Book Read Free

Surface World 2

Page 14

by Ed Montalvo


  “Good heavens, that was frightful,” Tuke commented.

  “Agreed,” Dregous replied dryly. His emotions overwhelmed the priest, though his expression was indifferent. This was not the place to console his friend.

  A few meters ahead, the corner turned right to a dead end. Rem searched for anything to activate the door, nothing. He pushed, it moved easily then listened carefully before fully opening, quiet. As the door opened light poured in.

  Seeker crawled out and peeked down the corridor, she then silently looked around the corner. She gave the all clear sign. The cold stung their faces as they stepped out and made their way outside the outpost. The mage led them to the dwarfs’ path, to the eastside of the mountains. From there Rem found a trail leading sharply down. Dusk rapidly approached, the snowcaps gleamed red. They neared the mountain base and heard a horn blast eastward, “They must have found the bodies,” Tatiana declared.

  “They were buried in stone,” Rem reminded.

  “The ones in the hidden corridor were not,” she replied.

  “Perhaps it is that,” Tuke pointed.

  “It is some sort…” Rem started.

  “…of formation,” Seeker and Tatiana finished.

  Dregous’s teeth chattered, “It seems they continued preparing while we secreted.”

  Tuke pulled out a blanket and wrapped it on Seeker’s shoulders, “Here.”

  She smiled, “Gratitude,” and shivered.

  “Dregous, we need to get you warm,” Tatiana suggested.

  “No, we cannot afford to lose any ground. That force will need time to march. This is our opportunity to take the lead and warn the town,” he trembled.

  “She is right you need…” Rem started.

  Dregous interrupted, “Time pursues us relentlessly, we can ill afford loss.”

  Chapter 13

  Mage students marvel at the power in their disposal. The ability to magically bind yourself to a creature is sublime. That is the pinnacle of their illusions, creating falsely is the failures of young mages understanding that basic principle. Many instructors fail their students regarding this view.

  Translated tutorials of Dorian Von’Negrous.

  The new day’s sun did little to still the morning’s chill. Dregous trembled, awakening the princess. She blanketed him with her wing and pulled him closer trying to still his chill, “Dregous,” she whispered. His breathing was even. “Ukko, not again. Dregous…?” He rolled his head and awoke looking at Tatiana. She sighed hearing him moan softly, “You frightened me.” He groaned, he would embrace death. Her eyes widened and gently shook his shoulders, “Dregous?”

  He stopped trembling, “Um, what is it?” he blinked against the brightness.

  “What was that?”

  “Pardon?”

  “What did you say?” she asked.

  “I asked, what is it?”

  “No no, before that,” she leaned gently over him.

  “I cannot recall, why?”

  “You started trembling, and I pulled you closer to warm you,” she explained.

  Dregous studied her, “But I was not cold,”

  “Then why were you trembling?”

  “I did not realize I was.”

  “Did you dream?” she didn’t wait for an answer, “Well?”

  He thought a moment and recalled a feminine voice, “Now that you mention it, I believe I did.”

  “What was it…?”

  “It was quite pleasant. I was speaking to a Drouwen woman,” he recalled.

  Tatiana’s heart skipped and wondered if he dreamt of Angelique. “Another woman?” her voice betrayed her.

  “Yes, why?”

  “Nothing,” she said stiffly and pulled away, “Who is she?”

  “I know not, I… …why are you doing this?” Dregous felt her accusing stare, “Are you upset with me?”

  A hot flash crossed her face and felt embarrassed, “I am not upset,” she snapped softly as she turned away.

  Seeker listened until Tuke awoke, then he gently greeted her, she greeted him in kind.

  Tatiana and Dregous looked over, “Good morning,” then whispered to the princess, “You are upset… because of my sleep vision?” a wicked curl crossed his lips.

  She flushed with embarrassment, “I am not jealous if that is what you mean?”

  “I did not say that, though your reaction…?”

  Tatiana interrupted, “Hush you,” she warned.

  “Jealous…, jealous of what?” Rem asked while relieving himself behind a tree.

  “Never you mind,” the princess shot gently.

