Defenders of the Realm

by Dave Willmarth

  “I killed him.” Jules blurted out. “I’ve never hurt anyone in my life. But he… he kept beating me. And shouting that he was going to kill me. His friends were outside in his car, calling to him to hurry up. Teasing. And he kept saying I was embarrassing him. He… he hit me so hard it broke my jaw. When I fell down, he went to the window to yell outside. I grabbed my gun and…” she sobbed softly against his chest.

  He let her cry for a while, rubbing her back and whispering that it was going to be ok. When she quieted down, he said “Well, now I am a little worried.”

  This got her to finally raise her eyes, which were red and puffy from crying. She looked at him, confused. “It’s okay. Like I said, he’s dead, and-” she stopped as he held a finger to her lips.

  He smiled and said “Oh, not about him. Sounds like he got what he deserved. I’m more worried about YOU. I mean, it seems like you’re kind of a badass. Once you get out of the pod, am I going to need to flee every time we argue?” He winked at her.

  She sniffed and looked at him sideways. He could see her trying to decide how to respond.

  Finally, she said “Yep” and got up from the sofa. She didn’t turn around as she walked upstairs, wiping her eyes, and shaking her head. About halfway up, she said “And I hear you aren’t so fast in real life. You probably should be worried.”

  Alexander stared at her, eyes wide as she disappeared onto the second floor.

  Chapter 2

  Hidden Gem

  When the rest of his people had returned to the compound, Alexander opened the portal back to the keep. Several of the dwarven masters joined him, wanting to see the new dragon forge, and then accompany Alexander to Broken Mountain. Brick had informed them that they’d have a dragon forge of their own in the mountain soon, and they wanted to prepare. A few stayed behind to continue to work the forge at Greystone Manor.

  Once back in the keep, Alexander went to find Blix while the dwarves followed Brick to the forge. He found the gnome in his office within the newly constructed bank. His crew of dwarves had finished the interior walls and doors, as well as the vault. And somehow over the last couple of days the gnome had managed to bring in furniture and decorate. He waved at one of the human volunteers who’d apparently taken a position as a teller.

  “This place looks great” Alexander said as he tapped on the gnome’s open door. Blix set his pen down and closed the ledger he’d been writing in.

  He stood in his chair and reached across his desk to shake Alexander’s hand. “Thank you, Alexander. I hope you’re well?”

  “I am, thank you, Blix. I’ve come to see if you need anything. And to talk a little business.”

  “Ah, yes. Your loan program? You’ll be pleased to hear that the O’Malleys have become our first official customers. They’ve borrowed enough gold to purchase the land for the Ogre II, and are preparing to—”

  Alexander held up a hand, interrupting him. “To purchase what?”

  “The plot of land you designated for the inn.” The gnome looked confused. “You chose it yourself. As for the price, I calculated a fair value based on location, scarcity of available space, and—” he stopped speaking as he noted Alexander shaking his head.

  “Blix, I appreciate your enthusiasm. But there will be no charge for the land. At least, not for any of those who are here now. I promised them space to live and to operate their businesses in, and a wage until they were up and running.”

  He let that saturate, and said. “In any event, I am not willing to give up ownership of any part of the keep. This shall remain Greystone property for now. That may change at a later date, I’ll let you know.”

  The diminutive banker was trembling, eyes wide and sweat beginning to form on his brow. “But… how do you expect this institution to generate a profit? I assumed that you would want to convert at least some of your property into liquid assets. Or at least to hold the notes at a reasonable rate of interest.” Blix blurted out in one breath.

  Alexander shook his head. “This keep is a stronghold, Blix. There needs to be no doubt as to its ownership or who is responsible for its safety. We have enough to do without a dozen different property owners arguing over what should be done with the land.” He held up a finger as Blix opened his mouth to object. “BUT… there is plenty of space up on top of the plateau. When things here have calmed a bit, I will allow more citizens to join us, and we can make space available for sale up top. Though, probably not inside the tower compound walls. We can make some arrangement to extend protections for those who need it. And there are already villages, newly reconstructed and awaiting occupants. For those who don’t wish to purchase land, we can arrange some type of lease program. The same for new farmers that join us. You and Silverbeard can work it out.”

