Survivors

by Dave Willmarth

  The rear sail on the other boat was now fully engulfed in flame. Of the fifty or so Black Flame fighters that had appeared on the deck, maybe twenty were still fit to fight. The others were either broken, crushed, burned, or shot full of arrows. Jorin raised his cone again and shouted, “Surrender, or we’ll send ye to the bottom!”

  The other captain pulled a white cloth from inside his coat and waved it briefly before handing it to one of his sailors. The man never got a chance to take it, however, as the red-breasted leader of the Black Flames ran a sword through his back. Withdrawing the sword from the sailor’s corpse, he advanced on the captain, yelling something Mace couldn’t make out over the noise of the battle. The captain backed away and looked to be pleading.

  Mace had seen enough. The captain wanted to surrender but the Black Flame was having none of it. He raised his hands again.

  “Ventus!”

  This time, he sent a concentrated blade of air across the gap. It struck the lead slaver in the legs, removing one completely and knocking the man back. The other captain turned and fled into his cabin, shouting orders as he went.

  The crew of the other boat instantly began to disappear belowdecks, the last few locking doors and hatches behind them. In less than a minute, the only living souls on deck were slavers.

  “Fire at will!” Jorin shouted. His crew fired arrows, threw spears and knives, whatever they had toward the fighters, who were dodging bits of flaming canvass that fell on them from above. The second sail had now caught fire and the blaze was spreading rapidly. A few of the smarter slavers began to pound on the cabin doors, trying to get off the deck, which had become a kill zone.

  But some kept fighting. One burly slaver took up a fire pot and flung it across onto Jorin’s Sea Sprite. It struck the foresail, but luckily bounced and dropped to the deck without lighting the sail. Two sailors quickly righted the pot and tossed it overboard, burning their hands in the process but saving the ship.

  Another slaver had taken up a dropped bow and fired an arrow. He roared in satisfaction as the arrow struck Jorin in the gut, knocking him to the deck. The helmsman immediately stepped forward to take the wheel, shouting, “Captain’s been hit!”

  Shari stopped firing at the slavers and cast a heal on the captain as Mion flew up to him and did the same. The ship’s surgeon was quick to respond, pulling the arrow from the captain’s belly as he too cast a heal. The barbed arrow hurt much worse coming out than going in.

  Mace felt a rage overtake him as the captain screamed in pain. He cast Levitate on himself, then shouted, “Ventus!” and used the wind to push himself across the narrowing gap between the boats.

  He landed on the deck amidst of a mass of Black Flame fighters. Daggers already in hand, he whirled and lunged, slicing and stabbing without conscious thought. His enchanted dagger took life after life, feeding him power and demanding more lives. Mace was happy to oblige. Moving forward along the deck, he found the leader still alive. He had taken a health potion to stop the bleeding from his severed leg and was attempting to push himself up with his sword.

  Mace kicked the man’s leg out from under him and stomped on his chest as he hit the deck. The man snarled at him and Mace kicked him in the temple, knocking him unconscious. As much as he wanted to kill the man, he had questions he wanted answers to.

  He cast Levitate on the man, raising his limp body above the level of the rail, then kicked him toward Jorin’s ship. Layne had been watching and nodded in acknowledgement as she caught the floating body. Mace canceled the Levitate spell and smiled in satisfaction as the body thumped hard against the deck.

  Turning his attention back to the battle, he saw that not many of the fighters survived. One of the tanks in plate armor was cursing and casting spells at Mace’s allies. A sailor manning a ballista screamed in pain as a bolt of energy blasted him in the face. Mace used the smoke from the burning ship to mask his movement as he got behind the tank. The man was muttering another spell when Mace took hold of his helm with his left hand and jerked it to the left, interrupting the spell. Then he jammed the soul dagger in his right hand up under the man’s chin and into his brain. The tank dropped limply with a clatter as he hit the deck. The dagger practically sang to Mace as it injected him with the adrenaline-like reward for the kill.

  Yesssss!

