Dragon Adventurer collection

by K V Deal

  I really didn't want to touch it, but it also might be important. I gingerly pulled it out of the box and set it to the side.

  There didn't look to be anything else in the box, so, shutting the lid, I put my hand on the top and stored it with a grin. The chest was probably important, too. If it was, I could just hand it over later, right?

  I picked up the papers and the iron and walked out to the main room to look them over. Sitting down in a corner where I had a good view of the door, I sorted through the papers. None of it was good news.

  The first paper? A sketch of my face with the words, ‘A threat to the Guardians of Humanity. Put the beast down.’ That’s not fucking good…

  Quite a few of the papers were like that. A sketch of a person and orders to kill. I knew a few of them. The mayor, Cyrus, and Henry, from Asylum security, were on the top of the pile. So was Charlie, though the wording was a bit different. ‘Traitor to humanity.’ Wow!

  One of the papers was thicker than the others. When I handled it, I realized it was actually a piece of leather wrapped around a thin wooden frame. I began to read only to have the writing on it wipe clean as I watched. Then, written in a clean, neat hand, new lettering flowed across the canvas.

  To the defenders of the Chosen. The corrupt have taken hold of the forest testing ground. A new threat calling itself Jake Besker discovered its location during a moment of inattention. This defilement of our gift cannot stand! I call all of our loyal defenders to arms! We will retake our gift from the Changed! Return to me defenders! For humanity!’

  That…really didn't sound good. The mayor needed to know this. Like now.

  As I finished reading the call to arms, the front door to the shop burst open, and Drake came striding in, mace in hand.

  I scrambled to my feet. “Drake!”

  “You!” Both heads looked furious.

  “Huh?”

  Drake ran at me from across the room and slugged me clean in the face, knocking me to the ground.

  “You idiot! You just almost died because of god knows what, and what do you do? Jump right into the fire again leaving us behind!” Both heads were glaring at me.

  “What the hell?” I rubbed my face. Nothing broken, thankfully.

  “Drake, Carah said things were complicated. At least let him explain himself?” A familiar voice tried to sooth Drake. Sarah stepped around Drake and into view, pulling him off to the side.

  Behind them, I could see a mess of people coming in. Alex, Carah and Robert were also there. And there were at least ten other people fanning out around me and I could see more people milling around outside.

  “Fine. Give me a…” Drake began to growl.

  “No fucking time!” I scrambled to my feet and shoved the canvas at him.

  “What…?” he started to read. Both his faces looked shocked when he hit the meat of the message.

  “Where did you find this?” Sarah had been reading around Drake’s shoulder, but now she grabbed the canvas out of his hands.

  “A hidden cache in the freezer. The message just appeared on the page as I watched!”

  “Damn it!” She spun to face Robert. “Take all of these people to the wargs’ lair! The Inquisitors are making a move!”

  “Wait! What about Brittany?” Carah cried out to get Sarah’s attention.

  Sarah took a deep breath and looked Carah in the eyes. “Carah, this says that the Inquisitors are going to launch an attack. We have thirty-plus people at the lair right now.” A look of pain crossed her face. “I have to choose, and when I balance the number of lives at risk, the math makes it simple. We have to go defend the lair.”

  “Please! At least leave Axle and Drake! With them we can…”

  “I… Sorry, Carah.” Drake’s faces screwed up into scowls. “I can kinda smell the Inquisitors even if I can’t see them. They’re going to need me there.”

  “You’re just going to abandon them?” I didn't even realize it had been me who spoke till everyone was looking at me. Most everyone had either a guilty or an angry look on their faces, except for Carah and Axle.

  “That’s not what we’re saying. We have a bigger problem now!” Sarah said. She was trying to keep calm, but she looked about as worked up as everyone else in the room. “Anyway, the two of you,” she gestured at Carah and me, “will not be coming. You just got out of the hospital for god’s sake! Obviously, you’re not in a good mental state for a fight, or we wouldn't be having this argument. No! You two are to stay here. After we deal with the Inquisitors, we’ll find Brittany and Charlie.”

