Lightfoot

by Joe Kuster

  Kallista frowned and leaned in close but stayed just shy of the threshold into the next section. “I see dart traps or maybe arrows.”

  Abby settled beside her and squinted into the gloom. “The next riddle is, ‘What comes once in a minute, twice in a moment, but never in—’”

  TJ blurted out. “The letter M.”

  The gated section began lowering with a grinding of steel on stone.

  After a tense moment of ensuring nothing was going to try to eat them, Abby peered into the darkness.

  “I can’t make out the next words on the next one.” She started to step forward, but Kallista’s hand shot out.

  “Pressure plates.” The rogue pointed to the floor. “It probably seals up the gates behind you. I think it’s set up to catch us individually. They probably have counters to keep us from helping one another.”

  Rachel leaned forward and frowned. “There’s not much room between gates. I don’t think more than two of us could squeeze into one section. We might get crushed as the gates rose behind us.”

  TJ grumped. “Fine. I guess playing all those rounds of tavern trivia is going to pay off. Just step back from the opening. I’ll just set everything off at once. I can probably knock at least a few of the gates down with lucky guesses. It’ll probably get messy, though.”

  After shepherding everyone far enough back, TJ yelled out in rapid succession, “A river. A man. A piano. Fire. Nothing.”

  A chaotic boom filled the room. It sounded like a hardware store’s contents had been put into a clay jug and shaken vigorously. After a few seconds, the grinding ceased with a deafening thud that shook the floor.

  TJ cautiously peeked down the hallway and saw dozens of broken arrows littering the floor, a wire mesh had slammed into one wall, and the stone floor appeared to be hissing from acid in a few spots. However, the next two gates were open.

  Laughing to himself, he eased back to safety and yelled out, “Dice. An egg. The future. A promise. Your age—’”

  His words were cut off as a massive fireball flew past the opening and slammed into the far wall. It exploded with a powerful pulse of energy that sent bits of eater corpses flying. The room temperature increased in a flash, then faded slowly as it sent the smell of burnt hair and flesh into the air.

  TJ sucked in a slow breath. He was glad they hadn’t been in the hallway when he’d set that off. He swallowed hard, then decided he really needed to learn that spell. His magic sloshed side to side, nodding in agreement.

  Rachel gave a low whistle. “That would have sucked.”

  After the roaring fire was reduced to a soft crackle, TJ poked his head into the hallway again. Peering into the darkness, he could barely make out a far wall. Each of the six gates had been lowered into the floor.

  Grinning broadly, Rachel eased up next to him and kissed his cheek before moving forward. “That’s my brilliant husband to be.”

  Abby did likewise, his other side cheek. “And mine. Thank you, Master.”

  It was hard to tell, but it looked like Kallista rolled her jet-black eyes at him.

  “What? No kiss?” TJ teased.

  Kallista snorted and then began walking to the front beside Rachel.

  TJ chuckled. “You’re beautiful when you’re angry, Kalli.”

  Her only response was waving a middle finger over her shoulder. Her horns, however, crackled with soft pink marbling, as though they were blushing.

  Preparing his crossbow, he shook out his shoulders and stayed close on her heels.

  One by one, the gates rose behind them with a low rasp of steel on stone. They eased through the hallway, primed and ready, but nothing came. Instead, they were presented with a corridor that went on far beyond what anyone could see in the darkness. As they trod along, TJ had to pull out his map multiple times to confirm they weren’t somehow walking in a circle.

  After what felt like several hours of careful creeping down the path, the hallway turned left. Around the corner was what appeared an equally long dark hallway. On the wall just around the corner, in still wet blood, a message had been scrawled.

  Cheaters never prosper. Hardcore mode enabled.

  -Your friendly dungeon management.

  “Ah, shit. I’m guessing it didn’t consider what I did at the gate fair,” TJ grumbled.

  Kallista groaned and rubbed at her temples. “Serina said this dungeon was self-aware, but I didn’t expect the fucker to adjust to our actions. This could be bad. Really bad.”

