Lightfoot

by Joe Kuster

  Chapter 36

  “I can’t believe you trust him,” Rachel hissed.

  TJ shrugged. “Dude seemed serious. Redmund said they were guarding the dungeon, not part of the invasion. They needed to gather supplies for the army, and I believe him. If they can just waltz in, act like nothing is wrong, and swipe a fortune of healing potions and magical weapons before the battle, that’s a hell of a win. Even if they don’t end up needing it, it means the New Order won’t have them. Once they’ve geared up, they can exit the dungeon through the path we cleared, and we can meet up in the city.”

  “Not to insult Kallista’s race, but you do realize that he may be under orders to deceive anyone that tries to interfere, correct? The rumors I’ve heard suggest that deception and darker deeds tend to come naturally to them,” Rachel whispered as she flitted her eyes between him and looking forward.

  Faith shifted in his robe’s hood, seemingly content to ignore them as she catnapped. She’d claimed the rescue mission as her own personal victory and had insisted on being carried afterward. To be fair, she’d killed the jailers, collected the key, and woke Rachel while Kallista and TJ kept everyone distracted with the fighting in the warehouse.

  They were trailing behind Abby and Kallista as they backtracked through the dungeon. The two women in front were lost in conversation and seemed unaware of Rachel’s comment. Abby was serving as a navigator with the map, while Kallista occasionally stealthed and checked corners before waving them forward.

  So far, it had been a non-event since clearing the warehouse. It had his nerves on end to be in such a lax formation, but it really had only been a few minutes since they’d wiped out everything inside this passage.

  The eaters’ bodies still lined the stone floor where TJ had blown through massive clusters of them. The dungeon had quickly escalated to nearly clogging the hallway with the little bastards, but it hadn’t changed the mechanics of taking them down. After a point, the growing numbers had made each fight easier. The angry furballs weren’t smart enough to work together and, without limbs, became jammed into a wall of gnashing teeth.

  A single fire arrow, then using kinetic force to hold them back, meant they’d pile up into a horrible smelling bonfire. It was almost as though the dungeon was attacking them in ways that met its required rules without really putting its heart into it. From what he understood from the book he’d been reading, seeing only one type of enemy was typically limited to low-level dungeons, but this one had obviously been around for a while.

  TJ pondered Rachel’s words in silence for a while before offering, “Perhaps it’s a trick, but I don’t think so. He could have just dog piled me. Sure, they’d have lost people, but they didn’t make a move when I was right there in front of them. I can’t see why they’d have held back otherwise.”

  “Well, I hope you’re right. If what Redmund said is true, over three hundred New Order mages are already in the dungeon or arriving in Ardsville for the attack. That is a truly massive force of magicians. Even if most of them are novices, the Duchess’s guards will be ripped apart,” she said.

  He couldn’t help but ponder those numbers. The New Order had planned on taking the castle with hundreds of Novenary working as shock troops and assassins in addition to their truly massive number of casters.

  Given how the Duchess seemed to obsess over humanity’s lack of magic, she may have been keenly aware of her weak spot. It might even explain her insistence on trying to breed more powerful magicians. Most of her protections were better suited to suppressing a peasant uprising or a small army using traditional weapons from what he’d seen.

  Meanwhile, adequately prepared, TJ could probably dispatch large swaths of her guards by himself. He might have been above average on the capacity level, but even a medium-sized group of low-level spellcasters could render the city to little more than rubble. The patrolling squads with spears, swords, and light armor wouldn’t pose much resistance.

  Adding to that tidbit, the relationship between the Guild of Mages and the Duchess wasn’t clear cut. Not that they had many unaffiliated mages in the city, but there was a chance they’d stay neutral in the conflict. It sounded like the Guild of Thieves had been bribing enough people to grease the wheels ahead of the impending coup. While they might assist in the city’s defense, he couldn’t plan on it.

  Of course, that meant that TJ was fighting an uphill battle. His little group might have more power than most, but they were new to their abilities and vastly outnumbered. Even if they could somehow keep Kalli’s people out of it, that still meant facing hundreds of prepared battle mages.

