Opening the tomes drew out the old spirits in the tower, those who were meant to protect the Harbor from the cultists. Apparently, they were not very nice spirits and they killed at least two of the party before they managed to get them under control. For once, he was happy he denied his curiosity and just got the quest completed.
Jimmy pulled up his map and Bishop peered over his shoulder, bringing himself back to today’s plans. Inwardly, he sighed in relief to see a marker for Burning Glade show up on his map, too. At least, that part of the storyline was the same for everyone, but it was on the very edges of this territory. This one was much smaller than the last and would only take them up to level 25.
“Sell, repair, and head to Weston to see Godfrey?” Jimmy suggested.
“Might as well. Any other suggestions?”
“Should we see what the LongBeards are up to?” Benji asked.
“Nah, I got a message from Trajan this morning,” Bishop said. “He was checking out what comes up next, speaking with some more of the NPCs around Hillside and the two instances left in this area are only ten mans. I think we’re on our own for a little while at least.”
They finished up selling what they needed to and Bishop transported them all, minus Calista, who was already there, back to Weston. It would be nice to spend some time in their house and put up the new banner from the latest dungeon. But really, he wanted to go check on Calista at her shop and see how business was doing.
“I’ll see you guys in an hour?” he said, walking for the front door.
“Yeah, yeah, go see your girlfriend,” Jimmy teased, rolling his eyes dramatically.
Bishop didn’t waste any more time and hurried through the streets of Weston to Calista’s new shop. Several people were exiting when he arrived and the bell above the door rang cheerily when he stepped through.
“Be right with you!” she called from the back.
“I’m kind of in a hurry,” he yelled back in a much deeper voice. “Didn’t know if you had anything for a hunter with a bad attitude and this incredible white wolf who follows him around?”
Calista burst out of the back room and rushed around the front counter to hug him. “You just think you’re so funny don’t you?” She kissed his cheek and Bishop was suddenly back in la-la land. “Where’s Willy?”
“Out hunting somewhere, I think. I’m not entirely sure where he goes when he’s not with me.”
She grabbed his hurt shoulder and he winced. She pulled her hand back as worry wrinkled her brow. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, nothing, just didn’t sleep well last night,” he lied, and he gently removed her fingers from his shoulder when she went to touch it again.
“You shouldn’t feel that in here,” she said. “Bishop, what’s going on?”
He backed away, slowly. “I’m sure it’s fine. You ready to get going? We’re headed out to talk to Godfrey and see what comes with this next quest.”
Her eyes narrowed and she fingered the blacksmithing hammer at her hip. “Maverick told me you have a tendency to hide things,” she said, calling him out. “You really want to avoid my questions?”
He glanced at the door, but they were still alone. “Look, I’ll tell you, but it has to be later. And you have to swear that you’re not going to say anything to anyone.” He frowned at his own words. Why are you going to tell her? You swore to Dennis you wouldn’t! But for some reason, he could not lie to Calista, or let her go on not knowing the truth of what he was going through with this game. “Please?”
“Fine, but you better tell me the truth. If I’m going to fall for you, I’d like to know what I’m getting myself into.”
“Falling for me?” he asked, and he couldn’t help but smile. “Really?”
“Don’t look so surprised. You’re falling for me, too. Let me switch into my gear and we can meet up with the others.” She patted his cheek as his face grew hot and he watched her saunter to the back room.
“Yeah, yeah I am,” he whispered to himself.
When she was ready, she linked her arm through Bishop’s and they stepped out into the bustling streets of Weston. “What do you think’s going to happen?”
“With what?”
“The quest,” she said, laughing. “I’m sure telling the great King Godfrey he’s going to be attacked is not going to go over well.”
“Better for those of us who are not half-breeds,” he muttered.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It means Godfrey hates anyone who’s a half-breed. That first quest everyone had where the guards just let them in to speak to the king?” he told her. “Yeah, me, Benji, and everyone else who is a half-breed wound up having to save the guards before they let us in the doors.” He paused. “Actually, come to think about it, they still didn’t let me in. I saved their royal highnesses from a mob of demons.”