  The rush was interrupted by a burning pain as another fighter stabbed Mace from behind. The sword entered his back just above his belt and passed through a lung before scraping against his ribs. Mace couldn’t get the air to scream, could only grunt in pain as he slammed his dagger backhanded into the woman who’d just stabbed him. The dagger didn’t hit a vital organ, striking her waist and penetrating to her hip bone. But she screamed in pain and terror as the dagger’s magic drained her. When she let go of her sword Mace fell to the deck, his face pressed into a bundle of burning canvass as he lost consciousness.

  Chapter 10

  Sail Away Sail Away

  When Mace regained consciousness, he opened his eyes to find a dragon staring into his face from about three inches away. Mion tilted her head to one side, then chirped questioningly at him and licked his nose.

  He paused a moment to take stock. He felt some pain in his torso, but not nearly the level from before. And the burning sensation on his face was gone.

  “Thank you, Mion.” He carefully lifted a hand to scratch her belly with one finger. She closed her eyes and purred at him, then opened her mouth to hit him with another heal. The tiny creature’s spells packed some serious juice, and the tingling he felt was stronger than when Shari healed him.

  “Remind me that when we get back to land, I owe you a big handful of bugs ‘n worms.” He grinned at the little dragon, who chirped happily in agreement and then leapt off his chest.

  Sitting up, he saw that he was still on the burned ship. The sails had burned away, but the boat itself was mostly undamaged. He saw several of the ship’s crew holding buckets and the deck was soaked with charcoal-stained water. Shari was there and reached out a hand to help him to his feet.

  “You have got to stop getting stabbed,” she half-teased. “What made you jump over here and get in reach of their knives and swords? We could have just pounded them from our ship.”

  Mace looked sheepish, shrugging. “I saw the captain get hurt after watching that red guy kill a sailor for no reason. I got angry. And I didn’t want any other citizens getting hurt on our side.”

  Shari nodded. She wasn’t satisfied, but she wasn’t pushing it either. Mace looked around again. Lila was looting the dead fighters, while the merchant captain was giving orders as the crew began to clean and retrieve replacement sails and rigging from the hold.

  Mace felt Minx return to his shoulder. Her tail wrapped around his neck, and she said “Silly drow. Put face in fire. Bad knife makes you stupid.” He snorted.

  “I didn’t exactly put my face in the fire. I passed out.” He realized his argument wasn’t helping any as his now visible pet just gave him her patented ‘you’re an idiot’ face. He let it drop and looked around.

  While Mace was out, grappling hooks had been tossed between the ships and they’d been brought close enough for planks to be laid across the rails. Captain Jorin was just walking across to speak with the other captain.

  Mace left them to it. He’d just spotted the slaver in the red breast plate stretched out and still unconscious with Layne guarding him.

  He leapt across the small gap between ships and walked to stand next to Layne. As she stepped back, Mace kicked the man’s shoulder. When he didn’t rouse, Mace kicked him in the head. Still getting no response, he took his canteen from his bag and poured some water in the man’s face. The slaver spluttered and coughed as he accidentally breathed in some of the liquid. When he opened his eyes again, Mace kicked him once more, in his severed stump this time, just to make sure he had the man’s attention.

  “What’s your name?”

  “You’re a dead man!” the human shouted at him, try
ing to sit up. Mace shoved him back down with a foot on his chest. “Do you know who you’re dealing with?”

  Mace chuckled. “The lone survivor of a group of low-life slavers sent to find another dead group of low-life’s, who were sent to check on Justin and the original group of low-life’s that I killed. As far as I can tell, the score so far is about a hundred and fifty for me, and zero for Black Flame.”

  He smirked at the man, whose eyes widened as his face turned red with rage. “My son was one of Justin’s guards! I’ll have your balls mounted on my bedpost-”

  He didn’t get to finish as Mace kicked him in the face again. Not too hard, just enough to shut him up.

