Ioaniss grinned before he strode down the hall to the fourth archway. “This is the portal we need.”
Sir Jones stepped through the arch and onto the rune, with Kim and Rolland close behind. Alburet paused, one hand on Stacia’s arm. “We’ll need to step away from them for a minute, so you can shift to demon form long enough for me to copy you. Your demon form comes up with the name Kitten, so hopefully they won’t realize you’re the same person.”
Stacia bit her lip, “I have faith in ya, master.” She kissed his neck as she hugged him, “Ya will protect and guide me.”
They walked onto the rune arm in arm. He blinked at the sun suddenly beating down on them, much harsher than it was in the city. A dry wind blew at them from the east. Looking that way Alburet saw a sea of sand fading off into the distance. “Now that is a big fucking desert,” he said.
Ioaniss chuckled, “It does stretch on. We have no real idea what the sands might conceal beneath their endless expanse. Are we ready to go?”
“I need a moment to grab a few things from the store. Give me two minutes, please,” Alburet said as they approached the gate. Eight men stood guard just outside the gate.
Ioaniss frowned but nodded, “We shall wait, but please hurry.”
Alburet went past the guards, entering the fort proper. The gate let into a killing zone with multiple portcullises and murder holes in the walls above. Past the series of gates, the tunnel opened into a much larger courtyard than the other forts he had seen had. Numerous buildings were inside the walls, along with an inner wall surrounding the keep itself. A soft whistle escaped his lips as he looked around. He nodded to a guard who grinned at him, “Morning.”
“Little green to be out here, aren’t you son?” the grey-haired guard asked Alburet.
“I would have to concur,” Alburet laughed. “But when Sir Jones asks you to go with him to the Dead Lands, what should you do?”
The older guard sucked in a breath, “Well now, that is a conundrum. Just keep your eyes open and be ready to run like the Dark Lord himself is chasing you.”
“Sounds like good advice,” Alburet replied. “Which one of the buildings is the supply store for food and drink?”
“Third one down that wall,” the guard told him, pointing to a building displaying a sign showing a sandwich and flask. “Betty runs that shop. Tell her Drugan sent you and she might take a little extra off for you.”
“Thank you, Drugan,” Alburet shook hands with the guard and went to the shop he’d suggested.
Alburet greeted the middle-aged woman behind the counter, telling her Drugan had recommended her shop. He picked up sandwiches and tea, enough to serve the entire party. As they left the shop, he nudged Stacia into the gap between the buildings and followed her into the shadowed area. She promptly shifted to her demon form allowing Alburet to Copy her. Shifting her primary body back to human, she followed him out of the alley. He reinvited Stacia to the group, shifting to demon from still dropped her automatically. He summoned Tiny and Bob as they walked back to the gate.
“Tiny, Bob we have three others with us for this trip. Kim and Rolland Magiblood, they are good friends, and Kim works for us as a receptionist. The other is Sir Ioaniss Jones, who is the right hand of the current King of Stormguard. Stacia is coming with us, as well as my Succubus, Kitten. Any questions?”
“She is split to mask who she is?” Bob asked quietly, looking around to see if they were being listened to.
“Correct, so keep your comments in-line with that,” Alburet said.
“Understood, master,” Tiny rumbled.
“Okay, we’re taking too long here. Let’s go,” Alburet took Stacia’s arm and they filed out the gates with the three demons trailing along behind them. He could feel the eyes of the guards on him as they went by.
“Sorry for the delay,” Alburet said. “I picked up tea and sandwiches for lunch, if it’s needed. Figured I’d also summon my friends. The Imp is Bob, the Destroyer is Tiny and the Succubus is Kitten.” He sent group invitations to Kim, Rolland and Ioaniss.
“Your succubus looks very similar to Stacia,” Kim said, looking from one to the other.
“Facially yes, but the blonde hair and much bigger chest are very different,” Ioaniss stated.
Rolland’s head cocked slightly to the side, one of his eyes glowing for just a brief moment. “It’s nice to meet all of you. Have you three always been the Infernals bound to Alburet? I heard that just a short while ago many Summoners were given the option to choose new Infernal companions if they so desired.”
“I’ve been with him since shortly after he came to this world,” Bob said with an inflated chest.
“I have been his only protector,” Tiny added.
“He bound me to his will,” Kitten said softly, dropping her gaze to the ground. “He has had nay other Succubus.”
Rolland nodded, “Then you are all surely very good at your jobs. I believe only a small percentage of Summoners declined to change at least one minion when given the option. I’ve even heard reports of Angelic Summoners renouncing the Light and embracing the Darkness once more when given the opportunity to choose new Infernal companions.
“You seem well versed in such matters,” Ioaniss mused as he gazed at Rolland.
“I try to keep up with all that I can that effects casters. There is always the chance of learning something new,” Rolland commented as he looked out at the sands. “Are we ready to go?” he asked, shifting the topic away from himself.
“We are,” Alburet commented. “Tiny, take the lead. Sir Jones, what is your class if you don’t mind me asking?”