  From the darkness, the sound of soft laughter could be heard. The sound of it caused the feathers on TJ’s back to stand on end.

  As the cackling began to fade, his magic twisted in his chest, then pointed through the wall at an oblique angle. He hadn’t realized his detect magic spell was still active, but it gave him a rough feeling of where the energy running the voice had come from. Getting the idea, he pulled out his map again and placed a tick mark where they were standing. He then drew a line toward where he’d felt the source of power coming from.

  After another half hour of nervous walking as they checked for traps, they found a solid metal door inset into the wall.

  “Watch my back for a moment,” Kallista asked.

  The other three spread out around her, watching both ends of the corridor as she pulled her lockpick set. She probed the hole with skilled hands for a few seconds, then swore under her breath. “It’s just a smooth hole. There’s no pins or catches for me to work with.”

  “Must be a special type of key then,” Rachel guessed.

  Kallista suggested. “I guess we keep going.”

  In less than a dozen paces, another horde of eaters was waiting for them. Coming their way at a tumble, the group prepared themselves. Not eager to burn up his magic, TJ launched two of his expensive arrows into the front of the group. The flames shot up immediately, engulfing the attackers. Two of the furballs managed to make it through, ignoring the fact they were ablaze.

  They leaped into the air with teeth snapping, but a quick swipe from Rachel’s sword put them both down. The corridor filled with smoke, and slowly the fire died down, leaving nothing but charred husks.

  “Yeah, I’m gonna pick up a shitload more of these arrows before we leave the city,” TJ said.

  Abby replied, “Zat sounds wise. Zey are rather potent.”

  “You’re throwing around a month’s living expenses with every shot,” Kallista said with a sigh.

  “Kalli, I get it, but you all aren’t replaceable. Money is,” he said.

  She snorted. “Yeah, right. Gutter rat lives aren’t worth a decent sword.”

  Feeling a need to make his point, TJ fished around in his pocket and pulled something into his hand. He then tossed her a leather pouch. She snatched it out of the air and eyed him curiously.

  “That’s yours. Use it for whatever you want. You’re worth a lot more than that to me. You’re not a gutter rat. Not anymore. I get that it’ll take some time before you believe me, but I don’t think like that. Neither does Serina. She gave you her divine promise to watch over you. Pretty sure that makes protecting you my job too,” he said.

  Her tongue rolled across her fangs as she pulled open the drawstrings. Her eyes went wide as she spied the gold coins, and she sucked in a long slow breath.

  He explained, “I was dirt poor until I came to this world. I’m trying hard not to freak out thinking about that giant pile of money I’ve got in the bank now. But really? It doesn’t change a damn thing other than we can afford the gear we need to support the plan.”

  He nodded at the sack. “I’ll still pay for any gear needed to support whatever Serina needs of us. That’s yours for whatever else you need. If that doesn’t cover whatever you want, just let me or Rachel know. Money is meaningless if our bond to Serina is severed. After we get that fixed, we’ll have to start looking at the long game, but there’s no reason for you to scrimp by. I’ll try not to be stupid with it, but if it gives us an edge in our mission, I say we use it.”
r />   Kallista seemed lost as she peered into the fistful of yellow metal disks.

  “I bet you’re feeling silly for insisting you didn’t need new clothes, right?” Rachel said with a wicked grin.

  Kallista nodded slowly. “Yeah, uh…” She cleared her throat and straightened her posture as she eyed the noblewoman. “Yes, Mistress. You were right. I should have gone shopping with you and Abby. It, uh, seems Feathers McMoneybags over there is good for his word.”

  “Zat he is. Master cares more for us zan you likely suspect,” Abby said in agreement.

  The next hour of exploring went much the same. They would occasionally make a turn one way or another, and shortly after each corner, they’d run into a sizable horde of eaters. It had become so common that everyone was getting edgy, waiting for the dungeon to change its patterns.

