Defenders of the Realm

by Dave Willmarth

Alexander looked to Silverbeard “Everybody get a level or two?”

  “More’n that. I got three, meself. Some got four or five.” The old dwarf replied. “There were more’n a hundred gremlins. Was a good mornin’!”

  “Then let’s celebrate!” Max declared “Steak and ale for everyone! To our first successful run in the new dungeon!”

  There was a general clamor and several folks headed for the kitchen to retrieve lunch. While they waited, Alexander filled Silverbeard and Lola in on what they’d found in the mine. When he got to the part when they met Geb, Silverbeard practically hopped to his feet.

  “Ye met WHO?? And yer just now tellin me this? Do ye KNOW what he be?”

  Alexander was surprised by the usually calm dwarf’s reaction.

  “He said he was something called an Althugr. An ancient people. And that he was Guardian of the node that’s down there…” he trailed off as Silverbeard paced.

  The old dwarf stopped moving and turned to Alexander. His face was growing red and he was breathing heavily. “Not just an ancient people. THE ancient people. The Althugr be the first race ta inhabit Io. Some o’ the old legends they helped the gods build this world.”

  “So… they’re even older than the dragons?” Lainey asked. All of the lore on Io was new to her. She had no idea this wasn’t part of it. At least as far as Alexander knew.

  “Aye, lass. Older’n any dragon on Io at any rate. There may be bigger’n older dragons on their own world.” Silverbeard confirmed. “I must inform Tomebinder and King Thalgrin. Quietly. It canno’ become known that a Guardian and node has been exposed. Ye’ll be fightin off every nation n guild lookin’ ta build their power.”

  Alexander’s gut was beginning to flop. The last thing he needed was more invaders to worry about. “Are Guardians really all that powerful?”

  Silverbeard looked sideways at him as he resumed his pacing. “Ye said a demon army catched him ‘n caged him?”

  Alexander nodded. “That’s what he told us.”

  Silverbeard stopped again and looked Alexander in the eye. “It musta’ve been a damned big army.”

  *****

  Fitz paced back and forth within the round room near the top of his tower. His steps were slow and measured, as was his voice.

  “You will tell me what I wish to know, Baron. We have danced our little dance long enough. I will no longer threaten you with pain. I no longer need to.”

  The lich spat a nasty-looking glob of greenish black blood onto the floor at Fitz’s feet. “Nothing you can do will make me betray my masters, dragon. The pain you inflict upon me is nothing compared to the punishment they will invent for me—should I talk. Eventually, you will go too far and kill me. Then I shall simply return to my phylactery and be free of you!” Baron Dire struggled against his bonds as he spoke. “And when I’ve chosen a new body, I will return for you and your precious Greystone guild! I will take back my lands and enslave you all! Yes, even you, dragon. You are not immune to the dark magic. My masters have shown me as much!”

  Fitz chuckled at the irate lich. “You presume too much, undead filth. You will not be returning to your phylactery. Ever.” Fitz reached into his pocket and produced the gem used by the lich to preserve his soul. “You see, my ‘precious guild’ found your little stone.”

  The lich’s eyes shot up from the floor and laser focused on the stone in Fitz’s hand. “How… that is not possible!” For the first time, there was fear in the lich’s eyes.

  Fitz put the stone away. “I’ve not decided yet whether to time-lock the stone, sever your connection to it, or just destroy it outright. Either way, foul thing, your time on Io will soon come to an end. You were a vile man in life, and have only grown worse. You are an abomination that I will not suffer to exist much longer.”

  The lich struggled even harder to free himself, though it was futile. The magic restraints binding him were much too strong for one of his limited power. All he was doing was tearing away chunks of skin as he struggled. He screamed in frustration.

  “Nyaaaaaaagh! Damn you, Fitzbindulum! Had you not interfered all those centuries ago, I would be an emperor by now! Stormforge, Broken Mountain, Antalia… all would’ve been mine!”

  “Happy to have been the instrument of your downfall, undead thing. But enough of reliving fond memories. You will tell me what I wish to know. You see, I know something about you beyond the location of your phylactery. I know you fear death above all things. You took up the disgusting art of necromancy, even chose to live eternally as this foul, rotting undead creature I see before me, rather than face death. And death is exactly what you face now.”

