The Shrine of Kallen (The Tales of Zanoth Book 3)

by Aaron J. Ethridge

  Even now, however, he held a weapon that could do them harm. At his back, was a man that could lash out at them with arcane energy and a woman who could control or destroy them. This was far more than most of the living ever had at their disposal. Yet, if they were overwhelmed by ethereal enemies, it would likely prove little enough to save them. It was hardly surprising that the undead had ruled Zanoth uncontested for centuries. Still, he had already helped change that to a certain extent. He intended to change it even more. Provided, of course, that he didn't get himself killed in the depths of this dungeon.

  As these thoughts passed through his head, his body passed through the passage. They reached the stairs at its end and quickly climbed them. If Myra had seen a wraith, it apparently hadn't seen them. What was more likely, though, was that it had taken no notice of them.

  The next floor seemed more open and most of the chambers that filled it had no doors. As they wandered along, searching for any sign that might lead them to the surface and to the freedom that it offered, they encountered a group of guards marching in formation. Darek quickly stepped to the front of the band while the others fell behind him.

  “What are you doing here?” the ghoul who was obviously in charge of the other group demanded.

  “I could ask you the same thing,” Darek almost snarled.

  “I don't recognize you.”

  “Nor I you,” he replied. “Which is hardly shocking as we've just been assigned here. Who are you?”

  “I'm Captain Trell,” the ghoul barked. “You'd do well to remember that.”

  “Yes, sir!” Darek replied, instantly snapping to attention. “I apologize. I didn't realize you were a captain, sir.”

  “It's easy enough to see,” the captain replied, pointing to the emblem on his shoulder.

  “So it is, sir,” Darek nodded. “Again, I apologize. We're actually looking for the mess.”

  “Then, you've managed to get yourselves very turned around,” the ghoul said, gazing at him. “What's your name?”

  “Belfas, sir.”

  “Who assigned you here?”

  “Our lord and master, sir. Who else?”

  “Do you know why?”

  “Only rumors. I've heard that his lordship is afraid the it may attack the city,” Darek said with a chuckle. “Seeing as how there's no such thing, I'm not all that worried about it myself.”

  “You're not?” the captain asked. “Then, you haven't heard what happened at Kal Tammon?”

  “Nothing I believed.”

  “We'll find out soon enough, I suppose,” the captain nodded. “In any event, carry on.”

  “Certainly, sir,” Darek nodded. “If you don't mind my asking, where is the mess, sir?”

  The captain gave them directions before continuing on his way. The companions followed these after Darek explained that mess halls were often found on the ground floor. They quickly arrived at the chamber they were pretending to seek.

  “Don't look,” Paul whispered as his strode past the doorway.

  “Why?” Joey asked.

  “It looks like it's lunch time.”

  This roused Joey's curiosity and caused him to look. He sincerely wished he hadn't.

  A little more meandering led them to an unwelcome sight. It was a group of living guards strolling down the corridor they were making their way through. Instantly, Myra led them through an open door on the side of the passage.

  “What are we doing?” Frank asked.

  “We're hiding,” Myra explained.

  “That much is obvious,” he replied. “I mean; why are we doing it?”

  “We only look like undead to the undead,” she explained. “If those guards had spotted us, they would have realized that we're alive.”

  “So?”

  “How many living soldiers dress like this?”

  “That's a good point.”

  After the not-undead group had passed, the party emerged and continued their journey down the hallway. In short order, this led them to the entrance of the prison. Unfortunately, it was watched over by perhaps ten quite living sentries.

  “I can't understand the living working with the dead,” Joey asserted quietly.

  “It's easy to understand,” Darek asserted. “They're scum.”

  “Not all of them are,” Myra replied, shaking her head. “In fact, most of them are just doing the best they can for their families.”

  “In the short run, maybe,” Darek said. “But, helping the undead rule the world sure isn't much of a help in the long term.”

  “Not all of them realize that,” she replied. “I didn't myself at one point.”