  TJ cringed as a thought crossed his mind. “Not sure how I’m going to explain to Bethany that her brother is on the way to get himself killed.”

  Rachel inspected him from the corner of her eye, then chuckled. “Dear heart, I seriously doubt she would blame you for Sven’s actions. She might be thrilled to be free of him. Honestly? I’m not sure this is the time or place for such discussions.”

  He sighed. “Sorry. I’m trying to avoid thinking about having to kill all these people. I want to tear them apart for what they’ve done and… I’m going to. For Serina, I’ll… well, you get the idea. It’s just… part of me is still struggling with what we need to do. I’d rather keep my mind from obsessing over it.”

  “Ah… I can’t blame you there.” She gave a long exhale that made her shoulders slump. “I’ll be talking with Serina when I get a chance. I’m sure she’ll say I was only doing what was required, but… she always makes me feel better when I hear things like that from her. I suspect she’ll say the same about Bethany.” She eyed TJ carefully. “You really are a tender-hearted thing when it comes to anyone who shows you the least bit of affection. Abby and I will need to keep you thoroughly distracted, or you’ll have us picking up strays the entire way to the elven islands.”

  He groaned. “Does it bother you? The stray thing. I mean, I don’t think I’m like that, but looking back, you’re not wrong. Before, I just drifted, never having relationships that lasted very long, but… I don’t want to live like that anymore. Whether it’s me or the oaths, it seems I’m a sucker for a pretty face, and I guess that hasn’t changed, but now I’m looking for a real connection. At the same time, I don’t want to mess things up between you and me. You’re going to be my wife. My Countess. And as lame as it is, we’re literally soul mates. Stuck together in the same little magical container. If anyone gets the right to object, it’s you.”

  Rachel seemed lost in rechecking her armor’s straps and buckles and avoided his gaze as she tightened a clasp. Pulling together her thoughts, she firmed up her resolve, and gave him a smile. “Thus far, as your soon-to-be Countess, I approve of your choices. Individually, each one makes perfect sense and will serve our emerging House and make us stronger. Although when added together, I may have my own reticence. I… well… I’m not immune to such concerns. Serina assures me that there is nothing to worry about, and I trust that she’d intervene if there were trouble brewing.”

  “Keep in mind, Serina could always be setting things up so they’ll be fun to watch. She can be a goofball at times,” he said. His expression soured as he remembered she was slowly dying, and there wasn’t anything he could do about it yet. He could feel her hold on life fading, but until they finished their goal, he was helpless to do anything about it.

  Eying him and understanding the reaction, Rachel punched his shoulder lightly. “We’ll save her, dear heart. She’s our goddess, and if your plan works, we now have a small but very motivated army at our back.”

  He nodded slowly, tightening his grip on his crossbow.

  She added, “To your question, I don’t think she was doing this for the entertainment value. She was quick to agree to steer you away from anyone that I disapprove of. Mostly I worry that such ties will burden you. You seem to take on everyone’s problems as your own; Serina’s, mine, and now Kallista’s. I do wish you had at least consulted us before committing to tra
veling to the desert lands.

  “While I agree with trying to help Kallista’s people, even in a straight-line voyage, that’s at least nine months of travel each way. You could be gone for years, and that’s more than enough to impact my plans for our home life. I either need to put off having children to go with you, you’re going to miss their birth, or you’ll miss a chunk of their childhood. I know what growing up without a mother is like. I want our child to know their father.”

  Taking the hint that he had overstepped, he apologized, “Ah, crap. It just felt right at the time, but I didn’t ask, and that’s not a small thing. At least Serina made it sound like we’ve got a while before I need to worry about it. My new portal ritual might help too, but it’s still a big commitment.” He sighed softly. “Sorry, I guess I get attached easily. Eden’s Meadow isn’t large. It’s probably only half the population of Larton, and you get to know everyone there. I suppose living under constant threat makes you relish the time you have, knowing that it might be snuffed out at any moment. If I had to guess, it’s why we were such a tight-knit community. We try to be there for each other to help find joy and comfort when we know it could be taken away at any moment. Things are different here, and I need to adjust.”