Calista laughed. “Damn, that does sound more exciting. I knew I should’ve been a half-breed.”
“Nah, you make a pretty good elf,” he assured her.
They talked as they walked, taking their time through the streets of Weston. If Bishop didn’t think too hard about it, he felt like he was actually in the real world walking around with the woman he liked through any other city. Just this one sold armor, weapons, and health potions. When they walked up the street leading them to the guild house, the others were gathered out front staring up at the new banner someone just put up.
“That’s a nice sight to see,” Bishop announced as they neared.
“Yeah, six more and the head of the Demon Queen left to go,” Maverick mused. “It’s a good thing Dennis decided to extend the beta for those who want it. It’s been what, almost a month already and we’ve only completed three dungeons?”
“I don’t think he meant for us to play all the way through the game,” Bishop admitted. “But we’re doing so well, he’s too excited to have us stop.”
Maverick tapped her spear on the stones, saying she knew as he did that was not the only reason; he tended to forget how easily she read people. “And I’m glad for it. I don’t think any of us are ready to go home. Not even close. Too bad we can’t just stay here permanently, right? I could hire myself out as a mercenary and you, well Bishop, I’m not sure what you could do,” she said smirking.
“Thanks, that makes me feel fantastic as the leader of this guild.”
“You could be my adorable assistant in my shop.” Calista kissed his cheek then pinched it softly. “You’d be a perfect handsome model.”
The two women laughed as Bishop yelled for Jimmy to get his butt off the balcony where he hung up the banner. “Let’s go, people. We have an ungrateful king to save. At least, this time they’ll let me in, I hope.”
The sun moved across the sky as they marched through Weston to the palace all the way up at the top. As the gate came into view, the sun suddenly vanished from sight, replaced by black menacing clouds.
Bishop turned as a gust of hot air smacked him in the face, blowing his hair and nearly sending him toppling over.
“She’s already here,” he whispered. “Run!”
Leading the charge, he bolted through the gate and up to the guards standing on the stairs. They stood watching the storm rush in overhead, lightning crackling through the thunderheads. No rain fell with this storm, though. Bishop feared it was going to be worse than that. Much worse.
“Ah, Bishop,” Sir Winston called and waved over his head. “You have returned to us in one piece. I am glad to see it. And you bring your companions. How fair you all?”
“We’re about to find out. Where’s the king?” Bishop asked, out of breath.
“Inside. Why, what has happened?”
“It’s not what has happened,” he said, turning to watch the darkness Valen brought with her. “It’s what’s coming. We have to protect the king. Get him to safety, quickly.”
Sir Winston’s hand fell to the hilt of his sword. “What evil do you speak of?”
“Val
enastrious,” he said. “She’s here and she’s come for your king.”
Winston let several obscenities unfit for a Knight fall from his lips as he barked orders to his men. “Close the gate! Man the wall and make ready for an imminent attack! Nothing gets through these doors, do you understand me, men? Nothing!”
Bishop nodded over his shoulder at his guild before he hurried after Winston inside the palace. But as he passed through the doors, his body shimmered in and out of view. When he came back to a solid form, he realized he was alone with Winston. “Damn it. Figures this is a solo quest.”
“Bishop, are you coming?” Winston hollered.
“Right behind you, big guy,” he said, and he took off at a spring to catch up with Winston already down the long hall leading to the throne room.
Godfrey was there with men and a few guards. “Winston, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought this man before me unannounced? This is unacceptable!” He crossed his arms over his chest and glared at Bishop as if the hunter hadn’t already saved the man’s life once before. “Answer me!”
“My King, he has come ahead of a terrible storm,” Winston said, falling to one knee and bowing his head. “Valenastrious, the Demon Queen herself, has come for your soul.”
The ruler’s face paled and his arms fell limp at his sides. “She is here? In Weston? No, that is not possible.”