  Axle stepped in. “Sarah, they’re part of my squad. I’ll make sure they get back to the apartments.”

  “Good,” she said, not meeting either Carah’s or my eyes.

  Everyone else began to file out, but Carah glared at Sarah, her eyes flashing. “If my sister dies, because you couldn't even spare one team, I will never forgive you.”

  Sarah didn't respond. She just walked out the door.

  When they had all left, Carah and I looked at Axle.

  “Look we need to go back to…”

  “Go fuck yourself.” Tears were running down Carah’s face.

  “I know how you feel, but we…”

  “Shut up!” she shouted.

  “Please, let me finish.”

  “Shut up!”

  He looked at me, desperation in his eyes.

  I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Sarah’s math is wrong. The two-versus-thirty part is true enough, but if they’re at that dungeon, those thirty are dressed to kill. The two are captive and unarmed. So yeah, I’m with her. You want us to ditch them? No dice.”

  Carah first looked at me in shock, and then a smile broke across her face.

  “That’s not what I'm saying!” Axle yelled, startling us. “For… Listen to me! I'm not leaving them either!”

  “You’re not?” Carah blinked at him.

  “No! But we have to get back to the apartments! And fast!”

  “Why?” I wasn't sure about this.

  “Because, when it comes to flesh and blood people, I know an even better tracker then Drake. And he’ll go to the end of the world for Brittany!”

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Chapter 16

  “What!”

  “Please!” Axle was almost begging. “I know it’s scary, but if we don't save her, then I wouldn't bet pennies for their lives by the time Sarah gets everyone back.”

  “I-I…”

  “Please, Jasper!”

  In the main lobby of Asylum, the three of us were standing in front of Jasper’s desk. He was leaning out from behind his books staring at us in shock.

  I was kind of shocked too. Jasper was the great tracker?

  The thin man, to his credit, took a deep breath, closed his eyes and nodded.

  “Thank you!” Axle sighed in relief.

  “D-don't count on anything,” Jasper said, shaking his head. “I-I don't know that I can do this. But I’ll try!”

  “We can’t ask for more than that. Thanks, Jasper!” Carah leaned across the desk to wrap Jasper into a hug.

  I swear the man squeaked like a dog toy.

  “I need to get a few things! I’ll be right back!” Jasper slithered out of Carah’s hold and booked it down a corridor.

  “I know he’s scared of social situations, but the luck of some guys…” Axle muttered.

  I just shook my head. “Hey, Carah! Go arm up!”

  “Oh, shit! Right!”

  Jasper was back in ten minutes wearing leather armor. A thick dagger was belted onto his hip, and he had a small backpack hanging over one shoulder. Carah was only a minute behind him.

  We rushed back to the butcher shop.

  I could see that Jasper was looking around with wide, terrified eyes as we walked inside.

  “H-here?”

  Axle nodded. “This is the last place we know.”

  “Alright.” Jasper stepped into the middle of the room. He took a deep breath in through
his nose and then another. “Six people,” he muttered. Suddenly, he dropped to all fours.

  I stepped back in shock as he began to scurry around the room, still breathing deeply, but now with his head almost shoved into the floor.

  He came to a stop near the overturned tables. “Charlie...” With a lightning-fast movement he was around the tables.

  I almost missed the soft wet sound that came from back there.

  “Still alive but injured!” Jasper’s tone was starting to get a little creepy for my taste.

  “What about Brittany?” Carah asked, wringing her hands as we watched.

  “Brittany?” At the mention of her name, Jasper’s voice faltered. Its creepy tone started to fade. “Right. Brittany. That’s why we’re here. Right.”

  He came around the tables again, sniffing the floor.

  “I found the tip of her tail over here! Carah ran over to the counter.

  Jasper watched her move until she stopped, pointing down at a spot on the floor. Then he carefully followed her. He brought his face down to the spot and sniffed.

  “Yesssss....” His tongue, about half again as long as it should be, lapped out and traced over the indicated spot.