  Rachel drew in a long breath and went silent for a long time. After a bit, TJ assumed she wasn’t going to reply, so it broke him out of his mental woolgathering when she did.

  “That’s… surprisingly poetic, TJ. To cherish those around you enough that you want to make their lives better. Perhaps this realm needs a bit more of that,” Rachel said.

  Abby stopped walking, which caused the rest of the group to halt. She pointed to the T-junction in front of them. “Zis was not here previously. Ze hallways are different.”

  Pulling even with the others, TJ peered over the redhead’s shoulder. Sure enough, the intersection hadn’t been visible on their previous trip. Unlike all the other hallways, this one was barely wide enough to squeeze through with their gear. It would be tough to retreat at a run.

  Shuffling positions, Rachel rejoined Kallista in the front while Abby fell in step close to TJ as they started down the new branch. After a few minutes, the constriction opened up into a simple room that was only fifteen feet by fifteen feet. At the far side was a large wooden chest with bronze bands. The matching hasp at the bottom had a robust-looking lock dangling in it. Inside that lock was a long-handled brass key.

  As they shifted to get a better view, it became clear that the key was really a smooth rod and matched the first locked door they’d found. Above the handles, it read ‘B.T. Morningwood’ in burnished lettering.

  Next to the chest, a pitcher of water, a loaf of bread, a strawberry cake, a tray of smoked bacon, a bowl of olives, and a wheel of cheese were carefully arranged on a small dining table with four chairs surrounding it.

  Kallista motioned everyone back and began inspecting the floor, walls, and ceiling carefully. After a few minutes, she said, “I don’t see any traps, but this doesn’t feel right.”

  Rachel frowned and nodded. “This looks like a setup. It’s got the key we need in plain sight. That and why would the dungeon offer up food and drink? It’s like it expects us to stop and have a snack. I’m almost surprised it didn’t leave out a bottle of wine for us.”

  Abby gave the table a longing glance. “Ze cake looks delicious.”

  “Yeah. No thanks. That cake is full of lies—that and cyanide. I can smell almonds from here,” Kallista said confidently.

  “Ze cake is a lie?” the bubbly redhead asked.

  TJ nodded. “That’s a safe bet. I’d assume that the chest is probably trapped, and the food is poisoned. Are we agreed?” TJ asked.

  Everyone nodded.

  Given the proximity, the smell of freshly baked bread was unmissable. As was the plate full of bacon.

  Kallista’s stomach growled. She pulled out a small canvas sack from her bag and apologized, “Sorry, I haven’t had a good moment to stop and eat in a while. In between the stabby bits, it’s been a lot of running and hiding all day.”

  TJ eyed the plate of bacon across the room and realized that he was literally starving. His magic had recovered his body, but he was still running on empty. He motioned to the small bag that Kallista was holding up to her mouth. She’d kept it at an angle that hid her fangs while she chewed.

  He said, “I need to eat, or I’m going to crash soon. Got anything good in there?”

  Kalli blushed. “Sorry, TJ. This is just raw liver. I’ll dig out some jerky or something for you. Although I might need to clean my hands off first; this is kinda bloody.”

  Without further prompting, the thief held out her right hand, and he cast his cleaning spell on it. She then reached into her bottomless bag and retrieved one of the pouches of trail mix. She lobbed it his way, and he didn’t hesitate to tear into the dried fruits and nuts.

  “Why is ze chest becoming wet?” Abby asked.

  Everyone shared a confused look.

  She tried again, “Look at ze right corner.”

  A small thin line of viscous fluid ran down one corner of the box.

  Rachel’s jaw dropped, then she quickly closed it. She jerked on their magical bonds frantically as though she were afraid to voice her concerns aloud. Dropping their food, Kallista and TJ whipped their weapons forward.