  Blix, somewhat mollified and with the red tinge fading from his cheeks, sat back into his chair. “I suppose that will do. I don’t mean to sound greedy, Alexander. But ensuring that this bank thrives is a grave responsibility. And I take it seriously.”

  “I appreciate that, Blix. Wouldn’t have it any other way. Now, have we had any other takers? Or depositors?”

  Blix grinned, back in his element. “Of course! Nearly half of the citizens have opened accounts and made at least token deposits. The two merchants, Thagin and Drellin, borrowed funds for a new wagon, and to purchase a wagonload of spirits from Broken Mountain. They plan to sell them in Antalia at a significant markup.” Blix looked at him for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to continue. He sighed and asked, “I don’t suppose it would do any good to recommend you charge them a toll for use of the portals back and forth?”

  “Ha! Never change, Blix.” Alexander grinned at the gnome banker. “Not just yet, though. That’s something else you can discuss with Silverbeard. It cost us nothing to build the portals, and there is no operating overhead. For now, let us help our citizens build up a solid nest-egg. Call it ‘hazard pay,’ or compensation for the dangers they are willing to face here. When things are more secure and settled, we can talk about charging them for services like portals. Even possibly establishing a full-time staff who can open portals at each location for a fee so Brick or myself won’t have to be there.”

  Alexander chatted with Blix for a few more minutes, then excused himself. He had some time before he was due to open the portal to Broken Mountain, so he decided to experiment. Walking up the stairs to his quarters, he asked “Jeeves, where is the lab you created for me?”

  “It is located behind the wall nearest your desk in the study, Alexander. There is no door as of yet. You were going to speak to the dwarves about a secret door, I believe.”

  “Yes, thank you Jeeves. Been a little busy. I’ll let myself in and out for now. Please ask Blix for the name of the leader of his dwarven crew. The one that installed his vault.”

  “His name is Norval, Alexander. I heard master Blix speaking to him.”

  “Thank you, Jeeves. Can you ask that Norval join me in my study?”

  “Of course, Alexander.” There was a pause for half a minute. “He is on his way. He was doing some work at the dragonforge. I expect he will arrive momentarily.”

  “Thank you, Jeeves.” Alexander was just reaching his quarters himself. He went to his study and stood behind the desk, facing the stone wall. As with everything else in this part of the keep, the walls were not constructed with individual stones. The rooms had simply been carved out of the stone of the cliff. “Jeeves, is this the place?” He asked.

  “The laboratory room is larger than the study, Alexander. Any doorway located along that wall will grant you access to it. It also extends behind your bedroom.”

  “Thank you, Jeeves. Please remind me to pull up a schematic the next time I’m in the control room.” He placed a hand on the wall and closed his eyes. His earth sense showed him a void behind the wall. Jeeves was right, it was of significant size.

  As he was scanning the area, Norval called out from the sitting room. “Alexander? Er, yer Majesty? Be ye h
ere?”

  “In here.” Alexander turned toward the door and smiled at the dwarf as he entered the study. He reached out and shook Norval’s hand. “Please, outside of formal court proceedings, just call me Alexander. How are you finding life at the keep so far?”

  “It’ be great!” The dwarf grinned “Yerself saved me n’ mine several days’ work on the bank buildin’. And we still got paid full contract price! And ye make’d a damned dragon forge fer me to play with. I should be payin ye to lemme stay!”

  “Yes, I’m sorry to have called you away from the forge. I won’t keep you long. I wanted to discuss a new contract with you.” Alexander motioned for the dwarf to sit. Norval had to move some of the looted books from the tower to clear a chair before sitting. “Before we discuss the contract, I need to tell you that the work is a matter of absolute secrecy. You, and any of your crew who assist you, must swear never to tell a soul about the work. And this may be the first of several such jobs. Is that acceptable to you?”

  Norval nodded his head. “We dwarves ha’ a long tradition o’ keepin’ the secrets o’ those who hire us. I’m sure this place has more than a few o’ them secrets that the dwarven builders took to their graves. I’ll swear whatever oaths ye like. As will me crew.”