  Fitz stopped pacing and approached the lich from behind. His voice dropped to a menacing growl that shook the tower. “And you WILL die! The only question left is whether you earn a quick death by telling me what I wish to know. Or choose to suffer unimaginably first. Either way you will break. You haven’t the courage to face a slow, painful, permanent death!”

  The lich thrashed about wildly, screaming in mindless rage. Fitz simply resumed his circular path and smiled.

  One floor down in another tower room, two drow sat in cages suspended in mid-air. They looked at each other fearfully as the screams of the lich reached their ears. Baron Dire was a powerful creature, nearly six hundred years old. He commanded an army of undead on behalf of the drow wizards. Whatever torture the wizard was using that made the lich scream so wildly, they did not look forward to experiencing themselves.

  The female kicked at the bars of her cage. A shock of light magic was her reward. “I will tell him nothing. Let him poke and prod at us. We are drow!” She tried to bolster her confidence and that of her fellow prisoner. He just shook his head.

  Adding insult to injury, a small green blur burst into the room. He produced a wand and proceeded to shoot each of them with light magic bolts while bouncing around shouting “Pew! Pew!”. After maybe a minute of his entertainment, he moved on.

  *****

  Alexander opened guild chat. “Kai, have you got a few minutes. We’ve made a… discovery. Silverbeard thinks a very important one. I could use some advice. If you could locate Fitz and ask him to come too, I would appreciate it.”

  “Of course, Alexander. I shall be right there.” Kai answered immediately.

  Alexander added “We’ll be in my sitting room. All officers, please join me there.”

  Walking through the kitchen and into the main corridor, he and Silverbeard led the core group who’d been with him at the mine. Lola joined them a moment later. When they reached his sitting room, the group spread out and found chairs or perches. Kai appeared a moment later, dropping quietly onto the balcony and stepping inside.

  Alexander greeted him “I’m sorry to pull you away from Lia and her eggs. But this is important, as I understand it. Is Fitz coming?”

  Kai shook his head “He blustered about questioning the lich, and that nothing was more important than that right now.”

  Silverbeard spoke up. “Tell the old goat that a Guardian and a node be sittin at the bottom o’ the mine Alexander visited today.”

  Alexander added “He said his name is Geb.”

  Kai’s eyes widened considerably. “Geb? We thought him dead! This is… one moment.” He held up a finger and closed his eyes. Maybe ten seconds later Fitz appeared in the room.

  “Where is Geb? What have you done with him??” The grumpy old wizard demanded.

  Silverbeard again spoke first. “Calm yerself. He be safe with his node. Alexander freed him from a demon overlord.”

  Fitz was far from calm. “Take me to him. This minute!” He slammed the base of his staff upon the floor. His eyes made it clear it wasn’t a request.

  Kai stepped forward “I wish to go along as well.” Silverbeard joined them.

  Alexander nodded, and before anyone else could decide they wanted to tag along, he teleported the four of them to the chamber at the bottom of the pit.

  Geb, noting their arrival, rose fro
m his sitting position next to the glowing gem in the floor. He smiled at Alexander. “King Alexander! I did not expect to see you again so soon. I see you’ve brought guests. Ah, Fitzbindulum. It has been too long.”

  As Alexander replied “Please, just call me Alexander” he caught movement from the corner of his eye. All three of his companions had taken a knee and bowed their heads. He stood there awkwardly for a moment, then began to drop to one knee himself. Geb stopped him.

  “No, please. None of that. I am no one to be worshipped. Rise, all of you. Fitzbindulum, who are your companions?”

  Fitz stood and with his free hand indicated Kai and the others. “Ancient One. This is Prince Kaibonostrum of the Dragon Kingdom. And Master Silverbeard, Chancellor of Elysia and advisor to Alexander here.”

  Geb bowed his head politely. “A pleasure to meet you both. Kaibonostrum I believe I met your father last time I visited the dragons. Though at the time he did not have a son.”