  Carah took a half-step backward.

  “Alive, but extremely injured...” With that, he was back on his feet, already loping toward the door.

  “Come on!” Axle called out, following after Jasper.

  “Axle, what is he?” I was sure to be extra quiet as I asked. I didn't want to offend the guy, after all.

  “He’s half ghoul. They’re the carrion feeders of the undead. Persistent, too. They say that a ghoul will track prey for days if it needs to. Only way to lose one is to pass through water or kill the ghoul, and their race is nearly unkillable. Extreme loner personality, though. Add that to Jasper already hating social situations, and it almost paralyzes the guy.” Axle shook his head. “The rescue team that found him had to drag him out of his house and through the streets to get him to Asylum. Sad story.”

  I winced and nodded.

  Jasper ran through the streets dodging what little pedestrian traffic there was. We followed behind as fast as we could manage.

  As we continued, it began to feel familiar. I frowned as I tried to work out where I could be remembering it from.

  Then Jasper began to slow.

  As we caught up, Jasper muttered, “Getting close.” He had his dagger in his hand. Something about how he was holding it made me think more of a man getting ready to dine than someone getting ready for a fight.

  We turned the corner, and it finally clicked. There, ahead of us, was a church. The one with the graveyard I had been standing in when I had my run in with the wisp.

  “In there?” Axle asked Jasper. He didn't get a response, so he grabbed the man by the shoulder and asked again. “Jasper, Brittany's in there?”

  Jasper jerked, finally recollecting we were there. “I…uh, yes!”

  “Alright.” Axle stepped past him, unstrapping his bow and quickly stringing it. “Thanks, Jasper. We'll take it from here.”

  “I-I'm coming too!” Jasper gripped his dagger tightly. He was obviously trying to pump himself up.

  “Jasper, no. You’re not a fighter...” Axle trailed off as he saw something in the ghoul’s eyes. “You sure?”

  Jasper nodded.

  I could see that the man was still quivering in fear. I admired the courage it took to force himself onward.

  “Hey, Axle! Hold this.” I held the lamp out to Axle. “I'm just lending it, mind you!”

  “Why do I need this?”

  I gestured everyone to gather around. “This,” I held up the lamp, “is the only reason I’ve survived my run-ins with the Inquisitors. When we do this, get inside the church as fast as you can. In an enclosed space, this thing will reveal the Inquisitors’ shadows.”

  “Their shadows.” Axle was less than impressed.

  “That’s why you were swinging your sword so sloppily like that!” Carah tapped her fist into her open hand.

  Well that was anticlimactic.

  “Th-that’s helpful!”

  Thank you, Jasper, at least somebody is impressed!

  As for the other two…

  “Well, if you don't need it…” Honesty, their reactions kinda hurt.

  “It’s still better than nothing. But why me?”

  “He was probably thinking that you wouldn’t be moving around as much…” Jasper added.

  “Ah...”

  Grumbling to myself, I released my sword from storage.

  That reminded me, I needed to check on my room…

  ...I wish I hadn't thought of that right now.

  Looking around I could see everyone was ready. Axle looked at me questioningly.

  I hefted my sword and nodded.

  He gestured me toward the door.

  I wouldn't say I ran forward, but I did hurry. Mounting the front steps, I moved up to the large, oak door. I glanced behind me to see that the others were also mounting the steps. I raised an eyebrow at Jasper as I gestured inside.

  He took a deep breath and nodded.

  I slowly opened the door, trying not to make a noise. Thankfully it glided open smoothly. Guess it makes sense to keep your door well-oiled if you’re letting invisible people in and out.

  As soon as I had it open wide enough, I slid myself inside, trying to be as quiet as I could.

  “Oh, can the stealth routine.” Axle sighed from behind me as he pushed the door open all the way.

  I looked at him in surprise.

  “Your tail,” he sighed. He looked around the small entrance room.

  I looked down at my tail and winced. The god damn maraca was shaking merrily away! I didn't even realize it was going!