  Still, the repeatable threat had led to TJ leaving his incendiary arrows prepared. While he didn’t have an unlimited amount, he’d not shied away from buying enough to leave the merchant’s eyebrows raised. If this were how the dungeon wanted to wear them down, he could hold his own for quite a while.

  A few minutes of exploring beyond a massive pile of dead eaters fetched the group in front of another similar door built into the corridor. Kallista studied the lock, then nodded. “It’s got a normal keyway. It shouldn’t take me long.”

  True to her word, with a bit of fishing her picks in the lock, she produced a solid click from its mechanism.

  After retrieving her short sword, she said, “I swear to Serina, if you don’t stay in the back, TJ, I’m going to find some way around the oath, just so I can kick you in the nuts.”

  Amusingly, a tendril of her updated oath connected. It seemed that once the bond was established, it moved so fast that he didn’t have time to ward them off if he wasn’t prepared.

  To his surprise, the rogue knelt and placed a hand on Faith, gently stroking her head. “And you… I know we got off on the wrong foot, but try to stay near Rachel. If you need help, let me or her know. Birdbrain over there needs to stay outside of the scrum to be useful. Just don’t do the spider thing if you can avoid it. It freaks me the fuck out, but cats are usually cool. Sometimes the ones around the guild would bring me rats that were still alive. Just don’t pee on my boots, and we’re good.”

  Understood.

  “Everyone ready?” Rachel asked.

  Receiving nods and a small meow of agreement from the rest of the group, she eased the door open.

  Rachel turned to the others who stood, mouths agape. “Well… this is different.”

  Chapter 32

  “A receiving hall? This dungeon makes no sense,” Rachel whispered.

  The room itself was over two hundred feet long, and the ceiling was thirty-feet tall with ornate wooden panels depicting scenes, and the walls were emblazoned with New Order banners. Long rows of coat racks with robes of various sizes lined the walls. In the center was a massive area filled with tables and chairs. Two fully-stocked wet bars lined with bottles, casks, and glasses were arranged at opposite sides.

  The artwork consisted of impressive mosaics of religious scenes dedicated to traditional family life. Weddings. Children being born. Mending clothing. Eating meals together. Most prominent was a man reading from a book to what appeared to be his family.

  Newer-looking artwork shifted the tone drastically. A legion of chained slaves worked a field, looked over by the same central figure who wore a smile. Another depicted executions, with elves, dwarves, and humans with nooses around their necks. Lastly, one showed a mob of people fleeing a blazing city, while the man from the other artwork threw a torch through a window.

  Examining the rest of the receiving hall, doors were scattered about, each with their own rugs and shoe station where slippers could be donned to not mar the elaborate furnishings and glossy white stone floors. Flowers in vases dotted each table, and large stained-glass windowpanes dotted the walls, giving off a soft glow to emulate external lighting.

  “I guess that answers the question if the New Order is running the show. Either it’s aligned with them, or they’ve got it under control,” TJ said.

  He moved to the nearby coatrack and inspected the black robes with the New Order’s insignia. Plucking several from the hangers, he started passing them out. “If they are going leave stuff like this lying around, I say blending in sounds a hell of a lot easier than whatever the hell Kalli keeps doing.”

  The rogue chuckled. “I’m still figuring out the talents Serina gave me, but Shadow Step is pretty cool, isn’t it?”

  “Fucking terrifying is more like it,” Rachel complained. “You’re there one moment, then gone the next. I can’t even pinpoint the moment you’re gone. I’ve started standing in brighter areas just so I can see you coming.”

  “I’m working on that too. I think if I keep practicing, I’ll be able to travel from shadow to shadow, not just be invisible.” She chuckled deviously. “That was the best fucking bargain I’ve ever made. My magic seems to think that if I get a few more basics down, I’ll get even more cool stuff.”

  Abby suggested, “When zis is over, we should spend time training together. I have so many options zat it is hard to know what to do. If I pick ze wrong spell, I could harm you all.”

