known, Al. She thinks that now is the time, so now is the time.”

  “Aye, and she be the one in charge for this,” Stacia reminded him as they proceeded to secure him the same way they had the last time.

  “This time, he can watch as we all start,” Fluff said, walking towards them.

  A groan of disappointment slipped from him, causing the other two to giggle. “Aye, I thought ya might react like tha’,”

  Helping Fluff down onto the bedding next to Alburet, Karen grinned at him. “Enjoy the show.”

  The trio of beauties enjoying each other a few feet from him was tantalizing and aggravating at the same time. It was like having a three-course meal just beyond reach, and all he could do was imagine having a taste. After what felt like an eternity, Fluff finally came to him, her legs sliding over his waist as she positioned herself above him.

  “Are you ready?” Fluff asked confidently, but Alburet could still see a hint of fear in her eyes.

  “Gods, yes,” he managed to breathe out in a hoarse whisper as he felt her graze across his hard flesh.

  Stacia and Karen crept over, positioning them so Fluff could sink down onto him. Eyes rolling back, Alburet shuddered as the warm sensation of Fluff surrounding him was the only thing he was aware of. Fluff’s deep, moaning growl of pleasure vibrated through his soul like a cat that had just gotten the meal it had been waiting for.

  “Oh, this is amazing,” Fluff managed as she shifted slightly up his length, before pushing herself back down. “Mrr,” she purred as she continued the slow rhythm of riding him.

  Hours later, they lay in a boneless heap, all of them sated. Alburet’s mind drifted back to the moment when Fluff had eased herself down atop him. A shiver went up his spine as he thought of the look of pleasure on her face.

  “Ya be thinkin’ about it all over again,” Stacia murmured from his left. “Ya was caught up in the moment, so ya probably missed the last bit of fear she had melting away. Ya be a good man, master.”

  Alburet kissed her head where it rested on his shoulder. “We need to sleep; morning is coming quickly.”

  “Oh, aye, a handful of hours remain, but do nay worry—I will wake ya when it be time,” Stacia murmured. “Let me sing ya a song of love, so ya can rest.”

  It seemed only a moment later when Alburet woke to Stacia’s kiss. “Master,” Stacia murmured, “it be time to wake.”

  Blinking, Alburet sat up. “Already?”

  “Aye, the others be outside already and breakfast be ready,” Stacia said as she stood. “Ya be the last to wake.”

  “I’ll be right there,” Alburet yawned as he got to his feet, snagging his clothes.

  Alburet stepped out of the tent and willed it away, dropping the Tentstone in his bag as he walked to the c
ampfire, where everyone else was finishing their breakfast. “Sorry for my tardiness,” Alburet told them as he took the bowl from Fluff. “I’ll eat quickly.”

  “That would be good,” Vladimir said coldly.

  Hands tightening on the bowl as he began to shovel the frumenty into his mouth, Alburet frowned. He was growing tired of Vladimir’s attitude and lack of communication. “We’re a week into the Dead Lands, Sir Dracon. Care to tell us yet what your goal is?”

  Vladimir’s eyes narrowed. “No, I do not. Not until we reach the city at least.”

  “You’ve heard Sir Carter’s and Sir Jones’ reasons, and you specifically asked us to go with you,” Gerald said, picking up the conversation as Alburet’s mouth was full. “Is it not a good idea for us all to be on the same page?”

  Vladimir’s lips pulled back into a grimace. “I’ll consider it, but we need to go.”

  Alburet scooped the last bite into his mouth, then quickly used the cleaning bucket and handed his bowl to Sala. “Then by all means, let us go,” Alburet said.

  Ioaniss looked around to make sure everyone was ready before picking up the Campstone. Pulling his crossbow, Ioaniss waited for mobs to show.

  None of them were ready for the oversized Sandworm that burst forth from below. Ioaniss and Vladimir’s groups were both swallowed before the sand had cleared.

  “Quickly,” Gerald said as he launched himself forward to attack the Elder Sandworm.

  The others all joined him, with claws, blades, axes, and spells all impacting the side of the mob. Marysue even joined in, smacking the hide of the Elder Sandworm with her staff. Stacia and Kitten both reached out to touch the Worm in unison, draining 10% of its life in an instant.

  A monstrous roar echoed across the sands as the Elder Sandworm shivered in place, having had so much of its life ripped away so quickly.

  “Good thinking,” Alburet said, swinging his maul as Imps began to appear all around the mob. “Get it, boys.”

  A chorus of agreement came from the Imps as they all began peppering the Worm with Fire Blasts. Fifteen seconds into the intense barrage, the Worm shivered. A sound much like a sink coming unplugged echoed from the mob as it tipped to the side and ten people all covered in bile came spilling out of its open mouth.

  Marysue used Halo on the pile of people to give them as much health as quickly as she could. Shifting over to her other area heals, she layered as many on them as she was able. The people all began to shift and climb to their feet, to the relief of the others.

  “Justice, that thing is huge,” Ioaniss managed to say as he put his crossbow away and pulled the whip off his hip.

  “It’s going to burrow,” one of the Shamans yelled.

  Everyone stepped back and spread out as the Elder Sandworm sank back into the ground. “Spread out, it’s got a big mouth,” Vladimir snapped at Renful, who was sticking next to him. “It will get fewer of us that way. Everyone be ready.”