“Trapsmith. You would be surprised by how many treasures are guarded by deadly traps.” Ioaniss got a distant look as they walked, “I recall one where I was chased by a giant boulder. It was right after I had collected a golden idol of Justice. It seems I didn’t disarm the trap properly, even though I thought I had. Oh, that really takes me back.”
Alburet chuckled as he recalled the original story behind Ioaniss’s tale, “I’m sure it does.”
They walked on across the sand, the fort falling away behind them. As soon as the dunes hid the fort from view, the group was surprised by a bright red flash followed by a large cloud of smoke. When the smoke cleared, a large spherical creature floated in the air in front of them, hovering above a red glyph. The large central eye shifted as it looked the group over. The mouth opened, revealing a long gash filled with sharp teeth. “I’m Gygax, the emissary of the Dark Lord sent to meet Alburet the Two-souled. Who are the rest of you?”
Alburet stepped forward first, “These are my friends and companions. They had each hoped to also speak with the Dark Lord on matters that pertain to them. I didn’t know if anything like that would be allowed, but no one said to come alone, so invited them along. Will they be allowed to meet with him?”
Gygax rose up in the air, small stalks each bearing an eye coming from around the sides and bottom of the demon to focus their combined gaze on each member of the party. “Each of you will state your name and why you seek audience. The Dark Lord listens through me. If you impress the Dark Lord with your strength of will he may grant your request.”
Ioaniss stepped forward first, “I’m Ioaniss Jones, of Stormguard. I have sought knowledge of the First Empire and how it fell for my entire life. None before me, that I am aware of, have had the chance to ask the Dark Lord directly about his involvement or non-involvement in such matters. There are conflicting legends. Some say that the Dark Lord made no attempt to stop the duo that engineered the fall of the Empire. Others say he directed his loyal followers to oppose the rebellious pair. I wish to find out which is the truth.”
The voice that issued from Gygax’s mouth next was the same deep voice Alburet had heard when he’d gotten the quest to come here. “Would you be willing to test your will against the right to know?”
“Depending on the challenge, I would,” Ioaniss replied quickly.
“There is a labyr
inth, designed to test the faith of those who seek my favor. Would you enter this labyrinth to gain the right to speak with me directly?”
“I would,” Ioaniss stated.
“What of the other two?”
Rolland stepped forward, “Dark Lord, I am Rolland Magiblood. With me is my wife, Kim. We are friends of Alburet’s. I have questions about my bloodline that my family has been trying to answer for generations. I would be willing to risk the labyrinth to learn more about my lineage.”
“I have some of the answers you seek, Magiblood. You may enter the labyrinth with your wife to gain the right to speak to me directly. To enter the labyrinth, step forward onto the rune below my Emissary.”
Ioaniss stepped forward quickly, standing on the red glyph. It glowed brighter, but he didn’t vanish. Rolland looked over at Alburet, “My thanks for bringing us. If this works out and we survive I’m going to owe you.”
“Good luck. Remember you’re bargaining with a God,” Alburet reminded them.
“The Gods always keep their word,” Kim stated softly as she took her husband’s arm. “If we don’t make it back, let Vanessa know when she shows up for work tomorrow. She can arrange for another receptionist to take my place.”
“We will be seein’ each other again,” Stacia stated simply, stepping forward to hug both Rolland and Kim.
Kim and Rolland joined Ioaniss on the glyph. It flared brightly, and when the light died away the trio was gone. “Now that the extras are gone you may show your true form, Stacia,” the Dark Lord stated.
Alburet nodded and Stacia shifted to her Succubus form. Alburet asked, “What’s next?”
“Gygax will convey you to my castle via a portal. Once there, he will lead you to my throne room,” the Dark Lord replied through Gygax.
Alburet took Stacia’s arms, one to either side, then stepped onto the glyph with Bob and Tiny hard on his heels. There was the expected bright flash, then they were standing in a courtyard. The sky above them was blood red and the stone around them was as black as a starless night. Gygax drifted down to eye level and backed away from them, his central eye remaining focused on Alburet.
“Follow me to the throne room,” Gygax intoned as he began moving slowly towards a set of massive double doors. He kept his central eye facing Alburet. Two ten-foot-tall Destroyers with massive horns curled like a ram’s, sprouting from their heads stood guard on either side of the door. Each wore mixed plate and chain armor and held a short spear in one hand and a tower shield in the other.
Alburet took in the two guards as he followed Gygax. “Tiny, is that what you’ll be like when I reach level 100?”
“Yes, master,” Tiny rumbled as quietly as he could. “Those are Destroyer Lords, the most powerful of my kind.”
As they neared the doors, the two guards pulled open the massive, metal bound doors. Leathery rustling noises caused Alburet to look behind him. Twenty Imp Lords hovered in the passage, their wide grins displaying rows of needle sharp teeth. Each Imp Lord had twisting horns spiraling from its head and dark red wings and skin. The wings barely looked large enough to keep the five foot tall Imps aloft.