  Kai nodded “You did, Ancient One. It was a few thousand years before I was born. My father has spoken of you and the assistance you’ve given the dragons. As I will tell my children. Your deeds will be remembered for eternity. We do not forget our friends.”

  Geb smiled. “I think maybe the scope of my ‘deeds’ has grown with the retellings. But I was happy to do what I could for your people. You were, after all, the first to visit us here on Io.”

  Fitz stepped forward and gestured toward the node. “May I?”

  “Of course, Fitzbindulum. And I know what you wish to determine. The node was weakened. Almost unto death. The demons had us separated for quite some time. But we are healing, together. This node will recover soon enough.” He watched as the old wizard drew a faint trickle of power from the node, as if tasting it.

  Fitz stroked his beard as he sighed in relief. “If you will allow it, we will have protectors here before the sun sets. You can not be left exposed in your weakened condition, Ancient One. Our people would be happy to repay some small part of our debt to you.”

  Geb frowned at the wizard. “Has the world above really become so dangerous? I am not helpless, Fitz. You of all beings on Io know this.”

  Fitz sighed, not wanting to burden the Guardian with bad news. “The drow wizards have recently arisen again. They seek what they always have, to destroy everything and take Io for themselves alone. If they knew about this node, or discover that it is here, they will stop at nothing to claim it.”

  Geb folded his hands upon his slender belly. “The drow wizards. Yes. I sometimes wish we had finished them off the first time they attempted to seize power. They have been quite the nuisance, more than once now.”

  Kai spoke up, reverence in his voice “Ancient One, there are two wings of protectors in and around Antalia, hunting drow as we speak. I can retrieve one of them immediately and bring them to serve you here. At least until you are healed. Please. It would be our honor.”

  Geb nodded. “It would be pleasant to have company to chat with.” He turned to Alexander. “Grik and his kobolds are lovely, and enthusiastic. But I’m afraid they are not much for conversation yet. I shall work to improve them over time, to be sure. In the meantime, I would welcome the company of dragons.”

  He turned to Master Silverbeard, who had stayed on one knee with his head bowed. “Master Silverbeard. I sense the presence of my old friend Durin in you. You are a paladin, like Brick?”

  Silverbeard bowed even lower. “Aye, Ancient One. I be a paladin o’ Durin. I were near me death o’ old age when he blessed me with renewed youth.”

  “Well, then as a favored son of Durin, I will provide you with a blessing of my own!” Geb waved a hand and Silverbeard shivered. Alexander imagined he just received the same buff he and the others had been given earlier.

  Silverbeard looked up at Geb, tears in his eyes. “Thank ye, Ancient One. Ye be most kind. I never think’d ta meet one such as yerself in me entire days. I be truly honored.”

  Geb stepped closer to the dwarf and extended a hand. “Please, Master Silverbeard. The cold stone cannot be good for your joints, even with renewed youth. There is no need to bow in my presence. I am no god, nor a king of any kind. All I have accomplished is to live for a very, very long time.” He smiled as Silverbeard his accepted his hand and was pulled to his feet. “There, much better!” He clapped the old dwarf on the back. “Now then! The next time you pray to Durin, you’ll be sure to tell him I said hello?”

  “O’course, Ancient One!” Silverbeard exclaimed. “I’ll be tellin him now!” he began to take a knee again, but Geb grabbed his shoulders and held him upright. “No need, master paladin. We just got you up off the floor. Stay on your feet a while.” He said.

  Silverbeard chuckled as he bobbed his head. “Thank ye, Ancient One.”

  Fitz tapped the floor with staff to get everyone’s attention. “Alexander, take Master Silverbeard back to the keep. Kai will go to Antalia and fetch one of the wings back here. I have some things to discuss with the Guardian that are not for your ears.”

  Feeling like a child banished to his room, Alexander bowed to Geb. “It has been a pleasure, Ancient One. I hope to see you again soon. You are always welcome at the keep, when you are able to travel.”

  “The pleasure has been mine, Alexander. I’ll certainly take you up on that. Be well. And you, Master Silverbeard, as well.” Geb replied graciously.

  Alexander teleported himself and Silverbeard back to the keep. The dwarf just stood still, staring at the ground and biting his lower lip.