  “That’s a disturbing image. What kind of man wants a nutsack hanging around… you know what? Never mind. I’m going to ask you again. If you don’t answer my question, I’m going to cut part of you off and toss it overboard for the fish. We’ll heal you and keep you alive as I cut more parts from you until I get what I want. Don’t ask me for mercy. You don’t deserve it.” Mace gave the man his best ‘scary drow’ face and deepened his voice with the threat, showing the man his enchanted dagger as he spoke.

  “My name is Josiah,” the man growled out.

  “Good! Now we’re getting somewhere. I obviously know you’re Black Flame, you and yours are all wearing the same symbol as the group we killed the other day. What is your rank and where are you from?”

  The man held his tongue until Mace bent over and began to reach for him. “I’m a lieutenant. From Graf.”

  “And what is your mission?”

  “We got a message from the party we sent to pick up Justin’s latest shipment. Said they were under attack. We couldn’t reach them after that, and couldn’t reach Justin either. So I was sent to investigate.”

  “Mystery solved. They’re all dead. The stronghold is mine now.”

  Mace watched the man’s face turn purple. He tried again to sit up, and Mace let him. “Where is your headquarters located in Graf?”

  The man shook his head. “I’ll not tell you that. I swore an oath.” His face shut down and he hunched his back, expecting an attack and unable to do anything to stop it.

  “You swore an oath to whom?” Mace asked, leaning over the man with his dagger in hand. “A lying, murdering, slave trader with no honor? Do you think your master would protect you in this same situation?”

  “I cannot.” The man crossed his arms over his chest. “Kill me if you want.”

  Shari and the others had joined them in time to hear the last exchange. She injected herself into the interrogation, asking, “What can you tell us without betraying your oath? Who is your master?”

  The man shook his head. “I’ll say no more. Except that every thief, slaver, and black market trader in this part of the world will be bound to kill you on sight. My life may be at an end, but yours won’t be much longer. May you rot in the pits of the underworld!”

  Mace leaned in close to the man, their faces inches apart. “Says the slaver scum who just killed an unarmed sailor for trying to surrender?”

  As the man was about to respond, Mace drove his dagger up under the man’s chin and drained his soul. Shari gasped from behind him, and there was some muttering from the nearby sailors. Mace’s drow hearing picked up mutterings of surprise and fear, as well as words like, ‘justice’ and ‘respect.’

  Mace looted the man’s corpse, and though he knew it would fade away in moments, he took out some frustration by lifting it over the rail and hurling it into the lake. When he turned, he found Shari staring at him.

  “What was that?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper. “He was beaten. Unarmed.”

  Mace, still angry, growled his response. “He was a murderer and a slaver. Letting him live would have just freed him to do more of the same.”

  Shari was about to argue when Captain Jorin placed a hand gently on her shoulder. “He’s right, young one. The man deserved worse than a quick death. Had you turned him over to me I’d have keel-hauled him. There is no redemption for the likes of him.”

  “Really? And what about Mace? He’s a drow, after all. And aren’t all drow murderers and worse?” Shari was angry.

  Jorin smiled sadly at her. “Aye, every one I’ve ever met, excepting Mace here. But that man was an Oathbound. A fanatic. The worst of the scum of the earth. He stole and murdered and betrayed his way to the highest levels of the Black Flame in order to become worthy of taking that oath. He would follow the orders of his master even if it meant slaughtering his own children. And he would believe that he enjoyed it.”

  Those words stunned Shari into silence. She couldn’t look at Jorin or Mace as tears formed in her eyes. She was suddenly feeling that this game was entirely too real.

  Leaving the two behind, she moved to sit next to Snuffles, who had regained his spot on the cargo sacks. Scratching the pig’s ears with one hand, she stared absently into space.

  “Give her some time,” Jorin whispered to Mace as he patted the drow on the back. “You did well today. Saved the lives of my crew and theirs.”

  He motioned to the other boat, whose crew was still working to restore the rigging and clear the deck. “Had you not acted, we likely would have had to sink her. And more of mine would have perished.”

  The captain looked grim. Mace knew that he had lost at least two crew members, maybe more.