“Imp Lords,” Bob said, his voice tinged with fear. “They are the pinnacle of what an Imp can aspire to become.”
“I see,” Alburet replied, tipping an imaginary hat first to the imps, then the destroyers. “A pleasure to meet you all.”
“Follow,” Gygax said simply, resuming his motion ahead of them.
They entered a twenty-foot-wide hall of black stone which was streaked through with red. It reminded Alburet of the altar at the Dark Lord’s temple in Stormguard. Tapestries adorned the walls, each scene depicting one of the Gods appearing before their chosen people. Bestat was shown with the Lunari in multiple tapestries, each of them depicting a new ability taught to her followers. Justice was shown guiding humanity into civilization out of the stone age. Alburet spotted Elven and Dwarven Gods, along with others he couldn’t easily identify.
Alburet stopped in front of one tapestry, trying to make sense of the scene depicted. “Gygax what is this tapestry of?” Alburet asked, staring at a forest scene that showed only a Lion Lunari asleep in a clearing.
“That is Leo, the male Lunari god,” Gygax replied. “He is only known for sleeping and mating.”
Alburet’s lips compressed as he suppressed the laughter that tried to escape. He walked on, wondering where the doors they passed led. After a few turns and another long hall, they reached another massive set of doors, again guarded by two Destroyer Lords. Alburet nodded to the two guards as Gygax ordered the doors open.
As the doors swung open, Alburet was treated to a scene very much like the one depicted on the tapestry in the Dark Lord’s temple. Rows of columns stretched off into the darkness, naked male and female figures of every species chained to them. Succubi roamed among the columns, stopping here and there to whisper to those chained, giving them a gentle caress or a lash of the whip each carried before moving on. The Succubi were stunningly beautiful, their hair and eyes coming in all shades, with perfect pale skin. Large, leathery black wings and cloven hooves marked their Infernal nature.
“Wow, bondage scene much?” Alburet said without thinking.
“The Dark Lord awaits you,” Gygax intoned as he floated just inside the room then off to the side. “Go straight until you come to the last pillars. Stop there and wait for him to address you.”
“Thank you, Gygax,” Alburet led his minions into the room, looking around as he walked.
None of the people chained to the columns seemed distressed or unwilling. If anything, the general air was one of contentment. Some people were even sleeping as Alburet passed. Shaking his head, Alburet kept walking. There was no sense of fear, hatred or despair in any of the people he passed. The Succubi they passed all smiled seductively at the group. One even knelt to be at Bob’s height, she reached out and gently stroked his head as he went by. Bob let out a shuddering sigh, but kept walking even as he looked wistfully back at the winking succubus. The columns abruptly ended, leaving an expanse of deepening gloom open in front of them. Just at the edge of the light they could make out a shadowy throne with a figure seated on it. Alburet stopped, and his minions all went to their knees, bowing their heads.
Alburet didn’t kneel, but did give a deep bow to the throne. A dark laugh rang out from the figure on the throne, “You will not bend knee to me?”
“I… with all due respect, no. I would only bend a knee to one I accepted as a superior. While my wife and her family venerate you, sir, I have not taken up that same veneration. I don’t doubt you can kill me without effort. That does not make you my superior. If this upsets you, Dark Lord, I will offer what apologies I may and take my leave.”
“I was told you Two-souled would be a stubborn people, and I see I was told correctly. Do you still wish to receive my blessing to become a Half-blood Infernal?”
“I would take that blessing sir, but will you bestow it upon one who does not venerate you?” Alburet asked.
“Would you be willing to sacrifice to receive it?”
“I’ve already lost more in my life than I ever wanted to. If you require anything, then it had better be something fleeting like gold.”
“You think a blessing from a God should come without cost?”
Alburet sighed, “I got the boots by basically just being a nosy bastard. The gloves I got from a cracker-jack box, for all intents and purposes. The crown was a gift from the family that accepted me into their life when I married their daughter. If you truly require something from me, I would choose to give you back the items that I have collected so far.”
“What about your Imp? Would you take another in his stead and gift him to me?” The figure stirred on the throne, sitting forward slightly.
“I would not send a friend away, much less family. Bob has been loyal and true to me since our first day together, and you ask me to hand him over like so much spare change?” Alburet felt his anger spike at the
thought of losing someone he cared for again. “I would spill blood for family. I have killed for family before now, and if needed I will again.” His voice was hot with his anger and he took a single step forward.
“Good,” the Dark Lord cried out. “One who will defy even the Gods themselves. Would you try to kill me if the stakes were high enough?”
“Yes,” Alburet said as his eyes went to Stacia.
“She means that much to you? You met her less than two months ago. Has she so thoroughly entwined herself to you that you can’t do without her now?” The Dark Lord sat forward a little more, twin points of flame where eyes should be just visible in the gloom.
“She does and she has,” Alburet replied simply as he touched Stacia’s head gently. “Stand beside me, Kitten. A wife should fear no one when she is next to her husband.”
Stacia shivered as she got to her feet, “As you wish, me husband.”
Alpha Company (Alpha World Book 3) Page 18