  “Sure,” he shrugged, “but, you were undead at the time.”

  “All this is beside the point,” Frank interjected. “What matters now is getting out of here. None of you have any gold on you, do you? At least the living can be bribed.”

  “Not enough to get us out of this,” Darek asserted, shaking his head. “I'm afraid we're just going to have to kill them.”

  “We may be able to just wound them,” Paul replied.

  “Maybe. But, I wouldn't count on Myra being able to black magic them almost to death.”

  “I can try,” she said halfheartedly, “but, I've never heard of anyone actually doing that.”

  “We should go back and round up a few more zombies,” Joey suggested. “Then you can have them attack and we can make a run for it.”

  “That's a good plan,” Frank nodded.

  “It is,” Nyssa's voice agreed. “He keeps getting smarter and smarter. Still, a better plan would be for me to invisible you all out of here one at a time. I've got Paul's holy symbol with me, but he can't turn the living, can he?”

  “It's good to see you, sweetheart,” Joey said with a wide smile.

  “You can't see me,” the fairy pointed out. “Every time I think you've made progress, you prove me wrong. Of course, on the other hand...”

  “Nyssa,” Paul interrupted. “Could we just get out of here?”

  “Of course, we can,” she giggled. “What's stopping us?”

  Chapter 10: The Long Dark

  “Alright,” Paul said, “Myra should go first...”

  “I'm not going first,” the maiden interrupted, shaking her head. “You may need me...”

  “Yes, we may,” he counter-interrupted. “If anything goes wrong, we may need you to help break us out of here. You're not going to be able to do that if you're just as captured as we are.”

  “Paul, I'm not...”

  “Hold on a sec,” Frank said, raising his hand. “I'm actually thinking maybe I should go first.”

  “You?” Darek asked, turning to him with a smile.

  “It's like he just said,” Frank replied, pointing at the paladin. “Something could go wrong.”

  “Like what?” Nyssa's voice asked.

  “How would I know?” he shrugged. “I just have a bad feeling. I owe the young lady – not to mention the rest of you – for rescuing me. If anything unexpected happens, I'd rather it happened to me than to her.”

  “I don't know,” Paul said.

  “Less arguing,” Joey interjected, “more escaping.”

  “You're right,” the paladin nodded. “Nyssa, take him and then come back for Myra.”

  “I'm not...” the maiden began.

  “We can discuss it while Nyssa's getting Frank out of here,” the wizard pointed out.

  “Who's Frank?” the fairy asked.

  “The only one of us that you don't know,” Joey replied rolling his eyes.

  “Oh, of course! It's nice to meet you, Frank.”

  “The feeling's mutual, miss. Now, can we get out of here, please?”

  “Take this,” the fairy said as Paul's holy symbol suddenly dropped around his wrist just before Frank vanished from sight. “I'll be right back.”

  “We'll be in the first room down this hall,” Myra replied. “We're too exposed to wait for you here.”

  “I'll find you,�
�� Nyssa assured her. “Start walking, Frank.”

  The paladin slipped the symbol around his neck and under his shirt. He was amazed at how much better it felt to have it with him. If any undead attacked them now, they'd be in for a serious surprise. The former lich led the group back to the chamber where they had taken refuge from the living guards they had almost encountered just minutes before. As they stepped through the doorway, she ordered the two zombies that were still accompanying them to stand guard outside and to allow no one to enter.

  “Alright,” she said softly as soon as they were safely inside, “Joey can go next...”

  “You're going next,” Paul asserted.

  “Then Darek...” Myra continued.

  “I'm going last,” Darek said.

  “This is crazy to argue about,” Joey pointed out as loudly as he dared. “Myra, you're next. Then...”

  “I am not next,” she insisted.

  “What makes you think that you're last?” Paul asked, turning to Darek.