“You said the same thing about demons being in Samar,” Bishop reminded him.
Godfrey’s eyes narrowed even more. “You dare speak to your king so bluntly and without care?”
Bishop hesitated, but he was alone in this quest so why not fulfill the added part he was given. “We met with one of your advisors, and we chased out a menace of necromancers and their priests working to create an even larger portal for the demons. They had taken over Old Weston.”
“Old Weston?” Godfrey cackled with mirth as his advisors joined in. “I know nothing of this Old Weston you speak of.”
“Oh no? Here, maybe this will refresh your memory.”
Bishop opened his bags and withdrew Lachlan’s Lost Journal. He tossed it at the King’s feet, causing Godfrey to flinch away, the blood draining even more from his face.
Bishop waited for him to pick it up or explain to his confused advisors what it was, but the monarch stared at the book as if it would jump up and bite his hand off.
“I met him by the way,” Bishop said. “He’d been cursed by Valenastrious. Turned into a necromancer and cursed to remain there for all time without his queen being able to save him. His queen, and the rightful queen of Samar I believe.”
“You are going too far,” Godfrey seethed. “Take that infernal thing and remove it from my sight, now!” He stepped away from it even further. “You know nothing of what happened.”
“Actually I do. I was there.” He bent down and picked up the journal. “I was there the day your brother was cursed and Tavin nearly killed, if not for his father,” he said, and he pointed to Winston. “And you, you covered it up all these years. Told the people there were no demons in Samar. You lied and now look where you are.”
He thrust the journal into the King’s chest.
“Are you sure you don’t want to read what’s written in these pages?”
Godfrey opened his mouth to probably damn Bishop when a tremendous boom shook the palace. Windows cracked and shattered from the force. The guards moved in formation to protect their King as Bishop whirled around to face the doors leading to the throne room. Tucking the journal back in his bags, he removed his bow from around his body and summoned Willy to his side. Anything could burst through those doors and he would face it better if his companion was by his side.
“Protect the King!” Winston commanded, standing beside Bishop. “You are certain she is here?” he asked in an undertone.
He puffed out his cheeks, wishing he could say he was wrong. But after seeing her up close so many times, feeling the evil pouring off her, he was keener to her presence now than ever before and it unnerved him. “Yes, yes I’m sure.”
Yells of panic echoed through the doors and the palace shook again, the floor rumbling beneath his feet. Bishop braced himself, planting his right foot farther back to steady his stance as something extremely large bashed into the doors of the throne room. Willy snarled, his hackles rising as he lowered his body into a defensive position. Bishop’s fingers played on the bowstring, unsure of what attack he should use first when he was currently blind to what he would be facing.
The doors shuddered and, all of a sudden, the high-pitched screams of the guards gave way to a horrible silence. Bishop’s breathing was shaky as he waited for the attack.
“The King,” he whispered to Winston. “You need to get him out of this room.”
“There’s a door behind the throne,” he replied, “but it leads up to the tower. We would be trapped there if we run.”
“There’s no other way out of here?”
“One door, to the west wing. But we would be running past whatever is in the hall.”
“We might want to take our chances. Whatever’s out there just killed your men.”
Winston’s face darkened. “Then we run.” He pivoted on his heels. Without a sound, he motioned his men towards a door Bishop never noticed before, set in the wall between two columns. It was made to blend in and the guards guided the King there. The advisors tried to follow. Winston stopped them and pointed to the door leading to the tower. They glared at Winston, but when they made a move for the King, he blocked their path and aimed his sword at their necks. “Barricade yourselves in the tower,” he hissed in a furious whisper. “I must keep the King safe. Surely you men understand such a need?”
The advisors huffed, then squared their shoulders and darted for the other door.
“Let’s move out,” Bishop whispered, and he followed the small group out of the throne room.