  Carah shoved past me, glancing around the room. “Can we hurry the fuck up?” Seeing nothing, she asked Jasper, “Which way?”

  “Th-there.” He pointed towards the doors to the chapel.

  Nodding, she strode forward, shoved open the doors and froze. “B!” she almost screamed.

  “Carah?” That was Charlie! “Look out!”

  I didn't think. I just grabbed Carah by the back of her shirt and nearly threw her back as I stepped forward. I jabbed my sword in front of me hoping to give any attackers a good reason to step back. I didn’t see anything, but that didn’t mean anything. The lamp, still safe on Axle’s belt in the entryway, didn't help, since I was now in a different room!

  What I wasn't ready for was a crossbow bolt to the chest.

  I coughed as it knocked me back onto the ground. The bolt shattered on impact. Thank god, it didn't pierce my scales, but it still knocked the wind out of me. I gripped my chest as pain radiated out from the point of impact.

  “You fallen souls dare to enter this haven?” a sneering voice called out. “God might forgive you for this, but I won’t!”

  As the pain faded, I couldn't help but think that this guy must have spent way too much time thinking of cheesy one-liners.

  Axle stepped over me, bow raised and took a shot. Carah scrambled to her feet.

  I pushed myself up and watched the two of them rush into the room.

  “Filth!” the voice roared. I heard the twang of another shot and the clash of metal on metal.

  I ran after the two, finally having time to look around.

  Row after row of oak pews ran up the room leading to a raised section surrounded by a communion rail. In addition to the center aisle, there was one on either side of the room that lead up to the altar. There, kneeling in front of the rail, were Brittany and Charlie. Chains that looped around the rail were connected to heavy manacles on each of the women’s wrists. Brittany didn't look good, but Charlie was desperately trying to watch the action, twisting this way and that.

  The man standing beside a small glowing pool next to the altar let out a wordless cry. He leveled his crossbow at me.

  Shit!

  I dove behind a pew. There was a crunching noise as the bolt hi
t the stone wall behind me.

  Glancing around., I could see that Axle had dragged Carah behind cover as well. She was struggling with him, trying to pull away to charge at the man.

  This stalemate wasn't going to last long…

  I stuck my head up to finish taking in the room. The bastard was alone, but something felt off. It was the now-familiar feeling of magic.

  “Axle! Lamp!”

  He looked up at me, anger on his face. “Kind of busy!” he shouted as he continued his struggle with Carah.

  “Let me go! I’ll kill him!”

  Well, that wasn't good.

  The inquisitor on the dais had loaded another bolt, and I ducked down again. Just in time, too as it passed right between the tips of my horns. Too close for comfort.

  That feeling of magic was getting stronger. But as I glanced up again, I couldn't see a damn thing. It had to be hidden Inquisitors. I ducked back down straining as hard as I could to get a better grip on the feeling, but no luck. In desperation, I searched through my ring to find anything that could be of help, but the list of furniture from the twin’s apartment masked things that might be…

  Wait.

  That…might work.

  I risked another look around. The side aisle should be wide enough.

  I crawled along the pew to the outer edge, keeping low enough that my horns didn't show.

  Well, here goes nothing!

  I quickly stepped out into the pathway, holding out my empty hand in front of me.

  “Release Carah’s bed!”

  With a flash, a twin-sized bed emerged from the storage ring. Reaching down with my free hand, I gripped the frame as it finished popping free. With a grunt, I flipped the bed up on its end, set my shoulder against it and began shoving it down the aisle toward the altar. It scraped along the edges of the pews but fit, gaining speed as I pushed harder and harder. We built up to a run.

  “What the…!” I heard a man shout. It wasn't the man at the altar.

  I felt something hit the front of the bed. This was quickly followed by another impact. Large thuds. Like bodies.

  The weight of the bed drastically increased, but I could still handle it. I continued to drive the bed forward. I ignored the scream as whoever I had hit fell over and was now being shoved along with the heavy bed.