  “Are you kidding me?” he chuckled softly. “First, if one of us ends up caught here alone, they may have to answer all kinds of difficult questions; stretching out the interrogation for three of four days straight, without accidentally getting themselves tortured to death during that period. As much as I respect you and Joey, you're not even close to as clever as I am about things like that. On top of which, as you know, Myra hates to lie. Plus, I'll probably appreciate the food the most.”

  “That's certainly true,” the paladin laughed.

  “Not to mention,” he continued. “I am clearly the most expendable.”

  “None of us are expendable,” Paul said, shaking his head.

  “Not as friends, no,” Darek agreed. “But, when it comes to the future of Zanoth, yes. If any one of the four of us is going to end up dead, it needs to be me.”

  “I wouldn't say that,” the paladin replied.

  “Well, I would. And, I'm right. So, Myra next...”

  “I'm not...”

  “Alright!” he softly snapped. “Joey next...”

  “I'm not...” the wizard began.

  “Joey,” Darek replied sharply. “Which of the three of you do you feel is the least useful when it comes to having to slaughter an entire dungeon full of undead?”

  “I'm next,” Joey nodded.

  “Then Myra, then Paul, then me,” Darek finished. “It's as simple as that.”

  “What's as simple as what?” Nyssa's voice asked.

  “You're taking Joey next,” Darek explained.

  “Alright,” she replied just before the wizard vanished. “Let's go.”

  As soon as she was gone, Paul took a moment to heal his injured arm. Just minutes later, the fairy returned to escort the former lich from the prison. When she returned, she grabbed two handfuls of Paul's hair – right at the base of his neck – in her tiny fists.

  “Ow,” he cried softly.

  “Don't be a baby,” she giggled. “I know how difficult it can be to keep you invisible sometimes. I don't plan to have you popping in and out of view while we're trying to escape.”

  “Fair enough,” he nodded. “She'll be back for you in no time, Darek.”

  “I'm sure she will,” he smiled. “Good luck.”

  “Thanks!”

  Paul stepped confidently – and quietly – from the room. The hallway was currently empty, which was a bit of a relief. The young man found not being able to see his body as he walked to be rather disorienting. As a result, he had to be extraordinarily cautious with each of his steps. The last thing he wanted was a repeat of the tripping over his own feet adventure he had experienced just a few months ago. Still, at least Joey wasn't there to see him if it did happen. On top of which, with no guards to spot him and Nyssa clinging onto his hair like the main of some wild stallion, he was unquestionably in less danger than he had been the last time he was invisible-ing his way around.

  In what seemed like no time at all, they had approached and passed through the entrance of the prison. The sunlight was almost blinding after having spent more than an hour in the dim light of the dungeon. With nearly inaudible whispers and gentle tugs, the fairy led the paladin by a circuitous path to a narrow alley than ran between two multistory buildings. Sitting on the cobbles near the back entrance of one of these were two of his companions.

  “Where's Frank?” Paul asked just as the fairy released him.

  “I'll be right back,” she said.

  “We don't know,” Joey replied at the same moment. “This is where Nyssa left him. He wasn't here by the time I arrived.”

  “I hope nothing's happened to him,” Paul said.

  “I'm feel sure he'll be fine,” Myra smiled. “Frank struck me as a survivor.”

  “That's a fact,” Joey chuckled.

  “Do we have any idea where Sarrac and Alena are?”

  “At The Long Night,” she replied. “They planned to track Rex Shane down while Nyssa was trying to find us.”

  “Good,” Paul nodded.

  For several minutes, the trio lapsed into silence. The companions settled into place; leaning against one of the buildings and doing their best to look as inconspicuous as possible. Undoubtedly, the fairy had done her best to lead them to a low-traffic area. However, they were in a city filled with thousands of citizens. As time ticked by, several people strolled past one end or the other of the alleyway. A single middle-aged man even made his way through the narrow passage; giving the companions more than just a glance as he passed.

  “Where are they?” Joey asked the moment this observer stepped out of view.

  “On their way, I hope,” Paul replied.

  “She's been gone more than twice as long as she should have been,” Joey asserted.