  Alexander asked, “Are you alright?”

  Coming to his sense, Silverbeard laughed. “Ha! Alright? Ye just bring’d me to meet a legend, Alexander! Me people revere the Althugr, though half of us doubt they be real. They’ve not been seen in ages. Will ye come with me to Broken Mountain?”

  Alexander sensed that this was a conversation best left among dwarves. He shook his head. “You go, Master Silverbeard. Take as long as you need. I don’t think I need to remind you to keep the circle small on this one?”

  “Oh, aye. Me King… me former King, Tomebinder, and that be all. I’ll have their word o’ honor they’ll not tell another livin soul. But they need to know.” Silverbeard looked ashamed for the slip of the tongue.

  Alexander just patted his shoulder. “I’ll see you when you get back. And as I said, take your time. Lola can hold down the fort here for a day or two.”

  Without another word, Silverbeard activated the portal to Broken Mountain and stepped through. Alexander saw him summon an immense battle boar and charge off toward the citadel before the portal closed.

  He opened guild chat as he crossed the courtyard toward the dining area. He’d never eaten his celebratory lunch, as Silverbeard and Fitz had hijacked him. And he was hungry.

  “For all of you who were in the mine this morning. Not a word to anyone about what we found. Grimble, nobody goes below the third level of the mine, for now. Any objections?”

  “None” a chorus of voices replied, including Grimble’s, clearly disappointed.

  Alexander raided the kitchen, managing to snag a boar steak sandwich and a mug of ale from an accommodating cook. As the dining area was mostly empty, he decided to take the meal up to his study.

  Sitting at his desk, he pulled out his ‘to do’ list to take a look. He was able to scratch most of the items off the list. He still needed to meet with the elves and minotaurs about joining the alliance. And possibly the orcs, too. They’d made progress on the whole wolf pets front, and Bodine was guiding that, so he could take it off his list unless a problem arose.

  The thing that was most on his mind, and wasn’t exactly on the list, was the army in the demon caverns. They had to be trying to break out. And after discovering demons sitting atop the node in the mine above, there was something gnawing at his subconscious. He couldn’t quite pinpoint it. He continued to ponder as he ate his sandwich.

  I set the stone right in front of the portal event horizon. Anything physical coming thro
ugh would be smashed immediately. They could be throwing magic through. Fire spells or water spells, trying to erode the rock. Except they really wouldn’t know it was rock. Maybe we got lucky and they just pushed the whole army through? Smashed themselves to oblivion? Would their commander know that his minions were dying as soon as they passed through the - His brain kicked into overdrive as he made the connection he’d been looking for.

  Shit! Portal! That’s what’s been bugging me! The demons in the mine had one of those black portal orbs! If the undead army in the demon caverns has one of those, they might have escaped. To pretty much anywhere. Including the mine we just left!

  Alexander opened guild chat and practically shouted into it. “Kai. When you return to the Guardian, would you please ask him if a large force has exited a portal down there? We found one of those portal orbs. They were using the node to power it. If they had one in the demon caverns too, that whole army might have escaped through the mine and be walking around on the plateau!”

  Brick’s voice was the first to answer. “Well, shit.”

  Kai was just a second behind him. “I am with him now. I will ask. One moment.”

  While Alexander waited, Max weighed in “Damn. That would be bad. Zombies raining down on us from the cliff? Somebody could lose an eye! Lainey and I can head up top and scout with Lorian’s bunch. Maybe ask the gryphons to do a flyover?”

  Kai’s next reply came through. “Geb says that they rarely opened the portal in the last … well he’s not great with time, but my best guess is one hundred years. And not recently. Also, Fitz is… strenuously suggesting that you hand over that orb immediately.” Alexander could hear the amusement in the dragon’s voice.

  Alexander responded. “Brick has it. Fitz can collect it at his convenience. We sealed it in stone, like before. Except without whatever fancy time spell Fitz used.”

  He paused for a moment, thinking. Then continued. “So that only tells us they didn’t escape through the mine. But we have no way of knowing where they might have more of these orbs. We need to know if they’re still there. Who feels like walking into a dungeon full of undead and demons with me?”