  A few heartbeats of tense waiting went by, before Alburet felt the sand under him shift. “Fuck me,” he said as he tried to jump clear, only to be swallowed whole. The inside of the Elder Sandworm was a tube that he slid straight down into, falling into a large stomach filled with acid. Hissing as the acid ate at his feet and calves, Alburet began hammering at the inside of the mob. “Spit, you fucking bitch!”

  His life was draining faster than he cared for. Alburet quickly applied Demonic Haze and Demonic Vitality to give himself a little more health. Another thought struck him and he cast Demonic Retribution on himself as well. Small sparks started flaring continuously around his feet where they were submerged. “Ha! I’ll give you indigestion,” he muttered as he swallowed one of his health potions.

  Smashing his flaming maul into the side of the mob, he was wondering how the others were doing outside when a shudder ran through the Worm and almost knocked Alburet off his feet. “I hope that was a good sign…”

  With another shudder that knocked Alburet completely into the stomach acid, the worm convulsed. Spluttering as he sat up, Alburet wasn’t ready when the Worm heaved him back up the slide and onto the sands, his maul dropping next to him.

  “He’s out,” someone said as a wave of cool energy washed over him, easing the sensation of being eaten alive.

  “Thank you,” Alburet muttered as he struggled to his feet.

  “It’s submerging again,” another person called out.

  “Master,” Tiny nodded to him, “thank the Dark Lord you survived.”

  “Get ready,” Vladimir’s voice echoed in Alburet’s ears.

  Renful vanished, along with two of the Shamans, as the Elder Sandworm surfaced again. This time, though, as the group advanced on the worm, spines shot out of its sides, injuring them and forcing them back.

  “Are you fucking kidding me?” Karen snapped as she looked at the spines, which covered eight feet up its side from where it rose out of the sand. “Fluff, going up,” Karen said, running forward and leaping up to grab a spine. She swung herself up, using them to climb up the Worm.

  Fluff flushed red with Rage and used Leap to get there ahead of Karen, her claws digging in as she found her footing. “Good plan,” came the growl as Fluff began to tear divots out of the Worm.

  “Follow me,” Gerald said. “Tiny, TJ, either side of me. We’ll make a hole for the others.” He squared up his shield and slammed it into one of the spines, which bent and angled away from him only to get caught next by Tiny’s shield, which caused it to snap. “Good, I was right.”

  The fight continued after that delay, once the tanks had cleared a bare spot for the melee to attack from the ground again. The health of the Worm continued to drop, but the one remaining Shaman went pale. “It’s going to burrow with them inside.”

  “Peace, help us,” Sala said.

  “You have a few seconds to get them free,” Rolland said as he brought his staff around, slamming the butt of it into the ground. An icy gale swirled up around them, engulfing the Elder Worm and freezing it in place. Only five feet of the beast remained visible above the sand.

  The mob let out another roar of frustration as it froze in place. “Hurry,” Kim urged them, sparing a quick glance at Rolland, who was collapsed onto the sands.

  With renewed vigor, the group assaulted the mob until it finally shifted to the side and regurgitated the trio it had swallowed. Marysue was already casting her heals to help them.

  With a final shudder as the ice gave way and freed the Elder Sandworm, it swayed above them, whimpering pathetically. “Clear out,” Vladimir shouted as he turned and ran.

  Seeing the worm swaying above them, everyone but Karen and Fluff ran for it. Two of the people the worm had just spit out were just scrambling to their feet, and the third lay on the sands unmoving.

  “Fluff, can we swing it?” Karen asked as she tried to shift the Worm to avoid the trio.

  “Tiny, rush it!” Fluff cried out.

  “Do it,” Alburet said, “both of you.”

  Tiny and TJ spun around and charged at the worm. “For the master!”

  “Jump!” Marysue screamed at Fluff and Karen.

  When Tiny and TJ impacted, a shiver ran up the entire length of the Elder Sandworm as it tipped away from the three who had been swallowed last. Seeing it fall away from the bile covered trio, both Karen and Fluff jumped clear, angling over Tiny to land on the sand.

  A ground shaking crash rumbled across the still air of the Dead Lands as the Elder Sandworm finally fell dead. “I can help,” Marysue said, rushing to heal the injured.

  Gerald went along with her, seeing that it was Renful who lay unmoving on the ground. “He needs a rez, Mary,” he told her as she came to a stop next to Renful’s body.

  Vladimir appeared next to them in a blur. “Renful, you aren’t done yet,” the words were soft as he waited for Marysue’s spell to finish.

  A white glow surrounded the body of Renful and he twitched. “It worked,” Marysue beamed.

  “Renful?” Vladimir said, wa
iting for the Necromancer to get to his feet.

  “Yes master?” Renful asked as his health began to regenerate.

  “Take a few minutes to clean up and get your breath back,” Vladimir said before turning to check on the Shamans.

  Gerald watched him go with a raised eyebrow. Stacia stopped next to him. “He was worried. He hides it,” she said.

  “Good to know,” Gerald replied, the frown leaving his face.

  “Let’s see what the loot is while we wait,” Karen said as she walked over to the Sandworm’s corpse.