  “I’m sorry for your losses, captain. We did not mean to put you or yours at risk with this trip.” Mace’s anger faded as he considered the cost of the quest already. In his early days as a gamer, or even in his first months playing Elysia, he would never have blinked at the death of NPCs whether they were enemies or allies. Shari was right, this world was becoming more real all the time.

  An idea struck him. “Could I borrow your cabin?” he asked. “I need to… pray.”

  The captain looked askance at him for a moment. “You’re not planning some dark ritual to a drow god or summoning a demon or some such?”

  Mace laughed. “No. I plan to pray to Elysia. I need her help.”

  Jorin nodded. “Don’t we all. Of course, lad. My cabin is at your disposal. Though you need not be embarrassed about praying in front of my crew. We are all faithful followers.”

  Mace thanked the captain. He didn’t want to explain to him that when he prayed, he expected Elysia would actually answer. Raising what he was sure would be a lot of questions if the crew were to witness the encounter.

  Closing himself in the cabin, he spoke to the empty air. “Elysia, I need to speak with you please.”

  An avatar of the AI that controlled the game appeared in front of him. She’d chosen a nondescript form that seemed to encompass every race on Elysia and none of them at the same time. She wore a modest toga and carried a scepter.

  “Yes, Mace?”

  “Hello, Elysia. Thank you for answering. I have been thinking about the problems caused by the absence of players. Outworlders. And I may have a solution. Though a limited one.”

  Elysia closed her eyes for a moment, then smiled. “Ah. I see. That is indeed an intriguing idea. It is within the boundaries of my programming to make the changes you have in mind. But the scale should be limited, as you have already deduced.”

  Mace had forgotten that Elysia was connected directly to his mind in order to enable the system immersion. The back and forth between the AI and his brain was what allowed him to see, feel, even taste the game world. And allowed the game to react when he wished to move an arm or a leg, cast a spell, or even take a deep breath.

  “I propose that we set it up two ways. First, myself and Shari can grant a boon to those we deem worthy or important enough to the world. And you could set up some sort of criteria by which citizens could earn it through deeds or reputation, or whatever.”

  Elysia nodded. “This is a wise choice. I will gift the ability to grant a limited number of boons to you and admin Shari, as well as admin Griff and Lisa. Do you wish me to do the same for the other players?”

>   Mace shook his head. “Not yet. Not until we’ve spoken to them. It seems the North Koreans are hostile, and we cannot trust that their choices would be a benefit to the world. The others are just unknown for now.”

  Elysia closed her eyes again, longer this time. After nearly a minute (which for an AI of her capacity was quite a long time) she had revised her code to allow for Mace’s plan.

  “It is done. Choose well, Mace.”

  “Before you go, please grant the boon to the following citizens. I believe they have all earned it.” He closed his eyes and imagined a list being transferred to Elysia. When he opened his eyes, she was already gone.

  Moving back to the deck, he called to Layne, Lila, and Jorin, motioning them to join him in a quiet corner. Shari joined them.

  He took a deep breath. “I have just sent up a prayer to Elysia for a boon, which she has granted. As you know, the world is suffering from the lack of outworlders. The main value of outworlders being that they would recklessly risk their lives in daring quests and hopeless fights, secure in the knowledge that death would only be temporary. Immortality breeds contempt for danger and a willingness to try the impossible. Often resulting in great rewards.”

  He paused, and the others all nodded. “The boon I have received from Elysia is to grant that same immortality to a select few citizens. And I have chosen the three of you, among others.”

  As he finished the sentence, a golden glow enveloped the three NPCs. Their bodies went rigid and they stared into space. Mace imagined they were seeing brand new UI’s flooded with messages. He looked at Shari, who was staring at them, mouth open.

  “I… can’t believe you did that. And that I didn’t think of it sooner!” She punched him in the shoulder, smiling at him. Then she hugged him. “You really are a genius, geek boy.”

  He returned her smile. “I also asked Elysia to upgrade Captain Charles, Brahm, Master Krieger, Jervis, Truffle and Shook, and the elves you told me about. Arlon, the Commander, Ramon the scribe, Falin the healer. You can pick some of your own as well. As can Griff and Lisa.”