  Abby looked at the others wide-eyed but recovered quickly and lifted her lute to her fingers. She softly belted out a short lullaby as she strummed along. The chest glowed golden for a second, then nothing else seemed to happen.

  The group stared at the box, ready for battle. After nearly a minute, the lid shifted like it was smacking its lips, and a meaty six-foot-long tongue slid onto the floor. It left long strands of drool on the stonework, then the chest began softly snoring. As it did so, it revealed a mass of razor-sharp teeth that lined the lid.

  “Mimic,” Rachel whispered. “Some of them are incredibly strong and can eat people whole. They tend to be fast, and this room doesn’t have much room for us to spread out. I would suggest we not wake it unless we’re confident we can kill it in a single strike.”

  TJ mentally flipped through his most powerful magic, then realized he couldn’t use any of them. “Ugh, if I use anything big, we’re going to be flash-fried or get caught in the detonation. All that force or heat has to go somewhere. I think that’s part of the trap. Any spell big enough to take it out will probably kill us in the process.”

  “Zat and ze key might be damaged if we are not careful,” Abby added.

  TJ pursed his lip, then an idea came to him. He reached out with his telekinetic power and gently slid it along the key. He gave it a small tug. The box shifted as the padlock wiggled, but the monster didn’t wake as the bronze key popped free.

  Easing it through the air, TJ grabbed it and slid it into one of his pouches.

  He drawled, “So… anyone else feel like hightailing it back to the door we actually need to deal with and leaving the murder box alone?”

  Seeing nodding heads, they formed up and executed a calculated angle of attack, 180 degrees off-center.

  Chapter 37

  Standing in front of the first locked door they had run across, everyone in the party paced anxiously while Kallista yet again rechecked it for any signs of traps.

  She shrugged. “Got nothing. It looks clean. So, are we going in fast and loud, or slow and sneaky?”

  TJ slid his awareness across the group. They were still fairly topped off, magically speaking. They’d had a few more groups of monsters pop up, and two brief skirmishes with the New Order, but they’d gone down with little more than a few arrows and a bit of blade work.

  “We’ve got the juice, and we’re still on a timer. I say loud and proud. If something ugly pops its head up, and it doesn’t look like a trap, I blow it up,” TJ said.

  Abby replied, “I could go either way.”

  “I think we already know that, Cupcake,” Rachel said with a smirk. She then grew serious. “I’d
feel better if we can do this faster. We’ve not heard anything out of Serina, and I can’t help but worry.”

  “Got it. No complaints here.” Kallista shifted her daggers around and prepared one in her tail’s grip. Slotting the key into the lock resulted in several clicks and clacks as mechanical bolts snapped open, and the door began sliding into the wall.

  Brilliant white light spilled into the darkened hallway. They’d been operating in next to no light for so long that the entire party ducked back into the dark hallway after being completely blinded.

  Squinting into the brilliance, TJ could only make out more stone walls, but the ceiling was giving off an intense glow. Forty feet into the hallway, a ladder led upward to a hatch. In large bold letters, a sign on the wall declared, ‘EXIT’ and another one stated, ‘Congratulations. Now GTFO.’

  A magical haze seemed to be emanating from the lights, but it seemed like a weak aura effect. As he inspected it with his magic, it only seemed to make him tired and impatient. Compared to something like a radiant poison, it looked like the dungeon wasn’t even trying at this point.

  Not needing to voice her extreme paranoia, Kallista shielded her eyes and began inspecting every square inch of surface. Not making her job easy was the fact that finely detailed engravings had been etched into the stone. Scene after scene covered the room, and most of them had tiny hatch marks cut into them that gave them a three-dimensional quality.

  She focused her talents, letting them flow into her eyes and fingers. Her gaze traced the intricate loops and swirls of an idyllic field of wheat, swaying in the breeze until she pulled back, rubbing at her face.

  She groaned. “So much for moving fast. I can’t swear to it, but I think it’s trapped to shit. It’s either so advanced that I can’t easily find the triggers or the artwork and signs are here to make us paranoid.”