  “What did Dregous do this time?” he mumbled as he started looking for wood to add to the fire.

  “Since you are not cold…,” she got up, stepped to a stump and sat, forgetting she wore only her tunic padding. The morning chill reminded her as the breeze brushed her thick legs. It wasn’t long before she felt cold.

  The others silently watched as Dregous stood, “It is cold,” and covered her.

  “Appreciated,” she peeked through her hair.

  Dregous informed them of an alternative travel, as they broke their fast. “Why did you not mention it sooner?” Rem enquired.

  “It is an unpleasant mount….”

  Rem cut in, “Is it faster than walking?” as he and Tuke assisted Tatiana with her armor.

  “It is.”

  “Then we should do it,” Rem said while fastening her chest plate together.

  Tuke wondered what Dregous meant by unpleasant. “How unpleasant?” he addressed Dregous.

  He hesitated, Tuke’s strong dislike of the undead was justifiable. “They look like undead beasts.”

  The priest took a deep shaky breath, addressing the dying fire. “I cannot ride such a thing.”

  Seeker stepped beside Tuke, and wondered why she felt compelled to discuss it with the priest. Before this trip to the surface, she wouldn’t have given him a second thought and figured him weak altogether. But with Dregous and the others, they made her feel as though she was a part of the group. “If it gets us to town quicker, would it not be worth it to deliver the evidence?” she reasoned.

  Tuke couldn’t argue her logic, “You are correct,” he tried to hide his discuss of the unholy apparition with a smile. Seeker failed stifling her grin at his attempt.

  Dregous chanted, a moment later, a thin wisp of smoke seeped from the ground into the air, forming the skeletal remains of a horse. A thin transparent layer of misty white flesh dressed the smoky bones. The death beast had a slight blue hue radiating from the whiteness. He conjured three.

  The princess didn’t want to ride with Dregous. His dream bothered her more than she liked. She couldn’t deny his gentle request and joined him.

  They rode a few hours before Dregous fortified the beasts and the disk. They resumed riding hard and fast. The mounts required no food or rest. They encountered nothing on their two-day trek to town.

  They were a short distance from the safety of the city gates, “Stop stop,” Seeker padded Tuke’s shoulder, “something is wrong.”

  Dregous pulled beside them, “What is the matter,” Tatiana asked.

  “Something is off,” Seeker answered.

  There was an unusual calmness in the air, “I feel it as well,” Dregous informed.

  Tatiana grabbed her sword, “What is it?”

  “Unsure…,” he replied.

  “You know we could do this behind the wall.” Rem reminded.

  “They would not stop if it was unimportant.” Tatiana said.

  Dregous examined the environment, “I cannot identify it…,” he continued.

  Tuke was about to comment when distant horns blew. The group looked at one another, “What on earth?” he said.

  “Goblins?” Rem wondered aloud.

  “Cannot be, we left them behind,” Tatiana stated.

  “May haps a scouting party,” Seeker hoped.

  “How in the name of heaven did they reach us?” Tuke declar
ed.

  Dregous thought of the time they hid, and the documents they found, “They did not, we passed them,” he surmised.

  “How the hell did we…,” Rem stopped and considered Tuke then raised his hands.

  “Swearing aside, his point is valid,” Tuke added.

  Surprised, Rem escaped a lecture, he continued, “How did we pass them when we left them behind?”

  “I understand my comment sounds confusing.”

  “That is understating it,” Rem chimed gently.

  “That is not helping. We will reach the town before they,” Tatiana stated.

  “I want to know is how did WE catch up to them,” Rem demanded.

  Dregous sighed, “The outpost holds a small force. We saw over three thousand in formation. My guess is they were on their way to join another branch. I speculate, but they may be waiting for others. Remember, we hid over two days and traveled two more. It is agreeable we ventured between the waves. Let us pray they are not in our path. The mage leading….”

  Tatiana interrupted, “That cannot be, my mother is a wizard and is unable to cast wearing armor. It is too restricting.”

  “All things being equal, I agree. However, we have seen it ourselves, and the explanation eludes me.”