  “Good enough for me.” Alexander rose and indicated that Norval should join him behind the desk. He faced the wall, and liquified a section of the stone wide enough for them to step through. He cast a light globe into the room and stepped inside. Norval followed. The room was about forty feet wide and thirty deep. There were no features to it, just bare walls and floor.

  “This is going to be my laboratory. I am, among other things, an enchanter. And some of my experiments… explode.” He grinned as the dwarf chuckled. Turning back to face the door, he said “Can you make me a door that is both secure and invisible from the outside?”

  “Bah! That be all? O’ course we can. Though, with that ability o’ yours, I’m not sure ye be need’n it. Ye can just melt n rebuild the wall as needed.”

  “Yes, well. There will be times when I’ll want to grant access to others, who’ll need a more conventional door. If you’ll let me know how long it’ll take, what materials you need, and what it will cost?”

  Norval thought for a moment, then said “D’ye want it to open with voice command? Or a hidden switch?”

  Now it was Alexander’s turn to think. “I believe a switch. I can always ask Jeeves to open it by voice command. Yes. A switch would be good, in case Jeeves is disabled, or silence is needed.”

  Norval nodded. “Easy enough. I’ll make a list o’ materials. Most o’ the parts I can make at the forge. But off the top o’ me head, with materials and meself, along with two o’ me crew… three hundred gold?” he asked.

  Alexander looked at him, shaking his head. “It’ll cost you more than that. I’m not looking for a discount here, Norval. You have the right to earn a living for yourself and your dwarves. You make me this door, make it undetectable and silent, and keep its existence secret, and I’ll pay you a thousand gold.”

  Norval looked at him, shaking his head. “Ye be overpayin’, but I’ll not argue if ye wants to shower me in gold.”

  He reached out his hand and Alexander shook it, saying “Give your list to Silverbeard or Lola, and they’ll make sure you get what you need.” He led the way out of the room, then used his magic to seal the wall back up.

  Then he asked a question that had just occurred to him. “Norval, you mentioned that this place has secrets. As the current owner, do I have the right to know those secrets? Or do they belong to the old baron who built this place forever?”

  “Aye, this be your kingdom now. Earned fair and right. Any secrets here be yours to know. But as I said, those who built this place would ha’ took em to their graves.”

  Alexander looked the dwarf in the eye. “But a talented dwarf like yourself might discover some of those secrets, if he were to explore the keep?”

  “Oh, aye. No guarantee I’d find em all, but I’d bet me beard I’d find more than a few.”

  Alexander smiled at the dwarf. “Then I’d like that to be your next job. After you’ve finished this door. You and any of your crew who haven’t secured better jobs already. Explore every inch of this place and tell me its secrets. You can coordinate with Jeeves, as there are several areas he’s built recently that you can skip over. Like this room.” He indicated the wall behind him.

  At the mention of his name, Jeeves spoke up. “Alexander, I can tell you of several hidden passages and rooms that the baron had built within my structure.”

  Both elf and dwarf perked up at this announcement. Alexander grinned at Norval, feeling like a kid on a treasure hunt. The dwarf was rubbing his hands together, clearly interested as well. With a wave, Alexander teleported them both up to the control room. “Jeeves, please display a schematic of the keep’s structures, and indicate the areas you just mentioned.”

  The familiar blue glow appeared above the control table and formed itself into a three-dimensional representation of the keep, including the main structure, walls, towers (except the wizard’s tower) and ancillary buildings. The three towers and the villages up on the plateau appeared as separate, smaller images to either side of the main keep. Alexander was impressed. “Jeeves, this is awesome!” Norval nodded enthusiastically.

  “Thank you, Alexander, I do try.” Jeeves voice echoed through the room as several areas of the image changed color. “I have indicated the hidden areas in red.”

  Alexander immediately noted his laboratory was one of the red areas. There was another connected to the master bathroom in his suite. One was the dungeon room Fitz had located where they found a good bit of treasure when they first cleared the ruins. He noted one below the east tower on the plateau, which probably explained why he didn’t see a door when they explored.