  “That’s a good idea. We’ve got serious potential, but we don’t know how to work as a unit yet. I’ll draw up some drills, and I’ll make sure it happens, Cupcake,” Rachel said with a wink.

  Abby blushed then leaned over to give Rachel a quick peck on the cheek.

  Kallista rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Serina isn’t going to make me do that lovey-dovey bullshit too, is she?”

  Rachel pursed her lips. “You know, that’s an excellent question. Looking back, I don’t think I’d have been comfortable before. It’s like the stronger my power gets, the more I’ve stopped caring. It might be other things, but my magic has an agenda. The more I embrace TJ’s oaths, the stronger my powers become. After that last get together, I woke up feeling like I could take on an ogre. Although I think it’s a chicken and egg situation. I’m not sure if my actions feed the magic, or the magic getting stronger blurs my judgment.”

  “I can ask Serina next time I get a chance. Maybe get her to back off on affecting you all. I know I’m a lost cause, but I might be able to get you all some leeway,” TJ said.

  Abby asked, “Master, wouldn’t zat make your oaths more difficult? I’m not sure Serina would be eager for you to suffer more or grow distant from her goals. It is not a burden to me. Even if I am being affected, I, for one, will gladly carry zis. If we were incompatible, my… purpose would not have put me in your path. Of zis, I am certain.”

  Rachel blew out a long sigh. “It’s not like I’m unhappy, but anytime our magic levels get below half full, I find myself fantasizing far more than I’m used to. If Serina is willing, I’d like a day or two without it impacting me so I can decide what I want on a clear head. I feel like she’s shaping us for the better, but it’s still changing us.”

  “Good fucking grief, I don’t know what’s worse, hearing that I might end up brainwashed by a goddess, or the prophecy that says I should let it happen,” Kallista complained. “I guess what I really want to know is what her plans for us are. Is anchoring her magic and freeing that dipshit all she wants? I kinda doubt it. That’s just a short-term thing. Any chance you know what’s next, beyond trying to build up our talents?”

  Not having an answer to her question, TJ shook his head. “I know everyone wants to hear that there’s some grand plan, but, well, this whole situation was unintentional. Serina may not have a path for us yet. She might be making up stuff as she goes for now. It seems like the recurring theme has been making the best of the situation we’re in.”

  Everyone fell into quiet contemplation at that point. After making sure the hooded robes were in place and obscuring their features, Rachel took the lead and started with the left-most door.

  They eased through, trying to pretend they b
elonged. TJ closed the doors behind him and glanced around the massive library. It was well lit from false windows that streamed in a soft glow, and a thick carpet dampened the sound of their footsteps. On the distant side of the chamber, hidden by tall stacks of books, hushed voices could be heard.

  Row after row of books were aligned in tall vertical stacks, reaching twice head height, but the room had a vaulted ceiling, giving it an airy feel. The party started to move forward, but his magic sloshed about excitedly. His magical detection spell flitted over the rows, then found something that glowed in his perception.

  He coughed softly, gaining the women’s attention. He then nodded to the books. He reached out with his telekinesis and plucked one from a high shelf. As it dropped into his hand, he had to suppress a maniacal giggle. He grinned malevolently as he held it up to his comrades. Upon reading the title, Abby’s eyes went wide, then she too gave a wicked smile.

  Unable to wait, he thumbed open ‘Greater Fireball: An Arcane Guide.’ He had to read the section twice to get the hand gestures down, but the words were simple enough. A spot in his mind blossomed as it was added to his magical repertoire. His mind caressed the spell, and he could immediately tell it would be a hungry bastard to power. Still, when it came to ‘kill it with fire,’ he now had something better than expensive arrows.

  He kissed the book’s cover and whispered, “Some motherfuckers are gonna get toasty.”

  Hunt more spells.

  Our enemies shall suffer.

  He knelt and patted the little demon cat’s head. For once, he couldn’t disagree. These books might hold an untold number of spells that he could use. Even that one was an incredible boon.