The silence stretched on and thickened the air around him until it felt like he was swimming through mud just trying to walk. Breathing became a chore and he was soon gasping for air like a fish out of water. Their hurried pace turned to a sluggish crawl, moving down the corridor. The wall disappeared up ahead and Winston held up his hand to halt their suffering party.
Bishop moved to the head of the group. This was the part they had to rush across the gap, past the main hall, and continue on to another side of the palace. The silence taunted him, making him believe it was safe to rush across. Yet, his instincts and Willy’s bared teeth told him that was nowhere near the case. If they ran out there blindly, they would get themselves killed in seconds. He was in no mood to repeat this quest and have to deal with the King any more than he already had to. He rested his hand gently on top of Willy’s head to calm the wolf and to tell him to stay.
Holding his breath, he sidled to the edge of the gap, bow aimed at the ground, and peeked around the wall. Four demons stood in the entrance hall, still as statues. Two of them had their backs to Bishop, but the other two faced right where they would have to pass.
His fingers played on the string as he considered using his Stealth Shot to keep aggro off them. But that would only work for one at a time and he doubted they could outrun the demons once he pulled them. He blew out a breath and sucked in another one before he peered farther around the wall towards the throne room doors.
“Cripes,” he gasped, and he pressed his back against the corridor wall.
“Bishop?” Winston breathed, in question.
“There’s… there’s something outside the throne room,” he whispered, his words shaking. He thought he felt fear before in this game. But now, as his legs trembled and he blinked furiously trying to stay focused, he understood this was real fear. “I have no idea what it is.”
The monstrosity was as tall as the doors themselves, and it appeared to have been created from several demons pieced together into one. One thing was certain: he did not want to pull that beast.
“We need a distraction,” he told Winston. “I
can take care of that, but it’s going to bring all of them down on us eventually.”
“There is no choice. If they come after us, we will fight them off.”
Bishop wished he could feel so confident of his abilities to face down what was certainly going to kill him. “Right, here we go.” He laid a trap at the gap first and then glanced to Willy. “Hold until I say so, boy,” he ordered, and Willy nodded his head in assent.
Pressing his back into the wall, Bishop drew back on the Stealth Shot first. And when his heart was ready to pound its way out of his chest, he stepped out and fired at one of the two demons facing them. The moment the cooldown was up, he fired at the second. The two with their backs to him did not react.
Frantically, he waved the group forward and they rushed across the gape. Bishop counted down in his head as he moved with them, bow aimed at the demons, ready to fire if one of them moved. The group rushed down the corridor and, once they were past the gap, Bishop took off after them Willy at his heels. When he reached zero in his mind, two roars erupted, followed by the thundering steps of the demons giving chase.
“Run!” he yelled. “Get Godfrey somewhere safe!”
A set of stairs was at the end of the corridor, and they ran towards them as Bishop stopped for a second to glance behind him. One of the demons was caught in the trap he had laid, but the second was barreling towards them. He raised his sword over his head, ready to attack. Bishop drew back and fired Fiery Arrow, immediately followed by Penetrating Shot. Willy lunged at the demon when he was within range of hitting Bishop, taking the blow meant for him.
“Willy!”
The wolf sailed across the corridor and slammed into the stone wall. Before Bishop could start worrying, his companion shook out his furry head and rushed right back in. Bishop caught a kick to the chest which sent him staggering backwards and knocked his health down a quarter. He tried to fire again, but the demon clocked him in the face with a punch, and he cursed as his head snapped back and his vision blurred. Willy latched his jaws around the demon’s wrist and he howled in rage.
Bishop fought to regain focus when Winston charged past him and tackled the second demon—just as the monster was about to hit Bishop. It gave the hunter a chance for his vision to clear. Right away, he attacked, using Rain of Thorns to put bleeds on them both. He attacked with Fiery Arrow and Instant Shot, alternating until he was low on mana and finally attacked with his dagger to finish them off. When the demons hit the floor, his health was below half and Winston sank heavily to one knee.
Necromancers, Demons & Kings Page 18