  Interestingly, there was one shown right there next to the control room. Norval seemed to spot it the same time Alexander did, and pointed to it. He raised an eyebrow, asking a silent question.

  Alexander said “Oh hell yes! Let’s find it.”

  Norval was moving toward the indicated wall before he even finished the sentence. Alexander resisted the urge to use his earth sense, standing back and letting the dwarf investigate. He watched as Norval placed his hands against the wall, then his ear. He stood that way for perhaps a minute, then stepped back. He took three steps to the left, and examined the stone there. He focused on an area well above his head, then a spot on the floor.

  Turning to Alexander, he said “Ye’ll have to do this one. The baron had it made for a man o’ his stature, not a dwarf.” He waved Alexander over, then pointed to a spot at the base of the wall. “Put yer foot there, then reach up and press the wall… here.” he leapt up and slapped a spot on the wall. Alexander did as he was told, and when he pushed on the wall, a small square gave way. There was a clicking sound, and a three-foot section of the wall moved backward, then to one side like an elevator door. It revealed a short hallway that led to another room.

  Norval whistled, his dwarven sight allowing him to see the content in the lightless room. Alexander cast a light globe down the hallway and followed it. He was tempted to copy the dwarf’s whistle as the light reached the room.

  There was gold. Bars of it. Stacked neatly in one corner. Alexander asked Norval for an estimate. The dwarf lifted one of the bars and closed his eyes. Opening them again, he surveyed the stack, then did some quick math. “There be a hundred bars here. Refined ore. Each worth a thousand coins.” He put the bar back in the stack, looking around the room.

  Gold wasn’t the only treasure there. There was a small barrel, a keg really, filled with assorted gems. There were similar kegs filled with gold and silver coins. Along one wall were shelves that reached nearly floor to ceiling and were a dozen feet wide. Assorted items inhabited the shelves, including jars of what looked like spell ingredients, figurines, a wand, some jewelry, several weapons including a very cool lookin
g miniature crossbow, and other sundry things.

  Alexander’s attention was pulled away, when Norval hissed through his teeth. He’d spotted a small chest made of some shiny black wood with what looked like mithril hinges and clasp. The box stood open, and Alexander could see a smoky black gem sitting upon a bed of velvet. The gem seemed to writhe in its cradle, the colors shifting within.

  The dwarf took a step back. “I hear’d the baron were a necromancer.” He said in a voice so low it was almost a whisper. “Any chance he were a lich, as well?” He took another step back, looking over his shoulder as if expecting a trap to spring. Or undead minions to charge down the hallway.

  Alexander stepped forward, peering at the stone. He said “The baron’s still alive. Or… undead, I guess you could say. I don’t know if he’s a lich or not.” He quickly opened guild chat “Kai? I need you in the control room. And can you reach Fitz? I’ll need him here too.”

  A moment later, Kai’s voice echoed down the hall. “Alexander! Are you in danger?”

  Alexander called out “No danger. We’re down the hall” but Kai was already entering the room by the time he finished.

  The dragon’s eyes went immediately to the gem. “A phylactery.” His voice contained as much venom as when he’d spoken of the drow.

  Fitz entered the room a moment later, less alarmed than Kai. He too saw the gem, but his reaction was quite different. He began to laugh. Not a chuckle, but a deep belly laugh. He looked quite pleased with himself.

  “So THIS is where he hid it!” he grinned at Alexander. “You’ve found Baron Dire’s phylactery, boy. Well done!” he patted Alexander on the head like a favored puppy. “I questioned him for days, and still he refused to speak. Now I have the leverage to get some answers!”

  The wizard closed the box, then deposited it in his robes somewhere. Only then did he look around the room. Pointing toward the gold and gems, he said “That would be the mine proceeds, he tried to use to buy the weapons from the dwarves. Always wondered where he hid it.” Fitz took a brief look at the items on the shelves. “Quite the haul, boy. Though I’d leave these here if I were you. Some of them are quite dangerous. I’ll come back and go through them for you later.”