  “Not quite that,” Myra corrected. “You're just nervous.”

  “Aren't you?”

  “Yes.”

  “We need to head back to the prison and see...” he began.

  “That would be stupid,” Nyssa asserted, popping into view and shaking her head – Darek appearing just inches from her. “What would be the point of that? If you wanted to see the changing of the guards, you already missed it. It wasn't all that much to see, anyway.”

  “It is what took us so long, however,” Darek interjected. “We need to work fast. Nyssa, can you go steal us a cloak from somewhere?”

  “Fairies never steal,” she pointed out, her head tilted to the side and her fists on her slender hips.

  “Obviously,” he smiled, pulling a small golden coin from the pouch on his side. “What I actually meant was: could you go grant some poor peasant's dearest wish?”

  “Fairies grant wishes?” Joey asked with a smile.

  “It depends on the wish,” Nyssa replied, eyeing him suspiciously.

  “This wish is for a new cloak,” Darek claimed with the most open, honest expression on his face. “Somewhere in this city – probably even near at hand – there's some poor young woman with a ragged old cloak. She's just longing to have a new one, Nyssa. Can't you see her there, working her fingers to the bone; saving every coin she can get her weary hands on, just wishing her sweet, little heart out?”

  “I can,” the fairy replied, nodding her head while tiny tears began to form in her miniscule eyes. “The poor girl.”

  “Just imagine the look on her face when she goes to grab that threadbare old rag of cloak and finds this coin in its place. She could buy three new cloaks with it if she wanted to.”

  “She could,” Nyssa nodded. “Or even a pair of shoes to go with her new cloak. That would probably soothe her sore feet a good bit.”

  “It certainly would,” Darek nodded, offering her the coin. “You'd better hurry. You don't want to keep her waiting.”

  “Be patient, dear!” the fairy cried, wiping the tears from her eyes, snatching the coin, and vanishing from sight. “Nyssa's on her way!”

  “I take it you had a reason for all that,” Paul said the moment the fairy was gone.

&
nbsp; “Uh, yeah,” Darek replied with a nod. “Here the four of us are, dressed like undead prison guards. More than likely, it won't be long before those stripped bodies we left down there are discovered. Under the best of circumstances, it would be difficult to remain inconspicuous dressed like this. Once they sound the alarm, it's going to be impossible. We need a change of clothes now.”

  “So,” Joey said, “we'll all just crawl under the threadbare cloak together and sneak around town without attracting any attention at all. What a truly brilliant plan.”

  “The cloak,” Darek replied, turning his eyes to those of the wizard, “is for Myra. She's going to wrap up in it and go buy us all some other clothing. All the three of us really need are long shirts. If we throw them over what we've got on, odds are that no one will notice that we're wearing pants that look like they belong on zombies.”

  “Where is she going to buy these clothes?” the wizard asked.

  “We're in a city, Joey,” he explained. “I'm sure there's a shop around here somewhere.”

  “In the meantime, we just wait here?”

  “Do you have a better idea?”

  “No...” the wizard sighed.

  Less than three minutes later, the fairy returned.

  “I'm back!” Nyssa said excitedly, instantly becoming visible. “Can you believe it? She was working away, just over a block from here! It's no wonder her feet hurt; standing in front of a sink for hours at a time. With all those dishes, it was hard to believe she wasn't working at an inn. Of course, I suppose it could have been a tavern. I didn't read the sign. I figured she'd waited long enough without me wasting even more time.”

  “That was thoughtful of you,” he smiled, taking the cloak from her tiny hands and throwing it over Myra's shoulders. “Now, Nyssa, I'd appreciate it if you two could do a little shopping for us.”

  “We'd love to,” she smiled. “Wouldn't we, Myra?”

  “Of course,” the maiden smiled in return.

  “Although,” the fairy said thoughtfully, “it does seem like an odd time for it. Do you think it could wait until after we've escaped a little bit better than this?”

  “I'm afraid not,” he winked. “It's part of the escape plan.”