  “With that said, will someone please explain why we are still standing here for them to pass us… catch us… you know what I mean!” Seeker argued.

  “Yeah, what she said,” Rem added. They reared their spectral mounts and rode.

  The slope was gentle as they merged onto the main road and made a dash for town. He desperately wanted to reach the walls for Tatiana’s sake when they saw merchants along the way. Dregous replayed the plot in his mind. Who was that figure? He had to be working with someone inside. It wasn’t a commoner. It must be somebody of authority or wealth.

  They came on the final bend before the city gates, “I lost count,” Dregous announced.

  “Count? What count?” Tatiana asked.

  “My spell,” they cleared the bend. It was a straight run, when the phantom mounts turned to wisps of smoke and the disk shrunk to plate size. Tatiana instinctively opened her wings and took Dregous as the others tumbled to the snow-covered ground. She glided back exposing Dregous’s face and landed.

  Rem released a stream of profanities while tumbling. “Who the hell thought that was grand!” he grumbled and brushed off snow dust.

  Tuke bumped his head shielding Seeker, “What happened,” before collapsing. Tatiana rushed the priest as Seeker cleared her head, she forgot her wings were exposed. An angel, shouted a young girl. By the Gods, yelled a man.

  Dregous promptly replaced his hood and assessed the situation. There was a long line of patrons entering and leaving town. He had the opportunity to flee but refused to abandon Tatiana.

  “Tuke?” the princess stood over him.

  Seeker secured her hat, “He is out.”

  Someone shouted a Demon. Another shouted in surprise, an Ayrian. Tatiana ignored them, “Stay with him,” she ordered gently.

  “Where the hell you see a demon?” Rem demanded.

  “Rem, the potions? Tuke is down,” Tatiana said.

  Their booty was scattered some fifteen meters along the road, “Oh, this is not good,” Rem commented.

  The guards in the immediate area rushed in. Knights reached the group on horseback. Dregous stepped beside the princess. Tatiana prepared, as did Rem, Seeker stood over Tuke with her weapons drawn. The knights formed a semi–circle as one dismounted, “A sight I dreamt of since childhood,” the lord knight Gunthar addressed her. “You are a blessed sight…. Though a Drouwen and two humans as your company, is surprising.”

  “Three humans,” Seeker corrected.

  He addressed the Ayrian, “And you are?” Gunthar asked as city guards completed the circle.

  “I am Tatiana,” her lovely eyes narrowed slightly. This is Dregous, Remmon, she is Angelique and…,”

  “Tuke Flaring, the priest, I know him.”

  “Does everyone know him?” Rem asked in general.

  The knight confidently made his way to Tuke, “Trusting soul,” he murmured. “How bad is he?”

  “I know not,” Seeker answered as she cautiously sheathed her blades. “Our magical mounts disappeared.”

  “Magical mounts?” he mimicked.

  “Lord Knight, it was I who summoned the spectral beasts…,” Dregous started.

  “What the bloody hell… there is a horde heading this way!” Rem shouted.

  “Remmon… is it?” he looked at the princess, she nodded. “I suggest you exercise restraint,” he warned.

  “Rem, please,” she signaled him to stand down and sheathed her weapon, “I apologize on his behalf, but he speaks truly, hence our risk coming here, Lord…?”

  “I am Lord Knight Gunthar Tarbak,” he answered.

  Tarbak, is he a descendant of Hayden Tarbak? Dregous wondered. Tatiana thought the name familiar.

  One of the guards commented on Tatiana’s figure. Another whispered he wished a feather. The thought of anyone taking any part of her as a trophy was enraging, and looked over her shoulder, “You will NOT make a trophy of me,” she warned.

  “The first time an Ayrian is seen, and this is how you address her!” Gunthar faced them with heated anger, “You, remove yourself, NOW!” then readdressed the princess, “Please, attend only me….” The knight stated.

  Dregous stepped by the princess ready to protect her. Tatiana whispered, “Dregous.”

  “Do as she bid Drouwen,” the Lord Knight warned.

  “That was discourteous,” Tatiana stated firmly.

  The Drouwen concerned him, “Answer my question,” he requested. Dregous opened his robe. The knight swiftly trained his sword on him. “That is quite enough Drouwen,” Gunthar advised.

  “Holy hell, we bring word a horde rides our ass, and you are concerned about one Drouwen…, unbelievable!” Rem griped aloud.

  “A horde…, not likely,” his eyes still on Dregous. “Galven?”

  Tatiana’s heart skipped as she studied Gunthar’s sword on Dregous, “Lord knight, please.”

  “My lord,” The guard stepped forward.

  “A moment my lady,” then addressed Galven, “Fetch the clerics, Tuke needs tending.”

  He left, then another guard spoke, “Sir…, look at all this wealth!” he and others stuffed coins into their armor.

  “What in the hell…?” Rem protested.

  “Shut up thief,” said a looting guard. Tatiana looked and thought, humans.

  Dregous chose his words carefully, “It seems your concerns are misplaced.”

  His words were like a slap in the face when he saw them, “Put, that, back!” shouted the Lord Knight. “Get your damnable ass’s out of my sight.”

  “But sir, these are thieves surely,” snatching by the handful.

  “Watch him,” he ordered as the knight marched to the city guard sheathing his sword, then back handed him with his mailed glove. The man tumbled back, sprawling on the ground in a heap. “Put, it, back!” he spat venomously.

  The guards were shocked into obedience, the knight glared at them, then made his way back to Dregous. They replaced what was taken. A few Cavaliers organized the recovery of the party’s booty. The town guards assisted them in bringing the treasure back to the knight’s temple. Dregous curiously stared at the human. Honest, he thought.

  “Now, what is this about a horde?” Gunthar asked.

  “We stumbled upon them at the mountain,” Tatiana pointed.

  “What she said, whole lot of them,” Rem added.

  Dregous studied the humans. Some remained mounted with their hands on their swords. He looked between the constables and the mounted Knights. The city guards appeared uncomfortable in the Cavaliers presence.

  “Truly, a horde…?” Gunthar was doubtful. Rem explained what they witnessed at the mountain. The Knight paid him little attention and ordered another to silence him.

  Rem shoo
k his head and whispered, “You do not deserve our help.”

  “May I speak Lord Knight?” Dregous inquired.

  Gunthar raised a brow in surprise, “Go on.”

  “He speaks truly, the horde consists of goblins and Gnolls. A mage Knight leads them.”

  “Not likely, they hate one another, as humans hate your kind,” The knight added insensitively. Dregous ignored him.

  Tatiana was less forgiving, “For a Knight displaying moral character, displays insensitivity is unbecoming.”

  Her words cut him, “May haps my lady, but until I know what is happening I can ill afford otherwise.”

  “If I were in your place, I would agree, though we found this,” Dregous looked between his cloak and the Knight.

  He understood, “Slowly.” Dregous removed the scroll case baring the seal of its owner. His eyes widen, “I know that mark…. Where did you come by this?” he enquired. The seal was personal to Lankos, the Curators close friend.

  “We stumbled upon it in the commanders Chambers in the mountains belly. It is a plot against the town.”

  He was curious a Drouwen attended by an Ayrian, brought this information. “I must learn more. Guards, escort them,” he walked then stopped, “If I learn anyone has taken a single coin. I will pronounce them guilty on the spot. They will be charged for disobeying orders, stealing and anything else I can think of. I will even make up a thing or two! Do I make myself clear?” The Lord Knight roared.

  “Aye sir!” They chimed.

  Tatiana's compassion outweighed her mistrust of humans, “What of the people?”

  “What about them?” Gunthar asked.

  “When you learn we speak truly, will you have time to get them to safety with haste?”

  The Knight sighed, he studied the princess’s lovely face. Gunthar and others like him prayed this day would come, the return of Ayrians. A gentle smile crossed his face and vowed to himself, he would move heaven and earth to please the Ayrian beauty, “Very well my lady. Kordin.”

  “My lord.”

  “Ride up to the next hill, and report what you see,” he pointed.

 

‹ Prev